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CNN Live At Daybreak

Balance of Power

Aired October 31, 2002 - 06:05   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Mondale-Coleman race is not just big news in Minnesota. The battle for Paul Wellstone's seat could help determine the balance of power in the Senate.
And joining us on the phone to talk about that angle is CNN congressional correspondent, Kate Snow.

Good morning -- Kate.

KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

You know, Capitol Hill is a bit of a ghost town these days. That's because we've only got five days until the election. Anyone who is anyone is going to be out on the campaign trail, not inside the Beltway this week.

That includes President Bush. He is making a campaign stop later on this morning in South Dakota. He's been out on the campaign trail. Why South Dakota? Because that is one of the key races in this Senate -- of the tight races in the Senate. There are about 10 of them that people are really keeping an eye on.

In South Dakota, you've got the current Democratic senator, John Johnson, neck-and-neck with the state's one House member, Representative Republican John Thune.

Now, the latest independent poll out there has it within the margin of error. It's a race to the finish. And it's seen as almost a proxy fight between Mr. Bush and the Senate majority leader, Tom Daschle...

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

SNOW: ... pushing really hard for his colleague, Tim Johnson.

COSTELLO: So, in light of that, Kate, who is more nervous? The Democrats or the Republicans?

SNOW: Well, they're both nervous. I mean, obviously, it's a Democratic seat in South Dakota, so they're nervous about that.

COSTELLO: Well, I guess I mean overall, the balance of the Senate, the power in the Senate is, like, on the table.

SNOW: Yes.

COSTELLO: Who is more nervous? SNOW: Both parties are nervous. I've been talking to both sides, obviously, and you know, of those 10 races that I mentioned across the country -- Senate races, five of them are Republican seats and five of them are Democratic seats.

So, you know, you're talking about one of them tipping either way, going to the other party. That could make all the difference, because as you know, the Senate is only controlled right now by one mere vote.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

SNOW: Another race that we're keeping an eye on is Senator Jean Carnahan in Missouri. Carol, remember, she's the person who was appointed after her husband died in a plane crash two years ago. She was elected by -- he was elected by the voters. She was appointed. She's not a career politician, and she's been having a hard time based on the polls getting her message across, proving that she can do this job.

Republicans think that she could be the easiest Democrat to pick off, but then again, they've got some tough ones out there, too. Arkansas comes to mind. Their senator there, Tim Hutchinson, is in a little bit of trouble. So, it's going to be really tight in the Senate.

And, Carol, not so much of a battle in the House. It looks like most analysts now are saying it doesn't look good for Democrats who wanted to try to win back control of the House. The Democratic strategists will argue otherwise and show you how they can make the numbers work, but most of those who are watching it from outside say it doesn't look really good in the House for the Democrats.

COSTELLO: OK. OK, Kate, I'm going to let you get to work, because I know you've got a lot on your plate this morning. Thanks for joining DAYBREAK, though.

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 31, 2002 - 06:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Mondale-Coleman race is not just big news in Minnesota. The battle for Paul Wellstone's seat could help determine the balance of power in the Senate.
And joining us on the phone to talk about that angle is CNN congressional correspondent, Kate Snow.

Good morning -- Kate.

KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

You know, Capitol Hill is a bit of a ghost town these days. That's because we've only got five days until the election. Anyone who is anyone is going to be out on the campaign trail, not inside the Beltway this week.

That includes President Bush. He is making a campaign stop later on this morning in South Dakota. He's been out on the campaign trail. Why South Dakota? Because that is one of the key races in this Senate -- of the tight races in the Senate. There are about 10 of them that people are really keeping an eye on.

In South Dakota, you've got the current Democratic senator, John Johnson, neck-and-neck with the state's one House member, Representative Republican John Thune.

Now, the latest independent poll out there has it within the margin of error. It's a race to the finish. And it's seen as almost a proxy fight between Mr. Bush and the Senate majority leader, Tom Daschle...

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

SNOW: ... pushing really hard for his colleague, Tim Johnson.

COSTELLO: So, in light of that, Kate, who is more nervous? The Democrats or the Republicans?

SNOW: Well, they're both nervous. I mean, obviously, it's a Democratic seat in South Dakota, so they're nervous about that.

COSTELLO: Well, I guess I mean overall, the balance of the Senate, the power in the Senate is, like, on the table.

SNOW: Yes.

COSTELLO: Who is more nervous? SNOW: Both parties are nervous. I've been talking to both sides, obviously, and you know, of those 10 races that I mentioned across the country -- Senate races, five of them are Republican seats and five of them are Democratic seats.

So, you know, you're talking about one of them tipping either way, going to the other party. That could make all the difference, because as you know, the Senate is only controlled right now by one mere vote.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

SNOW: Another race that we're keeping an eye on is Senator Jean Carnahan in Missouri. Carol, remember, she's the person who was appointed after her husband died in a plane crash two years ago. She was elected by -- he was elected by the voters. She was appointed. She's not a career politician, and she's been having a hard time based on the polls getting her message across, proving that she can do this job.

Republicans think that she could be the easiest Democrat to pick off, but then again, they've got some tough ones out there, too. Arkansas comes to mind. Their senator there, Tim Hutchinson, is in a little bit of trouble. So, it's going to be really tight in the Senate.

And, Carol, not so much of a battle in the House. It looks like most analysts now are saying it doesn't look good for Democrats who wanted to try to win back control of the House. The Democratic strategists will argue otherwise and show you how they can make the numbers work, but most of those who are watching it from outside say it doesn't look really good in the House for the Democrats.

COSTELLO: OK. OK, Kate, I'm going to let you get to work, because I know you've got a lot on your plate this morning. Thanks for joining DAYBREAK, though.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.