Caltrain, which runs from San Francisco down the peninsula past San Jose to Gilroy, transports thousands of riders each day, many of them commuters. They are facing a severe budget shortfall, and say they need to convert to a modern electric-powered system which would be faster, with more frequent service.

“People above politics”.  This is the headline that greets visitors to Governor Charlie Crist’s campaign site. Crist, the governor of Florida, recently surprised many with his decision last week to leave the Republican Party and run for US Senate as an independent.