California: Gubernatorial candidate brings live bears to election campaign

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John Cox: The use of the bear for political purposes caused an outcry among animal rights activists

Photo: Renée C. Byer / AP

A new governor will soon be elected in California.

The Republican challenger John Cox tries to win over voters in the election campaign with the motto "Beauty and the Beast".

To give expression to this motto, he has now brought a living bear to an election campaign event.

Cox wants to dispute the office of the Democratic governor Gavin Newsom, whom he describes as "the beautiful" because of his well-groomed appearance.

Cox sees himself as a "beast" who wants to shake up politics in the US state.

"The beautiful politicians have failed in California," said Cox on Tuesday at a rally in the California capital, Sacramento.

"We need big animal changes to save it." Meanwhile, the brown bear he had brought with him sat patiently next to the governor's candidate, occasionally brushing his fur.

The 500 kilogram animal was trained to appear in films or television series.

The use of the bear for political purposes sparked an outcry among animal rights activists, for example from the Peta organization.

"Bears have to be left alone, not locked in an open enclosure on asphalt and carted out for events," wrote Peta on Twitter.

The animal rights activists urged "everyone with a spark of decency" to "keep wild animals out of their advertising stunt."

The California Governor Newsom, who has come under fire for his corona policy, has to face an election for confirmation in office.

A petition for the recall of the Democrat received the necessary number of signatures.

Good chances for Democrats

Several candidates for governor have run the Republicans, including transgender activist Caitlyn Jenner, who is a member of the Kardashian family clan.

However, Newsom's defeat in the "recall" is unlikely.

In California, the Democrats have a strong base.

It is only the second time that a California governor has had to face a "recall."

In 2003 Arnold Schwarzenegger took office after such a procedure.

asc / AFP