Claudia Peschiutta
LOS ANGELES -- Once people realize he isn't a door-to-door salesman,
43rd Assembly District candidate Dario Frommer has lately found voters
more willing to hear the political pitch he has to offer when he appears
at their front doors.
"People are interested in what we have to say," he said. "We're
getting a very good reception."
The Democrat credits both the convention put on by his own party this
week in Los Angeles and the Republican National Convention held in
Philadelphia earlier this month with arousing voter interest.
"Both conventions are signaling to people, 'Hey, there's an election
coming up,' " said Frommer, who did not make it down to the four-day
Democratic National Convention, which ended at Staples Center on
Thursday.
His Republican opponent, Craig Missakian, has also noticed a
difference in recent campaigning walks throughout the district.
"The conventions have opened people up a lot more," he said. "They're
much more willing to talk about their concerns."
Paul Zee, the Republican South Pasadena City Councilman running for
the 21st state Senate District seat, has also benefited from the
conventions, campaign consultant Ron Rogers said.
"The campaign is on an upswing of volunteer activity that started
before the Republican convention," he said.
Not every local candidate made appealing for votes a top priority this
week. Others focused on lobbying for contributions and volunteers.
Campaign consultant Fred Register said he encouraged a couple of his
clients, Assemblyman Jack Scott (D-La Crescenta) and La Canada Flintridge
City Councilwoman Carol Liu to take advantage of the networking
opportunities offered by the Democratic convention and its many related
parties.
"It's a good use of the candidates' time to go and meet with people,"
he said. "Sometimes, you meet people who are very interested in your
race." Both heeded his advice.
Liu, who is vying for the 44th Assembly District seat against
Republican activist Susan Carpenter McMillan, went to several
convention-week events to seek support from fellow Democrats, many of
whom, she said, were willing to help.
"These are Democrats supporting Democrats," she said. "This is not a
hard sell."
McMillan continued her door-to-door campaign this week and said voters
are receiving her in much the same way they did before the national
conventions. However, she has noticed at least one difference.
"I've never seen Republicans so energized and Democrats so kind of
down," she said.
