Rescue California

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Davis Fights on Two Fronts as List of Challengers Grows
He may again try again to block the election, which could include two Huffingtons

July 26, 2003

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call off the legal attack dogs, get out into the communities and explain himself. That's the one thing he is trying to avoid — explaining his record," said Dave Gilliard, chief strategist for Rescue California, the main group behind the recall. "It's like a guy who is accused of a crime and is trying to get out of jail on a technicality. He really needs to face up to the fact that people signed a lot of petitions. They want a recall election."

While Davis juggled efforts to get a budget passed and preserve his political office, other possible candidates continued to consider their options. They have until Aug. 9 to file with county elections officials.

"There is a sense that the recall does not pass the sniff test, but now that it's happening, there may be the possibility of some real reform," said Arianna Huffington, asserting that she had just returned from a trip to the United Kingdom to find thousands of e-mails urging her to run.

Asked about her former husband's decision to take out candidacy papers in Los Angeles, Huffington said she wouldn't comment about any potential candidate, "whether I was once married to them or not."

Another possible challenger, last year's GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon Jr., said Friday he had made a decision on whether to run but was not prepared to declare his intentions. He sounded like a candidate as he spoke at a luncheon meeting of the Los Angeles County Lincoln Clubs in Valencia, blaming Davis for failing to resolve the budget impasse and holding him accountable for this week's precipitous downgrade of the state's credit rating on Wall Street.

"Together, we have got to rise up and let our voices be heard and not listen to the nonsense that is coming out of Sacramento," Simon said. Simon is one of three prominent Republicans expected at a recall rally today in Sacramento. Also appearing will be declared candidate Darrell Issa, a congressman from Vista who largely bankrolled the recall signature campaign, and state Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), who is considering entering the race.

Staff writers Michael Finnegan, Karima Haynes and Joel Rubin contributed to this report.

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