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CNN Live At Daybreak

Schwarzenegger Wins: Hometown Hero

Aired October 08, 2003 - 05:46   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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well perhaps nowhere is Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory being celebrated more than in his hometown of Graz, Austria.
Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers has been in Graz the last few days witnessing widespread support for its native son.

Good morning -- Walter.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Of course everyone loves a winner. And here in Graz, they really don't care what Arnold Schwarzenegger stands for politically, they don't even know, and I asked many of them. It's just that success breeds success. People want to attach themselves to his glitter, his wealth and his glamour. And so everyone here feels like they are a little part of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

One thing very interesting, when we've talked to the people of Graz, I've asked them over and over again, could Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilder, have succeeded in Austrian politics? They all say no. A short while ago, I talked with a bergermeister, the mayor, Siegfried Nagl, and he seemed to say the same thing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR SIEGFRIED NAGL, GRAZ, AUSTRIA: I think it's a typical thing for America. It's an American dream. I also have become as a politician in the last five years. Before, I never was in this area before. And I think it is good for politics when people from outside come into politics. He is able to learn.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RODGERS: People here do say Arnold Schwarzenegger has a common touch, even though he has an affluent Republican constituency. People in Austria say that Arnold came from humble beginnings. That is to say he was not -- he was not a wealthy man. And even though he now is, that he has never forgotten that. They like to tell the stories about how he comes back here to remember his roots and keep it common touch -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And boy, I bet he's greeted as a star, because there is -- there is folklore surrounding Arnold Schwarzenegger there. RODGERS: More than a little. Everybody here, you'd think everyone was his best fried. But having said that, they do tell interesting stories. And I've spent several days talking to people who did indeed know him. And they say one great story is they say that when Arnold, as a young bodybuilder, about 17, looked at a magazine of weightlifters around the world, he said I can beat him, I can beat him, I can beat him. These were all Americans. And he went out and indeed did that.

There are lots of other stories like that, too, about Arnold boasting at age 17 he was going to be rich, he was going to be the world champion bodybuilder, he was going to marry a beautiful woman, he was going to be a movie star. He even said he was going to be the most powerful man in the world. We're still waiting on that one -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I was just curious, is bodybuilding still big in Austria?

RODGERS: Sure. This man has launched -- Arnold Schwarzenegger has launched a whole generation of bodybuilders. And I'll tell you one thing, Carol, don't shake hands with them, they'll break your arm.

COSTELLO: I can only imagine. Walter Rodgers reporting live for us from Austria this morning. We appreciate it.

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 8, 2003 - 05:46   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well perhaps nowhere is Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory being celebrated more than in his hometown of Graz, Austria.
Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers has been in Graz the last few days witnessing widespread support for its native son.

Good morning -- Walter.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Of course everyone loves a winner. And here in Graz, they really don't care what Arnold Schwarzenegger stands for politically, they don't even know, and I asked many of them. It's just that success breeds success. People want to attach themselves to his glitter, his wealth and his glamour. And so everyone here feels like they are a little part of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

One thing very interesting, when we've talked to the people of Graz, I've asked them over and over again, could Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilder, have succeeded in Austrian politics? They all say no. A short while ago, I talked with a bergermeister, the mayor, Siegfried Nagl, and he seemed to say the same thing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR SIEGFRIED NAGL, GRAZ, AUSTRIA: I think it's a typical thing for America. It's an American dream. I also have become as a politician in the last five years. Before, I never was in this area before. And I think it is good for politics when people from outside come into politics. He is able to learn.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RODGERS: People here do say Arnold Schwarzenegger has a common touch, even though he has an affluent Republican constituency. People in Austria say that Arnold came from humble beginnings. That is to say he was not -- he was not a wealthy man. And even though he now is, that he has never forgotten that. They like to tell the stories about how he comes back here to remember his roots and keep it common touch -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And boy, I bet he's greeted as a star, because there is -- there is folklore surrounding Arnold Schwarzenegger there. RODGERS: More than a little. Everybody here, you'd think everyone was his best fried. But having said that, they do tell interesting stories. And I've spent several days talking to people who did indeed know him. And they say one great story is they say that when Arnold, as a young bodybuilder, about 17, looked at a magazine of weightlifters around the world, he said I can beat him, I can beat him, I can beat him. These were all Americans. And he went out and indeed did that.

There are lots of other stories like that, too, about Arnold boasting at age 17 he was going to be rich, he was going to be the world champion bodybuilder, he was going to marry a beautiful woman, he was going to be a movie star. He even said he was going to be the most powerful man in the world. We're still waiting on that one -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I was just curious, is bodybuilding still big in Austria?

RODGERS: Sure. This man has launched -- Arnold Schwarzenegger has launched a whole generation of bodybuilders. And I'll tell you one thing, Carol, don't shake hands with them, they'll break your arm.

COSTELLO: I can only imagine. Walter Rodgers reporting live for us from Austria this morning. We appreciate it.

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