Mark Baldassare
Mark Baldassare
ballot connects current voters
Voters see little on the ballot that connects to their current concerns.
challenge explain plan voters
This would be unprecedented. I think it will be a real challenge to explain to voters a plan of this magnitude.
attitudes deep ignore run
These attitudes run deep and wide. To ignore them could be politically perilous.
continue good governor news number pulling reasonably seems
It's reasonably good news for the governor on a number of levels. It seems many Californians continue to be pulling for the governor.
action clearly direction governor message move public question sacramento says special state translate whether words
Clearly the governor got the message of the special election. The question is whether the words translate into action in Sacramento and move the state in the direction the governor says he would like to go and the public says they would like to go.
coming direction itself matter policy public seems state toward
Clearly, without having a policy in place on where we're going, the public itself seems to be going toward mailing in the ballot. No matter what direction is coming out of the state capital, that's the direction that the public is going in.
blitz campaigns huge media minds occurs operate percent voters
It has huge implications for how campaigns are going to operate if 40 percent of voters are going to make up their minds before the media blitz that occurs right before an election.
education governor public
As long as the governor has education in the mix, the public will be supportive.
ballot competing headed june plans
Essentially, all of these competing plans that were headed for the June ballot were very popular.
easy finger point taking
It's very easy to point the finger at the Legislature and the governor, but ultimately, they're taking their cues from the voters.
along deeply irony leaders lines opportunity partisan public reconcile split state unable voters
It's an unfortunate irony that state leaders were unable to reconcile their differences, while voters - who are often deeply split along partisan lines - were very much in agreement. This was an opportunity to give the public something it collectively wanted.
fact since speaks whether
It speaks to the fact that whether you're controller or treasurer, if you've been there since 1998 or 2002, you won't be very well-known on the statewide stage.
agreement bond budget consensus governor leadership measure question reach test type voters
This is a real test for the governor. If they are able to reach an agreement on a bond measure and a consensus on what type of budget to pass, voters will think differently about this governor. If they are not able to do that, voters will question what kind of leadership the governor is able to provide.
ability concerned concerns connection direction draw election emphasis gasoline government happening looking natural people prices purpose respond rising seems special terrible
People are very concerned about the direction of the economy, rising gasoline prices and the ability of the government to respond to the terrible things that are happening around us, such as natural disasters. They're looking to this special election and they really can't draw a connection between what concerns them the most and what seems to be the purpose and the emphasis of the special election.