POLITICAL FORECAST : Can Bush Be a Truman Among California Voters?

What can President George Bush do to win California? The Times asked seven political newsletter writers.

Robert Balkin, Editor-in-chief, The Hotline

He should rely on the superhuman, like figuring out a way to repair the San Andreas Fault in 40 days. Or, if the “Big One” hits, he can pull off a West Coast romp by saturating what is left of California with disaster aid.

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Cynthia McClain-Hill, Editor and publisher, Focus 2000

Bill Clinton could leave Hillary and marry Gennifer Flowers--that would hurt him and might swing California back to the Republican column.

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Dirk D. Olin, Editor and Publisher, California Republic

Do what he should have already done--shift from being the caretaker of the Reagan Revolution to becoming America’s emcee to the 21st Century by articulating a vision of post-Cold War, post-industrial America.

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Bud Lembke, Editor and Co-publisher, Political Pulse

No one, short of the deity, can do anything by Nov. 3 (and) I don’t concede that God is a Republican. Even a scandal would be a long shot for Bush.

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Joe Scott, Editor, The California Eye

Bush has as much of a chance of carrying California as the Dodgers do of winning the National League pennant.

His last hope was connecting with Californians on change and pocketbook issues. But 1,347 days after his inauguration, he still doesn’t get the connection. Last week, he told talk-show host Rush Limbaugh that the economy was not nearly as bad as people believed, that it’s “poised for a dramatic recovery.” Tell that to voters in California.

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Richard Zeiger, Editor, California Journal

Discredit Clinton’s credibility, which is probably easier than straightening out the economy by Election Day. As a voter, you may not like what Bush has done, but you may be too afraid to trust Clinton.

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Bill Bradley, Editor and Publisher, New West Notes

Pound a chisel issue--like Clinton and the draft, especially his shifting explanations for his conduct. Tap, tap, tap.