World Series Draws Crowds At Desert Bars

The race for California governor has become so toxic that it’s prompted one of the candidates to propose removing all negative ads before the election if his opponent does the same.

Jerry Brown, a Democrat, made the proposal Tuesday during a joint appearance with Meg Whitman, a Republican.

Whitman agreed to remove any ads that might be seen as a personal attack.

Still, some voters say they are turned off by the race and are seeking distractions from politics.

One distraction came Wednesday by way of the World Series.

The San Francisco Giants hosted the Texas Rangers in game one.

Sports fans showed up early at The Beerhunter in La Quinta.

They wanted a good game and a Giants victory and it turns out that they got both.

“It’s so fun,” said Kat Gaskins, a San Francisco native who said the game was a reprieve from the recession. “It’s such a great diversion.”

Gaskins’ friend Sue Marshall said the evening was a breather from the election.

“This is a great break from a very serious time in California,” she said.

Election night, Nov. 2, is less than a week away.

Hundreds of thousands across the Coachella Valley will cast a vote for their choice for governor, senator, assemblyman and mayor.

But several races have gone negative, turning some voters off from the political process.

“They could come here, enjoy a ballgame, have some good food and it seems like everyone is in good spirits,” said Billy Sherman, a manager at The Beerhunter.

“Its something that anyone can get into regardless of their political stance,” said Kirk Seidel, a San Francisco native.

“Even though they have their differences of opinion,” said Gaskins. “It’s a great place to get together and a great way to do it.”

Sports fans said game one of the World Series couldn’t have come at a better time.

The San Francisco Giants are representing California on Major League Baseball’s biggest stage.

It’s the franchises first appearance in the Fall Classic in 8 years.

“We’re always shocked to come in and the bar is not full,” said Gaskins. “In San Francisco there wouldn’t be room for us.”

The Beerhunter in La Quinta drew an above average weeknight crowd.

The bar boasts some 40 flat-screen televisions and more than 25 of them were airing the game.

“If either the Angels, Padres or Dodgers were to make the World Series or even the championship series, we’d be busier,” said Sherman. “But I will tell you the San Francisco Giants have a real good following out here.”

And the fans who showed up to the bar all got their wish — a Giants win.

The team is just three steps closer to a ring.

“We’re going to win,” said Marshall. “We will win!”

The Giants won by a final score of 11-7.

A 6-run fifth inning was capped off by a 3-run Juan Uribe homerun which sealed the deal.

Game two airs Thursday night on Fox.