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CNN Live At Daybreak

Senator John Kerry Solidifies Place as Democratic Frontrunner

Aired February 04, 2004 - 05:01   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: Senator John Kerry has solidified his place as the Democratic frontrunner, but the race is far from over. Kerry won Tuesday primaries in Arizona, Delaware and Missouri, and caucuses in New Mexico and North Dakota. Sources say Kerry also won the endorsement of the American Federation of Teachers Union. The Massachusetts senator is already looking forward to Saturday's Washington State caucuses.
CNN's Kelly Wallace has more for you from Seattle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Kerry and his advisers were clearly pleased with what happened tonight, one aide saying this shows that John Kerry can win in all parts of the country and with all ethnic groups. A sign of the senator's confidence going into today's contest, he watched the election returns here in Washington State and a few hours ago he came into this ballroom and delighted a crowd of more than 1,000 people with this.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: For the second time in a few days, a New England patriot has won on the road.

WALLACE: Kerry's advisers are also saying that John Edwards' victory in South Carolina and the tight race in Oklahoma were expected. These aides saying that those other candidates outspent John Kerry and had a larger organization. Still, the campaign is hinting at what its strategy will be in the days ahead, with the senator himself saying he was the only one to campaign in all seven February 3 states. His advisers saying he is the only candidate in the race right now with national appeal.

(on camera): From here, the senator and the reporters traveling with him get on a red eye heading to Boston. John Kerry will take the day off tomorrow and then on Thursday it's back on the campaign trail, heading to Maine and Michigan, with Michigan and Washington holding the next round of contests on Saturday.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting from Seattle, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And now for a political spin down South. John Edwards says everything is possible after his showing. Edwards did win convincingly in South Carolina and is running neck in neck with Wesley Clark in a still too close to call race in Oklahoma.

CNN's Frank Buckley is with the Edwards campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this was a do or die state for Senator John Edwards, who was born here in Seneca, South Carolina, who represents North Carolina. One of his major campaign themes, the loss of jobs in South Carolina, more than 58,000 manufacturing jobs lost since 2001. Another one of the major themes of his campaign, talking about poverty. Tonight he used the image of a 10-year-old girl somewhere in America who is going to bed hungry and going to bed without a coat to keep warm.

Edwards believes that South Carolina is what he calls a critical bellwether state. He says the results here indicate that he can attract rural voters, African-American voters and voters in the South. But the question remains how well will he do outside of this region, is he a regional candidate? That remains to be answered.

Frank Buckley, CNN, Columbia, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And you can hear more from the winner of the South Carolina primary later this morning on AMERICAN MORNING. John Edwards will be a guest in the 7:00 Eastern hour.

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




Frontrunner>


Aired February 4, 2004 - 05:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Senator John Kerry has solidified his place as the Democratic frontrunner, but the race is far from over. Kerry won Tuesday primaries in Arizona, Delaware and Missouri, and caucuses in New Mexico and North Dakota. Sources say Kerry also won the endorsement of the American Federation of Teachers Union. The Massachusetts senator is already looking forward to Saturday's Washington State caucuses.
CNN's Kelly Wallace has more for you from Seattle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Kerry and his advisers were clearly pleased with what happened tonight, one aide saying this shows that John Kerry can win in all parts of the country and with all ethnic groups. A sign of the senator's confidence going into today's contest, he watched the election returns here in Washington State and a few hours ago he came into this ballroom and delighted a crowd of more than 1,000 people with this.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: For the second time in a few days, a New England patriot has won on the road.

WALLACE: Kerry's advisers are also saying that John Edwards' victory in South Carolina and the tight race in Oklahoma were expected. These aides saying that those other candidates outspent John Kerry and had a larger organization. Still, the campaign is hinting at what its strategy will be in the days ahead, with the senator himself saying he was the only one to campaign in all seven February 3 states. His advisers saying he is the only candidate in the race right now with national appeal.

(on camera): From here, the senator and the reporters traveling with him get on a red eye heading to Boston. John Kerry will take the day off tomorrow and then on Thursday it's back on the campaign trail, heading to Maine and Michigan, with Michigan and Washington holding the next round of contests on Saturday.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting from Seattle, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And now for a political spin down South. John Edwards says everything is possible after his showing. Edwards did win convincingly in South Carolina and is running neck in neck with Wesley Clark in a still too close to call race in Oklahoma.

CNN's Frank Buckley is with the Edwards campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this was a do or die state for Senator John Edwards, who was born here in Seneca, South Carolina, who represents North Carolina. One of his major campaign themes, the loss of jobs in South Carolina, more than 58,000 manufacturing jobs lost since 2001. Another one of the major themes of his campaign, talking about poverty. Tonight he used the image of a 10-year-old girl somewhere in America who is going to bed hungry and going to bed without a coat to keep warm.

Edwards believes that South Carolina is what he calls a critical bellwether state. He says the results here indicate that he can attract rural voters, African-American voters and voters in the South. But the question remains how well will he do outside of this region, is he a regional candidate? That remains to be answered.

Frank Buckley, CNN, Columbia, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And you can hear more from the winner of the South Carolina primary later this morning on AMERICAN MORNING. John Edwards will be a guest in the 7:00 Eastern hour.

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




Frontrunner>