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CNN Live Today
Interview With Michael Finnegan
Aired September 12, 2003 - 11:25 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: Interesting number coming out of "The L.A. Times." We're going to take a look at more of those right now. Davis camp saying those new numbers show that there is support for the governor's ouster, that it is fading, actually. And "The L.A. Times" survey shows that likely voters still are split are on whether Davis should keep his job.
Let's bring in Michael Finnegan of "The L.A. Times" with more on that. and he is in our L.A. bureau. Good morning.
I guess everything is relative when you are in hot water like Gray Davis is right now. But if we could put those numbers up once again. And this is from "The L.A. Times" poll, as we said. The question is if the recall were held today would you vote to recall Governor Davies? Now 50 percent say yes, they would, which normally wouldn't sound that good, Michael. And yet that's right in that territory of where he might just survive this thing.
MICHAEL FINNEGAN, "L.A. TIMES": He might. There are some good signs here for him. His job favorability rating is not quite as bad as it was. But he's still got some significant problems. A majority of Latino voters in California still support the recall.
And majority of union member -- people living in union member households also support the recall. And organized labor and Latinos are a very important part of his political base. So, to beat the recall those are the kinds of places where he needs to really improve.
KAGAN: Part of the problem with the Latino support is they now have another avenue to show their political support, and that would be the Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante.
Let's look at the latest numbers on the top contenders. Actually, the lieutenant governor's numbers are down just a little bit. As Judy was mentioning Arnold Schwarzenegger is up. And probably the one who's gained the most has been State Senator Tom McClintock. If you can comment on those, Michael.
FINNEGAN: Sorry. Yes. Well, Bustamante, you know, he's in the lead, he's the only Democrat in the race. So that's obviously a good thing for him. But his unfavorability ratings have risen quite a bit since voters have gotten to know a little bit more about him.
And what's been in the news about him that apparently has damaged him is that he's taken more than $3 million from campaign money from Indian tribes that operate casinos. And Republicans have been criticizing him for refusing to distance himself as a Latino student group that they describe as racist and radical and Bustamante and his supporters describe as benign. So these are apparently causing problems for Bustamante.
KAGAN: And as far as Arnold Schwarzenegger goes, two problems for him. A lot of women don't support him. And also Tom McClintock, the state senator that could and just refuses to go away.
FINNEGAN: Yes, the Republican Party is divided in California. It's a classic problem where the conservatives go one way, the moderates another. This time it's embodied in McClintock and Schwarzenegger. Moderates are supporting Schwarzenegger more than McClintock who has a strong conservative base.
KAGAN: It's still fascinating to watch as it will be up to October 7. Michael Finnegan wit the "L.A. Times", thanks for that.
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 12, 2003 - 11:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Interesting number coming out of "The L.A. Times." We're going to take a look at more of those right now. Davis camp saying those new numbers show that there is support for the governor's ouster, that it is fading, actually. And "The L.A. Times" survey shows that likely voters still are split are on whether Davis should keep his job.
Let's bring in Michael Finnegan of "The L.A. Times" with more on that. and he is in our L.A. bureau. Good morning.
I guess everything is relative when you are in hot water like Gray Davis is right now. But if we could put those numbers up once again. And this is from "The L.A. Times" poll, as we said. The question is if the recall were held today would you vote to recall Governor Davies? Now 50 percent say yes, they would, which normally wouldn't sound that good, Michael. And yet that's right in that territory of where he might just survive this thing.
MICHAEL FINNEGAN, "L.A. TIMES": He might. There are some good signs here for him. His job favorability rating is not quite as bad as it was. But he's still got some significant problems. A majority of Latino voters in California still support the recall.
And majority of union member -- people living in union member households also support the recall. And organized labor and Latinos are a very important part of his political base. So, to beat the recall those are the kinds of places where he needs to really improve.
KAGAN: Part of the problem with the Latino support is they now have another avenue to show their political support, and that would be the Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante.
Let's look at the latest numbers on the top contenders. Actually, the lieutenant governor's numbers are down just a little bit. As Judy was mentioning Arnold Schwarzenegger is up. And probably the one who's gained the most has been State Senator Tom McClintock. If you can comment on those, Michael.
FINNEGAN: Sorry. Yes. Well, Bustamante, you know, he's in the lead, he's the only Democrat in the race. So that's obviously a good thing for him. But his unfavorability ratings have risen quite a bit since voters have gotten to know a little bit more about him.
And what's been in the news about him that apparently has damaged him is that he's taken more than $3 million from campaign money from Indian tribes that operate casinos. And Republicans have been criticizing him for refusing to distance himself as a Latino student group that they describe as racist and radical and Bustamante and his supporters describe as benign. So these are apparently causing problems for Bustamante.
KAGAN: And as far as Arnold Schwarzenegger goes, two problems for him. A lot of women don't support him. And also Tom McClintock, the state senator that could and just refuses to go away.
FINNEGAN: Yes, the Republican Party is divided in California. It's a classic problem where the conservatives go one way, the moderates another. This time it's embodied in McClintock and Schwarzenegger. Moderates are supporting Schwarzenegger more than McClintock who has a strong conservative base.
KAGAN: It's still fascinating to watch as it will be up to October 7. Michael Finnegan wit the "L.A. Times", thanks for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
