TIPOFF LOS ANGELES PUSHED OFF THE POLITICAL PARTIES' PARTY MAP.

Byline: RICK ORLOV

It's bad enough that both presidential candidates are ignoring California - except when they need money. But now even Los Angeles has fallen off the political map.

Democrats and Republicans alike have decided they will hold their Nov. 2 election night celebrations elsewhere to rally the faithful rather than in the state's biggest city.

For Democrats, their event will be at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel with Sen. Barbara Boxer, who lives in Marin County, rather than at the downtown Biltmore Hotel.

Republicans are returning to Orange County, with an event at the Sutton House in Newport Beach - far from the Century Plaza, which has been their home base for years.

If Los Angeles area Democrats do want a place to hang out, they can go to the headquarters of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley at 18425 Nordhoff St., Northridge.

While Californians can only watch the presidential election with envy and recall years when the state mattered, there at least are some ballot propositions to get excited about. Maybe.

Councilman Tony Cardenas, for one, got exercised last week with comments made by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said Proposition 70, a tribe-backed gaming initiative, was a case where ``the Indians are ripping us off.''

Cardenas long has been a supporter of the tribes - and a beneficiary of their campaign funding largess - and became involved in a telephone conference call with reporters, saying the governor was insulting American Indians and other people of color. He called on the governor to apologize.

Former Rep. Bobbi Fiedler said earlier this year she was planning to sit out the race for mayor next year after having taken a high-profile position for Mayor James Hahn four years ago and backed his anti-secession effort.

None of the candidates particularly excited her, she said at the time.

That was then. Last week, Fiedler announced she is backing Hahn again in next year's election and is co-hosting a reception with Councilman Greig Smith next month in Northridge to introduce Hahn to potential supporters.

``It is not a fund-raiser,'' Fiedler said. ``It's just a chance for us to introduce the mayor to some friends. I have worked with the mayor on a number of issues and I think he is the best man for the job.''

Fiedler is a Republican and is expected to help bring back some of the vote that helped elect Hahn in 2001 and was alienated during the secession election.

What changed Fiedler's decision to get involved?

``Easy,'' she said. ``The mayor called and asked for my support.''

If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was upset over the bobble-head doll that he tried to stop and the new ``Girlie-man Governor'' doll in a pink dress, he'd better watch out.

John Edgell, the man behind the dolls, said he has been approached by toy manufacturers to come up with a plush doll version and a Barbie doll one, as well.

While it is too close to the holiday season to be out this year, Edgell said he is confident he will be able to put together a deal soon.

``Wonder what the governor will think of this,'' Edgell wrote. ``Governors in pink dresses have lawyers who create messes. Satire is a wonderful thing - and constitutional, too.''

Edgell has a Web site, naturally, to sell his dolls. It's at www.governorgirlieman.com.

It's good to see that former President Bill Clinton is feeling better these days after his heart-bypass surgery.

How do we know? He sent out two e-mail pleas to Democrats last week asking for money to help the John Kerry campaign.

``We must leave no stone unturned,'' Clinton said.

Daily News Staff Writer James Nash contributed.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com