— Arnold Steinberg explains how Gray Davis won the Republican primary, and how Riordan lost it on NRO:
Domino #7. Democrat Gray Davis starts TV ads in Republican primary. He spends $3 million for pro-Davis ads. He spends $7 million for hits on Riordan. The attack ads use Republican issues against Riordan. In one ad, Deukmejian says Riordan is unprincipled. That ad even hides Davis sponsorship. What’s the bottom line? Davis does what Simon would not. Davis, not Simon, hikes Riordan negatives…among Republicans.
My question for Simon is: “when are going to start campaigning, dude?” He had the primary handed to him by the cynicism and incompetence of the other candidates, not because he made a case for his candidacy. It’s a long time till November, but not so long he can afford to sit and do nothing. Gray won’t be his Sugar Daddy again.