Less satisfying is his account of California's cultural progress in the 19th and 20th centuries: does he really need to invoke so many long-forgotten writers to accompany such names as Jack London, Frank Norris, Mark Twain or Raymond Chandler?

ECONOMIST: California

In the last election, the Labour party's official candidate Frank Dobson came third place, a long way behind both Mr Livingstone and Tory candidate Steve Norris.

BBC: Livingstone applies for Labour return