So says recent polling, at any rate:

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) - California's Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger extended his lead over his Democratic challenger in November state elections in the latest opinion poll published.

The former movie star moved further ahead of State Treasurer Phil Angelides -- who won the Democratic nomination for governor in March -- with a 44 percent to 37 percent lead in the Survey and Policy Research Institute's June 26-30 poll.

That was up from a 40 percent to 37 percent margin in March. The survey attributed Schwarzenegger's surge to his decision to send California national guard troops to the Mexican border in the fight against illegal immigrants, as well as the adoption of a compromise state budget.

I would add that the California Democratic primary was pretty nasty - it both turned off independents and dispirited Democrats. For me its just more, "so much for the vaunted Democratic unity and strength" for 2006.

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