Once Arnold Schwarzenegger began acting like a fiercely partisan Republican, it was only time until his constituents began to view him that way. The San Francisco Chronicle's Carla Marinucci has the scoop on the latest poll out of California that does not bode too well for the Governor.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's job approval ratings -- though still high -- have deflated markedly among state voters, who now see him as partisan and more tied to special interests, a new Field Poll shows.

The poll shows that 55 percent of the state's voters approve today of the job Republican Schwarzenegger is doing -- compared to 35 percent who disapprove and 11 percent who hold no opinion.

But that is a 10 percentage point drop from just six months ago, when 65 percent of the voters saw him positively and only 22 percent viewed his job performance negatively.

"Schwarzenegger's readings are coming down from the stratosphere,'' said Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo. "It's almost like he's coming down to earth, where most politicians reside.''

In another important measure of public mood, the poll also shows that a majority of registered voters -- 53 percent -- believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, with 35 percent saying California is heading in the right direction. That is a significant increase from September, when 46 percent said the state was on the right track and just 38 percent said the wrong track.

Perhaps Californians will begin to regain their senses and realize that although Schwarzenegger portrays himself as an uncorruptible citizen, he is a politician first and foremost. 2006 might not be as easy for the Governor as most had previously expected.