POLITICAL FALLOUT

Maria Shriver is taking a leave of absence from NBC News now that her hubby, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has officially entered the race for California governor. An NBC rep said Shriver saw her dual roles as a political wife and news correspondent as a potential conflict of interest. Speaking of Ah-nold, critics who say the actor is a political ignoramus obviously didn't see the Terminator star on the Today show this morning. During a satellite interview, Schwarzenegger conveniently lost contact with the morning show right after Matt Lauer asked him whether he would make his income tax statements from the past several years available to the public. Schwarzenegger claimed he couldn't hear Lauer's question and the interview came to an abrupt end. Yes indeed, Conan's gonna fit right in in Sacramento.