A preview?

There are few who doubt that the recently passed bond package will be central to the governor's re-election campaign. And his public events today, though done stateside, offer a small preview of that. A day after zig-zagging across the state in an airplane with the four legislative leaders (and earning press attention in almost every major newspaper), Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is touting his package in the Central Valley today. Specifically, he is going to from Chico to Merced to Bakersfield (three different media markets) to advertise the $1 billion included in the bond package to upgrade Highway 99. It is a sign that Schwarzenegger will likely not only use the bond to show his bipartisan nature, but also to point to specific projects in specific communities that he has brought to fruition. And most everyone likes a new road in their neighborhood or an upgrade to their local freeway, relieving traffic and headaches. The governor started his day today at 9:15 in Chico, and then moves on to Merced at 11:15 and then down to Bakersfield by 1pm. There is some irony that the governor is touting the potential improvements to Highway 99, but then flying over, not driving on, the freeway. After the bond package passed through the Legislature last week, Dan Schnur described it as the governor's re-election bond. It looks like the governor will certainly try to make that happen.