Gingrich Is The Issue In California Race Despite Speaker’s Unpopularity, His Candidate Is Leading In Poll

Thirty minutes into the ninth Tom Campbell-Jerry Estruth debate, the moderator asked the congressional rivals: “Why are two such decent, intelligent men conducting such a slimy, negative campaign?”

The Rotary Club audience applauded that question longer than any remark by either Campbell or Estruth, who both said they regretted the tone of the campaign, cited mutual respect and friendship, shook hands - and then resumed their attacks.

The No. 1 issue dividing them in Tuesday’s special election for the 15th District seat is House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Democrat Estruth contends that a vote for Republican Campbell is an endorsement of Gingrich and of a conservative agenda which Estruth said would cut services to children, the poor and elderly.

“If you like the way things are going in Washington, vote for Tom Campbell,” Estruth said. “He is supported financially by Newt Gingrich.”

Campbell doesn’t dispute Gingrich’s support. But he bristles at assertions he would be beholden to Gingrich.

“Consider me as an individual. It’s not fair to paint with a broad brush or do an association thing. The specifics of my record are known,” replied Campbell.

He had one of the most liberal voting records among House Republicans when he represented an adjoining district in Congress from 1989 through 1992.

For the past 21 years, the district was represented by Norman Mineta, a liberal Democrat who resigned in October to take a post with defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

It’s a swing district in which President Clinton is relatively popular and Democrats have a 44 percent to 38 percent edge in registration.

A poll last week by the San Jose Mercury News confirms Gingrich’s unpopularity in the district. By 55 percent to 34 percent, the district’s Democratic-leaning voters have an unfavorable view of Gingrich, according to the poll, which had a 5 percentage-point margin of error.

However, the poll also found Campbell leading Estruth by 48 percent to 33 percent. A little-known independent trailed with 3 percent.

As a former congressman and currently a state senator, the 43-year-old Campbell is better known than Estruth, a 52-year-old stockbroker who served on the San Jose City Council from 1979 to 1984.

Campbell also has a substantial lead in fund-raising.

Aside from Gingrich, few issues separate Campbell and Estruth.