U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein is urging Californians to reject a Republican-led drive to recall her fellow Democrat Gov. Gray Davis, calling it "misguided" and a waste of taxpayers' money.

"I believe a recall election can be appropriate when serious malfeasance and corruption is found," Feinstein wrote in an opinion piece distributed Thursday to newspapers throughout the state. "But I don't believe it is right to overturn the results of an election simply because of political differences."

In her editorial, Feinstein, who polls as the best known and most popular California politician, did not rule herself out as a replacement candidate against her one-time nemesis if recall proponents manage to qualify for the ballot.
A campaign adviser to Republican actor Arnold Schwarzenegger also left open the possibility of a Schwarzenegger candidacy should the recall qualify. Recall proponents must collect at least 897,158 signatures of support, or 12 percent of the turnout in last November's gubernatorial contest.

Feinstein could not be reached for comment. Said her spokesman Howard Gantman, "I cannot address hypotheticals. Senator Feinstein does not choose to address hypotheticals."

A spokesman for Taxpayers Against the Recall, a union-backed group supporting the governor, said he considers Feinstein an ally rather than a foe.

"To have somebody of Dianne Feinstein's stature come out with this type of statement is obviously very good news to us," said Carroll Wills. "We believe people take what she has to say on this subject seriously."

Each of 31 recall attempts against a California governor has failed. Were this one to make it as far as a special election, voters would be asked two questions at once: Should Davis be removed? If so, which of any number of candidates should replace him?

Researchers with the nonpartisan Field Poll organization posed the latter question to voters last month, offering a list of six potential candidates that did not include Feinstein. Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante surfaced as the leading choice in the statewide poll, followed by Schwarzenegger. With his "Terminator 3" movie scheduled to open in July, Schwarzenegger has remained silent about the recall. Said his political adviser George Gorton: "Arnold's position is what it has always been. He'd like to be governor someday. But whether this is the particular time or not he hasn't focused on. I don't think we'll hear anything from him about the recall until after the movie comes out."

The only candidate actively campaigning to replace Davis is U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican multimillionaire from San Diego County, who has contributed at least $445,000 to Rescue California, a group paying petition circulators to gather recall signatures.

In the event of a recall election, California Democratic Party officials hope Davis' fellow Democrats put aside their own aspirations and allow the governor to remain the sole Democrat on the ballot, which would increase his chances of retaining his office.

Bustamante, Treasurer Phil Angelides and Attorney General Bill Lockyer all have discouraged voters from supporting the recall but have not limited their moves if it qualifies.

After Feinstein's omission in last month's Field Poll, the idea of a run by the senator became a favorite topic of speculation by consultants and fund-raisers.

While she ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1990, a Field Poll last September found 92 percent of voters knew her and 56 percent approved of the job she was doing, making her the best known, most popular California elected official. She is well financed and wealthy.

Meanwhile, Republicans and Davis' Democratic critics liked the potential for a rematch between Feinstein and Davis. While running against her in the 1992 Senate primary that she won, Davis compared Feinstein to convicted tax cheat Leona Helmsley, a move that left a bitterness between them for years.

Recall proponents blame Davis for covering up the scope of the state's fiscal woes until after his re-election last November and allowing a state budget shortfall to swell to $38.2 billion. Davis blames the national recession for problems in California and most other states. He has denied any cover-up, saying the problem was simply worse than budget experts had anticipated.

In her editorial, Feinstein attributes state woes to national and international problems.

She asks voters to say no if asked to sign petitions of support that could place the recall on a ballot. A special election could cost taxpayers $25 million to $35 million at a time when state finances are strapped.

Because replacements in recalls are elected by plurality vote, Feinstein also warned of the potential to fill Davis' shoes with a fringe candidate who had as little as 10 percent voter support.

"What happens if the governor is recalled and those who have launched the current campaign don't like who wins?" she asked. "Will there be another recall?"