Arnold Takes Note of Talk Radio Hosts

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is using talk radio like no major politician before him in a bid to sell his budget policies to voters in the struggling state.

During his unprecedented recall campaign in October, he appeared several times with national radio talker Sean Hannity in coast-to-coast broadcasts that forced the elite media to pay attention to a venue they usually overlook.

Now that he's in office and facing a tough budget battle in Sacramento, Schwarzenegger is turning to more local venues, such as KERN-AM morning host Scott Cox in Bakersfield.

"Scott, let me tell you something," Schwarzenegger told Cox during one recent interview picked up by the Los Angeles Times on Monday.

"You have done an incredible job to help us with that rally the last time we had this huge rally in Bakersfield," Arnold told Cox. "And I know you are doing a real job for the Valley again, so I really want to thank you very much for being so helpful."

The newfound clout of local talk jockeys has impressed political strategists, who see them as a vehicle to reach voters by circumventing the mainstream press.

"They fulfill the role that ward bosses did 50 years ago," Sal Russo told the Times. Russo was a political consultant to one-time Arnold rival Bill Simon. For many voters, said Russo, talk radio hosts "are a central source of information."

Editor's note:
Arnold fans – check out the new Governor Terminator T-shirts – Click here

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
California Governor's Race