Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner told the California Republican Party's convention in Santa Clara that he's the true conservative in the race while delivering his standard campaign speech with a few variations tonight.
The insurance commissioner promised to cut sales, income, corporate and capital gains taxes and repeated his hard line on immigration, which he unveiled yesterday, saying he would deny state services to all illegal immigrants.
Both Poizner and U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Granite Bay, who introduced him via video, said the gubernatorial candidate would uphold the party's principles in a period of self-examination by many in the party.
"We get in trouble as a party when we elect Republicans in Sacramento and in Washiington, D.C., that abandon these conservative principles," Poizner said. "I'm going to impelement some conservative reforms that work."
McClintock started the theme on his video: "I've heard some Republicans say we need to rebrand our party. We don't need to rebrand our principles. We need to return to them. We need Steve Poizner."
McClintock also worked in a dig at Poizner rival Meg Whitman by questioning her conservative credentials and saying, "We can't afford to offer California Arnold Schwarzenegger's third term."
Whitman press secretary Sarah Pompei responded to McClintock's comment: "While Meg Whitman has been clear on her position that we need to lower taxes, create jobs and cut government spending, Commissioner Poizner changed his position on just about every issue to cover up his liberal record. Meg Whitman is the clear leader California needs to turn around the economy and crate jobs unlike Commissioner Poizner who changes his positions with the political winds."
Pompei also noted that Poizner did not furlough employees at the Department of Insurance while Schwarzenegger ordered furloughs across state government to deal with the budget crisis.
"Does Tom McClintock support that?" Pompei asked.
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