Davis recall supporters, potential candidates descend on Sacram

By Erica Werner ~ The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO -- Backers of the drive to oust Gov. Gray Davis had a boisterous celebration at state Capitol on Saturday, as four potential candidates sought to tie up their support in advance of the Oct. 7 recall election.

The rally capped a week when the Republican-led petition drive qualified for the ballot, making Davis, a Democrat, only the second governor in the nation ever to face a recall ballot.

People in the crowd of around 1,000 waved signs with slogans like "Hey Davis, the fat lady is singing," and "Sav-us from Dav-us." They sang a Davis recall song and drank recall Davis bottled water.

And in a clear sign the focus of the recall has shifted from qualifying for the ballot to installing a new governor, potential candidates circulated in the crowd, cheered on by supporters.

U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, who funded the recall drive and is the only declared Republican candidate, former GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon and state Sen. Tom McClintock all addressed the group.

Absent was perhaps the most talked-about potential GOP candidate, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose aides say he still hasn't made up his mind.

"All of you are part of a revolution not seen in America perhaps in history," Issa said.

"You put a face on the evil of government waste, of increasing taxes, of overspending and increasing bureaucracy. You put a face on it and the face is Gray Davis," he said.

McClintock, who ran unsuccessfully for controller in November, has not formally declared his candidacy but left little doubt he is in the race. He said later he planned to file soon to run. Candidates must file by Aug. 9 at 5 p.m.

Simon also sounded like a candidate, though he refused to say when he will make a final decision.

"Gray Davis is mortgaging our future, he's mortgaging our children's future, he needs to be dumped," Simon said.

As recall supporters rallied in Sacramento, Davis and supporters from organized labor did the same in Los Angeles to oppose the recall.

Davis stressed Saturday that the recall election was not about him, but moving forward with a Democratic agenda. He said he didn't understand why Republicans were willing to cut millions from the state budget, but were willing to spend $60 million on a recall election.

"This recall election isn't about me, it's about you," Davis told a crowd of about 200 security guards at a union rally in downtown Los Angeles. "It's about moving forward not backward."

Some of those in the crowd waved signs reading, "Recalls are for cars ... not for governors," and "We voted already ... don't steal our vote." Davis also was flanked by local and state Democratic lawmakers who pledged their support in the upcoming months.

Some Republican party leaders had hoped to settle on one or two candidates to run in the recall to avoid having candidates fight among themselves rather than focus on recalling Davis.

Although the candidates reserved their attacks for the incumbent, there were signs there could be sparring in the future.

Talking to reporters, Simon said candidates needed to have a plan to solve California's budget deficit and other problems. He said neither Issa nor McClintock had put forward a plan.

McClintock, meanwhile, noted that he got more votes than Simon in November.

"Running for controller I received 103,000 votes than our candidate for governor," he said.

Also speaking was former state Assemblywoman Audie Bock, a one-time Green Party member who won a special election in 1999 to represent Oakland, Alameda and Piedmont. Bock announced she was entering the recall race as a Democrat.

The state's major Democratic officeholders have closed ranks behind Davis and say they will not run.

Other potential Republican candidates include former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, who has said he will consider running if Schwarzenegger does not, and former Republican congressman and 1994 U.S. Senate candidate Michael Huffington, who took out nominating papers Friday.

One rumored candidate took himself out of the running Saturday. Jack Kemp, the Republican vice presidential nominee in 1996, said he has retired from politics and would not be a candidate.