Notes on the California recall campaign:
The dirt flies: Gov. Gray Davis’ campaign said it had obtained an e-mail from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s camp citing a plot to stack the crowd with Republicans at a Davis town hall meeting. The Davis camp called it “dirty tricks.” Schwarzenegger’s staff called it untrue.
What budget crisis? Davis reported receiving $882,000 in campaign donations since Friday, for a total of $11.2 million; Schwarzenegger reported $635,000 in new money, for a total of $18.5 million.
No and nobody: The Los Angeles Times, a Tribune Co. newspaper that is California’s biggest daily, urged voters to oppose the recall, and it made no endorsement in the race to replace Davis.
Exit sign: The Times reported that Arianna Huffington and aides were considering whether she should drop out and endorse Davis to prevent a Schwarzenegger victory.
Sloganeering: A humor Web site called topfive.com is suggesting campaign slogans. For Schwarzenegger: “Free water and electricity from Oregon or I’ll kick their governor’s butt.” For Larry Flynt: “Look for my campaign literature under your son’s mattress.”
