Terminator Joins the Fray in California With Warning to Politicians

The actor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that deciding to run for governor of California was the most difficult decision he had made since 1978 when he decided to have a bikini wax.

The decision, announced on a television chat show, has plunged the political process in the state into further confusion and sent a warning message to career politicians across the country.

The race for governor has now become a comedy drama with new twists and characters emerging by the day. But Schwarzenegger, whose chest measurement is the same as his age, 56, insisted that he was serious in his candidacy because "there is a total disconnect between the people of California and the politicians of California".

After weeks of hinting that he might stand, then apparently backing off, the Austrian-born Republican actor surprised even his close supporters when he told the show's host, Jay Leno, that he was running in the October 7 election because the politicians were "fiddling, fumbling and failing".

He said that he knew that his candidacy would provoke smears that he had no experience and was a womaniser, but he was ready for them.

The star of the Terminator films yesterday warned all politicians nationally, Republican and Democrat, that his candidacy was a "wake-up call" that they were out of touch with the people, who were trying to tell them "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!" - a line from the 1976 film Network. He also made much use of his own film catchphrase, "Hasta la vista!"

A team of around 30 experienced political advisers, many associated with the last Republican governor, Pete Wilson, has already assembled around Schwarzenegger. He starts the race today as a favourite in a state which has in the past elected one actor, Ronald Reagan, as governor, and another, the tap-dancing George Murphy, as senator.

Schwarzenegger said that he had only decided to run in the past two weeks after completing his publicity commitments for his latest film, Terminator 3, which has done adequately if unspectacularly at the box office, taking $137m (£85m) in the US so far.

"I have plenty of money," he said, "and no one can pay me off." His wife, Maria Shriver, a Democrat, member of the Kennedy family and television presenter, would be voting Republican for the first time, he said.

The actor's bid comes as a result of a recall process through which the incumbent, Democrat Gray Davis, faces removal. If a majority vote to recall him the electorate will simultaneously choose a replacement from a ballot that could contain hundreds of names.

The deadline for nominations is tomorrow and more than 500 potential candidates have already thrown their hats - and other items of clothing - into the ring. Larry Flynt, publisher of the men's magazine Hustler, is running, as are models, comedians and a punk rocker. The field may thin out now that such a high profile figure has entered.

The former Mr Universe, who entered films after a career as a body-builder, has been vague on policies, promising to act on behalf of children and old people and to tackle career politicians. If elected he would face a state budget deficit of $38bn and chaos in the education system.

His candidacy appears to rule out a bid by his friend, former mayor of Los Angeles Richard Riordan, who had been expected to run and leads in the latest opinion polls. His supporters said yesterday that he was surprised by the announcement. There are, however, other senior Republicans running, further complicating the process.

Leading Democrats, includ ing the state's lieutenant governor, Cruz Bustamante, have also entered the race, breaking a fragile alliance around Davis.

Columnist Arianna Huffington is running as an Independent, and Green Party veteran Peter Camejo has filed papers.

President George Bush has kept out of the furore, saying the recall and the candidates were a matter for Californians.

Schwarzenegger will hit the road next week, when he may discover that running a political race can be even more painful than a bikini wax.