We should see predictions based on exit polls about the outcome of the California recall vote as soon as the polls close tonight -- 10:00pm Central time. Hard to call and hard to even pick sides; I'm glad to be in Texas.
Californians trooped to the polls in record numbers on Tuesday in what might be the start of a political revolution -- the ousting of a sitting governor for the first time in state's history and the election of a novice who promises to return power to the people.California's unprecedented recall election entered its last act with voters jammed polling stations to decide unpopular Gov. Gray Davis' political future and decide whether Republican actor Arnold Schwarzenegger should begin a political career -- at the top.
The California Secretary of State's office said that when voting ends at 8 p.m. PDT (11 p.m. EDT) an estimated 10 million people will have voted -- 2.3 million more than the last gubernatorial election and the highest number of voters for any governor's race in state history -- about 65 percent of registered voters.
via Reuters
Certainly Gray Davis doesn't deserve to be governor. On the other hand, California voters re-elected him knowing who and what he is, so why should their buyers' remorse drive events now?
The recall itself seems like a bad precedent and just another step on the road to contesting every election on a continuing basis, even after Election Day itself. The Left is preparing to litigate all day, every day -- especially since Florida 2000 when they were beaten at their own game.
All the possible outcomes of this exercise carry heavy negatives. If Arnold wins, he's going to need something special to accomplish anything.
Posted by Alan at October 7, 2003 05:28 PM