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Tuesday, February 5, 2008 12:00 AM

The race for California

Clinton and Obama battle for a mother lode of delegates -- in a state with a nonwhite Latino, Asian, black majority. Who has figured out the electoral math?

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  • Tuesday, February 5, 2008 12:09 PM

    California's color may be Green, not Brown

    Nancy Pelosi was booed in San Francisco, Gavin Newson only won his office when the Democratic Party poured a ton of money, late into his campaign. His advocacy for gay marriage was an issue he borroweed from the Green Party candidate he ran against. California is not San Francisco, and the outlying areas are downright conservative. Jerry Brown as mayor of Oakland, ran a get tough on street crime policy, which took him to State Attorney General. He is probably the more prototypical California Democrat, though no mention is made of his position, or his endorsements.

    California has been adding more voters who are registered independents. Democrats have a special antipathy toward the Green Party, which is officially a Progressive party. It may be that a number of likely Green voters will vote in the Democratic primary. Republicans reacted to same problem by excluding independents this time.

    Latino's tend to have a poor turnout, especially in primaries with no overriding issues. The real issue could be the war in Iraq, and dissatisfaction with their Democratic Congressional representatives.

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