ARNOLD'S STRETCH RUN STOPS IN SAUGUS CANDIDATE SKIRTS RECENT ACCUSATIONS.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer

SAUGUS - Met by cheering crowds Friday as his campaign caravan touched down at a local business, Arnold Schwarzenegger only vaguely addressed recent allegations that he once voiced admiration for Adolf Hitler and has sexually harassed several women.

Hundreds of Schwarzenegger fans and supporters packed the front lot of Pueblo Building Materials Inc. to catch a glimpse of the gubernatorial candidate as he entered the business for a town hall-style meeting, one of several stops on a four-day campaign sprint from San Diego to Sacramento.

``In politics they try to tear you down, tear down your character. And in the past couple of days, I've felt that,'' Schwarzenegger said to about 100 participants in a meeting in the industrial yard of the Saugus business.

He has continued on the campaign trail in the wake of two damning reports, one that he sexually harassed at least six women from 1975 to 2000 and another that he expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler in a 1975 interview.

Earlier this week, Schwarzenegger admitted to some ``rowdy'' behavior toward women, but adamantly denied ever supporting Hitler.

Schwarzenegger did not answer questions from the press, but his spokesman Rob Stutzman said the movie star turned gubernatorial candidate has already addressed those issues and is now focusing on policy.

``Continuing to talk about it is to do exactly what the Democratic sleaze artists want,'' Stutzman said. ``This is about repealing the car tax and doing away with special interests in Sacramento.''

Emerging from a tour bus bearing his image and slogan, Schwarzenegger's arrival was marked by raucous cheers and Mexican guitar music playing over the loudspeakers. Taking the microphone, Schwarzenegger thanked the crowd and proceeded to field pre-planned questions from a small audience of local officials and business owners.

``We have to stop Sacramento from being the schoolyard bully, and taking money away from local governments,'' he said to a question posed by Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth.

``I want to bring back the economy and bring back jobs,'' Schwarzenegger said.

But more than addressing political concerns, Schwarzenegger made a show of his informal stage presence and personality. Several times, the former bodybuilder and action movie star evoked hearty laughter from his audience and the media.

``What a snappy-looking mayor,'' Schwarzenegger said to the 32-year-old Smyth, before responding to his question about local government budgets. ``Look at him, Mr. GQ himself.''

And as Schwarzenegger's microphone malfunctioned, he joked: ``Who is controlling this? Is it Gray Davis? Or is it the media?'' he said.

``I can say that because my wife is a journalist,'' he added.

Schwarzenegger's antics impressed Smyth, who said it was the best he's ever seen the candidate speak.

``I've seen Arnold in several events and, honestly, this is the best that I have seen him speaking,'' Smyth said.

News reporters from around the world attended the event, and some opined that Schwarzenegger's playfulness was not in his best interest.

``It's another weird California anomaly,'' said Philippe Gelie, a reporter for the French newspaper Le Figaro. ``It will take more than for (Schwarzenegger) to get elected to take him seriously.''

But Schwarzenegger's supporters were smitten.

``I'm sick of politicians who spew out numbers that I can't understand. He just speaks from the heart and I think he'll do something for California,'' said JoAnne Eveland of Calimesa. ``I wish I had four votes instead of one.''

Several GOP state leaders flanked Schwarzenegger for his arrival in Santa Clarita, including former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan; U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, the man who initially funded the recall campaign; U.S. Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs; and U.S. Rep. David Dreier, R-Glendora.

State Sen. W.J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, who represents Santa Clarita, also was in attendance and said a recent Los Angeles Times report alleging that Schwarzenegger sexually harassed several women between 1975 and 2000 should be considered with skepticism.

``That was at a time when he was single and having fun and in a setting that was conducive to that type of behavior,'' Knight said.

Former Assemblyman George Runner agreed.

``I don't believe Arnold has a history of mistreating women, (but) I don't doubt that on movie sets over the years rowdy things happen,'' Runner said.

Earlier Friday morning in Arcadia, representatives of the California Women's Law Center urged Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley and L.A. Police Chief William Bratton to investigate allegations brought by several women.

Nonetheless, a bus load of fourth-graders on a field trip to the event chanted ``Arnold, Arnold, Arnold'' for an hour prior to his arrival in Saugus.

Child actor Bobby Block was there with his mother, and holding a sign that read, ``Yes on recall. Go Arnold.''

``He's better than some of the other candidates and he's one of the only candidates that I know of,'' the 10-year-old said. ``And we're both actors.''

Nicholas Grudin, [phone]

nicholas.grudin(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Republican recall candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger works the crowd at Pueblo Building Materials Inc. on Friday.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer