CSUF News and Information
News Front
Browse by Topic
University News
Arts
Awards & Honors
CSUF in the News
In the Community
People
Research
Titan Sports
Archive
Calendars & Events
Resources
Faculty Experts Guide
News Photos
News Contacts
Press Kit
Faculty / Staff Directory
Image Library
Get News by E-mail
Contact Info

 

people

Recall and Election Attracts Spotlight
by Gail Matsunaga

print

From Dateline (September 11, 2003)

Q: This must be a fascinating time for you and your colleagues.
   
A:

Like all political scientists, I’m having a ball because of the chance to talk about how the system works. The last time there was a semester this good, from an education standpoint, was the Florida recount. Unfortunately, this only goes until Oct. 7, but for the first six weeks of teaching introductory American government, it’s wonderful.

 

   
Q: What kinds of questions from the media have you been asked?
   
A:

What is the process? That is the constant question, because it’s so unusual and bizarre. What are the strategies of the various candidates? What is the significance of Bill Simon pulling out? I got a lot of calls about that. And each day there appears to be more news.

This is certainly the No. 1 political news story in the United States, and it has overshadowed the presidential race. It’s seen as a precursor to the presidential race, because it’s shaking down into a party battle, which does foreshadow the ’04 presidential election. That’s one reason it’s getting so much interest in D.C. The other reason is that people like to laugh at California. Although it’s not as crazy as people think – in that there’s only about four or five serious candidates. This is not 135 candidates for governor – that’s over. Still, people like to use the words “crazy” and “California” together.

   

   
Q: This sounds similar to what you said in a Los Angeles Times article Aug. 11 regarding how the election would eventually feel more coherent.
   
A:

Yes, what we have now is a Republican primary with two candidates: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom McClintock. That’s business as usual. What’s a little different is that on the Democratic side you have Gray Davis and Cruz Bustamante, who are not running against each other but may have competing interests.

   

   
Q: Is Peter Ueberroth out of the running?
   
A:

He’s going nowhere – his initial appearances were so dispirited and tired. But the real reason is the myth of the California independent voter, the notion that people in California are not interested or loyal to either party. This race is going to be decided by the people who are loyal to their party. Since Ueberroth is running as an independent, he has no base in this particular race.

 

« Previous

 

PicoSearch

Go View News by Date
Q&A with Sonenshein

• Raphael Sonenshein

• This must be a fascinating time for you and your colleagues.

• What kinds of questions from the media have you been asked?

• This sounds similar to what you said in a Los Angeles Times article Aug. 11 regarding how the election would eventually feek more coherent.

• Is Peter Ueberroth out of the running?

• In the long term, what does it mean for us politically as a state? Will there be much change, or will it be back to business as usual?

• What do you think about the recall in general?

• Do you think voter turnout will be higher?

Related Stories

• Campus Center Polls Residents On Recall of Governor


BROWSE PEOPLE ARCHIVE
View 2003
View 2002
 
Go top
www.fullerton.edu/news/
 

Produced by the Office of Public Affairs at California State University, Fullerton. Contact the web administrator for comments and problems with the website.
California State University, Fullerton © 2003. All Rights Reserved.