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All quiet on the mayoral front
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Newsom campaign volunteer Jennifer Nguyen waits for something to do at campaign headquarters on Sunday. A phone bank was scheduled for later in the day, but all was quiet midday Sunday.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Four years ago, Gavin Newsom’s campaign headquarters was a hive of activity. On Sunday, however, two days before voters go to the polls again, Newsom appeared to give his worker bees the day off.
Well, maybe not all the workers. Field Coordinator Aaron Goldsmith manned the phones at the mayor’s massive and deserted campaign headquarters Sunday. When he was an intern during the 2003 race and subsequent runoff against Matt Gonzalez, he said the pace was frantic.
Newsom’s campaign consultant, Eric Jaye, said the mayor is in no way cruising into Tuesday’s election. Hundreds came out Saturday night for a rallying speech, volunteers have canvassed The City all weekend and come Election Day, Jaye promised, the campaign team will ring 50,000 doorbells.
For the mayor’s 11 challengers, however, Sunday was a time to hustle, doing their best to get the word out in what some call the race for second place.
Quintin Mecke, a nonprofit program director, and Chicken John Rinaldi, a former circus director, joined forces Sunday. Both candidates called on volunteers to pass out slate cards throughout The City.
Rinaldi said he knew going into the election that he had no chance of winning, but the opportunity to bring issues to the fore was too tempting to resist. On Saturday night, those issues were the hot topic, as Rinaldi debated a Newsom puppet.
“The puppet totally won,” he said.
Volunteers for candidates Ahimsa Porter Sumchai and Harold Hoogasian made phone calls on Sunday to spread the word.
Alec “Grasshopper” Kaplan, a homeless cabdriver, ran into a snag as he campaigned Sunday. Someone broke into his purple minivan in view of City Hall and stole his guitar, “Smoky.”
City College music professor Wilma Pang met with merchants and community members on the streets of the Sunset district. Pang said she expects to garner a large portion of the immigrant and minority vote.
Due to a ballot-machine snafu, the San Francisco Department of Elections must count every vote by hand, which means that it could be weeks before results come through.
That’s fine for George Davis, a nudist and yoga enthusiast who spent his day at Baker Beach passing out buttons. He said that once his supporters left the beach they’d probably have some clothes on for a place to pin those buttons.
“In a perfect world, I would wake up on Wednesday with 100 percent of the vote,” Davis said.
Newsom said he’s only interested in 51 percent.
Each day until voters go to the polls Nov. 6, The Examiner lays odds on local figures beating Mayor Gavin Newsom. Check out our exclusive blog: San Francisco's Next Mayor?
Comments from Examiner Readers
5:00 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 29, 2007 re: "Newsom: I’m in campaign mode"
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2:04 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 29, 2007
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1:29 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 29, 2007
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11:59 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 29, 2007
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6:43 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 29, 2007
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Mr. Carl Glovier said:
10-29-07 Gavin, I personally support Care Not Cash. Is there actual written proof we can review showing that x number of homeless people are now in housing? How many have actually "moved" to SF recently? Are those numbers part of the equation? What services are bring provided to those in housing now? What about the diehard homeless who have lived on the streets for 10+ yeras and are not taking advantage of housing? On Julian avenue we have a select group who consciously choose to continue to call Julian Avenue their home. As a result our street still smells like feces and urine daily. The addicts have been leaving their dangerous needles on the street and sidewalks around Julian Avenue for well over ten years making walking for adults and area children a cafeful prospect to avoid "needle land mines". I welcome your reply. Carl Glovier Block Captian Wisese Street Neighborhood Assoc. sfnutboy@yahoo.com
165 agree | 169 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
if big money from near and afar directing local politics is the order of the day, then i'd say s.f. is right on track. otherwise, i'd say, "houston we have a problem!"
162 agree | 163 disagree
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examiner critic said:
Bonnie is a writer not a reporter which doesn't allow her to question the mayor's BS. Crime, litter and vagrants are increasing, just walk around and view the mess. No data is needed, just pictures which are never published by the Examiner or the Chronicle.
171 agree | 153 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm so glad the Mayor and his Administration are so sure they are doing a fine job. I suggest the Mayor stop for a moment and ask 2 or 3 complete strangers on street if they agree with his assessement. the Mayor might be surprised at their responses.
148 agree | 134 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Backpatting himself one week before a virtually uncontested election on The City's time and dime, Newsom should be ashamed of himself. He should donate all the money in his campaign warchest to charity (except what he'll need for Hush Money in the future).
164 agree | 111 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Great non-story. Bonnie Eslinger, so where and when is this State of the City address happening? And who is invited?
173 agree | 158 disagree
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