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CNN Saturday Morning News

Novak Zone

Aired January 24, 2004 - 09:30   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: New Hampshire voters are known for having a mind of their own when it comes to their primary. In 1992, Paul Tsongas was a winner. In 1996, it was Pat Buchanan. And in 2000, John McCain walked away with the primary win. And that's just the last three.
For more now on New Hampshire, we take a spin in The Novak Zone with Robert Novak, live this morning in Manchester.

Bob, thanks so much for being with us live today. We sure do appreciate it.

You know, I want to talk, if we could, for a minute about the history of all of this and this process. You have been covering the New Hampshire primary since 1959. What are some of the biggest changes in coming years that you've noticed?

ROBERT NOVAK, HOST, THE NOVAK ZONE: One of the biggest changes, Heidi, is the attention here. The whole world looks at New Hampshire. I'd say 1964 was the first year you started to get big-time print journalists, but there was not much television presence. The networks didn't do much here.

So it has turned into a massive media event. When you go to a little rally, such as I went to with John Kerry, where there about 10 television cameras recording it, I think that has been the biggest change.

COLLINS: So you talk about changes in journalism. What about the differences, when we look back now at Iowa and the caucuses there, with the New Hampshire primaries, the people who go to the caucuses, and then the voters in New Hampshire?

NOVAK: I think there is a big difference between the Iowans and New Hampshire residents, and that is the biggest difference. The Iowans, I think, are a little solemn, they're very much -- very serious about what they're doing. The New Hampshire people, I think they consider this a great sport. They've been doing it a lot longer than Iowa.

I was at a rally for General Clark in Derry last night, talking to some of the people. And they go to all the -- they're independents, they're undecided, they go to all the events, they make their decisions. They all think they're great political strategists, and they think they're a lot better than the candidates, I think. And...

COLLINS: And Bob, as you talk about John Kerry, I just want to let our viewers know, we do have some live pictures now coming in to us with John Kerry, who is at a rally this morning. We're going to be seeing a lot more of this as the days go on here right before the primaries take place in New Hampshire.

NOVAK: Yes. And Senator Kerry has a -- that's the wonderful thing. Senator Kerry was dead in New Hampshire two weeks ago. The New Hampshire people like to say that Iowa doesn't make any difference to them. Of course it makes a big difference. And suddenly, he is way out in the lead.

And really what a lot of people are talking about, Heidi, is, this is a battle for second, third, and fourth places, which nobody knows is going to come out. Is a -- have they found a bottom yet for Howard Dean? Has -- is John Edwards going to make a sudden moveward upward to third place or second place? What about General Clark? He seems to have tailed off.

But everybody seems to think that John Kerry is going to follow Iowa with a win in New Hampshire.

COLLINS: And you mentioned Howard Dean. Let's talk a second, if we could, about Howard Dean and what could be, some are saying, the defining moment of his campaign so far. We all know what we're talking about here. But, you know, you have reported on others, where there were defining moments that were unexpected. Edwin Muskie, of course, Michael Dukakis.

What do you think is going to happen now with Dean? He's really going to be coming from behind, at least in this one.

NOVAK: I don't think he can. I believe that the rant, the explosion in Iowa, I've been covering politics, Heidi, for national politics for about 45 years, and I have never seen anything like that.

I was in the Kerry headquarters covering that in Des Moines when I saw -- when I watched it on television, Howard Dean, and I just couldn't believe it. I thought I was on (UNINTELLIGIBLE) "Saturday Night Live" or watching some movie. And I have never seen anything like it.

But the Muskie crying, nobody really knows whether Muskie actually cried. Dukakis running around in that tank, he was already in huge trouble. But Dean was still a front runner...

COLLINS: Right.

E. JEAN CARROLL: ... nationally when he exposed himself that way. It's very hard to come back. He's tried everything imaginable here. I think they've almost given him some kind of injection to calm him down. And the question is, how far is he going to fall? Is he going to -- he's in second place in the polls, but some people think he could finish third or fourth.

COLLINS: All right, Bob. Time now for the big question. Should New Hampshire count and hold such a high importance in the process?

NOVAK: Absolutely. The weather is so terrific up here. You know, it's almost above zero. But, seriously, what is the alternative? Are you going to have 25 states starting off? That means the person with the most money wins. You can't do that. And what other... what's a better state? These people are serious. They are flexible. They change.

I love New Hampshire's primary. I hope they keep it, and I think they will.

COLLINS: All right, Robert Novak, it's been a pleasure talking to you live today. We sure do appreciate it. And we know you'll be working hard (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

NOVAK: Thank you, Heidi, and...

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 24, 2004 - 09:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: New Hampshire voters are known for having a mind of their own when it comes to their primary. In 1992, Paul Tsongas was a winner. In 1996, it was Pat Buchanan. And in 2000, John McCain walked away with the primary win. And that's just the last three.
For more now on New Hampshire, we take a spin in The Novak Zone with Robert Novak, live this morning in Manchester.

Bob, thanks so much for being with us live today. We sure do appreciate it.

You know, I want to talk, if we could, for a minute about the history of all of this and this process. You have been covering the New Hampshire primary since 1959. What are some of the biggest changes in coming years that you've noticed?

ROBERT NOVAK, HOST, THE NOVAK ZONE: One of the biggest changes, Heidi, is the attention here. The whole world looks at New Hampshire. I'd say 1964 was the first year you started to get big-time print journalists, but there was not much television presence. The networks didn't do much here.

So it has turned into a massive media event. When you go to a little rally, such as I went to with John Kerry, where there about 10 television cameras recording it, I think that has been the biggest change.

COLLINS: So you talk about changes in journalism. What about the differences, when we look back now at Iowa and the caucuses there, with the New Hampshire primaries, the people who go to the caucuses, and then the voters in New Hampshire?

NOVAK: I think there is a big difference between the Iowans and New Hampshire residents, and that is the biggest difference. The Iowans, I think, are a little solemn, they're very much -- very serious about what they're doing. The New Hampshire people, I think they consider this a great sport. They've been doing it a lot longer than Iowa.

I was at a rally for General Clark in Derry last night, talking to some of the people. And they go to all the -- they're independents, they're undecided, they go to all the events, they make their decisions. They all think they're great political strategists, and they think they're a lot better than the candidates, I think. And...

COLLINS: And Bob, as you talk about John Kerry, I just want to let our viewers know, we do have some live pictures now coming in to us with John Kerry, who is at a rally this morning. We're going to be seeing a lot more of this as the days go on here right before the primaries take place in New Hampshire.

NOVAK: Yes. And Senator Kerry has a -- that's the wonderful thing. Senator Kerry was dead in New Hampshire two weeks ago. The New Hampshire people like to say that Iowa doesn't make any difference to them. Of course it makes a big difference. And suddenly, he is way out in the lead.

And really what a lot of people are talking about, Heidi, is, this is a battle for second, third, and fourth places, which nobody knows is going to come out. Is a -- have they found a bottom yet for Howard Dean? Has -- is John Edwards going to make a sudden moveward upward to third place or second place? What about General Clark? He seems to have tailed off.

But everybody seems to think that John Kerry is going to follow Iowa with a win in New Hampshire.

COLLINS: And you mentioned Howard Dean. Let's talk a second, if we could, about Howard Dean and what could be, some are saying, the defining moment of his campaign so far. We all know what we're talking about here. But, you know, you have reported on others, where there were defining moments that were unexpected. Edwin Muskie, of course, Michael Dukakis.

What do you think is going to happen now with Dean? He's really going to be coming from behind, at least in this one.

NOVAK: I don't think he can. I believe that the rant, the explosion in Iowa, I've been covering politics, Heidi, for national politics for about 45 years, and I have never seen anything like that.

I was in the Kerry headquarters covering that in Des Moines when I saw -- when I watched it on television, Howard Dean, and I just couldn't believe it. I thought I was on (UNINTELLIGIBLE) "Saturday Night Live" or watching some movie. And I have never seen anything like it.

But the Muskie crying, nobody really knows whether Muskie actually cried. Dukakis running around in that tank, he was already in huge trouble. But Dean was still a front runner...

COLLINS: Right.

E. JEAN CARROLL: ... nationally when he exposed himself that way. It's very hard to come back. He's tried everything imaginable here. I think they've almost given him some kind of injection to calm him down. And the question is, how far is he going to fall? Is he going to -- he's in second place in the polls, but some people think he could finish third or fourth.

COLLINS: All right, Bob. Time now for the big question. Should New Hampshire count and hold such a high importance in the process?

NOVAK: Absolutely. The weather is so terrific up here. You know, it's almost above zero. But, seriously, what is the alternative? Are you going to have 25 states starting off? That means the person with the most money wins. You can't do that. And what other... what's a better state? These people are serious. They are flexible. They change.

I love New Hampshire's primary. I hope they keep it, and I think they will.

COLLINS: All right, Robert Novak, it's been a pleasure talking to you live today. We sure do appreciate it. And we know you'll be working hard (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

NOVAK: Thank you, Heidi, and...

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