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Schwarzenegger and Democrats Multiply Davis' Woes Schwarzenegger's attack carried an extra sting for Davis, given the governor's sharp drop in campaign fund-raising this year. During his second term, Davis had hoped to recover from the widespread public perception that he trades state favors for political donations. His fundraising efforts kicked up after the recall became a serious threat. The storm of publicity surrounding Schwarzenegger's campaign is apt to amplify any further attacks on Davis. But a celebrity candidacy also poses risks. Republican strategist Arnold Steinberg, who advised superstar Clint Eastwood in his 1986 campaign for mayor of Carmel, called Schwarzenegger a charming "master of the one-liner." But in the crush of TV news cameras at even his most mundane campaign stops ¡X another strategist called it Schwarzenegger's "supernova" ¡X the slightest blunder could be instantly broadcast to millions of voters and guaranteed repeated viewing, Steinberg said. "Mistakes are going to be magnified tremendously," Steinberg said. "He'll be put under a microscope." Leadership at Issue The actor did address one of the concerns about his candidacy at his sole public appearance Thursday. "People are always talking about qualifications instead of leadership," he said. He took issue with a Davis campaign slogan: Experience money can't buy. "In anything I did," he said, "I showed great leadership." Schwarzenegger also reached out to voters distant from his world of Hollywood wealth and glamour. "I've been received by Californians with open arms when I came here as an immigrant in 1968, when I had no money," he said in remarks that seemed to presage a battle for minority and lower-income residents who tend to vote for Democrats such as Davis. Don Sipple, Schwarzenegger's media consultant, drew a sharp distinction between Davis' 30 years of experience in politics and what he said Schwarzenegger brings to the race, namely leadership. He acknowledged Davis' edge in government experience, but said of California: "We're in a very sad state of affairs." He and George Gorton, the actor's campaign strategist, said they expect Schwarzenegger will spend upwards of $15 million to $20 million on the race.
"He's committed a substantial amount of his own money" and will raise money as well, Gorton said. "Our budget is really whatever it takes."
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