LAT: Schwarzenegger's Campaign in Debt: Dem rivals, union foes have $50M

[DeepModem Mom]

Gov.'s Campaign Is in Debt
On eve of election battle, Democratic rivals and union foes have more than $50 million.

By Dan Morain and Robert Salladay, Times Staff Writers


SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is entering his reelection campaign $410,000 in debt, while his Democratic rivals and union foes are armed with more than $50 million.

He also continued supplementing his aides' government salaries by paying them additional sums in campaign money, according to campaign reports filed with the state Tuesday.

Schwarzenegger spent $8.2 million of his own money, and tens of millions more of his contributors' money, on his ill-fated special election effort to change state government. Altogether, his campaign cost more than $45 million, depleting his accounts.

Although his opponents spent almost $100 million to defeat the initiatives Schwarzenegger championed in the November vote, many of them emerged with hefty bank accounts.

Controller Steve Westly and Treasurer Phil Angelides, who are competing in the Democratic primary to face the Republican governor next November, started the new year with $24 million and $17.1 million respectively, their reports show....


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-money1feb01,0,5384280.story?coll=la-home-local

[Demeter]

1. Yup. The GOP Funds Are Drying Up for THEIR Failures

Tom DeLay, Ahnold, Ney, and more to come. Let us do unto our failures what the GOP does to theirs--abandon them! That means all 16 traitors who did NOT filibuster Alito, for starters.

[AX10]

2. Well, isn't this quite a turn around from four years back.

The GOP is only reaping what they sowed. :nopity:

[CountAllVotes]

3. Unions here in California are stronger than ever now

I'm a member of two of them myself. I joined them both after I saw what was going on with the workers here. We have money, something Ahnuld is running out of. :nopity: for you gropenator!

:kick:

[driver8]

13. I am a California union member, also...this is the best news I

have heard all day!!

[AlCzervik]

4. he has lost much of his republican base nevermind all the democrats

that voted for him and now are having buyers remorse.

[deadparrot]

5. I'm glad Californians have recovered

from their bout of temporary insanity. I can only help those of us in Missouri can do the same in 2008.
:hi:

ETA: Though our insanity might not be so temporary. We did produce Ashcroft, after all. :scared:

[slackmaster]

6. Now if only Westly and Angelides can avoid screwing it up...

Sorry friends, I'm not very optimistic.

[NewJeffCT]

7. I know, 9 months is a lifetime or two

in politics. Plenty of time to make it close enough for Diebold to steal... I have a feeling that Arnold won't be hurting for money in 6 months.

[slackmaster]

9. Absolutely

I have a feeling that Arnold won't be hurting for money in 6 months.

There is no doubt about that. My larger concern is that the major Democratic candidates will get into a giant food fight and smear each other to the point where Arnold will win by default despite peoples' reservations about his actual job performance.

It wouldn't be the first time that has happened in California politics.

[rinsd]

10. Do you anticipate an ugly primary fight?

One that could drain the coffers of both, while Ahnuld recovers?

Also what do you think will be the effect of the union advertising? Are they allowed to use the candidates name?

[slackmaster]

11. Sadly yes, I do anticipate an ugly fight

Both Westly and Angelides are ambitious, motivated politicians. Both know they have a good chance to beat the Governator if they get nominated.

Let's see if they can prove me wrong and act like gentlemen.

Also what do you think will be the effect of the union advertising? Are they allowed to use the candidates name?

I believe they are. The problem with it from a higher perspective is that unions in general have a (somewhat deserved) bad reputation in the state now. The Red Team will focus on things like how they torpedoed Schwarzenegger's Million Solar Roof initiative. OTOH it's hard to paint the teacher's union as bad people.

It will be interesting, as California elections always are.

[Not_So_Right_Wing]

8. Buh Bye Ahhhrnold....your days are numbered!

[LynneSin]

12. Oh my heart is breaking over this one

:rofl:

[MisterP]

14. all those purchases of 10-ft. sausages, 18-ft. Brezen, hookers,

and prefab potholes