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American Morning

Interview With Jim McGreevey

Aired October 01, 2002 - 07:16   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 the election clock ticking, is it too late for the Democrats now to save the Senate seat?
New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey is leading the search for a new candidate. He joins us live this morning from Trenton.

Governor, good morning to you -- good to have you with us.

GOV. JIM MCGREEVEY (D), NEW JERSEY: Good morning, Bill. And I just want to rule out Bruce Springsteen's potential candidacy.

HEMMER: We have that clarified now. Apparently, he won't be on the ballot.

Take me back to yesterday. Doug Forrester, the Republican challenger, right now is all-out saying, you've missed the deadline; you're out of time.

Listen to what he said yesterday regarding this issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG FORRESTER (R), SENATE CANDIDATE: The laws of the State of New Jersey do not include, "we-think-we're-going-to-lose-so-we-get-to- pick-someone-new" clause. What makes America unique is that this is a nation founded on the concept of the rule of law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Can you challenge that statement?

MCGREEVEY: Yes. I think, you know, the irony is that Mr. Forrester has been calling for Mr. Torricelli's resignation for some time during the course of the campaign. And now, Mr. Forrester has his wish.

And I think as it was stated in this morning's "New York Times" editorial, "As a matter of equity, the New Jersey State Supreme Court ought to allow a replacement on the ballot." I think it's critically...

HEMMER: Why so?

MCGREEVEY: Well, I think it's critically important that the citizens of the State of New Jersey -- and the courts have traditionally been very liberal in accommodating these types of concerns -- have a full and vigorous debate upon the issues. And I think the irony today is that Mr. Forrester, who has been consistently chastising Mr. Torricelli, now has had his wish fulfilled. And now, he wants to prevent the court from allowing -- or calling upon the court to prevent the citizens of New Jersey from having that full and vigorous debate with two candidates of the two major parties.

HEMMER: But, Governor, hang on one second here. If the law is the law, and it says, "51 days," and right now, you're 35 days away, essentially 5 weeks from now, the election takes place. And if that's the case, how do you amend the law at this point?

MCGREEVEY: It's not so much a matter of amending the law, Bill. The statute actually says, it must be done in 51 days. It is silent as to what happens past that deadline. And so, I think the courts, as a matter of equity, can evaluate the statute.

But I would also, you know, like to make you aware of the fact that when the Republicans were running then acting Governor DiFrancesco for the governor's office for the State of New Jersey, Governor DiFrancesco dropped out. The Republican Party in the state legislature moved to back the primary date.

What the Democrats are asking to do today is nothing as aggressive as moving back the primary date, per se. What they're asking the court to do as a matter of equity -- and I think the rational, clear thinking, as "The New York Times" stated -- is to allow the two major parties to field candidates, so that the citizens of this state have an opportunity for full and vigorous debate on the critical issues...

HEMMER: Well, Governor, let me stop you there. Why is that fair and equitable? If indeed, Senator Torricelli gets together with his posse over the weekend, they discuss it, they know what the law says in the first place, why would that be equitable at this point, knowing that you're this close to Election Day?

MCGREEVEY: Because the courts in the State of New Jersey have consistently erred on the side of providing for that full and vigorous debate. Whether it's challenging petitions on ballots -- whatever the issue, the courts have traditionally worked assiduously to allow for that debate; to be liberal in their interpretation so as to promote democracy.

And I think that -- as pursuant to Senator Torricelli's withdrawal, I think the court would want to have this debate. And obviously, having no name on the ballot or having only Senator Torricelli's name, pursuant to withdrawal, would not encourage that basic, vigorous debate.

HEMMER: Quickly, Governor, I know we're under a timeframe here, going into the first week of November. If you win this legal fight, which direction are you leaning toward in terms of putting another name on the ballot right now, to give the Democrats in your state the best chance possible? MCGREEVEY: Well -- and again, I think actually Democrats are in a better position this morning than they were yesterday. I mean, Senator Torricelli's campaign was clearly clouded by the ethical debate. And New Jersey is an overwhelmingly Democratic state, not only did the state go 14 points for Vice President Gore, Democrats are concerned, has questions of the environment, questions of choice, questions of our domestic economy.

And what we will be doing is meeting with the state committee persons, as well as county chairs during these next 36 hours to put forth the strongest potential candidacy.

HEMMER: It has been interesting, to say the least.

Governor McGreevey, thank you very much.

MCGREEVEY: But I think we're in a better position today, Bill.

HEMMER: Interesting.

MCGREEVEY: Thank you.

HEMMER: You got it. We'll talk down the road.

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 - 07:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: With the election clock ticking, is it too late for the Democrats now to save the Senate seat?
New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey is leading the search for a new candidate. He joins us live this morning from Trenton.

Governor, good morning to you -- good to have you with us.

GOV. JIM MCGREEVEY (D), NEW JERSEY: Good morning, Bill. And I just want to rule out Bruce Springsteen's potential candidacy.

HEMMER: We have that clarified now. Apparently, he won't be on the ballot.

Take me back to yesterday. Doug Forrester, the Republican challenger, right now is all-out saying, you've missed the deadline; you're out of time.

Listen to what he said yesterday regarding this issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG FORRESTER (R), SENATE CANDIDATE: The laws of the State of New Jersey do not include, "we-think-we're-going-to-lose-so-we-get-to- pick-someone-new" clause. What makes America unique is that this is a nation founded on the concept of the rule of law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Can you challenge that statement?

MCGREEVEY: Yes. I think, you know, the irony is that Mr. Forrester has been calling for Mr. Torricelli's resignation for some time during the course of the campaign. And now, Mr. Forrester has his wish.

And I think as it was stated in this morning's "New York Times" editorial, "As a matter of equity, the New Jersey State Supreme Court ought to allow a replacement on the ballot." I think it's critically...

HEMMER: Why so?

MCGREEVEY: Well, I think it's critically important that the citizens of the State of New Jersey -- and the courts have traditionally been very liberal in accommodating these types of concerns -- have a full and vigorous debate upon the issues. And I think the irony today is that Mr. Forrester, who has been consistently chastising Mr. Torricelli, now has had his wish fulfilled. And now, he wants to prevent the court from allowing -- or calling upon the court to prevent the citizens of New Jersey from having that full and vigorous debate with two candidates of the two major parties.

HEMMER: But, Governor, hang on one second here. If the law is the law, and it says, "51 days," and right now, you're 35 days away, essentially 5 weeks from now, the election takes place. And if that's the case, how do you amend the law at this point?

MCGREEVEY: It's not so much a matter of amending the law, Bill. The statute actually says, it must be done in 51 days. It is silent as to what happens past that deadline. And so, I think the courts, as a matter of equity, can evaluate the statute.

But I would also, you know, like to make you aware of the fact that when the Republicans were running then acting Governor DiFrancesco for the governor's office for the State of New Jersey, Governor DiFrancesco dropped out. The Republican Party in the state legislature moved to back the primary date.

What the Democrats are asking to do today is nothing as aggressive as moving back the primary date, per se. What they're asking the court to do as a matter of equity -- and I think the rational, clear thinking, as "The New York Times" stated -- is to allow the two major parties to field candidates, so that the citizens of this state have an opportunity for full and vigorous debate on the critical issues...

HEMMER: Well, Governor, let me stop you there. Why is that fair and equitable? If indeed, Senator Torricelli gets together with his posse over the weekend, they discuss it, they know what the law says in the first place, why would that be equitable at this point, knowing that you're this close to Election Day?

MCGREEVEY: Because the courts in the State of New Jersey have consistently erred on the side of providing for that full and vigorous debate. Whether it's challenging petitions on ballots -- whatever the issue, the courts have traditionally worked assiduously to allow for that debate; to be liberal in their interpretation so as to promote democracy.

And I think that -- as pursuant to Senator Torricelli's withdrawal, I think the court would want to have this debate. And obviously, having no name on the ballot or having only Senator Torricelli's name, pursuant to withdrawal, would not encourage that basic, vigorous debate.

HEMMER: Quickly, Governor, I know we're under a timeframe here, going into the first week of November. If you win this legal fight, which direction are you leaning toward in terms of putting another name on the ballot right now, to give the Democrats in your state the best chance possible? MCGREEVEY: Well -- and again, I think actually Democrats are in a better position this morning than they were yesterday. I mean, Senator Torricelli's campaign was clearly clouded by the ethical debate. And New Jersey is an overwhelmingly Democratic state, not only did the state go 14 points for Vice President Gore, Democrats are concerned, has questions of the environment, questions of choice, questions of our domestic economy.

And what we will be doing is meeting with the state committee persons, as well as county chairs during these next 36 hours to put forth the strongest potential candidacy.

HEMMER: It has been interesting, to say the least.

Governor McGreevey, thank you very much.

MCGREEVEY: But I think we're in a better position today, Bill.

HEMMER: Interesting.

MCGREEVEY: Thank you.

HEMMER: You got it. We'll talk down the road.

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