After initial criticism of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Limbaugh praised the GOP front-runner last week for rebuffing adviser Warren Buffett's criticism of Proposition 13. The top talk star told his audience that he thought Schwarzenegger was a conservative at heart who could "own" California if he didn't try to water down his views.

"Forget about this business of moving to the center, forget about this movement of sounding like a centrist to get the independent, forget about all that," the top conservative opinionmaker urged. "Just be a conservative and make no bones about it; he can own the state."

Michael continues keeping the flame lit on his father's brand of conservativism. And, the "Reagan base" continues to dominate the California Republican party.

Mike Reagan is currently supporting Tom McClintock. "If you are conservative you have to support Tom McClintock, there's no other choice," Reagan told NewsMax. Reagan derided comparisons being made that actor Schwarzenegger was taking after his Dad, also an actor. Reagan noted his father had years of political interests and experience before he ran for governor in 1966.

Hannity has been generally supportive of Schwarzenegger. Despite indications that the actor-turned-politician is a liberal Republican at best, Hannity reminded his audience early, "If a Republican is ever going to win in a liberal state like California, he's going to have to compromise on some conservative positions."

The New York-based talker's interview Wednesday with Bill Simon foreshadowed Simon's decision to withdraw from the contest Saturday. When Hannity pressed the conservative candidate on whether he would reject pressure to drop out of the race, Simon declined to answer with an unequivocal no.

Concerned about the presence of Buffett on Schwarzenegger's team, the Los Angeles talker notes that the investment guru once said he thought the tax code should be used to redistribute the wealth. Elder also worries about another Democrat advising Schwarzenegger: actor Rob Lowe.

"Here's a guy [Lowe] who's close to Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden," the self-described "Republitarian" lamented. "These are not good signs.

The San Francisco conservative admires Tom McClintock and Bill Simon but doesn't buy the claims of Arnold fans who say he's both a fiscal conservative and a social liberal.

"It is impossible to be both," he said. "If you are for more social programs, where will the revenue come from, except higher taxes? On the other hand, if you are a so-called fiscal conservative, this means you are for lower taxes and fewer government programs, which means you cannot have the social liberalism."

The nationally syndicated talker told NewsMax, "The more we hear about Arnold, the more the tide nationally is starting to turn against him."

The Dallas-based conservative cautions that Buffett is one of "Hillary Clinton's biggest supporters." He's not crazy about the recall movement in general. "This is a Pandora's box that should have never been opened."

The Hollywood talker says he has yet to form an opinion about Schwarzenegger because "he has said absolutely nothing about anything."

Leykis does know, however, who he doesn't like in the race: Cruz Bustamante, Arianna Huffington and Tom McClintock.

"People say Arnold is not really a conservative, but that's probably why he's going to get elected," Metcalf told NewsMax. "California has changed a lot since Ronald Reagan, and you're just not going to get a hard-core conservative elected to the statehouse anymore."

Another factor for Metcalf is Schwarzenegger's hoped-for ability to bring in new voters to the polls. "Probably 50 percent of his voters will be people who have never voted before," he predicted.

For this California-based national host, the race boils down to a choice between McClintock and Simon, with McClintock way out in front.

"McClintock pulled in 100,000 more votes in his race [for controller last year] than Simon did for governor," says Chastain. "These were conservatives who would not vote for Simon because he was trying to straddle the fence on the domestic partner issue. These were votes that should have been a slam dunk for Simon."

"I'm not knocking Arnold, but I think at a moment like this, when we've gone from an $11 billion surplus to a $38 billion deficit, it's going to take drastic measures by someone who understands government," Putnam told NewsMax.

"That's the reason I support McClintock. He's studied government for more than 20 years. He and his wife live on their $99,000 salary. His two kids go to public schools. He's Mr. Middle Class America."

"I support Arnold for governor, but not because he best reflects my political views, which are conservative," Rantel told NewsMax.

The L.A. talker warns that although conservative Republican candidates such as Tom McClintock could splinter the GOP vote, "Arnold is the only one that can prevent a what could be a worse outcome than keeping Davis as governor, and that is the election of Bustamante, one of the true lightweights of all time."

"I think Schwarzenegger has the stuff to win," Kobylt said. "Eventually Republicans are going to have to coalesce around him. It's about getting a win and not splitting the vote three or four ways."

"The Republicans are dividing up the vote. Davis is coming on strong and Bustamante is a viable alternative for Democrats."

Fears Hedgecock, "This recall was a golden opportunity handed to Republicans, and they're blowing it."

"I sense a surge coming on by Tom McClintock, who is my choice He's raising $11,000 a day on the Internet alone compared to Howard Dean, who is raising $8,000 to 9,000 a day."

Morgan says that whatever happens, Californians should rejoice that Davis is toast. "That pleases me no end," she told NewsMax. "We've turned this state on its head, and in the process we're changing the way politics are done."

Owens says he was against the recall and originally voted for Davis. But now that it's happened, he adds, "We need to pick the one best person to lead California. Presuming his policy statements match what I expect, I'm leaning to Arnold."

"McClintock is clearly the most-qualified candidate. He understands the fiscal problems California faces and has specific, concrete plans for resolving them."

Of Schwarzenegger, however, Rodgers maintains that his following "consists largely of people who are either starstruck or will settle for any candidate with an 'R' after his name, with no consideration given to the RINO factor."

Manders told NewsMax that he was leaning toward McClintock. "He is the only candidate on either side who has been addressing the core issues."

He had high praise for the recall, "the only thing left for the voters to use," given the way politicians gerrymander safe seats for themselves and become entrenched while in office.

Though Schwarzenegger seems to have added to his conservative credentials in the last week, Larsen said, "The problem I have is that a lot of good people who I respect are saying: 'Forget the core issues. Let's put them in a blind trust. It's all about winning.'

"I can't just blindly do that," the Southern California talker said. Larsen said he feared too many conservatives were sacrificing their principals in a "win at all costs" rush to back Schwarzenegger.

"This recall election is a golden opportunity to confront the spending lobby in Sacramento," the early-morning host said. On the issues, he favors McClintock. But the bottom line, says Crummey, is, "Who can win?"

Right now Schwarzenegger looks as if he has the best shot at beating Bustamante, the L.A. talker noted. "But the situation is fluid for the next week or two." If McClinton picks up all of Simon's support, said the KABC host, he could give Arnold a run for his money.

"My father never would have married a Kennedy!"

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California Governors Race

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