by Jack Lee
SB 113 sponsored by Senator Calderon-D, has been signed into law. This moves the California Presidential primary to February 5, 2008, making it one of the earliest primaries in the United States. California is a blue state and that means when we cast our primary vote on February 5th next year a
Democrat is going to be the recipient of a majority vote. Democrats know this and it’w why they want it and why the GOP doesn’t. Both parties are well aware how that vote will shape the momentum of the Presidential race.
Half the electoral votes will be decided on this fateful day as California now joins other heavy weights like New York in casting their ballots and the rest of the process could become a sideshow. However, if there is a ray of sunshine for the GOP it’s that the love fest with Democrats here seems to be waning as the changing voter demographics show, but then these voters are not all running to the Republican’s camp either, many are moving to vote as independents or 3rd party voters and that reflects a growing discontent with the leadership of both parties.
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Now comments from both sides…
Fabian Nunez-D and Speaker of the Assembly said today, “This bill gives 16 million Californians (18 million if you count the illegal vote) the most diverse electorate in the nation a stronger role in the process and it gives our issues like climate change, and health care, and coastal protection and immigration reform more prominence with the contenders.”
3/6/07: “SACRAMENTO- Assemblyman Keene (R-Chico) and Assembly Republicans today voted to oppose a move by Democrats to change the date of the presidential primary election from June, (the current primary date) to February.
Proponents of Senate Bill 113 argued that California loses out at the national level on federal funding because of a lack of political clout and consequently becomes a donor state and that under the present primary schedule, the largest state in the union effectively has no influence on presidential primary outcomes. If this were truly the case, it would perhaps be a discussion worth having.
This bill is a Trojan Horse designed to force a change in the election date for the self-serving purpose of incumbent politicians who are committed to placing a term limit extension on the ballot at a projected cost of over 90 million dollars to taxpayers. This is just a blatant effort for some politicians to have another bite at the apple.
SB 113 passed on a party-line vote of 32 to 48.
“Moving our presidential primary election from June to February means California will have the influence that it deserves when it comes to choosing America’s next presidential candidates. Already, more candidates from both parties are coming out here to California, campaigning harder, campaigning more, going to more places and campaigning than anyone has ever seen.” Governor Schwarzenegger. For his entire speech on video follow this link.