Davis's drag?

Politics 2002

"You want to know how bad Gray Davis's standing is?" asked John Peschong, RNC regional political director and a top, gun in Bill Simon's gubernatorial bid. "Just look at some of the numbers on the rest of the statewide ticket. He's dragging the Democrats down."

Shortly after my interview with Simon at the Fairmont, Peschong and I were discussing a startling new poll on the unnoticed race for state insurance commissioner. According to a Public Opinion Strategies survey, the Democratic nominee, former Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, is leading little-- known Republican Gary Mendoza by an unimpressive 38% to 31%-down from the 44%-to-29% advantage the Democrat held in a similar poll conducted shortly after the March primary.

These striking figures speak volumes about California politics this year. The office of insurance commissioner is low on the statewide ballot and it was widely assumed that the 57-year-old Garamendi-who came on the political scene 28 years ago as a state legislator, lost a bid for the Democratic nod for governor in 1982, held the insurance slot and then served as deputy secretary of the interior under Bill Clinton-would waltz to victory on the basis of name recognition alone.

Moreover, many Republicans felt that Los Angeles lawyer Mendoza-who had served as deputy mayor under Mayor (1993-2001) Richard Riordan and as state corporations commissioner under Republican Gov. (1990-- 98) Pete Wilson-was merely filling a spot on the ballot in service to his party. Mendoza had initially announced for state attorney general and switched to the race for insurance commissioner just before the filing deadline.

That such a relatively unknown Republican in such a low-profile race should be doing so well against a big-- name Democrat is a spillover, many Golden State Republicans say, from Davis's obvious lack of popularity. Many even wonder if public disgust with Davis gives them a chance at gaining even more ground in Sacramento. Republicans now hold only one of the seven statewide offices up for election this fall

Mr. Gizzi, political editor of HUMAN EVENTS, welcomes political intelligence from subscribers on campaigns and issues at the local and state level. Though he cannot reply to all correspondents, we appreciate your contributions.

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BY JOHN GIZZI

Copyright Human Events Publishing, Inc. Jul 29, 2002
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