Posted on 12/20/2001 8:42:55 AM PST by StoneColdGOP
Governor falls short of removing himself from seeking higher office, however
SACRAMENTO -- Governor Gray Davis on Wednesday indicated that he has no plans to run for the presidency, saying that in recent months his ``ambitions have been moderated.''
But in an interview with Mercury News editors and reporters, the governor stopped short of removing himself from a race for higher office. If he wins re-election in November, Davis will automatically rise toward the top of prospective Democratic candidates for 2004.
``I'm focused on being the best governor I can be, getting us through difficult times. I have no plans to do anything else,'' Davis said during an interview in his Capitol offices.
Citing the tough decisions he's had to make to navigate California through the electricity crisis, Davis said: ``My ambitions have been moderated by just trying to keep the lights on,'' adding that he is ``very proud of the progress we've made.''
Sitting in the Ronald Reagan Cabinet Room, Davis, who will turn 59 next week, seemed relaxed and confident as he talked about his achievements during the past three years in the state's top office.
He is seeking re-election to a second four-year term and is expected to coast to the Democratic nomination in March. But he may face a tougher test from one of three major Republican challengers vying for the GOP nomination.
Two recent polls have shown that voters are leaning toward electing Republican Richard Riordan, the former mayor of Los Angeles.
In the Mercury News interview, Davis repeated a boast that he plans to win re-election by double digits.
Still, he seemed to be taking a more cautious approach to higher office. Davis is probably mindful of what happened to the last governor, Republican Pete Wilson. Just a year after winning re-election in 1994, Wilson jumped into the presidential race, breaking a promise that he would not run for president in 1996 and would serve out his full four-year term. Polls showed that voters faulted Wilson for that decision.
Davis would not preview how he plans to balance the budget as the state faces a shortage of $12 billion to $14 billion. He is scheduled to unveil his budget plan early in January.
The governor repeated comments he made earlier in the day to the annual conference of the League of California Cities, saying he is ``not going to balance the budget on the backs of local governments'' and that the state will continue to compensate them for money they have lost because of a reduction in vehicle license fees. ``I am committed to treat local governments like partners, not scapegoats,'' Davis said.
Recent polls have shown that voters have reservations about the way the state has handled such major issues as the economy, energy and education.
Davis trumpeted his time in office, saying ``I just think people don't fully appreciate that we helped save the economy'' by ensuring that the lights stayed on and limiting blackouts as electricity prices soared last year.
Said Davis: ``all of us together helped keep Silicon Valley business'' from leaving the state and ``looking for greener pastures.''
Politicians' approval ratings rise -- except for Davis
( http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/594501/posts )
Excerpt:
Californians are feeling better and better about the job performances of all of their elected officials except one: Gov. Gray Davis.
A Field Poll released Wednesday shows near-record high job approvals for the U.S. Congress and Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein. President Bush recorded skyrocketing marks in a recent Field survey. Even the Legislature's image has partially recovered from a dip it took earlier this year in the heat of the state energy crisis, according to Wednesday's poll.
But the Democratic governor has not shaken his energy woes. A poll Field released a week ago showed Davis still stuck at 38 percent job approval, with 51 percent disapproving. A year ago, Davis won approval from 57 percent.
"It's striking to me that at a time when you have record job performance ratings ... the governor is left out," said pollster Mark DiCamillo.
Well, neither do I. And that's bigger news, because I'm confident I've realistically got a better shot at it than Gray Davis.
If you re-read his words it leaves you wondering why they wrote the story. Davis says he won't rule out running for President. That is far from a headline of "Davis Doesn't Plan to Seek Presidency" since most people who end up running never tell ya they are gonna run to begin with :)
Yeah, I see the difference.
I think he is taking the cue from the other congenital liar, Hillary. She also got a lot of attention saying she wasn't going to run. Uh-huh.
It worked well for her. If he ran he would at least have to compete with her, as well.
Davis is contemplating suicide?
Maybe life in California is getting better!
I was looking forward to seeing Grayout Davis in a primary contest with Hillary. Something tells me I still might.
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