Schwarzenegger Faces Judgment Day

Nov. 8, 2005 — -- If it was Arnold Schwarzenegger "the movie," this would be the time when some would wonder whether the lead character would survive.

At war with organized labor, unable to sway a legislature dominated by Democrats, and stymied by voter initiatives that control his budget, the Republican actor-governor has gone back to the voters, asking for more power to reform California.

The state is $6 billion in the red, and Schwarzenegger called a $50 million special election for a list of voter initiatives, which would give him more control over spending, public employees and political redistricting.

"He thought he could go and lead the people on a march to Sacramento with pitchforks and take over the place," said Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton. "Well, it doesn't work that way in America."

At least three of the four initiatives appear to be headed for defeat. With Schwarzenegger's approval rating below 40 percent, he has succeeded, at least, in making a lot of voters angry.

Schwarzenegger hasn't yet found an approach that works for him.

He's used insults, calling his opponents "girly men," and he's railed against unions, calling them "special interests."

More recently, he's tried using humility. "I've had a lot to learn, and sometimes I've learned the hard way," Schwarzenegger says in a new television ad.

Now it's come down to a big gamble -- going back to the voters.

"If these initiatives are largely or entirely defeated, and the relationship between him and the legislature only gets worse, it's hard to see why he would want to come back to Sacramento for four more years," said Republican consultant Dan Schnur.

It remains to be seen. From bodybuilder to actor to politician, Schwarzenegger tends to be a survivor.

ABC News' Brian Rooney filed this report for "World News Tonight."