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CNN Live At Daybreak
Democratic Debate
Aired December 10, 2003 - 05:01 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: Well, it doesn't really matter, that's what each of the Democratic presidential candidates are saying about Al Gore's surprising endorsement of Howard Dean. So will Dr. Dean's surge be good medicine for the Democratic Party or is it a prescription for disaster?
The candidates debated that very question last night.
Our Dan Lothian sums it up for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One question set the tone for the first 16 minutes of the Democratic debate.
TED KOPPEL, ABC NEWS: Raise your hand if you believe that Governor Dean can beat George W. Bush.
LOTHIAN: Howard Dean's golden endorsement by Al Gore under attack.
REV. AL SHARPTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're not going to have any big name come in now and tell us the field should be limited and we can't be heard.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Because you sure can't tell the people of New Hampshire what to do.
LOTHIAN: Joe Lieberman, vice president on Gore's 2000 ticket, called his snub an advantage.
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can tell you that our phone have been ringing off the hook at the campaign headquarters. I've been stopped in the airports.
LOTHIAN: Shortly after Dennis Kucinich criticized the debate's endorsement overload...
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I hope we have a substantive discussion tonight and that we're not going to spend the night talking about endorsements.
LOTHIAN: Questions turned to foreign policy, then stuck on Iraq.
REP. DICK GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: We had, at that moment, an opportunity to put together a world alliance, to not just deal with the symptoms of terrorism. LOTHIAN: Dean tried to take charge and change the subject.
DR. HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now, Iraq and national security are important, but it's not what this debate is about.
LOTHIAN: And what would a debate be like without comic relief? Prompted by Sharpton's earlier comments on his daily prayers, Lieberman asked for heavenly help.
LIEBERMAN: And in those daily conversations with god, would you please mention my name, Al? Thank you.
SHARPTON: I have and I'll tell you in private his response.
LOTHIAN (on camera): This was the sixth and final Democratic debate. As the campaigning continues, a key endorsement represents a new hurdle in the race for the Democratic nomination.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Durham, New Hampshire.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Wesley Clark and Joe Lieberman will probably have more to say about Howard Dean's possible Gore bounce. The two candidates will appear on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING, oh, just about two hours from now.
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 10, 2003 - 05:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it doesn't really matter, that's what each of the Democratic presidential candidates are saying about Al Gore's surprising endorsement of Howard Dean. So will Dr. Dean's surge be good medicine for the Democratic Party or is it a prescription for disaster?
The candidates debated that very question last night.
Our Dan Lothian sums it up for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One question set the tone for the first 16 minutes of the Democratic debate.
TED KOPPEL, ABC NEWS: Raise your hand if you believe that Governor Dean can beat George W. Bush.
LOTHIAN: Howard Dean's golden endorsement by Al Gore under attack.
REV. AL SHARPTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're not going to have any big name come in now and tell us the field should be limited and we can't be heard.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Because you sure can't tell the people of New Hampshire what to do.
LOTHIAN: Joe Lieberman, vice president on Gore's 2000 ticket, called his snub an advantage.
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can tell you that our phone have been ringing off the hook at the campaign headquarters. I've been stopped in the airports.
LOTHIAN: Shortly after Dennis Kucinich criticized the debate's endorsement overload...
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I hope we have a substantive discussion tonight and that we're not going to spend the night talking about endorsements.
LOTHIAN: Questions turned to foreign policy, then stuck on Iraq.
REP. DICK GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: We had, at that moment, an opportunity to put together a world alliance, to not just deal with the symptoms of terrorism. LOTHIAN: Dean tried to take charge and change the subject.
DR. HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now, Iraq and national security are important, but it's not what this debate is about.
LOTHIAN: And what would a debate be like without comic relief? Prompted by Sharpton's earlier comments on his daily prayers, Lieberman asked for heavenly help.
LIEBERMAN: And in those daily conversations with god, would you please mention my name, Al? Thank you.
SHARPTON: I have and I'll tell you in private his response.
LOTHIAN (on camera): This was the sixth and final Democratic debate. As the campaigning continues, a key endorsement represents a new hurdle in the race for the Democratic nomination.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Durham, New Hampshire.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Wesley Clark and Joe Lieberman will probably have more to say about Howard Dean's possible Gore bounce. The two candidates will appear on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING, oh, just about two hours from now.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
