Beatty Slams ... The Competition?

Actor Warren Beatty leveled a blistering political attack against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, accusing him of governing "by show, by spin, by cosmetics and photos ops" while imposing Bush administration policies on California.

Beatty made his remarks at a convention of the California Nurses Association, an organization that has emerged in the last year as one of Schwarzenegger's most vociferous critics.

Beatty, a Democrat and longtime political activist who has been mentioned as a possible challenger to Schwarzenegger in next year's gubernatorial race, did not announce his candidacy as many in the boisterous crowd had hoped. But he indicated he hadn't ruled out a run, and said he would continue to speak out on important issues.

"I believe if a private citizen is able to affect public opinion in a constructive way he doesn't have to be an elected public servant to perform a public service," Beatty said.

Beatty leveled several sharp jabs at his fellow Hollywood celebrity and congratulated the nurses for challenging Schwarzenegger's policies.

"You ... have given this administration the massive enema it deserves," Beatty proclaimed, "and shown California just what this governor, his administration and his policies are full of."

Beatty used most of his address to rail against the governor's "year of reform" ballot initiatives and the special election he has called for Nov. 8. The initiatives, which would curb the power of the Democrat-controlled legislature and public employee unions, have spurred angry protests from union activists around the state.

Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson said, "We don't care that much about Warren Beatty, and based on his ticket sales from the past generation, I doubt anyone else does either."

Schwarzenegger wants to enact a state spending cap, strip lawmakers of their power to draw political boundaries, require public employee unions to seek permission from members before using their dues for politics, and make it harder for teachers to get tenure.

The nurses union has been among the governor's most forceful critics, after he sued to block changes in the state's nurse-patient staffing ratios. He called the nurses "special interests" whose "butts" he is always kicking.

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.