Arnie flexes muscle with economic plan

THE campaign to recall Governor Gray Davis steamed toward an October 7 vote after a federal judge rejected a delay over punch-card voting, while the leading Republican candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger, outlined his economic plan.

The action star has surrounded himself executive-style with big-name advisers, while Republican Peter Ueberroth, the former baseball commissioner and key organiser of the successful 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, held a lean, straightforward news conference to offer his proposal.

Mr Davis, who went on the offensive this week with a speech blasting the recall as a Republican power grab, kept up the campaign to keep his job with a few jabs at Mr Schwarzenegger at a town hall-style meeting on Wednesday night before about 50 people in Hollywood.