SHERRY GREENBERG
CDP Morning Report
On the final day of the California Democratic Convention, various speakers, including CDP officials and legislative leadership, threw red meat to the base. Several speakers rejected the Maldonado "open primary" initiative, noting that the two likely results are: Republicans picking the Democratic nominee they prefer to run against in swing districts and Democrats having to spend vast sums in Democrat against Democrat general elections in safe seats.
New Assembly Speaker Perez gave a powerful speech, noting how exciting it was to be able to say that we now have health care reform. Perez also spoke about how not so far in the past, gays and Latinos could not be elected to office, but he, a gay Latino is now Speaker.
Senate Pro-Tem Steinberg spoke at the confab despite having just lost his father-in-law this weekend. Steinberg passionately addressed the economic hardships and state budget crisis. Steinberg noted that in the last budget crisis, he saw Republicans unfairly blame immigrants. The Pro-Tem said that Poizner's immigrant-bashing ads remind him of Pete Wilson's commercials.
After speeches came the consent vote on endorsements. That immediately lead to the Winograd challenge. Chairman Burton allowed each side four minutes to make its case. Winograd forces attempted to paint Harman as a Bush enabler, if not