INTERSTATE 5 is not the road to Damascus. But don't tell that to Gray Davis. He wants Californians to believe he's their St. Paul--a convert who shouldn't be recalled because he's seen the light.

The biblical analogy is irresistible. Since he came to the realization that he was in the fight of his political life, Davis finally admits that he once sinned: yes, too slow to react to the state's electricity crisis; yes, too out of touch with the citizenry; but still entirely deserving of a second chance.

And he's been anything but laid back in trying to connect with the laity.

During last night's candidates' forum in Walnut Creek, for example, the governor referred to his "strong faith in God" as seeing him through the ordeal of recall.

It wasn't the first time this week that Davis played the faith card. On Labor Day, he attended Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Davis, a Roman Catholic, sat in the front row, and listened intently as Bishop Gavino Zavala may or may not have insulted him. "As for the upcoming recall election," the Bishop said, "most commentators agree that it's only a consequence of decades of dysfunction of political parties and leaders who seemingly care more about doing the bidding of wealthy contributors than stopping the problems that confront working people."

That was followed by an interview with NBC anchor Tom Brokaw, where Davis and his wife, Sharon, neatly steered the conversation to their spirituality. Here's the transcript:

BROKAW: This is a very high profile trial. You're having to go through this in a very public fashion.

SHARON DAVIS: Uh-huh.

BROKAW: Do you have political heroes that you thought about in the past that help you get through the day? If so, who are they?

GRAY DAVIS: Well, we have great faith in God. My wife brought me back to the church. And she's just a blessing. I read about all the grief that Truman took. I'm reading the Three Roosevelts now. I mean, all leaders have gone through difficult times. And they've had to find the inner strength and peace and forcefulness--to pursue the policies--they felt were best for the people they represented. So, I do take comfort and inspiration . . .

SHARON DAVIS: Uh-huh.

GRAY DAVIS: . . . from those biographies.

IRONICALLY, it wasn't so long ago that Davis found religion to be a troublesome matter. Last Christmas, a Sacramento priest who operates a Catholic children's home barred the governor from setting foot on the property because of his pro-choice views. In February, Roman Catholic Bishop William Weigand challenged Davis to adopt the Vatican's pro-life position and said the governor shouldn't receive communion until he had "a change of heart."

Why is Davis suddenly and so strongly embracing his faith? Because he realizes that unless he makes himself more likable and more in sync with the average voter, all the right-wing bashing in the world won't save him from the humiliation of becoming the first recalled governor in 80 years.

Here's what Californians can expect from their governor over the next five weeks: