Tribes Take a Wait-and-See Recall Stance

Bustamante is also on record as saying he believes the marketplace should determine the number of slot machines in an Indian casino. After a groundbreaking ceremony in May for the $250-million resort hotel on the Morongo reservation, Bustamante told the Desert Sun newspaper: "The tribes are not getting what they want [from the state]. The tribes want more machines. In-N-Out Burger doesn't have to ask how many burgers it can make."

When he announced his candidacy earlier this month, Bustamante called Indian gambling "one of the strongest parts of the California economy. It is creating tens of thousands of jobs. It is providing tremendous charity."

Ross, Bustamante's main campaign strategist, explained such support by recalling that the lieutenant governor forged his alliance with tribes when they were under political attack from Nevada gaming interests and "were economically weak and in legal jeopardy."

"Many of the longer-term leaders know that he has been one of the few people who understood sovereignty, and stood up for them," Ross said.

Stern of the Center for Governmental Studies said the tribes run a risk if they decide to bankroll Bustamante's campaign in a recall election.

"The big problem that Bustamante will have is that he doesn't want to be pictured as a tool of the tribes," he said.

At this point, tribal leaders said, they don't know what to make of Schwarzenegger.

Michael Lombardi, a tribal gaming consultant and former general manager of the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez and Casino Morongo near Banning, said he wonders whether the actor knows anything more about Indians than what he saw in John Wayne movies.

"We did notice that one of the heroes in 'Predator' was Indian," Lombardi said. "That guy was handsome and brave and died a good death. We noticed that [Schwarzenegger] is not a part of the Hollywood hypocrisy that always portrays Indians as savages.

"We are intrigued by Arnold," he said. "Would he allow slot machines to expand by market demand? I think there are tribes out there waiting to hear some answers."

Schwarzenegger spokesman Rob Stutzman declined Friday to describe the candidate's views. One of the candidate's top advisors is former Gov. Wilson, who battled tribes over gambling expansion. A co-chairman of Schwarzenegger's campaign is Assemblyman Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), who backs Indians in their efforts to maintain sovereignty and expand their casinos.