Schwarzenegger Endorses Bill Jones in U.S. Senate Race

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed former Secretary of State Bill Jones for U.S. Senate as expected Friday, saying Jones sealed his loyalty with early support in last year’s recall race.

“It’s important to remember the people who were there for you and with you from the beginning,” Schwarzenegger said at a press conference near Los Angeles International Airport.

It was the Republican governor’s first campaign endorsement since winning election in October.

Though he didn’t specifically criticize U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, who is unopposed in the March Democratic primary, he acknowledged that Boxer beat past Republican opponents by labeling them as out of touch with mainstream Californians, particularly on such issues as abortion rights and gun control.

The race is not “a one-issue kind of campaign,” said Schwarzenegger, who, like Boxer and unlike Jones, supports abortion rights.

“We’re dealing with a man who can handle the job easily and has the right philosophy.”

The endorsement boosts Jones’ chances in the primary but won’t matter in November if he wins the 10-candidate GOP field, Boxer campaign spokesman Roy Behr said.

“In this case, it’s especially significant [for Jones] because none of the candidates are well known and their positions on issues aren’t particularly different,” he said.