California GOP shuts the door on DTS voters

Most conservative Republicans in California are opposed to changing the rules so that DTS (Decline to State) or independent voters can vote in the GOP primaries. I think that is a huge mistake.

The California Democratic Party allows DTS voters to pull Democrat voters in the primary. I in fact intend to do so next year so that I can cast a vote for New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

But if I wanted to vote for a Republican, I could not.

It begs the question – what will DTS voters do in the general? I understand that up to 40% of California voters are now DTS. That is a huge plum for the party that is smart enough to reach out to these disenfranchised voters. Right now that would be the Democrats, not the Republicans.

I believe that conservatives want to keep the DTS voters out of next year’s presidential primary for fear that they will vote for Rudy Giuliani instead of Mitt Romney. I think a lot of them would vote for Giuliani, but others would likely go with Fred Thompson, if he ever announces.

Flash Report blogger and editor Jon Fleischman wrote about his vote against changing the California GOP primary election rules at this link. He is quite proud of his vote, “Along with my board colleague, Vice Chairman Tom Del Becarro, we jointly introduced a successful, one sentence resolution opposing any change in our current rules.”

Fleischman may have doomed his party. As it currently stands, the Republicans have no chance of winning California in the general if they try do it with a troglodyte conservative. They need a moderate candidate if they are to have any hope in this state. And they need help from DTS voters in the general, big-time, if they are to prevail in that election.

But why should DTS voters help out a Republican Party that is determined to keep them out of their primary? It makes no sense. Apparently the California Republican Party leadership is hellbent on becoming extinct.

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"Admin" is just editors Vern Nelson, Greg Diamond, or Ryan Cantor sharing something that they mostly didn't write themselves, but think you should see. Before December 2010, "Admin" may have been former blog owner Art Pedroza.