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Court dismisses recall challengesBush says Schwarzenegger would be 'good governor'
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- California's star-studded recall election will continue as scheduled after the California Supreme Court announced that it will not consider legal challenges to the process. The decision Thursday come as a blow to Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, who had asked the state's top court to delay the vote until the March presidential primary, arguing that the October date did not give election officials enough time to prepare and could cause voting rights problems. Davis had also asked the high court to let him run as his own replacement and raised the issue of whether Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante should take over if the recall vote goes against the governor. Other challenges were also filed and denied by the court. The decision by the Republican-dominated high court clears the way for an October 7 election in which voters will first be asked whether to recall Davis and will then vote for a potential replacement candidate. (Gallery: The recall and candidates) The deadline for filing is Saturday but the election already has a long list, and an odd mix, of candidates. Traditional politicians, mainstream celebrities and a host of gadflies, activists and attention seekers are on the list that has swelled to more than 370 official candidates. They include Hollywood action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, who won some encouraging words Friday from President Bush. Speaking to reporters at his Crawford, Texas ranch, Bush said, "I think he'd be a good governor." The president said last week the recall decision is up to California voters. The rooster of candidates is expected to grow, but one significant player, U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa -- the millionaire Republican who bankrolled the recall process -- dropped out of the race Thursday in a tearful press conference. "I know that comes as a surprise to many, but this was never about higher office. It was about higher obligation," Issa said, adding that he would continue to help pay for the recall effort. Also Thursday, Bustamante entered the race -- even though he opposes the recall -- because Davis' "viability" is in question and Democrats need a strong alternative. (Full story) "I'm here to tell everyone to vote no on the recall and yes on Bustamante," he said. "It is important that a serious Democrat is on the ballot." Bustamante, 50, is former speaker of the California Assembly -- the first Latino to hold that post. Davis supporters, national party officials and the powerful California Labor Federation had all urged Democratic politicians to stay off the ballot, hoping Davis would have a better chance to unite the party. But their unity may not hold as another statewide Democratic officeholder, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, said he planned to enter the race. Former L.A. mayor endorses Schwarzenegger"It's very important that we straighten out the mess we are in," Schwarzenegger said in a short speech to hundreds of people who had gathered to watch him pick up the necessary filing papers at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office. "I'm passionate about California. I'm very passionate because I have been received by Californians with open arms in 1968 when I came here as an immigrant, when I had no money, and the Californians reached out and helped me to be where I am today. And now it's time for me to give something back to California." Schwarzenegger's candidacy has already had an impact on the race. Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, a fellow moderate Republican who had been considering a bid, announced that he would not run and endorsed Schwarzenegger. "The recall election offers us a choice: We can either continue with politics as usual in California, or we can elect someone who works on behalf of every Californian, not just the special interests," Riordan said in a statement. "I believe Arnold Schwarzenegger is a very talented man who would make an excellent governor." San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, one of the governor's strongest backers, said Davis will have trouble keeping the governor's seat now that Schwarzenegger is in the race. "We are in trouble on the Democratic side with Governor Davis," Brown told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Thursday afternoon. "I think we're -- as Democrats -- going to have a very difficult time defeating Arnold." Meanwhile, Davis went about the routine tasks of being governor, including delivering a speech at a California School Employees Association conference who chanted "no recall" during his 20-minute address. "They want to get rid of me to get rid of the progress," said Davis, who also exhorted the audience to "terminate the 'Terminator'." Other major Republican names expected in the race include state Sen. Tom McClintock of Ventura County; and businessman Bill Simon, who lost to Davis in the general election nine months ago. The race has also brought out dozens of unconventional candidates, including TV pundit and syndicated columnist Arianna Huffington, Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, and former sitcom star Gary Coleman.
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