Tuesday, November 03, 2009

HORSERACE

Keeping an Eye on the Last Race of the Day

One of my California readers writes in about the last race of the day, the special House election in California, where Republican David Harmer takes on Democrat John Garamendi.

Have not voted yet. Will give you a report on that later. I thought you might find this of some interest. I am now reg. as a Repub, but wife is still reg. as a Dem. As a result we get mailings and calls from both side, and I work out of the house, so I hear them all.

In the case of the Garamendi calls, they are all pre-recorded. Some have Garamendi’s voice, some have Bill Clinton and maybe other pols on the line.
In the case of the Harmer calls, I have been called at least three times to participate in ongoing telephone town halls, and I listened in on a couple of them. I have also gotten regular campaign calls for Harmer, some are pre-recorded with his voice, and one was live from his mother-in-law. Seemed like a very nice lady, and she was delighted to hear that both I and my Dem wife will be voting for Harmer.

No door-knockers in our neighborhood for either candidate.

Don’t know if Harmer can pull this off, but if he does I wonder if the more personal touch has something to do with it?

A Harmer win would be a mega-earthquake that would make New Jersey look like a minor tremor. Really tough to see a Republican win. But having said that, it wouldn't be surprising if Harmer made this race uncomfortably close for Garamendi.

Interestingly, moments ago on MSNBC, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.), who heads up the DCCC, was saying he's confident of a Garamendi win in CA-10, but emphasizing that it's not a "slam-dunk district." Really? It's not Pelosi's, but it's still pretty darn Democratic. How about an "easy-lay up district"?

UPDATE: A reader who voted in this district says a poll worker described the turnout at his polling place as "a steady trickle."

11/03 02:54 PMShare