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CNN Live At Daybreak

Tonight's Presidential Debate in Arizona

Aired October 09, 2003 - 05:05   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: There will be something different about tonight's presidential debate in Arizona. One candidate is gone from the race and another will be tested by fire.
CNN's Dan Lothian is covering the debate and has a preview for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Order is OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Final preparations are being made for the fourth official presidential debate. A crowded field of now nine candidates after Senator Bob Graham became the first casualty, dropping out this week on the "Larry King Show."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE LARRY KING SHOW")

SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D-FL), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have made the judgment that I cannot be elected president of the United States, primarily because of a late start.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LOTHIAN: Retired General Wesley Clark, who also got a late start and admittedly got a pass on tough questions in the last debate, is expected to be tested this time around. Arizona State University political science professor Richard Herrera says the candidates may demand more specifics.

PROF. RICHARD HERRERA, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY: But you can only go to the well, so to speak, with the answers like I've only been in this for a short time, I've only begun to look into issues, things like that.

LOTHIAN: And more pressure on Clark. His campaign manager has resigned and now questions are being raised about whether or not the retired general violated election laws by making paid speeches, viewed by some as political campaigning. Late Wednesday, Clark decided to cancel all future paid speeches and return money received since entering the race.

Tonight, the focus is expected to be on common themes, like tax cuts, health care, trade issues and Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And you can see the Arizona Democratic presidential debate live exclusively on CNN tonight at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific time.

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 9, 2003 - 05:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: There will be something different about tonight's presidential debate in Arizona. One candidate is gone from the race and another will be tested by fire.
CNN's Dan Lothian is covering the debate and has a preview for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Order is OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Final preparations are being made for the fourth official presidential debate. A crowded field of now nine candidates after Senator Bob Graham became the first casualty, dropping out this week on the "Larry King Show."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE LARRY KING SHOW")

SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D-FL), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have made the judgment that I cannot be elected president of the United States, primarily because of a late start.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LOTHIAN: Retired General Wesley Clark, who also got a late start and admittedly got a pass on tough questions in the last debate, is expected to be tested this time around. Arizona State University political science professor Richard Herrera says the candidates may demand more specifics.

PROF. RICHARD HERRERA, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY: But you can only go to the well, so to speak, with the answers like I've only been in this for a short time, I've only begun to look into issues, things like that.

LOTHIAN: And more pressure on Clark. His campaign manager has resigned and now questions are being raised about whether or not the retired general violated election laws by making paid speeches, viewed by some as political campaigning. Late Wednesday, Clark decided to cancel all future paid speeches and return money received since entering the race.

Tonight, the focus is expected to be on common themes, like tax cuts, health care, trade issues and Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And you can see the Arizona Democratic presidential debate live exclusively on CNN tonight at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific time.

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