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The Recall Race
Aired August 25, 2003 - 13:34 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: The race to replace California Governor Gray Davis has only weeks to go. And handicappers seem to be all over the map when it comes to picking the favorite. Republican candidate Bill Simon withdrew from the race over the weekend, even as other candidates are gearing up for their television and advertising campaigns.
Bob Franken live with us from California to help to sort it all out in this ever-changing recall election.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This may defy sorting out, but let's try anyway.
First of all, Bill Simon has pulled out of the race, but he was barely a blip in the polls, 6 percent showing both Simon was the man who had ran unsuccessfully against Governor Gray Davis, the man who was now trying to be replaced.
And the Davis campaign is making sure all the media know about this latest "L.A. Times" poll, because it shows only 50 percent of the people who are considered likely voters, who were asked, are favor of the recall, only 50 percent. That's an improvement for Gray Davis, as is the 45 percent number who say they oppose the recall.
Now probably the more startling figure is those who would become governor if Davis is recalled. And you see that Cruz Bustamante, the lieutenant governor, the Democrat is way ahead of Arnold Schwarzenegger, 13 percentage points. Schwarzenegger is shown to be leading in another poll that was conducted. "The L.A. Times" poll is considered probably, with its tradition, the more reliable of the two polls, but both of them are credible polls.
So the question really is, what's this all about? Who's ahead? It depends probably on what moment you're talking about.
We're also seeing now that the various endorsement of national figures are starting to line up a little bit. Gray Davis, the anti- recall campaign is going to be helped, we're told, by the appearances of former President Bill Clinton, who's expected in mid-September. Events will be set up to show him with Davis to get what kind of support that might generate.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Arnold Schwarzenegger, among the Republicans we're told is going to get an endorsement by Rudy Giuliani, the man former mayor of New York, and certainly an icon in the Republican circles. Importantly, you can see where they appeared together back in 2001. This of course is not a current matter. Giuliani, in fact, is out of the United States right now, and hasn't been available for comment.
What's important about that is that Schwarzenegger has, of course, made some of the conservatives nervous. As a matter of fact, the remaining major conservative candidate, who is state Senator Tom McClintock, polled 12 percent in the recent "L.A. Times" poll. He could definitely undermine Schwarzenegger's chances in the mind of many of the Republicans leaders.
One list point, Mike Murphy, who was one of the key operatives in the John McCain campaign for president, will be joining Schwarzenegger. That's considered a significant get for Schwarzenegger. So as you can see, this is still a story in progress.
PHILLIPS: Bob Franken from California, 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
Aired August 25, 2003 - 13:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The race to replace California Governor Gray Davis has only weeks to go. And handicappers seem to be all over the map when it comes to picking the favorite. Republican candidate Bill Simon withdrew from the race over the weekend, even as other candidates are gearing up for their television and advertising campaigns.
Bob Franken live with us from California to help to sort it all out in this ever-changing recall election.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This may defy sorting out, but let's try anyway.
First of all, Bill Simon has pulled out of the race, but he was barely a blip in the polls, 6 percent showing both Simon was the man who had ran unsuccessfully against Governor Gray Davis, the man who was now trying to be replaced.
And the Davis campaign is making sure all the media know about this latest "L.A. Times" poll, because it shows only 50 percent of the people who are considered likely voters, who were asked, are favor of the recall, only 50 percent. That's an improvement for Gray Davis, as is the 45 percent number who say they oppose the recall.
Now probably the more startling figure is those who would become governor if Davis is recalled. And you see that Cruz Bustamante, the lieutenant governor, the Democrat is way ahead of Arnold Schwarzenegger, 13 percentage points. Schwarzenegger is shown to be leading in another poll that was conducted. "The L.A. Times" poll is considered probably, with its tradition, the more reliable of the two polls, but both of them are credible polls.
So the question really is, what's this all about? Who's ahead? It depends probably on what moment you're talking about.
We're also seeing now that the various endorsement of national figures are starting to line up a little bit. Gray Davis, the anti- recall campaign is going to be helped, we're told, by the appearances of former President Bill Clinton, who's expected in mid-September. Events will be set up to show him with Davis to get what kind of support that might generate.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Arnold Schwarzenegger, among the Republicans we're told is going to get an endorsement by Rudy Giuliani, the man former mayor of New York, and certainly an icon in the Republican circles. Importantly, you can see where they appeared together back in 2001. This of course is not a current matter. Giuliani, in fact, is out of the United States right now, and hasn't been available for comment.
What's important about that is that Schwarzenegger has, of course, made some of the conservatives nervous. As a matter of fact, the remaining major conservative candidate, who is state Senator Tom McClintock, polled 12 percent in the recent "L.A. Times" poll. He could definitely undermine Schwarzenegger's chances in the mind of many of the Republicans leaders.
One list point, Mike Murphy, who was one of the key operatives in the John McCain campaign for president, will be joining Schwarzenegger. That's considered a significant get for Schwarzenegger. So as you can see, this is still a story in progress.
PHILLIPS: Bob Franken from California, 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
