National and Local Experts Following the California Recall Election

The California recall election has been dubbed “the greatest political show on earth,” and that may be putting it mildly. With the October 7 vote only days away, embattled Gov. Gray Davis (D) is hoping that sexual harassment accusations will derail the surging candidacy of Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, while Lt. Gov. Cruz M. Bustamante is counting on Hispanic support to get him out of Davis’s shadow.

Republicans view the special election as democracy at its purest; Democrats call it a Republican power grab. Both parties agree the recall will be significant, both locally and nationally.

The day after the vote, Thomas E. Mann, an expert on national politics, and Bruce Cain, an expert on California politics, will participate in a conference call with reporters to discuss the results and assess the national implications of the California vote.