Larry Elder Needs A New Campaign Manager

Above, Larry Elder. 

It is a good thing that I left the mess that is called California.

The Democrats have a lock on the powers of government and made a mess out of the state. There is a recall election against Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom. But even if he is recalled, unless the state legislature flips Republican next year, nothing will change even with a Republican governor. 

Talk show host Larry Elder has thrown his hat into the gubernatorial ring. He is a good and capable man. But I now have my doubts that he will prevail after reading the following in the Los Angeles Times:

Elder is well-known among conservatives because his nationally syndicated, three-hour talk show is broadcast daily in L.A., San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and several smaller California cities. He’s heard in all 50 states in 200 markets, with a national audience of 1.5 million.

He also has 2.5 million followers on social media.

This is why having radio audiences in Utah, Texas and Florida — and being followed by millions on social media across the country — is important politically in California.

“These are potential donors,” says Lou Barnett, his campaign manager. “He has a national fundraising base.”

Good lord! Lou Barnett is Larry Elder's campaign manager?!

Old-timers of California politics, particularly those who were in the Young Republicans in the 1970s, are very familiar with Barnett. He engineered a split between the moderate and conservative factions of the YRs and sabotaged a Reagan endorsement for president of the California Young Republicans in 1976. This was widely reported just before the 1976 New Hampshire Primary.

Above, Lou Barnett.

In 1978, he was involved in some below-the-belt shenanigans in the Evelle Younger gubernatorial campaign by hiring some private detectives against Jerry Brown. When this was exposed, this led Mrs. Mildred Younger to state publicly about Barnett, "If I were that young man, I'd be worried about my political future."

Barnett tried to get a job with the Reagan administration in 1981, but when his past came to light, Reagan advisor Ed Rollins nixed it.

Barnett pulled some shenanigans against Donald Trump's California campaign chief in 2016.

Right On Daily posted:

Lou Barnett, the husband of Late LAGOP Chair Jane Barnett is a long time “friend” of Tim Clark. He is the individual that sent a list of recommendations in LA County over to the Donald Trump camp. (Namely Tim Clark)

These lists included the White Nationalist William Johnson.

They knew that Tim Clark would wait until the last minute to vet his candidates and there was a good chance that this guy would fly through the vetting.

It was told to me that the minute the list came out with Johnson’s name on it that Mr. Barnett leaked the news to the Guardian.

Was another campaign responsible for this dirty trick or did Mr. Barnett do on his own?

Apparently, age hadn't mellowed Lou Barnett.

I like Larry Elder, but his choice of campaign manager leads me to doubt his chances. Larry Elder needs a new campaign manager.