Californians rose up in political revolution on
Tuesday, storming the polls in record numbers to throw their governor out of
office and elect in his place Arnold Schwarzenegger -- an Austrian-born film
star who tapped into a deep vein of voter anger.
California governor elect Arnold
Schwarzenegger makes a point as he stands with his wife Maria Shriver at
his victory celebration at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, October
7, 2003. [AP]
Network exit poll
projections showed that when all votes are counted, Gov. Gray Davis would be
swept out of office in stunning defeat as Californians vented their unhappiness
with the career politician.
It was an unexpected end for the man once mentioned as a possible
presidential candidate. He had called the recall a "right-wing power grab" and
boasted that he would survive, but the political veteran with 30 years of
climbing the statehouse ladder was beaten by a man who never spent a day in
government.
The historic recall election that only months ago was written off as a circus
with 135 candidates -- including a porn star, smut peddler, sumo wrestler and a
muscleman with the foreign accent -- has become a watershed political moment.
Davis -- reelected only in November -- became the
first governor of California ever essentially fired by the people who put him in
office and Republicans gained a critical bully pulpit in a heavily Democratic
state with the 2004 presidential election looming.
Schwarzenegger
also appeared headed for a commanding victory from voters, who embraced his lack
of political experience and outsider status and shrugged off a blizzard of
last-minute sexual harassment allegations by 15 women.
California Governor Gray Davis hugs
his wife Sharon as he delivers his concession speech at his campaign
headquarters in downtown Los Angeles October 7, 2003. Californians voted
to recall their governor and replace him with actor turned politician
Arnold Schwarzenegger. [Reuters]
An
estimated 10 million California voters cast ballots in the special election, 30
percent more than voted in the governor's race that reelected Davis last year
and the biggest turnout for any nonpresidential contest in state history,
according to the Field Research Corp.
RECALL THEM ALL?
Political analysts said the lion's share of the higher turnout was coming
from disaffected voters galvanized by Schwarzenegger.
Experts said the "Terminator" star took advantage of the political landscape
in California, where voters felt ignored by their leaders in Sacramento and cut
off from their government amid a worsening state economy that politicians failed
to fix because of fierce partisan squabbling.
"If Californians had the constitutional right to recall all 120 members of
the state legislature they probably would have done that too," Allan Hoffenblum,
a Republican political consultant, said.
Analysts said that despite the news media's fixation on Schwarzenegger, the
key to the election was not so much the action film star as it was Davis -- a
profoundly uncharismatic man who seemed passionate only about raising campaign
funds and was estranged from many state leaders.
"He was all but marginalized and ineffectual and the voters knew it and they
were fed up with it," Hoffenblum said.
While some pundits ascribed Schwarzenegger's success on the replacement
ballot to his movie star status and Populist rhetoric, analysts said much of the
actor's strength came from his centrist message. The Republican staked out
socially liberal and fiscally conservative positions that appealed to most
Californians.
"You had Cruz Bustamante on the left talking about $8 billion in new taxes
and more rights for illegal immigrants and Tom McClintock on the right and they
gave the entire middle to Arnold Schwarzenegger," Hoffenblum said.
Schwarzenegger's ascendance was seen as a victory for Republicans -- who hold
few statewide offices and saw the state vote for Democrat Al Gore in the last
presidential election -- and devastating to Democrats who control both houses of
the legislature but now must work with the new governor to solve the state's
problems or face voter rage themselves.
Although results seemed clear Tuesday night after polls closed it could be
weeks until the state certifies the official result and some observers held out
the prospect of a recount or court challenge.