An attempted recall of Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has no support from the California Republican Party.

Though some party hands have grumbled that the governor is too quick to embrace tax increases and other Democratic proposals in the legislature, Party Chairman Ron Nehring said in a statement Wednesday that the party stands behind Schwarzenegger.

"We applaud the governor for not backing down to a clear attempt to intimidate him during contract negotiations," Nehring said. "California is in a difficult budget crisis right now.  Political distractions do nothing to help reach a solution that protects taxpayers and reforms the state's broken budget system."

The California Correctional Peace Officers Association, which presents state prison guards, formally presented Schwarzenegger this week with a notice of recall.

The governor has seven days to respond under state law, after which the union can formally file a petition with the California Secretary of State's office to begin collecting signatures to put a recall on a special election ballot.

A little over 1 million signatures from registered voters are necessary to qualify a recall attempt.

The CCPOA has said Schwarzenegger deserves to be recalled for his mismanagement of state fiscal practices, including an incomplete state budget that has a $17 billion deficit and is more than 70 days overdue, a state record.

However, many have noted that prison guards may be angry after two years of negotiations with Schwarznegger have left them unable to get a new contract or pay raises.

Termed out after 2010, Schwarzenegger came to the governor's office in 2003 through an unprecedented recall of then-governor Gray Davis, a Democrat.

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