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CNN Live Today
Replacing Wellstone
Aired October 30, 2002 - 11:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Minnesota Democrats today will name Walter Mondale to replace Senator Paul Wellstone on the ballot next Tuesday. Last night, thousands gathered at a memorial service for Wellstone, who was of course killed in a plane crash last week.
CNN national correspondent Bob Franken is live in Minneapolis with details -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And, Anderson, the bulletin here is, is that Walter Mondale has told the Democratic Party chairman -- it's the Democrat Farm Labor Party, by the way here --- he has told the chairman, Mike Erlandson, that he will accept. He is delivering a letter to Erlandson, saying as much as, and the ratification of all of that is going to come this evening at the theater in back of me, where the Democrats will meet and hear a speech from Walter Mondale.
Now, at another part of town at the Williams Arena last night, a very emotional, a very raucous good-bye to the man Mondale is replacing, Senator Paul Wellstone, who of course died in the plane crash last Friday night. It was, as I said, as raucous as anything else. Democrats saying that's how Wellstone would have liked it.
It was also extremely partisan, so partisan with its hugely dominant people, including attendance by former President Clinton, his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and a variety of Democrats. It was so partisan that the Senate minority leader, Republican Trent Lott, was booed by the audience, and so by the way was the governor, Jesse Ventura.
Nevertheless, it was held, and now it's going to continue as people move forward with Mondale accepting the nomination to go on and run for Senate. And already, the Republicans are campaigning against Mondale saying, No. 1, that he's obsolete, quite frankly, saying that he hasn't ran for office since 1984 when he was defeated for president by Ronald Reagan, and also challenging him to a series of debates.
So, this morning when we talked to the Democrats Party chairman, Mike Erlandson, we tried to press him on whether there would be debates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE ERLANDSON, DFL CHAIRMAN: Well, I can't speak for Mr. Mondale or his campaign, but I am sure the issues will be well- debated, whether it's an official debate or not. I guess I just don't know yet. (END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: And that was as far as he would go.
Mondale, by the way, is said to be preparing his acceptance speech this evening. He will file his papers tomorrow.
Already, there has been an offer of debate from the Minneapolis "Star Tribune," Anderson, an offer from that and a local TV station for the two of them to get together on Friday.
And by the way, that same newspaper has a poll this morning that shows Mondale leading his Republican opponent, Norman Coleman, by about a 6-point margin -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Bob Franken, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired October 30, 2002 - 11:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Minnesota Democrats today will name Walter Mondale to replace Senator Paul Wellstone on the ballot next Tuesday. Last night, thousands gathered at a memorial service for Wellstone, who was of course killed in a plane crash last week.
CNN national correspondent Bob Franken is live in Minneapolis with details -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And, Anderson, the bulletin here is, is that Walter Mondale has told the Democratic Party chairman -- it's the Democrat Farm Labor Party, by the way here --- he has told the chairman, Mike Erlandson, that he will accept. He is delivering a letter to Erlandson, saying as much as, and the ratification of all of that is going to come this evening at the theater in back of me, where the Democrats will meet and hear a speech from Walter Mondale.
Now, at another part of town at the Williams Arena last night, a very emotional, a very raucous good-bye to the man Mondale is replacing, Senator Paul Wellstone, who of course died in the plane crash last Friday night. It was, as I said, as raucous as anything else. Democrats saying that's how Wellstone would have liked it.
It was also extremely partisan, so partisan with its hugely dominant people, including attendance by former President Clinton, his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and a variety of Democrats. It was so partisan that the Senate minority leader, Republican Trent Lott, was booed by the audience, and so by the way was the governor, Jesse Ventura.
Nevertheless, it was held, and now it's going to continue as people move forward with Mondale accepting the nomination to go on and run for Senate. And already, the Republicans are campaigning against Mondale saying, No. 1, that he's obsolete, quite frankly, saying that he hasn't ran for office since 1984 when he was defeated for president by Ronald Reagan, and also challenging him to a series of debates.
So, this morning when we talked to the Democrats Party chairman, Mike Erlandson, we tried to press him on whether there would be debates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE ERLANDSON, DFL CHAIRMAN: Well, I can't speak for Mr. Mondale or his campaign, but I am sure the issues will be well- debated, whether it's an official debate or not. I guess I just don't know yet. (END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: And that was as far as he would go.
Mondale, by the way, is said to be preparing his acceptance speech this evening. He will file his papers tomorrow.
Already, there has been an offer of debate from the Minneapolis "Star Tribune," Anderson, an offer from that and a local TV station for the two of them to get together on Friday.
And by the way, that same newspaper has a poll this morning that shows Mondale leading his Republican opponent, Norman Coleman, by about a 6-point margin -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Bob Franken, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
