The Political Reporters finally get at Arnold.
Schwarzenegger agrees to Q&A with reporters
By Gary Delsohn and Sam Stanton -- Bee Staff Writers - (Published August 19, 2003)
He's been virtually silent for two weeks on substantive positions he would take as governor, but Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to go on the offensive this week against claims that he is running solely on celebrity.
The actor, already facing criticism for his vague responses to questions on issues and his tightly controlled public appearances, plans to launch his first television ads and take extensive questioning Wednesday from political writers, campaign officials said.
The Wednesday session in Los Angeles, which will follow a private meeting of his economic advisers, will mark Schwarzenegger's first in-depth give-and-take with reporters on specific issues.
Campaign sources also said the candidate has purchased air time in major media markets around the state to begin airing his commercials, and that he will continue using less-conventional campaign venues -- such as the popular "Oprah" talk show -- to sell himself to voters.
"The spots are going to start running on Wednesday," said Jeffrey Weinstock of KRON-TV in San Francisco. "He's the only candidate who's bought time so far."
The developments come as Schwarzenegger faces an increasing chorus of warnings from observers and foes that he needs to explain where he stands or risk having his campaign unravel.
"I don't believe he can get elected on celebrity alone," said Allan Hoffenblum, a Republican political consultant from Los Angeles who's not working on the recall. "He has to show a significant group of voters that he understands public policy, that he really does have an idea and direction he wants to take state government that's different from Gray Davis and that he'd be a different governor."
Schwarzenegger, a moderate Republican making his first bid for public office, won an important endorsement Monday when Assemblyman John Campbell, R-Irvine, one of the most fiscally conservative members of the Legislature, came out on his behalf. The endorsement was particularly noteworthy after controversial comments last week from investment legend Warren Buffett, the campaign's top economic adviser, that California's economy suffers because property taxes are kept artificially low by Proposition 13.
"Mr. Schwarzenegger's immense public persona will enable him to use the 'bully pulpit' to advance his agenda like no one else," Campbell said in a statement. "This will make him a more effective governor even in the face of a Legislature controlled by the opposition party."
Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, who was neck-and-neck with Schwarzenegger in last week's Field Poll, was endorsed Monday by the California State Employees Association and the Latino Democratic Caucus of the state Legislature. Both groups that endorsed Bustamante also oppose the recall.
To date, a good deal of Schwarzenegger's support comes from what observers are calling the "charisma vote," something that opponents say is not enough to carry him to victory in the Oct. 7 special election if Davis is recalled.
His GOP foes also are taking advantage of Schwarzenegger's few comments in media or interview appearances.
"You cannot be making statements like, 'Everybody in California should have a fantastic job,' " said Arianna Huffington, the political commentator running for governor as an independent. "It's offensive to the hundreds of thousands of Californians with no jobs, let alone fantastic jobs. It's really out of touch with people's lives."
Schwarzenegger has faced such questions since his announcement two weeks ago that he would run.
His biggest campaign event so far was the announcement of his candidacy on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," followed by a brief news conference with reporters. Tentative performances the next day on network morning television shows elicited further criticism and questions about whether he was ready for an issues-oriented campaign.
Schwarzenegger's aides made it clear Monday that the candidate will not shy away from such Hollywood-style appearances, using venues such as "Oprah" rather than the more traditional "Meet the Press."
"Let's face it, 'Oprah' is fantastic," said campaign adviser Sean Walsh. "Too many inside politics people, the technocrats of the world, go on a weekend news program and they spout their ideas, and the only people watching it are establishment journalists. ...
"But when you go on these types of programs like 'Oprah,' you literally get access to millions of voters, many of them disaffected, to hear unedited your positions. Isn't this what everyone's arguing for?"
Schwarzenegger's toughest questioning to date may have come Monday in a telephone interview with California Teachers Association officials, who are weighing which candidate to support. But the CTA, which will announce its endorsement Thursday, kept that session private.
The actor also signaled that he would take part in debates, although he released few specifics.
"I intend to debate Gray Davis and the other major candidates on the ballot," Schwarzenegger said in a prepared statement in which he named Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas, to negotiate the terms of such appearances.
On Wednesday, Schwarzenegger is scheduled to meet with his "economic recovery council," a group he formed that consists of Buffett, former Secretary of State George Shultz and others.
After that private session, the actor will have a news conference to offer what his campaign staffers say will be concrete plans to address the state's budget deficit and improve California's overall business climate.
But the delayed response to Buffett's suggestion that California property taxes are too low gave his opponents a chance to pounce on the self-proclaimed outsider. Last November's GOP nominee for governor, Bill Simon, launched radio attack ads on the subject over the weekend.
"My guess is the average California voter is going to demand information from the candidates on what they believe in," said John Feliz, adviser to state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Simi Valley, another candidate. "The longer he waits, the more it's going to hurt him."
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