Schwarzenegger Puts Muscle Behind McCain

California Governor Calls Senator An "Extraordinary Leader" And A "Crusader Against Wasteful Spending"

(CBS/AP)  California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Sen. John McCain in the Republican presidential race on Thursday, praising him as an "extraordinary leader" who can reach across the political aisle to get things done.

At a news conference, Schwarzenegger said McCain has the national security credentials to do the job, and is a "crusader against wasteful spending."

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani also attended the event, one day after he dropped out of the race and threw his support behind his longtime friend.

McCain is counting on both men - Schwarzenegger in California and Giuliani in New York - to help propel him to victory in the two biggest states holding primaries next week. Combined, they offer 271 delegates, more than a quarter of the 1,023 at stake in a Super Tuesday slew of primaries and caucuses.

"This isn't an endorsement that's going to help McCain smooth concerns that conservatives have about his candidacy," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "But it's further evidence of a coming together among establishment figures behind his campaign, and in the Republican Party, that's worth plenty, especially in large Super Tuesday states like California and New York."

McCain predicted a "flood of endorsements across this country from both liberals and conservatives" would soon come his way as he tries to take command of the nominating fight after a bruising series of early primaries and caucuses.

"I won a Republican-only primary in the state of Florida but I also have been able to gain the support of independents, as well, which is vital to winning a national election," he said.

Schwarzenegger delivered his endorsement after a tour of a solar-energy company. he said it's the kind of factory that helps protect the environment while helping the economy. "That's music to my ears," he said.

McCain pledged he would work to leave the planet in better shape than it currently is. He has been a supporter of efforts to deal with global warming.

"Green technologies is one of the key ways" to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, he added.

Schwarzenegger's endorsement of McCain is yet another setback for Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who saw Florida slip from his grasp Tuesday after McCain rolled up the support of that state's two top elected Republicans, Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez.

Giuliani's impact was being felt, as well, when several of his former supporters in New Jersey threw their support to McCain earlier in the day.

New Jersey has 52 delegates at stake in next week's primary, and like New York, gives them all to the winner of the popular vote.

His strategy uncertain, Romney plans to offer himself as the conservative alternative to McCain as he pushes ahead in hopes of winning enough delegates to topple the Arizona senator when 21 states vote in the Republican contest on Tuesday.

Both McCain and Romney have signaled they intend to air television ads in at least some of the states on the ballot.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Texas Rep. Ron Paul are also on the ballot.

Schwarzenegger's move comes as McCain plows toward the nomination, the only Republican candidate to have won three hotly contested primaries - New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida - since voting began earlier this month.

"Governor Schwarzenegger is an exceptional governor and we are honored that he has decided to endorse Senator McCain, and look forward to the event tomorrow," said Steve Schmidt, a senior McCain adviser who managed Schwarzenegger's 2006 campaign.

Schwarzenegger sat in the audience Wednesday as McCain and Romney shared a debate stage with Huckabee and Paul at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

McCain, the four-term senator, is running strongly ahead of all three in California. Candidates secure three delegates for each of the state's 53 congressional districts they win in the primary, in which only Republicans can vote.

The ultimate effect of Schwarzenegger's endorsement is unclear. The celebrity governor and former actor is universally known in the state, and his political network certainly will be helpful to McCain, who has virtually no organized effort in California after his candidacy nearly collapsed last summer. The actor-turned-governor also is a prolific fundraiser.

But Schwarzenegger has a strained relationship with some conservatives in his own party and McCain, himself, is fighting to convince GOP rank-and-file that he's committed to conservative values. Schwarzenegger's nod could exacerbate concerns about McCain among the party establishment.

Schwarzenegger also is taking heat from state Republicans who argue he's been too willing to bend to the wishes of the Democratic-controlled Legislature. At the same time, California faces a $14.5 billion budget deficit over the next year-and-half, and the governor has rankled the state's powerful education lobby with his proposal to cut spending by 10 percent from state agencies to deal with the financial crisis.

[terrorislam6]

hey hip hop hussein!!!

tell your brothers and sisters to stop murdering non-muslims

typical of radical retarded fascist nazi terrorislamic jihadist slavers and murders

barack hussein obama(D-KENYA)

"You are all my brothers and sisters," Mr Obama told crowds of excited residents who craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the senator.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5290844.stm

One of Obama Jr''s great grandfathers (several generations back), "Owiny" was said to be a powerful leader of the Luo tribe, which moved into Kenya some 400 years ago.

Sarah Obama, a devout Muslim, was quoted telling Obama Jr. "What your grandfather respected was strength. Discipline. This is also why he rejected the Christian religion, I think. For a brief time he converted [to Christianity], and even changed his name to Johnson. But he could not understand such ideas as mercy towards your enemies, or that this man Jesus could wash away a man''s sins. To your grandfather, this was a foolish sentiment, something to comfort women. And so he converted to Islam-he thought its practices conformed more closely to his beliefs."
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan08/obama_lou%20tribe.htm

Kenya, Islam and Obama Hussein
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/01/obama-islam-and.html

[bdribus]

I refuse to vote for a media-annointed candidate. My vote goes to Huckabee.

[spinster2]

Obama Pastor UnGodly Remark: Natalee Holloway "Gets Drunk....Gives It Up"

http://www.gambling911.com/Obama-Pastor-Natalee-Holloway-Gives-It-Up-012808.html

[denn034]

I''ve decided that anyone that would take an endorsement from the medical marijuana supporting Schwarzenegger doesn''t deserve my support. Shame on you, McCain. Go Huckabee!

[alabamabob1]

With Rudy Giuliani throwing his "moderate" support behind McCain and now "moderate" Arnold S. adding his endorsement, The Republican party is on its way of losing its %u201CConservative%u201D label. I think that the only way that %u201Cconservatives%u201D can possibly save themselves here, at the last minute, is for all %u201Cconservatives%u201D to get behind the %u201Cconservative%u201D candidate who has the most states, delegates and momentum and that candidate is MITT ROMNEY. If we are unable to do this, don%u2019t complain when TAXES are raised, or JUSTICES are appointed. Conservatives must stick together or perish!! Come on, let%u2019s surprise the %u201Cmoderates%u201D and %u201Cliberals%u201D in our party and take our party back! Let%u2019s stand up to Schwarzenegger, McCain, and Giuliani! It will be fun! We can do it! It is not too late!

If you need more evidence of the seriousness of our situation, please read the advice of a FAMIOUS %u201CConservative%u201D %u2014MARK LEVIN, a former senior Reagan Justice Department official, is a nationally syndicated radio-talk-show host. At this link:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDEzMDYzZjBkMDNhYjk0ZjdhZmJlZWNkMWQ1NjI4MGI

Please spread the word!

[news4all]

Romney is the only candidate prepared to fix our economy!

His record for proof:

In 1990, Romney was CEO of Bain & Company, which was facing financial collapse. As CEO, within a year, he had led Bain & Company through a highly successful turnaround and returned the firm to profitability without layoffs or partner defections.

Romney served as president and CEO of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games held in Salt Lake City. Before he was called in, the event was running $379 million short of its revenue benchmarks. The Games ended up clearing a profit of $100 million.

In 2003, Romney was sworn in as Governor of Massachusetts--- Upon entering office, Romney faced a projected $3 billion deficit, but by 2006 the state had a $700 million surplus and was able to cut taxes.


Romney graduated from a joint Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration program coordinated between Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. He graduated *** laude from the law school and was named a Baker Scholar for graduating in the top five percent of his business school class.

Romney knows how to help our economy!

[d123m1]

We could use some business management skills in the White House. I vote Romney! He is our only hope for positive change, and he has a resume to prove it.

[d123m1]

True conservatives should be worried about McCain. While Romney has become more conservative over time, McCain has not. McCain has been endorsed by a NY Mayor and a California Governor who have very lose stances on value issues. McCain is good on the war, but weak on other conservative issues. He is terrible on the borders. How can anyone in Arizona vote for the man?

[news4all]

A vote for McCain or Huckabee is a vote for Hilary or Obama.

Republicans would rather sacrifice the next 4 years to the Democrats than have someone from their own party to blame when the economy fails. Romney is the only candidate qualified and proven to be able to fix our economy.

[cfin5]

Califorsaken''s governor ist eine Constitutional "guhrly man".