Party's Support of Davis Fraying

[Freddie Stubbs]

WASHINGTON - The Democratic split over Gov. Gray Davis' strategy to survive a recall deepened Thursday, with top party leaders pledging to unite behind him even as prominent California Democrats -- including Sen. Barbara Boxer -- said the party may need a backup on the ballot if Davis loses.

State and national Democratic leaders told reporters in a conference call Thursday that the party is standing firmly behind Davis, despite calls from some congressional Democrats to draft Sen. Dianne Feinstein as an alternative candidate on the Oct. 7 ballot. Davis cannot put his own name on the list of candidates to replace him, and some Democrats want to make sure Californians have another party leader to vote for if the recall succeeds.

``At end of the day, there will be no Democrat on the ballot, other than Governor Davis,'' said Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party. ``That is, no Democrat of any substance that can win a statewide election.''

Terry McAuliffe, chair of the Democratic National Committee, said Feinstein is ``100 percent supportive of Davis.''

He said he had spoken with Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, and others from the party who have suggested that Feinstein step in, but didn't give details. In the end, he said, ``We're all going to stick together on this one.''

But that unity isn't apparent among California's congressional Democrats.

more: http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/6434395.htm

[mitchtv]

1. Davis says look for Sanchez to change her mind

or take it back .

[Cha]

2. Yeah! Don't know who to believe! Check this thread out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=46768&mesg_id=46768

[qb]

3. They already have a Dem on the ballot

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=112395&mesg_id=112395

[mitchtv]

4. while i am a supporter of Davis.

it is nice to know i don't have to put a green candidate if he loses. assumin of course bustamante or Feistein is not there. I don't trust Audie Bock as far as I could thow her either. I actually like Flynt .

[David__77]

7. Audie Bock, GOP operative...

Please see for yourselves. Visit these pages for a "Democrat" supporting the recall of Gray Davis, and please note that the web page creator used "Democrat" as an adjective, instead of "Democratic."

Audie Bock, the "Democratic" candidate, was a Green, then an independent and now a "Democrat."

Examples from the web pages:

"I welcome the opportunity to demonstrate to the public that the Democrat establishment..."

"Former State Assemblywoman and Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate, Audie Bock (D)..."

"joining me as a Democrat challenger..."

http://bettercalifornia.org/News/ProRecallDemocratsOnly.html

Her main page proclaims:

"Audie Bock: The DEMOCRAT choice to replace Gray Davis"

http://www.bettercalifornia.org/News1.htm

Obviously (obvious to me anyway) this site was created by a Republican. Only Republicans--and activists or operatives at that--use "Democrat" as an adjective instead of "Democratic."

Audie Bock--you are exposed!

(Please also note that the "progressive" Bock also launched an ill-fated challenge against her congresswoman, Rep. Barbara Lee D-Oakland, the ONLY representative to oppose giving Bush a blank check for war immediately after 9/11.)

[bemildred]

5. Put Cruz on the ballot to replace him.

[bemildred]

6. Oh yeah, and tell Terry McAuliffe to butt out.

He's screwed enough things up already.

[Mz Pip]

8. This Recall

has taken on a life of its own. With dozens filing to run and the State in chaos, there seems to be a lot of second guessing going on as to what would be the right thing to do.

9 more days for the ballot to be set, so a lot can change at the last minute.

I was listening to the radio this morning and it's become a "I didn't win Student Body President in High School so now I'm going to run for Governor." THere is also a belief that this may end up being a much larger turn out than previously thought. That's a good thing for the Democrats.

MzPip
:dem:

[Nashyra]

9. Farfetched, but could Gore move to Calif. and run for Gov

That would set him up the Presidential bid in 08 or 12? Just a thought.

[thebeaglehaslanded]

10. The Dems just can't seem to get it together. No wonder the Repukes

run all over us. We can't even back our own party's legitimately elected officials. If the Dems don't back Davis in this recall, he's toast, and California will get a Repuke governor, and it will be because of a badly splintered, disorganized, goal-less, clue-less Democratic party. Thanks, Terry.

[slackmaster]

11. If Democrats fail to put a backup candidate on the ballot it's all over

This is a very dangerous situation. I am stunned by the level of denial about how much trouble Davis is in. The danger of him getting the boot is very real, folks.

[musiclawyer]

12. Gray is going down

Gray stands a very, very good chance of losing. It's shockingly short sighted of democrats not to have a viable alternate. It's just pragmatic. This nonsense about party unity is ridiculous--kind of like sailing into a gale and knowingly throwing away the lifejackets just to show that you've got courage. ....If you're not from California, you'll never understand. So many people (democrats and greens too) loathe the man so much that he's probably going down, and it's foolish not to have an alternate. We in California crave a strong leader who can't be bought by the law enforcement unions and will shame the impotent legislature into throwing out the 19th century tax and revenue structure that doesn't work here. The rank and file public employee unions that are NOT law enforcement HATE GRAY! ANYBODY BUT GREY. That's the reality folks. Sanchez would destroy everyone else if she ran. I hope she does. If she or a better known democrat does not run, the repub ploy might work (although even the greens might win the plurality). The demos would have no one to blame but themselves.

[mitchtv]

13. good luck with their 8 hr day

for those "union" people . hope they enjoy 3 -12 hr days- no ot. Dems fools who signed for recall deserve a Puke gov and the prochoice women who signed are in for a rude awakening . Any gay who signed, well what can I say ? they can say goodbye to any new advances.

[sam sarrha]

14. why doesn't he just resign the day before and let the demo Lt Gov take it

:nuke:

[slackmaster]

15. Sorry, that would not stop the election

He could still be recalled and a replacement chosen. Or if the measure to recall failed, he'd be out of office and Bustamante would serve out the rest of his term because once you resign you can't un-resign.