Kill the Arnold Schwarzenegger-for-U.S. Senate rumors – for now.
The Republican governor said Wednesday in his clearest language yet that he is not running for Senate, Congress or dogcatcher.
Schwarzenegger, appearing at a Cal Expo news conference with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, explained that he has more freedom to make policy decisions (including tax increases, a break from past campaign promises) precisely because he doesn't have to run for another office.
He said he may be more at ease on issues than lawmakers who face re-election.
"The point was that I am not running for anything, so no one could threaten me, because I'm not running for Senate, I'm not running for Congress, I'm not running for another term as governor," Schwarzenegger said.
The governor is termed out in January 2011, and he has never said what he will do once he leaves his Sacramento office.
Speculating on his next move has been a popular conversation topic in political circles. Washington was abuzz last year when Schwarzenegger did not fully extinguish talk that he could become some kind of energy and environment czar for President Barack Obama.
The Field Poll last month asked voters how they felt about a Schwarzenegger Senate candidacy. (Sen. Barbara Boxer had a 54-30 lead.) Just this week, CBS News' "Political Hotsheet" ran an entry titled, "Is Schwarzenegger Eyeing A 2010 Senate Run?"
Call Kevin Yamamura, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5548.
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