Look Who’s Courting San Diego!

by Carole A. Lane on March 7th, 2007

On February 7th, California became much more relevant in the presidential election. On that date, the Senate Committee on Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments passed legislation to change both the Republican and Democratic California presidential primaries from June, when the presidential candidates have all but been announced by their parties, to February 5, the earliest allowable date. We will potentially be joined by twenty other states to hold primaries on that date.

This change is already impacting the attention we’re receiving from presidential candidates. Recent politicians visiting California include:

Senator Hillary Clinton
Senator Barack Obama
former Senator John Edwards

on the Democratic side, and

former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
Senator John McCain
former speaker of the house Newt Gingrich

for the Republicans.

So who’s cozying up to San Diego?

Rudolph Giuliani

On Valentine’s Day, Republican presidential frontrunner, Rudolph Giuliani was the first to make overtures to San Diego. Giuliani spoke at a motiviational seminar before attending a fundraiser in Rancho Santa Fe.

He returned to us for a second date yesterday, campaigning at Point Loma Seafoods.

Barack Obama

About a week into his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination on February 18, Barack Obama (currently running neck-and-neck slightly behind Senator Clinton), made his first campaign appearance in California, spending some “get-to-know-me” time with supporters at the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla.

John McCain

Another Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, held a brief news conference on Harbor Island on February 24th, before turning his attentions to San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, who gave McCain his endorsement.

Newt Gingrich

Although he hasn’t formally announced his candidacy, Newt Gingrich also visited San Diego yesterday to unveil his plan for reforming the health care system. Recent polls show Gingrich running third in GOP presidential polls, behind Rudy Giuliani and John McCain.

This afternoon, Gingrich will kick off the opening general session at a health care industry conference at the U.S. Grant Hotel. (Does that count as two dates, or one really long one?)

Who’s NOT Courting San Diego?

John Edwards

Trailing behind Clinton and Obama, we’re just not taking John Edwards too seriously at this point, and he doesn’t seem to have noticed us either. Former senator Edwards, we’re content to just be friends.

Hillary Clinton

Although former President Bill Clinton did address the United Jewish Federation at a philanthropic gathering at the Manchester Grand Hyatt yesterday, Senator Clinton did not join him, and there have been no announcements about her appearing in San Diego.

She may be dating our cousins (Los Angeles and San Francisco), but so far, she has snubbed us entirely. What’s the matter, Senator Clinton? Are we not your type? We might not be as big as Los Angeles, but we’re warmer than San Francisco, and you know we’re prettier than either of them.

What About New Hampshire?

Like a jilted lover, New Hampshire is not enjoying the competition for the affections of the politicians.

As Courtney Burks of the California Aggie explained:

… representatives from New Hampshire, which has traditionally held the first primary, reportedly claimed that the state would do anything to maintain its powerful position, including moving the state’s primary election to late 2007.

Well, New Hampshire doesn’t frighten us. We have had a long-standing relationship with politicians in California, and we’re ready to take it to the next level. Politicians have always wanted us - for our money. With the California primaries giving us more political power, will they learn to love us?

As for San Diego, we’ve had more than our share of local politics in the past, but taking part in the presidential primaries will be exciting, and being Californians, you know we just love the attention.

For Further Information

California Presidential Primary Moved to February 2008, The California Aggie