State pol straw poll

Though it’s still 11 months away, state lawmakers already are picking teams in the upcoming presidential primary.

The Democratic candidates were in D.C. this week meeting with the California legislators. And nearly every Democratic presidential candidate has pledged to show up at the California State Democratic Party Convention in San Diego in late April.

Senator Sheila Kuehl already has announced her support of Hillary Clinton. Fiona Ma also has endorsed Clinton, and kicked in the maximum $2,300 allowable by election law into the Clinton campaign.

Democratic Assembly members Mervyn Dymally, Sandre Swanson and Loni Hancock all attended the Barack Obama rally in Oakland last weekend, but that’s not the same as endorsing.

Leland Yee has thrown his weight behind John Edwards, as he did in the 2004 primary. And Assemblyman Anthony Portantino is on board the Edwards bandwagon, as well.

“I think he’s very electable,” Portantino told Capitol Weekly. “I think he has a great story to tell about the two Americas. It really touches a chord.”
In fact, Portantino is hosting an Edwards event on the evening of Saturday, March 24.

Few Assembly Democrats have publicly endorsed a candidate. That may change soon.
Speaker Fabian N