EDITORIAL - Out in California, so-called punch card ballots were good enough to elect Gray Davis governor not once, but twice. But now, if the liberal Democrat judges of the ninth circuit U.S. appeals court have their way, the same voting method is not good enough to recall him.

"But now, if the liberal Democrat judges of the ninth circuit U.S. appeals court have their way, the same voting method is not good enough to recall him."       -- Lyn Zofziger

The court yesterday ruled that the punch card ballots, still in use in six California counties, might mean as many as 40,000 votes would not be counted, thus skewing the results of the upcoming gubernatorial recall election. The three judge panel that made the ruling suggested that the election should be moved to next March when all counties by then will have modernized their voting procedures.

That leaves Davis as the happiest man in California because, unless the Supreme Court over turns the ruling, he gets to be governor for at least another five months instead of facing the possibility that in a mere three weeks California voters will throw him out.

The beneficiaries of the court?s ruling, assuming that it stands, would appear to be Davis and the two leading gubernatorial candidates, the actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the lieutenant governor, Cruz Bustamante.

These three have the financial resources and fund raising ability to continue running effective campaigns until March. The third leading candidate for governor, State senator Tom McClintock, already running on a comparative shoe string, will be hard put to raise the money within the state that he will need to finance an adequate campaign over that length of time.

However, the extra time could make it possible for him to seek help from Reagan Republicans throughout the country. If he is smart this is what he will do.

Stay tuned.