Panetta Coming Home to a Big Decision

Leon Panetta soon will walk away from his job as President Clinton’s chief of staff and begin to think seriously about running for another position: governor of California. He won’t dally.

“Any decision like that ought to be made by late spring or early summer,” he says. And Sen. Dianne Feinstein should adopt “the same time frame. I know she’s talked about waiting until early ‘98, but if she’s serious, she ought to do it sooner.”

Potential candidates owe a decision not only to themselves but to others, he says.

Panetta doesn’t flat-out say so, but if Feinstein seeks the Democratic nomination in 1998, it’s very unlikely he will oppose her. That’s sound political logic. It’s also what I heard between the lines when I asked the former Monterey congressman during a telephone interview whether he would be less inclined to run if Feinstein does.

“I’m not afraid of a fight,” he replied. “On the other hand, I don’t want to do anything that would unduly harm the party. The most important thing is putting forward the strongest [Democratic] candidate. One of the things I’ve learned [with Clinton] is that it’s much better without divisive contests.”

That doesn’t mean Panetta would expect a clear field. Lt. Gov. Gray Davis already is running hard and state Controller Kathleen Connell is thinking about it. Neither would keep him out, he indicates. “There’s bound to be some fight.”

Translation: A race against Davis is winnable. But one against Feinstein is a real long shot.

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With all the votes still not counted from this year’s elections, it might seem ridiculously early to be thinking about 1998. But not if you’re a potential candidate--particularly somebody like Panetta, who never has run statewide.

Complicating 1998 will be new campaign financing restrictions, if they’re upheld by courts. Under Proposition 208, individual donations to a gubernatorial primary candidate will be limited to $500. That can be doubled if the candidate agrees to a $6 million spending limit for the primary.

This is not much money for somebody trying to introduce himself to a huge state.

“It’s a gargantuan task running for governor of California,” says Bill Carrick, Feinstein’s veteran political strategist. “I’ve always maintained it’s more complicated than running for president.”

But if Feinstein doesn’t run, Carrick says, Panetta “has a chance” to become a strong candidate. Other political consultants agree. It’s not like Californians never have heard of him, they note.

A Field Poll last June showed that 56% of Democrats knew enough about Panetta to have formed an impression, and it was 4 to 1 favorable. In a horse race, Feinstein lapped the field. But with her out, it was a virtual dead heat between Panetta and Davis.

“Panetta has an easygoing manner that makes voters feel comfortable,” says Republican consultant Sal Russo. “He’d be an effective candidate. . . . We may have entered a time when quality and substance count for something.”

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Substance is what Panetta, 58, always has been about. That and a lifelong love of politics.

A native Californian, his boyhood political idol was Gov. Earl Warren, a progressive Republican. After law school and the Army, he got a job with GOP Sen. Thomas Kuchel by walking in the door unannounced and introducing himself. Later, President Richard Nixon fired him as U.S. civil rights director because of his aggressive pursuit of southern school desegregation.

Panetta changed parties and became a congressman for 16 years. He was chairman of the House Budget Committee when Clinton recruited him as his budget director. A “deficit hawk,” Panetta can take major credit for influencing policy that has reduced the annual budget deficit by 63%.

He’ll return home to Carmel Valley after Clinton’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Then he’ll begin the serious soul searching with family, friends and allies.

“I feel very deeply about California,” he says. “There was a time when California was No. 1 in the country in terms of leading the way and being on the cutting edge. It’s fallen back. What’s missing is leadership that uplifts the state and looks to the future.”

The son of Italian immigrants, Panetta is critical of Gov. Pete Wilson for adopting the “extremist Republican agenda” and “dividing people.”

Panetta says his ultimate decision will be based on “my fundamental desire to go after the office.” The old fire in the belly.

His desire to hold the office is not in question. He doesn’t accept the modern notion that California is ungovernable. “I’ve done nothing but impossible jobs most of my life,” he says, laughing. “So that’s not a problem.”

That indeed is refreshing.