Arnie wins governorship, say polls
Movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger stormed to victory in the race to become governor of California, according to exit polls released today.
Major US television networks said the Republican action hero polled well ahead of his nearest rivals in the two-part ballot.
Exit polls for CNN and Fox News also found that current governor, Gray Davis, was “recalled”, or thrown out of office amid complaints that he mismanaged the state economy, the polls suggested.
The exit polls suggested that more than 70% of voters had been dissatisfied with Mr Davis. Around 55% called for him to be recalled.
Early confirmed results, with over a fifth of precincts having declared, gave Schwarzenegger more than 1.1 million votes and Mr Bustamante just over 700,000.
Conceding defeat to Austrian-born Schwarzenegger, conservative Republican state Senator Tom McClintock said he had spoken to the “governor elect” and offered his “wholehearted support”.
In a speech to supporters he described the result as a “great day for California” adding that the people had responded “to a common danger” and done their “duty as citizens” in recalling Mr Davis.
Mr Davis had served just 11 months of his second term as Governor before being recalled.
The vote was a historic move only the second time in history that a US governor had been recalled.
Schwarzenegger's apparent victory came despite claims in recent days that he was a serial groper who once said he admired Hitler.
And as the polls were closing, Democrats were claiming that 300,000 people had been unable to cast their votes.
The complaints raised the possibility of post-vote acrimony and maybe even legal challenges to the result, although no direct threats were made.
Lieutenant Governor, Democrat Cruz Bustamante, speaking shortly before polls closed, said he was prepared to work with 56-year-old Schwarzenegger.
Mr Bustamante was Schwarzenegger’s closest rival in the election, always on his tail in the opinion polls.
Mr Davis, speaking before the polls closed at 4am Irish time, said he was prepared to work with Schwarzenegger during the transition period.
It will be several weeks before Schwarzenegger is formally declared governor. Challenges to the result could delay the process.
Mr Davis has faced fierce criticism for his handling of California’s economy.
Five years ago California had a surplus of £12.5bn (€10.6bn) but the state now has a deficit bigger than the other 49 states combined.
California also endured energy crises in 2000 and 2001, with the state suffering enforced blackouts as the utility companies could not honour their debts to generator companies.
