Schwarzenegger wins, Davis concedes

[Ironduke]

Schwarzenegger wins, Davis concedes

California governor-elect thanks voters for their trust
Wednesday, October 8, 2003 Posted: 1:51 PM EDT (1751 GMT)

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Action movie hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, a political novice, is poised to tackle what may be his toughest role yet -- governor -- with his decisive victory in California's colorful and rollicking recall race.

"California has given me the greatest gift of all," said Schwarzenegger, 56. "You've given me your trust by voting for me."(Schwarzenegger speech)

California voters, angry over a lackluster economy and disenchanted with Democratic Gov. Gray Davis' leadership style, cut short his second term, recalling him less than a year after his re-election.

"The people did decide it is time for someone else to serve, and I accept their judgment," Davis said in a gracious concession speech Tuesday night. (Full story; Transcript)

With about 99 percent of the state's precincts reporting, voters were approving the recall of Davis 55 percent to 45 percent, and Schwarzenegger, a Republican, had opened up a more than one-million-vote lead over his nearest challenger, Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamanate. Conservative GOP state Sen. Tom McClintock was a distant third.(Results; Interactive: Voter turnout in California)

Schwarzenegger, an Austria-born bodybuilder who came to this country and made a fortune in the movies, will take office sometime in mid to late November, once the election results are certified. (Austrians cheer on their man; Biography: Arnold Schwarzenegger)

The governor-elect faces a formidable task: Bringing California's fiscal house in order amid a projected $8 billion shortfall, working with a Democratic-controlled Legislature and healing political wounds incurred in the intense, two-month recall campaign. California is the nation's most populous state and its economy ranks among the top 10 in the world. (Politicians' reactions; Gallery: Reactions to the results)

"I will reach out to Republicans, to Democrats and Independents, to those who supported the recall and those who did not, those who supported me today and those who did not," Schwarzenegger said in his victory speech Tuesday night. "I will let them know that my door will always be open, that I want to work with them together for the good of California."(Schwarzenegger thanks voters for their trust)

Schwarzenegger's victory was much more decisive than many political observers had predicted and there were no reports of widespread ballot confusion or problems, as some had feared. And, despite some pre-election statements, there was no indication Wednesday of any move afoot to challenge the recall in court. (On the Scene: Bob Franken)

Davis himself appeared to discourage the idea of challenging the election result.

"I am calling on everyone in this state to put the chaos and the division of the recall behind us and do what's right for this great state of California," he said in his concession speech. (Biography: Gray Davis)

President Bush called Schwarzenegger on Wednesday to congratulate him and say he looked forward to working with him, a White House spokesman said.

Bush is scheduled to raise money for his own re-election campaign in California next week, and other White House aides said it is all but certain the two men will meet during that trip.

The recall campaign ended with something of a Hollywood finish.(Gallery: Celebrities who have gone into politics)

Comedian Jay Leno introduced Schwarzenegger at his victory rally with jokes and on the stage were members of the storied Democratic Kennedy clan. Schwarzenegger is married to Maria Shriver, a niece of President Kennedy.

Schwarzenegger made a point of thanking his wife for her support and for the "many votes" she helped him secure. Shriver defended her husband in the face of late-breaking allegations that Schwarzenegger, over a period of three decades, had groped women and sexually harassed them.(Full story)

Schwarzenegger both apologized for what he described as bad behavior and disputed some of the allegations, but he was never specific. He also refuted published reports that he had some Nazi sympathies.(Full story)

Despite the allegations, CNN exit polls showed that about 43 percent of female voters backed him. Men voted heavily for Schwarzenegger, according to those exit polls. (Full story)

A whopping 72 percent of those who voted Tuesday said they disapproved of Davis' job performance, according to the exit polls, with only 27 percent giving the incumbent a positive approval rating.

Davis, 60, becomes the first governor to be recalled from office since 1921, when North Dakota voters ousted Gov. Lynn Frazier.

Schwarzenegger will assume office within 10 days of the official vote certification, which must be completed by November 15, according to the state elections code. The outcome gives the GOP control of the country's four most-populous states heading into the 2004 presidential election. (Interactive: What happens next?)

Bustamante will remain in office as California's lieutenant governor under Schwarzenegger.

Tuesday's election was the climax of one of the strangest episodes in recent U.S. political history. The race was chock full of colorful characters, including former sitcom stars, a star of adult films and a publisher of a pornographic magazine

(Genesis of recall rooted in energy crisis; Interactive: Recall petition signature counts)

Election officials reported heavy turnout throughout the day, in addition to more than 2.2 million previously cast absentee ballots, California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley said. (Gallery: Scenes from the vote)

"People were angry at the governor," Art Torres, chairman of the state's Democratic Party, said in explaining the results.

California voters also defeated two propositions, including Proposition 54, a ballot measure that would have prohibited the state from collecting data about race. (Full story)

The proposition will be shot down by a 2-to-1 margin, according to CNN estimates.


http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/...ain/index.html

[Leader]

:D :D :D :D :D :dbanana :dbanana :dbanana :dbanana :dbanana :dbanana

As predicted the Dems got their ass handed to them again.
:D

[Ironduke]

Victorious Arnie outlines policy goals

Victorious Arnie outlines policy goals

Hollywood film star Arnold Schwarzenegger has set out his policy priorities, in his first news conference since being elected the new governor of California.
The Republican former bodybuilder acknowledged the huge challenges ahead, especially in tackling the budget deficit of America's richest state which is projected to be $38bn over two years.

He said he wanted to have an independent audit of the state's finances to find out where money was being wasted.

He once again pledged not to raise taxes and said he would aim to scrap a controversial new car tax.

Mr Schwarzenegger - who ousted the Democratic incumbent Gray Davis - also announced that his transition team would be led by the Republican Congressman David Dreier.

"I want to be the governor for the people," he said, pledging to reach out to everyone in the state - across the political, ethnic or religious spectrum.

Mr Schwarzenegger also said he had telephoned leading Californian Democrats who control the state legislature, in an effort to build bridges after the divisive election campaign.

The new governor, who will take office next month, pledged to restore trust in California's government and instil fiscal discipline.

Landmark vote

It is the first time in the state's history that Californians have voted to sack their governor mid-term.

President George Bush congratulated Mr Schwarzenegger by phone, saying he was "proud of the race he ran" and "looked forward to working with him", a White House spokesman told reporters.

With almost all the votes counted, Mr Schwarzenegger has secured 48%.

Republican activists had triggered the recall vote - the first in 82 years - following frustration at the budget deficit, high levels of unemployment and struggling schools.

The BBC's Justin Webb says the people who voted for Mr Schwarzenegger will soon want to see concrete policies and results from the new governor who has been short on detail and "big" on promises.

Mr Schwarzenegger did not formally rule out tax rises even as he campaigned against them.

That leaves the way open for him to follow Ronald Reagan, who raised taxes twice when he was governor of California.

Mr Schwarzenegger is the second Hollywood star to become governor of California, after Mr Reagan.

The BBC's David Willis in Los Angeles says the big political problem for Mr Schwarzenegger is that he is not fully in control of the money-raising process.

Large parts of the state budget are already earmarked for projects endorsed by referendums, and cannot be tampered with.

His election has sent a shockwave across America in an age of discontent with conventional politics and could set a trend, our correspondent says.

The crisis in California's state funding coincided with the economic slowdown that followed the end of the 1990s technology boom.

Excitement

In a two-part ballot, voters were asked if they wanted to recall, or sack, Governor Davis.
Regardless of their decision on the recall, they also had to indicate who they preferred among the 135 alternative candidates running.

With 99% of electoral precincts reporting results, 54.9% wanted a recall, against 45.1% opposing it.

Mr Schwarzenegger won with 48.2% support. His closest rival, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat, garnered 32.2%.

"Today California has given me the greatest thing of all, you have given me your trust by voting for me," Mr Schwarzenegger said, acknowledging victory.

There had been unprecedented interest in the vote and election officials reported long queues and a shortage of parking places.


Earlier, Mr Davis told his supporters voters had decided "it was time for someone else to serve and I have accepted their judgement".

Mr Schwarzenegger had been attacked during the campaign, after accusations that he sexually harassed women and once praised Hitler.

Stunt double Rhonda Miller, who worked on two Schwarzenegger films in the early 1990s, became the latest woman to claim that the bodybuilder turned actor had abused her.

In response, Mr Schwarzenegger repeated an apology he made last week for "rowdy behaviour" on film sets, but denied groping Ms Miller.

The Los Angeles Times reported last week that at least six women alleged similar behaviour over a period of 25 years.

Mr Davis had received backing from senior Democrats, including Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Barbra Streisand.

Other candidates included the publisher of Hustler magazine, a porn movie star, and a former child actor.

Only one other governor has been recalled in United States history - North Dakota's Lynn Frazier, in 1921.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3176322.stm

[TopHatter]

All I can say is, that guy had better be prepared to smash his head against the wall. He still has a Democrat-laden legislature to deal with (House AND Senate)

[Donnie]

but the dem house and senate better watch out, because if its obvious they are the ones holding back change, they are elected officials themselves, anyone know when they get reelected?