Santa Monica (California), Sept 30: The feud between California Gov Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger escalated as the governor's campaign accused the actor's handlers of engaging in "dirty tricks" by plotting to disrupt a Davis event. The sniping came as Schwarzenegger picked up the endorsement of the state Republican party's board of directors, an endorsement downplayed by the other major Republican in the race because it didn't come at the party's convention. Davis spokesman Peter Ragone said the governor's campaign had obtained an e-mail showing that the Schwarzenegger camp was trying to stack one of the governor's town-hall meetings "with shills for their campaign, republicans who would disrupt and attack the governor."

"We find that deeply troubling and deeply disrespectful to the process," Ragone said, terming the tactic "dirty tricks." Schwarzenegger spokesman Sean Walsh said the campaign had no role in any effort to disrupt the Davis Town-Hall meeting being broadcast yesterday on Univision, a Spanish-language television network. He said the campaign obtained four seats for allies who would observe the event and offer a response afterward but they would not disrupt the meeting or ask the governor any questions.

"Our response is it sounds like the wheels are flying off the car of the Davis campaign, and if this is a town hall open to the public, why shouldn't voters if they're Republican voters go hear what the governor has to say," Walsh said. Bureau Report