Who for '02 against 'moneybags'?

Although no final decision will be made for more than two years, the question of who will carry the GOP standard against Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in 2002 nagged at delegates in Palm Springs. Now in their weakest political position in the Golden State in four decades, Republicans hold only one statewide office and control neither house of the state legislature. Moreover, Davis-whose 1998 slogan was "Experience Money Can't Buy"-has so far piled up $21 million for his reelection campaign. That eyebrow-raising amount means Davis has raised $38,000 a day-$1,600 an hour since taking office last January. One of the worst-kept secrets in Sacramento is that the governor will speak nowhere unless he can hold an accompanying fundraising event.

A number of usually reliable Republican sources of money appear to have accepted Davis and the Democrat left he represents. Davis hauled away six-figures from an event put on far him by the Irvine Co., whose chairman Don Bren was one of the biggest donors to former GOP Gov. Pete Wilson.

The lone Republican who now appears interested in tackling Davis in '02 is the only Republican in statewide office: 50year-old Secretary of State Bill Jones, whose name was wildly cheered when mentioned for governor by banquet speaker John McCain, who told delegates, "If Gov. Davis won't bother with a vision, let's provide a Republican alternative"

Earlier this summer, however, Jones made it clear to Los Angeles Times pundit George Skelton that he would not run unless George W. Bush carried his state's 54 electoral votes in capturing the presidency, thus proving a Republican could still win California. "If he doesn't," Jones told Skelton, "why bother?"

Copyright Human Events Publishing, Inc. Sep 29, 2000
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