Democratic Assembly candidate says Wal-Mart vote hurt him

 
Keith Matheny
The Desert Sun
June 7, 2006 June 7, 2006

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Palm Springs Mayor Ron Oden is not ready to concede defeat to fellow Democrat Steve Clute in Tuesday’s 80th District State Assembly primary election.Clute, a former state Assemblyman from Palm Desert, led Oden by 253 votes with all precincts reporting, 9,386 to 9,133.But Oden said Wednesday afternoon at a press conference at Palm Springs City Hall that some 4,000 votes in Imperial County and 1,000 votes in Riverside County remain uncounted.“I will lend my full support to my opponent should he win; but at this point it’s just too soon,” Oden said.But Oden spoke like a man ready to accept what may be an impending political defeat. And he tied a possible loss to one sole factor — his 2004 approval of a Wal-Mart supercenter in Palm Springs.

That vote rallied labor unions against him, Oden said.

“Their goal was to get me. They said I was the target,” he said. “They are the ones who actually made this (a) race.”

Oden said he did not regret his Wal-Mart vote.

When asked if he would consider a recount should the margin between him and Clute remain close, Oden replied, “I doubt it.”

The winner of the primary will face incumbent Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City, in the general election Nov. 7.

For more, read Thursday’s The Desert Sun.thedesertsun.com | Oden not ready to concede defeat