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California Recall

Aired August 13, 2003 - 14:17   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Looks like California's embattled governor is getting help from a Democratic friend. According to "The New York Times," former President Bill Clinton has taken on the role of strategic adviser.
Bob Franken live in Los Angeles with more on this.

I don't know, are you surprised, Bob?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hardly surprised. In fact, just about everybody says that Bill Clinton, the former president, has a particular feeling because of what amounted to the recall election that he faced. That is to say the impeachment situation that he went through. It is not something we need to attribute to "The New York Times." Look no further than the words of Governor Gray Davis, who in fact told CNN's Kelly Wallace on Saturday night that this was the case, that they were in frequent conversation. There is a bit of discussion about whether President Clinton will be coming out here and helping to campaign for Gray Davis. You can see him now from October of last year during the David re-election campaign when the president did come out.

It's not that they're considered close, it's just that President Clinton's strategic advice is very much welcomed by Gray Davis right now. And Clinton remains extremely popular in California. Remember, this is a Democratic state, much more popular than Gray Davis, who is really down in the polls, and is looking to wherever he can turn to turn some dismal numbers around. Now the numbers, we are waiting for the final numbers from the secretary of state's office about how many people will qualify to be on the election ballot in case Gray Davis, on October 7 or whenever, is recalled. They expect a final figure to be around 150 or so when all is said and done. About 250 submitted their names, but a lot were eliminated for one reason or another.

And speaking of secretary of state, Kevin Shelley had another announcement. While all of this was going on, he became a father for the second time last night. Michael Paul Shelley was welcomed into this world. Kyra, there is no truth to the rumor the young man is going to be on the recall ballot.

PHILLIPS: Let's get back to Clinton and Gray Davis here for a moment. Let's talk about the minority vote, Bob. Cruz Bustamante coming out and saying, hey, I am the voice of the Hispanic vote, a very important note, as we know, in California. Clinton, very popular with the minority voters. Could this help Gray Davis?

FRANKEN: Well, there is no question there is a feeling among Democrats that former president Bill Clinton would give Gray Davis a boost, Governor Davis, a boost. But right now, just about anything would be considered a possibility of giving him a boost.

As far as Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante is concerned, remember, he is running, number one, against the recall, saying the governor should not be recalled, and only in an alternative in case Governor Davis is recalled. So the message there, the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive, although you're right, it does complicate things further.

PHILLIPS: All right, impeachment, recall, Clinton, Davis can feel each other's pain. What is in if for Clinton? Why should he do this?

FRANKEN: Well, for starters, he may have strong feelings on the matter. It's entirely possible that the people are correct, that he sincerely feels that this is something he should espouse, No. 1. And No. 2, this is a man who has become just about the leading Democrat, and this would reinforce his role as the man who is the No. 1 man in the party. He still has popularity. He probably misses all the trappings that he enjoyed once as president. This is a way to stay actively involved. The question is, will he be out front, or will be act behind the scenes as an adviser? Possibly both.

PHILLIPS: All right. And what's this talk about the two of them possibly appearing together in September? Is there any truth behind that?

FRANKEN: Don't know if there's any truth behind it. We are told that it something under discussion. There is also further discussion with the office of Senator Clinton. That would be Hillary Rodham Clinton, about whether she, too, is going to come out. That's probably not as likely. But of course, former President Clinton has no further political aspirations, so he doesn't have an equation as complicate as the senator's.

PHILLIPS: Our Bob Franken. Thanks, Bob.

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 13, 2003 - 14:17   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Looks like California's embattled governor is getting help from a Democratic friend. According to "The New York Times," former President Bill Clinton has taken on the role of strategic adviser.
Bob Franken live in Los Angeles with more on this.

I don't know, are you surprised, Bob?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hardly surprised. In fact, just about everybody says that Bill Clinton, the former president, has a particular feeling because of what amounted to the recall election that he faced. That is to say the impeachment situation that he went through. It is not something we need to attribute to "The New York Times." Look no further than the words of Governor Gray Davis, who in fact told CNN's Kelly Wallace on Saturday night that this was the case, that they were in frequent conversation. There is a bit of discussion about whether President Clinton will be coming out here and helping to campaign for Gray Davis. You can see him now from October of last year during the David re-election campaign when the president did come out.

It's not that they're considered close, it's just that President Clinton's strategic advice is very much welcomed by Gray Davis right now. And Clinton remains extremely popular in California. Remember, this is a Democratic state, much more popular than Gray Davis, who is really down in the polls, and is looking to wherever he can turn to turn some dismal numbers around. Now the numbers, we are waiting for the final numbers from the secretary of state's office about how many people will qualify to be on the election ballot in case Gray Davis, on October 7 or whenever, is recalled. They expect a final figure to be around 150 or so when all is said and done. About 250 submitted their names, but a lot were eliminated for one reason or another.

And speaking of secretary of state, Kevin Shelley had another announcement. While all of this was going on, he became a father for the second time last night. Michael Paul Shelley was welcomed into this world. Kyra, there is no truth to the rumor the young man is going to be on the recall ballot.

PHILLIPS: Let's get back to Clinton and Gray Davis here for a moment. Let's talk about the minority vote, Bob. Cruz Bustamante coming out and saying, hey, I am the voice of the Hispanic vote, a very important note, as we know, in California. Clinton, very popular with the minority voters. Could this help Gray Davis?

FRANKEN: Well, there is no question there is a feeling among Democrats that former president Bill Clinton would give Gray Davis a boost, Governor Davis, a boost. But right now, just about anything would be considered a possibility of giving him a boost.

As far as Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante is concerned, remember, he is running, number one, against the recall, saying the governor should not be recalled, and only in an alternative in case Governor Davis is recalled. So the message there, the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive, although you're right, it does complicate things further.

PHILLIPS: All right, impeachment, recall, Clinton, Davis can feel each other's pain. What is in if for Clinton? Why should he do this?

FRANKEN: Well, for starters, he may have strong feelings on the matter. It's entirely possible that the people are correct, that he sincerely feels that this is something he should espouse, No. 1. And No. 2, this is a man who has become just about the leading Democrat, and this would reinforce his role as the man who is the No. 1 man in the party. He still has popularity. He probably misses all the trappings that he enjoyed once as president. This is a way to stay actively involved. The question is, will he be out front, or will be act behind the scenes as an adviser? Possibly both.

PHILLIPS: All right. And what's this talk about the two of them possibly appearing together in September? Is there any truth behind that?

FRANKEN: Don't know if there's any truth behind it. We are told that it something under discussion. There is also further discussion with the office of Senator Clinton. That would be Hillary Rodham Clinton, about whether she, too, is going to come out. That's probably not as likely. But of course, former President Clinton has no further political aspirations, so he doesn't have an equation as complicate as the senator's.

PHILLIPS: Our Bob Franken. Thanks, Bob.

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