The Race Is On In California
Gov. Gray Davis and a potentially large field of candidates hoping to replace him are scrambling to plan campaigns for the state's first gubernatorial recall election.
Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante announced Thursday that the vote to recall the embattled Democratic governor would take place on Oct. 7, meaning rivals must declare their candidacies by Aug. 9 — just 59 days before the election.
To get on the ballot, replacement candidates need to get signatures from just 65 registered voters from their own party, plus a $3,500 filing fee — or 10,000 signatures in lieu of the fee. If the list of contenders is long, a new governor could be elected with a relatively small percentage of the vote.
"You're talking about a total free-for-all, an election where anything can happen, not a lot of time for strategic planning," said Democratic political consultant Darry Sragow.
"It's a situation in which it's very difficult to choose a strategy because you're not talking about two candidates going head to head and someone's got to get a majority."
Just one GOP candidate — Rep. Darrell Issa, who bankrolled the recall signature-gathering effort with $1.7 million of his own money — was definitely in the running as of Friday morning. But two others had filed papers to form exploratory committees.
Other potential Republican contenders include actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and last year's failed GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon. A new name emerged Thursday: former vice presidential nominee Jack Kemp.
Recall supporters say they are planning a "very aggressive campaign" with a $15 million budget. "We know the job's only half done and we have a lot of work to do," said Dave Gilliard, director of Rescue California Recall Gray Davis.
The state's Democratic officeholders have closed ranks behind Davis and say they will not run. Davis, who has branded the Republican-led drive to oust him "a hostile takeover by the right," said he would make the case to voters that he should stay in office.
"The election is whether or not to retain Gov. Davis. That's the election and I'm going to just focus on the arguments for retaining me and the arguments against change," Davis told reporters. "It's a very risky business to change governors in one day."
Recall critics have said the election, which is estimated to cost up to $35 million, would create uncertainty that could further hurt California's economy — an argument bolstered Thursday by an influential rating agency.
Standard & Poor's Rating Services cited the recall in lowering the state's credit rating to one notch above junk bond status, saying it distracts from solving the state's fiscal problems.
Davis, who is less than a year into his second term, has seen his approval ratings drop into the 20s amid a slump in the economy and a staggering deficit projected at more than $38 billion. He has been accused of spending recklessly and dithering during the state's electricity crisis two years ago.
On Thursday, Senate leaders announced a compromise that would reduce the deficit with a combination of borrowing and spending cuts, ending a 24-day deadlock.
Davis said he was pleased Senate leaders reached a compromise, but added there was a "great deal in this budget for everyone to dislike."
The Senate will consider the plan Sunday night, and still must win support from the Assembly and Davis.
Other than Issa, possible Republican replacements for Davis were coy on Thursday. Schwarzenegger refused comment Thursday while promoting his movie "Terminator 3," while Riordan said he will consider running if Schwarzenegger does not.
Simon filed papers forming an exploratory committee, spokesman Brent Lowder said. State Sen. Tom McClintock also filed papers this week to form an exploratory committee.
Several supporters called Kemp on Thursday urging him to put his name on the ballot, according to three GOP officials with ties to the former New York congressman and Housing and Urban Development secretary. The associates said Kemp — a Los Angeles native — was flattered by the requests, but it was unclear how seriously the former Buffalo Bills quarterback was considering the race.
The recall ballot will have two parts, with voters first deciding whether or not to oust Davis and then choosing from a list of candidates to replace him. People voting to keep Davis still would be able to cast a vote for a potential successor.
The nation's only other gubernatorial recall election was in 1921, when North Dakota Gov. Lynn J. Frazier was removed from office.