Monday, June 19, 2006
How can Phil Angelides beat Gov. Schwarzenegger in November?
How can Phil Angelides beat Gov. Schwarzenegger in November?
Let me count the ways …
By Steven Maviglio (published June 15th, 2006)
No. 1: Remind the pundits that David beat Goliath. Despite the governor's bigger-than-life image, Schwarzenegger's election track record is dismal. In the recall, Schwarzenegger drew only 44 percent of the ballots cast. In 2004, he went 0-9 in the legislative races where he worked hard for GOP candidates. The governor's losing streak continued in his lopsided special-election defeats. More recently, his hand-picked controller candidate stumbled. Angelides needs to prick the governor's aura of invincibility quickly if he's going to raise money and attract the earned media he needs to compete.
No. 2: Distribute flip-flops at the governor's campaign events. If there's one thing that voters abhor, it's a politician who changes his positions in an election year more than a chameleon changes colors. Schwarzenegger 3.0 has done an about-face on every major issue. Angelides can exploit Schwarzenegger's weathervane governing by comparing it to his own core values and vision. Remember John Kerry's "I-was-for-it-before-I-was- against-it" moments? It's x 10 with Schwarzenegger on immigration, greenhouse gases, health care and the minimum wage.
No. 3: Pay me now or pay me later. Anytime Angelides is branded a taxer, he should point to Schwarzenegger's running up of the state credit card. Angelides was a lone wolf in opposing Propositions 57 and 58, and can turn that into an effective foil by painting Schwarzenegger as the largest borrower in California history.
No. 4: Microtarget the state's diverse ethnic communities. The Schwarzenegger administration has about as much diversity as an Alabama country club. African-American and Latino appointments to the judiciary and his inner circle can be counted on one hand. Angelides, who already has an advantage in these Democratic constituencies, needs to drive this point home.
No. 5: Don't say Schwarzenegger without saying McClintock. LG wannabe McClintock is an extremist who may be a heartbeat away from the governor's office. He's anti-choice, anti-bond, anti-, well, just about everything. Exploiting the wedge between the governor and his running mate will irritate the Republican party faithful--and solidify Democrats fearful of the remotest possibility of McClintock ending up in the corner office.
No. 6: It's education, stupid. The governor can spend every day between now and November at photo ops reading books to a kindergarten class. But he won't be able to shake the powerful images of last year's Alliance for a Better California's campaign that tagged him as an enemy No. 1 of teachers and kids. Angelides should build on that momentum. At the same time, he should lead the charge for the education bond, stealing the issue from the governor and building a platform on his plans for higher achievement and investment.
No. 7: Keep the radio on. There's a reason the governor's office has stopped sending transcripts from the governor's appearances on right-wing radio stations. His constant gaffes often backfire. After last week's bus tour, GOP pundits were saying, "Let Arnold be Arnold." Nothing could help Angelides more.
No. 8: Get that empty chair ready. Without Ariana, Cruz and Camejo providing comic relief, Angelides should be able to whip Arnold in every mano-a-mano matchup. Angelides should accept every debate offer, and carry around an empty chair for the stage when the governor refuses.
No. 9: Pray for a hot summer. Pollsters say Californians like the thought of solar roofs and hydrogen cars. What they like better is being able to crank up their air conditioning. Schwarzenegger has attracted precious few megawatts to California. Meanwhile, those articles about Enron's Ken Lay and the governor having quality time during the energy crisis need to be dusted off.
No. 10: Head to a levee. Despite his campaigning for President Bush, the governor has failed to deliver on his "Collectinator" promise. Central Valley home owners may soon be sporting "Arnold Went to Washington and All We Got Was a Lousy Helicopter Photo-Op" T-shirts soon; the governor can't unite the bickering Republican Congressional delegation to secure adequate appropriations for levee repair. This is a three-fer for Angelides: He gets to play up the Bush/Schwarzenegger connection, cultivate Central Valley voters and point out yet another broken promise.
No. 11: Can you say $4 a gallon? Chevron and Exxon contributions lining Schwarzenegger's pockets may help his bloated campaign treasury, but they'll go over like a lead balloon when Soccer Moms are plunking down $100 to fill the tanks on their SUVs. This is one of the few areas where the Grand Old Party of Petroleum can effectively be hung around the governor's neck. P.S. … That footage of Arnold's Houston fund-raiser will make a helluva spot.
Steven Maviglio, who once served as a legislator in New Hampshire,
is Deputy Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez.
He previously served as press secretary to former Gov. Gray Davis.
Let me count the ways …
By Steven Maviglio (published June 15th, 2006)
No. 1: Remind the pundits that David beat Goliath. Despite the governor's bigger-than-life image, Schwarzenegger's election track record is dismal. In the recall, Schwarzenegger drew only 44 percent of the ballots cast. In 2004, he went 0-9 in the legislative races where he worked hard for GOP candidates. The governor's losing streak continued in his lopsided special-election defeats. More recently, his hand-picked controller candidate stumbled. Angelides needs to prick the governor's aura of invincibility quickly if he's going to raise money and attract the earned media he needs to compete.
No. 2: Distribute flip-flops at the governor's campaign events. If there's one thing that voters abhor, it's a politician who changes his positions in an election year more than a chameleon changes colors. Schwarzenegger 3.0 has done an about-face on every major issue. Angelides can exploit Schwarzenegger's weathervane governing by comparing it to his own core values and vision. Remember John Kerry's "I-was-for-it-before-I-was- against-it" moments? It's x 10 with Schwarzenegger on immigration, greenhouse gases, health care and the minimum wage.
No. 3: Pay me now or pay me later. Anytime Angelides is branded a taxer, he should point to Schwarzenegger's running up of the state credit card. Angelides was a lone wolf in opposing Propositions 57 and 58, and can turn that into an effective foil by painting Schwarzenegger as the largest borrower in California history.
No. 4: Microtarget the state's diverse ethnic communities. The Schwarzenegger administration has about as much diversity as an Alabama country club. African-American and Latino appointments to the judiciary and his inner circle can be counted on one hand. Angelides, who already has an advantage in these Democratic constituencies, needs to drive this point home.
No. 5: Don't say Schwarzenegger without saying McClintock. LG wannabe McClintock is an extremist who may be a heartbeat away from the governor's office. He's anti-choice, anti-bond, anti-, well, just about everything. Exploiting the wedge between the governor and his running mate will irritate the Republican party faithful--and solidify Democrats fearful of the remotest possibility of McClintock ending up in the corner office.
No. 6: It's education, stupid. The governor can spend every day between now and November at photo ops reading books to a kindergarten class. But he won't be able to shake the powerful images of last year's Alliance for a Better California's campaign that tagged him as an enemy No. 1 of teachers and kids. Angelides should build on that momentum. At the same time, he should lead the charge for the education bond, stealing the issue from the governor and building a platform on his plans for higher achievement and investment.
No. 7: Keep the radio on. There's a reason the governor's office has stopped sending transcripts from the governor's appearances on right-wing radio stations. His constant gaffes often backfire. After last week's bus tour, GOP pundits were saying, "Let Arnold be Arnold." Nothing could help Angelides more.
No. 8: Get that empty chair ready. Without Ariana, Cruz and Camejo providing comic relief, Angelides should be able to whip Arnold in every mano-a-mano matchup. Angelides should accept every debate offer, and carry around an empty chair for the stage when the governor refuses.
No. 9: Pray for a hot summer. Pollsters say Californians like the thought of solar roofs and hydrogen cars. What they like better is being able to crank up their air conditioning. Schwarzenegger has attracted precious few megawatts to California. Meanwhile, those articles about Enron's Ken Lay and the governor having quality time during the energy crisis need to be dusted off.
No. 10: Head to a levee. Despite his campaigning for President Bush, the governor has failed to deliver on his "Collectinator" promise. Central Valley home owners may soon be sporting "Arnold Went to Washington and All We Got Was a Lousy Helicopter Photo-Op" T-shirts soon; the governor can't unite the bickering Republican Congressional delegation to secure adequate appropriations for levee repair. This is a three-fer for Angelides: He gets to play up the Bush/Schwarzenegger connection, cultivate Central Valley voters and point out yet another broken promise.
No. 11: Can you say $4 a gallon? Chevron and Exxon contributions lining Schwarzenegger's pockets may help his bloated campaign treasury, but they'll go over like a lead balloon when Soccer Moms are plunking down $100 to fill the tanks on their SUVs. This is one of the few areas where the Grand Old Party of Petroleum can effectively be hung around the governor's neck. P.S. … That footage of Arnold's Houston fund-raiser will make a helluva spot.
Steven Maviglio, who once served as a legislator in New Hampshire,
is Deputy Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez.
He previously served as press secretary to former Gov. Gray Davis.
