The Governor showed up in Antelope Valley yesterday to raise money for his hugely unpopular special election campaign.  While he did get the wads of cash he wanted from his big money donors, he and his backers also probably got more than they bargained for:

Schwarzenegger raised at least $300,000 from local supporters, but he and everyone who attended had to pass through a gantlet of opposition at the Antelope Valley Fairground gate where several hundred protesters, many from public employee unions, turned out to catcall the governor.

Arnold just can’t hide from the hardworking Californians his that special interests election is targeting.  Teachers, nurses, firefighters, and public servants from all over the state have kept the Governor on his toes at events all over California.  Our “man on the scene” sent in this report . . .

At the rally today we had well over 350 volunteers chanting and sending the message that Arnold has the wrong agenda. Our volunteers held hundreds of picket signs with the message “No on prop 74, 75, and 76”.  Vehicles passing by could not help but honk their horns in support or our efforts.  At past events held throughout California, the governor tried to evade activists –  and at today’s event was no different.  He arrived approximately two hours before the event to avoid public employees.

Moreover, individuals driving into the Arnold fund raiser event could not look into the eyes of our volunteers who were chanting in unison “Shame on you”.

If you want to let Arnold know just how you feel about his special election, you can join Alliance Volunteers at a Chase Arnold event like those in Bakersfield tonight, or in Burlingame (San Mateo Co.) tomorrow.  We’re not going to take this lying down.

(posted by Drew on the BetterCA blog)

(crossposted on the BetterCa blog Arnold is preparing to announce on Friday that he is running for re-election…big surprise there. What is interesting is the timing of the announcement and the reasoning for the change in plans.

SignOnSanDiego.com:

The timing is seen as a move to generate excitement among Republican activists heading to the California Republican Party convention, which convenes Friday in Anaheim.

The politically coy governor has long signaled that he probably would not disclose his political future, or even give it much thought, until after the special election.

He was apparently persuaded to move up his timetable by business supporters who have given a lukewarm reception to Schwarzenegger’s special election, but desperately want a Republican governor to fend off what they regard as bills hostile to business passed by a heavily Democratic Legislature. [emphasis mine]

The governor has to resort to making an early announcement because even the buisness interests that his special election is designed to benefit aren’t jumping out of their seats to help.  

Given Schwarzenegger’s low poll numbers, this early announcement will have little effect on undecided voters. Rather, as the article mentions, it is intended to rally that 34% who somehow believe he’s doing a good job.  His announcement won’t be an offensive move, but rather a defensive attempt to shore up the tiny bit of popular support he still has left.

(cross posted at the BetterCa blog, My Left Wing and Booman)

Today, the Governor launched the campaign in support of his wildly unpopular special interests election. But instead of taking his message to directly to the people, he took a page from the president’s playbook and sequestered himself in a warehouse full of handpicked supporters, far away from the chanting crowds outside.  

PE.com:

Schwarzenegger touted his three ballot initiatives, Props. 74, 76 and 77, before an invited audience of politicians, businesspersons and employees of K&N Engineering, Inc., an air-filter company that hosted the event in a warehouse.

The article has a great shot of some protestors outside with “No on 75” signs.  I wonder if he managed to walk in on red carpet this time, instead of the warehouse equivalent of the playground?