California Dreamin'

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There are six months to go until the gubernatorial primaries are held in California, but a new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California indicates that Meg Whitman, the former CEO of eBay, leads in the race for the Republican nomination.

Not too early for a little California dreamin' on such a winter's day.

It isn't an insurmountable lead. Whitman got 32%, which is a 20–point lead over her closest rival, but the survey indicates that most Californians aren't paying much attention to the race right now. My guess is that, right now, it is a name recognition contest at the very least, a popularity contest at the most. Still, I'm sure that any candidate who wants to win an election in a place like California would rather be recognized by the voters at this stage than not.

Whitman, the presumptive heir to Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who (as I understand it) is barred by law from seeking another term, is the only Republican who runs neck and neck with former Gov. Jerry Brown, according to Rasmussen Reports.

Brown, by the way, was governor for two terms in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Because of the timing of his terms in office, the term limits that went into effect in 1990 do not apply to him.

Brown is an interesting fellow. He burst onto the national scene as a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976 after the primary campaign was under way, which meant he had missed the deadline in many states, but he managed to win a few primaries and made an initial splash with young voters as the boyfriend of singer Linda Ronstadt. While he was governor, Brown proposed buying a satellite that could be put into orbit to provide emergency communications capabilities for California — earning the nickname "Governor Moonbeam" from Chicago Sun–Times columnist Mike Royko.

But Brown is no flake. A lawyer with a degree from Yale Law School, Brown is currently California's attorney general. That satellite proposal of his may have been ridiculed by Royko in the 1970s, but the state ultimately followed his recommendation.

So the last laugh was his.

And he will be a tenacious foe when the voters are paying attention.

McCain's Running Mate Dilemma

The Wall Street Journal says Barack Obama has an easier assignment than John McCain has when it comes to picking a running mate.

And the Wall Street Journal is absolutely right.

"As a young, rookie candidate running on 'change,' Barack Obama can help himself by choosing a safe, seasoned politician like Evan Bayh or Joe Biden," observes the Journal.

"As the trailing candidate from an unpopular party, John McCain has the harder decision because there really is no obvious candidate."

The Journal proceeds to list all the names that get mentioned frequently in this conversation — and includes the reasons why those candidates would be a drag on the Republican ticket:

• Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush — "[W]rong last name."


• Florida Gov. Charlie Crist — "[T]oo-frequent political opportunism that would disappoint much of the party."


• Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — Ditto.


• Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romeny — "[He] failed to catch fire in the primaries ... and ... his Mormonism seems to be an issue with many evangelicals." The Journal, for its part, finds fault with Romney because he "continues to defend his state health-care reform."


• Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman — "[H]e'd probably alienate too many social conservatives."

With some of the other names that have been mentioned, the Journal raises objections that aren't quite as severe — but it still raises objections:

• Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty — A conservative who is "as confused as Mr. McCain on global warming, but he seems to have more principles than Mr. Crist."


• Former Management and Budget director Rob Portman — "Some McCain advisers will say his Bush experience rules him out, but he has depth as a policy wonk."


• Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal — Has "potential and appeal" but lacks "stature" and would "give up Mr. McCain's clear experience edge over Mr. Obama."


• Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin — Ditto.


• Meg Whitman of eBay — "[The] magnitude of press scrutiny that any nominee must endure today is a lot to ask of someone who's never sought elective office."


• Fred Smith of FedEx — Ditto.


• South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford — He "did stumble recently during a CNN interview ... . Still, it was a minor misstep, and Mr. McCain could do worse."

The Journal admits to favoring former Sen. Fred Thompson, who "might make sense ... (for) promising to serve one term, clean up the mess, and go home. On the other hand, he might be better suited for Attorney General if Mr. McCain prevails."

When all is said and done, the Journal concedes, "If there were a miracle choice for Mr. McCain, that person would be obvious by now. There isn't, and an attempt to find one can easily backfire."