Arnold Schwarzenegger Would Get 25% of the Vote If Californians Voted Today

Drudge Report ^ | 9 August 2003

[Hal1950]

Arnold Schwarzenegger Would Get 25% of the Vote If Californians Voted Today

California voters would remove Governor Gray Davis from office and replace him with Arnold Schwarzenegger by a 19 percentage-point margin if the election were held today, according to a TIME/CNN Poll.

Schwarzenegger leads Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamanate, his closest competitor, by a 25%-to-15% margin. Trailing were State Sen. Tom McClintock (9%), former candidate for governor Bill Simon (7%) and (tied with 4%) Hustler publisher Larry Flynt, columnist Arianna Huffington, and former Major League Baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein beat Schwarzenegger to replace Davis, 22 percent to 20 percent, if she had been a candidate, according to to TIME/CNN survey.

But California voters are not convinced that the Austrian-born action hero is capable of governing the state: 45% think he is, but many (55%) think he isn't capable (39%) or are unsure (16%). Schwarzenegger is not perceived as falling into any ideological camp: more see him as "moderate" (40%) than either conservative (23%) or "liberal" (19%).

The TIME/CNN Poll, conducted Aug. 8, surveyed 508 registered California voters by telephone. The margin of error is +/- 4.3%.

Developing...

[Monty22]

Huffington made a complete fool of herself today and probably gave up a few points to ah-nold.

[EGPWS]

But California voters are not convinced that the Austrian-born action hero is capable of governing the state:...

Well, considering their poor choice in the last two elections, could one blame them for being cynical?

[Stallone]

Arnold is a gift to America.

He is an inspiration, fiscally sharp (Masters in Economics), and larger than life.

His impact on the Republican movement in California will be enormous.

Rush and Morris are dead wrong.

Schwarzenegger is the classic immigrant who made it big.

The American Dream come true. Arnold laments its passage in California, because it was the stuff of legends.

A return to this nostalgic past is as conservative as one gets, and I will support him wholeheartedly.

I suggest all Freepers do as well - IF YOU WANT TO LIVE.

[Callahan]

...or dopey.

[colorado tanker]

Too many pubbies in this race splitting up the vote.

[Callahan]

Arnold of Governor, Chuck Norris for Lt. Governor. Stallone can be the state controller--and Huffington can be dog catcher.

[Callahan]

McClintock seems like a good guy. Hell, he's named after a John Wayne movie. But he hasn't got a prayer in Wackafornia. Vote Arnold. If things go to crap, we can say he's just a RINO. If he remains popular, he can campaign with Bush in '04 and make the Dems spend money on their own turf.

[EGPWS]

A return to this nostalgic past is as conservative as one gets,

You apparently have not been keeping up with Tom McClintocks political agenda, for his agenda is much more conservative than Arnolds is without room for despute!

[Batrachian]

A lot of them will bail out before the election.

[Howlin]

She did; even the reporters on Fox were laughing at her. Gregg Jarret said somebody should have asked her how long she had to hide in her car until she saw Arnold coming!

[FairOpinion]

Great news/bad news.

Great news that Arnold is leading.

Bad news: split up of R. votes.

Just think, if McClintock and Simon had the decency to withdraw and/or the conservatives would acquire some sense, Arnold could be at 40% vs. Bustamante's 25% and Arnold would win hands down.

This poll also show that McClintock and Simon don't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning, their only contribution is to give Bustemente help against Arnold.

Great going, "conservatives" -- the best friends Davis, Bustamante and the Democrats could ever have.

[ICE-FLYER]

The TIME/CNN Poll, conducted Aug. 8, surveyed 508 registered California voters by telephone. The margin of error is +/- 4.3%.

Oh, Not CNN, they are objective thats why they want to LEAD PUBLIC OPINION into thinking that Feinstein would BEAT Arnold 22 to 20 even though their sorry poll has the above margin of error. What a bunch. They will never admit they are lefties and say they are objective. Liars!

[ambrose]

The "stick the finger to the wind" approach to politics being advocated by so many on here is somewhat disheartening, to say the very least.

[Howlin]

Exactly.

[EGPWS]

Arnold of Governor, Chuck Norris for Lt. Governor. Stallone can be the state controller--and Huffington can be dog catcher.

Gee's guy! Don't leave out the one with the most political experience....Jesse the body!!

[TontoKowalski]

I wonder where the numbers are for Garamendi and the Green candidate...

[nickcarraway]

ping

[ambrose]

Exactly

So hopefully Arnie and Simon will drop out and endorse McClintock.

[RJCogburn]

McClintock seems like a good guy. Hell, he's named after a John Wayne movie

"I don't give jobs. I hire men." George Washington McClintock

[Libloather]

Cally kicks out the gubna and goes from RAT to Pubbie.

Do we send the *Crintons a thank-you now, or later?

[concerned about politics]

Shheeesh. The Democrat contender pool is a freak show. It explains their base perfectly.
I had a ex-co-worker ( I used to be her boss before I left to raise children) who sent me an e-mail on Dean. Boy, did I give her heck for belittling me like that. Why in the world would she even think anyone from my family tree would be one of those? I was deeply offended, and I let her know it, too.
"Don't ever, ever, refer to me as a Democrat supporter. I have my well earned pride. I suggest you refrain from e-mailing those who have successful, peaceful lives. I'm sure they're going to respond in a like wise manner. Think before you mail!"

[colorado tanker]

McClintock seems like a good guy. Hell, he's named after a John Wayne movie.

McClintock may not be Wayne's best movie, but it sure is one of my favorites. The fight scene and the "taming of the shrew" scene with Maureen O'Hara are just priceless, if not very P.C. these days.

[RJCogburn]

Great going, "conservatives" -- the best friends Davis, Bustamante and the Democrats could ever have.

Wow. One time that the libertarians don't get the blame if the GOP looses.

[colorado tanker]

A lot of them will bail out before the election.

I hope so. The Dims aren't beating each other up as much as usual.

[LibWhacker]

Wow, if Arianna got into bed with Larry Flynt they'd bounce up to 8%.

[EGPWS]

Too many pubbies in this race splitting up the vote.

Considering what has been accomplished...(said loosely)by Grayout in the previous years, it is refreshing IMHO that so many see the ill's of Grayout and are willing to put forth an agenda to correct them. One cannot put them down for trying to put California back on track again can one?

[Sir Valentino]

I suggest all Freepers do as well - IF YOU WANT TO LIVE.

And if we want *INNOCENT BABIES* to live, we should vote for *TOM McCLINTOCK* or *BILL SIMON*, not an *UNREPENTANT BABY KILLING RINO* like *SCHWARZENEGGER*!!!!!

[rwfromkansas]

McClintock and Simon need to get out of the race now.

[rwfromkansas]

9 percent won't even get close to a win. McClintock needs to drop out now.

[EGPWS]

"I don't give jobs. I hire men."

I'd like to see some statements that would question Tom's profound proclaimation!

[goldstategop]

Chuck Norris would be terrific... for Governor of Texas!

[Bommer]

They can vote for Arnold or any Democrap; either way they'll get a liberal that'll sink the state. They need a fiscal Conservative that doesn't spout about taking care of the children or providing daycare. Arnold sounds like Hillary Clinton on Steroids!

[colorado tanker]

One cannot put them down for trying to put California back on track again can one?

Not at all. But at some point several of these guys will have to do some soul searching because if Grayout is booted and Bustamante is elected, nothing will get back on track.

[CyberAnt]

In case you didn't hear this .. on FOX, they said that one of the reporters ask Arianna how long she had to sit in her car waiting for Arnold to arrive ..?? ROTFLOL!!

Some of the press are getting very bold ..!!

[Mark]

Re: Huffington, she did a terrible job in answering questions from John/Ken on KFI Radio a few days ago. It's worth hearing and is on their web site audio section below

http://www.johnandkenshow.com/audio/

[Jay D. Dyson]

Arnold is a gift to America.

I think you have that backward.

His impact on the Republican movement in California will be enormous.

That much is true. It will cement the California Republican party as being the most Left-of-Center wing of the entire party by supporting a pro-gay, pro-gun control, pro-abortion, pro-social spending, and pro-illegal immigrant candidate.

A return to this nostalgic past is as conservative as one gets, and I will support him wholeheartedly.

I think you're seeing the idealized Schwarzenegger. The reason I say this is that his previous statements regarding the aforementioned issues is not that of a conservative by any stretch of the imagination. To make matters worse, Schwarzenegger has not declared a plan or platform; only platitudes.

I suggest all Freepers do as well - IF YOU WANT TO LIVE.

Living under a RINO isn't living in my book. Voting for a left-of-center candidate with an (R) by his name isn't my idea of victory.

It's more like suicide.

-Jay

[EGPWS]

McClintock and Simon need to get out of the race now.

Why? Do you think that this will give the election to a Democrat if they don't?

[risk]

Great going, "conservatives" -- the best friends Davis, Bustamante and the Democrats could ever have.

Give us time. The campaign is just getting started. There's a lot of talk about who and why and how, but at the end, there's a secret ballot.

[spokeshave]

Clip from the Berkley Labor Library ....from the scratchings of the assistant librarian.......

Bay Area Peace Navy would like to suggest that this is an excellent opportunity to examine Fleet Week and reconsider whether it truly reflects the values and goals of this diverse and freedom-loving community.The current incarnation of Fleet Week has only been around since 1981, when then-mayor Dianne Feinstein established it as an annual event .

[John Jorsett]

Ping

[Jay D. Dyson]

9 percent won't even get close to a win. McClintock needs to drop out now.

I have a better idea. How about Schwarzenegger drops out and endorses McClintock. Then we'll have an actual conservative with 34% of the vote.

...unless, of course, you want to argue that most of the 25% voting for Arnold are Democrats. If you argue that, perhaps you'd care to explain why you support a candidate that caters to the Left?

-Jay

[EGPWS]

It's more like suicide.

What does that leave for an option if one votes for a Democrat? Suicide, for voting for a Republican, whether they are a RINO or not HAS to be better than a Democrat! So if suicide is an option against a RINO, what is the option against a Democrat like Gray-out?

[goldstategop]

Simon should have stayed out but we definitely need a back up conservative candidate in the contest. He happens to be Tom McClintock.

[Biblebelter]

I am no expert on polling, but 508 voters in the very large State of California with this large a field of possible choices doesn't seem like much of a sample.

[rolling_stone]

So hopefully Arnie and Simon will drop out and endorse McClintock.

Yea about as much chance as an ice cube in Hades....

[FairOpinion]

"there's a secret ballot. "

===

So? I wasn't talking about individuals, I was talking about a group, who claim to be conservatives. Surely you don't think that Democrats or Socialists will be the ones who will vote for McClintock and Simon, and otherwise they would be voting for Bustamente?

Any vote for McClintock of Simon is a VOTE FOR BUSTAMENTE.

Why bother having a recall to install a Davis clone?

[Lx]

Well, as a life time Californian who wholeheartedly supported Simon in the last election. I have to be pragmatic and support Arnold. Much as I'd like another Reagan, that will never happen in the current climate here.
The only reason not to support Arnold or any other Republican, RINO or not is who gets blamed for the train wreck that has already happened but has been cleverly hidden with Enron style accounting.

Since the gov gets a line item veto, a fiscally conservative gov could cut out all of Davis's largess and stop the hemorrhaging of jobs and businesses.

I'm disappointed in the people that think we should let our state go down the tubes to prove how bankrupt the dems' policies and visions are. A perfect analogy would be Britain's gun laws. After their implementation crime rates soar and what do they pols say? We need even more draconian gun laws. Same thing with the Third Way crowd, Communism isn't a bankrupt institution, it just wasn't implemented right. I'm sure that's Hillary's position. We have to cut them off now and Arnold is the only hope come Election Day. If he really wants to save us, he might be a one-termer with all the tough decisions he'll have to make and I'd sure like to hear him declare that if elected he'll repeal the tripling of the car tax.

I liked Simon but he is just splitting the vote and so is McClintock who I like more than Simon. If one of them had Arriana's chutzpah maybe they'd have a chance but they're only going to divide our vote and give us Governor n-word Bustamonte.

[rivercat]

Simon is yesterday's news... He should bow out and endorse McClintock. That'll put him at 16%, for now.

[John Jorsett]

Since the gov gets a line item veto, a fiscally conservative gov could cut out all of Davis's largess and stop the hemorrhaging of jobs and businesses.

Schwarzenegger's comment about businesses being necessary so that we can tax them and provide social programs is a bit off-putting to me. I don't like the viewpoint that businesses are some sort of cow to be milked for the maximum amount of cash possible without killing them, and I'm not sure someone with that viewpoint would use the veto to cut out unnecessary (to me, at least) spending.