California's Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said Thursday that he is willing to work for Barack Obama's incoming administration once his term expires, if asked.
"I will help in every possible way the administration to be successful," Schwarzenegger said in an interview with Fox News.
He said the only qualification for him to work for the Democratic administration would be permission from his wife, Maria Shriver, a Democrat who backed Obama for president.
Schwarzenegger, who was first elected in 2003 in a special recall election, will leave office in 2010 after serving two terms as California governor.
The governor talked with President-elect Obama last weekend when Obama called him, Schwarzenegger's spokesman Matt David said, adding that Schwarzenegger had previously called Obama after the election to congratulate him but did not get through.
David said the two spoke about the recent wildfires in Southern California, but declined to disclose other details about the talk, including whether they discussed a role for Schwarzenegger in the administration.
Schwarzenegger supported John McCain, Obama's Republican rival, in the presidential election, but has had warm words for the president-elect since Obama won the election.
There are rumours that Schwarzenegger would leave his gubernatorial office before his term ends in two years to work for Obama. But the governor said Thursday that he wants to finish his term as governor because, "there is a lot of different challenges ahead."