First Take: Meg Whitman, Steve Poizner spar. Schwarzenegger vows a veto. Outsourcing the stimulus

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The two GOP gubernatorial front-runners squared off in a debate that was heavy on stump-speech sound bites and short on details, Cathleen Decker and Seema Mehta report. Michael Rothfeld looks at the verbal tics of the two candidates -- and the dreaded NPR debate.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he will not sign a bill aimed at providing tax relief for struggling homeowners.

Shane Goldmacher reports on some big pay hikes for the Assembly leaders’ top legislative aides.

Patrick McGreevy reports stimulus money for California may be going to an Oregon energy firm.

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-- Anthony York