Is the California Democratic Gubernatorial Primary Over Yet?
In the Capitol Weekly, my favorite Republican, Dan Schnur, bemoans the lack of an interesting, substantive adversary in 2006. Writing in his inimitable style, Dan shows why he’s already looking forward to 2010:
Newsom ran for mayor on a platform of addressing San Francisco’s homeless crisis, which has turned into his signature accomplishment to date. Taking on the issue of same-sex marriage may cost him support once he decides to take his political career east of the Bay Bridge, but whether he is brave or foolhardy or both, there’s no question that Newsom already has left a much more important mark on the political landscape than either of the current candidates for governor.
But Newsom has been a shrinking violet compared to Villaraigosa, who has approached the governance of the city of Los Angeles with a flair far beyond what either Angelides or Westly is capable. The current debate over illegal immigration has provided him with a national platform, but Villaraigosa has used that platform deftly, appearing at pro-immigration rallies but admonishing high-school students to return to their classrooms. He has plunged head first into the problem of school violence, and, most notably, is preparing to take on the teachers unions to assume control of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
