Mail Enhancement

Compared to the boisterous NY-20 special, the 5/19 CA-32 primary has seemed rather sleepy. That's partly because, since the CD is in the cost-prohibitive L.A. media market, much of the back-and-forth has taken place in voters' mailboxes.

-- The 62% Hispanic CD would seem to be a natural fit for state Sen. Gil Cedillo (D). But recently, he's been targeting ex-Cong. aide Emanuel Pleitez (D) with pointed mailers, accusing Pleitez of being immature and using gang signs in photos from Pleitez's Facebook page. As the frontrunner, it's odd that Cedillo is attacking a second-tier candidate. Is Pleitez siphoning off too much of Cedillo's Hispanic vote?

-- Meanwhile, Board of Equalization chair Judy Chu (D) has been working her base (Asian-American voters) hard. While Asian Americans comprise just 18% of the CD's voters, the Chu camp estimates the group has submitted over 30% of absentee ballots so far. But Chu's not only counting on Asian Americans to bring her home: she has the support of much of ex-Rep./Labor Sec. Hilda Solis' (D) family. This weekend, she picked up the endorsement of Cesar Chavez's United Farm Workers union.

-- But while many signs point to Chu topping the Dem field in this strongly blue CD, this race isn't in the bag. Voters will also be heading to the polls to vote on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) budget propositions. Millions have been spent on TV ads for those inits, and that may help turn out a larger percentage of the majority Hispanic vote, aiding Cedillo and/or Pleitez.