Angelides, Westly Seek Party Endorsement

After an introduction by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides today attempted to overcome trailing poll numbers and gain what once looked like a sure thing: the endorsement of the California Democratic Party.

An LA Times poll today puts Angelides' rival, state controller Steve Westly, ahead 33% - 20 % among likely primary voters. However, 45% were listed as undecided.

Addressing the CDP Convention's general session this morning, Angelides said, "I am proud that I never ever supported the Bush-Schwarzenegger agenda," suggesting that state Controller Westly had been too cooperative with Governor Schwarzenegger. The candidate and current state Treasurer said he had used his office to protect Californians from the governor's cuts to social programs and attacks on public employees: "I don't care that your poll niumbers are as high as your box office receipts. I will not let you hurt teachers and firefigthers" and other Californians, he said.

Calling himself "the Anti-Arnold", Angelides gestured at his slight frame and said, "If you have any doubts, just look at this body - all natural, God-given, the way it was intended to be." He implied that Westly, by contrast, is "Arnold Lite".

Following Angelides on the convention stage, candidate Steve Westly came out equally strongly against Arnold Schwarzenegger, asking delegates, "Do you believe that it's time for Arnold to get back to work on his next movie? It's going to be called The One-Terminator."

But while Angelides has been knocking Westly as "Arnold Lite", Westly has been stressing his "positive campaign pledge": Remember one thing: Whatever happens on June 6, we are still one party... I want to focus on beating Arnold, not beating up on each other."

Westly highlighted the values he stands for, beginning by citing his role helping build online auction company eBay: "We believed that the little guy desrerved a chance at competing on a level playing field. And today 700,000 people earn a full-time living on eBay."

Westly went on to list his stands in favor of environmental responsibility, education, access to health care, choice, equality for gays and lesbians and fair treatment for immigrants, plus his record pursuing tax cheats.

He defended his support across the aisle for Proposition 57, which he called a Democratic measure protecting education. But he said Governor Schwarzenegger had stopped working with Democrats, although he has recently claimed the mantle of legendary Democratic Governor Pat Brown.

"My friends, I knew Pat Brown, And Governor Schwarzenegger, you are no Pat Brown," said Westly to loud cheers.