THE US: The California recall election is rapidly turning to farce as dozens of prospective candidates apply for a place on the ballot to succeed Democratic Governor Gray Davis.
In Los Angeles County 38 people have taken out ballot papers, and another 27 in southern California.
A prospective candidate needs only 65 signatures and $3,500, or 10,000 signatures and no fee, to get onto a list for electors to chose a successor to Governor Davis if he is recalled in the ballot on October 7th.
Meanwhile, actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, hotly tipped to lead the Republican field against Mr Davis, may be about to terminate his candidature.
An adviser to the Austrian-born actor said he would announce a decision by the end of the week but that he was "leaning against running".
His wife, Ms Maria Shriver, is said to be opposed.
Former Los Angeles mayor Mr Richard Riordan, a moderate Republican, is expected to go forward if Mr Schwarzenegger does not.
Candidates have until August 8th to put their names on the recall ballot.
Conservative Republican hopefuls include businessman Mr Bill Simon, who lost to Mr Davis in the November election, State Senator Tom McClintock and US Congressman Darrell Issa.
The Democratic Party has said it will not field an official candidate, relying instead on electors to vote against a recall.
Governor Davis is to get help from Bill and Hillary Clinton as it appears increasingly likely that the Republican recall effort will fail if perceived as undemocratic.
The former president and the New York Senator will reportedly travel to California to reinforce the Democratic Party case that the recall amounts to a Republican coup.