Posted on 02/24/2006 8:45:57 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger faces dismal poll ratings, an empty campaign treasury, a peeved Republican base and other troubles as his new political team plots his campaign for a second term.
The governor has yet to recover from his November special-election debacle, which squandered more than $45 million of his campaign money and drew a withering ad assault from organized labor.
Adding to his difficulties is the poor national political climate for Republicans. Public anger at President Bush and the GOP over the Iraq war, a lobbying scandal, a botched Medicare drug plan and other issues could hurt Schwarzenegger and other Republicans on the California ballot in November, said Tony Quinn, co-editor of the nonpartisan California Target Book election guide.
"The great danger is that's the way this year is starting to look," said Quinn, who sees signs of a "great Democratic landslide" nationwide in November.
Schwarzenegger's most immediate challenge is to tamp down the revolt among his party's conservative base, which he will face tonight at the state GOP convention in San Jose.
But his difficulties are far broader, as illustrated by a poll released this week by the Public Policy Institute of California.
His popularity ratings among men, women, whites, Latinos, Republicans, Democrats, independents and other key groups fall short of what he needs to win in November. Overall, only 40% of voters approve of his job performance, well below the 50% benchmark for an incumbent seeking reelection.
"He's got a lot of work to do with a lot of different groups," said Mark Baldassare, statewide survey director of the institute.
Still, the election is more than eight months away, giving Schwarzenegger time to chart a comeback.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
where's muh pom poms, Wilbur?
Keep dreaming losers!!!
Trying to be all things to everyone is usually a losing strategy.
We need FO over here telling us it's all out fault.
Here we go again. The special election was framed around a vote of confidence for Arnold and now they're going to try it again? When will they learn that that "gut values" are more than action hero special effects. Mr. Dowd's democrat background is already shining through. The "big idea" that got him elected in the recall was Recover, Reform, Rebuild. He's largely abandoned the first two, now reducing the "big ideas" to a platform of big spending.
"It's a highly liberal, left-wing administration," said John Herrington, one of the ex-chairmen. "They put a label of Republican on it, but it's not. You're getting Democrat economic policies. You're getting Democrat judges."
Talk about moving backwards. We didn't oust Gray Davis to get this. If he makes some bold changes in this arena and he may be able to get some more support. Most of the damage however can not be undone.
Yew ain'ta gonna need no pom poms, Wilbur!!!
Whur's dat CONventshun? Mebee we cud crash it!!!
Let's wait until Feb 28, after the shootout at the San Jose corral. Then we'll discuss wagers.
Right now you're a long shot but ... someone might get lucky and wing the Austrian in San Jose.
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