Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
California Recall Candidates Will be Looking to Capitalize on Debate Performance
Aired September 25, 2003 - 05:05 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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Today, the California recall candidates will be looking to capitalize on their debate performance.
CNN's Eric Philips reports the gloves certainly came off early last night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A very spirited debate here at Call State University Sacramento, where all five candidates pulled no punches. In fact, at one point the sparring became so intense that it prompted the moderator to say he used to be a traffic cop, but not a good one.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: You're talking about the contact right now...
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (III), CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: Let me finish. Let me finish.
SCHWARZENEGGER: ... not about education...
HUFFINGTON: Let me finish...
SCHWARZENEGGER: ... and we get to debate...
HUFFINGTON: You know, this is completely impolite. This is the way you treat women, we know that, but not now.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I have just realized that I have a perfect part for you in "Terminator 4." We'll see.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, this is not Comedy Central.
PHILIPS: The debate was characterized by personal and political attacks, many of them between Schwarzenegger and independent candidate Arianna Huffington. Green Party candidate Peter Camejo managed to remain above the fray. Arnold Schwarzenegger called it the Super Bowl of all debates. His goal? To score the most touchdowns.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I think that our top priority right now should be to the turn the economy around.
PHILIPS: Though questions were distributed ahead of time, organizers promised a lively debate. The candidates intent on delivering.
HUFFINGTON: It's caused millions of jobs and we're still paying that price. And one more thing, Arnold. You know, you talk about the 30...
SCHWARZENEGGER: Arnold?
HUFFINGTON: Yes. You know, you talk...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thirty seconds.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I like that.
HUFFINGTON: You talk...
SCHWARZENEGGER: Arianna, let me just say one thing...
HUFFINGTON: ... you talk just like you just came in...
SCHWARZENEGGER: ... you personally, your personal income tax have the biggest loophole. I can drive my hummer through it, that's how big the loophole is, let me tell you.
HUFFINGTON: Oh, you know what...
PHILIPS: Before the debate began, Arnold's supporters rallied outside while throngs of gubernatorial candidates campaigned.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILIPS: The debate lasted an hour and a half. Now it's on to the campaign trail for a final push before election day, 13 days from now.
In Sacramento, California, I'm Eric Philips -- Carol, back to you.
LIN: All right, thank you very much, Eric.
Of course, you can see more on Judy Woodruff's "Inside Politics." Is Tom McClintock in the race to stay? You can hear what the conservative Republican has to say today on that show. That's on CNN, of course, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
on Debate Performance>
Aired September 25, 2003 - 05:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Today, the California recall candidates will be looking to capitalize on their debate performance.
CNN's Eric Philips reports the gloves certainly came off early last night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A very spirited debate here at Call State University Sacramento, where all five candidates pulled no punches. In fact, at one point the sparring became so intense that it prompted the moderator to say he used to be a traffic cop, but not a good one.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: You're talking about the contact right now...
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (III), CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: Let me finish. Let me finish.
SCHWARZENEGGER: ... not about education...
HUFFINGTON: Let me finish...
SCHWARZENEGGER: ... and we get to debate...
HUFFINGTON: You know, this is completely impolite. This is the way you treat women, we know that, but not now.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I have just realized that I have a perfect part for you in "Terminator 4." We'll see.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, this is not Comedy Central.
PHILIPS: The debate was characterized by personal and political attacks, many of them between Schwarzenegger and independent candidate Arianna Huffington. Green Party candidate Peter Camejo managed to remain above the fray. Arnold Schwarzenegger called it the Super Bowl of all debates. His goal? To score the most touchdowns.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I think that our top priority right now should be to the turn the economy around.
PHILIPS: Though questions were distributed ahead of time, organizers promised a lively debate. The candidates intent on delivering.
HUFFINGTON: It's caused millions of jobs and we're still paying that price. And one more thing, Arnold. You know, you talk about the 30...
SCHWARZENEGGER: Arnold?
HUFFINGTON: Yes. You know, you talk...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thirty seconds.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I like that.
HUFFINGTON: You talk...
SCHWARZENEGGER: Arianna, let me just say one thing...
HUFFINGTON: ... you talk just like you just came in...
SCHWARZENEGGER: ... you personally, your personal income tax have the biggest loophole. I can drive my hummer through it, that's how big the loophole is, let me tell you.
HUFFINGTON: Oh, you know what...
PHILIPS: Before the debate began, Arnold's supporters rallied outside while throngs of gubernatorial candidates campaigned.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILIPS: The debate lasted an hour and a half. Now it's on to the campaign trail for a final push before election day, 13 days from now.
In Sacramento, California, I'm Eric Philips -- Carol, back to you.
LIN: All right, thank you very much, Eric.
Of course, you can see more on Judy Woodruff's "Inside Politics." Is Tom McClintock in the race to stay? You can hear what the conservative Republican has to say today on that show. That's on CNN, of course, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
on Debate Performance>
