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Arianna Huffington Out of Recall Race?

Aired September 30, 2003 - 15:01   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: Ariana Huffington's attack lines and punchlines never have translated, at least not so far, into impressive poll numbers. But she definitely has helped to make the California recall campaign interesting. Well, now, exactly one week before the vote, Huffington has an announcement to make.
Let's begin in Los Angeles with CNN's Bob Franken.

Bob, some reporting out there that she's considering whether to stay in the race. What are you hearing?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, friends and advisers say that that's what she is considering. They are left with the distinct impression that it's a decision she has already made, that she is going to pull out, that she is going to in fact make the announcement, a place where so many announcements are made these days, on the "LARRY KING" show, 6:00 out here, 9:00 on the East Coast.

"LARRY KING" is going to be the venue where she announce what her plans are. And the decision, according to friends and advisers, is less about pulling out, because Arianna Huffington has just not shown well in the polls, including the most recent CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, where she came in at just 2 percent.

But the decision really is where she will throw her support. Will it be for another candidate or will she concentrate her energies strictly on opposing the recall? Now, while she isn't showing very strongly in the polls, what she does have is a liberal Democratic base that those who oppose the recall need to energize if they're going to stand any chance whatsoever to pull this out.

Governor Gray Davis, of course, looking like now he's in trouble, according to the most recent poll. Speaking of polls, Judy, "The Los Angeles Times" is going to be coming out with a new poll tomorrow. It is going to be watched very closely to see if it contradicts the one by CNN/"USA Today" or if in fact it's consistent with that. That, of course, are the two sides of this. And it is going to be one in this very volatile election that could really in fact be one that really determines things, because these polls sometimes in the last few days have a way of becoming self-fulfilling prophecies.

But as we have found out before, sometimes they don't, too. And if there's any time when we've never been able to predict things, it would be this election -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Bob, let's talk about California voters. If they're interested in this campaign, where are they getting information right now about the election? Is it on newscasts? Is it TV ads? Where are they getting their information?

FRANKEN: The answer is yes and yes. And they're going to be getting it in the mail. There are going to be massive mailings. Just about all the candidates are going to be doing that, perhaps, with the exception of Tom McClintock, who doesn't have a lot of money to operate with.

But I'll tell you what. People in California are going to have a hard time seeing their favorite programs, because there is going to be such a barrage of television ads.

WOODRUFF: All right, Bob Franken with the very latest. He's following it throughout the day and will go on into the night. Thanks.

And a reminder: You can see Arianna Huffington's announcement on "LARRY KING LIVE" right here on CNN at 9:00 Eastern tonight.

On a Los Angeles radio show this morning, Arnold Schwarzenegger again accused the governor of negative campaigning, calling him "desperate Davis." But in his latest campaign ad, Schwarzenegger doesn't mention Davis by name.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: California's in trouble because the politicians have let us down. Everything I have, I owe to California. Now I want to give something back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: Staring straight at the camera with the music swelling, Schwarzenegger goes on to say, he knows what to do to bring California back and how to get it done.

Well, Arnold Schwarzenegger is not the only the first-generation immigrant running in the California recall election.

CNN's Miguel Marquez introduces us to a man who's eager to make a difference in the state that he now calls home.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOHAMMAD ARIF (I), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Hi, I'm Mohammad Arif, an independent candidate running for California governor.

You heard my name on the radio.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes. I read about that. You're Republican, right?

ARIF: No, no. I'm independent.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mohammad Arif attends Friday prayers at his local mosque and makes his political pitch. Arif emigrated from Pakistan in 1991 and became a naturalized American three years ago. He runs an import business in Culver City, a Los Angeles suburb.

ARIF: My plans for surplus or to cover this budget is, encourage the foreign investment and interested investment, so we can bring jobs back to California.

MARQUEZ: He's never done a fund-raiser. He has no money for commercials or mailings. His gift, he says, is reaching out to Californians one voter at a time.

ARIF: I'm not doing any advertising, no, just word of mouth. And I'm spending my time in different gatherings. And I'm doing my best as far as my level is concerned. So if someone as a volunteer wants to come forward, they come and they help me out.

MARQUEZ: A Culver City market is one place where Arif finds a little help. His posters on the window, his bumper stickers on the counter, and, behind the counter, a fellow Pakistani who does what he can.

KAMRAN KHATAN, CALIFORNIA RESIDENT: Whoever asks me a question, do I know him or whatever I can say, I tell them.

MARQUEZ: The one thing he can't do is vote. Khatan isn't yet a citizen. But if he was, he knows why Mohammad Arif deserves to be governor.

KHATAN: He is very loving. He is very cooperative. And whenever anybody talks to him, he treats him like he's the most important person.

MARQUEZ: A politician's touch for a political novice who believes at least, and maybe at most, he has a chance to become governor.

ARIF: If my message will be out, I have a chance to win, because you just need more than 15 percent, as I heard, so you can win.

MARQUEZ: Miguel Marquez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOODRUFF: Well, let's go back now to the immigrant in this race who is getting so much attention. He, of course, is Arnold Schwarzenegger.

And joining us in Culver City, California, is Karen Hanretty. She is the spokeswoman for the Schwarzenegger campaign.

Karen Hanretty, first of all, Governor Davis has challenged Arnold Schwarzenegger to a debate. This has been out there for several days. Why is Mr. Schwarzenegger not accepting this?

KAREN HANRETTY, SCHWARZENEGGER SPOKESWOMAN: Look, Judy, Arnold is not running against Gray Davis.

Gray Davis is running against his own record. He's had five years in office to explain to the voters of California the direction he wants to take the state. But a recent Field poll shows that only 21 percent of voters think he's doing a good job. That's why nearly two million voters in the state of California signed recall petitions.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is not going to take the time to talk directly to Gray Davis. He is going to spend the next week talking directly to the voters. He is doing a bus tour this week. He's been traveling up and down the state of California for the past few days, shaking hands with folks, learning their names, and interacting with them directly.

WOODRUFF: But it's pretty clear that, if there were such a debate, it would get enormous attention. Voters all over the state would watch. It would probably get the highest ratings of any television event throughout this campaign. What's wrong with Mr. Schwarzenegger sitting there, if he's comfortable with his positions, and debating them with Mr. Davis?

HANRETTY: Well, first of all, Judy, Arnold Schwarzenegger has received a great deal of attention throughout this campaign.

In fact, each of the candidates have really benefited from Arnold being in this recall. But, look, Arnold is going to take his message to the voters. He has a message of hope and opportunity. What Gray Davis is doing is a last-ditch attempt of a desperate man in the 11th hour of becoming politically irrelevant. Gray Davis needs Arnold Schwarzenegger a lot more than Arnold needs Gray.

WOODRUFF: So you're saying, the comparison would not be any of value to the voters?

HANRETTY: No. Look, the voters know where Gray Davis stands on the issues. They know that he stands for higher taxes. Tomorrow, on October 1, Gray Davis' tripling of the car tax in California takes effect. It's a $4 billion car tax that is going to affect working families, women and businesses in the state of California.

Voters know where Gray Davis stands on the issue. Arnold is going to take his positive message to voters throughout the state. He is running on a message, that, look, he's going to Sacramento. He's going to change politics as usual, no more tax increases. Let's keep jobs in the state of California, instead of forcing them to leave to states like Arizona, Nevada and Texas because of over-regulation.

WOODRUFF: Let me ask you from something we're hearing not only from Democrats, but from some independents. And that is, now that Arnold Schwarzenegger has been endorsed by virtually the entire Republican establishment in the state of California, what's to distinguish his views from those of President Bush or any of the other Republicans who are so prominent in this country?

HANRETTY: Look, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a moderate. He is a fiscal conservative. He is a social moderate. That really plays well to voters within the state of California. And I think that's why his message really resonates. He's got a great deal of crossover appeal. We're not seeing the other candidates with the same crossover appeal among voters that Arnold has. And from day one, he said he would reach out to Republicans, Democrats, independents alike. And that is exactly what we have seen, the polls indicated. An October 7, that is why he will win the governor's office, because of that crossover appeal that he has.

WOODRUFF: You say crossover appeal, and yet the endorsements have come from Republicans.

HANRETTY: Well, sure.

It's from the California Taxpayers Association, organizations that realize California needs to be put back on the right track. But it's interesting. What we've seen the past few days and I think what we'll see today and in the week to come is a lot of Democrats outside of California coming to campaign for Gray Davis. It's really easy to support Gray Davis when you don't have to live in the state, when you're not under the burden of, for instance, this $4 billion car tax increase.

Arnold has the support of Republicans in the state, sure. Gray Davis doesn't. I don't think we've seen Dianne Feinstein come out and say, Gray Davis is a great governor. You should reelect him. She ran an ad and she never bothered to mention him. So...

WOODRUFF: All right, we're going to -- good question to ask her in these last few days of this campaign.

Karen Hanretty with the Schwarzenegger campaign, thank you very much. We appreciate it. Good to see 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 September 30, 2003 - 15:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Ariana Huffington's attack lines and punchlines never have translated, at least not so far, into impressive poll numbers. But she definitely has helped to make the California recall campaign interesting. Well, now, exactly one week before the vote, Huffington has an announcement to make.
Let's begin in Los Angeles with CNN's Bob Franken.

Bob, some reporting out there that she's considering whether to stay in the race. What are you hearing?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, friends and advisers say that that's what she is considering. They are left with the distinct impression that it's a decision she has already made, that she is going to pull out, that she is going to in fact make the announcement, a place where so many announcements are made these days, on the "LARRY KING" show, 6:00 out here, 9:00 on the East Coast.

"LARRY KING" is going to be the venue where she announce what her plans are. And the decision, according to friends and advisers, is less about pulling out, because Arianna Huffington has just not shown well in the polls, including the most recent CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, where she came in at just 2 percent.

But the decision really is where she will throw her support. Will it be for another candidate or will she concentrate her energies strictly on opposing the recall? Now, while she isn't showing very strongly in the polls, what she does have is a liberal Democratic base that those who oppose the recall need to energize if they're going to stand any chance whatsoever to pull this out.

Governor Gray Davis, of course, looking like now he's in trouble, according to the most recent poll. Speaking of polls, Judy, "The Los Angeles Times" is going to be coming out with a new poll tomorrow. It is going to be watched very closely to see if it contradicts the one by CNN/"USA Today" or if in fact it's consistent with that. That, of course, are the two sides of this. And it is going to be one in this very volatile election that could really in fact be one that really determines things, because these polls sometimes in the last few days have a way of becoming self-fulfilling prophecies.

But as we have found out before, sometimes they don't, too. And if there's any time when we've never been able to predict things, it would be this election -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Bob, let's talk about California voters. If they're interested in this campaign, where are they getting information right now about the election? Is it on newscasts? Is it TV ads? Where are they getting their information?

FRANKEN: The answer is yes and yes. And they're going to be getting it in the mail. There are going to be massive mailings. Just about all the candidates are going to be doing that, perhaps, with the exception of Tom McClintock, who doesn't have a lot of money to operate with.

But I'll tell you what. People in California are going to have a hard time seeing their favorite programs, because there is going to be such a barrage of television ads.

WOODRUFF: All right, Bob Franken with the very latest. He's following it throughout the day and will go on into the night. Thanks.

And a reminder: You can see Arianna Huffington's announcement on "LARRY KING LIVE" right here on CNN at 9:00 Eastern tonight.

On a Los Angeles radio show this morning, Arnold Schwarzenegger again accused the governor of negative campaigning, calling him "desperate Davis." But in his latest campaign ad, Schwarzenegger doesn't mention Davis by name.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, AD)

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: California's in trouble because the politicians have let us down. Everything I have, I owe to California. Now I want to give something back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: Staring straight at the camera with the music swelling, Schwarzenegger goes on to say, he knows what to do to bring California back and how to get it done.

Well, Arnold Schwarzenegger is not the only the first-generation immigrant running in the California recall election.

CNN's Miguel Marquez introduces us to a man who's eager to make a difference in the state that he now calls home.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOHAMMAD ARIF (I), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Hi, I'm Mohammad Arif, an independent candidate running for California governor.

You heard my name on the radio.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes. I read about that. You're Republican, right?

ARIF: No, no. I'm independent.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mohammad Arif attends Friday prayers at his local mosque and makes his political pitch. Arif emigrated from Pakistan in 1991 and became a naturalized American three years ago. He runs an import business in Culver City, a Los Angeles suburb.

ARIF: My plans for surplus or to cover this budget is, encourage the foreign investment and interested investment, so we can bring jobs back to California.

MARQUEZ: He's never done a fund-raiser. He has no money for commercials or mailings. His gift, he says, is reaching out to Californians one voter at a time.

ARIF: I'm not doing any advertising, no, just word of mouth. And I'm spending my time in different gatherings. And I'm doing my best as far as my level is concerned. So if someone as a volunteer wants to come forward, they come and they help me out.

MARQUEZ: A Culver City market is one place where Arif finds a little help. His posters on the window, his bumper stickers on the counter, and, behind the counter, a fellow Pakistani who does what he can.

KAMRAN KHATAN, CALIFORNIA RESIDENT: Whoever asks me a question, do I know him or whatever I can say, I tell them.

MARQUEZ: The one thing he can't do is vote. Khatan isn't yet a citizen. But if he was, he knows why Mohammad Arif deserves to be governor.

KHATAN: He is very loving. He is very cooperative. And whenever anybody talks to him, he treats him like he's the most important person.

MARQUEZ: A politician's touch for a political novice who believes at least, and maybe at most, he has a chance to become governor.

ARIF: If my message will be out, I have a chance to win, because you just need more than 15 percent, as I heard, so you can win.

MARQUEZ: Miguel Marquez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOODRUFF: Well, let's go back now to the immigrant in this race who is getting so much attention. He, of course, is Arnold Schwarzenegger.

And joining us in Culver City, California, is Karen Hanretty. She is the spokeswoman for the Schwarzenegger campaign.

Karen Hanretty, first of all, Governor Davis has challenged Arnold Schwarzenegger to a debate. This has been out there for several days. Why is Mr. Schwarzenegger not accepting this?

KAREN HANRETTY, SCHWARZENEGGER SPOKESWOMAN: Look, Judy, Arnold is not running against Gray Davis.

Gray Davis is running against his own record. He's had five years in office to explain to the voters of California the direction he wants to take the state. But a recent Field poll shows that only 21 percent of voters think he's doing a good job. That's why nearly two million voters in the state of California signed recall petitions.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is not going to take the time to talk directly to Gray Davis. He is going to spend the next week talking directly to the voters. He is doing a bus tour this week. He's been traveling up and down the state of California for the past few days, shaking hands with folks, learning their names, and interacting with them directly.

WOODRUFF: But it's pretty clear that, if there were such a debate, it would get enormous attention. Voters all over the state would watch. It would probably get the highest ratings of any television event throughout this campaign. What's wrong with Mr. Schwarzenegger sitting there, if he's comfortable with his positions, and debating them with Mr. Davis?

HANRETTY: Well, first of all, Judy, Arnold Schwarzenegger has received a great deal of attention throughout this campaign.

In fact, each of the candidates have really benefited from Arnold being in this recall. But, look, Arnold is going to take his message to the voters. He has a message of hope and opportunity. What Gray Davis is doing is a last-ditch attempt of a desperate man in the 11th hour of becoming politically irrelevant. Gray Davis needs Arnold Schwarzenegger a lot more than Arnold needs Gray.

WOODRUFF: So you're saying, the comparison would not be any of value to the voters?

HANRETTY: No. Look, the voters know where Gray Davis stands on the issues. They know that he stands for higher taxes. Tomorrow, on October 1, Gray Davis' tripling of the car tax in California takes effect. It's a $4 billion car tax that is going to affect working families, women and businesses in the state of California.

Voters know where Gray Davis stands on the issue. Arnold is going to take his positive message to voters throughout the state. He is running on a message, that, look, he's going to Sacramento. He's going to change politics as usual, no more tax increases. Let's keep jobs in the state of California, instead of forcing them to leave to states like Arizona, Nevada and Texas because of over-regulation.

WOODRUFF: Let me ask you from something we're hearing not only from Democrats, but from some independents. And that is, now that Arnold Schwarzenegger has been endorsed by virtually the entire Republican establishment in the state of California, what's to distinguish his views from those of President Bush or any of the other Republicans who are so prominent in this country?

HANRETTY: Look, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a moderate. He is a fiscal conservative. He is a social moderate. That really plays well to voters within the state of California. And I think that's why his message really resonates. He's got a great deal of crossover appeal. We're not seeing the other candidates with the same crossover appeal among voters that Arnold has. And from day one, he said he would reach out to Republicans, Democrats, independents alike. And that is exactly what we have seen, the polls indicated. An October 7, that is why he will win the governor's office, because of that crossover appeal that he has.

WOODRUFF: You say crossover appeal, and yet the endorsements have come from Republicans.

HANRETTY: Well, sure.

It's from the California Taxpayers Association, organizations that realize California needs to be put back on the right track. But it's interesting. What we've seen the past few days and I think what we'll see today and in the week to come is a lot of Democrats outside of California coming to campaign for Gray Davis. It's really easy to support Gray Davis when you don't have to live in the state, when you're not under the burden of, for instance, this $4 billion car tax increase.

Arnold has the support of Republicans in the state, sure. Gray Davis doesn't. I don't think we've seen Dianne Feinstein come out and say, Gray Davis is a great governor. You should reelect him. She ran an ad and she never bothered to mention him. So...

WOODRUFF: All right, we're going to -- good question to ask her in these last few days of this campaign.

Karen Hanretty with the Schwarzenegger campaign, thank you very much. We appreciate it. Good to see 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