The Democrats’ fumbling of their term-limits proposal has increased the once-unfathomable possibility that California’s next governor will be another Republican writes George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times.
That Republican would be state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, 50, who made a fortune in the dot-com boom and then turned his attention to politics. He’s currently pretty obscure, but you’ll be hearing a lot from him on talk radio and in TV commercials as he leads the campaign against Proposition 93, the Democrats’ legislative term-limit initiative on the Feb. 5 presidential primary ballot.
Sensing Proposition 93’s vulnerability, Poizner is seizing an opportunity provided by Democratic errors to expand his name recognition and jockey into good position to run for governor.
It’s far too early to speculate about the 2010 gubernatorial race. But that doesn’t stop us political junkies.
Some Democrat still must be considered the favorite to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. After all, this is a “blue state.” The only Republicans frequently mentioned as possible candidates have been state Sen. Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks, who’s idolized by party activists but is far too conservative for the California electorate, and the bland Poizner, who labels himself a moderate.
Funny thing about bland politicians in this go-go state. Voters tend to warm up to them. The three governors who preceded Schwarzenegger were bland. Who knows, after two terms of a high-velocity celebrity governor, Californians may be ready for a more subdued style of leadership.
Read it here: Democrats shoot Themselves in the Hoof