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American Morning
Torricelli Drops Bid for Re-Election
Aired October 01, 2002 - 07:13 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: With Democratic control of the Senate right now hanging by a thread and Election Day only five weeks away, in fact, from today, Democrats in New Jersey scrambling to get Robert Torricelli's name off the ballot, and find someone new to put in his place.
On Monday, incumbent Robert Torricelli quit his race against Republican challenger, Doug Forrester, pressured to quit due to ongoing ethics questions and certainly poll numbers that indicate Torricelli may not have won come early November.
Congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl tracking this story all day yesterday -- more now this morning.
Good morning -- Jonathan. What's the buzz now?
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, to understand just how much of a headache this is for Democratic leaders, both in New Jersey and here in Washington, consider that Jersey is such a solidly Democratic state that it hasn't sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate since before Bruce Springsteen came out with his first album 30 years ago.
Now Republicans, because of Torricelli's ethical problems, and because he's out of the race, have a real chance at winning in New Jersey.
Now, as for Torricelli himself, he pulled out of the race yesterday with an extraordinary speech, where he apologized for leaving his party in the lurch, but he also seemed decidedly unapologetic for those ethical problems that forced him out of the race.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ROBERT TORRICELLI (D), NEW JERSEY: I most certainly have made mistakes. And there will be those who concluded that those mistakes bring justice to this moment, because there's a price to be paid. When did we become such an unforgiving people?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: Democrats are scrambling to find a replacement for Torricelli, but their dream candidate, Bill Bradley, the former U.S. senator and former presidential candidate, last night told party officials in New Jersey that he is not interested in the race.
Another former senator, Frank Lautenberg, put out a written statement last night, saying that he would be interested, if he was asked to run.
There are also several current congressmen from New Jersey -- Democratic congressmen that are considering jumping in the race.
But whoever the Democrats decide to put up in replacement of Torricelli in this race, Republicans have signaled that they will go to court to challenge the Democrats to keep them from changing the ballot this late in the game.
As a matter of fact, the Republican senatorial candidate there in New Jersey, Doug Forrester, came out yesterday, and he said that he thinks that this would be simply clear a violation of New Jersey election law, which says that you cannot change the ballot this late in the game.
But you can expect this one to be fought in court -- Bill.
HEMMER: For the record, 1973, "Greetings from Asbury Park." Jonathan, thank you very much -- in D.C.
KARL: You're exactly right.
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 1, 2002 - 07:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: With Democratic control of the Senate right now hanging by a thread and Election Day only five weeks away, in fact, from today, Democrats in New Jersey scrambling to get Robert Torricelli's name off the ballot, and find someone new to put in his place.
On Monday, incumbent Robert Torricelli quit his race against Republican challenger, Doug Forrester, pressured to quit due to ongoing ethics questions and certainly poll numbers that indicate Torricelli may not have won come early November.
Congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl tracking this story all day yesterday -- more now this morning.
Good morning -- Jonathan. What's the buzz now?
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, to understand just how much of a headache this is for Democratic leaders, both in New Jersey and here in Washington, consider that Jersey is such a solidly Democratic state that it hasn't sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate since before Bruce Springsteen came out with his first album 30 years ago.
Now Republicans, because of Torricelli's ethical problems, and because he's out of the race, have a real chance at winning in New Jersey.
Now, as for Torricelli himself, he pulled out of the race yesterday with an extraordinary speech, where he apologized for leaving his party in the lurch, but he also seemed decidedly unapologetic for those ethical problems that forced him out of the race.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ROBERT TORRICELLI (D), NEW JERSEY: I most certainly have made mistakes. And there will be those who concluded that those mistakes bring justice to this moment, because there's a price to be paid. When did we become such an unforgiving people?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: Democrats are scrambling to find a replacement for Torricelli, but their dream candidate, Bill Bradley, the former U.S. senator and former presidential candidate, last night told party officials in New Jersey that he is not interested in the race.
Another former senator, Frank Lautenberg, put out a written statement last night, saying that he would be interested, if he was asked to run.
There are also several current congressmen from New Jersey -- Democratic congressmen that are considering jumping in the race.
But whoever the Democrats decide to put up in replacement of Torricelli in this race, Republicans have signaled that they will go to court to challenge the Democrats to keep them from changing the ballot this late in the game.
As a matter of fact, the Republican senatorial candidate there in New Jersey, Doug Forrester, came out yesterday, and he said that he thinks that this would be simply clear a violation of New Jersey election law, which says that you cannot change the ballot this late in the game.
But you can expect this one to be fought in court -- Bill.
HEMMER: For the record, 1973, "Greetings from Asbury Park." Jonathan, thank you very much -- in D.C.
KARL: You're exactly right.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
