Where's Maria?

In California, voters head to the polls Tuesday for a special election largely seen as a referendum on embattled Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The last time he needed a political boost, he called on his wife, Maria Shriver.

But, as The Early Show national correspondent Hattie Kauffman reports, this time Shriver is nowhere to be seen.

Schwarzenegger has been campaigning around the clock for the initiatives, but without Shriver. She isn't hiding, Kauffman says but, for the first time, she isn't campaigning.

The two appeared together at a recent women's conference. Shriver declined to discuss the special election saying, "We all know what happens to first ladies who shoot their mouths off. They get sent to first ladies' dungeon."

That, Kauffman says, is a far cry from the role Shriver played when Schwarzenegger was campaigning to recall Gov. Gray Davis. Her support then was critical, Kauffman says, especially when female former coworkers accused Schwarzenegger of groping them.

"He's an extraordinary husband," Shriver said at the time. "He is a person who believes that he can do tremendous things for this state."

This time, however, Shriver is noticeably absent.

"I don't think she wants to get involved, frankly," says Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters. "I think her own credibility would probably suffer were she to break ranks with other Democrats and endorse these measures."

Already, Kauffman says, there's a break with one prominent Democrat. At that women's conference, Shriver cracked, "Thank God I don't see Warren Beatty," presumably meaning, at the conference.

The actor has been often floated as a possible opponent to Schwarzenegger. He's a longtime friend of the Kennedy clan, of which Shriver is a part.

"Well," Beatty tells Kauffman, "Maria and I have been friends, and I go back with the president and Bobby Kennedy and the Kennedy family, and Sarge and Eunice (Shriver, Maria's parents) for many years."

"Has it strained your relationship?" Kauffman asks.

"Not with anybody in the Kennedy family, that I know of," Beatty says. "I think Maria's in a difficult position. And I like her very much. And, I don't know, but this isn't personal, this is a matter of issues."

But it sure seems personal, Kauffman says. Beatty and his wife, actress Annette Benning, are dogging Schwarzenegger, showing up at campaign events only to be turned away.

At one, Beatty told a reporter: "We wanted to stand … and listen respectfully to what Arnold had to say, but we were not allowed in."

Initiatives on the ballot would, among other things, lengthen the time it takes teachers to gain tenure and prevent unions from using dues for political purposes without permission.

This election may be an early harbinger of Schwarzenegger's chances of winning reelection.

Analysts say that after this election the popular Shriver will be back at his side.

"She was very much in the limelight before this campaign, and I expect she'll be back after this campaign," says Walters, "and she'll be out there pushing for Arnold's reelection next year."

Though Beatty claims he won't be Schwarzenegger's opponent, he's clearing already on the campaign trail, Kauffman says.

And Beatty tells Kauffman that Benning would be with him, should he get more involved in politics: "Absolutely. Annette and I are completely in sync."

Polls show that if the gubernatorial election were held today, it would end in a statistical dead-heat among Schwarzenegger, Beatty and director Rob Reiner.

Only in Hollywood, Kauffman says.