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Last Night's Debate Leaves no Clear Winner
Aired September 25, 2003 - 14:10 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: After the debate we may all agree with Arnold Schwarzenegger who called yesterday's debate in California entertaining. It was the so-called Super Bowl of debates. A little bit of star power there. And definitely a lot of fireworks. Arnold Schwarzenegger with his first and only debate appearance last night.
National correspondent Bob Franken joining us for the day after reviews. And Arnold, I guess, from what I'm reading, met expectations, right?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, he recited the same positions that he's stated before. As a matter of fact, each of the participants, pretty much, when it came to reciting his position gave no surprises.
The story of this debate goes along with the theory that debates are remembered for one sound bite. That sound bite came in the bickering, the constant bickering between Huffington and Schwarzenegger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: It's completely hypocritical of Arnold to come here...
(CROSSTALK)
HUFFINGTON: This is how you treat women, we know that. But not now.
STAN STATHAM, MODERATOR: That was a direct and personal attack on Mr. Schwarzenegger, so would you respond?
SCHWARZENEGGER: I would just like to say that I have just realized that a perfect part for you in "Terminator 4." That's it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Please remember that Schwarzenegger's comments about stuffing a woman robot character into the toilet in "Terminator 3" has gotten him into trouble with various women's groups.
Now who were the winners and losers? There's a consensus that probably the biggest loser in the debate that really got out of hand last night was the moderator -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right. First of all it almost seemed like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Arianna Huffington were like the Bickersons there, needed counseling...
FRANKEN: Almost?
O'BRIEN: Yes, they were the Bickersons. And just to shed light on that point, that "Terminator 3" thing, he takes a robot female and puts her in a toilet. I mean it was a really kind of a dis in a big way. But seems like he got away with that kind of stuff.
FRANKEN: We'll see. Each of the sides are spinning it, saying we did very well. Now we'll see if, in fact, the exchange between Huffington and Schwarzenegger resonates. We're never able to predict what's going on in this election. All we do know is that it looks like it's going to be held October 7.
O'BRIEN: All right, the other Republican in there Tom McClintock, what's going to happen to him today?
FRANKEN: Good question, as a matter of fact. He is one of those who ended up looking mild. Didn't spend much time going after Schwarzenegger. As we all know, there's tremendous pressure of him to pull out, to consolidate the Republican vote, to give Republicans a chance against the Democrats, whether it's Gray Davis or whether it's Cruz Bustamante.
McClintock of course is digging in his heels, saying, no, he's doing quite well and does not want to pull out.
O'BRIEN: Interesting. All right, appreciate it. Bob Franken, check in with you later.
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 25, 2003 - 14:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: After the debate we may all agree with Arnold Schwarzenegger who called yesterday's debate in California entertaining. It was the so-called Super Bowl of debates. A little bit of star power there. And definitely a lot of fireworks. Arnold Schwarzenegger with his first and only debate appearance last night.
National correspondent Bob Franken joining us for the day after reviews. And Arnold, I guess, from what I'm reading, met expectations, right?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, he recited the same positions that he's stated before. As a matter of fact, each of the participants, pretty much, when it came to reciting his position gave no surprises.
The story of this debate goes along with the theory that debates are remembered for one sound bite. That sound bite came in the bickering, the constant bickering between Huffington and Schwarzenegger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: It's completely hypocritical of Arnold to come here...
(CROSSTALK)
HUFFINGTON: This is how you treat women, we know that. But not now.
STAN STATHAM, MODERATOR: That was a direct and personal attack on Mr. Schwarzenegger, so would you respond?
SCHWARZENEGGER: I would just like to say that I have just realized that a perfect part for you in "Terminator 4." That's it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Please remember that Schwarzenegger's comments about stuffing a woman robot character into the toilet in "Terminator 3" has gotten him into trouble with various women's groups.
Now who were the winners and losers? There's a consensus that probably the biggest loser in the debate that really got out of hand last night was the moderator -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right. First of all it almost seemed like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Arianna Huffington were like the Bickersons there, needed counseling...
FRANKEN: Almost?
O'BRIEN: Yes, they were the Bickersons. And just to shed light on that point, that "Terminator 3" thing, he takes a robot female and puts her in a toilet. I mean it was a really kind of a dis in a big way. But seems like he got away with that kind of stuff.
FRANKEN: We'll see. Each of the sides are spinning it, saying we did very well. Now we'll see if, in fact, the exchange between Huffington and Schwarzenegger resonates. We're never able to predict what's going on in this election. All we do know is that it looks like it's going to be held October 7.
O'BRIEN: All right, the other Republican in there Tom McClintock, what's going to happen to him today?
FRANKEN: Good question, as a matter of fact. He is one of those who ended up looking mild. Didn't spend much time going after Schwarzenegger. As we all know, there's tremendous pressure of him to pull out, to consolidate the Republican vote, to give Republicans a chance against the Democrats, whether it's Gray Davis or whether it's Cruz Bustamante.
McClintock of course is digging in his heels, saying, no, he's doing quite well and does not want to pull out.
O'BRIEN: Interesting. All right, appreciate it. Bob Franken, check in with you later.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
