Californian Democrats hold a job interview.

Have you ever been through a tough interview process? Or have you ever been on the other side of the desk and given a tough interview to prospective candidates?
This process is what came to mind when I read this article on the Democratic convention being held this weekend.

Angelides has won nearly every significant party endorsement but has yet to capture the imagination of primary voters.

"He needs good news right now the way you and I need oxygen," said Jason Kinney, a Democratic consultant who is not working for either candidate. "He has to win it (the pre-primary endorsement)."

Having been on both sides of the job interview, it seems to me that Mr. Angelides has a great Democratic resume. Years of service and experience, party loyalty, basically everything that a candidate should have. On paper that is. Angelides scores well on his resume, but is underwhelming in the face to face interview. He doesn't seems to have that personal connection so essential in politics.

Steve Westly seems to do very well in the face to face interview process. I have been faced with this situation before. A well qualified individual with an impressive resume versus a candidate that knocked it out of the park during the interview, but lacks some of the qualifications that the other person has.

What to do?

Politics, as I am finding out, is more like the Miss America pageant than a interview for CEO of a large corporation. If you look good in the swimsuit competition, you can more than make up for a less than stellar performance in the platform statement.

I do believe that the Governors race on the Democratic side will become a beauty contest rather than a ideas contest. Much like the Republican split during the recall. McClintock's substance versus Schwarzenegger's style. Electability seems to be the only qualification one needs today.

The base may want to reward Angelides for his solid liberal democratic views and service, but they also want to win in November. Westly may be their best chance to win in an era of sound bites and an eleven second attention span of apathetic voters.

It will be fun to watch.

By the way, my buddy Mark is going down today to the Democratic convention dressed as one of the Tax'm Twins. There will be a public gathering in support of Mark between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm in front of the Sheritan Hotel at 13th and J Streets in Sacramento.