Who's Running The Debbie Cook Campaign?
Posted by: Jubal | 08/26/2008 3:23 PM
This week's OC Business Journal just came across the transom. Naturally, I went directly to Rick Reiff's OC Insider column and found this item:National Democrats are committing troops to Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook's spirited, if long-shot, congressional race against 10-term incumbent Dana Rohrabacher. Campaign Group principal Bill Wachob, an architect of Loretta Sanchez's 1996 upset of Bob Dornan, is advising Cook. Redlands native Kevin Thurman, a Beltway campaign consultant most recently with Hillary Clinton, has come aboard as her campaign manager. Thurman has sent a letter to Rhonda Rohrabacher, Dana's wife and campaign manager, calling for three debates. Even if Cook doesn't win, her efforts could force Republicans to defend their "safe" seat ...The Cook campaign is currently pursuing the classic challenger strategy of trying to hector the incumbent into a series of debates...in this case, three of the.
Dana Rohrabacher, being the incumbent, is willing to have one. If the Cook campaign persists in insisting on three, my guess is Dana will eventually decline to have any, saying the Cook camp had its chance for one and now won't get any.
I'm curious to see if the DCCC actually commits any money to CD46 on Cook's behalf, or if this is all a bluff.
In the meantime, my money is on Debbie Cook being hit on her weak spot: oil. The "we can't drill our way out of it" refrain is falling on deaf voter ears. Even the Board of Supervisors of Santa Barbara County -- ground zero of opposition to offshore drilling -- is expected to vote today in support of drilling.
CATEGORY:
2008 Elections, CD46 Watch
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
Dana Rohrabacher has debated in the past. He debated Jim Brandt a number of times during the last election.
He should do the same for Debbie Cook. Why not debate her?
As a former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan, he'll do great. He should have as many debates as he can. People need to hear his message on immigration, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
I don't know why you say that Dana Rohrabacher is "willing to have one" when his spokesperson says:
“Historically, Dana has always debated his challengers,” she said. “He’ll happily debate [Cook] several times."
Dana Rohrabacher is clearly chicken to debate a vastly more intelligent and polished challenger like Debbie Cook. Cook wanted at least three debates to cover the major geographic areas of the district. What good is it to Huntington Beach residents to have a debate in the Palos Verdes Peninsula (or vice versa)? Where does Rohrabacher want his one debate? On the Queen Mary?
Dana and Debbie should debate as often as possible; its good for the voters. Given that Dana seems so out of touch with his party, his party's candidate for president, he should get out there and remind voters why he's relevent in DC. I think he's afraid of Debbie so playing this game of debate/not debate with her because he's the incumbent means he's forgotten that he has to earn this job every two years.
You are such a good writer Matt, that I can only respond to you in the form of entire articles:
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/08/dana-terrified-of-debating-debbie-muddies-the-waters/
(no but seriously this place is cooler than Dan's site which forbids posting of a link like that. *raspberries* dan.)
"Kudos" to Cook's campaign committee; professional individuals exemplifying the best in organizational skills, leadership abilities, expertise, and, an overwhelmingly support of representation for the "voice of change." Debbie Cook is that change; a true visionary with new ideas, passion for the cause, dedication, and hope for the future. Cook maintains a sincere commitment of responsibility overall for achieving these goals. She's a high-profile powerhouse of energy with a positive impact on resolving critical issues.
If Dana doesn't debate then the list of criticisms of his decisions through the years simply grows larger and the impression he is sliding backwards is amplified
If he does debate as many times as they can agree to then he will do well
And so will Cook
Jubal, you seem to leave out critical information either by design or neglect and in this case that information is Abramoff. Reports are he will "sing" in September or his deal will be tossed
Only Dana knows what his friend jack can say...and therefore what any debater will also say in response