Now that Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced he’s running for governor we’ve got a serious contest going, which only happens in California when pop culture and politics are fully overlapped. Arnie’s being in the race means that people will get excited over it, feeling like they now have to take a position on his candidacy one way or another instead of going on ignoring politics as we obsess over the latest movie release, whether SPF-20 really makes you safe, and whether botox is really worth the bother. We live in a world of trivia and pop, and only care about politics when it comes into this world.
While he’s never held office, Arnie’s clearly been planning a run for many years, maybe as long as he’s been married to Maria Shriver. He’s got his own set of consultants already, enough money to finance his own campaign (if he needs to) and a good, positive, and well-informed message: “Gray sold California to the special interests (read: unions) and I’m here to take it back. I don’t care what you do in your private life, and I don’t want to impose my values on you. I want a state government that works and doesn’t break the backs of the average taxpaying citizen, and a society that offers opportunity and hope as it did to me as a humble but legal immigrant.” Echoes of “shining city on a hill”.
So he’s off and running, having faked Feinstein out of the race, and having picked up some excellent blocking from the unions who’ve threatened to black-ball any Democrat who runs against him. Despite these threats, insurance commissioner John Garamendi, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, and Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez may still enter the race on the Democratic side, and if they do the dam will break and Bill Lockyer will either have to jump in or risk ending his political career by having to run against an incumbent Republican in his long-planned run in 2006.
Arnie’s choice tells us something about the pundits, most of whom predicted he wouldn’t be running, some on the basis of alleged insider tips. It turns out Dan Walters, dean of the capitol press corps, was right not to try and jump the gun:
Schwarzenegger’s political advisers had hinted for days that he was ready to make a move into the race, but they pulled back last week as the recall election became a reality, and they were forced Monday to deny media reports that he had finally decided not to make the run.
“These reports are incorrect,” a midday Schwarzenegger statement said. “Arnold spent the weekend continuing his due diligence regarding a possible run. He has made no decision at this time. He will continue to weigh the pros and cons with his family and will continue to seek the counsel of supporters and colleagues. When Arnold has made his decision, we will announce it to the media.”
The decision was just made, and when this column was printed it was still up in the air. LA Weekly columnist William Bradley, who really does have insider connections, called it right:
In discussions with California political associates on July 18, the superrich superstar said that the race was probably on. Schwarzenegger?s veteran campaign team, former top aides to Pete Wilson in his four winning campaigns for governor and senator, shifted into gear. Important campaign meetings were scheduled for July 22.
(via Kausfiles)
The best outcome from all this would be a whole generation of Californians getting turned-on to politics, at least a little. Increased awareness of what goes on in Sacramento automatically translates into more rational politics, mainly because it couldn’t get any worse.
See Rough & Tumble for links to more articles about Arnie and the recall.