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CNN Live Sunday

Interview With Sen. Tom Harkin

Aired January 11, 2004 - 16:04   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.


FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Meantime, Iowa's largest newspaper is endorsing John Edwards. The "Des Moines Register, says, "Howard Dean's call to take our country back is the rallying cry. Dean has a slogan, but it is Edwards who most eloquently and believably expresses this point of view." That according to the "Des Moines Register."
Well, while he wasn't that newspaper's pick, Howard Dean still has big support from leading Democrats. Al Gore and former Senator Bill Bradley are supporting the Vermont governor -- the former Vermont governor. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin endorsed Dean last week and joined him on the campaign trail throughout the weekend. Harkin was himself a Democratic presidential hopeful back in 1992.

He joins us from Des Moines, Iowa, where he is standing in front of the CNN election express bus.

Good to see you, Senator.

SEN. TOM HARKIN (D), IOWA: Hi, Fredericka. It's good to be with you. It's a beautiful day out here.

WHITFIELD: Well, good to hear. And I know it's chilly, but I'm sure the debates will heat things up later on this evening.

You have said this week that you're specifically trying to appeal to the undecided voters. As you've campaigned throughout the state of Iowa, along with former Governor Dean, what have you found that Iowans are saying?

HARKIN: Well, what I find is that Iowans are really fired up to take their country back and to beat George Bush. People here are concerned about health care. They're concerned about the loss of jobs and the high costs of education and what's happening to our educational system. All of which, again, points to Howard Dean as being the person to carry our banner because he has common sense programs and solutions to these problems.

Howard Dean started at the back of the pack about a year ago, and now he leads the pack. And I think what Iowans are seeing is that Howard Dean has the courage, the vision. He's motivating people. And one thing, Fredericka, that he's doing that's just remarkable is Howard Dean is broadening our party and bringing a lot of new people into our party.

WHITFIELD: Well, if his ideas about programs and the solutions that he proposes are so compelling, then why does it take someone of your stature, as well as of Al Gore, to campaign throughout the state on his behalf?

HARKIN: Well, I didn't take a position until just recently. I wanted to be very neutral. I wanted to make sure all the candidates had a fair shot out here, could get their message out, test themselves on how well they could motivate and organize.

But in the end, there's a lot of undecided Democrats in this state. And they were asking me what I thought, from my vantage point. And after I looked at all the candidates, all of whom I like, I respect each one of them, they're great candidates, but there is one that rose to the top, and that's Howard Dean.

And I just thought it was important for me to let my fellow Iowa Democrats know that after I had looked over the field, that it is my belief that Howard Dean has the authenticity. He has the convictions. He has the toughness to go toe to toe with George Bush. He will be our best candidate.

WHITFIELD: How much of a blow to the Dean candidacy is it that the "Des Moines Register" would endorse quite handily John Edwards? That he, instead, would be the pick for that state?

HARKIN: Well, I don't think that hurts. In fact, I complimented John Edwards the other day on running such a good, positive campaign. I said all candidates should take a lesson from him. He is a good candidate. He's a good friend of mine, and he's got a strong message.

WHITFIELD: Does this mean that the strategy of the Dean supporters, the Dean camp would change, especially in response to the "Des Moines Register" headlines?

HARKIN: No, I don't believe so. I think that, again, Iowa Democrats are pretty independent-minded. They'll look at the candidates and make their judgments accordingly. And I believe what they is they see that Howard Dean, again, is that kind of plain- spoken, straightforward Democrat.

I called him the other day -- he is the Harry Truman of our times. And I think that's what people see in Howard Dean. Really a kind of a powerful authenticity to Howard Dean. And I think that's why he's ahead, and he's going to stay ahead.

WHITFIELD: You mentioned it again, plain-spoken, among the language you've been using to describe Howard Dean. He's executable, he has toughness, he has the courage of his convictions. But is it of your opinion -- many political analysts are saying he's spending too much time being the anti-Bush, the un-Bush kind of candidate and really less time really bringing forth some of his projected ideas and programs.

HARKIN: Well, I think, Fredricka, this is the primary season. This is the time when people in a party decide who their nominee is going to be. And, of course, the firepower is turned on whoever the incumbent might be.

It was the same with the Republicans here, of course, when Bill Clinton was running for re-election. That's not surprising.

However, I know Governor Dean. We've talked a lot. He has some very common-sense plans on how to fix our economy, get better jobs, and most importantly, to fix our health care system. He's proven he can do that, and he did it in Vermont, while he balanced the budget. He is a real fiscal conservative with the right priorities.

WHITFIELD: All right. Senator Harkin, thanks very much for joining us.

HARKIN: Thanks, Fredricka.

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 January 11, 2004 - 16:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Meantime, Iowa's largest newspaper is endorsing John Edwards. The "Des Moines Register, says, "Howard Dean's call to take our country back is the rallying cry. Dean has a slogan, but it is Edwards who most eloquently and believably expresses this point of view." That according to the "Des Moines Register."
Well, while he wasn't that newspaper's pick, Howard Dean still has big support from leading Democrats. Al Gore and former Senator Bill Bradley are supporting the Vermont governor -- the former Vermont governor. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin endorsed Dean last week and joined him on the campaign trail throughout the weekend. Harkin was himself a Democratic presidential hopeful back in 1992.

He joins us from Des Moines, Iowa, where he is standing in front of the CNN election express bus.

Good to see you, Senator.

SEN. TOM HARKIN (D), IOWA: Hi, Fredericka. It's good to be with you. It's a beautiful day out here.

WHITFIELD: Well, good to hear. And I know it's chilly, but I'm sure the debates will heat things up later on this evening.

You have said this week that you're specifically trying to appeal to the undecided voters. As you've campaigned throughout the state of Iowa, along with former Governor Dean, what have you found that Iowans are saying?

HARKIN: Well, what I find is that Iowans are really fired up to take their country back and to beat George Bush. People here are concerned about health care. They're concerned about the loss of jobs and the high costs of education and what's happening to our educational system. All of which, again, points to Howard Dean as being the person to carry our banner because he has common sense programs and solutions to these problems.

Howard Dean started at the back of the pack about a year ago, and now he leads the pack. And I think what Iowans are seeing is that Howard Dean has the courage, the vision. He's motivating people. And one thing, Fredericka, that he's doing that's just remarkable is Howard Dean is broadening our party and bringing a lot of new people into our party.

WHITFIELD: Well, if his ideas about programs and the solutions that he proposes are so compelling, then why does it take someone of your stature, as well as of Al Gore, to campaign throughout the state on his behalf?

HARKIN: Well, I didn't take a position until just recently. I wanted to be very neutral. I wanted to make sure all the candidates had a fair shot out here, could get their message out, test themselves on how well they could motivate and organize.

But in the end, there's a lot of undecided Democrats in this state. And they were asking me what I thought, from my vantage point. And after I looked at all the candidates, all of whom I like, I respect each one of them, they're great candidates, but there is one that rose to the top, and that's Howard Dean.

And I just thought it was important for me to let my fellow Iowa Democrats know that after I had looked over the field, that it is my belief that Howard Dean has the authenticity. He has the convictions. He has the toughness to go toe to toe with George Bush. He will be our best candidate.

WHITFIELD: How much of a blow to the Dean candidacy is it that the "Des Moines Register" would endorse quite handily John Edwards? That he, instead, would be the pick for that state?

HARKIN: Well, I don't think that hurts. In fact, I complimented John Edwards the other day on running such a good, positive campaign. I said all candidates should take a lesson from him. He is a good candidate. He's a good friend of mine, and he's got a strong message.

WHITFIELD: Does this mean that the strategy of the Dean supporters, the Dean camp would change, especially in response to the "Des Moines Register" headlines?

HARKIN: No, I don't believe so. I think that, again, Iowa Democrats are pretty independent-minded. They'll look at the candidates and make their judgments accordingly. And I believe what they is they see that Howard Dean, again, is that kind of plain- spoken, straightforward Democrat.

I called him the other day -- he is the Harry Truman of our times. And I think that's what people see in Howard Dean. Really a kind of a powerful authenticity to Howard Dean. And I think that's why he's ahead, and he's going to stay ahead.

WHITFIELD: You mentioned it again, plain-spoken, among the language you've been using to describe Howard Dean. He's executable, he has toughness, he has the courage of his convictions. But is it of your opinion -- many political analysts are saying he's spending too much time being the anti-Bush, the un-Bush kind of candidate and really less time really bringing forth some of his projected ideas and programs.

HARKIN: Well, I think, Fredricka, this is the primary season. This is the time when people in a party decide who their nominee is going to be. And, of course, the firepower is turned on whoever the incumbent might be.

It was the same with the Republicans here, of course, when Bill Clinton was running for re-election. That's not surprising.

However, I know Governor Dean. We've talked a lot. He has some very common-sense plans on how to fix our economy, get better jobs, and most importantly, to fix our health care system. He's proven he can do that, and he did it in Vermont, while he balanced the budget. He is a real fiscal conservative with the right priorities.

WHITFIELD: All right. Senator Harkin, thanks very much for joining us.

HARKIN: Thanks, Fredricka.

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