Davis Expects No Need for National Guard at Convention

Gov. Gray Davis predicted Thursday that there will be no need to call out the National Guard at next month’s Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, and said he expects any protests to be peaceful.

“I don’t anticipate any need for the guard, period,” Davis said at a news conference. Davis was less than enthusiastic about planning by Los Angeles officials, but said, “in the end, L.A. will be ready.”

“Could things have been done better? Sure,” Davis said. “Is L.A. a little laid-back? Yes. Like the Lakers in the 7th game of the playoffs, they don’t seem to get exercised until the last minute.”

Davis said the state’s planning for the convention has been going on for 14 months, involving the Office of Emergency Services, the California Highway Patrol and local police.

Davis also laid out his plans for the week. He will spend much of it raising money for the Democratic Party, Democratic governors and Vice President Al Gore.

Davis will host a golf tournament, a concert headlined by Barbra Streisand and an event for delegates at Paramount Studios. Davis’ political aides say he expects to raise $2.5 million for party causes. If he meets that goal, Davis will significantly raise his profile among party leaders.

The governor urged that Gore spend time stumping in California’s Central Valley, a swing area where voters have leaned Republican.

“He needs to remind people that things were not nearly as good in the early ‘90s,” when California and the rest of the country were in a deep recession, Davis said. “Those of us in California remember that well.”