E-NEWS: Primary Facts and the Truth About Feinstein

June 8th, 2012

EMKEN FOR U.S. SENATE POST-PRIMARY MEMO

 FROM: MARK STANDRIFF, COMMUNICATIONS

DATE: FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2012

In Tuesday’s U.S. Senate top-two primary, over half of all California voters said “Anyone But Dianne Feinstein.” And from the press reports, Senator Feinstein slept through most of the action.

Her longtime consultant, Bill Carrick, advised the press to avoid writing that Feinstein is in trouble because he doesn’t want them to “embarrass themselves.”

The press is conveniently ignoring some important facts about California’s first open-primary U.S. Senate race:

• PRESS: “Feinstein cruised to her Senate victory…”
  FACT: Feinstein finished under 50% in a primary for the first time in her 42-year political career against a field of 23 contenders.
• PRESS: “Feinstein beat Emken by a 4-to-1 ratio…”
  FACT: Emken had to fight through 13 other Republican candidates to reach the general election – now she faces Feinstein one-on-one with no other competition. Every other vote cast was a “Not-Feinstein” vote.
• PRESS: “Emken doesn’t have a prayer…”
  FACT: Head-to-head, Feinstein’s lead over Emken is already shrinking:
  • April Pulse Poll – Feinstein 52%, Emken 25%
  • May Pulse Poll – Feinstein 50%, Emken 34%
  • June Primary total – Feinstein 49%, Emken + GOP combined 39%
• PRESS: “Feinstein is invincible and is expected to be re-elected easily…”FACT: Feinstein’s approval numbers are underwater (41 approve/44 disapprove) in an anti-incumbent year.

Bad news for one of the most recognizable politicians in America. Especially since Dianne Feinstein and her consultant have shown an incredible amount of arrogance, admitting to the San Francisco Chronicle that she had to be told who her challenger was the day after the primary because she went to sleep before the polls closed.

It’s that kind of asleep-at-the-wheel attitude that voters across America are rejecting. And during an election year when career politicians like Dick Lugar and Pete Stark are getting the heave-ho, Feinstein will find out that trying to justify adding another 6 years to her 42-year political career will be about as successful as trying to time a NASCAR race with a sundial.

Especially with Elizabeth Emken as her opponent. She’s a fighter and a problem solver. She has Washington experience without the political baggage. She combines common sense conservatism with a heart for the truly vulnerable. In other words, the Democrats will have to throw out their playbook in this race.

Elizabeth’s experiences will give us the opportunity to play in some sandboxes where Republican candidates don’t normally get to go.

And Team Feinstein should keep this in mind–the political establishment also told both Senator Russ Feingold and Senator Dick Lugar they had nothing to worry about.

I’m excited about the opportunity for Californians – and the rest of the country – to find out that Elizabeth Emken is not only a formidable candidate but also the best choice to retire Dianne Feinstein this November.