LOS ANGELES — Arnold Schwarzenegger, long mentioned as a potential Republican candidate for governor, told Esquire magazine for its July issue: "Yes, I would love to be governor of California. ... If the state needs me, and if there's no one I think is better, then I will run."

With Democratic Gov. Gray Davis facing a recall campaign that could result in a special gubernatorial election as early as fall, Schwarzenegger's political ambitions could be expedited.

Schwarzenegger is on the cover of the magazine that hits newsstands June 13. A cover line reads: "The Next Governor of California. Really."

But Schwarzenegger's political adviser, George Gorton, said the statement didn't represent a change in the Austrian-born actor's thinking.

"The bottom line fact is he hasn't decided whether he's going to run or not if the recall qualifies, and he's so terribly busy right now," Gorton said.

He said the 55-year-old actor will decide whether to run after the July 2 opening of "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," and only if it becomes clear the recall will qualify for the ballot. Supporters must collect nearly 900,000 valid signatures to make that happen.

Gorton confirmed Schwarzenegger has been having discussions with political insiders and potential supporters.

"Mostly he's been focusing on two things, and one is the movie and the other is Inner-City Games, but occasionally he's pulled into conversation with key people," Gorton said.

The actor is chairman of the National Inner-City Games Foundation, a nonprofit group that provides free after-school and summer activities to low-income children.