Column: He was a California kingmaker and political genius. But Michael Berman preferred anonymity

A visit with Michael Berman, the political savant and California kingmaker who died last week, was a throwback to another time.He worked from a shabby office, blinds drawn to thwart any ray of sunlight.A blue pall of smoke hung from the ceiling, like a nicotine curtain.Lunch might have involved a distilled drink, or two.

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