GOP Unites Behind Simon Against Davis

Their primary campaigns behind them, Gov. Gray Davis and his Republican challenger Bill Simon Jr. plunged Wednesday into their head-to-head race for governor by sparring over energy, abortion and the state’s fiscal troubles.

A day after Simon easily defeated rivals Richard Riordan and Bill Jones in a nasty, low-turnout, three-way primary, the Republican nominee tried to rally his fractured party behind him. The three Republicans appeared together and--just days after Riordan called Simon an extremist--pronounced themselves united in the fight to topple the Democratic incumbent.

“We can beat Gray Davis, not only because he’s vulnerable, but because he’s got the wrong ideas,” Simon said.

In their initial appearances, the two candidates set off on precisely the course that political strategists had projected: Simon tried to frame the campaign as a referendum on Davis’s handling of California’s budget and energy problems, while Davis set about casting his rival as a far-right conservative.

Davis, who faced no serious primary challenge, barnstormed across California with the newly elected candidates on the Democrats’ statewide ticket. In Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fresno and San Diego, he hammered Simon for his conservative positions on social issues.

The governor mentioned abortion at every stop.

“His views are totally out of sync with Californians,” Davis said. “He is pro-life, pro-gun, pro-voucher and pro-deregulation.” In the primary, Simon’s opposition to abortion rights and gun control helped him consolidate his party’s conservative base and swept him past the better-known but politically more liberal Riordan. Those same positions, however, are more difficult for him now. Across the nation, Democrats--including Davis--have defeated Republicans in part by exploiting such issues with less conservative voters in general elections.

On Wednesday, Simon dodged questions on abortion and guns. He responded to one question on abortion without uttering the word “abortion”--and, in fact, without saying anything on the topic at all.

Indeed, Simon told reporters after his unity breakfast with Riordan and Jones that he would simply “change the subject” if Davis insists on debating abortion, guns and other social issues.

“The things that are on Californians’ minds--the overwhelming majority--is the economy and their pocketbooks and our schools,” Simon said.

Simon Stresses Budget Problems, Test Scores

Simon argued that the main issue in the election will be Davis’ leadership. He criticized Davis for low school test scores, the state’s $17-billion budget shortfall and the lack of a master plan for roads, water and power.

“He has been inactive,” Simon said.

The governor, though, defended his record and made it clear that guns and abortion will be showcase issues in the race.

In a CNN interview, Davis said Simon was “trying to minimize his positions, because he is anti-choice, and he knows he is out of step with Californians. But he is sadly mistaken if he is trying to convince people that the governor has nothing to do on those issues.”

Davis, long known as one of California’s most pugnacious candidates, also raised questions about Simon’s qualifications for running the state.

“I don’t think the voters of this state are going to entrust the fifth-largest economy on the planet to someone who never held office before, much less someone who rarely votes,” Davis said.

During the primary, Simon, a former federal prosecutor who has run his family’s investment company, was criticized by Riordan and Jones for not voting in more than a dozen elections.

“He hasn’t paid his dues,” said Davis, a former lieutenant governor and state Assembly member. “Hasn’t served on boards and commissions. Hasn’t participated in the electoral process. He hasn’t even really run a company. He is just an investor.”

With Davis on the attack, Simon inevitably spent part of his day on the defensive.

“I don’t think I’m out of step,” he said. “If I was out of step with California voters, I don’t believe I would have gotten over 1 million votes yesterday.”

For Simon, the day began festively at the LAX Westin Hotel, where he spoke to President Bush by speakerphone before a crowd of Republican loyalists. Bush vowed to campaign for Simon in California “as soon as possible” and joked about having encouraged Riordan to run against him.

“I want to congratulate you for running a great race,” the president told Simon. “I’ve got a lot of friends out there, including the folks you defeated.”

Even Riordan, who on Friday called Simon a “sanctimonious hypocrite,” heaped praise on his former opponent.

“We Republicans are lucky to have a great new leader, the next governor of the state of California, Bill Simon,” Riordan told the cheering crowd.

In Washington, a senior White House official said it seemed that Davis’ television ad blitz against the President’s preferred candidate had “absolutely eviscerated Dick Riordan.”

But a GOP strategist close to the White House blamed the former Los Angeles mayor for running “an absolutely horrible campaign.”

The strategist also voiced concern over whether Simon could overcome the Davis attacks on abortion and guns. If Davis manages to beat Simon handily in November, it could boost the governor’s political prospects “on the national stage.”

Davis’ dual victories Tuesday--his easy walk to the Democratic nomination and his instrumental role in pushing Riordan from the race--helped to revive long-standing speculation that he might seek national office. Early in his first term, Davis was talked about as a potential presidential candidate, but that speculation largely disappeared during last year’s energy crisis.

On Wednesday, the governor insisted that he planned to serve a full four-year term--and not to run for president.

“I don’t ever like to rule things out, but I have no intention of running,” he said.

“I’m not doing the things you would do if you would be a candidate, like going to Iowa or New Hampshire. I fully intend to serve four years,” he added.

“The realities are it is very hard for a Californian--with a full-time Legislature--to participate in presidential politics,” Davis said. “No California governor has ever done it. Many have tried. All have lost.”

Simon Cites Brown, Reagan as Role Models

On the stump, Davis surrounded himself with labor leaders, but appealed to voters beyond his Democratic Party base.

“All the independents and Republicans who might not be too happy with the Republican nominee, we will welcome you,” Davis told a crowd in Fresno.

Simon, too, tried to reach beyond his base. He cited as role models two governors, and one of them was a Democrat, Pat Brown. The other was Ronald Reagan.

Simon said he wanted to be a “builder” like Brown, who oversaw construction of the state highway and higher-education systems in the 1950s and ‘60s.

On a more traditional Republican theme, Simon said he would rely on private businesses to build toll roads and water facilities and to provide power. The private sector, he said, works better than government.

Moreover, he added, California has no choice: With the budget shortfall and $170 billion of infrastructure needs, he said, the state government will be forced to look outside government for solutions.

Though Simon was largely successful in avoiding discussing social issues Wednesday, he did say--in response to a question--that he would have vetoed the landmark gay rights bill that Davis signed last year.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for the government to enter into legislation that has to do with sexual orientation,” he said.

Dick Dresner, a GOP pollster who worked for former Gov. Pete Wilson, said Simon will have trouble steering the debate away from the topics that Davis is determined to make the centerpiece of his campaign.

Millions of dollars of Davis television ads on those issues could make the task all but impossible, he said. Dresner also voiced doubts about Simon’s chances of overcoming the challenge.

“There’s too much stuff there,” he said. “The average voter in the state is really not looking for a conservative Republican. I just don’t see it.”

In pressing the abortion issue Wednesday, Davis also challenged Simon’s contention that the next governor will not do much to affect abortion rights in California.

Davis noted that he has appointed 178 judges, saying every one of them supports “a woman’s right to privacy.”

Davis also pointed to his approval of seven abortion rights bills, including one to protect access to clinics and another to expand distribution of contraceptives.

“Mr. Simon, it does make a difference,” Davis told a cheering crowd. “And I’m not budging an inch.”

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