California election

["Eli Stephens" <elishastephens@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Excerpts from http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0930-04.htm (from the
SF Chronicle). Very interesting note on the latest poll, reinforcing the
kind of things Jose has been emphasizing. Also interesting comments from
Camejo; I'm sure they will be read differently by those with differing
perspectives.

Huffington Weighs Quitting Race, Backing Bustamante
        She might oppose the recall to help avoid a Schwarzenegger win

Independent commentator Arianna Huffington said Monday she is strongly
considering leaving the recall race, signaling a growing fear among the
political left that Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger stands a good chance of
becoming California's next governor.

Huffington, appearing at a campaign event in San Francisco, said she would
decide as soon as today whether to urge her supporters to oppose the recall
and possibly back Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante -- reflecting the view
that in a close race, votes by progressives for Huffington and Green Party
candidate Peter Camejo could help elect Schwarzenegger.

POLL QUESTIONED

A recent CNN/USA Today poll showed strong support for recalling Davis and a
widening lead for Schwarzenegger. However, the poll's results have been
hotly contested.

The survey, conducted by Gallup and released Sunday, showed 63 percent of
"probable" voters support the recall to 35 percent opposed. The survey also
found Schwarzenegger leading with 40 percent, followed by Bustamante at 25
percent, McClintock at 18 percent, Camejo with 5 percent and Huffington with
just 2 percent.

More polls are expected to be released this week, including the Field Poll
and one by the Los Angeles Times.

Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party, blasted the polls
results as "outrageous," saying there's little chance Republicans will make
up half of voters on election day.

"It's the most irresponsible thing a pollster has ever done in the height of
a campaign," Torres said. "If their intent was to depress Democrats, it may
very well do that."

When the poll tabulated the responses of "registered" voters, the margin
fell to 55 percent in favor of the recall and 41 percent opposed --
essentially what other recent polls have shown.

CAMEJO IN TO THE END

Camejo, in an interview Monday, said he's just as concerned as Huffington
about Schwarzenegger becoming governor. But he said he has no intention of
leaving the race or urging Green Party voters to vote no on the recall.

"If some of my supporters decide to vote for Cruz, as a way to stop Arnold
Schwarzenegger, I'm not angry at them," Camejo said.

But he added, "I will stay in until the end. I want to use this last week to
convince the base of the Democratic Party of how they have suffered because
of the dysfunctional nature of the Democratic Party and its subservience to
the same interests that fund the Republican Party."

Camejo said Huffington had called him Monday to discuss her decision, and
he's urging her to stay in the race.

"If she stays in, she will be able to be far more outspoken about issues
that she feels strongly about, such as preventing Arnold Schwarzenegger from
being elected," he said.  But the poll's results are based on the assumption
that Republicans will comprise 47 percent of voters on Oct. 7 -- even though
GOP registration in California is only 35 percent.

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