- Newsmaker: Robert Beard, Professor Emeritus at Bucknell College analyzes the use of language in the debates and the "dumbing down of politics"
- Reporter's Notebook: One of the nation's closest races is in LA's South Bay which is divided almost evenly between Democrats and Republicans, with 20% registering Independent. We speak with incumbent Steven Kuykendall (R) and challenger Jane Harman (D) who must turn out the base and campaign for votes in the center.
Proposition 39 and the Kuykendall-Harman Race
Proposition 39 would change a 121-year-old provision in the state's constitution requiring a two-thirds vote to pass local school bonds. If the proposition passes, just 55% support would authorize bonds for building, repairing or replacing facilities at public schools, community colleges or county education offices. We get the pros from the legislative director of AARP, a nonprofit group with 3 million members over the age of 50, the cons from the President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers' Association.