ANGELIDES CELEBRATES WIN WITH ATTACK ON GOVERNOR WESTLY AT HIS SIDE, DEM CHALLENGER BEGINS FIGHT.

Byline: SUSAN ABRAM and RICK ORLOV Staff Writers

UNIVERSAL CITY -- The race for California's governor's seat hit the fast track Wednesday, with Democratic challenger Phil Angelides launching attacks against incumbent Arnold Schwarzenegger just hours after declaring his primary election victory.

Flanked by former rival Steve Westly and an entourage of primary winners and supporters, Angelides set the tone for his campaign during an appearance at the Universal Sheraton Hotel, where he spoke of ``hope, opportunity, and investment.''

Angelides also moved to present a unified party front after a bruising primary campaign marked by negative ads, saying his goal is to return California to workers and their children, as well as those ``locked out and left out.''

``This is a governor who said he would be the people's governor,'' Angelides said of Schwwarzenegger. ``But in each and every turn, he has sided with special interests at the top. He has talked a good game but he has failed to deliver.''

Angelides, 52, currently state treasurer, garnered 47.9 percent of the vote, with pledges of education reform, environmental protection and a fairer health system. Westly captured 43.4 percent, with six other candidates dividing up the remaining 9 percent.

In his first appearance after conceding to Angelides, Westly thanked his staff and, in a sharp contrast to his campaign, praised his former opponent as a fierce debater who can bring victory to the Democratic ticket.

``We ran a strong campaign. We didn't quite get there, but it was close all the way,'' said the 49-year-old co-founder of eBay. ``I stand here proud to endorse Treasurer Angelides.''

Standing in for Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party, Assembly speaker Fabian Nunez introduced key members of the party, including Superintendent of Schools Jack O'Connell; Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, who is running for lieutenant governor; and Cruz Bustamante, who currently holds that post.

``We have a Democratic ticket that we believe represents the values of the party -- values that we believe California was built on,'' Nunez said.

In a statement later in the day, Torres urged state Democrats to back Angelides in fulfilling his vision for California.

``Healthy debate is a tradition of our party, but once that debate is over and the voters have chosen our standard bearer, we stand together with our candidate, united in our vision for California's future,'' he said.

Not to be outdone, Schwarzenegger kicked off his re-election campaign with his ``Protecting The California Dream Tour,'' stopping to greet voters in the Northern California cities of Samoa, Redding and Auburn.

Schwarzenegger easily garnered 89.9 percent of the votes among GOP candidates.

``The other side is talking about all the problems California has. We are solving the problems -- that is the difference,'' he said during an appearance in Redding. ``The other side wants to take us back 21/2, three years ago. We want to move forward with the state.''

In another high-profile race, former Gov. Jerry Brown easily defeated Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo for the Democratic nomination for state attorney general and will face state Sen. Chuck Poochigian, R-Fresno, in the general election.

Brown, who has been mayor of Oakland for the past seven years, captured 62.9 percent of the vote to Delgadillo's 37.1 percent.

At a morning news conference at the Burbank Hilton, Brown said he hoped his 40 years in public office and his respect for the law will convince voters to return him to Sacramento.

``I have a reverence for the law and take seriously that the job of attorney general is to be the people's attorney,'' Brown said. ``I also have shown I can be independent.

``I am not afraid to go up against the big guys. I have worked in both a partisan and nonpartisan system and believe part of the problem is, we let partisan politics get in the way.''

Brown said he hoped he and Poochigian can campaign on the issues and said he wants to see more civility in politics that would allow differing opinions while still building the state.

Poochigian, who was unopposed in his GOP primary, said he wants to show voters that he can work with Democrats, citing legislation he has co-authored dealing with education, MediCal and workers' compensation that received bipartisan support.

And he indicated he will not back away from attacking Brown.

``I recognize he has a huge name-identification edge on me,'' Poochigian said. ``It will be up to me to make sure I have the resources to get my message out and let voters know about him.

``I want to remind voters of what the state was like under Jerry Brown -- his opposition to the death penalty, the kind of judges he appointed. He has a long record in the area of public safety that I think the public will see where he falls short.''

Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Democratic nominee for governor Phil Angelides, left, and Steve Westly raise clasped hands Wednesday, the day after Angelides won the Democratic primary election.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

(2) Democratic nominee for attorney general Jerry Brown, with wife Ann Gust Brown, speaks during a press conference at the Burbank Hilton on Wednesday.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer