LAT: Schwarzenegger's Effort to Engage Voters Stalls

[DeepModem Mom]

Gov.'s Effort to Engage Voters Stalls
By Peter Nicholas, Times Staff Writer


SACRAMENTO — With only days before Tuesday's special election, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's attempt to jolt the campaign by taking unscripted questions from voters on live television appears to be stumbling, with little sign that he is persuading the electorate that his agenda needs to pass, Republican and Democratic analysts said Friday.

Schwarzenegger had avoided such direct dialogue with voters until two weeks ago, in favor of controlled rallies packed with supporters. But even he had criticized such events as "mechanical" and hoped to get voters to take a fresh look at his four ballot measures through a more spontaneous forum in which his celebrity would give him a natural advantage.

Yet middle-class Californians of both parties have been confronting the governor directly in these events, indicating they have not been persuaded either by his celebrity or his argument that the initiatives he has endorsed must pass.

In Fresno last week, the first question for Schwarzenegger came from a voter who said that if the governor got his way and lengthened by three years the time it takes teachers to get tenure, schools would need to recruit educators from "dreamland."

In Sacramento on Wednesday, a firefighter who was on stage to make an opposing argument revealed that Schwarzenegger was scheduled to attend a $50,000-a-person fundraiser at a local country club later that night. He held up the invitation as TV cameras recorded the moment....


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-campaign5nov05,0,5156695.story?coll=la-tot-promo&track=morenews

[Cha]

1. OMG!

"In Sacramento on Wednesday, a firefighter who was on stage to make an opposing argument revealed that Schwarzenegger was scheduled to attend a $50,000-a-person fundraiser at a local country club later that night. He held up the invitation as TV cameras recorded the moment...."

Is this not fighting FIRE WITH FIRE? This is what we need..Dems and Firefighters givin' better than they get!!

[LiberalFighter]

2. I would like to know who is paying $50000 to attend!!!!

[Cha]

4. Greedy SOBs who care nothing for

America but everything for themselves.

I can just imagine slobbering fatcats writing the shitshovelingnator a hefty check to make sure he robs California BLIND!

[David__77]

3. Democrats MUST be wage class politics in order to WIN.

We are showing that here in California. When the populist mask is ripped off the right-wing GOP agenda, people don't like it--it stinks. The same must be done everywhere. This is potent stuff--the Chambers of Commerce will scream and cry.

[chelsea0011]

5. His smoking tent was one of his first decisions...'nuff said

Why would anyone take him seriously.

[CatBoreal]

6. $50,000 for a dinner?

That's probably more than that firefighter makes in a year!