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Issa grabs spotlight as recall drive revs up It wasn't supposed to happen in California in 2003. But the signs are unmistakable: another all-out campaign for the governor's seat has begun, just six months after Democrat Gray Davis started his second term. And taking center stage is Issa, 49, a high school dropout who became a car alarm tycoon -- and one of the richest members of the House of Representatives. Overnight, the Lebanese American two-term congressman from Vista in San Diego County has become a sensation in the GOP political ranks and, as the standard bearer of the movement to recall Davis, the man of the moment in California politics. Investing $800,000 of his own money -- his personal worth is estimated at $100 million -- and banking on widespread dissatisfaction with the sitting governor, Issa now insists that pro-recall forces will collect 900,000 valid signatures by July 4. He calls it "freedom day" -- and says that will put the recall before voters in a special election this year. With his eyes on becoming the next governor of California, Issa's speeches are taking a decidedly combative tone. "In the months ahead, Gray Davis will talk endlessly of risk. We will speak of confidence," Issa told a Republican audience in Solvang (Santa Barbara County) last week. "Gray Davis will sling mud. We will advance ideas. Gray Davis will promote fear. We will offer hope. "California tried the Gray Davis way for four years: careening from crisis to crisis, and stopping only for nightly fund-raisers -- and daily finger- pointing," he said. "My friends, four years of all this is a long time -- and it is long enough." CAR ALARM CREATOR The focus on the recall is surprising for a man previously best known for creating the Cobra car alarm -- and for his own failed bid to get the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in 1998. During that campaign, Issa was battered by revelations that he was indicted for car theft as a teenager, even though charges were dropped. And critics said he used hardball business tactics that skirted the edge of legality, including suggestions that he brought a gun to work to intimidate rivals. Issa told the Los Angeles Times in 1998 that he never recalled bringing a gun to work, and "shots were never fired." But he was also forced to answer questions about an arson investigation in the destruction of one of his company facilities -- though no charges were ever filed. "Issa's a man with reckless behavior and a reckless past," said Bob Mulholland, campaign adviser to the state Democratic Party. "He's a walking dead man in a statewide governor race. Once the TV ads go up . . . his favorables will drop in a week." ISSA PREPARED FOR ATTACKS Scott Taylor, Issa's spokesman, said the candidate is prepared again for attack by Democrats -- and welcomes the chance to talk about his record. As Issa zipped around Southern California last weekend in a Ford Expedition, the usually anonymous congressman was followed by a pack of TV, magazine and newspaper reporters and an entourage of seasoned campaign staffers. With the help of former Reagan speechwriter Ken Khachigian, Issa is relentlessly "on message." Issa said he has financed the recall effort and is running for governor because "it would be a real challenge to turn around the ship of state."
Already, just months after the state GOP was demoralized
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