California: Election 'like a carnival'

What began as yet another political novelty has evolved into a spectacle remarkable even by Californian standards.

What began as yet another political novelty has evolved into a spectacle remarkable even by Californian standards.

With everyone from Arnold Schwarzenegger to pornographer Larry Flynt jumping into the race for governor, state politics there has turned permanently, seriously weird.

“Sadly,” Senator Dianne Feinstein said as she ruled out running, California is “going to be engaged in an election that is becoming more and more like a carnival every day”.

And that was before Schwarzenegger shocked even his own closest political advisers by announcing on a TV talk show that he was getting into the race.

It is hard to look at the California elections without giggling – or panicking. Under the recall law, it takes only about €2,800 and signatures from 65 voters to run.

Gray Davis, a Democrat, is the first California governor to face a recall and would be only the second governor in the US to be removed from office if the effort succeeds.

Voters are discontented with their state’s weak economy and its €31.3bn budget deficit.

Potential candidates so far include a lady selling thong underwear and a motorcyclist who hopes to legalise pet ferrets.

And the “99 Cents Only” shops are running a promotion promising to pay the filing fee and gather signatures for any 99-year-old who would love to be governor.

It was a gift to headline writers and late-night comedians around the world when the star of a film called Total Recall turned into The Running Man.

And while most politicians must content themselves with Sunday morning talk shows, all Schwarzenegger had to do was go across town to chat with fellow celebrity and pal Jay Leno.

“It’s the most difficult decision I’ve ever made in my entire life,” he told Leno, “except for the one in 1978 when I decided to get a bikini wax.”

Actors have turned politician before, but some wonder whether Arnie will have the off-screen charisma of former California Governor Ronald Reagan.

Hustler publisher Flynt, paralysed by a bullet from a white supremacist, also says he will run, urging Californians to “vote for the smut-peddler with a heart”.

“I may be paralysed from the waist down,” said Flynt, “but unlike Gray Davis, I’m not paralysed from the neck up.”

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