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Davis Team Taking aim at Schwarzenegger
Aired September 29, 2003 - 14:14 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: With just eight days to go before the California recall, a new CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll shows Governor Gray Davis out in the cold. Sixty-three percent of probable voters support the recall. And look who's sitting in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Yes, it's a two candidate race. And to replace Davis, if these numbers hold up, Arnold Schwarzenegger could be in the role of a lifetime.
National correspondent Bob Franken is in Los Angeles. Bob, last week we were talking about how crucial it was that Tom McClintock, the other Republican kind of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with enough name recognition to cause difference bow out. It turns out it doesn't make much difference.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well it doesn't seem to. And as matter of fact his spokesman was quoted yesterday as saying it looks like McClintock is going to finish second in the race, which possibly is optimistic.
Now as far as the poll is concerned, everybody agrees, including those at CNN, "USA Today" and Gallup who took the poll nevertheless, it's really hard to come up with a definitive result, or they can be absolutely confident in.
But nevertheless, it is the latest snapshot, and it comes as the Gray Davis people call that poll a joke. And also They're accused by the Schwarzenegger people of reverting to the old Gray Davis tactic of negative advertising. That this is what they're talking about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AD ANNOUNCER: Have questions about Arnold Schwarzenegger? So do a lot of people. He ducks tough questions, didn't vote in 13 of the last 21 elections. And now he refuses to debate the governor he's trying to replace. Vote no on the recall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Now the Davis people say they had no choice but to do this ad because they've been the target -- the governor has been the target of a relentless attack by Arnold Schwarzenegger. So of course finger pointing is part of the traditional political race going on out here.
Now as far as the Schwarzenegger juggernaut is concerned, he's going to be getting more endorsements today. As a matter of fact he's just gotten one from Dave Cox who is the state assembly's chief Republican. Later in the day he's expecting that the board of directors of the state party is going to depart from normal tradition and is going to endorse Schwarzenegger.
So there seems to be a bandwagon developing. However it includes the actual voters of the state, the poll says so. But we'll have to see what the next poll says. And of course the real poll which comes a week from tomorrow -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Got a solid week. And it seems like with the attention span of California voters Gary Coleman still has a chance right?
FRANKEN: Well, you know, with the attention span of California voters, it could all be obliterated in coverage by some car chase somewhere.
O'BRIEN: OK, let's leave it at that. Bob Franken, thank you very much.
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 29, 2003 - 14:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: With just eight days to go before the California recall, a new CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll shows Governor Gray Davis out in the cold. Sixty-three percent of probable voters support the recall. And look who's sitting in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Yes, it's a two candidate race. And to replace Davis, if these numbers hold up, Arnold Schwarzenegger could be in the role of a lifetime.
National correspondent Bob Franken is in Los Angeles. Bob, last week we were talking about how crucial it was that Tom McClintock, the other Republican kind of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with enough name recognition to cause difference bow out. It turns out it doesn't make much difference.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well it doesn't seem to. And as matter of fact his spokesman was quoted yesterday as saying it looks like McClintock is going to finish second in the race, which possibly is optimistic.
Now as far as the poll is concerned, everybody agrees, including those at CNN, "USA Today" and Gallup who took the poll nevertheless, it's really hard to come up with a definitive result, or they can be absolutely confident in.
But nevertheless, it is the latest snapshot, and it comes as the Gray Davis people call that poll a joke. And also They're accused by the Schwarzenegger people of reverting to the old Gray Davis tactic of negative advertising. That this is what they're talking about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AD ANNOUNCER: Have questions about Arnold Schwarzenegger? So do a lot of people. He ducks tough questions, didn't vote in 13 of the last 21 elections. And now he refuses to debate the governor he's trying to replace. Vote no on the recall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Now the Davis people say they had no choice but to do this ad because they've been the target -- the governor has been the target of a relentless attack by Arnold Schwarzenegger. So of course finger pointing is part of the traditional political race going on out here.
Now as far as the Schwarzenegger juggernaut is concerned, he's going to be getting more endorsements today. As a matter of fact he's just gotten one from Dave Cox who is the state assembly's chief Republican. Later in the day he's expecting that the board of directors of the state party is going to depart from normal tradition and is going to endorse Schwarzenegger.
So there seems to be a bandwagon developing. However it includes the actual voters of the state, the poll says so. But we'll have to see what the next poll says. And of course the real poll which comes a week from tomorrow -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Got a solid week. And it seems like with the attention span of California voters Gary Coleman still has a chance right?
FRANKEN: Well, you know, with the attention span of California voters, it could all be obliterated in coverage by some car chase somewhere.
O'BRIEN: OK, let's leave it at that. Bob Franken, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
