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Cory was elected California state controller in 1974. A Democrat,
his winning slogan was "the man the oil companies fear the
most."
A generation
later, Richard Riordan's advisers chose Riordan's campaign slogan:
"the Republican Gray Davis fears the most." But, read
on.
Secretary of
State Bill Jones and businessman Bill Simon are Riordan's Republican
opponents in Tuesday's primary. Why does Riordan run no better against
Davis than Jones or Simon? Jones has spent less than the Davis campaign's
interest income. Simon has never run for office.
Truth is, Davis
remains vulnerable. Republicans need a warm body. Someone who (a)
has limited baggage, and (b) follows direction. But will the general
election campaign against Davis be competent? In California, that
would un-Republican!
To defeat Davis,
the Republican nominee requires seasoned strategy and technical
excellence. Davis must go negative to win. With his huge war chest
and contingency plans, Davis attack ads on Simon are probably ready.
What happened
to Riordan and his 30-point primary lead? Politically correct reporters
originally focused only on Riordan's pluses. They failed to consider
his legendary lack of discipline, coupled with a makeshift campaign
of sycophants.
Even Davis
bought into the pundit mythology — Riordan mania. Hence, Davis
spent $6 million trashing Riordan in TV ads. Davis simply wanted
to weaken Riordan for November. Davis could not anticipate the Riordan
campaign's incompetence, notably its relentless repudiation of any
possible Republican base. Consequently, not independently, the Davis
attacks ads may cost Riordan the primary.
Riordan needs
a solid majority Tuesday, not a weak plurality. It would require
brilliance to rehabilitate Riordan for November.
It's the Davis
ads, stupid. That's what Riordan's campaign wants you to believe.
That Gray Davis interfered in the Republican primary.
Actually, Riordan's
campaign left itself wide open. Riordan never defined himself. So,
Davis did it for him.
Abruptly, Riordan
now moves right. Either (a) he's too late for the primary, or (b)
he seems expedient for the general.
Riordan fights
a two-front war against Simon and Davis.
He now criticizes
Simon for registering independent in New York, and for not voting
in New Jersey. But Riordan may lack the credibility for the late
attacks.
Riordan now
accuses Davis of trying to "kidnap the Republican primary."
Last month, that attack would have worked marvelously, producing
a Republican backlash for Riordan. But Riordan's campaign typically
runs four weeks late.
Simon now attacks
Riordan for backing Clinton's 1993 tax hike and opposing Bush's
2001 tax cut. Simon implies Riordan would not be there for GWB in
2004.
The New
York Times was just told by Riordan that a) he is the Bush candidate;
b) "The White House is trying to keep their fingerprints off
the campaign"; (pretty hard to do, since…) c) President
Bush calls to monitor the campaign.
And what a
campaign it is! The Los Angeles Times just reported on Warren
Beatty and Hollywood anti-Bushies. The article described spouse
Nancy Daly Riordan as "a Democratic Party rainmaker."
Last year,
Dick Riordan followed different drummers. Democrat consultant Friend
of Dick (FOD) Clint Reilly announced he was campaign co-chair. Republican
Dan Schnur, former communications director for John McCain and Pete
Wilson, advised Riordan. Then, Schnur accepted early retirement
as a FOD. Riordan settled on former Gov. Pete Wilson-recommended
Don Sipple as Riordan campaign chief architect. Sipple did Wilson's
TV commercials. Sipple's Riordan spots never mentioned the word
Republican. One Sipple spot even glimpsed Bill Clinton to further
affront the Rep base. Riordan elevated Sipple with a second hat,
chief strategist.
If Riordan
were a plaintiff's attorney, he could sue his campaign for malpractice.
His advisers' defense: "You made us do it." But why, for
example, did they schedule Riordan at a dinner to honor Barbara
Lee for opposing President Bush's war on terrorism? A dinner that
Vietnam-vet Gray Davis turned down.
It's no wonder
that Simon edges out Riordan in a half dozen turnout-adjusted polls,
including four private and two public (Los Angeles Times,
Field). Only Riordan's tracking poll shows him ahead.
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