CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS / GOVERNOR : Feinstein, Wilson Say They Offer a Choice

With the election just two weeks and one day away, Democrat Dianne Feinstein and Republican Sen. Pete Wilson have launched efforts to persuade voters that major differences separate their candidacies for governor of California.

Stumping Orange and Los Angeles counties Sunday, Feinstein attempted to link Wilson to the policies of two-term Republican Gov. George Deukmejian, saying: “Pete Wilson would have you believe the way to effect change is to elect another beige Republican as governor.”

Still trapped in Washington by the federal budget deadlock, Wilson had to conduct his campaign by remote control over the weekend, launching a radio commercial that attempts to delineate “four sharp differences” between himself and Feinstein, “four reasons why Pete Wilson should be governor.”

Wilson cited differences in their records on taxation, their management abilities as mayors of big California cities, on crime and on term limits for elected officials. The Wilson campaign was scheduled to begin its radio advertising campaign today, but one ad inadvertently was aired on at least one Los Angeles radio station throughout the day Sunday.

Wilson returned to Washington last Monday after constant criticism from Feinstein that he was an absentee senator who was failing to represent California’s interest in Congress.

As of Sunday evening, it still was unclear when Congress would complete action on a budget and other unfinished business and free Wilson to return to the campaign trail. “I hope they do it soon,” said Otto Bos, Wilson’s campaign director.

Each day’s delay further threatens Thursday’s scheduled Feinstein-Wilson debate. The encounter, the second and last of the campaign, originally was set for Oct. 18, but was postponed one week when Wilson returned to the capital. Bos said there could be a rescheduling of the debate if Wilson is unable to return to California in time for Thursday’s session in San Francisco, or perhaps Wilson could participate from Washington via satellite television.

Wilson was scheduled to address the convention of the League of California Cities in Anaheim by satellite television today.

Feinstein, in remarks prepared for a campaign brunch in Santa Ana on Sunday, criticized Deukmejian for casting “more vetoes than any governor in California history” on legislation including child care, parental leave and education.

“He has stopped change, just as Pete Wilson would,” Feinstein said in prepared remarks she did not read. Instead, she concentrated on her promises to veto any bill that would limit a woman’s right to choose an abortion. Just as Deukmejian has vetoed funds for abortions for poor women, Wilson has opposed federal assistance for poor women who want abortions, Feinstein said.

“Pete Wilson isn’t pro-choice, he’s multiple choice,” she said.

To claps and shouts of “All right!” Feinstein said as governor of California she would follow her own example as mayor of San Francisco and push for model programs for patient care and AIDS education. She called AIDS the No. 1 public health threat. “We should never, ever forget it.”

After her speech, Feinstein said she did not expect to carry Orange County, a Republican bastion, but hoped to garner enough votes to help her win statewide.

Feinstein later addressed about 15,000 people attending a Kids 1st rally at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Kids 1st is a new organization of community groups and business and union leaders seeking education reform, particularly to help minority children.