At the gala ribbon-cutting for the Tiger Woods Learning Center, the world's most famous golfer has just spoken and former President Bill Clinton will soon ascend the podium. But Margarita Moran has brought her daughter to get a glimpse of the speaker sandwiched between them: first lady of California, Maria Shriver.

Dressed in a dark business suit, Ms. Shriver talks about the public-service ideals she learned from her mother. She praises the civic accomplishments of Mr. Woods and Mr. Clinton (admitting her "crush on Bill" at age 16). As she sits down, the crowd of community luminaries and students is still in the palm of her hand, wanting more.

"That's what I like about her," says Ms. Moran. "She doesn't seek the spotlight.... It's about causes she believes in."

These days the spotlight is seeking Shriver because she is emerging - again - as one of the key political advisers for her husband, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), as he stumps for a second term. Conspicuously invisible during his push last year for four conservative ballot initiatives, all of which failed, she is now back asserting a role in his administration. She has helped to engineer a shake-up of his staff, the selection of a Democratic chief of staff, and is helping to re-create a moderate image for Mr. Schwarzenegger in an effort to reconnect him with independent and Democratic voters this November.

With approval ratings hovering at about 40 percent, the governor needs all the help he can get.

"Maria Shriver is absolutely critical to Arnold Schwarzenegger at this pivotal moment in his political career," says Barbara O'Connor, director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and Media at California State University, Sacramento. "She is key in getting people in a Democratic state to believe in him and explain his credibility, and she is absolutely rousing in the way she can attract followers to engage on issues she really believes in."

Ms. Shriver was considered her husband's most valuable asset in the final stretch of California's 2003 election to recall former Gov. Gray Davis (D), helping convince Democrats and independents that Schwarzenegger would appeal to them.

Shriver was glaringly absent, however, from the campaign trail before a statewide special election last November. Many political observers said the Democratic Shriver - niece to former President John Kennedy and Sen. Ted Kennedy (D) of Massachusetts, daughter to 1972 vice presidential candidate Sargent Shriver - did not support those ballot measures to cut state spending, curtail political clout of public employee unions, and redraw legislative districts - and voters took notice.

"Now, her hand in recent decisions shows she's back on board, and that his proposals therefore will likely be more in sync with California voters," says Ms. O'Connor.

One such proposal, which Schwarznegger announced earlier this year, is a $222 billion public works bill to boost funding for schools, prisons, crime labs, and environmental oversight. Political observers will be looking to see if Shriver helps him sell the plan to interest groups, lawmakers, and voters across the state.

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