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Davis Calls Recall a Bid to Hijack Government Despite his detailed knowledge of the allegations in the lawsuit, Davis said the suit was "filed without my complicity" by an "independent group." "I don't know any more about it than what I read in the paper," Davis said of the suit. The anti-recall committee is led by veteran Davis campaign operative Steve Smith, who is on a leave of absence as state labor secretary. Committee staffers include Eric Bauman, who is on leave as director of the governor's state office in Los Angeles, and his deputy chief of staff, Michael Bustamante, who is also on leave from his state job. The governor's remarks drew a scathing response from Dave Gilliard, director of the Rescue California group that has spearheaded the recall petition drive. "Gray Davis is the dirtiest campaigner in California political history," he said. "He can't say anything good about himself or explain his dismal record, so he's resorted to attacking the 1.7 million people who signed our petition and the 155,000 people who circulated it for us." The recall ballot would have two parts — one would ask whether Davis should be removed from office, the other would ask who should replace him if he is. So far, California Democrats have presented a united front based on the argument that the specter of a Republican or independent replacement would encourage the Democratic-leaning state to retain Davis. In Washington, however, some California Democratic members of Congress have privately floated the idea of putting a Democrat — perhaps Leon Panetta, former White House chief of staff under President Clinton — on the California ballot in a recall election in case Davis' abysmal poll ratings plummet further. But Rep. Robert T. Matsui (D-Sacramento), a senior member of the delegation, said that he and his California Democratic colleagues remain solidly behind Davis. There are "no cracks" in the delegation, he said, adding that a contingency Democratic candidate on the ballot "would weaken our support for Gray." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) issued a statement Wednesday saying that she and her Democratic colleagues in the House from California "stand united with Gov. Davis" in fighting the recall. The statement followed a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune that she had told other Democrats that Davis would lose. "In order to defeat the recall, it is essential that no other Democratic name be on the ballot," she said. Panetta said in a telephone interview that he opposes the recall, but declined to speculate on whether he might be persuaded to run as a Democratic alternative to Davis. "I'm not seeking or running for the governorship at this point," he said. He added: "It's premature to declare this governor as losing the recall. There's just so many ifs out there that are involved."
Times staff writers Allison T. Hoffman, Jeffrey Rabin and Olga Rodriguez contributed to this report.
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