Governator needs miracle for major political test

By Andy Goldberg Nov 5, 2005, 2:04 GMT

Sacramento- In his days as an action star, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger overcame incredible odds to pull off dramatic victories.

Now, faced with the first major test of his political career next Tuesday, when Californians vote on three ballot initiatives he has proposed, the Austrian-born former Mr. Universe will need a similarly unlikely feat to revitalize his fast-flagging fortunes.

Unfortunately for the Governator, he will probably discover that life in the political fast lane does not always correspond to Hollywood's version of reality.

The proposed initiatives attempt to further limit political fundraising by labour unions, reduce tenure for teachers in state-run schools and redraw district boundaries for state and federal lawmakers.

Recent polls show that 70 per cent of California voters are firmly opposed to the measures, which Schwarzenegger claims are vital to the future of California's political and economic system.

'It's a totally cynical view of the governor, brought about by his support for an unpopular election,' said Mark DiCamillo of the Field Poll Institute that conducted one of the recent surveys.

With the majority of Californians seeing the ballot measures as a power grab by the Republican governor, the poll results come in sharp contrast to the 2003 election in which he won about 60 per cent of the vote.

Back then Schwarzenegger seemed invincible, winning over voters with his toothy film star's smile, and his glib clichés based on his famous movie lines.

He capitalized on widespread discontent with the fallout of the devastating dot com crash and electricity shortages, which have since been exposed as the result of cynical manipulations by the Republican-backed energy company Enron. He promised Californians that, as a wealthy political outsider who did not need to rely on money from special interests, he would dramatically reform the system.

'Ha!' scoffed farmer J.C. Morgan, who lives on the outskirts of Davis, a town located halfway between San Francisco and the state capital of Sacramento.

'He ain't done diddly-squat. I voted for him last time but now I feel like a sucker. Either he tricked us or he's just way out of his depth.'

Student Ellen Kibby was equally negative about the former muscle man.

'Look at who he's targeting: nurses, firefighters and teachers the low paid workers who are essential to our system,' she said. 'He promised that he wouldn't take money from special interests but he's in their pockets just like every other politician.'

Without a dramatic reversal of such sentiments, Schwarzenegger is likely to find his political career effectively over in November 2006, when Californians will decide whether to re-elect him. Polls now show him trailing far behind anonymous Democratic challengers such as Treasurer Phil Angelides or State Controller Steve Westly.

Unlike the characters he plays in the movies, Schwarzenegger seems unsure of how to react to this bout of adversity, switching confusingly from a tone of humility, to one of square-jawed defiance.

'I've had a lot to learn, and sometimes I learned the hard way,' said Schwarzenegger in a campaign ad last week. 'But my heart is in this, and I want to do right by you.'

But as Schwarzenegger continued to sink in the polls, he turned to a more defeatist and defiant tone.

'I had a choice to go in and enjoy a high approval rating and not to rattle the cage, just move along smoothly and not create the change ... or go in there and potentially make a war because people are very intense about the status quo,' he said at a Los Angeles rally on Wednesday.

Schwarzenegger said he would have no regrets if his initiatives failed.

'Do you walk away and say 'This is embarrassing'? Or do you say 'At least I tried'?'