RECALL SQUEEZE PLAYS GOP, DEMOCRATS TRYING TO LIMIT FIELD TO ARNOLD VS. CRUZ.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

Republicans stepped up pressure Friday for the party to rally behind actor Arnold Schwarzenegger as its flag bearer in the Oct. 7 recall election even as Gov. Gray Davis faced a groundswell of support for Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante within the Democratic Party.

Bustamante, who will visit the San Fernando Valley today, has been gaining momentum as more and more Democratic groups adopt a ``No on recall, yes on Bustamante'' strategy in defiance of the governor's Davis-only strategy.

In some polls, Bustamante and Schwarzenegger have drawn even as the leading candidates to replace Davis if the recall passes.

Republicans are growing increasingly worried that having four major candidates on the recall ballot will split the GOP vote, leading to a win for Bustamante. None of the big four - state Sen. Tom McClintock, Schwarzenegger, businessman Bill Simon Jr. and former baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth - has shown much willingness to drop out for the sake of the party.

Schwarzenegger picked up the endorsement of Orange County's Lincoln Club on Friday, a sign that some of the wealthier pro-business party activists are willing to support him despite his moderate positions on social issues. His strong anti-tax stand on Wednesday at his first news conference won over some conservatives and softened the stance of others, including radio host Rush Limbaugh.

``It's time for Bill Simon, Tom McClintock and Peter Ueberroth to withdraw from the race,'' Tracy K. Price, president of the Lincoln Club of Orange County, told City News Service.

``Each is a noble and principled man and would distinguish the Republican Party as governor. However, in our view, they cannot win. They can only spoil our chances of electing a Republican governor and turning the state around.''

Before going into the meeting, conservative Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach, told The Associated Press: ``My guess is that an honest look at it would tell you that Arnold has a great chance of winning and the others should think about whether or not they want to stay in.''

Orange County's 300-member group helped jump-start the recall effort with a $100,000 contribution to Rescue California, and individual members gave an additional $80,000, according to Price.

Schwarzenegger did not lend direct support to the effort to get others to drop out. All candidates who were certified will remain on the ballot but could urge supporters to back another candidate.

``The way I feel about it is is that everyone has to make their own decision,'' Schwarzenegger told reporters. ``I can't make it for them. Obviously, mathematically speaking, it's wiser to only have one candidate.''

Bustamante will be in Van Nuys today, attending the ceremonial swearing-in of new City Councilman Tony Cardenas, who has actually been in office since July 1.

Senate minority leader Jim Brulte said he might at some point push for unity behind a single candidate, though he said it is too early to say which one.

``I would assume that as the voters sort through this, it may be necessary to have a conversation with a couple of the candidates about what is it you want to do: Do you really want to turn the state over to Cruz Bustamante by splitting the vote?''

So far none of the candidates has shown signs of dropping out. McClintock said he is in the race until the end.

``I get it all the time - Tom, you're the most qualified candidate but you just don't have the money or the celebrity to win this race - and my response to that is, If the most qualified candidate must defer every time a celebrity or a millionaire casts a longing eye on public office, we've lost something very important in our democracy: merit.''

McClintock ran for state controller last year and was the top GOP vote- getter on the state ballot, out-polling Simon.

Simon said he felt no direct pressure to drop out but acknowledged that the field could narrow.

``I'm always open to talking to people. I do think the field will winnow down as time goes on,'' he said Friday on CNN.

California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim does not plan to pressure any candidate to drop out, at least not now, according to a spokesman. But he thinks it might make sense for the candidates themselves to make that decision.

``Duf is not going to pick up the phone and tell anyone, You can't run,'' said party spokesman Mike Wintemute.

``But there may be a point when the party and the three or four Republican candidates will have to sit down and say, OK, who's polling in front, who has the best chance of winning and who has the best chance of carrying our banner? That's going to have to be a decision that's made among the candidates.''

Allan Hoffenblum, a GOP consultant not involved in the recall, said the only thing that would get Simon out now is if the poll numbers continue to show he doesn't have a chance and that his candidacy risks making him his party's Ralph Nader - who is believed to have siphoned enough Democratic votes from Al Gore in the 2000 presidential race to hand victory to George W. Bush.

``Most of the Republican consultants believe the best way for Bustamante to get elected is to have four Republicans on the ballot,'' Hoffenblum said. ``Even with Schwarzenegger running a flawless campaign and ending up with the most Republican votes, he could still lose because there's too many votes siphoned away.''

Simon's strategy so far, Hoffenblum said, is to run as a traditional conservative and hope that Schwarzenegger and Bustamante split the Democratic and moderate vote. That strategy, he said, would work best if turnout remains low, but that does not seem likely now.

Harrison Sheppard, [phone]

harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com