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CNN Larry King Live
John Kerry Wins in New Hampshire
Aired January 27, 2004 - 21:00 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.
LARRY KING, HOST: CNN projecting that John Kerry will win New Hampshire, the nation's first presidential primary. He'll be with us in a moment. So will Howard Dean, running second. We'll cover this crucial vote with two shows tonight. We'll be back live at midnight Eastern and 9:00 Pacific. Also ahead this hour, candidates John Edwards and Joe Lieberman. And perspective from Bob Woodward, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author. And Bob Dole, who became the 1996 Republican presidential nominee without winning the Granite State. And of course, our man in Manchester, New Hampshire, Wolf Blitzer.
As we come on with this special edition of LARRY KING LIVE, you see Kerry headquarters, it's expected that the senator will be coming out shortly to address. We've been hearing that for about 20 minutes. He still has not arrived. But as soon as he does, we'll go right to him.
Let's start right with Senator Dole. What do you make of this tonight, Senator?
BOB DOLE (R), FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, it's obviously a big win for John Kerry, back-to-back with Iowa. He's got to feel very good as people have to feel very good. But I don't think it's over. I think Dean, in the face of coming out of Iowa as he did, and then the questions about his speech, which didn't bother me that much, has made quite a comeback. He's a good 10 points ahead of the third- place finisher who may be John Edwards or could be General Clark.
KING: Bob Woodward, but Kerry was behind 32 percent, 32 percent behind as recently as a month ago. What happened?
BOB WOODWARD, "THE WASHINGTON POST": Some kind of stampede, and he obviously has attracted the voters, and clearly is a big win. But obviously, also what has to be remembered, the next vote is in South Carolina, part of the South. John Edwards' birth state. So often the deck gets reshuffled. Senator Dole lost New Hampshire, and then went on to win the whole nomination. So to a certain extent, we've only got a snapshot here.
DOLE: Plus there are a lot of people from Massachusetts who moved to New Hampshire for various reasons, but obviously they know John Kerry very well. And I think Ted Kennedy was -- Senator Kennedy was a big help to Kerry. But anyway, it's a great night for John Kerry, and I congratulate him.
KING: Bob Woodward, can this drastically change next Tuesday with seven states?
WOODWARD: Sure it can. And obviously, look what happened to Howard Dean. There literally were newsmagazines publishing pieces about how Dean was going to select his vice presidential nominee. So the flip occurred quite rapidly. Now maybe we'll see that again. Maybe this is a trend. A lot is going to have to do with how Kerry projects in this speech coming up. As everyone has learned, politics is television and how he communicates and masters that is going to have a great impact on what happens in the coming weeks.
KING: Wolf Blitzer, did you see this happening all day?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, you know, we've been watching the tracking polls, Larry, as you well know, over the past weeks since Iowa, eight days since Iowa, and we saw that John Kerry got that bounce out of Iowa, and he's been ahead. We did see in the last few days a slight improvement for Howard Dean, but obviously too little too late, not enough to overtake John Kerry. The win, if it turns out to be by at least 10 percent, that's about what our CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup tracking poll showed in the final numbers only yesterday.
KING: Senator Dole, is this a good showing for John Edwards or what?
DOLE: What I think -- I think it's too close to call right now, whether John Edwards finishes third or whether General Clark -- Wesley Clark finishes third. I think a lot of people have deserted Clark in the past week. He had a big lead. He had New Hampshire all to himself. He had -- he was way up in the numbers. And now I think he's down to 12 or 11 percent. But I want to say one word about my good friend, Joe Lieberman. I mean, he's one of the greatest guys I've ever known in politics and whatever happens, I certainly wish Joe Lieberman well.
KING: Bob Woodward, do you think Joe Lieberman still will hang around?
WOODWARD: You know, you never know. Those are low numbers. He's the centrist Democrat. Things can switch very quickly. I think to try to predict the future in all of this doesn't work very well, and things can turn around. Senator Dole was talking about the Dean performance in that speech after Iowa. Certainly it was over the top. There was a lot of criticism of it, but it's one of these political and television events that takes on a life of its own, and people probably thought they saw it, when they actually hadn't, and it got characterized in a way that was inevitably very distorting and clearly damaging to his campaign.
KING: If you're just joining us, it looks like the entire state of New Hampshire is getting up on the stage, awaiting the arrival of Senator John Kerry. That is expected momentarily. The crowd is whooping it up. He is projected as the winner tonight in New Hampshire. There are seven primaries next week, the largest is Missouri. Wolf, he's going right to Missouri, isn't he? BLITZER: Right. He'll be in St. Louis tomorrow, Larry. He's going to be making a major push to get that state's delegates. As you know, Richard Gephardt was the favorite son, was supposedly going to win, but he dropped out right after Iowa. So Missouri is the big prize next Tuesday, one week from today. And just want to remind our viewers, Larry, at the bottom of the screen they can see the actual votes that have been counted already. And look at this, almost 50 percent, Larry, almost 50 percent of the vote is in and John Kerry remains atop with 39 percent over Howard Dean. So his lead is remaining very, very steady and our analysis of the numbers, Larry, shows he will win by at least 10 percent.
KING: Thank you, Wolf Blitzer. We can now check in with Governor Howard Dean of Vermont.
Governor, are you with us?
HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, I am, Larry. How are you?
KING: I'm fine.
Last week, you were so calm on this show and then so different in your speech. Did something happen in that hour in between?
DEAN: Well, I do get people riled up, if I want to. I had 3,600 kids show up in Iowa to help me. I thought I owed them a pep talk afterward. We were a little disappointed that we came in third. But I don't think I'll be making a speech like that again tonight.
KING: How do you feel tonight?
DEAN: Good. You know, we came in a solid second, it looks like. And I think that's good, And we needed a recovery from the performance in Iowa. I think we did what we needed to do, and I'm very pleased.
And now it looks like this is going to end up being a discussion about how much change we want in Washington. I think we need a lot of change. I think it's going to be -- I think the only way to beat George Bush is to have somebody from outside Washington come down and do something for ordinary American working families again. And I don't see that happening with folks from inside Washington.
But the Democratic voters have spoken in New Hampshire. And I always liked this part of the process, to be honest with you, because the great part of the country: The voters get the final say, not us.
KING: How did you lose that big lead you had a month ago in this state?
DEAN: Well, it was Iowa that did it. The Iowa bounce is real. It makes a difference. I was pleased to recover. We were even further behind when I came back from Iowa.
You know, we had been knocked down pretty hard by everybody while we were the front-runner. And we're not the front-runner anymore, but I'm still determined to change the country. And we've got a lot of people out there who want real change in America.
KING: Bob Woodward, do you have a question for Governor Dean?
WOODWARD: Yes, Governor, as you traveled around New Hampshire, how about the war issue, the Iraq war issue? What were you hearing from people? A lot of polling suggests that that is no longer the big issue. Did you sense that?
DEAN: I think that's true. I think the significance of the war issue for me is that I was willing to stand up against the war when nobody else was. That's kind of my trademark, standing up for what I think's right and not always what's popular.
So, the war, I agree, was not the most popular issue. I never thought it would be. I always thought that jobs and health insurance for families was going to be the biggest deal in the election. I think it is.
KING: Wolf Blitzer, you have a question for the governor?
BLITZER: Thank you, Larry.
Governor, I think I heard you take somewhat of a little swipe at John Kerry when you suggested that people may be interested in getting someone from outside Washington, not from inside Washington. Did you intend to take a little swipe at John Kerry?
DEAN: I don't think that's a swipe at anybody. Everybody I'm running against, at this point, is from inside Washington. I'm not. That's just a fact.
There are two different kinds of candidates. I'm a governor. I have balanced budgets. I've delivered health insurance to people. Senators do different things. And I don't think we ought to say that's a swipe. I think that's a difference of -- in our careers.
KING: Where, Governor, do you go from here? Where do you go tomorrow?
DEAN: Tomorrow is actually home for a day of campaigning by satellite, into 12 states, and then off to Michigan and South Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, and so forth and so on.
KING: What are the prospects in Missouri, which will send the most delegates next Tuesday?
DEAN: Actually we're going to be going there as well, I think on Friday. You know, Missouri is an important state. We have a nice organization in Kansas City, a good organization in St. Louis, just because of all the ordinary grassroots people that have put their folks together. I've been doing a little campaigning by satellite into Missouri over the past couple of weeks, so I think we ought to do reasonably well there.
KING: Do you have to do -- do have you to win two or three states next week? Logically?
DEAN: No, all we have to do is keep the support, the enormous support of the grassroots behind us. We've raised a lot of money this week over the Internet, more than has been reported than the other candidates.
We intend to change this country. We're not in this just to change presidents; we want to change America. I want to give America back to ordinary working families again from a power structure in Washington that's really taken it from them.
George Bush thinks corporations are more important than people; I don't. And we're going to change this country one way or the other.
KING: So you would not call yourself disappointed tonight?
DEAN: You know, you'd always like to win. We always play to win in every single state. We know we can't win every one, but we always try to win every one.
So until we do win, we'll always be a little disappointed. But I'm very proud of Karen Hicks and her incredible crew in New Hampshire. They worked very, very hard for a long, long time. And we're going to put some of those people on the road so we can win some other states.
KING: Thank you, Governor. Governor Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont...
DEAN: Thanks, Larry.
KING: ... running second tonight, a strong second, trailing by a little over 10 percent in the actual vote that you see up on the screen for our viewers.
The Kerry headquarters still getting excited, awaiting the appearance of the senator and we'll await that appearance as well. We'll go to break. If it happens during the break, we'll come right back to you. If not, we'll be back in a couple of minutes, don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: Welcome back to this special edition of LARRY KING LIVE, The New Hampshire Primary. John Kerry will be speaking shortly. We'll be talking to Senator John Edwards, Bob Woodward, and Senator Bob Dole are with us and Wolf Blitzer now has an update. Right to the minute, Wolf.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Larry. Let's show our viewers what we're seeing. Actual votes that have been counted. More than 50 percent actually. Take a look at this. With 56 percent of the votes in, John Kerry remains atop, 39 percent. There's a 14-point spread right there over Howard Dean, at 25 percent. Wesley Clark at 13 percent, a fierce battle for third place with John Edwards at 12 percent. Joe Lieberman not all that far behind at 9 percent, Dennis Kucinich way behind at 2 percent.
Significant numbers, more than half of the numbers now in, Larry. We're watching all of these numbers. Very interesting point we heard in your interview with Howard Dean, just stands out in my mind. He's going to take the day tomorrow in Vermont and do satellite interviews from Vermont. From what I'm hearing, he's going to have major strategy meetings with his entire team to see what, if anything they did wrong, what else can they do, how do they change their strategy as they move forward to a number of primaries and caucuses one week from tonight next Tuesday -- Larry.
KING: Now we go to Merrimack, New Jersey, standing by is Senator John Edwards. John, can you hear us?
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can hear you, Larry.
KING: OK. Senator, aren't you running neck and neck for third place? It seems to go back and forth with every total. What do you make of it?
EDWARDS: I think it's very encouraging. I mean, it's remarkable what's happened over the last few weeks. I mean, I went from 5 percent to 32 percent in Iowa. I was 20 points behind General Clark just 10 days ago. I mean, it's been an amazing momentum that we've had.
KING: You regard this, then, as a very encouraging night?
EDWARDS: Oh, very encouraging. It's a continuation of the momentum we saw in Iowa, what we've seen here in New Hampshire. And I think it's honestly just a response to a positive, optimistic message of hope to make sure that all Americans get a chance to do what they are capable of doing.
KING: What do you have to do next week?
EDWARDS: Well, next week we go to places like South Carolina, Oklahoma, Missouri, places where I would naturally be stronger. I feel good about those places. I've got a lead in South Carolina. It's the place of my birth, as you well know. And I am going to South Carolina later tonight. So I feel very encouraged going into the next stage.
KING: Will you go to all seven states?
EDWARDS: That's not yet determined. I know I'll be in South Carolina, Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico. And I think we're trying to work in other states; it's just a matter of how much time we have.
KING: Bob Woodward, do you have a question for Senator Edwards?
WOODWARD: Yes, Senator, you really have to win South Carolina. Is that correct?
EDWARDS: That is correct. WOODWARD: And if you don't, then -- I mean, somebody would look at what you're doing in sticking around here; an analyst might look at it and say you're running for vice president. Is that possible?
EDWARDS: Well, you know, Bob, analysts were saying three weeks ago that I shouldn't be in the race in Iowa. And I finished a very close second to Senator Kerry. Here 10 days ago I was in low single digits and you look at what's happened.
What this means is this campaign and this message is working. And so I feel very good about South Carolina and these subsequent states. I think we have huge energy and momentum. We just have to keep it going.
KING: Senator Dole, I know you didn't serve in the Senate with him, but I know you know of Senator Edwards. Anything you want to say to him or ask him?
DOLE: Well, no -- I think I can congratulate him. I'm not sure if it's going to be a third or fourth or a tie.
But I think the senator is correct: He has picked up steam. He did very well in Iowa. I think last week was a better week than this week. And I think, as he said very honestly, that South Carolina is probably as -- is that's correct, John -- is a must-win for you?
EDWARDS: I think that's true, Bob. I think you're right.
DOLE: Yes. And you know, I think -- I don't think -- we're not certain yet whether you're third or fourth in New Hampshire. Right?
EDWARDS: No, I don't think so. I think it's very close. And I'll either be third or basically a tie for third.
DOLE: I see.
EDWARDS: So we feel good about that finish.
KING: Do you think...
EDWARDS: Yes.
KING: ... you think, Senator Edwards, you might win more than South Carolina next week?
EDWARDS: Oh, I think that's very possible. There are other states where we've been doing very well.
For example, I've been to Oklahoma, I think, twice as much as any of the other candidates have been there. We have television there. We have a very good ground operation. I think I have more state legislators supporting me there than any of the other candidates put together.
So we have a great organization in Oklahoma.
DOLE: Larry, can I...
KING: Senator Dole?
DOLE: I'd just remind the viewers, and I'm certain Senator Edwards knows, winning the states is important, but we're also talking about delegates. You've got to have so many delegates to win. And the fact that you win the state doesn't mean you get all of the delegates. And I think that's the -- I think New Hampshire has what, 22? And next Tuesday, there will be 200-and-some delegates on the line.
So I think that's a factor we ought to remind the viewers of. Because winning the state is obviously a big thing for John Kerry. But when we finish, it's how many delegates do you have.
KING: And after tonight, Senator Edwards, only 1.5 percent of the delegates will have been chosen.
EDWARDS: Oh, this process is going to go on while.
KING: So we're still in our infancy.
EDWARDS: This process is going to go on a while, I can tell you that. We've been preparing for this for a year. This is a long-term campaign, and I intend to be the nominee.
KING: I know you said you're not interested in the vice presidency, but you would have to accept it if offered. If you don't win this nomination, wouldn't you, as the new face on the scene and being impressive in the primaries?
I mean, wouldn't it be logical to say you'd say yes?
EDWARDS: Well, that's very flattering of you to say, Larry. But I'm not interested in being the vice president. I'm focused entirely on being president, and I've said consistently I will not do that. I'm going to be the nominee.
KING: Wolf, do you have a question or comment for the Senator?
BLITZER: I certainly do, Larry, thanks very much.
Senator Edwards, we can now tell you that, based on our analysis, we expect a record to be set here in New Hampshire tonight. We expect about 200,000 people to have voted in this primary. That's a new record for Democratic primaries in New Hampshire. The previous record was 168,000, when Bill Clinton was the comeback kid, coming in second in 1992.
What do you make of this big turnout here? How did it affect you?
EDWARDS: I think it's probably good for me. I think a lot of new people turned out to vote, people who wouldn't have turned out otherwise.
I think, Wolf, it would be in part because I'm running this very positive campaign, which people were attracted to and drawn to.
But I think there's also a lot of energy about making sure that George Bush doesn't get four more years. And the Democrats are looking for a candidate they know can beat Bush everywhere in America -- here in the North, in the West and, of course, in the South where I'm from.
KING: Thank you, Senator Edwards. It's South Carolina tomorrow, right?
EDWARDS: That's exactly -- later tonight, actually.
KING: Later tonight.
Senator John Edwards, who will finish either third or fourth tonight in New Hampshire, saying tonight on this special edition of LARRY KING LIVE that he must win South Carolina.
We're still waiting to hear from John Kerry at his campaign headquarters. We'll be back with Bob Woodward, Bob Dole and Wolf Blitzer. This is a special edition of LARRY KING LIVE. We'll have another one coming up at midnight Eastern, 9:00 Pacific. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back on this special edition of LARRY KING LIVE. You're watching two headquarters now. On the right side of your screen is the Kerry campaign headquarters. On the left side of your screen is the Clark campaign headquarters. Both are expected to speak shortly. Whoever goes first, we'll carry the one who goes first. If they speak simultaneously, I imagine the decision will be to carry Senator Kerry, since he is the winner tonight. General Clark is going to finish either third or fourth.
The totals -- you said earlier, Wolf, that this was going to be a horse race. It's not a horse race, is it? Was our early look wrong?
BLITZER: We expected it to be closer. The initial assessment that we had was that John Kerry had a slight lead over Howard Dean, but clearly, as the numbers came in, that slightly became a significant lead, and we're now assuming when all the dust settles it is going to be at least 10 percent, which does represent a significant win, clearly, over Howard Dean.
You know, the whole assessment of how you come up with these assessments based on exit polls, and then once the real numbers come up, we try be as precise and as accurate as we possibly can be. It's a horse race, but it's a little bit less of a horse race than we earlier thought it would be.
KING: Maybe they're introducing General Clark now, and if they do, we'll go right to him. Bob Woodward, this was -- has been a terrific week for John Kerry, hasn't it?
WOODWARD: Yes, it has. I mean, I was trying to think about how people think about him, who have been watching him, who have been voting for him, and he gets the label as the establishment candidate, though the first thing he did of notice in his life was, he was the big anti-Vietnam protester.
So that kind of carries over, and I think in a way, a lot of people say, well, this isn't necessarily a traditional establishment figure. He's got a little bit of the renegade in him, in the same way that President Bush, who has now been in Washington for years as president, still is kind of looked at as an anti-Washington figure, because he's always taking jibes, he's always digging people in Washington, and Washington, and, "oh, that's the way Washington thinks," and so forth.
KING: Bob Dole, we are at an age of instant polling. An earlier poll showed Kerry ahead of Bush, 49 percent to 46 percent. What do you make of that?
DOLE: Not much. You want an explanation? I think it's so early, and there's been a lot of focus on John Kerry, and he's run a good race, and I congratulate him again, but I don't think it tells us much, except that the country's still pretty closely divided. But we haven't seen what President Bush will do, what his campaign will do. I think he's done an excellent job, and we'll see what happens. I'm not certain who is going to be the Democratic nominee. I assume we could guess at this point it would be John Kerry, but I'd rather wait another week or two.
KING: Senator Dole, do you think Joe Lieberman will leave the race tonight?
DOLE: I don't know. He's already had some advertising bought for next week. It's always difficult to know when to get out. I remember 1988, I stayed too long. When the party's over, you ought to leave, and I think probably for my good friend Joe, it's probably over, but it's a decision he'll have to make, and it's a difficult one, because he's such a good man, good person.
KING: Do you see, Bob Woodward, do you see any significant upset coming anywhere next week? Does your radar screen show you any possible come -- is Clark going to win one of these primaries?
WOODWARD: It doesn't look like it, but again, anything can happen here, and remember, voters are still shopping. As you see, the numbers change, and somebody's fortunes go up and down. People are looking and shopping, and clearly willing to change their minds. And something obviously could happen that could get the notoriety of Dean's famous rant after the Iowa caucuses, and change the whole context of it. So who knows? We certainly don't know.
DOLE: It also shows...
KING: Senator Dole?
DOLE: Yeah, it also shows that Ted Kennedy trumps Al Gore when it comes to endorsements. Al Gore endorsed Dean, and that was the beginning of his slide, but Ted Kennedy, I think has been a big positive factor for John Kerry. People who liked Kennedy, loved Ted Kennedy, and he's helped John Dean a lot -- I mean, John Kerry a lot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The future first lady, Teresa Heinz Kerry.
KING: The first -- they're calling her the future first lady, of course, she is the wife of Senator John Kerry, and followed by Senator Kerry. He has finally arrived. We were told about 45 minutes ago that he would address this crowd, and they're both coming up on stage now. There you see, Mrs. Kerry, and that familiar shot of now profile of Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. The junior senator at age 60 from the state of Massachusetts. As Senator Dole has already said, Ted Kennedy had a lot to do with this tonight. Kerry will not be speaking initially.
What's it like, Senator Dole, when you're General Clark and you have to speak but you know you've lost?
DOLE: It's difficult. In fact, I should have worked at it more, but a lot more fun winning. But again, if you're going to stay in the race, you have to put the best face on it and get up and go on to the next state. This is the general's first race running elective office. He's found out it's hardball out there. It's not beanbag. It's hardball. And I think he made a number of mistakes and probably will not recover.
KING: Let's look at Senator John Kerry. That's two in a row. He won the caucuses in Iowa. He won the primary tonight in New Hampshire. He's 14 percentage points ahead at this point in the counting. They're going to introduce him. And as soon as he starts to speak, we will carry that speech. An amazing story tonight for John Kerry, way behind, as much as 32 percentage points behind two months ago, and now he's calling himself "The Comeback Kerry." He is going - he goes right - just to correct me, Wolf, he goes to Missouri, right, he goes to St. Louis first?
BLITZER: He's going to be making a major push in Missouri, that's the big contest, one of the big contests, the biggest contest next week. You see on the left part of your screen, Larry, General Clark. He is getting ready to speak to his supporters as well.
KING: All right. We now have the interesting situation of possible dueling speeches. Whoever goes first we'll go to. But obviously since Senator Kerry is the winner tonight, we will bow to him. And whoever -- if Clark goes first, we'll carry his remarks until Senator Kerry speaks. If Kerry goes first we'll, of course, go right to Senator Kerry. But Senator Kerry is the story tonight.
If you've just joined us, Clark is running neck and neck with John Edwards for third place. Dean is a decisive winner of second place, decisively behind Kerry and decisively ahead of Edwards and Clark. And Joe Lieberman is running fifth, not a distant fifth, but a resounding fifth. They're about to introduce John Kerry as, also General Clark is receiving the plaudits of his crowd tonight in New Hampshire.
DOLE: The lieutenant won, I think. KING: Last week Senator Dole really took on General Clark and now just said the lieutenant won. And I got the line about "desertion" earlier, too.
Wolf, it's hard for General Clark to be happy tonight, isn't it? He was ahead.
BLITZER: He was doing really well while everyone was focusing in on Iowa. He didn't participate in Iowa. But as soon as everybody got back to New Hampshire, we saw his numbers begin to take a deep dive and they began to slide right away. And certainly, you know, all the hopes that he had of coming in first or second, certainly didn't happen. He's fighting very hard for a third place finish in New Hampshire. If that happens he'll announce that's a big win.
As our viewers will remember, Larry, and you will remember it, remember a week ago, eight days ago, when John Kerry spoke in Des Moines, Iowa, he had laryngitis, a very raspy voice, could barely speak. He got the words out but it was clearly painful for him to do so. His voice has gotten much stronger over this past week and that certainly will be reflected tonight when he does eventually go to that podium and speaks out on his win.
KING: Bob Woodward, your assessment of this whole picture when it fades so fast, as soon as New Hampshire over, we go to the next thing. It's only one-and-a-half percent of the delegates, yet it is so focused for such a week and millions of dollars spent and in the long run when you look back, the last Democrat to win New Hampshire and win the presidency was Jimmy Carter.
WOODWARD: That's absolutely correct, but at the same time, the difference between Kerry and Dean here may be, what, 20,000, 25,000 votes. Those are real votes. Those are votes that were hard to win, and it's a test, and it's an index, but it's not the proof, and we'll see. I think it's going to be very interesting to see how Kerry summarizes. People have pointed out that his message is much more succinct. He can give a shorter stump speech now. There is a little wonkish part of him and he will go on sometimes too long. He's made that much more crisp, more direct. This is a big - the speech...
KING: There he is.
WOODWARD: ... in what he says is as important as the victory perhaps.
KING: Clark is about, just three -- too close to call for third.
Let's go now to the podium and the victor tonight in New Hampshire, the junior senator from the state of Massachusetts, the neighboring state, Senator John Kerry.
(INTERRUPTED FOR LIVE EVENT)
KING: A roaring address by the victorious Senator John Kerry. Let's hear from Senator John Edwards. He's either going to finish third or fourth. Senator Edwards. (INTERRUPTED FOR LIVE EVENT)
KING: Now let's pick up some of the remarks of General Wesley Clark. He's in Bedford, New Hampshire.
(INTERRUPTED FOR LIVE EVENT)
KING: Messiers Kerry, and Edwards and Clark. We have not yet heard, but we have interviewed Governor Howard Dean. Let's get immediate responses of our panel. Bob Woodward, what's your analysis first on Kerry?
WOODWARD: Well, you see his message. He embraced the veterans, national security, pro-defense, obviously with an eye towards at least get -- leveling the playing field with President Bush, if it gets to that race, and then running against Bush on the issues of privilege, and these are the country club millionaires, who have reduced taxes for themselves and I am going to care about the small person. And what may be significant in this, if Kerry goes on to win the nomination, he's defying his national security position, and the uncertainty about the war vote may actually wind up helping him, because it will say, look, I backed the president, I voted with the Senate to give him the authority to use the military, if necessary, in Iraq. I criticized the way things were done, but in a sense, he may be the perfect national security candidate for the Democratic Party at this moment.
KING: Senator Joe Lieberman at his headquarters, he is going to finish fifth tonight. He's getting about 9 percent of the vote. Right now, it's running, as you see up on the screen, Kerry, Dean, Clark, Edwards, and Joe Lieberman, and we'll hear a little of the remarks of the senator from Connecticut, the former vice presidential nominee of his party, who had the tough blow when Al Gore endorsed Governor Dean.
Let's hear some of the remarks of...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I present to you a man of integrity and character, who will lead this country for many years to come, Senator Joe Lieberman!
KING: The senator from Connecticut.
(INTERRUPTED FOR COVERAGE OF LIVE EVENT)
KING: Joe Lieberman addressing his supporters tonight in New Hampshire. Before we leave you and turn it back over to Wolf, Bob Dole and Bob Woodward will be back with us next week. We'll be with you again at midnight, but I want a comment from Senator Dole, is Lieberman right to take this as optimistic tonight?
DOLE: Well, I think you have to put the best face on. I think it's probably pretty tough, going to be uphill for my good friend, Senator Lieberman, but this may also be a speech to the party, the supporters across the country. But I don't see where he goes. But I wish him luck. KING: Are you surprised he said it's a three-way finish for third?
DOLE: Yeah, I thought maybe I needed my glasses, I couldn't quite see the numbers, but I don't think it's a split decision. I think it's pretty clear he finished, well, not last but fifth. And that's unfortunate for him.
KING: And Bob Woodward, any quick comment from you on Lieberman staying in?
WOODWARD: Obviously, that's his choice. All of those people can count, and they're realists in the end, and you know, that isn't going to go much further, and he'll realize that, and I'm sure does. He is a level-headed person.
KING: Were you surprised at how optimistic he seems?
WOODWARD: Well, you know, I guess he's again -- he's speaking to his supporters there, and wants to encourage them and thank them, and to be dreary and depressed obviously is not the way to go out, so he chose that route.
DOLE: This is his dream speech. Not his scream speech, it's a dream speech. He's very hopeful and optimistic about the future.
KING: Bob Woodward, what did you make of General Clark? We heard briefly some of his remarks.
WOODWARD: I don't know exactly what he's doing. You know, again, as an old Army general, or Senator Dole had demoted him to colonel...
KING: Last week.
WOODWARD: ... last week. He may be going down in rank again. He also can count the number of troops on the battlefield, and it's not -- it's probably not enough, and the question is when somebody decides to acknowledge that.
KING: Thank you, Bob. Thank you, Bob Woodward. Thank you, Bob Dole. They will both be back with us next week. Wolf Blitzer will, of course, always be with us, and we'll be back again at midnight with a complete new hour of LARRY KING LIVE. Midnight Eastern, 9:00 Pacific. The coverage continues now. Wolf Blitzer will anchor it, from election night in New Hampshire. Thanks for joining us.
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LARRY KING, HOST: CNN projecting that John Kerry will win New Hampshire, the nation's first presidential primary. He'll be with us in a moment. So will Howard Dean, running second. We'll cover this crucial vote with two shows tonight. We'll be back live at midnight Eastern and 9:00 Pacific. Also ahead this hour, candidates John Edwards and Joe Lieberman. And perspective from Bob Woodward, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author. And Bob Dole, who became the 1996 Republican presidential nominee without winning the Granite State. And of course, our man in Manchester, New Hampshire, Wolf Blitzer.
As we come on with this special edition of LARRY KING LIVE, you see Kerry headquarters, it's expected that the senator will be coming out shortly to address. We've been hearing that for about 20 minutes. He still has not arrived. But as soon as he does, we'll go right to him.
Let's start right with Senator Dole. What do you make of this tonight, Senator?
BOB DOLE (R), FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, it's obviously a big win for John Kerry, back-to-back with Iowa. He's got to feel very good as people have to feel very good. But I don't think it's over. I think Dean, in the face of coming out of Iowa as he did, and then the questions about his speech, which didn't bother me that much, has made quite a comeback. He's a good 10 points ahead of the third- place finisher who may be John Edwards or could be General Clark.
KING: Bob Woodward, but Kerry was behind 32 percent, 32 percent behind as recently as a month ago. What happened?
BOB WOODWARD, "THE WASHINGTON POST": Some kind of stampede, and he obviously has attracted the voters, and clearly is a big win. But obviously, also what has to be remembered, the next vote is in South Carolina, part of the South. John Edwards' birth state. So often the deck gets reshuffled. Senator Dole lost New Hampshire, and then went on to win the whole nomination. So to a certain extent, we've only got a snapshot here.
DOLE: Plus there are a lot of people from Massachusetts who moved to New Hampshire for various reasons, but obviously they know John Kerry very well. And I think Ted Kennedy was -- Senator Kennedy was a big help to Kerry. But anyway, it's a great night for John Kerry, and I congratulate him.
KING: Bob Woodward, can this drastically change next Tuesday with seven states?
WOODWARD: Sure it can. And obviously, look what happened to Howard Dean. There literally were newsmagazines publishing pieces about how Dean was going to select his vice presidential nominee. So the flip occurred quite rapidly. Now maybe we'll see that again. Maybe this is a trend. A lot is going to have to do with how Kerry projects in this speech coming up. As everyone has learned, politics is television and how he communicates and masters that is going to have a great impact on what happens in the coming weeks.
KING: Wolf Blitzer, did you see this happening all day?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, you know, we've been watching the tracking polls, Larry, as you well know, over the past weeks since Iowa, eight days since Iowa, and we saw that John Kerry got that bounce out of Iowa, and he's been ahead. We did see in the last few days a slight improvement for Howard Dean, but obviously too little too late, not enough to overtake John Kerry. The win, if it turns out to be by at least 10 percent, that's about what our CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup tracking poll showed in the final numbers only yesterday.
KING: Senator Dole, is this a good showing for John Edwards or what?
DOLE: What I think -- I think it's too close to call right now, whether John Edwards finishes third or whether General Clark -- Wesley Clark finishes third. I think a lot of people have deserted Clark in the past week. He had a big lead. He had New Hampshire all to himself. He had -- he was way up in the numbers. And now I think he's down to 12 or 11 percent. But I want to say one word about my good friend, Joe Lieberman. I mean, he's one of the greatest guys I've ever known in politics and whatever happens, I certainly wish Joe Lieberman well.
KING: Bob Woodward, do you think Joe Lieberman still will hang around?
WOODWARD: You know, you never know. Those are low numbers. He's the centrist Democrat. Things can switch very quickly. I think to try to predict the future in all of this doesn't work very well, and things can turn around. Senator Dole was talking about the Dean performance in that speech after Iowa. Certainly it was over the top. There was a lot of criticism of it, but it's one of these political and television events that takes on a life of its own, and people probably thought they saw it, when they actually hadn't, and it got characterized in a way that was inevitably very distorting and clearly damaging to his campaign.
KING: If you're just joining us, it looks like the entire state of New Hampshire is getting up on the stage, awaiting the arrival of Senator John Kerry. That is expected momentarily. The crowd is whooping it up. He is projected as the winner tonight in New Hampshire. There are seven primaries next week, the largest is Missouri. Wolf, he's going right to Missouri, isn't he? BLITZER: Right. He'll be in St. Louis tomorrow, Larry. He's going to be making a major push to get that state's delegates. As you know, Richard Gephardt was the favorite son, was supposedly going to win, but he dropped out right after Iowa. So Missouri is the big prize next Tuesday, one week from today. And just want to remind our viewers, Larry, at the bottom of the screen they can see the actual votes that have been counted already. And look at this, almost 50 percent, Larry, almost 50 percent of the vote is in and John Kerry remains atop with 39 percent over Howard Dean. So his lead is remaining very, very steady and our analysis of the numbers, Larry, shows he will win by at least 10 percent.
KING: Thank you, Wolf Blitzer. We can now check in with Governor Howard Dean of Vermont.
Governor, are you with us?
HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, I am, Larry. How are you?
KING: I'm fine.
Last week, you were so calm on this show and then so different in your speech. Did something happen in that hour in between?
DEAN: Well, I do get people riled up, if I want to. I had 3,600 kids show up in Iowa to help me. I thought I owed them a pep talk afterward. We were a little disappointed that we came in third. But I don't think I'll be making a speech like that again tonight.
KING: How do you feel tonight?
DEAN: Good. You know, we came in a solid second, it looks like. And I think that's good, And we needed a recovery from the performance in Iowa. I think we did what we needed to do, and I'm very pleased.
And now it looks like this is going to end up being a discussion about how much change we want in Washington. I think we need a lot of change. I think it's going to be -- I think the only way to beat George Bush is to have somebody from outside Washington come down and do something for ordinary American working families again. And I don't see that happening with folks from inside Washington.
But the Democratic voters have spoken in New Hampshire. And I always liked this part of the process, to be honest with you, because the great part of the country: The voters get the final say, not us.
KING: How did you lose that big lead you had a month ago in this state?
DEAN: Well, it was Iowa that did it. The Iowa bounce is real. It makes a difference. I was pleased to recover. We were even further behind when I came back from Iowa.
You know, we had been knocked down pretty hard by everybody while we were the front-runner. And we're not the front-runner anymore, but I'm still determined to change the country. And we've got a lot of people out there who want real change in America.
KING: Bob Woodward, do you have a question for Governor Dean?
WOODWARD: Yes, Governor, as you traveled around New Hampshire, how about the war issue, the Iraq war issue? What were you hearing from people? A lot of polling suggests that that is no longer the big issue. Did you sense that?
DEAN: I think that's true. I think the significance of the war issue for me is that I was willing to stand up against the war when nobody else was. That's kind of my trademark, standing up for what I think's right and not always what's popular.
So, the war, I agree, was not the most popular issue. I never thought it would be. I always thought that jobs and health insurance for families was going to be the biggest deal in the election. I think it is.
KING: Wolf Blitzer, you have a question for the governor?
BLITZER: Thank you, Larry.
Governor, I think I heard you take somewhat of a little swipe at John Kerry when you suggested that people may be interested in getting someone from outside Washington, not from inside Washington. Did you intend to take a little swipe at John Kerry?
DEAN: I don't think that's a swipe at anybody. Everybody I'm running against, at this point, is from inside Washington. I'm not. That's just a fact.
There are two different kinds of candidates. I'm a governor. I have balanced budgets. I've delivered health insurance to people. Senators do different things. And I don't think we ought to say that's a swipe. I think that's a difference of -- in our careers.
KING: Where, Governor, do you go from here? Where do you go tomorrow?
DEAN: Tomorrow is actually home for a day of campaigning by satellite, into 12 states, and then off to Michigan and South Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, and so forth and so on.
KING: What are the prospects in Missouri, which will send the most delegates next Tuesday?
DEAN: Actually we're going to be going there as well, I think on Friday. You know, Missouri is an important state. We have a nice organization in Kansas City, a good organization in St. Louis, just because of all the ordinary grassroots people that have put their folks together. I've been doing a little campaigning by satellite into Missouri over the past couple of weeks, so I think we ought to do reasonably well there.
KING: Do you have to do -- do have you to win two or three states next week? Logically?
DEAN: No, all we have to do is keep the support, the enormous support of the grassroots behind us. We've raised a lot of money this week over the Internet, more than has been reported than the other candidates.
We intend to change this country. We're not in this just to change presidents; we want to change America. I want to give America back to ordinary working families again from a power structure in Washington that's really taken it from them.
George Bush thinks corporations are more important than people; I don't. And we're going to change this country one way or the other.
KING: So you would not call yourself disappointed tonight?
DEAN: You know, you'd always like to win. We always play to win in every single state. We know we can't win every one, but we always try to win every one.
So until we do win, we'll always be a little disappointed. But I'm very proud of Karen Hicks and her incredible crew in New Hampshire. They worked very, very hard for a long, long time. And we're going to put some of those people on the road so we can win some other states.
KING: Thank you, Governor. Governor Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont...
DEAN: Thanks, Larry.
KING: ... running second tonight, a strong second, trailing by a little over 10 percent in the actual vote that you see up on the screen for our viewers.
The Kerry headquarters still getting excited, awaiting the appearance of the senator and we'll await that appearance as well. We'll go to break. If it happens during the break, we'll come right back to you. If not, we'll be back in a couple of minutes, don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: Welcome back to this special edition of LARRY KING LIVE, The New Hampshire Primary. John Kerry will be speaking shortly. We'll be talking to Senator John Edwards, Bob Woodward, and Senator Bob Dole are with us and Wolf Blitzer now has an update. Right to the minute, Wolf.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Larry. Let's show our viewers what we're seeing. Actual votes that have been counted. More than 50 percent actually. Take a look at this. With 56 percent of the votes in, John Kerry remains atop, 39 percent. There's a 14-point spread right there over Howard Dean, at 25 percent. Wesley Clark at 13 percent, a fierce battle for third place with John Edwards at 12 percent. Joe Lieberman not all that far behind at 9 percent, Dennis Kucinich way behind at 2 percent.
Significant numbers, more than half of the numbers now in, Larry. We're watching all of these numbers. Very interesting point we heard in your interview with Howard Dean, just stands out in my mind. He's going to take the day tomorrow in Vermont and do satellite interviews from Vermont. From what I'm hearing, he's going to have major strategy meetings with his entire team to see what, if anything they did wrong, what else can they do, how do they change their strategy as they move forward to a number of primaries and caucuses one week from tonight next Tuesday -- Larry.
KING: Now we go to Merrimack, New Jersey, standing by is Senator John Edwards. John, can you hear us?
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can hear you, Larry.
KING: OK. Senator, aren't you running neck and neck for third place? It seems to go back and forth with every total. What do you make of it?
EDWARDS: I think it's very encouraging. I mean, it's remarkable what's happened over the last few weeks. I mean, I went from 5 percent to 32 percent in Iowa. I was 20 points behind General Clark just 10 days ago. I mean, it's been an amazing momentum that we've had.
KING: You regard this, then, as a very encouraging night?
EDWARDS: Oh, very encouraging. It's a continuation of the momentum we saw in Iowa, what we've seen here in New Hampshire. And I think it's honestly just a response to a positive, optimistic message of hope to make sure that all Americans get a chance to do what they are capable of doing.
KING: What do you have to do next week?
EDWARDS: Well, next week we go to places like South Carolina, Oklahoma, Missouri, places where I would naturally be stronger. I feel good about those places. I've got a lead in South Carolina. It's the place of my birth, as you well know. And I am going to South Carolina later tonight. So I feel very encouraged going into the next stage.
KING: Will you go to all seven states?
EDWARDS: That's not yet determined. I know I'll be in South Carolina, Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico. And I think we're trying to work in other states; it's just a matter of how much time we have.
KING: Bob Woodward, do you have a question for Senator Edwards?
WOODWARD: Yes, Senator, you really have to win South Carolina. Is that correct?
EDWARDS: That is correct. WOODWARD: And if you don't, then -- I mean, somebody would look at what you're doing in sticking around here; an analyst might look at it and say you're running for vice president. Is that possible?
EDWARDS: Well, you know, Bob, analysts were saying three weeks ago that I shouldn't be in the race in Iowa. And I finished a very close second to Senator Kerry. Here 10 days ago I was in low single digits and you look at what's happened.
What this means is this campaign and this message is working. And so I feel very good about South Carolina and these subsequent states. I think we have huge energy and momentum. We just have to keep it going.
KING: Senator Dole, I know you didn't serve in the Senate with him, but I know you know of Senator Edwards. Anything you want to say to him or ask him?
DOLE: Well, no -- I think I can congratulate him. I'm not sure if it's going to be a third or fourth or a tie.
But I think the senator is correct: He has picked up steam. He did very well in Iowa. I think last week was a better week than this week. And I think, as he said very honestly, that South Carolina is probably as -- is that's correct, John -- is a must-win for you?
EDWARDS: I think that's true, Bob. I think you're right.
DOLE: Yes. And you know, I think -- I don't think -- we're not certain yet whether you're third or fourth in New Hampshire. Right?
EDWARDS: No, I don't think so. I think it's very close. And I'll either be third or basically a tie for third.
DOLE: I see.
EDWARDS: So we feel good about that finish.
KING: Do you think...
EDWARDS: Yes.
KING: ... you think, Senator Edwards, you might win more than South Carolina next week?
EDWARDS: Oh, I think that's very possible. There are other states where we've been doing very well.
For example, I've been to Oklahoma, I think, twice as much as any of the other candidates have been there. We have television there. We have a very good ground operation. I think I have more state legislators supporting me there than any of the other candidates put together.
So we have a great organization in Oklahoma.
DOLE: Larry, can I...
KING: Senator Dole?
DOLE: I'd just remind the viewers, and I'm certain Senator Edwards knows, winning the states is important, but we're also talking about delegates. You've got to have so many delegates to win. And the fact that you win the state doesn't mean you get all of the delegates. And I think that's the -- I think New Hampshire has what, 22? And next Tuesday, there will be 200-and-some delegates on the line.
So I think that's a factor we ought to remind the viewers of. Because winning the state is obviously a big thing for John Kerry. But when we finish, it's how many delegates do you have.
KING: And after tonight, Senator Edwards, only 1.5 percent of the delegates will have been chosen.
EDWARDS: Oh, this process is going to go on while.
KING: So we're still in our infancy.
EDWARDS: This process is going to go on a while, I can tell you that. We've been preparing for this for a year. This is a long-term campaign, and I intend to be the nominee.
KING: I know you said you're not interested in the vice presidency, but you would have to accept it if offered. If you don't win this nomination, wouldn't you, as the new face on the scene and being impressive in the primaries?
I mean, wouldn't it be logical to say you'd say yes?
EDWARDS: Well, that's very flattering of you to say, Larry. But I'm not interested in being the vice president. I'm focused entirely on being president, and I've said consistently I will not do that. I'm going to be the nominee.
KING: Wolf, do you have a question or comment for the Senator?
BLITZER: I certainly do, Larry, thanks very much.
Senator Edwards, we can now tell you that, based on our analysis, we expect a record to be set here in New Hampshire tonight. We expect about 200,000 people to have voted in this primary. That's a new record for Democratic primaries in New Hampshire. The previous record was 168,000, when Bill Clinton was the comeback kid, coming in second in 1992.
What do you make of this big turnout here? How did it affect you?
EDWARDS: I think it's probably good for me. I think a lot of new people turned out to vote, people who wouldn't have turned out otherwise.
I think, Wolf, it would be in part because I'm running this very positive campaign, which people were attracted to and drawn to.
But I think there's also a lot of energy about making sure that George Bush doesn't get four more years. And the Democrats are looking for a candidate they know can beat Bush everywhere in America -- here in the North, in the West and, of course, in the South where I'm from.
KING: Thank you, Senator Edwards. It's South Carolina tomorrow, right?
EDWARDS: That's exactly -- later tonight, actually.
KING: Later tonight.
Senator John Edwards, who will finish either third or fourth tonight in New Hampshire, saying tonight on this special edition of LARRY KING LIVE that he must win South Carolina.
We're still waiting to hear from John Kerry at his campaign headquarters. We'll be back with Bob Woodward, Bob Dole and Wolf Blitzer. This is a special edition of LARRY KING LIVE. We'll have another one coming up at midnight Eastern, 9:00 Pacific. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: We're back on this special edition of LARRY KING LIVE. You're watching two headquarters now. On the right side of your screen is the Kerry campaign headquarters. On the left side of your screen is the Clark campaign headquarters. Both are expected to speak shortly. Whoever goes first, we'll carry the one who goes first. If they speak simultaneously, I imagine the decision will be to carry Senator Kerry, since he is the winner tonight. General Clark is going to finish either third or fourth.
The totals -- you said earlier, Wolf, that this was going to be a horse race. It's not a horse race, is it? Was our early look wrong?
BLITZER: We expected it to be closer. The initial assessment that we had was that John Kerry had a slight lead over Howard Dean, but clearly, as the numbers came in, that slightly became a significant lead, and we're now assuming when all the dust settles it is going to be at least 10 percent, which does represent a significant win, clearly, over Howard Dean.
You know, the whole assessment of how you come up with these assessments based on exit polls, and then once the real numbers come up, we try be as precise and as accurate as we possibly can be. It's a horse race, but it's a little bit less of a horse race than we earlier thought it would be.
KING: Maybe they're introducing General Clark now, and if they do, we'll go right to him. Bob Woodward, this was -- has been a terrific week for John Kerry, hasn't it?
WOODWARD: Yes, it has. I mean, I was trying to think about how people think about him, who have been watching him, who have been voting for him, and he gets the label as the establishment candidate, though the first thing he did of notice in his life was, he was the big anti-Vietnam protester.
So that kind of carries over, and I think in a way, a lot of people say, well, this isn't necessarily a traditional establishment figure. He's got a little bit of the renegade in him, in the same way that President Bush, who has now been in Washington for years as president, still is kind of looked at as an anti-Washington figure, because he's always taking jibes, he's always digging people in Washington, and Washington, and, "oh, that's the way Washington thinks," and so forth.
KING: Bob Dole, we are at an age of instant polling. An earlier poll showed Kerry ahead of Bush, 49 percent to 46 percent. What do you make of that?
DOLE: Not much. You want an explanation? I think it's so early, and there's been a lot of focus on John Kerry, and he's run a good race, and I congratulate him again, but I don't think it tells us much, except that the country's still pretty closely divided. But we haven't seen what President Bush will do, what his campaign will do. I think he's done an excellent job, and we'll see what happens. I'm not certain who is going to be the Democratic nominee. I assume we could guess at this point it would be John Kerry, but I'd rather wait another week or two.
KING: Senator Dole, do you think Joe Lieberman will leave the race tonight?
DOLE: I don't know. He's already had some advertising bought for next week. It's always difficult to know when to get out. I remember 1988, I stayed too long. When the party's over, you ought to leave, and I think probably for my good friend Joe, it's probably over, but it's a decision he'll have to make, and it's a difficult one, because he's such a good man, good person.
KING: Do you see, Bob Woodward, do you see any significant upset coming anywhere next week? Does your radar screen show you any possible come -- is Clark going to win one of these primaries?
WOODWARD: It doesn't look like it, but again, anything can happen here, and remember, voters are still shopping. As you see, the numbers change, and somebody's fortunes go up and down. People are looking and shopping, and clearly willing to change their minds. And something obviously could happen that could get the notoriety of Dean's famous rant after the Iowa caucuses, and change the whole context of it. So who knows? We certainly don't know.
DOLE: It also shows...
KING: Senator Dole?
DOLE: Yeah, it also shows that Ted Kennedy trumps Al Gore when it comes to endorsements. Al Gore endorsed Dean, and that was the beginning of his slide, but Ted Kennedy, I think has been a big positive factor for John Kerry. People who liked Kennedy, loved Ted Kennedy, and he's helped John Dean a lot -- I mean, John Kerry a lot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The future first lady, Teresa Heinz Kerry.
KING: The first -- they're calling her the future first lady, of course, she is the wife of Senator John Kerry, and followed by Senator Kerry. He has finally arrived. We were told about 45 minutes ago that he would address this crowd, and they're both coming up on stage now. There you see, Mrs. Kerry, and that familiar shot of now profile of Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. The junior senator at age 60 from the state of Massachusetts. As Senator Dole has already said, Ted Kennedy had a lot to do with this tonight. Kerry will not be speaking initially.
What's it like, Senator Dole, when you're General Clark and you have to speak but you know you've lost?
DOLE: It's difficult. In fact, I should have worked at it more, but a lot more fun winning. But again, if you're going to stay in the race, you have to put the best face on it and get up and go on to the next state. This is the general's first race running elective office. He's found out it's hardball out there. It's not beanbag. It's hardball. And I think he made a number of mistakes and probably will not recover.
KING: Let's look at Senator John Kerry. That's two in a row. He won the caucuses in Iowa. He won the primary tonight in New Hampshire. He's 14 percentage points ahead at this point in the counting. They're going to introduce him. And as soon as he starts to speak, we will carry that speech. An amazing story tonight for John Kerry, way behind, as much as 32 percentage points behind two months ago, and now he's calling himself "The Comeback Kerry." He is going - he goes right - just to correct me, Wolf, he goes to Missouri, right, he goes to St. Louis first?
BLITZER: He's going to be making a major push in Missouri, that's the big contest, one of the big contests, the biggest contest next week. You see on the left part of your screen, Larry, General Clark. He is getting ready to speak to his supporters as well.
KING: All right. We now have the interesting situation of possible dueling speeches. Whoever goes first we'll go to. But obviously since Senator Kerry is the winner tonight, we will bow to him. And whoever -- if Clark goes first, we'll carry his remarks until Senator Kerry speaks. If Kerry goes first we'll, of course, go right to Senator Kerry. But Senator Kerry is the story tonight.
If you've just joined us, Clark is running neck and neck with John Edwards for third place. Dean is a decisive winner of second place, decisively behind Kerry and decisively ahead of Edwards and Clark. And Joe Lieberman is running fifth, not a distant fifth, but a resounding fifth. They're about to introduce John Kerry as, also General Clark is receiving the plaudits of his crowd tonight in New Hampshire.
DOLE: The lieutenant won, I think. KING: Last week Senator Dole really took on General Clark and now just said the lieutenant won. And I got the line about "desertion" earlier, too.
Wolf, it's hard for General Clark to be happy tonight, isn't it? He was ahead.
BLITZER: He was doing really well while everyone was focusing in on Iowa. He didn't participate in Iowa. But as soon as everybody got back to New Hampshire, we saw his numbers begin to take a deep dive and they began to slide right away. And certainly, you know, all the hopes that he had of coming in first or second, certainly didn't happen. He's fighting very hard for a third place finish in New Hampshire. If that happens he'll announce that's a big win.
As our viewers will remember, Larry, and you will remember it, remember a week ago, eight days ago, when John Kerry spoke in Des Moines, Iowa, he had laryngitis, a very raspy voice, could barely speak. He got the words out but it was clearly painful for him to do so. His voice has gotten much stronger over this past week and that certainly will be reflected tonight when he does eventually go to that podium and speaks out on his win.
KING: Bob Woodward, your assessment of this whole picture when it fades so fast, as soon as New Hampshire over, we go to the next thing. It's only one-and-a-half percent of the delegates, yet it is so focused for such a week and millions of dollars spent and in the long run when you look back, the last Democrat to win New Hampshire and win the presidency was Jimmy Carter.
WOODWARD: That's absolutely correct, but at the same time, the difference between Kerry and Dean here may be, what, 20,000, 25,000 votes. Those are real votes. Those are votes that were hard to win, and it's a test, and it's an index, but it's not the proof, and we'll see. I think it's going to be very interesting to see how Kerry summarizes. People have pointed out that his message is much more succinct. He can give a shorter stump speech now. There is a little wonkish part of him and he will go on sometimes too long. He's made that much more crisp, more direct. This is a big - the speech...
KING: There he is.
WOODWARD: ... in what he says is as important as the victory perhaps.
KING: Clark is about, just three -- too close to call for third.
Let's go now to the podium and the victor tonight in New Hampshire, the junior senator from the state of Massachusetts, the neighboring state, Senator John Kerry.
(INTERRUPTED FOR LIVE EVENT)
KING: A roaring address by the victorious Senator John Kerry. Let's hear from Senator John Edwards. He's either going to finish third or fourth. Senator Edwards. (INTERRUPTED FOR LIVE EVENT)
KING: Now let's pick up some of the remarks of General Wesley Clark. He's in Bedford, New Hampshire.
(INTERRUPTED FOR LIVE EVENT)
KING: Messiers Kerry, and Edwards and Clark. We have not yet heard, but we have interviewed Governor Howard Dean. Let's get immediate responses of our panel. Bob Woodward, what's your analysis first on Kerry?
WOODWARD: Well, you see his message. He embraced the veterans, national security, pro-defense, obviously with an eye towards at least get -- leveling the playing field with President Bush, if it gets to that race, and then running against Bush on the issues of privilege, and these are the country club millionaires, who have reduced taxes for themselves and I am going to care about the small person. And what may be significant in this, if Kerry goes on to win the nomination, he's defying his national security position, and the uncertainty about the war vote may actually wind up helping him, because it will say, look, I backed the president, I voted with the Senate to give him the authority to use the military, if necessary, in Iraq. I criticized the way things were done, but in a sense, he may be the perfect national security candidate for the Democratic Party at this moment.
KING: Senator Joe Lieberman at his headquarters, he is going to finish fifth tonight. He's getting about 9 percent of the vote. Right now, it's running, as you see up on the screen, Kerry, Dean, Clark, Edwards, and Joe Lieberman, and we'll hear a little of the remarks of the senator from Connecticut, the former vice presidential nominee of his party, who had the tough blow when Al Gore endorsed Governor Dean.
Let's hear some of the remarks of...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I present to you a man of integrity and character, who will lead this country for many years to come, Senator Joe Lieberman!
KING: The senator from Connecticut.
(INTERRUPTED FOR COVERAGE OF LIVE EVENT)
KING: Joe Lieberman addressing his supporters tonight in New Hampshire. Before we leave you and turn it back over to Wolf, Bob Dole and Bob Woodward will be back with us next week. We'll be with you again at midnight, but I want a comment from Senator Dole, is Lieberman right to take this as optimistic tonight?
DOLE: Well, I think you have to put the best face on. I think it's probably pretty tough, going to be uphill for my good friend, Senator Lieberman, but this may also be a speech to the party, the supporters across the country. But I don't see where he goes. But I wish him luck. KING: Are you surprised he said it's a three-way finish for third?
DOLE: Yeah, I thought maybe I needed my glasses, I couldn't quite see the numbers, but I don't think it's a split decision. I think it's pretty clear he finished, well, not last but fifth. And that's unfortunate for him.
KING: And Bob Woodward, any quick comment from you on Lieberman staying in?
WOODWARD: Obviously, that's his choice. All of those people can count, and they're realists in the end, and you know, that isn't going to go much further, and he'll realize that, and I'm sure does. He is a level-headed person.
KING: Were you surprised at how optimistic he seems?
WOODWARD: Well, you know, I guess he's again -- he's speaking to his supporters there, and wants to encourage them and thank them, and to be dreary and depressed obviously is not the way to go out, so he chose that route.
DOLE: This is his dream speech. Not his scream speech, it's a dream speech. He's very hopeful and optimistic about the future.
KING: Bob Woodward, what did you make of General Clark? We heard briefly some of his remarks.
WOODWARD: I don't know exactly what he's doing. You know, again, as an old Army general, or Senator Dole had demoted him to colonel...
KING: Last week.
WOODWARD: ... last week. He may be going down in rank again. He also can count the number of troops on the battlefield, and it's not -- it's probably not enough, and the question is when somebody decides to acknowledge that.
KING: Thank you, Bob. Thank you, Bob Woodward. Thank you, Bob Dole. They will both be back with us next week. Wolf Blitzer will, of course, always be with us, and we'll be back again at midnight with a complete new hour of LARRY KING LIVE. Midnight Eastern, 9:00 Pacific. The coverage continues now. Wolf Blitzer will anchor it, from election night in New Hampshire. Thanks for joining us.
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