Gov. Gray Davis

Producer: Doak, Carrier, O’Donnell & Associates

Title: “Circus�

Script: Delivered in solemn fashion by an unseen male announcer: “Newspapers are calling it a circus. ‘Millionaires, local gadflies, political mavericks, even a porn king.’ All running for governor -- because someone could win with as little as 15% of the vote. Imagine the possibilities. Where a replacement might stand on the issues. Their qualifications? How the uncertainty would impact our economy, even make things worse. A lot’s at stake -- the future of the world’s fifth-largest economy. Maybe the L.A. Times said it best: ‘When the laughs are over, Californians will have to live with the outcome.’ �

Pictures: The opening scene features a collage of newspaper headlines on the recall from the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News: “3-Ring Politics,� “Circus California� and “158 File Papers for Recall Election.� The next scene has head-shots of some of the candidates seeking to replace Davis, which pop onto the screen above the words: “Millionaires, local gadflies, political mavericks and even a porn king.� As the announcer talks about the stakes -- “the future of the world’s fifth-largest economy� -- aerial footage of California cities, farms and harbors flashes on the screen. The final scene features a boxed line from a Los Angeles Times editorial: “When the laughs are over, Californians will have to live with the outcome.�

Accuracy: Many newspapers and political commentators are calling the recall a circus, among other things. It’s also true that the list of 135 qualified candidates includes “millionaires, local gadflies, political mavericks and even a porn king,� a line from the San Francisco Chronicle. In theory, a candidate could be elected governor with 15% of the vote, although most political experts believe the winner from the 135 candidates will need something more than 30%. Wall Street analysts and business leaders have warned of the potential effect the recall could have on the California economy. One debatable point: Preliminary data proclaimed California the world’s fifth-largest economy, but that ranking has shifted in other reports.

Analysis: The ad’s objective is simple: The Davis campaign is hoping to raise doubts and fears about the potential consequences of a successful recall and thus persuade more people to vote “no� on the question of whether to remove Davis from office. The ad doesn’t mention Davis or the names of any of the candidates seeking to replace him. A small photograph of Davis appears in the lower right-hand corner of the ad’s closing shot.

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Compiled by Times staff writer Gregg Jones

Los Angeles Times