Schwarzenegger's political career at crossroads

Schwarzenegger's political career at crossroads

With the Californian voters' outright rebuttal of all of governor Schwarzenegger's four ballot proposals, the time has come for the former action hero to regain the confidence of his electorate if he wants to resurrect his dwindling political career, feel analysts. The setback has come at a very crucial juncture as Arnold is getting ready for his re-election bid next year.

Schwarzenegger had asked the electorate to back a proposal regarding a state spending cap and granting him the permission to formulate midyear budget cuts, modify the method of drawing legislative districts. That apart, requiring unions to take written consent from members to use their money for political campaigns and wanting teachers to dedicate more time to work in order to get permanent status were among his other suggestions.

However, the voters were in no obliging mood and were all the more infuriated because the expenditure figures were believed to be close to $50 million.

Elizabeth Garrett, an expert on California's initiative process at the University of Southern California, considers this as that slap in Schwarzenegger's face as regards his tactics of using of using the ballot as an alternative to functioning openly with the Democratic-controlled Legislature. Terming it as the 'pivotal moment' of his political career, Garrett stressed that henceforth he must use the conventional means to put forward his ideas of reformation.

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Darry Sragow, a Democratic consultant involved with Schwarzenegger last year doesn't believe this is the end of the road for Arnold the politician but did concede that the mandate he had to reform state government is no longer his.

In an effort to revitalize his image as a bipartisan governor, Arnold's will hold talks with Democratic and GOP legislative leaders in Sacramento. Clarifying that Democrats are not averse to working with the governor, California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez specified that a consensus is far from being reached.

In spite of Schwarzenegger's failings, some experts still hold the view that going into the next elections he is likely to have the upper hand.

"His base is still united and firmly behind him," said Bill Whalen, a Republican consultant. Whalen feels even actor Warren Beatty and director Rob Reiner who lobbied against Schwarzenegger's ballot measures lately cannot challenge the governor.

Though the election outcome is a clear cut vote against Schwarzenegger and his ballot methods, it doesn't guarantee success for the likes of Warren & co, concludes Whalen.