It's no secret that I admired President Reagan for his "big tent strategy". He believed in an inclusive GOP with unwavering principles. Today, in California, we practice the opposite with our closed, Republican Presidential primary.
Former CRP Chairman Ron Nehring says it best, in his criticism of George Will's advice to ignore the Presidential race and concentrate on controlling Congress:
Most importantly, Will ignores the powerful impact which the performance of a Presidential candidate has on downticket candidates for Congress and state legislatures. A weak Republican Presidential campaign would dramatically reduce Republican voter turnout across the board, embolden Democrats and labor unions, and lead to a massive shift in the political dynamic against Republicans.
I agree with Ron completely on this issue. Encouraging every voter to vote for a Republican Presidential candidate can positively influence the down ballot races (not limited to but including my GOP Central Comiittee race).
I want to encourage as many Californians to vote for Republican candidiates as possible. With so many voters registering as independents or "decline to state" we have to get them comfortable voting for Republican candidiates and issues. This Presidential election, which has aligned so many moderate Democrats and independents, in their opposition to a radical leftist in the White House, can broaden the Republican base for decades, as the Reagan Revolution did.
I said as much today on my initial post at SDRostra.com, the center-right local politics new site. Here's an excerpt from my essay there:
It’s no secret that political parties are losing voters. Fortunately, more are fleeing the opposition than disassociate with us but leave us they do….in droves. The fastest growing segment in California politics are the “Decline To State” a party; the closed Presidential primary policy deepens the divide.
Rick Santorum is reaching out to blue collar Democrats with socially conservative views. At the California Republican Party convention, that strategy is called Hispanic Outreach. Ron Paul appeals to disaffected Obama voters and independents. At the CRP convention, that strategy is called Youth Outreach. The CRP can have as many “town halls” as it wants, in an attempt to shrink the communication deficit, but if the Election Day sign says “closed early,” the communication deficit will grow wider.
Read the complete article at SDROSTRA
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