Arnie set to terminate political role

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER has played the role of Hamlet more than the Terminator recently, deliberating whether to be or not to be a candidate for governor of California.

Now the actor, who turned 56 yesterday, appears on the verge of opting out of the role of a lifetime. His advisers say an announcement that he is not running in the Oct 7 recall election against Gov Gray Davis could come within days.

“He is at this juncture leaning against a run and we expect an announcement as early as the end of this week,” a senior adviser said Tuesday night.

As recently as last week, Schwarzenegger’s political adviser, George Gorton, said he expected the actor to get in the race. But after the recall qualified for the ballot on July 23 and an election date was set, rumours surfaced that Schwarzenegger was waffling.

A decision not to run could open the door for Schwarzenegger’s friend and fellow moderate Republican, Richard Riordan, the former mayor of Los Angeles.

“If Arnold runs, I’m not running. If he doesn’t run I will seriously consider it,” Mr Riordan said.

Candidates must declare their intentions by August 9.

Schwarzenegger’s advisers say a key factor tilting the actor against a candidacy is opposition from his wife, Maria Shriver, the television journalist and niece of Democratic Sen Edward M Kennedy. She is said to be concerned about the demands of a campaign on the couple, who have four children ranging in age from 5 to 13.

Although the box-office star and former world bodybuilding champion is unseasoned in politics, he is considered a potentially formidable contender because of his wealth, name recognition and ability to draw international media attention.