--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gray Davis can run a dirty campaign…" description: "\"Gray Davis can run a dirty campaign better than anyone, but he can't run a state.\" — Arnold Schwarzenegger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_dirty_gray-davis-can-run-a-dirty-campaign-bett_2812229.jpg" --- # Gray Davis can run a dirty campaign better than anyone… ![“Gray Davis can run a dirty campaign better than anyone, but he can't run a state.” quote by Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_dirty_gray-davis-can-run-a-dirty-campaign-bett_2812229.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_dirty_gray-davis-can-run-a-dirty-campaign-bett_2812229.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_dirty_gray-davis-can-run-a-dirty-campaign-bett_2812229.jpg) > “Gray Davis can run a dirty campaign better than anyone, but he can't run a state.” [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A skilled political strategist may excel at negative tactics but lacks the ability to govern effectively. **In simple terms:** Campaign tricks don’t equal leadership skill. Key Takeaway Effective leadership requires more than campaign tactics. Themes politics leadership governance campaign strategy Mood critical skeptical Type political analytical When to use this quote - election campaigns - policy implementation - public office - political consulting Key Concepts strategic communication public administration ethics Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make a good leader beyond campaign success? - How can voters assess governance ability? A Different Perspective Winning a campaign does not guarantee competence in office. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [There was also talk of bringing Al Gore to California to help out, but there was concern that Gray Davis and Al Gore in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-was-also-talk-of-bringing-al-gore-to-california-to-help-out-but/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [There is only one governor, and his name is Gray Davis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gray-davis/there-is-only-one-governor-and-his-name-is-gray-davis/) [Gray Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gray-davis/) > [I made it clear that I can run a positive campaign and do it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ossoff/i-made-it-clear-that-i-can-run-a-positive-campaign-and-do-it-better/) [Jon Ossoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ossoff/) > [A national political campaign is better than the best circus ever heard of, with a mass baptism and a couple of hangings thrown in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-national-political-campaign-is-better-than-the-best-circus-ever/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [And I remember looking at Gray Davis and, you know, Gray is the consummate political operative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-curb/and-i-remember-looking-at-gray-davis-and-you-know-gray-is-the/) [Mike Curb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-curb/) > [We're gonna run this state like Donald J. Trump is running America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-reeves/we-re-gonna-run-this-state-like-donald-j-trump-is-running-america/) [Tate Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-reeves/) > [Education is largely run at the state level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/education-is-largely-run-at-the-state-level/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Missouri remains a low tax, efficiently run state, according to all prominent national rankings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-holden/missouri-remains-a-low-tax-efficiently-run-state-according-to-all/) Bob Holden > [According to today's Los Angeles Times, Gray Davis now gets negative job ratings from white people, black people, Latinos, Republicans, Independents and even Democrats.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/according-to-today-s-los-angeles-times-gray-davis-now-gets-negative/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [(Gray) Davis said yesterday that he is going to fight like a Bengal tiger, which I believe is also an endangered species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/gray-davis-said-yesterday-that-he-is-going-to-fight-like-a-bengal/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I don't want a lot of bureaucracy... I want to run state government the same way we run a campaign - efficient, effective and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-crist/i-don-t-want-a-lot-of-bureaucracy-i-want-to-run-state-government-the/) [Charlie Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-crist/) > [I don't want to say Gray Davis is on the run, but today he released an audiotape on the Al Jazeera network from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/i-don-t-want-to-say-gray-davis-is-on-the-run-but-today-he-released-an/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I've never been a planner. I didn't know I was going to run for the State House. I didn't know I was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/i-ve-never-been-a-planner-i-didn-t-know-i-was-going-to-run-for-the/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [How would Elvira run the state of California? Well, there isn't much I could do that is worse than what Arnold Schwarzenegger has done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/how-would-elvira-run-the-state-of-california-well-there-isn-t-much-i/) [Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) ## More by Arnold Schwarzenegger > [You know, nothing is more important than education, because nowhere are our stakes higher; our future depends on the quality of education of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/you-know-nothing-is-more-important-than-education-because-nowhere-are/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [ I do not make decisions \[as governor\] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-based-on-what-have-i-learned/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [It is impossible to be a maverick or a true original if you're too well behaved and don't want to break the rules. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/it-is-impossible-to-be-a-maverick-or-a-true-original-if-you-re-too/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/for-the-hundreds-of-thousands-of-californians-in-gay-and-lesbian/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I regularly buy and sell cars, but I do not buy and sell fleets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-regularly-buy-and-sell-cars-but-i-do-not-buy-and-sell-fleets/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [During the time I was in office we have seen the beginning of the elimination of the fire season completely and are having fires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/during-the-time-i-was-in-office-we-have-seen-the-beginning-of-the/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That's way I call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/the-only-way-to-be-a-champion-is-by-going-through-these-forced-reps/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [What is the point of being on this Earth if you are going to be like everyone else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/what-is-the-point-of-being-on-this-earth-if-you-are-going-to-be-like/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [What's fascinating is, people in Washington would rather spend time in Hollywood, and people in Hollywood would rather spend time in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/what-s-fascinating-is-people-in-washington-would-rather-spend-time-in/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Do you have to discipline yourself to have breakfast, lunch or dinner? Of course not; and so discipline - the usual concept of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/do-you-have-to-discipline-yourself-to-have-breakfast-lunch-or-dinner/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Women are the engine driving the growth in California's economy. Women make California's economy unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/women-are-the-engine-driving-the-growth-in-california-s-economy-women/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Posing is a performing art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/posing-is-a-performing-art/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I can look at a chick who's a little out of shape and if she turns me on, I won't hesitate to date her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-can-look-at-a-chick-who-s-a-little-out-of-shape-and-if-she-turns-me/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Obviously, I've made statements that were ludicrous and crazy and outrageous and all those things, because that's the way I always was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/obviously-i-ve-made-statements-that-were-ludicrous-and-crazy-and/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [If it bleeds, we can kill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/if-it-bleeds-we-can-kill-it/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) [Explore all 423 Arnold Schwarzenegger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) ## More Dirty quotes > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) Deon Taylor > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [Who gets to be best-liked in any community? Who is the most trusted? Why, the man who does the dirty job, of course, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/who-gets-to-be-best-liked-in-any-community-who-is-the-most-trusted/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Dont ever wrestle with a pig u'll both get dirty but the pig will enj0y it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udechukwu-d0navan/dont-ever-wrestle-with-a-pig-u-ll-both-get-dirty-but-the-pig-will/) Udechukwu D0navan > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/love-is-only-a-dirty-trick-played-on-us-to-achieve-continuation-of/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-the-dirty-window-let-the/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [I'm supportive of women, absolutely, and it's so gratifying to have girls come up and say, 'I'm really inspired by your guitar playing.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-m-supportive-of-women-absolutely-and-it-s-so-gratifying-to-have/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [“She's not the enemy. She's just a dirty fighter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/she-s-not-the-enemy-she-s-just-a-dirty-fighter/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [Mr. Bumpy from Bump in the Night was this funky little guy who lived under the bed and thought eating dust bunnies was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/mr-bumpy-from-bump-in-the-night-was-this-funky-little-guy-who-lived/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [My hair is naturally blond and thin, so I like to give it some texture. Sexy, dirty bedhead is good for blonds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/my-hair-is-naturally-blond-and-thin-so-i-like-to-give-it-some-texture/) [Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/) > [Good guys need to be a little dirty otherwise they're just boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-cassel/good-guys-need-to-be-a-little-dirty-otherwise-they-re-just-boring/) [Vincent Cassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-cassel/) > [People are in denial all the time, hiding things. If I tell you a racist or dirty joke and you laugh, you're telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/people-are-in-denial-all-the-time-hiding-things-if-i-tell-you-a/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) Browse all 1,999 Dirty quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Gray Davis can run a dirty campaign better than anyone, but he can't run a state.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arnold Schwarzenegger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/gray-davis-can-run-a-dirty-campaign-better-than-anyone-but-he-can-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dirty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/gray-davis-can-run-a-dirty-campaign-better-than-anyone-but-he-can-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_dirty_gray-davis-can-run-a-dirty-campaign-bett_2812229.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_dirty_gray-davis-can-run-a-dirty-campaign-bett_2812229.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_dirty_gray-davis-can-run-a-dirty-campaign-bett_2812229.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Gray Davis can run a dirty campaign better than anyone, but he can't run a state.” — Arnold Schwarzenegger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arnold Schwarzenegger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Gray Davis can run a dirty...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/gray-davis-can-run-a-dirty-campaign-better-than-anyone-but-he-can-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/gray-davis-can-run-a-dirty-campaign-better-than-anyone-but-he-can-t/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```