Gov. Schwarzenegger said he would consider a cabinet position if Obama offered one.

(CNN)—California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who endorsed John McCain’s presidential run before his state’s February primary, said Sunday he would consider accepting an energy-related cabinet position from Democrat Barack Obama if the offer were extended.

“I’m always ready to help in anyway I can,” the California Republican told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, describing himself as a committed public servant. “I’d take his call now, and I’d take his call when he’s president anytime.”

The former box office star-turned-politician said he is through with his days acting and body building, and plans to travel the world promoting energy independence after leaving the governor’s mansion, whether or not he joins the next administration.

California, a predominantly Democratic state, is thought by some analysts to be somewhat of a long-shot for McCain in November. But Schwarzenegger encouraged the presumptive Republican nominee to continue to campaigning, telling ABC that one in five California voters are swing or independent voters.

Schwarzenegger also defended Obama from recent accusations that he is shifting his positions since effectively claiming the Democratic nomination. “Flip-flopping is getting a bad rap,” said the California governor, adding that he expects both presumptive nominees to move toward the center now that the primaries have ended.

“As long as he’s honest or she’s honest, I think that [changing your mind] is a wonderful thing,” said Schwarzenegger. “I’ve changed my mind on things and it is nothing wrong with it, but I just say to the people I once thought this way now I think this way. End of story.”

Schwarzenegger is seeking to speed up the recovery process.

(CNN) – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed an executive order to speed up the recovery process for victims of the wildfires that have scorched a large part of the state.

At a news conference in Big Sur on Wednesday, Schwarzenegger commended both the work of the firefighting crews and the 40 states providing support, but said relief efforts will need to continue long after the blazes are contained.

"Putting out the fires is only part of the battle — helping people put their lives back together is just as important," he said. "The cooperation has been fantastic and I am glad to see federal support because we are likely to face many more challenges in the months ahead."

Under the executive order, replacement fees for birth certificates, driver's licenses and other critical documents will be waived. In addition, the governor will ask the Franchise Tax Board and the State Board of Equalization to assist fire victims with filing tax extensions and obtaining relief from
late penalties and assessments.

Schwarzenegger is expected highlight his stance on off-shore drilling Tuesday.

(CNN) – Even though California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is backing John McCain for president, the box office superstar-turned politician will highlight his differences with the presumptive Republican nominee Tuesday on the issue of off-shore drilling, a Schwarzenegger advisor tells CNN.

The governor will join McCain on the campaign trail in Santa Barbara, California, where he is expected to make a brief reference to their different positions, but then turn to areas where they do agree.

WATCH McCain wants to lift federal moratorium on off-shore drilling

Unlike Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, who recently joined McCain in dropping opposition to off-shore drilling, Schwarzenegger publicly disagreed with the presumptive Republican nominee on the issue. In doing so, the governor called the California coastline “An international treasure.”

“Governor Schwarzenegger does not support lifting the moratorium on offshore drilling,” said aide Matt David.

While McCain faced tough odds in winning California in the general election, his reversal on off-shore drilling all but ended hope of him picking up the state’s 55 electoral votes, Republicans tell CNN. The Arizona senator was even questioned about his stance by one of his donors at a California fundraiser Monday night.

As for McCain, the campaign says he will be “contrasting with Obama on his inability to work in a bipartisan fashion” on energy.

Update: Schwarzenegger did not speak about off-shore drilling at the event. The governor and his staff expected the topic would be a part of the panel discussion and that Schwarzenegger would bring up his differences with McCain then. But the issue wasn’t an active part of the discussion, according to one of the governor’s advisors.

Schwarzenegger comment on how he and his wife get along politically.

(CNN) — It's the ultimate political odd couple: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a lifelong Republican, and Maria Shriver, a scion of a powerful Democratic family.

This campaign season has only highlighted the split: Schwarzenegger recently endorsed Republican John McCain, while Shriver made a surprise endorsement of Democrat Barack Obama over the weekend.

But though the two are at odds politically, Schwarzenegger said Tuesday he and his wife never argue about politics.

“There’s never an argument," he said as he voted in the California primary. “I think that Maria has always been a Democrat and she has always chosen her candidates. And I always have been a Republican and chosen my candidates. We respect each others’ point of view."

"And I remember when I got married, I made it very clear when I was in front of the altar — I said 'I take this woman in sickness and in health.' That’s her sickness," he said to laughter.

– CNN Producer Alexander Mooney

Watch Thursday's highlight's from the campaign trail.

(CNN) – After much speculation, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed John McCain’s White House bid Thursday.

Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton continued his tour across the country campaigning for wife Hillary.

Watch the candidates on the trail in latest installment of American Votes 2008.

Related: Listen to CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley and CNN's John Lisk run down the latest money haul for Barack Obama; the Democratic debate tonight; and Arnold Schwarzenegger's pick for president.

Schwarzenegger is in talks to endorse McCain, sources say. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

SIMI VALLEY, California (CNN) — Two Republican sources familiar with the conversations tell CNN California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in discussions about endorsing John McCain's presidential bid.

Two Georgia Republican senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Issacson, also have committed to endorse McCain. That announcement will come in the next 48 hours, according to two GOP sources involved in the planning.

As for the California governor, one of the sources said, "you can safely describe the conversations as progressing and productive."

The second source described the endorsement as "more than expected" and said the conversations were aimed at arranging a Thursday announcement. "Yes, that is the plan," this source said.

Separately, a campaign source described McCain's fund-raising as "beginning to flow more rapidly" in the wake of his Florida victory, reporting the campaign would raise more than $1 million at events in California scheduled around Wednesday's CNN Republican debate.

UPDATE: In an interview on The Situation Room, Schwarzenegger seemed to indicate he would not endorse a candidate before California's February 5 primary.

"I've always said that I would stay out of the whole thing of endorsing anybody until our primaries are over, so I think that's exactly what I'm going to do," he said.

Pressed by CNN's Wolf Blitzer if it was right to assume he would not endorse before February 5, Schwarzenegger said, "Well, no, I just say that at this point I have nothing to announce, and so I'm sorry to say — I know you want to get the information and get the scoop, and CNN should have the first scoop on something like that, as is of course clear to me, but I have nothing really to announce today."

– CNN Chief National Correspondent John King

President Bush and Schwarzenegger this morning in California.

TORRANCE, California (CNN) — Touring a helicopter plant here with President Bush on Wednesday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to show off some of his best Hollywood lines. But it was Bush who got the last laugh.

Speaking to employees of the Robinson Helicopter Company, the "Governator" joked about the previous time he had been to the factory. "I said I'll … be … baaaack," Schwarzenegger said, rattling off his famous line from the 1984 flick "The Terminator."

Schwarzenegger again recalled his days as an Action Hero by offering to give Bush a ride on one of the massive helicopters surrounding the two men. "Mr. President, if you want me to take you for a spin in one of these helicopters, I'm happy to," the governor said, noting he had "flown them in the movies."

The crowd was loving it, so Schwarzenegger could not resist touting the $150 billion economic stimulus plan floating through Congress with a reference to that old "Saturday Night Live" skit about the body-builder-turned-actor-turned-governor. He urged the Senate to complete action on the plan, saying with a smile that it will "pump up the housing market."

Bush was laughing throughout the monologue, though when it was his turn to speak he tried to focus on the serious topic of the shaky economy. The president said he came to visit the largest helicopter company in the world to tout the benefits of free trade, prodding Congress to approve pending agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. He also once again prodded the Senate to finish the stimulus package as soon as possible.

But then Bush couldn't resist wrapping up with a friendly poke at the governor, saying the leader of the free world doesn't need a lift.

"Governor," Bush quipped, "I've got my own helicopter driver, thank you."

–CNN White House Correspondent Ed Henry

Watch the Best Political Team on TV analyze Schwarzenegger's management of the wildfires.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider and Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley were in the Situation Room Friday. They watched California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a press conference and then weighed in on how they think he's handled the Golden State's wildfire crisis so far this week.

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

Watch CNN's John King report Schwarzenegger's response to the fires is aided by his star power.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — CNN's John King sits down with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and reports how his celebrity is aiding his response to the California wildfires.

Watch Bill Schneider's report about California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

(CNN) — He's been an action hero in blockbuster Hollywood movies.  But, how's he doing now as California battles raging wildfires?  Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider reports on how Gov. Schwarzenegger, R-California, is handling the fires and has handled similar crises in the Golden State in the past.

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-California

(CNN)–Arnold Schwarzenegger says his party is losing numbers, and it is time to welcome independents and centrists to the ranks of the California Republican party.

"In movie terms, we are dying at the box office. We are not filling the seats," the California governor said. "Now, while the number of California Republicans has been declining, the number of independents has been growing. They may well outnumber both political parties in just 20 years." Schwarzenegger made the comments in an address to the California Republican party state convention.

"The real opportunity for Republicans is that independents generally agree with our core principles," he said. "I want to make the Republican Party welcoming to these Independents."

Schwarzenegger has been critical of some Republicans who have proposed that independents not be allowed to vote in Republican primaries.

Schwarzenegger said the goal of any party is to win elections, to become a majority and advance its ideas. "How do we succeed at that?," he asked. "By including, not excluding. By being open to new ideas, not rejecting them out of hand. By expanding into the center, not falling back upon ourselves into a smaller and smaller corner."

"If our party doesn't address the needs of the people - the needs of Republicans themselves," he said, "the voters, registered Republicans included, will look elsewhere for their political affiliation."

Although he stressed the importance of including people with more centrist and moderate views in the party, Schwarzenegger still made it a point to burnish his own credentials. "I have been a Republican since Nixon."

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg made news earlier this year when he announced he was leaving the Republican party and becoming an independent

Schwarzenegger made the comments Friday night in Indian Wells, California.

– CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford

Edwards has spent the weekend campaigning in New Hampshire.

(CNN) — Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said Sunday that Congress needs to use every tool available to push for an Iraq troop withdrawal.

"I think America said very clearly in the November 2006 election that they wanted a very different course in Iraq," Edwards said on Face the Nation. "And I think the Congress has a responsibility under that mandate."

"I think they should stand their ground," he said. "I think they should not submit a single funding bill to the president for the war that doesn't have a timetable for withdrawal. And I think they should use whatever legislative tool is available to them, including a filibuster."

– CNN Political Desk Editor Mark Norman

Bloomberg and Schwarzenegger joked about forming a presidential ticket Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger grace this week's Time magazine cover, and on Tuesday the two joked about forming a presidential ticket.

"There would be a fight to see who would be the presidential candidate and who would be the vice presidential candidate," Bloomberg said during a joint appearance with Schwarzenegger at a University of Southern California political conference. "He would want to arm wrestle for the top spot; I would want to check the Constitution."

Schwarzenegger, a native of Austria, cannot run for president according to the Constitution. Bloomberg meanwhile has repeatedly denied claims he has any plans to mount a presidential bid in 2008.

But that didn't stop Schwarzenegger from predicting the New York Republican would make "an excellent candidate" because "he's all about fixing problems and creating a great vision for our future."

READ MORE on "Bloomberg and Schwarzenegger: The New Action Heroes"

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

WASHINGTON (CNN) — California Rep. Duncan Hunter said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, his home state's popular governor, is not a good model for the Republican Party.

"I think the guy who's got the most influence right here with these three gentlemen is Ted Kennedy," Hunter said in reference to fellow candidates Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. Hunter concluded, "I think we need to move away from the Kennedy wing of the Republican Party."

Schwarzenegger won support by bringing both sides of the aisle together on certain issues. But Hunter criticized his Republican rivals who have partnered with Democrats on issues like gun control, health care and immigration.

–CNN Associate Producer Lauren Kornreich