Posted on Wed, Sep. 10, 2003
Ueberroth puts end to recall campaign
DEPARTURE PUTS PRESSURE FROM GOP ON MCCLINTOCK
By Mary Anne Ostrom
Mercury News
COSTA MESA - GOP candidate Peter Ueberroth on Tuesday quit the race to replace Gov. Gray Davis, admitting he cannot win.
The millionaire businessman and former baseball commissioner's decision leaves two major Republicans in the Oct. 7 recall election: actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks.
Ueberroth, who surprised many when he jumped in at the last minute, ran a lackluster campaign that stressed job creation and never gained much traction. He announced his decision to drop out just as he planned to launch his first television ads and on the day a new Field Poll showed he remained the choice of only 5 percent of voters, placing him a distant fourth to Democrat Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and the two other Republicans.
``Frankly, we cannot see how the numbers work for this candidacy to get across the goal line,'' Ueberroth told two dozen reporters crammed into his office park headquarters in Costa Mesa. ``I'm a businessman, I've taken a look at what we're doing, and I've said, `If I can't win, win all the way, I'm going to step out.' ''
Ueberroth's departure increases attention and pressure on McClintock. As his support has climbed in recent polls, some Republicans worry that the outspoken state senator will become a spoiler by siphoning votes from Schwarzenegger and paving the way for a Bustamante victory. McClintock, however, reiterated Tuesday that he is ``in the race to the finish line.''
Still, though Ueberroth's decision was welcomed by Republican leaders, it may not change the shape of the race dramatically. Though he is a registered Republican, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics czar campaigned as an independent and attracted moderate voters that probably will split between the leading candidates, analysts said.
Ueberroth said he received no urging from the other Republicans in the race or state GOP party leaders to leave the contest since he announced his candidacy a month ago. Ueberroth said he would offer to meet with major candidates, including Bustamante, to hear their job-creation platforms and then give an endorsement. He said he did not plan to meet with Davis.
Schwarzenegger made a pitch for Ueberroth voters Tuesday, saying in a statement that ``we share core beliefs about the urgent need to restore the economic vitality of California.''
McClintock, however, sounded more emboldened than ever, saying Ueberroth's decision has intensified his desire to stay in the race and prompted him to challenge Schwarzenegger to a debate at this weekend's state GOP convention in Los Angeles.
``I've gone from an asterisk to a solid third position,'' he said. ``If that momentum continues, I expect to be in first place by Election Day.''
Later in the day, he sent out a press release condemning Schwarzenegger's decision to participate in only one debate scheduled for Sept. 24. ``We know he can play the role of governor. We do not know if he can be a real governor,'' McClintock said.
``He's having the time of his life, he's not going to get out,'' said Republican consultant Allan Hoffenblum. He said Ueberroth's exit was not a surprise, because many Republicans only considered the moderate Ueberroth a viable alternative if the Schwarzenegger campaign stumbled badly. Instead, Ueberroth's own campaign was slow to get off the ground.
``Schwarzenegger has not bombed, though the race may be more competitive than he would like,'' said Hoffenblum, who added that at last week's first televised debate Ueberroth ``seemed listless, no energy.'' Hoffenblum speculated Schwarzenegger would work hard to win Ueberroth's endorsement, particularly since their fiscal and social policies are closely aligned.
But, according to a Field Poll to be released today, of Ueberroth's scant 5 percent backing, two percentage points would go to Bustamante, two to Schwarzenegger and one to McClintock. That means Bustamante would still lead the actor by a 32 to 27 percent margin, with McClintock getting 14 percent of voters.
``I don't think it has much impact on the race,'' Richie Ross, Bustamante's campaign consultant said of Ueberroth's decision. ``It's going to be a close race no matter how you slice it.''
Ueberroth told reporters he hopes the other candidates would focus on ``serious issues'' of rebuilding California's economy. ``Many people have accused me of being a one-note candidate,'' he said, adding ``Californians are going to get it sooner or later that their jobs pay all the bills in Sacramento.''
Ueberroth campaign manager Dan Schnur said that the campaign's low-key, policy-specific strategy wasn't working in the recall election's short time frame, especially one that includes high-profile candidates like Schwarzenegger. He said Ueberroth did not want to change the tenor of his campaign, including going negative against his opponents.
``A campaign message based very deeply in public policy is the type of thing that takes longer to sink in with voters,'' Schnur said. ``The voters in a less hyper-charged environment would have had more of an opportunity to hear'' his plans.
Ueberroth said he would offer his services to a new administration, or to Davis if he survives the recall, but would not seek public office again. He plans to return all his campaign contributions. |
