The California Democratic Party said he is "inept." Gov. Gray
Davis poked fun at his pronunciation of California. And people
around the world know him as nothing more than the Terminator.
But gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger has won the
endorsement of important businesses, agricultural and taxpayer
associations, and his endorsers say it is because he has surrounded
himself with a strong supporting cast.
On Monday, Schwarzenegger gained perhaps his biggest endorsement
when the California Republican Party backed him as the Republican
replacement for Davis if he is recalled on Oct. 7.
Schwarzenegger’s most publicized weakness has been his short
political résumé. Aside from leading an initiative that
increased after-school spending by as much as $550 million
annually, which was approved last November, Schwarzenegger has
little political experience.
One of Schwarzenegger’s most vocal critics has been the
California Democratic Party. After Schwarzenegger said he was
unaware of certain environmental legislation signed by Davis last
year, the CDP issued a press release asking Schwarzenegger was
auditioning for the sequel to "Clueless."
In an interview Friday, CDP Chairman Art Torres said if
Schwarzenegger becomes governor, it would be an embarrassment for
California.
Opinions vary among Californians, but many are skeptical of
Schwarzenegger’s performance because of his political
inexperience.
"It seems like he is relying on his fame and fortune to get him
into politics," said third-year psychology student Chris
Rackoff.
The suspicion regarding Schwarzenegger’s ability is natural,
said Jeffrey Lewis, a UCLA assistant political science
professor.
"When you take somebody who has no political experience, and
doesn’t come from an occupational background like the military or
the head of a big corporation, there is going to be the concern
that he or she doesn’t have the leadership capabilities needed," he
said.
To supplement his lack of political experience, Schwarzenegger
has been capitalizing on his success as a businessman, something
his key endorsers continually mention.
In addition to partnering the construction of a $10 million
building that helped revitalize Main Street in Santa Monica,
Schwarzenegger has had a profitable real estate career, and he has
proven to be an insightful investor, his supporters say.
"He seems to have an ability to select people around him to help
him come to good decisions," said Bill Pauli, president of the
California Farm Bureau, which endorses Schwarzenegger.
Pauli said Schwarzenegger would be an effective governor because
he is surrounded by "key people who understand politics, understand
business, and understand how to get things done."
David Goodreau, chairman of the Small Manufacturers Association
of California, which also endorses Schwarzenegger, said that
surrounding himself with intelligent people "is not only a
strength," but is "a sign of maturity."
Schwarzenegger’s campaign is being co-managed by former
California Gov. Pete Wilson and one of his top aides, Marty Wilson.
His economic advisers include Warren Buffet, the world’s second
richest man, and a team including two Nobel Prize-winning
economists – Myron Scholes and Robert Merton – and UCLA Anderson
School professors Edward Leamer and William Ouchi.
He has also added friend and former Los Angeles Mayor Richard
Riordan to his educational task force.
Schwarzenegger’s campaign office said it would not disclose who
would join him in the governor’s office if he is elected, but they
said he will likely surround himself with people from past
Republican administrations. Former Gov. Wilson is not expected to
remain a part of Schwarzenegger’s team, his office said.
One of the first things Schwarzenegger pledged to do should he
take office is to solve the state’s $7.9 billion deficit for next
year, though he has provided no concrete plan for how to do
this.
Californians had their first chance of seeing Schwarzenegger
debate with other gubernatorial candidate front-runners last week.
Despite the fact some analysts said Schwarzenegger had a mediocre
performance during the debate, a CNN-USA Today poll conducted
between Thursday and Sunday showed Schwarzenegger leading recall
replacement candidates with 40 percent of the vote – 15 points
ahead of Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.
"Californians were given an opportunity to see Arnold
Schwarzenegger talk policy, and they were obviously very
comfortable with what they saw," said California GOP spokesman Mike
Wintemute.