I'll Be Back to Take Governorship, Schwarzenegger Tells California

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and columnist Arianna Huffington both announced that they would be running for the governorship of California yesterday.

The actor's decision, reveal-ed on Jay Leno's television chat show, Tonight, came as a surprise because associates have been hinting that he had decided against a bid.

Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is tipped as a possible winner now that another Republican, former LA mayor Richard Riordan and a friend of the actor, is likely to pull out. Democrat senator Dianne Fe instein also ruled herself out yesterday.

Huffington - flanked by supporters including Mothers Against Violence, an anti-gang violence group - announced her candidacy in South Central LA to the cheers of supporters and the strains of Bruce Springsteen's The Rising. She is one of more than 500 potential candidates who could be on the ballot by the time nominations close on Saturday. The election is on October 7.

The syndicated columnist will stand as an independent and promised to run a campaign without attack ads or polls.

Asked about her lack of po litical experience, she retorted: "Aren't you glad I have never held political office?" She pledged to put more money into schools and less into prisons.

"I'll close the loopholes that allow corporations to avoid paying their fair share of taxes by hiding their profits in tax shelters," she said.