Forget NY-23. Check out CA-10 (Kilkenny | TrueSlant)

[struggle4progress]

California's 10th congressional district (Image from wrhammons.com)

Jay Ackroyd raises an interesting question: what’s with the media’s obsessive coverage of the NY-23 race? Sure, there’s the obvious “Look at what the crazy Conservative fringe is doing to Scozzafava!” appeal, but beyond that, NY-23 is no more impressive or provocative than another race on the opposite coast in California’s 10th congressional district, home to over half a million US residents.

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, a fixture in state and national politics for 35 years, is expected to maintain the Democratic Party’s hold Tuesday on a congressional seat that stretches from the eastern San Francisco Bay area through the California delta ...

As Steven Benen over at Political Animal points out, Garamendi is running on a Progressive platform. He supports single-payer health insurance, the federal stimulus package, a strong cap-and-trade system to help cut greenhouse gas emissions, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and gay marriage. Garamendi is facing Republican David Harmer, the son of former California Lt. Gov. John Harmer, who’s basing his campaign on an anti-spending agenda. Garamendi is considered the heavy favorite.

This would be a hefty victory for Progressives, but the media has pretty much ignored the story. Sure, it’s not as negatively entertaining as the Machiavellian drama unwinding in New York. Rather, this victory will mean a huge swathe of California is willing to grant a progressive mandate to a candidate, and that’s positively exciting.

http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/2009/11/03/forget-ny-23-check-out-ca-10/

[saracat]

1. Is a progressive winning in California news? Seriously?If it is ,we

are in deep doo doo! Or is that a red area of CA? It doesn't seem to be. The ny is news because neither a Repug or a Dem are winning. A conservative indie is beating them both( or beating the Dem because he forced the gOP candidate out) . This is a seat that has been GOP controlled for 50 years! This is a real story.CA? Not so much.

[bemildred]

2. You can go either way.

California used to be a Republican state, not that long ago either. Remember Pete Wilson? And this is not intrinsically a left-wing bastion like San Francisco for example.

On the other hand, this is a gerrymandered Dem district, not like kicking out Pombo or that sort of thing.

[struggle4progress]

3. Here's the reason it's a story, saracat. First, party control of CA-10 has shifted several times

within living memory, whereas nobody alive can remember Ds controlling NY-23: so CA-10 is a better bellwether than NY-23. Second, the pundits are babbling about the possibility of a possible right-turn in NY-23, while ignoring an almost certain left-turn in CA-10. Both of these facts are relevant in any of the many nonsensical "It's a rejection of Obama" discussions we'll hear if the wingnut wins NY-23

[aquart]

4. What about if he does not win?

A possibility that doesn't seem to have entered your head.

[harkadog]

9. What are you talking about ??

We (Dems) controlled NY 23 until 1993. Nobody alive can remember the early 90s? Well maybe in California. Since WW II ended there have been 9 Democrats and 4 Republicans who have been congressmen from NY 23. Obama took the district 53% to 47% in 2008. NY 23 is the same size as CA 10. What BS.

[struggle4progress]

11. Don't confuse the district number with the geographical location:

"District 23" until the early 1980s included parts of the Bronx -- but that's not the geographical region under discussion. What was "District 23" in 1993 is currently "District 21" -- but that's not the geographical region under discussion

[cyclezealot]

7. Local media reported today, Ca 10 is less Dem than we think

Contra Costa county is San Francisco's far out suburbs to the east. Yes, the Dem's are favored by Contra Costa has some pretty rock solid Gooper cities. Before the previous Congresswoman , it had had a string of GOpper congressman. Don't think it's impossible to be lost..

[Doctor_J]

5. Big Media is focussed on NY-23 because

even though it's been (R) for 120 years, if it stays (R) they'll consider it repudiation of Obama.

[lame54]

10. But what if it turns D?...

that's what I want to see

[Doctor_J]

12. Then they will talk about VA Governor all day

any discussion of NY-23 if it turns (D) will be focused on ACORN.

[chelsea0011]

6. Sarah Palin is a train wreck and the media loves a train wreck.

[southernyankeebelle]

8. It is so funny the right wingnuts always say the liberal MSM. If it is so

than why aren't we hearing more about this race? The MSM and rightwing go hand and hand. Don't believe the shit that the MSM is liberal.