Voters stand by their man

SAN DIEGO -- He has been accused -- repeatedly -- of sexual harassment and misconduct.

His campaign platform is known as much for not offering specifics as anything else.

Any other political candidate, in just about any other election, perhaps in any other state, would probably be history by now.

But like the unstoppable "Terminator" in his trademark movies, last-minute blows -- and just about anything else critics throw at him -- seem only to glance off front-runner Arnold Schwarzenegger as California's wild gubernatorial recall race heads toward a fittingly crazy end.

Certainly, Schwarzenegger could have done without the resurrection of allegations -- some anonymous -- about sexual harassment, and his alleged Hitler comments from 28 years ago. The latest allegations of sexual incidents came in Saturday's editions of The Los Angeles Times, which quoted three more women by name, all of whom said the actor groped or grabbed them.

One of the women now lives in Atlanta. Linnea Harwell, an assistant director on the 1988 film "Twins," said the actor had regularly undressed in front of her in his trailer. Once, she said, he pulled her down on a bed while he was wearing only underwear. His behavior on the set, the Times reported, prompted her to warn women who came to her with concerns never to be alone with Schwarzenegger.

Harwell, 44, now works for the High Museum of Art. Reached Saturday at her home in Stone Mountain, she said she was not out to derail Schwarzenegger's candidacy, but merely answered a Times reporter's questions.

Schwarzenegger's campaign denied two of the claims, including Harwell's, and would not comment on the third.

Some women's and religious groups plan to protest against him at every chance they get between now and Election Day Tuesday. Left-leaning advocacy group MoveOn.org is scheduled to start running ads Sunday hammering the actor-turned-politician for his character flaws. And Gov. Gray Davis, whose job Schwarzenegger is trying to take, and other candidates in the recall race only got more fodder from last week's revelations.

But along the stops in Schwarzenegger's four-day barnstorming bus trip from San Diego to Sacramento, protesters are drowned out by enthusiastic supporters.

Much criticism over the resurfacing of allegations of Schwarzenegger's sexual improprieties and questions from his youth in Hitler's native Austria has been directed at the messengers -- namely the Times, which before Saturday's article had quoted six other women, two by name and four anonymously, as saying Schwarzenegger had groped or sexually harassed them during separate incidents between 1975 and 2000. None of the women contacted law enforcement about the charges.

His political opponents have denied anything to do with stirring up the latest controversy. But many Californians don't believe it, resulting in much heat -- misdirected or not -- for Schwarzenegger's opponents.

"It's all politics -- dirty politics," said Anna Alvarez, a Schwarzenegger supporter who said she simply doesn't believe the women who claim he groped them. The Oceanside resident said she respected Schwarzenegger for apologizing for having, as he phrased it, "behaved badly sometimes" with women.

Like Alvarez, much of California has seemingly decided to "Join Arnold," as his campaign slogan suggests, and still hasn't found reason to give up on him.

Although taken before last week's revelations, a poll released Friday shows voters' desire to throw Davis out of office increased, while Schwarzenegger widened his lead to a 10-point margin over other candidates trying to replace Davis.

"Even if he loses a couple of points . . . he should still win this thing," said political strategist and observer Doug Friedline, who ran former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura's campaign. "It's basically still Arnold's race to lose."

How has a Republican actor, despite so much obvious baggage and inexperience, turned into a political juggernaut in a state controlled by Democrats?

First, many Californians simply want Davis out, even though he was re-elected to a second term just last November. The politician's approval ratings have sunk steadily along with California's fiscal condition, and so have his chances of keeping his job, according to recent polls.

Even if Schwarzenegger doesn't offer up specifics on how to fix the state's problems and has no experience with such matters, the charismatic former Mr. Universe makes a perfect foil for 165-pound Davis, who is known for being cold and charmless.

Many voters are sick and tired of politics as usual, and if nothing else, Schwarzenegger's entry into politics is anything but usual. Many see his inexperience as a positive, not a negative.

"I'm voting against Gray Davis as much as I'm voting for Arnold," said Kevin Casey, an insurance broker who stuck two "Arnold for Governor" signs in the front yard of his Carlsbad home. "Unlike other politicians, Arnold is not making specific promises. He's just saying 'I can get things done' . . . and I believe he can do it."

Then there's the appeal of Schwarzenegger's Horatio Alger-like story: Leaving Austria, arriving in California broke and jobless, helping to boost the popularity of bodybuilding and becoming the world's best-paid and best-known actor.

"He is his own man. . . . He is a self-made man," Schwarzenegger's wife and Kennedy clan member Maria Shriver said in a campaign speech Friday. "After a quarter-century of hanging around my family, he's still a Republican . . . and if that doesn't tell you he's his own man, I don't know what does."

But perhaps what's most important is the fact that Schwarzenegger is a celebrity of almost unparalleled stature.

Politics is often a popularity contest, and few people are as well known worldwide as Schwarzenegger.

"There's no doubt that celebrity is 95 percent of what this race is all about," said veteran Democratic political strategist Joe Cerrell. "If he was Arnold Jones, bodybuilder, he'd be nowhere right now."

Schwarzenegger's celebrity status also attracts free publicity wherever he goes.

And celebrity status also attracts money, as if Schwarzenegger needed more. Even though he said he wouldn't raise political contributions, By last count, he has raised some $17 million to pay for political advertising and other expenses, compared to just $5 million for Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, the only major Democratic challenger in the race, and $1.6 million for Tom McClintock, the only other major Republican.

Davis, known for his fund-raising abilities, has attracted $13 million in contributions to fight the recall.

"People like to be associated with celebrities, that's a cool thing to do," said Friedline, the Ventura adviser.

Schwarzenegger's ability to buy ads and attract reporters -- and to an extent, control their access to him like only an experienced movie star can -- is part of a larger political trend, said University of North Carolina journalism professor Phil Meyer.

"Classic election theory holds that [political] parties are the most important determinant in voter choice," said Meyer, who specializes in polling and politics. "But in the last 30 years or so, the media has become more important. Whoever spends the most on media [or attracts it] has the better chance of winning."

Schwarzenegger's popularity also allows him to get away with things that other candidates might not be able to get away with, suggested Fairfield University professor James Simon.

"Everybody already knows him, and most people seem to like him," said Simon, who worked on the failed presidential bid of Michael Dukakis. "He's promising everything to everybody, and they believe him even though it ain't going to happen."

Win or lose, Schwarzenegger's success, despite the stumbling blocks that would have tripped up a typical candidate, may embolden other celebrities considering political bids.

Others with star power who are considering bids for office include actor Kelsey Grammer, comedian Dennis Miller, Hollywood producer-actor Rob Reiner and tennis superstar Martina Navratilova.

Matt Klink, a Republican political strategist in Los Angeles, said virtually any celebrity who can deal with all the hassles that come with politics has a leg up over other candidates in an election.

"The most important thing any candidate cares about is name recognition," Klink said. "With celebrities, that's already taken care of before they even enter a race."

Davis, known for his fund-raising abilities, has attracted $13 million in contributions to fight the recall.

Also known as "pay to play."

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It is in the breaking news sidebar!

This has less to do with Arnold's celebrity status as people starting to wise up to the Democrats' unworkable economic policies and stupid media smear attacks. Davis is being recalled because he crashed the state budget and economy.

Exactly! They look at Arnold as being non-political. Voters are fed up with professional politicians.

This whole last minute smear campaign has the Clinton machine's finger prints all over it. And how hypocritical of the RATS -- at least Arnold didn't leave a rape victim with a bloody lip!!!

Davis, known for his fund-raising abilities, has attracted $13 million in contributions to fight the recall.

Why has there been no spotlight on the fact that DAVIS spent ever $70 MILLION to get elected last November? Sure seems like a hugh amount to get a paycheck of what? - $150,000? 200,000? a year.
No one would buy stock with this kind of payback. Guess Davis gets his investment repaid with all the monies he extorts out of special interests.
Wonder what kind of incentives the special interests think they can impose on Arnold? Seems his own billfold outranks their checking accounts and they cannot influence him nearly as well as they did Davis.
Anybody who hires Davis for anything after this recall election should be suspect, IMO.

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