Tuesday's Vote On Pres. Bush

Tuesday's special election to select the GOP candidate to fill Chris Cox's vacated OC seat is setting up as a referendum on the President. There are 17 candidates, but only two that matter.

In this corner, John Campbell, who Hugh Hewitt listeners know as "the smartest man in Sacramento." Campbell is pretty much a Bush man, although he'd like to see a stronger stand on immigration -- as would most of us. AP quotes him:

"Of the leading candidates, I'm probably with the president on more issues than anyone else."

And in the other corner: Marilyn Brewer, perhaps even better known in the District than Campbell. She's a well-liked but liberal Republican, supporting abortion rights and stem cell research. She's also been talking a green streak, if you catch my drift. She discounts Bush with a shrug:

"If the election was this year ... he would not be re-elected."

My office is in the District as is part of our local cable franchise service area, so I've been watching the race develop. There have been hard-hitting attacks on Brewer from Campbell, going after her more for absenteeism than positions. Brewer's been pretty mum, but I'm out of town in the final days before the election, when she'll probably be hitting back.

My bet's on Campbell and the president, but the beach cities, while Republican, aren't as conservative as the inland cities, so it'll be an interesting race to watch.