(San Jose Mercury News) With a new poll showing Californians growing ever-more skeptical of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his ``Year for Reform'' agenda, thousands of demonstrators converged on the Capitol and downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday for the largest protests of the Republican governor's administration. ... Wednesday's rallies marked the culmination of months of intense protest by a broad coalition of nurses, teachers, firefighters, police officers, students and state workers who have spent millions on television ads slamming the governor.

Under a withering Central Valley sun, demonstrators spilled down the south Capitol steps, across the lawn and onto the street with a sea of signs and banners reading ``Arnold can't be bought: Big business already owns him,'' ``Real heroes keep their promises'' and ``Students are our special interests.''

One state law enforcement official estimated the crowd at 5,000 to 10,000, while organizers said as many as 17,000 protesters were on hand. Thousands more joined the companion rally in Los Angeles, and 300 people turned out in Morgan Hill for a protest organized by the Service Employees International Union.

More than 60 percent of voters said the governor should wait and put the issues before voters in June 2006, and the survey found that fewer than 45 percent support his budget and redistricting initiatives. Still, the governor is expected to call the special election by the middle of next month.