California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's bid for re-election in November has got a boost after three Hollywood heavyweights voiced support for the governor.

The Hollywood Trio -- Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and media mogul Haim Saban -- said their endorsement of Schwarzenegger 's bid "is partly a matter of friendship over partisanship", the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

"It starts with a personal relationship. They are friends,"

Andy Spahn, a spokesman for both Spielberg and Katzenberg, was quoted as saying.

The two men also like Schwarzenegger's plans to tackle global warming and fund schools. But further, Spahn said, "they are receptive to the governor's taking a less partisan approach to the job and a more inclusive approach to government."

Few people have more influence in Hollywood than Spielberg, director of many fame movies, and Katzenberg, who co-founded the DreamWorks SKG studio along with mogul David Geffen.

Egyptian-born Saban, who produced the "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" , has created a media empire and is now trying to acquire the Spanish-language network Univision with other investors.

The trio, some of Hollywood's most reliable and generous donors to the Democratic Party, could encourage other Democrats to follow.

Their support could deal a blow to the governor's main opponent, state Treasurer Phil Angelides, by signaling to other Democrats that it is acceptable to embrace a Republican.

Schwarzenegger is a Republican, while Angelides is a Democrat.

Spielberg, Katzenberg and Saban have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Democratic Party over the last 15 years.

Angelides campaign officials said they are not worried about the trio's endorsement.

Angelides has not been left behind Hollywood's rope line. His campaign cites more than two dozen celebrities, such as Barbra Streisand and Jeremy Piven, who are backing him.

Former President Bill Clinton, a longtime friend of Spielberg and Katzenberg, hosted a Beverly Hills fundraiser for Angelides this week that raised an estimated 4 million dollars, according to the paper.

Source: Xinhua