Thelma Gutierrez: Clock ticks for governor wannabes
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CNN's Thelma Gutierrez
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Watch Road to Recall: The Battle for California: An inside look at the candidates in the gubernatorial recall race. 10 p.m. EDT Saturday
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The Democratic unity California Gov. Gray Davis had counted on to defeat the recall effort seems to be crumbling.
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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- It's deadline day for the hundreds of people considering entering California's recall election in hopes of replacing Gov. Gray Davis -- if voters first decide to boot him out.
CNN correspondent Thelma Gutierrez, who is in Los Angeles, talked to CNN anchor Carol Costello.
GUTIERREZ: Now the clock is definitely ticking, the doors of the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office open soon and this is the last opportunity for all of the 150 hopefuls in Los Angeles County alone to come forward with their $3,500, their 65 signatures and all of their nomination paperwork.
Only after those signatures are validated can that candidate's name go on the ballot. Now statewide, as of close of business last night, we understand that there are 680 hopefuls who have been counted, but of those candidates, only about 58 have completed their paperwork and turned in their money.
Now one of the high-profile candidates going through the process was actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He showed up here at the registrar-recorder's office day-before-yesterday to take out his nomination papers.
He was greeted by screaming fans and dozens of reporters. We were told by his press person that he would return today to file his paperwork, but an officer here said the actor was not likely to show up and would probably send a representative to those people.
Another person we are expecting today is Republican businessman Bill Simon, who of course was defeated by Gray Davis back in November he's at it again and we understand that he will be back to turn in his paperwork.
Again, the deadline is 5 p.m. Pacific Time (8 p.m. ET).
