Reply #56: Gavin did himself pretty proud, I thought, on the subject of

[saltpoint]

whether lesbians and gay men should be afforded the same privilege of marriage available to anyone else in the nation.

Both of these folks seem to do better at it than other Democrats in other places. We are getting a California-transfused national dialogue with these two Democrats and not a Ben Nelson or Evan Bayh baby-food social agenda.

'Can understand your casting a vote for Newsom and as I've posted on DU before, I'd support him if he prevails in the primary. Right now polling indicates Brown has the advantage. It could get interesting.

Newsom had to be engaged enough in his city to withstand a strong challenge by Matt Gonzalez, who did very well in that race. The Left is more visible in the Bay Area generally, so I give credit to Newsom for his smarts. I had left the city by then but thought that Gonzalez could not have done as well as he did if the Left had not been as discontented with Newsom (especially outspent as Gonzalez was by as much as he was) but also that Newsom had to have a lot on the ball to withstand such a fierce and well-managed assault.

I'll be rooting hard for whichever Democrat prevails in the primary and hope that we can keep the loathsome Meg Whitman far, far away from real power.