Schwarzenegger declines to endorse a candidate(while standing next to Bloomberg)

[AlCzervik]

Published 12:00 am PST Sunday, January 20, 2008

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Saturday he will not endorse a candidate in the state's upcoming Feb. 5 presidential primary, dashing hopes of GOP contenders who could have used the celebrity governor's help in the wide-open race.

After hinting for much of the past week he would not endorse in the race, the Republican governor confirmed his decision while standing next to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who laughed when a reporter suggested the governor was holding out to see if Bloomberg would pursue an independent run.

Schwarzenegger appeared with Bloomberg and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, at a Los Angeles freeway interchange to demand more federal attention to public works projects.

"I respect all of the candidates in the Republican lineup, and of course I have my preferences," Schwarzenegger said. "I don't get involved in that. I said I will not endorse anybody. I think it doesn't help me any, it doesn't help the state of California any, to go and endorse anybody."

It remains unclear if Schwar-zenegger would also not endorse a candidate in November's general election.

Schwarzenegger last year joined Democratic leaders to move up California's presidential primary from June to February. The governor a year ago said the change would force candidates to address California issues such as health care and the environment because the state would play a role in deciding the nominees, a prediction that seems to be coming true as the race remains fiercely competitive.

The governor has been coy about whether he would endorse a candidate, though recently he has suggested he would not do so in order to keep the primary more competitive. "Now we can see they're all coming out here; we will have debates out here," Schwarzenegger said Saturday. "It's going to be fantastic for the state of California."

The governor has maintained a particularly close relationship with Bloomberg, however. Some have even suggested Schwarzenegger could run as vice president on an independent ticket with the New York City mayor, despite constitutional roadblocks that exist for the foreign-born governor.

Schwarzenegger on Saturday called himself, Bloomberg and Rendell "soul mates" who "believe we must rebuild America." The three launched a not-for-profit coalition called "Building America's Future." It will work to bring attention to the nation's infrastructure needs.

Bloomberg met Friday in Texas with a political strategist who once worked for independent H. Ross Perot's presidential campaign, but the mayor's aides said he will not decide what he will do until after Democratic and Republican front-runners are determined, according to the Associated Press.

http://www.sacbee.com/111/v-print/story/648302.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. The same citizenship rules apply for VP as for Preznit, so--ain't gonna happen

for Ahnuld. I suppose Bloomberg figures that if he had Ahnuld as his VP, he could take CA. But do people in CA even like him that much?

[AlCzervik]

2. i doubt Arnold is even thinking about wanting to run for vp, i think he's just hoping

bloomberg jumps in so he can endorse him. Arnold is very unpopular here right now, the gopers recalled Davis for pretty much the same problems we have now.

[ronnykmarshall]

3. He can't run for VP

[AlCzervik]

5. i know, he knows.

[Tejas]

4. ...and isn't Bloomberg still under Felony investigation

by the ATF? Ahnuld might be paying more attention who (and in what way) he associates with than we might think.