CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS / GOVERNOR : Brown, Wilson Swap Attacks on Prop. 187, Crime

Democrat Kathleen Brown and Republican Pete Wilson entered the final week of their campaign for governor with sniping assaults on each other, Brown once again setting her sights on the governor’s support of the anti-illegal immigrant Proposition 187 and Wilson declaring his challenger a no-show in the longtime fight to toughen the state’s criminal laws.

Accompanied for part of the day by Vice President Al Gore, state Treasurer Brown decried Wilson as a bully who had taken aim at a vulnerable, politically unpopular segment of society in supporting the immigration initiative.

“Aren’t you tired of bullies? Aren’t you tired of people who bash?” she asked supporters at a rally in San Bernardino. Brown dismissed the initiative, labeled SOS--”Save Our State”--by its proponents, as “Snoop or Snitch.”

In angry tones, Gore added his voice to those of national leaders who have weighed into the statewide battle over the controversial proposition. He broadened his attack to include both Wilson and the Republican U.S. Senate candidate, Mike Huffington, who is battling incumbent Democrat Dianne Feinstein.

“Throughout American history and throughout world history, you will find examples of people who are bereft of ideas, who have failed at governing . . . coming up with the strategy of scapegoating groups that they can characterize as different or outside the group they’re appealing to,” the vice president said.

“It is not worthy of California. It is not worthy of the United States of America. It’s a disgraceful campaign tactic, and it ought to be rejected by the people of California and the people of our country.

“What California needs,” Gore added, “is not ‘Nuevo apartheid.’ California needs a good governor and a reelected senator, Dianne Feinstein.”

Throughout the day, as she traveled in a small private jet up California’s Central Coast, Brown repeatedly demanded that Wilson explain--before Election Day--precisely how the measure would work.

“We need Pete Wilson to come clean,” said Brown, talking with reporters after a San Bernardino breakfast with 350 Democrats. “What is Proposition 187 all about? Who is going to pay for documentation? Who is going to have to report? Who is going to implement? Who is going to pay for this?”

At his campaign stops, Wilson deflected questions about how he would implement the initiative if it is passed. He said he would defer those decisions until after the election. But he did vow that if officials charged with reporting illegal immigrants did not do so, he would seek a court order to enforce the new law.

“I am not a scofflaw,” the governor said. “If the people of California pass it, then it is the law and it should be implemented.”

Wilson was responding to comments by Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren, who said Monday that he would have no authority to prosecute teachers and others who failed to report suspected illegal immigrants.

Under the proposition, educators, medical personnel and others are required to report suspected illegal immigrants to federal authorities. The proposition bars illegal immigrants from receiving non-emergency state benefits, including education.

The governor, though responding to questions on 187 from reporters, steered clear of the controversial subject in his four campaign stops Tuesday. Instead he focused on crime, an issue of huge importance to California voters and one in which polls show voters siding with Wilson over Brown.

At the Garden Grove Police Department, Wilson said Brown had been a “no-show” during the many recent fights to strengthen criminal penalties in California.

“Ms. Brown has played no role in bringing about the reforms that will bring us the safer neighborhoods that Californians deserve,” he said.

At each of his campaign appearances Tuesday--in Riverside, at the Los Angeles County Jail, in Garden Grove and in San Diego--Wilson was backed by more than a dozen officers clad in blue Windbreakers with the logo, “Law Enforcement for Pete Wilson.”

In another development, a Field Poll published Tuesday gave Wilson a 48%-41% lead over Brown among registered voters. Wilson led by nine points, 50%-41%, among those considered likely to cast ballots.

Times political writer Cathleen Decker contributed to this story.

More on the Governor’s Race

* Reprints of Times profiles on Kathleen Brown and Gov. Pete Wilson, and commentary by each, are available by fax from Times on Demand. Call 808-8463 and enter *8630. Selection option 1. For the Wilson profile, order Item No. 5502; the Brown profile is No. 5503. For the Op-Ed commentary, order No. 5504. The cost is $3 plus 50 cents for delivery.

Details on using Times electronic services, B4