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CNN Live At Daybreak
Democrats Scrambling to Find New Candidate for Senate From New Jersey
Aired October 01, 2002 - 05:03 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: The fight for control of the Senate just got hotter. Democrats are now scrambling to find a new candidate for the Senate from New Jersey. The incumbent, Robert Torricelli, whose nickname is "the torch," dropped out of the race with just over a month until the election.
CNN'S Jonathan Karl has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): His campaign in a free fall, Robert Torricelli dropped out of a race he was almost certain to lose.
SEN. ROBERT TORRICELLI (D), NEW JERSEY: It is the most painful thing that I've ever done in my life and for it I apologize to everyone who has fought so hard, believed in me and all the causes that I value.
KARL: Just two months ago, Torricelli seemed to be coasting towards easy reelection, with a double digit lead over a virtually unknown Republican opponent. But that all changed when the Senate Ethics Committee severely admonished Torricelli for receiving inappropriate gifts from David Chang, a former supporter who is now serving an 18 month prison term, in part for making illegal contributions to Torricelli's 1996 Senate campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CAMPAIGN COMMERCIAL)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Improper gifts, special favors linked to contributions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: Republicans pounced on his ethics problems and almost overnight Torricelli was down in the polls by double digits, jeopardizing Democratic hopes of maintaining control of the Senate.
TORRICELLI: But I will not be responsible for the loss of the Democratic majority in the United States Senate. I will not allow it to happen.
KARL: But even as he apologized for dropping out, Torricelli was decidedly unapologetic about the ethics problems that forced him out.
TORRICELLI: When did we stop believing in and trusting in each other? I remember an America where when a person made an error and they asked forgiveness, it was given.
KARL: Democrats are now scrambling to find a replacement for Torricelli. But Republicans say they will fight in court to keep Torricelli's name on the ballot, because the deadline for new candidates has already passed.
DOUG FORRESTER (R), NEW JERSEY SENATE CANDIDATE: The laws of the State of New Jersey do not include we think a we're going to lose so we get to pick someone new clause.
KARL: The Democratic dream candidate was former senator and presidential candidate Bill Bradley. But Bradley told his supporters in New Jersey that he is not interested in running. So party officials are now talking to several other potential candidates and say they will have somebody picked by Wednesday to replace Torricelli.
Jonathan Karl, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
New Jersey>
Aired October 1, 2002 - 05:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The fight for control of the Senate just got hotter. Democrats are now scrambling to find a new candidate for the Senate from New Jersey. The incumbent, Robert Torricelli, whose nickname is "the torch," dropped out of the race with just over a month until the election.
CNN'S Jonathan Karl has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): His campaign in a free fall, Robert Torricelli dropped out of a race he was almost certain to lose.
SEN. ROBERT TORRICELLI (D), NEW JERSEY: It is the most painful thing that I've ever done in my life and for it I apologize to everyone who has fought so hard, believed in me and all the causes that I value.
KARL: Just two months ago, Torricelli seemed to be coasting towards easy reelection, with a double digit lead over a virtually unknown Republican opponent. But that all changed when the Senate Ethics Committee severely admonished Torricelli for receiving inappropriate gifts from David Chang, a former supporter who is now serving an 18 month prison term, in part for making illegal contributions to Torricelli's 1996 Senate campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CAMPAIGN COMMERCIAL)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Improper gifts, special favors linked to contributions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: Republicans pounced on his ethics problems and almost overnight Torricelli was down in the polls by double digits, jeopardizing Democratic hopes of maintaining control of the Senate.
TORRICELLI: But I will not be responsible for the loss of the Democratic majority in the United States Senate. I will not allow it to happen.
KARL: But even as he apologized for dropping out, Torricelli was decidedly unapologetic about the ethics problems that forced him out.
TORRICELLI: When did we stop believing in and trusting in each other? I remember an America where when a person made an error and they asked forgiveness, it was given.
KARL: Democrats are now scrambling to find a replacement for Torricelli. But Republicans say they will fight in court to keep Torricelli's name on the ballot, because the deadline for new candidates has already passed.
DOUG FORRESTER (R), NEW JERSEY SENATE CANDIDATE: The laws of the State of New Jersey do not include we think a we're going to lose so we get to pick someone new clause.
KARL: The Democratic dream candidate was former senator and presidential candidate Bill Bradley. But Bradley told his supporters in New Jersey that he is not interested in running. So party officials are now talking to several other potential candidates and say they will have somebody picked by Wednesday to replace Torricelli.
Jonathan Karl, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
New Jersey>
