Gov. Gray Davis has portrayed himself as a victim of the national recession, noting that governors in other states also are facing monumental budget deficits and tough choices on taxes and spending.
But Davis is suffering far more.

The Democratic governor's approval rating had plummeted to 21 percent among likely voters in the latest poll, conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California. Recent public polls conducted in nine of the next 10 largest states (Florida apparently has a dearth of reliable pollsters) show other governors holding their own in comparison.

Republican Sonny Perdue of Georgia and Democrat Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, both first elected last fall, actually have approval ratings over 60 percent, perhaps still basking in a honeymoon glow with voters. Another newcomer, Illinois Democrat Rod Blagojevich, is holding firm at 58 percent approval.

Only Ohio Republican Bob Taft (40 percent) and New Jersey Democrat James McGreevey (35 percent) have fallen below 45 percent. Both have proposed tax increases to help solve budget woes.

California pollster Mark DiCamillo, of the Field Poll, said Davis started off in a far worse position than the other governors. On Election Day last November, exit polls showed 60 percent of voters disapproved of Davis. "Yet they still re-elected him ... but only grudgingly," DiCamillo said. "Since the election, a lot of additional bad news has been absorbed by the public."

Davis spokeswoman Hilary McLean blames the governor's poll numbers on "intense polarization by right-wing Republicans" that does not exist in other states and a crisis created by out-of-state energy interests. "All of that takes a toll," she said.

Governor gets 'pied'
The notoriety of the recall effort against Davis has, inevitably, been captured in song.
Inspired by a petition-signing pitch on the San Diego radio show hosted by Roger Hedgecock (himself an infamous former politician), humorist Glenn Erath penned and performed "Bye Bye to That Gray Davis Guy," sung to the tune of Don McLean's 1971 hit "American Pie."

The tune harkens back "a long, long time ago" to Davis' former boss, ex-Gov. Jerry Brown, and progresses to Davis' struggles with energy and budgeting.

"The prospect of new IOUs is giving state employees the blues, and soon they'll all be singing, too ...

"Bye, bye to that Gray Davis guy

"Things just seem to get worse the harder he tries

"No one's going to need a hankie to dry their eyes

"The day Gray Davis says 'Good-bye' ..."

Erath, who makes a living as an ad man and purveyor of "customized" comedy for corporate and institutional events, performs regularly on Hedgecock's show. (Who could forget "Osama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Terrorists"?)

Writing the official recall song wasn't a stretch. "I don't really like Gray Davis," he said. "I voted for (Bill) Simon, but I didn't really like him, either."

Sing along at www.recallgraydavis.com.

Over to you, Cruz
The latest street-corner theory has Davis resigning if the recall qualifies for the ballot, pitching the state and all its challenges to fellow Democrat Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.
That way, Democrats keep the governorship without another election fight. Maybe.

"I've never seen Gray Davis give up on a fight," spokeswoman Hilary McLean said. "He's no quitter."

Besides, legal experts say the recall would proceed if Davis resigns after the petitions have been certified and the election date set. If it is approved by voters, whichever candidate got the most votes would become governor. If it failed, Bustamante could keep the office. If Davis resigns before the petitions are certified, however, Bustamante will be in and the election will be off.

Quote of the week
"Gray Davis won the election ... no hanging chads, no butterfly ballots, no question about the final result."
- Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante
announcing he would not seek the governorship in a recall election.