The Note
And for a conversation about the recall that for once isn't breathless, political press corps dean David Broder is online today to talk about California's electoral madness. LINK
The Latino community is split over whether to support the recall or Bustamante, the Washington Post 's Sanchez writes. LINK
La Opinion reports on McClintock's decision to stay in the race, California labor's moves to shore up Davis support, and labor's efforts to convince Hispanic voters that Schwarzenegger in Sacramento is only bad news for them. The paper Notes Peter Ragone appeared irritated by the fact that four spaces were reserved for Schwarzenegger allies at Monday's Univision forum. LINK
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is today. LINK
California recall, Arnold:
Arnold Schwarzenegger may be winning over the California GOP establishment — or at least its board of directors, the Washington Times reports. The board unanimously decided to support Schwarzenegger yesterday. LINK
When he announced his bid for governor, Schwarzenegger talked about representing all the people of California — but you'd never know it from the politics-as-usual campaign he's running, writes the Wall Street Journal 's Jackie Calmes. Schwarzenegger has raised money nationwide and has kept his campaign appearances to either short stops or TV ads.
"'Just out of sheer necessity, it's a much different campaign than the one we were led to expect,' says Republican strategist Dan Schnur, an adviser to former candidate Peter Ueberroth. Davis adviser Tom O'Donnell, recalling Mr. Schwarzenegger's 'Tonight Show' remarks, says, 'The only untraditional thing is the crowds he's getting.'"
Schnur and others credit Mike Murphy — evidently a favorite of Maria Shriver — with helping the campaign grow up, Calmes writes.
"Arnold has killed the kangaroo": The Hill reports that Arnold Schwarzenegger's run for Governor is being covered in his native Austria, where he is considered one of the 20 most popular Austrians. LINK
USA Today does the MOS thing about Arnold's candidacy at Gold's Gym. And since this is Hollywood, the MOS features actor James Caan. LINK
Salon examines whether past steroid use harms Arnold's current political fitness. LINK
California recall, the governor:
Mark Z. Barabak of the Los Angeles Times sizes up the "risky strategy" being employed by Governor Davis. LINK
"In a final bid to save his job, Gov. Gray Davis is hoping to recast the recall election in its last few days as a different sort of referendum: a vote on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger."
"After trying out various approaches — indifference, anger, contrition and, now, confrontation — the beleaguered incumbent and his strategists are hoping that an added element, fear, can help achieve the 50%-plus-one vote he needs to stay put."
More Barabak: " … the real problem Davis faces in these waning days of the campaign is persistent defections within his own party ranks. It is among those drifting Democrats that Davis hopes to raise fears of Schwarzenegger as governor."
California recall, the Democrat:
Carla Marinucci and Mark Martin deliver a must-read in the San Francisco Chronicle: Whither the Bustamante campaign? Lots of good stuff in here including a pleading phone call to Terry McAuliffe and a possible upcoming campaign ad featuring Bill Clinton. LINK
