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American Morning

Interview with Condit and Cardoza Campaign Managers

Aired March 05, 2002 - 09:19   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: As we told you, Congressman Gary Condit is fighting for his political life, that is, in today's primary. In his bid for an eighth term, Condit trails state assemblyman Dennis Cardoza, his former aide, in the polls.

Joining us now from Modesto, California is Chad Condit, Gary Condit's son and campaign manager, and Doug White who is managing his opponent's, Dennis Cardoza, campaign.

Good morning, gentlemen, thank you both for being with us.

CHAD CONDIT, GARY CONDIT'S SON AND CAMPAIGN MANAGER: How you doing?

DOUG WHITE, DENNIS CARDOZA'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Good morning, Paula.

ZAHN: All right, Chad,...

CONDIT: Paula.

ZAHN: ... I'm going to start with you this morning. We have just heard the polling predictions and we've also heard the predictions that the Democratic turnout is supposed to be pretty darn low today. How does your father plan to overcome Dennis Cardoza's double-digit lead at this point?

CONDIT: I don't know whose poll you're quoting, Paula, but you know we're going to do the things we've been doing over the last several weeks, get out and shake hands and ask people to go to the polls and vote for Gary Condit. They've done that a lot over the last 30 years and we're hoping they'll do that today.

ZAHN: Doug White, don't your polls show that Gary Condit basically doesn't have a chance here today?

WHITE: Our polls indicate that there's a fairly significant lead that Assemblyman Cardoza has over Congressman Condit. We believe today that we'll be successful and -- but it's very important that people go out, get out to vote and make their voice heard today. And -- but we have reason to be optimistic.

ZAHN: Now your candidate, Dennis Cardoza, used to be a former aide to Gary Condit. Why did he abandon him? And why do you think he's leading in the polls?

WHITE: Well I think he's leading in the polls because we -- because of two reasons. One, I think we ran a very good, positive campaign. And second of all, I think that what has happened to the congressman over the summer certainly damaged his opportunities in today's election. I think that what we've done right is go out and talk to voters and let them know -- talk to them about the issues that are important to them, unemployment, and we're very proud of the campaign that we've ran.

ZAHN: Chad, I know your father has continued to say that he has been running on his some 30 years of public service, his 11 years plus as a congressman. In the end if he loses, how much of it would you pin on the cloud surrounding all of the Chandra Levy questions?

CONDIT: Well, let me first take issue with Doug. They've ran nothing but a negative campaign. Dennis has just picked up where the media left off and should be, actually, ashamed of himself for the kind of campaign he ran. Actually, and Doug should be applauded because Doug attended as many debates or forums as Dennis has. Dennis has avoided the congressman because he doesn't have the record that matches up with Gary Condit.

And you know, sure, all the negative stories and negative publicity, some 7,000 stories over the summer, it's made it real difficult, but we're fighters. Gary Condit's always been a fighter for the Central Valley. He'll continue to do that. We believe the people send him back, he'll be the most effective member of Congress in the country. So we're hopeful people will take a look at that 30 years. And you know, Dennis, with all do respect to Doug, his candidate just does not match up real well with Gary Condit and that's why they send Doug and they don't send Dennis.

ZAHN: All right, Doug, we're going to go back to you in a moment, but, Chad, very quickly we're going to play a very small part of what your father had to say on "LARRY KING LIVE" last week and want to ask you a couple of questions about that.

Let's all listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, HOST: Did you have a relationship with Chandra Levy?

REP. GARY CONDIT (D), CALIFORNIA: You know, we're not going to go into that. I mean you know I'm not going to talk about Chandra Levy, and I'm not going to say anything that would do anything to hurt or...

KING: Why not say no?

CONDIT: I'm just not going to get into that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: This appearance certainly raised more questions about Chandra Levy at a critical time of your father's campaign and of course his critics out there sniping that he didn't answer the most important questions. In the end was it a mistake for him to put himself in a forum where he had to deal with this issue once again?

CONDIT: Well, Paula, it's real simple, if you or Larry King or Connie Chung or anyone else wants to go discuss -- or Dennis Cardoza want to go discuss their private life on national air, go do it. We're not going to do it. And if it is the shortcoming or the end of -- we lose because of that, so be it. We feel like a person's private life is their private life. I don't see you guys asking Dennis Cardoza or any other candidates about their private lives.

Gary Condit has said from day one this is about a missing person. We should be on the law authorities and holding them accountable because they're supposed to find her and they haven't done a very good job. So you can ask those questions. All we do is ask that you respect our answers. We just don't believe people's private lives should be aired on national TV. If Dennis or other candidates want to handle that differently, they may do so.

ZAHN: All right, let's ask Doug about that. Did Dennis view those as completely appropriate questions to be ventured into during this campaign -- Doug?

WHITE: Well I think they are appropriate questions. They're certainly questions that the congressman needs to answer to and maybe bring a little peace of mind to his constituents who have some concerns. And I think that the investigation and I think that what's happened over the last 10 months has certainly hurt the congressman's ability to continue to be effective for an area that experienced a 17 percent unemployment rate. And I think that's why you've seen a number of members of Congress, a number of members of the U.S. Senate, a number of members of locally and at the state level the Democratic Party getting behind Dennis Cardoza because they feel like he's the best candidate for this district and that he can most effectively move us forward and kind of put this issue behind us.

ZAHN: All right, Doug, I know you said you think that Gary Condit's credibility was damaged by all this, but are you also saying that you found him to be untruthful? Do you think he lied?

WHITE: Well I -- you know it's Election Day, I think the voters are going to have to decide whether or not they think that what Gary Condit said was truthful. I think that it wouldn't be very difficult to say that it was evasive in the sense that he didn't answer the questions, at least to the satisfaction, I think, of many of the voters that we've gone and met with and talked with. But this is Election Day, that's what it's all about. And ultimately at the end of the day, the voters will be the one who makes the decision and find out who they want to be their next congressman, at least for the Democratic side.

ZAHN: Chad, final question for you. I know you say if your dad is elected he will be the finest congressman who ever serves. If he loses today, what's he going to...

CONDIT: The most -- the most effective congressman...

ZAHN: Exactly.

CONDIT: ... in the United States.

ZAHN: If he -- if he doesn't make the cut today, what do you think your dad's going to end up doing?

CONDIT: I don't know. He's talked about going back into welding. I don't know. You know it's just an election. We're going to go on after this. I don't know. We're hopeful the voters will be fair with us tonight.

But I'll tell you, getting back to what Doug said, Dennis Cardoza, we've known -- I've known Dennis Cardoza longer than Doug White has. We've known him over 20 years. If a guy like Dennis Cardoza would stab you in the back the moment you get down, just think what he's going to do to this district. This district ought to take a real close look at a congressman that will stab him -- his friend in the back, that you know has done some questionable things in the past. Why don't we ask him about his private life? You guys won't do that because that doesn't make for good news.

But Doug is also right, today is Election Day. It's a great day. We're encouraging everybody to get out and vote. And we'll hope they'll get out and vote for Gary Condit.

ZAHN: All right, we're going to have to leave it there this morning.

Chad Condit, Doug White, thank you both for your time, and we'll be tracking your race very closely from here. Take care.

CONDIT: Thanks, Paula, we love your show.

WHITE: Thank you.

ZAHN: Oh, thank you. Always happy to hear that.

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