Posted on 11/10/2004 8:49:24 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Though Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger once again used his political brawn to influence state ballot measures, even he could not alter California's legislative map during the recent election, according to a pair of independent pollsters who have been tracking California elections for decades. Mark Baldassare of the Public Policy Institute of California and Mark DiCamillo of the Field Poll weighed in Tuesday on trends that emerged from the recent election, agreeing that the Republican governor had a dramatic effect on the outcome of some key ballot measures - particularly the last-minute plunge in support for Proposition 66's effort to soften California's "three-strikes" sentencing law.
But they said even the governor couldn't penetrate the state's concrete-solid legislative lines because of California voters' tendency to favor Democrats and apparent lack of desire for dramatic political change. "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, though a dominant figure in California today, is irrelevant when it comes to altering the political calculus that favors the Democrats and limits the chances of the GOP in state elections," Baldassare said during a joint post-election appearance with DiCamillo at a Sacramento Press Club luncheon.
Voters agreed with Schwarzenegger's positions on 10 out of 14 ballot measures that he favored or opposed.
But they did not heed his urging in some key districts to shift their political alliances. In the end, every incumbent running for the Legislature and Congress was re-elected and the partisan balance remained the same in the Democratic-leaning state.
As a result, Baldassare said, the first statewide general election following the stunning gubernatorial recall results amounted to a "status quo" election.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
The fact is, Arnold didn't really campaign for individuals, only propositions, in California. Therefore, there is no evidence Arnold has no influence when backing candidates.
The voters will sing a different tune when the state runs out of cash.
Of course there was no problem for Californians to vote in a 3 billion dollar sinkhole known as stem cell research.
Close to 6 Billion when it is done & NO accountability. Don't bring up his other brilliant idea of floating the bond to pay off any true spending cuts. At least we get a smile as we're being screwed.
But...but...this can't be. RINOld was supposed to magically return California back to its good old days and deliver the state to Bush.
Not true. Schwarzenegger made campaign appearances with Gardener, Houston, Podesto, Poizner and Kuykendall. I had more glossy campaign literature in my mailbox from Houston (with Arnold's picture and endorsement) than from the propositions.
LA Times November 1, 2004:
"The governor has convened rallies on behalf of five candidates — all in the last two weeks. He also has attended six fundraisers and recorded phone messages and radio ads touting several candidates. Schwarzenegger's photo appears on the campaign literature of many of the 49 Republicans he endorsed."
Booo Hoooo! If Arnold would have gotten out and really campaigned for REPUBLICANS, he wouldn't be facing the idiot democrats now in office. I don't feel sorry for Arnold, I feel sorry for California.
For a state that went probably more than 75% for Bush - it was only the heavily populated SF and LA and northern coastal counties which carried the state for Kerry.
If Arnold REALLY wanted to get things changed in CA, he had his chance. His actions are the reason I never voted for him.
That and the CAGOP allowed a lot of the Dems to run uncontested.
The Democrats in the state house can only help us flip faster.
If the GOP gets CA's 54 electoral votes, the Presidential elections are theirs for as long as they can hold onto it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.