Deadline for California hopefuls

Schwarzenegger wants to terminate Gray Davis' career

Hundreds of potential candidates for the California governorship have until late on Saturday to register in the recall election race.

More than 300 people have taken out application forms to run for one of the United States' top political jobs.

Candidates need only 65 supporters' signatures and $3,500 to get on the ballot.

By Friday, 51 people had already done so and 14 had been certified by election officials, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The name on everyone's lips remains Republican movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who shocked the state's political establishment by announcing his intention to run.

He has won an unofficial vote of confidence from President George W Bush who told reporters: "I think he'd be a good governor".

The 56-year-old star's decision to run sparked much concern in the Democrat camp, which had previously vowed to offer no replacement candidate saying the priority was to defeat the recall.

If this recall were to succeed, you'd have another recall Governor Gray Davis

With some polls predicting Governor Gray Davis will lose the October recall - and Schwarzenegger a favourite to replace him - they have been forced into a rethink.

Among those who have thrown their hat into the ring is the governor's deputy, Cruz Bustamante, and state insurance commissioner, John Garamendi.

But the public's fascination with the race has come as much from the colourful backgrounds of some of the other candidates.

Taxed implants

Porn star Mary Carey is promising to tax breast implants and make lap dances tax-deductible should she be elected.

She faces competition from men's magazine publisher Larry Flynt, who is threatening to split the porn vote," according to the BBC's David Willis.

Gray Davis is facing a battle to keep his job

Another candidate, billboard girl Angelyne, says one of her concerns is the abundance of city roadworks, which she says have damaged her pink Corvette.

Former TV sitcom star Gary Coleman has also put his name forward, although he told CNN he would be throwing his weight behind Schwarzenegger.

On 7 October, Californians will have to decide if Governor Davis should be recalled. If they say yes, then they will be asked to choose a replacement.

Governor Davis - blamed for much of the state's economic woes - insists the recall vote will not solve the problems.

"People don't want constant campaigning, and I guarantee you... if this recall hypothetically were to succeed, you'd have another recall. You'd have constant campaigns," he told the American TV show HBO's "Real Time With Bill Maher".