House race shows Democrats' improved prospects in Inland Empire (CA)
Here's one "bellweather" race worth a watch for Dems. Probably many like this across the country. ~ pinto
Longtime Riverside County supervisor, a Republican, might once have easily won a seat in Congress, but Democrats hold the edge in his district. New residents and political boundaries have shaken things up.
By Phil Willon, Los Angeles Times
March 16, 2012
For the first time in 20 years, a Republican running for Congress in Riverside needs help.
John Tavaglione huddled with supporters in the mirrored back room of a local Coco's on a recent rainy evening, laying out a ground game for his first crack at federal office. As a Republican and political heir of a powerful Riverside family, the longtime county supervisor would have breezed into Washington, D.C., in past elections.
The Inland Empire was heralded as California's new conservative frontier — the "new Orange County" — just 10 years ago. But political districts have been remade. Weed-covered fields have metamorphosed into Spanish-tile suburbs packed with new voters.
In the district Tavaglione is eyeing, Democrats hold the edge in registration, symptomatic of the GOP's slide countywide.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-inland-politics-20120316,0,2122500.story
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