California GOP convention to showcase Whitman, Poizner

California Republicans gather in Santa Clara this weekend for their semi-annual state convention. It’s their last meeting before the June primary, when Republicans decide on who they’ll run for governor against state Attorney General Jerry Brown.

Like those in the national G.O.P., Republicans in California are looking for a message that will stick with voters.

“You’re in this kind of wilderness phase where you’re trying to figure out how do you put it back together, how do you create a coherent message for your party that’s going to win you back a majority," Jon Fleishman, a vice chair of the party said.

Fleischman, who writes the popular conservative blog The Flash Report, said an unusually large number of party activists are undecided in the governor’s race — largely because they feel burned by Governor Schwarzenegger’s decision to help balance the budget by raising taxes.

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“And so I think everybody is looking to figure out who is the authentic fiscal conservative in the race," Fleischman said. "I think this convention will provide a showcase for them to do that.”

In recent polls, former eBay chief Meg Whitman has led state insurance commissioner and former Silicon Valley executive Steve Poizner by 30 points in the race for the G.O.P. nomination.

Analysts say that’s because Whitman’s already spent millions on radio and T.V. advertising.

Both are on the air now in what observers expect to be the most expensive gubernatorial primary ever. Each is trying to sound more fiscally conservative than the other.

“We know spending has been out of control in Sacramento. But how out of control?" Whitman declares in one commercial.

“California’s in trouble. I’m Steve Poizner. We spend too much and we tax too much," Poizner warns in one of his radio ads.

At the convention, the two candidates will address delegates at different sessions. Whitman refused to debate at an event dominated by conservatives who might favor Poizner.

Instead, they’ll face off Monday in a debate in Orange County.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney — who’s expected to run for president again — will address the convention. So will G.O.P. candidates for state attorney general and U.S. Senate.

Members of a growing political movement dedicated to smaller government also plan to rally during the convention in Santa Clara.

“There will be a lot of Tea Party activists attending the Republican Party Convention this weekend, yes!” Ashley Ingram said.

Ingram, 24, of the San Fernando Valley, is a Tea Party activist and a member of the Young Republicans Federation.

“I hope to bring some of the energy of the Tea Party to our side," Ingram said.

Republicans also plan to introduce a new face this weekend.

“I grew up poor. I grew up with 10 people living in a three-bedroom trailer. We didn’t have a lot of food to eat. At times we’d have to eat mayonnaise sandwiches," Damon Dunn says in an introductory video.

Dunn, 33, is a candidate for Secretary of State. He’s a former professional football player turned Irvine businessman, and a rare African-American G.O.P. candidate.

Like many Republicans looking for the right message, he targets President Obama and health care reform. That message worked in heavily Democratic Massachusetts.

“I think what we’ve seen happen is people have rejected a lot of these far-left liberal policies," Dunn said.

California’s top Republican doesn’t plan to show up at the convention.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who once declared that the party is “dying at the ballot box”, will skip this weekend’s gathering because of an unnamed prior commitment.