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Big Names in Political Announcements

Aired August 06, 2003 - 15:02   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.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Now to a very different kind of spectacle, the big name comings and goings in the California recall election. We have already had two announcements today, and soon actor Arnold Schwarzenegger will reveal his plans in true Hollywood style on a late-night TV show.
CNN's Charles Feldman is in Burbank, California. Charles, it's a contest that doesn't lack for high profile names. But the question is, how many of them are actually going to run?

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, probably not many, Judy. Some 300 people, more than that have actually picked up the papers signaling they may run. How many in the end, well, we'll know by Saturday, which is the deadline. But as you pointed out, all eyes now are on the terminator.

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in true Hollywood -- in this case, Burbank style, is going to release a statement shortly before taping an appearance on the "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno tonight saying whether he will or will not run in the recall to become governor of the state of California.

In the meantime, some other key players made some very big moves. Let's first talk about on the Democratic side California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who most people have referred to repeatedly as the 800-pound gorilla. Well, today she decided to take that 800 pounds and not press it into action, saying she's not going to take part in the recall.

She issued a statement in part saying -- and we quote -- "I deeply believe the recall is a terrible mistake and will bring to the depth and breath of California instability and uncertainty, which will be detrimental to our economic recovery and decision-making." So says Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Now, columnist and social commentator, Arianna Huffington, held a news conference. She says she is in. She wants to be governor of California and she says she's going to be an Independent.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: You do not allow this state to be hijacked by the Republicans. And this is why the Democratic strategy of just circling the wagons around gray Davis...

(END VIDEO CLIP) FELDMAN: Now, one more part to this puzzle, Judy. Another potential key player is former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan, not known yet what his intentions are. He has said all along or his people have said that if Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't run, he is likely, too. They're good friends; he didn't want to run against him. So depending on what the terminator announces later tonight, it's likely that by the end of the week we will know what the intentions are of Dick Riordan -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: But at this point, just to be clear, Charles, we don't know whether Dick Riordan is going to run. He's been completely silent about it.

FELDMAN: Absolutely. He has been playing his cards very close to the vest. As I said, he considers Arnold Schwarzenegger a good friend. He didn't want to enter the race until he found out what Arnold Schwarzenegger was going to do. If Schwarzenegger says later today, "I'm not going to run," the conventional wisdom -- for whatever that's worth in this case -- is that Dick Riordan will decide that he is going to run, and that is something, by the way, that Gray Davis is somewhat afraid of because you may recall that when he ran for governor last time around he tried and succeeded in making sure that Dick Riordan didn't oppose him on the Republican side.

WOODRUFF: All right. Charles Feldman reporting for us from Los Angeles. At the same time, we're hearing it is possible Riordan will decide not to go, leaving moderate Republicans wondering who will get into the race for that.

Well still another celebrity political announcement. Talk show host Jerry Springer says he has decided not to run for the U.S. Senate in Ohio. The Democrat and former Cincinnati mayor says he can't get his message across to voters while he continues to do his TV show.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JERRY SPRINGER, TALK SHOW HOST: But I realize, because of the notoriety of the show and my notoriety, whatever, is that it isn't just an Ohio campaign. It has, as evidenced by the crowd in this room, national and international interest. And as such, as long as I'm still doing that show and not having that separation, my message, no matter how sincere and no matter how heart felt, does not get through to the people I need to reach.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: Jerry Springer will be in the "CROSSFIRE" on CNN today. That's at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

And I will be bringing you much more on the political plans of Jerry Springer and Arnold Schwarzenegger on "INSIDE POLITICS". That's at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

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 6, 2003 - 15:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Now to a very different kind of spectacle, the big name comings and goings in the California recall election. We have already had two announcements today, and soon actor Arnold Schwarzenegger will reveal his plans in true Hollywood style on a late-night TV show.
CNN's Charles Feldman is in Burbank, California. Charles, it's a contest that doesn't lack for high profile names. But the question is, how many of them are actually going to run?

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, probably not many, Judy. Some 300 people, more than that have actually picked up the papers signaling they may run. How many in the end, well, we'll know by Saturday, which is the deadline. But as you pointed out, all eyes now are on the terminator.

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in true Hollywood -- in this case, Burbank style, is going to release a statement shortly before taping an appearance on the "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno tonight saying whether he will or will not run in the recall to become governor of the state of California.

In the meantime, some other key players made some very big moves. Let's first talk about on the Democratic side California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who most people have referred to repeatedly as the 800-pound gorilla. Well, today she decided to take that 800 pounds and not press it into action, saying she's not going to take part in the recall.

She issued a statement in part saying -- and we quote -- "I deeply believe the recall is a terrible mistake and will bring to the depth and breath of California instability and uncertainty, which will be detrimental to our economic recovery and decision-making." So says Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Now, columnist and social commentator, Arianna Huffington, held a news conference. She says she is in. She wants to be governor of California and she says she's going to be an Independent.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: You do not allow this state to be hijacked by the Republicans. And this is why the Democratic strategy of just circling the wagons around gray Davis...

(END VIDEO CLIP) FELDMAN: Now, one more part to this puzzle, Judy. Another potential key player is former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan, not known yet what his intentions are. He has said all along or his people have said that if Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't run, he is likely, too. They're good friends; he didn't want to run against him. So depending on what the terminator announces later tonight, it's likely that by the end of the week we will know what the intentions are of Dick Riordan -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: But at this point, just to be clear, Charles, we don't know whether Dick Riordan is going to run. He's been completely silent about it.

FELDMAN: Absolutely. He has been playing his cards very close to the vest. As I said, he considers Arnold Schwarzenegger a good friend. He didn't want to enter the race until he found out what Arnold Schwarzenegger was going to do. If Schwarzenegger says later today, "I'm not going to run," the conventional wisdom -- for whatever that's worth in this case -- is that Dick Riordan will decide that he is going to run, and that is something, by the way, that Gray Davis is somewhat afraid of because you may recall that when he ran for governor last time around he tried and succeeded in making sure that Dick Riordan didn't oppose him on the Republican side.

WOODRUFF: All right. Charles Feldman reporting for us from Los Angeles. At the same time, we're hearing it is possible Riordan will decide not to go, leaving moderate Republicans wondering who will get into the race for that.

Well still another celebrity political announcement. Talk show host Jerry Springer says he has decided not to run for the U.S. Senate in Ohio. The Democrat and former Cincinnati mayor says he can't get his message across to voters while he continues to do his TV show.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JERRY SPRINGER, TALK SHOW HOST: But I realize, because of the notoriety of the show and my notoriety, whatever, is that it isn't just an Ohio campaign. It has, as evidenced by the crowd in this room, national and international interest. And as such, as long as I'm still doing that show and not having that separation, my message, no matter how sincere and no matter how heart felt, does not get through to the people I need to reach.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: Jerry Springer will be in the "CROSSFIRE" on CNN today. That's at 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

And I will be bringing you much more on the political plans of Jerry Springer and Arnold Schwarzenegger on "INSIDE POLITICS". That's at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

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