Last night the Nathan Fletcher campaign was doing polling in San Diego. The entire set of questions was leaked. Another stumble out of the gate for this supposed team of professionals. The first one of course was the leak of his candidacy the morning of Mayor Filner’s resignation. Oops, cancel the planned big announcement!
The poll reveals much about the thinking in the Fletcher campaign which is rumored to have dumped Tom Shepard in favor of a pure union consultant firm. Hey, when you go union you have to go ALL IN. Well, they seem to have their work cut out for them. as I’ve never seen a more vapid, manufactured candidate in my life.
For instance, their message testing about his position at Qualcomm about how he “helps to lead global business initiatives using technology to positively transform people’s lives” has to be the most meaningless manufactured accomplishment ever created. What in the world is that supposed to mean? Shows how little they have to work with.
Poor Nathan. He wants this so bad, but other than shepherding Chelsea’s Law – as admirable as that is, though hardly a “tough” bill – and serving in the military as tens of millions of patriots before him, he is really nothing more than a pretty face. A pretty face for sale to the highest bidder. His support is a mile wide and an inch deep. Paper tiger.
It was difficult not commenting after many of the questions. Especially those that are so generic and so weak, some are false choices, others are contradictory and some plain fiction about his supposed accomplishments.
Perhaps some professional pollsters can chime with a more thorough analysis and I’m sure other armchair pollsters like myself will offer some opinions.
Enough editorializing. I’m sure Democratic special election voters will love him. Here’s the full, leaked poll. Read and judge for yourself.
CONFIDENTIAL
Nathan Fletcher Internal Campaign Poll, Tuesday, August 27
Mountain West Research
QUESTIONS
We’d like your opinion about political issues facing San Diego.
Q) Have I reached you on a cell phone or a land line?
Q) Are you a news reporter, elected official, staff to an elected official or a high level employee of local government?
Bob Filner recently resigned as mayor of San Diego. There will soon be a special election to choose a new Mayor.
Q) What is the chance that you will vote in that election?
Definitely
Probably
50/50
Probably not vote
Q) How would you rate the quality of life in San Diego today?
Excellent
Good
Only fair
Poor
Q) In the last few years has the quality of life in San Diego…
Improved
Stayed the same
Gotten worse
Q) What are the two or three most important issues that you would like the next mayor to focus on?
Q) When thinking about the next mayor of San Diego, would you prefer a candidate who was a member of the Democratic Party, Republican Party or does this not matter to you?
Q) Generally, which is more important to you? Increasing funding for public schools or keeping taxes low?
Q) On the issue of abortion do you consider yourself pro-life or pro-choice?
Q) Which is more important to you? Increasing the minimum wage so that working people don’t have to live in poverty or reducing regulations on businesses to increase job growth?
Q) I’m going to read you the names of some public figures and groups. Please tell me if you have a Favorable or Unfavorable opinion of each, and then if that’s Somewhat or Strongly?
Councilmember Marti Emerald
State Senator Marty Block
Former Mayor Jerry Sanders
Former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher
Qualcomm
Supervisor Ron Roberts
Mayor Bob Filner
Former Councilmember Carl DeMaio
Interim Mayor Todd Gloria
Councilmemnber Kevin Faulconer
San Diego City Firefighters
San Diego Police Officers Association
Q) I know you will gather more information before choosing a candidate but if the Special Election to choose a new mayor was held today and the candidates were…
Businessman Carl DeMaio
Educator and Businessman Nathan Fletcher
City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer
Interim Mayor Todd Gloria
Supervisor Ron Roberts
…for whom would you vote?
Q) And who would be your second choice?
Q) And if the choice was just between…
Educator and Businessman Nathan Fletcher
Supervisor Ron Roberts
…for whom would you vote?
Q) And if the choice was just between…
Educator and Businessman Nathan Fletcher
Businessman Carl DeMaio
…for whom would you vote?
Q) When thinking about the next mayor, which type of candidate would you prefer?
A candidate who will focus on fixing the city budget and improving city services…
…or a candidate who will focus on restoring honor and integrity to the mayor’s office?
Much more or Somewhat more?
Q) When thinking about the next mayor, which type of candidate would you prefer?
A candidate who will focus on the nuts and bolts of running the city day to day…
…or a candidate who will implement a bold vision to improve the city for the future?
Much more or Somewhat more?
Q) When thinking about the qualities you seek in a mayor, which of the following words or phrases is most important to you?
Maverick
Family man
Honest
Steady
Independent
Understands us
Energetic and enthusiastic
Q) Do you happen to know if Carl DeMaio is a Democrat, Independent, Republican or do you not know?
Q) Do you happen to know if Nathan Fletcher is a Democrat, Independent, Republican or do you not know?
Q) I’m going to describe the candidates briefly and ask you to vote again for mayor…
Todd Gloria is a 35 year old Democrat. He’s the president of the San Diego City Council. He is openly gay and was previously the district director of Congresswoman Susan Davis.
Nathan Fletcher is a 36 year old Democrat who was recently a Republican and an Independent. He is a decorated veteran of the Marines, a businessman, a father and served for four years in the California State Assembly.
Kevin Faulconer is a 46 year old Republican who is now serving his second term on the San Diego City Council. He was previously an executive at a public relations firm.
Carl DeMaio is a 38 year old Republican who finished second in last year’s mayor’s race. He is the author of the San Diego ballot measure that eliminates guaranteed pensions for new city employees.
Ron Roberts is a 71 year old Republican who currently serves as a San Diego County supervisor. Before being elected supervisor in 1995 he served two terms on the San Diego City Council and was a managing partner of a San Diego architectural firm.
Q) Now that you have heard more, if the special election to choose a new mayor was held today and the candidates were…
Businessman Carl DeMaio
Educator and Businessman Nathan Fletcher
City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer
Interim Mayor Todd Gloria
Supervisor Ron Roberts
…for whom would you vote?
Now I’m going to provide more information about the candidates. For this survey I’m going to provide more details about Nathan Fletcher.
For each statement please tell me if the statement is …
Very convincing
Somewhat convincing
Not very convincing
Not at all convincing
…in getting you to support Nathan Fletcher. If you think the statement is false, just say so.
When a local newspaper asked for Fletcher’s complete military records, which only he can authorize, Fletcher provided the complete records with no redactions.
The paper wrote that the records portray a young Fletcher who was highly proficient in his service, became a supervisor and was dedicated to his country.
Q) Do you find this statement to be…. [repeat choices above]
Fletcher has always been focused on working together to solve problems in spite of Sacramento’s big partisan divisions. Fletcher worked with all parties to get important legislation approved, including tax reform and Chelsea’s Law to protect against violent sex offenders.
Q) Do you find this statement to be…. [repeat choices above]
Fletcher entered the United States Marine Corps in 2002 and worked as a counter intelligence and human intelligence specialist. Fletcher was awarded the Joint Service Commendation, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
Q) Do you find this statement to be…. [repeat choices above]
Fletcher, age 36, grew up in a working class family. He was the first in his family to go to college by receiving academic and baseball scholarships. He worked his way through college and now lives in San Diego with his wife and two young sons.
Q) Do you find this statement to be…. [repeat choices above]
After Fletcher brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass Chelsea’s Law to increase penalties on violent sexual predators who go after children, a local newspaper wrote “Fletcher’s hard work and bipartisan coalition building has paid off in stunning fashion. The state will be safer as a result.”
Q) Do you find this statement to be…. [repeat choices above]
Fletcher works for Qualcomm and helps to lead global business initiatives using technology to positively transform people’s lives.
Q) Do you find this statement to be…. [repeat choices above]
Fletcher is not like other politicians. He has always stood up for the issues he believes in regardless of whether they were known as Democratic or Republican issues. And he has said he has been affected by his life experiences such as having a child entering kindergarten and serving as an active duty Marine in Iraq.
Q) Do you find this statement to be…. [repeat choices above]
As mayor Fletcher will get San Diego’s budget back on track by being fiscally conservative and direct taxpayer money to the most important priorities like creating jobs, improving education and making city services function efficiently.
Q) Do you find this statement to be…. [repeat choices above]
Q) After hearing this information. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Nathan Fletcher? Somewhat or strongly?
Q) First he was registered as a Republican, then changed his party affiliation to independent last year when running for mayor and then changed his registration to Democrat.
Would this information make you…
Much more positive
Somewhat more positive
Somewhat more negative
Much more negative
…about Fletcher – or would it make no difference to you?
Q) Critics of Fletcher say that he is a political opportunist. He was a Republican until he lost the Republican Party endorsement and then ran for mayor as an Independent and lost so then he decided to run as a Democrat because it’s hard for Independents to win elections. Basically he has no core values. Fletcher says his political party has changed as he has learned a great deal over the past few years but the issues he will fight for every day; good jobs, improve education, improve public safety, and a sensible city budget that lives within its means are not partisan issues.
Now hearing this, do you…
Strongly trust
Somewhat trust
Somewhat distrust
Strongly distrust
…Nathan Fletcher?
Q) Now that you’ve heard more, if the special election to choose a new mayor were held today and the candidates were…
Businessman Carl DeMaio
Educator and Businessman Nathan Fletcher
City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer
Interim Mayor Todd Gloria
Supervisor Ron Roberts
…for whom would you vote?
Q) And if the choices were just between…
Educator and Businessman Nathan Fletcher
Supervisor Ron Roberts
…for whom would you vote?
Q) And if the choices were just between…
Educator and Businessman Nathan Fletcher
Businessman Carl DeMaio
…for whom would you vote?
Q) After everything you’ve heard about Nathan Fletcher today what one word would you use to describe him?
Q) After everything you’ve heard, which phrase best describes Nathan Fletcher?
Maverick
Opportunist
Family man
Honest
Steady
Typical politician
Unqualified
Independent
Understands us
Energetic and enthusiastic
Q) What is your age?
Q) Which of the following best describes your educational background:
Not a high school graduate
High school graduate, but no college
Some college but not a college graduate
College graduate but not post graduate
College graduate with some post graduate study
Post graduate degree
Q) Do you have children under the age of 18 living at home?
Q) Which of the following ethnic groups describe you?
[standard]Q) Are you of Hispanic or Latino descent?
Q) Do you consider yourself…
Progressive
Liberal
Moderate
Conservative
Q) Which political party do you currently most identify with?
Democratic
Republican
Independent
Strongly or not so strongly?
Q) Are you or is anyone in your household a member of a labor union or employee association?
Q) Have you or anyone in your household ever served in the military?
Q) Do you consider yourself…
Heterosexual
Bisexual
Gay
Lesbian