Gray scored points, but Jane racked up the victory. Al needed an ice pack.
Lt. Gov. Gray Davis reverted to habit Sunday and attacked his campaign opponents. That seemed to startle--if not exactly surprise--many of the 1,300 delegates at the Democratic state convention in downtown L.A. But, in truth, Davis had little alternative, given his slim pocketbook and waning position in the gubernatorial race.
Political neophyte Al Checchi, meanwhile, tried to gloss over the fact that in all his TV ads he has yet to acknowledge being a Democrat. He went on at length about "why I'm a Democrat." It's "central to everything I believe," summarized the candidate who has been targeting Republican and independent voters.
Rep. Jane Harman of Torrance asserted right off that "I'm proud to be a Democrat"--hoping to clean up a little mess she created recently by bragging about being called "the best Republican in the Democratic Party."
Harman was attacked for that goof by both Checchi and Davis as the candidates appeared back-to-back for the first time in the campaign. But Davis saved his biggest hit for Checchi, denouncing the airline tycoon for donating money in 1996 to Republican presidential candidates Bob Dole and Steve Forbes.
The only candidate not throwing blows was Harman.
She was the main object of curiosity at the three-day convention. A candidate for less than six weeks, Harman suddenly has surged ahead as the Democratic front-runner, according to the independent Field Poll. A recent survey showed her leading Checchi by two points and Davis by six. It further indicated that her support has come out of the hide of Davis, who in February led the Democratic field.
Checchi, a super-rich corporate takeover artist, and Harman, whose wealthy husband manufactures audio equipment, both have one huge advantage over Davis: very deep pockets. While Davis scrambles for private donations, Checchi and Harman write their own checks. He can't afford TV ads; they run commercials ceaselessly.
Poor Gray. Literally.
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Poor Gray might as well have been Davis' given name at the convention.
"Poor Gray, all that [party] work for all these years and now no money," one delegate was overheard telling another Friday night as candidates made the rounds trying to hustle up volunteer workers. One neutral politician, alluding to the immense, insider cynicism toward Davis after his 24 years of aggressive politicking, told me: "The word going around is, 'I actually feel sorry for Gray."'
