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American Morning
Kerry's Official V.P. Announcement Expected at Pittsburgh Rally; Missing Marine Reportedly Freed in Iraq
Aired July 06, 2004 - 8:30 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. 8:30 here in New York. We expect that about 30 minutes form now, we'll take you live to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the official announcement of John Kerry selecting Senator John Edwards to be in that presidential ticket for the Democrats. Senator Kerry tapping Senator Edwards as his running mate.
Live here, Market Square, downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. No small matter, by the way. Nearby is where Teresa Heinz Kerry makes her home on a large ranch outside of town.
And the market that was picked today -- no small accident, either. You're going to draw attention from people in Pennsylvania. You'll get people from West Virginia to the south and the northeastern corner of Ohio to tune in with this, as well -- sending local crews, which is always so critical at this point in any presidential campaign.
We expect the announcement in 30 minutes. Dana Bash is working the story, also, in D.C. with more now.
Dana, what do you have?
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill.
Well, I just talked to a source close to the process who said that Senator Kerry has begun to call people he did not choose: the members of the list, like, for example, Senator Bob Graham of Florida, and others -- Tom Vilsack of Iowa, the governor of Iowa -- others who have been speculated about and certainly had sent in the reams of paperwork and other materials, documents, that the Kerry campaign has requested over the past several months.
As Senator Kerry has begun to call them and say that he is sorry that he did not choose them, but that he would like their support for the next several months heading into the election.
That, after, of course, Senator Kerry called the person he did choose, Senator John Edwards. And he is somebody who the Bush -- the Kerry team -- is already starting to try to talk up. Their message is ready to go.
We have been reporting over the past 24 hours that the Kerry campaign had already been preparing what kind of message they would have no matter who the pick was. As for Senator John Edwards, the message, the theme will be, Kerry-Edwards, a new team for a new America.
They are going to try to play up the fact that John Edwards has humble roots. He's the son of a mill worker. He is somebody who did everything by himself, pulled himself up by his bootstraps, that he's somebody who has appeal -- they believe -- to the broader and wider America.
Now, certainly they have also been preparing at the Kerry campaign for the response to the massive Republican attacks that have already started to come in. They were prepared, for example, for the fact that Republicans were going to start to attack John Edwards as a trial lawyer. That is certainly how he made his profession, as somebody who was a plaintiffs' lawyer. That is something that the Republicans have already disdained. And that is part of their platform.
President Bush talks often on the campaign trail about the fact he believes that he believes that lawsuits contribute, for example, to the high cost of health care. That is something Republicans have already started to talk about.
And the Kerry campaign is bracing for the quotes from Senator Kerry, himself, that are already being dredged up from the Democratic primary process. For example, when Senator Kerry said during the primary that he did not think that John Edwards had the experience, international experience, or the extent of public service that perhaps it takes to be president.
Of course, later Senator Kerry apologized for that and also for saying that in 1969, Edwards -- Senator Edwards was not out of diapers when Senator Kerry was in Vietnam.
Those are -- were some harsh words on the campaign trail between the two Democrats. Again, Senator Kerry apologized for that, but that is not stopping Republicans from using -- trying to use these quotes, use this information against the Democrats. Democrats are prepared for that.
But we are told, to recap, that Senator Kerry, of course, has talked to Senator Edwards. Senator Edwards has gladly accepted the offer to be his number two. And Senator Kerry at this time is calling to say thanks but no thanks, essentially, to others who were considered for the job.
HEMMER: Ultimately, these politicians have a way of shaking hands and making up and putting the past behind them. Voodoo economics of 1980 and 1981, oftentimes we refer to that from 24 years ago.
Dana, thanks for that. Check back in a moment.
Here's Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Joe Johns is now standing by for us in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, of course, where the rally is about to begin. Joe, by now, people certainly have heard the news, yes?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's for sure. People have certainly heard the news.
We are in Market Square in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, about a half hour now away from what is to be the appearance of John Kerry here by himself. This crowd is not expected to see John Edwards -- at least in person today.
We are expecting the candidate to meet with John Kerry later in the day. Of course, there is some complex logistics going on here. Kerry does have an appearance scheduled in Indianapolis before a conference of the African Methodist Episcopalian Church.
He was -- originally he was scheduled to fly back to Washington, D.C. to speak before the National Education Association in D.C. However, now we are told that senator Ted Kennedy has agreed to speak to the National Education Association so that Kerry can go on about his business of introducing John Edwards as his running mate.
Of course, this is a very big moment for John Edwards -- a meteoric rise for a first-term senator from North Carolina. Of course, he will be hit, as you heard Dana just report, by charges that he looks out for the interests of trial lawyers.
As a matter of fact, on the floor of the United States Senate today, they are beginning a debate on class action reform, which Republicans say is tailor-made to highlight the issues surrounding this campaign, notably, about trial lawyers.
Of course, John Edwards will not be there. So we wait now about 20 minutes or so. From this point, we should see John Kerry speaking to this crowd before flying off.
Back to you, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, and Joe I would imagine just as quickly as possible the two of them would be pairing up to present themselves as this "new team for a new America," as we have heard.
We're going to see that now throughout over the next several days, I assume?
JOHNS: Yes, that's going to go on. Obviously, this has been very carefully planned out. It's already orchestrated. A number of plans in the works on both sides.
Republicans have been planning their attacks as well, Heidi. But certainly we do expect John Edwards' youth, his -- the fact that he's very telegenic to be played on, the fact that he is from the South, obviously, very important to Democrats who are interested in trying to bring in some southern voters, voters that they have, in large part, lost in a number of states over the years -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Just about 25 minutes from now that we are going to hear this announcement, Joe. People there are excited? I mean, what's the atmosphere? Is there energy? Are people waiting around chatting amongst themselves?
JOHNS: Well, there is certainly a buzz. The crowd started gathering very early this morning.
I have to say security is quite tight. This is a very carefully, advanced event. They brought in their very top people to set up the risers, set up the platforms, set up the background. And when you look out, this looks like a very, very large crowd, but it's representative of the crowds we've seen of John Kerry over the last several days, as many people as they can pack into a tight space.
But the art of all of this is creating a space to make it look like a much larger crowd is really here. I wouldn't be able to estimate it. I'd say several hundred at least. Maybe more than 1,000 or so. But I wouldn't go farther than that.
COLLINS: All right. Joe Johns, thanks so much for showing all of that to us. We'll get back to you a little bit later. Thanks, Joe.
HEMMER: I want to introduce our CNN political analyst down in D.C., Bill Schneider is along with us as well. Bill, good morning to you.
First, your reaction is what?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: It was a good choice. It was a popular choice and probably the least surprising choice that I can remember. Edwards was even number one in the polls. You know the one thing he adds to this ticket is the quality of populism.
That's a word that's rarely used to describe John Kerry, that he has the common touch. Kerry is often described as aloof, somewhat elitist. He went to Swiss boarding schools. He went to Yale. His wife is very wealthy.
Edwards is also very wealthy, but he made his money on his own. He's the son of a mill worker, the grandson of sharecroppers. And he clearly has a common touch, probably more than any candidate, certainly in the Democratic Party, since Bill Clinton. He's able to relate to ordinary voters.
That fills the gap, because it has -- he has a quality that Kerry is rarely described as having.
HEMMER: Let me take the other side of that a second, Bill. For months you have said there are 10 qualities -- or 10 reasons rather, why you select a running mate. I'm going to give you your forum yet again. The 10 reasons are?
SCHNEIDER: Number one, pick someone who will help you win. The other nine reasons don't matter. HEMMER: They don't matter. And if you look at the criteria John Kerry set out so many months ago. The candidate has to be ready at any moment to assume the awesome responsibility as president. This is a memo that he put out with leading aides on his staff.
Does John Kerry fit number five on that list of five?
SCHNEIDER: John Edwards?
HEMMER: John Edwards, yes.
SCHNEIDER: Well, that's probably his weakest point. Remember I said, number one, pick someone that will help you win, the others don't matter.
Well, that's the one that doesn't really seem to matter that much, because the question that can be raised about John Edwards is, does he have the experience? Does he have the knowledge of the world? Does he have the stature?
You know, it's going to look like a grandfather and a grandson with him and Dick Cheney in that debate. He's tough. He's aggressive. He's scrappy. But Dick Cheney looks like the voice of experience and wisdom. He's been around a long time: the Gulf War and the Iraq war. And he looks like he knows the world.
That is a weakness of John Edwards but one, obviously, that John Kerry didn't think would matter because Kerry has 19 years of experience in Washington, a lot of expertise in international affairs, a lot of knowledge of the world. He didn't need that. What he needed was someone with a common touch. That's John Edwards.
HEMMER: You know, Bill, you study polls for a living. And if you look at the latest polls about how Democrats feel about John Edwards overwhelmingly they support him -- well over 70 percent.
In a sense, was John Kerry in any way forced to choose John Edwards because of his overwhelming popularity among the Democratic faithful?
SCHNEIDER: No. He could choose any one he wanted. And I guarantee the crowds would cheer just as loudly, especially if it were a surprising choice.
He didn't have to choose Edwards. was the best known. In a sense, the reason he was popular was that he had been pre-vetted with the voters. He had been through the primary process.
We had watched him campaign. He won his own state of North Carolina plus South Carolina. He showed some appeal in the south. A lot of people are going to say that Edwards is on the ticket because he's a Southerner, Kerry's a New Englander. That balances the ticket. But this is one of the few years that balancing the ticket really isn't very important because the Democrats are already unified. George Bush has done that. This is the most unified Democratic Party that I can remember in many decades of covering politics. I never thought I'd be able to say this -- the Democratic Party is completely united. So balancing the ticket, I think, was not a primary consideration.
HEMMER: Stand by there in D.C., OK, Bill. Always good to talk to you. Bill Schneider there.
Back with Jeff Greenfield here in New York.
One thing we picked up on, you know, John Edwards, obviously, is a Southerner.
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Right.
HEMMER: Coming out of New Hampshire, there was a lot of criticism thrown toward John Kerry asking him if he was essentially forgetting about the South, if you remember that.
His campaign that he set up in Columbia, South Carolina was small by any measure of any candidate running. He was adamant when he said, no, I'm not forgetting about the South. I will run hard there.
And perhaps this is the evidence today?
GREENFIELD: There is. And there are two recent Democratic tickets that did not have a Southerner: McGovern-Shriver and Mondale- Ferraro, the two least successful tickets in the modern history of the Democratic Party.
Even if you can't win the South, the Southern roots, the blue collar roots do make Bill Schneider's point -- it's a way to balance the populism-elitism part ever it. And I think that was a big factor here.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How does Edwards play in Florida? Florida might decide the election again. Edwards is a lot younger than most of the voters in Florida.
GREENFIELD: So. They'll take him to their heart. Their own children never come to visit.
(LAUGHTER)
GREENFIELD: It might be a big asset.
CAFFERTY: Could work.
COLLINS: All right. We've got to get to a break here. We are going to be hearing from Andy Serwer a little bit later on after this break.
He's going to talk a little bit about the impact of a Kerry- Edwards ticket on business and what that will look like.
We're also going to be getting to this, as we've been talking about all morning -- the announcement from John Kerry of his vice presidential candidate. And that would be John Edwards. We're going to hear more on that in about 20 minutes or so. We'll be back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.
We said it's a busy morning. But there is more news to report out of Iraq today regarding the fate of Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun.
CNN now confirming that he is free and he is safe. This despite about a week ago where his Iraqi captors had threatened to behead him and kill him in Iraq.
The word we're getting, Wassef Ali Hassoun is free and safe. Where he is we do not know, at this point. But Sami Hassoun is the brother of the missing American soldier, now former missing American soldier, by telephone, in Tripoli, Lebanon.
Sami, if you can hear me, Bill Hemmer, CNN New York. What have you heard about your brother?
SAMI HASSOUN, BROTHER OF MISSING MARINE: We had a sign that he's alive and he is released. We have no idea where he is, but he's alive and he is released. And we are assured of the sign.
HEMMER: All right. Sami, you say you've gotten a sign. Can you tell us more about that? What sign?
HASSOUN: We have no comment about the sign now. That's all we can say. He's alive. We are assured of it. And he is released.
HEMMER: Have you spoken with him?
HASSOUN: We did not. And like I said, we have nothing but a sign that assures he is alive and he is released. That's all we know. And thank God for that. And I think that is enough for us right now that he's alive.
HEMMER: Sami, how did you get this news?
HASSOUN: We just got the news. We are sure of it. And no further comment.
HEMMER: Do you believe your brother is still in Iraq?
HASSOUN: If I know where he is, I'll fly to him right now. Believe me I have no clue where he is.
HEMMER: So you're saying you're not sure that he's in Iraq?
HASSOUN: He's alive and he is released. That's all that matters. No further comment, please.
HEMMER: Sami, is there any indication you have been given as to why your brother has been spared? HASSOUN: When he comes back, I will ask him this.
HEMMER: OK. Do you expect him in Lebanon first?
HASSOUN: Believe me, I have no clue.
HEMMER: The word we got out of Iraq was -- more than a week ago after he disappeared back on the 20th of June -- that he may have been possibly trying to leave the U.S. military and reunite with his family, maybe even yourself in Lebanon.
Was that the case with your brother, Sami?
HASSOUN: No comment on that. Like I said, when he comes back, I will ask him this and have an answer for every question.
HEMMER: So at this point, all you can tell us is that you believe your brother is alive and is safe. Correct?
HASSOUN: Exactly.
HEMMER: All right. Sami Hassoun is the brother of the missing American soldier. And if indeed that is the case as we continue to work this story, wonderful news not only for Sami but the family back in Salt Lake City, Utah.
We'll get more -- when we get more, we'll pass it along to you. That's the latest we have regarding the fate of the corporal in Iraq -- Heidi?
COLLINS: All right. We're going to get back to the other story we, of course, have been following all morning long.
Senator John Kerry announcing at this rally in just a few moments about 10 minutes or so. We're looking at the 9:00 a.m. Eastern hour here, his vice presidential running mate apparently is going to be John Edwards. And this has been a favorite among the Democratic Party as, again, we've been talking all morning about that.
People lining up there. We're guessing about a few hundred people or so waiting for that live announcement. And we're going to be covering it for you when it happens.
Kelly Wallace, in the meantime, is standing by for us in Washington, D.C., going to be talking to us a little more about John Edwards. Outside of his house, are you?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Heidi. I'm here. And a number of other reporters and photo journalists camped on this Georgetown street.
Quiet day normally, but a lot of activity today. We're outside the house of John Edwards. He is inside. We understand that his wife Elizabeth is not here with him, that she's in Raleigh, North Carolina. And we believe she is making her way up here. John Edwards' younger kids, Emma Claire (ph) and Jack have left. Not sure if his oldest daughter happens to be in Washington. John Kerry though gave John Edwards the news earlier this morning. We're told John Edwards readily accepted.
Democrats definitely sort of raving about this candidate, about how he can bring enormous energy and excitement to the ticket. We were talking to a Kerry campaign adviser and we asked, why did he ultimately settle on John Edwards?
This adviser saying he's got a strong fit with John Kerry. They have the same vision, in the words of this adviser, for turning America around, and again that he brings enormous energy to the ticket.
Of course, a lot of talk over these past several months, especially for those of us following around John Kerry during the primaries about how John Kerry sort of felt about John Edwards.
Some sense that he felt that perhaps this wasn't John Edwards' time to run for president, that he hadn't even finished one term in the Senate, that perhaps he needed to pay his dues. But clearly, after some time, campaigning together, aides say that the chemistry is there -- a lot of excitement.
And other clues that were out there. We know that Cam Kerry, John Kerry's brother was in North Carolina last week. He was, in fact, introducing John Edwards yesterday in Boston at a couple of fund-raisers. And we know a lot about this secret meeting that John Edwards had in Washington, here in Georgetown, with John Kerry on Thursday. Sources say that was a very good meeting.
These sources say people love John Edwards. He's a prolific fund raiser. He's got good instincts, good skills and clearly the decisive pick for John Kerry -- Heidi?
COLLINS: I guess if you have to leave a family vacation, you hope it's for a good reason, or a big reason that is. And that's what we're finding out today.
All right. Kelly Wallace, thanks so much for that -- coming to us from Georgetown this morning.
HEMMER: From Georgetown in Washington back to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Some videotape now, shot earlier today. This apparently is the motorcade of senator John Kerry and his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry leaving Teresa's ranch, we believe, a rather large estate outside of Pittsburgh. Large might be an understatement huh, Jeff. It is big and substantial.
GREENFIELD: I was there many years ago. Well, I asked somebody what - there was John Heinz's house, what his position was on land reform. It's an enormous place, and it's been the home of Teresa Heinz Kerry. And you pointed out, it's a critical part of one of the biggest battleground states there is.
HEMMER: Her net worth was said to be about $500 million up until recently when some estimates say that is double that -- more than $1 billion in net worth.
GREENFIELD: She's poured millions and millions of dollars through the Heinz Foundation into all kinds of charitable causes.
HEMMER: That she has.
GREENFIELD: In and around -- and Pittsburgh is the centerpiece of that, which some people think might turn out to be another political asset for John Kerry.
HEMMER: You saw the motorcade there leaving the estate outside of Pittsburgh. This is the rally at Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is what we know.
We know through CNN sources that we are confirming Senator John Edwards has been selected to be John Kerry's running mate. That announcement expected, really, about 10 minutes from now, if things are running on schedule there at Market Square.
An announcement will come first by Senator Kerry and no one else. He was adamant, we were told, that he would be the one making this selection.
You talk about the cash of Teresa Heinz Kerry. What about the cash on the ticket now between John Kerry and John Edwards? It is substantial. And that's an understatement.
GREENFIELD: Well, as you said before, all four of the major party candidates are multi-millionaires. You're in a situation where I think George W. Bush is the least well off of them. And you know, his sale of the Texas Rangers brought him about $15 million.
It is a country where they say anybody can grow up to be president, but apparently it helps if one way or another you have a few bucks in your pocket. I guess Michael Moore's next movie might be about that.
CAFFERTY: Well, one of the up sides for Kerry picking Edwards is he won't have to be the MTV interview now. He can send Edwards, make him go over there.
HEMMER: Let's get a break. About nine minutes away. We'll get you to Pittsburgh when we come back right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Live at Market Square downtown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The announcement expected any minute now. About six minutes away by the clock. Whether they're running to schedule or not is something we await to see.
That right there is number 32, Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers -- four Super Bowl titles back in the late 1970s. The immaculate reception indeed.
Welcome back, everybody, to AMERICAN MORNING. Jeff Greenfield is here with us. Heidi Collins working for Soledad throughout the week. And Andy Serwer checks in now, too for us as our coverage continues here.
COLLINS: That's right. A lot of people are wondering what this is going to do, this ticket now, Kerry-Edwards, to the business world.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, there is a lot of talk about that. And I think it's probably fair to say there are some reservations amongst business leaders when it comes to John Edwards. After all, he was a trial lawyer, medical malpractice. So, this has been a public enemy number one group for business leaders.
But overall, when you take a step back, the Democratic Party has moved so far from the days of George McGovern where it alienated business leaders. They're preaching moderation, moderation. You've seen John Kerry moving away from Benedict Arnold talk. You see him appearing before the business the roundtable with Bob Rubin. He was of Goldman-Sachs, the treasury secretary now with Citigroup. So, they are really working very, very hard to court business groups.
COLLINS: What about unions? Is there going to be -- there's going to be a big push there too, right?
SERWER: Yes. And I think when you talk about the other side of business, you talk about unions. I think unions will be very receptive to John Kerry's message. We've been talking all morning about how he is the son of a textile worker, the textile mill supervisor, I think, also. So his father also moved up a rung.
COLLINS: To be clear.
SERWER: Yes, to be clear.
I want to make one other quick point about Dick Cheney as well. We talk about how Dick Cheney is seen by business leaders as being, sort of, someone in their camp.
However, there are some reservations there as well. After all, being the former CEO of Halliburton in this environment may not be the best thing the Republicans want to align themselves with, or business leaders seeing themselves wanting to align themselves with because it sort of smacks of this whole environment of Enron, WorldCom and you lump Halliburton into that.
So, it's not like business leaders are, the ones I talked to, are so ready to embrace Dick Cheney. And I think that debate between those two will be very interesting because both of them have vulnerabilities.
GREENFIELD: On free trade, Edwards took a more skeptical view of free trade during the primaries, I think, than Kerry did.
SERWER: I think that's right, Jeff. And I think that's a real situation where the Democrats say one thing and then when it comes to being in office, they'll move the other way. It's sort of something you throw out there. Dick Gephardt, obviously, very big on that as well.
HEMMER: Yes, today -- late yesterday -- John Kerry said, we're going to have some fun tomorrow. Meaning today, they're going to head back on the trail. They will do that after the announcement comes live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Let's get a break here. Back in a moment as our coverage continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired July 6, 2004 - 8:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. 8:30 here in New York. We expect that about 30 minutes form now, we'll take you live to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the official announcement of John Kerry selecting Senator John Edwards to be in that presidential ticket for the Democrats. Senator Kerry tapping Senator Edwards as his running mate.
Live here, Market Square, downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. No small matter, by the way. Nearby is where Teresa Heinz Kerry makes her home on a large ranch outside of town.
And the market that was picked today -- no small accident, either. You're going to draw attention from people in Pennsylvania. You'll get people from West Virginia to the south and the northeastern corner of Ohio to tune in with this, as well -- sending local crews, which is always so critical at this point in any presidential campaign.
We expect the announcement in 30 minutes. Dana Bash is working the story, also, in D.C. with more now.
Dana, what do you have?
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill.
Well, I just talked to a source close to the process who said that Senator Kerry has begun to call people he did not choose: the members of the list, like, for example, Senator Bob Graham of Florida, and others -- Tom Vilsack of Iowa, the governor of Iowa -- others who have been speculated about and certainly had sent in the reams of paperwork and other materials, documents, that the Kerry campaign has requested over the past several months.
As Senator Kerry has begun to call them and say that he is sorry that he did not choose them, but that he would like their support for the next several months heading into the election.
That, after, of course, Senator Kerry called the person he did choose, Senator John Edwards. And he is somebody who the Bush -- the Kerry team -- is already starting to try to talk up. Their message is ready to go.
We have been reporting over the past 24 hours that the Kerry campaign had already been preparing what kind of message they would have no matter who the pick was. As for Senator John Edwards, the message, the theme will be, Kerry-Edwards, a new team for a new America.
They are going to try to play up the fact that John Edwards has humble roots. He's the son of a mill worker. He is somebody who did everything by himself, pulled himself up by his bootstraps, that he's somebody who has appeal -- they believe -- to the broader and wider America.
Now, certainly they have also been preparing at the Kerry campaign for the response to the massive Republican attacks that have already started to come in. They were prepared, for example, for the fact that Republicans were going to start to attack John Edwards as a trial lawyer. That is certainly how he made his profession, as somebody who was a plaintiffs' lawyer. That is something that the Republicans have already disdained. And that is part of their platform.
President Bush talks often on the campaign trail about the fact he believes that he believes that lawsuits contribute, for example, to the high cost of health care. That is something Republicans have already started to talk about.
And the Kerry campaign is bracing for the quotes from Senator Kerry, himself, that are already being dredged up from the Democratic primary process. For example, when Senator Kerry said during the primary that he did not think that John Edwards had the experience, international experience, or the extent of public service that perhaps it takes to be president.
Of course, later Senator Kerry apologized for that and also for saying that in 1969, Edwards -- Senator Edwards was not out of diapers when Senator Kerry was in Vietnam.
Those are -- were some harsh words on the campaign trail between the two Democrats. Again, Senator Kerry apologized for that, but that is not stopping Republicans from using -- trying to use these quotes, use this information against the Democrats. Democrats are prepared for that.
But we are told, to recap, that Senator Kerry, of course, has talked to Senator Edwards. Senator Edwards has gladly accepted the offer to be his number two. And Senator Kerry at this time is calling to say thanks but no thanks, essentially, to others who were considered for the job.
HEMMER: Ultimately, these politicians have a way of shaking hands and making up and putting the past behind them. Voodoo economics of 1980 and 1981, oftentimes we refer to that from 24 years ago.
Dana, thanks for that. Check back in a moment.
Here's Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Joe Johns is now standing by for us in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, of course, where the rally is about to begin. Joe, by now, people certainly have heard the news, yes?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's for sure. People have certainly heard the news.
We are in Market Square in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, about a half hour now away from what is to be the appearance of John Kerry here by himself. This crowd is not expected to see John Edwards -- at least in person today.
We are expecting the candidate to meet with John Kerry later in the day. Of course, there is some complex logistics going on here. Kerry does have an appearance scheduled in Indianapolis before a conference of the African Methodist Episcopalian Church.
He was -- originally he was scheduled to fly back to Washington, D.C. to speak before the National Education Association in D.C. However, now we are told that senator Ted Kennedy has agreed to speak to the National Education Association so that Kerry can go on about his business of introducing John Edwards as his running mate.
Of course, this is a very big moment for John Edwards -- a meteoric rise for a first-term senator from North Carolina. Of course, he will be hit, as you heard Dana just report, by charges that he looks out for the interests of trial lawyers.
As a matter of fact, on the floor of the United States Senate today, they are beginning a debate on class action reform, which Republicans say is tailor-made to highlight the issues surrounding this campaign, notably, about trial lawyers.
Of course, John Edwards will not be there. So we wait now about 20 minutes or so. From this point, we should see John Kerry speaking to this crowd before flying off.
Back to you, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, and Joe I would imagine just as quickly as possible the two of them would be pairing up to present themselves as this "new team for a new America," as we have heard.
We're going to see that now throughout over the next several days, I assume?
JOHNS: Yes, that's going to go on. Obviously, this has been very carefully planned out. It's already orchestrated. A number of plans in the works on both sides.
Republicans have been planning their attacks as well, Heidi. But certainly we do expect John Edwards' youth, his -- the fact that he's very telegenic to be played on, the fact that he is from the South, obviously, very important to Democrats who are interested in trying to bring in some southern voters, voters that they have, in large part, lost in a number of states over the years -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Just about 25 minutes from now that we are going to hear this announcement, Joe. People there are excited? I mean, what's the atmosphere? Is there energy? Are people waiting around chatting amongst themselves?
JOHNS: Well, there is certainly a buzz. The crowd started gathering very early this morning.
I have to say security is quite tight. This is a very carefully, advanced event. They brought in their very top people to set up the risers, set up the platforms, set up the background. And when you look out, this looks like a very, very large crowd, but it's representative of the crowds we've seen of John Kerry over the last several days, as many people as they can pack into a tight space.
But the art of all of this is creating a space to make it look like a much larger crowd is really here. I wouldn't be able to estimate it. I'd say several hundred at least. Maybe more than 1,000 or so. But I wouldn't go farther than that.
COLLINS: All right. Joe Johns, thanks so much for showing all of that to us. We'll get back to you a little bit later. Thanks, Joe.
HEMMER: I want to introduce our CNN political analyst down in D.C., Bill Schneider is along with us as well. Bill, good morning to you.
First, your reaction is what?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: It was a good choice. It was a popular choice and probably the least surprising choice that I can remember. Edwards was even number one in the polls. You know the one thing he adds to this ticket is the quality of populism.
That's a word that's rarely used to describe John Kerry, that he has the common touch. Kerry is often described as aloof, somewhat elitist. He went to Swiss boarding schools. He went to Yale. His wife is very wealthy.
Edwards is also very wealthy, but he made his money on his own. He's the son of a mill worker, the grandson of sharecroppers. And he clearly has a common touch, probably more than any candidate, certainly in the Democratic Party, since Bill Clinton. He's able to relate to ordinary voters.
That fills the gap, because it has -- he has a quality that Kerry is rarely described as having.
HEMMER: Let me take the other side of that a second, Bill. For months you have said there are 10 qualities -- or 10 reasons rather, why you select a running mate. I'm going to give you your forum yet again. The 10 reasons are?
SCHNEIDER: Number one, pick someone who will help you win. The other nine reasons don't matter. HEMMER: They don't matter. And if you look at the criteria John Kerry set out so many months ago. The candidate has to be ready at any moment to assume the awesome responsibility as president. This is a memo that he put out with leading aides on his staff.
Does John Kerry fit number five on that list of five?
SCHNEIDER: John Edwards?
HEMMER: John Edwards, yes.
SCHNEIDER: Well, that's probably his weakest point. Remember I said, number one, pick someone that will help you win, the others don't matter.
Well, that's the one that doesn't really seem to matter that much, because the question that can be raised about John Edwards is, does he have the experience? Does he have the knowledge of the world? Does he have the stature?
You know, it's going to look like a grandfather and a grandson with him and Dick Cheney in that debate. He's tough. He's aggressive. He's scrappy. But Dick Cheney looks like the voice of experience and wisdom. He's been around a long time: the Gulf War and the Iraq war. And he looks like he knows the world.
That is a weakness of John Edwards but one, obviously, that John Kerry didn't think would matter because Kerry has 19 years of experience in Washington, a lot of expertise in international affairs, a lot of knowledge of the world. He didn't need that. What he needed was someone with a common touch. That's John Edwards.
HEMMER: You know, Bill, you study polls for a living. And if you look at the latest polls about how Democrats feel about John Edwards overwhelmingly they support him -- well over 70 percent.
In a sense, was John Kerry in any way forced to choose John Edwards because of his overwhelming popularity among the Democratic faithful?
SCHNEIDER: No. He could choose any one he wanted. And I guarantee the crowds would cheer just as loudly, especially if it were a surprising choice.
He didn't have to choose Edwards. was the best known. In a sense, the reason he was popular was that he had been pre-vetted with the voters. He had been through the primary process.
We had watched him campaign. He won his own state of North Carolina plus South Carolina. He showed some appeal in the south. A lot of people are going to say that Edwards is on the ticket because he's a Southerner, Kerry's a New Englander. That balances the ticket. But this is one of the few years that balancing the ticket really isn't very important because the Democrats are already unified. George Bush has done that. This is the most unified Democratic Party that I can remember in many decades of covering politics. I never thought I'd be able to say this -- the Democratic Party is completely united. So balancing the ticket, I think, was not a primary consideration.
HEMMER: Stand by there in D.C., OK, Bill. Always good to talk to you. Bill Schneider there.
Back with Jeff Greenfield here in New York.
One thing we picked up on, you know, John Edwards, obviously, is a Southerner.
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Right.
HEMMER: Coming out of New Hampshire, there was a lot of criticism thrown toward John Kerry asking him if he was essentially forgetting about the South, if you remember that.
His campaign that he set up in Columbia, South Carolina was small by any measure of any candidate running. He was adamant when he said, no, I'm not forgetting about the South. I will run hard there.
And perhaps this is the evidence today?
GREENFIELD: There is. And there are two recent Democratic tickets that did not have a Southerner: McGovern-Shriver and Mondale- Ferraro, the two least successful tickets in the modern history of the Democratic Party.
Even if you can't win the South, the Southern roots, the blue collar roots do make Bill Schneider's point -- it's a way to balance the populism-elitism part ever it. And I think that was a big factor here.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How does Edwards play in Florida? Florida might decide the election again. Edwards is a lot younger than most of the voters in Florida.
GREENFIELD: So. They'll take him to their heart. Their own children never come to visit.
(LAUGHTER)
GREENFIELD: It might be a big asset.
CAFFERTY: Could work.
COLLINS: All right. We've got to get to a break here. We are going to be hearing from Andy Serwer a little bit later on after this break.
He's going to talk a little bit about the impact of a Kerry- Edwards ticket on business and what that will look like.
We're also going to be getting to this, as we've been talking about all morning -- the announcement from John Kerry of his vice presidential candidate. And that would be John Edwards. We're going to hear more on that in about 20 minutes or so. We'll be back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.
We said it's a busy morning. But there is more news to report out of Iraq today regarding the fate of Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun.
CNN now confirming that he is free and he is safe. This despite about a week ago where his Iraqi captors had threatened to behead him and kill him in Iraq.
The word we're getting, Wassef Ali Hassoun is free and safe. Where he is we do not know, at this point. But Sami Hassoun is the brother of the missing American soldier, now former missing American soldier, by telephone, in Tripoli, Lebanon.
Sami, if you can hear me, Bill Hemmer, CNN New York. What have you heard about your brother?
SAMI HASSOUN, BROTHER OF MISSING MARINE: We had a sign that he's alive and he is released. We have no idea where he is, but he's alive and he is released. And we are assured of the sign.
HEMMER: All right. Sami, you say you've gotten a sign. Can you tell us more about that? What sign?
HASSOUN: We have no comment about the sign now. That's all we can say. He's alive. We are assured of it. And he is released.
HEMMER: Have you spoken with him?
HASSOUN: We did not. And like I said, we have nothing but a sign that assures he is alive and he is released. That's all we know. And thank God for that. And I think that is enough for us right now that he's alive.
HEMMER: Sami, how did you get this news?
HASSOUN: We just got the news. We are sure of it. And no further comment.
HEMMER: Do you believe your brother is still in Iraq?
HASSOUN: If I know where he is, I'll fly to him right now. Believe me I have no clue where he is.
HEMMER: So you're saying you're not sure that he's in Iraq?
HASSOUN: He's alive and he is released. That's all that matters. No further comment, please.
HEMMER: Sami, is there any indication you have been given as to why your brother has been spared? HASSOUN: When he comes back, I will ask him this.
HEMMER: OK. Do you expect him in Lebanon first?
HASSOUN: Believe me, I have no clue.
HEMMER: The word we got out of Iraq was -- more than a week ago after he disappeared back on the 20th of June -- that he may have been possibly trying to leave the U.S. military and reunite with his family, maybe even yourself in Lebanon.
Was that the case with your brother, Sami?
HASSOUN: No comment on that. Like I said, when he comes back, I will ask him this and have an answer for every question.
HEMMER: So at this point, all you can tell us is that you believe your brother is alive and is safe. Correct?
HASSOUN: Exactly.
HEMMER: All right. Sami Hassoun is the brother of the missing American soldier. And if indeed that is the case as we continue to work this story, wonderful news not only for Sami but the family back in Salt Lake City, Utah.
We'll get more -- when we get more, we'll pass it along to you. That's the latest we have regarding the fate of the corporal in Iraq -- Heidi?
COLLINS: All right. We're going to get back to the other story we, of course, have been following all morning long.
Senator John Kerry announcing at this rally in just a few moments about 10 minutes or so. We're looking at the 9:00 a.m. Eastern hour here, his vice presidential running mate apparently is going to be John Edwards. And this has been a favorite among the Democratic Party as, again, we've been talking all morning about that.
People lining up there. We're guessing about a few hundred people or so waiting for that live announcement. And we're going to be covering it for you when it happens.
Kelly Wallace, in the meantime, is standing by for us in Washington, D.C., going to be talking to us a little more about John Edwards. Outside of his house, are you?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Heidi. I'm here. And a number of other reporters and photo journalists camped on this Georgetown street.
Quiet day normally, but a lot of activity today. We're outside the house of John Edwards. He is inside. We understand that his wife Elizabeth is not here with him, that she's in Raleigh, North Carolina. And we believe she is making her way up here. John Edwards' younger kids, Emma Claire (ph) and Jack have left. Not sure if his oldest daughter happens to be in Washington. John Kerry though gave John Edwards the news earlier this morning. We're told John Edwards readily accepted.
Democrats definitely sort of raving about this candidate, about how he can bring enormous energy and excitement to the ticket. We were talking to a Kerry campaign adviser and we asked, why did he ultimately settle on John Edwards?
This adviser saying he's got a strong fit with John Kerry. They have the same vision, in the words of this adviser, for turning America around, and again that he brings enormous energy to the ticket.
Of course, a lot of talk over these past several months, especially for those of us following around John Kerry during the primaries about how John Kerry sort of felt about John Edwards.
Some sense that he felt that perhaps this wasn't John Edwards' time to run for president, that he hadn't even finished one term in the Senate, that perhaps he needed to pay his dues. But clearly, after some time, campaigning together, aides say that the chemistry is there -- a lot of excitement.
And other clues that were out there. We know that Cam Kerry, John Kerry's brother was in North Carolina last week. He was, in fact, introducing John Edwards yesterday in Boston at a couple of fund-raisers. And we know a lot about this secret meeting that John Edwards had in Washington, here in Georgetown, with John Kerry on Thursday. Sources say that was a very good meeting.
These sources say people love John Edwards. He's a prolific fund raiser. He's got good instincts, good skills and clearly the decisive pick for John Kerry -- Heidi?
COLLINS: I guess if you have to leave a family vacation, you hope it's for a good reason, or a big reason that is. And that's what we're finding out today.
All right. Kelly Wallace, thanks so much for that -- coming to us from Georgetown this morning.
HEMMER: From Georgetown in Washington back to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Some videotape now, shot earlier today. This apparently is the motorcade of senator John Kerry and his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry leaving Teresa's ranch, we believe, a rather large estate outside of Pittsburgh. Large might be an understatement huh, Jeff. It is big and substantial.
GREENFIELD: I was there many years ago. Well, I asked somebody what - there was John Heinz's house, what his position was on land reform. It's an enormous place, and it's been the home of Teresa Heinz Kerry. And you pointed out, it's a critical part of one of the biggest battleground states there is.
HEMMER: Her net worth was said to be about $500 million up until recently when some estimates say that is double that -- more than $1 billion in net worth.
GREENFIELD: She's poured millions and millions of dollars through the Heinz Foundation into all kinds of charitable causes.
HEMMER: That she has.
GREENFIELD: In and around -- and Pittsburgh is the centerpiece of that, which some people think might turn out to be another political asset for John Kerry.
HEMMER: You saw the motorcade there leaving the estate outside of Pittsburgh. This is the rally at Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is what we know.
We know through CNN sources that we are confirming Senator John Edwards has been selected to be John Kerry's running mate. That announcement expected, really, about 10 minutes from now, if things are running on schedule there at Market Square.
An announcement will come first by Senator Kerry and no one else. He was adamant, we were told, that he would be the one making this selection.
You talk about the cash of Teresa Heinz Kerry. What about the cash on the ticket now between John Kerry and John Edwards? It is substantial. And that's an understatement.
GREENFIELD: Well, as you said before, all four of the major party candidates are multi-millionaires. You're in a situation where I think George W. Bush is the least well off of them. And you know, his sale of the Texas Rangers brought him about $15 million.
It is a country where they say anybody can grow up to be president, but apparently it helps if one way or another you have a few bucks in your pocket. I guess Michael Moore's next movie might be about that.
CAFFERTY: Well, one of the up sides for Kerry picking Edwards is he won't have to be the MTV interview now. He can send Edwards, make him go over there.
HEMMER: Let's get a break. About nine minutes away. We'll get you to Pittsburgh when we come back right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Live at Market Square downtown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The announcement expected any minute now. About six minutes away by the clock. Whether they're running to schedule or not is something we await to see.
That right there is number 32, Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers -- four Super Bowl titles back in the late 1970s. The immaculate reception indeed.
Welcome back, everybody, to AMERICAN MORNING. Jeff Greenfield is here with us. Heidi Collins working for Soledad throughout the week. And Andy Serwer checks in now, too for us as our coverage continues here.
COLLINS: That's right. A lot of people are wondering what this is going to do, this ticket now, Kerry-Edwards, to the business world.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, there is a lot of talk about that. And I think it's probably fair to say there are some reservations amongst business leaders when it comes to John Edwards. After all, he was a trial lawyer, medical malpractice. So, this has been a public enemy number one group for business leaders.
But overall, when you take a step back, the Democratic Party has moved so far from the days of George McGovern where it alienated business leaders. They're preaching moderation, moderation. You've seen John Kerry moving away from Benedict Arnold talk. You see him appearing before the business the roundtable with Bob Rubin. He was of Goldman-Sachs, the treasury secretary now with Citigroup. So, they are really working very, very hard to court business groups.
COLLINS: What about unions? Is there going to be -- there's going to be a big push there too, right?
SERWER: Yes. And I think when you talk about the other side of business, you talk about unions. I think unions will be very receptive to John Kerry's message. We've been talking all morning about how he is the son of a textile worker, the textile mill supervisor, I think, also. So his father also moved up a rung.
COLLINS: To be clear.
SERWER: Yes, to be clear.
I want to make one other quick point about Dick Cheney as well. We talk about how Dick Cheney is seen by business leaders as being, sort of, someone in their camp.
However, there are some reservations there as well. After all, being the former CEO of Halliburton in this environment may not be the best thing the Republicans want to align themselves with, or business leaders seeing themselves wanting to align themselves with because it sort of smacks of this whole environment of Enron, WorldCom and you lump Halliburton into that.
So, it's not like business leaders are, the ones I talked to, are so ready to embrace Dick Cheney. And I think that debate between those two will be very interesting because both of them have vulnerabilities.
GREENFIELD: On free trade, Edwards took a more skeptical view of free trade during the primaries, I think, than Kerry did.
SERWER: I think that's right, Jeff. And I think that's a real situation where the Democrats say one thing and then when it comes to being in office, they'll move the other way. It's sort of something you throw out there. Dick Gephardt, obviously, very big on that as well.
HEMMER: Yes, today -- late yesterday -- John Kerry said, we're going to have some fun tomorrow. Meaning today, they're going to head back on the trail. They will do that after the announcement comes live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Let's get a break here. Back in a moment as our coverage continues.
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