SD33: New Majority Endorses Mimi Walters

This just came over the transom from The New Majority:

New Majority Endorses Mimi Walters For Senate
Orange County Chapter Weighs in on Ackerman Replacement

COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA –– Today the New Majority, Orange County Chapter, announced its endorsement of Mimi Walters for State Senate District 33.  The New Majority is one of the most influential political action committees in the state of California, and a major player in state and federal candidate races.

In making the announcement, Caroline Beeson, New Majority California Growing Republican Opportunities to Win (GROW) Committee Chairman stated that, “Mimi Walters has been an effective advocate for Orange County in the State Assembly in promoting fiscally responsible policies, we look forward to Mimi taking her leadership skills to the State Senate.”

Tom McKernan, Chairman of New Majority Orange County added, “We met with both candidates and analyzed their campaigns carefully, holding candidate interviews and a forum, in the end it was our members who believed Mimi would be the best candidate to follow in Senator Dick Ackerman’s footsteps.”

Over the past 7 years the New Majority has broadened the appeal of the Republican Party by promoting a fiscally responsible philosophy toward government and contributing resources to Republicans who support an inclusive, mainstream approach toward politics.

That's a big endorsement for Mimi. TNM can max out to her campaign, but more importantly are the individual members whose donations this endorsement loosens up.

I don't recall The New Majority ever endorsing this far out -- 7 months -- in a contested primary.

UPDATE (1:48 p.m.): A reader let me know TNM endorsed Cristi Cristich for Assembly in 2002 much earlier than that, maxing out to her 10 months before the primary and endorsing her before that.

Mimi's opponent in the primary is Anaheim Councilman Harry Sidhu.

Comments

[One Who Knows]

Mimi Walters is the obvious choice of groups such as the New Majority, the Lincoln Club, CWLA and the Orange County Republican Party.

She's paid her dues in the Assembly. She works hard. She's a team player. She's easy to get along with. She's a conservative whom even liberals like. She's a good fundraiser. And...she's a woman!

Harry Sidhu needs to stop listening to those who whisper in his ear that he can win this race. Councilman Sidhu can not, and will not, defeat Mimi Walters in a Republican primary.

My concern is that Harry will get so invested in his campaign that he will have no option but to start trashing Mimi over some obscure votes she cast two, four or six years ago. Or make some outlandish claims of her being a closet liberal.

If he doesn't "drive up Mimi's negatives", Harry's support will be somewhere in the 25% range. With a $million or so dollars, he might get up to 40%-45%.

So he has two choices. Go negative early and often, or be an asterisk. Of course the third option is to opt out. Which I would strongly advise him to consider.

[Taxpayerconcerns]

Let's not forget that Mimi Walters is a "member" of New Majority and has invested a great deal of money in that organization as a member.

Endorsements alone do not win a race, as "One Who Knows" should know.

"One Who Knows" should also know that Mimi Walters has a tough contender in Harry Sidhu.

Harry has alot of folks that are "wild" about him and don't call this race on early endorsements - as these eggs won't hatch until next June.

Go Harry!

[I Wonder]

Actually the vote was pretty split.

The interesting thing about 'one who knows' comments is he (or she) brings up some 'obscure' votes. What votes are we talking about here?

[Wasn't There A Poll]

Wasn't there a poll a couple months ago that showed these two pretty equal?

['And... she's a woman']

Ummmmm.... what else would SHE be? And why should that matter?

[Long-time politico]

'One's' analysis is close, if a little pessimistic regarding Councilman Sidhu. If this race materializes it will be expensive and negative; and negative from both sides. And 'One' is correct to note Assemblywoman Walters' gender; TNM is fixated upon supporting women.

As a self-identified conservative as the term is currently in vogue, I am repulsed by the probable blood letting. The good news is that both of these fine public servants are solid conservatives and the taxpayers win either way.

Just a thought. . . Wouldn't Councilman Sidhu make an outstanding candidate to run against Loretta? Anaheim overlaps much of that district (I think) and I suspect that Governor Jindal of Louisiana would be a potent national fundraising chair for that campaign.

[Been Around]

Walters is a tough campaigner who got to the Assembly by beating the incumbent Chair of the Board of Supervisors in the overlapping district. She also has the checkbook to do what's needed if Harry actually stays in the race.

[redperegrine]

"Walters is a tough campaigner who got to the Assembly by beating the incumbent Chair of the Board of Supervisors in the overlapping district"

Tom Wilson? That was like hitting a chocolate eclair with a baseball bat.

[Been Around]

He may have been an eclair but his name ID was probably 90% and he had big-name consultants and lots of money.

[Actually]

Actually, remember in the 73rd race there was a conservative from oceanside who came in first with election day votes.

[One Who Knows]

Hey Actually:

Candidates who come in first on election day votes are usually loosing candidates who failed to run an effective vote-by-mail campaign.

See, for example, the results of the 1st Supervisorial District special where Tom Umberg got the most election day votes followed closely by Carlos Bustamonte. They were both trounced by Janet and Trung who ran phenomenal vote-by-mail campaigns.

The bottom line? Winning candidates (like Mimi) make sure their supporters vote long before election day.

[Actually]

Actually, 'one who knows' I was merely pointing out the race for the 73rd was a three way race... a race in which Wilson the liberal came in 3rd to Walters and a broke Oceanside candidate.

But you do raise a point in re early voting. Sidhu isnt a liberal, and he isnt broke, right?

[Quang]

I was at TNM debate and Mimi clearly beat Harry. Harry is a fine candidate and I hope he goes further politically.