Democratic Party Won’t Back Condit Campaign

Leading Democrats on Capitol Hill plan to stay neutral in a primary battle taking shape between Rep. Gary A. Condit of Ceres and a state assemblyman, party sources confirmed Monday.

Party leaders almost always support incumbents. But the decision by top House Democrats to steer clear of Condit in 2002 was not unexpected.

Condit, 53, has been widely criticized for his handling of questions about the disappearance of Chandra Levy, a USC graduate student from Modesto. Levy, 24, vanished last spring after completing an internship at the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in Washington.

Levy’s family has said she and Condit were having an affair. Condit, who is married, avoided public comment on his relationship with Levy until August, when he characterized it as “very close” in a nationally televised interview.

Condit denied having anything to do with Levy’s disappearance and police have said repeatedly he is not suspected of any foul play in the case.

Still, the ongoing controversy took its toll on Condit’s political standing, and for months many of his fellow House Democrats have distanced themselves from him.

Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, reported Monday that key House Democratic leaders would not support Condit’s reelection. A Democratic leadership aide confirmed the report, saying: “You will see a lot of neutrality in this race.”

Condit, a 12-year House veteran, has been laying the groundwork for a reelection campaign. Should he follow through--the filing deadline is Friday--his chief primary opponent is expected to be state Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced).

Mark Nevins, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the group does not plan to get involved in the primary race in the newly drawn 18th Congressional District. The committee, which raises money and provides other assistance for Democratic House candidates, traditionally aids besieged incumbents.

Art Torres, chairman of the state Democratic Party, has endorsed Cardoza. But he said the state party would not take formal positions in the Condit race or other primary contests.

Although Democratic leaders clearly are trying to send a signal to Condit to consider dropping from the race, the absence of formal party support may not be much of a hindrance to him. Historically, he has campaigned as a maverick and has a more conservative voting record than many Democrats.

Condit’s office in Washington did not return a call seeking comment.

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Times staff writers Janet Hook and Mark Z. Barabak contributed to this story.