Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he has been getting a lot of calls from potential candidates as Gov. Newsom faces a recall election.
“Just about everyone that is thinking about running has called me," he said in an interview on ABC's “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Schwarzenegger, who himself was elected through a recall in 2003, said he encourages anyone thinking of running to enter the race.
“I hope that as many people as possible are jumping into the race and going for it.”
Some have drawn comparisons between Schwarzenegger and Caitlyn Jenner, who announced her candidacy last week. Like Jenner, Schwarzenegger was better known as an entertainer and athlete when he ran for governor, although some experts say that Jenner faces a much steeper uphill battle.
When asked if he thinks she has a chance to win, he said, “anyone has a chance because I think that the people are dissatisfied with what’s going on here in California.”
But he predicted she will face stiff competition.
“She will not be the only candidate, there will be many other candidates. I predict right now there will be another 100 candidates announcing before the election.”
In 2003, Schwarzenegger ran in a field of more than 130 candidates and said it was fun to run in such a “huge circus.”
He stopped short of endorsing Jenner or anyone else, saying he is good friends with both Jenner and Newsom and respects them both. But he did offer advice to anyone hoping to take Newsom’s job.
“The key thing about all of this is - it doesn’t matter if it’s Caitlyn or if it’s anyone else - to have a clear vision of where you want to go, what are the kind of changes you want to make and why are you qualified to be governor? That’s what you have to convince the people. All of the other stuff is nonsense.”
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