Californians are thoroughly fed up with the state of affairs of the Golden State. And that isn't good news for the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Yet by an overwhelming margin, voters don't believe Schwarzenegger should be recalled from office. And that isn't good news for the state's powerful prison guards union.

Last week, the well-financed California Correctional Peace Officers Association launched a recall bid against the Republican governor after failing to win a new contract as Schwarzenegger and lawmakers floundered without a budget agreement.

But so far, voters are mostly turning a deaf ear to the guards' recall effort.

By more than a 2-1 ratio, voters in a new state Field Poll say they would vote against a recall if such a measure qualifies for the ballot. And an overwhelming majority of all voters – 92 percent of Republicans, 67 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of nonpartisan voters – say holding a recall election would be a bad thing for California.

The poll suggests that Schwarzenegger is far less vulnerable than former Gov. Gray Davis, who was recalled by voters in October 2003. In April, soon after the Davis recall effort was announced, voters had already embraced the idea of forcing him from office by a margin of 46 percent to 43 percent.

Among those who believe another gubernatorial recall now is a bad idea is Richard Williams, a Sacramento Republican who is none too happy with Schwarzenegger, the Legislature or the long-running budget mess at the Capitol.

"I really don't think a recall would lead to any kind of real change," Williams said. "No one is willing to stand fast and take the steps that are needed to alleviate the situation." But Williams called Schwarzenegger "a pig in poke" who has failed to reform state government and "is not the man he originally purported to be." And he said, "the Legislature has sold us out" and is "unable to manage its own affairs."

He is among a huge majority of Californians – 70 percent – who believe the state is on the wrong track. The figure is the worst rating since August 2003 – two months before Davis' recall – when 76 percent of Field Poll respondents said California was headed in the wrong direction.

Schwarzenegger's job approval rating has fallen to 38 percent – with 52 percent disapproving of his performance. The Legislature's recent 15 percent approval rate was the lowest in the history of the state Field Poll.

"We've got people running the state who are not looking at our best interests," said James Stratton, a Democrat and retired airline pilot in Tahoe City. Though unhappy with Schwarzenegger's handling of state government, he said: "A recall is not going to work. I don't think we have anyone to replace him. Why go through the expense?

"I don't think Schwarzenegger is the main issue," he said. "The Legislature is more of a problem than he is."

Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo said the political climate is decidedly more forgiving for Schwarzenegger than for Davis, who bore the brunt of voters' scorn for mismanagement of the state's energy crisis.

"I think there's probably more personal affection for Schwarzenegger than there was for Davis," DiCamillo said. Though voters disapprove of the governor's handling of the state budget, he said: "I think voters are rooting for him (Schwarzenegger) to succeed. Most voters don't believe he is succeeding, but they certainly rally back to him when they do."

DiCamillo said voters, by contrast, "had a real problem with Davis' leadership … , and his stewardship (during the power crisis) really undercut all confidence voters had with Davis."

In launching its recall bid, the CCPOA blasted the former bodybuilder, Schwarzenegger, as a "poser" who failed to resolve California's fiscal problems or extend a fair contract to the state's correctional officers.

The union had donated heavily to Davis, who negotiated contracts that met its approval. But Schwarzenegger has rebuffed the union, and responded to the recall threat by saying: "Their intimidation tactics will not make me change my mind because I happen not to represent the CCPOA."

Just 17 percent of voters in the Field Poll said they would sign petitions to remove Schwarzenegger from office.

"In 2003, with Davis, there was a big, identifiable constituency that was ready to recall him," DiCamillo said. "You don't really see that for Schwarzenegger. The prison guards' recall doesn't really have any leading segment of voters – other than the guards themselves."

Call Peter Hecht, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5539.