CD47 Watch: Quang Pham Re-Registers As A Republican

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CD47 Watch: Quang Pham Re-Registers As A Republican

By Matthew Cunningham | 06/16/09 | 02:58 AM EDT | 3 Comments

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On May 21, I posted this regarding Quang X. Pham's ambitions to run for Congress in the 47th Congressional District:

Quang is a smart guy, and if he does decide to make a run, I wouldn't be surprised if he switches to GOP and dukes it out with Van Tran in the primary.

And so, it has come to pass. I saw Quang (who used to blog for Red County) at the OC GOP Flag Day Dinner on Saturday, and he told me he'd re-registered from Decline-to-State to Republican that very day, even showing me the electronic form he'd filled out.

What does it mean? For one thing, Quang has clearly, and correctly concluded he cannot win CD47 as an independent. Such a course of action would only serve to benefit incumbent Rep. Loretta Sanchez.

Furthermore, it puts him one step closer to challenging Assemblyman Van Tran in the primary. Will he pull the trigger? I don't know, but I remain convinced the political calculus heavily favors Van Tran. Quang has said he is willing to put $250,000 of his own money in, and is confident he can raise another $250,000. That is a very healthy sum of money, but winning in CD47 is more than a matter of fat warchests. The ability to put together an effective ground operation that can identify, organize and turnout volunteers and supporters is crucial. Van has been doing just that, effectively, for years, in CD47.

Quang has a political future. He is smart, ambitious and has a good story to tell. At the end of the day, however, I don't think being the GOP nominee in CD47 in 2010 is in the cards.

UPDATE: fellow Red County blogger Allan Bartlett espied Van Tran and Quang Pham at the Flag Day Dinner, locked in what looked like vigorous conversation.

TAGS: Van Tran, Quang Pham, CD47, Loretta Sanchez

3 Comments | Related Topics »Orange County (CA)

Comments

Ridiculous!

Duel campaigns kills GOP Unity for the Fall Campaign in the 47th CD.

This is ridiculous and no wonder why we, the GOP, get ridiculed!

Van Tran has been a team player by not running for State Senate in 2006, the GOP MUST stand with Van Tran if he runs for Congress.

Get real Quang Pham and with the money you have spread it to the GOP groups that could use it for GOTV and Registration efforts....HELLLOOOO!

Submitted by Allen Wilson on Tue, 06/16/09 - 03:18 AM »

Flavor of the Month - "Republican."

Quang is nothing more than an opportunist looking for a public forum to build his name ID and stroke his ego. He has done nothing for the GOP or any of its candidates. He's blogged here; he's blogged on Orange Juice. He was a Republican; than he wasn't; now he is again...

How can anyone take this man seriously??? He's potentially Tan Nguyen Part II and we don't need anymore of that. Just like Tan, if Quang wants to run on his own, that's his right. However, he should receive no support from Republican circles until he's actually stayed registered as a Republican for at least 5 years and has a verifiable record of staunch support for GOP candidates.

Heck, why doesn't he register as a Democrat and challenge Lorreta Sanchez in the Primary???!!! I think the answer might be because he's so busy cutting deals with everyone on the side that he's actually arranged something with her. Let's watch him closely and find out...

That being said, I think a Primary challenge is alwasy good between two REAL Republicans. It sharpens the winner to preform better going into the General. I just don't think Van has any real challengers.

Submitted by Central County Committee Member on Tue, 06/16/09 - 12:47 PM »

Quang Only Cares About Himself

Quang is trying to sell books. If he cared anything about the party that he joined last week and now wants to lead, he would not ruin our best chance to take back that seat from the Dems. What does he think he is going to do so different than Tran anyway?

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 06/16/09 - 01:01 PM »