I feel great doing the movies, and I would have felt great doing the governor's race

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger has campaigned for the Republican party for years and his decision disappointed party activists who were hoping for a glamorous candidate.

The 53-year old actor will now concentrate on completing the sequel to his film True Lies and then start production of Terminator III in the autumn.

"I feel great doing the movies, and I would have felt great doing the governor's race," he told the Los Angeles Times.

But, he said: "The movie projects came together. I have to keep up my end of the deal."

Besides his huge celebrity and his wealth - which would have enabled him to run what would have been an expensive campaign - Schwarzenegger was seen as a candidate who might have challenged the long Democratic incumbency in California.

His middle-of-the-road political positions on gun control and abortion were perceived as an advantage in a state generally seen as socially liberal.

"As a moderate on social issues, an immigrant himself and someone with a non-political image, Arnold would have been able to appeal to all of those groups," said Kevin Spillane, a Republican party strategist.

Allegations

Schwarzenegger's potential candidacy had already attracted some unwelcome publicity, however.

Allegations of unseemly behaviour towards women were dismissed by the actor on Tuesday as "trash".

To date the only certain Republican candidate is Secretary of State Bill Jones, while investment banker William E Simon Jr is still considering whether to enter the race.

Incumbent Democrat governor Gray Davis is widely expected to seek a second term and so far faces no serious challenge from within the party.