Sept. 17 debate set for top California gubernatorial candidates

ASSOCIATED PRESS ^ | 8/14/2003 | JIM WASSERMAN

[kellynla]

08-14) 10:40 PDT SACRAMENTO (AP) --

The top polling of the 135 candidates vying to replace Gov. Gray Davis will be invited to take part in a Sept. 17 debate characterized as a "conversational give and take," broadcast officials announced Thursday.

The moderated, roundtable debate will be held on the campus of California State University, Sacramento, which is sponsoring it with the California Broadcasters Association. The 90-minute debate will be broadcast on television and radio.

The Oct. 7 recall ballot includes celebrities, politicians and a mix of known, little-known and unknown Californians. Voters will decide whether Davis should be ousted and then pick who should replace him.

One name missing from the ballot will that of the governor. The state Supreme Court refused to hear Davis' lawsuit to have his name listed with those who want his job.

The ballot was certified by the secretary of state Wednesday. Of the 247 people who submitted papers to run, 112 were cut after failing to file proper paperwork.

Better-known candidates include Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, independent commentator Arianna Huffington, Green Party standard-bearer Peter Miguel Camejo and four Republicans: businessman Bill Simon, who lost the governor's race to Davis in November; actor Arnold Schwarzenegger; former baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth; and state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Northridge.

The field includes 50 Democrats, 42 Republicans and 32 independents. There are four Green Party members, three Libertarians, two Natural Law Party members and one each from the American Independent and Peace and Freedom parties.

Candidates receiving at least 10 percent support in any of three major polls before Sept. 5 will be invited to participate in the debate. If fewer than six qualify, California State University will survey voters to decide which additional candidates to invite. A final selection will be announced Sept. 8, the Broadcasters Association announced.

Davis won't be part of the debate, but will be offered the chance to make a taped appeal to voters and provide his perspective on the recall, the association said.

The one-of-a-kind ballot likely features the largest field of gubernatorial candidates in one election, said Bruce Cain, a political science professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

"There's nothing comes close," Cain said. "I think it's fair to say it's a record, and probably a national record."

The debate won't be the only chance for the field to gather: Comedian Jay Leno has invited all the candidates to appear in the audience of "The Tonight Show" next month. Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy on the NBC show last week.

Those who didn't make the ballot included Donald A. Novello, who played Father Guido Sarducci on "Saturday Night Live," and Mathilda Karel Spak, who at 100 would have been the oldest candidate.

Spak, of Long Beach, failed to turn in the 65 required nominating signatures, officials said.

"I'm not going to worry about it," the centenarian said.

Before voters face the bulging ballot in 54 days, state and county election officials must sort out the logistics and costs of putting on the first-ever California gubernatorial recall. Officials warn it could take days or weeks to count the ballots.

The recall comes amid a record state budget crisis and is expected to cost $67 million. Deficit-strapped counties are tapping emergency reserves, using money budgeted for the March primary and hoping the state pitches in to cover the special election.

If recalled, Davis will be the nation's second governor voted out midterm. North Dakota voters ousted Gov. Lynn Frazier in 1921.

On the campaign front Thursday, Davis was to appear in the Los Angeles area, one day after reaffirming his support for abortion rights. Former President Clinton is advising him.

Huffington said she would campaign with Camejo. One would step aside if the other gains a significant advantage in the polls, the two announced.

Schwarzenegger, who's ridden a wave of publicity, had no public appearances scheduled. His campaign has tapped Warren Buffett, the world's second-richest man, as financial and economic adviser.

President Bush was to arrive Thursday in California. He is expected to skirt the recall campaign during his two-day visit.

[kellynla]

EXCELLENT!

[kellynla]

ping

[DiamondDon1]

Oh NO, bad news for Arnold...an actual question will be asked, what shall we do, what shall we do????

Meanwhile back at the McClintock camp...

Thank God we are finally going to talk issues!!!

DD

[FairOpinion]

"Candidates receiving at least 10 percent support in any of three major polls before Sept. 5 will be invited to participate in the debate."

---

Will McClintock & Simon pledge that if they don't have at least that required 10%, they will drop out of the race and endorse Arnold?

[Congressman Billybob]

I predict this debate will not take place, because of federal law suits that are filed by excluded candidates, noting that public property (the University) should not be used to discriminate between qualified candidates for office.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Nuts and Bolts in California" posted on FR, also published in San Francisco and on the UPI wire.

[TheDon]

Definitely have to watch SNL for the next couple of months.

[syriacus]

Will Tom Daschle lend Gary Coleman his "lucky charm" step stool for the debates?

[Paul8148]

But they said of Six is not polling 10% they will run another poll about the top six 10% or not will get in.

[kellynla]

Won't fly. Even presidential debates do not include "all" candidates.

[Phantom Lord]

Wouldn't moving the debate to a private facility solve part of the problem you speak of? And when did the exclusion of low ranking candidates ever cause a debate to be cancelled? Especially through a lawsuit.

[Dave S]

I predict this debate will not take place, because of federal law suits that are filed by excluded candidates, noting that public property (the University) should not be used to discriminate between qualified candidates for office.<p. Probably will be McClintock or Simon who files suit to kill the debate and then complains that Arnold isnt discussing the issues.

[kellynla]

"Will McClintock... pledge that if they don't have at least that required 10%, they will drop out of the race and endorse Arnold?" Only if you pledge 2K dollars to McClintock campaign when he gets the required 10 percent to qualify.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I'm glad we are having a debate but I'm uneasy about pollsters determining the makeup of the forum. Listening to the candidates determines how we cast our votes. Bill Simon went from a 3% unknown to beating Riordan by a landslide in the Republican primary. I realize it is logistically impossible and imprudent to include all candidates but I think we can all come to agreement on who the major contenders are.

Arnold's team must be sweating bullets over this. Will he show up?

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Schwarzenegger, who gave $1 million to his campaign on Tuesday, called Buffett "my mentor and my hero"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/964135/posts

I can't wait to hear more of Arnold's views.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Like Davis would have participated anyway....debate chicken!

I hope I can catch some of this.

[kellynla]

Will Aunold show up? But of course he will show up! Now whether he can answer any questions with a firm grip of reality and knowledge of the problem is quite another issue. He has already been asked whether he would cut costs or raise taxes to lower the deficit and his response was "I will bring businesses back to CA"...well guess what Aunold, businesses will not be returning to CA anytime soon. Especially until the business climate here changes dramatically. And the deficit is reduced substantially. VOTE 4 MCCLIINTOCK or pay for the consequences! http://www.tommcclintock.com

[b9]

Roger Hedgecock refered to Schwarzenegger as the "Seabiscuit" of this race. Wouldn't it be interesting if the real political Seabiscuit turned out to be McClintock?

[kellynla]

Be sure and set your VCR. What happened to our Dodgers? LOL

[kellynla]

Hedgecock stole my line. I called McClintock Seabiscuit the first day Aunold entered the race.

[b9]

Let's hope War Admiral Schwarzenegger shows up!