Nunez said the governor failed to recognize the Legislature as an equal branch of government and thought that he could control, cajole or charm lawmakers to get his way. The governor's early staff was, he said, "far too partisan for him."
The turning point in their relationship began during the depth of Schwarzenegger's political woes last fall, when he was campaigning for three November ballot measures that he touted as direly needed reforms.
At the time, Nunez was the governor's harshest critic, publicly deriding him for calling the special election. Privately, Nunez sought a compromise with the governor that would allow him to cancel the election.
But the governor was suspicious that Nunez was playing him, pretending to seek a compromise to stall Schwarzenegger from campaigning. The two could not agree to alternative ballot measures. All eight ballot measures, including those backed by the governor, failed, and Schwarzenegger's popularity hovered at its lowest levels.
"He was trying to dissuade me ... but when you are in that track, you look at it like, well, of course he's going to say that because he doesn't want reform," the governor said in July.
Since the rebuke, Schwarzenegger has begun behaving like a political centrist. He embraced Nunez's landmark effort to cut emissions of the gases linked to global warming, despite the opposition of his business allies. He agreed to raise the minimum hourly wage from $6.75 to $8 over the next two years after vetoing similar legislation in the past.
Although Nunez co-chairs the campaign committee to elect Democrat Angelides, the speaker said he'd be a fool to rebuff the governor.
"The governor is acting like a Democrat, and we are going to benefit from that," Nunez said. "He might be a Democrat," he added, chuckling. "I don't know."
Last May, Nunez raised a few eyebrows when he introduced Schwarzenegger at a reception for Mexico's President Vicente Fox by saying, "California is once again, my friends, on the move, thanks largely to this next man, the governor of our great state and a good friend of mine, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger."
Nunez beamed with such enthusiasm that Schwarzenegger joked he would use the introduction to benefit his campaign.
"This is really great stuff that I can use to get reelected," said Schwarzenegger. "I'll say, 'Fabian said.' 'The speaker said.' Oh, yes. This is going to be great."
