NOTEBOOK: POLL GIVES NEW URGENCY TO REDUCE GOP FIELD.

Byline: - Staff and Wire services

A new poll showing Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante well ahead of Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger in the race to succeed Gov. Gray Davis if he is recalled has prompted top Republicans to warn that the party must unite behind Schwarzenegger or risk keeping the state's top office in Democratic hands.

The Los Angeles Times poll showed Bustamante with 35 percent support among likely voters, compared with 22 percent for Schwarzenegger. Collectively, three other Republican candidates had 25 percent support.

``The headline here is that Republicans are winning, but the vote is split, so pressure by Republicans to coalesce behind a single candidate will be greater than ever,'' said Allan Hoffenblum, a former Republican strategist. ``It's a competitive race, and it needs to be turned into a two-person race between Schwarzenegger and Bustamante.''

The survey found that just 50 percent of likely voters said they would vote to recall Davis, with 45 percent opposed.

The latest results, released Sunday, dealt solely with the list of replacement candidates.

The poll found that Bustamante, as the only major Democrat in the field, enjoyed solid support among Democratic voters and split the independent vote almost evenly with Schwarzenegger. By contrast, Republican votes were fractured among four major Republican candidates.

Indian support

California's politically powerful Indian tribes are poised to play a key role in the campaign to recall Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, and they have much to gain from the outcome.

Whoever occupies the governor's office after the Oct. 7 vote will largely determine how much gambling expands in California in future years, as well as whether tribal casinos will be asked to fork over more money to the state.

Indian tribes have become some of the state's top political donors since scores of them signed deals three years ago to operate casinos, and they are expected to give heavily during the remaining six weeks of the campaign.

``We're going to get involved because our future and our kids' future is riding on the outcome of this election, and I think we're going to play a significant role,'' said Michael Lombardi, an Indian gambling consultant.

Some tribes see an opportunity with the candidacy of Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat who has been one of their top allies in Sacramento for a decade.

Indian gambling has become a $5 billion-a-year state industry, with 54 tribal casinos in operation and experts predicting that within a few years California could surpass Nevada as the nation's No. 1 gambling state.

On a crusade

Independent candidate Arianna Huffington told CNN on Sunday that ``the heart and soul'' of her campaign is appealing to state voters who didn't participate in the last gubernatorial election. California needs a voting crusade, she said, detailing plans to launch a college tour in September to urge younger voters to register before the election.

Fun with Arnold

The same people who created the Web site WeLoveTheIraqiInformationMinister.com have launched WeLoveArnold.com. The site contains news from the Schwarzenegger camp along with pictures from his bodybuilding days. Items for sale include hats that read ``Pro-Kids, Pro-Jobs, Pro-Hope, Anti-Bad Stuff.'' Schwarzenegger campaign spokesman Sean Walsh said it's among the ``many amusing, entertaining and fun spinoffs coming from this campaign.''