Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Photo: AP/Ric Francis

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger officially endorsed fellow Republican John McCain today in the presidential race. The announcement, held at a solar-energy company in California, is expected to aid McCain’s campaign in the same way an earlier endorsement from green-leaning Florida Gov. Charlie Crist seemed to have played a role in McCain’s win in that state earlier this week. Schwarzenegger cited McCain’s green credentials in his endorsement, saying, “[H]e’s a crusader, and has a great vision, in protecting the environment and also protecting, simultaneously, the economy.” Not missing an opportunity to appeal to voters, McCain said at the event, “Governor Schwarzenegger, I commit to you, you and I and all of the others who are concerned about our globe, not just our states … [will] hand our children a cleaner planet.”