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CNN Live Saturday

Ariana Huffinton Attacks Scharzenegger

Aired August 16, 2003 - 12:22   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.


THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. A new poll shows California Governor Gray Davis has the work cut out for him if he wants to keep hid job, that is if the vote proceeds on October the 7th. One legal challenge has, apparently, succeeded where others have failed. National correspondent, Bob Franken, joins us live, on duty in Los Angeles, where the soap opera continuing to unfold.
Hi, Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is a soap opera, isn't it? And, part of the soap opera is played in court, as you pointed out. Up to the North, there is a voting rights act requirement that a judge says has to be met, that the federal government has to approve the election as it's changed before it can proceeds. So, a couple of weeks from now, the judge is going to hold a hearing.

If, in fact, those conditions have not met, he said, then he might postpone the election. And, on Monday, here in Los Angeles County, there is an American Civil Liberty Union lawsuit that is considered something worth watching, where the ACLU is asking that there be a delay because six of the most populous counties with some of the disadvantaged citizens of the California concentrated, they're saying they're disenfranchised contrary to the constitution because they use those discredited punch card ballots which were supposed to be changed in California by the next election which, of course, was scheduled for March.

Now, as far as the recall election, which is currently scheduled for October 7, there has been a new field poll that has come out that has been bad news for the Governor Gray Davis. It shows that 58 percent of California voters would like to have him recalled. That's a real recall strong number against Davis. Only 22 percent, thus far, have responded to the message that he should be kept in office. As we all know now, part two of that ballot includes 135 people who will want to replace him if, in fact, he is recalled.

Many of those are not considered real contenders, but there's a very startling result in this latest field poll, it shows that the democrats lieutenant governor, Cruz Bustamante, has overtaken Arnold Schwarzenegger in the results. You can see, it's 25 to 22 percent. I should point out that that is within the field poll's margin of error of 4.9 percent, however, it is still striking that Arnold Schwarzenegger seems to have lost ground.

The one thing that was brought up is that there's been some controversy around some of his appointments. Warren Buffett, who is a democrat usually, who was brought in by his friend Arnold Schwarzenegger to be an advisor, as caused some controversy in the state by saying that property taxes are ridiculously low, and the lower property taxes because of that famous proposition 13 are part of the Holy Grail in California. So, some controversy has erupted.

Back to the poll, there are also people who are, sort of, in the "also ran" category. Among them, Ariana Huffington, at 4 percent.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(WHISTLING)

FRANKEN (voice-over): Ariana Huffington has a way of getting attention. Now, she's trying to elbow her way to the forefront by attacking the recall front runner.

ARIANA HUFFINGTON, CALIF. GOV, CANDIDATE: Arnold Schwarzenegger is a Bush Republican, through and through.

FRANKEN: She has made the transition from outspoken conservative, Washington wife of super-rich congressman, Michael Huffington, to outspoken liberal California's super-rich divorcee, syndicated columnist, whose campaigns, until now, had embraced Actor, Warren Beatty for president. Attacked antidepressant drugs and sports utility vehicles. She called the news conference to charge that Schwarzenegger met, in May 2001, with Enron chief executive Ken Lay. Enron has been often blamed for contributing to California's electric power crisis.

HUFFINGTON: You're writing off your mortgage against the corporate money.

FRANKEN: But, reporters demanded to know, how she avoided federal and most state income taxes over the last two year.

HUFFINGTON: I paid all my property taxes, which were $98,000 another $50,000 in employer payroll taxes, so there's absolutely no problem with my taxes.

FRANKEN: She would rather talk about issues, opposed to personal matters like the hardly amicable split from her ex.

MICHAEL HUFFINGTON, FORMER HUSBAND: This state has so many problems, right now. They really are looking for a leader to motivate people and work with democrats, republicans, and independents and that's main reason I'm backing Arnold Schwarzenegger.

HUFFINGTON: My private life, Arnold Schwarzenegger's private life, everybody's private life should be off limits when it comes to this election.

FRANKEN: Now she has formed a political alliance. This one with the Green Party candidate Peter Camejo. They have agreed to campaign together. If either develops a commanding lead, the other will drop out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (on camera): Do not for a minute, Thomas, place any bets on the fact that Ariana Huffington plans to drop out of this race, not as long as it keeps her prominent.

ROBERTS: Well, it certainly keeps getting more interesting and more interesting by the day, as all of this starts to unfold. I guess going back to Arnold, though, has he come out to talk about what he really stands for? He keeps kind of dodges all the questions saying -- you know what? I'm going to get back to you on that. I'm going to get back to you on that. When are we going to hear from him?

FRANKEN: Well, that's a good question. As a matter of fact, what we want to find out is if -- the last week, he basically stayed out of sight, except for one appearance where he just handled a couple of reporter questions, but if this poll that shows Cruz Bustamante up even with him, is an indicator, maybe they're going to have to reconsider the strategy of just relaying on name recognition and maybe he is going to have to get out there and mix it up in a real political campaign -- Thomas.

ROBERTS: It's like the "Payton Place" of governorships, here. All right, Bob Franken, live for us in L.A., Bob, thanks very much.

And, only in California is it a case of life imitating art. Rob Lowe, who played a political operative on TV's "The West Wing," will now be one for real in the California recall. Get this: He's going to help recruit celebrities to the Schwarzenegger campaign. Now, Lowe, is a democrat, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a republican, as we've heard, but he is said to be friends with the candidate and his journalist wife, Maria Shriver.

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 16, 2003 - 12:22   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. A new poll shows California Governor Gray Davis has the work cut out for him if he wants to keep hid job, that is if the vote proceeds on October the 7th. One legal challenge has, apparently, succeeded where others have failed. National correspondent, Bob Franken, joins us live, on duty in Los Angeles, where the soap opera continuing to unfold.
Hi, Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is a soap opera, isn't it? And, part of the soap opera is played in court, as you pointed out. Up to the North, there is a voting rights act requirement that a judge says has to be met, that the federal government has to approve the election as it's changed before it can proceeds. So, a couple of weeks from now, the judge is going to hold a hearing.

If, in fact, those conditions have not met, he said, then he might postpone the election. And, on Monday, here in Los Angeles County, there is an American Civil Liberty Union lawsuit that is considered something worth watching, where the ACLU is asking that there be a delay because six of the most populous counties with some of the disadvantaged citizens of the California concentrated, they're saying they're disenfranchised contrary to the constitution because they use those discredited punch card ballots which were supposed to be changed in California by the next election which, of course, was scheduled for March.

Now, as far as the recall election, which is currently scheduled for October 7, there has been a new field poll that has come out that has been bad news for the Governor Gray Davis. It shows that 58 percent of California voters would like to have him recalled. That's a real recall strong number against Davis. Only 22 percent, thus far, have responded to the message that he should be kept in office. As we all know now, part two of that ballot includes 135 people who will want to replace him if, in fact, he is recalled.

Many of those are not considered real contenders, but there's a very startling result in this latest field poll, it shows that the democrats lieutenant governor, Cruz Bustamante, has overtaken Arnold Schwarzenegger in the results. You can see, it's 25 to 22 percent. I should point out that that is within the field poll's margin of error of 4.9 percent, however, it is still striking that Arnold Schwarzenegger seems to have lost ground.

The one thing that was brought up is that there's been some controversy around some of his appointments. Warren Buffett, who is a democrat usually, who was brought in by his friend Arnold Schwarzenegger to be an advisor, as caused some controversy in the state by saying that property taxes are ridiculously low, and the lower property taxes because of that famous proposition 13 are part of the Holy Grail in California. So, some controversy has erupted.

Back to the poll, there are also people who are, sort of, in the "also ran" category. Among them, Ariana Huffington, at 4 percent.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(WHISTLING)

FRANKEN (voice-over): Ariana Huffington has a way of getting attention. Now, she's trying to elbow her way to the forefront by attacking the recall front runner.

ARIANA HUFFINGTON, CALIF. GOV, CANDIDATE: Arnold Schwarzenegger is a Bush Republican, through and through.

FRANKEN: She has made the transition from outspoken conservative, Washington wife of super-rich congressman, Michael Huffington, to outspoken liberal California's super-rich divorcee, syndicated columnist, whose campaigns, until now, had embraced Actor, Warren Beatty for president. Attacked antidepressant drugs and sports utility vehicles. She called the news conference to charge that Schwarzenegger met, in May 2001, with Enron chief executive Ken Lay. Enron has been often blamed for contributing to California's electric power crisis.

HUFFINGTON: You're writing off your mortgage against the corporate money.

FRANKEN: But, reporters demanded to know, how she avoided federal and most state income taxes over the last two year.

HUFFINGTON: I paid all my property taxes, which were $98,000 another $50,000 in employer payroll taxes, so there's absolutely no problem with my taxes.

FRANKEN: She would rather talk about issues, opposed to personal matters like the hardly amicable split from her ex.

MICHAEL HUFFINGTON, FORMER HUSBAND: This state has so many problems, right now. They really are looking for a leader to motivate people and work with democrats, republicans, and independents and that's main reason I'm backing Arnold Schwarzenegger.

HUFFINGTON: My private life, Arnold Schwarzenegger's private life, everybody's private life should be off limits when it comes to this election.

FRANKEN: Now she has formed a political alliance. This one with the Green Party candidate Peter Camejo. They have agreed to campaign together. If either develops a commanding lead, the other will drop out.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (on camera): Do not for a minute, Thomas, place any bets on the fact that Ariana Huffington plans to drop out of this race, not as long as it keeps her prominent.

ROBERTS: Well, it certainly keeps getting more interesting and more interesting by the day, as all of this starts to unfold. I guess going back to Arnold, though, has he come out to talk about what he really stands for? He keeps kind of dodges all the questions saying -- you know what? I'm going to get back to you on that. I'm going to get back to you on that. When are we going to hear from him?

FRANKEN: Well, that's a good question. As a matter of fact, what we want to find out is if -- the last week, he basically stayed out of sight, except for one appearance where he just handled a couple of reporter questions, but if this poll that shows Cruz Bustamante up even with him, is an indicator, maybe they're going to have to reconsider the strategy of just relaying on name recognition and maybe he is going to have to get out there and mix it up in a real political campaign -- Thomas.

ROBERTS: It's like the "Payton Place" of governorships, here. All right, Bob Franken, live for us in L.A., Bob, thanks very much.

And, only in California is it a case of life imitating art. Rob Lowe, who played a political operative on TV's "The West Wing," will now be one for real in the California recall. Get this: He's going to help recruit celebrities to the Schwarzenegger campaign. Now, Lowe, is a democrat, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a republican, as we've heard, but he is said to be friends with the candidate and his journalist wife, Maria Shriver.

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