CA: Governor's team taking ballot reins

Sac Bee ^ | 3/30/05 | Gary Delsohn

[NormsRevenge]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's political team is moving to take over his special election campaign after last week's court ruling that allows politicians to raise unlimited money for ballot measure efforts at the same time they fully control them.

Before a Sacramento court judge ruled in Schwarzenegger's favor, his political committee was limited to how much it could raise from individual donors. A business committee with close ties to the Republican governor could raise unlimited funds as long as Schwarzenegger didn't direct its activities.

"Any advantage the Democrats thought they'd have because of the bifurcated nature of the campaign has evaporated," Mike Murphy, Schwarzenegger's top political adviser, said in an interview Tuesday. "Now they're going to face everything we've got. If I were them, I'd make a deal." Democrats say they're not cowed by Murphy's bravado, arguing that Schwarzenegger's popularity is slipping and that his so-called "reform" agenda is not appealing to rank-and-file voters.

Garry South, former chief political strategist to ousted Gov. Gray Davis, said he thinks the judge ruled appropriately because he never believed the Fair Political Practices Commission's limit was fair. But he said Schwarzenegger still has big problems trying to prevail at a special election he's vowed to call later this year.

"The problem I think the governor has is he's losing popularity," South said. "His standing is not even what it was six months ago. And the stuff he's putting on the ballot doesn't have great public appeal."

But impartial observers and even Democrats concede Schwarzenegger's campaign will be much more focused after last week's ruling by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne W.L. Chang that recently enacted FPPC fund-raising regulations were unconstitutional. The FPPC has not yet said whether it will appeal the ruling.

--snip--

[peyton randolph]

Whether one likes his politics or not, never underestimate Arnold.

[inquest]

...last week's court ruling that allows politicians to raise unlimited money for ballot measure efforts at the same time they fully control them.

Only politicians? That doesn't make sense. Or does this simply put politicians on the same level as everyone else?

[inquest]

Democrats say they're not cowed by Murphy's bravado, arguing that Schwarzenegger's popularity is slipping and that his so-called "reform" agenda is not appealing to rank-and-file voters.

Media bias alert. They would never say "his so-called 'reform' agenda" in regard to a Democrat politician. They would simply refer to it as his reform program.

[telebob]

"The problem I think the governor has is he's losing popularity..."

Whistling past the graveyard...Wishful thinking...Denile is not just a river in Egypt...

Hold that thought rats. See ya in November.

[Carry_Okie]

Media bias alert. They would never say "his so-called 'reform' agenda" in regard to a Democrat politician. They would simply refer to it as his reform program.

Is it evidence of a permanently vegetative state?

Love the tagline.

[inquest]

I think it is. Time to pull the plug, I say. For their own good, of course ;-)

[AndyTheBear]

I've got mixed feelings about our Governator, but I did sign some of the reform petitions hes backing. If I saw any fault with them, it was that they didn't go far enough.

[Carry_Okie]

I think it is. Time to pull the plug, I say. For their own good, of course ;-)

They'll be peaceful and euphoric about it I'm sure.