Backs Schwarzenegger, cites 'side-show politics'By Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff, 10/5/2003
Citing the "unfortunate" events of the last few days, Governor Mitt Romney abruptly cancelled plans to travel across the country to campaign for Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In a statement released last night, Romney said he continues to endorse the embattled actor and Republican candidate for California governor but that he's "disappointed in the sideshow politics going on right now in the recall race."
The cancellation comes after several days of controversy, sparked by allegations that Schwarzenegger had groped and sexually harassed women and that he expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler. Schwarzenegger immediately apologized for his behavior toward women, but he has been besieged by questions about the matter, and additional allegations of harassment, in the days since.
Romney said in the statement that the decision not to go to California had been made by mutual agreement. However, a Democratic source said Romney had been disinvited by the Schwarzenegger campaign because of comments made by a Romney aide earlier this week about Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who is the uncle of Schwarzenegger's wife, Maria Shriver.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2003/10/05/romney_cancels_trip_to_calif/