Scott Barnett, a San Diego businessman, has created a political action committee, and a Web site -- RepublicansAgainstTheRecall.com --to try to help the incumbent stay in office.
"We are opposed to the recall of any elected official who has not committed acts of corruption or malfeasance and is not physically or mentally incapacitated in any way which would preclude him from serving out his term of office. It sets a very bad precedent."
"It could result in a worst-case scenario of Republicans splitting the ticket and installing" Lt. Gov. Cruz M. Bustamante (D), "who would be positioned to run" for election to a full term in 2006.
Better, he said, to keep a hugely unpopular Democrat in office for the 2004 election, when disgruntled voters will turn to the GOP for salvation and help reelect President Bush, and then capture the governorship in 2006.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22772-2003Aug20.html