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CNN Live Today
California Recall
Aired September 29, 2003 - 10:02 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: This new poll has buoyed the Schwarzenegger campaign, as you might imagine, and has also given the Democrats a reason to run even harder as they head now into the homestretch of this recall race.
Our Bob Franken follows the latest developments for U.S. in L.A.
Good morning, Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
As a matter of fact, it also gives the Democrats reasons to trash the poll. The spokesman for Governor Gray Davis called it a joke. The people who have done this poll, who, of course, are those ho have done it for CNN, "USA Today" and the Gallup organization, acknowledge that it is a very tricky organization in a state where there are 135 candidates on the ballot, meaning there is no way that you can really come up with a model that's based on anything in the past. Also, it's an extremely volatile climate out here, we know that.
And the fact of the matter is, this has been changing constantly. This, as I said, is difficult to come up with a model. And the fact is, too, that Arnold Schwarzenegger has gone up and down as the days gone on. And really there are a lot imponderables here.
Having said all that, you pointed out that the probably voters, who were the ones who were defined in this poll, as opposed to likely voters, by the way, since voter turn-out is another question mark, they say that they favor the recall 63 percent to 35 percent, and they favor Arnold Schwarzenegger 40 percent to 25 percent. Arnold Schwarzenegger over Bustamante by the way. And McClintock comes in at 18 percent. Camejo and Huffington barely show up on the poll.
The bottom three, in fact, are pretty much like they've been in other polls. But the shift was at the top, and it is one that is making Arnold Schwarzenegger yet more and more enthusiastic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: I hear poll numbers all the time, and we are very happy, of course, that they are looking good. But I don't take anything for granted. I mean, to me, this is a very important week coming up now, going up and down the state, reaching out to the people and really letting them know what my vision is, because people basically want leadership, and this is what we have had a vacuum of leadership in these last few years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Now one of the things that's notable is the fact that Schwarzenegger wins even with the 18 percent showing by Tom McClintock. As you know, there's quite a bit of pressure on McClintock to pull out. Even his campaign spokesman now says it looks like McClintock, at best, might have a second place showing. McClintock himself says he's in it until the end. That hasn't changed, but it is a constantly changing environment out here. And with eight days left, Leon, it could change again.
HARRIS: Eight days, how about eight hours from now it could change again. We'll have to see how this all plays out.
Thanks, Bob, appreciate that. Take care, 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 29, 2003 - 10:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: This new poll has buoyed the Schwarzenegger campaign, as you might imagine, and has also given the Democrats a reason to run even harder as they head now into the homestretch of this recall race.
Our Bob Franken follows the latest developments for U.S. in L.A.
Good morning, Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
As a matter of fact, it also gives the Democrats reasons to trash the poll. The spokesman for Governor Gray Davis called it a joke. The people who have done this poll, who, of course, are those ho have done it for CNN, "USA Today" and the Gallup organization, acknowledge that it is a very tricky organization in a state where there are 135 candidates on the ballot, meaning there is no way that you can really come up with a model that's based on anything in the past. Also, it's an extremely volatile climate out here, we know that.
And the fact of the matter is, this has been changing constantly. This, as I said, is difficult to come up with a model. And the fact is, too, that Arnold Schwarzenegger has gone up and down as the days gone on. And really there are a lot imponderables here.
Having said all that, you pointed out that the probably voters, who were the ones who were defined in this poll, as opposed to likely voters, by the way, since voter turn-out is another question mark, they say that they favor the recall 63 percent to 35 percent, and they favor Arnold Schwarzenegger 40 percent to 25 percent. Arnold Schwarzenegger over Bustamante by the way. And McClintock comes in at 18 percent. Camejo and Huffington barely show up on the poll.
The bottom three, in fact, are pretty much like they've been in other polls. But the shift was at the top, and it is one that is making Arnold Schwarzenegger yet more and more enthusiastic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: I hear poll numbers all the time, and we are very happy, of course, that they are looking good. But I don't take anything for granted. I mean, to me, this is a very important week coming up now, going up and down the state, reaching out to the people and really letting them know what my vision is, because people basically want leadership, and this is what we have had a vacuum of leadership in these last few years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Now one of the things that's notable is the fact that Schwarzenegger wins even with the 18 percent showing by Tom McClintock. As you know, there's quite a bit of pressure on McClintock to pull out. Even his campaign spokesman now says it looks like McClintock, at best, might have a second place showing. McClintock himself says he's in it until the end. That hasn't changed, but it is a constantly changing environment out here. And with eight days left, Leon, it could change again.
HARRIS: Eight days, how about eight hours from now it could change again. We'll have to see how this all plays out.
Thanks, Bob, appreciate that. Take care, 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
