US: "I am the kind of governor..." Arnold Schwarzenegger began in a speech before 1,500 people in Santa Maria yesterday, before correcting himself, and saying, "I will be the kind of governor..."
But the Hollywood actor turned Republican candidate may be justifiably optimistic in assuming the governership of California seven days early. A seemingly unstoppable momentum has built up behind the Terminator star, confirmed by a Gallup Poll which shows him racing ahead of his rivals in the countdown to the October 7th poll.
As he stepped up his campaign yesterday, California voters also seemed more ready than before to dump Democratic Governor Gray Davis. The poll showed 63 per cent would vote to recall Mr Davis and 40 per cent would nominate Mr Schwarzenegger in his place, far ahead of Democrat Cruz Bustamante with 25 per cent and Republican Tom McClintock at 18 per cent. A simple majority among the 135 candidates is enough to ensure victory.
Many analysts suggested the poll may be skewed as it contradicted other polls showing Mr Davis with a fighting chance to hold on to his post. State Democratic Party chairman Art Torres dismissed the results, saying they don't tally with other nonpartisan polls or internal polls that show a much closer race.
In the closing days, the campaigning is getting personal. Mr Schwarzenegger yesterday told an audience in Redding, "This is now hand-to-hand combat. We are not in the trenches. This is war."
Governor Davis, who hopes for last-minute support from leading Democrat, responded to attack ads from Mr Schwarzenegger by launching a series of television slots saying the actor had not voted in 13 of 21 elections and had refused an offer of a debate.
The actor promised to balance the California budget without increasing taxes and made clear that he considered the recall race to be a choice between himself and Mr Davis. He compared the Democratic governor to a captain who had let his ship run aground. "He's going to start a dirty campaign now. We know how he is," said Mr Schwarzenegger, who promised early in the campaign not to run negative ads himself but who started the mud-slinging last week.
Mr Davis challenged his rival to a debate on CNN's Larry King Live but has been rebuffed. Mr Schwarzenegger is spending $2 million a week on advertising and the governor is expected to match this. Mr Schwarzenegger told an audience in Santa Maria yesterday that the person who hit him with an egg three weeks ago had been apprehended. "He was a movie critic," he said.