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American Morning
Schwarzenegger Picks Up Two More Key Endorsements
Aired September 30, 2003 - 07:36 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: As California's recall campaign enters its final turn, Arnold Schwarzenegger has picked up two more key endorsements. But even though the election is just a week from today, the race is far from over.
CNN's national correspondent Bob Franken has been busy with all of this, joining us live again in Los Angeles this morning -- hi, Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
As far as the Republican Party is concerned, the decision has clearly been made. Nobody's making any bones about it. The winner would be Arnold Schwarzenegger. So Tom McClintock, who's been the other Republican in this race, is not getting any endorsements. The party board of directors yesterday announced it would be putting its weight behind the Schwarzenegger campaign, as well as the California Taxpayers Association, which is a conservative group that in different times might have been behind McClintock.
It's a two man race in just about everybody's view. Of course, the other person is Governor Gray Davis. He is the man who is fighting not to be recalled, the man who Schwarzenegger would be replacing if he did recall him.
With Davis' perception that it is a two man race, he's been demanding Schwarzenegger debate him, not only demanding, but taunting him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: If Arnold decides he's not afraid of this 165 pound governor -- after all, I did not compete in Mr. Universe, but I'm willing to take him on. I'm happy to debate him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: And Schwarzenegger has responded by saying thanks but no thanks. Actually, he hasn't said thanks, just no thanks, there's not going to be any debate. But there is a Republican who has said he's available to debate Gray Davis, and that would be Tom McClintock. McClintock said hey, I can do it. No thanks is the response from Gray Davis.
So there you have the structure of the race. Of course, there is that CNN/"USA Today" poll, which shows that Gray Davis is in deep trouble with a large percentage of people going to vote for the recall, 63 percent, and that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the preferred candidate if, in fact, there is a recall, 42. And it's in the 20s for Cruz Bustamante, who is the other Democrat.
There's going to be another poll that's coming out later this week. The race is getting very, very interesting as it goes on to its end a week from now. I should point out that it's one that has changed almost constantly -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, that's for sure.
All right, Bob Franken, thanks so much, live from Los Angeles this morning.
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 September 30, 2003 - 07:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: As California's recall campaign enters its final turn, Arnold Schwarzenegger has picked up two more key endorsements. But even though the election is just a week from today, the race is far from over.
CNN's national correspondent Bob Franken has been busy with all of this, joining us live again in Los Angeles this morning -- hi, Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
As far as the Republican Party is concerned, the decision has clearly been made. Nobody's making any bones about it. The winner would be Arnold Schwarzenegger. So Tom McClintock, who's been the other Republican in this race, is not getting any endorsements. The party board of directors yesterday announced it would be putting its weight behind the Schwarzenegger campaign, as well as the California Taxpayers Association, which is a conservative group that in different times might have been behind McClintock.
It's a two man race in just about everybody's view. Of course, the other person is Governor Gray Davis. He is the man who is fighting not to be recalled, the man who Schwarzenegger would be replacing if he did recall him.
With Davis' perception that it is a two man race, he's been demanding Schwarzenegger debate him, not only demanding, but taunting him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: If Arnold decides he's not afraid of this 165 pound governor -- after all, I did not compete in Mr. Universe, but I'm willing to take him on. I'm happy to debate him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: And Schwarzenegger has responded by saying thanks but no thanks. Actually, he hasn't said thanks, just no thanks, there's not going to be any debate. But there is a Republican who has said he's available to debate Gray Davis, and that would be Tom McClintock. McClintock said hey, I can do it. No thanks is the response from Gray Davis.
So there you have the structure of the race. Of course, there is that CNN/"USA Today" poll, which shows that Gray Davis is in deep trouble with a large percentage of people going to vote for the recall, 63 percent, and that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the preferred candidate if, in fact, there is a recall, 42. And it's in the 20s for Cruz Bustamante, who is the other Democrat.
There's going to be another poll that's coming out later this week. The race is getting very, very interesting as it goes on to its end a week from now. I should point out that it's one that has changed almost constantly -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, that's for sure.
All right, Bob Franken, thanks so much, live from Los Angeles this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
