SACRAMENTO — Republican activists disenchanted with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Thursday that they will try to strip the governor of the party's endorsement unless he fires his new chief of staff, Democrat Susan P. Kennedy.
Restive Republicans said they would rally conservatives behind a resolution, to be offered at the state GOP convention in San Jose next month, that may give Schwarzenegger an ultimatum: Dump Kennedy by March 15 or the party will withdraw its backing of his reelection bid.
Drafts of the resolution are circulating, and proponents of the idea are planning to meet in Palm Springs this weekend to discuss strategy.
The insurgent party members said they are attempting to mobilize support among gun owners, abortion opponents and other conservatives.
"We've gotten to the point where we've just had it with the guy," said Michael Schroeder, an attorney from Corona del Mar and a former chairman of the California Republican Party. "It's become clear that he's no longer pursuing a Republican agenda."
Steve Frank, a conservative activist from Simi Valley who is planning to attend the convention, said: "I know who he is today. I have no idea who he will be tomorrow.... And we need some predictability as to which Arnold Schwarzenegger is governor."
Party members said they resent Schwarzenegger's recent efforts to woo Democrats and that he is appointing too many of them to judgeships. They also dislike his plans to borrow $68 billion for a sweeping public works program, and say that his state budget is fraught with spending that California cannot afford.
Schwarzenegger never positioned himself as a classic Republican.
Running in a predominantly Democratic state, he has always played up his wife's Kennedy family roots while touting his own socially moderate positions.
Last year, however, he pushed a more partisan Republican agenda, which was rejected by voters in a special election. After that, he hired Kennedy, apologized for calling the special election and made other moves that angered Republicans.
But an aide predicted that Schwarzenegger would ultimately retain the party's endorsement.
"We feel very confident that the Republican Party, in the end, will endorse Arnold Schwarzenegger," said Adam Mendelsohn, the governor's new communications director.
