George Clooney Planning to run for Governor

 

George Clooney is planning to run for Governor of California, according to his friends.

 

The actor, a noted political activist, is said to be be making the same move as fellow actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and planning the career change after he weds Briton Amal Alamuddin in September.

Clooney, 53, is known to have numerous political contacts - and even counts president Barack Obama as a close friend. 

The actor and director's friends say the president's Democrat party now want him to run for office in the 2018 race.

Clooney once famously declared he could never run for public office because he’d ‘slept with too many women, done too many drugs and been to too many parties’.

 

He has often played politicians in his career - including the character of Governor Mike Morris in 2011 film The Ides of March.

'George is hugely popular with the Democrats and where better a place to put him than as the Governor of California the home of Hollywood,' a friend told the Sunday Mirror.

'It has always been a huge stronghold for the party and one that has a proven record for getting politicians in to the Oval office.

'Now that Amal is by his side it has boosted his credentials even higher.

'She is as far removed as some of the girls he has previously dated and possesses incredible intelligence that bodes well if she ever does become First Lady.'

Ronald Reagan was voted in to the White House after becoming governor of the Golden State and if Clooney was successful in gaining victory in California it would put him on course to follow his lead. 

Amal, a human rights lawyer who is also a special envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, would become the only British First Lady in history if Clooney eventually won the 2020 race for the Presidency. 

In May 2012 Clooney proved his loyalty to Obama by hosting a £15million fundraiser for the re-election cause - on his personal basketball court.

Guests (mostly movie stars) paid a whopping £25,000 ($40,000) each for a place at the 14 hallowed tables, and gave the president a rapturous welcome.

President Obama has previously said Clooney is a good friend who is sensitive about protecting that relationship. 

Discussing their friendship in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Obama said Clooney is low-maintenance and keeps his distance so that Obama won't be criticised for hanging out with Hollywood celebrities.

First Lady Michelle said of Clooney: 'He's cute, too' and joked that there was a 'conspiracy' to prevent her from spending too much time with Clooney.