Arnold Schwarzenegger may not be able to run for President, but that does not mean the "Terminator" will not be playing a key role in who ends getting the presidential nomination for both parties.
Arnold would rather be in the action instead of in the wings, but because the US Constitution bars foreign born citizens from running for President that does not mean Gov. Schwarzenegger has not found other ways to be involved.
By moving California's presidential primaries from June to February 5th, Gov. Schwarzenegger has given California new status as a major force in determining which candidate will get a major leg up for their parties nomination.
In addition, Arnold plans to visit other early primary states to give speeches, but at this point exactly what the former action star plans to say or do remains up in the air. Many people feel that Gov. Schwarzenegger would have been a top, if not the top, choice for President because he is seen as the type of outsider the American public is looking for in a President.
Sacramento Bee editorial page editor Peter Schrag, an expert on California politics, feels the Austrian-born Schwarzenegger is in a very unusual position because outside of President Bush, Gov. Schwarzenegger may be the most well know politician in the country.
Matthew Baum, a political scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, adds that if Gov. Schwarzenegger was able to run for President, now would be a good time because Arnold has been able to successfully distance himself from the Republican Party.
As governor of California, Arnold will be able to direct media attention and fund raising efforts to whichever candidate he decides to back. So far, the California Governor has not decided who he will back because of his friendships with Sen. John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. Not only is Gov. Schwarzenegger friends with these two candidates, these three also seem to have a lot in common politically because all three are seen as mavericks who do not always pull the Republican lines on issues as diverse as global warming, immigration, and the right to choose when it comes to abortions.
Gov. Schwarzenegger has been highly effective as a 'shadow' presidential candidate trying to gain national attention. Chris Lehane, a Democratic strategist in San Francisco, feels Arnold is so popular because he is considered the anti-Bush. Lou Cannon, a biographer of Ronald Reagan, thinks another reason Gov. Schwarzenegger is popular is because of the fantasy appeal he has since Arnold cannot actually run for president.
With the national media never having to worry about a "President Schwarzenegger", many media people will be able to opine about how great a president Schwarzenegger would have been when these media people are comparing Arnold to past and/or current Presidents.
But however way you look at it, the 2008 Presidential race may just come down to who "The Terminator" has selected for termination from the run for the 2008 Presidency.
Read more about Da' Governor at Yahoo News
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