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California: Last ditch effort to save Davis. Bustamante expected to withdraw
California Public Policy Foundation ^
| Oct 1, 200
Posted on 10/01/2003 7:13:42 PM PDT by 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 governors campaign.
As panic over a looming Republican capture of the governors 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 governors office is to defeat the recall. They hope Bustamantes 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 Onlines 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 Onlines 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.
TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: bustamante; bustamonte; calgov2002; recall
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To: John Jorsett
This is getting good.....
2
posted on
10/01/2003 7:14:25 PM PDT
by
Joe Hadenuf
(I failed anger management class, they decided to give me a passing grade anyway)
To: John Jorsett
High five! We're pounding this buffoons into oblivion. Now, the supposed swarm of Hispanic voters will not materialize to vote for Bustamante.
To: John Jorsett
I predict a high number of posts to this thread.
4
posted on
10/01/2003 7:16:24 PM PDT
by
jern
To: Joe Hadenuf
Bustamante has been subjected to enormous pressure And we know who's backing Davis. It's going to be a very interesting week.
To: John Jorsett
Maybe Lautenberg will be added to the ballot.
To: Unknown Freeper
Roger that....
7
posted on
10/01/2003 7:17:25 PM PDT
by
Joe Hadenuf
(I failed anger management class, they decided to give me a passing grade anyway)
To: John Jorsett
Maybe they could substitute torrecelli....
8
posted on
10/01/2003 7:17:41 PM PDT
by
Arkady
To: Unknown Freeper
I don't think I buy it.....We'll see...
9
posted on
10/01/2003 7:18:02 PM PDT
by
Joe Hadenuf
(I failed anger management class, they decided to give me a passing grade anyway)
To: John Jorsett
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM....Another one bites the dust...
10
posted on
10/01/2003 7:18:11 PM PDT
by
COURAGE
To: Joe Hadenuf
Even better would be that all of McClintock's supporters actually vote for him and he wins.
11
posted on
10/01/2003 7:18:27 PM PDT
by
forester
To: John Jorsett; ambrose
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."
To: republicanwizard
Exactly. The Dems are being short-sighted--Hispanic Californians will remember this slight.
13
posted on
10/01/2003 7:19:14 PM PDT
by
maro
To: forester
Hehehe.....Man alive, that would be something...
14
posted on
10/01/2003 7:19:16 PM PDT
by
Joe Hadenuf
(I failed anger management class, they decided to give me a passing grade anyway)
To: 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 ...
To: John Jorsett
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?
16
posted on
10/01/2003 7:19:35 PM PDT
by
NittanyLion
(Character Counts)
To: John Jorsett
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.
17
posted on
10/01/2003 7:20:13 PM PDT
by
defenderSD
(Throw deep........you're already in the fourth quarter.)
To: capitan_refugio
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.
To: republicanwizard
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.
19
posted on
10/01/2003 7:21:38 PM PDT
by
Ronin
(When the fox gnaws -- smile!)
To: forester
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.
20
posted on
10/01/2003 7:21:41 PM PDT
by
fqued
(America, America, God shed His grace on thee.)
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