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Interview With Schwarzenegger Media Adviser Don Sipple

Aired August 13, 2003 - 15:04   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.


JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: Independent candidate Arianna Huffington has been making the media rounds today, as well. Later today she will have a photo op with Green Party hopeful Peter Camejo.
Republican Bill Simon reached out to voters earlier today in San Francisco. Once again, he questioned whether Schwarzenegger has what it takes to be governor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL SIMON (R), CALIFORNIA GOVENROR CANDIDATE: We don't know where Arnold stands on the issues. I would like to hear where he stands on the budget. Some of his comments, you know, make me nervous. But we'll have to see.

I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt and see where he stands when he has the time to step forward. And I guess after he meets with his advisors and studies up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: No issue papers just yet, but Schwarzenegger is pumping up his campaign staff. He's hired three aides to former Republican Governor Pete Wilson. One is a top political adviser; the others will handle day-to-day campaign operations. A Schwarzenegger spokesman says they're adding people with a track record of winning and that these moves should not be seen as a demotion of any shorts for the campaign manager, George Gorton.

Joining me now with some insight into the operation of the Schwarzenegger campaign, one of his key advisers, veteran Republican ad man and strategist, Don Sipple, joining us from Santa Monica.

Don, you hear Bill Simon, you've heard Gray Davis. They essentially asked this well-known question: Where's the beef? When will we hear from Arnold Schwarzenegger on the business climate, on water policy, on education policy?

DON SIPPLE, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER MEDIA ADVISER: Well, I mean let's take the business climate. I think that you may be aware that it was announced today that Warren Buffett has agreed to serve as chief economic and business adviser to Arnold Schwarzenegger. And a team will be assembled and meet soon. And I think you'll see over the course of the next eight weeks a lot of substance and policy that he would apply as governor of the state of California.

KING: So you will come out with detailed policy. I assume you think politically, why now? You're riding a pretty good wave. Why come out with policy now? Is that the thinking?

SIPPLE: Well, no. It's a long campaign. We have from today forward eight full weeks. And he has been in it for just one week, and so there is plenty of time to deal with each issues one by one and give the people of California a clear sense of direction that he's going to take the state.

KING: One of the questions, of course, is how much will you spend? And Mr. Schwarzenegger has said one of his assets is that he's so rich, he's not beholden to special interests. But will he raise money? Will he accept contributions? Or will he finance this out of his own bank account?

SIPPLE: I think the initial financing is entirely out of his own bank account, and he has been very clear. And I think when you look at how the growth of this recall election has taken hold, it is the frustration of the people of California with the politicians of California. And the political system that kind of relies on special interests and campaign money is a big part of it.

So he's been very vocal about that. And his candidacy really is a call to action and it's a call to change the whole system.

KING: This is a chaotic campaign. You know the state well. When will we see your first work, ads on television?

SIPPLE: Oh, some time in the coming weeks. Not to be coy, but I think in the next few weeks you'll probably see some ads. But, John, what's very interesting about this -- and it's very unusual for California -- is this is a national election being held within the borders of California. And it's much more akin to a presidential election, where the volume of news coverage is -- will outweigh any advertising you do.

And that is a complete reversal of a traditional election in California. And, also, a sign of how engaged the electorate is in this. It is a very unique historic event, and they're very engaged in this.

KING: We know Arnold the actor quite well. Tell us about Arnold the candidate. Does he come into strategy sessions and say, here, this is what I want to do? Or does he come into strategy sessions and say, what do you guys think?

SIPPLE: No, no, no. He has definitive ideas. If you look at his life and his life story, he is the embodiment of the American dream. And he gets that way by determination, by focus, by discipline.

He has a firm view of his value system and what his beliefs are. And so we listen to him; he doesn't listen to us.

KING: In the "Los Angeles Times" this morning a suggestion that his wife from the Kennedy clan, Maria Shriver, is suddenly taking a much more active role, that she might not have been happy with some events in the early days. Do you see her fingerprints and are you hearing from her directly? Does she take part in strategy sessions?

SIPPLE: No. Maria Shriver is his wife and is most interested in his goals, personal goals, and the goals for the state of California. And it's only natural that she would engage in the campaign. And we welcome it.

KING: A former client of yours happens to be the president of the United States right now, George W. Bush. You helped him when he was running for governor of Texas. Many are trying to read the tea leaves, Don Sipple, when the president said now twice -- he said it again today -- he's not getting involved, he's not endorsing, but Arnold Schwarzenegger would make, in his view, a good governor.

You know this president. He chooses his words carefully. Is he trying to send a signal there?

SIPPLE: No, I don't think so. I think he's responding to a question. And he's right, this campaign is going to be decided by Californians and no one else. And I think that we take him at his word.

KING: A risk to the president there? Many conservatives don't like Arnold Schwarzenegger's because of his views on abortion rights or gay rights.

SIPPLE: You know the president has graciously said that he believes Arnold Schwarzenegger would be a good governor. And so that question is better directed at him than me.

KING: We will try to direct it there. And we hope, Don Sipple, if this campaign plays out you can come back and join us several times again.

SIPPLE: Good to see you, John.

KING: Thank you, Don. Take care.

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 - 15:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: Independent candidate Arianna Huffington has been making the media rounds today, as well. Later today she will have a photo op with Green Party hopeful Peter Camejo.
Republican Bill Simon reached out to voters earlier today in San Francisco. Once again, he questioned whether Schwarzenegger has what it takes to be governor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL SIMON (R), CALIFORNIA GOVENROR CANDIDATE: We don't know where Arnold stands on the issues. I would like to hear where he stands on the budget. Some of his comments, you know, make me nervous. But we'll have to see.

I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt and see where he stands when he has the time to step forward. And I guess after he meets with his advisors and studies up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: No issue papers just yet, but Schwarzenegger is pumping up his campaign staff. He's hired three aides to former Republican Governor Pete Wilson. One is a top political adviser; the others will handle day-to-day campaign operations. A Schwarzenegger spokesman says they're adding people with a track record of winning and that these moves should not be seen as a demotion of any shorts for the campaign manager, George Gorton.

Joining me now with some insight into the operation of the Schwarzenegger campaign, one of his key advisers, veteran Republican ad man and strategist, Don Sipple, joining us from Santa Monica.

Don, you hear Bill Simon, you've heard Gray Davis. They essentially asked this well-known question: Where's the beef? When will we hear from Arnold Schwarzenegger on the business climate, on water policy, on education policy?

DON SIPPLE, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER MEDIA ADVISER: Well, I mean let's take the business climate. I think that you may be aware that it was announced today that Warren Buffett has agreed to serve as chief economic and business adviser to Arnold Schwarzenegger. And a team will be assembled and meet soon. And I think you'll see over the course of the next eight weeks a lot of substance and policy that he would apply as governor of the state of California.

KING: So you will come out with detailed policy. I assume you think politically, why now? You're riding a pretty good wave. Why come out with policy now? Is that the thinking?

SIPPLE: Well, no. It's a long campaign. We have from today forward eight full weeks. And he has been in it for just one week, and so there is plenty of time to deal with each issues one by one and give the people of California a clear sense of direction that he's going to take the state.

KING: One of the questions, of course, is how much will you spend? And Mr. Schwarzenegger has said one of his assets is that he's so rich, he's not beholden to special interests. But will he raise money? Will he accept contributions? Or will he finance this out of his own bank account?

SIPPLE: I think the initial financing is entirely out of his own bank account, and he has been very clear. And I think when you look at how the growth of this recall election has taken hold, it is the frustration of the people of California with the politicians of California. And the political system that kind of relies on special interests and campaign money is a big part of it.

So he's been very vocal about that. And his candidacy really is a call to action and it's a call to change the whole system.

KING: This is a chaotic campaign. You know the state well. When will we see your first work, ads on television?

SIPPLE: Oh, some time in the coming weeks. Not to be coy, but I think in the next few weeks you'll probably see some ads. But, John, what's very interesting about this -- and it's very unusual for California -- is this is a national election being held within the borders of California. And it's much more akin to a presidential election, where the volume of news coverage is -- will outweigh any advertising you do.

And that is a complete reversal of a traditional election in California. And, also, a sign of how engaged the electorate is in this. It is a very unique historic event, and they're very engaged in this.

KING: We know Arnold the actor quite well. Tell us about Arnold the candidate. Does he come into strategy sessions and say, here, this is what I want to do? Or does he come into strategy sessions and say, what do you guys think?

SIPPLE: No, no, no. He has definitive ideas. If you look at his life and his life story, he is the embodiment of the American dream. And he gets that way by determination, by focus, by discipline.

He has a firm view of his value system and what his beliefs are. And so we listen to him; he doesn't listen to us.

KING: In the "Los Angeles Times" this morning a suggestion that his wife from the Kennedy clan, Maria Shriver, is suddenly taking a much more active role, that she might not have been happy with some events in the early days. Do you see her fingerprints and are you hearing from her directly? Does she take part in strategy sessions?

SIPPLE: No. Maria Shriver is his wife and is most interested in his goals, personal goals, and the goals for the state of California. And it's only natural that she would engage in the campaign. And we welcome it.

KING: A former client of yours happens to be the president of the United States right now, George W. Bush. You helped him when he was running for governor of Texas. Many are trying to read the tea leaves, Don Sipple, when the president said now twice -- he said it again today -- he's not getting involved, he's not endorsing, but Arnold Schwarzenegger would make, in his view, a good governor.

You know this president. He chooses his words carefully. Is he trying to send a signal there?

SIPPLE: No, I don't think so. I think he's responding to a question. And he's right, this campaign is going to be decided by Californians and no one else. And I think that we take him at his word.

KING: A risk to the president there? Many conservatives don't like Arnold Schwarzenegger's because of his views on abortion rights or gay rights.

SIPPLE: You know the president has graciously said that he believes Arnold Schwarzenegger would be a good governor. And so that question is better directed at him than me.

KING: We will try to direct it there. And we hope, Don Sipple, if this campaign plays out you can come back and join us several times again.

SIPPLE: Good to see you, John.

KING: Thank you, Don. Take care.

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