Posted on 10/25/2004 7:39:37 AM PDT by SmithL
SACRAMENTO - Over four decades, Arnold Schwarzenegger has proven to be a successful salesman for everything from his action movies and muscle magazines to his after-school programs and state spending cuts.
This week, California's governor will take his show on the road to Ohio in a bid to shore up President Bush's prospects in the state every Republican in history has needed to win the White House.
With the most recent polls showing Democratic challenger John Kerry holding the slimmest of leads over Bush in Ohio, both men are looking for every possible angle to lock up the state's 20 electoral votes.
"With a race this close, you throw everything you've got," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. "You throw the kitchen sink -- and Arnold is a big kitchen sink."
Ohio might seem like an unusual place for the Austrian-born bodybuilder who has spent most of his adult life in Hollywood. But Schwarzenegger has deep roots in the Buckeye State. He helped launch an annual bodybuilding contest in Columbus that has morphed into one of the city's biggest events. He co-owns a swank shopping mall with a prominent Ohio businessman. And he has embraced the state as his "second home."
Plus, he twice helped Bush's father campaign in Ohio. (Which the elder Bush won in 1988, but lost to Bill Clinton in 1992.)
This year, Ohio voters are among the most sought-after in the nation. Both parties have spent millions of dollars to broadcast thousands of commercials around the state. Kerry has gone goose hunting with locals, while Bush has donned safety glasses to speak with factory workers. Everyone from rock legend Bruce Springsteen and actor Ben Affleck to golf guru Jack Nicklaus and NFL quarterback John Elway has blown through the state in a bid to sway voters one way or another.
The celebrity onslaught has almost inured Ohioans to the relentless political courtship.
"There's a certain level of happiness that voters have that we're receiving so much attention this year," said Eric Rademacher, co-director of the University of Cincinnati's Ohio Poll, which has the presidential race in a statistical dead-heat. "But I'm highly skeptical that anyone is going to cast a vote for Bush because of Arnold Schwarzenegger or any other celebrity."
What may be more important, said Rademacher, are the unseen party loyalists working around the clock in campaign offices across the state to ensure voters go to the polls Nov. 2.
Still, political analysts say Schwarzenegger could help Bush on two fronts.
First, the more moderate California governor could soften the president's conservative image and reassure wavering middle-of-the-road voters.
Secondly, the charismatic actor could provide a jolt of energy that helps galvanize the party faithful and ensures they cast their votes for Bush.
"If he could move even a few thousand votes, that would be very important," said Ohio State University political science professor Herb Weisberg.
As a moderate Republican who has differed with the president on everything from a constitutional ban on gay marriage to funding stem cell research, Schwarzenegger is also taking a bit of a political gamble by stumping for Bush.
Schwarzenegger knows he risks losing support in California if he veers away from his bipartisan approach to running the Golden State. In fact, Schwarzenegger initially dismissed the idea of traveling across the country to campaign for Bush.
"It is a challenge because, on one hand, I want him to win, and on the other hand, I'm elected to be governor of California and to be the people's governor, which means the Democrats' and the Republicans' governor," he told the California Journal in July. "I do not (want to) go around the country or anything like that, because there's too many Democrats here. I don't want to rub that in their face."
But after talks with White House advisers, Schwarzenegger finally agreed to make a brief stop in Ohio for Bush. Schwarzenegger aides are keeping their plans under wraps for the moment and declined to discuss the governor's trip. But residents of Columbus expect to see him in their city late this week.
California Democrats are already seizing on the trip to link Schwarzenegger to the president's more conservative policies.
"Despite his feints to the center in California, he's always been a staunch Republican," said Democratic state Treasurer Phil Angelides. "Fundamentally, Bush and Schwarzenegger share the same values."
But it is the differences between the two men, especially on social issues, that may in fact make it more difficult for Schwarzenegger to woo voters to the president's side, said Darrell West, Brown University political science professor.
"I would be surprised if there was a big Schwarzenegger effect because his base is different from the president's, and it is hard to transfer popularity to someone else," West said. "People could adore Arnold Schwarzenegger, but that doesn't mean that they're going to let him tell them how to vote for president."
"with most polls showing Kerry holding a slim lead."
What a crock, which polls. Could it be the most recent poll, Zogby, which gives the President a 5% lead.
Dream on, Alice.
Guiliani and Arnold....those two are gonna draw crowds and attention in this critical week.
"Finally... a brief stop... for Bush." What a ringing endorsement!!! (NOT) He's a heck of a lot more interested in making love to/with Democrats than all the suckers he made out of conservatives in CA!!!
That's sad...Arhooooooold wife wears the pants in their little nest! He is infested with Kennedy fungus...hard to get rid of! I bet you, that in a few years he'll crossover to the dark side and become a full fledge RAT...he's only part 1/2 by marriage!
He can't stay out of the state for too long, or else the dem Lt. Gov will start signing wacko legislation while he is gone.
There's a fungus amongus!!! He wants so badly to become the next Earl Warren of CA! (gag & vomit!!!)
..his after-school programs and state spending cuts.
one (Propwash 49) is unfunded 'til the state is solvent financially and the other (spending cuts) never happened..
lol
Did you notice the end of the first paragraph where they refer to his "success" in spending cuts? What an abject pant-load!!! Instead of "Tax and Spend," he's all BORROW AND SPEND!!!
But hey... He's a Maaaaaaaaaaaderate! (spitouey!)
I hope Arnold calls Kerry a Girlie Man. That could help.
Right!......now what was the purpose of these traveling concerts for Kerry all about again?.......Anyone?.......Anyone?
Oh and that explains why there was such a low turn out for Cher and Rosie O'Donnell in Florida (a grand total of 138 people total showed).....ya that's the ticket ....no one came to see them (Cher and Rosie) cause this stuff just doesn't work with the voters........ya......That's it!
Delusion Democrat bump to the top!
Ya... And he could also launch into... "We here to pump you up!!!" Phhhht!
Arnold scares me every time he opens his mouth; I hope he's not the Dems October surprise.
I wish Bush would keep his distance.
Insert "Jeb Bush" for "Arnold Schwarzennegger" and the same can be said of Florida.
Having Arnold stumping with the Pres. for votes can't be a bad thing, so why not?
He made sure this one was funded. Solvency doesn't matter, as long as you can borrow enough ;-)
California 2004-2005 Budget:Before- and After-School Programs— The Budget includes over $284 million in State and federal funds to provide before and after school enrichment programs for 275,000 children. Priority for expending over $60 million in new federal 21st Century Community Learning Center funds will be placed on increasing slots for 11-and 12-year olds and their eligible younger siblings in order to accommodate these children in before and after school programs, rather than in more expensive subsidized child care programs. To further this goal, the Superintendent of Public Instruction has been given the authority to waive grant caps to enable programs to create additional slots.
The Budget also allocates $5 million to expand high school programs. Also included in the total is $20 million in one-time federal funds to be used to expand grant caps to increase slots for 11- and 12-year olds, increase days of program operation, and increase grant caps for programs with waiting lists. Additionally, $5 million in one-time federal funds is available to programs in the first two cohorts for training, standards-aligned materials, and other allowable onetime costs.
In accordance with the provisions of Proposition 49, which was approved by the voters in November 2002, the After School Education and Safety Program became continuously appropriated in July 2004 at $121.5 million. This amount will increase as other provisions of Proposition 49 become effective in subsequent years.
www.documents.dgs.ca,gov 2004-05 Budget (PDF FILE)
Isn't that a violation of the law's provisions? Or am I the victim of all the covering for Schwarzenrenegger by various members of FR? What's up with this crappola???
Proposition 49 was tied to "non-Proposition 98 General Fund" SPENDING. With the $15 Billion bond measure, it guaranteed funding of Prop 49. You don't think Arnold would have had it any other way, do you? Here's a link to McGeorge.edu that has a discussion on the funding provisions (about halfway down the page).
BTW, I took a peek at who was funding the Stem Cell proposition. One of the prominent contributors was a Martha Stewart cohort, a Kleiner Perkins venture capitalist who was on the board of Martha Stewarts company. He's being sued in a class action suit for selling his stock early. There are lots of scummy companies popping up in this stem cell business waiting to reap the $3 Billion bond money. Even if they never get a dime, they are being played out in the stock-selling business as we speak. Every news release gives the pump-and-dumpers fuel to push these crappola investments on the naive investors. I found the same characteristics in the hydrogen fuel-cell business. Your tax dollars at work! ;-)
You best be careful, lest ye find out too much and become somewhat cynical. (snort!)
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