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Beware the bite: Poizner yips at Big Dog's heels
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Attorney General Jerry Brown
Steve Poizner’s campaign had some fun on Wednesday issuing its congratulations to Attorney General Jerry Brown for his 40th anniversary in politics, complete with full color, top of page placement on his campaign Web site.
But frankly, this is like a Poodle nipping at a pit bull. For now, the one real pit bull likely to run for governor of California in 2010 is content to annoy the yapping.
Sooner or later he’s going to bite. When he does, watch out.
Republicans are talking brave about how they plan to attack "Governor Moonbeam" and his uber-liberal platform should Brown, as is widely expected, run for governor. But the reason for the Poizner jab is pretty straight-forward. Other than Dianne Feinstein, who dwarfs the rest of the field in popularity and name recognition, Brown is the one they both fear, and expect to run against in the 2010 general election.
The Poizner press release is more likely an attempt to impress die-hard Republicans. For goodness sakes, the top Republican, Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger said Brown is the most likely to succeed him, barely mentioning Poizner as an afterthought.
Poizner has to prove he can stand the heat Brown has used time and again since he first became governor in 1975 to wilt Republican contenders like old lettuce.
Hence the attack that caused little more than cursory interest and will be forgotten tomorrow.
Poizner’s release states:
“On April 1, 1969, Nixon was the newly inaugurated president, John Lennon and Yoko Ono were going strong, people were still using carbon paper, an Apple was something you ate and the Apollo Mission had not yet landed on the moon,” the release states.
Even though Brown hasn’t declared if he’s going to run for governor, Poizner is quick to point out his history suggests he will.
“As Brown seeks his third term as governor, the last 40 years have changed California dramatically,” the release states. “But it seems Jerry hasn’t. Professional politician Jerry Brown is always campaigning for another office. When it comes to Jerry Brown and Election Day for California voters, it reminds us of the film ‘Groundhog Day.’ Every day is the same. Jerry’s always on the ballot.”
Let’s cut to the chase.
First, Brown is running. He hasn’t announced because he’s got an eye on his old friend Feinstein and wants to make sure what he’s up against before he’s completely roped in. But rest assured he’s running. He's running right now, fervently rounding up big name backers and key constituents to help convince Feinstein to stay out of the race.
If Feinstein has an Achilles Heel, it’s fundraising. At 75, she doesn’t want to scuffle around the state, hand out, looking for cash. Brown, with boundless energy, has already proven he’s well up to the task easily out-pacing the other Dems in fundraising totals.
Second, Brown’s director of communications, Scott Gerber wouldn’t be in California if Brown wasn’t running. He’s a seasoned political hand, having worked directly with Feinstein in Washington. Gerber's too young to be settling down in his home town. He’s savvy and like Brown, more than willing to play bare-knuckle politics. When Brown snared Gerber, he made it very clear he’s pitching for a fight.
Third, Poizner may scoff at Brown’s continual pursuit of the next office, but the fact is, he isn’t in the same league as Brown, who is completely unflappable on the campaign trail. This is a guy who relishes the chance to go on Fox News and bash it out with the hosts. He's the toughest interview I've ever had. I have to stretch before he calls and towel down after he hangs up.
Brown once went head-to-head with famed Chicago columnist Mike Royko, and left with the journalist's written respect.
The only way Poizner’s press release has legs is if Brown swings at the pitch in the dirt, which by the way, he didn’t. Believe me, I tried, firing off an email to Gerber seeing if I could wrestle out a comment to breathe some life into the limp release.
No comment is too strong. How about no response. And this isn’t because I’m ignored. When I screw up or write something the Brown camp doesn’t appreciate, I get a call as if my mother’s on the line. I’ve taken to answering the phone when I see that number on the caller ID as “What did I do now?”
Poizner is not even on the radar. Brown is wholly focused on winning a rough and tumble primary against the best the California Democrats have to offer. I doubt he’s too worried about whatever the GOP has to fire at him, especially from the likes of Poizner. Meg Whitman at least has the lure of a female vote and an outsider’s campaign. Poizner? Let’s say Chuck Poochigian revisited and call it good.
Brown isn’t worried about Governor Moonbeam or any other blasts from his past. The only voters who can relate made up their minds about him three decades ago. He won then; he’ll win again with that demographic.
The challenge is the under 35 voters, the Obama-ites, a modern, tech savvy, multi-racial new breed of voter. They haven’t been significant in Brown’s previous elections. But now, according to a recent poll, are the next frontier to be won. If Brown’s learned one thing in more than a dozen campaigns, its how to fight the right fight. It’s no wonder Brown’s more available on Facebook these days than in person.
Jerry Brown is fighting the fight where it’s worth being waged. And that is not where Poizner and the Republicans want it to be. At least not yet.
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- Garamendi losing steam before race begins.
- Gay prisoner protection legislation advances.
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