US: The Governor of California, Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger, might have been reciting lines from his 1977 movie Pumping Iron.
"We have a massive weight that we must lift off our state," he told supporters in a Santa Monica hotel on Tuesday. "Alone, I cannot lift it. But together we can.
"And you did the lifting today, you went out there and you lifted this massive weight off this state."
From that he moved neatly into what sounded like an extract from Conan the Barbarian. "We have removed the financial sword that was hanging over California's head." For once the hyperbole may have been justified.
He has passed his first test before the voters since he was elected last year, winning two votes in favour of budgetary reform.
The first authorises a $15 billion bond issue to cover the budget deficit and the second compels the legislature to pass a balanced budget.
And they were seen as make-or-break tests for his election promise to lead an administration which would transcend party rivalries.
Contrary to expectations, exit polls showed the two proposals were passed by large majorities: 61 per cent voting in favour of the bond issue, and 70 per cent in favour of the balanced budget.
Two weeks ago they were doing badly, but Mr Schwarzenegger has been on the road campaigning.
By travelling the state barnstorming and making a relentless and energetic case for his proposals, he persuaded people to change their minds, the former governor Mr Pete Wilson said.
However, the state treasurer, Mr Phil Angelides, remained critical of the two measures.
Mr Schwarzenegger has also asked state legislators to approve billions of dollars of spending cuts, since the $15 billion bond issue is not sufficient to cover the deficit.