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CNN Live At Daybreak

Bush Blitz

Aired November 05, 2002 - 06:06   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.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get more now on the Bush Blitz leading up to today's election. The Senate now has an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, as we've heard. And besides the balance of power, the balance of Mr. Bush's agenda is at stake.
Let's go to Kelly Wallace who is with the president in Crawford, Texas.

A lot at stake for the president. I know he's going to vote this morning and then head on back to Washington, right?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Catherine, that's right. He will vote here at the Crawford fire house before making his way to the White House to watch the election returns.

The stakes definitely high for the president, because his political standing could be on the line. He has traveled to 40 states so far during this campaign and raised a record $140 million for Republican candidates. Now, he'll have to wait and see if those efforts will lead to Republican victories.

A big focus of the president over these past few days, as he's traveled to 15 states trying to give a boost to Republican Senate candidates. He did that last night in Dallas with Republican candidate John Cornyn.

With voter turnout expected to be key, everywhere the president goes, he is urging Republicans to get to the polls.

That message taking on added urgency in Arkansas, where he also was yesterday, because there, Republican Senator Timothy Hutchinson is believed to be in a bit of trouble. According to the latest CNN-USA Today Gallup Poll, he is trailing his Democratic opponent by 8 points. Hutchinson considered the most vulnerable Republican senator up for reelection this year.

The president's message there: He urged Republicans to send a message to those political observers, who believe Hutchinson's days are numbered.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Round people up to vote. See, not only do you have an obligation to vote yourself, but you can make a difference in this election. A lot of those political pundits, the big talkers, have said to the world, Hutchinson can't win. Let's prove them wrong on Tuesday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Now, White House aides are showing some signs of optimism, predicting that Republicans will not lose congressional seats today. That would buck historical trends, because traditionally, the president's party loses ground in the midterm elections.

But when asked if Republicans would win back control of the Senate, well, aides are cautious, but, Catherine, they say they are very hopeful; they are not ruling that out -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right, thank you, Kelly Wallace with the president.

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 November 5, 2002 - 06:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get more now on the Bush Blitz leading up to today's election. The Senate now has an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, as we've heard. And besides the balance of power, the balance of Mr. Bush's agenda is at stake.
Let's go to Kelly Wallace who is with the president in Crawford, Texas.

A lot at stake for the president. I know he's going to vote this morning and then head on back to Washington, right?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Catherine, that's right. He will vote here at the Crawford fire house before making his way to the White House to watch the election returns.

The stakes definitely high for the president, because his political standing could be on the line. He has traveled to 40 states so far during this campaign and raised a record $140 million for Republican candidates. Now, he'll have to wait and see if those efforts will lead to Republican victories.

A big focus of the president over these past few days, as he's traveled to 15 states trying to give a boost to Republican Senate candidates. He did that last night in Dallas with Republican candidate John Cornyn.

With voter turnout expected to be key, everywhere the president goes, he is urging Republicans to get to the polls.

That message taking on added urgency in Arkansas, where he also was yesterday, because there, Republican Senator Timothy Hutchinson is believed to be in a bit of trouble. According to the latest CNN-USA Today Gallup Poll, he is trailing his Democratic opponent by 8 points. Hutchinson considered the most vulnerable Republican senator up for reelection this year.

The president's message there: He urged Republicans to send a message to those political observers, who believe Hutchinson's days are numbered.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Round people up to vote. See, not only do you have an obligation to vote yourself, but you can make a difference in this election. A lot of those political pundits, the big talkers, have said to the world, Hutchinson can't win. Let's prove them wrong on Tuesday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Now, White House aides are showing some signs of optimism, predicting that Republicans will not lose congressional seats today. That would buck historical trends, because traditionally, the president's party loses ground in the midterm elections.

But when asked if Republicans would win back control of the Senate, well, aides are cautious, but, Catherine, they say they are very hopeful; they are not ruling that out -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right, thank you, Kelly Wallace with the president.

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