Gray Davis: White House Gatekeeper?

On the telephone line was the Californian said--and said and said again--to be mucking up Pete Wilson’s otherwise clear path to Mt. Rushmore. Lt. Gov. Gray Davis sounded a bit perplexed by all the attention he’s received in the past weeks.

“I’m watching David Brinkley yesterday,” he said (this was Monday), “and he was talking about Gray Davis. The week before it was the same thing on ‘Meet the Press.’ I’m in Oakland on Saturday, and there’s my picture on the front page, right under where it says ‘Oakland Tribune’ in big type. Same thing Sunday in the San Francisco papers. And I’m not doing anything to stir it. Nothing. I’m a guy who hasn’t had a press conference since November. I get up, eat my breakfast, go to work, come home, and the next day I’m in the headlines.”

The attention is flattering but not the context. In these accounts, Davis routinely is presented as a “problem” or, to be more specific, as “Pete Wilson’s problem.” Were it not for his “Gray Davis dilemma,” the reader is led to believe, the gritty ex-Marine would be in the race already, taking addresses. What irony: Poor Pete Wilson, deprived of his big chance by Jerry Brown’s former chief of staff. It is an inviting story line. It is also a crock.

There are good reasons for Pete Wilson to think twice before hitting the beach in New Hampshire. That Gray Davis would succeed him as governor is not one of them. The thing to understand is this: Only if Wilson becomes President must he surrender the Statehouse keys to Davis. And the White House seemingly is an end that justifies almost any means--even abandonment of half a gubernatorial term to someone from the other party.

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Victorious, Wilson shouldn’t fret a minute over who will pick the judges and county fair directors in California. He’ll be too busy running the nation and making history. Victorious, comfort will come quickly to those California Republicans like state Sen. Ken Maddy, who now weep so about the “Gray Davis scenario.” Once they start filling out White House job applications, Sacramento will be forgotten. Deputy secretary of agriculture--now that sounds nice.

Similarly, the financial supporters now grumping about Wilson’s flirtation with destiny can be counted on to come around. What they are saying, with little attempt to polish the edges, is that they bought a governor, dammit, not a President. If they wanted to buy a President, they would have bought a President. They bought Wilson. They did not buy Gray Davis. Should Wilson win, however, they will, quite happily, perceive of their past contributions not as the purchase of a governor, but rather as a down payment on a presidency. Knock, knock, hello, Mr. President. Remember me?

And what of the Republican Agenda in Sacramento? The answer to this question is another: What agenda? No one should fret over what won’t get done in Sacramento should Wilson move on to Washington. Nothing much was going to get done anyway; the days of big doings are done in state government. Instead of 40 Democrats messing with Wilson, 40 Republicans will be messing with Davis. Either way, a mess.

Finally, as for possible mischief-making by Davis while Wilson campaigns, this, too, is an overrated concern. When a governor is away, real power transfers--not to the lieutenant governor--but to the chief of staff. Davis certainly remembers who was running the store when Jerry Brown was off chasing presidencies, and it wasn’t Mike Curb.

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No, on Wilson’s list of reasons not to run, Gray Davis sits toward the bottom--way below the need to raise big money fast and the fact that Wilson lacks national name identification and is most vulnerable in a primary field of true believers of the far right. To win the party nomination, Wilson will need to overcome accusations that he is a poacher in the conservative cave. Abortion, snack taxes, gay rights--much explaining to do to the brethren.

All Gray Davis represents to Pete Wilson is a possible out, a fall guy. Should Wilson fail to answer history’s call, the governor can stick to the popular script and say, well, it was simply because of that doggone Gray Davis. Almost makes you wonder who invented the Davis Dilemma in the first place, no?

Anyway, Davis is prepared. “If he doesn’t run,” he said, “I plan to put in for a pay raise. I will have earned my salary.” In the meantime, Davis seems almost to be enjoying his elevation--however preposterous--to the position of Presidential Gatekeeper. He was headed for Washington on Tuesday. The Clintons had invited him to sleep in the White House. Politics is weird.