The roughest fights are often primary races, and here are the two toughest mail pieces I’ve seen in 2012. Scott Peters’ campaign accuses Lori Saldana of being a big business lap dog, voting for “tax giveaways” after taking corporate-paid travel (as a state legislator) to Rio De Janeiro, Germany and Argentina, with luxury hotels and “personal butlers.” Saldana talks tough on limiting corporate power, Peters’ mail suggests, but she really represents “Pay to Play.”
Saldana’s comparison piece says Mr. Peters is a “multi-millionaire corporate attorney” who wants to cut Social Security and Medicare, is responsible for San Diego’s Pension crisis, and won’t release his tax returns either.
That’s a tough choice….if you are a Democratic voter in Congressional District 52! And if you hear and see a few echoes here from the “Occupy” and “99% vs. the 1%” protests a while back, then you are not alone.
The Survivor of this Battle will then challenge Rep. Brian Bilbray (R), the incumbent, in the Fall runoff election.*
….PREDICTION: LORI SALDANA WINS (D) NOMINATION
Your Correspondent’s best estimate is that Saldana will win this Democratic primary. Ms. Saldana has a loyal following among activists, and her gender is a major plus in a (D) contest. The brutal nature of the Democrats’ primary, however, will make it difficult to unify their forces to then face Bilbray in November.
Mr. Bilbray can thank his lucky stars that Peters and Saldana are preoccupied with each other now, and damaging each others’ public images with these mailings.
*Yes, I know the ‘top 2 law’ means this is not technically a Democratic primary. But in the Real World, this is a genuine Democrat Primary with the messages shown here being sent to Real World rank-and-file registered Democrats. So there.
