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Friday, Aug. 8, 2003

"I will not attempt to advance my career at the expense of the people I was elected to serve," he promised in June. He repeated that stand July 24 when he set the election date for Oct. 7.

Now, as the first prominent Democrat to enter the race, he has shattered the effors of state and national Democrat leaders to keep the party united behind Gov. Gray Davis.

Bustamante's announcement follows Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger's decision to run.

Issa: 'We Will Return to Congress'

Also Thursday, U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, the Republican congressman who has funded the campaign to recall Davis, dropped out of the race.

“Despite the late date, I am pleased to have Arnold in the campaign to help me recall Gray Davis. Whether or not he should be governor is not my decision but the voters," Issa said in a statement.

Outside the Registrar of Voter's office in San Diego, he was tearful as he announced he would stay in Congress.

"I will continue with my wife's support to fund the effort to recall Governor Davis, and when it's over we will return to Congress to support President Bush's effort for Middle East peace," he said.

He said the recall was never about his political ambitions. "It was about higher obligation."

Issa said, "Gray needed to go, and in 61 days he'll be gone."

Though he did not endorse anyone, former U.S Rep. Michael Huffington, who had considered running, endorsed Schwarzenegger on Thursday.

"Arnold is a charismatic leader who would be able to work with all segments of the California political spectrum, and our state needs a uniter right now," Huffington said in a statement.

Huffington's ex-wife, pundit Arianna Huffington, is running as an "independent."

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
California Governors Race
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