Ten years after Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the state on a "California Comeback Express" bus to sell himself in the 2003 recall election, the former governor is appearing publicly with a new partner - 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.This time, Schwarzenegger - a seven-time Mr. Olympia - isn't selling political revolution, but a new line of MusclePharm nutritional supplements that carries his name while he touts his newly revived "pumped up" physique.The outing comes as Schwarzenegger, 66, is preparing for the premiere of "Escape Plan," his new action flick with buddy Sylvester Stallone, and the unveiling of his official gubernatorial portrait in the state Capitol. Taken together, his return to the spotlight is the red carpet moment in the rollout of Arnold 4.0.The packed schedule underscores how Schwarzenegger - who heads a public policy institute bearing his name at the University of Southern California - has managed to reclaim his throne as a box office and fitness draw just 10 years after he shocked the political establishment and became California's 38th governor.
The actor, who put the phrase "I'll be baaaack" into the American lexicon as the lead character in "The Terminator," is indeed back - in just about everything except Republican politics. About 1,000 Republican activists will meet for the party's state convention in Anaheim Oct. 4-6, but the party faithful have no plans to mark the 10th anniversary of the recall. And they won't be hearing from Schwarzenegger, who enraged the party at a previous convention by comparing it to a movie "failing at the box office.""Show me the number of Republicans in California who either ask publicly for his help, or go out of their way to seek it," said Hoover Institution fellow Bill Whalen, an adviser to former GOP Gov. Pete Wilson.Still, Schwarzenegger has "been effective at re-establishing the Arnold brand that existed before the recall - the one that got him elected," Whalen said. As he engages in a promotional tour for "Escape Plan" and starts filming a new movie next month with 17-year-old co-star Abigail Breslin, Schwarzenegger is not entirely done dabbling in politics.Last week, he met with Austrian leaders to discuss climate change in Europe - during filming of "Expendables 3," Mendelsohn said.Schwarzenegger is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at a world energy conference next week in the nation's capital. And he's an executive producer, along with director James Cameron, of an upcoming Showtime documentary series on climate change titled "Years of Living Dangerously." And next month, he'll meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and other legislative leaders on the issue of after-school programs, a longtime favorite cause.
But in Sacramento, at least, none of his activities may create more buzz than the unveiling of his official portrait. The work is by celebrated Austrian Irish artist Gottfried Helnwein - who is known for his paintings of stark brutality, children in distress and Hitler.The details of the Helnwein portrait were revealed by Austrian journalist Barbara Gasser, a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who reported that the piece is a neo-realist, monochromatic study of the former governor - decidedly a departure from what currently hangs in the Capitol.Mendelsohn would not discuss the work, saying only that the public would see it soon."He's been so busy since he left office, filming movies ... traveling all over and giving speeches," said Mendelsohn. "There's discussions about doing it very soon. But his schedules have been crazy."
Carla Marinucci is senior political writer at The San Francisco Chronicle. E-mail: cmarinucci@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @cmarinucci