California race too close to call

Reuters ^ | 10-7-03 | Reuters

[ambrose]

California race too close to call

Tue 7 October, 2003 18:50 BST

By Adam Tanner and Gina Keating

LOS ANGELES (Reuters)- California's unprecedented recall election has entered its last act as voters jammed polling stations to decide unpopular Gov. Gray Davis's political future and decide whether Republican actor Arnold Schwarzenegger should begin a political career -- at the top.

Lines in many places began forming at 7 a.m. PDT (3 p.m. British time) when booths opened for Californians to first decide whether to oust Democrat Davis, a charisma-free technocrat under fire for mishandling the state's economy, then pick from an assortment of 135 candidates, including the magnetic bodybuilder turned actor.

Last minute polls showed the race tightening, although Schwarzenegger's camp claimed the actor retained a healthy lead among replacement candidates and that voters appeared ready to boot Davis.

Schwarzenegger arrived at his local polling station, a garage of a sprawling, gated suburban home, entering through a back entrance where a polling worker, saying she hated to be rude, asked him for his name before he cast his ballot shortly after 9 a.m. PDT (5 p.m. British time).

One voter entered and recognised the movie star, saying "Hello Governor," to which one clerk responded, in good humour, "no electioneering here."

Schwarzenegger slipped on a pair of brown frame glasses to scrutinise the ballot before voting, and later said he found himself among the 135 listed candidates by looking for the longest name.

"I feel good," he told reporters. "I'm going to spend some time with my family, and then I'm going around thanking people ... all the people who worked so hard on this campaign. We worked hard, and we campaigned hard to try to get the message out," he said. "We hope for the best.

His wife, Maria Shriver, was asked by reporters whether she believed women would support her husband's candidacy following the recent news stories about his alleged groping of women, and she replied "Yes I do."

Although results were expected Tuesday night after polls close at 8 p.m. (4 a.m. British time), it could be weeks until the state certifies the official result and some observers held out the prospect of a recount or a court challenge if the vote proves especially close.

'STATE IS LITERALLY BANKRUPT'

What began as a Republican-led protest vote over Davis' handling of the state's economy and recent energy crisis has become a referendum on Schwarzenegger, especially his alleged groping and sexual harassment of women.

Davis' wife Sharon campaigned for her husband at the last minute, once again bringing up claims of impropriety against Schwarzenegger, who in turn has accused the Davis campaign of dirty tricks in the crucial final days before the recall.

Appearing on NBC's "Today" show, Mrs. Davis said as a former flight attendant she was harassed and understood why women had not come forward before with complaints against Schwarzenegger, a "powerful" man in the film industry.

Speaking from Schwarzenegger's camp, former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan praised the actor for not being "blindsided" by the allegations and said he was the right man to sort out California's financial woes.

"This state is literally bankrupt. ... People are desperate to have new leadership in Sacramento," he said, charging Davis had sold out the state to special interest groups.

President George W. Bush praised Schwarzenegger for running a "spirited" campaign and pledged to work with the actor if he wins. "If he's the governor I'll work with him -- absolutely," Bush told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

"He's obviously waged a spirited campaign. He has captured a lot of people's imaginations."

Davis' campaign said its new tracking survey of 1,200 likely voters found a 50 percent to 48 percent split between those favouring a "yes" vote on the recall and those planning to vote "no," in a poll of 1,200 people over three days.

That survey was at odds with the latest numbers from the Schwarzenegger camp, which found 55 percent in favour of the recall and just 36 percent opposed, although the actor's handlers said only 250 people were polled on Monday.

Schwarzenegger has expressed outrage and puzzlement at the late barrage of sexual misconduct charges, calling them part of an orchestrated "dirty tricks" campaign.

Schwarzenegger has promised to address all the charges in detail after the election. His critics say that is too late.

Davis, also campaigning fiercely, told supporters in San Francisco late on Monday: "This race is razor close -- right there on the edge. ... We need to do everything we can in the next 24 to 36 hours ... to reaffirm the democratic values we hold so dear. Let's get to it!"

[rightbanker]

Are you old enough to remember the days when the RATS were still the major force in the South. The South was fiscally and socially conservative in those days, but the National RAT party was whacko left.

Southern RATS would never ever invite "national" RAT lefties down, not show up to stand by their sides when they showed up uninvited -- mostly to stump for black votes.

Bush MIGHT get similar treatment from Arnie in 04. We'll see. Californians still don't like Bush. The RATs still control both houses and every other statewide office except GOV. Californians are still predominantly RAT.

Everybody in this state --left, right, or center -- DESPISED the dull Gray for one reason or another.

Arnie seemed like a safe vote even to many rats since he is socially liberal, pro-gay, anti-gun, pro-environment. His conservatism shows up only on fiscal issues. And he never even claimed to be a big conservative on this score, as I recall. Plus he's got that Kennedy wife and the whole clan whispering in his ear.

Bottom line. associating with Bush might come to seem toxic for Arnold. So he might do the old-style southern RAT thing and keep his distance -- especially if Bush looks beleagured and beatable in the next year.

[jpl]

I agree with your analysis. If I remember correctly, the right-leaning southern Democrats were called the "Boll Weevils", or something like that. It's hard to believe, but it wasn't until only about ten years ago that people in the south finally decided they were fed up with the Democratic party.

Bush definitely is going to have to walk a tightrope here. California proved yesterday that it is clearly a centrist state, but a social conservative will not win there, period. But if Bush "moderates" too much, will he alientate his base on the right? Difficult questions.

[ambrose]

It will likely be closer to 56-44 when all the counting is done. Still over a million absentees left to be counted...

[Saundra Duffy]

Thanks for posting this. LOL!!!!!!!!!

[Wolfstar]

More like the Twilight Zone.

[PISANO]

Another SOCIALIST organization heard from and of course it's reporting is at best wishful thinking at worst a flat out LIE!!

[EllaMinnow]

Bottom line. associating with Bush might come to seem toxic for Arnold. So he might do the old-style southern RAT thing and keep his distance -- especially if Bush looks beleagured and beatable in the next year.

Arnold is already setting things up for President Bush's visit to him in California next week.
And he seemed very pleased to tell the reporters at his press conference that he had spoken to the President early this morning.

[Tempest]

"Davis, also campaigning fiercely, told supporters in San Francisco late on Monday: "This race is razor close -- right there on the edge. ... We need to do everything we can in the next 24 to 36 hours ... to reaffirm the democratic values we hold so dear. Let's get to it!"

Ahahahahha!!!!

[cyncooper]

Arnold is already setting things up for President Bush's visit to him in California next week. And he seemed very pleased to tell the reporters at his press conference that he had spoken to the President early this morning.

As an aside, he also said President Bush 41 called around midnight last night. He was beaming and clearly is very close to the elder Bushes.

He also clearly supports this President Bush fully, as you note, and I am suspicious of anyone sowing the seeds of doubt on that score.

[Fester Chugabrew]