Californians appear disappointed in Schwarzenegger

A majority of California voters do not want to see Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger re-elected, according to the latest poll showing the Republican's political appeal sliding, informs Associated Press.

The nonpartisan Field Poll of registered voters found that just 39 percent said they were inclined to give Schwarzenegger a second term, while 57 percent were not. As recently as February, the numbers were almost reversed, with 56 percent saying they were inclined to re-elect Schwarzenegger and just 42 percent were not.

The drop in the governor's popularity has coincided with his push for the so-called special election - a referendum among California voters on several measures aimed at curbing the power of Democrats and public employee unions in state government.

He still enjoys considerable support among Republican voters, with 71 percent saying they were inclined to re-elect him. But the poll found that 83 percent of Democrats, who form the majority of the state's registered voters, would oppose a second term, as would 61 percent of independent voters. Solid majorities of Hispanic voters and women also say they do not want to see the governor re-elected.