LOS ANGELES (AP) – In a bombardment of television commercials and a last-minute rally, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom urged voters Sunday to back a withdrawal vote that could remove him from office. while Republican leader Larry Elder widely criticized the media for what he described as a double standard that isolated Newsom from criticism and scrutiny throughout the contest.
The sunny late summer weekend was a whirlwind of political activity, as candidates held rallies, continued bus visits and messed up TV waves with commercials offering their final arguments before the election concluding Tuesday.
Newsom – which is expected Monday for President Joe Biden for a rally in Long Beach – was in a Hispanic area on the northern edge of Los Angeles where it tried to increase turnout with the key block vote.
Elder was also in Los Angeles, where he was joined by activist and former actress Rose McGowan, who repeated claims in recent days that Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, tried to persuade her in 2017 why not made public with his allegations of sexual misconduct. against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
Siebel Newsom’s office described the allegations as a “complete fabrication.” In a brief interview with The Associated Press, Newsom characterized McGowan’s claims as a “last-minute classic piece” of one of Elder’s supporters.
The governor said Elder was desperate and gripping, and said McGowan’s claims about his wife “only show how little things are going in current campaigns.”
He echoed his earlier criticisms of Elder, saying the conservative presenter and advocate of the gathering “does not believe that women are entitled to their own reproductive freedoms, devoutly opposes Roe v. Wade, does not believe that there there is a glass ceiling, he does not believe in the laws of pay equity. “
During his appearance, McGowan spoke warmly about Elder and criticized Hollywood Democrats, who he said traumatized his life. He now lives in Mexico.
“Do I agree with him on all points? No, “McGowan said.” And what. He is the best candidate. He is the best man ”.
The last-minute exchange highlighted growing election tensions, which largely sparked frustration over Newsom’s pandemic orders that closed schools and businesses during the pandemic. Voting ends Tuesday. Recent polls show that Newsom is likely to keep its job.
As Newsom’s “first partner,” Siebel Newsom, an actress turned documentary filmmaker, has championed gender equality and society’s treatment of women and families.
McGowan, 48, known for her role in the “Scream” movie franchise, was one of the first dozens of women to accuse Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, making her in an important figure in the #MeToo movement.
Elder, who could become the state’s first black governor, addressed some of his sharpest claims about what he described as biased media coverage.
Earlier this week, her walking tour of the homeless camps in the Venice Beach neighborhood of Los Angeles was cut short after a female cyclist wearing a gorilla mask threw an egg at Elder and then made a turn to a member of his entourage. The confrontation provoked strong reactions on Twitter, and conservatives accusing the incident did not immediately call it a racist attack because Elder is a conservative.
If I were a Democrat, “it would have been an important story,” Elder said. He also said the media has largely ignored McGowan’s allegations, but argued that if similar charges had been made against him “that’s all you’ll be talking about.”
“It’s a double standard,” he said. “I’m sick of it.”
Emails posted on Twitter by McGowan showed he had contact with Newsom’s wife, which his office confirmed, but said his communication was “as survivors of sexual assault and in the former capacity of Jennifer leading the Representation Project, an organization that fights against the limitation of gender stereotypes and norms. ” ”
One of McGowan’s key claims is that during a 2017 phone conversation, Newsom’s wife referred to a law firm that worked with Weinstein and asked her what the firm could do “to make you happy”.
McGowan said Sunday that he did not recognize the name of the firm at the time. “I had no idea who he was. So I said nothing and hung up. That was my last contact with her, ”he said.
The election will determine whether Newsom can complete his first term or be fired from office more than a year earlier. Voters are asked two questions: should Newsom be recovered and, if so, who should replace it? If you get the majority of votes on the first question, the second question with the names of 46 substitute candidates is irrelevant. Otherwise, the highest voter among the substitute candidates would become governor.