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Who Will Fill Torricelli's Shoes: Bruce Springsteen?
Aired October 01, 2002 - 11:32 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We have a political storm brewing in New Jersey, where legal and political contests are on to replace Senator Robert Torricelli on the November ballot. His decision top pull out of the race threatens efforts by Democrats to hold onto a majority in the Senate.
Our congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl is live. He is on Capitol Hill with the latest.
Jon, good morning.
I thin it was just about this time yesterday you are were joining us on the phone with this breaking news that Torricelli was indeed pulling out.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What a story! Just a couple of months ago, Torricelli was seen as a shoo-in for reelection, a slam dunk for the Democrats. Now all of a sudden, that is their most vulnerable state in the country, the state of New Jersey.
They are having more troubles today in the wake of Torricelli's announcement. Their two favored candidates to replace him are both saying no. First, last night. Bill Bradley, the former senator from New Jersey and the former presidential candidate told New Jersey politicians, the New Jersey Democrats that he's not going to run. And now Bob Menendez, a very popular and well-financed House Democrat from New Jersey said he's not interested in the race.
So New Jersey's top politicos, including the governor of New Jersey, are meeting later today to try to figure out who they can get to run to replace Bob Torricelli on the ballot. I'm told the two leading candidates are former Senator Franc Lautenberg, who is a self- made millionaire and he's got enough money to finance his own campaign, and current Congressman Frank Pallone, who does not have as much money. So that they will be looking at, but either candidate, or maybe even another possibility, will face an uphill battle from Republicans, who will fight in court to keep Democrats from changing the ballot this late in the game.
Here is what Doug Forrester had to say. He's the Republican candidate there in New Jersey.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOUG FORRESTER (R), N.J. SENATE CANDIDATE: After an election has already started -- people have voted, returned absentee ballots -- to go and try to swap out a candidate only because looks like that candidate looks like he's going to lose -- not a good idea; it's not what New Jersey is about. I don't think that's what we New Jerseyans want.
There was plenty of opportunity for the Democrats to run somebody against Mr. Torricelli in the primary. It didn't happen. Plenty of opportunity for Mr. Torricelli to step aside before the 51-day deadline. Didn't happen. Now, just because he's losing, he wants to step aside.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: The Republicans have not elected a candidate to the Senate from New Jersey since before Bruce Springsteen came out with his first album, 30 years ago. It was way back in 1972 the last time the Republicans were able to elect a candidate.
There's been even talk of trying to get Bruce Springsteen to run up there in New Jersey, but he has said no way, no how. He'll stick to music.
So quite a turn of events here, Daryn, to think that the Republicans have the upper hand in the state of New Jersey.
KAGAN: And very interesting, yes, very interesting to even think they're coming up with this list, because, as Republicans point out, it's very unclear as to whether you could even make that switcheroo in the first place.
KARL: Which is why they're having a hard time recruiting a candidate, because how do you get somebody to commit to running when they don't even know if their name's going to get on the ballot.
KAGAN: What about Bob Torricelli, the irony here that he was one of the big players, making the big push to try to get this change of power in the Senate. Is that the end of his political career, do you think?
KARL: That's what the assumption is. It's interesting about Bob Torricelli, is not only did he orchestrate the Democrats' takeover of the Senate, he also was the person that helped convinced Hillary Clinton to run for the Senate in New York. So one of the stranger scenarios being played around is that you get Bill Clinton to run from New Jersey -- but that's one really out there in outer space, but a fun one to think about, anyway, as the Democrats try to pull something out of the hat to win in New Jersey.
KAGAN: You know, it sounds far-fetched, but back in June, who would ever predict the day that Bob Torricelli was dropping out of the race. That's why you love this time of year. Five weeks to election day. Savor it.
Jonathan Karl. And great to see you back with us on the air.
KARL: Thanks so much, Daryn.
KAGAN: Good to have you with us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 1, 2002 - 11:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We have a political storm brewing in New Jersey, where legal and political contests are on to replace Senator Robert Torricelli on the November ballot. His decision top pull out of the race threatens efforts by Democrats to hold onto a majority in the Senate.
Our congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl is live. He is on Capitol Hill with the latest.
Jon, good morning.
I thin it was just about this time yesterday you are were joining us on the phone with this breaking news that Torricelli was indeed pulling out.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What a story! Just a couple of months ago, Torricelli was seen as a shoo-in for reelection, a slam dunk for the Democrats. Now all of a sudden, that is their most vulnerable state in the country, the state of New Jersey.
They are having more troubles today in the wake of Torricelli's announcement. Their two favored candidates to replace him are both saying no. First, last night. Bill Bradley, the former senator from New Jersey and the former presidential candidate told New Jersey politicians, the New Jersey Democrats that he's not going to run. And now Bob Menendez, a very popular and well-financed House Democrat from New Jersey said he's not interested in the race.
So New Jersey's top politicos, including the governor of New Jersey, are meeting later today to try to figure out who they can get to run to replace Bob Torricelli on the ballot. I'm told the two leading candidates are former Senator Franc Lautenberg, who is a self- made millionaire and he's got enough money to finance his own campaign, and current Congressman Frank Pallone, who does not have as much money. So that they will be looking at, but either candidate, or maybe even another possibility, will face an uphill battle from Republicans, who will fight in court to keep Democrats from changing the ballot this late in the game.
Here is what Doug Forrester had to say. He's the Republican candidate there in New Jersey.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOUG FORRESTER (R), N.J. SENATE CANDIDATE: After an election has already started -- people have voted, returned absentee ballots -- to go and try to swap out a candidate only because looks like that candidate looks like he's going to lose -- not a good idea; it's not what New Jersey is about. I don't think that's what we New Jerseyans want.
There was plenty of opportunity for the Democrats to run somebody against Mr. Torricelli in the primary. It didn't happen. Plenty of opportunity for Mr. Torricelli to step aside before the 51-day deadline. Didn't happen. Now, just because he's losing, he wants to step aside.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: The Republicans have not elected a candidate to the Senate from New Jersey since before Bruce Springsteen came out with his first album, 30 years ago. It was way back in 1972 the last time the Republicans were able to elect a candidate.
There's been even talk of trying to get Bruce Springsteen to run up there in New Jersey, but he has said no way, no how. He'll stick to music.
So quite a turn of events here, Daryn, to think that the Republicans have the upper hand in the state of New Jersey.
KAGAN: And very interesting, yes, very interesting to even think they're coming up with this list, because, as Republicans point out, it's very unclear as to whether you could even make that switcheroo in the first place.
KARL: Which is why they're having a hard time recruiting a candidate, because how do you get somebody to commit to running when they don't even know if their name's going to get on the ballot.
KAGAN: What about Bob Torricelli, the irony here that he was one of the big players, making the big push to try to get this change of power in the Senate. Is that the end of his political career, do you think?
KARL: That's what the assumption is. It's interesting about Bob Torricelli, is not only did he orchestrate the Democrats' takeover of the Senate, he also was the person that helped convinced Hillary Clinton to run for the Senate in New York. So one of the stranger scenarios being played around is that you get Bill Clinton to run from New Jersey -- but that's one really out there in outer space, but a fun one to think about, anyway, as the Democrats try to pull something out of the hat to win in New Jersey.
KAGAN: You know, it sounds far-fetched, but back in June, who would ever predict the day that Bob Torricelli was dropping out of the race. That's why you love this time of year. Five weeks to election day. Savor it.
Jonathan Karl. And great to see you back with us on the air.
KARL: Thanks so much, Daryn.
KAGAN: Good to have you with us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
