Arnie may not be back: Democrats

CALIFORNIA Democrats are showing increasing confidence in challenging Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger after a series of bruising political battles that have weakened the Republican who once seemed invincible.

Speaking at a convention of state Democrats, lawmakers and candidates for the 2006 governor’s race criticised Schwarzenegger’s handling of the state budget and accused him of catering to special interests.

“We’re right and he’s just far-right,” said state treasurer Phil Angelides, who has declared his candidacy for governor and has been one of the governor’s most persistent critics.

The high spirits among state Democrats mark a sharp turn from when the Austrian-born former movie star swept into office in an unprecedented 2003 recall election that ousted former Democratic Gov Gray Davis.

After taking office, Schwarzenegger largely had his way with the Democrat-controlled legislature and quickly pushed through a number of his campaign proposals aimed at solving a massive state budget gap.

But the governor’s poll ratings weakened amid a high-profile fight with the state’s teachers union, which has run TV ads criticising him over school funding.

He also engaged in a very public fight with the state’s nurses union after suspending a measure requiring specific nurse-patient ratios.

A February poll showed his performance rating had slipped to 55%, down 10% from September 2004.