But after NewsMax's report of a growing rift, Schwarzenegger suggested that he may travel outside California to help Bush.

"I have not scheduled anything at this point," Schwarzenegger said this week during a call to a California radio talk show, "but it could easily be that I travel to a state or two."

The London Sunday Telegraph quoted Schwarzenegger's spokesman confirming that the governor would be available "if they need him to do something later on."

Schwarzenegger's tepid support for Bush, however, may be linked to his fondness for Kerry.

Schwarzenegger was recently quoted praising Kerry: "He's a friend of mine. We go skiing together, ice-skating and hockey playing together. I promised myself that in this campaign, I would never say anything bad about him because he is a terrific human being. I just happen to have a different way of thinking the country should be run."

Despite the lukewarm support from Schwarzenegger, the Bush campaign decided to bestow one of the party's top honors on the actor-turned-governor by giving him a prime-time speaking slot during the upcoming GOP convention in New York City.

Editor's note: