Democrat co-stars desert governor after kickoff

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 10/4/6 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

[SmithL]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger kicked off the bipartisan, $37 billion state-rebuild bond campaign Tuesday absent two of his biggest Democratic co-stars at most stops -- thanks in part to President Bush's visit to California.

Those in the know said problems between the governor and Democrats Don Perata and Fabian Núñez surfaced right about the time Bush decided to campaign for two House Republicans in California, the same day as the bond kickoff.

According to one Democratic operative close to the negotiations between the two sides, it soon became apparent to the Dems that the governor would be using his appearances with Perata and Núñez to prove he isn't the "Bush Republican" that gubernatorial rival Phil Angelides is making him out to be.

After all, Schwarzenegger had no plans to get within a hundred miles Tuesday of the unpopular president as he hopscotched from Bakersfield to San Pablo to push for the bonds.

A Republican operative close to the talks pointed the finger in a different direction, saying Perata, the Oakland Democrat who leads the state Senate, and Assembly Speaker Núñez, D-Los Angeles, backed away from the bond kickoff after catching heat from labor leaders for appearing too chummy with the governor.

And when the governor's re-election campaign -- rather than the nonpartisan bond committee -- took it upon itself to announce Tuesday's fly-around, all bets were off.

"We made it very clear from day one that this was to be bipartisan, with no mention of anyone's campaign,'' Perata said.

Perata called Núñez and said, "Are you with me?"

The speaker said, "Of course."

Perata and Núñez attended the bond campaign's kickoff breakfast in Sherman Oaks, but when it came time to board the plane for other points, both said, "Hasta la vista, baby."

[edcoil]

When will Arnold ever learn.

[Alia]

lol. I'm bettting Arnold knew exactly that the two stooges would do this.

Democrats are the party of flip-flop, of cut and run.

I think Arnold knows this.

[edcoil]

It sounds like he made a date and they stood him up. He seems to be more interested in hanging with the flip-flop bro's then those he should be working with.

[verbal voter]

Proves that CA is like NJ. TOO many dumb democrat politians, in office for so long, they actually hurt their state more then do any good. Problem is their rank and file don't think for themselves.