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CNN Live At Daybreak

Primary Primer: Candidates Tested

Aired January 29, 2004 - 05:07   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, on to more American politics now.
The Democratic candidates have fanned out across the nation as the primary schedule gets busier. Howard Dean is in Michigan today. That state holds its caucuses a week from Saturday. Senators John Kerry and John Edwards both stumping in Missouri, which holds its primary on Tuesday.

Another Tuesday primary state, Oklahoma, hosts Wesley Clark.

The candidates will come together tonight, though, for a big debate in South Carolina. That states' Tuesday primary is the first in the South this year. And the South Carolina primary has some key tests for the candidates.

CNN's Frank Buckley has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWD: Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry!

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With two wins under his belt now, John Kerry began running a national campaign.

First stop: Missouri.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let me tell you something. This is the Show Me State?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

KERRY: And we're here to show George Bush the door.

BUCKLEY: Missouri is one of the seven states up for grabs on February 3, the one with the largest number of delegates at stake.

One of the most closely watched states next Tuesday will be South Carolina.

(SINGING)

BUCKLEY: It's the first test of the candidates among a significant number of African American voters. A third to a half of the voters will be black.

And it's the first test of the candidates in a Southern state. SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will not forget where South Carolina is February the 3rd. I will be back here to campaign in the fall and to represent the state of South Carolina.

BUCKLEY: This is where Senator John Edwards was born, and this is where he'll have to fight to stay alive.

EDWARDS: I think that - I think that I need to win South Carolina, and I think I have lots of opportunities available to me - Oklahoma, New Mexico, Missouri.

BUCKLEY: When Wesley Clark left the stage in New Hampshire, he too was bound for South Carolina. But his plane was diverted to Oklahoma when someone realized the general's long day ahead didn't leave enough time for the flight crew to rest.

RET. GEN. WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is our first stop after New Hampshire, and we are so happy to be in Oklahoma this morning. It is just great to be with you here.

BUCKLEY: Like Edwards, Clark now needs a win, and his campaign will focus on Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and North Dakota.

CLARK: I'm just a soldier from Arkansas who's spent his life trying to help this country.

BUCKLEY: Joe Lieberman's lowly finish in New Hampshire left his campaign fighting rumors he was out already. But Lieberman was still standing in Oklahoma.

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to unite us again. My whole career is bring together people across party lines, across normal demographic dividers, to make us again what we pledge to be.

BUCKLEY (on camera): Also remaining in the race, longshot candidates Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton. Experts say Sharpton could be competitive here in South Carolina. All of the candidates are expected in this state on Thursday for a debate.

Frank Buckley, CNN, Columbia, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 29, 2004 - 05:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, on to more American politics now.
The Democratic candidates have fanned out across the nation as the primary schedule gets busier. Howard Dean is in Michigan today. That state holds its caucuses a week from Saturday. Senators John Kerry and John Edwards both stumping in Missouri, which holds its primary on Tuesday.

Another Tuesday primary state, Oklahoma, hosts Wesley Clark.

The candidates will come together tonight, though, for a big debate in South Carolina. That states' Tuesday primary is the first in the South this year. And the South Carolina primary has some key tests for the candidates.

CNN's Frank Buckley has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWD: Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry!

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With two wins under his belt now, John Kerry began running a national campaign.

First stop: Missouri.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let me tell you something. This is the Show Me State?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

KERRY: And we're here to show George Bush the door.

BUCKLEY: Missouri is one of the seven states up for grabs on February 3, the one with the largest number of delegates at stake.

One of the most closely watched states next Tuesday will be South Carolina.

(SINGING)

BUCKLEY: It's the first test of the candidates among a significant number of African American voters. A third to a half of the voters will be black.

And it's the first test of the candidates in a Southern state. SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will not forget where South Carolina is February the 3rd. I will be back here to campaign in the fall and to represent the state of South Carolina.

BUCKLEY: This is where Senator John Edwards was born, and this is where he'll have to fight to stay alive.

EDWARDS: I think that - I think that I need to win South Carolina, and I think I have lots of opportunities available to me - Oklahoma, New Mexico, Missouri.

BUCKLEY: When Wesley Clark left the stage in New Hampshire, he too was bound for South Carolina. But his plane was diverted to Oklahoma when someone realized the general's long day ahead didn't leave enough time for the flight crew to rest.

RET. GEN. WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is our first stop after New Hampshire, and we are so happy to be in Oklahoma this morning. It is just great to be with you here.

BUCKLEY: Like Edwards, Clark now needs a win, and his campaign will focus on Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and North Dakota.

CLARK: I'm just a soldier from Arkansas who's spent his life trying to help this country.

BUCKLEY: Joe Lieberman's lowly finish in New Hampshire left his campaign fighting rumors he was out already. But Lieberman was still standing in Oklahoma.

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to unite us again. My whole career is bring together people across party lines, across normal demographic dividers, to make us again what we pledge to be.

BUCKLEY (on camera): Also remaining in the race, longshot candidates Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton. Experts say Sharpton could be competitive here in South Carolina. All of the candidates are expected in this state on Thursday for a debate.

Frank Buckley, CNN, Columbia, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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