SACRAMENTO — As the governor's race hurtles toward the endgame, challenger Phil Angelides is trying to close a large gap in the polls by attacking Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's character, while the governor is hiring new staff and announcing an official overseas trip in anticipation of a second term.
Angelides, the Democratic state treasurer, has in recent days moved off his core message that the governor's budget priorities and overall stewardship are lacking, and tried to make Schwarzenegger's past behavior an issue.
In interviews and public appearances, Angelides has drawn attention to statements the Republican governor is alleged to have made decades ago about apartheid in South Africa, comments Schwarzenegger made this year about the temperament of a Latina lawmaker and accusations that he fondled a British television talk show host in 2000.
"I'm running for governor on where I want to take this state, but issues of character are relevant," Angelides said in a recent interview.
Schwarzenegger's campaign team said the treasurer's tactics smack of "desperation."
As Angelides looks for an edge, the governor, enjoying a double-digit lead in most polls, is looking past the election.
He has hired four staff members to help him forge a plan for expanding healthcare access -- expected to be the centerpiece of his 2007 agenda if he wins Nov. 7.
And Schwarzenegger, assuming victory, said during a visit to New York this week that he would lead a trade mission to India next year.
"This coming spring we're going to go to India," the governor told a TV reporter.
"We are going to create kind of a whole team of 100 business leaders," the governor said, "and we're going to come to India and see in which areas we can explore expansion and better working relationships and so on because we love the people in India."
Angelides, in retooling his message, is reflecting the frustrations of an underdog who can't gain political traction, analysts said. Angelides' argument that his policies would be superior to Schwarzenegger's hasn't made inroads with voters. Nor has his attempt to link Schwarzenegger to the unpopular President Bush.
Looking for another way to distinguish himself from the governor, Angelides spent the last month talking about his opposition to the war in Iraq.
That didn't shake up the race either.
