While the federal elections are shaping up to be very close in California, people on both sides of the aisle think Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will cruise back into office.

“The Democrats are trying to link Governor Schwarzenegger and President Bush,” said Leigh Wolf, the College Republicans spokesman. “But the governor has taken a stand against Bush’s policies.”

Both Wolf and Carl Clark, president of the College Republicans, said the Republicans will have a relatively clean sweep across the state ballot. This, they contend, has much to do with the direction both political parties have taken in their ad campaigns.

“The Democrats are also trying to link the governor with Iraq. And the voters aren’t buying it,” Wolf said.

Not only does Wolf think that the attack ads against the governor aren’t working, but neither are the promises Angelides is making, he said.

“Sure it sounds good to cut taxes for the middle classes, but can he deliver?” Wolf said. “The truth is that he won’t be able to hold up to his promises without getting the money from something else. You can’t cut taxes on everything and still keep the state running.”

Dell Brooks, president of SF State’s Political Science Students Association, agrees that Angelides is not very promising.

“Angelides hasn’t been on topic until recently,” said Brooks. “He hasn’t been able to show Californians that he would do anything beneficial for the state.”

Brooks also has many of the same ideas as Wolf and Clark, with regards to how the election will go in November.

“Arnie is going to clean house,” Brooks said. “He has been able to please both sides. He has raised funds, and focused on California, especially with environmental issues.”

Sarah Keller, vice president of Internal Affairs and unofficial spokeswoman for the College Democrats, is under the same impression about the gubernatorial race.

“Unfortunately the governor race is not turning out the way we would like to see it,” Keller said. “But, it’s only one negative for the Democrats for this election.”

With the recent controversy regarding the Republican Party on the federal level, Clark said the Democrats are trying to bring federal politics into the state elections.

“Schwarzenegger is talking about state issues, not federal issues,” Clark said. “His ad campaign focuses on looking forward, and the positive outcomes that will come from this election. This approach will work for him for the state elections, and the Republicans can look forward to gaining a few key Democratic seats.”
Besides the gubernatorial victory that the Republicans, Democrats and PSSA believe Schwarzenegger will have, they think the federal elections may swing in favor of the Democrats.

“With the Foley incident, I don’t think the federal elections will go the same way,” Clark said.

Keller is enthusiastic about the Democrats’ chances at the federal level.

“We are going to take Congress at this point,” Keller said. “We are pretty excited about that.”

Brooks, a Democrat, although his organization is nonpartisan, is pleased with what the governor has done for California so far.

“The governor is what I call a moderate Republican,” Brooks said. “He does what he can for the entire state.”