Feinstein swears off recall race

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has said she does not intend to be a candidate for governor, the same pledge taken by other prominent Democrats in the face of a recall aimed at Gov. Gray Davis, a Feinstein spokesman said Saturday.

Feinstein has often been mentioned as a possible replacement candidate for Davis, who is facing a recall drive that is rapidly gaining momentum.

But Howard Gantman, a spokesman for Feinstein, quoted her as saying before flying to California for a weekend appearance, ``I intend to remain a United States senator. I do not intend to run for governor.''

Feinstein appeared with Davis Saturday at ceremonies to open a BART extension to San Francisco International Airport, and denounced the recall effort.

Recall supporters claim to have gathered about 800,000 signatures in favor of the idea. If they gather about 1.2 million valid signatures by Sept. 2, voters will simultaneously be asked if they want to remove Davis from office, and to pick someone to replace him as governor if he is voted out.

Feinstein's declaration comes as Democrats are closing ranks around the governor's effort to fight off the recall. Last week the most prominent potential Democratic replacement candidates Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, Attorney General Bill Lockyer, Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly essentially removed themselves from the race.

Democratic Party officials have long been urging potential candidates to stay off the ballot, insisting that the governor should be allowed to stave off the recall without facing challengers from his own party.

Feinstein, a former mayor of San Francisco, was first elected to the Senate in 1992. Her current term expires in 2006.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)