[Carol Lin, Cnn Anchor:] In the meantime, we begin tonight with the California recall, where the Republican party faces a tough math problem, specifically one of division. The latest poll showed the GOP has enough support to win the recall election on October 7, but that support is split between moderate Arnold Schwarzenegger and conservative Tom McClintock. Now individually, both men trail Democrat Cruz Bustamante. To explain how the numbers add up from Los Angeles, CNN's Candy Crowley just back from the state GOP convention. And CNN's Miguel Marquez, just back from the state Democratic convention. But first, let's begin with you, Candy. Any fireworks tonight?
[Candy Crowley, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, not exactly. But you know, this is a whole new ball game for Republicans. But as they open their state party convention, amidst this division, what is really clear is that they're dealing with the same old problem.
[Crowley:] Fresh from a rally, the party of the first part, Schwarzenegger Republicans, are greeted by the party of the second part, McClintock Republicans. So there's the problem, California's Republican party has two parts, a moderate wing, which generally supports abortion rights, gay rights, and Schwarzenegger, and the conservative wing, which generally does not support abortion rights, gay rights, and does support Tom McClintock. Somebody's got to go.
[Arnold Schwarzenegger , Calif. Gov. Candidate:] Are we going to fight Davis and Bustamante? Or we're going to fight among ourselves? I say let us unite for victory.
[Crowley:] Hoping to get out of their weekend convention with as little blood on the floor as possible, Republican party leaders scheduled separate but equal events for Schwarzenegger and McClintock. The latter repeatedly and now somewhat testily, has rejected the notion he should clear the decks for Schwarzenegger.
[Tom Mcclintock , Calif. Gov. Candidate:] While we have the entire press corps here, let me ask you this. I am in this race to the finish line.
[Crowley:] Okey dokey, then. Schwarzenegger aides say he can win with or without McClintock in the race, but to do so, he'll need to pick off some of McClintock's conservative voters, which explains this speech.
[Schwarzenegger:] I'm a conservative because I believe communism is evil and free enterprise is good. I'm a conservative because Milton Friedman is right and Karl Marx is wrong.
[Crowley:] McClintock can't draw Hollywood size crowds, but he is a seasoned California state senator. He is playing this one to type.
[Mcclintock:] We have got to have a governor that knows every inch of this government and has the demonstrated ability and experience and determination.
[Crowley:] As irritating as it is to McClintock, there are still Republicans who believe he will eventually get out of the race, if only at the final moment. Said one Schwarzenegger supporter, McClintock has to decide whether he wants to be a hero or Ralph Nader Carol?
[Lin:] But Candy, if the polls are pretty close between the two candidates, then why is the pressure on McClintock?
[Crowley:] Well, McClintock recently in the polls sort of pointed out the problem. The majority of Californians say that he is more conservative than they are. What the Schwarzenegger people believe is that there is no way McClintock could win a general election, because a Republican has to have the swing voters in California. There are 1.4 million more Democrats registered in California than Republicans. So you've got to go for the swing voters. And the Schwarzenegger team and moderate Republicans say there is no way a conservative Republican can win in California. So the best shot is Schwarzenegger.
[Lin:] Got you. All right, Candy Crowley, the only person I know who can get away with saying okey dokey in a piece. Good to see you tonight. Well, California Democrats also holding their convention today. And there was a surprising show of unity there. CNN'S Miguel Marquez has that story and was there. Hey, Miguel.
[Miguel Marquez, Cnn Correspondent:] How are you there. It's not only that they're uniting. They are stepping up their efforts to turn the California recall into a national referendum on the Republican party.
[Gov. Gray Davis , Calif:] Bien venidos, lieutenant governor. People wanted to see when we were going to stand together. Well, here we are.
[Marquez:] A simple welcome in Spanish and California's top Democrats share a stage and send a signal.
[Davis:] Everyone knows that Democrats have a heart. Now they're going to see we have a spine. Right here and right now, we Democrats fight back.
[Marquez:] After a long political winter, a thaw between California's Governor Gray Davis, who wants to turn back the recall and his lieutenant governor, who is running to replace Davis if the recall prevails.
[Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante , Calif:] I'm not in competition with Gray Davis. I'm running against Arnold and Tom, to uphold the values of working people in California.
[Marquez:] Unlike earlier speeches, Bustamante spoke of Governor Davis' achievements and only asked the Democratic faithful to defeat the recall.
[Bustamante:] We must protect all that we have fought for and won. We must defeat this recall.
[Marquez:] The other message from Democrats? The recall is one more attempt by Republicans to change the outcome of elections nationwide.
[Unidentified Female:] We know this is a national campaign. It's going to stop here in California as Gray Davis said. These are the values that are at stake. These are the issues that are stake. The fight starts here.
[Marquez:] Driving that point home, one of the Texas senators who holed up in New Mexico for 45 days addressed the California crowd.
[Sen. Eliot Shapleigh , Texas State Senate:] Republican extremism is stealing elections, not at the ballot box, by subverting democracy in state after state. And the pattern is clear. And now it is up to you in California to stop it.
[Marquez:] And if you need more convincing that Democrats are trying to nationalize the California recall, just look at the governor's schedule for the coming week. Former President Clinton will be here. Presidential hopeful Senator Bob Graham and Senator John Kerry will be here, stomping with the governor both. Jesse Jackson will be here. Ending out the week, a guy we haven't heard a lot from lately, Al Gore will be here in California. Back to you.
[Lin:] All right. A buffet of candidates. Thank you very much, Miguel Marquez. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com