CA businesses stay away from Arnold

Los Angeles Business Journal:

Business supporters of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose approval rating has taken a stunning drop this year, are growing more concerned that he might go the way of Minnesota’s Jesse Ventura and not win re-election.

While Schwarzenegger’s campaign will not begin in earnest for another year – a lifetime in California politics – and there is no dominant opponent in sight, the governor has expended much of the goodwill he quickly accumulated in his first few months in office.

"While no one is counting him out yet, the word I hear most from businesspeople is 'surprise' that he has squandered so much of his political capital and their money," said Republican political strategist Arnold Steinberg. "There is real concern that his inability to steer a steady course could spell disaster next year."

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"Businesspeople have stayed away in droves from contributing to the initiative fund because they have watched the money raised so far being squandered," said Tony Quinn, a Sacramento-based political analyst who used to consult for business groups and lobbyists.

That not going to make it easy for him to win the special election which will in turn bring down his re-election prospects as well.