by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Lost in the Sturm und Drang surrounding the Migden-Leno-Nation showdown was the resounding success for Senate Democrats of a carefully-orchestrated series of political chess moves across Los Angeles County.
 
It’s probably the worst-kept secret in Sacramento that the Senate leadership, led by Senate President Don Perata, aggressively supported Rod Wright’s successful bid for Ed Vincent’s seat in SD-25. Less well known are the domino falls which preceded it.
 
First, it was hardly an accident that Mark Ridley-Thomas, who succeeded Rod Wright in the Assembly’s 48th District, was able to clear the field when he ran in 2006 for SD-25. Sure, MRT enjoyed a formidable reputation for community leadership after his high-profile founding of Empowerment Congress and head-to-head polls conducted in 2005 reflected that: he held a sizable double-digit lead in every prospective match-up against Wright. But fast forward and the same could be said of Wright’s prospective match-up against Dymally this year. To wit, early polling showed him running 30 points behind the venerable Dymally. And, yet, Wright agreed to withdraw from the race for his home Senate district in 2006 and instead focus on the even-tougher neighboring SD-26 in 2008.

There's more...

by FDR [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

By Frank D. Russo

A bitter fight for the endorsement by the California Democratic Party between incumbent State Senator Carole Migden and challenger Assemblymember Mark Leno is shaping up to be the biggest battle at the state party convention being held in San Jose.  The picture above is typical of what delegates and other other observers have seen over the last two days as they exit the convention floor.

The Democratic Senate leadership has pulled out all the stops to get Migden endorsed as dozens of Senate staffers, along with other supporters of hers, have been holding signs in meetings and the hallways urging that the party endorse her.  Unfortunately, this is one of those incumbent protection moves, where challenges to an incumbent must be fought at all costs.  Delegates appointed by Senators who would have supported Leno, the challenger, have been replaced by those loyal to Senator Migden.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Leland Yee, Ph.D.
Assistant President pro Tem
California State Senate

As someone who was proud to support John and Elizabeth Edwards and their fight to bring about one America, I am equally proud that we have another outstanding candidate in Barack Obama who can bring about the change that is necessary in our country.

Senator Obama is the only candidate who has the credentials, integrity, commitment, and the ability to inspire that our country needs. As Senator Ted Kennedy said last week, "With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion. With Barack Obama we will close the book on the old politics of race against race, gender against gender, ethnic group against ethnic group, and straight against gay."

Whether it be the misguided war in Iraq, America’s ruined reputation in the world, the dropped ball in Afghanistan, the ignored genocide in Darfur, the botched response to Katrina, or the millions of Americans who are hungry, jobless or in need of healthcare, the Bush Administration has failed this country. Now, more than ever, we need the leadership of Barack Obama and his ability to unite all Americans.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

There was hardly a wimper from our right-wing brethren over at THE FLASH REPORT when Senate Republicans finally threw in the towel and voted for a budget virtually unchanged from that which the Assembly passed a month earlier. And when everyone in Sacramento is questioning whether there will be a shakeup in the GOP Senate leadership because of the Senate GOP's failure to get nothing more than a few breadcrumbs for holding out on a budget, FLASH has repeatedly been touting the leadership of Sen. Dick Ackerman.
 
Could it be that Sen. Ackerman officiated at FLASH publisher Jon Fleischman's wedding, as noted here in the Mercury News profile last week?
 
Maybe not. We're just saying...

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Looks like what could have been a big Democratic Senate primary battle in the Sacramento suburbs has fizzled. Hank Shaw at The Stockton Record confirms that John Garamendi Jr. appears to be scuttling a fight with Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) for the seat currently held by Senator Mike Machado.

Wolk now has a clear path for the Democratic nomination. Senate leadership is said to be happy with Wolk's candidacy. She starts the race with a strong base in Davis, fundraising prowess, and a lock of major endorsements. Challenging her would have been foolhardy for any other Democrat, even someone with the name recognition of John Garamendi, Jr.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics: Soapblox California - Front Page]