Top Democrats Rally Around Bustamante

[Nambe]

LA Times

Party leaders still want to defeat the recall, but many see the lieutenant governor as the best on the ballot. Garamendi rejects calls to drop out.

California Democrats, still vowing to defeat the recall of Gov. Gray Davis, moved closer on Friday to embracing Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante as their best backup candidate.

Prominent party leaders urged the other high-profile Democrat who has said he intends to run, state Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, to bow out of contention, but Garamendi brushed aside the entreaties.

As Democrats considered strategy in the 59-day race that officially starts Sunday, some of the more prominent candidates seeking to replace Davis began campaigning in advance of today's 5 p.m. filing deadline. ---