Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Iowa Caucuses

Aired January 13, 2004 - 07:09   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: Politics now. The presidential race in Iowa could be the tightest in years, they're saying in Des Moines. Each candidate is now looking for any edge possible to separate themselves from the others.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Remember who stood up to George Bush first.

JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I need your help. I cannot do this by myself.

DICK GEPHARDT (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thanks for being here. I'd love to have your help.

JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am excited to stand here today, first of all, with the first lady of the state of Iowa, Christie Vilsack.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Some of the images and pictures from yesterday. Depending on which one of those top four you choose, a first or second place finish in Iowa provides either a huge momentum boost or opens a serious campaign wound.

The CNN Election Express today is in Ames, Iowa; so, too, is Bob Franken there this morning for us.

Good morning -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

I'm standing on the campus of Iowa State University with the CNN Campaign Express. And, of course, what this has really come down to, as it so often does in Iowa, is a battle of perceptions. And the perception here is: How is the front runner, Howard Dean -- the perceived front runner -- going to do against the rest of the pack?

Now, he's gone through his phase of being the person who is being accommodating -- the one who is trying to, in fact, present himself as more mainstream, somebody who didn't have such bared fangs as he did earlier. But some of the other candidates have gone after him fairly aggressively. So, now Dean is talking about them as members of the establishment. He says he's not going to be a pin cushion -- in other words, no more Mr. nice guy. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: They're saying a lot of things about me because they're afraid of change in Washington. And the reason Democrats don't win elections in Washington is because they'd almost rather lose and be cozy than they would have somebody stand up against the interests in Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: That's Howard Dean, and his campaign aides are making it clear that's going to be the tenor of the campaign, as it goes through this last part of the phase. Of course, the actual caucus is going to be held in six days.

Now, the other candidates are involved in their various battles of perception. Dick Gephardt is somebody who pretty much has to win in Iowa to maintain credibility in the race for president. He's from a neighboring state. He is in a very close battle, as you pointed out, Bill, with Howard Dean.

The other two candidates are battling for third and fourth, and to claim that kind of honor as they go to New Hampshire, those being, of course, Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards. Senator John Edwards, he is looking to pick up the momentum that he is perceived to be picking up.

As I said, it is a whole battle of perception, but right now the real spotlight, the harsh spotlight, is on Howard Dean. Dean seems to be responding, Bill, by turning that harsh spotlight back on his opponents.

HEMMER: We shall see soon. Thanks, Bob -- Bob Franken there in Ames, Iowa, today.

And as the caucuses do approach, stay with CNN, bringing you complete coverage of the nation's first opportunity to vote. The CNN Election Express, our election theme bus, is already there, as you see, motoring across Iowa and the nation as votes are cast. We hope you will stay with us and our entire political team following the stories and the people and the issues that matter most in this election year, '04.

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 13, 2004 - 07:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Politics now. The presidential race in Iowa could be the tightest in years, they're saying in Des Moines. Each candidate is now looking for any edge possible to separate themselves from the others.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Remember who stood up to George Bush first.

JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I need your help. I cannot do this by myself.

DICK GEPHARDT (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thanks for being here. I'd love to have your help.

JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am excited to stand here today, first of all, with the first lady of the state of Iowa, Christie Vilsack.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Some of the images and pictures from yesterday. Depending on which one of those top four you choose, a first or second place finish in Iowa provides either a huge momentum boost or opens a serious campaign wound.

The CNN Election Express today is in Ames, Iowa; so, too, is Bob Franken there this morning for us.

Good morning -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

I'm standing on the campus of Iowa State University with the CNN Campaign Express. And, of course, what this has really come down to, as it so often does in Iowa, is a battle of perceptions. And the perception here is: How is the front runner, Howard Dean -- the perceived front runner -- going to do against the rest of the pack?

Now, he's gone through his phase of being the person who is being accommodating -- the one who is trying to, in fact, present himself as more mainstream, somebody who didn't have such bared fangs as he did earlier. But some of the other candidates have gone after him fairly aggressively. So, now Dean is talking about them as members of the establishment. He says he's not going to be a pin cushion -- in other words, no more Mr. nice guy. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: They're saying a lot of things about me because they're afraid of change in Washington. And the reason Democrats don't win elections in Washington is because they'd almost rather lose and be cozy than they would have somebody stand up against the interests in Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: That's Howard Dean, and his campaign aides are making it clear that's going to be the tenor of the campaign, as it goes through this last part of the phase. Of course, the actual caucus is going to be held in six days.

Now, the other candidates are involved in their various battles of perception. Dick Gephardt is somebody who pretty much has to win in Iowa to maintain credibility in the race for president. He's from a neighboring state. He is in a very close battle, as you pointed out, Bill, with Howard Dean.

The other two candidates are battling for third and fourth, and to claim that kind of honor as they go to New Hampshire, those being, of course, Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards. Senator John Edwards, he is looking to pick up the momentum that he is perceived to be picking up.

As I said, it is a whole battle of perception, but right now the real spotlight, the harsh spotlight, is on Howard Dean. Dean seems to be responding, Bill, by turning that harsh spotlight back on his opponents.

HEMMER: We shall see soon. Thanks, Bob -- Bob Franken there in Ames, Iowa, today.

And as the caucuses do approach, stay with CNN, bringing you complete coverage of the nation's first opportunity to vote. The CNN Election Express, our election theme bus, is already there, as you see, motoring across Iowa and the nation as votes are cast. We hope you will stay with us and our entire political team following the stories and the people and the issues that matter most in this election year, '04.

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