GOP Chief Gillespie: RNC Neutral on Davis Recall

Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie said on Sunday that he's neutral on whether California Gov. Gray Davis should be recalled, even as Republicans in the state are fighting hammer and tong to oust the failed Democrat.

Asked if he'd like to see Davis recalled, Gillespie told NBC's "Meet the Press": "We are neutral in that. That is something for the voters of California to decide. We've not taken a position on the recall."

The RNC chief claimed he was legally proscribed from backing the movement to oust the unpopular Golden State Democrat, telling host Tim Russert: "Campaign finance laws, by the way, don't allow me to raise money even if we did have a role. So there's not much I could do even if I wanted to or was able to as RNC chairman."

Appearing opposite Gillespie on the same broadcast, Democratic Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe showed no such reluctance to take sides, telling Russert:

"Gray Davis was the duly elected governor. Eight months ago eight million people voted for Gray Davis. We're gonna win on Question 1, the 'No [Recall]' question. And also, Cruz Bustamante is going to get the most votes on Question 2. So it's going to be a great night for the Democratic Party no matter what happens."

Gillespie's less-than-enthusiatic reaction to the prospect of Republicans taking over the California statehouse for the first time in a decade follows controversial remarks he made to the Manchester Union Leader earlier this week, which the paper characterized as a repudiation of the Reagan-era Republican principle of smaller government.

But Gillespie insisted the Union Leader got it wrong, telling Russert: "What I said was, they asked me about the elimination of the Department of Education. My point was, I was there. I charged that hill harder than anybody with Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey. We lost."

The top Republican said that instead, "we have to keep moving forward and apply conservative principles to a federal role in education."

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California Governor's Race

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