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American Morning
More Women Step Forward Against Arnold
Aired October 06, 2003 - 08:05 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, ANCHOR: Meanwhile, it looks like it's pretty good weather for California. Large state tomorrow, the largest in the country now going to the polls today, make that 24 hours left now. Voting starts tomorrow. Tuesday in California.
The accusations continue to fly. Candidates now making a last push. The race in some cases looks too close to call. Dan Lothian live in Sacramento for more this morning.
Dan, good morning there.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, even down to the wire, this race continues to be exciting, to say the very least.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, who despite these continued reports, 15 so far, of sexual misconduct, Arnold Schwarzenegger staying on message as he campaigned across the state yesterday. Here in Sacramento, he drew a large crowd of very boisterous supporters.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, while on the morning television, was willing to defend himself in front of the crowds. He talked about what he would do to clean up Sacramento.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Please bring me the broom now. Yes. We are here -- we are here, ladies and gentlemen, to clean house! We are here to clean house!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: Arnold Schwarzenegger and his supporters have been talking about how this, what has been happening, these allegations, really appears to be the Democrats at work. And what they're saying, essentially slinging a lot of mud. And he questions the timing of these allegations -- Bill.
HEMMER: Dan, with Gray Davis talking with Larry King last night, he mentioned in his answer the possibility of criminal activity. What's the fallout right now with 24 hours to go before the vote takes place, with these strong accusations flying back and forth and these accusations from 15 women now out there?
LOTHIAN: Well, it will be interesting to see exactly what this is able to do to the poll numbers. We certainly have seen some numbers. And it does appear, if you listen to the Davis camp, that these numbers are impacting this race.
But indeed, Governor Davis, even Cruz Bustamante and others have been calling for possible investigations into these allegations. Davis did say on Larry King that this is not something that should be dismissed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: There have been some evasions; occasionally an apology, occasionally a denial. And the question gets down to this. Are all 15 of these women lying? Or is Arnold Schwarzenegger not telling us the truth?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: Governor Gray Davis, for his part now, is trying to focus on bringing up those numbers now of people who -- for the most part have been opposing or voting for that recall, saying that they would vote for the recall.
He's focusing on Democrats. About 27 percent of Democrats have said that they would support the recall. That is the crowd that he is trying to focus on. He feels that he can win over some of those Democrats, 27 percent of Democrats, that he has a pretty good chance of defeating this recall -- Bill.
HEMMER: Dan, thanks. Dan Lothian in Sacramento.
A closer look now at the latest polling. Mark Gladstone is the Sacramento bureau chief for the "San Jose Mercury News." He's live with us also in the city of Sacramento.
Thanks for getting up early, Mark. Nice to see you on this Monday morning here.
MARK GLADSTONE, "SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS": Thank you.
HEMMER: Twenty-four hours and counting. Want to show some numbers, some of the polling that your newspaper has conducted.
If you go back to last week, 52 percent say they are definitely for the recall. On Saturday, it was 44 percent. Is that an indication, at least according to your numbers, that this is tightening? Explain this.
GLADSTONE: Well, there's definitely a softening of support, at least through Saturday, for the recall. People are thinking twice about it, given the allegations against Arnold Schwarzenegger.
HEMMER: You say, though, that you believe that this race will not be close. Do you still believe that?
GLADSTONE: I still think -- our poll still shows the recall passing comfortably and Schwarzenegger having a pretty wide lead over the second-place candidate, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante. HEMMER: You mention now, we can show it, exactly the numbers for our viewers now. Schwarzenegger, according to your numbers, 37 percent; Bustamante gets 29 percent.
Has it surprised you at all that Cruz Bustamante has been essentially out of the headlines for one week running?
GLADSTONE: Yes, in a way it has, because he has a very experienced campaign manager. He is the lieutenant governor. He's won twice. But it really has come down to the race between Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
HEMMER: I want to get a little technical here and explain this. You believe that 44 percent figure for Gray Davis. If it stays there and goes no higher, that does not portend good news for the governor. What do you mean by that?
GLADSTONE: Well, basically throughout all the polling that we've done and others have done, the governor has never gone -- excuse me. The no on the recall that is never gone up above 44 percent. He hasn't been able to crack that.
And if you recall last year when he won re-election, he only won with 47 percent against a neophyte Republican, Bill Simon.
HEMMER: So as long as that's the case, you don't think that's good for Davis, if the numbers are reflected tomorrow, obviously?
GLADSTONE: Right. Exactly. I just don't think that it's going to occur in enough time. In other words, this surge, if, in fact, there is a surge for the governor.
GLADSTONE: There are two schools of thought right now with the allegations against Schwarzenegger and the strong words from the governor last night with Larry King. Does it backfire against the governor, possibly, or does it hurt Schwarzenegger tomorrow? What do you believe right now?
GLADSTONE: Well, the governor has a reputation for negative campaigning. And to the extent it reinforces people's notion that Governor Davis is a dirty campaigner, I think it may hurt him.
HEMMER: You also believe that Democrats have a strategy, if they lose tomorrow on the recall, Schwarzenegger is elected governor, what is their strategy for launching their own possible recall campaign which would throw this thing right back into the wringer?
GLADSTONE: Well, there's a lot of talk among Democrats that they're going to organize a recall -- a retaliatory recall against Schwarzenegger, should he win. Because they'll -- because Davis will have still gotten more votes possibly than Schwarzenegger, or the no on the recall may get more votes than Schwarzenegger.
HEMMER: How realistic is that, Mark, right now?
GLADSTONE: I think that when all is said and done, it probably won't happen, because Democrats may have a difficult time agreeing on a strategy in the long run. I think they'll probably key in on the next regularly scheduled election in 2006.
HEMMER: Thanks, Mark. "San Jose Mercury News." Mark Gladstone in Sacramento. A lot of polling out there. We'll see if any of it matches up with the voters tomorrow.
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 6, 2003 - 08:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, ANCHOR: Meanwhile, it looks like it's pretty good weather for California. Large state tomorrow, the largest in the country now going to the polls today, make that 24 hours left now. Voting starts tomorrow. Tuesday in California.
The accusations continue to fly. Candidates now making a last push. The race in some cases looks too close to call. Dan Lothian live in Sacramento for more this morning.
Dan, good morning there.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, even down to the wire, this race continues to be exciting, to say the very least.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, who despite these continued reports, 15 so far, of sexual misconduct, Arnold Schwarzenegger staying on message as he campaigned across the state yesterday. Here in Sacramento, he drew a large crowd of very boisterous supporters.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, while on the morning television, was willing to defend himself in front of the crowds. He talked about what he would do to clean up Sacramento.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Please bring me the broom now. Yes. We are here -- we are here, ladies and gentlemen, to clean house! We are here to clean house!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: Arnold Schwarzenegger and his supporters have been talking about how this, what has been happening, these allegations, really appears to be the Democrats at work. And what they're saying, essentially slinging a lot of mud. And he questions the timing of these allegations -- Bill.
HEMMER: Dan, with Gray Davis talking with Larry King last night, he mentioned in his answer the possibility of criminal activity. What's the fallout right now with 24 hours to go before the vote takes place, with these strong accusations flying back and forth and these accusations from 15 women now out there?
LOTHIAN: Well, it will be interesting to see exactly what this is able to do to the poll numbers. We certainly have seen some numbers. And it does appear, if you listen to the Davis camp, that these numbers are impacting this race.
But indeed, Governor Davis, even Cruz Bustamante and others have been calling for possible investigations into these allegations. Davis did say on Larry King that this is not something that should be dismissed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: There have been some evasions; occasionally an apology, occasionally a denial. And the question gets down to this. Are all 15 of these women lying? Or is Arnold Schwarzenegger not telling us the truth?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: Governor Gray Davis, for his part now, is trying to focus on bringing up those numbers now of people who -- for the most part have been opposing or voting for that recall, saying that they would vote for the recall.
He's focusing on Democrats. About 27 percent of Democrats have said that they would support the recall. That is the crowd that he is trying to focus on. He feels that he can win over some of those Democrats, 27 percent of Democrats, that he has a pretty good chance of defeating this recall -- Bill.
HEMMER: Dan, thanks. Dan Lothian in Sacramento.
A closer look now at the latest polling. Mark Gladstone is the Sacramento bureau chief for the "San Jose Mercury News." He's live with us also in the city of Sacramento.
Thanks for getting up early, Mark. Nice to see you on this Monday morning here.
MARK GLADSTONE, "SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS": Thank you.
HEMMER: Twenty-four hours and counting. Want to show some numbers, some of the polling that your newspaper has conducted.
If you go back to last week, 52 percent say they are definitely for the recall. On Saturday, it was 44 percent. Is that an indication, at least according to your numbers, that this is tightening? Explain this.
GLADSTONE: Well, there's definitely a softening of support, at least through Saturday, for the recall. People are thinking twice about it, given the allegations against Arnold Schwarzenegger.
HEMMER: You say, though, that you believe that this race will not be close. Do you still believe that?
GLADSTONE: I still think -- our poll still shows the recall passing comfortably and Schwarzenegger having a pretty wide lead over the second-place candidate, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante. HEMMER: You mention now, we can show it, exactly the numbers for our viewers now. Schwarzenegger, according to your numbers, 37 percent; Bustamante gets 29 percent.
Has it surprised you at all that Cruz Bustamante has been essentially out of the headlines for one week running?
GLADSTONE: Yes, in a way it has, because he has a very experienced campaign manager. He is the lieutenant governor. He's won twice. But it really has come down to the race between Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
HEMMER: I want to get a little technical here and explain this. You believe that 44 percent figure for Gray Davis. If it stays there and goes no higher, that does not portend good news for the governor. What do you mean by that?
GLADSTONE: Well, basically throughout all the polling that we've done and others have done, the governor has never gone -- excuse me. The no on the recall that is never gone up above 44 percent. He hasn't been able to crack that.
And if you recall last year when he won re-election, he only won with 47 percent against a neophyte Republican, Bill Simon.
HEMMER: So as long as that's the case, you don't think that's good for Davis, if the numbers are reflected tomorrow, obviously?
GLADSTONE: Right. Exactly. I just don't think that it's going to occur in enough time. In other words, this surge, if, in fact, there is a surge for the governor.
GLADSTONE: There are two schools of thought right now with the allegations against Schwarzenegger and the strong words from the governor last night with Larry King. Does it backfire against the governor, possibly, or does it hurt Schwarzenegger tomorrow? What do you believe right now?
GLADSTONE: Well, the governor has a reputation for negative campaigning. And to the extent it reinforces people's notion that Governor Davis is a dirty campaigner, I think it may hurt him.
HEMMER: You also believe that Democrats have a strategy, if they lose tomorrow on the recall, Schwarzenegger is elected governor, what is their strategy for launching their own possible recall campaign which would throw this thing right back into the wringer?
GLADSTONE: Well, there's a lot of talk among Democrats that they're going to organize a recall -- a retaliatory recall against Schwarzenegger, should he win. Because they'll -- because Davis will have still gotten more votes possibly than Schwarzenegger, or the no on the recall may get more votes than Schwarzenegger.
HEMMER: How realistic is that, Mark, right now?
GLADSTONE: I think that when all is said and done, it probably won't happen, because Democrats may have a difficult time agreeing on a strategy in the long run. I think they'll probably key in on the next regularly scheduled election in 2006.
HEMMER: Thanks, Mark. "San Jose Mercury News." Mark Gladstone in Sacramento. A lot of polling out there. We'll see if any of it matches up with the voters tomorrow.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
