Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

New York City Voting for Mayor Today

Aired November 06, 2001 - 06:21   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Right before the break we had a report from Anthony Johnson of WABC about the mayor's race in New York City. Now we have the real deal, Anthony Johnson joining us live from a polling place.

I think you're in east Manhattan, Anthony, good to see you.

ANTHONY JOHNSON, WABC-TV REPORTER: Good morning to you, Daryn. Good morning, everybody.

That's right, we're here at PS 66 (ph). This is on the east side of Manhattan. This is where Mayor Giuliani will be coming to vote a little bit later on this morning. Of course he is supporting the Republican in this race, that would be Michael Bloomberg, and of course this is also where the Democrat will be voting, Mark Green.

Now the polling places here in New York opened at 6:00 this morning. And if you just want to take a quick view around, we've got a number of people that have been out here already this morning. This has become a rather contentious, a very tight race in a city where Democrats generally outnumber Republicans by a margin of five to one. A couple of weeks ago, Mike Bloomberg was way back in the polls, but he's finally caught up and now it looks like it is going to be a dead heat right to the finish line.

Now both candidates have been out all night long in an unusual move. It's usual quiet on the night before Election Day, but it wasn't quiet last night. Both candidates were out on the roads, they were talking to people, making appearance all over the city. As a matter of fact, both men are still busy, still talking to voters to try to convince them to come and join their side. So this is en extremely tight race here in New York City so it'll be interesting to watch the results as they come in tonight.

Now one thing about Mark Green, he's had some problems because he hasn't been able to get the support of somebody like Reverend Al Sharpton who has come out and basically just said that he is not going to support Mark Green in this race. It's kind of an unusual move because generally in New York City the Latino and black voters support the Democratic candidate, but there was a vicious, vicious runoff that took place just a few weeks ago back on October 11. And so since that time, it's been rather hard for the Democrat to rally all of his support -- the traditional support you get here in New York City. KAGAN: Anthony, it seems like it wasn't that long ago that Mayor Giuliani was suggesting it would be a good idea if he stuck around at least a few extra months. That idea put to the side, so when will the new mayor actually take over?

JOHNSON: Beginning of the year the new mayor will be stepping into office. What happens, though, the state legislature and the city has to approve that move in order for Mayor Giuliani to stay on a little bit longer. That probably wasn't going to happen so the mayor will be stepping out on time and then the new mayor will be stepping into office come January 1.

KAGAN: Anthony Johnson with WABC, thanks for the insight on the mayor's race. Appreciate it.

JOHNSON: Thank you.

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