There are so many Democrats around the country to applaud for hard-run races even if they ultimately lost. Congratulations go to those whose states are now to be headed by Democratic governors, too.
Then there’s California. Gov. Schwarzenegger prevailed big-time over his Democratic opponent, Phil Angelides, 56% – 39%.
In a state that is “blue” along the coastline, Democrats won every other statewide office except Insurance Commissioner —
- Sen. Feinstein (59%)
- Lt. Gov.-elect Garamendi (48%)
- Sec. of State-elect Bowen (48%)
- Controller-elect Chiang (51%)
- Treasurer-elect Lockyer (56%)
- Attorney General-elect Jerry Brown (57%)
Democrats won overwhelmingly, as well, in California races for the House of Representatives. Of all thirteen, a Republican won one.
Given this Democratic sweep, the losses by gubernatorial candidate Angelides and Ins. Comm. candidate Bustamante stand out as reminders that no party should insult the intelligence of the electorate. These races were not stolen or bought by Republicans, they were picked up like pennies on a grocery store floor.
The Republican gubernatorial candidate was already known, charismatic if politically young. Why then, did every big Democrat name in the state — Pelosi, Feinstein, et al. — settle early on a candidate who looks and acts like the guy who gets sand kicked in his face?
The state’s insurance commissioner regulates a $119 billion insurance industry and protects consumers from insurance fraud. With so many winnable candidates for its imprimatur, why did the party choose a candidate who lacked the popularity to match his name-recognition from a lackluster couple of terms as Lt. Gov.? Cruz Bustamante never responded to allegations of accepting donations from insurance companies. He was easily beaten by Steve Poizner, a political newbee, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who invested over $13 Million of his personal funds in the campaign.
A certain amount of blame goes to the candidates, themselves, beginning with misplaced egos. Angelides micromanaged his own campaign, with unrealistic assumptions and no vision, as analyzed by Democratic strategist Garry South.
Running for governor of California is a massive, high-stakes undertaking with myriad moving parts. If you want to be chief executive of the largest state in America and the fifth-largest economy in the world, act like a candidate for governor and leave the minutia to others. Angelides behaved more like the manager of an Office Depot, with the inevitable result.
It should not have gotten that far, though. These two races were lost from the moment of party endorsement. The candidates did what they knew best, they pulled in the chits. The electorate did what they knew best, they sent the Democrats a message: That’s just not good enough.
Did the state’s party luminaries receive it? Why did it have to be sent at all?
Seeing how other states switched to Democratic governors, I have my nose against the window-pane, wishing I could join the party inside. I’ll toast you all at the saloon down the street.
