How Bad Is It?

By Kleinheider Posted on July 8, 2008 at 9:50 am

The AP discusses the GOP prospects for California in the Presidential election:

But since that win in 1988 the population growth in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other urban centers, a jump in Hispanic residents and the state’s identification with environmental conservation has tended to benefit Democrats, particularly in presidential races. In addition, Democrat Bill Clinton showered attention on the state during his two presidential terms.

Republican registration now stands at 32 percent, compared to 44 percent for Democrats. Independents account for 19 percent.

Enthusiasm for McCain, especially among conservatives, is a question mark. George H.W. Bush won 241,000 votes in the 1988 primary in Orange County, long considered the state’s Republican heartland. McCain, in the February primary, got 142,000 votes there.

McCain’s record of working with Democrats on immigration reform and campaign finance and of breaking from the White House on global warming could help him with some important voter groups.

Recent history isn’t encouraging, however. Bush adviser Karl Rove promised to launch a huge grassroots campaign in California in 2004, which never happened. Bush spent more than $15 million in California in 2000, then lost to Gore by 12 points.

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