The Schwarzenegger-Obama connection

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office sent out a press release today touting a global warming plan by U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, a Democrat. The presidential candidate from Illinois has introduce a national carbon-reduction initiative based on Schwarzenegger's own efforts  in California unveiled in January.

Schwarzenegger has said he's inclined to endorse a Republican for president, but may not make any decision in the primary. The GOP governor already has held a high-profile meeting with U.S. Sen. John McCain, also about global warming standards, and with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Former Gov. Mitt Romney received a private meeting last week. Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said the governor and Obama have never talked.

Schwarzenegger's log-rolling with candidate Obama came after the senator's campaign issued a press release that said: "I've introduced a proposal known as a National Low-Carbon Fuel Standard, based on the one introduced by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in California just a few months ago. Like raising our fuel-efficiency standards, this approach simultaneously reduces our dependence on oil and reduces greenhouse gas emissions."

The governor's office made sure reporters knew this fact, buried inside Obama's release today about a speech he gave to the Detroit Economic Club. Obama's plan would require oil producers to reduce the carbon content in their fuels by 1% a year. Like with Schwarzenegger's California plan, this presumably would spur them to produce renewable fuels such as biodiesel - in turn creating another incentive for car makers to churn out more hybrids. It would also install a carbon trading scheme allowing slower-moving oil companies to purchase credits from refineries that are producing cleaner fuel.

Meanwhile, this next global warming story was probably inevitable: "STEVE Bracks produced almost 2 tonnes of greenhouse gas when he flew to Los Angeles for a photo shoot with Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to spruik the dangers of climate change. The Premier's flight from Melbourne to LA last week produced 1.96 tonnes of carbon dioxide for each individual on board." Herald Sun (Australia).

(Photo: Stefano Paltera/AP)