SPECIAL IN CALIFORNIA – AT 8:38 A.M. ET:  There's a special election in California today to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Jane Harman, who resigned to take a position with a Washington think tank.  Harman is a decent, traditional Democrat who, unlike most of the California Democratic congressional delegation, actually understands that America has enemies.  She'll be missed by the sane elements of her party.

The election today is becoming exciting.  The Los Angeles district in play is heavily Democratic, but the Republican candidate is putting up a tremendous fight, and the election may be far closer than Democrats are used to in their safe district.  A new issue has been added:  gangs.  We wondered when the ugly phenomenon of these flash mobs running loose in many cities would enter the political arena.  Apparently today's the day.  From the Washington Times:

The hot issue of Tuesday’s special runoff election for an open House seat in Los Angeles isn’t the economy, immigration or Medicaid — it’s gangs, thanks to what may be the most jaw-dropping political attack ad ever run.

The video, “Give Me Your Cash, B****,” features two “rappers” accusing Democratic candidate Janice Hahn of coddling gang members during her 10 years on the Los Angeles City Council. The highlight is Mrs. Hahn’s red-eyed, demonic face imposed on a pole-dancer’s body as the rappers, pretending to be gang members, pull dollar bills out of her shorts.

The video, produced by an independent group not affiliated with the local Republican campaign, has been denounced as racist, sexist and just plain vile, but it may help explain why some doubt remains as to the outcome of Tuesday’s race to succeed former Rep. Jane Harman. Mrs. Harman, a Democrat, resigned from Congress in February to become the head of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

The Democratic candidate ordinarily would be considered a shoo-in to win the coastal Los Angeles County district...

...But Mr. Huey, 60, has proved to be a surprisingly strong challenger. His message of limited government and job creation has earned him tea party support, while his ability to fund his own campaign — he has spent $695,000 of his own money — has enabled him to keep pace with the better-connected Mrs. Hahn.

But it’s the gang video that put the race on the map. Produced by conservative attack-ad specialist Ladd Ehlinger Jr. for RightTurn USA, the video quickly went viral on YouTube and just as quickly became the focus of attention on the campaign trail.

“The big issue is gangs, and that’s to Huey’s advantage, obviously,” said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles.

COMMENT:  We'll watch this closely.  I doubt if we'll see an upset victory (although we can hope), but we may see a conclusion that sends a powerful message to the 1960s-bound Democrats of California.

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