Meg Whitman became the biggest spender on any one campaign
in American history yesterday with another $15 million contribution to her campaign.
"The latest contribution brings Whitman's personal
spending in the
race to $119 million, shattering the record for most money ever
spent by
one political candidate on a single election in American
history.
"Whitman's latest cash infusion comes just one month
after writing a $13-million check to her campaign last month. Whitman has now surpassed New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg
as the most prolific spender on any one campaign. Bloomberg
spent $109 million on his 2009 reelection as mayor of New York."
Bill Clinton endorsed Jerry Brown just days after Brown was caught on tape making a
joke about Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal.
Seema Mehta reports, "A former Democratic president
backing his party's standard bearer would
be unremarkable, except for two facts: the men have had a rocky
relationship since clashing in the 1992 presidential primary, and Brown —
speaking off the cuff two days ago — called Clinton a liar and made fun
of the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Brown apologized Monday.
Clinton did not refer to the slight in his statement
to The Times.
"I strongly support Jerry Brown for governor because
I believe he was a
fine mayor of Oakland, he's been a very good attorney
general, and he
would be an excellent governor at a time when California
needs his
creativity and fiscal prudence," Clinton said.
Brown, meanwhile, launched two new negative ads Tuesday against Whitman, setting the tone for the
final even weeks of the campaign.
"Jerry Brown waited until Labor Day weekend to formally
launch his
campaign for governor, and seemed to try to run a campaign
above the
fray. Brown said he wanted a positive, open discussion
with Californians
about their future.
"That was so last week.
Less than two weeks after Brown's official campaign
kick-off, Brown
unveiled two new television ads that feature his Republican
opponent,
Meg Whitman, as Pinocchio.
Call it a sign of things to come.
"Brown campaign manger Steven Glazer unveiled the ad
at a Sacramento
press conference Tuesday. Glazer said the Whitman campaign
was forging
ahead, "truth be damned," and said the new ads amount
to political
self-defense."
Proposition 23, the measure that would suspend the state's greenhouse
gas law, has divided the political loyalties of oil companies.Margot Roosevelt reports, "Among California's major
oil refiners, Shell Oil opposes the November ballot
initiative to suspend the state's global warming law.
Chevron Corp. is officially neutral. ExxonMobil and
BP have decided not to get involved. ConocoPhillips
has yet to contribute.
"On Tuesday, Charles Drevna, president of the National Petrochemical and
Refiners Assn., issued an urgent appeal for funds to
back the measure.
"I am pleading with each of you — for our nation's best interest and for
your company's own self-interest," he wrote in a confidential e-mail to
the industry group's 416 members.
Whitman is still refusing to take a stand on the measure, hoping to keep the Republican base secure while striking
a more moderate note for potential swing voters.
Seema Mehta reports, "At an event in Culver City, a
laid-off Long Beach teacher asked
Whitman about her thoughts on decentralizing education
spending. The
state has cut billions in education spending in recent
years, leading to
widespread teacher layoffs, program cuts and the shortening
of the
school year in many cities.
“There is a proposition on the ballot in November that
actually makes
it illegal for the state to take money from cities
and counties to
balance the budget,” said Whitman, who is known for being disciplined in
sticking to her talking points during campaign events
and discussions
with the press. “I think it’s the right thing to do. I’ll be supporting
that initiative.”
The candidate continued to decline to take a position
on Proposition
23, which would put the state’s landmark global warming law on hold
until unemployment drops significantly for one year.
The candidate, who
along with GOP Senate candidate Carly Fiorina faced
difficult electoral calculations
about the matter, repeated the stance she first took
in early August --
that she is leaning against the proposition but has
yet to make up her
mind.
Whitman's campaign is demanding television stations take down an ad paid for by the state's largest teachers union, saying
the spot contains slanderous claims about the GOP nominee.
PolitiCal reports, "Meg Whitman's gubernatorial campaign
has issued a threat to
television stations across the state, demanding a new
ad from the
California Teachers Assn. be removed. Whitman's campaign
claims the ad,
unveiled Friday, may contain "slanderous or libelous
statements" about
the candidate.
"An attorney for Whitman's campaign threatened stations
with legal
action Friday. "The spot is a lie," wrote Thomas W. Hiltachk. "As you
know, your station can be held libel for slanderous
or libelous
statements made by a non-candidate sponsor of political advertising."
"Some stations have pulled the ad. Others told PolitCal
they are still
evaluating the claims made by Whitman's attorneys
and will run the ad
in the meantime."
And finally, from our How To Hail A Taxi Files,
"Police in Louisiana say a woman stripped in the back
seat of a cab,
demanded the driver take her to her home state of Michigan
and when he
refused, stole his cab.
"Covington Police Capt. Jack West told The Times-Picayune
that the driver picked up 29-year-old Jennifer Gille of St. Clair
Shores, Mich., about 1 a.m. Sunday. West says Gille refused to get out
when they reached their destination, stripped and demanded
the cabbie
take her home.
"West says the driver went to a police station for help and when inside, Gille drove off. Police
found the cab parked about a block away and
Gille was still naked. Police booked her on charges
of unauthorized use
of a movable vehicle and obscenity."
