In CA, the libs are worried about this race, as Whitman edges ahead of Ultra-liberal Dem, Jerry Brown in race for Governor. Not to worry, though, Obama's chief suck-up, Nancy Pelosi will be making an appearance at the convention. No doubt she will be inspiring Dem delegates to new levels of boredom.
Democratic convention kicks off with nervous energy around governor's race By Steven Harmon
LOS ANGELES — If there's an overriding subtext linking Democrats as they gathered for the state party's convention here Friday, it's that they've seen enough of Meg Whitman, the billionaire ex-CEO of eBay who's taken charge of the Republican gubernatorial primary.
On the flip side of that frustration is a sense of anxiety that the Democrats' presumed nominee, Jerry Brown, is not doing enough to cut into the narrative written with $59 million of personal wealth Whitman has poured into her campaign. Democrats' nerves haven't been soothed by recent polls showing Whitman edging ahead of Brown.
"I'm a little disappointed he hasn't had any sort of campaign," said Harold Riley, 77, a Democratic delegate from Clear Lake. "He's got to jump in there quickly. Meg Whitman has done an incredible job with her visibility, I hate to say. That's all the more reason for Mr. Brown to get busy."
To be sure, Democrats here expect Brown to liven things up when he takes to the convention floor today, along with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and others. But Brown has kept partisan activists on hold for most of the last year as they first waited for him to enter the race, and now as they wait out the primary season in which he has no significant Democratic opposition and Republicans have dominated the campaign discussion.
"I'd like to see more, but it's not my call," said Ray Gallian, 55, a Sonoma County delegate. "For my taste, I'd prefer a more aggressive posture. But I know he's holding his resources so he can go guns blazing against one Republican candidate. I'm sure he'll get around to it; I just don't know when."
"If I wasn't an activist, I wouldn't know he was running against Meg Whitman," said Jo Souvignier, 72, a Sacramento delegate. "But I think he's playing it very smart. He's a seasoned politician. He knows how much money he has and he can't waste it in a back and forth when the primary isn't even over yet." Brown, in an interview Friday, said he was all too aware of the grumbling among activists who want to see his face up there beside Whitman's and her Republican foe Steve Poizner's on TV. (snip)
-- Edited by freespirit on Saturday 17th of April 2010 11:01:49 AM
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