Will Whitman Clash with Her Party?

By: Gerry Shih

Meg Whitman is taking the center stage in state politics this weekend as about a thousand Republican faithful descend on San Diego for their party’s convention.

There could be some fireworks, or at least awkwardness, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The issue?

As KPCC reports, many Republicans are just not that excited about Whitman, their big-spending nominee for governor, who has had trouble energizing the conservative base.

Throughout the summer, Whitman has been aggressively trying to pick up votes among the state’s large Latino population. After the June primaries, Whitman softened her stance on illegal immigration and said she does not support Arizona’s controversial immigration bill. That move has irked hardline conservatives.

The candidate has also said she would likely vote against Proposition 23, the ballot measure funded by oil companies that would put the state’s greenhouse gas emissions bill on ice.

The LA Times reports that conservatives may force a floor vote to support the Arizona bill. If it passes this weekend, it could turn out to be a mushrooming problem for Whitman, who would then be pressed to take a stand on her position on immigration.