CULBERT CITY :

Davis' re-election proving to be tougher than it should have been (Dan Walters, June 12, 2002, Sacramento Bee)

Culbert Olson's political career was marked by two milestones. He was the first Democrat to be elected governor of California in the 20th century and the last governor to be denied a second term.

Olson's 1942 defeat at the hands of Republican Earl Warren culminated several years of declining popularity -- most tellingly among his fellow Democrats -- capped by a widespread belief that he had bungled a serious state budget crisis.

Gray Davis was the fourth and last Democrat elected to the governorship in the 20th century, exactly 60 years after Olson's 1938 victory. And as he seeks re-election this year, Davis confronts two Olsonlike problems: unpopularity, including a substantial erosion in his own party, and an immense budget crisis.

Mike Daley sends this column and questions the wisdom of the Simon campaign's decision to hold their advertising money in reserve until late in the campaign, hoping the press will do the Davis bashing for them. This does seem dubious because it allows Davis to define Simon in the voters' minds. Counting on "I'm not Davis" to be enough to carry you to victory is a pretty risky strategy. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 12, 2002 11:15 PM