DEMS BOLT DAVIS-ONLY RECALL PLAN CRUZ PICKS UP ENDORSEMENT.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard and Rick Orlov Staff Writers

California's congressional Democrats dealt a blow to Gov. Gray Davis' recall election campaign Thursday by abandoning the Davis-only strategy and agreeing to back Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante if the governor is ousted.

Members of the delegation, concerned about losing control of the Governor's Office to a Republican as polls show 58 percent of voters ready to recall Davis, voted unanimously to change direction by supporting Bustamante while continuing to oppose recall.

Their decision was the latest in a series of recent setbacks suffered by Davis and party leaders whose strategy was to oppose the recall by keeping prominent Democrats off the ballot under the threat of losing all funding if they broke ranks.

``We strongly oppose the recall, but if California voters make a different choice, then Lt. Gov. Bustamante is the appropriate person to assume the office,'' said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, who heads the Democratic congressional delegation and organized the telephone conference call.

The state's most popular Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, stuck by Davis, saying she would vote against recall but would not vote at all on any potential successor to Davis.

Davis himself declined to state his position on the ballot's second question, saying while Bustamante is a ``good and decent person'' he simply wasn't going to reveal his planned vote.

The delegation's decision, after a nearly hourlong conference call with most of the 33 congressional Democrats, came over the objection of Davis supporters who wanted to keep a simple ``no on recall'' position but were overwhelmed by a majority of members to also back Bustamante.

More and more Democratic constituency groups, including unions and Latino legislators, have taken that position in the past week.

Thursday, the 335,000-member California Teachers Association and the California Department of Forestry Firefighters Local 2881, which represents 5,000 firefighters, became the latest groups to announce they oppose the recall and support Bustamante.

Bustamante, whose decision to run undercut the governor's and party's strategy, has run on a ``No on recall, yes on Bustamante'' slogan.

There has also been friction between the governor and lieutenant governor, who rarely speak. Bustamante recently accused Davis forces of undermining his efforts by trying to intimidate potential Bustamante donors.

Bustamante's endorsements represent a blow to Davis because they could divert contributions away from Davis' anti-recall fight and help fuel Bustamante's campaign to become the state's first Latino governor in more than a century.

Davis said he believes Bustamante's name on the ballot could help his own effort.

``Even though the conventional wisdom is that my chances of prevailing - and I believe in the end I will prevail - on the first question would be hurt if anyone else (Democratic) got into the race, the conventional wisdom is sometimes wrong,'' Davis said.

``It's quite possible that his entry in the race would bring more people into the polls who are inclined to vote no.''

Feinstein said she believes a recall should be used only for ``malfeasance in public office.''

``It (the recall) is not healthy financially, it is not healthy politically and it is not healthy economically,'' Feinstein said.

California's junior Democratic senator, Barbara Boxer, supports the ``no on recall, yes on Bustamante'' concept.

Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, who had advocated the two-pronged stance, said it was an important step to take to try to assure that Democrats remain in control in the Governor's Office. He said he would recommend this approach even if it seemed almost certain the recall would lose.

He insisted the action was not meant as criticism of Davis.

``I think this helps him,'' Sherman said. ``The voters of this state will go with the party that has unity and professionalism. We didn't start this recall but we are unified in opposition.''

Rep. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys, said those who took part in the conference call went along readily with the strategy.

``We all agree this is a terribly flawed process and the governor doesn't deserve this,'' Berman said. ``But, as a practical matter, if you care about the party and appointments, it makes a big difference and we need to have a fallback position.''

Feinstein, who is expected to tape a television ad for Davis soon, also criticized Arnold Schwarzenegger for his violent films, and called on him to support a reauthorization of the federal assault weapons ban. She was in Los Angeles to promote the reauthorization of the 1994 federal ban, which had a 10-year sunset clause. She said his films, in which he frequently carries powerful automatic guns, glorify those weapons.

A spokesman for Schwarzenegger responded by noting that the actor's use of guns is only in the movies.

``Surely the senator understands the difference between the movies and reality,'' said Schwarzenegger campaign spokesman Rob Stutzman.

``In reality, Arnold Schwarzenegger is providing an excellent role model to young people, who would go into public service and not allow themselves to be bought and paid for by the special interests like Gray Davis has the last five years.''

Harrison Sheppard, [phone]

harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com