Posted on 09/08/2001 11:52:52 AM PDT by Dog Gone
LOS ANGELES -- Former Mayor Richard Riordan's revelation that he secretly underwent treatment for prostate cancer could trigger more questions about whether the 71-year-old Republican is too old to serve as governor, political analysts said Friday.
"For those who care about the age question, this doesn't ease their concerns," said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, University of Southern California political analyst.
Riordan, who is seriously considering a campaign for governor, on Thursday publicly disclosed for the first time his diagnosis of prostate cancer last October.
He kept the diagnosis and 44 days of radiation treatment earlier this year secret, even though he was serving as mayor of Los Angeles at the time.
Riordan and his doctor told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that he is now free of all signs of the disease.
The former mayor told the Times he was revealing his cancer treatment now because he was "running for office and I think the voters have a right to know about it."
Riordan's decision to go public with his cancer treatment was viewed by several analysts as a sign he is clearly in the race.
"Why else would he take this step?" Jeffe asked.
Joe Cerrell, a Los Angeles-based Democratic consultant, also said he believes Riordan has decided to enter the campaign.
But he said he thinks the former mayor's cancer could cut both ways: Those who are worried about Riordan's age may be more concerned while others may be more sympathetic.
Riordan's spokesman, Dan Schnur, said he didn't believe Riordan's age would be an issue.
"This is a man who goes on 100-mile bike rides before breakfast," he said. "And we are still waiting for Gray Davis to respond to the mayor's challenge for a bike race."
Campaign officials for the candidates who may face Riordan in next year's gubernatorial elections said they don't plan to make Riordan's illness an issue.
Beth Miller, spokeswoman for Secretary of State Bill Jones' campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, said Jones was glad to hear that Riordan "successfully battled his cancer and that he is healthy. We certainly hope he is healthy enough to run a marathon."
She pointed out that campaigns are "grueling," and said Jones plans to put Riordan "through his paces as we talk about the issues the voters care about."
She said it would be up to voters to decide whether Riordan should have disclosed the illness sooner.
Bob Taylor, spokesman for businessman William Simon's GOP gubernatorial campaign, said he doesn't feel the former mayor's illness or his failure to disclose it should be an issue.
"It was the tail end of his term, and he was treating it," Taylor said.
Garry South, Gov. Gray Davis' political adviser, has raised questions about Riordan's age in the past. But on Friday, he said he had no comment on the former mayor's illness or his age.
"I am not going to touch that with a 10-foot pole," he said.
Allan Hoffenblum, a Los Angeles-based Republican consultant, said prostate cancer is "so common" among men that most voters wouldn't be troubled by Riordan's illness.
"If they are looking for a reason to vote against Dick Riordan," he said, "there are many other reasons."
Not talking about a bicycle ride either.
If he dies, that could also damage his political viability ...
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