Whitman greets trick-or-treaters in Carpinteria

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman handed out candy to trick-or-treaters Sunday evening and mingled with their parents at a home in Carpinteria.

“You are a great Elvis,” she said, as the children lined up to shake her hand. “You’re a pretty peacock.”

A boy dressed as a baseball player told her, “I like EBay because I like to look at baseball cards.”

The candidate mingled with a handful of families in the backyard of the house and sipped a glass of white wine as she urged them to tell their friends and relatives to cast ballots Tuesday.

A yellow Labrador retriever wearing a “Meg Whitman 2010” T-shirt wandered the yard.

“We’ll win this if we just get out the vote,” Whitman said.

Many of the voters noted their concern about education and said neighbors send their children to private school.

“Teachers are the gem of our education system,” Whitman said. “We need to stand up to the California Teachers’ Assn.”

She said the energy she draws from meeting supporters will carry her through Tuesday.

“You can do anything for two and half days,” she said. Later, Whitman stood on the front porch, taking pictures with surprised trick-or-treaters and offering them a choice between candy or an apple. There were few fruit takers.

“So far we’ve sold zero apples,” she said. She grabbed a two-and-half-year old dressed as a cow for a picture and tried to get him to speak.

“Moo,” said the candidate. Looking at the children, she said, “In the end, it’s about these guys.”

As she and her husband, Griff Harsh, left, he offered some parting advice to the children. “Don’t eat all the candy tonight, save some for next week,” Harsh said.

-- Seema Mehta in Carpinteria

Photo: L.A. Times file