Clinton’s California advantage is her allies living in your neighborhood.

[Surya Gayatri]

May 21, 2016
Cathleen Decker
Los Angeles Times
Posted with permission from Tribune Content Agency
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LOS ANGELES—Bernie Sanders is winning the visuals in the fight for California's presidential vote. Every one of his events draws enthusiastic crowds numbering in the adoring thousands, demonstrating support that he hopes will translate into momentum. Hillary Clinton's campaign events are by design more intimate, featuring hundreds of supporters in venues selected to show her personal side.

But that visual contrast is only one — and historically not a determinative — measure of support. Another is the house-by-house, community group-by-community group warfare being waged in a far less visible way across the state.

In that, Clinton has the advantage, with her army of elected officials and other elements of the Democratic establishment, all trying to persuade their supporters to side with the front-runner.

Theirs is a campaign dependent on an old-fashioned political virtue under assault this campaign year: trust.

And a little arm-twisting.

So far in this presidential contest, Rep. Xavier Becerra has campaigned for Clinton in eight states and done interviews with television and radio outlets in seven more. In California, he's campaigned in his home base of Los Angeles and in Santa Barbara. Up soon: the Central Valley and Sacramento. All of it is intended to extend his credibility to her.

"The fact is that rarely do people get to meet the candidates who are running for office, especially for president, and so you have to ultimately rely on some sort of information," he said of voters. "Too often it's just television commercials, and most of the time you're turned off them because they're negative. So you're making choices based on, oftentimes, things you're not thrilled about."

The alternative: a local who can vouch for the name at the top of the ticket.

When it comes to a presidential vote, "The more you can get closer to knowing that person, the more confidence you have," Becerra said.

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/05/clintons-california-advantage-is-her-allies-living-in-your-neighborhood/

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Her ground game is impeccable. Hill, yeeeessssssss!

[still_one]

1. Thanks for this Surya. A lot is being made of new voter registration here in California, but what

is being ignored entirely is those Californians who have been registered and voting for decades, and they will make a difference

[Surya Gayatri]

4. And, who knows how many of those newly inspired voters

are Latinos, a majority of whom will probably go for Hillary. Latinos are historically VERY wary of Socialist promises.

THEY WILL COME OUT IN DROVES TO MAKE SURE THAT TRUMP IS CRUSHED.

[still_one]

7. Anectodedly when I was call banking yesterday for Hillary, most of the folks I called which had

Latino names, were voting for Hillary enthusiastically

[Surya Gayatri]

8. Good sign! And, thanks for your work!

[still_one]

9. ......................................

[Historic NY]

2. BS is running out of money fast....

those yuuge rallies cost & don't produce returns (votes). He can't afford media now except the type & hype that attract attention.

[Surya Gayatri]

6. "...hype that attracts attention." Ref. his "lesser of two evils" BS on ABC this morning.

He will say and do anything to grab some free air time.

He makes me sick.

[BobbyDrake]

10. I don't think he needs money so much as some friends...

...but he never made any during his career, so he has none. (Let's be honest, Jeff Merkely endorsed him to save his own career, not out of loyalty.) And all of his campaign surrogates like Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Nina Turner, Paul Song, and Jeff Weaver have done nothing but go on TV and give him a bad name.

[Thinkingabout]

3. It would make me feel good to see really big numbers for Hillary in the last

Of the primaries.

[Surya Gayatri]

5. ^^^This!^^^

[wryter2000]

11. I think it'll happen

There's one vote in my house, for sure.

California is so blessed in its diversity. I think we'll come through big time for Hillary.

[SharonClark]

12. K&R - Good article