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CNN Live At Daybreak

New Hampshire Primary: Polls Open

Aired January 27, 2004 - 06:44   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well most polls have been open in New Hampshire for just over an hour now. And let's get the latest.
Tara Mergener of CNN affiliate WMUR is outside a polling place in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Good morning to you. About 44 minutes, we should say, more precisely, that the poll stations have been open -- Tara.

TARA MERGENER, WMUR-TV REPORTER: That's right, Fredricka, in about, I would say, 45 minutes, about 90 people have come through the door here in Ward Six in Manchester. And that, I understand, is a very good clip. It turns out cold or not, snow or not, this could be a very good day here in New Hampshire.

I'll step aside. We'll let you take a look at the polls here. We've had some people dribbling through and the lines were forming even before the doors opened at 6:00 this morning. We also have officials who have been here hard at work since before 5:00 a.m. this morning.

Now this could truly be an amazing year on the Democratic side. One hundred and eighty-four thousand people are expected to vote in this primary on that party's side, which would make it the largest number of votes cast since 1992 when Paul Tsongas beat Bill Clinton. So expectations are very high today.

And all week long we have been wondering what is the weather going to be. But turnout could be 75 or 80 percent in this state, which is very excellent, especially for a presidential primary when we always have a terrific turnout.

WHITFIELD: And, Tara, given that Dixville Notch and Harts Location have already voted there, how reflective are those little hamlets of the entire state?

MERGENER: Well Dixville Notch, I understand, had 100 percent turnout, and of course that is going to be tough to beat. But turnout everywhere is expected to be extremely strong today. So I think that is a great indication of things to come. Everyone is extremely optimistic about this turnout.

WHITFIELD: All right, Tara Mergener of WMUR, thanks very much from the tight campaigning in New Hampshire. We'll be covering that throughout the day.

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 27, 2004 - 06:44   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well most polls have been open in New Hampshire for just over an hour now. And let's get the latest.
Tara Mergener of CNN affiliate WMUR is outside a polling place in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Good morning to you. About 44 minutes, we should say, more precisely, that the poll stations have been open -- Tara.

TARA MERGENER, WMUR-TV REPORTER: That's right, Fredricka, in about, I would say, 45 minutes, about 90 people have come through the door here in Ward Six in Manchester. And that, I understand, is a very good clip. It turns out cold or not, snow or not, this could be a very good day here in New Hampshire.

I'll step aside. We'll let you take a look at the polls here. We've had some people dribbling through and the lines were forming even before the doors opened at 6:00 this morning. We also have officials who have been here hard at work since before 5:00 a.m. this morning.

Now this could truly be an amazing year on the Democratic side. One hundred and eighty-four thousand people are expected to vote in this primary on that party's side, which would make it the largest number of votes cast since 1992 when Paul Tsongas beat Bill Clinton. So expectations are very high today.

And all week long we have been wondering what is the weather going to be. But turnout could be 75 or 80 percent in this state, which is very excellent, especially for a presidential primary when we always have a terrific turnout.

WHITFIELD: And, Tara, given that Dixville Notch and Harts Location have already voted there, how reflective are those little hamlets of the entire state?

MERGENER: Well Dixville Notch, I understand, had 100 percent turnout, and of course that is going to be tough to beat. But turnout everywhere is expected to be extremely strong today. So I think that is a great indication of things to come. Everyone is extremely optimistic about this turnout.

WHITFIELD: All right, Tara Mergener of WMUR, thanks very much from the tight campaigning in New Hampshire. We'll be covering that throughout the day.

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