"California's gubernatorial candidates on Monday
spent the last day of the campaign pumping up their loyalists, with Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger asking for 'a vote of confidence' and challenger
Phil Angelides stumping with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein," reports Laura Mecoy in the Bee.
"'
Unlike last time, when the people voted for me as an act of faith, this time, we want the people to vote for me as an act of confidence,' Schwarzenegger said."
That's why
Gary Delsohn gets the big bucks...
"Even though the polls have him far ahead of state Treasurer Angelides, the Democratic nominee, Schwarzenegger insisted he wasn't 'taking anything for granted. You will see me campaigning even up to (Tuesday) afternoon.'"
"Angelides and Feinstein countered at rallies in Los Angeles and Oakland, asking voters to send a message to the Republican administration in Washington."
Michael Finnegan and Scott Martelle
write for the Times: "With polls showing a lopsided advantage for Schwarzenegger in the governor's race, the most competitive statewide contest appears to be the one for lieutenant governor, with state Sen.
Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) facing Insurance Commissioner
John Garamendi."
"To gain a last-minute bump, Garamendi took the unusual step of airing a new 60-second TV ad on the eve of the election. It hammers McClintock for opposing stem-cell research, an attack that Garamendi also pursued at the Los Angeles campus rally with Angelides."
"'The reality is McClintock is extremely right-wing,' Garamendi told reporters at the rally."
"McClintock spokesman
Stan Devereux brushed off the assault as 'just more of the same from Mr. Garamendi to try to paint Tom in that fashion.'"
"'Voters like elected officials who give straight talk, not doublespeak,' Devereux said of McClintock."
Straight, right-wing talk, but straight talk nonetheless."Dominating the airwaves Monday were clashing ads over ballot measures — many of them on Proposition 87, a plan to tax oil companies to raise money for alternative energy. One of the oil industry's final No on 87 spots featured a firefighter arguing against it, while Yes on 87 kept running an ad with former
President Clinton urging approval."
Quien es mas macho? Clinton o el bombero? Clinton ... obombero?
"The Yes on 87 group also showcased its latest Hollywood supporter at a Los Angeles event with Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa: actor
Brad Pitt."
Ah ha! Villaraigosa y Pitt! Quien es mas ... oh, forget it.
Dan Walters puts on the political scientist hat and concludes that
who turns out to vote will determine who wins today.
And, those looking for high turnout could be disappointed, according to the
latest Field Poll.
The Merc News's political team writes: "California's voter turnout today could be the
second-worst ever for a congressional midterm and gubernatorial election, and in terms of total participation of those eligible, probably will be the worst ever, according to a California Field Poll released today."
"Despite more than $500 million spent on behalf of candidates, and for and against a lengthy slate of high-profile ballot propositions,
today's election will be decided by a dismal 51.5 percent of registered voters, Field predicts -- lower than any previous midterm election except 2002, when it bottomed out at 50.6 percent."
"One change from 2002, however, is that
even more voters have already cast their ballots. An estimated 45 percent of California's 15.8 million registered voters are expected to use absentee ballots for this election, up from 27.1 percent in 2002 and 40 percent in last November's special election," reports John Wildermuth in the Chron.
"'The percentage of absentee voters has risen every election since 1978, when state laws were changed to allow any voter to use an absentee ballot,' DiCamillo said. 'I expect it's going to continue after this year.'"
From our
Delusions of Grandeur Files, we bring you the
quaint little tale of Dr. Ken Matasamura, he of the Recall Arnold campaign of 2005. The story comes via the Oakland Tribune's John Richman.
"Even as the governor seems poised for a landslide victory in today's vote, Matsumura provided this newspaper Monday with a copy of his new self-published book, 'Arnold Remade: How the Fear of His Own Recall Transformed Him & Reshaped America.'"
The world is dying to read it. Really. Right after we finish reading this medical dictionary.
"In his news release, Matsumura says his recall campaign 'became the unwitting architect of Gov. Schwarzenegger's successful re-election campaign platform.' And in a handwritten note, he said Schwarzenegger signed progressive bills this year 'thanks to the strength of our effort ... However, we think we have a lot of work ahead to keep him moving forward. This book is our first step in that effort.'"
Dude, unless you're really the alter-ego of
Susan Kennedy, it's probably time to check yourself.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...
Daniel Weintraub
offers a list of races to watch if the gubernatorial contest is decided early. In California, he says to watch AD 78, AD 80, SD 34, CD04, CD11, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary Of State, Controller, Insurance Commissioner, Prop. 86, Prop. 87, and Prop. 90.
Insurance commissioner? What does he know that we don't?
"Northern California radio stations
got something extra Monday with the monthly emergency alert system test transmitted by fellow station KFBK -- and at least one of them was none too happy about it," reports the Bee's John Hill.
"The test, complete with raspy alarm and tone, didn't end with the familiar words, 'This concludes the test of the Emergency Alert System ... ' "
"Instead, it segued into a political advertisement by Republican Dick Mountjoy, who is running for U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Dianne Feinstein, and another spot for a mortgage company."
"'In layperson's terms, it's called operator error,' said
Jeff Holden, station manager for KFBK (1530 AM)."
"
Edward Martinet, general manager at nonprofit community station KDVS in Davis, said he was skeptical of the explanation."
"'It would have to be some amazingly egregious negligence to not notice it for two minutes,' he said."
"KDVS (90.3 FM) went on the air to explain to listeners what had happened. Martinet said the mistake inadvertently caused his station to violate a condition of its noncommercial, nonprofit status -- that it not air partisan announcements calling on listeners to vote a certain way."
Can't imagine that KDVS listeners would be swayed by the Mountjoy spot while listening to Democracy Now, anyway. But we digress...
Finally, insiders have spoken in one of the largest election pools of lobbyists and staffers. "We had a total of 62 entries to the Election pool," writes Paul Mitchell in the summary of picks.
"Shocker: Sacramento insiders predict status-quo in the State Legislature! But, change does seem to be coming in one constitutional race, with
only four entrants believing that Cruz can survive Tuesday. The
closest race appears to be CD 11, with entrants split 30-32 on Pombo’s future in DC."
"The magic number is 6. That’s
where initiative fatigue seems to set in, with the pool showing the first six measures passing, and the remainder all failing. Oddly,
77% of voters selected Proposition 85 to fail, yet it was also widely seen as the most competitive ballot measure. Voters were
nearly dead split on the school bond, but only 5% said it would be the closest."
"Someone console [
Matt] Rexroad. It seems that 92% of his peers believe his race for Yolo County Supervisor is a cakewalk, suggesting that a hard-fought victory will barely be achieving expectations. Similarly,
Sandra Vargas has hardly any naysayers, with just four votes against her obtaining a seat on the West Sacramento School Board. These four should be grateful for the anonymity of this pool, as
Afrack [Vargas] was a bit miffed that anyone would vote against his beautiful wife."
"Finally,
expect Schwarzenegger to wear a green tie tomorrow and
look for Megan, Christina and Arianna to all grace the stage as their dad loses by 10-15 points."
