True, but I think Arnold is a bit of a different case.

It's a good thing we have non residents to set us straight on what it's like here. I'd hate to think I was misunderstanding the state politics for an entire decade.

How so?

I'm not telling you what it's like there, I'm saying he won't win.

No one said he would

jwb bringing back his old friend

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon...._AC_SX425_.jpg

so you weren't being sarcastic when you said "but sure, they'd never vote for Trump"?

No I was conceding the point

Maybe I just don't understand your point then. That there are conservatives in Cali?

Well, as far as I remember (I'm not a resident of Cali, I've only read about this stuff), Dems at the time were displeased with the incumbent governor (D). As a result, a sizeable share of them voted for Arnold (R). Like Trump, the celebrity factor and the wildcard factor he had probably worked in his favor. I believe about half of independents in Cali swung for Arnold.

I don't think, but correct me if I'm wrong, that the number of Dems in Cali that swung for Arnold and the number of independents in Cali that swung for Arnold are similar to the numbers of Dems/Independents that swing Republican in most recent presidential elections in Cali.

Arnold, of course, was not an average candidate, and, as far as I remember, though he was a Republican, he was fairly moderate in his beliefs and policy proposals.