Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Arnold Schwarzenegger Talks To Media About His Campaign
Aired August 09, 2003 - 13:58 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.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It is 11:00 a.m. on the west coast and 2:00 p.m. on the east coast. And beating a deadline by just a few hours after Arnold Schwarzenegger is making it official. He's filing papers to place his name on the ballot in California's recall election.
Our national correspondent Bob Franken is just outside the Los Angeles county election center in Norwalk, and it is a place that is teaming with lots of journalists, and lots of fans, because Schwarzenegger as well as another candidate, Ariana Huffington has just made their way into the building. And Bob, describe the scene for us right now.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: California. That's how I would describe it. We are waiting for Arnold Schwarzenegger to come out. He should be here with the next 30 seconds or so to face the reporters and go through the fencing match that's become characteristic of his encounters with the press over the last couple of days.
We just had Ariana Huffington, who was also standing in front of the microphone she, a syndicated columnist, considered a political gadfly, but she is also a political gadfly with lots of money who says that she is going to run a populous campaign, she pledges to spend no more on this campaign than 10 million. Now that may seem like a lot of money to people outside of California, but in the realm of California politics, that is almost a poverty stricken campaign.
The two principals in here are expected to spend a lot more than that. In fact, they are talking about, in the next seven weeks, about $50 or 60 million to be spent on this race, not by candidates, but by organizations ranging from the Native-American groups, who have their favorite candidates, many them like the work of Let. Governor Cruz Bustamonte. Another Democrat in this. And of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger is not exactly a poor person himself. He plans to spend, he said, whatever it takes to win. Gray Davis, who is the democratic governor fighting recall is a prodigious fundraiser. He has been able to raise just about any money he has needed over the past many years and in fact he has already started we're told.
I keep turning around for the obvious reason, we are waiting for Arnold Schwarzenegger to walk out. What was so interesting about this so-called news conference and the one that Ariana Huffinton just said, is that many of the questions, and many editorial comments of a wide variety were coming from the people who come for the movie star appeal. The ones who come to provide the cheering section. There are at least a couple hundred of them on a Saturday morning here in the outer reaches of L.A. County who have come to this registrars and records building to see what would normally be a mundane process, the filing of the appropriate papers. The appropriate papers need to be accompanied by $3,500, not a large amount of money, and 65 signatures.
Now, we are told that in Los Angeles county alone, about 110 people have filed in one form or another. That of course is greatly increased around the state. We will start getting a handle on that this evening, but the process doesn't end this evening. What has to happen then, is that the registrars has to go through and make sure the signatures are correct and all of the procedures have been followed.
And then on Monday there is going to be, as I understand it, a drawing where they are going to determine the order of appearance on the ballot. It's realy a two-part ballot. Part one, is going to have really just one person on it, Gray Davis. The question is should he be recalled. And the 51 percent of the voters say yes. Out he goes. The second part of it is the what if side of the ballot, and that is the one everyone is filing for, if Gray Davis is recalled, who will be the next governor. And there has been a wide range of people filing.
We have talked about that earlier, Fredericka, you have everybody from people who have had other physical activities as their participation in certain movies of the adult genre, have made them semi famous out here, and then, of course, you have Larry Flynt, who says he's getting in the race and Arnold Schwarzenegger the big movie star generating so much of the buzz and attention. The buzz being such a California word. In any case...
WHITFIELD: Hey, Bob, let me ask you about the particular timing of Ariana Huffington coming in just at about the time Arnold Schwarzenegger did as if they came in together and sort of taking advantage, it seems, of the plethora of attention that's there in the form of photographers, reporters, and the fans. Did anyone ask her directly about that?
FRANKEN: Somebody did and she sort of pushed them away, but I am reminded of the comment of the church lady on "Saturday Night Live" who said "how convenient." Anyway, Ariana Huffington was here. Actually severy of her signs were in the crowd as Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived.
I want to talk just a moment, if I can, about the other side of this. The democrats having quite a bit of a quandary. They were hoping originally that they would be unified to only have Gray Davis as the Democrat, because this is a big democratic state and they were hoping that would be enough if the party was standing behind an alternative. But others have now gotten in the race, Cruz Bustamonte who is the popular lieutenant-governor in California and of course, somebody who appeals to Hispanic voters, and John Gormondy who is the state insurance commissioner, also well known around the state.
There are a variety of other political persuations represented from all sides of the political spectrum. They are also some very serious candidates who are not the ones who, while serious, are given much of a chance. Bill Simon who was the man who ran against Gray Davis last time around, he's getting back in. Most people here consider that a grudge match. You also have Peter Uberroth, the former baseball commissioner, former Olympic organizer, somebody who is considered a man of substance by a lot of people but of course the races these days are decided less by that than they are by star appeal, of one form or another, name recognition and the like, and as a matter of fact Arnold Schwarzenegger thus far has really avoided the specifics of the substantive questions, questions that deal with the many problems and controversies in California.
This is a very pro-choice, pro abortion rights state, that kind of thing.
At any case, he is coming out now with his wife, Maria Shriver with the cheers. He is going to be walking to the microphone after he goes through the autographs taking that type of thing. Then he's going to be coming, presumably, to talk to reporters. First there's the wave.
WHITFIELD: The campaigning has begun, officially, even after it already seem to have started just after he made his announcement on late night television.
FRANKEN: Well that would seem to be appropriate for this campaign. At any rate, he is coming to the microphone. Wait a minute. There is Ariana Huffington.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness.
FRANKEN: Wait a minute, now we have one of the entourage.
WHITFIELD: Perhaps to share the microphone with Adriana Huffington.
FRANKEN: At any case, Ariana Huffington who is, once, again, getting into the shots.
WHITFIELD: Maybe they eventually will run as partners. Maybe that's what that is intimating.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Careful, Arnold.
FRANKEN: At any case, you are now seeing a magical media moment.
WHITFIELD: Oh, there we go. Ok. Getting on the right side of the microphones.
FRANKEN: Getting on the right side of the microphones. Getting the microphones quickly repaired.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Well, this is a little shaky set up.
FRANKEN: Let's listen to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I am going to hold it, ok? OK. First of all, I just filed officially the papers to run for governor of California. And on the way down here, I said to my wife, I said, when I came here in 1968 from Austria as an immigrant that's the last thing I thought of that one day, 35 years later I will be standing here and filing the papers to run for govenor of this great state of California.
I have to tell you all that I am humbled. I am encouraged, and I want to thank all of you for inspiring me and coming out, the outpour that I have witnessed this last few days was absolutely extraordinary the outpour of support for my candidacy. So I want to thank all the people and all the supporters so much for your great enthusiasm.
I don't want to say any more. I just want to say to you that I am running for governor, and I promise you that I will be the people's governor, the people's governor. I will be there for everybody, young or old, man or woman alike, doesn't make any difference who it is I will be the people's governor.
And now I would just like to say thank you very much to my wonderful wife who is the greatest wife in the world, and the greatest friend that I have. I want to thank her for being here with me, and being such a great partner, and Maria, if you don't mind say just a few words, also. Big hand for my wife Maria.
MARIA SHRIVER, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER'S WIFE: I wanted to say...
CROWD: Arnold, Arnold, Arnold...
SHRIVER: ...how proud I am of my husband for his courage to enter this race, for his commitment to the people of California. I think he is a serious, compassionate, smart, calm, compassionate man, and I think that he will represent Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, men and women all across this state.
I think he is a born leader. He has inspired people for 30 years, children, disadvantaged people, educators, people from all walks of life. So I'm here 100 percent in his corner, as I know so many other people are. And I think that as we embark on this campaign, I think he will show to people that he has what it takes to get people involved in government, to return to public service, to elevate the debate and to bring California back to where it deserves to be. Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think it's appropriate not to answer questions, sir?
(UNINTELLIGIBLE)
WHITFIELD: All right you are looking at the crush of reporters there and hearing our own Bob Franken there trying to ask some independent questions of now candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger along with his wife journalist Maria Shriver, both of them making a few statements about the commitment that Arnold Schwarzenegger is executing by being a candidate, officially now, for governor of California.
Now, our Bob Franken is there in the crush and our Bill Schneider is also not to far away. At least paying attention (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
FRANKEN: Do you think it's appropriate not to be prepared when you run for governor to have the substantive answers to the questions that might be asked.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Let me make the decisions how we order the campaign OK?
FRANKEN: Aren't the press supposed to be the ones, sir, to inquire about a candidates qualifications?
WHITFIELD: All right Bob Franken being very tenacious there. Trying to get. . .
SHRIVER: This is not a primary for democrats to vote for him.
WHITFIELD: Bob Franken trying to address Mr. Schwarzenegger as to why he has been so evasive in trying to address questions of a plan that he would have as a candidate for governor. And he, once again saying that it's up to him in which to make a decision on when to answer those questions.
Let's bring in our Bob Franken once again right there in the crush of photographers, and reporters there, and the fans all turning out there in large numbers to get a glimpse of Arnold Schwarzenegger, now a candidate for governor of California -- Bob.
FRANKEN: Well you are getting an idea of the way this has been run. So far. It has been a lot of flash, of course, he brings to this campaign a lot flash, as a movie star of some consequence. As you witnessed there, he has resisted a variety of -- to answer the specific kinds of questions. That is becoming an issue. What he said he wants to do is that over the course of the campaign, roll out his position papers on a number of questions. There are many reporters who say the problem with that is these positions then become harder to question.
California, in fact is having a recall election because it is caught up in the throes of a very serious number of crises. First of all the economy, second of all health care concerns, education, there are water rights issues, environmental issues, et cetera. These are questions certainly that have been put to some of the other candidates. Govenor Gray Davis is in trouble because of some of the problems that have arisen over there. Problems having to do with taxes and the controversy's over taxes. And the budget confrontation with the legislature, and other questions having to do with the electrical prices to California.
These are all questions that reporters really feel that a candidate needs to be ready to answer but thus far this candidate has said that he is going to at least for now not be specific on his questions and roll ou the specifics later and let the people decide if they really care about them. In any case, as evidenced by the crush of media attention, and the crowd that showed up people were certainly interested in his candidacy. There's no shortage of interest in the candidacy. What is going to be interesting now is to see what happens in the next seven weeks when this candidacy goes through what some are calling the meat grinder of any political campaign, particularly against somebody who is as tough a campaigner as Gray Davis with so much money involved.
This is not a done deal yet. It is not the time to declare Arnold Schwargenegger governor, but the fact he is running is quite newsworthy and draws quite a bit of attention. Fredricka including, of course, ours.
WHITFIELD: Yes, and, Bob, I think one of the other candidates, Ariana Huffington was able to see quite quickly the advantage of, perhaps, getting alongside the man of the hour, outside of that county building there, rushing up very quickly, trying to get a little bit of air time as well. Were any words heard from her shortly after Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria?
FRANKEN: Well actually she held a news conference here, where she talked about the fact that it would be silly not to promise not to raise taxes. She also promised to run, what she called, a populous campaign. By which she meant that she would spend no more then $10 million in this campaign. She is among the independently wealthy who are running. She is also running, by the way, as an Independent.
So, yes, she did speak, and all that kind of thing. She also knocked over our microphones. One of the most dangerous places to be in America, sometimes is between a candidate and the cameras, and we got a taste of that today.
But in any case there is a certain circus atmosphere here. There is no denying that. But all the carnival also overshadows, a little bit, the fact that this is a very serious issue. The Democrats are saying that this is an attempt by the Republicans to overturn an election. The Republicans saying that the Democrat has done things so badly, that they must take advantage of the unique set of laws in California which really allows more direct participation.
Some people have talked about fact that the United States was really set up as a representative democracy on the federal level where there was a layer between direct participation from the people and the actual actions that were taken but California has a number of mechanisms, including the recall where it is very direct. We are seeing that now, it takes only $3,500, and 65 petitions to get into this governors race. We have hundreds that have already done that. The most notable one of course is Arnold Schwarzenegger as you just witnessed -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right Bob, and hold on a second, we want to bring in political analyst Bill Schneider who as I promised in the Los Angeles area, not too far away from all of that.
BILL SCHNEIDER, POLITICAL ANALYST: I'm safe, I'm safe. WHITFIELD: I was just getting ready to say keeping it safe where you are.
SCHNEIDER: I was worried about Bob Franken there, because when he was pushing the Terminator, the Terminator could push back. So I'm happy to see Bob is ok.
WHITFIELD: That is right, pretty aggressive scene out there, but Bob held his own. All right Bill, well you saw the scene out there. Incredible crush of interest just outside that building. We not only heard from the candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger, but also heard from his wife, very eloquently, kind of restating what he stated and some more.
How important was that to be able to hear that from both of those parties.
SCHNEIDER: That was very important. It was a point that he was making by bringing in his wife Maria Shriver who is a Kennedy. Kennedy means Democrat. Arnold Schwarzenegger is running for this office as a republican and a lot of Republicans seem to be responding positively, but he said first I am appealing to all the people, Democrats, Republicans, everyone. He's not running a partisan campanign. He's not running a right wing or an ideological campaign. And then he brings in Maria Shriver, who said something very important when she walked up to the microphone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHRIVER: I think he is a serious, compassionate, smart, calm, compassionate man, and I think that he will represent Democrats, Independents, Republicans, men and women, all across this state. I think, he is a born leader. He has inspired people for 30 years, children, disadvantaged people, educators, people from all walks of life.
So I am here 100 percent in his corner, as I know so many other people are. And I think that, as we embark on this campaign, he will show to people that he has what it takes to get people involved in government, to return to public service, to elevate the debate and to bring California back to where it deserves to be today. Thank you very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: You heard what she said, Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. She, her family is Democratic, I am not sure how she is registered here in California but she was calling on Democrats as well as Independents and Republicans to vote for her husband because he wants to appeal far beyond the ranks of hardcore Republicans because Republicans can't win elections in California. They don't hold a single state wide office. If Schwarzenegger is seen as the Republican candidate, he is likely to lose. He has got to cross over, and win Democrats and his wife may be very much the key to a strategy.
WHITFIELD: And Bill quite brilliant strategy indeed that was. We also heard from Arnold Schwarzenegger who also professed to be living the American dream, appealing to people that way, by coming here as an immigrant some 35 years ago, and now come to find out the man is running for governor of one of the most powerful states in this country.
SHCNEIDER: Clearly and that's part of his story. It's an interesting story, and believe me, everyone is going to look at that story and his whole life history because he doesn't seem to be giving us much to talk about in terms of his position on the issues.
One question when you see a scene like that, me as the political analyst, one of the first question I ask is how many of these people are voters, is it possible to translate box office appeal into voter appeal? I'd like to be able to go up to these people and say have you ever voted in an election before, are you a voter? Are you registered to vote? A lot of these people don't know a thing about politics. And of course, another part of his strategy is to bring in a lot of new voters into politics, and turn these fans into voters. That could be more difficult than it seems.
WHITFIELD: All right, Bill Schneider in safe quarters in Los Angeles and our Bob Franken in the thick in a crush of folks out there also in Los Angeles. Thanks to both of you, 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 August 9, 2003 - 13:58 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It is 11:00 a.m. on the west coast and 2:00 p.m. on the east coast. And beating a deadline by just a few hours after Arnold Schwarzenegger is making it official. He's filing papers to place his name on the ballot in California's recall election.
Our national correspondent Bob Franken is just outside the Los Angeles county election center in Norwalk, and it is a place that is teaming with lots of journalists, and lots of fans, because Schwarzenegger as well as another candidate, Ariana Huffington has just made their way into the building. And Bob, describe the scene for us right now.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: California. That's how I would describe it. We are waiting for Arnold Schwarzenegger to come out. He should be here with the next 30 seconds or so to face the reporters and go through the fencing match that's become characteristic of his encounters with the press over the last couple of days.
We just had Ariana Huffington, who was also standing in front of the microphone she, a syndicated columnist, considered a political gadfly, but she is also a political gadfly with lots of money who says that she is going to run a populous campaign, she pledges to spend no more on this campaign than 10 million. Now that may seem like a lot of money to people outside of California, but in the realm of California politics, that is almost a poverty stricken campaign.
The two principals in here are expected to spend a lot more than that. In fact, they are talking about, in the next seven weeks, about $50 or 60 million to be spent on this race, not by candidates, but by organizations ranging from the Native-American groups, who have their favorite candidates, many them like the work of Let. Governor Cruz Bustamonte. Another Democrat in this. And of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger is not exactly a poor person himself. He plans to spend, he said, whatever it takes to win. Gray Davis, who is the democratic governor fighting recall is a prodigious fundraiser. He has been able to raise just about any money he has needed over the past many years and in fact he has already started we're told.
I keep turning around for the obvious reason, we are waiting for Arnold Schwarzenegger to walk out. What was so interesting about this so-called news conference and the one that Ariana Huffinton just said, is that many of the questions, and many editorial comments of a wide variety were coming from the people who come for the movie star appeal. The ones who come to provide the cheering section. There are at least a couple hundred of them on a Saturday morning here in the outer reaches of L.A. County who have come to this registrars and records building to see what would normally be a mundane process, the filing of the appropriate papers. The appropriate papers need to be accompanied by $3,500, not a large amount of money, and 65 signatures.
Now, we are told that in Los Angeles county alone, about 110 people have filed in one form or another. That of course is greatly increased around the state. We will start getting a handle on that this evening, but the process doesn't end this evening. What has to happen then, is that the registrars has to go through and make sure the signatures are correct and all of the procedures have been followed.
And then on Monday there is going to be, as I understand it, a drawing where they are going to determine the order of appearance on the ballot. It's realy a two-part ballot. Part one, is going to have really just one person on it, Gray Davis. The question is should he be recalled. And the 51 percent of the voters say yes. Out he goes. The second part of it is the what if side of the ballot, and that is the one everyone is filing for, if Gray Davis is recalled, who will be the next governor. And there has been a wide range of people filing.
We have talked about that earlier, Fredericka, you have everybody from people who have had other physical activities as their participation in certain movies of the adult genre, have made them semi famous out here, and then, of course, you have Larry Flynt, who says he's getting in the race and Arnold Schwarzenegger the big movie star generating so much of the buzz and attention. The buzz being such a California word. In any case...
WHITFIELD: Hey, Bob, let me ask you about the particular timing of Ariana Huffington coming in just at about the time Arnold Schwarzenegger did as if they came in together and sort of taking advantage, it seems, of the plethora of attention that's there in the form of photographers, reporters, and the fans. Did anyone ask her directly about that?
FRANKEN: Somebody did and she sort of pushed them away, but I am reminded of the comment of the church lady on "Saturday Night Live" who said "how convenient." Anyway, Ariana Huffington was here. Actually severy of her signs were in the crowd as Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived.
I want to talk just a moment, if I can, about the other side of this. The democrats having quite a bit of a quandary. They were hoping originally that they would be unified to only have Gray Davis as the Democrat, because this is a big democratic state and they were hoping that would be enough if the party was standing behind an alternative. But others have now gotten in the race, Cruz Bustamonte who is the popular lieutenant-governor in California and of course, somebody who appeals to Hispanic voters, and John Gormondy who is the state insurance commissioner, also well known around the state.
There are a variety of other political persuations represented from all sides of the political spectrum. They are also some very serious candidates who are not the ones who, while serious, are given much of a chance. Bill Simon who was the man who ran against Gray Davis last time around, he's getting back in. Most people here consider that a grudge match. You also have Peter Uberroth, the former baseball commissioner, former Olympic organizer, somebody who is considered a man of substance by a lot of people but of course the races these days are decided less by that than they are by star appeal, of one form or another, name recognition and the like, and as a matter of fact Arnold Schwarzenegger thus far has really avoided the specifics of the substantive questions, questions that deal with the many problems and controversies in California.
This is a very pro-choice, pro abortion rights state, that kind of thing.
At any case, he is coming out now with his wife, Maria Shriver with the cheers. He is going to be walking to the microphone after he goes through the autographs taking that type of thing. Then he's going to be coming, presumably, to talk to reporters. First there's the wave.
WHITFIELD: The campaigning has begun, officially, even after it already seem to have started just after he made his announcement on late night television.
FRANKEN: Well that would seem to be appropriate for this campaign. At any rate, he is coming to the microphone. Wait a minute. There is Ariana Huffington.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness.
FRANKEN: Wait a minute, now we have one of the entourage.
WHITFIELD: Perhaps to share the microphone with Adriana Huffington.
FRANKEN: At any case, Ariana Huffington who is, once, again, getting into the shots.
WHITFIELD: Maybe they eventually will run as partners. Maybe that's what that is intimating.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Careful, Arnold.
FRANKEN: At any case, you are now seeing a magical media moment.
WHITFIELD: Oh, there we go. Ok. Getting on the right side of the microphones.
FRANKEN: Getting on the right side of the microphones. Getting the microphones quickly repaired.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Well, this is a little shaky set up.
FRANKEN: Let's listen to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I am going to hold it, ok? OK. First of all, I just filed officially the papers to run for governor of California. And on the way down here, I said to my wife, I said, when I came here in 1968 from Austria as an immigrant that's the last thing I thought of that one day, 35 years later I will be standing here and filing the papers to run for govenor of this great state of California.
I have to tell you all that I am humbled. I am encouraged, and I want to thank all of you for inspiring me and coming out, the outpour that I have witnessed this last few days was absolutely extraordinary the outpour of support for my candidacy. So I want to thank all the people and all the supporters so much for your great enthusiasm.
I don't want to say any more. I just want to say to you that I am running for governor, and I promise you that I will be the people's governor, the people's governor. I will be there for everybody, young or old, man or woman alike, doesn't make any difference who it is I will be the people's governor.
And now I would just like to say thank you very much to my wonderful wife who is the greatest wife in the world, and the greatest friend that I have. I want to thank her for being here with me, and being such a great partner, and Maria, if you don't mind say just a few words, also. Big hand for my wife Maria.
MARIA SHRIVER, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER'S WIFE: I wanted to say...
CROWD: Arnold, Arnold, Arnold...
SHRIVER: ...how proud I am of my husband for his courage to enter this race, for his commitment to the people of California. I think he is a serious, compassionate, smart, calm, compassionate man, and I think that he will represent Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, men and women all across this state.
I think he is a born leader. He has inspired people for 30 years, children, disadvantaged people, educators, people from all walks of life. So I'm here 100 percent in his corner, as I know so many other people are. And I think that as we embark on this campaign, I think he will show to people that he has what it takes to get people involved in government, to return to public service, to elevate the debate and to bring California back to where it deserves to be. Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think it's appropriate not to answer questions, sir?
(UNINTELLIGIBLE)
WHITFIELD: All right you are looking at the crush of reporters there and hearing our own Bob Franken there trying to ask some independent questions of now candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger along with his wife journalist Maria Shriver, both of them making a few statements about the commitment that Arnold Schwarzenegger is executing by being a candidate, officially now, for governor of California.
Now, our Bob Franken is there in the crush and our Bill Schneider is also not to far away. At least paying attention (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
FRANKEN: Do you think it's appropriate not to be prepared when you run for governor to have the substantive answers to the questions that might be asked.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Let me make the decisions how we order the campaign OK?
FRANKEN: Aren't the press supposed to be the ones, sir, to inquire about a candidates qualifications?
WHITFIELD: All right Bob Franken being very tenacious there. Trying to get. . .
SHRIVER: This is not a primary for democrats to vote for him.
WHITFIELD: Bob Franken trying to address Mr. Schwarzenegger as to why he has been so evasive in trying to address questions of a plan that he would have as a candidate for governor. And he, once again saying that it's up to him in which to make a decision on when to answer those questions.
Let's bring in our Bob Franken once again right there in the crush of photographers, and reporters there, and the fans all turning out there in large numbers to get a glimpse of Arnold Schwarzenegger, now a candidate for governor of California -- Bob.
FRANKEN: Well you are getting an idea of the way this has been run. So far. It has been a lot of flash, of course, he brings to this campaign a lot flash, as a movie star of some consequence. As you witnessed there, he has resisted a variety of -- to answer the specific kinds of questions. That is becoming an issue. What he said he wants to do is that over the course of the campaign, roll out his position papers on a number of questions. There are many reporters who say the problem with that is these positions then become harder to question.
California, in fact is having a recall election because it is caught up in the throes of a very serious number of crises. First of all the economy, second of all health care concerns, education, there are water rights issues, environmental issues, et cetera. These are questions certainly that have been put to some of the other candidates. Govenor Gray Davis is in trouble because of some of the problems that have arisen over there. Problems having to do with taxes and the controversy's over taxes. And the budget confrontation with the legislature, and other questions having to do with the electrical prices to California.
These are all questions that reporters really feel that a candidate needs to be ready to answer but thus far this candidate has said that he is going to at least for now not be specific on his questions and roll ou the specifics later and let the people decide if they really care about them. In any case, as evidenced by the crush of media attention, and the crowd that showed up people were certainly interested in his candidacy. There's no shortage of interest in the candidacy. What is going to be interesting now is to see what happens in the next seven weeks when this candidacy goes through what some are calling the meat grinder of any political campaign, particularly against somebody who is as tough a campaigner as Gray Davis with so much money involved.
This is not a done deal yet. It is not the time to declare Arnold Schwargenegger governor, but the fact he is running is quite newsworthy and draws quite a bit of attention. Fredricka including, of course, ours.
WHITFIELD: Yes, and, Bob, I think one of the other candidates, Ariana Huffington was able to see quite quickly the advantage of, perhaps, getting alongside the man of the hour, outside of that county building there, rushing up very quickly, trying to get a little bit of air time as well. Were any words heard from her shortly after Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria?
FRANKEN: Well actually she held a news conference here, where she talked about the fact that it would be silly not to promise not to raise taxes. She also promised to run, what she called, a populous campaign. By which she meant that she would spend no more then $10 million in this campaign. She is among the independently wealthy who are running. She is also running, by the way, as an Independent.
So, yes, she did speak, and all that kind of thing. She also knocked over our microphones. One of the most dangerous places to be in America, sometimes is between a candidate and the cameras, and we got a taste of that today.
But in any case there is a certain circus atmosphere here. There is no denying that. But all the carnival also overshadows, a little bit, the fact that this is a very serious issue. The Democrats are saying that this is an attempt by the Republicans to overturn an election. The Republicans saying that the Democrat has done things so badly, that they must take advantage of the unique set of laws in California which really allows more direct participation.
Some people have talked about fact that the United States was really set up as a representative democracy on the federal level where there was a layer between direct participation from the people and the actual actions that were taken but California has a number of mechanisms, including the recall where it is very direct. We are seeing that now, it takes only $3,500, and 65 petitions to get into this governors race. We have hundreds that have already done that. The most notable one of course is Arnold Schwarzenegger as you just witnessed -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right Bob, and hold on a second, we want to bring in political analyst Bill Schneider who as I promised in the Los Angeles area, not too far away from all of that.
BILL SCHNEIDER, POLITICAL ANALYST: I'm safe, I'm safe. WHITFIELD: I was just getting ready to say keeping it safe where you are.
SCHNEIDER: I was worried about Bob Franken there, because when he was pushing the Terminator, the Terminator could push back. So I'm happy to see Bob is ok.
WHITFIELD: That is right, pretty aggressive scene out there, but Bob held his own. All right Bill, well you saw the scene out there. Incredible crush of interest just outside that building. We not only heard from the candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger, but also heard from his wife, very eloquently, kind of restating what he stated and some more.
How important was that to be able to hear that from both of those parties.
SCHNEIDER: That was very important. It was a point that he was making by bringing in his wife Maria Shriver who is a Kennedy. Kennedy means Democrat. Arnold Schwarzenegger is running for this office as a republican and a lot of Republicans seem to be responding positively, but he said first I am appealing to all the people, Democrats, Republicans, everyone. He's not running a partisan campanign. He's not running a right wing or an ideological campaign. And then he brings in Maria Shriver, who said something very important when she walked up to the microphone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHRIVER: I think he is a serious, compassionate, smart, calm, compassionate man, and I think that he will represent Democrats, Independents, Republicans, men and women, all across this state. I think, he is a born leader. He has inspired people for 30 years, children, disadvantaged people, educators, people from all walks of life.
So I am here 100 percent in his corner, as I know so many other people are. And I think that, as we embark on this campaign, he will show to people that he has what it takes to get people involved in government, to return to public service, to elevate the debate and to bring California back to where it deserves to be today. Thank you very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: You heard what she said, Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. She, her family is Democratic, I am not sure how she is registered here in California but she was calling on Democrats as well as Independents and Republicans to vote for her husband because he wants to appeal far beyond the ranks of hardcore Republicans because Republicans can't win elections in California. They don't hold a single state wide office. If Schwarzenegger is seen as the Republican candidate, he is likely to lose. He has got to cross over, and win Democrats and his wife may be very much the key to a strategy.
WHITFIELD: And Bill quite brilliant strategy indeed that was. We also heard from Arnold Schwarzenegger who also professed to be living the American dream, appealing to people that way, by coming here as an immigrant some 35 years ago, and now come to find out the man is running for governor of one of the most powerful states in this country.
SHCNEIDER: Clearly and that's part of his story. It's an interesting story, and believe me, everyone is going to look at that story and his whole life history because he doesn't seem to be giving us much to talk about in terms of his position on the issues.
One question when you see a scene like that, me as the political analyst, one of the first question I ask is how many of these people are voters, is it possible to translate box office appeal into voter appeal? I'd like to be able to go up to these people and say have you ever voted in an election before, are you a voter? Are you registered to vote? A lot of these people don't know a thing about politics. And of course, another part of his strategy is to bring in a lot of new voters into politics, and turn these fans into voters. That could be more difficult than it seems.
WHITFIELD: All right, Bill Schneider in safe quarters in Los Angeles and our Bob Franken in the thick in a crush of folks out there also in Los Angeles. Thanks to both of you, 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
