Arnie for president - and a £100k payout

A British punter stands to land a £100,000 (€140,000) pay-out if Arnold Schwarzenegger follows his electoral success in California by making it all the way to the White House, it emerged today.

Bookmaker William Hill said the 56-year-old Terminator star had been heavily backed to end up in the Oval Office, even though under the current American constitution only those born on US soil can become President.

Hills, which had made Schwarzenegger 4/9 favourite to become Governor of California, face a total payout of up to half a million pounds if the rules are changed and Schwarzenegger is elected President.

A spokesman for the firm confirmed that one client – Robert Coppini from Little Acton, near Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs, UK – had already wagered £200 (€282) on Arnie for President at odds of 500/1 and now stood to win £100,000 (€140,000).

Hills have now slashed the odds about President Schwarzenegger to 50/1.