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American Morning

Battle for California: First Face-Off

Aired September 04, 2003 - 07:16   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: To California right now and last night's face-off among five candidates for governor. It was the first in a series of debates leading up to that recall election on the 7th of October.
The candidates there talked about many issues, but there was little mention of the one who was not present last night.

Two reports this morning. Here is Rusty Dornin, first off, in California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The man trying to keep his job arrived at the debate telling reporters he knew why he was here.

GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: This recall has been a humbling experience, and I recognize their anger. I got the message.

DORNIN: On stage, the man who didn't come was recognized.

RANDY SHANBOBIL, DEBATE MODERATOR: We've extended several invitations to Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, and up until today we even kept a seat open for him.

DORNIN: Money matters dominated this debate. Davis had the first round to himself. His message? In this budget crisis, taxes must go up.

DAVIS: You know, California is not the highly-taxed state that my opponents would want you to believe.

DORNIN: Then it was the candidates' turn. Republicans Tom McClintock and Peter Ueberroth were on the same page -- neither wants increases.

STATE SEN. TOM MCCLINTOCK (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I am the one candidate who has taken the no-tax pledge.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Frankly, jobs are real stuff. That's how we pay the bills in Sacramento.

DORNIN: Independent Arianna Huffington and Green Party candidate Peter Camejo agreed to agree on many issues. Attacking the current tax structure is one. PETER CAMEJO, GREEN PARTY FINANCIAL ADVISOR: Where is the money to solve this problem? It's in the corporations and among the richest people paying the lowest tax rates.

DORNIN: There were few pot shots aimed at Schwarzenegger, but Arianna Huffington took aim at just about everyone. This time it was Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante and his move to get ban the car taxes.

LT. GOV. CRUZ BUSTAMANTE (D), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I would get rid of it by raising alcohol and tobacco taxes.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Oh, no you wouldn't.

BUSTAMENTE: Yes, I would.

HUFFINGTON: You got quite a bit of money from the tobacco industry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, Ms. Huffington, please.

BUSTAMENTE: Well...

DORNIN: All sides slammed Bustamante for accepting a $2 million donation from an Indian tribe involved in gaming.

BUSTAMANTE: I'm very, very proud, first of all, of the support that I have received from tribal governments.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If it is legal, it's certainly on the shady side of the law.

DORNIN (on camera): One debate down, two to go. This time, the candidates didn't know what was coming. Next time, they'll get the questions beforehand. Arnold Schwarzenegger will be there, some say script in hand.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Walnut Creek, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Rusty, thanks for that.

Let's pick up where she left off with Arnold Schwarzenegger. And for that, here is Bob Franken live in L.A. Arnie is next a couple of weeks away.

Good morning -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

And he's been taking an awful lot of flak for only agreeing to a debate where there were questions to be submitted in advance, so much so, as a matter of fact, that one of his campaign leaders sent a letter to the sponsors of that debate -- the California Broadcasters Association -- saying they would think it would be a better idea if there were no questions.

Well, the broadcasters, in effect, said butt out. "I don't think there is really any room for negotiation," said somebody from that organization.

Schwarzenegger was out at Long Beach College yesterday, a state college, campaigning on his own, trying to have his own spotlight as opposed to sharing it with those who were in the debate. And he will be, today, doing a voter registration event in Riverside.

And I would be remiss if I didn't show you the egg incident. So let's, as the sportscaster used to say, "Go to the tape." As he's walking along in his sport coat, you will see an object flies by. Watch this. That was the egg. And you can see the guard wiping it off. It didn't seem to faze him, which a lot of people think is impressive.

And, Bill, we won't roll that in slow motion because, quite frankly, it's kind of disgusting. But, in any case, that was the big incident yesterday -- Bill.

HEMMER: I don't know if you saw it there, but the videotape showed it, Bob. They gave you away in slow mo. Thanks. Appreciate it. We'll talk to you a bit later this morning. Bob Franken in L.A.

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 September 4, 2003 - 07:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: To California right now and last night's face-off among five candidates for governor. It was the first in a series of debates leading up to that recall election on the 7th of October.
The candidates there talked about many issues, but there was little mention of the one who was not present last night.

Two reports this morning. Here is Rusty Dornin, first off, in California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The man trying to keep his job arrived at the debate telling reporters he knew why he was here.

GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: This recall has been a humbling experience, and I recognize their anger. I got the message.

DORNIN: On stage, the man who didn't come was recognized.

RANDY SHANBOBIL, DEBATE MODERATOR: We've extended several invitations to Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, and up until today we even kept a seat open for him.

DORNIN: Money matters dominated this debate. Davis had the first round to himself. His message? In this budget crisis, taxes must go up.

DAVIS: You know, California is not the highly-taxed state that my opponents would want you to believe.

DORNIN: Then it was the candidates' turn. Republicans Tom McClintock and Peter Ueberroth were on the same page -- neither wants increases.

STATE SEN. TOM MCCLINTOCK (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I am the one candidate who has taken the no-tax pledge.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Frankly, jobs are real stuff. That's how we pay the bills in Sacramento.

DORNIN: Independent Arianna Huffington and Green Party candidate Peter Camejo agreed to agree on many issues. Attacking the current tax structure is one. PETER CAMEJO, GREEN PARTY FINANCIAL ADVISOR: Where is the money to solve this problem? It's in the corporations and among the richest people paying the lowest tax rates.

DORNIN: There were few pot shots aimed at Schwarzenegger, but Arianna Huffington took aim at just about everyone. This time it was Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante and his move to get ban the car taxes.

LT. GOV. CRUZ BUSTAMANTE (D), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I would get rid of it by raising alcohol and tobacco taxes.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Oh, no you wouldn't.

BUSTAMENTE: Yes, I would.

HUFFINGTON: You got quite a bit of money from the tobacco industry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, Ms. Huffington, please.

BUSTAMENTE: Well...

DORNIN: All sides slammed Bustamante for accepting a $2 million donation from an Indian tribe involved in gaming.

BUSTAMANTE: I'm very, very proud, first of all, of the support that I have received from tribal governments.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If it is legal, it's certainly on the shady side of the law.

DORNIN (on camera): One debate down, two to go. This time, the candidates didn't know what was coming. Next time, they'll get the questions beforehand. Arnold Schwarzenegger will be there, some say script in hand.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Walnut Creek, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Rusty, thanks for that.

Let's pick up where she left off with Arnold Schwarzenegger. And for that, here is Bob Franken live in L.A. Arnie is next a couple of weeks away.

Good morning -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

And he's been taking an awful lot of flak for only agreeing to a debate where there were questions to be submitted in advance, so much so, as a matter of fact, that one of his campaign leaders sent a letter to the sponsors of that debate -- the California Broadcasters Association -- saying they would think it would be a better idea if there were no questions.

Well, the broadcasters, in effect, said butt out. "I don't think there is really any room for negotiation," said somebody from that organization.

Schwarzenegger was out at Long Beach College yesterday, a state college, campaigning on his own, trying to have his own spotlight as opposed to sharing it with those who were in the debate. And he will be, today, doing a voter registration event in Riverside.

And I would be remiss if I didn't show you the egg incident. So let's, as the sportscaster used to say, "Go to the tape." As he's walking along in his sport coat, you will see an object flies by. Watch this. That was the egg. And you can see the guard wiping it off. It didn't seem to faze him, which a lot of people think is impressive.

And, Bill, we won't roll that in slow motion because, quite frankly, it's kind of disgusting. But, in any case, that was the big incident yesterday -- Bill.

HEMMER: I don't know if you saw it there, but the videotape showed it, Bob. They gave you away in slow mo. Thanks. Appreciate it. We'll talk to you a bit later this morning. Bob Franken in L.A.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.