CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS / LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR : McCarthy Camp Slams New Bergeson Ad

State Sen. Marian Bergeson, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, has begun airing a commercial that critics say could leave the impression she supports abortion rights when, in fact, she is the most prominent anti-abortion Republican on the ballot.

The ad charges that Democratic incumbent Leo T. McCarthy opposed abortion when he was a member of the state Assembly but it does not tell the viewers that McCarthy now supports abortion rights and Bergeson wants to ban the practice in most cases.

The commercial prompted a sharp reply from a McCarthy aide, who said Bergeson is trying to mislead the voters because she realizes that her position on abortion is “far out of the mainstream.” Opinion polls show most Californians identify themselves as “pro-choice” and believe women should have the right to obtain abortions.

“She is a desperate candidate willing to tell the biggest lie imaginable,” said Roy Behr, McCarthy’s campaign manager.

Bergeson’s political consultant, Ron Smith, denied that the commercial is intentionally misleading, saying there wasn’t enough time in the 30-second spot to mention Bergeson’s opposition to abortion. The intent of the ad, Smith said, was to point out the “deceptions” in McCarthy’s commercials, which have touted him as a crime fighter and a supporter of abortion rights.

McCarthy once opposed abortion and as an assemblyman cast several votes reflecting that position. He also voted several times to support public funding of abortions for poor women. He now is fully in support of abortion rights and has been endorsed by the California Abortion Rights Action League.

Bergeson has opposed abortion throughout her 12-year legislative career. She once supported a proposed ballot initiative to prohibit all abortions except those necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman.

Her ad, however, seems to imply the opposite.

Attacking McCarthy’s record on crime, the commercial begins by listing his former opposition to the death penalty, his support for former California Chief Justice Rose Bird, and his votes on two bills that Bergeson portrays as soft on crime. Then it adds: “He even voted anti-abortion 11 times.”

“There’s a better choice for lieutenant governor,” the ad continues. In contrast to McCarthy’s positions, the announcer lists Bergeson’s support for the death penalty, her opposition to Rose Bird and her authorship of anti-crime legislation. It ends with a picture of Bergeson with the Republican candidate for governor, U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson, who supports abortion rights.

The ad says nothing about Bergeson’s position on abortion.

“How much can you say in 30 seconds?” asked Smith, Bergeson’s consultant. “His commercials have been complete frauds. We were just trying to set the record straight on where Leo’s been.”