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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's Voice

Aired November 04, 2003 - 06:37   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: In just 13 hours, CNN will rock the vote. Eight Democratic candidates will face young voters for a fierce debate. And for many of you, it is election day in your city or state.
So, let's head live to Princeton, New Jersey, and Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport, who has some interesting numbers for us this morning.

What's important to voters out there, Frank?

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, you know, what I think is important, Carol, the most I look at the data, is to shape things up. We had the Schwarzenegger effect. People said, oh, that's California and that's an anomaly. But the more I look at the data, the more I think Americans feel distanced from their government. I'm not sure they're going to have a chance to express it in the elections today, you know, some governor races and, of course, a lot of state races.

But nevertheless, look at a recent poll we just did: What do you want your candidates to do? Seventy percent, given this choice, said they would like their candidates to shake things up when they go to represent the American people. Only 25 percent said promote stability.

So, again, I'm not sure we'll see it, because the races aren't there. We don't have a Schwarzenegger running. But nevertheless, Americans I'm not sure are all that satisfied with their representation. Only 40 percent, for example, have congressional job approval -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Gotcha. You know, CNN has rock the vote tonight, and I was just wondering, is there a clear choice in these Democratic candidates for young voters?

NEWPORT: Really, there is not. Some fascinating data. We've been pouring over young data, you know, and partly because of the show tonight on CNN. As far as young Democrats are concerned, these are 18 to 29 year olds who are Democrats, they're just as confused about their Democratic choice as are those who are older.

Here is what the young Democrats of this country would say they want -- who they want as their nominee, it's Clark, it's Dean, it's Lieberman, it's Sharpton, but there is no leader here just like there is not nationally.

Sharpton does better among young people. Look at that 12 percent number.

COSTELLO: Yes, I was really surprised by that, actually. He's doing pretty good, at least among young people, but not among older, for sure.

I want to talk about this $87 billion aid package that was passed by the House and Senate. It sort of flies in the face of what people in America want. Do you have any specifics on that?

NEWPORT: Absolutely, Carol. I just mentioned, you know, Americans feel a little more distanced from their representation. As far as the $87 billion is concerned, this is a clear instance where Congress is doing something the public doesn’t want them to do, a divide, a split. The people say no. Congress has voted for it anyhow.

I've seen five or more polls now which have asked this same kind of question. Here's the latest one we have. Just 41 percent say they want their representatives to vote for it. Of course, they did. Bush is going to sign it into law.

So, this is a problem. We're in a democracy here. And in this particular instance, Congress is moving in a different direction than their constituents would want them to.

COSTELLO: You're covering all sorts of issues today. We're going to talk about the mutual fund scandal now and if that has had any effect on Americans pulling their money out of mutual funds.

NEWPORT: Well, I don't think they're going to pull them out of mutual funds. About half of us have mutual funds, so it's not a trivial issue. People say they're going to stay in funds. But, boy, for those particular funds that are under investigation -- and this is, you know, front-page news now across the country -- mutual fund investors say they probably will move out 51 percent or definitely move out 20 percent. That's like 71 percent.

So, it's bad news for those funds that are now coming under criticism and investigation and perhaps legal jeopardy for having done things they shouldn’t have with their investors' money.

COSTELLO: Yes, where do you put your money now? That's the big question.

NEWPORT: If you find out, Carol, let me know.

COSTELLO: Yes, really. Thanks very much, Frank Newport live in Princeton, New Jersey, 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 November 4, 2003 - 06:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In just 13 hours, CNN will rock the vote. Eight Democratic candidates will face young voters for a fierce debate. And for many of you, it is election day in your city or state.
So, let's head live to Princeton, New Jersey, and Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport, who has some interesting numbers for us this morning.

What's important to voters out there, Frank?

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, you know, what I think is important, Carol, the most I look at the data, is to shape things up. We had the Schwarzenegger effect. People said, oh, that's California and that's an anomaly. But the more I look at the data, the more I think Americans feel distanced from their government. I'm not sure they're going to have a chance to express it in the elections today, you know, some governor races and, of course, a lot of state races.

But nevertheless, look at a recent poll we just did: What do you want your candidates to do? Seventy percent, given this choice, said they would like their candidates to shake things up when they go to represent the American people. Only 25 percent said promote stability.

So, again, I'm not sure we'll see it, because the races aren't there. We don't have a Schwarzenegger running. But nevertheless, Americans I'm not sure are all that satisfied with their representation. Only 40 percent, for example, have congressional job approval -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Gotcha. You know, CNN has rock the vote tonight, and I was just wondering, is there a clear choice in these Democratic candidates for young voters?

NEWPORT: Really, there is not. Some fascinating data. We've been pouring over young data, you know, and partly because of the show tonight on CNN. As far as young Democrats are concerned, these are 18 to 29 year olds who are Democrats, they're just as confused about their Democratic choice as are those who are older.

Here is what the young Democrats of this country would say they want -- who they want as their nominee, it's Clark, it's Dean, it's Lieberman, it's Sharpton, but there is no leader here just like there is not nationally.

Sharpton does better among young people. Look at that 12 percent number.

COSTELLO: Yes, I was really surprised by that, actually. He's doing pretty good, at least among young people, but not among older, for sure.

I want to talk about this $87 billion aid package that was passed by the House and Senate. It sort of flies in the face of what people in America want. Do you have any specifics on that?

NEWPORT: Absolutely, Carol. I just mentioned, you know, Americans feel a little more distanced from their representation. As far as the $87 billion is concerned, this is a clear instance where Congress is doing something the public doesn’t want them to do, a divide, a split. The people say no. Congress has voted for it anyhow.

I've seen five or more polls now which have asked this same kind of question. Here's the latest one we have. Just 41 percent say they want their representatives to vote for it. Of course, they did. Bush is going to sign it into law.

So, this is a problem. We're in a democracy here. And in this particular instance, Congress is moving in a different direction than their constituents would want them to.

COSTELLO: You're covering all sorts of issues today. We're going to talk about the mutual fund scandal now and if that has had any effect on Americans pulling their money out of mutual funds.

NEWPORT: Well, I don't think they're going to pull them out of mutual funds. About half of us have mutual funds, so it's not a trivial issue. People say they're going to stay in funds. But, boy, for those particular funds that are under investigation -- and this is, you know, front-page news now across the country -- mutual fund investors say they probably will move out 51 percent or definitely move out 20 percent. That's like 71 percent.

So, it's bad news for those funds that are now coming under criticism and investigation and perhaps legal jeopardy for having done things they shouldn’t have with their investors' money.

COSTELLO: Yes, where do you put your money now? That's the big question.

NEWPORT: If you find out, Carol, let me know.

COSTELLO: Yes, really. Thanks very much, Frank Newport live in Princeton, New Jersey, 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.