Rob Reiner Watch: Candidate for California Governor?

Since Warren “Bulworth” Beatty will apparently NOT be a candidate for California Governor in 2006, Rob Reiner is getting intense scrutiny as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s heir apparent.

The Sacramento Bee has Rob Reiner pressed on governor bid, At forum against Prop. 75, he appears open to the idea of a future state candidacy.

In town to blast a union dues initiative as “ultimately bad for our democracy,” actor-director-activist Rob Reiner found himself nudged Thursday to put his celebrity to work for the Democrats as a candidate for governor.

Reiner, at a town hall-type forum sponsored by the No on 75 forces, didn’t say no.

He appeared to encourage the idea, in fact, in an exchange with former San Francisco Supervisor Doris Ward. She told Reiner, “I really wish you would one day run for governor because people want movie stars and television stars” in office.

Flap does NOT know about that last comment. If he was Ronald Reagan perhaps but not a Meathead.

“However good (announced Democratic gubernatorial candidates) Phil Angelides and Steve Westly are,” Ward said, “the way to beat (Republican Gov.) Arnold (Schwarzenegger) is with …”

“… is with a Meathead?” Reiner interjected.

Perhaps Reiner is playing with the media but he will be involved in the political arena with his tax the rich scheme for pre-school.

As for 2006, Reiner said he has no thoughts about running “at this point.” His attention, he said, will largely be on the preschool initiative, now gathering signatures, that would impose a 1.7 percent tax on single earners’ incomes above $400,000 annually and on couples’ incomes in excess of $800,000.

In the meantime, Reiner will pander to the unions and the Democrat LEFT by speaking against Proposition 75, the Paycheck Protection Initiative, and hosting a fundraiser in Hollywood for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Will he run against Arnold?

Let’s look at the early polling.

Reiner’s name has been popping up for months as a possible Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 2006, and the Field Poll measured his popularity in a June poll.

Thirty-three percent of registered Democrats said they were inclined to vote for Reiner, second only to Angelides’ 37 percent. But 38 percent said they were not inclined to vote for him, a negative rating surpassed only by actor Warren Beatty’s 53 percent. Beatty said last week that he has “always preferred not to run for public office.”

In a trial heat against Schwarzenegger, Reiner trailed 44 percent to 42 percent.

Perhaps.

But, if Flap were Angelides and Westly I would commission some opposition research on the meathead.

Stay tuned.

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