Wilson Smooths Way for Lungren

Gov. Pete Wilson is stepping out to help Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren’s campaign for governor by notifying the powerful backers who have nurtured his own career that it’s time to back a successor.

Political strategists from both parties said Wilson’s early passing of the torch--as well as his valuable list of contributors--should end any lingering chance that Lungren might be challenged in the Republican primary for governor next spring.

It also illustrates how united the Republican Party has become in the governor’s race. Relations between Lungren and Wilson have been shaky at times and the two politicians represent opposing sides of the abortion fight that has been so disruptive to GOP consensus in the past.

“This just sends an extremely strong message not only to Republicans and the donor base but also across the country to other people who will involve themselves in the next race for governor in California,” said Brian Lungren, the candidate’s brother and his political advisor. “We are the presumptive nominee. And . . . this is just a huge, huge boost to our campaign.”

Wilson, who is prevented from seeking reelection by the state’s term limits law, introduced Lungren to his personal Campaign Executive Committees earlier this month at a pair of luncheon meetings in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The two groups--one in the north and the other in the south--have acted as sounding boards and contributors for most of the issues and career moves that Wilson has considered.

“The governor spoke very warmly and graciously about Dan’s abilities and Dan’s experience,” said Larry Thomas, a longtime Wilson ally and a vice president of the Irvine Co. in Orange County. “He made it very clear that he was supportive of Dan and that it was important to the state and the party to elect him.”

Last Friday, Wilson also brought Lungren to his hometown of San Diego, where some of the backers who have known the governor since he was a rookie state assemblyman more than 30 years ago contributed to Lungren’s campaign.

“The governor is wholly committed to seeing Dan Lungren elected as the next governor of California,” said Wilson spokesman Sean Walsh. “He has decided to throw his political organization, his vast fund-raising network and his influence behind a major push to put Lungren into the corner office.”

Wilson’s early and substantial support might seem unexpected to some Sacramento observers who thought that relations between the capital’s top two Republicans have been rather cool.

One indication of that coolness was that Lungren remained neutral two years ago when Wilson ran briefly for president. When Wilson dropped out of the race, Lungren backed Sen. Bob Dole and, eventually, so did Wilson.

That, in turn, triggered a round of behind-the-scenes infighting about which one was going to be the official California chairman of the Dole campaign. Lungren said he was on board first. Wilson pulled rank. Eventually they settled on both serving as co-chairs.

Wilson and Lungren have always insisted that they are friends and comrades. Any tensions have also been far from public view.

The early bond between the two Republicans could prove a significant factor in shaping the governor’s race.

Without a major primary battle, Republicans should be able to avoid the costly and sometimes bitter fights often produced by such internal rivalries.

But perhaps equally important in a year when new finance laws place tough restrictions on campaign donations, Wilson will bequeath to Lungren one of the most lucrative political machines in American politics. It is a network of supporters and contributors far more extensive than any Lungren has developed himself.

“This would help Lungren make the transition from the minor leagues to the big leagues,” said Bill Carrick, a Democratic strategist and advisor to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who is considering a bid for governor.

“This also takes away whatever lingering possibility there was that Lungren will be challenged by another Republican,” Carrick said. “Any time you can unite the political party behind your candidate early, that is an enormous benefit.”

Carrick said Wilson has a personal motivation to help Lungren since it might reflect badly on him if he is succeeded by a Democrat.

He also suggested that at some point Lungren might need to distance himself from Wilson because Democrats will argue that 16 years of Republican governors is enough and Lungren represents more of the same.

“He will have to separate himself from Wilson in the public’s mind, but that is later on,” Carrick said.