Schwarzenegger hints at second run for governor

By Adam Tanner

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger signaled on Wednesday that he would seek a
second term as governor in what would already be his fifth
major campaign since seeking the office in 2003.

The former Hollywood actor kicked off a series of campaign
events this week ahead of a special election he has called for
November on teacher pay, redistricting and the state budget. In
an appearance before an invited audience in Clovis, California,
he said he would announce on Friday whether he will seek a
second term for governor starting in 2006.

“I’m not in this for the short term,” he told the crowd,
strongly suggesting he would run again. “I believe strongly in
follow-up.”

Speaking to often enthusiastic crowds in controlled
campaign settings is a role the star of the “Terminator” star
clearly relishes, and perhaps his greatest talent in politics.

“Anyone who has watched the governor’s political career
knows that he is a superlative campaigner,” said Tim Hudson,
director of the Center for California Studies at California
State University, Sacramento. “He both energizes and is
energized by going out on the campaign trail.”

The Republican governor has signaled his primary focus on
the referendum campaign in the coming months by taking some of
his top aides — including his finance director, chief of staff
and communications director — off the state payroll and
putting them full time on his electioneering effort.

The upcoming 2005 campaign could also revive the former Mr.
Olympia’s fading popularity, which is reflected in his lowest
poll numbers ever this year, ahead of the reelection effort.

“Of course, I’m bloodied, yes. But unbowed,” Schwarzenegger
said on Monday. “I made a promise to California that I will fix
a broken system. And I will do everything I can, and it makes
no difference how many attacks they have on me, because
remember one thing: that this, what we are doing here, is much
bigger than me.”

As in past campaigns, Schwarzenegger is likely to follow a
script in which some audiences are screened and details such as
lighting and settings are carefully planned. Political
reporters likely to ask the toughest questions are rarely
granted interviews.

Even though he is still a relative newcomer to politics,
Schwarzenegger knows the drill well.

After coming to power in an unprecedented 2003 recall
election, Schwarzenegger campaigned for ballot measures in the
spring and the fall of 2004. Then this year he called a special
election despite complaints that the issues he raised could
have waited until 2006.

Schwarzenegger’s Friday announcement would come ahead of
the weekend Republican state convention in which he is seeking
to rally the party faithful who have sometimes expressed
reservations about his positions on social issues.

(Additional reporting by Jorene Barut-Phillips in Clovis)