[JURIST] The California Republican Party [official website] has changed a party rule which allows the party to endorse Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger [official website] 16 months before the 2006 gubernatorial primary. Schwarzenegger, who still has not decided whether he will seek re-election, can now have the party pay for early expenses such as bulk mailing and voter registration drives. The change was overwhelmingly approved. However, the rule did cause a longtime GOP activist to resign her seat on the party rules committee saying the new rule would result in a loss of voter confidence by discouraging challengers. AP has more.