Endorsed John McCain for President

On 31/01/2008, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger officially endorsed Senator John McCain for the Republican presidential nomination during a visit to a solar technology company in Los Angeles. The announcement came five days before the Super Tuesday primaries and shortly after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani withdrew from the race. Schwarzenegger had previously declined to support a candidate while both McCain and Giuliani, whom he considered close friends, were still competing. During the appearance, Schwarzenegger praised McCain as a “great American hero” and described him as an “extraordinary leader.” He highlighted McCain’s bipartisan approach and pointed to shared priorities including environmental policy and economic issues. The event took place at a renewable energy business, aligning the endorsement with Schwarzenegger’s focus on climate and clean technology initiatives during his governorship. The endorsement drew national attention due to California’s importance in the upcoming Super Tuesday contests. California held the largest delegate count among Republican primaries that day, with 173 delegates at stake. McCain went on to win the California Republican primary, securing nearly all of the state’s delegates and strengthening his path toward the party’s nomination.