Los Angeles, Aug 07: "Terminator" movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced his surprise candidacy for the governorship of the cash-strapped us state of California in October. "It was a very difficult decision to make, one the most difficult decisions I have made in my entire life," the 56-year-old Republican said on a television show yet to be broadcast.
The Austrian-born former Mr Universe said he had decided to run in the October 7 polls because Democratic Governor Gray Davis was letting down the people by allowing the economy to deteriorate to a "disastrous" level.
"The man that is failing the people more than anyone is Gray Davis," he said, adding that his wife, Democrat and Kennedy clan member Maria Shriver, had helped change is mind. "The man that is failing the people more than anyone is Gray Davis," he said, adding that his wife, Democrat and Kennedy clan member Maria Shriver, had helped change is mind.
After weeks of conflicting leaks about his political plans, the announcement put an end to one of Hollywood's greatest cliffhangers.
It also puts Schwarzenegger on the path to becoming the second movie star to vie for California's job, after ex-President Ronald Reagan.
"I want to clean up (the state capital) Sacramento. I want the people to make decisions," said the multi-millionaire actor.
Schwarzenegger said he decided to run against political advice because of what he termed the state's perilous economic situation and mismanagement by the Davis camp. Bureau Report