Davis comes out fighting in recall battle

CALIFORNIA Governor Gray Davis charged into the final stage of the state’s wild recall battle yesterday energised by charges of sexism and Nazi sympathies against Arnold Schwarzenegger, his chief rival.

What began as a grassroots protest over Mr Davis’ handling of the state’s ailing economy has become a referendum on the bodybuilder-turned-Hollywood star, dogged by allegations that he repeatedly groped women and admired Adolf Hitler.

Mr Davis stopped short on Saturday of calling for a criminal investigation of the former Mr Universe, but warned a women’s forum in Oakland, California, the state may be on the verge of saddling itself with a governor with a criminal past.