Interview with California Governor Gray Davis
WOODRUFF: Later today, the California secretary of state's office is expected to release the latest signature totals in the effort to recall Governor Gray Davis. GOP Congressman Darrell Issa recently stepped in to help bankroll the effort to gather almost 900,000 signatures that are required from registered voters. Organizers say they have collected already collected about 800,000. As the recall effort gains momentum, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has now taken herself out of the running as a possible replacement for Davis. Party leaders have asked for unity to help Davis defeat the recall effort. Governor Gray Davis joins me now from Sacramento. Governor, is this recall effort going to be successful in getting on the ballot?</s>DAVIS: I can't speak to that, Judy. But I can tell you this. The people of this state were kind enough to elect me last November. I'm working hard in the job they asked me to do. And in these difficult days, now is the time for people to come together and solve our problems, not pull us apart. And a recall will not educate one new child, provide health insurance for one more person, or help public safety in this state. So that is a divisive, partisan -- that is divisive, partisan mischief, when the times call for all of us pulling together to solve the state's problems.</s>WOODRUFF: Well, Governor, the people behind this recall say that, essentially, when you ran for reelection, you misled the voters of California. You didn't let them know the deficit was going to grow to $38 billion. You didn't let them know that you were going to be wanting to raise taxes. What do you say to all that?</s>DAVIS: Well, this is all revisionist history. In the year 2002, everyone from Alan Greenspan on down thought there would be a recovery sooner and it would be more robust. Of course, that hasn't occurred. It really hasn't occurred to this day. And so governors and, to some extent, mayors, across this country, as you know, Judy, are dealing with difficult financial times. And we are dealing with it as best we can. I didn't let any grass grow. I proposed a special session last November -- last December -- with very serious reductions in a variety of programs in state government. My budget is balanced. It is supportive of education, public safety, and health insurance for children. In fact, I have the most pro-education budget out there now.</s>WOODRUFF: But you've got right now a higher unemployment rate in California than the national average. Your approval rating right now is at an embarrassing 21 percent. How do you surmount that? How do you get around this?</s>DAVIS: You know, governors tend to get more credit than they deserve in good times. I remember, a couple years ago, I was in the high 50s, low 60s. And the people -- the thing that people liked the most about me was the strong economy in California. Well, governors only can do so much on the economy. We do our best. But I probably didn't deserve all that credit. And I probably don't deserve all this blame. But that's the just deal when you want to be governor. I know, if I can work through these problems and the economy recovers, people will feel better about themselves at the end of four years and better about the job I did.</s>WOODRUFF: Governor, as we've been reporting, a number of the top California Democrats have now said they'll stay off the ballot, that they won't get involved if this makes it on the ballot. However, my question to you is, do you have solid commitments that, if this goes forward, that they will absolutely stick with you and not run?</s>DAVIS: Well, I very much appreciate the statements that the constitutional officers have made. Our senior senator, Dianne Feinstein, she has just been terrific. As mayor, she overcame a recall financed by the right wing, as I will overcome this one. And she's worked tirelessly day in and day out to fight this recall. So I very much appreciate the expressions of support from all seven constitutional officers, our two United States senators, California Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. And, obviously, they want to see this partisan mischief by the right wing exposed for what it is. So we're all sticking together and doing the jobs that we were elected to do.</s>WOODRUFF: But, still, Governor, it's looking like there's a good chance it is going to get on the ballot. If it looks like that and if the situation continues to deteriorate, can you foresee a circumstance where you would simply step aside?</s>DAVIS: Absolutely not. Seven million people went to the polls last November, Judy, and asked me to be governor of this state for four more years. I have an obligation to them to work as hard as I can to improve education, to provide health insurance for children, help vital programs for seniors, and promote public safety in this state. I have one goal, which is to leave this state better off than I found it.</s>WOODRUFF: At the same time, Governor, if this does reach the ballot -- and it is simply a plurality that's needed for the next governor to be chosen -- and you have somebody popular on the ballot, like actor Arnold Schwarzenegger or even Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser, aren't -- that must be something that has you staying awake at night.</s>DAVIS: Well, if you're asking me if this is my favorite subject, the answer is, no, it isn't. But I was asked to do a job. These are hard times. And governors are expected to make tough decisions. I'm going to do it. I'll tell you this, Judy. I have faith in the electorate. I've run five times statewide for governor -- for statewide office in this state, and the electorate has been good enough to support me every time. I like to believe they made the right decision last November. And if they're asked to make another decision, I think they'll make the right decision again.</s>WOODRUFF: Arnold Schwarzenegger, do you think he'll try to run?</s>DAVIS: The Terminator, I don't know if he'll be back or not. But whoever runs, I'll make my case to the people of this state. They know these are good -- these are hard times. And they know it requires making tough decisions. But I want to tell you, I'm not going to retreat from the success we've made in education. Test scores are up four years in a row. We have more college scholarships for deserving students. That is a passport to a better life. I'll make my case to the people. And I think they will be supportive.</s>WOODRUFF: Governor Gray Davis making his case for us today. Governor, good to see you. We thank you for talking to us today.</s>DAVIS: Thanks, Judy. Good to be with you.</s>WOODRUFF: We appreciate it very much.</s>DAVIS: Thank you.</s>WOODRUFF: Howard Dean relaunches his campaign back home in Vermont. But one of the Green Mountain State's best-known activists is backing one of Dean's rivals -- the activists and the rival ahead in our "Campaign News Daily."