Schwarzenegger Tries a Little Tenderness

Schwarzenegger telegraphed his first move -- a shift back to the political center -- Tuesday night. Conceding defeat, Schwarzenegger sounded like a Democrat, enthusing about "roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, more affordable housing, more affordable energy, more affordable water." Aides confirmed Wednesday that the governor is preparing a major program to rebuild California's sagging infrastructure. He has also vowed to reintroduce legislation to speed the construction of 1 million homes heated by solar power -- also popular with Democrats.

Democratic Party leaders, for their part, were also offering olive branches, vowing to work with the governor.

"I have been counseling my caucus not to misinterpret the defeat of the governor and thinking think it's an endorsement of us. It's not," said state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, one of California's leading Democrats. Although the governor's approval rating hit 33 percent last month, Perata noted, the legislature's is even lower.

Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders will meet Thursday to search for common ground before he heads to China for a trade mission Friday.

But experts predict that common ground may be in short supply. Next year is an election year in California, and suddenly Schwarzenegger is vulnerable.

"It's going to be difficult for Schwarzenegger to recover," said Mark DiCamillo, director of the San Francisco-based Field Poll. "The Democrats think they can beat him now, so naturally they will try to make him look bad."

DiCamillo stressed that Schwarzenegger is down but definitely not out. Ronald Reagan and Wilson both lost special elections and went on to future victories. And the two Democrats who have announced their intention to run against him, state Treasurer Phil Angelides and state Controller Steve Westly, are political unknowns.

Gray Davis, the man Schwarzenegger unseated two years ago in a recall election, knows what a tough competitor he is.

"I am sure it was a very painful evening," he said, "but Arnold is fond of saying he'll be back, and I think that might be true." Davis said if Schwarzenegger reverts to the bipartisan style that was successful last year, "then it's even money that he'll get reelected."

Staff writer Sonya Geis contributed to this report.