Feb 7, 2006

Redder and Bluer

The Field Poll is out with a new analysis that looks at the long term voting trends in California. The study finds that inland areas are becoming larger GOP strongholds, while a growing Latino voting population is increasingly supporting Democrats.

"According to the Field study, 71 percent of California voters live in coastal counties, where 45 percent of voters are registered Democrats, 31 percent are Republican and 24 percent are nonpartisan or members of other parties. In inland counties, 43 percent of voters are Republicans, 38 percent are Democrat and 17 percent are nonpartisan or members of other parties."

"But inland counties are growing in population - and becoming increasingly supportive of GOP candidates and causes, heightening the split, [poll director Mark] DiCamillo said."

"'What we are calling the inland 'red' voters are becoming more red,' said Darry Sragow, a Democratic political strategist. 'As the population shifts, you will see inland voters playing a larger role in statewide campaigns.'"

And that can't be good news for Democrats.

Laura Kurtzman follows Steve Westly to Oroville, where he's testing out his message before Democratic voters. "But the visit was not without the mishaps typical of inexperienced campaigners like Westly, whose main claim to fame is that he was an early employee of eBay, where he earned the personal fortune that has made his bid for statewide office possible."

"The head of the Oroville Area Democratic Club was supposed to lend Westly her support at a meet-and-greet at party headquarters. But she arrived late from Chico, where she was endorsing his rival, state Treasurer Phil Angelides."

"Later, Westly was approached by a man who said he had been convicted years ago of a violent felony and wanted a pardon to buy a gun. Taken aback, Westly promised to consider it. But later, an aide called to say that Westly doesn't think violent felons should be allowed to have weapons."

Call us crazy, but upon reading that, the phrase "polished candidate" does not exactly leap to mind.

From our If at First You Don't Succeed Files, "Backers of a failed special election measure that would have forced doctors to notify parents or guardians before performing abortions on underage girls are circulating petitions to have Californians vote on nearly the same measure next November," reports Juliet Williams for the AP.

"Like Proposition 73, the initiative would require a girl younger than 18 to wait 48 hours after a parent or legal guardian is notified of her intention to get an abortion. Secretary of State Bruce McPherson on Monday cleared supporters to begin gathering signatures."

Meanwhile, Abel Maldonado is under fire from GOP activists for authoring a minimum wage hike, reports Nathan Welton in the SLO Tribune. "The California Republican Assembly, a conservative activist group, has released a radio ad urging voters to call the senator -- it provides Maldonado's Sacramento office phone number -- and voice their displeasure about his bill."

"'I voted no on the first three minimum wage bills that came before me, and I didn't think the timing was right,' Maldonado said, 'but now I think the economy is better.'"

"'I worked min (minimum) wage my first job, and I got a raise when I memorized what goes on a hamburger,' [California Republican Assembly president Mike] Spence said."

Should be a fun state party convention in San Jose for Abel.

The state continued to carry the federal government's water yesterday, opting to extend the state benefit for seniors whose prescriptions are not covered under the new Medicare Plan D. "It would allow the state to pick up the cost of prescriptions for up to 94 additional days for 1.1 million elderly or disabled Californians who have been transferred to the Medicare drug program from Medi-Cal, California's health care program for the poor.

The federal government has promised to reimburse the states for filling in the gap, but no actual money has come to California yet.


Gov. Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, continues to rally the base -- the fundraising base, that is. The Union-Tribune reports "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a low-key visit to San Diego yesterday to brief supporters on his re-election campaign. Schwarzenegger met privately with about 50 supporters during the private lunch at the Manchester Grand Hyatt downtown. Sources confirmed the nature of the meeting but the governor's office and campaign only would say he was in town for a private meeting.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are in Monterey this week, making their wish list of pork projects, er, we mean discussing the deep policy implications of the multi-billion dollar infrastructure bond. Republicans are in Simi Valley this week in a huddle of their own.

The AP's Steve Lawrence reports the Assembly Reeps "will make a three-day pilgrimage to the Ronald Reagan library in Simi Valley, arriving in time to have chocolate cake today as part of the celebration of the late president's 95th birthday" -- proving the old addage that you can't have your cake and eat it too.

"Senate Republicans will meet in Napa on Wednesday and Thursday. Senate Democrats will be sticking around the Capitol, more or less. They held a one-day retreat in November in Beverly Hills."

The Merc offers a shining example of how this year's legislative session is going to go. If you can't get your legislation passed the old-fashioned way, just fold it into the bond!. "State Sen. Tom Torlakson says he is no longer pursuing controversial legislation that would make it easier for areas around transit centers, such as BART stations, to be declared "blighted" in order to qualify for redevelopment dollars."

"Torlakson, D-Concord, said last week that he is working with Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, on proposals to instead help finance high-density transit-oriented development with state bond money. 'We've basically found another way to address it,' Torlakson said, referring to funding 'smart-growth' projects that bring jobs, housing and transit closer to one another."

Bring on the Pork-a-saurus!

At the Roundup, we do try to answer the enduring questions: Why are we here? Is there really life after death? And where do you find a plastic surgeon for your kangaroo? We've drawn a blank on the first two, but now, we have an answer to No. 3! It's Moorpark, CA.

The answer comes as we close today with the story of Feznick, the "aspiring celebrity kangaroo". The hard-luck marsupial "underwent lip surgery after he was bitten by a wolf at a Hollywood animal farm. The 75-pound kangaroo underwent plastic surgery on Sunday and veterinarians say the marsupial will soon be ready to resume his acting career. Last year, Feznick stuck his snout under a fence at a Kern County farm for Hollywood animals and was bitten by a wolf, leaving the 4-year-old kangaroo with a toothy, Billy Idol-style sneer, veterinarian Scott Amsel said.