Not since the 1970’s have the California Republicans met in San Francisco when there were loud protests outside the convention during Nixon’s Presidency. They much preferred their suburban locale in Burlingame near the San Francisco Airport in recent years, but this time they showed of at the foot of the Ferry Building at the San Francisco Hyatt on the weekend of February 22-24.

The convention was dominated by two people not near and dear to conservatives hearts, Presidential candidate John McCain and Insurance Commissioner and presumptive Gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner. Poizner spoke to the Republican delegation on Friday night, stressing business and tax issues, not once uttering a word on social issues.

On Saturday former Secretary of State Bill Jones addressed the delegates on John McCain’s campaign and the fact he is sewing up support to be the official nominee. He spoke that McCain was a fiscal conservative, supported a strong national defense and has integrity. He also stressed McCain can appeal to Independents and Democrats putting California in play, which it hasn’t been for the last few presidential elections. According to a recent Field Poll McCain does much better in California than Romney would have done if he were the nominee. But California hasn’t elected a pro-life candidate on the top of the ticked since Governor Deukmejian in 1986.