Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Republicans Could Be Facing California Defeat
Aired September 13, 2003 - 12:44 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.
FRERICKA WHITFIELD, ANCHOR: Republicans are holding their convention in California this weekend. Pressure is building in the GOP to unite behind one main candidate in the recall. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger plans a lunchtime address to the delegates.
And right now, you're looking at a live picture outside of the L.A. Marriott hotel. And most of these people are supporters of Schwarzenegger. They want him to be the main choice.
Meantime, later on this evening, State Senator Tom McClintock will be part of a dinner agenda. Republican Party bosses fear the two front-runners will split the vote on October 7.
And you can see right here some supporters in L.A. of Arnold Schwarzenegger want him to be the main man.
Well, in the end, it could all spell victory for leading Democrat Cruz Bustamante, the state lieutenant governor. That is, if California's recall of Governor Gray Davis takes place.
More from our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You can't beat somebody with nobody. And it's even harder to beat somebody with everybody, which brings us to California's Republican Party.
BILL SIMON (R), FORMER CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: When I got out, I said there were too many Republicans in the race. And I still believe that's the case.
CROWLEY: Specifically, there is one too many. Do the math. An "L.A. Times" poll finds Democrat Bustamante leading at 30 percent; moderate Republican Schwarzenegger, 25 percent; conservative Republican McClintock, 18 percent.
Looking for a clean shot, team Schwarzenegger wants McClintock out. But that's not something you say in polite or even political company.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: He has to come up with a decision. I'm not going to force him. I'm not going to tell him what to do.
CROWLEY: Liberal on abortion and gay rights, Schwarzenegger thinks McClintock, an anti-abortion conservative, can't win in a state which centered to left. No sale at Camp McClintock.
TOM MCCLINTOCK (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: If Schwarzenegger's campaign would spend a fraction of their time talking about the future of California that they have spent trying to muscle me out of the race, they would be in much better shape right now.
CROWLEY: Up six points in a month, McClintock is enjoying a limelight that rarely shines on California conservatives.
MCCLINTOCK: Can we do that in a debate before the convention Saturday? We're both going to be there.
SCHWARZENEGGER: No.
CROWLEY: California Republicans have passed this way before.
RICHARD RIORDAN, FORMER L.A. MAYOR: We care about the poor. We care about strong fiscal policies. We care about quality education. And let's put off and arm aside the ideology ideological things like pro-choice and gay rights and things like that.
CROWLEY: Schwarzenegger supporter Richard Riordan is a moderate Republican who supports things like that.
Long story short, in 2002 polls indicated Riordan could beat Governor Gray Davis. But the conservative dominated Republican Party nominated Bill Simon instead. Simon lost to Davis. Now, two years later, Simon, an anti-abortion conservative, will support whoever has the best economic ideas.
SIMON: So if a candidate, let's just say hypothetically agreed with me on all those issues and was viable, you know, I might be a little more flexible on some other issues, especially if I didn't think that was a priority for them.
CROWLEY (on camera): Even some McClintock allies believe eventually he will pull out by his own means in his own time.
And in the meantime, the Republican Party is trying not to argue with itself. There will be no straw polls at the weekend meeting.
Candy Crowley, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 13, 2003 - 12:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FRERICKA WHITFIELD, ANCHOR: Republicans are holding their convention in California this weekend. Pressure is building in the GOP to unite behind one main candidate in the recall. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger plans a lunchtime address to the delegates.
And right now, you're looking at a live picture outside of the L.A. Marriott hotel. And most of these people are supporters of Schwarzenegger. They want him to be the main choice.
Meantime, later on this evening, State Senator Tom McClintock will be part of a dinner agenda. Republican Party bosses fear the two front-runners will split the vote on October 7.
And you can see right here some supporters in L.A. of Arnold Schwarzenegger want him to be the main man.
Well, in the end, it could all spell victory for leading Democrat Cruz Bustamante, the state lieutenant governor. That is, if California's recall of Governor Gray Davis takes place.
More from our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You can't beat somebody with nobody. And it's even harder to beat somebody with everybody, which brings us to California's Republican Party.
BILL SIMON (R), FORMER CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: When I got out, I said there were too many Republicans in the race. And I still believe that's the case.
CROWLEY: Specifically, there is one too many. Do the math. An "L.A. Times" poll finds Democrat Bustamante leading at 30 percent; moderate Republican Schwarzenegger, 25 percent; conservative Republican McClintock, 18 percent.
Looking for a clean shot, team Schwarzenegger wants McClintock out. But that's not something you say in polite or even political company.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: He has to come up with a decision. I'm not going to force him. I'm not going to tell him what to do.
CROWLEY: Liberal on abortion and gay rights, Schwarzenegger thinks McClintock, an anti-abortion conservative, can't win in a state which centered to left. No sale at Camp McClintock.
TOM MCCLINTOCK (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: If Schwarzenegger's campaign would spend a fraction of their time talking about the future of California that they have spent trying to muscle me out of the race, they would be in much better shape right now.
CROWLEY: Up six points in a month, McClintock is enjoying a limelight that rarely shines on California conservatives.
MCCLINTOCK: Can we do that in a debate before the convention Saturday? We're both going to be there.
SCHWARZENEGGER: No.
CROWLEY: California Republicans have passed this way before.
RICHARD RIORDAN, FORMER L.A. MAYOR: We care about the poor. We care about strong fiscal policies. We care about quality education. And let's put off and arm aside the ideology ideological things like pro-choice and gay rights and things like that.
CROWLEY: Schwarzenegger supporter Richard Riordan is a moderate Republican who supports things like that.
Long story short, in 2002 polls indicated Riordan could beat Governor Gray Davis. But the conservative dominated Republican Party nominated Bill Simon instead. Simon lost to Davis. Now, two years later, Simon, an anti-abortion conservative, will support whoever has the best economic ideas.
SIMON: So if a candidate, let's just say hypothetically agreed with me on all those issues and was viable, you know, I might be a little more flexible on some other issues, especially if I didn't think that was a priority for them.
CROWLEY (on camera): Even some McClintock allies believe eventually he will pull out by his own means in his own time.
And in the meantime, the Republican Party is trying not to argue with itself. There will be no straw polls at the weekend meeting.
Candy Crowley, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
