Garamendi In and Out of California Governor Race

NU Online News Service, August 11, 11:00 a.m. EDT?California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi withdrew from the California governor's race on Saturday, calling the recall election of Democratic Gov. Gray Davis a "circus" during a press conference announcing his decision not to run.

Mr. Garamendi, who is also a Democrat, had announced his candidacy on the East steps of the Capitol in Sacramento on Thursday. At that time, he joined a host of others vying for the office in the October 7 recall election of Gov. Davis.

The Democrats' strategy to retain the governorship in the event of a recall of Gov. Davis has been to have Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante run in the election as the sole prominent Democrat. Although Mr. Garamendi noted during his press conference that he was not pressured by fellow Democrats to drop out, his departure helps that strategy.

Mr. Garamendi has held several public offices in California. In addition to two stints as insurance commissioner, he served 14 years in the California State Senate and two years in the Assembly. On a national level, he was deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior from 1995 to 1998.

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