Pete Wilson Doesn't See President's Efforts as True

Aired March 26, 1996

JUDY WOODRUFF, Anchor: Many California Republicans are saying today that Pete Wilson, who is governor of their state, may not be their first choice for Bob Dole's running mate. Still, Pete Wilson is planning to work for the November effort as general chairman of the Dole campaign in that state. Governor Wilson joins us now from Sacramento. And thank you for being with us, governor.

GOV. PETE WILSON (R-CA): Nice to be with you, Judy.

WOODRUFF: Senator Dole is expected to win easily. There's no real suspense here. He's got the nomination locked up. Is California's primary irrelevant?

WILSON: Well, I don't know that it is irrelevant. It's not full of suspense. I think that we're going to have the honor of technically putting Bob Dole over the top for the nomination. But I think, wisely, he's already shifted his focus to the general election campaign. He is doing, frankly, what he's been doing right along - talking about his own record and about that of Bill Clinton. And there's a very sharp contrast that will redound to his benefit in the fall. Because every, almost every, area in which Bill Clinton has made promises in California, which have raised false expectations, Bob Clint- or Bob Dole has actually delivered.

WOODRUFF: Well, you and I were just talking before we went on the air about the low turnout; 40-42 percent you said you're hearing. And there are some who are saying it's going to be a record low. Does this take some of the shine off any victory that Senator Dole can win?

WILSON: No, because it's a bipartisan low turnout. I mean, you'd have to make the same observation about Bill Clinton. No, it simply means that there is not much suspense about who's going to win. It's determined. The interest in the ballot really has to do at this point with the ballot propositions and with one or two local contests, as you mentioned, the district attorney's race in Los Angeles, and we have a hotly contested state Senate race in northern California.

WOODRUFF: We showed, governor, some exit poll numbers a moment ago that showed many California Republicans would prefer Colin Powell rather than you or Attorney General Dan Lungren [sp] as Senator Dole's running mate. You are not doing so well in many California, or at least a couple of most recent California public opinion polls lately, in terms of popularity ratings. Would you be a drag if Senator Dole were to put you on the ticket?

WILSON: Well, Judy, I think that's kind of an irrelevant consideration. I'm not seeking it. And, frankly, I don't know anybody who is doing very well in California except people that don't hold office. Maybe that tells you something. Anyway, this race isn't about me. It's about Bob Dole and Bill Clinton. And my desire is to see Bill Clinton replaced by someone for whom I have great respect and affection, but, more importantly, someone who has been very responsive to the real needs of California, as well as the rest of the nation. If we go down issue by issue, you will see that Bill Clinton has said one thing, done another. In every instance Bob Dole has actually performed for California. Now, that message needs to get out. When it does get out I think Bob Dole is going to win in November.

WOODRUFF: Well, President Clinton has been to California, what, 23 times? Since he's been in office, what, hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured into your state in disaster relief-

WILSON: That isn't going to do it.

WOODRUFF: -some people-

WILSON: That isn't going to do it.

WOODRUFF: Well, some people say that he's so far ahead that Bob Dole's got a real uphill climb here.

WILSON: Well, what I would tell you is that coming out to dispense back to us our own tax dollars in times of a natural disaster is something that any president will do. His mission is really defined by the law. He can come out and come to fund-raisers. He can come out and appear at events. That isn't what people are going to be interested in. In the last analysis, they're going to be interested that Bob- that Bill Clinton promised to end welfare as we know it; Bob Dole put welfare reform on his desk, but Bill Clinton vetoed it. They're going to be interested that Bill Clinton said that it was unfair to burden state taxpayers with the costs of illegal immigration, and then when Bob Dole put something on his desk to let him relieve that cost, Bill Clinton vetoed it. They're interested in the fact that Bill Clinton in 1992 promised a middle-class tax cut. He hasn't delivered. When Bob Dole put that on his desk, once again, he vetoed it. Now, he's got a serious credibility problem, and from my standpoint-

WOODRUFF: Governor-

WILSON: -it's a very nice counterpoint to Bob Dole's actual achievements. Yes?

WOODRUFF: Governor Wilson, we appreciate your being with us and we'll be watching the results from your state tonight. Thank you.

WILSON: All right, Judy.

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