Wes Vernon, NewsMax.com
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003

Lynn Nofziger, who served under Gov. and President Reagan, says McClintock is the only candidate who can forge a coalition of the Reagan conservatives throughout the state.

Furthermore, in an exclusive interview with NewsMax.com, Nofziger, an unpaid adviser to McClintock and a veteran conservative Republican warhorse, said his candidate would benefit by giving straight answers on all issues, and by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reluctance to answer questions.

Nofziger, whose gut instincts have earned him the respect of seasoned pols of all political stripes, believes that the recall of Gov. Gray Davis is by no means "a sure thing."

The attempt to oust the incumbent Democrat in the first year of his second term was "not a very bright thing," he told NewsMax.

Better to have let the lame duck Davis "twist in the wind." That way, the incumbent Democrat governor would be so unpopular, making President Bush even more competitive there next year.

The result? The Democrats would sink a lot of money in the nation’s largest state, shortchanging other states. The Democrat candidate for president would not want to be found anywhere near Davis, Nofziger believes.

No one can untangle Davis' mess overnight. "Damn near impossible," the expert political consultant opined to NewsMax.

Nonetheless, Nofziger understands that you play the cards that are dealt you. The recall is reality, and with a Gov. McClintock, Californians could take the first step to deal with their predicament.

Democrat "standby" Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante "has a serious problem with that organization he belonged to and still supports, that would like to return California to Mexico."

Schwarzenegger (as of Wednesday) was "the only major candidate" not in a scheduled debate. That "may hurt him because it looks like he’s afraid to answer the questions," Nofziger observed. That could "set it up as a McClintock-Bustamante race."

"McClintock will do better and better because they know where he stands and what he believes."

Will McClintock and Schwarzenegger "split the Repblican vote"? Possibly, but you have to ask, "Who was in this first?" Not Schwarzenegger, but rather McClintock, "the guy who [stands] up to what’s wrong and discusses what ought to be done."

And what exactly "ought to be done"?

"The governor has a line-item veto, where there are many things you can cut back on or reduce."

Hispanic strategy? Straightforward. Davis tripled the car tax. That hurts many Latinos who find "they can’t drive because they can’t afford to buy a car license." McClntock pledges to repeal that increase.

Cutting the huge workers compensation by two-thirds would make some wage earners unhappy, but "you don’t need 100 percent of the vote," and there again, McClintock does not try to be all things to all people. That was Bill Simon’s downfall in last year’s race when he blew his chance to oust Davis in the regular election.

Money? "Our goal is to raise all the money we can," Nofziger candidly acknowledged. McClintock has been raising $8,000 to $10,000 a day on the Internet.

Is Schwarzenegger’s celebrity sucking up all the oxygen on the Republican side? Initially, but now Californians focus on the issues. High-profile political endorsements would help.

"No one pretends this is going to be easy," the veteran political operative cautioned, "but [McClintock] has the base to get the word out that he is "the most logical person to correct things that are wrong."

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

California Governors Race

NewsMax Scoops

RNC

Editor's note:
James Hirsen’s "Tales from the Left Coast" - Find out the real stroy behind Mel Gibson`s "The Passion," and more!