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Davis Seeks to Shift Focus to Recall Backers Schwarzenegger's potential bid has lent the recall story enough Hollywood pizazz to make it a fixture on national television. But Schwarzenegger has kept the political world guessing about whether his flirtation with a gubernatorial candidacy is genuine — or an angle to promote his new movie, "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines." Its release is scheduled for July 2. On Monday, Schwarzenegger, a Davis recall supporter, said he expects the measure to qualify for the ballot. "I'm staying out of it at this point," he said in an interview to plug the "Terminator" sequel on ABC's "Good Morning America." "I'm thinking about the movie right now. "You have to stay on message. That is very important in the political arena, and also when you promote a movie." Another celebrity fueling television interest in the recall is director Rob Reiner, a Democrat best known for playing Michael — whom Archie Bunker called Meathead — in the sitcom "All in the Family." "Everybody likes the idea of the Terminator versus the Meathead," Reiner said Wednesday in his own appearance on "Good Morning America." (He was touting his own new movie, "Alex & Emma.") Reiner acknowledged that he has thought about running for governor, but he ruled out a candidacy on a recall ballot. He called it a misguided attempt by Republicans to "steal an election." So far, the boldest gubernatorial hopeful in positioning for the recall campaign has been Issa. He has invested $1.15 million in the petition effort. But competition for the loyalty of conservative Republicans has already begun between Issa and businessman Bill Simon Jr. Simon, who lost to Davis in November, has campaigned for the recall and hinted at his interest in running to replace the governor. "This time, we will succeed," Simon said. In legislative districts across the state, Republicans running in the March primary are trying to outdo one another in showing support for dumping the governor. In Orange County, Assemblyman John Campbell, a state Senate candidate, is raising money for the recall petition effort; his opponent, Assemblyman Ken Maddox, invited the media to watch him submit petitions Friday to elections officials. Elsewhere, the recall effort has sparked speculation on whether Democrats may give up on Davis. On MSNBC last week, former Gov. Jerry Brown said: "If a Republican looks overwhelmingly like they're going to win, then you have got to look around for a Democrat" to run on the recall ballot to replace Davis. Brown later issued a statement criticizing the recall and voicing support for Davis. But Davis has continued to face questions, including Monday on CNN, about whether he may eventually resign. He told CNN: "Absolutely not."
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