Arnie's triumph 'unique'

From Moscow to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s hometown, the world marvelled at the Terminator film star’s victory in California, viewing it as a uniquely American political triumph with more suspense than a Hollywood script.

“Someone who’s a foreigner in his country, who has an unpronounceable name and can become governor of the biggest American state – that’s not nothing,” French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy told RTL radio.

After partying the night away, Austrian dignitaries and admirers in Schwarzenegger’s home region celebrated his win by claiming him anew as one of their own.

In a local bar, dozens mingled over a breakfast of scrambled eggs and coffee, breaking into cheers and applause when Schwarzenegger’s victory speech – dubbed over into German – was broadcast live on big-screen TVs.

“He’s one of us,” Waltraud Klasnic, the governor of Schwarzenegger’s home province of Styria, told reporters. ”And this is going to push us a little bit more into the foreground on the international stage.”

Schwarzenegger’s victory led the main morning news programs in Russia, where the news broke as Muscovites were waking up and heading for work.

NTV television reported that “the third generation Terminator will lead the state,” where it said voters believed in his promises to restore order and solve the huge economic problems.

“Many still associate ‘Iron Arnie’ with a hero who saves the world from the bad guys,” NTV reported, saying voters dismissed groping allegations against him made by “a dozen charming ladies.”

Back in Austria, Frank Bogen, a 73-year-old former diplomat, said he felt a strong emotional connection to Schwarzenegger.

“He has real friends here,” Bogen said. “Even though he’s a full-fledged American, he has never denied where he came from.”

“His success, at first in sport, then professional and now political, shows America and the world what good workers Austrians are globally,” Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.

The breakfast celebration took place in Graz – an historic city in southern Austria just a few miles away from Schwarzenegger’s boyhood home, Thal.

The night before, hundreds of partygoers packed into the bar to cheer on Schwarzenegger.

Chanting “Go, Arnie, Go!,” celebrants sipped ”Governator” and red, white and blue ”Stars-and-Stripes” cocktails in the bar, which was decorated with “Join Arnold” campaign flyers and red, white and blue balloons.

One partygoer, Lisa Anderwald, a 21-year-old makeup artist whose family lives in the Schwarzenegger’s former home, came to show her support for the man who got her a job working on special effects during the filming of ”Terminator 3.”

“I just wanted to say thank you,” Anderwald said. “He’s a hardworking man - and he really helped me.”

“We are of very proud of him,” the mayor of Thal, Peter Urdl, said. “We went to school together and he was always very driven. He’s always achieved what he wanted to achieve.”

Many at the celebrations said they were convinced that Schwarzenegger could become US president one day if he sets his mind to it – and if the constitution is changed to allow foreign-born Americans to run.

“If they ever change the constitution, it would be for him,” Bogen said.

“And it would be proof that in America everything is possible.”