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Discussion With Schwarzenegger Campaign Communication Director

Aired October 08, 2003 - 13:59   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: CNN's Kelly Wallace is live from the scene of the Schwarzenegger juggernaut, and that's a lot of syllables, the Schwarzenegger juggernaut.
Kelly, take it away.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Better you, Miles, handling that than me, after a long day yesterday.

I can tell you that at this news conference later, the first news conference by Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor-elect, he will be announcing that Republican Congressman David Dreier will be the chairman of his transition team.

And joining us now to talk a little bit more about the transition and campaign, Sean Walsh, the communications director for the Schwarzenegger campaign, who we should note still has not slept after working through the night.

Sean Walsh, congratulations.

SEAN WALSH, SCHNEIDER: SPOKESMAN: Thank you.

WALLACE: Thanks for joining us.

How difficult now, though, to make the transition from campaigning to governing?

WALSH: Well, really, the hard part about this is the actual governing part, and putting a team together so quickly. The transition period is somewhat limited. But the truth of the matter is Arnold's been working very closely with all of his advisers throughout the campaign to make sure we hit the ground running for the key areas, like the budget, jobs and the economy.

WALLACE: But he also has to deal with many opponents to the recall and a Democratically controlled legislature. How does he do that?

WALSH: What was key was the remarks last night. He extended his hand, literally, across the aisle, saying Democrats, please join me at the table, the problems of the state are bigger than just me, they're bigger than just you and me and the legislature, we need the people involved.

So the table is set, the chairs are pull back, we want the legislature to join us. And we think working cooperatively with the legislature, that will let us put our people in and get the things done on the table quickly to resolve this budget crisis.

WALLACE: You used the 'm' word with us yesterday -- mandate. Do you all see here a mandate for Schwarzenegger and a mandate for change?

WALSH: Well, I think, clearly, I mean, the turnout was really astronomically high, an incredible turnout, people are motivated for change, and they ushered in a new era. The past is gone, the future is Arnold Schwarzenegger now, and the future is bipartisanship, the future is cooperation, the future is collectively working together to solve our problems.

We think that by extending the hand to the legislature, like we did last night, and calling on the people to join us in this reform, that we can actually come together and make things work here in California.

WALLACE: And you all were very excited, obviously, even yesterday, looking at the numbers. But last-minute allegations against Mr. Schwarzenegger, questions about his behavior, his character, did they do any damage at all to this candidate?

WALSH: Well, again, the people were always focused. Two million people signed that recall petition, a third of them Democrats. An last night, we saw roughly a third of the Democrats vote in the recall ballot.

So the truth of the matter is, the public is united for change, and So they always kept their eye on the ball. They kept their eye on the ball the fact that they wanted better for their schools, they want the budget situation solved and they want jobs. And so While some of the media tended to focus on these other issues, focused on the past, the people focused on the future, just like Arnold did, and so we think these issues are in the past, and we expect to move forward very, very aggressively in fixing our state's problems.

WALLACE: OK, Sean Walsh, thanks for joining us.

WALSH: Thank you.

WALLACE: The communications director for the Schwarzenegger campaign.

And, Mile, we will be asking questions of the governor-elect himself a few hours from now, again, at that news conference expected just up across the way from this ballroom here -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All right, Excellent job, both of you, given the amount of sleep you've had collectively -- probably not much. Appreciate it.

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





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Aired October 8, 2003 - 13:59   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Kelly Wallace is live from the scene of the Schwarzenegger juggernaut, and that's a lot of syllables, the Schwarzenegger juggernaut.
Kelly, take it away.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Better you, Miles, handling that than me, after a long day yesterday.

I can tell you that at this news conference later, the first news conference by Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor-elect, he will be announcing that Republican Congressman David Dreier will be the chairman of his transition team.

And joining us now to talk a little bit more about the transition and campaign, Sean Walsh, the communications director for the Schwarzenegger campaign, who we should note still has not slept after working through the night.

Sean Walsh, congratulations.

SEAN WALSH, SCHNEIDER: SPOKESMAN: Thank you.

WALLACE: Thanks for joining us.

How difficult now, though, to make the transition from campaigning to governing?

WALSH: Well, really, the hard part about this is the actual governing part, and putting a team together so quickly. The transition period is somewhat limited. But the truth of the matter is Arnold's been working very closely with all of his advisers throughout the campaign to make sure we hit the ground running for the key areas, like the budget, jobs and the economy.

WALLACE: But he also has to deal with many opponents to the recall and a Democratically controlled legislature. How does he do that?

WALSH: What was key was the remarks last night. He extended his hand, literally, across the aisle, saying Democrats, please join me at the table, the problems of the state are bigger than just me, they're bigger than just you and me and the legislature, we need the people involved.

So the table is set, the chairs are pull back, we want the legislature to join us. And we think working cooperatively with the legislature, that will let us put our people in and get the things done on the table quickly to resolve this budget crisis.

WALLACE: You used the 'm' word with us yesterday -- mandate. Do you all see here a mandate for Schwarzenegger and a mandate for change?

WALSH: Well, I think, clearly, I mean, the turnout was really astronomically high, an incredible turnout, people are motivated for change, and they ushered in a new era. The past is gone, the future is Arnold Schwarzenegger now, and the future is bipartisanship, the future is cooperation, the future is collectively working together to solve our problems.

We think that by extending the hand to the legislature, like we did last night, and calling on the people to join us in this reform, that we can actually come together and make things work here in California.

WALLACE: And you all were very excited, obviously, even yesterday, looking at the numbers. But last-minute allegations against Mr. Schwarzenegger, questions about his behavior, his character, did they do any damage at all to this candidate?

WALSH: Well, again, the people were always focused. Two million people signed that recall petition, a third of them Democrats. An last night, we saw roughly a third of the Democrats vote in the recall ballot.

So the truth of the matter is, the public is united for change, and So they always kept their eye on the ball. They kept their eye on the ball the fact that they wanted better for their schools, they want the budget situation solved and they want jobs. And so While some of the media tended to focus on these other issues, focused on the past, the people focused on the future, just like Arnold did, and so we think these issues are in the past, and we expect to move forward very, very aggressively in fixing our state's problems.

WALLACE: OK, Sean Walsh, thanks for joining us.

WALSH: Thank you.

WALLACE: The communications director for the Schwarzenegger campaign.

And, Mile, we will be asking questions of the governor-elect himself a few hours from now, again, at that news conference expected just up across the way from this ballroom here -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All right, Excellent job, both of you, given the amount of sleep you've had collectively -- probably not much. Appreciate it.

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





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