AND NOW, THE RECALL ELECTION BEGINS IN EARNEST.

Byline: THOMAS D. ELIAS

THE uncertainty is over. Now that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has decided the on-again, off-again Oct. 7 recall election date is on again, and the American Civil Liberties Union says it won't appeal any further, this campaign is in the home stretch.

For sure, the recall can no longer be labeled a purely right-wing power grab, as Gov. Gray Davis has called it. After all, eight Democratic appointees sat on the panel of 11 appellate judges that unanimously tossed out the delay ordered last week by three of their brethren.

While all candidates in the replacement election steadfastly maintained they would continue as normal during the eight days of uncertainty about the election's timing, they did not. No one could be sure there wouldn't be a five-month hiatus before the vote occurred, so the leading candidates were holding on to the great bulk of their campaign stash, not wanting to spend it too early.

Republican actor Arnold Schwarzenegger scheduled fewer than half a dozen public appearances during that time and cut back somewhat on his TV ads. Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante was even less available to the press and public than Schwarzenegger during the semi-pause.

And Davis, whose advocacy of a no vote on the recall has been gaining fast in one public poll after another, had not yet unleashed a single negative TV commercial. In past campaigns, he always withheld his toughest attacks on opponents for the final two weeks. Since Davis had at least $6 million in hand as the week began, chances are he will soon treat California TV viewers to an intense diet of offensive quotes from Schwarzenegger's past, peppered with occasional lists of Ventura County state Sen. Tom McClintock's no votes on measures like ``Healthy Families,'' a health insurance program for pregnant poor women and their children.

The quick court decision posed far more challenges for Bustamante than any other candidate. For it came almost in tandem with a Sacramento judge's declaration that Bustamante raised millions of dollars illegally and must return many of them to donors.

Not only is Bustamante's image sullied at the same time he's been losing ground in every poll, but he must quickly arrange for big donors, like casino Indian tribes and labor unions, to buy their own advertising on his behalf, since he no longer has the funds to pay for his own commercials.

The court's action also prompted some Republicans who had held back to start falling into line behind Schwarzenegger, the only GOP candidate they believe can beat Bustamante in the replacement race. Word was leaked that last year's Republican nominee, Bill Simon, would shortly endorse Schwarzenegger. It remains to be seen if the rank and file will follow.

``Tom McClintock would make a great governor,'' said Republican Minority Leader Sen. Jim Brulte, R-Rancho Cucamonga, just after the appeals court ruled. ``But he'll never make it this time. All he can do is make sure our vote is split and Cruz Bustamante gets elected.''

Asked if some of Schwarzenegger's past, controversial remarks offend him, Brulte said,``No candidate is perfect. ... There needs to be an adult in that corner office in the Capitol. I didn't pick this recall fight, but it's important that we Republicans win it.''

Democrats, too, will enjoy no perfection. Davis and Bustamante will appear together at least half a dozen more times, even though neither has much use for the other.

For both parties then, this highly telescoped two-week runup to Election Day is a time for holding noses, while trying desperately to back a winner.