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Sen. Feinstein calls recall race 'a carnival'
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- One of California's most popular Democrats, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, ruled out a run for governor Wednesday, calling the recall election a carnival. Feinstein joined CNN's Judy Woodruff to discuss actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's shocking announcement that he will run. WOODRUFF: Senator, would you have made the same decision if it were today and you knew that Arnold Schwarzenegger were running? FEINSTEIN: Yes, I probably would have. It's a hypothetical, but I probably would have. I mean, I think what you're going to see is -- if it weren't so sad, it would be laughable. I think we're in a carnival. I think it's going to end up in the most factional kind of politics, could well, if there is -- if the recall is successful, end up with somebody absolutely unskilled in government at a particularly critical time in California's history, when an understanding of problems is essential to solving them. WOODRUFF: Senator, are you giving any thought at all to reconsidering your decision? FEINSTEIN: No, not at this time. And, as you know, the time ends on Saturday, with exception, I suppose, of a write-in down the pike. I've had, in 13 elections, Judy, the closest thing I've ever come to a draft, a lot of people calling me, people that represent the entire state of California, saying, 'Do it.' And I looked at three or four very recent polls, polls that ended the early part of this week and felt that the governor could beat the recall if he were willing and able to come forward as a transparent, hard-working, problem-solving governor. This is about him. It isn't about ideology. It isn't about a right-wing conspiracy. He's got to come forward and he's got to show it to people in a very tangible form. I believe it can be done. Now, what's happening is everybody out there wanting to be governor, as you might say, on the cheap, not having to visit 58 counties, not having to understand what a state that is bigger than 21 states put together, plus the District of Columbia, the sixth largest economic engine on Earth, what the problems are. I mean, you can say -- and everybody has said -- I'm going to be a governor for all the people, but if you don't know all the people, how can you be a governor for all the people? WOODRUFF: But, senator, that calculation was made before Arnold Schwarzenegger got into the race, with limitless money, enormous name recognition. Isn't Gov. Davis now in mortal danger of losing his job? FEINSTEIN: Well, first of all, I wouldn't get too excited. In looking at all these polls -- and there will be a bunch of people that will debunk what I'm going to say -- California voters are going to have to go a long way before they elect Arnold Schwarzenegger. He really doesn't figure into it at this time. And I think the image of this gun-toting, [muscled] actor is not necessarily one that is successful in this particular arena. And I think Californians are going to begin to come to terms with the fact that we have a carnival on our hands. And instability, uncertainty also play a role in the destiny of our state and many programs that people take very seriously. WOODRUFF: Senator, you say that. And yet, at a time when it's clear people -- most people in California, according to the polls, are disenchanted, at best, with Gray Davis' leadership, they're upset with government overall, why wouldn't someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger coming along, who, by the way, is described as having moderate politics, very close to your own views, why wouldn't he be an attractive alternative? FEINSTEIN: Well, first of all, I've heard only cliches so far. I'd like to have him answer: How would you solve this budget dilemma? How would you solve the deficit from this point on? Would you change the deficit financing? Would you change the revenue estimates? What programs would you cut, also, what bills? You've got 1,500 bills coming up that the governor will have to sign shortly, probably -- if there is a new governor, probably that governor. What bills would you sign and what bills will you veto, because you've got to look very deeply into these, these areas? What programs would you produce? And, critically, how will you fund them in a deficit situation? It's fine to say you're going to clean house. It's another thing to know what you can do and what you can't do under the California Constitution and the laws that have been established to date. And I don't think people are going to fall for old cliches. I think most Californians understand what's happened with the economy, understand the need to provide some certainty and stability in the state. And a governor elected with 15 percent of the vote isn't really going to be able to do it. WOODRUFF: Any chance you could change your mind? FEINSTEIN: No, not at this time. Thank you. WOODRUFF: Not at this time. All right, Senator Dianne... FEINSTEIN: Well, no. The time closes on Saturday. It's kind of interesting that people won't accept no for an answer.
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