Schwarzenegger key to Bush success in California, official says

Monterey Herald ^ | 7/20/04 | Erica Werner - AP

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - President Bush's success in California depends on Arnold Schwarzenegger's performance as governor, the chairman of the Bush-Cheney California campaign said Tuesday.

"Nothing is more important to us in the Bush campaign in California than Arnold Schwarzenegger's success. Nothing," campaign chairman Gerry Parsky said. "Because as he succeeds, we have the potential to complete the process that we are undertaking" of building Republican support in the nation's most populous state.

Independent analysts say Bush has scant chance of winning Democrat-leaning California Nov. 2, and Schwarzenegger has shown lukewarm interest in campaigning with the president, who is far less popular in California than he is.

However, Republican officials in California said Tuesday that Schwarzenegger plans to attend a GOP fund-raiser with Bush on Aug. 12 in a Santa Monica airport hanger. The event is being billed as the "California Presidential Gala," according to the invitation.

Schwarzenegger declined to appear publicly with Bush on the president's last trip to California. They did appear together in public in October 2003, before Schwarzenegger was sworn in as governor.

Parsky, who is also a San Diego investor and chairman of the University of California Board of Regents, told reporters at a media round-table in Washington that Schwarzenegger's election has made California friendlier territory for Republicans.

"The dynamic has changed totally with Schwarzenegger," Parsky said.

He contended that if Schwarzenegger succeeds in getting a budget passed without raising taxes, Republicans can capitalize on the success by linking Bush's economic policies to Schwarzenegger's - and tying Democratic challenger John Kerry to the approach voters rejected when they recalled Democratic Gov. Gray Davis.

"If he succeeds without raising taxes then we have the ability ... to demonstrate in California what I happen to believe very strongly, that Kerry's solution is not very different from what you rejected of Gray Davis," Parsky said.

California Democratic Party spokesman Bob Mulholland scoffed at Parsky's analysis, saying that if Bush is counting on Schwarzenegger's budget success to bring him to victory, "then they're in trouble - 20 days behind on the budget and talking like a ninth-grader."

Mulholland was referring to Schwarzenegger's statement over the weekend that legislators holding up the budget are "girlie men." Parsky declined comment on that remark.

Mulholland also dismissed as "hogwash" Parsky's assertion that California is becoming more fertile territory for Republicans.

"This is a guy who predicted victory in 2000 and they lost the state by 12 points or 1.3 million votes," Mulholland said. "This is a guy who forgets that 9 out of 10 statewide offices are held by Democrats."

Republicans are closing the registration gap in California, but there are still 1.1 million more Democrats than Republicans in the state, and Parsky conceded that "our mountain is very high to climb."

But Parsky said Schwarzenegger is doing plenty to help Bush's re-election campaign - even though the governor has made clear he has no plans to campaign outside of California for the president, and has said that California's support for Bush depends on how much Bush does for California.

"He is doing exactly what he should be doing, namely succeeding in California," Parsky said. "He is honorary chairman of the campaign, honorary chairman of the delegation (to the Republican National Convention), and he will campaign with the president in California. There's never been any question about that."

Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson said the governor supports Bush and looks forward to speaking on his behalf at the Republican convention in August. "The governor stands proudly with President Bush and is going to stand prominently with President Bush," she said.

---

AP Staff Writer Michael R. Blood in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

[pogo101]

I dunno. Whatever I think of Arnold at his best, I don't think even HE, AT his best, could swing CA for GWB. Here's hoping, though. Maybe, at least, we can give Kerry enough of a scare so as to cause Kerry to divert $$ and resources here from other states, leading to SOME sort of Kerry loss.

[NormsRevenge]

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger political charm offensive has run aground in a quagmire of recrimination over his 'girlie men' jibe and a state law requiring a super-majority to pass his budget, political experts say. Schwarzenegger, clearly piqued by the legislature's failure to pass his spending plan almost three weeks into the new fiscal year, has gone on the attack, deriding his legislative opponents as 'girlie men' for catering to special interests. Schwarzenegger is seen in this January 9, 2004 file photo while announcing his first budget for the state of California. (Kimberly White/Reuters)

[BunnySlippers]

Girlie men meant (with Hans and Franz) men who were couch potatoes ... not homos. No matter how much the media wishes otherwise.

[montag813]

What Bush "success"? We will lose by at least 10 pts.

[GOPJ]

bump

[Reagan Man]

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger political charm offensive has run aground in a quagmire of recrimination over his 'girlie men' jibe and a state law requiring a super-majority to pass his budget, political experts say.

While I don't care for GovRino's liberal politics, the "girlie men" remark has been blown way out of proportion. Pathetic.

[NormsRevenge]

Baghdad Bob is still kicking, I see.

Also, not a word about Bill Jones(He'd be happy to get beat by 10 points or less), the "Stealth" GOP candidate against Boxer, who should be vulnerable with her record.

[jnarcus]

I want to know what drugs these stupid analysts for the Cali GOP are on...because they aren't preventing delusional thinking...Unfortunately California ain't a gonna go to the R column no matter how much wishful thinking is done

[Iberian]

Great point. I think the Cali left fears him. There is no traction here.

[no dems]

Bush has scant chance of winning Democrat-leaning California Nov. 2 Scant according to Webster: "meager, inadequate". Scant according to me: "The chance of that proverbial snowball in hell". Don't even waste time or $$ in Cal-eeee-for-neeeeeea.

[Iberian]

You are right, but Arnold will bring Cali closer to center.
If you think about Davis,Bustamantes and the rest of those cronies before him, the state was heading for BR and total left.
Arnold will bring balance to Cali politics. He strikes fear in nonsensical types, he is feared by the political left, most of which are girly men.

[Republican Wildcat]

California Democratic Party spokesman Bob Mulholland scoffed at Parsky's analysis, saying that if Bush is counting on Schwarzenegger's budget success to bring him to victory, "then they're in trouble - 20 days behind on the budget and talking like a ninth-grader."

And you, Mulholland, are just the beacon of maturity.

[Plutarch]

Bush's success here in CA? If California goes for Bush it is not a close enough election to matter. Geez, send Arnold to FL, PA, OH, NH, & MO. He should attract a crowd in those places.

[Lizavetta]

"This is a guy who predicted victory in 2000 and they lost the state by 12 points or 1.3 million votes," Mulholland said

Hey Bob, how many of those 1.3 mil do you suppose were cast by 'undocumented' voters?

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

I was born in and live in California. I refuse to accept that California is doomed. True, the illegals and their Mexican-American elected officials are bankrupting the state. True the gays and Rats in San Francisco ar eruining and bankrupting the social systems. True the Illegals have overwhelmed and are ruining the public schools. True, the Dems have a strangle hold on the economy. Wait a minute, California IS doomed. Never mind.

[pogo101]

Also, Mulholland and his buddy Terry McAuliffe predicted victory for Grayout Davis over the insurgent recall in 2003. He's hardly one to bash others over bad predictions.

[Tom Jefferson]

[WilliamofCarmichael]

The question is, how much will Mrs. Schwarzenegger and her Kennedy family campaign for Kerry in California?

According to the article some things are known about how much Mr. Schwarzenegger plans to do. To wit, not much. (The "evil" Mr. McClintock will do more, IMO.)

"But Parsky said Schwarzenegger is doing plenty to help Bush's re-election campaign - even though the governor has made clear he has no plans to campaign outside of California for the president, and has said that California's support for Bush depends on how much Bush does for California. . .

"Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson said the governor supports Bush and looks forward to speaking on his behalf at the Republican convention in August. 'The governor stands proudly with President Bush and is going to stand prominently with President Bush,' she said."