With her kids now in school, Maria Schriver has become an active participant in Arnie's campaign. Statements like this can only help him:

"He's one of the most gracious, supportive, open-minded men I have ever met," the TV journalist said at an appearance in Santa Monica last week. "I've known him since I was 21 years old, and I know I would not be where I am today in my career, as a woman, without his support."

Some background on Maria.

On paper, Shriver, 47, has the kind of background that could help her husband at the polls. She is a niece of President Kennedy, and a career woman with four children, ages 5 to 13.

A 1977 graduate of Georgetown University, she has been with NBC since 1986 as an anchor, correspondent and, most recently, as part of "Dateline NBC." She is on leave from the network during her husband's campaign. She built her career as a hardworking journalist who preferred serious news over fluff.

We met Maria last year at a party we attended for the swearing in of LA Police Chief Bill Bratton. We talked for ten minutes or so about our aging mothers and how difficult it is for them. There had been several recent news articles about her mother's declining health. We liked Maria a lot. She and Arnie stayed at the party for well over an hour. (We met Arnie too, but did not have a chance to speak with him.)

We still say vote "no" on recall. But we think Maria has had a liberalizing effect on Arnie and that should he win the election, she will continue to make her voice heard. That's good.

Update: Maria's mother, Eunice Shriver, sister of JFK, came out today and endorsed Arnold:

I think he'd be a very good governor. He's been committed to people all his life, since the day he first arrived here, he's been a success with people," Shriver, 82, told reporters before Schwarzenegger met with experts on education policy.

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