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Dear sinkspur,

"Why would he want to run as a Republican in a Democrat state, then switch parties?"

I can't explain the second part of your question, why he would switch, but the first part is easier. When you live in a state where one party strongly dominates, that's where the overwhelming number of office-seekers go.

It happens here in Maryland. The Dems have controlled the state since about the Flood (you know - Noah?). I know someone from church who was on the local city council for about a dozen years, and he just got elected to the county council. He'll stay there eight years, and maybe, just maybe, Steny Hoyer or Al Wynn will die, and he can take part in the free-for-all on the Dem side to succeed whichever one croaks first. But he'll be running against a whole panoply, on the Dem side, of long-term officeholders at the city, county, and state district level. He'll have to run against the long-time state senator, the long-time state senator's son (who is a judge - who'd a figured??), the former county exec, the current county exec, the current state's atty, the former state senator from my neck of the woods (Congressional districts are quite well gerrymandered in these parts), and another half-dozen local potentates. I call this "wait-in-linism". On the Dem side, folks have to wait in line to get even to Congress. Twenty years, thirty years. Try to buck the system, and the two dozen guys ahead of you in the line will all help stomp you, real good.

But on the Republican side, the way is clear. Anyone can run, basically, who wants it. Anyone who had a bit of a name, a reputation, some name recognition, prior to entering a specific political contest, could have the nomination for the asking.

Arnold saw that in Calif, all the real heavy hitters are in the party of Satan. There are plenty of folks in line in front of Arnold in the party of Satan. He could try to bludgeon his way in, and he might succeed, but only at the cost of angering many erstwhile fellow Dems.

But by running as a Republican, the way is mostly clear. Not only that, but the Republicans, on the losing end of a long, long electoral drought, in California, mostly welcome him! Clear the line! Get rid of McClintock, Simon, Riordan! Make way for the great hope of the party, Arnold!

And that is why a liberal like Arnold runs as a Republican.

sitetest

I was going to answer, but sitetest did a pretty good job. Plus, it probably wouldn't look good to switch right before the election. He has had the Republican side handed to him, so it's to his advantage.

Having said that, he may very well remain a Republican. But it remains to be seen whether he will support other Republicans. He picked as the head of his issues team a man who doesn't not support Republicans, but supports Maxine waters.