Anyone Joining Arnold’s Army (Besides the Paid Signature Gatherers)?
While the Bush administration and Republican leaders in Congress are coordinating a month long campaign to overhaul Social Security, GOP elected leaders in California are unusually quiet about Governor’s Schwarzenegger’s “reform” agenda.
According to the latest issue of Roll Call (April 4, 2005):
“Republican spin doctors in Congress hope that all the planned events over the next month will complement the president’s own 60-day speaking tour. Bush reached his 30-day midpoint on Friday.” The article goes on to highlight the activities of the Republican National Committee which has “distributed a 38-page memo to all 50 state Republican parties before sending Members into town hall meetings during the recess. The memo offered polling data, talking points, sample op-eds and letters to the editor, and it contained advice on how state parties can help drive more sympathetic audiences — particularly college students — to GOP lawmakers’ town hall meetings. Republicans have also been encouraged to attend Democratic Social Security events and ask pointed, RNC-scripted questions.”
Meanwhile back in California things seem a little less organized. The Governor is hitting the road on a solo tour and the Republican elected leaders in the state seem to be on an extended Spring Break.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle (April 4, 2005):
“Other GOP insiders in Sacramento say privately that Schwarzenegger is losing the PR war. ‘If they don't get control in the next two weeks,’ one said, ‘(the story line) will be that Schwarzenegger is taking money away from widows and orphans.’
“‘He is suffering right now,’ says Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo, whose February survey showed Schwarzenegger's approval rating at 55 percent, having slipped 10 points in five months.
“‘It wouldn't surprise me if (his job approval ratings) were below 50 percent today,’ says DiCamillo, who notes the biggest decline has been among ‘a very powerful and positive group for him'' -- nearly 1 in 5 state voters who are nonpartisan or ‘decline to state.’”
“Independents Reassessing
“By a 3-1 margin, those independents held positive views of the governor, and now ‘they're starting to turn,’ DiCamillo says; that spells trouble because once those voters develop a negative impression and get turned off, ‘it's harder to win them back.’”
“The voter turnoff stems from the confusing Schwarzenegger agenda, DiCamillo says. ‘They're looking at his plans for a special election and ... they think he's not really fulfilling the job he was elected to do -- which was to govern and make laws.’”
In addition the San Jose Mercury News (April 4, 2005) reported that the Governor’s office is looking to deal.
“There are bills in the Legislature to accomplish the governor's goals. But Schwarzenegger is also pushing ballot initiatives for an anticipated November special election, in the event legislators fail to act.
“‘I think they should be looking at the exit strategy out of a fall campaign,’ Quinn said. ‘These proposals are not ready to go before the people.’
“A GOP operative, who requested anonymity for fear of offending the governor, said Schwarzenegger has lacked a message for months. ‘He has been out-worked and out-organized by the opposition. The governor’s office seems to be flailing away.’”
For a longer list of Republican elected leaders supporting the Governor’s Initiatives you can check the following two websites, but look hard…
http://www.goforitarnold.com/ http://www.citizenstosaveca.org
According to the latest issue of Roll Call (April 4, 2005):
“Republican spin doctors in Congress hope that all the planned events over the next month will complement the president’s own 60-day speaking tour. Bush reached his 30-day midpoint on Friday.” The article goes on to highlight the activities of the Republican National Committee which has “distributed a 38-page memo to all 50 state Republican parties before sending Members into town hall meetings during the recess. The memo offered polling data, talking points, sample op-eds and letters to the editor, and it contained advice on how state parties can help drive more sympathetic audiences — particularly college students — to GOP lawmakers’ town hall meetings. Republicans have also been encouraged to attend Democratic Social Security events and ask pointed, RNC-scripted questions.”
Meanwhile back in California things seem a little less organized. The Governor is hitting the road on a solo tour and the Republican elected leaders in the state seem to be on an extended Spring Break.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle (April 4, 2005):
“Other GOP insiders in Sacramento say privately that Schwarzenegger is losing the PR war. ‘If they don't get control in the next two weeks,’ one said, ‘(the story line) will be that Schwarzenegger is taking money away from widows and orphans.’
“‘He is suffering right now,’ says Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo, whose February survey showed Schwarzenegger's approval rating at 55 percent, having slipped 10 points in five months.
“‘It wouldn't surprise me if (his job approval ratings) were below 50 percent today,’ says DiCamillo, who notes the biggest decline has been among ‘a very powerful and positive group for him'' -- nearly 1 in 5 state voters who are nonpartisan or ‘decline to state.’”
“Independents Reassessing
“By a 3-1 margin, those independents held positive views of the governor, and now ‘they're starting to turn,’ DiCamillo says; that spells trouble because once those voters develop a negative impression and get turned off, ‘it's harder to win them back.’”
“The voter turnoff stems from the confusing Schwarzenegger agenda, DiCamillo says. ‘They're looking at his plans for a special election and ... they think he's not really fulfilling the job he was elected to do -- which was to govern and make laws.’”
In addition the San Jose Mercury News (April 4, 2005) reported that the Governor’s office is looking to deal.
“There are bills in the Legislature to accomplish the governor's goals. But Schwarzenegger is also pushing ballot initiatives for an anticipated November special election, in the event legislators fail to act.
“‘I think they should be looking at the exit strategy out of a fall campaign,’ Quinn said. ‘These proposals are not ready to go before the people.’
“A GOP operative, who requested anonymity for fear of offending the governor, said Schwarzenegger has lacked a message for months. ‘He has been out-worked and out-organized by the opposition. The governor’s office seems to be flailing away.’”
For a longer list of Republican elected leaders supporting the Governor’s Initiatives you can check the following two websites, but look hard…
http://www.goforitarnold.com/ http://www.citizenstosaveca.org
posted by Roger Salazar & Andrew Acosta at 2:50 PM
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