Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

President Bush Kicks Off Two-Week Fund-Raising Drive

Aired June 18, 2003 - 06:33   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: President Bush is busy fund-raising, and he's not ignoring that old adage, "It's the economy, stupid." He told a crowd in Virginia his big tax cut comes at the right time to boost employment.
Live to the White House now and Dana Bash.

Good morning -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well, on the fund-raiser you just talked about, it was last night. And for about -- for $2,000 a pop, it wasn't the regular rubber chicken dinner that we normally see here in Washington. Instead, the folks who paid that money got to dine on hot dogs and hamburgers and nachos.

And it was the first event for the president in his re-election bid, and they raised, according to the campaign, about $3.5 million. And although the president did stick to the White House line that the political campaign season isn't really here yet, he sounded very much like Candidate Bush when he talked about his accomplishments and what he hopes to do in the future.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Your support is laying the groundwork for a strong nationwide effort next year. Your support is going to help us achieve a strong nationwide victory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, as you mentioned, Carol, atop of the campaign agenda here at the White House is the economy and convincing the American people it is actually getting better. And the president last night, as he did at events every day this week touted, his tax cut plan, the one that he got passed, and other policies he says he has employed to help spur the economy along. Job loss and the overall economic sluggishness in America is the No. 1 issue that Democrats think that they have on this president.

Now, the White House is beginning to point to the stock market coming back and other positive economic indicators, and it is something that you will hear the president talk about over the next few weeks. He is going to make 10 stops from coast to coast over the next few weeks to try to put his war chest in place, and he is expected to raise overall in the next few weeks about $25 million. And, Carol, that is going to be what we expect all nine of the Democratic candidates to raise combined -- Carol.

COSTELLO: That's something else. Dana Bash live from the White House this morning.

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 June 18, 2003 - 06:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is busy fund-raising, and he's not ignoring that old adage, "It's the economy, stupid." He told a crowd in Virginia his big tax cut comes at the right time to boost employment.
Live to the White House now and Dana Bash.

Good morning -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well, on the fund-raiser you just talked about, it was last night. And for about -- for $2,000 a pop, it wasn't the regular rubber chicken dinner that we normally see here in Washington. Instead, the folks who paid that money got to dine on hot dogs and hamburgers and nachos.

And it was the first event for the president in his re-election bid, and they raised, according to the campaign, about $3.5 million. And although the president did stick to the White House line that the political campaign season isn't really here yet, he sounded very much like Candidate Bush when he talked about his accomplishments and what he hopes to do in the future.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Your support is laying the groundwork for a strong nationwide effort next year. Your support is going to help us achieve a strong nationwide victory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, as you mentioned, Carol, atop of the campaign agenda here at the White House is the economy and convincing the American people it is actually getting better. And the president last night, as he did at events every day this week touted, his tax cut plan, the one that he got passed, and other policies he says he has employed to help spur the economy along. Job loss and the overall economic sluggishness in America is the No. 1 issue that Democrats think that they have on this president.

Now, the White House is beginning to point to the stock market coming back and other positive economic indicators, and it is something that you will hear the president talk about over the next few weeks. He is going to make 10 stops from coast to coast over the next few weeks to try to put his war chest in place, and he is expected to raise overall in the next few weeks about $25 million. And, Carol, that is going to be what we expect all nine of the Democratic candidates to raise combined -- Carol.

COSTELLO: That's something else. Dana Bash live from the White House this morning.

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