Gov. Will Need Makeover to Recover

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will need a political face-lift, a new script and a fresh act regardless of how his propositions fare Tuesday.

He’s already a loser, even before the votes are tallied.

His popularity has nose-dived largely because of the foolish fights he picked for a pricey special election he called over the public’s objections. His job approval rating among voters plunged in one year from 69% to 40%, according to The Times Poll.

If voters pass any of his four “reforms,” it will be despite the governor, not because of him, a recent Field poll indicated. His support of a measure made people much more inclined to vote “no” than “yes.”

Schwarzenegger could regain stature -- if not popularity -- with passage of either Prop. 76 (spending cap) or Prop. 77 (redistricting). They’re his No. 1 and No. 2 priorities, but trailing badly in polls. Approval of Prop. 75 (union dues) would give him strutting rights and be a huge victory for the GOP.

Prop. 74 (teacher tenure) isn’t worthy of the label “reform.” And if only it survives -- after all the money and fracas -- the governor should be embarrassed.

In any event, Schwarzenegger will be a very beat-up governor heading into his reelection race next year.

So how does he recover and stage a comeback?

* First off, says GOP strategist Ken Khachigian, “the main thing is, don’t try to spin. Don’t make excuses. Don’t play the blame game. If he loses three out of four, the script I’d follow is this:

“ ‘I’m deeply disappointed. I feel those reforms are critically important to the state. One or two were narrowly defeated, so there’s clearly discontent. Beyond that, I have nothing to add. It’s time for me to review what’s necessary in the new year.’

“Then go into a period of quiet -- get out of the public eye for a while -- and spend time reflecting and figuring out where you want to go.”

* I wouldn’t be going to China next week. I’d cancel that special interest-financed junket. It’s the kind of high-profile trade trip a governor takes when he’s riding high, not when he’s trying to pick himself up off the pavement. (But he’s going anyway.)

* Schwarzenegger soon should invite in legislative leaders for a long, frank chat about what’s politically possible to accomplish during an election year. They’d be receptive to sincerity. Legislators, after all, are institutionally less popular than he is. They realize that for them to rebound, everybody has to cooperate and compromise. But that means both parties being less ideological, and this requires gubernatorial leadership.

* He should narrow his agenda and sharpen his focus on a few issues that the public actually cares about -- cares about far more than budgetary and political processes. Issues like real education reform, rebuilding infrastructure and extending healthcare.

“He needs to change direction,” says former GOP consultant Allan Hoffenblum, publisher of the California Target Book, which monitors political campaigns. “He needs to get involved in less ideological, more popular solutions to problems.

“And change the image that he’s a right-wing Republican. He needs to grab the center.”

* He should apologize and mend fences with the school lobby, especially the powerful California Teachers Assn. This means paying the $3.1 billion the governor promised schools in a 2004 budget deal that he reneged on to avoid a tax increase.

* If Prop. 76 is rejected, he should interpret it as a signal that voters would rather pay higher taxes than cut school programs. Raise taxes and pay schools what they’re owed, while enacting reforms and imposing efficiencies. Hike taxes enough to finally plug the budget deficit.

In politics, style often is more important than substance. So Schwarzenegger also needs to:

* Cool the fundraising, even if he does need millions to run for reelection. He’s getting a worse rep for money-bumming than Gray Davis. It’s one reason his popularity has tanked. Get the poll numbers back up, then the money will come easily.

* Make the transition from Hollywood to Sacramento, painful as that may be. Lay off the macho lingo and the tacky staging. Voters will always know him as “The Terminator.” Now they want to see him as a governor.

* Stay away from shopping mall rallies with Republican faithful and get into meeting halls for substantive addresses to opinion-molding civic groups. Speeches, not stunts. Uplifting, not talking down.

* Spend much more time in Sacramento cajoling and coercing legislators, and his own appointees. Get on top of his government. Pare fat and streamline the regulatory bureaucracy.

Being at the Capitol, says GOP consultant Sal Russo, a former aide to Gov. George Deukmejian, “is the only way a governor can be fully engaged. That was one of Gray Davis’ problems. You have to stay here and keep everybody connected to your goals. All on the same page.”

* Listen more, talk less. By now, Schwarzenegger should have learned that his strengths in bodybuilding and movie-making don’t necessarily apply to governing, where the superstar doesn’t always get his way. He needs to heed advisors more and rely less on old instincts.

Many Republican pros are privately saying Schwarzenegger should bench his political team and clean house in the governor’s office. (Some senior aides are getting out on their own.) I only know that the person mostly to blame for Schwarzenegger’s squandered popularity is Schwarzenegger.

The cartoon character and “action, action” act got stale.

Schwarzenegger still could use his exceptional skills, in a more traditional way, to become a super governor.

George Skelton writes Monday and Thursday. Reach him at george.skelton@latimes.com.