Other GOP Stars Are Watching Lungren Too

As the Republican convention made clear, Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren is the GOP’s heir apparent to succeed Gov. Pete Wilson. But three other aspiring Republicans are watching intently, waiting for Lungren to be sidetracked or to stumble.

State Treasurer Matt Fong, San Diego Mayor Susan Golding and Secretary of State Bill Jones also covet the governor’s office. This does not exactly put the three in a class by themselves. But right now, they’re the Republican rising stars with the best chance--next to Lungren--of winning in 1998.

More realistically, the three--unlike Lungren--also are seriously contemplating a 1998 race against Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, who is thought to be easy prey because she’s an unabashed liberal.

This, likewise, does not put the three in a class of their own. There is a growing line of GOP officeholders--including U.S. Reps. Christopher Cox of Newport Beach, David Dreier of San Dimas and Jerry Lewis of Redlands--dancing around the 1998 Senate contest.

So far, no Republican has committed to run for anything, except Lungren for governor. After the November election, everybody will survey the political landscape and the dreamers will part from the doers.

Members of Congress will be less inclined to give up their seats and gamble on a Senate race if the GOP keeps control of the House. In Sacramento, Fong and Jones could run for reelection, but both are being tempted by higher office. Golding wouldn’t have to give up being mayor--she’d be in mid-term--and thus could get a “free ride.”

In essence, the gubernatorial nomination is Lungren’s to walk away from or to botch.

*

It’s conceivable Lungren, 49, in his second term as state attorney general, could walk away from Sacramento and join a Dole administration as U.S. attorney general. Bob Dole trusts him--Lungren was on the early list of potential running mates--and he’s a close friend of Jack Kemp. But Dole’s still a longshot to beat President Clinton.

What the other potential GOP gubernatorial candidates are watching for is any sign of Lungren’s campaign collapsing.

They’re not particularly grabbed by the $1 million in cash he showed in his last contribution report, June 30. One rap on Lungren always has been that he’s a poor fund raiser.

Another rap is that he sometimes comes across as, well, a bit pompous. “I’ve got to see more [campaigning ability],” says one state party leader, asking not to be identified. “At times it’s like he’s taking all this for granted.”

But this same leader also says Lungren strengthened his party position in San Diego by being a team player and not--in contrast to Wilson--noisily challenging the platform.

Lungren had the biggest role of any Californian at the convention, presenting Dole’s economic plank. His booming voice was perfect for the convention hall. California delegates applauded and cheered virtually every sentence and at the end chanted, “Dan, Dan, Dan . . . “

The AG’s strength is that he enjoys loyal support among the party’s core conservatives--except for pro-gun zealots--and also can appeal to swing voters on the issue of crime. He already has run statewide twice and won.

*

Yet, there’s enough skepticism that nobody’s conceding the nomination.

“My mother always said that you have to be prepared,” says Fong, referring to March Fong Eu, a Democrat who was secretary of state for 20 years. “If the bus stops at your stop, you’d better have the right change and you’d better get on.”

Fong, 42, also addressed the convention, talking about “the party of Lincoln” and demonstrating racial and ideological diversity. He has a solid base of Asian American support and leans moderate.

For example, in 1994 Fong remained neutral on Proposition 187, limiting government services to illegal immigrants. “I was concerned it was divisive,” he says.

Golding, 50, is even more moderate. She opposed 187 and supports abortion rights. Although the mayor says she is looking at the gubernatorial race, her “guess” is she’ll run for the Senate.

Jones, 46, is a Fresno farmer with a strong following in the rapidly growing Central Valley. As an assemblyman, he pushed through the “three strikes and your out” bill and, although now secretary of state, still considers himself its spokesman and protector. The mild mannered conservative also is sponsoring various political reforms.

Asked if he’d run against Lungren, Jones says: “I could. I haven’t ruled anything out. I want to make sure our next governor is a Republican.”

Lungren is being given a lot of running room, but nobody’s holding his coat.