Feinstein weak in poll, but no GOP challenger yet

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Two years ago, two major Republican campaigns swarmed the California GOP fall convention, confident that they could drum up the support to beat three-term incumbent Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer, who was considered vulnerable because of her low voter-approval ratings.

This year, as 1,000 GOP activists gather today in Los Angeles for their fall convention, things are different, as even the California Republican Party chairman has no idea who will take on 19-year-incumbent Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein next year - and no major candidates have stepped up.

But the landscape may change soon, analysts said, given Feinstein's recent campaign money problems and a Field Poll released today that gives one of California's most consistently popular politicians a 41 percent approval rating, the lowest of her Senate career.

One person considering a run, The Chronicle has learned, is Michael Reagan, a former conservative talk-radio host and the son of former President Ronald Reagan.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2011/09/16/MNJT1L533F.DTL

[JJW]

1. How about a real Democrat to challenge her!

[Enthusiast]

2. It would be nice to have someone

not so close to the MIC.

[krabigirl]

6. This x 1000

[yurbud]

22. the conservative Dems claim they are conservative out of pragmatism but Boxer proved

that is not the case in California.

There is no excuse Feinstein, especially since her husband is a war profiteer.

[scribble]

19. I will never vote for Diane Feinstein again

and whenever her name comes up, that's the first thing I say.

She is a terrible Senator. She's responsible for hundreds' of thousands of jobs California has lost to India and China. She was so effective, that she and her husband were the only Democrats that the Bush Administration approved to act as vendors in Iraq, when we first invaded that country.

And she is now ill with a disease that means she can not serve effectively. She should step aside now, to allow any of a half dozen State Democrats to run for her position. Either Jackie Spear or Debra Bowen would be great, but there are others as well. Republicans have no one popular enough to win, if a good Democrat wins a strong primary.


sc

[pmorlan1]

3. Ron Reagan

Let's get Ron Reagan to challenge her. He's much more liberal and I would love to see him beat his brother Michael.

[No Elephants]

8. +1

[Enthusiast]

12. I could go for that.

Liberals are going to have to run for office out of a sense of duty to their nation.

[bemildred]

4. She should retire, time for new blood. nt

[SoapBox]

5. DINO

...she lost me years ago...and she's been virtually invisible.

We need a true Democrat / Progressive.

[xxqqqzme]

7. She has no business running again.

There are some very good, progressive Democrats who could run. John Chiang, Debra Bowen, a number of State legislators. She should have retired 6 years ago!

[Hardrada]

11. You folks need to primary her.

I have been sick of her for many years now.

[shanti]

13. she does need to be primaried

i remember supporting her for senator in the early 90's, but that's a long time ago! we need new blood.

[Hardrada]

14. Not to be crass but how old is she anyway?

[shanti]

21. i believe

she's closing in on 80.

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. 78

[cally]

9. Another DC politician who long ago quit worrying about her

state. She cares about inside the beltway issues and rarely shows up in California. I literally have never seen an event with her. She never shows at the Dem party state convention nor sends a representative. I only know a few long time party activists, over 30 years, who have met her. I've never gotten a reply from her office, gotten a reply when requesting capitol tours, white house tours, or any other constituent services. I'm surprised she's had high approval ratings so long. I have no idea how she can run an effective campaign facing a real challenger.

[lunatica]

10. I've begged Barbara Lee to run against her

Barbara Lee as a California Senator would be awesome!

[coalition_unwilling]

16. Barbara Lee as California Senator might start to restore my

faith in humanity :)

Maxine Waters would also be awesome, imho.

As would Jerry Brown. Unfortunately, he's got a prior engagement.

[coalition_unwilling]

15. Feinstein is such a pathetic war pig. While I would never vote

Repuke under any circumstances (save maybe the Presidential election of 1860), I will be supporting and voting for any Dem primary challenger to her. Assuming she wins the Dem nomination, I will vote Dem Socialist for the Senate race.

[No Elephants]

17. Who gives a damn about a GOP challenger? Where's her Dem primary challenger?

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. Hanging around with Obama's primary challenger in fantasy land.

Most CA Democrats want to keep Senator Feinstein:

http://www.field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/Rls2386.pdf

[No Elephants]

20. As opposed to polling in favor of a mystery candidate who has yet to campaign?

"California’s two Democratic U.S. Senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, have not escaped
the dismal view that voters have of Washington’s lawmakers. Their individual approval ratings are
now at the lowest levels of their tenures.

Unlike the highly supportive expression of support that voters have given Feinstein in each of her
previous re-election bids, more voters are now disinclined (44%) than inclined (41%) to support her
should she seek re-election in 2012."

A good primary challenger would have a very realistic shot, especially if the DNC did not crush him or her.