Brown’s View : Bradley Fate May Depend on Governor

No matter how skillfully Democrat Tom Bradley campaigns, his destiny may be out of his hands and his hopes of winning the governorship dependent on whether his Republican opponent, incumbent George Deukmejian, blunders before November.

That’s the bleak assessment of Democratic Assembly Speaker Willie Brown of San Francisco.

At a breakfast meeting Friday with Los Angeles political reporters, Brown acknowledged that his glib public comments about Bradley’s political prospects have been viewed in the past as damaging to his fellow Democrat. So, the Speaker said he would withhold advice on exactly how and when the Los Angeles mayor should act to combat Deukmejian’s popularity.

“Sure, he can win. He’s in the race. Anybody who’s in the race can win,” Brown said of Bradley.

‘Some Negatives’

But Brown added, “I think the governor would have to stumble somewhere. . . . There obviously has to be some negatives to the Deukmejian campaign--and (these) probably (are) not within the control of Bradley.”

The leader of Assembly Democrats and one of California’s senior officeholders, Brown offered an even gloomier reelection assessment for Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird. Although he strongly backs her, Brown said that to predict victory “is more hope than a practical response.”

Brown said, however, that the five other justices up for election on the seven-member court will win reconfirmation.

In the California U.S. Senate race, Brown said he believes that Democratic incumbent Alan Cranston enjoys an increasing advantage over Republican newcomer Rep. Ed Zschau of Los Altos.

“I think the luster is off of Zschau,” Brown said. “In that (Republican primary election) race of nothings, Zschau appeared to be almost something.

“But now, it’s one-on-one against Alan Cranston, and suddenly, Zschau has got to display knowledge of international relations and he’s clearly and dramatically lacking.”

Brown said he also believes that Zschau has failed to match Cranston’s energy on the stump or Cranston’s understanding “of what California is about.”

‘Already Bad’

“He cannot and will not be able to do that . . . Ed Zschau only looks good among people who are already bad,” he said.

Brown’s remarks are likely to be anxiously received in the Bradley camp. Although both Bradley and Brown are Democrats of national standing and share many of the same goals, there has always been a suspicion of rivalry between them as ethnic leaders. Brown agreed that his comments about the mayor’s two campaigns for governor have been sometimes interpreted as unflattering by Bradley supporters.

“I think they would like me to shut up between now and the end of the campaign,” Brown said.

He added in a more favorable vein, however, “I think Bradley is conducting as good a campaign as can be conducted at this stage of the game and with this opponent.”

Brown said Sacramento Democrats share the responsibility for a political climate in which Deukmejian is perceived as a strong favorite for reelection.

“Other than the toxics thing, I don’t think we’ve laid a glove on him yet,” he said. “That’s not to say we won’t between now and November. But we haven’t laid a glove on him yet.”

Brown and Bradley both have been sharply critical of Deukmejian’s handling of toxic waste issues.

Occurred Twice

At least twice during this campaign, Brown has seemed to act in a fashion that undercut Bradley.

First, Brown pressured and openly criticized Bradley for not taking a strong stand on the matter of Bird’s reelection. Brown later backed down and said he was mistaken, after the mayor declared that partisans should stay out of judicial elections.

Then, earlier this month, Brown bucked the mayor and gave important support for locating a new prison near downtown Los Angeles. The Speaker said he was merely keeping partisan gubernatorial politics separate from the legislative process.