What began as yet another political novelty from the nation's most populous state has morphed into a spectacle remarkable even by California standards.
With everyone from Arnold Schwarzenegger to porn prince Larry Flynt jumping into the race to recall beleaguered Governor Gray Davis, the reality TV show that has commandeered California politics has turned permanently, seriously weird.
"Sadly," Senator Dianne Feinstein said on Wednesday 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."
PHOTO: REUTERS
And that was before Schwarzenegger shocked even his own closest political advisers by announcing on a television talk show, The Tonight Show, that he was getting in the race.
It's hard to look at California's election slate without giggling -- or panicking. Under the recall law, drafted during a wave of populism in 1911, it takes only US$3,500 and signatures from 65 voters to run. Court challenges have been filed to the election, set for Oct. 7, but on Thursday the California Supreme Court declined to intervene.
The recall effort has been fueled by voter discontent over the state's weak economy and California's US$38 billion budget deficit.
Potential candidates so far include a lady selling thong underwear and a motorcyclist who hopes to legalize pet ferrets. And the 99 Cents Only stores in Los Angeles are running a promotion promising to pay the filing fee and gather signatures for any 99-year-old who'd love to be gov.
But there's serious anger underlying the festival atmosphere. This is an electorate that in recent years has endured an energy crisis and a battering of its high-tech economy and now faces the prospect of higher taxes and fees.
"California's law has turned something important into a circus," said Brian Rosman, a tourist from Newton, Massachusetts, visiting San Francisco on Thursday. "The problems are tax revenues, the huge corporate manipulation of the energy crisis a few years ago, the decline in the high-tech world. Those problems don't get solved by getting a new governor."
Still, it's likely one-liners will trump the bottom line, at least for now.
It was a gift to headline writers and late-night comedians around the world when the star of a movie 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 the Tonight host, "except for the one in 1978 when I decided to get a bikini wax."
Actors have turned politician before, but some students of the craft wonder whether Ah-nuld will have the off-screen charisma of former Governor Ronald Reagan.
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