[heleny]

Fueled by pharmaceutical companies and fights over the governor's ballot measures

Funny how they start with the pharmaceutical companies and then continue with the "fights" instead of actually mentioning that the largest spenders as a group are the Unions.

spending on the eight propositions on the Nov. 8 special election ballot has already topped $230 million.

That's like $6 per person in CA -- quite a lot of money. The special election is stimulating the state economy!

[heleny]

Committees list by the secretary of state's office as supporters of the four measures have reported spending $22 million.

But that figure doesn't include most of the $32.5 spent by the California Recovery Team, the campaign committee that raises money for ballot measures supported by the Republican governor. To date, the combination of money the governor has raised through both his Recovery Team and other committees engaged in the special election totals close to $45 million.

Oops, the AP needs an editor. Clearly they couldn't have meant that $22 million spent + $32.5 spent = $45 million raised. (notice the $32.5 has no "million" or "thousand")