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CNN Live At Daybreak

Constituents React to Condit's Homecoming

Aired August 07, 2001 - 07:05   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.
VINCE CELLINI, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the Chandra Levy case -- it has been more than three months since the former government intern vanished without a trace.

And a new CNN-USA Today Gallup Poll shows 39 percent of these polled say Levy's disappearance will never be solved. That's down from 51 percent from last month. Twenty-nine percent of those polled think it's very likely Congressman Gary Condit was involved in her disappearance; 36 percent say it is somewhat likely.

Condit hasn't been seen in public since he returned to his home district in California last week, but his father spoke out at a rally of cheering supporters.

CNN's Gary Tuchman was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They turned out in a parking lot of a civic club to show their support for their congressman. And the first speaker was a man named Condit.

REV. ADRIAN CONDIT, GARY CONDIT'S FATHER: Well, hello. I am Adrian Condit, father of Congressman Gary Condit.

TUCHMAN: Gary Condit was a no-show at this rally, but his father spoke in his behalf.

CONDIT: Gary and Carolyn are doing just fine. And Gary and Carolyn truly appreciate your support through the years, and especially these last few months.

TUCHMAN: Between 100 and 125 Condit supporters attended the rally. A major theme: blaming the news media.

JAVIER RANGEL, CONDIT SUPPORTER: Gary is accountable, one, to God. Gary is not accountable to the media. He is accountable to his family. Gary is not accountable to the media.

CONDIT: And I want you to know this evening that no amount of news media rhetoric, implications or accusations, sources known or unknown will ever divide the Condit family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE PROTESTOR: ... you spit on the memory of Chandra Levy. You spit on her parents.

TUCHMAN: About a dozen anti-Condit protestors demonstrated outside the gate of the parking lot, although one man holding a sign against the congressman got into the rally.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys are animals.

TUCHMAN: He was ultimately led away by police for his own protection.

The congressman's father is a minister, and he offered a prayer for his family. And then continued by saying...

CONDIT: And now, Father, we want you to remember Dr. and Mrs. Levy as they have a hurting in their heart that no one understands but you.

TUCHMAN (on camera): Many people in this district say they want to hear what their congressman has to say before they form their opinion about the situation. And when his chief of staff showed up at this rally site, it appeared possible the congressman might too. But he did not. So his public silence continues.

Gary Tuchman, CNN, Turlock, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CELLINI: D.C. police chief Charles Ramsey will answer questions on the Levy investigation during a call-in program on an all-news radio station in Washington. CNN will carry part of that show live during the 10:00 Eastern hour of "MORNING NEWS."

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