Checchi Says He’s All but in Governor’s Race

Minutes after saying he will “probably” run for California governor next year, Northwest Airlines magnate Al Checchi demonstrated some of the political inexperience he considers his biggest obstacle.

The Democratic businessman bobbled a question about last year’s titanic battle over affirmative action by insisting that the vote on Proposition 209 was in 1994--a year when he did not cast a ballot.

Then he was corrected. It was 1996.

“Well, if it was on the ballot in 1996 I voted against 209,” Checchi said finally.

So far, Checchi, 48, has tiptoed around the developing field of Democratic candidates for governor. But even without any experience in elected office, he has cast a large shadow over the contest because his campaign can draw on a personal fortune estimated at more than $550 million.

On Wednesday, after a year of considering the idea, Checchi told reporters at the Sacramento Press Club’s monthly lunch that he has decided he wants to be a candidate.

Before officially entering the race, though, Checchi said he will take the time to prepare a campaign agenda that will demonstrate his knowledge of the issues and ideas for solutions.

“I’ve made up my mind that I want to run,” he said. “I am not going to run, however, until I am sufficiently comfortable that I have developed programs of sufficient specificity that I could stand before the people of California, and they could see that I have answers that I could implement and, indeed, that are going to make a difference.”

Checchi said it is possible that his proposals will be inadequate and he will eventually decide against a candidacy. In a candid self-analysis, Checchi said he knows he has “a lot of work to do” to learn the issues that are important in California.

As an example, he volunteered that he recently gave what he considered an inadequate speech to an environmental group because he was not comfortable with the issues. Later, before speaking to another group about water issues, he said he did some research on the matter.

“When I started, I was no more conversant on water than on the environment,” he said. “But I did my homework.”

Checchi said he could not recall which elections he has voted in during the past decade. He said he was remiss in not casting a ballot, but he said it was difficult given his job as an international businessman.

“I think it will be an issue, but I don’t think it is disqualifying,” Checchi said.

Despite his gaffe on Proposition 209, Checchi’s appearance showed more command of a political forum than some previous tentative steps.

He was straightforward in explaining the logistics and expectations of his candidacy. And he took on his opponents, particularly responding to a recent jab from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who is also considering a gubernatorial bid.

Feinstein, whose husband, Richard Blum, is a business partner of Checchi, previously compared her prospective rival to the multimillionaire Republican she defeated in 1994--Michael Huffington.

Feinstein suggested that, like Huffington, Checchi lacked experience. She predicted that another campaign against a much better-funded candidate could get nasty.

“I am different than Michael Huffington,” Checchi said. “I did not come from nowhere. I have a set of experiences quite different than hers.”

Checchi said he does not intend to initiate a nasty campaign. But he also issued a blunt warning to his possible opponents.

“I assure you that if anybody attacks me, personally, or my family, then it will, indeed, get nasty,” he said.

In his brief handicap of the Democratic field, Checchi said Feinstein’s well-known name and her campaign experience would make her “my most expensive opponent.” But, he said, as a longtime politician she is the most vulnerable to his bid as an “outsider.”

Checchi said Lt. Gov. Gray Davis, the only Democrat so far to enter the contest, lacks broad support and is not likely to excite many voters. Two others--former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta and state Controller Kathleen Connell--would have trouble raising enough money to be serious contenders, Checchi said.

“There are no Bobby Kennedys,” Checchi said. “What we conclude from this is that I can be competitive.”