The Biggest Political Story of next year
Clash of the Titans
Last week Tim Redmond tore it up about the upcoming Senate race between Migden and Leno, then Sasha dropped the news that Migden was considering a run against Newsom, perhaps to shore up her credentials on the left or perhaps a genuine effort to win. Now Matthew Bakjo, from the B.A.R., is suggesting that Aaron Peskin may also jump in to the race against Migden. The theory is that Aaron peels off leftie voters from Mark and then Carole wins. Others speculated that Aaron was using it as leverage to get Mark to drop out of the race.
Meaning, well, to put it nicely, we are about to witness the Clash of the Titans. Makes you want to move, eh? All of them are smart, capable, and tough campaigners. That said, I kind of wrote it off as idle speculation.
I ran into Aaron and his partner Nancy last night at Congregation SHA’AR ZAHAV. Bevan and Rebecca were having a naming ceremony for Sydney. I looked at Nancy and joked that she was running for District 3 supervisor and that Aaron was running for State Senate, quite the power couple. Nancy laughed but Aaron didn’t.
Aaron suggested that if Mark runs, then he would run and if he got in, it would be for the win. Was he bluffing? Who knows? But it will be a battle royale if he does. Some might argue that others might jump in too, like maybe termed out Assemblyman Joe Nation who represented Marin and Sonoma? Some say Joe is going to run anyway.
Put on your seatbelts folks.
But what if the Biggest Political Story is the Mayor’s race?
Some keep suggesting that there is an outside chance that Newsom may still drop out with any number of reasons being given for why he will drop out. So then the big question would be who runs? Rumor has it that Dennis Herrera is itching to be Mayor…Would Ross jump in? Aaron? Matt? As Tim Redmond put it, the mind reels…
December 23rd, 2006 at 1:31 pm
Three way, death matches for Senate seats covering SF, the North Bay, and the east bay (Perata’s) on the same ballot with a nationalized primary campaign against Tauscher? It isn’t even 2007 and 2008 is already in full swing.
December 23rd, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Yeah. Not to mention the SF Mayor’s race as an appetizer. Time to start investing in popcorn.
December 23rd, 2006 at 4:10 pm
While having a late dinner last night in the Tenderloin a prominent local Democratic Club President told me the Newsom camp is “none too happy” with the strong possibilty of Leno challenging Carole Migden for State Senate.
The individual, who is also a well known linguist, stated that the Newsom people think that this move by Leno will prompt Migden to run for Mayor instead. Newsom and company had hoped he would only have token opposition next year and now the idea of a no holds barred candidate like Carole Migden running against him was not on their radar screen. The Newsom people also fear that a Migden run will also encourage other contenders to get into the act both from the left and the right.
December 24th, 2006 at 9:45 am
If Aaron got into a race, I can only imagine that he would do it to win. I can’t imagine that he’s that close to Midgen that he is willing to spend the effort to run to allow her to win. He is termed out in 2008 as supervisor.
For mayor, a Midgen and Newsom race would be be similar to the race in 2002. Burton may back Midgen just because the rumor is that Burton is really pissed at Newsom for not supporting Ma for Assembly in the primary. Have Newsom and Burton made up?
December 24th, 2006 at 9:46 am
I must say that the Biggest Political Story of the year in my book will be about SFUSD and SF School Board.
1. New Superintendent
2. School Closures
3. New Contract for UESF/Educators
4. Declining enrollment, smaller population
December 24th, 2006 at 10:16 am
More on the Migden vs Newsom vs Leno vs Peskin on SFist titled “State Senate Shennanigans.”