Zschau, Cranston to Debate; Governor, Bradley May Not : Republican Rivals Rally to His Side

Republican Rep. Ed Zschau, rallying his defeated GOP Senate challengers to his side, today said he wants to debate Democratic U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston before the November election that Zschau hopes will make Cranston “a figment of the past.”

But Gov. George Deukmejian refused to accept Democratic opponent Tom Bradley’s suggestion that the two hold a series of 14 debates on a spate of issues--and indicated that he might not debate Bradley at all.

“I don’t think he’s really serious,” the governor said. “We are going to set our own agenda.”

“If Tom Bradley and I had 14 debates, the whole press corps would be in a serious sleep for several months.”

McCarthy, Curb Agree

Lieutenant governor candidates Leo McCarthy and Mike Curb hurriedly agreed to a debate, between post-election gibes at one another that marked the beginning of the general election season.

Cranston, taking the offensive even before the election concluded, sent a telegram to the California Republican Party asking that the party nominees debate “the important national issues and especially on topics of concern in our state.”

Zschau, in a victory press conference today, challenged Cranston to a series of televised debates but neither formally accepted the other’s invitation by mid-day.

A Silicon Valley entrepreneur before his election to Congress, Zschau won the Republican nomination with a decisive 37% to 30% victory over conservative opponent Bruce Herschensohn. Early today, in an unusually gracious bow to Zschau’s victory, Herschensohn offered his help in defeating Cranston.

‘We Want You to Win’

“We want you to win and we’ll do what we can to see that comes about,” the former television commentator said in an early morning visit to Zschau’s election suite at the Sheraton Premiere.

Striking out on his own offensive, Cranston signaled the start of a contentious general election campaign by unveiling television commercials, due to begin airing Thursday, criticizing Zschau’s environmental record.

The victors in other statewide races spent the morning after the California primary jumping out of the election blocks, slamming their opponents in press conferences and informal gatherings.

Deukmejian, speaking before Republican volunteers late Tuesday, attacked Bradley for his failure to take a yes-or-no position on the confirmation of Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird and for his changes of heart on issues such as gun control.

‘Tom Bradley Workout’

“It’s called the Tom Bradley workout,” Deukmejian cracked. “When you get up in the morning you do ten flip-flops.”

Curb, seeking to reclaim the post he lost in 1982 when he unsuccessfully challenged Deukmejian for the governor’s post, handily defeated conservative challenger H. L. Richardson 57% to 43%.

In his first action as the Republican nominee, Curb asked that incumbent Democrat Leo McCarthy agree to “refrain from personal attacks” and sign a “code of ethics” to govern campaign conduct.

But McCarthy, who kept a low profile during the primary season, immediately drew attention to Curb’s admitted flaws during his first term, noting that Curb opened his campaign with an apology for his old image as a controversial lieutenant governor.

“I’m not looking for a new identity,” McCarthy jabbed, in obvious reference to Curb’s attempts to paint himself as a more mature candidate.