California: Last ditch effort to save Davis. Bustamante expected to withdraw

California Public Policy Foundation ^ | Oct 1, 200

[John Jorsett]

Lt Gov. Cruz Bustamante is “highly likely” to drop out of the race to replace Gov. Gray Davis tomorrow barring a last minute change of mind, according to a Sacramento source close to the lieutenant governor’s campaign.

As panic over a looming Republican capture of the governor’s office has spread from the Davis camp through the ranks of Democrat elected officials and donors, Bustamante has been subjected to enormous pressure to withdraw his candidacy. Top level Democrats believe Bustamante now has no hope of overtaking Arnold Schwarzenegger on the candidate portion of the ballot, and that he is, in fact, sinking so fast he could finish third, behind both Schwarzenegger and state Sen. Tom McClintock.

Many Democrats now believe their only chance of retaining the governor’s office is to defeat the recall. They hope Bustamante’s withdrawal will convince enough of the 27 to 30 percent of registered Democrats now supporting the recall to change their minds once they see no chance of replacing an ousted Davis with another Democrat.

CPR Online’s Sacramento source said convincing those Democrats to switch would be “difficult but at least conceivably doable,” in contrast to winning with Bustamante, whose campaign the source described as “absolutely dead in the water and sinking faster then the Titantic.”

The lieutenant governor is said to remain concerned about how withdrawing would affect his future: whether he is damaged more by staying in the race and losing badly next Tuesday, or by withdrawing five days before the election, thereby conceding he is too weak to win.

CPR Online’s source said Bustamante is notoriously slow to make up his mind about tough decisions. He characterized a Bustamante withdrawal as a “nine out of ten” chance, but said the lieutenant governor could change his mind “as he walks to the podium tomorrow.”

[Joe Hadenuf]

This is getting good.....

[republicanwizard]

High five! We're pounding this buffoons into oblivion. Now, the supposed swarm of Hispanic voters will not materialize to vote for Bustamante.

[jern]

I predict a high number of posts to this thread.

[Unknown Freeper]

Bustamante has been subjected to enormous pressure

And we know who's backing Davis. It's going to be a very interesting week.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Maybe Lautenberg will be added to the ballot.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Roger that....

[Arkady]

Maybe they could substitute torrecelli....

[Joe Hadenuf]

I don't think I buy it.....We'll see...

[COURAGE]

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM....Another one bites the dust...

[forester]

Even better would be that all of McClintock's supporters actually vote for him and he wins.

[capitan_refugio]

The worm turns. It seems now to be a two-man race. Schwarzenegger and McClintock. No need to worry about who can beat Bustemante. NO NEED TO VOTE FOR A "SECOND CHOICE."

[maro]

Exactly. The Dems are being short-sighted--Hispanic Californians will remember this slight.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Hehehe.....Man alive, that would be something...

[John Jorsett]

One big question: how many of his supporters have already voted absentee? And will the rest be too confused to know what to do? Since Bustamante "can't" get his money back for those prepaid TV commercials, are they going to run them as-is and really muck things up, or can they change them to "hey, don't vote for me! instead? Stay tuned ...

[NittanyLion]

If true, this would allow Republicans to endorse a true conservative rather than voting for the lesser of two evils. Wouldn't that be a great ending?

[defenderSD]

It won't make any difference if Bustamante withdraws. Arnold is surging ahead with his TV ads about the need to obtain some revenues from Indian casinos and the corruption of state politicians by Indian casino money. Davis still loses to a 54% Yes vote on the recall. Hasta la vista Gray, you corrupt, moronic piece of trash.

[republicanwizard]

Actually, the way may be open to a Schwarzenegger landslide now.

Now, let's hope that support for the recall doesn't fade.

If anything, both Republicans must concentrate all their fire on Davis. We cannot let victory slip out of our grasp this close to such a momentous event.

[Ronin]

I wish I was as happy as you are. I don't see this as a good sign. Bust-a-gut was diluting the Democrat side and dragging Davis down.

But the Republicans still have McClintok holding onto a sizable percentage of votes. Just how many, I have no idea, but it might be enough to keep Davis in his job.

[fqued]

Not clear it could happen. Newest poll out has
Arnold - 45%
Busty - 28%
Tom McC - 16%

You add Busty and Tom and you have 44% to Arnold's 45%. that is admittedly a statistical dead heat, but it appears that Arnold is SURGING.