Schwarzenegger Draws a Crowd in Capital Visit

It was George W. Bush’s day, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proved a celebrity draw even at a presidential inaugural, commanding gushing attention Thursday in a quick spin through the capital. He watched the swearing-in, smoked a cigar with a friend in Congress and arranged a meeting that he hopes will yield more federal money for California.

With little advance notice (he phoned ahead from his private plane the night before), Schwarzenegger stopped by a morning breakfast presented by Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas), mixing with surprised constituents who had come for hot chocolate and eggs.

The governor and Dreier, a close ally, then slipped into the congressman’s private office, sitting in padded armchairs in front of a large picture window a block from the Capitol, cigar smoke curling above their heads. Police stood guard as a crowd gathered outside for a glimpse of the governor. “I’m here to represent California, and I’m here for an historic event,” Schwarzenegger said in an interview. “I’ve always enjoyed coming to inaugurations. It’s always a celebration, a new beginning. It’s going to be a great next four years, terrific. I’m excited to be a part of it.”

California First Lady Maria Shriver, a Democrat and John Kerry supporter, stayed home -- more to “hold the fort,” the governor said, than avoid the ceremony.

Schwarzenegger said he wanted to set up a meeting in Washington next month with Dreier’s help. He would invite the state’s four legislative leaders -- Republicans and Democrats -- and talk with members of Congress about military base closings, energy, immigration and more federal aid for California.

The governor is under pressure from Democratic lawmakers to use what leverage he has with President Bush to bring in more money. He sent a letter to the White House complaining of a “severe imbalance” in federal aid. An oft-cited figure is that the state gets back 77 cents for every dollar that it sends to Washington in taxes.

Schwarzenegger’s relationship with the Bush White House has been something of a complicated dance. California was carried by Kerry. The governor has no wish to appear too cozy with the president, lest he offend Democratic voters who have pushed his approval rating to 65%. Still, Schwarzenegger needs White House cooperation if he is to make good on his promise to be “the collectinator,” vacuuming up the federal money he says California is owed.

Schwarzenegger downplayed hopes that his political clout will translate into more aid. Former Gov. Gray Davis couldn’t wrest more money from fellow Democrat Bill Clinton, the governor told The Times. Similarly, he said it is unreasonable to expect that he will get a windfall simply because he and Bush are both Republicans.

“I understand being a governor that you can’t have a city that has a Republican mayor and give them more money than the other city over here that has a Democratic mayor,” Schwarzenegger said. “But we’re going to put up a hell of a fight by uniting Democrats and Republicans and saying, ‘Hey, help us a little bit more.’ ”

Schwarzenegger said the meeting would have another important purpose: defusing partisan tensions that flared over his release of the 2005-06 budget.

The governor said he wants to put the leaders “in a plane. Fly them here. Do it in a bipartisan way.... The natural thing is when you come out with the budget the Democrats complain and attack. It’s all nonsense. We can’t get anything done here this way. So we have to go through all that. Let off the steam now.

“So let’s get together now and not talk about Democrats versus Republicans, but how can the state of California benefit from this meeting -- financially and also to keep as many of the military bases open ... “

After the swearing in, Schwarzenegger and other governors went to the White House and waited in the Treaty Room for the parade to begin. Schwarzenegger spoke to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former President George H.W. Bush, but did not get a chance to talk directly to the president.

He also was friendly with major figures in the administration, watching part of the inaugural parade from the president’s box, while chatting with Bush political strategist Karl Rove and secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice. He refused a chance to upstage the president. Asked by CNN if he might want to run for president some day, Schwarzenegger gave a reply that he seldom uses: “No comment.”

Schwarzenegger had watched the inauguration in the company of fellow governors, on elevated seats to the right of the presidential podium. He sat next to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and the two schmoozed before the ceremony. A network TV reporter came over to interview him, ignoring another Republican governor from another large state sitting one row in front: George Pataki of New York.

Even the newspapers seemed impressed. The lead editorial in the Washington Post on Wednesday -- the day Schwarzenegger arrived -- largely praised his plans for redistricting in California. Schwarzenegger wants lawmakers to give up the power to carve legislative and congressional boundaries, entrusting the job to a panel of retired judges. “Go, Arnold!” the paper exclaimed.

Dreier, though, isn’t sold. Schwarzenegger wants the lines redrawn as early as 2006, hoping to create more competitive races as quickly as possible. Dreier would prefer that he stick to the traditional timetable and wait until the 2010 census. “I support what he’s trying to do here,” Dreier said of the governor, who was sitting a few feet away, listening. “I understand that it’s been very frustrating to see that there has not been the kind of competition in the lines that we’ve had.”

Schwarzenegger, a former bodybuilding champion, offered a solution: “David and I, we’re going to have an arm-wrestling match. And then it will be decided -- even though I know he’s the champion of Southern California in arm wrestling.”

Dreier: “Does that mean you’re conceding right now?”