Posted on 09/29/2003 4:19:43 PM PDT by FairOpinion
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Republicans rallied behind gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday as his leading Democratic rival's chances appeared to be rapidly fading along with hopes that incumbent California Gov. Gray Davis can avoid being recalled from office.
The Austrian-born actor picked up an endorsement from state Assembly Republican leader Dave Cox and the California Republican party's executive board said it would make an unprecedented endorsement of a candidate in the governor's race later in the day -- with that person widely expected to be Schwarzenegger.
The executive board has previously avoided endorsing a candidate because two prominent Republicans are vying against each other -- Schwarzenegger and State Sen. Tom McClintock.
Democrats have a strong majority in California and hold all major statewide offices. Yet latest polls suggest voters will oust Democrat Davis on Oct. 7, and give Schwarzenegger victory over Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, the only major Democrat replacement candidate on the ballot.
In endorsing Schwarzenegger, Cox said; "He is the only candidate for governor who can defeat the Davis-Bustamante machine, which having riddled our state with wasteful spending and imperialistically exiled hundreds of businesses and thousands of jobs to other states, must be defeated."
Experts say Bustamante stumbled badly by accepting millions of dollars of contributions from Indian gaming interests into an old campaign fund not subject to present limits. A court last week ruled the move a violation of campaign finance laws.
"It was a big mistake for Bustamante, or more accurately, for Richie Ross, to do that Indian money shift," said Dan Walters, a veteran political columnist and co-author of an upcoming book on money and power in Sacramento.
Ross is Bustamante's chief political consultant who is also a lobbyist for Indian tribes with casinos.
"Not only did it come across as being sneaky per se, but he lost the court decision, he fumbled around on explaining it, and it killed him," Walters said.
AIMING FOR SCHWARZENEGGER
The Oct. 7 ballot asks voters whether they want to recall a governor -- Davis -- for the first time in state history. Should the recall succeed, a second question lists 135 replacement candidates, of whom Bustamante and Schwarzenegger are the most prominent.
Davis, unpopular for his handling of state finances and his reserved personal style, is taking increasingly bitter aim at the Austrian-born star of the "Terminator" films.
"If Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to hide behind slick ads and staged forums to launch false attacks against the governor, we're going to let Californian know that he's unwilling to discuss these issues face to face with the governor, " said Larry Grisolano, Davis's campaign manager.
Recent polls show a majority of voters do want to unseat Davis. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released Sunday found 63 percent of 787 registered voters want to recall Davis. The same poll found 40 percent backing Schwarzenegger, with Bustamante at 25 percent.
"Davis feels increasingly imperiled and the 20 or 25 percent of the Democratic voters who are ready to vote for the recall, he's got to get them off of that somehow if he is going to have any chance at all," Walters said. "The only traction he can make is on Schwarzenegger, because he is the commanding figure on the other side of the ballot."
Bustamante spokesman Luis Vizcaino said their internal polls also showed Davis losing the recall but also show the lieutenant governor with a one point edge over Schwarzenegger.
"Our polls show that we are still in this race," he said. "He's been attacked by his opponents and by the Republicans for weeks now but he (Bustamante) is still in the lead in internal polls."
Which puts them in the same camp of all the conservative politicians that endorsed Lyin' George Ryan for Gov. in 1998, including most GOP "leaders" like Denny Hastert. They were even better though, they managed to chase so many people out of race that socialist George's only "opposition" on the GOP side was a retired airline pilot.
Thank goodness the GOP establishment got their way over the "right-wing crazies" and elected George. Things are soooooo much better in Illinois now, right?
They have such a passion in their attacks on conservatives that its scary.
===
I think you are absolutely right. That very thought occurred to me too. I have already seen people running around saying it's "safe" to vote for McClintock, because Arnold will win anyway, and maybe we can have "Arnold 1st and Tom 2nd". This whole strategy must have been crafted by James Carville himself and looks like some "conservatives" are falling for it.
Arnold still needs all the votes he can get and a vote for McClintock is still a vote for Bustamante. I hope people will think very carefully when casting their vote.
Or Jim Jones.
Cox: "Now more than ever, California needs a true leader as Governor who will make tough decisions and restore our golden state to its historic glory. I am convinced that Arnold Schwarzenegger is that leader."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.