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CNN Live At Daybreak

Condit, Riordan Lose California Elections

Aired March 06, 2002 - 05:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning to politics now, Congressman Gary Condit has been defeated by his former aide in the California Democratic primary. Condit was dogged by controversy last year due to his alleged relationship with missing Washington intern Chandra Levy. While stopping short of a concession speech late last night, Condit did thank his supporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. GARY CONDIT (D), CALIFORNIA: I want to thank everybody in the 18th Congressional District for giving me this opportunity. It's been a great opportunity to be in public service and represent them in Washington, D.C. and I'll never forget it. And I'm going to work hard the remaining time that I have there and do everything that I can do to make the valley a better place to be.

Anyway, thank you and God bless you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: State Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza announced victory in the 18th Congressional District race. With 98 percent of the vote in, the Associated Press reports Cardoza has a 17 percentage point lead over Condit.

Another well known California politician has been upset at the polls. Conservative businessman Bill Simon is poised to win the Republican primary for governor over former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.

CNN's Judy Woodruff is covering the race.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After months of running well ahead of his opponents in the Republican gubernatorial primary, the popular mayor of Los Angeles, Richard Riordan, came out the surprising loser last night. He was criticized for not focusing enough on issues that matter to California Republicans and he suffered from something like $10 million worth of ads criticizing him run by the Democratic governor, Gray Davis.

After the results were clear last night, Riordan came out to talk to his fellow Republicans. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD RIORDAN: To our families, my campaign staff, my supporters and most importantly to the people who voted for me today, who believed in my vision of a better California, my thanks, my gratitude, my love.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: Riordan's loss was businessman Bill Simon's gain. Simon parlayed his career as a successful businessman and a highly disciplined campaign into his being the one who would challenge Gray Davis in November.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL SIMON: Do you think that Gray Davis deserves another four years?

UNIDENTIFIED SUPPORTERS: No!

SIMON: Somehow I'm not surprised at that answer. Must we say well done, governor?

UNIDENTIFIED SUPPORTERS: No!

SIMON: After blackouts, billions of dollars of overpriced power and an energy crisis that still smolders?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: As bitter as this Republican primary for governor was, Republicans say they are now united. At the same time, they say they know that Gray Davis may be unpopular now, but they don't underestimate him as a candidate and they acknowledge there are eight months to go before the November general election.

In Los Angeles, I'm Judy Woodruff, CNN.

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