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American Morning

New Hampshire Showdown

Aired December 10, 2003 - 07:04   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's kick it off with politics. Most of the Democratic presidential candidates are back on the road today in New Hampshire after that final official debate last night. That session in Durham, New Hampshire dominated by two topics: Iraq and Al Gore.
Dan Lothian is there for us.

(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 ANCHOR: To 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), 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), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can tell you that our phones 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.

DENNIS KUCINICH (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And 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), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: 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. HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now, Iraq and national security are important, but it's not what this debate's 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 presents a new hurdle in the race for the Democratic nomination.

Dan Lothian, CNN, Durham, New Hampshire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 - 07:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's kick it off with politics. Most of the Democratic presidential candidates are back on the road today in New Hampshire after that final official debate last night. That session in Durham, New Hampshire dominated by two topics: Iraq and Al Gore.
Dan Lothian is there for us.

(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 ANCHOR: To 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), 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), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can tell you that our phones 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.

DENNIS KUCINICH (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And 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), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: 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. HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now, Iraq and national security are important, but it's not what this debate's 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 presents a new hurdle in the race for the Democratic nomination.

Dan Lothian, CNN, Durham, New Hampshire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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