America's leading tabloid publisher, which last year reached a lucrative business deal with one of Schwarzenegger's earliest business partners, has filled checkout stands not with salacious tales of alleged womanizing -- but with a glowing tribute to the Republican candidate and Hollywood star.
American Media, which publishes the National Enquirer and Star tabloids, has produced a 120-page glossy magazine called "Arnold, the American Dream.'' The $4.95 magazine is crammed with flattering photographs . . .

Last year, American Media reached a lucrative deal with Schwarzenegger business partner Joe Weider to buy his muscle-and-fitness publishing empire -- which includes Muscle and Fitness, Shape and Men's Fitness magazines -- for $350 million. Weider, one of the actor's mentors, brought Schwarzenegger to America from Austria in the late '60s and helped make the aspiring star a bodybuilding icon. Schwarzenegger still writes an ``Ask Arnold'' column for Muscle and Fitness, and Weider is supporting his longtime friend's campaign.

Last month, Weider told the New York Daily News that American Media owner David Pecker assured him last winter that the tabloids were going to ``lay off'' Schwarzenegger and not dig up any dirt . . .

Since the actor has entered the race, Schwarzenegger has been virtually absent from the pages of American Media's top-selling tabloids. The Enquirer and Star have run no negative stories on the actor . . .

Instead, one American Media tabloid, the Weekly World News, this week ran an ``exclusive'' about a politically savvy space alien throwing his otherworldly support behind Schwarzenegger. Under the screaming headline ``Alien backs Arnold for governor!'' the extraterrestrial not only lauds the actor, but vows to help amend the U.S. Constitution so the Austrian-born candidate can someday run for president.