First Take: Schwarzenegger returns. Brown talks budget. Whitman, Fiorina get Reagan backing.

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--Meg Whitman set the record for most spending by an individual on one campaign.

--Jerry Brown unveiled his budget plan -- complete with many Republican themes.

--George Skelton says Brown has been lucky up until now -- and needs to be luckier if he’s going to win in November.

--Whitman and Carly Fiorina picked up the endorsement of Nancy Reagan.

--Wearing his attorney general’s hat, Brown announced an expansion into the Bell investigation and other high public salaries around the state.

--Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to the state Wednesday, but there is still no budget deal in sight.

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