Don't Mess With Us, We Have Receipts

A lot of insiders already know that Steve Maviglio — the Italian-villa inheriting, sharp-tongued, getting-business-done Democratic communications strategist — has returned to work for Phil Angelides. You could tell his never-stop-pounding approach in this story about "The Tonight Show" and the equal-time debate:

"Angelides campaign manager Cathy Calfo said she sent a letter Wednesday to 11 NBC affiliates in California asking them to give equal time to the state treasurer because 'The Tonight Show' has not invited him onto the program.

"NBC spokeswoman Tracy St. Pierre said 'The Tonight Show' never received a letter Angelides' camp said it sent requesting he be included, but the state treasurer's spokesman, Steve Maviglio, provided a copy of the letter he said the campaign faxed on Tuesday, along with a UPS shipping receipt to have the letter sent overnight and delivered by early Wednesday morning." (emphasis added)

I thought this was funny, but it also scared me that a senior campaign aide is rummaging through the receipt drawer. I'm afraid this gubernatorial election is descending into a maddening war about Nexis searches that pile up as "research," FCC regulations, UPS receipts, crowd size, photo ops, and forgivable verbal slips that make two-day stories. What about the issues, people? What about the issues?

Oh, wait, never mind. I have to post another Claude Parrish item today.

(Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / AP)