SACRAMENTO -- Barack Obama took plenty of ridicule from John McCain's campaign earlier this month for suggesting that motorists inflate their tires properly to get better mileage in the face of skyrocketing gas prices. McCain’s aides handed out tire pressure gauges, mockingly labeled as Obama’s energy policy.

But guess what advice emanated today from California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- a McCain ally and fellow Republican -- in launching a campaign to help Americans cut down on their gasoline usage?

“Here are some additional simple things that I will recommend, like proper tire pressure or avoiding rapid starts and stops,” Schwarzenegger said, speaking via satellite in Denver to spearhead the EcoDriving USA program, along with Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

McCain ultimately acknowledged that checking tire pressure was useful, and his campaign subsequently dropped the subject.

Schwarzenegger spokesman Matt David said his boss had offered the tire tip before Obama did. David e-mailed a quote from the governor from April 2007, and a news account from this June reporting that Schwarzenegger had made the suggestion during an appearance at a global warming conference in Florida.

In his remarks today, Schwarzenegger echoed what he recently said at the Florida event -- that while “politicians” are talking about increasing offshore drilling and use of nuclear power, anyone who says those measures will bring gas prices down soon is “blowing smoke.”

McCain is pushing both drilling and nuclear power, and Obama recently changed his position and endorsed limited drilling.

Schwarzenegger, who may play a prominent role next month at the GOP national convention, where McCain is to be nominated for president, also said: “The politicians in Washington aren’t going to save us. They’re too busy squabbling .... instead of listening to those who need our help.”

Schwarzenegger's spokesman said he was not criticizing any “politician” in particular.

And what of the derision of “politicians” from the former bodybuilder and movie star twice elected the governor of California?

“The governor is a public servant,” David said. “He does not consider himself a career politician.”

-- Michael Rothfeld

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