Over muffins and coffee, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner's media strategist Stuart Stevens shared some of the thinking this morning behind Poizner's campaign, which has puzzled some with its hesitant pace while rival Meg Whitman blankets the state in radio and TV ads.
Stevens claims a long resume, having worked on campaigns all over the country - ranging from that of U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., to former presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Stevens told reporters today that the goal of the campaign would be to paint Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of online auction firm eBay, as the incumbent of the race as she spends $39 million and counting of her money on her campaign. Poizner has put in $19 million of his own money in his campaign.
From there, the next battle will be winning the change candidate mantle, Stevens said.
"It comes down to the change argument," Stevens said. "Who can bring change?"
When asked whether the Poizner campaign was worried about trailing Whitman more than 30 percentage points in some polls, Stevens said the numbers would change as the race heated up. On that score, he said Whitman running negative ads against Poizner showed that she, in fact, was the one who was worried. Poizner is also running one TV ad combining attacks on Whitman and an introduction of Poizner's stands.
"The reason you go negative is to change the dynamic of the race," Stevens said.
Stevens also appeared Zen-like about the fact that key endorsers such as former state party chairman Bob Naylor had switched their backing to Whitman and that fundraising has appeared to have dried up this year.
"I think a lot of good people have stayed with Steve Poizner and a lot of people are going to stay with Steve Poizner," he said.
Latest posts:
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.