CA: Dropping popularity prompts Schwarzenegger to seek compromise

San Diego Union -Tribune ^ | 6/21/05 | Tom Chorneau - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- Responding to a precipitous drop in popularity, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday said he wants to seek compromise with Democrats on the state budget and the issues he has placed before voters for a November special election.

"I feel that there is an agreement to be had," said Schwarzenegger, appearing more contrite than usual as he answered questions from reporters during a Capitol news conference. "We can resolve this, and then we can go together to the special election - Democrats and Republicans alike - and also that we can solve this budget. It's all about the will. Do we have the will to represent the people of California?"

Schwarzenegger's tone contrasted with the message delivered on Monday by his chief political consultant when the results of the Field Poll were initially circulated. Consultant Mike Murphy dismissed the significance of the poll, noting that the governor had yet to fully unleash his campaign in support of his ballot measures.

A Field Poll released Tuesday showed Schwarzenegger's job approval rating has plunged to a new low, 37 percent. The drop continues a slide that began in January when he announced plans for a "great battle" with the Democrats who control the state Legislature.

Schwarzenegger did not directly offer an olive branch to Democrats but said voters delivered a message in the poll.

"It is a very clear message from the California people to all of us at the Capitol - work together," he said during a news conference. "Democrats and Republicans, the governor's office - let's all work together."

Schwarzenegger said he would continue to campaign in support of his ballot measures but also wanted bipartisan solutions. He said he would like the two sides to pass a state budget "as quickly as possible," preferably before the state's fiscal year begins July 1.

The governor is promoting three of the eight initiatives on the Nov. 8 special election ballot: He wants to cap state spending, redraw legislative district boundaries and lengthen the probationary term for public school teachers from two years to five.

The additional cost of the special election he called last week is between $52 million and $55 million.

Republicans and Democrats have pointed fingers at each other for weeks, saying each side was unwilling to negotiate seriously. The governor's staff has said it was willing to talk but had not received what it considered substantive proposals from Democrats.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said the Field Poll results show that voters are not happy with the governor or the Legislature.

"It's not good for us. It's not good for the governor," he said Tuesday in a news conference that followed Schwarzenegger's meeting with reporters. "We all need to take a step back and we all need to regroup and think about what we got to do to start working together again."

Senate Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, said he supported the governor's renewed call for bipartisan negotiations.

"People like us least when we don't work together," he said. "They like us best when we are cooperating and solving problems."

The special election will go forward even if the two sides compromise on some of the ballot measures. If they do, the Legislature by two-thirds vote could place a set of compromise proposals on the ballot. That could create a scenario in which Schwarzenegger would campaign against the initiatives he initially placed on the ballot.

The Field Poll is the latest survey to show the slide Schwarzenegger has taken in recent months after enjoying approval among 60 percent of the voters most of his first year in office.

The major issue, according to poll director Mark DiCamillo, is voter skepticism over the special election.

The poll found that 52 percent of voters oppose holding the election while only 37 percent are in favor of it. In February, 51 percent of voters favored the idea with 45 percent opposed.

When voters were told the election will cost between $45 million and $80 million, support fell to 28 percent, with 61 percent opposed and 11 percent undecided.

The biggest decline came among Democrats and nonpartisan voters, but the poll also found Schwarzenegger's support among Republican voters has fallen significantly.

While low, Schwarzenegger's approval ratings have not plunged to the depths of his predecessor, Gray Davis. A Field Poll showed Davis' job approval at 22 percent in August 2003, just two months before voters recalled him from office and elevated Schwarzenegger.

Along with the measures Schwarzenegger wants voters to approve are at least five other initiatives on the special election ballot. Among them is a proposal that would require unions to get permission from members before their dues could be used for political purposes. Others address prescription drug costs, parental notification for minors seeking abortions and re-regulation of the state's energy markets.

The survey, conducted over a seven-day period ending June 19, was drawn from interviews with 954 California adults that included 711 registered voters. It has a sampling error of 3.2 percentage points.

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On the Net: www.field.com

[stopem]

So what do Californians want? Seems like its all damn if you do and damn if you dont out there lately. They voted this guy in overwhelmingly now they hate him. Whats up with these people who are overnight kazillionair's selling those outrageous priced fixer-uppers.

Will the REAL Republicans in CA please stand up! You all are getting to be girlymen out there.

[Carry_Okie]

Well, well, well, Republicans governing from the center ain't what it's cracked up to be. One must to go so far left as to cut off the base and it's never enough for the Democrats.

Big surprise there.