Angelides Bus Tour Kick-Off Rocks Los Angeles

Over 500 energized activists packed a West L.A. courtyard to hear an array of Democratic luminaries extol Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Angelides as he embarked upon a much anticipated state-wide bus tour yesterday.

Art Torres, Chairman of the California State Democratic Party, welcomed the activists and introduced California’s most-popular elected official, Senator Dianne Feinstein, who reminded the crowd of Governor Schwarzenegger’s role in the failed special election last November – an election in which Schwarzenegger sought to deny pensions and death benefits to firefighters and police officers.

The senior senator was followed by California’s feisty Senator Barbara Boxer, who reminded the crowd that when everyone said it was impossible, Phil Angelides stood up for gender equality and helped elect the first pair of women senators from a single state – Senators Feinstein and Boxer. She said, “Phil Angelides doesn’t just talk the talk; he walks the walk.”

During Senator Boxer’s remarks, an elderly man in the crowd collapsed and State Treasurer Phil Angelides assisted two paramedics who came to the man’s aid. To raucous applause, Angelides talked about his victory in Saturday’s gubernatorial debate and how Arnold Schwarzenegger has “no vision for the future.” Angelides also pointed out that Schwarzenegger would continue to pursue the measures he advocated in last November’s special election. Angelides promised to fight for the values and interests of middle class voters and denounced the tuition increases at the California State University and University of California systems imposed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

The Angelides bus tour embarked yesterday in Los Angeles and will end in San Francisco.