building a better bay area, moving forward, finding solutions picked this is abc7 news. >> good afternoon, everybody. i'm in for kristin z today. welcome to our daily program, getting answers. we are asking expeare asking questions every day 3:00 to get answers for you in real time. today, we have an incredibly full lineup of topics to get to. we will be talking to two california political titans that perhaps no governor newsom's recall best. a new high profile challenger may reportedly be stepping into the race. first, governor newsom also made a major announcement of his own today. california, aiming to fully reopen the economy by june 15th. aiming the current color-coded tier system would be dropped. every day businesses and activities could resume with proper health and safety

protocols still in place for instance, masks are still going to be required, but large events like sports games, concerts, conventions, all would be allowed with proper testing and vaccination verification methods in place. first it comes as the governor faces the impending likely recall. now dominating state and political headlines, today is the beginning of our premier of our abc7 originals documentary , total recall. the story of america's wildest, largest recall election. it is a look back at the last big recall effort in california 18 years ago now, when governor gray davis was replaced by arnold schwarzenegger. today on abc7 and abc7news.com, we are giving you a look at the race that, at times, looked more like a circus, for those of you that remember it. joining us live now to discuss are two of the people featured in our documentary, steve, democratic strategist and former press secretary to governor gray davis and rob comer publican strategist and former co-communications

director for governor schwarzenegger. thank you for being here. >> thank you. >> thank you, liz. >> steve, let's start with you. let's start by talking about the current recall effort and the news of day today. i mentioned governor gavin newsom announcing california is going to be reopening the state by june 15th. we saw him yesterday with vice president kamala harris. the week before that, we saw him with the first lady here in california. steve, this is clearly all part of nuisance strategy to gain back support and win the recall? >> i think, absolutely. there is a saying that good politics is good policy and good policy is good politics. and i think the governor has finally figure that out. you got good news to spread across the state about reopening the economy, by getting vaccinations out there at a record pace. i guess we would be the sixth largest country in the world, if we were a country, in terms of giving out our vaccinations. he's got a lot of good things to talk about. >> rob, what you make of this moment? i know you are sort of an anti-

trumper publican, do you see this recall effort the way newsom and democrats are trying to frame it as a right-wing fringe movement or do you think it's a more bipartisan issue? >> i think it's more bipartisan than the way the governor and his team have framed it. but, i think it's smart politics, the way they have framed it. what they really need to do is keep other democrats from running and perceiving any weakness in the governor, politically. and they have done a good job of keeping their base intact and warding off other democrats from running. they've been good at that for the last 4 to 6 weeks. is a lot more good news, as steve indicated, to share over the last month and a half or so. but we have several months ago, until we know who the candidates will be, and that filing deadline still hangs out there, probably several months away. we will see how the summer goes, hopefully covid remains on the track that it is and the economy works back, that it would be very good for the

governor. things like blackouts and wildfire problems could also pose new challenges to him. >> right, as you know very well, someone like arnold schwarzenegger jumped in at the very last minute. we do have a long ways to go so. steve, something we are seeing repeat now from 2003 is sort of the discussion about whether or not another democrat should put their name on the ballot as an alternative option. we saw governor cruz 202,003. it didn't work then. what you think about that strategy now? >> i think it was one of the things that hurt governor davis, when there was an alternative for democrats. even if they were against the recall, they had a plan b, that was to vote for a democrat. if you shut that democrat off the other side, democrats are basically forced to make one decision, and that is to vote against the recall. if you look at the poll numbers, that is where things are right now. democrats are heavily against the recall republicans are have ready for it. the math in calin calin calin cl a win for gavin newsom.

>> rob, than last we spoke, i interviewed you for the documentary, i think you are kind of toying around about whether or not you would get involved this time around, why did you decide to join arnold george sniggers campaign back then? is there anyone can now or any candidate now that you could see maybe getting on board with? >> well, i got involved with arnold schwarzenegger because i thought he could win, plus obviously i thought it would be an amazing experience, and it was, for the little over two years i spent working with him. i think it would, for a republican to win, i think it would take a republican who is perceived as not being partisan, probably comes from outside of politics, just the way that arnold did. but this is a much more democratic state than it was even 18 years ago. when arnold schwarzenegger was able to win. i think, you know, i think newsom's greatest vulnerability remains, to someone it's outsized in fame, like schwarzenegger, that could certainly enter the race. this is the state of hollywood that we have and a lot of celebrity athletes. again, i think it's another

democrat that would pose the real risk to him. that hasn't developed yet. it may not, but that is really what i think would pose danger to him. >> steve, any specific democrat that is worrisome to you? >> no, you know. like rob said, the governor's team has done an excellent job of boxing out anyone who even tried to put their toe in the water. you saw that when antonio started rumbling about wanting to run, as he was smacked upside the head of the governor's spokesperson and his consultants were too. so, you know, anyone who is a democrat that runs will be a private party for the rest of their lives. the way the governor's numbers are looking, overall populari especially among democrats, it would be a folder and to get in the race right now. as rob says, you know, november is a lifetime away in politics. lots of things can happen. so i think you are going to see people that might be considering it, but are just

waiting for timing reasons. >> rob, what you make of this report today? i'm sure you thought for max thiells, katelyn jenera is saying she might throw her hat into the rings of a republican candidate. >> this is just it, it is california. it is full of rich and famous people. so, i don't know what to make of it, to be honest. i do remember 18 years ago, there were other hollywood figures that ran, like gary coleman. i guess katelyn jekatelyn jekata a little bit about that, but still doesn't come to the level of i think arnold schwarzenegger, in terms of a huge impact on the race for her to run. >> so you are not getting on board with that yet? >> no, i don't think so. >> 2003, we will air a clip of the documentary tonight at 4:00. the clip we will show is what a circus it was with the star, gary coleman, 135 candidates i believe rob described it as a zoo, why do you think that was? you think we are going to see a repeat of that? citizens and candidates throwing their hand to the

ring? >> room number, that was before social media. now we have all these people in social media who are, you know, have a new claim to fame. this is nothing but good publicity for them. a couple thousand bucks, you could get your name on the ballot and suddenly be a candidate for governor. i would not be surprised to see upwards of 400 more candidates this time around. it is going to be, as you say, throwing a hat entering, it's a three ring circus. >> it's ready-made for kardashians. >> totally, i know. you said that, you said it was like the kardashians before the kardashians. here we are, we have tiktok, it'll be wild. that said though, speaking of, it actually has been officially qualified, yet. it seems almost inevitable it's going to. than yesterday we have now heard about this new effort called stop the steel, which is a little confusing, but it's to get people who sign the petition to withdraw their names. do you think this is viable, what you make of it? could it be successful to get people to take their names off the petition? >> i think it would be very

difficult to succeed at that. we don't know for sure how many petitions would have to be rescinded, but it's probably over, you know, over six figures come over 100,000 i think it would be very difficult for that to unqualified the recall. the re this is an element of law that did not exist 18 years ago, so it's not like we have historical experience with how this may work. it sounds like a very difficult endeavor to me. >> right, the name, stop the steal, also i get the point but seems a little confusing, given we associate that with a different type of effort now. >> i thought trump had copywritten that, i guess not. >> you would think, you would think. steve, you told me you get chills up your spine to this day when you hear the word recall, what can people learn about the doesn't reelection that can be applied today? >> that is a very interesting question. i think they can learn not, you know, it's a uniquely california process. you have to really judge a

governor, not just on the moment of the day or how you are upset about one thing, but the long haul. governing is not easy. we lived in much different times, this governor has been faced with crises beyond what ray davis was faced with. boy, we had plenty. if people sit back, take in the big picture, a better picture of, should somebody be recalled from office? not is not voted for, but recalled from office, which is something we usually save for high crimes and misdemeanors, but in california, you don't need that. there's a lot to learn from that and maybe how we should restructure the whole recall law, once we get through this one. >> absolutely. thank you both, stephen rob. i'm excited for people to watch you guys recounted that 10 week period of that election, or even before when it began. rob, you will be excited, there

is video we were able to dig up of you back 18 years ago. >> great. >> look forward to that. will be posting that very soon and we will have more of it at 4:00. thanks, guys, for joining us. >> thanks, liz. member, you can watch the abc7 originals total recall on abc7news.com and our connected tv apps, wherever you stream. it'll be posted so you can watch us at 4:00 tonight. we will have a clip of that documentary and we will be airing different clips throughout the week as well. we are really excited to show that to you. when we get back, we know you have questions on it, california's quest to fully reopen by mid june, we will be talking to ucsf dr. george talkiit was when she started ruth forgetting things. i didn't know how much mom was struggling. i love caring for him. but i can't do it alone anymore. home care with an entire support team. with thekey, mom won't have to move. they'd play her favorite music, cook her favorite foods... his days will be filled with joyful moments. she'd have her dignity and

i wouldn't have to do this by myself.

welcome back. it is the massive headline shaking the state of california today. june 15th target date to fully reopen the economy. governor newsom in san francisco today, thing vaccinations need to remain up and hospitalizations and cases down for this to happen. to get into all of this new announcement and what it all means, we are happy to be joined by dr. george rutherford of ucsf. thanks so much, good to see you. >> good to see you. >> all right, so big news. the news we have all kind of been waiting for and hoping for over this past year, can you explain the premise of this decision? what data do you think led to this? >> so, so to start with an auspicious day when this could be announced, it means that the pace of vaccination is going really well, and that will be, we will have most of the population vaccinated by june 15th. and with some targeted vaccinations that will need to go on after that. but it's huge news. we will be able to get rid of

the tier systemtier systemtier e kind of complex and the counties, you know. i think it's really served us well, but it's sort of better to be on the other side of it, and not need it. i think one of the other things is, we'll probably continue to have some mask mandates going forward for a while. even after june 15th. i think all in all, it is a hugely auspicious day. and i think that this is the right move, and we will be able to follow things hospitalizations, people who have been vaccinated. remember, what we are really looking for is vaccine failure in the sense that people get sick. we will also be able to follow cases. so we will know what's going on and continue to do surveillance for these abnormalities, sort of odd unit types, andtypes, ane to corral those and control them as needed. >> when you say it's an auspicious day, i kind of get chills because it is. we've all been waiting for this

moment. >> break out the flags. >> exactly. it's like we are coming out of war. it is huge. large events, large gatherings, those are going to be allowed. do you think june is too soon for that? i pick a lot of people i know are still a little weary. >> well, if you're 85 years old and have three risk factors, you should be weary. especially if you have not been vaccinated. i think the premise here, i don't think, i know the premise here is that we are going to have enough people vaccinated to really have herd immunity. i don't think they will let their foot up completely off of large crowd events, i don't think you will see 400,000 people in golden gate park anytime soon. for some concert. but i think we are going to be able to, you know, start, you know, really heading toward normalcy on the other side this. >> so, do we need to watch out for, yesterday we got some questions about this idea of a fourth wave, another lockdown. are you concerned about these new variants creeping up? >> i think we have beaten them,

frankly. there is a fourth wave, and it's going on right now in michigan and minnesota and maybe a little bit around new york city. it is clearly going on. it's clearly being driven by the uk variant. and it's affecting populations we haven't seen heavily affected before, mostly adolescents. and so, you know, it can happen. it is happening. it's just not happening here. and when you think about what is so different about california, we've been much more, we have been much more cautious about reopening the state, reopening all of the assets of it. we have looked at the regional epidemiology, and have really sort of played things out county by county. we have been incredibly successful in getting vaccines rolled out, even though it feels like starts to many people. relatively speaking, it's incredible. it's an incredible accomplishment. and, you know, i think that we are, you know, the other thing

we haven't really talked about is the west coast variant, b1 47 and b1429 seem to be out competing the uk variant which is really good news, they are not quite as transmissible. so that may be giving us some cover as well. >> when you talk about the uk, i'm curious if there's any countries that evening attention to, france is interesting, sort of back on a lockdown right now, israel seems to be doing well, what you make when you look at other countries? >> my major concerns are up about mexico. you know, california has a land border with baja, california. there are 1 million people in tijuana. there's 1 million people in ensenada. they are not vaccinated to the extent we are vaccinated, and we need to pay attention to those populations. i grew up in san diego. i can assure you that is a continuous population, ensenada to santa barbara. we have to be helping out there. the other place that i pay attention to is canada.is canad.

you know, while the borders have been close in all of those things, you know, there's something going on in ontario. there is a big surge in ontario. and it may parallel what's going on in michigan. as you know, there are a couple of land borders between canada and michigan, windsor, by detroit. i don't think people are going back and forth, but it's sort of interesting to see, what we are seeing in kind of the upper midwest, canada seen as well at the same time. those are a couple of places i pay attention to. the other thing to see is that the uk is at a huge drop off in cases. they have a strategy where they try to get everybody in the country one dose, all the adults in the country one dose. that seems to be i think that's not an unreasonable strategy if you are really limited indexing, which we are not. >> i could keep going for a

long time. we have to take a quick break right now, dr. george rutherford from ucsf. thank you so much for your insight. i'm glad you are able to join us on this great day. >> my pleasure. market down

at the right place on the prompter. perfect. welcome back, everybody. the massive headline shaking the state of california, june 15th target date to fully reopen the economy, governors some was in san francisco, saying vaccinations need to remain up and hospitalizations and cases ses ses ses ses so we are back with dr. george rutherford from ucsf. we will continue talking. i will ask you again what i asked you during the break on facebook live, to talk about people who are hesitant to get the vaccine. someone told me today, their friend has been going around telling friends that she got the vaccine. really, she is nervous to get it and isn't getting it, but

she feels pressured to tell people she has. how much of this is happening? >> that's interesting. i haven't heard that one before. there is a tremendous demand for the vaccine, and the results of it are just spectacular. this is going to be kind of the great triumph of the last 70 years of molecular biology. all the way from watson and crick and rosemary johnson, rosemary frankel and come all the way up to the present time. this is the culmination of those 70 years of research, we are able to crank out something and turn an epidemic like this around in the space of about 15 months. >> right, it is really amazing. talking locally again, nearly all the area is now in the orange tier, as of today. with people starting to go out and about more, what are some of the riskier activities maybe people should so be cautious about? >> all of the above. it's the same old stuff, right? not everybody is vaccinated by any stretch of the imagination, about 35% of californians have had at least one dose. but that means 65% have not had

any. we won't vaccinate the children anytime soon. we hopefully will get emergency use authorization for younger adolescents here in the next few weeks and put them into the mix. but, you know, it's the same stuff. credit events, indoors, there could be aerosol transmission getting too close to other people, especially people who don't have masks on. keep your mask on. maintain social distance. do all the stuff we have talked about. we are only talking about doing this until june 15th. the governor is drawing a line in the sand and said, okay, this is where we are going to be, and i'm actually quite confident in their projections, by the way. and, you know, let's get this over and done with. >> right. what about reaching our most vulnerable populations? i know there's been a big push in california for more equitable rollout of the vaccine, but we haven't seen entirely. do you think in terms of reopening june 15th, have we done enough to reach some of

these populations? can we do more, and what can we do? >> there's a couple of questions embedded here. we have gone to the 4 million goal that the governor set for the poorest quarter of the codes in california, actually, a metric called the healthy place of index. so we have boosted vaccination there a lot. understand that there is still people, like people over 75 who haven't gotten vaccinated. a lot of that is just logistics, at least that is our interpretation of some of the research we have done it ucsf. a lot of it is logistics. we just can't get it to, you know, i had to get my mighty six-year-old mother-in-law, she is absolutely wonderful, but she would have a greater chance of launching a more mission on mars today than make a point in using her cell phone. you know, it's, as people are going to need to be helped, we will likely have to go door-to- door to try to get as many people as possible, especially

people over 75. there are certain pockets, like in chinatown and parts of the mission. people really, you know, the vaccine rates are lagging in those much older populations. it's just one of those things we are going to have to go through and mop up. and so while everybody is trying to get vaccinated, which is great, you know, public health is going to be coming along and trying to fit, fill in all of the cracks and close the gaps. >> all right, we'll keep you on during our break, once again on

welcome back. we're back with dr. george rutherford to give us your final thoughts on this auspicious day, as you said, dr. rutherford? >> mark it on your calendars, it'll become a state holiday. i might get in trouble for that. i think, june 15thjune 15thjuneh that the governor has put out there. there is real logic to that date. it's pretty carefully calculated. we know what the supply is going to be. we know what our capacity is for vaccinating people. and i think we are, here in california, we are winning the race against variance. and i think it's true pretty much over the west. then we can turn to other issues, other disease control issues, like, you know,you know, >> i have to interrupt you, unfortunately. this was great, thank you so much for joining us. we always love having you. we appreciate you being here, thank you. thank you all for watching this, getting answers here every day at 3:00 on air and live streaming answering your questions in real time get the bay area's top headline coming your way at the news at four

clock as well. until then, you can get all your news and weather at abc7news.com . world news tonight is next. we will see you at tonight, president biden late today on the coronavirus and his new promise. saying all adults will now be eligible for a vaccine by april 19th. that's two weeks earlier than his previous pledge. and it comes amid this race in the u.s. authorities hoping vaccinations can stay ahead of the variants. alarming new numbers tonight. deaths on the rise in 21 states. new cases rising in 19 states. the hospital in michigan tonight, the troubling uk variant now accounting for up to 70% of new cases there. now seen in all 50 states. infections nationwide growing among younger and middle aged americans and those who have not been vaccinated. and what we're now learning about teachers and youth sports. what authorities are now seeing. the unfolding scene today. police responding to an