ANGELIDES LAUNCHES WESTLY ATTACK DEMOCRATS EVENLY MATCHED AGAINST GOVERNOR IN POLLS.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO - With indications that the Democratic primary race has drawn closer than ever, state Treasurer Phil Angelides shifted gears in his gubernatorial bid, launching a direct attack Wednesday against his rival, Controller Steve Westly.

Angelides said the controller had failed to stand up to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger or to offer plausible plans to fully fund education. Westly also has flip-flopped on issues such as health care and education, he said.

"On the tough fights that have faced this state, too often Steve Westly cuts and runs," Angelides said in a speech delivered to supporters inside a community theater in Sacramento. "He does what's easy, not what's right."

The new direction came as the two candidates faced off for the first time in a debate for a program focusing on immigration and Latino issues that will air Saturday on Univision.

Angelides had generally been seen as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination in June and had focused his campaign on a potential November bid against Schwarzenegger. But polls have shown that lead narrowing as Westly builds a substantial fundraising edge by reaching into his own deep pockets.

One poll released this week by San Jose State University showed the race in a virtual dead heat, with Angelides at 20 percent among Democrats and Westly at 17 percent, a range within the poll's margin of error.

It also showed both candidates were evenly matched against Schwarzenegger. Against Angelides, the governor had a slight edge, 40 percent to 37 percent, and was 37 percent to 37 percent against Westly.

The Angelides campaign reported having $14.5 million cash on hand as of last month, while Westly had $23 million.

Westly called Angelides' charges and his new direction a sign of weakness.

"I think he is going negative because he knows he is falling behind," Westly said. "And desperate candidates do desperate things."

Westly said he has opposed the governor's efforts to cut education funding, as well as his special-election initiatives last year.

Political experts agreed the new direction, with two months left in the race, was likely a reaction to the new, tougher competition.

"When the race gets close, the knives come out," said Jack Pitney, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College. "And the last couple of polls I've seen show that the primary race is a toss-up."

During the debate, their positions were similar on many of the issues.

Both support an effort by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants; both want immigration reform that grants illegal immigrants a path to citizenship; and both have received endorsements from a range of Latino elected officials.

harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com

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