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Davis Votes
Aired October 07, 2003 - 14:55 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: Let's go to Gray Davis. Gray Davis just voted. Out he comes. And we should point out that chant we couldn't make out just a few moments ago was "Go, Gray, go!" These are all supporters of the governor along with the assembled media throng. Let's listen and see if he gets a chance to say a few words over the din of those singing supporters.
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: I feel absolutely terrific. I have always trusted the voters of California. I know they're going to do the right thing today.
This is a big day for California. It's particularly a big day for working families. And I ask everyone to make an effort to gout and vote. They're not as many polling places as there usually, but make the effort to find your polling place, participate in this democracy. However you vote, vote today.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE).
DAVIS: Life has a lot of surprises, but Sharon and I are people of faith. And we know that all we can do is respond to the challenges confronted us. We have done that. I'm proud of the campaign we run. I think people see the contrast between myself and Mr. Schwarzenegger. And I'm confident of the choice they'll make today.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) may be disappointed tonight if you lose. Will you join them in supporting another recall if Arnold Schwarzenegger for example wins tonight?
DAVIS: You know I'm not going there. I'm focused on today. We're going to go to church after we leave you. Then we're going to go out and thank some of the people who are phoning to get the vote out. Thank the people who are walking to get the vote out. And just thank Californians for allowing me to participate in this election and allowing me to be their governor. So we'll have a busy day.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE).
DAVIS: I voted for the most qualified person on the second ballot. You can probably figure out who that is.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) a 67 percent turnout. What do you think needs to be done to get the (OFF-MIKE)?
DAVIS: I think (OFF-MIKE) to understand this is an historical election. It will have a lot to do with where the state goes in the future. And I fought hard to provide health care. The schools are better. The environment is the there is the country. We're the strongest pro-choice state, strong gun control laws.
All these things have moved this state forward and we've moved forward together. That's what I want to continue to do if the people are good enough to let me do it. And if they do, with all my heart and soul, I'll try and bring Californians together and move them all together forward.
(CROSSTALK) Governor --
QUESTION: Governor, you talk about your record, but a lot of people think (OFF-MIKE) is going in the wrong direction. Where's the disconnect between (OFF-MIKE)?
DAVIS: Well, clearly there are hard times, but every state in the country is facing hard times because of a bad economy. And I know people are angry. And I've talked to them directly in our town hall meetings.
We're doing our best to create new jobs. We created 9,000 new jobs for construction workers in August by getting money out from a housing bond issue that passed last November. So we're working hard to improve the economy. I want to see if I can't bring down prescription drug costs. And I want to do my best to keep improving the schools. Those are my goals if people let me finish the job.
One more question.
QUESTION: Governor, why do you think a high voter turnout would help?
DAVIS: Because I think the more people that participate the more legitimate the results. And I always believe a higher turnout is better for democracy. Since there are more Democrats in this sate, a high turnout obviously will be helpful to me.
And I would ask everyone to make the extra effort to find your polling place, go out and participate in this democracy. Thank you, guys. Thank you.
O'BRIEN: (OFF-MIKE) how long he will carry that title. We'll have to watch today and then maybe wait a little while long depending on how close the outcome might be. With his wife Sharon beside him offering up a few comments to the assembled horde there. A few a supporters who are there in West Hollywood as he voted for, as he out it, the best qualified person on the candidate. I guess we can all guess who that is.
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 October 7, 2003 - 14:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go to Gray Davis. Gray Davis just voted. Out he comes. And we should point out that chant we couldn't make out just a few moments ago was "Go, Gray, go!" These are all supporters of the governor along with the assembled media throng. Let's listen and see if he gets a chance to say a few words over the din of those singing supporters.
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: I feel absolutely terrific. I have always trusted the voters of California. I know they're going to do the right thing today.
This is a big day for California. It's particularly a big day for working families. And I ask everyone to make an effort to gout and vote. They're not as many polling places as there usually, but make the effort to find your polling place, participate in this democracy. However you vote, vote today.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE).
DAVIS: Life has a lot of surprises, but Sharon and I are people of faith. And we know that all we can do is respond to the challenges confronted us. We have done that. I'm proud of the campaign we run. I think people see the contrast between myself and Mr. Schwarzenegger. And I'm confident of the choice they'll make today.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) may be disappointed tonight if you lose. Will you join them in supporting another recall if Arnold Schwarzenegger for example wins tonight?
DAVIS: You know I'm not going there. I'm focused on today. We're going to go to church after we leave you. Then we're going to go out and thank some of the people who are phoning to get the vote out. Thank the people who are walking to get the vote out. And just thank Californians for allowing me to participate in this election and allowing me to be their governor. So we'll have a busy day.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE).
DAVIS: I voted for the most qualified person on the second ballot. You can probably figure out who that is.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) a 67 percent turnout. What do you think needs to be done to get the (OFF-MIKE)?
DAVIS: I think (OFF-MIKE) to understand this is an historical election. It will have a lot to do with where the state goes in the future. And I fought hard to provide health care. The schools are better. The environment is the there is the country. We're the strongest pro-choice state, strong gun control laws.
All these things have moved this state forward and we've moved forward together. That's what I want to continue to do if the people are good enough to let me do it. And if they do, with all my heart and soul, I'll try and bring Californians together and move them all together forward.
(CROSSTALK) Governor --
QUESTION: Governor, you talk about your record, but a lot of people think (OFF-MIKE) is going in the wrong direction. Where's the disconnect between (OFF-MIKE)?
DAVIS: Well, clearly there are hard times, but every state in the country is facing hard times because of a bad economy. And I know people are angry. And I've talked to them directly in our town hall meetings.
We're doing our best to create new jobs. We created 9,000 new jobs for construction workers in August by getting money out from a housing bond issue that passed last November. So we're working hard to improve the economy. I want to see if I can't bring down prescription drug costs. And I want to do my best to keep improving the schools. Those are my goals if people let me finish the job.
One more question.
QUESTION: Governor, why do you think a high voter turnout would help?
DAVIS: Because I think the more people that participate the more legitimate the results. And I always believe a higher turnout is better for democracy. Since there are more Democrats in this sate, a high turnout obviously will be helpful to me.
And I would ask everyone to make the extra effort to find your polling place, go out and participate in this democracy. Thank you, guys. Thank you.
O'BRIEN: (OFF-MIKE) how long he will carry that title. We'll have to watch today and then maybe wait a little while long depending on how close the outcome might be. With his wife Sharon beside him offering up a few comments to the assembled horde there. A few a supporters who are there in West Hollywood as he voted for, as he out it, the best qualified person on the candidate. I guess we can all guess who that is.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
