Schwarzenegger announces Calif. governor bid

08/06/2003

Associated Press
King 5 News

LOS ANGELES - Arnold Schwarzenegger ended the suspense Wednesday and said he would run in California's recall election, awarding Republicans his marquee value in their campaign to oust Gov. Gray Davis.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein ruled out a run, labeling the election "more and more like a carnival every day."

Schwarzenegger's announcement came as a surprise; advisers had said in recent days that was leaning against running in the Oct. 7 election.

Schwarzenegger made his announcement during a taping of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

AP
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, jokes with host Jay Leno during taping of "The Tonight Show" in Burbank, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003.
"The politicians are fiddling, fumbling and failing," he said. "The man that is failing the people more than anyone is Gray Davis. He is failing them terribly, and this is why he needs to be recalled and this is why I am going to run for governor."

Political commentator Arianna Huffington declared Wednesday that she would run as an independent, one of the only other well-known names in the race so far. Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, a moderate Republican, has said he would enter the race if Schwarzenegger did not.

Feinstein's decision not to run gave a big boost to Davis, while frustrating some Democrats who wanted her to run to ensure the governorship would remain in the party's hands if Davis lost.

"After thinking a great deal about this recall, its implications for the future, and its misguided nature, I have decided that I will not place my name on the ballot," Feinstein said in a statement.

"I deeply believe the recall is a terrible mistake and will bring to the depth and breadth of California instability and uncertainty, which will be detrimental to our economic recovery and decision-making," she said.