Bush, Arnold stage a lovefest

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Looking to each other for political support, President Bush embraced Arnold Schwarzenegger as "a fine and strong leader" Thursday and the governor-elect returned the compliment by saying California has no greater ally in Washington.

The political lovefest, on a stage with a huge American flag as backdrop, followed a half-hour of private talks in Bush's hotel suite and then in his limousine as they rode together to a speech where Schwarzenegger introduced the president.

After trading compliments, Bush delivered an address setting the stage for his trip to Asia and Australia, a journey focusing on trade and the war on terror.

Planning to raise complaints that China and Japan are reaping unfair trade advantages by intervening in currency markets, Bush said, "We need a level playing field when it comes to trade. And a level playing field will help us create jobs here in America."

Immediately after his speech, Bush boarded Air Force One and headed for Tokyo, his first stop.

Schwarzenegger, coming into office facing a budget deficit of at least $8 billion and possibly as much as $20 billion, is looking to Bush for federal help to bail out California.

Bush, in turn, is hoping the new Republican governor will flex his political muscle to help the president carry California in next year's White House race. Bush lost the state by more than 1.2 million votes in 2000.

Standing alongside Bush, Schwarzenegger said California is "facing right now some serious challenges. But after speaking with the president this morning at great length about the problems of California, I can tell you one thing: that there is no greater ally that this golden state has in Washington than our president, my dear friend, President George W. Bush."