LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Adding to the already circus-like atmosphere of the California gubernatorial recall election, a punching balloon toy going by the name of Slappo announced his candidacy on Monday.

Speaking at the Los Angeles County Courthouse, Slappo said, "If anyone knows how to run a circus, it's me. Those other clowns don't know what the hootenany they are doing."

Running on a platform of "levity for all, all for levity", Slappo said that he had much to offer this state. "First, I will always be for the peeps of California, not for myself. Second, I've had lots of experience running nation-states."

The last comment has brought quite a bit of murmuring among the journalists present, and one asked what he meant by that. "Just ask George Tenet," Slappo replied.

Sources at the CIA were tight lipped about Slappo's remarks, but one unnamed senior official said "Area 51 would be a good place to start your research."

When asked about why people should vote for him, instead of one of the more well-known challengers to Governor Davis, Slappo quipped, "Well, first of all, because Simon lost the last time, and Arianna talks too much." And what about Arnold? "Arnold can't become president, and so what's the point of voting for him?", he said.

Slappo began his media barrage today, with catchy campaign slogans such as "Because Arianna Talks Too Much" and "Larry's Movies Suck". And, making a jab at Gary Coleman's bid for governor, "Whatchu Talkin'bout Gary?" (see campaigns)

Not all were impressed with the affable clown, however. Gabriel Sanchez, spokesman for Californians Against the Costly Recall, said "This is just ridiculous. The taxpayers are already footing an enormous bill for this farce, and now a clown comes along and forces us to put him on the ballot? I give up."

Governor Davis was not available for comment, but his new Press Secretary, Mohammed Saeed al-Slappo (see article), also seemingly of this race of punching balloon toys that seems to be cropping up all over the political scene here in Calfornia, said "Slappo is not worth and old shoe!"

Al-Slappo has been the cause of much speculation in and out of the state by Democratic Party members, who question Davis' hiring of him to fend off the numerous challengers. An aide to Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said in private conversation that "Davis is really off his rocker if he thinks al-Slappo is going to help his cause. He's already going to lose his job, but he may actually end up in the looney bin if he doesn't get rid of that joker very soon."

Davis is set to address students and faculty at UCLA later Tuesday, which is the first appearance of a larger plan to take his case directly to the voters. He has said that he admits "really garfing the whole thing up", but that he doesn't think the recall is heliping the state, riven with financial woes, or the people of California.

Voter anger has been building since the state's 2000-2001 energy crisis. Since then, Californians have witnessed the decline of the state's technology sector and a record $38 billion budget deficit, which triggered the vehicle tax increase, forced college fees to rise as much as 30 percent and has threatened state employees with layoffs and pay cuts.