Two Cents: Why Abandon a Winning Strategy?

I have always found it interesting that elected officials often do not retain majority support for their actions once they are in office. It seems so straight forward to me: if your proposed course of action wins you a majority vote, follow that course of action and you will retain majority support. That makes sense, right? But apparently not to a great deal of politicians. So when Bruce Cain, professor of political science here at University of California Berkeley, mentioned that the Governor himself has abandoned a "winning strategy," my ears perked up.

The well known Bell Curve of voters' preference evidences the fact that most voters fall in the mid range of political affiliation. Resultantly, the successful candidates are usually not too far from moderate, though favoring to some degree the politics of their affiliated party. This was true of the moderately Republican Schwarzenegger who California elected, but not so true of the radically traditional Republican Schwarzenegger who is currently holding office. Since, as Cain puts it, "People are not looking for solutions that are imposed from one side of the spectrum or another," why would this shift toward the far right come about? Especially just as the Governor is dependent on public support in the special ballot election?

Cain offered three possible explanations. The first has to do with one of the Governor's advisors, Mike Murphy. He is a political and media consultant who played a huge part in Schwarzenegger's 2003 campaign. He has a great deal of influence over the Governor and a history of great state success, and could be partly to blame for Schwarzenegger's unconventional shift farther right. The second theory, in my opinion, holds more weight. The Governor does a great deal of decision making by committee. It is possible that in trying to keep everyone happy and cater to each individual in such a large group, Schwarzenegger amended his ways so many times that his original tactics are no longer in sight. Also, this reform would most likely develop to the right since his advisory board is presumably largely Republican. The last and most harsh possible explanation is one of personal short comings on behalf of the Governor. With little or no governmental background, Schwarzenegger's political thinking is probably unconventional and unsophisticated. Elected based almost solely on public appeal, perhaps the Governor is convinced that the public will love him no matter what. Please, please let's prove that this isn't the case...