Los Angeles ? Politics made for particularly strange bedfellows Monday night as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the man he helped drive from office turned up on “The Tonight Show” to trade quips and campaign for a $15 billion state budget bailout measure.

Schwarzenegger, who used “The Tonight Show” to announce he would be a candidate to replace former Gov. Gray Davis in last year’s recall election, told Leno the two were good friends. The former movie star said he’s even been advising Davis about an acting career.

“He’s helped me a lot with acting, particularly with my pronunciation,” said Davis, going on to mimic one of the Austrian-accented Schwarzenegger’s signature movie lines, “I’ll be back.”

If approved by voters today, Proposition 57 would pay down the state’s debt and help close next year’s projected budget shortfall. The measure is paired with Proposition 58, which would create a reserve fund and restrict future borrowing by legislators. Both measures need to pass for either to be enacted.

The Republican Schwarzenegger and Democrat Davis hatched the idea of a joint appearance to promote the measures over a recent dinner, according to aides for both men.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger with former California Gov. Gray Davis during The