Arnold Schwarzenegger,  California,  Election 2006,  Politics,  Proposition 73,  Proposition 74,  Proposition 75,  Proposition 76,  Proposition 77,  Special Election 2005

California Special Election Watch: Governor Schwarzenegger Outspent

Sacramento Bee: With re-election bid ahead, governor’s cupboard is bare

After a special election with a price tag that topped $275 million, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s personal war chest is virtually empty as he begins his 2006 re-election campaign, according to reports filed Tuesday with the secretary of state.

Schwarzenegger’s ballot initiative committee alone exhausted $45.5 million during last year’s special election campaign in which voters rejected eight ballot proposals, including four specifically backed by the governor.

With all the large campaign committees reporting, opponents of the governor spent about $121 million to defeat those four initiatives, while Schwarzenegger and his allies fought the battle with $76 million of their own.

Outspent by $45 million Schwarzenegger’s opponents have a significant advantage in the media buys. But, the Governor ran a POOR campaign and the poor fundraising followed.

Schwarzenegger managed a NO-LOSE campaign into a LOSER.

The California Teachers Association spent $58.5 million to defeat Arnold.

On Proposition 73 – the abortion parental notification initiative – opponents outspent proponents $5.6 million to $1.9 million.

Record setting spending – the nature of California politics.

California Correctional Peace Officers Association president Mike Jimenez, left, and California Nurses Association president Deborah Burger celebrate their victory over Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ballot initiatives at a rally in Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005.


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