WHERE WAS PAUL HACKETT?:

Republican-backed candidate forced into runoff for House seat (GILLIAN FLACCUS, 10/05/05, Associated Press)

Voters in Southern California's heavily Republican Orange County split their support enough in a special election for the nation's only vacant House seat to force the GOP-backed favorite into a December runoff.

State Sen. John Campbell, who has Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's endorsement, will face the top vote-getters from four other parties after Tuesday's primary that narrowed a crowded field of 17 candidates.

Campbell had 46 percent of the vote with all precincts reporting. The next-closest candidate, moderate Republican Marilyn Brewer, was eliminated from the race with 17 percent.