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Video Broadcast Commissioner Opts Out of the Circus Runtime 2:14 Real Media 56k | Broadband Windows Media Player 56k | Broadband Quicktime 56k | Broadband Take Our Survey Comedian and gubernatorial candidate Gallagher says if elected he'll require all Californians receiving workers' compensation to be reexamined. How does this sound? A Joke Sound Legislation Not Possible

After a week of political twists and turns related to the recall election, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, one of the major players fueling the media excitement opted out of the race Aug. 9, just two hours before the filing deadline.

Standing in front of the Sacramento County Registrar's office, Garamendi called the election a circus and said for that reason he wasn’t going to participate as a candidate.

His announcement to join the race Aug. 7 was big news last week because the two-time gubernatorial candidate was one of the only high profile Democrats to break ranks with the party’s game plan for members to stay off the ballot. Also many were surprised because he had gone on record stating he sought no higher office during his campaign for Insurance Commissioner.

The decision to run fueled speculations that he was disenfranchised with Governor Gray Davis for a variety of reasons that included his wife, Patricia Garamendi losing her $96,000-a-year appointment to the state Trade and Commerce Agency as a result of budget cuts.

But in the end he demonstrated his solidarity with Davis and loyalty to the party by withdrawing from the race. The Associated Press reported that pressure from union leaders and Democratic party members caused Garamendi to rethink his reasons for running.

By stepping aside Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante remains the only big name Democrat on the ballot if Davis should lose the recall. Democratic leaders prefer it that way so potential votes aren’t watered down between party candidates, in a race where it’s tough to estimate how many converts Republicans could win over as a result of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s political muscle flexing.