There is only one thing more exciting than seeing Gary Coleman’s name next to Larry Flynt’s on the recall election ballot: the prospect that our next governor may be the same guy who fought in gladiator pits, killed an alien in the rainforest and reprimanded a group of 5-year-olds as an undercover cop.

We’re talking about Arnold Schwarzenegger, the actor who’s been in some of the biggest action flicks ever and is part of the recall debate held on campus today.

But now that Schwarzenegger is seen more through the lens of TV news cameras than the movie cameras, the lines between fiction and reality are blurring.

So, have the characters Schwarzenegger has played affected his professional image?

Whether he’s Conan, the Terminator or Hercules (his badly-dubbed early role), Schwarzenegger is truly the last great action hero.

Schwarzenegger ads hit the airwaves Aug. 29, and he seems as compassionate in them?as he was as?Dr. Alex Hesse from his box office flop “Junior.”

His usual merchandising is action figures and fast food tie-ins, but Schwarzenegger’s new paraphernalia is campaign related. Look around, you’ll see “Total Recall 2003” and “Hasta La Vista, Davis” emblazoned on buttons and bumper stickers.

Actors have been known to experiment in politics. Jesse “The Body” Ventura, a long-time friend of Schwarzenegger’s, won the governor’s seat in Minnesota in 1998. Other celebrities-turned-politicians include Sonny Bono and Clint Eastwood, both Californians.

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson seems to be the only exception when it comes politician/actors. Thompson was a politician first, and a character-actor second. He is noted for his roles in the films “Die Hard 2” and “Days of Thunder.”

And of course there is always the most famous celebrity politician Ronald Reagan, who served two terms as governor of California from 1966 to 1974, and two terms as president from 1981 to 1989.

Ronald Reagan, who starred in over 50 films before he turned to politics, utilized his on-screen persona and transformed it into a political persona.

His Hollywood image (Mr. Nice Guy who courts beautiful women at the local U.S.O. and plays with monkeys) morphed into a commanding political persona during the 1980s. Can the same approach work for Schwarzenegger?

Which Schwarzenegger character will suit California best?

What if his role from one of his first films, “Hercules in New York” became the governor? Schwarzenegger has been criticized for his lack of vocalization concerning “the issues.” Hercules might receive the same criticism if for incoherently grunting all over New York City, as he did in the movie.

In 1981 Schwarzenegger starred in the box office hit “Conan the Barbarian.” If you haven’t seen this film in a while, go back and check it out. Schwarzenegger’s character dabbles in all types of barbarian adventures ranging from dropping some form of barbarian acid, sleeping with witch prostitutes, stealing, maiming and storming a castle owned by a snake man throwing some barbarian type orgy. This role is perfect for politics.

Schwarzenegger then played the role of his life in the box office hit “The Terminator.”

Schwarzenegger’s character in this film was driven to succeed. He had only one mission from the start – kill Sarah Connor.

Schwarzenegger’s Terminator was a complex character. He played the part of a robot that comes into town and destroys everything – sorry Arnold, do you think we want a character like this in the Capitol?

Schwarzenegger’s political persona has best resembled the character John Kimble, the bad-ass cop turned cheery teacher in “Kindergarten Cop.” His appearances with children and his history with children’s fitness and after school programs certainly give him a positive image that may have started with this film.

What about fighting terrorists? His character in “True Lies” is a CIA operative who is trying to stop terrorists from detonating a nuclear weapon. With the current war on terror, who can deny the powerful image of Arnold blasting terrorists from a helicopter?

Pacifist may not like Schwarzenegger’s militant roles such as Matrix from “Commando” and Dutch from “Predator.” There are enough military-minded people on a federal level, we can do without one more at the state.

Whenever this election is held, he will be playing a familiar role, the role of Ben Richards, better known as the “Running Man.”

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