Beatty Slams ... The Competition?

Actor Warren Beatty Raps Arnold, But Not Running For Gov. Yet

(CBS/AP) 
Beatty implored the audience to campaign against Schwarzenegger's initiatives, which he called "union busting" and "fascist."

The crowd frequently interrupted Beatty with wild cheers and standing ovations, yelling "Run, Warren Run!" and "Stop Arnold!"

Beatty's presence added Hollywood-style glitz to the convention that in many ways was reminiscent of the recall election that brought Schwarzenegger to power. Beatty attended the convention with his wife, actress Annette Bening, who joined him briefly on stage after his speech. Actor Sean Penn was seated at Beatty's table.

Beatty has spoken out several times against Schwarzenegger in the last year, most recently in a speech last May to graduates of UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy. And at an awards dinner in Beverly Hills last March, Beatty said Schwarzenegger should "terminate" his fundraising and dinners with "the brokers of Wall Street" and the "lobbyists of K Street" in Washington.

Beatty played a senator in the 1998 movie "Bulworth" and entertained the idea of running for the presidency six years ago.

A statewide Field Poll taken in June showed that just 24 percent of California voters would be inclined to elect Beatty governor, while 53 percent said they weren't inclined and 23 percent had no opinion.

In an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press, Schwarzenegger called Beatty's attacks "silly" and suggested Beatty was jealous of his success in politics.

But other challengers are already lining up. State Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly have announced they will seek the Democratic nomination. Another liberal Hollywood luminary, director Rob Reiner, has been mentioned along with Beatty as a possible candidate.

Schwarzenegger won handily when he ran almost two years ago but, reports CBS News Correspondent Hattie Kauffman, he seems to be facing longer odds in seeking a second term.

Schwarzenegger recently signed legislation banning the sale of soda in schools, saying, "We are going to terminate obesity in California."

But, Kauffman observes, it's trimming the fat from state budgets that has angered labor unions, from teachers, to firefighters, to nurses.

"He attacked the nurses, he attacked widow's pensions, he attacked firefighters, he attacked teachers, and the California public has said 'No' to this governor," declared Roseanne Demoro, executive director of the California Nurses Association.