New sex claims rock Arnie
Arnold Schwarzenegger is struggling to maintain the momentum of his election campaign today amid further allegations of sexual misconduct.
The claims already made by 16 women that the actor groped them and made crude comments have cast a long shadow over his campaign to become California governor, which is moving into its final hours before today's election.
Schwarzenegger has admitted that he "behaved badly sometimes" but has denounced some of the accusations as dirty tricks.
In the latest claim, a stunt double alleges the Austrian-born star pinned her down and sucked her breast on the set of Terminator 2.
Rhonda Miller claimed Schwarzenegger pounced on her in a make-up trailer. He also allegedly took a photograph of her breast during two encounters on the set in 1991. Miller also claimed she was forced to hit the actor over the head when he again groped her breast on the set of True Lies in 1994.
Beverly Hills lawyer Gloria Allred, representing Miller, said: "If what Rhonda said is true, then Mr Schwarzenegger has a pattern and practice of preying on women and treating them as sexual objects without any regard for the effect that his disgusting and harmful conduct may have on them."
She hinted at a defamation lawsuit if Schwarzenegger publicly denies her client's allegations.
However, other T2 crew members have come forward to contradict Miller. Hairstylist Peter Tothpal said: "I was the one who took the photograph. I can say with certainty that Arnold Schwarzenegger was not in the make-up trailer at the time the Polaroid photograph was taken."
The actor strove to ignore the gathering clouds as candidates barnstormed California in the final hours of the campaign and as Governor Gray Davis fought to keep his job.
Schwarzenegger made appearances in San Jose and Huntington Beach, marshalling the support of his wife Maria Shriver and mother-in-law Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Shriver called her husband an "example of a great public servant" and greeted him with a kiss at the San José ¥vent.
As Schwarzenegger took the stage, flanked by dozens of beaming female supporters, he said: "To all the incredible women, thank you." He complained in a phone interview that his opponents were "throwing everything at me, plus the kitchen sink".
