Los Angeles Times endorses Schwarzenegger for next term

The Los Angeles Times on Sunday endorsed California incumbent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for a second term, dealing a blow to his opponent state Treasurer Phil Angelides.

"After his historic election in the 2003 recall, followed by some early promise and a disappointing sophomore year, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a solid, pragmatic governor who has steered a moderate course for California," the newspaper said in its opinion pages. "He deserves a sequel."

The newspaper applauded the governor's ability to forge relationship with legislative leaders "that focused the usually fractious and often obstructive Democrats on a productive agenda."

The product of that has been a historic law to curb global warming, a prescription drug plan and a reasonable increase in the minimum wage, the paper said.

"A little partisanship can be healthy in Sacramento (capital of California), if it serves a check on the excesses of the legislative or executive branch," it said.

"And Schwarzenegger and the Democrats in the Legislature now better understand how they give each other political cover," the paper said.

The Times said "no such dynamic would exist if Schwarzenegger's opponent, Democratic state Treasurer Phil Angelides, were elected."

Angelides attended services at two mostly black churches in South Los Angeles Sunday morning as he continued to attempt to shore up support among the Democratic Party's most loyal voting bloc.

Angelides received belated support from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. He is also endorsed by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and California State Assemblyman Fabian Nunez, along with a host of labor unions and law enforcement.

As the Nov. 7 gubernatorial election is drawing near, Schwarzenegger leads Angelides by at least 10 percentage points in opinion polls.

Source: Xinhua