McCain gets Schwarzenegger endorsement

LOS ANGELES — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Sen. John McCain in the Republican presidential race on Thursday, praising him as an "extraordinary leader" who can reach across the political aisle to get things done.

At a news conference, Schwarzenegger said McCain has the national security credentials to do the job, and is a "crusader against wasteful spending."

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani also attended the event, one day after he dropped out of the race and threw his support behind his longtime friend.

McCain is counting on both men — Schwarzenegger in California and Giuliani in New York — to help propel him to victory in the two biggest states holding primaries next week. Combined, they offer 271 delegates, more than a quarter of the 1,023 at stake in a Super Tuesday slew of primaries and caucuses.

Schwarzenegger delivered his endorsement after a tour of a solar-energy company. he said it's the kind of factory that helps protect the environment while helping the economy. "That's music to my ears," he said.

McCain pledged he would work to leave the planet in better shape than it currently is. He has been a supporter of efforts to deal with global warming.

"Green technologies is one of the key ways" to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, he added.

Schwarzenegger's endorsement of McCain is yet another setback for Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who saw Florida slip from his grasp Tuesday after McCain rolled up the support of that state's two top elected Republicans, Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez.

Giuliani's impact was being felt, as well, when several of his former supporters in New Jersey threw their support to McCain earlier in the day.

New Jersey has 52 delegates at stake in next week's primary, and like New York, gives them all to the winner of the popular vote.

His strategy uncertain, Romney plans to offer himself as the conservative alternative to McCain as he pushes ahead in hopes of winning enough delegates to topple the Arizona senator when 21 states vote in the Republican contest on Tuesday.

Both McCain and Romney have signaled they intend to air television ads in at least some of the states on the ballot.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Texas Rep. Ron Paul are also on the ballot.