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In the news on Election Day minus five (* updated with new entries at the bottom):
• Talkin' 'bout Enron: Hahn's hit at Hertzberg and Villaraigosa over their campaign contributions from Enron and ties to Ken Lay tops the morning newspaper stories. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights also says Hertzberg worked against consumers. The Times talks to Sacramento types, however, who credit the former lawmakers with just trying to solve the energy crisis. L.A. political consultant Rick Taylor says more pertinently: "I don't see that this has anything to do with being mayor of Los Angeles." Times, Daily News, Daily Breeze
• Talkin' 'bout crime: The Times Megan Garvey compares the record to what the candidates are saying about crime stats. "Although none of the statements are untrue, all are incomplete."
• New gimmick: This afternoon Hertzberg and former mayor Richard Riordan will hold a press conference to blame Hahn for the city's traffic, then will start driving separately toward the KFI studios. During the so-called "race" they will call in trouble spots to the John and Ken Show and at 5:30 be interviewed in-studio by the boys.
• Fleeing a sinking...: Councilman Dennis Zine tells the Daily News he may pull his endorsement of Hahn over the police tax issue: "I was told there is no way we can hire more officers without that tax. Now, the mayor has a plan to hire new officers without a tax." The kicker: "I'm close to Hertzberg and he's been calling me lately."
• Koreatown votes: Hahn and Hertzberg have raised the most money in the Korean American community, the Times says. Political Data counts 28,242 Korean voters registered in the city.
• Blogosphere: Hahn responds to the L.A. Blogs call for candidate statements.
• Out and around: Hahn and councilman Eric Garcetti this morning unveiled a new police surveillance camera in Lake Street Park...Alarcon is in El Sereno this afternoon to talk about the 710 freeway extension.
• Not done yet: In the LA Weekly, Erin Aubry Kaplan goes to the black community and finds "a distinct rebound in support for the once universally reviled Hahn." Also, Robert Greene calls for a more vigorous public discourse in L.A. and Marc Cooper says a Villaraigosa-Hertzberg runoff would be "sweet" for what it says about labor and Hahn: "Not only because it would be a popcorn-munching-class spectacle to watch these two former roommates go after each other. Not only because Hahn so richly deserves to be dealt such a humiliating defeat. But also because Hahn’s early elimination would serve up a much-needed paddling to some local progressives who have sold their souls to front for Jimmy."
• Getting polled: Someone at Blogging.la got polled last night by Research Data Design and thought the questions "displayed conspicuous anti-Villaraigosan language."
• Checking the ads: The Times and LAVoice examine the current TV spots (with links at the latter.)