California's Davis discourages Democratic VP consideration

July 10, 2000
Web posted at: 10:54 a.m. EDT (1454 GMT)

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- California's Democratic Gov. Gray Davis all but took himself out of contention as Al Gore's running mate on Monday, saying he had promised California voters he would complete his four-year term as the state's chief executive.

California Gov. Gray Davis (D)

Davis, often mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate to run with Gore, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said he did not want to absolutely rule out the possibility because he had not been asked.

But he said he wanted to finish his term as governor and told reporters, "Please interpret that as a negative response" to the question of whether he would run.

Davis' name has been bandied about in recent weeks as a potential vice presidential candidate who possesses the sort of dynamism sought by the Gore camp. He was elected governor of California in 1998, replacing Republican Gov. Pete Wilson.

Others on Gore's possible list of running mates include Sen. Even Bayh of Indiana, a one-time governor of that state, and Sen. Bob Graham of Florida, whose state is governed by Republican Jeb Bush, the younger brother of Gore's presumed Republican rival, Gov. George W. Bush of Texas. Florida is expected to be a key battleground state for the two major party candidates come November.

The Gore campaign has kept the vice president's list of possible candidates under tight wraps. It is expected that Gore will reveal his choice just prior to the Democratic National Convention, which opens in mid-August in Los Angeles.