Thus far frustrated in his attempts to forestall a recall, on Monday, Gov. Gray Davis filed a petition with the California Supreme Court on two counts. First, he wants the election postponed from Oct. 7 to the March primary. Second, he wants the court to allow him to add his name to the part of the ballot that lists those seeking to replace the governor should he be recalled.

We don't see either request gaining much traction.

Davis contends in the petition that holding the election as currently scheduled for Oct. 7 would "deny equal protection to certain voters and denigrate their fundamental right to a fair election." This will be caused by "a vastly inferior election process" with only 75 days to prepare the ballots and fewer polling places than in other elections.

Yet county registrars are working quickly with a variety of solutions to make sure an election is held properly, as the Register reported Monday. For example, Fresno County announced that its managers and administrators will join the registrar's workers in running an efficient election. Fewer polling places means voters might have to drive a little farther to a polling booth.

If more time is needed, the recall could be held in November or December.

On the second matter before the court, the Davis petition asserts that "[t]he recall violates the rights of Gov. Davis and his supporters to have their votes counted equally with those of the other candidates" because "Gov. Davis is barred from appearing on the ballot as a candidate."

That's because he's on the ballot as the governor who's subject to the recall. It would be silly for him to be recalled, then become a candidate to be his own replacement. There are legal restrictions on who may be a candidate for office in California, such as the term limits that bar, for example, former Gov. Pete Wilson from appearing on the recall ballot. It's hard to imagine that the state Supreme Court will allow Gov. Davis to make a mockery of the recall by putting his name on the replacement ballot.

No wonder Democrats continue sliding away from the governor. "In a sign of unease about Gov. Gray Davis' chances of surviving the election to recall him, state Senate Democrats were meeting Monday in Sacramento to discuss backing an alternative candidate in case Davis loses, said aides to several senators," the Sacramento Bee reported Monday evening in its online edition.

Whatever Democratic leaders decide to do, Californians of all political hues are increasingly realizing that the sun has a chance of again shining on California only after the Gray cloud is gone.