By Sue Caro
The first day of the convention [Friday, Feb. 24] started with an executive lunch with updates of state party activities that will make our jobs easier at the county level for GOTV (get out the vote) efforts. These include improvements to our voter database software, technology for precinct walking in battleground districts and enhanced websites for local parties paid for by the state party. We also heard from Sharon Day, Co-Chair of the RNC.
The afternoon was long - 1 to 6 p.m. in the County Chair Association meeting. Fifty-eight counties, each with a County Chair, discussing pending changes related to the new "jungle primary" (open primary) where parties will not have partisan ballots. Questions were about "how to endorse a preferred candidate" for the state and national offices, especially when an assembly district's boundaries overlap two or three counties. All three county committees must agree on the endorsement before the state party will concur and support the candidate on a sample ballot mailing prior to the election.
The afternoon ended with a private session with Congressman Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, one of the "Young Guns" and number three in House majority. He presented information on the effective recruitment of Republican candidates, the Young Guns system to support the best candidates and a new similar program being developed this year for our state to recruit Assembly District reps and state senators.
Drinks before dinner at the San Mateo County Welcome Reception, banquet dinner with speakers Congressmen Darryl Issa and Kevin McCarthy as speakers, followed by hospitality suites, including a gathering of the Bay Area counties at 10 to hear about all the behind the scenes decisions at the CRP Rules Committee and sharing about the County Chairs Assoc meeting.
I managed to get to bed by 11:30, bypassing the hospitality event in the Regency Ballroom with a band and hosted bar.
Editor's note: For more on the Republican convention
From Burlingame Patch, "Republicans Bash Obama, Set Sight On The Future"
Video from San Francisco Chronicle: Newt Gingrich on "San Francisco Values"
