Janice Hahn Keeps Up A Drumbeat of Endorsements

By Gene Maddaus Mon., Feb. 21 2011 at 1:17 PM

Debra Bowen

L.A. Councilwoman Janice Hahn unveiled yet another big endorsement for her Congressional campaign this morning: South Bay Sen. Ted Lieu.

If endorsements determined the outcome, then Hahn would be a lock to defeat Secretary of State Debra Bowen. So far, Hahn has secured dozens of them, including those of big names like Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Magic Johnson. Bowen hasn't released any.

One thing that could be standing in Bowen's way is her own policy of not endorsing in races that she oversees as Secretary of State.

Bowen wants to stay impartial, but that means that a lot of elected officials don't feel they owe her anything.

Bowen has responded to concerns that Hahn has a big lead by saying that endorsements don't matter much, especially in a race where both candidates are well known. Responding to the Lieu endorsement today, Bowen's consultant, Steve Barkan said:

Bowen's record on consumer protection, environmental protection and green jobs, transparency in government, and fighting to improve our schools -- and of course her work to protect the vote is far more important to voters than which politicians support other politicians.

Bowen also responded to skeptics on Twitter this weekend:

I have my own path in #CA36 bid. Already talking abt $$ spent in Afghanistan. It adds to deficit, ignores our needs at home, costs lives.

Bowen appears to be branding herself early on as the anti-war candidate, in part to prevent defections to Marcy Winograd. Hahn, meanwhile, has been talking about jobs, jobs and Israel.

Hahn announced Lieu's endorsement this morning at Balqon Corporation in Harbor City, which produces electric trucks for the Port of Los Angeles.

"We want to make the South Bay a hub for clean energy," Hahn said.

"On the single most important issue, job creation, Janice Hahn has by far the superior record," Lieu said. "She has gotten people to work and created jobs."

We're still watching Hahn's bold gambit to lure Winograd into the race with a pro-Israel pledge. Asked this morning if that's an issue on the top of voters' minds in the 36th District, Hahn said, "If voters in the district care about the security of this country, then the U.S. has always counted on Israel being one of our major allies."

The pledge includes language denouncing Winograd, so when Bowen quickly signed it last Friday it made Winograd more likely to get into the race. That hurts Bowen, because both are drawing from the same pool of supporters.

As a politician, Hahn tends to lead with her heart. But this episode demonstrates that she also has an ample Machiavellian side.

Tags:

Debra Bowen, Janice Hahn, Ted Lieu

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Sylvia

We need a Representative in Congress like Marcy Winograd, who is independent of special interest groups and has the courage speak out against our war mongering allies.

Robert

Jasnice Hahn the imbecile and failure of a Councilwoman who pays off gangsters and hurt the career of two great gang officers in South LA is bad news. She is an moron who grandstands during council meetings. She took $50,000 from Boyle Heights area because the lame councilman gave it to her to build a youth Center. Helloooo last time I checked Boyle Heights needed that center more. Hahn instigated the Arizona boycott which turned out to be a joke to the city. Because of her stupidity council ended up giving more exemptions not to boycott. Idiots!!! There is a Anti Incumbent movement going on in LA against all city council members who have ruined our city, supports illegals and makes excuses for them, supports illegal vending, wasting millions, giving DWP raises and allowing them to raise the rates to all of us....I say get them all OUT. Don't re elect or elect to higher office. The people around the nation are revolting. Its time of LA to do the same

Rochelle Low

Hahn and Bowen are both pandering to the checkbooks of the military industrial complex. There is a reason Marcy Winograd was able to win 41% of the vote against the ultimate war monger, Jane Harman with a grassroots campaign. People are tired of war. Marcy Winograd is a candidate of the people. And it seems that with events around the world in the last few weeks, it is the time of the people.

Marta Evry

But what do all these endorsements really mean?

Politics.

Or, as one politician who's name sits high on the Hahn Campaign's ™ endorsement list told me, "Look kid, if Hahn loses, I still have to work with her. If she wins, I have a friend in congress."

While not all the endorsements on Hahn's website represent this kind of transactional politics, a lot of them do. Nearly every name on Hahn's list endorsed before the other Democratic candidate, Debra Bowen, had officially announced. The Hahn Campaign ™ was calling in favors, and they were calling them in as fast as they could.