It doesn't hurt for him to have a fight with Bush at this point, which would then differentiate him from Bush when this election hinges on how many Democrats and independents he can get in his corner,
But on the margins it does recreate the dynamic that made Schwarzenegger's election in the recall possible in the first place.
To some degree, ... this election is a referendum on what people think about Arnold's concept of reform.
There's no question that the election is an impediment to negotiation.