Calif. GOP Leaders Back Schwarzenegger in Recall

Reuters ^ | 9/29/03 | Dan Whitcomb and Gina Keating

[kattracks]

Mon September 29, 2003 08:19 PM ET

By Dan Whitcomb and Gina Keating

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Arnold Schwarzenegger picked up an unprecedented endorsement in California's recall election from leaders of the state Republican Party on Monday as Gov. Gray Davis tried to regain momentum eight days before the Oct. 7 vote.

Schwarzenegger was unanimously backed by the California Republican Party's Board of Directors despite the presence of a second GOP candidate, state Sen. Tom McClintock, on the ticket as a new poll showed the film star surging and Davis fading.

"Arnold has a proven ability to connect with voters to solidify the Republican base while reaching out to Democrats and independents and to excite new voters," state party chairman Duf Sundheim said. "This is an unprecedented vote for our party but this is an unprecedented election."

The executive board had previously avoided endorsing a candidate but as vice chairwoman Martha House said bluntly: "Contrary to popular belief, we do want to win."

House's remark was a reference to fears by Republicans that, with two candidates on the ballot, the conservative vote would be split and the election won by Lt. Gov Cruz Bustamante, the only major Democrat running to replace Davis.

Polls have showed Bustamante running neck and neck with Schwarzenegger for the lead among candidates to replace Davis -- though a weekend survey by CNN/ Gallup showed the veteran politician dropping 15 points behind with 40 percent backing Schwarzenegger and 25 percent Bustamante.

Schwarzenegger, who spent the day campaigning in central California, said in a statement that he was "honored and grateful" to have the endorsement and predicted that it would help the party come together behind him.

"Our campaign is moving forward, building momentum and gaining support," he said.

The Austrian-born actor also picked up an endorsement from state Assembly Republican leader Dave Cox, who said Schwarzenegger was the "only candidate for governor who can defeat the Davis-Bustamante machine."

DAVIS BRUSHES OFF POLL

Campaigning on Monday with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Davis brushed off the CNN/Gallup poll.

"Private polls are showing that the recall is closing and before the week is out I'm sure that will be confirmed in other public polls," Davis said. "I think in the end people will do the right thing. I trust their judgment."

Richardson, a Latino former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Secretary of Energy under President Clinton, was the latest in a parade of national Democrats to appear with Davis to shore up party loyalty for the beleaguered governor.

The two Democrats stumped at a busy outdoor market in downtown Los Angeles, where surprised diners found themselves surrounded by TV cameras and microphones as Davis stopped to talk to them and ask for their votes.

To the heavily minority crowd at Central Market, Davis touted his support for a law allowing illegal immigrants to get state drivers licenses and for a measure setting in-state tuition rates for college-bound children of immigrants.

The Davis camp also launched two ads on Monday that criticized Schwarzenegger's voting record -- he voted in 13 of the past 21 elections -- and his refusal to face Davis in a debate. And the governor also picked up endorsements from four of the state's newspapers, the Los Angeles Times, the Sacramento Bee, the San Jose Mercury News and the Modesto Bee.

Meanwhile Democrats fretted that Bustamante had lost critical momentum as the election came down to the wire.

Experts say Bustamante stumbled badly by accepting millions of dollars of contributions from Indian gaming interests in violation of campaign finance laws.

But party chairman Art Torres said he had not written off Bustamante. "I think Cruz can still come around," Torres said. "It all comes down to who is going to come out and vote." (Additional reporting by Adam Tanner in San Francisco)

[goldstategop]

For A Dead Man Walking, Gray Davis doesn't even lie that well - as if Bill Richardson is going to save him. He can't even save himself!

[GeronL]

The California GOP continues its track record of ridiculous... but then again nobody cares.

follow the strudel?

[Kay Soze]

RINOS all of them!

Only Barry Goldwater is a true republican conservative.

Speaking of conservative principles how do you feel about "W";s conservative principles ?

[deport]

ping

[Spiff]

[Afronaut]

[goldstategop]

Its not completely fair. At the party convention Arnold called himself a conservative. Liberals run away from one like a vampire runs away from sunlight. You should see what they say about the Governator over at DU.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Certainly sounds like they're having a good time.

[South40]

There's a job waiting for Tom Mcclintock after this election.

[BibChr]

Oh heck, just the fact that he's an actor who publicly campaigns for REPUBLICANS, has always and only called himself a Republican, in an industry that loathes and blacklists Republicans... that says something, too!

Dan

[GeronL]

They got the banjo's out and their dancin' with they own cousins! I have a feeling this whole Arnold thing is going to go the way of the Ventura thing

[lasereye]

I don't dismiss Davis' claims to still be alive as just talk. It reminds me of dismissals of Gore's campaign saying the election is "a dead heat".

[GeronL]

Actually I doubt I'll vote in 2004, I have a real ptoblem with a lot of the things W has been doing, and not doing.

[GeronL]

I was thinking about an affirmative inaction day, the whiter you are the more lazy you are allowed to be.

[Kay Soze]

Is that the animal 'W' rides?

[Texasforever]

Look for the "true conservatives" to be the same ones vowing to "never vote for GW again" after the California election is finised. They don't let the fact that they didn't vote for him in the first place bother them.

[Ciexyz]

There's a job waiting for Tom McClintock after this election.

The California Republican Party should stress to Tom that there will be consequences for NOT helping the Party present a united front.

[Kay Soze]

What’s upsetting to me is the “true conservatives” urging me to vote governed by principles but themselves vote politically expediently.

How many ”true conservatives” here will vote for a “true conservative” in ’04 and run the possibility of Dean or Clark in the White House?

[South40]

The California Republican Party should stress to Tom that there will be consequences for NOT helping the Party present a united front.

I think it has weeks ago and he's been in the vengence mode ever since.

He's committing political suicide.