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CNN Live Today
Interview with Stuart Rothenberg
Aired December 16, 2002 - 10:05 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to our other lead story, that of course, Al Gore is saying that he will not run for president in 2004.
We want to bring in our senior White House correspondent, John King right now with reaction from the White House -- John, good morning to you.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. The first reaction, the first official reaction from the Bush White House to former vice president Al Gore's decision, I have to say it is somewhat predictable.
White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer just moments ago saying they would have no comment on the former vice president's decision, saying that's an internal Democratic matter. But Ari Fleischer then went on to say, someone will emerge from the (AUDIO GAP) who will seek to raise taxes on the American people (AUDIO GAP) White House is agnostic as to who that should be.
So the White House trying to have a little fun, poke a little fun at the Democrats in the wake of former Vice President Al Gore's decision. I will tell you behind the scenes this decision surprised many here, who believed that Al Gore, because he won the popular vote, because he has complained in recent weeks that he feels he was denied a just opportunity to be president of the United States, many here in the Bush White House thought Al Gore could not resist the opportunity, the temptation to run again.
Now they say they will simply watch the Democrats battle in the primaries over the next several months, in the primaries before the primaries, if you will. Fund raising and competing for endorsements, and they say that there's no take here just yet on who might emerge from the Democratic primaries, but they're poking a little fun at the Democrats in the wake of Gore's decision -- Daryn.
KAGAN: A little Washington humor there for us on this Monday morning -- John King.
KING: If that qualifies as humor.
KAGAN: Yes. Thanks.
Leon -- I guess I will keep going from here. Now some analysis of the latest developments. Joining us for a political round up, political analyst Stu Rothenberg of the Rothenberg political report. Stu, good morning. STUART ROTHENBERG, "ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT": Morning.
KAGAN: Haven't seen you since you spent overnights here with Leon and I on election night.
ROTHENBERG: Right, right.
KAGAN: Good to have you with us. How quickly the world changes. First, let's go ahead and start with Al Gore. Were you surprised, a political insider like you, to hear this announcement yesterday?
ROTHENBERG: Sure, I was surprised. I had heard talk from Democratic strategists that the former vice president hadn't done everything that you would think he would do if he was running for president, that he hadn't made contacts for fund raising, and hadn't hired consultants and been talking to activists in the states.
But Daryn, I have to tell you that I figured that he came so close to being president of the United States in 2000, he's a lifelong politician, it's hard, I think, for somebody like that to just turn their back on another campaign, on a chance to prove that he really did win and should be president.
So, I think that is a dramatic development, his backing off. Now, I have to say, although he indicated that his decision for 2004 probably takes him out of the presidential mix permanently, I'm not so sure about that. I want to wait and see about 2008.
KAGAN: As a lot of people do, I think, Democrats.
Meanwhile, do you think, on both sides, Republicans and Democrats, this could be a case of watch out what you wish for? Al Gore was an easy punching bag in a lot of respects, but the Democrats now have, I think, to the general public, kind of a faceless slate of candidates.
ROTHENBERG: Yes, I don't think this is unusual. I think it is very typical that the out party, the party not holding the White House, has a bunch of names, in some cases, faces. The voters don't know one or both. But after a campaign and when the Democrats eventually get a nominee, they will have somebody to challenge the sitting president.
But you are right. For the moment, the Democrats -- the situation is chaotic, there is a vacuum. Other candidates may enter the race, Tom Daschle, who two months ago, we all thought had ruled out a presidential run, now is considering anew. You have to wonder, without Al Gore in the race, other Democrats will think, Heck, they might as well give it a shot.
KAGAN: And what about the Republicans? Don't you think they would prefer to run against Al Gore?
ROTHENBERG: Well, they certainly had a known commodity there. I think Al Gore, while he started off ahead in the polls among Democratic voters, had some fundamental weaknesses. I understand that he was preparing or would have reinvented himself the way other politicians have tried to reinvent themselves, but I think he had a lot of political baggage. I think from the White House's point of view, they knew how to run against Al Gore. They knew where he was weak, and with a new candidate will come with a whole new set of questions and answers, and it will be a whole different strategic campaign.
KAGAN: So you have one politician stepping aside voluntarily. Now the story of one who might be pushed aside in Trent Lott. They are licking their chops in Washington, and I am not just talking about Democrats looking for an easy target. At this point, the Republicans, Republican senators coming out now.
ROTHENBERG: Yes. A week ago, I thought this was an embarrassment for the senator. I thought it was going to be a short- term problem. I guess I have now changed my tune. I think it's not a question of if, but when he leaves his position as Republican leader. There are just too many voices out there. As you mention, not just within the Democratic Party. You expect liberals and African-American Democrats to beat up on Trent Lott, but you don't expect Republican senators and Republican activists to question his future role in the party, and they are doing that now. It looks to me as though he's being pushed.
KAGAN: But you have to -- the Republicans have to be careful how far they push this. They don't want him to leave office entirely. There is a Democratic governor down in Mississippi, and you know what type of Senator he would name to replace Trent Lott if he were to resign.
ROTHENBERG: Yes. Now, we are just talking about the Republican leadership, but that is a pretty important position. It is a symbolic position, it is the position who pushes the president's agenda. And as long as Trent Lott is there, every article, every news story is going to refer to Trent Lott and this problem that he has, this alleged racism.
I actually think he has gotten quite a raw deal on this, but as an analyst, apart from what he said, and what I think he meant and why he said it, is the whole question about the fallout, and the fallout is terrible for him and for the Republican.
Look, the one thing the Republicans don't want to go into 2004 as an albatross around their neck is a bunch of suburban White voters, moderate voters, or moderate conservative voters feeling uncomfortable voting Republican, seeing the party as racist. The GOP does not want that, George W. Bush does not want that.
KAGAN: Right. And before we let you go, I want you to help us set up what we're going to see throughout the day as different faces come out and call for Trent Lott, perhaps, to step down as leader -- Republican leader in the Senate, and some of the faces we are going to put up a couple here -- Don Nickles of Oklahoma, and Bill Frist.
ROTHENBERG: Right. Nickles the No. 2 ranking Republican in the Senate, has -- was talked about for a long time as challenging Senator Lott. That's why it's kind of weird, I think, that he comes out and is trying to push Lott out. I think some Republican senators will see that as self-serving, not in the president's interest or the Republican Senate's interest, but in Don Nickles' interest.
And Bill Frist, really, has in just a few short years, has earned quite a reputation for himself as someone who is both politically savvy but also something of a policy wonk, particularly on health care, a surgeon. This is a guy who, when he ran for the Senate, was not a political animal, but just left as chairman of the Republican Senate Campaign Committee after a very successful, very effective couple of years. He's clearly close to the White House, and he has a lot of respect on Capitol Hill on both sides of the aisle.
KAGAN: Stu Rothenberg, thanks for helping us to understand some of the faces and developments as they change so quickly.
ROTHENBERG: Nice seeing you again.
KAGAN: Appreciate it. Thank you.
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 December 16, 2002 - 10:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to our other lead story, that of course, Al Gore is saying that he will not run for president in 2004.
We want to bring in our senior White House correspondent, John King right now with reaction from the White House -- John, good morning to you.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn. The first reaction, the first official reaction from the Bush White House to former vice president Al Gore's decision, I have to say it is somewhat predictable.
White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer just moments ago saying they would have no comment on the former vice president's decision, saying that's an internal Democratic matter. But Ari Fleischer then went on to say, someone will emerge from the (AUDIO GAP) who will seek to raise taxes on the American people (AUDIO GAP) White House is agnostic as to who that should be.
So the White House trying to have a little fun, poke a little fun at the Democrats in the wake of former Vice President Al Gore's decision. I will tell you behind the scenes this decision surprised many here, who believed that Al Gore, because he won the popular vote, because he has complained in recent weeks that he feels he was denied a just opportunity to be president of the United States, many here in the Bush White House thought Al Gore could not resist the opportunity, the temptation to run again.
Now they say they will simply watch the Democrats battle in the primaries over the next several months, in the primaries before the primaries, if you will. Fund raising and competing for endorsements, and they say that there's no take here just yet on who might emerge from the Democratic primaries, but they're poking a little fun at the Democrats in the wake of Gore's decision -- Daryn.
KAGAN: A little Washington humor there for us on this Monday morning -- John King.
KING: If that qualifies as humor.
KAGAN: Yes. Thanks.
Leon -- I guess I will keep going from here. Now some analysis of the latest developments. Joining us for a political round up, political analyst Stu Rothenberg of the Rothenberg political report. Stu, good morning. STUART ROTHENBERG, "ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT": Morning.
KAGAN: Haven't seen you since you spent overnights here with Leon and I on election night.
ROTHENBERG: Right, right.
KAGAN: Good to have you with us. How quickly the world changes. First, let's go ahead and start with Al Gore. Were you surprised, a political insider like you, to hear this announcement yesterday?
ROTHENBERG: Sure, I was surprised. I had heard talk from Democratic strategists that the former vice president hadn't done everything that you would think he would do if he was running for president, that he hadn't made contacts for fund raising, and hadn't hired consultants and been talking to activists in the states.
But Daryn, I have to tell you that I figured that he came so close to being president of the United States in 2000, he's a lifelong politician, it's hard, I think, for somebody like that to just turn their back on another campaign, on a chance to prove that he really did win and should be president.
So, I think that is a dramatic development, his backing off. Now, I have to say, although he indicated that his decision for 2004 probably takes him out of the presidential mix permanently, I'm not so sure about that. I want to wait and see about 2008.
KAGAN: As a lot of people do, I think, Democrats.
Meanwhile, do you think, on both sides, Republicans and Democrats, this could be a case of watch out what you wish for? Al Gore was an easy punching bag in a lot of respects, but the Democrats now have, I think, to the general public, kind of a faceless slate of candidates.
ROTHENBERG: Yes, I don't think this is unusual. I think it is very typical that the out party, the party not holding the White House, has a bunch of names, in some cases, faces. The voters don't know one or both. But after a campaign and when the Democrats eventually get a nominee, they will have somebody to challenge the sitting president.
But you are right. For the moment, the Democrats -- the situation is chaotic, there is a vacuum. Other candidates may enter the race, Tom Daschle, who two months ago, we all thought had ruled out a presidential run, now is considering anew. You have to wonder, without Al Gore in the race, other Democrats will think, Heck, they might as well give it a shot.
KAGAN: And what about the Republicans? Don't you think they would prefer to run against Al Gore?
ROTHENBERG: Well, they certainly had a known commodity there. I think Al Gore, while he started off ahead in the polls among Democratic voters, had some fundamental weaknesses. I understand that he was preparing or would have reinvented himself the way other politicians have tried to reinvent themselves, but I think he had a lot of political baggage. I think from the White House's point of view, they knew how to run against Al Gore. They knew where he was weak, and with a new candidate will come with a whole new set of questions and answers, and it will be a whole different strategic campaign.
KAGAN: So you have one politician stepping aside voluntarily. Now the story of one who might be pushed aside in Trent Lott. They are licking their chops in Washington, and I am not just talking about Democrats looking for an easy target. At this point, the Republicans, Republican senators coming out now.
ROTHENBERG: Yes. A week ago, I thought this was an embarrassment for the senator. I thought it was going to be a short- term problem. I guess I have now changed my tune. I think it's not a question of if, but when he leaves his position as Republican leader. There are just too many voices out there. As you mention, not just within the Democratic Party. You expect liberals and African-American Democrats to beat up on Trent Lott, but you don't expect Republican senators and Republican activists to question his future role in the party, and they are doing that now. It looks to me as though he's being pushed.
KAGAN: But you have to -- the Republicans have to be careful how far they push this. They don't want him to leave office entirely. There is a Democratic governor down in Mississippi, and you know what type of Senator he would name to replace Trent Lott if he were to resign.
ROTHENBERG: Yes. Now, we are just talking about the Republican leadership, but that is a pretty important position. It is a symbolic position, it is the position who pushes the president's agenda. And as long as Trent Lott is there, every article, every news story is going to refer to Trent Lott and this problem that he has, this alleged racism.
I actually think he has gotten quite a raw deal on this, but as an analyst, apart from what he said, and what I think he meant and why he said it, is the whole question about the fallout, and the fallout is terrible for him and for the Republican.
Look, the one thing the Republicans don't want to go into 2004 as an albatross around their neck is a bunch of suburban White voters, moderate voters, or moderate conservative voters feeling uncomfortable voting Republican, seeing the party as racist. The GOP does not want that, George W. Bush does not want that.
KAGAN: Right. And before we let you go, I want you to help us set up what we're going to see throughout the day as different faces come out and call for Trent Lott, perhaps, to step down as leader -- Republican leader in the Senate, and some of the faces we are going to put up a couple here -- Don Nickles of Oklahoma, and Bill Frist.
ROTHENBERG: Right. Nickles the No. 2 ranking Republican in the Senate, has -- was talked about for a long time as challenging Senator Lott. That's why it's kind of weird, I think, that he comes out and is trying to push Lott out. I think some Republican senators will see that as self-serving, not in the president's interest or the Republican Senate's interest, but in Don Nickles' interest.
And Bill Frist, really, has in just a few short years, has earned quite a reputation for himself as someone who is both politically savvy but also something of a policy wonk, particularly on health care, a surgeon. This is a guy who, when he ran for the Senate, was not a political animal, but just left as chairman of the Republican Senate Campaign Committee after a very successful, very effective couple of years. He's clearly close to the White House, and he has a lot of respect on Capitol Hill on both sides of the aisle.
KAGAN: Stu Rothenberg, thanks for helping us to understand some of the faces and developments as they change so quickly.
ROTHENBERG: Nice seeing you again.
KAGAN: Appreciate it. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
