Update: The link to both the Democrat and Republican surveys in the 50th is here.

Leave it to team Furlong/Babcock at Datamar to be running numbers at this point:

Republican Voters Not Wild Yet About Any One Republican Candidate

For Every Republican Candidate in the Candidates-crowded April 11th 50th Congressional Special "Mixed" Primary Election the Combined "Neither favorable or unfavorable" (neutral) and "Unfamiliar with the name" responses Far Exceed the Combined "Favorable" and "Unfavorable" responses San Diego – In the poll released today by Datamar Inc. regarding Republican candidates in the mixed-parties 50th Congressional Special Election to be held April 11th, the combined "Unfamiliar with the name" and "Neither favorable or unfavorable" (neutral) responses exceed the combined "Favorable"… Read More

The knock on Bill Morrow going into the special election to replace the Duke of Wiretapping has been the perception that he won’t be able to raise the money to be competitive. Morrow shattered that perception with his announcement earlier today that he raised over $200,000 in the 4th quarter – an impressive number for anyone given the challenges of raising that money in the current environment and the holiday season.

Also, conservative Congressman Gary Miller joins a majority of the elected California Senate and Assembly members in endorsing Morrow.

Those that counted Morrow out early, should take notice. With more candidates to come, this race will be a free-for-all.… Read More

The word tonight is that after only one term National City Mayor Nick Inzunza will not seek re-election in November, likely ending the career of the guy considered only a few weeks ago as the front runner to succeed Juan Vargas in the state assembly.

To partially recap, the Union-Tribune in mid-December published the results of a months-long investigation into Inzunza’s several slum-like properties. I conjectured in a prior post that the U-T’s surprising but rightful use of resources to pursue such a story was the result of Nick being the brother of convicted former San Diego Councilman Ralph Inzunza of stripper-gate fame.

Within days of the U-T revelations about Nickthe slum lord, the paper also caught him in a bald-faced lie about the ownership of the properties. In the last several… Read More

That was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s response on Friday when given his first opportunity to reassure voters that his infrastructure bond proposal was fiscally responsible. He’s going to need to do better.

This upcoming week’s budget announcement provides Schwarzenegger with an opportunity to explain in detail how a building campaign of this magnitude can be done without hemorraging red ink for the next several decades. While many leading conservatives have immediately denounced the bond package, it appears that the window may still be open for Schwarzenegger to explain how his proposal can be financed in a responsible way.

State Senator Tom McClintock, Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and Lew Uhler of the National Tax Limitation Committee, perhaps the three most respected voices of fiscal conservatism in the state, have all reacted cautiously to Schwarzenegger’s proposal. Each has acknowledged the need for California to address its transportation requirements, and each has offered guidelines under which a project like this would be acceptable. Wall Street has weighed in favorably, pointing to the… Read More

Even as prolific a writer as I am cannot churn out new commentary every day. I’ve got a tight schedule this morning. But I will draw your attention to two things, which if you are an avid FR reader, you’ll have already read:

The first is my commentary from yesterday, concerning Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition. The second is an entry I made to the Weblog yesterday in response to a question from my colleague and fellow FR contributor, Dan Schnur. It speaks from my heart.

In closing, while it is somewhat lengthy, I really encourage you to read the lead column today on the main page, from Ward Connerly. This man’s courageous crusade against discrimination is nothing short of heroic. And what he has been doing around the country after the successful Passage here of Proposition 209 has been amazing. He really details his current efforts in Michigan.

Have a great… Read More

Bill Leonard and Ray Haynes are both influential and important Republican officials in California. Leonard, currently on the State Board of Equalization, spend decades in the State Legislature, serving in both the Senate and Assembly. Haynes has also served in both houses of the legislature, and is now the senior (or tied for it anyways – I’m not sure). in the legislature.

Leonard and Haynes both have e-newsletters they send out. Below I am excerpting Leonards thoughts on both the Governor’s BIG BOND proposal, as well as on the issue of mandating a increase in the minimum wage.

Immediately beneath Leonard’s thoughts, I have excerpted some of Ray Haynes’ observations.

FROM LEONARD: ***The Price of Bonds*** … Read More

Congressman Jerry Lewis will not be pursuing a promotion in the Houseleadership.The Redlands Republican, who had been considered a possiblecontender for the majority leader post, announced today that he intends to remain as Appropriations Committee Chairman. To read the announcement, see www.house.gov/appropriations.… Read More

Tonight I drove down to the San Diego Republican Party’s monthly Central Committee meeting. Well, to be most accurate, State GOP Southern Vice Chairman Keith Carlson drove, and I warmed the passenger seat. County Chairman Ron Nehring ran an excellent meeting with about 200 Republicans in attendance – including many VIPS (the introductions took quite a while). Curiously, disgraced criminal Randy “Duke” Cunningham is apparently still a member of this committee. He didn’t answer his name when the roll was called – go figure – he’s not here. That said, it does seem like there may be 100 candidates here running for Duke’s seat. Apparently the rumor is true, that FR Contributor Duane Dichiara is no longer Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Mark Wyland. I just met his replacement. Fresh from the Congressional office of Florida Representative Dave Weldon comes Paul Webster. I don’t know much about Paul yet, except that he has good taste in employers – Wyland is top notch. The big speaker tonight – State GOP Chairman Duf Sundheim. The Chairman spoke about some of the Governor’s staff picks, and some of his… Read More