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California governor race kicks off

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  • California governor race kicks off

    California governor race kicks off

    Senior politicians in California have challenged both Governor Gray Davis, a Democrat who is facing a recall election, and the main Republican contender, film star Arnold Schwarzenegger.
    As the official race began, US senator Dianne Feinstein on Sunday spoke in support the governor and said he could defeat the recall.

    Bill Simon, the most prominent among Mr Schwarzenegger's Republican rivals, said the Austrian-born actor - a political novice - was an unknown quantity.

    The Hollywood star is the frontrunner among 155 people who have registered to run for governor in the 7 October election.

    It was called over a crisis in Californian state finances, and amid growing dissatisfaction with Mr Davis's handling of it.

    Mr Schwarzenegger was absent from the Sunday TV talk-shows that allow US politicians to publicise their views.

    Other prominent Californians, however, took to the air waves.

    Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, told NBC's Meet the Press programme that the challenge to Mr Davis was "bad for California".

    "I think the governor has a good opportunity to defeat this recall," she said.

    Mr Simon, a businessman who defeated by Mr Davis in the 2002 election, told Fox News Sunday that Mr Schwarzenegger had tremendous name recognition, but had shared little in terms of policy.

    "We don't know where he stands on the issues," Mr Simon said.

    Mr Schwarzenegger has given no details about how he would tackle California's problems - notably a record $38bn budget crisis in the world's fifth largest economy.

    However polls suggest that the 56-year-old actor would easily win the election if it was held now.

    Motley crew

    Voters face two questions on 7 October - whether to recall Mr Davis, and who should replace him, if the recall vote goes through

    The only prominent Democrat to register in the race, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, told ABC's This Week programme that he still opposed the call, but had acted only after it became clear that the Governor might lose that vote.

    "We need to make sure we vote no on the recall, but just in case, we have to vote yes on Bustamante," he said.

    The candidates include Arianna Huffington, a political commentator, and Peter Ueberroth, a former baseball commissioner who brought the 1984 Olympics to Los Angeles.

    Among the more colourful contenders are a man calling himself "Kitty Lou" who claims to represent the "Drag Queen Party" and billboard girl Angelyne.

    Erotic film star Mary Carey and adult magazine publisher Larry Flynt are vying for the porn vote.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3140253.stm
    "Every man has his weakness. Mine was always just cigarettes."
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