When they're on the ballot, it means the candidate can't ignore them.

He's now not seen as the same Schwarzenegger who won the recall (election) and was so successful last year. He is either seen as a partisan, or insensitive about ordinary people.

Initiatives tend to shape turnout substantially in non-presidential elections.

Repealing the individual AMT will cost $1.2 trillion. Either that has to come from higher taxes or reduced tax expenditures or some combination.

We are not looking at tax reform this year or probably during the Bush presidency. Maybe they'll resurrect it in 2007, but then at that time everyone will be looking at the next presidential race.

The trick for him is becoming less flamboyant, succeeding at governing, but not losing what makes him special and different from other politicians.