In the latest in a series of dramatic twists, a federal appeals court has agreed to reconsider its controversial ruling delaying the October 7 California ballot on whether to recall Governor Gray Davis and elect a replacement.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said on Friday it would convene an 11-judge panel to reconsider the court's ruling this week by a panel of three judges. "It is ordered that this case be reheard by the en banc court," the order stated.
The appeals court three-judge panel had ruled to delay the recall vote because of concerns that older, error-prone punch card ballots still used in some counties would effectively disenfranchise some voters.
As the outcome of the court battle over California's future remained uncertain, gubernatorial candidates continued to campaign, raise funds and prepare for a major debate next week.
Governor Gray Davis, fighting to keep his job after three decades in state politics, campaigned with former Vice President Al Gore, whose lifelong dream to become president was extinguished in 2000 when the Supreme Court ruled in George W. Bush's favour.
The centre of the latest court battle is the 9th Circuit, the nation's largest appeals court based in San Francisco, which has a reputation for liberal decisions.
California's attorney general and local election officials in Los Angeles and Sacramento earlier this week urged the justices to reconsider the case and allow the October 7 vote to proceed.
The court's en banc panel before the chief judge and 10 other judges chosen at random will likely hear arguments in the case on Monday, two weeks and a day before the state is scheduled to hold its first ever gubernatorial recall vote.
Davis is unpopular over his handling of the state's finances and is also faulted for his lack of charisma in a state famous for its outgoing style.
His leading Democratic rival, Lt Gov. Cruz Bustamante, is awaiting another court decision over a complaint that he violated campaign finance rules by taking in millions of dollars in Indian gaming and union contributions.
The court battles echoing the bitter 2000 presidential contest could benefit the candidacy of Republican actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has positioned himself as an outsider leading a "people's revolution" to retake the capital.
The actor appears to have successfully brushed aside questions stemming from past interviews about sex and drugs and is already complimenting Sacramento lawmakers he may be working with in the future