mtmedlin
10-15-2007, 10:26 PM
We need to read this, it explains how much easier the new system is to get RP some electorals.
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/125255.html
Republican Primary 2008: Not one GOP race, but 53
New method of picking presidential delegates by congressional district gives voters a bigger role.
By Peter Hecht - Bee Capitol Bureau
Last Updated 12:28 pm PDT Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A3
Print | E-Mail | Comments (0)| Digg it | del.icio.us
They may not know it yet. But these are heady days for Republicans in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco district, in Barbara Lee's Berkeley or Henry Waxman's West L.A.
In the bluest of blue of California's Democratic congressional districts, long-frustrated Republican voters are suddenly and decidedly relevant.
That's because in 2008 the Republican Party will scrap its traditional statewide winner-take-all California presidential primary. Instead, the GOP will select the vast majority of California presidential delegates based on who wins in each of the state's 53 separate congressional districts, including 34 held by Democrats and 19 by Republicans.
California Republican Party chairman Ron Nehring said the change is an attempt to open up America's most populous state to district-by-district contests he hopes will put candidates in closer touch with voters.
Some 159 of the state's 173 Republican presidential delegates -- three per district -- will be chosen by this new "winner-take-all by congressional district" model. "It means that even if you are not running first in the primary, you still have the opportunity to compete in California by taking a look at what congressional districts might work for you," Nehring said. "I think it's going to create a very, very exciting presidential primary in California."
And maybe a maddening one as well.
For Republican candidates, the new system means that winning in Democrat Lynn Woolsey's 6th Congressional District -- including the liberal Marin County home of U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer -- is just as important as winning in Republican Rep. John Doolittle's archconservative 4th District in northeast California.
It means that the GOP presidential clout is the same in Democrat Maxine Waters' 35th Congressional District in south Los Angeles as in Republican Rep. and presidential candidate Duncan Hunter's 52nd District in San Diego County.
"It increases the possibilities for Republican candidates to go places where they don't normally go," said Republican political observer Dan Schnur. "If you can pull just as many delegates out of San Francisco or Berkeley as you can out of Orange or Placer counties, it expands the map in an unprecedented way."
The plan could also lead to a scenario in which the candidate who wins statewide could lose in the delegate count. Schnur says the rules "increase the chance of a result ... that could muddle the impact of California's voice."
But Tim Morgan, a Santa Cruz lawyer and the national Republican Party treasurer, argues that the new system could inspire unprecedented grass-roots voter networks to increase the clout of the minority party in California.
Since 1972, the state Democratic Party has assigned a majority share of its presidential delegation on the percentage of votes candidates receive statewide and by congressional district. Leading Democratic candidates earn between three to seven delegates per district, depending on voting results.
The Republicans' winner-take-all districts could test wits and resources of campaign strategists.
"Individual elections in each congressional district? Fascinating," said former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, one of the architects of George Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.
"Clearly it makes grass-roots organizations a lot more important," Ridge said in recent interview in Sacramento. "You've got a bunch of mini-Iowas roaming around. There will be a ... lot more need for surrogate speakers. It will really test your organizational skills."
While 159 Republican presidential delegates will be chosen by congressional districts, the statewide primary winner will get 11 additional at-large delegates. Meanwhile, three top state party officials will serve as uncommitted delegates at the September 2008 GOP national convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Nehring said he hopes the system will force presidential candidates to give early and prolonged attention to California Republicans. The state party approved the change in 1999 for the 2004 primary, but the new rules didn't apply because President Bush faced no GOP opposition.
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/125255.html
Republican Primary 2008: Not one GOP race, but 53
New method of picking presidential delegates by congressional district gives voters a bigger role.
By Peter Hecht - Bee Capitol Bureau
Last Updated 12:28 pm PDT Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A3
Print | E-Mail | Comments (0)| Digg it | del.icio.us
They may not know it yet. But these are heady days for Republicans in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco district, in Barbara Lee's Berkeley or Henry Waxman's West L.A.
In the bluest of blue of California's Democratic congressional districts, long-frustrated Republican voters are suddenly and decidedly relevant.
That's because in 2008 the Republican Party will scrap its traditional statewide winner-take-all California presidential primary. Instead, the GOP will select the vast majority of California presidential delegates based on who wins in each of the state's 53 separate congressional districts, including 34 held by Democrats and 19 by Republicans.
California Republican Party chairman Ron Nehring said the change is an attempt to open up America's most populous state to district-by-district contests he hopes will put candidates in closer touch with voters.
Some 159 of the state's 173 Republican presidential delegates -- three per district -- will be chosen by this new "winner-take-all by congressional district" model. "It means that even if you are not running first in the primary, you still have the opportunity to compete in California by taking a look at what congressional districts might work for you," Nehring said. "I think it's going to create a very, very exciting presidential primary in California."
And maybe a maddening one as well.
For Republican candidates, the new system means that winning in Democrat Lynn Woolsey's 6th Congressional District -- including the liberal Marin County home of U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer -- is just as important as winning in Republican Rep. John Doolittle's archconservative 4th District in northeast California.
It means that the GOP presidential clout is the same in Democrat Maxine Waters' 35th Congressional District in south Los Angeles as in Republican Rep. and presidential candidate Duncan Hunter's 52nd District in San Diego County.
"It increases the possibilities for Republican candidates to go places where they don't normally go," said Republican political observer Dan Schnur. "If you can pull just as many delegates out of San Francisco or Berkeley as you can out of Orange or Placer counties, it expands the map in an unprecedented way."
The plan could also lead to a scenario in which the candidate who wins statewide could lose in the delegate count. Schnur says the rules "increase the chance of a result ... that could muddle the impact of California's voice."
But Tim Morgan, a Santa Cruz lawyer and the national Republican Party treasurer, argues that the new system could inspire unprecedented grass-roots voter networks to increase the clout of the minority party in California.
Since 1972, the state Democratic Party has assigned a majority share of its presidential delegation on the percentage of votes candidates receive statewide and by congressional district. Leading Democratic candidates earn between three to seven delegates per district, depending on voting results.
The Republicans' winner-take-all districts could test wits and resources of campaign strategists.
"Individual elections in each congressional district? Fascinating," said former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, one of the architects of George Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.
"Clearly it makes grass-roots organizations a lot more important," Ridge said in recent interview in Sacramento. "You've got a bunch of mini-Iowas roaming around. There will be a ... lot more need for surrogate speakers. It will really test your organizational skills."
While 159 Republican presidential delegates will be chosen by congressional districts, the statewide primary winner will get 11 additional at-large delegates. Meanwhile, three top state party officials will serve as uncommitted delegates at the September 2008 GOP national convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Nehring said he hopes the system will force presidential candidates to give early and prolonged attention to California Republicans. The state party approved the change in 1999 for the 2004 primary, but the new rules didn't apply because President Bush faced no GOP opposition.