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 Debate fever: Schwarzenegger vs. Davis?
By John Mercurio
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Until now, the California recall has been two races wrapped into one. • In one race, Gray Davis and his national Democratic friends have battled "right-wing extremists" who try to overturn elections they cannot win. (More on that below). • In the other, Arnold Schwarzenegger wages a multifront war against everyone from conservative Republicans to, well, Arianna Huffington. This was never more clear than on Wednesday night, when Davis' name wasn't mentioned until 46 minutes into the five-candidate debate. These two contests could collide today, however, if Schwarzenegger accepts Davis' semi-serious challenge to an 11th-hour face-off. Speaking to reporters yesterday in Monterey Park, Davis said he was "sick and tired" of Schwarzenegger's "distortions." And, the governor added, "if he doesn't set the record straight himself, I just may have to debate him." (Gov. Davis: 'Get your facts straight, Mr. Schwarzenegger') We wouldn't have taken Davis too seriously here, if his aides didn't tell us to. "It's not quite a formal challenge, but he certainly would be happy to follow up on it," Ann Lewis, a Davis spokeswoman, told CNN's Kelly Wallace. Said another Davis aide: "If it could happen, Davis would look forward to such an opportunity. It's just very difficult to listen to inaccurate facts that went unchallenged." Schwarzenegger aides declined to comment on such a proposal until they heard something directly from the Davis campaign. Of course, Arnold is as likely to accept Davis's debate challenge as he is to do a prime-time interview with Tim Russert. Timing could also be a challenge for Schwarzenegger, who is planning a three-day bus tour October 2 to 4, we hear. The tour is tentatively set to begin in San Diego and work its way north. But in a Grind first, we would like to formally request that Davis and Schwarzenegger seriously consider the idea. Just the prospect of a head-to-head matchup between these polar opposites, in the closing days of this bizarre campaign, well, it's enough to make us goofy with excitement. And as Arnold knows, maybe all too well, you just can't write scripts this good. Gray 'n' AnnMeanwhile, Davis will campaign today with former Texas Gov. Ann Richards at a women's event in which the saucy-mouthed Texan is likely to slam Schwarzenegger for his thinly-veiled threat to shove Huffington's head down a toilet. (Richards, after all, first caught the nation's eye with a 1988 speech mocking "poor" George H.W. Bush, who "was born with a silver foot in his mouth.") Lewis said today's midday event in West Hollywood wasn't designed to respond to Schwarzenegger's suggestion during the Wednesday debate that he has a role for Huffington in "Terminator 4" -- a remark Huffington later said referred to a "T3" scene where Arnold shoves a female android's head down a toilet. (Gallery: Debate quotes from the candidates) "But I would not be surprised if we heard more discussion about that," Lewis said. Davis aides said the governor will continue hosting out-of-state luminaries next week. His campaign planned to announce visits from several high-profile Democrats as early as today. Sources told the Grind that Bill Clinton would make a two-day return to the Golden State before October 7, but Davis aides refused to confirm such reports. Also today, Schwarzenegger will appear at 1 p.m. EDT in Santa Monica with Darrell Issa, the latest Republican to unite behind his campaign. Bill Simon and the California Republican County Chairmen's Association backed him yesterday. (Schwarzenegger getting key endorsements, Schwarzenegger gaining support, California GOP leaders discuss unity) Next up: Peter Ueberroth. Sources say he'll follow suit early next week.
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