Green gov candidate Camejo at 5%; Nader in Berkeley, Friday

Dear Friends:

A pal in DC sent this interesting clip along. He did not include the web site address, where he found the excerpt below about a new California poll.

As someone who is still proud of his vote for Green Party candidate Ralph Nader in 2000, it does my heart good to read this kind of clipping. I like that Camejo and the Greens are getting around 5% of support from voters. Nice to be part of a growing party that attracts voters for positive reasons. That 5% means trouble for Gov. Davis, who should be turned out of office.

Actually, I am just pleased as can be that Camejo is even _mentioned_ in such polls and clips because I thought he wasn't even a blip on the radar screen. He apparently is and I plan to post his campaign p.r. in my front windows.

Who can be disappointed that Camejo may have to be included in the debates this fall? The state's political process needs to be opened up to include third party candidates and not just the usual Dem and GOP suspects. I hope active voters of many stripes will agree we need better candidates and one way to get them is to give Green Party candidates a place at the table for debates.

Speaking of Ralph Nader, he is in the Bay Area this week for an engagement in Berkeley sponsored by Cody's Books. Flyers for the event ask people to "Come listen as he deftly describes his role - and its future. Tickets at Cody's only, $10. or $5. with purchase of Crashing the Party or A Ralph Nader Reader; proceeds benefit The Center for Study of Responsive Law, a non-profit Nader organization. 7:30 PM at The First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way."

For more information about the event, go to: http://www.codysbooks.com.

Don't you just love the name of his new book? I do, as one queer AIDS voter fed up with two decades of being able to vote and every year feeling as though the Democratics take me, my votes and my concerns for granted. The Democrats, okay the one exception in a presidential race was Paul Tsongas, have never excited my political bones.

Count me as one American voter who surely vote Nader and Green in 2004. And my vote this November for California governor goes to Camejo.

Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA


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CALIFORNIA: Simon Poll Has Him Leading By Eight; Davis At 31%

A Public Opinion Strategies (R) poll; conducted 6/30-7/2 for businessman Bill Simon (R); surveyed 600 likely voters; margin of error +/- 4% (release, 7/9). Tested: Simon and Gov. Gray Davis (D).

General Election Matchup Reelect Davis?
All Men Wom Reelect Davis 31%
Simon 39% 41% 37% Someone new 57
Davis 31 29 33
Other 9
Undec. 19

Simon chief strategist Sal Russo: "I have seen bad poll numbers for an incumbent before, but the voters have clearly figured out that Gray Davis has been a failure as governor." Russo notes that "a major problem for Davis is the growing support for" Green Party candidate Peter Camejo, "who gets almost 5% of the vote." The 5% threshold "is usually considered for inclusion in statewide debates" (release, 7/9).