Final election sprint***

To even the most casual obsrever, this year's election in California has been mind boggling.
The Fair Political Practice Commission last week reported that spending for the governor's race alone is at $186 million and climibing toward $200 million _ figures once large enough for a national campaign.
Most of that spending has come from Republican Meg Whitman, who has been running television commercials since the first of hhe year, first to introduce herself and, secondly to attack Democratic Attorney General Jerry Brown.
Heading in to the fine week, Brown was holding on to a lead over Whitman, according to a poll conducted by USC and the Los Angeles Times.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA, and Republican Carly Fiorina were locked in a too-close-to-call race,.
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The USC.LA Times Poll shows Boxer with a 50-42 percent lead.