Bush plays key role in gov's races

[Judi Lynn]

Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Bush plays key role in gov's races
By Eric Kelderman, Stateline.org Staff Writer

President George W. Bush isn’t on the ballot in the Nov.7 mid-term elections, but he’s still casting a shadow -- pro and con -- in many of the 36 gubernatorial races.

In California, the Democratic Party is trying to tie Bush to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) with an ad showing the Golden State governor stumping for him in 2004. Democrats also are linking the White House to Republican gubernatorial candidates in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

At the same time, GOP candidates in Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are appearing with Bush to pad their campaign coffers -- gambling that the benefits of extra cash trumps being seen with a president whose approval rating remains below 40 percent nationally.

Presidents only factor into gubernatorial contests when they are unpopular and that usually plays out during the mid-term elections when the majority of governors are chosen, said Larry Sabato,director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. The last time the nation's chief executive filled this role was 1994, when President Bill Clinton's popularity was sagging, Sabato said.

In addition to gaining majorities of both chambers of Congress that year, Republicans picked up nine governors' seats -- giving them a total of 30 -- including a victory by then-gubernatorial candidate George W. Bush who defeated Texas' Democratic Gov. Ann Richards.
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http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=138920