"Arnold needs a strong partner in Washington," Jones said of himself, calling his campaign a way to "continue the job we started in October."
Schwarzenegger's absence from the schedule was noticeable, but some delegates said the party should be grateful for what he has accomplished since October.
Phil Moore, attending the convention from Lompoc, said she chastised someone in the Hyatt elevator for grumbling about the governor.
"I remember when this party wouldn't let Pete Wilson in the front door," Moore said, referring to the moderate former GOP governor. "This party is now back on the right track -- where for years it was a bit conservative. He has done so much to put the factions together and give the party a positive attitude."
These days, the fastest-growing party in California is no party at all: decline-to-state independents. The GOP now represents a little more than 35% of the state's 15 million registered voters, and Democrats, about 43%.
Republicans have been the minority party in California since 1934, though seven GOP governors have been elected since then. Ranked among the most influential is Ronald Reagan, who helped transform the party on a national scale.
Schwarzenegger has crafted his own agenda -- based mostly on government and political reform -- and he has been consistent in embracing any politician, regardless of party, who cooperated with him.
Schwarzenegger scrupulously avoids some of the social issues -- abortion and gun control among them -- that have trapped Republicans and turned off many liberal voters.
And he has managed to skirt one of the most contentious issues being debated this year around the country -- marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples -- by saying the issue should be left to the courts or the public and that he "doesn't care" either way.
"I don't see him out there trying to remake the image of the Republican Party," said Allan Hoffenblum, a co-editor of the California Target Book, which tracks legislative races. "What I see him concentrate on is government reform, which by itself could change the party, the people who they get to run for office, and the people who vote for them."
Schwarzenegger's first state budget, approved last month, came late, partly because Republican lawmakers insisted on concessions from the governor after he made deals with majority Democrats. In the end, tax credits were canceled, social service programs remained intact and abortion services were protected. Although the governor got substantial support from Assembly Republicans for the final budget, only four GOP state senators voted for the package he negotiated.
