Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Can Gray Davis Survive California Recall?

Aired August 21, 2003 - 15:16   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: Embattled California Governor Gray Davis appeared today with Senator Dianne Feinstein, one of his state's more popular Democrats. Feinstein has stood by Davis throughout the recall process, even turning down suggestions that she enter the race herself. Governor Davis said today the entry of fellow Democrat and Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante does not necessarily hurt his own chances.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: And even though the conventional wisdom is that my chances of prevailing -- and I believe, in the end, I will prevail -- on the first question would be hurt if anyone else got into the race, the conventional wisdom is sometimes wrong. It's quite possible that his entry in the race will bring more people to the polls who are inclined to vote no.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: With me now to talk more about the recall and California politics are the two state party chairman. Democrat Art Torres joins us from San Francisco. Republican Duf Sundheim is in Mountain View.

Chairman Torres, let me begin with you.

Members of your state's congressional delegation, the Democrats, are meeting today. And we're told there's a possibility they will endorse Cruz Bustamante. Would that not be yet another red flag that Democrats have given up on Governor Davis?

ART TORRES, CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN: No.

And, quite frankly, I think the governor stated it very well. Bustamante's position on the ballot may very well help turnout. But a recent poll released today by the Public Policy Institute of California tells us that 53 percent of likely voters think this recall is a waste of money. So the Republicans are going to be blamed for costing the taxpayers a bundle of dough for their political shenanigans.

KING: Chairman Sundheim, you're shaking your head. You disagree. You obviously believe there's fractures in the Democratic Party.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: But I want to ask you, as you answer, don't you have a similar problem, in that you have so many Republicans running, that, right now, Cruz Bustamante could win if Governor Davis is recalled, because the Republican vote will be so split?

DUF SUNDHEIM, CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN: Well, John, it's very interesting you bring up that Gray Davis tape. If there ever was a situation where they're trying to put lipstick on a pig, this is it. I mean, those unions and those power brokers

(CROSSTALK)

TORRES: We're donkeys, not pigs.

SUNDHEIM: I'm sorry, John. I'm trying to answer the question.

They tried to do everything they could to keep Cruz Bustamante out of this race. They see that Gray Davis is going down. The Gray Davis farewell tour is failing. They're starting to jump ship to head to Cruz Bustamante and they're trying to put the best light on it they can.

(CROSSTALK)

TORRES: I never had one conversation with Mr. Bustamante to urge him to run or not to run, Duf, and you know it.

(CROSSTALK)

SUNDHEIM: Well, Art, you may not have, but you may be the only Democrat in California that didn't. I mean, that was the whole strategy, was that Davis' best chance to defeat the recall was to have no Democrat on the ballot. I mean, that was very clear. That strategy is being abandoned, because the state

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Gentlemen, time out.

Chairman Sundheim, let me stay with you, though. A number of Republicans here in Washington say, if you cannot get one or two of these Republicans out of the race, you're in trouble. They say this is a golden opportunity to have a Republican governor. Are you actively urging any of the Republican candidates to get out?

SUNDHEIM: No, I'm not.

But there may come a time, John, where what may be in the best interests of the state is for one or more of these candidates to put their personal ambitions aside for what's in the best interest of the state.

TORRES: Oh, yes, right.

SUNDHEIM: And just like Darrell Issa a few weeks ago bowed out of the race, I'm confident that, if other people are in that situation, they'll do what's right for California. KING: Chairman Torres, as I come back to you, I want to do so with some breaking news. CNN is told that the Democratic members of your congressional delegation have decided to endorse Cruz Bustamante. Now, their position is still publicly vote no on the recall.

TORRES: Yes.

KING: But does that not send a signal to the Democratic Party's foot soldiers that these elected officials have essentially decided, Governor Davis is toast, sir, and they need to rally around Cruz Bustamante?

TORRES: The real message is still that Republicans are ripping off the state treasury by having this election in the first place, $63 million. I think the congressional Democrats are making the best decision they see possible at this point. Who knows what labor will do on Tuesday, August 26.

But as far as we're concerned, we believe that both men on the ballot will help turnout. As Duf well knows, this is an election about turnout, who's going to go to the polls, who is going to send in those absentee ballots, especially when the Republicans, by scheduling this election in October, have denied us almost 60 percent of polling places that will be closed on Election Day.

SUNDHEIM: John, this election will cost the average Californian a little bit more than $1. The interest on the debt that this governor has run up is higher in one day than the cost of this election. It's another faulty argument, because even the Senate leader of the Democratic Party said that, if this election comes down to Gray Davis' record, he'll be recalled.

KING: Chairman Art Torres, Chairman Duf Sundheim, we thank you both for joining us today.

TORRES: Thank you, John.

KING: This is obviously a very controversial issue, 49 days to go. We'll have you both back to join us. Thank you very much, gentlemen.

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 21, 2003 - 15:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: Embattled California Governor Gray Davis appeared today with Senator Dianne Feinstein, one of his state's more popular Democrats. Feinstein has stood by Davis throughout the recall process, even turning down suggestions that she enter the race herself. Governor Davis said today the entry of fellow Democrat and Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante does not necessarily hurt his own chances.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: And even though the conventional wisdom is that my chances of prevailing -- and I believe, in the end, I will prevail -- on the first question would be hurt if anyone else got into the race, the conventional wisdom is sometimes wrong. It's quite possible that his entry in the race will bring more people to the polls who are inclined to vote no.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: With me now to talk more about the recall and California politics are the two state party chairman. Democrat Art Torres joins us from San Francisco. Republican Duf Sundheim is in Mountain View.

Chairman Torres, let me begin with you.

Members of your state's congressional delegation, the Democrats, are meeting today. And we're told there's a possibility they will endorse Cruz Bustamante. Would that not be yet another red flag that Democrats have given up on Governor Davis?

ART TORRES, CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN: No.

And, quite frankly, I think the governor stated it very well. Bustamante's position on the ballot may very well help turnout. But a recent poll released today by the Public Policy Institute of California tells us that 53 percent of likely voters think this recall is a waste of money. So the Republicans are going to be blamed for costing the taxpayers a bundle of dough for their political shenanigans.

KING: Chairman Sundheim, you're shaking your head. You disagree. You obviously believe there's fractures in the Democratic Party.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: But I want to ask you, as you answer, don't you have a similar problem, in that you have so many Republicans running, that, right now, Cruz Bustamante could win if Governor Davis is recalled, because the Republican vote will be so split?

DUF SUNDHEIM, CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN: Well, John, it's very interesting you bring up that Gray Davis tape. If there ever was a situation where they're trying to put lipstick on a pig, this is it. I mean, those unions and those power brokers

(CROSSTALK)

TORRES: We're donkeys, not pigs.

SUNDHEIM: I'm sorry, John. I'm trying to answer the question.

They tried to do everything they could to keep Cruz Bustamante out of this race. They see that Gray Davis is going down. The Gray Davis farewell tour is failing. They're starting to jump ship to head to Cruz Bustamante and they're trying to put the best light on it they can.

(CROSSTALK)

TORRES: I never had one conversation with Mr. Bustamante to urge him to run or not to run, Duf, and you know it.

(CROSSTALK)

SUNDHEIM: Well, Art, you may not have, but you may be the only Democrat in California that didn't. I mean, that was the whole strategy, was that Davis' best chance to defeat the recall was to have no Democrat on the ballot. I mean, that was very clear. That strategy is being abandoned, because the state

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Gentlemen, time out.

Chairman Sundheim, let me stay with you, though. A number of Republicans here in Washington say, if you cannot get one or two of these Republicans out of the race, you're in trouble. They say this is a golden opportunity to have a Republican governor. Are you actively urging any of the Republican candidates to get out?

SUNDHEIM: No, I'm not.

But there may come a time, John, where what may be in the best interests of the state is for one or more of these candidates to put their personal ambitions aside for what's in the best interest of the state.

TORRES: Oh, yes, right.

SUNDHEIM: And just like Darrell Issa a few weeks ago bowed out of the race, I'm confident that, if other people are in that situation, they'll do what's right for California. KING: Chairman Torres, as I come back to you, I want to do so with some breaking news. CNN is told that the Democratic members of your congressional delegation have decided to endorse Cruz Bustamante. Now, their position is still publicly vote no on the recall.

TORRES: Yes.

KING: But does that not send a signal to the Democratic Party's foot soldiers that these elected officials have essentially decided, Governor Davis is toast, sir, and they need to rally around Cruz Bustamante?

TORRES: The real message is still that Republicans are ripping off the state treasury by having this election in the first place, $63 million. I think the congressional Democrats are making the best decision they see possible at this point. Who knows what labor will do on Tuesday, August 26.

But as far as we're concerned, we believe that both men on the ballot will help turnout. As Duf well knows, this is an election about turnout, who's going to go to the polls, who is going to send in those absentee ballots, especially when the Republicans, by scheduling this election in October, have denied us almost 60 percent of polling places that will be closed on Election Day.

SUNDHEIM: John, this election will cost the average Californian a little bit more than $1. The interest on the debt that this governor has run up is higher in one day than the cost of this election. It's another faulty argument, because even the Senate leader of the Democratic Party said that, if this election comes down to Gray Davis' record, he'll be recalled.

KING: Chairman Art Torres, Chairman Duf Sundheim, we thank you both for joining us today.

TORRES: Thank you, John.

KING: This is obviously a very controversial issue, 49 days to go. We'll have you both back to join us. Thank you very much, gentlemen.

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