California Special Election Watch: Cancel the Election?

Governor Schwarzenegger, Senate Pro Tem Don Perata and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez during happier times at the signing of the California Budget.

The ASSociated Press and the San Francisco Chronicle have Talks over special election stalled, some consider cancellation an option.

With negotiations between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic leaders at a halt, both sides are poised to go to political war in a Nov. 8 special election, even as the number of ballot measures dwindle and new calls are made by some to cancel the balloting all together.

“We are so deep into it now, I don’t see how you can get the toothpaste back into the tube,” said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles. “We are so far down the path, I think we should have the special election and put the whole issue to rest.”

Is this reverse psychology?

The Governor has already won the special election.

Nunez and the Democrats know this.

They are trying to PUNK Arnold into canceling the Election – THE ONLY WAY HE CAN LOSE!

But Democratic leaders said they have no interest in further talks and want to move forward to the election.

“We’ve concluded negotiations as far as I’m concerned,” said Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland. “These are far too complicated issues to expect resolution in the next three weeks. The governor was interested in trying to work day and night, like we’ve done on the budget, but these issues are too complex and really require the legislative process to be involved.”

Republican political consultant Dan Schnur said Democrats may be giving up a rare opportunity to extract concessions from the governor.

“If Democrats walk away from negotiations at this point, they may be giving Schwarzenegger back the rhetorical high ground,” he said. “Now he can go to the voters and say he wants to make changes but the Democrats don’t want to cooperate.”

Schwarzenegger will not cancel the election. And he will not negotiate any further.

The Democrat legislative leaders have their political war and will re-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger in the process.

Technorati Tags: Schwarzenegger, Don Perata, Fabian Nunez, California, California Special Election

Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page