But the fundraising drive has also raised concerns that the governor, whose poll ratings still show him enjoying wide support, is violating new guidelines. A group called The Rest of Us filed a petition with an electoral watchdog on Monday alleging that the fundraising groups are controlled by Mr Schwarzenegger.

The governor is limited to collecting a maximum of $22,300 from each donor. He can raise as much as he likes for committees backing ballot initiatives, so long as he remains independent of them.

While critics allege that Mr Schwarzenegger controls the Citizens to Save California group, the governor insists he is just helping them out.

TheRestofUs.org filed a complaint today against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Citizens to Save California committee (CSC) for violating California's campaign finance laws.

The words and actions of the governor, CSC board members, and CSC's consultant were the key factors for filing the complaint today. Not only have the governor and his agents with CSC broadcast their intentions to pull in contributions in amounts at least as high as $50,000 to pursue Governor Schwarzenegger's agenda, the governor and CSC board member Allan Zaremberg have already begun a series of high-powered fundraising luncheons at high-priced hotels around the state.

In the course of my duties I have been following the role of a so-called “independent” political committee that is working with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to promote the Governor’s agenda with certain ballot measures likely to be voted on later this year. I believe the committee is being used by the Governor and his agents to illegally bypass the FPPC’s rules restricting campaign contributions to candidatecontrolled ballot measure committees. Specifically, I allege that the Citizens to Save California Committee is, both in fact and for purposes of the Fair Political Practices Act and the Regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission, controlled by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; and is raising contributions in amounts greater than the $22,300 allowed under FPPC regulation 18530.9 for a candidate-controlled ballot measure committee. Please consider this a formal request that the Fair Political Practices Commission investigate these allegations pursuant to FPPC regulation 18360(b).