NEW YORK, Oct 28 (AFP) - California's movie star governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he wants to be able to run for president and approves of moves to raise the constitutional ban on foreign-born US citizens holding the highest office.
"Yes, absolutely," Schwarzenegger replied when asked during a CBS "60 Minutes" interview whether he would like to be eligible to contest the presidency.
"Why not? With my way of thinking, you always shoot for the top," the Austrian-born star of the "Terminator" movies said in the interview to be broadcast on Sunday.
While favouring proposals for amending the constitution, the former Mr. Universe said he was currently too involved in the job of governing California to think about the White House.
"Ten being the highest, I would give myself an eight," he said of his gubernatorial performance so far. "I think I fell short on some of the things."
One of the most popular Republicans in the country, Schwarzenegger is due to appear with President George W. Bush at a rally in the battleground state of Ohio on Friday, as part of a final campaign push before the November 2 election.
He had previously voiced some reluctance to campaign for the president outside California.
Schwarzenegger is a social liberal, supporting abortion rights, stem cell research, gun control and even gay marriage -- issues to which Bush is staunchly opposed.
10/28/2004 15:44 GMT - AFP