California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican seeking re-election in the heavily Democratic state, stayed away from the unpopular president in an apparent bid to avoid alienating voters.
Many of his recent policies, including signing a landmark environmental bill, have put him squarely at odds with Bush's policies, helping to propel Schwarzenegger to a commanding lead over Democratic rival Phil Angelides.
California voters believe Schwarzenegger represents very different values from the unpopular president, who has a 66-per-cent disapproval rating in the state.
'Bush is incredibly unpopular in California, but Schwarzenegger has successfully separated himself from the president,' said pollster Phil Trounstine of the San Jose State University research centre. 'They know he's a Republican, but they don't see him as Bush's evil twin.'
Bush was campaigning Tuesday in two California congressional districts that are held by Republicans, including one encompassing the state capital Sacramento.
Schwarzenegger left town for the occasion, spending the day in Los Angeles campaigning for a ballot measure that would allow 37 billion dollars worth to be borrowed for investment in California's infrastructure. But he couldn't escape the chiding of political opponents.
Angelides told a meeting at a Sacramento school that 'the Bush- Schwarzenegger agenda has increased the burden on the middle class,' while Democratic State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez urged Schwarzenegger to meet with the president during his visit to win more federal money for California.
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