GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Neel Kashkari Hands Out Free Gas Cards

Republican gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari smashes a plastic toy train at a Mobil gas station in Burbank, saying he was sending a message to Gov. Jerry Brown to “stop the crazy train.” (Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

by: Los Angeles Times

Posted: Sep 24, 2014 / 11:17 PM PDT

Updated: Sep 29, 2014 / 10:21 AM PDT

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Wearing safety goggles and wielding a white mallet aimed at a wind-up toy train, GOP gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari on Wednesday made his latest attempt to move the needle in a contest stacked highly in favor of his Democratic rival, Gov. Jerry Brown.

“We’re here to send a message to Jerry Brown,” Kashkari said, before smashing the tiny locomotive in front of a few dozen onlookers at a Burbank Mobil station. “Jerry Brown, don’t raise our gas prices to fund [the] crazy train. Let’s stop the crazy train.”

His campaign staff handed out $25 gas cards to the first 100 people who eventually showed up.

Campaign lawyers noted that the free gas cards went beyond the hot dogs and sodas typically given out at political rallies and questioned their appropriateness. California’s election code prohibits the giving of gifts to garner votes for or against a candidate.

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