Capitol Alert: Steve Poizner throws support behind GOP ticket, Whitman

Thirteen weeks after losing his bid for the party nomination in a bruising primary battle, Steve Poizner has for the first time voiced support of former rival Meg Whitman's gubernatorial bid.

Poizner, the state insurance commissioner, issued a statement through the California Republican Party endorsing all the GOP candidates for statewide office, saying the ticket "offers a clear contrast to candidates nominated by the Democratic Party."

But the 224-word statement reads far from a wholehearted endorsement of his primary foe.

Poizner only mentions Whitman once by name and does not single out the gubernatorial hopeful's accomplishments or credentials, instead saying the ticket is "led by successful business women who know that if there is to be a viable public sector, there must be a vibrant private sector."

Poizner has mostly sat on the sidelines of the statewide campaign since losing to Whitman in the primary. He did not attend last month's California Republican Party convention in San Diego and had not endorsed his former rival, whom he had criticized heavily during the primary.

Former Senate Republican leader Jim Brulte, who chaired Poizner's gubernatorial campaign, said Poizner's decision to publicly support Whitman was made "recently." The decision of when to announce the endorsement was made by the Whitman campaign, he said.

Though no plans have been made for joint campaign appearances, Brulte said Poizner would be open to hitting the trail for the GOP candidates-- including Whitman.

"Whatever the members of the ticket want," he said. "The nominees get to determine how they want to conduct their campaign in the course of the general election."

Read the entire statement after the jump.

"As we begin the traditional Labor Day kickoff of the general election campaign, Californians know very well that our state is in severe crisis and that the decisions made next year will in many ways decide what kind of future our state will have.

"The choice between our Republican ticket and the Democrat ticket could not be more clear. From Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina to Damon Dunn and Mike Villines, our ticket offers a clear contrast to candidates nominated by the Democratic Party.

"Our ticket is led by successful business women who know that if there is to be a viable public sector, there must be a vibrant private sector. They know that the best, most reliable job is one created by the private sector. They understand that governments, like families and businesses, must live within their means.

"Too many of the Democratic Party nominees believe that the answer to all our state's problems can be solved by larger government. But government isn't the answer. It has had its chance, and it has failed miserably.

"California voters have a clear choice in November.

"Our Republican ticket is our state's best hope to fix governmental systems that are clearly in need of a major overhaul. On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, please join me in supporting the entire Republican ticket. Our state deserves nothing less."

PHOTO CREDIT: GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner speaks during a March press conference. Hector Amezcua, Sacramento Bee.