Allan Hoffenblum Quotations

Pombo has to take this challenge seriously. If Pete McCloskey pulls 30 percent, Pombo's in trouble. That means there's a lot of Republicans looking for an alternative.

Look, the muscle magazine thing was just stupid and he doesn't want to talk about his past womanizing. He's made a lot of mistakes, but corruption is not one of them.

Gilchrist has the most emotional issue. A lot of people hate illegal immigration. And on that issue alone he is going to be able to motivate (voters). There's a lot of frustration and nobody is coming up with any answers.

Gilchrist will appeal to the hard-core conservatives on the single issue of immigration, and one would think, take votes away from John Campbell.

Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back on the horse again. That's my advice to him, which I believe he will do because he's a natural optimist, ... No matter what happens on Election Night, he'll figure out a way to say 'This is fantastic.'

President Bush is in California for specific reasons that do not involve Governor Schwarzenegger, and the governor is involved in a special election that has nothing to do with the president. Both are having political problems now, so other than cordiality, there's really no reason for them to be together.

I think he's in serious difficulty. I think a lot of people are unhappy with him.

When (Ronald) Reagan was governor, there was always unrest. He raised taxes ... he signed one of the most progressive pro-abortion bills in the country at that time.

It would certainly be a major upset for McCloskey to defeat Pombo, but McCloskey will add a lot of drama and theater to the race.

The timing is 100 percent political. If you're really sincere about getting a gubernatorial signature, why aren't you working to get it on his desk when it is easiest to sign it?

These cheap shots at the president are ill-timed and ill-advised. It comes at a time when the president is being hit by all sides. It's piling on.

When the governor started going after those public employee unions he made those rookie mistakes that we learned back in the '70s. And it does nothing but get you in trouble.

Why did they wait several months to respond to attacks from unions? ... They made bad political decisions all the way through.

They were courageous to vote the way they did. They did in fact cast a vote that is contrary to the opinion of a large number of voters in their party.

You're not going to beat Richard Pombo on the Endangered Species Act. But corruption is an issue that's on everybody's mind. If he's vulnerable on any issue, that would be it.

Arnold seems inept, ... What is he doing running around having town meetings? His campaign seems completely unfocused.

Arnold seems inept. What is he doing running around having town meetings? His campaign seems completely unfocused.

It tends to happen more often in the heavily populated areas because that's where the parties tend to be more active. It's no longer unusual.

He's one of the wealthiest governors ever in America, so he has some involvements. None of this is corruption because he does not personally profit.

A presidential visit is truly a remarkable event, and there's nothing to compare it to.

It's a referendum on him and his political team's persuasive abilities.

He's not going to roll over and play dead.

I'd say he's in trouble. The challenge for the Democrats is to prove that he is more influenced by lobbyists than he is concerned for public policy in his district.

If he was still up there with 61 percent approval and had broad support, he might sign it.