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CNN Live At Daybreak

Spirit of America: Election Day in New York

Aired September 25, 2001 - 07:30   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: It is election day here in New York City, where the polls opened up a little more than an hour and a half ago. Many voters impressed with Rudy Giuliani's handling of the terror attack on Manhattan want him to keep the job. But term limits keep him from running again.

And CNN's Jason Carroll joins us live from New York with more -- boy, Jason, I heard the news that less than 12 percent of those that are eligible to vote will actually vote in this primary today.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're going to have wait and see what happens with that, Paula. Good morning to you.

The Giuliani factor is definitely something that a lot of folks are going to be considering as they head to polls like this one on the Upper East Side.

Paula, this morning I had an opportunity to speak with a few voters who said that they already have written in Mayor Giuliani's name. They said he did a great job during the past eight years and did an exceptionally good job during the past two months.

During a recent Marist College poll, voters were asked if they thought it was a good idea or a bad idea for the mayor to try to continue his term in office. Fifty-five percent said they did think it was a good idea. Thirty-nine percent said they thought it was a bad idea.

Now, as for the real candidates for office, for those candidates, it has been a last minute push to get voters to the polls.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL (voice-over): New York City's next mayor will have a tougher job than anyone had imagined. Democrat Mark Green said primary voters have to ask themselves one question.

MARK GREEN (D), MAYORAL CANDIDATE: Who is the leader who can best unite and rebuild New York?

CARROLL: It is the question but there are no easy answers given the field of candidates. A recent Marist College poll showed Green, the city's public advocate, leading the pack with 21 percent followed by Democrats Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrar, City Council Speaker Peter Vallone and City Comptroller Alan Hevesi. On the Republican side, billionaire Michael Bloomberg leads former Congressman Herman Badillo.

None of the candidates have captured a majority. Most still like the current mayor, Rudy Giuliani. But a term limit law prevents him from serving a third consecutive term. That hasn't stopped speculation he might try anyway.

On Monday, Giuliani refused to say what he would do if the city and state legislatures tried to overturn the law. But he told voters what they should do.

MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI (R), NEW YORK CITY: And they should choose between and among the candidates that are there on the different lines. It would make no sense to write my name in.

CARROLL: Political analysts are still trying to make sense of what Giuliani really wants.

ROBERT HARDT JR., "NEW YORK POST": After two weeks of people really feeling like there's someone by their side, suddenly they're not quite sure where the mayor is coming from.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL: The polls have been open for about an hour and a half. Traffic has been relatively light, at least at this polling place on the Upper East Side. The weather is definitely going to play a factor in all this. As you know, Paula, the weather is bad outside. That is definitely going to discourage some voters from coming out to the polls. But the candidates say that it is all of the voters' patriotic duty to get out and vote -- Paula.

ZAHN: And I hope they do.

Thank you so much.

And we want you to weigh in on New York's mayoral race and we'll be tabulating your thoughts. Just go to our Web site at cnn.com and click on quick vote.

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