Why California’s Governor’s Contest Is the Country’s Most Interesting Race This Year
But as gruff as the debate was at times, it was it was at least a substantive debate. On the high-speed rail plan, arguably the biggest and most important infrastructure project being proposed in the country, Kashkari stood by his assessment that it was a “crazy train” that would crowd out funding for water projects and other, more-needed efforts. Brown made the case that it could boost the state’s economy. All of which seemed nerdily refreshing after, say, discussions of Obama’s tan suit. Of course, gubernatorial debates are usually more substantive than Senate ones, which are usually an absurd game of linking one’s opponent to an unpopular figure. (“You’re just like Obama.” “You’re just like the Koch Brothers.”) This one seemed even more highfalutin than most, and the issues that California has to reckon with—immigration, drought—are ones that are either befalling or will soon befall the rest of the country.
