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CNN Live At Daybreak

Minnesota Battleground

Aired November 05, 2002 - 06:04   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: Our live coverage includes some reports from Kelly Wallace with the president in Texas, and Bob Franken, who is covering the Senate race in Minnesota.
Let's begin with Bob in St. Paul. A very chilly morning there -- Bob. That lively debate yesterday, is that going to play at all on the voters today?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it could be the deciding factor. This is a race that is so close that no matter what poll is taken, it really is a statistically insignificant lead for either Norman Coleman, the Republican, or Walter Mondale who is the Democratic candidate.

Of course, what is so remarkable about this race now is the circumstance which brings Mondale out of retirement. Eighteen years ago was the last time he had run for political office; 18 years ago is the last time he had engaged in a political debate quite like this.

But he had come out swinging during the debate, and afterwards, started the same kind of demeanor as he went to rallies, rallies downtown, where he said that he was aggressively going to continue to campaign right up until the last minute in his efforts to win this race, which had been held -- the seat held by Paul Wellstone.

Meanwhile, his Republican opponent, Norman Coleman, flew to another part of the state and has begun a 17-hour bus trip that is going to end this morning when he actually goes to the polls and votes.


Aired November 5, 2002 - 06:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Our live coverage includes some reports from Kelly Wallace with the president in Texas, and Bob Franken, who is covering the Senate race in Minnesota.
Let's begin with Bob in St. Paul. A very chilly morning there -- Bob. That lively debate yesterday, is that going to play at all on the voters today?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it could be the deciding factor. This is a race that is so close that no matter what poll is taken, it really is a statistically insignificant lead for either Norman Coleman, the Republican, or Walter Mondale who is the Democratic candidate.

Of course, what is so remarkable about this race now is the circumstance which brings Mondale out of retirement. Eighteen years ago was the last time he had run for political office; 18 years ago is the last time he had engaged in a political debate quite like this.

But he had come out swinging during the debate, and afterwards, started the same kind of demeanor as he went to rallies, rallies downtown, where he said that he was aggressively going to continue to campaign right up until the last minute in his efforts to win this race, which had been held -- the seat held by Paul Wellstone.

Meanwhile, his Republican opponent, Norman Coleman, flew to another part of the state and has begun a 17-hour bus trip that is going to end this morning when he actually goes to the polls and votes.