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CNN Live At Daybreak

Exit Poll Results

Aired February 11, 2004 - 06:00   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Kerry's perceived ability to beat President Bush has been a driving force in his campaign.
Our senior political analyst, William Schneider, looks at what the CNN exit polls are showing this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Imagine Democratic unity. How did this happen? President Bush has achieved a miracle. Democratic primary voters in Virginia and Tennessee said they were looking, above all, for a candidate who could beat President Bush.

Among those voters in Virginia, Kerry blew his competitors away. Kerry was "Mr. Electibility," which may have been the key to Kerry's stunning performance among African-Americans. More than 60 percent of them in Virginia voted for the Massachusetts senator.

Kerry stole Howard Dean's issue. Tennessee primary voters, who felt angry at the Bush administration, were among Kerry's strongest supporters.

Kerry also stole Wesley Clark's issue. One in five Virginia voters said they were very worried about another terrorist attack, like the one on the Pentagon. Despite Clark's promise to keep the country safe, he got less than 10 percent of the vote among worried Virginians. Most voted for Kerry.

John Edwards lost both states that neighbor his own North Carolina. Does the exit poll provide any rationale for Edwards to keep running? Yes. Edwards showed some strength among Independent voters in Tennessee. They are crucial swing voters the Democrats will need in November.

Was there any evidence of anti-Kerry sentiment in these southern primaries? No. Kerry won 52 percent of the vote in Virginia, but nearly 90 percent of Virginia Democrats thought Kerry was likely to beat President Bush. Kerry was supported by 41 percent of Tennessee Democrats, but 81 percent said they'd be satisfied to see him get the Democratic nomination.

Now that Republicans control everything, what's holding Democrats together is adversity -- a powerful force.

Bill Schneider, CNN.

(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 February 11, 2004 - 06:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Kerry's perceived ability to beat President Bush has been a driving force in his campaign.
Our senior political analyst, William Schneider, looks at what the CNN exit polls are showing this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Imagine Democratic unity. How did this happen? President Bush has achieved a miracle. Democratic primary voters in Virginia and Tennessee said they were looking, above all, for a candidate who could beat President Bush.

Among those voters in Virginia, Kerry blew his competitors away. Kerry was "Mr. Electibility," which may have been the key to Kerry's stunning performance among African-Americans. More than 60 percent of them in Virginia voted for the Massachusetts senator.

Kerry stole Howard Dean's issue. Tennessee primary voters, who felt angry at the Bush administration, were among Kerry's strongest supporters.

Kerry also stole Wesley Clark's issue. One in five Virginia voters said they were very worried about another terrorist attack, like the one on the Pentagon. Despite Clark's promise to keep the country safe, he got less than 10 percent of the vote among worried Virginians. Most voted for Kerry.

John Edwards lost both states that neighbor his own North Carolina. Does the exit poll provide any rationale for Edwards to keep running? Yes. Edwards showed some strength among Independent voters in Tennessee. They are crucial swing voters the Democrats will need in November.

Was there any evidence of anti-Kerry sentiment in these southern primaries? No. Kerry won 52 percent of the vote in Virginia, but nearly 90 percent of Virginia Democrats thought Kerry was likely to beat President Bush. Kerry was supported by 41 percent of Tennessee Democrats, but 81 percent said they'd be satisfied to see him get the Democratic nomination.

Now that Republicans control everything, what's holding Democrats together is adversity -- a powerful force.

Bill Schneider, CNN.

(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.