Arnold Gears Up; Issa Bows Out

A day after he ignited a political firestorm by announcing he was entering the recall race for governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger picked up his candidacy papers and vowed to "bring the government back to the people."

Cheers erupted from the crowd outside the L.A. County Registrar's Office as Schwarzenegger got out of a black Chevrolet Suburban, walked up and shook hands and signed autographs.

Later, the "Terminator" star told the crowd his vast wealth will put him out of reach of the "special interests" who want to buy influence in state government.

"I will never have to make a deal with anybody because special interests cannot buy me. I have enough money," he said.

As for his qualifications, Schwarzenegger said current Democratic Gov. Gray Davis campaigned on his experience, but he said Davis has left the state in its worst shape ever. The actor said he's shown leadership in everything he's done.

"There were times people said an Austrian farm boy can't come over here and make movies. You know what happened? I became the highest paid entertainer in the world," he said.

Meanwhile, the millionaire Republican congressman who largely funded the effort to recall Davis abruptly pulled out of the race to replace him.

Rep. Darrell Issa, who pumped $1.7 million of his own money into the recall campaign, announced at a tearful news conference Thursday afternoon that he would not run.

He declined to endorse anyone but said Schwarzenegger's entering the race was not the reason he was dropping out. "It has nothing to do with Schwarzenegger's decision, other than I needed to know that there were several strong candidates," he said.

And now there's news that yet another big name may be entering the race. Republican Peter Ueberroth, the former baseball commissioner who ran the 1984 Summer Olympics, added his name to the lengthening list of would-be candidates when he took out papers Thursday, an adviser said.

Hundreds of Californians have taken out papers to run, and each would get on the ballot with just 65 signatures and $3,500, or more signatures and less money. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Saturday to file their papers.

Those who have said they plan to run include Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, independent political commentator Arianna Huffington, Democratic Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, Republican businessman Bill Simon, Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynit – and even former child actor Gary Coleman and watermelon-smashing comic Gallagher.

Former Republican Congressman Michael Huffington, the ex-husband of Arianna Huffington, had also considered running, but said Thursday he was backing Schwarzenegger.

The announcements from Bustamante and Garamendi seemed to crack the foundation of Davis' survival plan, which until Wednesday had been keeping fellow Democrats off the ballot. Earlier in the day, Dianne Feinstein appeared to boost that strategy when the popular Democrat ruled out a run, saying the election was becoming "more and more like a carnival every day."

Then Schwarzenegger, 56, stole the spotlight when he announced his bid during a taping of "The Tonight Show," telling Jay Leno that it was the toughest decision he's made since opting for a bikini wax in 1978.

"The politicians are fiddling, fumbling and failing," Schwarznegger said. "The man that is failing the people more than anyone is Gray Davis. He is failing them terribly, and this is why he needs to be recalled and this is why I am going to run for governor."

Davis' campaign committee responded by saying Schwarzenegger was merely the latest in a long list of people who have declared their intent to run.

"The more candidates who join, the greater the likelihood that a small minority of voters will be controlling California's future," read a statement from Californians Against the Costly Recall, which was speaking for the governor.