To: carranza2 who wrote (11206 ) 10/7/2003 3:51:48 PM From: LindyBill Respond to of 793798 When I want info on California during the Election next year, this is the site that will be the "Go To." Weintraub is building a National reputation during this recall. _______________________________ California Insider A Weblog by Sacramento Bee Columnist Daniel Weintraub October 07, 2003 How Gropegate might help Arnold For all the venom hurled the LA Times’ way over the groping allegations, if Schwarzenegger still wins, he might want to thank the paper for doing him a big favor. With that many women out there making these charges, it was inevitable that the issue would surface in volume at some point. If The Times had waited until after a Schwarzenegger victory, should it come, the stories would have created a huge problem for the new governor and cast into doubt the legitimacy of his election. The “Recall Arnold” movement would have started with the groping charges as the foundation of their effort, claiming that voters never would have elected him had they known about his wandering hands. His opponents will still make that argument if he is elected, but now, because of his acknowledgement of bad behavior and his apology, he could credibly argue that the voters knew of his past when they voted and chose him anyway. That is, as long as nothing more serious emerges in the days and weeks ahead. Posted by dweintraub at 09:59 AM Field Poll: expect 65% turnout The Field Poll estimates a huge turnout, the highest number ever for a governor's race and the highest percentage of registered voters for a governor's race in 20 years: “In today’s historic recall election The Field Poll estimates that as many as ten million California voters will be participating in the decision as to who they want as governor for the next three years. A turnout of this magnitude would represent a 30% increase over the 7.7 million voters who participated in the 2002 gubernatorial election and would be larger than any previous non-presidential contest in state history.” Look for the whole thing here later this morning. Posted by dweintraub at 05:30 AMsacbee.com