Schwarzenegger pleads, Maria silent

In a change of strategy for Governor Arnold, he has scrapped his tough guy image for a new ad that pleads with residents of California to vote with him rather than against him:

With a new poll showing his ballot agenda in jeopardy, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday made a sharp strategic shift just 12 days before the election, releasing a new television ad in which he concedes shortcomings on the job.

"I've had a lot to learn, and sometimes I learned the hard way," he says in the 30-second spot, which features the governor speaking directly to the camera. "But my heart is in this, and I want to do right by you."

Funny a guy who only a year ago was decrying "economic girlie men" and talking about kicking nurses butts has now made it to the bargaining stage of dealing with the grief brought about by his poor political decision to hold a special election.

I look forward to the acceptance stage.

Maria Shriver, his Democrat wife, has chosen to keep silent her feelings about Arnold's work:

She says, "We all know what happens to first ladies who shoot their mouths off."

I actually must be missing something here, because I don't know what she's referring to. But it certainly isn't a ringing endorsement that will help bring in more votes.