Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown locked in battle for broken state of California
Who will inherit Arnold Schwarzenegger's poison chalice?
- The Observer, Sunday 17 October 2010
- Article history of Amassco House of green
Meg Whitman has put more than $100m of her own money into the California governorship race – and is still slightly trailing Jerry Brown. Photograph: AP The candidates fighting to become governor of California were faced with an unusual sight when they met last week for their final pre-election debate.
Moderating between the Democrat Jerry Brown, a liberal dubbed "Governor Moonbeam" when he held the position in the 1970s, and the Republican Meg Whitman, a former Silicon Valley chief executive, was an injured debate host, Tom Brokaw.
Brokaw, one of America's most famous TV newsmen, had broken his ankle and he hobbled on stage on crutches. He could not resist comparing his condition with that of California. "We're both broken at the moment," he said. "The difference is that I hope to be repaired before the beginning of the year."
The punchline lies in the cruel reality of the crisis facing California as it prepares to wave goodbye to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former movie star who became its governor. He departs with catastrophic approval ratings but also a sense that the state's problems were too big even for a "Governator".
California, which once embodied a sun-soaked version of the American Dream, now has an unemployment rate of 12.4%, far above the national average. Its public education system is ranked bottom in the country. Its budget deficit is $19bn, and its government regularly has to issue IOUs. Some of its cities, such as Vallejo, have declared themselves bankrupt. A few people believe that a major metropolis, perhaps Los Angeles, could follow suit. With its sprawling suburbs and ample land, this state was at the centre of the property boom, and figures released late last week showed that it leads America in at least one thing: the rate of foreclosures.
Political commentators do not pull their punches when discussing the challenge that faces the next governor. "It is absolutely awful," said Barbara O'Connor, a professor at the University of California at Sacramento. "Many voters' fears here are basic. How will I keep my house? How will I feed my family? How will I keep my job?"
Answering those questions has not been easy for either candidate. Brown's campaign has attracted big-name supporters such as Bill Clinton and top donors including the Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, but it has relied mostly on the fact that Brown is one of the most familiar names in state politics. He is currently the state's attorney-general but earned his "Moonbeam" nickname from his period as governor from 1975 to 1983, when he expressed interest in space satellite technology. He has a narrow lead over Whitman in many polls, probably reflecting the desire of traumatised voters for somebody safe. "Jerry's been there before and he understands this. After Schwarzenegger I don't know that Californians want to give another outsider a chance," said O'Connor.
That is a problem for Whitman. Though she ran the auction website eBay, a California success story, she is not from the state and has little direct experience of politics. Brown's campaign has painted her as an outsider without the skills to take on the state's problems. What Whitman does have is money: lots of it. She has pumped more than $119m of her own cash into the race, filling the airwaves with adverts portraying him as just the sort of politician who created California's crisis.
Part of the reason this has yet to win Whitman a lead may be that, while her party is running on an anti-immigration platform, she employed an illegal immigrant housekeeper for nine years and sacked her just before her campaign began. The story did not play well with either the Republican base or the state's large Hispanic population. But Brown too has had his problems. His campaign was rocked by the surfacing of a tape on which one of his staffers can apparently be heard referring to Whitman as a "whore". "The race is not over. Jerry can shoot himself in the foot on any given day," O'Connor said.
But what of the man Whitman and Brown are hoping to replace? Schwarzenegger failed to tackle the political and economic paralysis that has exacerbated California's problems. He is derided by liberals for huge cuts to state employees' wages and services, like education. But he is also disliked by many conservatives for pushing through climate-change legislation that they say strangles economic growth. No wonder, then, that he is staying out of the campaign and has not even endorsed a successor. Indeed last week – most of which he spent on a trip to Russia – Schwarzenegger came out swinging against both Brown and Whitman. He denounced her as having sold out to big backers such as the police union, and him for the "unacceptable" language of "whoregate".
Of course, none of the bickering between any of them is doing much for California. Most experts believe Brokaw was right during last week's debate. His broken ankle will be healed much quicker than the Golden State's seemingly intractable problems.
-
More on this story
-
US midterms: Nancy Pelosi faces a struggle in her Democratic California heartland
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is threatened with political oblivion as she is demonised by beleaguered Americans who see her as the epitome of liberal elitism
Help build A New California. Join Meg Whitman Today.
Cannella won't fight for us. Say NO to Cannella on Nov 2nd.
Reform CA's Budget Dysfunction Hold Politicians Accountable!
On World news
Last 24 hours
Last 24 hours
- More zeitgeist
What is Zeitgeist?Zeitgeist is an experiment in showing trending news, topics and articles from the Guardian. Find out more in our blog post.
Last 24 hours
-
1. 'My son was shot by a British sniper, now all I want is the truth' - 2. MoD's own experts reveal nuclear arms safety flaws
- 3. When the miners' leader met the president, two sides of Chile embraced
- 4. Defiant millions take to the streets in battle over Nicolas Sarkozy's cuts
- 5. US midterms: Nancy Pelosi faces a struggle in her Democratic California heartland
Bestsellers from the Guardian shop
Tutti Frutti
All six episodes of the 1987 BBC comedy drama series penned by John Byrne, starring Robbie Coltrane and Emma Thompson.
From: £14.99
Latest news on guardian.co.uk
This week's bestsellers
-
1. Whoops!
by John Lanchester £7.50
- 2. Dispatches From the Dark Side
by Gareth Peirce £7.99
- 3. Eyewitness Decade
by Roger Tooth £17.50
- 4. Weeds
by Richard Mabey £10.99
- 5. Them and Us
by Will Hutton £14.99
Search the Guardian bookshop
Sponsored features
-
Win a Nikon D5000 digital SLR Plus, top photo tips from Guardian camera club
- Win a Nikon D5000 digital SLR
Plus, top photo tips from Guardian camera club
-
Upload your CV
and get spotted by recruiters
-
Get jobs by email
and get the latest jobs in your inbox
-
Interview advice
we'll help you prepare for that interview
-
Jobs by Twitter
follow our bespoke Twitter feeds
Head of Events - Brussels - Leading Financial Association
Europe - Belgium | £45000 - £60000 per annum + £45k-£60k
Related information
Video (3min 17sec), Tea Party: 'Collectivism will not work in the US'
8 Oct 2010:
Tea Party activists talk to the Guardian's Ed Pilkington in a bar in Chicago
9 Jun 2010
Women and minority candidates dominate US primary wins
9 Jun 2010
US primary elections CA, AR, NV, SC - liveblog | Richard Adams
8 Jun 2010
US midterm elections spending raises questions over special interests
8 Jun 2010
Gallery (11 pictures): Stars of the Tea Party
15 Sep 2010:
Candidates supported by the Tea Party have delivered a series of defeats to establishment Republican candidates in the primary elections. Meet the rising stars of the conservative movement
- Report errors or inaccuracies: reader@observer.co.uk
- Letters for publication should be sent to: letters@observer.co.uk
- If you need help using the site: userhelp@guardian.co.uk
- Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard:
+44 (0)20 3353 2000
- Report errors or inaccuracies: reader@observer.co.uk
- Letters for publication should be sent to: letters@observer.co.uk
- If you need help using the site: userhelp@guardian.co.uk
- Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard:
+44 (0)20 3353 2000
No comments:
Post a Comment