Environmental Role Reversal In California Politics

"For months, the Republican governor has seized the high ground on the issue, putting Angelides, the state treasurer, on the defensive even though environmental groups overwhelmingly support him over Schwarzenegger....Schwarzenegger has pressed the issue of the environment since Angelides won the Democratic nomination in June. Mimicking a Democratic primary assault on Angelides, one of his first reelection ads accused the former developer of bulldozing wetlands and flouting pollution laws; the attack forced Angelides to defend his record...

Republicans in other states that tilt toward Democrats have also used the environment to broaden their appeal, among them New York Gov. George Pataki, who has championed wilderness preservation and joined a coalition of Eastern states that are taking steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants 10% by 2019."