[Schwarzenegger also] needs to put the other side on the defensive, ... The governor has made far-reaching proposals on fiscal reform. He might challenge his critics to come up with specific alternatives. |
A lot of these folks don't have a great deal of political experience and very often they get off to a strong start, but their lack of experience shows over the course of the campaign. They make rookie mistakes, aren't careful in how they phrase their positions and don't come across in an appealing way to voters. |
A perception that their political survival is at stake, |
A perception that their political survival is at stake. Members of Congress put their political survival ahead of (party) loyalty. |
After governor, most people are pretty hazy about what these offices do. I'd be surprised if one Californian out of 100 can tell you the difference between the controller and treasurer. |
At the depths of the '82 recession, Reagan looked like a goner, but the economy came back and so did Reagan's fortunes? He stayed the course. Had he faltered in his policies in '82, we might not have seen as much progress in '83 and '84. |
At the moment, a lot of people regard both major parties as unattractive. That's partly due to the polarization of politics. The Democrats might be a little too liberal and the Republicans a little too conservative. |
Core supporters will take this a cue, particularly Republicans who have not been paying close attention. And a lot will depend on whether Republicans can follow through in the ground game. |
Even in recent history, Republicans had a convenient Democratic target. During the Clinton administration, they ran against Clinton. Then (former Senate Majority Leader) Tom Daschle and the obstructionists of the Senate, but now that they control, if you want to separate yourself from Washington, you have to separate yourself from other Republicans. |
Generally, special elections have low voter turn-out, which means get-out-the-vote efforts can make all the difference. The election is going to hinge on if Schwarzenegger, the Republicans and other supporters of the union dues measure can mount an effective ground war. |
Going into an election year, Republicans will probably want some continuity. |
He's rubbing their faces with Bolton's bushy mustache. |
High prices mean political trouble. By itself, it wouldn't necessarily endanger the Republican control of Congress, but when you put it together with all the other problems of recent months, Republicans can't take the majority for granted. |
I don't have an inside line to (the pharmaceutical association), but I suspect they won't be too broken up if people decide, 'We can't tell which is which, so we're voting against both of them,' |
I don't think they'll press him very hard because they don't want to blow the nomination. |