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Davis Recall Group Claims 1.4M Signatures
Organizers of a Republican-led effort to oust Democratic Gov. Gray Davis declared Tuesday that they have 1.4 million signatures _ more than enough to force a recall election in the fall.
"An election's going to happen here pretty quick," said Tom Hiltachk of Rescue California Recall Gray Davis.
The effort needs 897,158 valid signatures, 12 percent of the number of voters in the previous California gubernatorial election, to get on the ballot.
The signatures collected will be sent to county election officials to be verified. The results will be reported to the secretary of state, and if the secretary of state certifies that enough signatures have been gathered, an election must be called within 60 to 80 days.
If the Davis recall makes it onto the ballot, voters will be asked two questions: whether to remove the governor, and which candidate on the ballot they want instead. The only declared major-party candidate so far is Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who is bankrolling the recall campaign.
Democrats questioned the current party strategy of keeping Democratic candidates off the two-part ballot. Analysts believe Davis' chances of survival would be better if there were no Democratic alternatives.
Some Democrats believe Davis should resign to spare the state the $30 million cost of a special election and ensure that another Democrat, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, would become governor.
Davis has said he won't quit, and many Democrats insist there's no pressure on him to do so.
"Everybody is holding very firm. No Democrat is doing anything but fully supporting Gray Davis in this," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe. "There are conspiracy theories galore, but I can tell you, there are no secret meetings or anything."
Davis is vulnerable because of voter wrath over the state's energy crisis and a budget deficit estimated at $38 billion. His approval rating is down to 21 percent, the lowest on record for a California governor.
Steve Smith, the campaign manager for Taxpayers Against the Governor's Recall, said it probably won't be known for a several weeks if there are enough signatures for an election, but his side is prepared to spend $15 million or more.
"Meanwhile we have to act, of course, as though this may be on a ballot," he said. "We have to get ready just like you do in any gubernatorial race. And that's what we're doing."
Rescue California now plans to shift its focus to getting the recall passed if it hits the ballot, director Dave Gilliard said.
"We have an aggressive campaign planned for that phase," he said.
Gilliard said a $13 million budget is planned for the effort, which will involve all the elements of a traditional political campaign, including direct mail, precinct walking and television advertising.
He said he is meeting with major donors who have been reluctant to get involved so far but who said they would reconsider once the recall became a reality.
"We are now going to go back and make our case as to why they should be involved," Gilliard said. |
