MyDD :: CA-50 Busby not saying she's a Dem: example for the rest?

CA-50 Busby not saying she's a Dem: example for the rest?

by skeptic06, Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 11:31:51 AM EST

I can't say I've been following CA-50 as closely as a lot of folks round here.

So the claims in today's Post piece may be old hat to the cognoscenti.

But - against the background of all those GOP candidates steering clear of any association with Bush, I found it interesting to see that Busby seems to be doing the same with the entire Dem party. (If one can believe the Post piece - which I don't, either way. Some corroboration would be nice. But...)

Francine Busby is a Democratic candidate for Congress. But you could not tell her party affiliation by watching her TV ads.

...Busby has played down her party affiliation to the point that it is almost her dark little secret.

Her GOP opponents are doing much the same, it says.

Hardly a first for American politics, of course, a candidate running from his own party. Or against, even.

But it puts all the heartaching about Dem policy - Hamilton Project and all - into perspective.

Note, for instance, that as far as goes

the inheritance tax...she is for a complete repeal.

She's a death tax repeal groupie. How 'bout that?

Not something I've noticed as highlighted in the lefty coverage of the race...

Tags: CA-50, Francine Busby, Estate Tax, Death Tax, Death Tax Repeal (all tags)

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Re: CA-50 Busby not saying she's a Dem: example fo (none / 0)

Nobody is overtly making this partisan really, I think largely because San Diego politics for both parties has been pretty ugly lately. Everyone's desperately jockeying for the "restore credibility" mantle more than Dem/Rep.

I very much disagree with the claim that she's running away from the party or keeping it a secret. I think she's just smart enough to realize that she isn't going to win, especially in this district, on the strength of being a Dem. She's been playing up the anti-corruption and the bipartisan cooperation bit which seems like the best way to cross over to a few wavering Republicans that have been scarred by Cunningham, the mayoral races, the pension scandal and the indicted councilmembers- stay above the fray as much as possible and let the Republicans hang themselves.

by Lucas O'Connor on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 11:52:40 AM EST

Registration realities... (none / 0)

...prevent anyone from running this race with an in-your-face Democratic identity. The numers in CA-50 just aren't there for that. Busby is doing the smart thing--tacking an independent message based on ethics. She has to win over a significant percentage of conservative-leaning independents to win this race, and she's not gonna do that by mentioning how much of a strong Democrat she is every other sentence. That's the reality of the district.

Look, even our hero Fighting Democrat, Paul Hackett, avoided saying he was a Democrat too often in his OH-02 TV ads. He even used Bush in one of his ads! (Not in a glorifying way, though, but not in an overtly Bush-bashing way, either.)

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 12:17:12 PM EST

Re: CA-50 Busby not saying she's a Dem: example fo (none / 0)

"numers"...

Kinda sounds like a Bushism...

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 12:18:03 PM EST

Busby's outright win (none / 0)

She may pull this off outright tomorrow. With MoveOn's huge operation to call people up and get them to the polls, there seems to be much more motivation for Dems to go vote than Reps. It seems very apparent that a Republican might not be drawn to the election bc of the vast amount of candidates. They probably figure they will wait to the next election where they can vote R or D, where they would win. Ill bet Wed morning when and if Busby gets 50+1 they'll be wishing they came out to vote. And in regards to Dem or Rep, shes just playing it smart, her website has her as a progressive. The general public doesn't need to know that for her to win, "not a democrat or republican" works perfectly for the masses.

by Timeforchange2006 on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 01:16:11 PM EST

Re: CA-50 Busby not saying she's a Dem: example fo (none / 0)

She may not be shoving it in San Diego voters' faces -- and that seems okay to me. The registration in the district stinks for Democrats.

However, the Move-On phone script does go to party concerns -- see here. And the one Busby voter I contacted doing this phoning actually was very shy about saying she was a Dem. So this may be a good campaign.

Can It Happen Here?

by janinsanfran on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 01:54:35 PM EST

Re: CA-50 Busby not saying she's a Dem: example fo (none / 0)

Not True, watch the first ad called assembly line and you'll see it says Democrat in the ad.

In addition, the walk piece, door hanger, and all mail has had Democrat on them.

by Busby for Congress on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 03:12:28 PM EST

Re: CA-50 Busby not saying she's a Dem: example fo (none / 0)

Kerry wouldn't bring himself to say it last election.

What are they afraid of? We need to build the positives as well as capitalize on the thieves on the other side.

by zappatero on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 07:17:24 PM EST

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