Today it's the Hertzberg campaign's turn to stumble in public. Somebody over there sent out a mass email boasting that KCAL-9 commentator Kerman Maddox (who is a Parks supporter) proclaimed on the air that Hertzberg is in second place. Only problem is, the email called him "Kirby Maddox." That was bad enough. The correction was worse (emphasis added):

Earlier this afternoon we sent out an email that incorrectly identified KCAL reporter Kerman Maddox. We regret the error and offer our apologies to Mr. Maddox. The corrected text is below.

Great News! Recent media accounts have Bob Hertzberg surging ahead of Jim Hahn in the latest polling!

Last night on KCAL, Kirby Maddox said, "In the new polls you have Antonio Villaraigosa in first place, and he's starting to stretch out. But what surprises people is Bob Hertzberg has moved ahead of the mayor, he is now in second place, although it's close, and Mayor Hahn is still stuck at around 20 percent. You have about 18 to 20 percent who are undecided, but now you have a battle for number two, which is between Hertzberg and Mr. Hahn."

He went on to say that he expects the race to come down to a very bitter battle between Hahn and Hertzberg.

We all know that the only way for Hahn to make the run-off is to ignore his record of failure and attack Hertzberg. Get ready! It looks like the Mayor is getting desperate and will have to throw some serious mud our way to try and fool the voters again.

If the correction has been corrected, I haven't seen it. I also didn't see Kerman's piece so I don't know the source he cites. But I haven't seen any coverage of a new independent poll that shows Hertzberg ahead of Hahn.

* Also: Next week's L.A. Business Journal has a front-page piece on Hertzberg, calling him "a whirlwind of energy and a man of big ideas" but asking: "Is L.A. ready for Bob Hertzberg?"

** And: The Los Angeles Conservancy has posted a 12-page special report (PDF format) on the mayoral candidates and their views on historic preservation in the city. It's almost worth checking out just for the photographs.