Schwarzenegger Star Power Shines on Bloomberg, Pataki
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Governor Schwarzenegger brought his star power to New York yesterday, making separate appearances with Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki, who are each being named as possible 2008 presidential candidates.
Mr. Schwarzenegger joined Mr. Bloomberg in the morning at a carbon-trading floor in Manhattan. A few hours later, the bodybuilder-turned-actor-turnedpolitician appeared with Mr. Pataki in Lower Manhattan to announce that California wants to partner with several northeastern states, including New York, to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
If pursued, the partnership would build on a “cap and trade system”that was adopted by New York and six other states last year. The system mandates that the states cap carbon dioxide emissions at a certain level or trade “credits” with each other if they wish to exceed the cap.
While Mr. Schwarzenegger was delivering an environmental message, the visit was largely political. In fact, Mr. Bloomberg held a fund-raiser for the California governor at his Upper East Side townhouse last night. The fund-raiser is one of several Mr. Bloomberg has held or has planned for maverick politicians this season. He has two others scheduled for Senator Lieberman of Connecticut before next month’s election.
“He’s tried to break out of the mold of partisan politics, where you do whatever the party tells you to do,” Mr. Bloomberg said in explaining why he was raising money for Mr. Schwarzenegger. “Nobody thinks Arnold Schwarzenegger is anybody’s
puppet. He’s his own man.”
Although Mr. Bloomberg has denied that his alliances with independentminded politicians is an indication that he will launch a third-party presidential bid, yesterday he publicly fanned the flames of a potential run.
During an appearance with the presumed next mayor of Washington, D.C., Mr. Bloomberg piped up after his guest was asked whether the mayor should run for president.
“I don’t want to fuel speculation, but I’d be thrilled to be a constituent of the mayor’s.” Mr. Bloomberg told reporters as he stood with Democratic candidate Adrian Fenty.
A few moments later, Mr. Bloomberg said he was “joking” and added that he had not changed his mind about a 2008 White House bid.
The comment was unusual for Mr. Bloomberg, who has let his top aides fuel the idea of a White House bid but has done most of his maneuvering out of the public eye. He has stated that he plans to go into philanthropy.
Meanwhile, Mr. Pataki has continued to court Republican support in crucial caucus states for a possible run, but his flirtation with a bid has not generated much excitement. He recently opened an office in Iowa.
Yesterday, when Mr. Schwarzenegger was asked if the New York governor should run for president, he said Mr. Pataki would have to answer for himself. The governor did not step up to the podium like Mr. Bloomberg did.
Just a few weeks ago, Messrs. Bloomberg and Pataki traveled to California for events with Mr. Schwarzenegger.
During his appearance in Battery Park yesterday, Mr. Schwarzenegger said California and other states are “suffering” because of the federal government’s “inaction”on a number of issues.
When Mr. Schwarzenegger was asked whether he regretted owning a gas-guzzling Hummer in the past considering his current stance on the environment, he said he did not.He explained that he had a hydrogen-powered Hummer created for him by General Motors two years ago.