Bear to crash Dem Presidential Debates tomorrow

Edwards may have dropped out of the race, but one Teddy Mather -- a.k.a. a costumed bear -- is joining it a bit belatedly. Before the CNN Democratic Debate at the Kodak Theatre tomorrow, Teddy will show up toting an oversized-petition encouraging the presidential candidates to address national park issues.

This publicity stunt's planned by National Parks Conservation Association, a nonprofit, non-partisan group, in an effort to make parks a campaign issue:

Our national parks, including 24 in California, protect some of America’s most significant landmarks and landscapes. Yet they suffer from air pollution, development threats, a chronic lack of funding, and other threats. So far, few of the presidential candidates are talking about national parks, so Teddy is traveling across the country to help gain attention for park issues during the campaign season.

I'm not sure how successful Teddy will be; enviro's have been haranguing the candidates to talk about, and the media to cover, the bigger issue of climate change for months with little success. Still, Teddy should make for a cute photo opp if you plan to be in the area; he'll be hanging around Hollywood and Vine between 4 - 8 pm tomorrow.

Election-related events will be going on all day in front of the Kodak Theater. Among them: The CNN Election Express Yourself tour stop (11 am - 5 pm), The Barack Obama "Debate Visibility Rally" (2 pm), and the A.N.S.W.E.R. LA anti-war rally (5 pm - 7 pm; via blogging.la) -- and many others. My mention of these other events aren't an endorsement of them, BTW (I'm voting for Clinton).

All the action's almost enough to make one miss the Metro Westside Extension meeting for the Subway to the Sea! The first of that round of meetings also happens tomorrow, starting at 6 pm at LACMA West.

Photo courtesy of NPCA