Riordan "Stunned" by Friend, Aide Says

Riordan was "stunned" when he learned from a television newscast that Schwarzenegger would challenge Gov. Gray Davis for the state's top post, according to one of Riordan's closest confidants. The two-term mayor believed Schwarzenegger had committed to sitting out the race, leaving Riordan free to run without contesting his friend, the confidant said.

Of the two, Riordan led in most polls. As late as Wednesday morning, he had spoken to Schwarzenegger and gotten no inkling that the movie hero was about to announce his first run for public office -- taking the plunge in a "Tonight Show" appearance with host Jay Leno.

"So this is what it feels like to be mugged," said the Riordan advisor, who asked not to be named.

The two Republicans had been saying for weeks that they were working closely together and that only one would enter the race for governor. Their intent: to avoid splitting the vote among their likely supporters -- moderates of both parties and independents.

Schwarzenegger and his top political aides could not be reached for a response. Riordan also was unavailable Wednesday night, but the advisor said the 73-year-old multimillionaire might still decide to enter the race.

Schwarzenegger painted a different picture of his interaction with Riordan in a brief news conference outside the Burbank studio where he appeared with Leno. He described a two-week discussion with his family that finally "crystallized" his intention to run.

As for Riordan, Schwarzenegger indicated that he and his ally had deliberately maintained the suspense. "We wanted to make sure everyone was guessing -- who is going to do it?"

That remark particularly galled the Riordan advisor, who said there was no such collaboration: "This idea that we have worked together, keeping people guessing and all this for the last few weeks is [ridiculous]."

It remains unclear whether Schwarzenegger's announcement completes a heart-wrenching, two-week deliberation, as the actor suggested, or was merely a masterful piece of timing.

What is clear is that few outside the Schwarzenegger camp saw it coming or let on that it might happen.

Most of his closest political advisors insisted as late as midday that they did not expect Schwarzenegger to enter the contest.