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Posted on 08/24/2003 12:43:13 PM PDT by veronica
Businessman Bill Simon heeded the call of the Republican Party for a united front Saturday and dropped out of the race to replace the governor in the October recall election, strengthening actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's chances of winning.
Simon did not immediately endorse Schwarzenegger, state Sen. Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks or former Major League Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth, the top three Republicans in the race competing for governor against the leading Democrat, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, to take over the governor's mansion if Gov. Gray Davis is recalled Oct. 7.
In recent days, more Republican activists have called for the other candidates, particularly Simon, to drop out so that the party does not split its votes and clear the way for Bustamante in the winner-take-all election.
"There are too many Republicans in this race," Simon said in a videotaped message. "And the people of our state simply cannot risk a continuation of the Gray Davis legacy. For these reasons I think it's wise to step aside."
Although he will cease campaigning, it is too late to remove Simon's name from the 135 on the Oct. 7 ballot. But his endorsement could swing some conservative Republicans to vote for another candidate.
Simon was not available for interviews. A spokesman denied the move was a result of direct pressure from party activists. Still, the calls for Simon and other Republicans to drop out had amplified the day before his announcement, as the influential Lincoln Club of Orange County endorsed Schwarzenegger and called on Simon, McClintock and Ueberroth to step down.
Schwarzenegger praised Simon, and said he expects him to "continue to be a force for change."
"Bill Simon is a friend and man I respect. I know his decision today, which he called me about personally, was difficult for him and Cindy," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
"I hope Bill's personal sacrifice will serve to unify Republicans and other Californians who are eager to join the movement to give California back its future."
Ueberroth will be listed as a Republican on the ballot, but has said he is running as an independent. His campaign consultant said Saturday he will remain in the race. His campaign will feature a series of town hall meetings with voters, including one in the San Fernando Valley next weekend.
Many Democrats have broken with the governor's Davis-only strategy and backed Bustamante in his "No on recall, yes on Bustamante" campaign. Davis has indicated he, too, may change directions, saying the lieutenant governor could help bring out more Democrats to oppose recall in part one of the ballot.
Bustamante, appearing in Van Nuys on Saturday, said he wasn't surprised to hear that Simon dropped out.
"I think people are getting over the celebrity hype and understand that they have a very serious issue before them. Anyone who thinks they're just going to go out there and wow the voters when they're angry is going to find that's just not the case."
A Davis spokesman dismissed Simon's withdrawal as "irrelevant."
"We're still focused on defeating question one on the ballot," said Gabriel Sanchez, spokesman for the Davis anti-recall committee. "Question two has become a sideshow with one less clown."
McClintock has made it clear he intends to stay in the race and predicted a come-from-behind victory.
"They said that War Admiral couldn't be beat and shouldn't have to run a race against the likes of Seabiscuit," McClintock said in a written statement. "Let me assure everyone that I am one horse that is in this race to the finish line."
Staff Writer Lisa M. Sodders and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Assuming you aren't simply inventing a lie out of thin air, what's your source?
That's an outlandish statement to make.
McClintock was the top GOP vote-getter in California, 2002. He is now the only legititmate conservative with a chance to win the recall election.
Like Bustamonte, Schwarzenegger is a liberal. Unlike Bustamonte, who has a D next to his name, Schwarzenegger has an R next to his name. The R stands for RINO. Schwarzenegger is a liberal RINO.
August 12, 2003 Playing two hands at once Ever since Cruz Bustamante entered the race, it's been assumed that California's Indian tribes were going to pool their money and do independent expenditures on his behalf, expensive ads that get around the $21,000 limit on contributions. Now I am hearing rumblings that the Indians might think about helping Cruz in a more creative way as well. If they spent, say, $4 million on behalf of state Sen. Tom McClintock, the most conservative Republican in the race, they might pump McClintock's numbers up while hurting Arnold and not harming Cruz a bit. Remember, Cruz needs a split GOP vote to win. That would be one way to get it. Besides, as a libertarian-leaning Republican, McClintock is a natural ally of the Indians anyway.
http://www.arnoldgovernor.net/insidescoop.htm
McClintock as "Useful pawn" of Davis? Last year, Gray Davis spent millions boosting Bill Simon's primary candidacy to beat him in the general election. This year, Gray Davis is pulling the same stunt with Tom McClintock. According to the Sacramento Bee, Davis intends on playing "two hands at once". Specifically, he plans to leverage his relationship with California's Indian tribes to aid McClintock. The plan would be to "pump McClintock's numbers up while hurting Arnold and not harming Cruz a bit". If the GOP is a house divided agianst itself, Cruz Bustamante will cruise to victory on October 7. We should be wary of playing right into Davis's hands...again.
Where's the "story"?
Endorsed by Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach ) who has a lifetime 96 rating from the American Conservative Union. Rohrabacher recalls a meeting he had with Schwarzenegger in 1982: "When I first met him, he talked about how much he loved America, how much he admired Reagan. I remember him saying, `Dana, some day I'm going to be governor of California and I'm going to call you.' " (source)
You mean Jim Brulte? He's working for Arnold.
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