LOS ANGELES -- Gov. Gray Davis, taking a defiant stance in the first major address of his fight for political survival, on Tuesday denounced the recall vote facing him as a Republican power grab and made no apologies for his record as governor.

In an extraordinary address carried live on television and designed to shore up his flagging Democratic base, the governor acknowledged that "we made our share of mistakes' handling the state's energy crisis and budget deficit.

But Davis, his approval rating in the low 20s as he faces an unprecedented vote to throw him out of office, did not apologize or ask forgiveness. For 15 combative minutes he attacked Republicans, sought to place the state's troubles in the perspective of an American economy that has "tanked' and boasted of his record on education, health care, privacy protection, the environment and reproductive rights.

"The Republicans behind this recall say they want you to oust me for past mistakes,' he said. "My friends, they don't give a rip about past mistakes. This is all about control in the future, seizing back the governor's chair and ... with so many candidates running they can do it with just a handful of California voters.'

The speech marked a first attempt by Davis to seize the offensive and corner voter attention in a campaign that has increasingly focused on Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger and the 134 other candidates who want to replace the governor Oct. 7. Davis will continue the effort Wednesday with a town hall meeting in Los Angeles, the first in a series of such events.

Davis delivered his remarks before about 300 invited union members and other supporters at the University of California, Los Angeles. He took the stage with his wife, Sharon, stiffly leading the crowd in chants of "No recall! No recall!'

"This recall is bigger than California,' Davis said. "What's happening here is part of an ongoing national effort to steal elections Republicans cannot win.'

He claimed the GOP effort began with the impeachment of President Clinton and included the 2000 presidential vote debacle in Florida, as well as congressional redistricting in Colorado and Texas this year.

"Now they're trying to use this recall to seize control of California just before the next presidential election,' Davis said.

Davis said California is getting over its problems.

"But this right-wing power grab is something we won't get over. It would do lasting damage to our state, our environment and the very fabric of our democracy,' he said.

Duf Sundheim, chairman of the California Republican Party, rejected Davis' assertions as the governor's supporters in the UCLA auditorium surrounded him and tried to shout him down.

"I think that this shows the governor still isn't listening to the people of California. To say that this is a right-wing conspiracy I think is an insult' to the 1.6 million people, including independents and Democrats who signed recall petitions, Sundheim said. He said the recall was "a grassroots revolt.'

Davis' Republican challengers also include businessman Bill Simon whom he defeated last year to win a second term - and state Sen. Tom McClintock. Simon watched the speech on TV at a Los Angeles hotel and said he was disappointed Davis did not take responsibility for the state's problems but blamed others.

"What we heard is it's somebody else's fault, it is a conspiracy, it is President Bush, it is the national economy, it is everything but Gray Davis himself,' Simon said.

Davis is the first California governor to face a recall election and if the recall is successful he would be only the second governor in the nation to be removed from office.

Part of his unpopularity stems from his distant personal style and failure to cultivate friends and allies. He alluded in his speech to criticisms of his personality.

"Now this is not going to shock you: I may not be the warmest TV personality in politics, but I am warming to this fight,' said Davis.

Political analysts said the speech, replete with attacks on the GOP and campaign-style promises about issues important to Democrats, was an attempt by Davis to shore up his base.

"He's basically trying to mobilize the base and motivate the party faithful to come out and vote against the recall,' said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a political scientist at the University of Southern California. "This was red meat for the party faithful."