Time to get serious about the election

Make no mistake about it. The special election is upon us. The initiatives are important. And they are still in play. Check out the latest polling figures from the Public Policy Institute of California.

Prop 75 - the anti-union, anti-Democrat power play -- is up for grabs. Prop 74 - the blame the teachers initiative -- is even. Prop 76 looks like it will go down in flames, but this is not a normal election. This one will be very prone to last minute maneuvering and targeted spending by both sides. The polling numbers are reported in the SacBee, Five ballot measures in danger of losing which includes these words of caution:

PPIC Pollster Mark Baldassare cautioned that the poll numbers, which surveyed people likely to vote, don't indicate the election is over.

'All these measures are close. There's a considerable amount of time...and there will be new messages and counter-messages. I don't feel like this election is necessarily settled.'

Since this election is flying below the radar, the battle will be won or lost on the ground. Who shows up and votes is always what counts. But in this election, where the turnout will be low, the ground battle will be the real difference maker. As the SacBee puts it in Fight for voter turnout may swing results:

Several political strategists predicted just 35 percent to 45 percent of the state's 15.8 million registered voters will cast ballots. That's about one-quarter to one-third of all eligible adults.

The campaigns, therefore, are now shifting their focus and funds to the 'ground war,' the door-knocking, phone-calling and mail-dropping battle to get their supporters to vote.

There is still time to make a difference, but the time to act is now. Donate your time, donate your money, talk to your friends, get an absentee ballot... whatever you do, vote. Send Arnold a message. Stop blaming the teachers. Stop targeting the unions. Fund our schools. Now.