Arnold's crumbling infrastructure

Arnold Schwarzenegger, once a popular Governor, is gearing up for a heated political battle. Polls show the well known former action star to be running neck and neck with both Democrats vying for his job.

Part of Arnold's strategy after his devastating loses in last year's special election was to run toward the middle, settling on an issue he felt would appeal to all voters: rebuilding the state's infrastructure. And for a while, the voters bought it.

But now, the tide is turning, and a majority of the state now opposes Arnold's signature legislation for 2006:

California voters would reject a ballot measure for a $32 billion public works bond if an election were held today, a troubling sign for supporters of such a measure, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to survey findings released on Friday.

"Overall, 'infrastructure' as an issue ranks low as a priority for voters," according to the survey report by the California Business Properties Association and the California Tribal Business Alliance.

The two groups surveyed California voters on a hypothetical infrastructure bond measure and found 52 percent opposed, 43 percent in favor and 5 percent undecided.

I haven't seen a lot of anti-infrastructure articles, so this may simply be public weariness with ballot issues or just a fear of politicians in general. But that general public sentiment is against Arnold's big sop to the middle doesn't bode well for his chances to overcome his Democratic challenger either.