Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
John Kerry's Victory in Wisconsin Primary
Aired February 18, 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: John Kerry's victory in the Wisconsin primary gives the Massachusetts senator 16 wins out of 18 presidential contests. But the margin of victory over second place John Edwards is much smaller than expected. The numbers, Kerry 40 percent, Edwards 34 percent and Howard Dean 18 percent. And as in previous primary victory speeches, John Kerry lashed out at President Bush and ignored his rivals.
But as CNN's Kelly Wallace reports, the surprising Wisconsin finish is forcing Kerry aides to focus on John Edwards.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A win is a win no matter how close the race, that's the message from the Kerry campaign, with aides stressing the numbers, saying John Kerry now has 16 wins, John Edwards only one. That said, this race turned out to be a whole lot closer than anyone expected, with polls showing that John Kerry had nearly a 40 point lead over his nearest rival going into this contest.
So, CNN asked the Massachusetts senator if he happened to be surprised at his narrow victory.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happens next, senator?
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We won hugely among the Democrats (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But the tight race wasn't a surprise at all?
KERRY: No, we expected that with independents and Republicans who'd come out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your next move going from here?
KERRY: Every step of the way, every vote.
WALLACE: Aides say it was a coincidence that John Kerry started giving his victory speech just moment after John Edwards came to the stage to talk to his crowd of supporters. The mood inside this hall was not as celebratory as other victory nights for John Kerry. More of a sense that his supporters were relieved this night went John Kerry's way.
Advisers say they are absolutely making no changes to the strategy, that John Kerry later today will be in Ohio, one of 10 states holding contests two weeks from now on Super Tuesday. And advisers say they are just moving forward, but no doubt they will look at what happened here in Wisconsin, what contributed to John Edwards' surprise surge, as they move ahead into the next round of contests.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting from Middleton, Wisconsin.
(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 18, 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: John Kerry's victory in the Wisconsin primary gives the Massachusetts senator 16 wins out of 18 presidential contests. But the margin of victory over second place John Edwards is much smaller than expected. The numbers, Kerry 40 percent, Edwards 34 percent and Howard Dean 18 percent. And as in previous primary victory speeches, John Kerry lashed out at President Bush and ignored his rivals.
But as CNN's Kelly Wallace reports, the surprising Wisconsin finish is forcing Kerry aides to focus on John Edwards.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A win is a win no matter how close the race, that's the message from the Kerry campaign, with aides stressing the numbers, saying John Kerry now has 16 wins, John Edwards only one. That said, this race turned out to be a whole lot closer than anyone expected, with polls showing that John Kerry had nearly a 40 point lead over his nearest rival going into this contest.
So, CNN asked the Massachusetts senator if he happened to be surprised at his narrow victory.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happens next, senator?
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We won hugely among the Democrats (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But the tight race wasn't a surprise at all?
KERRY: No, we expected that with independents and Republicans who'd come out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your next move going from here?
KERRY: Every step of the way, every vote.
WALLACE: Aides say it was a coincidence that John Kerry started giving his victory speech just moment after John Edwards came to the stage to talk to his crowd of supporters. The mood inside this hall was not as celebratory as other victory nights for John Kerry. More of a sense that his supporters were relieved this night went John Kerry's way.
Advisers say they are absolutely making no changes to the strategy, that John Kerry later today will be in Ohio, one of 10 states holding contests two weeks from now on Super Tuesday. And advisers say they are just moving forward, but no doubt they will look at what happened here in Wisconsin, what contributed to John Edwards' surprise surge, as they move ahead into the next round of contests.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting from Middleton, Wisconsin.
(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
