CA-SEN: Porter campaign privately pitches Dems to look beyond Schiff's money

[RandySF]

In a recent private meeting with Democratic activists, Katie Porter’s campaign brass pitched them on her standing in the U.S. Senate race despite being walloped in early fundraising by fellow Rep. Adam Schiff.

The series of virtual discussions, which are bringing together donors and other party leaders and were described to POLITICO by participants, appear designed to build support for Porter’s campaign as well as demystify for Washington, D.C., insiders the political landscape in California where the race could come down to two Democrats. There’s also an element of giving her more hardcore supporters a new set of positive talking points to use in their evangelism.

But central to their utility is money. Among donors and some Democrats close to Porter, there’s creeping fear that Schiff’s sizable cash advantage and support from the likes of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could quickly harden the narrative with insiders that he’s the prohibitive frontrunner for 2024 — even if early public and private polls don’t actually bear that out.

These people said they worry that otherwise interested groups and elected leaders might sit out on the early jockeying for endorsements and remain noncommittal — and that donors might wait and see whether Porter’s bid materializes as a real threat before contributing to her campaign. The meetings, implicitly if not explicitly, are being held to avoid that from becoming a reality.

“There’s a danger that can sometimes become conventional wisdom that the person with the most money will win,” a person familiar with the Porter campaign’s fundraising strategy told POLITICO.



https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/24/katie-porter-campaign-adam-schiff-california-00098732

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. Love them both will be super-happy with either :) (nt)

[Demsrule86]

2. I like Schiff...I don't live in California and there are no 'bad' candidates here...but Porter

Porter supported Nina Turner who is not even a Democrat. I would vote for Schiff if I had a vote.

[Cha]

10. +1! TY

[Demsrule86]

15. Hi Cha! Thanks. How are you?

[helpisontheway]

14. Oh that is definitely a strike against her for me. I can't stand Nina Turner. Nt

[Earth-shine]

3. What would intimidate Republicans in Congress more?

A) Katie Porter's whiteboard

B) An eloquent speech by Adam Schiff


There's no question that Schiff has a manner and demeanor that is needed in the Senate, almost like he was born to be there, but I think we need that whiteboard more.

[baklava]

12. Porter's prop

That whiteboard seems gimmicky.

[Earth-shine]

13. It's not a prop. It's a device that conveys information rather effectively.

To see or to seem?

I say "see."

Welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

[ZonkerHarris]

19. Fireside chats were a gimmick too. Gimmicks work.

[stopdiggin]

4. a tough one (because I think both are quality

candidates - and excellent representatives)

I think it is important to point out that the OP/article is saying nothing to hint at anyone being treated unfairly here. Donors make clear eyed assessments (and sometimes sit the sidelines) in many contests. And at the same time, nothing at all wrong with people voicing concern and calling attention to the current playing field.

And thanks for the informative post.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. I'm not giving any money until next year

To anyone. If people like your ideas - you will rise to the top.

[Sympthsical]

6. I have a friend working in Porter's campaign

It's interesting enough. But that is essentially the narrative, that Schiff is going to lean hard on all the establishment levers and Porter's going to have to do an end run around them to gain the traction needed.

California politics are very calcified and hierarchical. No one gets anywhere without going through the right channels and getting the right permissions. If Schiff is anointed by the state party old guard, Porter has a harder time.

She's trying to undercut that early.

I think I'm already over this primary, lol. It just reminds me of what I dislike about party politics - it's mostly fixed by power well before the voters show up.

[brush]

7. That a tough decision to make. I'll just have to flip a coin.

[Nixie]

8. This is so predictable. It's a shame that Porter has made political mistakes like this.

She is a great tactician and a great mind, and it was fantastic she was elected in her red area. But while she has many strengths, she has made some unnecessary political mistakes while in office. She picked a fight with the Irvine mayor and the Irvine police department. Not a good move. Now her hostile texts are being leaked. This was over the IPD's arrest of her boyfriend at one of her rallies. All that happened after she endorsed Nina Turner (not a Democrat) and the crazy right wingers started showing up to cause trouble. Apparently her boyfriend punched somebody. She could have avoided all that.

Her red area are old school GOP, many MAGA'S for sure, but they are more concealed types. Just old fashioned RW'ers in that well-known Orange County area. Now that she's gone more extreme, they are coming out of the woodwork after her.

The bashing of fellow Democrats and funding is very predictable and tiresome. Schiff has very good political skills and we can see by his very public demeanor for many years now that he has a good temperament for politics. Porter could learn a lot from Schiff.

[betsuni]

9. Agree, it's a shame and unnecessary.

[Cha]

11. TY for that background on California

politics.

[FakeNoose]

16. Adam Schiff is the obvious choice for Democratic voters in California

It hurts me to say this because I love Katie Porter. She WILL find another useful and productive job, I'm sure. But she won't be the Democratic candidate for California's next Senator. I wish I could vote for Adam Schiff myself, but I'm not a CA resident.

Should money and time be wasted on an expensive and hopeless primary campaign? Only Katie can decide.

[tinrobot]

17. Schiff's work on the impeachment and Jan 6th sealed it for me.

He's got the gravitas to be Senator. He'll be great.

Katie's awesome in her own way, but just not quite there for senator.

[Happy Hoosier]

18. I don't have a CA vote...

But I'd like to hear Porter express regret for endorsing Nina Turner. That was very poor judgemnt, IMO.

[Tactical Progressive]

20. I like Katie, but cant she wait for Feinsteins seat?