[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Edward Espinoza
Member, Democratic National Committee

Now that the marathon Democratic nominating process has concluded, there are varying opinions on whether or not this prolonged calendar was good for the Party.

Some say the protracted struggle between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has been hurtful, other say that the longer calendar has taken attention away from the Democrats and helped place Republican presumptive nominee John McCain in a favorable light.

Though one could also claim that longer calendar has made presumptive nominee Barack Obama stronger for the fall campaign, or that the extended elections have given Democrats more attention.

Going back to the first nominating contests when candidates such as former North Carolina Senator John Edwards and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson still graced the stage, the process has generated more than 20 issue forums and debates, has helped make Barack Obama battle-tested for the fall and ultimately brought the Democratic message to voters all over America.

Ultimately, the 50-state primary has been one of the best things to happen in presidential nominating politics in a generation.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Former Senator John Edwards will abandon his presidential bid, the San Francisco Chronicle reports today. Edwards, who made povertyand populism the thrust of his campaign, finished a strong second inIowa but a distant third in every state since. Many have speculatedthat a Barack Obama endorsement is forthcoming, but Edwards says heplans to wait.

Given that the race between Obama and Hillary Clinton is likely to be close in California, Edwards supporters could well decide it —aField Poll showed nearly twice as many inclined to support Obama, butnearly half undecided, writes Frank Russo in today's CaliforniaProgress Report.

Just as Edwards' decision to drop winnows down the Democratic field, sotoo has new clarity arrived for the Republicans—after a solid win inFlorida, there is no denying that John McCain is the front-runner and a strong favorite in California,as indicated by the Los Angeles Times. This could be relevant asDemocrats cast their ballots: which candidate of ours attracts themoderates and independents who tend to like McCain and who would turnthem away?

There's more...

Photo courtesy of the Locust Tork blog.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Here's something you don't see everyday: a presidential candidate highlighting California's federal funding inequities. Included below is a press release and letter from former Senator John Edwards to Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger, urging the Governor to stand with Edwards in encouraging Congress to bring California more federal assistance to deal with our slumping economy, mortgage crisis, and state budget deficit. Ah, so this is what it's like to have an actual say in determining the next president.

"Today, Senator John Edwards wrote a letter to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today urging the Governor to join his call for federal financial assistance to states -- including up to $2.4 billion to help solve California’s looming budget crisis. Edwards is calling on Congress to fix George Bush’s flawed economic stimulus plan by providing immediate help to states -- something Edwards first proposed over a month ago.

"States like California need immediate help -- or we could see devastating cuts to education, health care and other basic services, along with increases in property taxes," Edwards said. "Providing this assistance to states will not only protect our schools and our most vulnerable citizens, but represents an important and critical step to avoid a recession."

read more »

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Here's statements from Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, and Senator Edwards on the President's State of the Union.

Senator Hillary Clinton:

"Tonight President Bush claimed that the state of our union is strong. And we can all debate that. But what is not up for debate is that for too many American families, the true “state of their lives” is one of economic anxiety and uncertainty. ...

Senator Barack Obama

"Tonight, the American people know our union should be stronger. They know we can defeat terror and keep our shores safe. And they know that we can be competitive in a 21st century economy where every hardworking family prospers, not just some. ...

Former Senator John Edwards:

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Tonight, the Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club is hosting a debate of presidential surrogates. SF City Atty Dennis Herrera for Clinton, BOE Chair Betty Yee for Edwards, and Johnathan Spalter for Obama. Full invite over the flip.

Democratic Presidential Candidate Forum read more » Posted January 28th, 2008 by Syndicated in Calitics california democrats democratic presidential candidate jewish community center kgo radio raoul wallenberg san francisco jewish community senator hillary clinton senator john edwards Read original article Login or register to post comments Obama Wins Big in South Carolina [courtesy of The California Majority Report] It was another high turnout day for Democrats as Senator Barack Obama coasted to victory in the South Carolina primary. 55 percent (295,091 votes, 25 delegates) voted for Obama; 27 percent (141,128 votes, 12 delegates) voted for Senator Hillary Clinton; 18 percent (93,552 votes, 8 delegates) voted for former Senator John Edwards. In exit polling, Obama had the support of a majority of Democrats, self-described liberals and moderates, men and women, all age groups except 65+, blacks, those earning between $0-$100,000 annually, and the 95 percent of Democratic voters who support getting out of Iraq gradually or as soon as possible. Obama also picked up th endorsement of Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, in the New York Times. The Times' editorial board endorsed Clinton yesterday. read more » Posted January 27th, 2008 by Syndicated in California Majority Report former senator john edwards hillary clinton john edwards president john f kennedy senator barack obama senator hillary clinton senator john edwards Read original article Login or register to post comments California Voters Back Clinton, McCain, Health Care, and a Balanced Approach to Budgeting in Latest PPIC Poll [courtesy of The California Majority Report] The latest PPIC statewide survey is out, and Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain have reason to smile. With 43 percent support among likely voters, Clinton maintains her lead in California with a 15 point advantage over Senator Barack Obama who rests at 28 percent. Former Senator John Edwards trails with a distant 11 percent. The good new for Obama: he has cut into Clinton's lead by nine points since December. The bad news for Obama: independents are split between the two front runners and women are going two-to-one and Latinos going three-to-one for Clinton. Meanwhile, McCain's national front runner status is now reflected in California, with McCain topping the PPIC survey with 29 percent. Former Governor Mitt Romney is 12 points back with 17 percent. Former Mayor Rudy Guiliani has plummeted to 10 percent, tying former Governor Mike Huckabee and former Senator Fred Thompson, who recently folded his campaign. Surprisingly, McCain even leads among evangelicals, with 23 percent support. Huckabee and Romney are at 17 and 15 respectively. While conventional wisdom holds that most of Thompson's supporters, who tend to be conservative and evangelical, will migrate to Huckabee and Romney, with a small plurality of evangelical voters now supporting McCain in California, the conventional wisdom may be turned on its head again this year. read more » Posted January 26th, 2008 by Syndicated in California Majority Report former senator john edwards governor mike huckabee mayor rudy guiliani mike huckabee senator barack obama senator fred thompson senator john edwards Read original article Login or register to post comments 12345next ›last » About California for Democracy California for Democracy is an umbrella organization of local, regional and affinity groups and individuals who are aligned with the broad purposes of Democracy for America. read more » Democracy for America We share the goals and values of Democracy for America California BlogWire Website hosted courtesy of BlueShifting.com