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CNN Live At Daybreak
Cordial Evening at Democratic Debate
Aired January 30, 2004 - 06:37 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: Most pundits say last night's debate was less than spirited. The Democratic candidates were, for the most part, polite.
A worthy strategy for winning a key state, which would be South Carolina? Let's talk more about that.
Live to D.C. and Steven Taylor, an assistant professor of government at American University.
Thanks for joining us.
STEVEN TAYLOR, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: Good morning. How are you doing?
COSTELLO: Well, the debate wasn't exactly spirited. Did anything important come out of it?
TAYLOR: Well, I think what important came out of it, the main important thing is that everybody maintained their composure, and they were able to get their points across. And I think if anybody was a loser in the debate it was the person who wasn't there, George Bush, because every one of them tried to put in some zingers about George Bush, either if it was the war in Iraq or about the increased costs in this Medicare proposal.
So, I think that was mainly what this debate was focused on, the criticisms of the Bush administration.
COSTELLO: Yes, there certainly were strong criticisms about President Bush's policies. How important is South Carolina? I mean, Kerry had said it was a mistake to think Democrats must break Bush's hold on the South to win. He changed his tune last night. Which is right?
TAYLOR: It's important in the primary season. I think that's where you see it being extremely important, because this is -- well, it's the first southern primary, and it's the first state with a significant number of African-Americans, which are a key constituency in the Democratic Party.
So, the candidates here, this is a test to see if they -- which candidate has the backing of that key constituency. So, it's important in that way.
It's not as important in the number of delegates, because certainly the states of Michigan and Washington are going to have more delegates. Those two states have more delegates than all of the seven states combined that will be voting on Tuesday. But I think this is the main thing. It's a symbolic victory.
COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about the African-American vote. African-Americans have not put their support behind any one candidate yet. Why?
TAYLOR: I think that might be because, to some degree, every one of those candidates is attractive to the black community on key issues -- on issues such as health care, on issues such as government spending on education, and even on issues of affirmative action. None of these candidates has alienated the black community. And as a matter of fact, each one of them has said something that makes them attractive.
So, I think that that's why there is a division, and some people are probably waiting until after the primary season gets under way before they start making their endorsements.
COSTELLO: So, do you think African-Americans will get out and vote in the South Carolina primary?
TAYLOR: I think they will. I think because of the fact that there are still seven candidates there, and the more candidates that are in the race, usually that increases voter turnout. And, you know, if what happened in Iowa and in New Hampshire is any pre-indication of the excitement generated by these candidates, then we can expect a fairly good turnout for our primary season.
COSTELLO: Care to make any predictions as to who will win in South Carolina?
TAYLOR: Well, that's going to be -- that's difficult, because if I make a prediction...
COSTELLO: Oh, come on.
TAYLOR: ... I'll probably be wrong, and I usually am. But I think, you know, what you have here is that certainly Kerry, Edwards and Clark, they're all making a big pitch there. Sharpton is going to the churches and trying to get voters there, and he might be maybe a spoiler. And I don't know which candidate he'll probably take votes away from -- probably most likely Edwards. So, you know, and that might have an adverse effect on Edwards.
But Kerry, you know, he's the front-runner, and he's got the momentum.
COSTELLO: All right. Well, we'll see if he takes South Carolina. We'll know on Tuesday. Professor Steven Taylor from American University, thanks for joining us on DAYBREAK.
TAYLOR: Thank you.
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 30, 2004 - 06:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Most pundits say last night's debate was less than spirited. The Democratic candidates were, for the most part, polite.
A worthy strategy for winning a key state, which would be South Carolina? Let's talk more about that.
Live to D.C. and Steven Taylor, an assistant professor of government at American University.
Thanks for joining us.
STEVEN TAYLOR, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: Good morning. How are you doing?
COSTELLO: Well, the debate wasn't exactly spirited. Did anything important come out of it?
TAYLOR: Well, I think what important came out of it, the main important thing is that everybody maintained their composure, and they were able to get their points across. And I think if anybody was a loser in the debate it was the person who wasn't there, George Bush, because every one of them tried to put in some zingers about George Bush, either if it was the war in Iraq or about the increased costs in this Medicare proposal.
So, I think that was mainly what this debate was focused on, the criticisms of the Bush administration.
COSTELLO: Yes, there certainly were strong criticisms about President Bush's policies. How important is South Carolina? I mean, Kerry had said it was a mistake to think Democrats must break Bush's hold on the South to win. He changed his tune last night. Which is right?
TAYLOR: It's important in the primary season. I think that's where you see it being extremely important, because this is -- well, it's the first southern primary, and it's the first state with a significant number of African-Americans, which are a key constituency in the Democratic Party.
So, the candidates here, this is a test to see if they -- which candidate has the backing of that key constituency. So, it's important in that way.
It's not as important in the number of delegates, because certainly the states of Michigan and Washington are going to have more delegates. Those two states have more delegates than all of the seven states combined that will be voting on Tuesday. But I think this is the main thing. It's a symbolic victory.
COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about the African-American vote. African-Americans have not put their support behind any one candidate yet. Why?
TAYLOR: I think that might be because, to some degree, every one of those candidates is attractive to the black community on key issues -- on issues such as health care, on issues such as government spending on education, and even on issues of affirmative action. None of these candidates has alienated the black community. And as a matter of fact, each one of them has said something that makes them attractive.
So, I think that that's why there is a division, and some people are probably waiting until after the primary season gets under way before they start making their endorsements.
COSTELLO: So, do you think African-Americans will get out and vote in the South Carolina primary?
TAYLOR: I think they will. I think because of the fact that there are still seven candidates there, and the more candidates that are in the race, usually that increases voter turnout. And, you know, if what happened in Iowa and in New Hampshire is any pre-indication of the excitement generated by these candidates, then we can expect a fairly good turnout for our primary season.
COSTELLO: Care to make any predictions as to who will win in South Carolina?
TAYLOR: Well, that's going to be -- that's difficult, because if I make a prediction...
COSTELLO: Oh, come on.
TAYLOR: ... I'll probably be wrong, and I usually am. But I think, you know, what you have here is that certainly Kerry, Edwards and Clark, they're all making a big pitch there. Sharpton is going to the churches and trying to get voters there, and he might be maybe a spoiler. And I don't know which candidate he'll probably take votes away from -- probably most likely Edwards. So, you know, and that might have an adverse effect on Edwards.
But Kerry, you know, he's the front-runner, and he's got the momentum.
COSTELLO: All right. Well, we'll see if he takes South Carolina. We'll know on Tuesday. Professor Steven Taylor from American University, thanks for joining us on DAYBREAK.
TAYLOR: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
