Rescue California

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Gov. Davis recall effort gets big boost

May 07, 2003

SACRAMENTO -- A rich Republican made good Tuesday on plans to financially back the recall bid against Gov. Gray Davis, making an election more likely and deepening the quandary of Davis' fellow Democrats over perhaps opposing him, analysts said. The action by Rep. Darrell Issa of San Diego, who wants to be governor, forces Democrats such as state Attorney General Bill Lockyer, from the East Bay, into more closely eyeing a long-shot attempt to replace Davis or waiting to be part of a crowded field when he is due to be termed out in 2006, analysts said.

The development also will likely spur Davis' apparent moves toward fund-raising and campaigning to counter a recall attempt the governor discounts, according to analysts.

In keeping with comments made April 24, Issa filed papers with state election officials Tuesday creating a new committee, "Rescue California ... Recall Gray Davis," and plans to provide a six-figure donation to it this week, the congressman's aides said.

Issa is "going to give of his time and his resources to help qualify the recall against Gov. Davis," said Scott Taylor, Issa's campaign consultant. "He is making a donation to the committee to provide seed money to put a paid circulator out on the street."

"Starting this Saturday, there will be at least 200 paid circulators statewide collecting signatures for the effort," Taylor said.

Two existing committees, headed by Republicans and an anti-tax group, handed over to officials the first 100,000 petition signatures toward qualifying the recall question for a ballot.

Although some analysts said the effort has been sagging due to a lack of funds and support from high-profile Republicans, Issa's move boosted the recall bid.

"It now appears much more likely to qualify," said Ted Lascher, a political professor at California State University, Sacramento. If so, then Davis would be the first California governor to face a recall election.

Recall proponents must gather nearly 900,000 valid signatures to put the proposal before voters.

Supporters hope to gather the signatures by July, setting the stage for a special election in the fall. Otherwise, proponents have until September to turn in petitions that would qualify the recall question for the March presidential primary ballot.

Proponents primarily cited what they call Davis' dismal performance on the budget deficit.

Davis aides rejected the assertion, saying there is no basis for a recall.

"Californians aren't interested in the recall effort," said Davis adviser Roger Salazar. "Californians understand that we have some real problems in the state and they want common sense solutions, and recall isn't one of them."

Nevertheless, Davis has resumed fund-raising, an activity that has mired him in controversy. Aides said the effort is unrelated to the recall effort.

Recall advocates are heartened by a recent Los Angeles Times poll that 64 percent of voters disapproved of Davis' job performance. But Davis supporters are buoyed by findings in the poll that 51 percent oppose the recall effort.

The figures indicate the recall effort could backfire, not only against Republicans, but against Democrats who might dare to run against him, analysts said.

If the recall question was to go before voters, then challengers would be listed on the same ballot. And if Davis was recalled, then his office would go to the top vote-getter among replacement candidates.

Wires services contributed to this report.

Republicans other than Issa, who made millions manufacturing car alarms, have expressed interest in running. Issa spent $10 million of his own money on an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate in 1998 and $1.5 million running for Congress in 2000.

At the same time, several Democratic

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