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CNN Live Today
Recall Elections Candidates Plowing Ahead Though October 7 Election May Not Happen Until Next Year
Aired September 16, 2003 - 10:09 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now onto a man-made storm of sorts. It is blowing through California. Candidates in the recall elections say they are plowing ahead even though the October 7 election may not happen until well into next year.
An appeals court has post appointed the ballot. So who stands to gain? Who could potentially lose as this race apparently transforms from a sprint to a marathon? For that, we turn to our national correspondent Bob Franken who is in Los Angeles once again. Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. And as usual, who stands to gain? The lawyers.
KAGAN: Ah, well, as always.
(LAUGHTER)
FRANKEN: They the ones who are going to decide what happens next. They're going to decide where this case is appealed. Those who lost the case yesterday include the sponsors of the recall, particularly Ted Costas (ph) who was the original sponsor of the recall.
His lawyer's already said he wants to bypass the appeals court process, go directly to the U.S. Supreme Court and try and get this put on hold very quickly. It put on hold meaning the order that puts the election on hold. You've got to follow the bouncing legal briefs here.
Now the big one is the secretary of state. He's the main defendant in this thing. He's the one that the appeals court judges must have said stop at the end of the seven day stay from proceeding with the October 7 election. Presumably the election would be delayed if nothing else happens until the next regularly scheduled election March 2.
What's intriguing about that is the fact that it's the presidential primary. The Democrats are the ones who are putting up the big fight. Most people are now believing would it mean a larger turn-out of Democrats, meaning potentially a larger turn-out of those who are opposed to the recall, meaning that Gray Davis, the sitting governor, might be favored.
Of course all analysis has gone out the window in this particular election. So the three main candidates, Davis, Schwarzenegger and McClintock say they're basically going to operate as if the election will go on in October.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: ... courts will decide. I'm not making a decision. The courts will decide when this recall election will occur. And we have a constitutional system in this country and I will abide by whatever the courts say.
Right now I'm assuming the election will be on October 7. And I'm going to continue assuming that until we get a final determination from the courts.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: I'm absolutely confident that the election will happen. We're going to continue campaigning the way we have, aggressively move forward. This is the people's will that the election will happen. And so this is the way we're going to move forward. It's up to the courts now.
TOM MCCLINTOCK (R), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: This is an outrageous decision made by an outrageous court. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is the most overturned court in the nation. I have every confidence that within the next several days if not the next several hours we will see this ruling overruled as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: So the California political scene and the recall election, Daryn, is in turmoil, begging the question, so what else is new?
KAGAN: Well, what about this question? Who else might jump in? quickly here, Bob, what about word that if this is extended into March, that people who have already quit the race like Peter Ueberroth or Bill Simon might get back in since their name would already be on the ballot?
FRANKEN: They have approximately 60 days before an election to get back in. So they may decide that there is now more time to make their case to the voters and possibly could be allowed in. Just one of the many unresolved legal questions.
KAGAN: Keeping you busy in California. Bob Franken, thank you for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Election May Not Happen Until Next Year>
Aired September 16, 2003 - 10:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now onto a man-made storm of sorts. It is blowing through California. Candidates in the recall elections say they are plowing ahead even though the October 7 election may not happen until well into next year.
An appeals court has post appointed the ballot. So who stands to gain? Who could potentially lose as this race apparently transforms from a sprint to a marathon? For that, we turn to our national correspondent Bob Franken who is in Los Angeles once again. Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. And as usual, who stands to gain? The lawyers.
KAGAN: Ah, well, as always.
(LAUGHTER)
FRANKEN: They the ones who are going to decide what happens next. They're going to decide where this case is appealed. Those who lost the case yesterday include the sponsors of the recall, particularly Ted Costas (ph) who was the original sponsor of the recall.
His lawyer's already said he wants to bypass the appeals court process, go directly to the U.S. Supreme Court and try and get this put on hold very quickly. It put on hold meaning the order that puts the election on hold. You've got to follow the bouncing legal briefs here.
Now the big one is the secretary of state. He's the main defendant in this thing. He's the one that the appeals court judges must have said stop at the end of the seven day stay from proceeding with the October 7 election. Presumably the election would be delayed if nothing else happens until the next regularly scheduled election March 2.
What's intriguing about that is the fact that it's the presidential primary. The Democrats are the ones who are putting up the big fight. Most people are now believing would it mean a larger turn-out of Democrats, meaning potentially a larger turn-out of those who are opposed to the recall, meaning that Gray Davis, the sitting governor, might be favored.
Of course all analysis has gone out the window in this particular election. So the three main candidates, Davis, Schwarzenegger and McClintock say they're basically going to operate as if the election will go on in October.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: ... courts will decide. I'm not making a decision. The courts will decide when this recall election will occur. And we have a constitutional system in this country and I will abide by whatever the courts say.
Right now I'm assuming the election will be on October 7. And I'm going to continue assuming that until we get a final determination from the courts.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: I'm absolutely confident that the election will happen. We're going to continue campaigning the way we have, aggressively move forward. This is the people's will that the election will happen. And so this is the way we're going to move forward. It's up to the courts now.
TOM MCCLINTOCK (R), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: This is an outrageous decision made by an outrageous court. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is the most overturned court in the nation. I have every confidence that within the next several days if not the next several hours we will see this ruling overruled as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: So the California political scene and the recall election, Daryn, is in turmoil, begging the question, so what else is new?
KAGAN: Well, what about this question? Who else might jump in? quickly here, Bob, what about word that if this is extended into March, that people who have already quit the race like Peter Ueberroth or Bill Simon might get back in since their name would already be on the ballot?
FRANKEN: They have approximately 60 days before an election to get back in. So they may decide that there is now more time to make their case to the voters and possibly could be allowed in. Just one of the many unresolved legal questions.
KAGAN: Keeping you busy in California. Bob Franken, thank you for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Election May Not Happen Until Next Year>
