As Arnold Schwarzenegger campaigns to lead California, the shadow of another California governor is complicating his efforts to win support among Latinos.
The governor is Pete Wilson, who won a second term in 1994 as the chief backer of Proposition 187, the successful ballot measure designed to deny illegal immigrants access to most public services.
Wilson now serves as a co-chairman of Schwarzenegger's campaign, a connection that has dominated the Spanish-language news media's coverage of the recall and is increasingly being used by the Republican actor's opponents.
Over the Labor Day weekend, for example, photos of Wilson and Schwarzenegger in a warm embrace were featured at rallies attended by largely Latino audiences.
The reason: Wilson remains a highly controversial figure among many Latinos, even five years after he left office. Proposition 187 was ultimately ruled unconstitutional, but bitterness still lingers over what some Latinos consider a racist law.
"For many of us, they were talking about our parents, our grandparents, our neighbors, our fellow students -- basically they were picking on our experience," said Fernando Guerra, director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University. "You know people are passionate about it when even my mother is saying, 'We have to stop this Wilson.' Anyone associated with that guy, she won't vote for."
Schwarzenegger campaign officials said they are aware of the perception but believe their candidate can still win Latino votes. In an interview Tuesday with Fox 11 News, Schwarzenegger stressed that he is his own man.
"Remember there is a big difference. There is a big difference," he said. "There was the Wilson administration and there will be the Schwarzenegger administration. Two different men. Two different issues altogether."
Juan B. Botero, the Schwarzenegger campaign's new Spanish-language spokesman, called the push to connect Schwarzenegger and Wilson in the eyes of Latino voters a ploy based on fear.
"The Hispanic community needs to understand that just because Pete Wilson is one of two dozen co-chairs does not mean that Arnold and Pete Wilson agree on immigration," Botero said. "Arnold has his own views and ideas on immigration, and he is exploring the issue of immigration reform."
