Arnie goes to poll with wife missing in action

John Harlow, Los Angeles
November 07, 2005
IF Arnold Schwarzenegger's extraordinary political career implodes at a "special election" to be held in California this week, pollsters already know who to blame -- his wife and former No1 cheerleader, Maria Shriver.

When the action film star was elected Governor two years ago, pundits credited Shriver with not only masterminding her husband's campaign behind the scenes, but also helping him win over female voters.

Shriver, an independent-minded television reporter and mother of the couple's four children, made it clear she was unhappy her Republican husband was running for office, but promised to stand by him "through thick and thin, left and right". Yet during the current campaign, Shriver -- a niece of the late president John F. Kennedy -- has stayed out of the limelight. She will be celebrating her 50th birthday overnight in the couple's west Los Angeles estate with her Democrat family, who do not approve of her husband's latest political gamble.

Shriver has been noticeably absent in recent weeks as Schwarzenegger, 58, stumped up and down the Golden State in support of four referendums -- known as "propositions" in California's idiosyncratic political system -- that seek to circumnavigate his political enemies and increase his own power. One political wag has called it "the silence of the lamb".

It was predicted that Shriver would endorse her husband's referendums at the 11th hour, at a women's conference in Long Beach, south of Los Angeles. But asked how she would vote, she ducked the question, answering that "Arnold is a good and courageous man" and going on hurriedly to crack a joke about actor Warren Beatty, one of his most outspoken critics.

Beatty and his wife Annette Bening attempted to crash a campaign appearance by Schwarzenegger in San Diego yesterday. The Hollywood couple were stopped by one of Schwarzenegger's campaign officials at the entrance of an airport hangar where several hundred of the Governor's supporters had gathered.

Beatty and Bening were told they were not on the guest list and didn't have the appropriate wristbands to get inside.

"You have to have a wristband to listen to the Governor?" Bening asked. "He represents all of us, right?"

But Schwarzenegger's allies are concerned by Shriver's absence. "Two years ago, she was giving Arnold smart advice every step on the way, even if it meant sacking my friends in Arnold's campaign office, but right now she is the invisible lady, and that will cost Arnold votes," one of the Governor's former political advisers said.

Last week, even Schwarzenegger's image was erased from television adverts promoting the vote. "Arnold felt his personality might distract voters from the very tough decisions that have to be made to turn around the economy of California," said a spokesman. One political commentator said his image has always been his major asset. "Otherwise, all we have got to judge him on is a handful of blow-'em-up movies."

Two years ago, the Austrian-born muscleman was one of the most popular celebrities in the US: now, in his adopted home state, his public approval rating stands at 33 -- several points below President George W. Bush. Just 22per cent of women support him.

If Schwarzenegger fails to win over a significant number of Californian voters tomorrow, his chances of re-election next year will be seriously weakened.

He called the special election after opposition Democrat politicians in the state senate turned down the four propositions, which seek to simplify the sacking of poorly performing teachers, make it tougher for unions to collect dues from members, curb state spending and employ retired judges to resolve constituency boundary disputes from the Democrat-dominated senate.
Polls this weekend suggested the vote on teachers' tenure will be the only one he will win, a crushing humiliation for the once unstoppable Terminator.

Aides say similar polls vastly underestimated the scale of Schwarzenegger's victory in 2003, but this time the turnout is expected to be much lower.

The Sunday Times

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