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California Debate Preview

Aired September 24, 2003 - 15:13   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: Joining us now to talk more about tonight's California recall debate and the role the media have played in covering this race is Howard Kurtz, the host of CNN's "RELIABLE SOURCES," also, of course, with "The Washington Post."
Howard, the Schwarzenegger campaign has really made a strategy, it seems to me, of keeping him away from much of the media. He has done some interviews, selectively, but not very many. Is this a smart strategy? Has it worked for them so far?

HOWARD KURTZ, "RELIABLE SOURCES": I think it's hurt them.

But there's no question, campaign insiders have told me that they decided to take the hit. They knew they would get a lot of negative headlines about Arnold being inaccessible if they chose just to have him appear on "Oprah" and with Howard Stern and Larry King and on conservative radio shows. And I think it has spread -- it has created an impression that he's afraid to talk to reporters, that he doesn't have a command of the issues.

I don't think those things are true, but they've sort of overprotected him, shielded him from the traditional press. They have angered a lot of the reporters covering the campaign. That's one of the reasons that this debate tonight becomes so important.

WOODRUFF: And it is important for him, presumably, I mean, although, as people have been discussing today, the expectations for him are now lower than...

KURTZ: Because they have kept him pretty much off stage, or in controlled settings with friendly audiences, people think, well, this must be a thick-headed muscle man who doesn't really know very much about state government.

He can't come out and just say, hasta la vista, Gray Davis. All Arnold Schwarzenegger needs to do is come out and show a reasonable command of the issues, not get rattled. This is a guy, of course, who is used to performing for the cameras. And I predict he will get good reviews, because he will surprise people because those expectations have been set so low.

WOODRUFF: I think back to a certain Ronald Reagan debate.

KURTZ: Another California actor in 1980.

WOODRUFF: California actor, exactly.

There's also, obviously, this enormous celebrity aura about Schwarzenegger. Has it helped him? Has it hurt him in this campaign?

(CROSSTALK)

KURTZ: Well, it's certainly helped him in the sense of generating enthusiasm, huge crowds that he's been drawing. No non- movie star candidate could have gotten away with this strategy of keeping the press at bay, while basically repeating a lot of platitudes about leadership and so far.

He talks about getting spending under control, hasn't suggested a single program that can be cut. He's gotten by the press. And I think it's his aura of command and the Terminator image that has helped him. But, of course, what he has to do tonight is to show that he can fill a different role, that he actually could be visualized by people who maybe like his movies, but are skeptical, could see him as the governor. And this is his only shot. It's a one-time premiere.

WOODRUFF: Howard, let me ask you just very quickly about the other candidates. Because Arnold has got the lion's share of the press attention, how has the press done covering the other candidates in this race, McClintock, Bustamante?

KURTZ: Well, I think the press has been unfair to Tom McClintock, because, wherever he goes, the first question he gets asked is, "When are you going to drop out?" even though he is only a relative few points behind Schwarzenegger.

WOODRUFF: I confess to being guilty.

KURTZ: OK.

And Bustamante has also not given a lot of interviews to newspaper reporters. And he hasn't been called on that. These candidates are going to benefit from being in the Arnold spotlight. They'll get some of the reflected attention tonight. But I do think that the Schwarzenegger coverage has overwhelmed the coverage of this race. And that has made it difficult for Schwarzenegger's rivals.

WOODRUFF: OK, Howard Kurtz, we're going to see it all tonight.

And, again, we're going to carry it live here on CNN at 9:00.

Howard, good to see you. Thanks a lot.

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 September 24, 2003 - 15:13   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us now to talk more about tonight's California recall debate and the role the media have played in covering this race is Howard Kurtz, the host of CNN's "RELIABLE SOURCES," also, of course, with "The Washington Post."
Howard, the Schwarzenegger campaign has really made a strategy, it seems to me, of keeping him away from much of the media. He has done some interviews, selectively, but not very many. Is this a smart strategy? Has it worked for them so far?

HOWARD KURTZ, "RELIABLE SOURCES": I think it's hurt them.

But there's no question, campaign insiders have told me that they decided to take the hit. They knew they would get a lot of negative headlines about Arnold being inaccessible if they chose just to have him appear on "Oprah" and with Howard Stern and Larry King and on conservative radio shows. And I think it has spread -- it has created an impression that he's afraid to talk to reporters, that he doesn't have a command of the issues.

I don't think those things are true, but they've sort of overprotected him, shielded him from the traditional press. They have angered a lot of the reporters covering the campaign. That's one of the reasons that this debate tonight becomes so important.

WOODRUFF: And it is important for him, presumably, I mean, although, as people have been discussing today, the expectations for him are now lower than...

KURTZ: Because they have kept him pretty much off stage, or in controlled settings with friendly audiences, people think, well, this must be a thick-headed muscle man who doesn't really know very much about state government.

He can't come out and just say, hasta la vista, Gray Davis. All Arnold Schwarzenegger needs to do is come out and show a reasonable command of the issues, not get rattled. This is a guy, of course, who is used to performing for the cameras. And I predict he will get good reviews, because he will surprise people because those expectations have been set so low.

WOODRUFF: I think back to a certain Ronald Reagan debate.

KURTZ: Another California actor in 1980.

WOODRUFF: California actor, exactly.

There's also, obviously, this enormous celebrity aura about Schwarzenegger. Has it helped him? Has it hurt him in this campaign?

(CROSSTALK)

KURTZ: Well, it's certainly helped him in the sense of generating enthusiasm, huge crowds that he's been drawing. No non- movie star candidate could have gotten away with this strategy of keeping the press at bay, while basically repeating a lot of platitudes about leadership and so far.

He talks about getting spending under control, hasn't suggested a single program that can be cut. He's gotten by the press. And I think it's his aura of command and the Terminator image that has helped him. But, of course, what he has to do tonight is to show that he can fill a different role, that he actually could be visualized by people who maybe like his movies, but are skeptical, could see him as the governor. And this is his only shot. It's a one-time premiere.

WOODRUFF: Howard, let me ask you just very quickly about the other candidates. Because Arnold has got the lion's share of the press attention, how has the press done covering the other candidates in this race, McClintock, Bustamante?

KURTZ: Well, I think the press has been unfair to Tom McClintock, because, wherever he goes, the first question he gets asked is, "When are you going to drop out?" even though he is only a relative few points behind Schwarzenegger.

WOODRUFF: I confess to being guilty.

KURTZ: OK.

And Bustamante has also not given a lot of interviews to newspaper reporters. And he hasn't been called on that. These candidates are going to benefit from being in the Arnold spotlight. They'll get some of the reflected attention tonight. But I do think that the Schwarzenegger coverage has overwhelmed the coverage of this race. And that has made it difficult for Schwarzenegger's rivals.

WOODRUFF: OK, Howard Kurtz, we're going to see it all tonight.

And, again, we're going to carry it live here on CNN at 9:00.

Howard, good to see you. Thanks a lot.

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