Having facts at his fingertips may not be enough to convince voters that Schwarzenegger is for real. Despite his huge advantages in fame and money, he still trails Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante in several polls, and is also facing a serious challenge on the right from fellow Republican Tom McClintock, who was vowing to stay in the race to the end. And it’s becoming increasingly clear that Schwarzenegger will have to flex more than his personality to win California voters. A Los Angeles Times survey last week found that 67 percent of likely voters thought Schwarzenegger “tried to avoid taking positions on issues.”
So far, Schwarzenegger has limited his appearances to carefully styled “summits” and “Ask Arnold” town-hall meetings where he faces hand-selected audiences. And he’s still trying to live down an early comment that “the people don’t want to hear facts and figures.” Last week his campaign released a barely noticed economic plan chock full of details on reforming taxes, cutting energy prices and even simplifying the state’s building code to allow more plastic plumbing–a move to cut construction costs.
This week Schwarzenegger will break out of study-hall mode, reaching out to women voters by appearing on “Oprah” with his wife, Maria Shriver, and presenting policies. NEWSWEEK has learned that Schwarzenegger will propose in Santa Barbara this week that California create a “hydrogen highway,” committing $60 million in public and private funds to construct a network of hydrogen-fueling stations along major interstates. The plan was hatched at an Arnold U seminar attended by several of Shriver’s enviro friends (with encouragement from her cousin, activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.).
Arnold’s advisers say that after hours of “mental push-ups,” he’s ready to take on his doubters. “He’s earned a Ph.D. in a few weeks,” says strategist George Gorton. He’ll soon find out if his new diploma will get him the job.
