McClintock: 'In the race to the finish line'

CNN ^ | August 26, 2003 | CNN

[Recourse]

WASHINGTON (CNN) --With one recent poll showing actor Arnold Schwarzenegger falling behind Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante in California's gubernatorial recall race, some top Republicans are urging other GOP candidates to drop out of the race.

Businessman Bill Simon, the GOP nominee against Gov. Gray Davis last year, dropped out over the weekend. But Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock says he's in the race for good. McClintock, in Sacramento, California, spoke with CNN's Judy Woodruff on Tuesday. The following is an edited transcript.

[kittymyrib]

No, the Republican sheeple don't care that the media ordained Arnold to run to keep a real conservative from winning. They just see the "R" behind the name of someone married to a Kennedy, for God's sake! California is finished, and I'd rather see the dems get full blame for it than give them a fig leaf like Arnold to hide behind.

[Miss Marple]

I don't think the media is a concerned about keeping a conservative from winning as it is in keeping the democrats in power. Power is all they care about.

If Bustamante thought it would guarantee him the election, he would run on more conservative issues.

Davis is just like Clinton, and is getting Clinton's help. The media is no doubt being coached by Carville and Clinton. This is about POWER and keeping California in the D column.

[Grand Old Partisan]

The L.A. Times is a Democrat newspaper, overjoyed that McClintock is going to see that Cruz Bustamante wins the election -- so the answer is no.

[Grand Old Partisan]

No, a plurality of voters wioll decide that. And since Bustamante will have a solid 40% or so, one voeter in particular, Tom McClintock, will decide whether the next Governor is Bustamante or Schwarzenegger.

[ought-six]

"McClintock has a real platform, a well enumerated platform."

I agree, but his problem is he's not getting the requisite exposure. The mainstream media still treats him like a footnote, and talk radio and FR alone will not do the trick for him. He needs wide exposure to get his message out there so all who are interested in the future of the state will have a real choice to make come October 7. His message is a good one, but the post office is on holiday (at least in his case).

[ought-six]

I see the finals as being 40% Bust-a-Moon; 30% Ah-Nold; 25% McClintock; 5% "other."

[LisaAnne]

Why did he lose?

Because he did not get enough votes.

He couldn't win the State Controllers office, what make you or anyone else think he can win the governorship? Even if Arnold was not running and it was a 2 way race between Cruz and Tom, Tom would lose. He has no appeal to cross over voters. Our state has over 44% registered Democrats. That makes it very unlikely that Tom would even have a chance.

Arnold at least has a shot at winning, but like always when we have a chance to win, the Pubbies will shoot themselves in the foot.

[Walkin Man]

I think it’s a shame that so many conservatives that should know better are supporting a flaming left lib RINO like Arnold, a demoRat in republican clothing!

There is a REAL republican running with REAL plans to fix the mess the Rat party has made in California but the news media has suckered you into believing that lib Arnie is your only choice. It’s sad...

[Grand Old Partisan]

McClintock will ensure that Bustamante's 40% is enough to win.

[Kevin Curry]

Which of Arnie's "conservative" positions thrill you the most?

Pro-Gun Control: "I'm for gun control. I'm a peace-loving guy."

Pro-Abortion: "I'm for choice . . . . I'm all for that."

Pro-Gay Agenda: "I have no sexual standards in my head that say this is good or this is bad. Homosexual-that only means to me that he enjoys sex with a man and I enjoy sex with a woman. It's all legitimate to me."

Pro-Big Government Entitilement Programs: "Every California child deserves access to a proven, quality, life-changing afterschool program, and now they will have it. My hope is that, as goes California, so goes the rest of our nation."

Pro-Clinton/Anti-Impeachment: "That was another thing I will never forgive the Republican party for. I was ashamed to call myself a Republican during that period."

Illegal Immigration: "I would never stand in the way of any child going to school, whether he or she is here legally or illegally, it does not matter."

[aruanan]

McClintock: 'In the race to the finish line'

"I'm in the race to the finish line no matter what it costs the party because trying to get what I want no matter what--as Davis showed us--is the most important thing in the world."

[Grand Old Partisan]

You forget where Arnold is running. Tom McClintock has no chance of winning in such an uber-liberal state as California.

[PhiKapMom]

I couldn't agree more that the left is trying to boost McClintock (his people are falling for it) in order to split the Republicans so Cruz can sneak in.

From reports I get from friends out there, it is not working with them and their friends who are conservative. They are voting for Arnold because they feel that Cruz would be worse than Davis. They didn't even hesitate to support Arnold who is a businessman versus McClintock. They supported Simon against Davis and actually think Simon would have been the better conservative to be running but because of baggage from losing to Davis didn't stand a chance.

Have had more than one person tell me that they don't like McClintock's supporters and their negative tactics which speaks volumes to me!

[kellynla]

No your point is not valid. If you would do your homework before you spout off, you would know that in the last ten years the GOP has gained the majority of 22 counties in the state in the last ten years. The Registered Independents and "non specific" with almost 20% are the deciding factor in CA elections. And if you also were aware of the numbers of crossover votes that McClintock receives in his district you wouldn't keep putting your foot in your mouth. McClintock received over three million votes in the last election and 100K more votes than Simon and more votes than any GOP candidate running statewide. This Tokyo Rose progaganda that you people keep spouting that "you can't win" died in 1945. Get your facts straight and then we'll talk. VOTE4MCCLINTOCK or pay the con$equence$! click here to learn the facts http://www.tommcclintock.com

[kellynla]

progaganda=propaganda

[Cultural Jihad]

Aim for 95% of what you want when you could get 60% of what you want, and you end up with only 5% of what you want. That is the gamble. Taxes and deficits are too high already to have the leisure to gamble freely, IMHO.

[cyncooper]

Arnold has NO experience working with a legislature, much less the California legislature.

Are you implying Schwarzenegger has no political experience?

That is incorrect.

And might I add, you sound quite beside yourself and bordering on hysteria in your rantings that exaggerate or misrepresent facts. Calm down.

[cyncooper]

And why has "Hollywood liberal", Rob Lowe been supporting President Bush for months? Hm?

What is your evidence that he is this big "Hollywood liberal" other than from years ago? People can change and it appears Lowe is one who is turning to the right.

[Roscoe]

What makes you think that Arnold is a sure thing?

[Lazamataz]

You did a wonderful job, Cat. :o)