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Republicans agree, in theory, to unite on one candidate "We're more than happy if (Republican leaders) want to limit the field, as long as they understand they're not going to limit Darrell Issa's ability to run for governor," said Scott Taylor, a spokesman for the San Diego-area congressman, the only announced Republican candidate. On Wednesday, state GOP Chairman Duf Sundheim suggested that party leaders should get together with the candidates and pick someone to support should Davis be recalled. "If we could agree on one candidate, it would be optimal," he said, since a big field could split the Republican vote and open the way for a Democrat or independent to replace Davis. But Sundheim's suggestion isn't getting much backing from the people who would have to agree. "I don't think that's a great idea," said Bill Simon, who lost to Davis in November and is looking at jumping into the replacement race. "This recall is a grassroots movement," he said. "We want to avoid the appearance of the old smoke-filled backroom, where deals are cut." The big question is who would decide on the winner and the losers, said state Sen. Tom McClintock, who also has talked about running in a replacement election. "Usually, it's the rank-and-file voter in the primary who decides," he said. "Since we don't have that, whose judgment do we substitute and how has that judgment been in the past?" The long-running battle between conservative and moderate wings of the California Republican party make it even tougher to cut a deal, said Bruce Cain, a political science professor at UC Berkeley. "Clearing the field would require one side to defer to the other or finding a candidate acceptable to both," he said. "I don't know that either side would be willing to defer or that there is a candidate everyone could agree on." Some of the biggest names in the potential field don't owe much to the state's Republican leaders. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has never run for office, but has plenty of money and an instantly recognizable name, while former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan lost in last year's GOP primary for governor and would probably run as an independent if he jumped into the recall race. Money is also a factor. Schwarzenegger, Riordan, Simon and Issa are all wealthy, with plenty of money to finance their own campaigns. That means they don't have to worry that the party will convince donors to cut off the money spigots. "It's hard to go to Bill Simon or Darrell Issa and tell them they can't run, " Cain said. While Issa's strong conservative beliefs and history of legal problems could make him a tough sell to Democrats and independent voters, he's also put up $1.28 million to finance the recall campaign and already is running a radio ad campaign aimed at dumping Davis. "It would take a lot of nerve to ask the only confirmed candidate to get out," Taylor said. "Darrell Issa has led from the front in this recall effort and he's in it to stay." While Simon lost to Davis just eight months ago in a campaign riddled with problems, he's also sounding like someone who's not going to walk away from another shot at the governor.
"Let the citizens of the state go ahead and choose (Davis') replacement," he said. "Whoever runs should have ideas and we tried to run a campaign based on ideas that look pretty
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