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California candidates reach out to Hispanic votersDavis signals shift in public strategy
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Several of California's gubernatorial candidates -- including the embattled incumbent struggling to hold onto his job -- reached out Friday to the state's Latino residents, underscoring the significant role that community could play in the recall election. Democratic Gov. Gray Davis addressed the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Convention in San Diego, where he again denounced the effort to oust him, saying it could "breed more recalls." Lt. Gov Cruz Bustamante, a fellow Democrat who says he opposes the recall but is running as a replacement candidate, was due to attend a dinner in San Diego Friday night honoring prominent Latinos. And independent Arianna Huffington met in Los Angeles with Latino women leaders. Davis is playing down signs of doubt and dissension in the Democratic ranks, saying that endorsements for Bustamante -- the state's highest elected Hispanic -- could help his cause. Davis, who faces an October 7 recall vote, indicated a shift in public strategy following Thursday's endorsement of Bustamante by the state's congressional Democratic delegation. Davis signaled support for Bustamante's candidacy, despite earlier comments urging Democrats not to rally behind any replacement candidate. But he moderated his view Thursday, saying Bustamante's candidacy could actually help him. "It's quite possible that his entry will bring more people to the polls who are inclined to vote no," Davis said. Davis also said he understands "the desire of some people who want to have a fallback position. I'm happy that Democrats are united against the recall." The delegation stressed its opposition to the recall, but said Bustamante should replace Davis if he is ousted by voters. Bustamante also picked up the endorsement of the California Teachers Association. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, chairwoman of California's Democratic congressional delegation, said it only made sense for lawmakers to rally behind Bustamante given the realities of the recall election. A California court threw out Davis' request to list himself as a replacement candidate on the October 7 ballot. "We've never asked voters not to vote on an election," Lofgren told CNN. "And there are two parts to this election -- 'no' on the recall and then 'yes' on Bustamante. So I think that the position that the California delegation has taken unanimously will help unify our party and clear up a lot of confusion in the minds of voters." But the state's senior U.S. senator, Democrat Dianne Feinstein, said Thursday she wouldn't even vote on the second part of the ballot, a stance that suggests some disagreement among Democrats on how best to fight the recall effort.
Meanwhile, Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, the front runner among the 135 candidates according to polls, picked up the endorsement of a conservative group in Southern California. The Lincoln Club of Orange County also urged other Republicans to drop out of the race. Schwarzenegger spoke with small business owners in Huntington Beach. "We're going to turn around this mess," Schwarzenegger said of the state's fiscal crunch. Businessman Bill Simon, who lost to Davis last year as the GOP gubernatorial nominee, again criticized Schwarzenegger, saying the Republican rival was sending "contradictory messages" on taxes. Simon pledged not to raise them. Earlier this week, Schwarzenegger said he too would not raise taxes -- barring some kind of state emergency -- but one of his chief economic advisers, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, said last week that the state ought to consider raising property taxes. The campaigning was picking up pace with the recall -- triggered by voter anger over the state's economic and energy woes -- less than two months away. A recent budget significantly reduced the budget deficit in California, but the state is still looking at an expected shortfall of at least $8 billion for the next fiscal year. A poll Friday from the Los Angeles Times found that 50 percent of California voters support the recall effort. On the same ballot, 135 candidates -- ranging from Bustamante to former baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth, pornography magnate Larry Flynt, Hollywood billboard pinup Angelyne and former child actor Gary Coleman -- are vying to replace him.
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