California Red

No we're not talking about red wine from the Napa Valley, we are talking politics. And yes, I firmly believe that one day, with the right candidate, a Conservative Republican can not only win a state wide election in California, but it can be a red state again in a presidential election. This year, Massachusetts electing Scott Brown taught us that no region in the United States is safe Democrat. Over the past nearly 20 years, California has become the bluest of blue states. Big government legislation, taxes choking businesses and families, environmental legislation becoming mainstream, out of control government spending; you name it, it's been tried. Well, my friends, people in the Golden State are growing wary. They want something new.

The old saying, "All politics are local" definitely plays into someplace as large as California. Will it become red tomorrow? Absolutely not! This is going to have to be a long road, where a strong leader will have to emerge in the various regions of the state, but it's a road worth traveling down and a road I believe could happen.

Even though California is considered a liberal state by many, there are large Republican swaths of the state. Eastern and Southern California have a strong history of voting Republican. Now parts of Southern California, namely Orange and Ventura Counties (Los Angeles Metro area) have been trending Democrat, but that can be stopped by putting in candidates who can articulate the Conservative and Republican message. Win back those counties near L.A., (it may be safe to say that Los Angeles County may not be won back, but you can siphon off some Democrats) add them to Eastern California (the agricultural region that has been hurting in recent years, thanks to the Democrat environmental agenda that gives the delta smelt preference over water for farmers) and the San Diego Metro area, which is a strong Republican bastion (sans the 2008 election) and a history of military influence, will allow for a very significant Republican lean in a large part of the state.

However, that is the easy part. The most challenging aspect of making California a red state lies in the San Francisco Bay Area, the backbone of the Democrat vote in the state of California. I believe this can be done. First, Republicans need to market themselves in the weakest Democrat counties in the Region, specifically Solano and Contra Costa Counties. In this marketing, they need show themselves as pro-business, making sure that government steps out of the way of business so they may profit and create jobs. Doing this will most help them in Santa Clara County, home of Silicon Valley. Once they successfully articulate their pro-business stance, they can then articulate their position on various social issues. Not every county in the San Francisco Bay Area will be won, but if Republicans can pick off at least three, they will be successful on a statewide basis.

In a statewide election, it really doesn't matter whether the successful candidate comes out of Northern or Southern California. Each region has their strengths, but if I have to be forced to choose, I would say Southern California as there is a better chance Republican votes are there. Southern Californians tend to be a loyal group and will be very likely to support their native son/daughter. For the state to go Republican in a Presidential Election, one member of the ticket should be from California and have a proven record of success prior to politics and in politics that will have gained them support in their service of the Golden State. The California residency isn't a requirement to winning, but strongly recommended as again, Californians have a habit of supporting their native son/daughter, as in the case of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. With that level of success, the Republicans will have a fighting shot and can make the state competitive. If Republicans put money in California (which can be expensive as two of the five most expensive media markets in the country are in California in Los Angeles and San Francisco), Democrats will be forced to defend the state and will have to divert funds from other swing states.

In 2010, there are two statewide elections that I will be closely watching, which have the potential to be winners for California. Both Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina were both successful in business, have created jobs in California and are going up against two has-been politicians in a electoral season that could be detrimental to Democrats. I believe that both have an excellent shot and these elections will be a harbinger of California politics. Maybe the state will produce another Ronald Reagan who can do for the United States what Reagan did.

Wouldn't it be nice to see California go red in the near future!