Steve Garvey used to be adept at flipping baseballs to pitchers who were covering first base.
Now, the state's Republicans hope he can flip a U.S. Senate seat.
Garvey, who once starred for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, currently is second to Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff in polls related to the race to fill the Senate held by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who died in September.
Emerson College Polling results last week showed Schiff with 25% support and Garvey with 18%. They were followed by Democrat Reps. Katie Porter (13%) and Barbara Lee (8%); 24% of voters remain undecided.
The four candidates are scheduled to appear onstage together for the first time for Monday night's debate at the University of Southern California, The New York Times reported.
There will be a November runoff between the top-two finishers in the March 5 primary.
"When we actually started to talk to other people that I respect in politics, almost everybody said the same thing: 'It's extremely difficult, maybe impossible,'" Garvey said, Politico reported. "'But, if anyone can do it, you can.'"
Garvey, a former Michigan State University football star and All-Star first baseman, told Politico he made up his mind to run after turning on the TV in March and seeing the "ridiculous discourse back and forth."
"I've been thinking, it's been so much of this division, polarization, that it's dividing the country," he said. "We're imploding from within, if you think about it."
Garvey's candidacy has reminded Californians of previous celebrities-turned-politicians, including former President Ronald Reagan and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The 75-year-old moderate Garvey is trying to give the GOP its first statewide office victory since 2006, when Schwarzenegger clinched a second term as governor and businessman Steve Poizner was elected as insurance commissioner, Politico reported.
Since then, Republican candidates has struggled to register more than 25% of the vote, often outnumbered by Californians with no party affiliation.
But Garvey's charisma clearly resonates with many Californians. He recently toured a San Diego homeless shelter, walking between rows of bunk beds and chatting with Bob McElroy, CEO of the Alpha Project.
"I don't know what his political aspirations are, but I respect folks who come down to see," McElroy said, Politico reported. "And obviously, he's a rock star to all my old baseball player guys."
After about half an hour observing the Alpha Project and taking photos with staff, Garvey joined McElroy on the sidewalk outside the shelter.
"Today has been the renewal of a realization that our homeless issue may be the single greatest compassion issue we have in our society, especially our state," Garvey told reporters. "And that's why I'm running: to make a difference."
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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