California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger(R) gives a thumbs up as he introduces U.S. President George W. Bush at a rally in Columbus, Ohio, October 29, 2004. Osama bin Laden burst into the U.S. election campaign on this day, releasing his first video tape in more than a year to deride President Bush and warn of possible new Sept. 11-style attacks. (Reuters photo)

    LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Hollywood star-turned California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has indicated that he might someday be interested in running for US President, the CBS TV reported Saturday.

    Schwarzenegger, who campaigned for reelection of President George W. Bush in Ohio a day earlier, made the remarks during an interview with CBS' "60 minutes" correspondent Morley Safer, which will be broadcast Sunday.

    When asked if he would support a constitutional amendment that would allow foreign-born citizens like himself to run for the US presidency, Schwarzenegger said, "Yes. Absolutely."

    "I think, you know, because why not? Like with my way of thinking, you always shoot for the top," the Austria-born former body-builder and Hollywood top action star said.

    Schwarzenegger favors an amendment that would make him eligible,but he stressed that he is too busy doing the job he promised to do for California voters to think about becoming president now.

    "But it's not something that I am preoccupied with," he added. "I am not thinking one single minute about that. Because there's so many things I have to do in California, and my promise was to straighten out the mess in California."

    Talking about his performance as California Governor since he was elected last October in the state's historic recall election, Schwarzenegger gave himself a high mark.

    "Ten being the highest, I would give myself an eight," says Schwarzenegger. "I think I fell short on some of the things. Probably the communication with the legislators."

    The California Republican called Democratic state legislators his now famous epithet, "girlie men," for not admitting they put special interests ahead of the public good, and for balking on hisbudget.

    For Schwarzenegger to run for US president, there still exists a legal barrier as the US Constitution bans any foreign-born president.

    But a US Senate panel earlier this month discussed the possibility of amending the Constitution to remove the prohibition against foreign-born presidents.

    Senator Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, proposed an amendment calling for allowing immigrants to run for president after they have been citizens for 20 years. A measure sponsored by US Representative Vic Snyder would require 35 years of citizenship.

    Schwarzenegger became a citizen in 1983, and could be eligible to run for president according to Hatch's proposal. Enditem