California Republicans look ahead to 2010 races for governor, US Senate at party convention

[Joanne98]

INDIAN WELLS, CALIF. — California Republicans spent much of their weekend convention soul-searching over the battered party's future and debating a plan of attack for 2010, when they hope to capitalize on anti-tax protests and growing national conservative anger over President Barack Obama's health care proposals.

Most of the attention during their three-day convention at a resort near Palm Springs was on the three GOP gubernatorial candidates, former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former five-term congressman Tom Campbell.

They sought to contrast their Republican credentials with somber messages that contrasted with the flashier tenure of the man they're hoping to succeed, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose term ends in 2011.

The moderate GOP governor has never been well-liked among the party stalwarts who dominate such conventions. Schwarzenegger did little to repair that relationship during a brief address Friday night, particularly when he mentioned the landmark global warming law he signed in 2006.

Many Republicans oppose the law to curb greenhouse gas emissions because they say it will be too costly for businesses.

In a jab against Schwarzenegger and other moderates, a punchy Poizner on Saturday night urged delegates not to let outsiders sway the direction of the party.

"Don't let people come in here and tell you that we need to rebrand the Republican party. Don't let anyone come in here and tell you we need to reposition the Republican party. When people come in here and tell you we need to move the Republican party to the center, that is wrong," he said to loud cheers.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/ap/62079352.html

So their going to run on a platform of "attack the poor" even more than they are being attacked now? That's not going to work.

[saltpoint]

1. Whitman aspires to the governor's job in California with a less-than-steady

voting record. If she wins the GOP primary I don't think her numbers in the Bay Area will be high enough to carry the state, and if Jerry Brown wins the Democratic primary, I don't think Whitman stands a chance against him anyway.

There are still more arduous miles in the Republicans' quest for relevancy and identity.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. They are well on their way to national marginalization.

And it could NOT happen to a more deserving group.

They are insane.