Opinion: Meg Whitman, leaving no ears behind

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I’ve been taking the train into work for several years, but this morning my commute had its first-ever commercial interruption. It was a political ad, and not surprisingly it came from the year’s biggest campaign spender, Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman.

Two Whitman volunteers wandered from car to car, giving a brief (about 30-second) spiel about the pros of Whitman and the cons of her opponent, Democrat Jerry Brown. It was reminiscent of the talking points on Whitman’s mailers, so the only thing remarkable about the message was the venue.

Perhaps Whitman was afraid that Los Angeles’ relatively small cadre of strap-hangers was missing the ads that have been blanketing the radio airwaves during drive time. So kudos to her campaign for taking thoroughness to a new level. And the county Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s rules don’t appear to bar electioneering on its buses and trains, provided that the speakers aren’t on roller skates, singing along with a boom box or littering the seats with handbills. So there doesn’t seem to be a legal problem.

I wonder, though, whether the train is a good platform (groan!) for Whitman or any other political candidate. Commuters aren’t the most cheerful people, and nothing sours the mood quite like being reminded that you’re a captive audience. In a car, at least, you can turn the dial.

-- Jon Healey