Whitman greets trick-or-treaters in Carpinteria

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman handed out candy to trick-or-treaters Sunday evening and mingled with their parents at a home in Carpinteria.

“You are a great Elvis,� she said, as the children lined up to shake her hand. “You’re a pretty peacock.�

A boy dressed as a baseball player told her, “I like EBay because I like to look at baseball cards.�

The candidate mingled with a handful of families in the backyard of the house and sipped a glass of white wine as she urged them to tell their friends and relatives to cast ballots Tuesday.

A yellow Labrador retriever wearing a “Meg Whitman 2010� T-shirt wandered the yard.

“We’ll win this if we just get out the vote,� Whitman said.

Many of the voters noted their concern about education and said neighbors send their children to private school.

“Teachers are the gem of our education system,� Whitman said. “We need to stand up to the California Teachers’ Assn.�

She said the energy she draws from meeting supporters will carry her through Tuesday.

“You can do anything for two and half days,� she said. Later, Whitman stood on the front porch, taking pictures with surprised trick-or-treaters and offering them a choice between candy or an apple. There were few fruit takers.

“So far we’ve sold zero apples,� she said. She grabbed a two-and-half-year old dressed as a cow for a picture and tried to get him to speak.

“Moo,� said the candidate. Looking at the children, she said, “In the end, it’s about these guys.�

As she and her husband, Griff Harsh, left, he offered some parting advice to the children. “Don’t eat all the candy tonight, save some for next week,� Harsh said.

-- Seema Mehta in Carpinteria

Photo: L.A. Times file