Arnie Returns to New York to Lift the Party Faithful

Arnold Schwarzenegger will seal his status as a player in US national politics tonight by topping the bill at the Republican party's convention in New York.

The Californian governor's address, which will emphasise his muscles-to-riches life story as the epitome of American opportunity, is expected to be second only to President George Bush's performance on Thursday night as a star attraction.

Mr Schwarzenegger was expected to fly into New York last night on a corporate-sponsored private jet, attend a string of parties and - in a sign of his independence and political distance from the president - he may not even stick around long enough to hear Mr Bush speak.

An official at his office in Sacramento said there were "no plans" for the governor to stay in New York on Thursday night. His wife, Maria Shriver, a Democrat and Kennedy family member, will be in the crowd to watch him speak tonight, but will then return home to take their children to school.

Mr Bush arguably needs Mr Schwarzenegger more than the governor needs him. He will bring an element of glamour to the Republican convention, which cannot compete with its Democratic counterpart in star wattage. No other Hollywood stars will be present.

The Schwarzenegger glow will also contribute to the Bush campaign's efforts to present the Republican party as an inclusive organisation. Not only is he a successful immigrant, his state delegation will be considerably more diverse than the convention as a whole, where only 6% of the delegates are black.

Mr Schwarzenegger will spend part of tomorrow at a primary school in Harlem to promote his scheme for after-school teaching for poor children, drawing media coverage that will help to embellish the gentler image the party is trying to promote this week.

His job is also considerably more secure than the president's. He is freshly elected and, unlike Mr Bush, his approval ratings are comfortably above 60%. Unlike the president, he can claim to be a fiscal conservative, having made at least some cosmetic steps towards reducing his state's deficit.

The convention will mark Mr Schwarzenegger's transition from a peculiarly Californian phenomenon to a powerful figure on the US stage.

Unless a constitutional amendment is passed he cannot become president because he was not born a citizen, so he does not depend on the party grandees for his advancement. He is a relatively free agent.

He is expected to praise Mr Bush in tonight's speech, but will probably not take part in the general derision of John Kerry. He owes his high standing in Californian public opinion at the moment mostly to his reputation as a unifying figure. Unlike most of his party, Mr Schwarzenegger supports abortion rights and gay rights. Some conservative Republicans have been annoyed at being left out of his state's delegation.

His trip, costing at least $350,000, is funded by the oil company Chevron Texaco and a group of other oil, drug and entertainment companies.

The last time he starred in this city, it was a disaster. His big screen debut, Hercules in New York, was panned by the critics. In the 1970 film, he plays the Greek mythological hero who is banished to the Big Apple by his father, Zeus, and ends up cleaning up the city. This time he is likely to play to much better reviews.

It's the way they tell them

Most touching slogan: "Corporations are people too"

Solidarity award: "Standing up for Israel is standing up for America. I can't separate the two," Michael Bloomberg, New York mayor

Most elaborate flip flop: "I was involved at one time in bisexuality, but it was God that delivered me from that." Donnie McClurkin, Republican Gospel singer performing before President Bush's acceptance speech

Most innocent man in New York: "So what's the parade for?" Doug Isaacson, a delegate from Alaska asked the cab driver referring to Sunday's anti-Bush demonstrations. When the cabbie told him it was to protest at Republicans like him, he said: "Me? But they don't even know me."

Percentage of black Republican delegates 6

Percentage of Republican membership who are black 1

Percentage of black convention speakers 10

Percentage of evangelical Christian delegates 33

Percentage who are former Democrats 28

Percentage of delegates who have never been to New York 16

Sources: Nation Journal, New York Times, New York Post