So Schwarzenegger is in the race. And, by the way, so is Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat -- and the L.A. Times reports that state insurance commissioner John Garamendi, a Democrat, might run, and that Democrats might be trying to rally around a replacement candidate, perhaps Bustamante or Leon Panetta.

This is a mess, and I'm worried about a circular firing squad on the Democratic side, as Schwarzenegger cruises to victory. (That's how this thing would go if it were happening in New York, where I live, or Massachusetts, where I grew up.) Oh well.

Jesse Ventura got away with a term as governor because he took over a state with a strong economy in the midst of a national economic boom. Arnold won't be that lucky. We'll get to see him sweat.