That's the promise Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's new campaign manager made today in a chat with political reporters, a briefing that covered everything from Schwarzenegger's would-be Democratic opponent to how to the re-election campaign will handle any lingering side-effects from the 2005 special election debacle.

It was the first real reporter access to Steve Schmidt, the political strategist hired by Schwarzenegger earlier this year who's most notable work has been for both President George W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney. Schmidt was also the point-man for the Bush administration in helping shepherd through Justice Samuel Alito through his Senate confirmation process.

In a wide-ranging conversation this morning at the downtown campaign HQ, Schmidt said that Schwarzenegger's record will be a key factor-- and one that will work in his favor when it comes down to a choice between candidates.

"It will not be a referendum on Governor Schwarzenegger," he said.

A few other notes:

* Schmidt said the governor will continue to run TV ads during the primary season in which he's virtually uncontested, but also predicted that Schwarzenegger will be outspent in 2006 by Democrats and Democratic-leaning interest groups.

* While saying he was "totally indifferent" on who wins the Democratic nomination, Schmidt nonetheless voiced more criticism for Steve Westly than for Phil Angelides, accusing Westly of "trying to hide the ball" recently on the subject of whether he favors tax increases. Some Republicans say privately they think Westly would be the more formidable opponent, because he's perceived as more moderate than Angelides.

* Schmidt said the governor "will have a very clear position on immigration" in the 2006 campaign, and outlined that position based on security at the border, and support for some sort of guest/temporary worker program.

* The campaign manager said there are clear separations between the governor's official office and his campaign office, even though key government aides (most notably chief of staff Susan Kennedy) are being paid as campaign consultants. As an example, Schmidt said an "e-mail firewall" software system had been installed that keeps messages from being traded between the Capitol office and the campaign office.

* And the most confident statement was one about the governor's electability. Schmidt pointed to a recent public poll that concluded a strong majority of voters still like Schwarzenegger, even in the face of an anti-Schwarzenegger alliance that spent more than $100 million in 2005. How would Schmidt feel if he was working for the other side and saw those "likability" numbers?

"I would have a shiver down my spine," he said.