The American Spectator

TERMINATOR LIMITS br> California Republicans don’t want movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger to wait till 2006 to run for office. They want him to make his political screen test earlier. And given the dismal performance of rookie Bill Simon , some Republicans would prefer to see the Austrian Oak show his political mettle — and true colors — too, before seeking the highest in-state office. So some GOPers are pushing Schwarzenegger advisers to run their boy against Barbara Boxer in 2004 for the U.S. Senate. /p>

Besides providing a look at how the action star would hold up under the political spotlight, it would also resolve a bigger problem: the GOP currently has no one of any stature to run against the ultra-liberal Northern Californian. The only viable candidate who could challenge Boxer — and win — is Rep. Chris Cox, but it’s expected that he will have either a higher profile in the GOP House leadership or a prime committee assignment, and won’t be interested in surrendering either for a junior Senate seat.

“It just show how poorly run this party is out here that we can’t muster anyone for that campaign,” says a Republican fundraiser. “The race started this week, and we have no one to put up. We’ve essentially surrendered it.”

How bad have things gotten? One Republican Party source says that if the White House can’t come up with a suitable candidate, the state party might turn to former congressman Jack Kemp. “Now you know we’re desperate,” says the fundraiser.

p> A SHOT OF CORZINE br> Look for New Jersey Sen.