Warren Buffett Adds Muscle to Schwarzenegger's Campaign
Reuters
Wednesday, August 13, 2003; 9:20 PM
By Adam Tanner
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Seeking to add muscle to his team, Arnold Schwarzenegger named financial heavyweight Warren Buffett his senior economic adviser on Wednesday as the actor prepared a high-profile run for California governor.
Late in the day, state election officials certified a final list of 135 candidates after rejecting more than 100 applications as incomplete. In its final form, the roster becomes the longest list of candidates to run for governor in state history.
Schwarzenegger was assured a place in the crowded field that ranged from serious politicians to pornographers. Schwarzenegger received a boost with Buffett on board, pairing a movie star completely untested in politics with a Wall Street sage who is the world's second richest man.
"Warren is helping me bring together a world-class team to assist me in addressing the problems and challenges facing businesses, investors and job creators in California," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "Warren has a common sense approach to business issues and an integrity that is unmatched. That's the same way I want to approach governing."
Democrat Gray Davis, unpopular because of the state's fiscal crisis, on Oct 7. faces the first recall vote against a California governor in the state's history. Should voters recall Davis, Schwarzenegger, who is ahead in polls among alternate candidates, could take over the richest U.S. state.
After a blast of publicity since first joining the race a week ago, the former bodybuilder and top box office draw, Schwarzenegger has in recent days concentrated on putting together his campaign team.
Naming Berkshire Hathaway chairman Buffett, whose father served in Congress, could add gravitas to a campaign that has shown more Hollywood glitter than policy heft so far.
"I have known Arnold for years and know he'll be a great governor," said Buffett, one of America's best-known and most respected investors. "It is critical to the rest of the nation that California's economic crisis be solved, and I think Arnold will get that job done."
SOLO STAR BUILDS TEAM
Davis' spokesman appeared surprised by the news. "I don't think people are voting on advisers," Peter Ragone said.
Schwarzenegger started his career in the most solitary of sports, body building, and then received star billing in Hollywood as an action hero who could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in movie ticket sales.
But he must now build a team to help him capture the statehouse, and then perform job of governor if he wins.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Wednesday that Schwarzenegger had "shaken up" his campaign staff, but his spokesman Sean Walsh denied that characterization.
"There is no staff shake up, there is just the addition of people to make sure this campaign is world class," he said.
Among the candidates on the final list were Hustler publisher Larry Flynt and a porn actress who is pledging to wire every room of the governor's mansion with live Web cams.
Disqualified was Don Novello, aka Father Guido Sarducci on Saturday Night Live, for not submitting enough valid signatures. "I really did not want to live in Sacramento anyway," he told Reuters.
Longtime Sacramento resident Davis has adopted a "rose garden" strategy, trying to stay above the wacky political fray.
"There's a lot of people who want to be governor, but I am the governor and I am going to continue to do the work of the people of this state," Davis said in San Francisco.
An aide said Davis has also frequently sought advice in recent days from Bill Clinton, one of only two U.S. presidents impeached by the House of Representatives. Clinton was later acquitted by the Senate over the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal.
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