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The recall gets real Issa is the only declared candidate for the recall. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in this month's issue of Esquire magazine that he would love to be governor and would consider the job "if the state needs me." Other Republicans are weighing a run, including former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, state Sen. Tom McClintock and Bill Simon, who Davis defeated last year. But Issa noted that he's the only one among them who is actively campaigning against the governor and working to collect signatures for the effort. Issa said he's staked his reputation on qualifying the recall for the ballot. He said he hopes his party can come together to choose a candidate and hopes he is that candidate. Issa said he would step aside only if it helps California and the recall effort. He disputed accusations from Davis supporters that the recall is more about promoting his own career than saving California. "If the governor wants to test that, he can resign," Issa said. "The recall effort dies right here, and (Lt. Gov.) Cruz Bustamante gets an opportunity to do what Gray Davis is not going to do." Issa also called "absurd" accusations made by a Davis ally that he violated a federal campaign finance law that bars lawmakers from raising soft-money contributions. Money changes attitudes Talk of recalling Davis began within weeks after he defeated Republican Bill Simon in November. State GOP activists endorsed the recall in February, but most elected Republicans kept their distance. Besides serious doubts about the recall's chances of success, some feared being labeled poor losers, as well as incurring the wrath of Davis. After Issa opened his wallet, attitudes began to change. So far, the three pro-recall committees have received more than $1 million in contributions, $800,000 of that from Greene Properties Inc., a Vista company owned by Issa and his wife, Kathy. But just because there's a recall election, it doesn't mean Davis is history. A poll by The Field Institute released late last month found that only 24 percent of those surveyed gave Davis a favorable rating. However, the same poll found that 60 percent opposed the recall. Collecting signatures The deadline for turning in the signatures is Sept. 2, but recall supporters want to have them in much sooner. Getting the signatures certified in July or August would ensure that the recall measure be the subject of a special election. A special election, experts predict, would increase the odds of Davis' ouster because special-election voters tend to be older and more conservative. But signature certification after Sept. 2 means a recall measure could be consolidated with the March presidential primary. That ballot will include several Democratic presidential candidates and controversial ballot initiatives expected to generate high Democratic turnout. As of Thursday, the Taxpayers Against the Recall committee had raised almost $760,000. "People need to have an opportunity to say they don't like it when one politician who happens to dislike the governor is fueling the recall drive," said Carroll Wills, spokesman for the anti-recall group. "It's purely a statement." Yet the effort also has a tactical side. By paying higher signature bounties, organizers intend to weaken the pro-recall campaign. Lawmakers weigh in Some Republican lawmakers and party donors oppose the effort because they fear it will distract from President Bush's re-election campaign and the goal of defeating U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2004.
"I haven't been excited about it at all," said Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs. Bono said
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