Editing Gray Davis (section)

===2002 gubernatorial campaign===
{{Main|2002 California gubernatorial election}}

Davis began fundraising for his 2002 reelection campaign early in his governorship. Davis raised $13.2 million in 1999 and $14.2 million in 2000, both unprecedented sums at the time so early in an elected term.<ref name="Gladstone">Gladstone, Mark. "California Governor Raises Record Funding for Campaign." [[San Jose Mercury]]. February 2, 2001. Copyright 2001 News Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. Accessed from LexisNexus July 22, 2007.</ref> Davis's 1999 and 2000 contributions included contributions from Pacific Gas & Electric and Edison International.<ref name="Gladstone"/> Davis also received large contributions from labor groups, environmental groups and individuals.<ref name="Gladstone"/>

Davis's fundraising efforts attracted much attention. [[University of California Berkeley]]'s Institute of Government Studies claimed that Davis's fundraising skills were "second to none in the political arena" while Senator [[John McCain]] called Davis's 2001 goal of $26 million "disgraceful."<ref name="igs.berkeley.edu">[http://igs.berkeley.edu/library/campaignfinance.html Political Fundraising of Governor Gray Davis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116061925/http://igs.berkeley.edu/library/campaignfinance.html |date=2009-01-16 }} by Staff of Institute of Government Studies. University of California Berkeley. Retrieved August 13, 2007.</ref> One article in the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' claimed that Davis was raising $34,000 a day.<ref name="igs.berkeley.edu"/> Although Davis's fundraising pace was criticized by his many detractors, [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] would later collect contributions at a quicker rate during the early years of his governorship.<ref>[http://www.arnoldwatch.org/articles/articles_000130.php3 Schwarzenegger outpacing Davis in fundraising] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927040601/http://www.arnoldwatch.org/articles/articles_000130.php3 |date=2007-09-27 }} by Hinch, Jim. [[Orange County Register]]. December 24, 2003.</ref> Arnoldwatch.org, a project of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which is a nonpartisan organization that is critical of both Democrats and Republicans, called Davis a "pay to play" politician and a "sellout".<ref>[http://www.arnoldwatch.org/articles/gray_davis.html The Gray Davis Files] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823075308/http://www.arnoldwatch.org/articles/gray_davis.html |date=2007-08-23 }} by Arnoldwatch.org.</ref>

During the 2002 election campaign, Davis took the unusual step of taking out campaign ads during the Republican [[Partisan primary|primaries]] against Los Angeles mayor [[Richard Riordan]]. Davis claimed that Riordan had attacked his record and that his campaign was defending his record.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/03/06/california.primary/index.html |title='Fight' seen in California's governor's race |publisher=CNN |date=March 6, 2002 |access-date=2010-08-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123204655/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/03/06/california.primary/index.html |archive-date=January 23, 2009 }}</ref> Polls showed that, as a moderate, Riordan would be a more formidable challenger in the general election than a conservative candidate. Polls even showed that Riordan would defeat Davis.<ref>{{cite news |author=Lynda Gledhill, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/12/13/MN236557.DTL |title=Riordan has edge on Davis in polls Governor's mixed reviews seen to benefit challenger |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2001-12-13 |access-date=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525145225/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2001%2F12%2F13%2FMN236557.DTL |archive-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=live }}</ref> Davis attacked Riordian with negative ads in the primary. The ads questioned Riordan's pro-choice stance by questioning Riordan's support of pro-life politicians and judges.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Carla |last1=Marinucci |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/01/26/MN96853.DTL |title=Davis ad assails Riordan GOP rival's stand on abortion rights challenged |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2002-01-26 |access-date=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525145514/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F01%2F26%2FMN96853.DTL |archive-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=John |last1=Wildermuth |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/01/29/MN174369.DTL |title=Riordan silent on abortion flap Davis ad hits GOP governor hopeful for giving to thousands to anti-choice groups |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2002-01-29 |access-date=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525145612/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F01%2F29%2FMN174369.DTL |archive-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=live }}</ref> The ads pointed out Riordan's position of wanting a moratorium on the death penalty as being to the left of Gray Davis, who strongly supported it.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/02/22/MN225515.DTL |title=Top GOP governor candidates trade attacks Surveys show Simon closing in on Riordan's once imposing primary lead |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2002-02-22 |access-date=2010-08-14 |first1=Carla |last1=Marinucci |first2=John |last2=Wildermuth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525145655/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F02%2F22%2FMN225515.DTL |archive-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Debra J. |last=Saunders |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/01/27/ED170108.DTL |title=A man for all reasons |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2002-01-27 |access-date=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525131834/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F01%2F27%2FED170108.DTL |archive-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Davis's negative ads against Riordan and a variety of other equally important factors explained on the 2002 election page, led to Riordan's defeat in the Republican primary by the more staunchly conservative candidate [[Bill Simon (politician)|Bill Simon]]. In the first 10 weeks of 2002, Davis spent $10 million on ads: $3 million on positive ads boasting of his record, $7 million on negative ads against Riordan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishworldreview.com/michael/barone031102.asp |title=What happens in the eight months until California's general election? |publisher=Jewishworldreview.com |date=2002-03-11 |access-date=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606160815/http://www.jewishworldreview.com/michael/barone031102.asp |archive-date=2011-06-06 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Davis was re-elected in the November 2002 general election following a long and bitter campaign against Simon, marked by accusations of ethical lapses on both sides and widespread voter apathy.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Carla |last1=Marinucci |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/09/05/MN55825.DTL |title=Davis, Simon heartily disliked Voter disenchantment has soared to unprecedented level, poll says |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2002-09-05 |access-date=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525131822/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F09%2F05%2FMN55825.DTL |archive-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=live }}</ref> Simon was also hurt by a financial fraud scandal that tarnished Simon's reputation.<ref>[http://www.economist.com/research/backgrounders/displaybackgrounder.cfm?bg=1922064 Gray Davis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070730065240/http://www.economist.com/research/backgrounders/displaybackgrounder.cfm?bg=1922064 |date=2007-07-30 }} from Economist.com.</ref> Davis's campaign touted California's improving test scores, environmental protection, health insurance coverage for children and lower prescription drug costs for seniors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2002/11/4/governorsRaceFeaturesDiverseViewsGrayDavis|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123183042/http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2002/11/4/governorsRaceFeaturesDiverseViewsGrayDavis|title=Governor's race features diverse views: Gray Davis|archive-date=January 23, 2009}}</ref> Davis's campaign featured several negative ads that highlighted Simon's financial fraud scandal.<ref name="Heat">[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/08/16/MN76308.DTL Turns up heat as Simon pares down: New ads roast GOP rival as he trims staff] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525145726/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F08%2F16%2FMN76308.DTL |date=2011-05-25 }} by [[Carla Marinucci]], Lynda Gledhill, Chronicle Staff Writers. The San Francisco Chronicle. Friday, August 16, 2002.</ref> The 2002 gubernatorial race was the most expensive in California state history with over $100 million spent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://igs.berkeley.edu/publications/detailbooks/CalVotes-2002.html |title=Cal Voter |publisher=Igs.berkeley.edu |access-date=2010-08-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614205830/http://igs.berkeley.edu/publications/detailbooks/CalVotes-2002.html |archive-date=2010-06-14 }}</ref> Davis's campaign was better financed; Davis had over $26 million more in campaign reserves than Simon in August 2002.<ref name="Heat"/> Davis gained re-election with 47.4% of the vote to Simon's 42.4%. However, the Simon-Davis race led in the lowest turnout percentage in modern gubernatorial history, allowing a lower than normal number of signatures required for a recall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/wp/WP_503MBWP.htm |title=Polling in the Governor's Race in California |publisher=Ppic.org |access-date=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808085507/http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/wp/WP_503MBWP.htm |archive-date=2010-08-08 |url-status=live }}</ref> Davis won the election, but the majority of voters disliked Davis and did not approve of his job performance.<ref>{{cite news |author=Lynda Gledhill, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/07/11/MN184694.DTL |title=Davis ekes out 7-point lead over Simon Field Poll shows voters against hopeful rather than for governor |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2002-07-11 |access-date=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525150201/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F07%2F11%2FMN184694.DTL |archive-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Robert |last1=Salladay |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/11/06/MN93404.DTL |title=Big challenges ahead for not-exactly-popular incumbent |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2002-11-06 |access-date=2010-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525150238/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F11%2F06%2FMN93404.DTL |archive-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=live }}</ref>