DEMOCRATS SEE RECALLS POPPING UP ALL OVER.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Will the California recall circus spread like wildfire across the nation like Proposition 13, three-strikes laws and so many other political trends?

That was the question widely being asked Wednesday by pundits and politicians after Californians voted to remove Gov. Gray Davis over his record in office and aloof personality.

The far-reaching impact of Davis' recall and the election of political novice Arnold Schwarzenegger is in dispute, though most analysts agree it has forever changed politics in California.

``We've opened Pandora's box,'' said Democrat consultant Bill Carrick, who was not involved in any of the campaigns.

``This election has brought together an incredible phenomenon of popular culture, mainstream media, tabloid media and 24-hour cable television, unlike anything we've ever seen,'' he said. ``... It won't stop here. We will see a cycle of recall after recall.''

Democrats remain in a quandary, with some activists urging that a recall of Schwarzenegger be launched as soon as possible while party professionals are urging calm to see how they can work with the new governor.

Shawn Steel, former president of the state Republican Party and one of the recall leaders, said he sees Tuesday's election as a one-time event.

``This was a 100-year storm, the perfect storm because of Gray Davis,'' Steel said. ``Gray Davis gave us the perfect storm of revulsion, shock and awe that drove this recall to this point.

``Getting the signatures is one thing, but building a mass movement is incredibly difficult. You have got to have credibility behind the movement and a real anger,'' he said. ``A recall is an emotional, visceral response, and Gray Davis provided that with a tone-deaf ear to the public.''

Dan Schnur, a GOP consultant who advised Peter Ueberroth before he pulled out of the campaign, sees long-term implications in the election.

``If the leaders of both parties assume this recall was only about Gray Davis, they are condemned to see future recalls,'' Schnur said.

``Gray Davis has been a symbol of what people don't like about politics, with the constant fund raising and the way he has managed the state,'' he said. ``He is the most visible and appropriate target for the voter frustration and anger.''

But Democratic consultant Parke Skelton, who is not involved in the election, said he sees the recall as driven by anger toward Davis.

``I don't think you will see many more recalls,'' Skelton said. ``They are extraordinarily difficult to qualify and extraordinarily difficult to organize.''

At the same time, he said he doesn't see a return to politics as usual, particularly with the accusations that have surrounded Schwarzenegger in the past week.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com