California Insider
A Weblog by
Sacramento Bee Columnist Daniel Weintraub
September 13, 2003
County chairmen for Arnold
If anything concrete on the unity front comes out of the state Republican convention this weekend in Los Angeles, it might be a statement from the county chairmen expressing support for Arnold Schwarzenegger and, possibly, urging McClintock to drop out of the race. Both candidates met with about 40 to 45 chairmen in separate private meetings this afternoon, and several of those present said afterward that the party officials, in a show of hands, were overwhelmingly for Schwarzenegger. “There was a really strong sense that it’s time to unite behind one candidate, and one candidate needs to drop out,” said John Duncan, Marin County chairman and an informal adviser to the Schwarzenegger campaign. “There was frustration voiced by many chairman of vast ideological differences, frustration that we are missing an opportunity here. It’s time to make a deal, to unite behind Arnold Schwarzenegger and move on.” While other county chairmen said it wasn’t clear that the sense was that McClintock should drop out, at least half a dozen I interviewed after the meetings agreed that the sentiment was overwhelmingly in favor of Schwarzenegger. The chairmen were talking late Saturday about drafting a letter to make their views formal and public.
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