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CNN Live Saturday
54 Percent Of California Voters Say Fire Davis
Aired August 09, 2003 - 18:00 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.
KELLI ARENA, CNN HOST: We begin with the battle for California. Gubernatorial hopefuls have just two hours left to submit papers to jump into the recall race.`
Arnold Schwarzenegger filed earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R) CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: The outpour that I have witnessed these last few days was absolutely extraordinary, the outpour of support for my candidacy. So I wanted 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'm running for governor. And I promise you that I will be the people's governor, the people's governor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Schwarzenegger's wife Maria was by his side at the Los Angeles County Election Center.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA SHRIVER, SCHWARZENEGGER'S WIFE: I wanted to say 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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
One of Schwarzenegger's rival candidates, Arianna Huffington, shared the spotlight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARIANA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: My campaign is going to be a populist campaign. I have pledged to run no negative ads. I have pledged to conduct no polls. I believe that we need leadership, not poll taking. And I have a very clear vision for California, which is not going to be based on poll taking and focus groups.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: CNN's Bob Franken is at the Los Angeles County Election Center in Norwalk, California.
Bob, tell us, you know, is this a serious business going on? Or is this the circus that so many critics claim it is?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONENT: Yes. It is a serious circus. It's certainly a circus atmosphere here. Not only Arnold Schwarzenegger has been here, and not only did Arianna Huffington manage to claim she was going to run a populist campaign by pledging to not spend more than $10 million, only in California would that be the case, but not only was all of that going on, but inside at the moment, among those standing in line to register, is somebody who we shall describe as an exotic dancer. She has come up with the $3500 and the 65 signatures. And so she is among those filing. And that's been the story of this.
Of course, it is very easy to file in this recall possibility of a race. Gray Davis, of course, is the governor. This is very serious business. The state is in deep trouble. And the man who won eight months ago is now facing a recall election.
Among his candidates, the candidates by the way who are seeking to replace him, is the man who lost to him eight months ago, Bill Simon, who also filed here today, saying that the people have spoken once again. And he deflected any questions about didn't he have his chance.
Among the others who are filing, Peter Ueberroth, who is the former baseball commissioner and the former organizer of the Los Angeles Olympics, somebody who's not given much of a chance, but who pledged to run a substantive campaign.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, on the other hand, has thus far avoided any questions about the substance. He has talked strictly in the platitudes that you've been listening to. As a matter of fact, he goes out of his way to say we'll put out our position papers when we decide to. And his communications person said they're not going to let those of us in the media determine how they will run a campaign.
So what you're seeing now is the early star power part of the campaign. It will be followed by about seven weeks of a brutal, very expensive campaign, where they expect in this state, Kelli, to spend more than $50 million.
ARENA: So Bob, this is what I know. Did you put your name on that list?
FRANKEN: Well, you can only get so bizarre, even in California.
ARENA: All right, CNN's Bob Franken, thanks so much for the update.
Well, in the latest CNN/"TIME" poll, when asked how they would vote in a recall, 54 percent of California voters said that they would replace Governor Gray Davis. Now it's important to remember, the campaign has not begun. And the number of undecided voters is extremely high.
For some help in sorting out the poll numbers, let's turn to CNN's senior political analyst, Bill Schneider. He joins us now from our Los Angeles bureau.
Bill, good evening.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening. Good afternoon from California.
ARENA: What does the replacement field look like?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Kelli, no surprise. It's Arnold. Arnold Schwarzenegger leads a crowded field, with 25 percent of the vote to replace Governor Davis.
Among the eight best known contenders, only one other candidates in double digits. That's Cruz Bustamante you see here, at 15 percent the Democratic lieutenant governor, followed by two conservative Republicans, Tom McClintock and Bill Simon, both of whom have run for statewide office.
All the other candidates are below five percent. And they include three independents tied at four, former baseball commissioner and Olympics organizer, Peter Ueberroth, columnist Arianna Huffington, and self-described smut peddler, Larry Flynt. How embarrassing. A second Democratic office holder, state insurance commissioner John Garamendi, is at two.
You know, Schwarzenegger is a Republican. And he does lead among Republicans, but he actually does better among Independents. He claims his support goes beyond party. And in fact, he comes in second to Bustamante among Democrats.
And here's one surprise we found in the poll. Schwarzenegger is in a slight lead among Latino voters, where he's five points ahead of Cruz Bustamante, the state's highest elected Latino public official.
ARENA: Well, Bill, do voters really believe that Schwarzenegger is capable of governing the state?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Kelli, the verdict is still out on that. 45 percent told us yes, they do think Arnold Schwarzenegger is capable of governing California. 39 percent saying no, with a lot of undecided. All the other candidates are going to run against Schwarzenegger on exactly that point.
What are his views? How is he going to run the state of California? And this poll shows most voters are not yet willing to say that he knows what he needs to know and has the background he needs to run the state.
ARENA: All right, CNN's Bill Schneider, thanks very much.
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 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN HOST: We begin with the battle for California. Gubernatorial hopefuls have just two hours left to submit papers to jump into the recall race.`
Arnold Schwarzenegger filed earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R) CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: The outpour that I have witnessed these last few days was absolutely extraordinary, the outpour of support for my candidacy. So I wanted 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'm running for governor. And I promise you that I will be the people's governor, the people's governor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Schwarzenegger's wife Maria was by his side at the Los Angeles County Election Center.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA SHRIVER, SCHWARZENEGGER'S WIFE: I wanted to say 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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
One of Schwarzenegger's rival candidates, Arianna Huffington, shared the spotlight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARIANA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: My campaign is going to be a populist campaign. I have pledged to run no negative ads. I have pledged to conduct no polls. I believe that we need leadership, not poll taking. And I have a very clear vision for California, which is not going to be based on poll taking and focus groups.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: CNN's Bob Franken is at the Los Angeles County Election Center in Norwalk, California.
Bob, tell us, you know, is this a serious business going on? Or is this the circus that so many critics claim it is?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONENT: Yes. It is a serious circus. It's certainly a circus atmosphere here. Not only Arnold Schwarzenegger has been here, and not only did Arianna Huffington manage to claim she was going to run a populist campaign by pledging to not spend more than $10 million, only in California would that be the case, but not only was all of that going on, but inside at the moment, among those standing in line to register, is somebody who we shall describe as an exotic dancer. She has come up with the $3500 and the 65 signatures. And so she is among those filing. And that's been the story of this.
Of course, it is very easy to file in this recall possibility of a race. Gray Davis, of course, is the governor. This is very serious business. The state is in deep trouble. And the man who won eight months ago is now facing a recall election.
Among his candidates, the candidates by the way who are seeking to replace him, is the man who lost to him eight months ago, Bill Simon, who also filed here today, saying that the people have spoken once again. And he deflected any questions about didn't he have his chance.
Among the others who are filing, Peter Ueberroth, who is the former baseball commissioner and the former organizer of the Los Angeles Olympics, somebody who's not given much of a chance, but who pledged to run a substantive campaign.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, on the other hand, has thus far avoided any questions about the substance. He has talked strictly in the platitudes that you've been listening to. As a matter of fact, he goes out of his way to say we'll put out our position papers when we decide to. And his communications person said they're not going to let those of us in the media determine how they will run a campaign.
So what you're seeing now is the early star power part of the campaign. It will be followed by about seven weeks of a brutal, very expensive campaign, where they expect in this state, Kelli, to spend more than $50 million.
ARENA: So Bob, this is what I know. Did you put your name on that list?
FRANKEN: Well, you can only get so bizarre, even in California.
ARENA: All right, CNN's Bob Franken, thanks so much for the update.
Well, in the latest CNN/"TIME" poll, when asked how they would vote in a recall, 54 percent of California voters said that they would replace Governor Gray Davis. Now it's important to remember, the campaign has not begun. And the number of undecided voters is extremely high.
For some help in sorting out the poll numbers, let's turn to CNN's senior political analyst, Bill Schneider. He joins us now from our Los Angeles bureau.
Bill, good evening.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening. Good afternoon from California.
ARENA: What does the replacement field look like?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Kelli, no surprise. It's Arnold. Arnold Schwarzenegger leads a crowded field, with 25 percent of the vote to replace Governor Davis.
Among the eight best known contenders, only one other candidates in double digits. That's Cruz Bustamante you see here, at 15 percent the Democratic lieutenant governor, followed by two conservative Republicans, Tom McClintock and Bill Simon, both of whom have run for statewide office.
All the other candidates are below five percent. And they include three independents tied at four, former baseball commissioner and Olympics organizer, Peter Ueberroth, columnist Arianna Huffington, and self-described smut peddler, Larry Flynt. How embarrassing. A second Democratic office holder, state insurance commissioner John Garamendi, is at two.
You know, Schwarzenegger is a Republican. And he does lead among Republicans, but he actually does better among Independents. He claims his support goes beyond party. And in fact, he comes in second to Bustamante among Democrats.
And here's one surprise we found in the poll. Schwarzenegger is in a slight lead among Latino voters, where he's five points ahead of Cruz Bustamante, the state's highest elected Latino public official.
ARENA: Well, Bill, do voters really believe that Schwarzenegger is capable of governing the state?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Kelli, the verdict is still out on that. 45 percent told us yes, they do think Arnold Schwarzenegger is capable of governing California. 39 percent saying no, with a lot of undecided. All the other candidates are going to run against Schwarzenegger on exactly that point.
What are his views? How is he going to run the state of California? And this poll shows most voters are not yet willing to say that he knows what he needs to know and has the background he needs to run the state.
ARENA: All right, CNN's Bill Schneider, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
