What is clear is that Arnold Schwarzenegger, despite positioning himself as an eco-friendly Republican-lite governor, has no intention of lending a meaty hand.
Mr Schwarzenegger's discomfort must be all the greater when he looks at the easy re-election in New York City of a mayor who has remained Republican-lite.
That might not worry the more extreme conservatives within his own party, but Mr Schwarzenegger's brand is Republican-lite and he is married to a Kennedy, to boot.