Ah-nuld's Behind
Recent reports of Gollyfornia Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's political comeback appear to have been significantly exaggerated, according to Scott Rasmussen:
There are only two things one needs to know about Angelides: (1) He's so dull he makes Cruz LargeBreasts look like Jim Carey; and (2) he's to the left of Hugo Chavez.
And the Governator trails him.
Sure, it's within the margin of error, and there are several months left in the campaign, yata, yata, yata. But one would think that Ah-nuld would be lapping this poor man's Grey Davis just by continuing to draw breath. He's got every tactical political advantage a pol can have - incumbency, charisma, broad appeal across the political spectrum. So how is it he's behind, even by a couple of points?
First, dismiss any "Bush's low polls are dragging him down" excuses. George Bush has never, EVER been popular in the Golden State, and it didn't prevent Ah-nuld's special election victory - far from it. You can partially attribute it to just how "blue" a state California has become, but again, it was scarcely any less "blue" three years ago, and the Last Action Hero won by seventeen percentage points.
The reason Ah-nuld is struggling is because of his betrayal of his own base with his hard RINO turn after last November's ballot initiative fiasco. Going soft(er) on social issues, embracing the greenstremists on the global warming hoax, and hiring a hardcore Dem as his chief of staff. Even for as ideologically compromised a state party as the California GOP has become it still generated huge outrage that hasn't gone away, no matter what spin Schwarzenegger's people have put on it. Ironically Ah-nuld is suffering the consequences of the same kind of error that the President has made on immigration - alienating his core supporters.
The first rule of politics is to lock up and turn out your base before you go after the "swing vote." That no longer matters quite as much to Bush, who can't run for re-election again. But it does matter for the Governator, as he may find out to his ultimate chagrin.
Our first election poll here since California's June 6 primaries shows the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Phil Angelides, with a narrow lead of 46% to 44% over the incumbent.
Our April survey had shown Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger opening up a substantial lead over the Democratic contenders, but by May the race had tightened once again.
Immigration, health care and taxes are among the issues that have emerged in the campaign.
There are only two things one needs to know about Angelides: (1) He's so dull he makes Cruz LargeBreasts look like Jim Carey; and (2) he's to the left of Hugo Chavez.
And the Governator trails him.
Sure, it's within the margin of error, and there are several months left in the campaign, yata, yata, yata. But one would think that Ah-nuld would be lapping this poor man's Grey Davis just by continuing to draw breath. He's got every tactical political advantage a pol can have - incumbency, charisma, broad appeal across the political spectrum. So how is it he's behind, even by a couple of points?
First, dismiss any "Bush's low polls are dragging him down" excuses. George Bush has never, EVER been popular in the Golden State, and it didn't prevent Ah-nuld's special election victory - far from it. You can partially attribute it to just how "blue" a state California has become, but again, it was scarcely any less "blue" three years ago, and the Last Action Hero won by seventeen percentage points.
The reason Ah-nuld is struggling is because of his betrayal of his own base with his hard RINO turn after last November's ballot initiative fiasco. Going soft(er) on social issues, embracing the greenstremists on the global warming hoax, and hiring a hardcore Dem as his chief of staff. Even for as ideologically compromised a state party as the California GOP has become it still generated huge outrage that hasn't gone away, no matter what spin Schwarzenegger's people have put on it. Ironically Ah-nuld is suffering the consequences of the same kind of error that the President has made on immigration - alienating his core supporters.
The first rule of politics is to lock up and turn out your base before you go after the "swing vote." That no longer matters quite as much to Bush, who can't run for re-election again. But it does matter for the Governator, as he may find out to his ultimate chagrin.
posted by JASmius at 8:43 AM
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