COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

In a move sure to widen California’s bitter divide over the fate of Gov. Gray Davis, a conservative wing of the Republican Party on Monday launched a parallel campaign to repeal legislation that gives about 2 million illegal immigrants the right to apply for drivers’ licenses.

If supporters can gather enough money and momentum, the referendum petition drive could roll out on the streets and in front of grocery stores before voters go to the polls Oct. 7.

The California Republican Assembly must turn in 373,816 signatures of registered voters within 90 days to put the issue on the March primary ballot.

The grass-roots conservative group did not reveal whether it has wealthy benefactors, probably a necessity given the short calendar and cost of hiring paid signature gatherers. The recall effort targeting Davis stalled until Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, committed $1.7 million for the signature-gathering campaign.

The referendum may split the major Republican contenders, more over tactics than principle.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s camp did not immediately embrace the referendum, but the actor remains committed to changing the law if he moves into the Governor’s Office, said Sean Walsh, a top aide.

“We are going to propose legislation to repeal the law, but we’re not signing on to anyone else’s legislation,” Walsh said. “We’ll deal with it when we get into office.”

State Sen. Tom McClintock, nipping at Schwarzenegger from the right flank, appeared at the Republican assembly’s announcement to pledge his support. The California Republican Assembly has endorsed McClintock.

McClintock called the legislation a tool to “place valid state identification documents in the hands of illegal immigrants. And the only reason for doing that is to undermine enforcement of our immigration laws.”

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante’s team did not return a telephone call seeking comment. However, in Fresno on Sunday the leading Democrat to replace Davis said: “People who work hard and pay taxes ought to be able to get drivers’ licenses.”

Davis’ aides also did not reply to requests for comment.

Recall candidates on both sides likely will strive for mileage over this issue, which already has drawn comparisons to Proposition 187 — a successful initiative that sought to end many government services for illegal immigrants. It was later largely voided by the courts.

“We can call it the son of 187,” said Antonio Gonzalez, president of the Southwest Voter Education Registration Project office in Los Angeles.

Supporting the referendum will take a toll on candidates seeking Latino support, Gonzalez said.

Republican foes accuse Davis of pandering to Latinos to save his job at the risk of undermining national security. The governor signed the measure, SB 60, on Friday in Los Angeles.

“To lower the standard for getting a driver license in this era of al-Qaida and the era of identity theft is an attack on every citizen of California,” said Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly.

With tensions already inflamed over the recall, Monday’s announcement degenerated into schoolyard name calling.

“Republicans never miss an opportunity to bash Latinos,” claimed Bob Mulholland, a Democratic operative.

Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy, R-Monrovia, shot back: “Democrats pull the race card whenever they run out of the truth.”

“Bums” and “wimps,” Mulholland shouted as the television cameras rolled. From the back, a Republican hurled out a “moron” and “you’re crazy” directed at Mulholland.

Ironically, just a few minutes earlier, Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, had praised the civility of the debate by both parties last week. Cedillo, who carried the legislation, quietly defended the bill again Monday as good for public safety because immigrants would be tested and able to obtain insurance.

“It’s unfortunate they are directing their energy against this,” Cedillo said of the referendum. “They will endanger public safety.”

The measure, which would go into effect Jan. 1, eliminates a requirement that driver license applicants show a Social Security number or other proof of legal residency. Applicants will have to provide proof of employment, and other identification, such as a passport or birth certificate.

Davis twice vetoed similar bills, claiming that security precautions were insufficient. But he signed the latest model even though it had been stripped of security safeguards, such as a criminal background check and a high-tech fingerprinting system known as biometrics.

Attorney General Bill Lockyer, a fellow Democrat, backed off from supporting the bill after the fingerprinting system was discarded.

Republicans also sought to capitalize on voter fraud fears, pointing out that license applications automatically come with a form to register to vote.

Federal law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide a voter registration form along with the license application. The form, an exact replica of those available at post offices, must be signed under penalty of perjury.

Voter registration forms are routinely provided to applicants who otherwise are ineligible to vote, such as foreign-national students and workers with visas, or even convicted felons who are U.S. citizens. The forms are not screened before being sent to county registrars.