Last-Minute Mud

There were flickers of hope last spring for a civil and illuminating election campaign in California. Al Checchi was trounced in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in spite of spending an astounding $40 million of his own money, most of it on negative television ads trashing his opponents. Perhaps at last the voters were striking back against low-ball campaigning.

And then the two major-party nominees for governor, Democrat Gray Davis and Republican Dan Lungren, agreed to an unprecedented five debates during the general election campaign. There was expectation of serious discussion of California’s needs and problems at a pivotal time in history.

Alas, most of the electioneering reverted to dreary form as Labor Day passed and the fall campaign geared up. In recent weeks, almost every available moment of TV advertising time has been consumed by campaign spots, mostly attack ads featuring opponents in grainy, grimacing background photos while their alleged evil deeds were flashed on screen.

And the four debates that Davis and Lungren did hold too often degenerated into petty efforts to catch the other guy off guard with some obscure vote or opinion issued 15 or 20 years ago. Some ballot measure campaigns were even more exaggerated and distorted. Competing groups spent some $80 million in an endless exchange over what sort of American Indian gambling should be allowed in California.

But, at last, the campaign is nearly over and election day is in sight. For those voters who have not tuned out altogether, this is a time to be wary and skeptical of campaign advertising on television and radio. Beware of last-minute attacks that leave little or no opportunity for the victims to respond before voters go to the polls.

As dispiriting as the campaign may have been, Californians need to remember that this is a vitally important election. The next governor and state Legislature will face major problems and challenges, from improving schools to keeping the state’s economic surge going.

Every voter has a stake in the outcome. And every vote does count.