"With less than three weeks to go before election day, the major party candidates for governor of California
have settled into traditional campaign modes, which analysts say serve to reinforce the advantage held by Republican incumbent Arnold Schwarzenegger," writes Scott Martelle in the Times.
"Over the last two weeks, Schwarzenegger has scheduled near-daily public appearances, making the most of his status as sitting governor."
"While Angelides remains accessible to reporters and the public,
the appearances rarely bring him in touch with voters not already committed to him, since organized labor long ago took his side. And Angelides answers most reporters' questions with snippets from his stump speech rather than the kind of impromptu comments that might sound new enough to get quoted in news stories or on television."
"
Jennifer Duffy, who tracks gubernatorial races for the independent Cook Political Report, sees few opportunities for Angelides to catch up short of 'a colossal mistake on Schwarzenegger's part — but I mean it's got to be big.' Even then, she said, Angelides might have trouble exploiting a Schwarzenegger stumble."
"'
He doesn't have the money,' Duffy said. 'Unfortunately, in California you've got to give that factor the greatest weight.'"
So, are you saying a Hail Mary is in order?
"Several dozen Sacramento-area African American leaders, expecting to meet with Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday,
instead had a high-voltage exchange with the staff member sent in the governor's place," reports Stephen Magagnini in the Bee.
"The event, designed to allow local pastors and leaders to question both gubernatorial candidates, turned into an emotional confrontation with
Margaret Fortune, an African American educator from Sacramento."
"Fortune, an assistant secretary of education under Democratic Gov.
Gray Davis and now senior adviser to Schwarzenegger,
was quickly reduced to tears."
"'We've been disrespected too long,' fumed Pastor
Cedric Shelby, president of the group, at Schwarzenegger's absence. 'We'll be disrespected time and time again until we send a message that we're not going to take this anymore.'"
"Schwarzenegger's Democratic challenger, state Treasurer
Phil Angelides, did show up and took the opportunity to attack the governor."
"When Fortune was introduced, Williams expressed 'our total disappointment that the governor did not find it important enough to meet with our community regarding our concerns, and instead sent an underling.'"
"Fortune bristled, '
I'm a senior adviser to the governor and a fellow African American. He didn't send me as an underling.'"
"'You know me, you know my family,' she added, 'and you should be ashamed.'"
Robert Salladay
writes: "Standing before a gathering of African American pastors, state Treasurer Phil Angelides on Tuesday <>claimed that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger defended the apartheid regime in South Africa during the 1970s and '80s."
"The claim that Schwarzenegger supported South African apartheid has been circulated for years, and it's dubious at best. After his appearance before the ministers today, Angelides said he made the claim based on news accounts."
"It certainly was one of the most explosive things Angelides could have said about the Austrian-born governor in front of that audience, and it highlighted the intense fight between the two candidates to woo African American voters."
"'
There have been news reports that have indicated the governor might have made comments defending apartheid,' Angelides said. 'Now, you can make a judgment about those.'"
"The accusation appears based on the impressions of a single person quoted in
Wendy Leigh's biography of Schwarzenegger: '
According to Rick Wayne, who is black, when they discussed apartheid, Arnold said he thought South Africa was right, saying things like, 'If you gave these blacks a country to run, they would run it down the tube.'"
Meanwhile, Steve Lopez writes that the governor
has found riches in a normally Democratic neighborhood. "Brentwood, the exclusive West Los Angeles neighborhood that doubles as a money factory for Democratic candidates and causes, is having an identity crisis. Against its better instincts and molecular cell structure, the lefty enclave has fallen hard for a Republican."
"
Brentwood loves Arnold."
"Gov. Schwarzenegger, thanks in part to the fact that he lives in Brentwood, is cleaning up on his way to what looks like an easy victory over Democratic challenger Phil Angelides. I ran the Brentwood ZIP Code — 90049 — for campaign donations to the two candidates as of Sept. 30, and here's what I found:"
"Brentwood has given $256,924.22 to Angelides, a man whose Democratic credentials are impeccable."
"And to Arnold?
A man who helped get President Bush reelected, raised more money than God after vowing to get cash out of politics, and temporarily veered hard right last fall?"
"How about $411,600?"
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that whoever sent a mailer to Latino voters in Orange County warning them it is illegal for immigrants to vote committed an act of political intimidation and
should be prosecuted 'to the fullest extent of the law,'" reports the Bee's Aurelio Rojas.
Sounds about par for the course for the O.C.
"'Nothing is more un-American than the kind of political intimidation represented by these acts,' Schwarzenegger said in a statement. 'Further, targeting voters of Hispanic descent is racist and constitutes a hate crime under California law.'"
"Secretary of State
Bruce McPherson said he has 'ordered a thorough, prompt and vigorous investigation' of the mailer sent to Latinos warning them they could be jailed or deported if they vote in the Nov. 7 election."
"The long-simmering
tension in the GOP between gays and the religious right has erupted into open conflict at a sensitive time, just weeks before a midterm election that may cost Republicans control of Congress," reports Johanna Neuman in the Times.
"'The big-tent strategy could ultimately spell doom for the Republican Party,' said
Tom McClusky, chief lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a Christian advocacy group. '
All a big-tent strategy seems to be doing is attracting a bunch of clowns.'"
"Now the GOP is facing a hard choice — risk losing the social conservatives who are legendary for turning out the vote, or risk alienating the moderate voters who are crucial to this election's outcome."
The Chron's Rachel Gordon looks at the
few competitive legislative races this fall. In all, she writes, there are "seven competitive legislative races in the state -- out of 100 on the Nov. 7 ballot. The vast majority already have been decided, barring an e-mail sex scandal or other such career-ending incident that could deliver a surprise knockout to the favored candidate."
"The lack of close races leading up to Election Day is a direct result of a bipartisan redistricting scheme hatched by Democrats in control of the state Senate and Assembly and signed off by Republicans that locked in safe seats for both parties following the 2000 census."
"The deal had the opposite effect of what California voters intended when they ushered in term limits in 1990 with the hope of creating competition in campaigns for the Legislature."
"Taking a cue from the teachers' pension board, trustees of the California Public Employees' Retirement System
want to toughen rules on gifts and campaign contributions from money managers," reports Gilbert Chan in the Bee.
"The move, signaled Tuesday by the fund's Benefits and Program Administration Committee, would be CalPERS' second attempt in eight years to crack down on "pay-to-play" practices."
"CalPERS officials plan to build off regulations proposed by trustees of the California State Teachers' Retirement System. Last month, the CalSTRS board ordered the staff to craft regulations to limit campaign contributions to $250 and gifts to $50 for trustees, the governor and gubernatorial candidates. It also wants to develop reporting standards and sanctions on firms that violate the rules."
"Voters
appear to be skeptical about spending more than $37 billion on infrastructure projects, and it may take a big push by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger if the four bond measures on the November ballot are going to pass," reports Lynda Gledhill in the Chron.
"Polls show that it may be the sheer size of the bonds -- which are to pay for transportation, housing, education and water projects -- that concerns voters. Television commercials in support of the measures are expected to begin airing today, said
Paul Hefner, a spokesman for the bond campaign."
"'As much as people would like to see improvements in transportation and schools, that level of expenditure over time seems very abstract to people,' said
Mark Baldassare, research director of the Public Policy Institute of California."
"'
The governor is really the key,' Baldassare said. 'The governor has to convince Republican voters that this is a good investment.'"
The Bee's Laurel Rosenhall
takes a look at Prop 1D. "Nearly 300 renovation projects are on hold at schools across California because of the lack of state funds, according to the state Office of Public School Construction."
"Those projects -- and many more -- could go forward if voters approve Proposition 1D on the Nov. 7 ballot. The measure calls for $10.4 billion in bond funds to pay for campus renovations and new school construction. It's one in a package of four bond measures introduced by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and backed by Democratic lawmakers to improve the state's infrastructure."
"Under Proposition 1D,
about $7.3 billion would go toward K-12 schools and $3.1 billion to colleges and universities. The money would come from general obligation bonds, which means the state would pay off the debt from the general fund. Interest on the bonds would cost an additional $9.9 billion, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office, so repaying the debt would cost approximately $680 million annually for 30 years."
"Opponents say borrowing is a bad way to pay for repairs and new school construction. They say the state should revamp its approach and pay for school maintenance as the money is available."
His campaign may be over, but
the mud keeps flying for Steve Westly. Or rather, make that dirt. Matier and Ross explain.
"It all started last year when Atherton officials imposed a hefty dirt-hauling fee on McMansion owners excavating their basements to make way for wine cellars, family rooms and the like. It seems that with the town's 30-foot height limit, the only way to add onto a home is underground."
"Westly and his wife,
Anita, were among those getting ready for a major dig. It involved clearing a parcel next to their Mesa Court home for a 1,826-square-foot guesthouse -- with an equally big basement -- and tennis court."
"
The Westly dig fee came to a whopping $92,400 -- the highest tab in town. So the Westlys, who spent $42 million on that unsuccessful gubernatorial run, joined other diggers at City Hall, demanding that the town's new fees be rescinded."
