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CNN Live Sunday
Condit's Popularity Slipping in Home District
Aired July 08, 2001 - 18:03 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.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: The Chandra Levy case has been a popular topic of discussion in Congressman Condit's home district, California's 18th. Ms. Levy also hails from the district, from the city of Modesto. CNN's Martin Savidge is there; he has been gauging reaction there and in the nation's capital. And has new information for us now -- Martin?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Steven, to understand what this has done to the popularity of Congressman Condit, you have to understand just how popular he has been in the past. The 18th District is often referred to as Condit Country. Many people here like to refer to him as "their Gary."
He won the last election, the reelection to his representation post, with 67 percent of the vote. Now people are beginning to wonder if they ever really knew "their Gary" at all and what is adding to elevation of emotion here is the fact that they know Chandra Levy.
She is not some nameless faceless person. She is a person that group up in this community, and there is some concern that the fact that the Congressman may have delayed in giving his revelation, that could impact on police efforts to try and locate her. Some of the people we have talked to today, not all of them, suggest they are not sure they could vote for "their Gary" again.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's unfortunate that it happened like, when it did because it's probably going to negatively effect him and he won't be able to win in this area again.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When true colors come forward, makes it a little more difficult as far as to how is he actually going to be responsible towards the public and it kind of changes his image.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he has a good record in Congress. So, I think this is between him and his family. I think the media is actually attacking him more than I would wish they would. And I think he is a good congressman.
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SAVIDGE: To give you another measure of perhaps the erosion factor that's going on here, the local newspaper took the extraordinary step of having a full page of two editorials that were strongly critical of the congressman. One of those editorials written: "the public confidence in him is eroding, his credibility has been damaged and his character and ability to effectively represent his district are in question."
He was once referred to as a man who could politically walk on water. Some wonder now if he is not a man politically drowning -- Stephen.
FRAZIER: Was there a call, Martin, in writing for him to return and speak to his constituents face-to-face?
SAVIDGE: Silence was the most critical factor that was talked about in both of those editorials. It is the thing that most people speak about here: The fact that their congressman is not talking to them.
FRAZIER: Martin, thank you. From Modesto, California, Martin Savidge.
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