Responding to negative television ads portraying him as an attorney general candidate opposed to gun control and abortion rights, Republican state Sen. Chuck Poochigian on Monday said it was his opponent, Democratic Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, who is "extreme."
Poochigian cited Brown's "unbelievable effort to undermine the death penalty" when, as governor in the late 1970s, Brown vetoed a bill reinstating the death penalty. The Legislature overrode his veto.
"I'm absolutely convinced that the more people know Jerry Brown -- the truth -- and the more they know about me, the higher my standing," Poochigian said in a breakfast meeting with The Bee Capitol Bureau. "He is going to avoid (discussing) bizarre and extreme positions he's taken in public life."
Last week, Brown's campaign launched four television ads highlighting his Republican opponent's vote against the regulation of .50-caliber sniper rifles, and characterized him as opposed to abortion rights, stem cell research and tougher environmental laws. The ads argue that Poochigian's record is "too extreme" for a California attorney general.
Poochigian defended his 2004 gun vote, saying the rifles at the time were legal in 49 other states. He countered that, in 1976, Brown vetoed legislation providing front-line officers with bulletproof vests.
Poochigian said it is "categorically false" that he would work to outlaw abortion.
Poochigian opposes abortion rights except in the cases of rape, incest or saving the life of the mother, but said that as attorney general, he would support the privacy provision of the state constitution.
Poochigian, who began his political career in 1978 as a volunteer with George Deukmejian's campaign for attorney general, is running in his first statewide race. Touting strong public safety, a friendly business climate and education reform, Poochigian faces an opponent with more campaign cash and higher name recognition.
According to the latest Field Poll, Brown holds a 21 percentage-point lead over Poochigian.
"My challenge is to overcome his name ID; his challenge is to overcome his record," Poochigian said.
Brown's campaign has characterized the ads as warning labels to voters. One of the ads features a photo of President Bush with his arms around Poochigian.
Poochigian said Brown failed to make the state safer as governor, from 1975-83.
"He said that it's OK to be an anarchist," Poochigian said, which "ought to be chilling to anyone who's contemplating the importance of this high office."
Sierra Club California senior representative Bill Magavern held a news conference Monday accusing Poochigian of opposing "the 25 most important" environmental bills that came up in the state Senate in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
"This is not a matter of partisan politics, because many of these same measures that Poochigian opposes were signed by Governor Schwarzenegger," Magavern said.
One of the key bills mentioned by Magavern was the 2002 measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger later embraced and implemented when in office. Poochigian voted against the bill. The senator also opposed Assembly Bill 32, which seeks to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, in the most recent legislative session. Schwarzenegger has promised to sign it.
Poochigian dismissed the Sierra Club as being "in Jerry Brown's corner" and skewing its bill list to make their unfavored candidates look bad.
"It's a highly charged ... atmosphere," Poochigian said. "Those who support Jerry Brown in his view of the world, which is out of touch and unrealistic, across all issue areas, are going to do everything they can to elevate him and minimize my record. And I would say my record is one of thoughtfulness and moderation."
