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American Morning
Public Gets First Look at Kerry-Edwards Team
Aired July 07, 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: We have a lot of coverage to talk about in the next couple of minutes.
Kelly Wallace is live in with us this morning. And we'll get with our senior political analyst Bill Schneider down in D.C., and Carlos Watson from Mountain View, California and his thoughts as well.
Kelly, let's start there. What do we expect this morning?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, first I'm wondering if John Kerry will be on time. He is notoriously late. So, we are looking to see if the Kerry-Edwards ticket is going to be on time. We're running a few minutes behind schedule.
This will be, though, the first joint appearance of the two men, the first time the two men and their entire families will come together before the cameras. We have a row of cameras here. And interesting -- they have separated the press with a barricade made of haystacks.
We're expecting the families to come: a photo op, maybe some comments from John Kerry. Not exactly sure if there will be any opportunity to get questions to John Kerry and John Edwards.
The families spent last night together. We're told the atmosphere, in the words of one adviser, was very relaxed. They had dinner, veal tenderloins and farm salad. And the two youngest Edwards' children, Emma Claire and Jack, we're told, had a ball going swimming in the outside pool.
So, what the goal here, Bill -- to show the chemistry between John Kerry and John Edwards. And again this is all part of a carefully orchestrated rollout to get the maximum bounce for this Democratic ticket.
There will be a four-day barn-storming tour across the country. They go to Ohio and Florida, battleground states today. They will also be going to New Mexico, New York, West Virginia, and wrapping up on Saturday in Edwards' home state of North Carolina -- Bill?
HEMMER: Kelly, stand by there. We're going to get to Bill Schneider for a second here.
Bill you look at polls and numbers for a living. Some of the polling we did with CNN-USA Today and Gallup found that whether or not this choice was a good or excellent one, 64 percent say, yes.
So far the Democratic faithful very happy with this choice of John Edwards.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: That's right. How does it compare with what people thought of previous choices?
Well, in 2000, 55 percent thought Dick Cheney was good choice. Fifty-three percent said that about Joe Lieberman when Gore picked him. Look back in 1988, only 44 percent thought Dan Quayle was a good choice. By the way, he did get elected, you know.
John Edwards there is at the top of the list. Edwards, you know, is a happy worrier. His positive style, his populist message were widely acclaimed. So what's not to like? Why didn't Democrats dominate him?
They didn't think he had enough experience. Does the public believe Edwards is qualified to be president? Guess what 57 percent of Americans say, yes he is.
How does that compare with other vice presidential choices, not quite as qualified as people saw Al Gore or Jack Kemp, but just as qualified as people saw Dick Cheney when he was picked in 2000.
Cheney was picked because he had long years of experience. He had been secretary of defense. But guess what? People think that John Edwards is just as qualified at Dick Cheney.
HEMMER: I want to get out to California, then and talk to Carlos Watson.
Carlos, in the coming days and weeks for that matter, we're going to hear from the Republican side quite a bit of a contrast between how John Kerry and John Edwards went at each other during the primary and caucus season. How do they now bridge that gap in those differences?
CARLOS WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think very quickly and very easily.
You'll remember in 1996 that Bob Dole and Jack Kemp on the opposite sides on a number of issues including taxes and affirmative action. And many of us remember 1980 Ronald Reagan and George Bush had shared words, including voodoo economics.
So would I don't think it will be quite as hard to bridge. You'll hear a lot of talk later on today and over the next several days about middle class economic security. You'll hear a lot of talk about health care.
And as Bill said, you'll hear a major effort on the part of Democrats to say that John Edwards is prepared to be president if, in case, he ultimately needed to step in -- Heidi?
HEMMER: All right, Carlos.
Stand by there in California -- Heidi?
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Bill, I want to get back to you, if I could, really quickly.
And a lot of people excited about this ticket, excited to see the two candidates together. How well do they really know each other? They are going to be spending quite a bit of time, I imagine, in the beginning getting to just know one another.
SCHNEIDER: Well, they have spent a lot of time already through about a six-month campaign through the Democratic nominations.
And they weren't the closest of friends. If Kerry had picked someone he really was compatible with, he probably would have picked Dick Gephardt. But you know, he picked John Edwards because Edwards fills in gaps that John Kerry has.
Kerry is not known as a charismatic campaigner. He's not known as a guy who has the common touch. Edwards has those qualities. As Bill Hemmer said, quoting -- I guess quoting "The Wall Street Journal," people are saying well Kerry picked the sizzle, not the steak.
Well, you know what Democrats are saying, we already have a steak. John Kerry is a pretty meaty guy.
COLLINS: All right. Bill, thanks a lot.
And we are looking now at the screen at Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania. And there they are: John Kerry, John Edwards, their wives both in hand, other family members and little kids that I see, of John Edwards. That would be Jack, the 4-year-old, and the little girl's name who called her mom yesterday to tell her, actually, that he had been chosen.
HEMMER: Back to Kelly Wallace. Kelly, if you can see the screen. We see the two men.
WALLACE: Yes, you can. You can see John Kerry with wife Teresa and John and Elizabeth Edwards. You were talking. It is quite funny yesterday that Emma Claire and Jack, the Edwards children.
When Elizabeth Edwards -- she was in North Carolina. We are told that when she heard the news, she heard it on TV and she didn't believe it until her husband called. And when he called, he put Emma Claire on the phone and she said, "My daddy's going to be vice president."
Well, when little Jack got on the phone, we're told he said, "Mommy, guess what, I've learned how to swim on top of the water."
Elizabeth said, "OK, honey. That's wonderful. Can I talk to Daddy, now?"
So, here you see the Edwards and the Heinz-Kerry families. For Teresa Heinz, she has her sons Chris and Andre. Her one son, John is not here. And of course we have gotten to know quite a bit of Vanessa Kerry and Alex Kerry, John Kerry's daughter. Let's listen in. HEMMER: Kelly, we're going to try and listen here, for a second. And as we watch this picture -- Don't go far Kelly. You talk about the rollout...
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to share a few thoughts with all of you.
HEMMER: Now we listen.
J. KERRY: First of all, thank you all for coming to join us this morning. This has been so special for all of us as a family. We were able to get together last night.
We want to announce today we have a new campaign manager, Jack Edwards is taking over everything. He does a wild cannonball, and the fun we've had yesterday, I'll tell you -- John arrived and we talked about the whole announcement and everything. Elizabeth was in North Carolina, and John was in Washington with the kids. And Emma Claire gets on the phone and rushes on the phone and talks to mom and says, "Mom, mom, John Kerry picked Daddy."
And then Jack wants to get on the phone. And Jack gets on the phone, he says, "Mommy, I can swim with my head above water."
He knows what's important.
This is an honor for all of us. This farm in the Allegheny -- western hills of the Allegheny Mountains has been Teresa's home, Andre Heinz and Chris Heinz' home, Johnny Heinz' home, all their lives. And all of the time Teresa's been here. It's a special place.
And Pittsburgh is a place that through the entire Ohio Valley represents the challenge here in our challenge of putting people back to work, providing health care, restoring hope.
John Edwards and his family represent a life of fighting to provide hope and opportunity for people, opening doors, making things better for people who have been hurt, helping to fight to make America fair -- the dream that he's lived, that we're all blessed to live.
We come to this with a deep, deep belief that America can do better. And today we're embarking on a new journey together, not for us, but for our country -- a journey to make our country all that it can be, to make it stronger here at home, and once again respected and influential in the world.
That is what we're setting off on.
We're excited. We had a wonderful dinner last night. We sat around. We laughed. We chatted. We talked politics, talked about funny things that happened to both of us during the race, shared experiences.
But I could not be more proud of the pick I have made. This man is ready for this job. He's ready to help lead America. He's a person of compassion and conviction, of strength. And together with Elizabeth, they represent, I think, the future that we want to fight for, for all Americans.
It's my honor to introduce to you, with the help of a lot of Americans, the next vice president of the United States and his family.
John?
(APPLAUSE)
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, first of all, this is a great privilege for me, a great opportunity to serve my country, which I love so dearly.
Also, to be here with John and Teresa and their beautiful family, to have our family, Elizabeth and Kay and Emma Claire and Jack here with me is extraordinary by itself. And we had a wonderful, wonderful night last night.
Emma Claire is nervous, she's hiding.
Yesterday when I got the call -- yesterday morning when I got the call from John, my assumption was it was another reporter calling to say, do you know anything?
I'm very pleased to have gotten the news, very pleased to be here, very pleased to have this extraordinary opportunity because this election is so important -- so important for the future of America, making America strong and creating respect for America around the world again.
And I know, because I know this guy very well. We served in the Senate together. We worked together. And then I saw him head to head during the presidential campaign. I saw the kind of strength and courage and determination that he showed.
And the truth is, it's the same strength, courage, backbone, leadership that he's shown his whole life. He showed it during his service, his heroism in Vietnam.
I mean, I got to listen to the man who served with John Kerry in Vietnam during the course of the campaign. Their stories are remarkable.
If you want to know what kind of man he is, these are men who stand behind, beside him 30 years later, who believe in him, who believe that he should be our next president. They want him to be their president. Well, I can say this for my family, I want him to be our next president.
There is so much at stake. He shares the values and the vision that I believe in. You know, I grew up in a small town in North Carolina. This is the kind of man we grew up looking up to, respecting, somebody who believed in faith and family and responsibility, and having everybody get a chance to do what they're capable of doing, not just a few. That's what this is about for us. And for so many Americans, this campaign is about the future and it's about restoring hope. People are desperate to believe again that tomorrow will be better than today.
That's what John Kerry represents for the American people. He represents hope. It's an honor to be here with all of you.
J. KERRY: I want to ask Teresa to say a word. But before I do, I want to also introduce my two daughters who just literally arrived on the red eye from a big event that they did out in California for us. And this is Vanessa and Alexandra Kerry. Both of them are here. Thank you. Tripping all over.
I'd love Teresa just to say a couple words, if she wants to.
TERESA HEINZ-KERRY, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN KERRY: Good morning. I can invite you to a chicken walk, a steer walk, a vegetable garden. But I do want to say words because this place here in Pittsburgh means an awful lot.
Pittsburgh taught me to be an American. I became an American here. The hard working people of this part of our country, so steadfast in their beliefs, in their dedication to family and to work have been very, very badly hurt.
It's been 20, 20-plus years now, almost 30, that people in this area have been hit by loss of jobs, by results of pollution. And we have worked very hard here to try and turn this place around. And we have tried, also, to do it with Chattanooga and other places around the country that have the same kind of common history and legacy.
America is full of places like the Ohio Valley, Youngstown, West Virginia, down in Tennessee. It's the same story. And it's a very nice, personally, point of departure to start this voyage together for America from a place that has been hurt, but a place that is resilient and hopeful.
And that's what we're going to do, is to bring back hope and inspire all of our country's people to be what they can be, which is optimistic, working and healthy and at peace.
Thank you.
J. KERRY: I described yesterday that we're blessed to have in Elizabeth Edwards, a woman who is both strong and brave and very, very thoughtful. She's going to be a great, great part of this team. And I'm delighted to introduce her to you.
Elizabeth?
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN EDWARDS: Thank you, John.
I cannot say how much we appreciate the opportunity that John and Teresa have given us to be part of this effort to change the direction the country is going. It's unbelievably important. And any endeavor that starts in an environment like this has got to have, have the wind at its back.
I feel completely confident about this race. We have only a few months to make certain that the rest of the country knows John and Teresa the way we do and learns what many of them know already but some of them haven't been paying as much attention -- have yet to learn. And that is, the wonder of somebody who has spent their entire lives dedicated -- both of these people have spent their entire lives -- dedicated to improving the lot of the people around them either through public service, through philanthropy, but through concern about the issues that matter in the lives of everyday human beings.
This is a tremendous opportunity for which we thank you.
J. KERRY: Thank you. We're thrilled that you're willing to do it. And Kate, thank you for being a part of this.
Kate just graduated from college and is embarking on her own career but she's joined us here. And we're very grateful for that.
Ladies and gentlemen, we're excited. We're heading to Cleveland and on from there to stops across the country today. This is the beginning of our effort to talk to America and have a conversation. It is hopeful, optimistic, positive.
Our vision is a vision that puts this country back to work and restores confidence. Our vision is one that makes America stronger and fights a more effective war on terror. Our vision will make America safer in every respect: in our health, in our schools, in our jobs and in our lives.
We need to get about that work. We can't tell you how excited we are to be a team and doing it. And it's a thrill for me to have another guy with hair on the road.
Thank you.
HEMMER: And with that, the race is on.
John Kerry saying, this is the beginning. Prior to that saying embarking on a new journey to make America stronger at home, in his words, and more influential throughout the world.
No small matter with the travel scheduled today. They are in Pennsylvania now -- 21 electoral votes. Later today, two stops in Ohio, first Cleveland then Dayton, 20 electoral votes in the buckeye state.
By the end of the day, later tonight in Florida with 27 electoral votes, the two men will travel together on their first official day along this campaign trail.
Kelly Wallace is in Pennsylvania. Bill Schneider in D.C., Carlos Watson from Mountain View, California.
As we continue our discussion, Bill, talk about the significance of the tour and the schedule that's laid out today? SCHNEIDER: Those are swing states. Those are the crucial battleground states.
The oddest thing about this election is that if you live in Texas or California or New York, there ain't going to be no campaign because those states electoral votes are already given.
Pennsylvania, where they're standing right now, where they began this campaign, and are starting out, that's a state that's a crucial swing state. President Bush has made enormous numbers of visits to Pennsylvania. It was narrowly carried by the Democrats, Al Gore in 2000. And John Kerry believes he has a secret weapon to keep Pennsylvania in the Democratic home, his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.
Her husband was a senator from Pennsylvania. They own property there. We just saw it. And they believe that with her name recognition and her deep roots in the Pittsburgh area they can hold Pennsylvania. So, it wasn't an accident that they started throughout.
COLLINS: All right, Bill. Thanks so much.
I want to get to Kelly Wallace quickly. Kelly, there is going to be some travel on the part of President Bush, as well, today going to North Carolina and also Michigan. North Carolina, home state of John Edwards.
What's going to happen there? I know that trip was actually planned before the announcement, correct?
WALLACE: It was, Heidi. That's our understanding.
The sense is, Heidi, that by having John Edwards now on this ticket, Republicans will have to spend a lot more money than they were ever planning to spend to keep North Carolina in Republican territory. George Bush there -- winning there, of course, in 2000.
So this is one sense that in current polls when it looks like John Edwards is on the ticket with John Kerry, it's a bit of a neck- and-neck race between Bush-Cheney and Kerry-Edwards.
Something else we want to point out, though. Just this picture in and of itself is something Democratic strategists think will help: a youthful senator, a young family -- some thinking might give some extra vitality to the Kerry campaign, something that some say is definitely needed, also, the appeal to middle class voters, especially in the battleground states of the Midwest.
But still questions, and Republicans are raising them, that John Kerry chose somebody whose own experience he questioned -- his own readiness for the presidency he questioned -- during the primaries. The question is, will that matter to swing voters, especially in a post-September 11th world. That's something we'll have to be watching closely -- Heidi?
HEMMER: Kelly, thanks for that.
To Carlos Watson.
Carlos, I know you're quite keen on how these two men put differences of the primary season behind. There was a bit of a reference there, too, with John Kerry throwing his arm around John Edwards talking about their differences and ending with a chuckle.
Is it easy, at this point, to forget about the past and move forward?
WATSON: I think it's very easy. I mean, they've got tough competitors ahead of them. A lot of money is going to spent against them. They've got less than four months. There's 17 or 18 states in play.
By the way, several more states may come into play, not only North Carolina, but states like Tennessee and Arkansas, maybe even Virginia might become more competitive with John Edwards on the ticket. So, I think they certainly will get together and focus on their challengers and less looking back to a competition that they had four, five months ago.
HEMMER: Carlos, quickly -- Kelly mentioned the photo op. What do you think that picture does for the campaign?
WATSON: I think it's a great photo op. I mean it's certainly not Dan Quayle looking unpresidential and bounding on the stage. And that picture that looks a lot like a Christmas card, if you will, was not a bad one at all.
In fact, the little kids, whose names were mentioned several times, might remind a lot of people of Camelot in 1960 and a young John F. Kennedy, Jr., a young Caroline Kennedy. And so, don't be surprised to see that broad picture again. They want to emphasize values which is another issue that Democrats are talking about in the last several days.
HEMMER: And they mentioned the Ohio Valley several times -- no small accident either. Thank you, Carlos.
WATSON: By the way, you and I know a little of that.
HEMMER: That we do. Thank you, Carlos. And thanks to Kelly and Bill Schneider.
COLLINS: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, there is some trouble bubbling at Microsoft over free cans of soda, or the lack thereof. Andy Serwer is going to be talking about that.
HEMMER: And also in a moment here, 13 products are recalled every day from car seats to toys. The problem is, there's a good chance you never heard about them. The trouble with recalls, ahead this hour when we continue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The number of consumer products subject to recall in recent years has risen dramatically. But "Consumer Reports" says many of those defective and potentially dangerous products are still on the road or in your home.
Five thousand recalls were issued last year. That's 60 million products. Thirty percent recalled vehicles, they do remain in use, as do 50 percent of toys clothing and appliances. And 75 percent of recalled car seats haven't even been returned.
A full investigation is now featured in the August issue of "Consumer Reports."
So joining us this morning, Todd Marks, "Consumer Reports" senior editor to talk about all this.
Hey, these numbers that we just talked about very alarming. Is it really that bad?
TODD MARKS, SENIOR EDITOR, "CONSUMER REPORTS": Well, you know what the problem is, it's a good news/bad news scenario. People have more access to consumer information today regarding recalled products and getting the word out, but they're not hearing about them. That's the big problem. Mostly people don't know that these products are out there.
COLLINS: OK. So, there definitely is an issue to talk about with consumer responsibility. If you have one of these products -- which most of those do, car, I you have a child, car seat -- you've got to do the research. Where do you go, how do you do that?
MARKS: Well, one of the biggest booms to increasing consumer awareness of recalls is a site that the government itself created. It's sort of a web portal to all things recall related.
It came out in November. It's called recalls.gov. And you can find breaking information regarding recalls on that site almost as it happens.
COLLINS: OK. But getting back to the vehicles now for a moment. They seem to have done a pretty good job of notification. Why is that? And why has it gotten better?
MARKS: Well, with vehicles it's almost a no-brainer because each state in the union has its own motor vehicle department. There are vehicle registration records where you keep VIN numbers, vehicle identification numbers. So, they have a list of all registered owners.
Even so, about 72 percent -- the number has stayed pretty firm in recent years -- have been repaired. But that means 28 percent haven't been repaired.
COLLINS: You're right. Now, there is a system in place that is supposed to protect consumers, at least to some degree, something like six agencies working together to watch all of these things.
Would you say that there is some sort of breakdown, though, in that system?
MARKS: Well, you know, there are six agencies, but they're not always working together. And that's part of the problem.
The fact of the matter is there are six disparate agencies all with their own rules and regulations. There is no one recall czar that can raise the fist of fury and demand that problem products be removed from shelves immediately. It can't happen.
These agencies are empowered to go to court, but with their limited resources they have to pick their spots really carefully. That means they can't fight every fight.
COLLINS: Sure, it definitely does. But before we go, I just quickly want to mention that Web site once again so you can kind of take it into your own hands, should you want to do that -- recalls.gov.
And you can find out much more about all kinds of different recalls for different products that you may own.
Todd Marks, thanks for your time.
MARKS: My pleasure.
COLLINS: I appreciate it -- Bill?
HEMMER: Heidi, the guys are all here.
COLLINS: Uh-oh.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Indeed we are.
COLLINS: Scary.
CAFFERTY: Here's the deal. If you're a shareholder, it's called streamlining. If you work there, it's they're taking away my stuff.
Microsoft, a brand new program that they're rolling out. And Andy Serwer is here "Minding Your Own Business."
If you own stock, it's streamlining.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, it's a good thing. If you work there, it's a bad thing.
Microsoft went public in 1986, Jack. And for years, it was the ultimate start-up enriching employees and shareholders. But lately, I'd say over of past five years, that hasn't been true because the stock has went from about $60 a share to $30 a share.
Yesterday, Steve Ballmer, he's the CEO -- remember Bill Gates is the chairman now - issued his, rally the troops memo. It didn't really rally them too much. It had to do with $1 billion of cost cutting. Here's what you got at Microsoft. Stock option program, that's gone last July. Towels in locker room, they got rid of that last month.
CAFFERTY: Oh no.
SERWER: And now free sodas -- they're looking at getting rid of that as well. This company has $56 billion in cash and $10 billion shares outstanding. A lot of shareholders say, give me the cash. And they are looking to cut costs there.
CAFFERTY: All right. The market kind of got whacked around a little bit yesterday. Do you suppose any of that was the Edwards pick and the fact that, that might give a boost to the Kerry ticket?
SERWER: I don't think so
CAFFERTY: No. OK.
SERWER: I don't think so. It was oil, oil, oil. You can see here the Nasdaq falling below the vault and hammer (ph) line, below 2,000. And we're going to be looking at -- Techs also got really beat up there. You can see that. So, we'll be checking that a little bit later on today.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, sir.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
In a moment here, much more on the Kerry-Edwards ticket including why some say the Edwards pick was surprise that was not a surprise, in the end.
Top of the hour -- we continue right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired July 7, 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: We have a lot of coverage to talk about in the next couple of minutes.
Kelly Wallace is live in with us this morning. And we'll get with our senior political analyst Bill Schneider down in D.C., and Carlos Watson from Mountain View, California and his thoughts as well.
Kelly, let's start there. What do we expect this morning?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, first I'm wondering if John Kerry will be on time. He is notoriously late. So, we are looking to see if the Kerry-Edwards ticket is going to be on time. We're running a few minutes behind schedule.
This will be, though, the first joint appearance of the two men, the first time the two men and their entire families will come together before the cameras. We have a row of cameras here. And interesting -- they have separated the press with a barricade made of haystacks.
We're expecting the families to come: a photo op, maybe some comments from John Kerry. Not exactly sure if there will be any opportunity to get questions to John Kerry and John Edwards.
The families spent last night together. We're told the atmosphere, in the words of one adviser, was very relaxed. They had dinner, veal tenderloins and farm salad. And the two youngest Edwards' children, Emma Claire and Jack, we're told, had a ball going swimming in the outside pool.
So, what the goal here, Bill -- to show the chemistry between John Kerry and John Edwards. And again this is all part of a carefully orchestrated rollout to get the maximum bounce for this Democratic ticket.
There will be a four-day barn-storming tour across the country. They go to Ohio and Florida, battleground states today. They will also be going to New Mexico, New York, West Virginia, and wrapping up on Saturday in Edwards' home state of North Carolina -- Bill?
HEMMER: Kelly, stand by there. We're going to get to Bill Schneider for a second here.
Bill you look at polls and numbers for a living. Some of the polling we did with CNN-USA Today and Gallup found that whether or not this choice was a good or excellent one, 64 percent say, yes.
So far the Democratic faithful very happy with this choice of John Edwards.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: That's right. How does it compare with what people thought of previous choices?
Well, in 2000, 55 percent thought Dick Cheney was good choice. Fifty-three percent said that about Joe Lieberman when Gore picked him. Look back in 1988, only 44 percent thought Dan Quayle was a good choice. By the way, he did get elected, you know.
John Edwards there is at the top of the list. Edwards, you know, is a happy worrier. His positive style, his populist message were widely acclaimed. So what's not to like? Why didn't Democrats dominate him?
They didn't think he had enough experience. Does the public believe Edwards is qualified to be president? Guess what 57 percent of Americans say, yes he is.
How does that compare with other vice presidential choices, not quite as qualified as people saw Al Gore or Jack Kemp, but just as qualified as people saw Dick Cheney when he was picked in 2000.
Cheney was picked because he had long years of experience. He had been secretary of defense. But guess what? People think that John Edwards is just as qualified at Dick Cheney.
HEMMER: I want to get out to California, then and talk to Carlos Watson.
Carlos, in the coming days and weeks for that matter, we're going to hear from the Republican side quite a bit of a contrast between how John Kerry and John Edwards went at each other during the primary and caucus season. How do they now bridge that gap in those differences?
CARLOS WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think very quickly and very easily.
You'll remember in 1996 that Bob Dole and Jack Kemp on the opposite sides on a number of issues including taxes and affirmative action. And many of us remember 1980 Ronald Reagan and George Bush had shared words, including voodoo economics.
So would I don't think it will be quite as hard to bridge. You'll hear a lot of talk later on today and over the next several days about middle class economic security. You'll hear a lot of talk about health care.
And as Bill said, you'll hear a major effort on the part of Democrats to say that John Edwards is prepared to be president if, in case, he ultimately needed to step in -- Heidi?
HEMMER: All right, Carlos.
Stand by there in California -- Heidi?
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Bill, I want to get back to you, if I could, really quickly.
And a lot of people excited about this ticket, excited to see the two candidates together. How well do they really know each other? They are going to be spending quite a bit of time, I imagine, in the beginning getting to just know one another.
SCHNEIDER: Well, they have spent a lot of time already through about a six-month campaign through the Democratic nominations.
And they weren't the closest of friends. If Kerry had picked someone he really was compatible with, he probably would have picked Dick Gephardt. But you know, he picked John Edwards because Edwards fills in gaps that John Kerry has.
Kerry is not known as a charismatic campaigner. He's not known as a guy who has the common touch. Edwards has those qualities. As Bill Hemmer said, quoting -- I guess quoting "The Wall Street Journal," people are saying well Kerry picked the sizzle, not the steak.
Well, you know what Democrats are saying, we already have a steak. John Kerry is a pretty meaty guy.
COLLINS: All right. Bill, thanks a lot.
And we are looking now at the screen at Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania. And there they are: John Kerry, John Edwards, their wives both in hand, other family members and little kids that I see, of John Edwards. That would be Jack, the 4-year-old, and the little girl's name who called her mom yesterday to tell her, actually, that he had been chosen.
HEMMER: Back to Kelly Wallace. Kelly, if you can see the screen. We see the two men.
WALLACE: Yes, you can. You can see John Kerry with wife Teresa and John and Elizabeth Edwards. You were talking. It is quite funny yesterday that Emma Claire and Jack, the Edwards children.
When Elizabeth Edwards -- she was in North Carolina. We are told that when she heard the news, she heard it on TV and she didn't believe it until her husband called. And when he called, he put Emma Claire on the phone and she said, "My daddy's going to be vice president."
Well, when little Jack got on the phone, we're told he said, "Mommy, guess what, I've learned how to swim on top of the water."
Elizabeth said, "OK, honey. That's wonderful. Can I talk to Daddy, now?"
So, here you see the Edwards and the Heinz-Kerry families. For Teresa Heinz, she has her sons Chris and Andre. Her one son, John is not here. And of course we have gotten to know quite a bit of Vanessa Kerry and Alex Kerry, John Kerry's daughter. Let's listen in. HEMMER: Kelly, we're going to try and listen here, for a second. And as we watch this picture -- Don't go far Kelly. You talk about the rollout...
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to share a few thoughts with all of you.
HEMMER: Now we listen.
J. KERRY: First of all, thank you all for coming to join us this morning. This has been so special for all of us as a family. We were able to get together last night.
We want to announce today we have a new campaign manager, Jack Edwards is taking over everything. He does a wild cannonball, and the fun we've had yesterday, I'll tell you -- John arrived and we talked about the whole announcement and everything. Elizabeth was in North Carolina, and John was in Washington with the kids. And Emma Claire gets on the phone and rushes on the phone and talks to mom and says, "Mom, mom, John Kerry picked Daddy."
And then Jack wants to get on the phone. And Jack gets on the phone, he says, "Mommy, I can swim with my head above water."
He knows what's important.
This is an honor for all of us. This farm in the Allegheny -- western hills of the Allegheny Mountains has been Teresa's home, Andre Heinz and Chris Heinz' home, Johnny Heinz' home, all their lives. And all of the time Teresa's been here. It's a special place.
And Pittsburgh is a place that through the entire Ohio Valley represents the challenge here in our challenge of putting people back to work, providing health care, restoring hope.
John Edwards and his family represent a life of fighting to provide hope and opportunity for people, opening doors, making things better for people who have been hurt, helping to fight to make America fair -- the dream that he's lived, that we're all blessed to live.
We come to this with a deep, deep belief that America can do better. And today we're embarking on a new journey together, not for us, but for our country -- a journey to make our country all that it can be, to make it stronger here at home, and once again respected and influential in the world.
That is what we're setting off on.
We're excited. We had a wonderful dinner last night. We sat around. We laughed. We chatted. We talked politics, talked about funny things that happened to both of us during the race, shared experiences.
But I could not be more proud of the pick I have made. This man is ready for this job. He's ready to help lead America. He's a person of compassion and conviction, of strength. And together with Elizabeth, they represent, I think, the future that we want to fight for, for all Americans.
It's my honor to introduce to you, with the help of a lot of Americans, the next vice president of the United States and his family.
John?
(APPLAUSE)
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, first of all, this is a great privilege for me, a great opportunity to serve my country, which I love so dearly.
Also, to be here with John and Teresa and their beautiful family, to have our family, Elizabeth and Kay and Emma Claire and Jack here with me is extraordinary by itself. And we had a wonderful, wonderful night last night.
Emma Claire is nervous, she's hiding.
Yesterday when I got the call -- yesterday morning when I got the call from John, my assumption was it was another reporter calling to say, do you know anything?
I'm very pleased to have gotten the news, very pleased to be here, very pleased to have this extraordinary opportunity because this election is so important -- so important for the future of America, making America strong and creating respect for America around the world again.
And I know, because I know this guy very well. We served in the Senate together. We worked together. And then I saw him head to head during the presidential campaign. I saw the kind of strength and courage and determination that he showed.
And the truth is, it's the same strength, courage, backbone, leadership that he's shown his whole life. He showed it during his service, his heroism in Vietnam.
I mean, I got to listen to the man who served with John Kerry in Vietnam during the course of the campaign. Their stories are remarkable.
If you want to know what kind of man he is, these are men who stand behind, beside him 30 years later, who believe in him, who believe that he should be our next president. They want him to be their president. Well, I can say this for my family, I want him to be our next president.
There is so much at stake. He shares the values and the vision that I believe in. You know, I grew up in a small town in North Carolina. This is the kind of man we grew up looking up to, respecting, somebody who believed in faith and family and responsibility, and having everybody get a chance to do what they're capable of doing, not just a few. That's what this is about for us. And for so many Americans, this campaign is about the future and it's about restoring hope. People are desperate to believe again that tomorrow will be better than today.
That's what John Kerry represents for the American people. He represents hope. It's an honor to be here with all of you.
J. KERRY: I want to ask Teresa to say a word. But before I do, I want to also introduce my two daughters who just literally arrived on the red eye from a big event that they did out in California for us. And this is Vanessa and Alexandra Kerry. Both of them are here. Thank you. Tripping all over.
I'd love Teresa just to say a couple words, if she wants to.
TERESA HEINZ-KERRY, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN KERRY: Good morning. I can invite you to a chicken walk, a steer walk, a vegetable garden. But I do want to say words because this place here in Pittsburgh means an awful lot.
Pittsburgh taught me to be an American. I became an American here. The hard working people of this part of our country, so steadfast in their beliefs, in their dedication to family and to work have been very, very badly hurt.
It's been 20, 20-plus years now, almost 30, that people in this area have been hit by loss of jobs, by results of pollution. And we have worked very hard here to try and turn this place around. And we have tried, also, to do it with Chattanooga and other places around the country that have the same kind of common history and legacy.
America is full of places like the Ohio Valley, Youngstown, West Virginia, down in Tennessee. It's the same story. And it's a very nice, personally, point of departure to start this voyage together for America from a place that has been hurt, but a place that is resilient and hopeful.
And that's what we're going to do, is to bring back hope and inspire all of our country's people to be what they can be, which is optimistic, working and healthy and at peace.
Thank you.
J. KERRY: I described yesterday that we're blessed to have in Elizabeth Edwards, a woman who is both strong and brave and very, very thoughtful. She's going to be a great, great part of this team. And I'm delighted to introduce her to you.
Elizabeth?
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN EDWARDS: Thank you, John.
I cannot say how much we appreciate the opportunity that John and Teresa have given us to be part of this effort to change the direction the country is going. It's unbelievably important. And any endeavor that starts in an environment like this has got to have, have the wind at its back.
I feel completely confident about this race. We have only a few months to make certain that the rest of the country knows John and Teresa the way we do and learns what many of them know already but some of them haven't been paying as much attention -- have yet to learn. And that is, the wonder of somebody who has spent their entire lives dedicated -- both of these people have spent their entire lives -- dedicated to improving the lot of the people around them either through public service, through philanthropy, but through concern about the issues that matter in the lives of everyday human beings.
This is a tremendous opportunity for which we thank you.
J. KERRY: Thank you. We're thrilled that you're willing to do it. And Kate, thank you for being a part of this.
Kate just graduated from college and is embarking on her own career but she's joined us here. And we're very grateful for that.
Ladies and gentlemen, we're excited. We're heading to Cleveland and on from there to stops across the country today. This is the beginning of our effort to talk to America and have a conversation. It is hopeful, optimistic, positive.
Our vision is a vision that puts this country back to work and restores confidence. Our vision is one that makes America stronger and fights a more effective war on terror. Our vision will make America safer in every respect: in our health, in our schools, in our jobs and in our lives.
We need to get about that work. We can't tell you how excited we are to be a team and doing it. And it's a thrill for me to have another guy with hair on the road.
Thank you.
HEMMER: And with that, the race is on.
John Kerry saying, this is the beginning. Prior to that saying embarking on a new journey to make America stronger at home, in his words, and more influential throughout the world.
No small matter with the travel scheduled today. They are in Pennsylvania now -- 21 electoral votes. Later today, two stops in Ohio, first Cleveland then Dayton, 20 electoral votes in the buckeye state.
By the end of the day, later tonight in Florida with 27 electoral votes, the two men will travel together on their first official day along this campaign trail.
Kelly Wallace is in Pennsylvania. Bill Schneider in D.C., Carlos Watson from Mountain View, California.
As we continue our discussion, Bill, talk about the significance of the tour and the schedule that's laid out today? SCHNEIDER: Those are swing states. Those are the crucial battleground states.
The oddest thing about this election is that if you live in Texas or California or New York, there ain't going to be no campaign because those states electoral votes are already given.
Pennsylvania, where they're standing right now, where they began this campaign, and are starting out, that's a state that's a crucial swing state. President Bush has made enormous numbers of visits to Pennsylvania. It was narrowly carried by the Democrats, Al Gore in 2000. And John Kerry believes he has a secret weapon to keep Pennsylvania in the Democratic home, his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.
Her husband was a senator from Pennsylvania. They own property there. We just saw it. And they believe that with her name recognition and her deep roots in the Pittsburgh area they can hold Pennsylvania. So, it wasn't an accident that they started throughout.
COLLINS: All right, Bill. Thanks so much.
I want to get to Kelly Wallace quickly. Kelly, there is going to be some travel on the part of President Bush, as well, today going to North Carolina and also Michigan. North Carolina, home state of John Edwards.
What's going to happen there? I know that trip was actually planned before the announcement, correct?
WALLACE: It was, Heidi. That's our understanding.
The sense is, Heidi, that by having John Edwards now on this ticket, Republicans will have to spend a lot more money than they were ever planning to spend to keep North Carolina in Republican territory. George Bush there -- winning there, of course, in 2000.
So this is one sense that in current polls when it looks like John Edwards is on the ticket with John Kerry, it's a bit of a neck- and-neck race between Bush-Cheney and Kerry-Edwards.
Something else we want to point out, though. Just this picture in and of itself is something Democratic strategists think will help: a youthful senator, a young family -- some thinking might give some extra vitality to the Kerry campaign, something that some say is definitely needed, also, the appeal to middle class voters, especially in the battleground states of the Midwest.
But still questions, and Republicans are raising them, that John Kerry chose somebody whose own experience he questioned -- his own readiness for the presidency he questioned -- during the primaries. The question is, will that matter to swing voters, especially in a post-September 11th world. That's something we'll have to be watching closely -- Heidi?
HEMMER: Kelly, thanks for that.
To Carlos Watson.
Carlos, I know you're quite keen on how these two men put differences of the primary season behind. There was a bit of a reference there, too, with John Kerry throwing his arm around John Edwards talking about their differences and ending with a chuckle.
Is it easy, at this point, to forget about the past and move forward?
WATSON: I think it's very easy. I mean, they've got tough competitors ahead of them. A lot of money is going to spent against them. They've got less than four months. There's 17 or 18 states in play.
By the way, several more states may come into play, not only North Carolina, but states like Tennessee and Arkansas, maybe even Virginia might become more competitive with John Edwards on the ticket. So, I think they certainly will get together and focus on their challengers and less looking back to a competition that they had four, five months ago.
HEMMER: Carlos, quickly -- Kelly mentioned the photo op. What do you think that picture does for the campaign?
WATSON: I think it's a great photo op. I mean it's certainly not Dan Quayle looking unpresidential and bounding on the stage. And that picture that looks a lot like a Christmas card, if you will, was not a bad one at all.
In fact, the little kids, whose names were mentioned several times, might remind a lot of people of Camelot in 1960 and a young John F. Kennedy, Jr., a young Caroline Kennedy. And so, don't be surprised to see that broad picture again. They want to emphasize values which is another issue that Democrats are talking about in the last several days.
HEMMER: And they mentioned the Ohio Valley several times -- no small accident either. Thank you, Carlos.
WATSON: By the way, you and I know a little of that.
HEMMER: That we do. Thank you, Carlos. And thanks to Kelly and Bill Schneider.
COLLINS: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, there is some trouble bubbling at Microsoft over free cans of soda, or the lack thereof. Andy Serwer is going to be talking about that.
HEMMER: And also in a moment here, 13 products are recalled every day from car seats to toys. The problem is, there's a good chance you never heard about them. The trouble with recalls, ahead this hour when we continue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The number of consumer products subject to recall in recent years has risen dramatically. But "Consumer Reports" says many of those defective and potentially dangerous products are still on the road or in your home.
Five thousand recalls were issued last year. That's 60 million products. Thirty percent recalled vehicles, they do remain in use, as do 50 percent of toys clothing and appliances. And 75 percent of recalled car seats haven't even been returned.
A full investigation is now featured in the August issue of "Consumer Reports."
So joining us this morning, Todd Marks, "Consumer Reports" senior editor to talk about all this.
Hey, these numbers that we just talked about very alarming. Is it really that bad?
TODD MARKS, SENIOR EDITOR, "CONSUMER REPORTS": Well, you know what the problem is, it's a good news/bad news scenario. People have more access to consumer information today regarding recalled products and getting the word out, but they're not hearing about them. That's the big problem. Mostly people don't know that these products are out there.
COLLINS: OK. So, there definitely is an issue to talk about with consumer responsibility. If you have one of these products -- which most of those do, car, I you have a child, car seat -- you've got to do the research. Where do you go, how do you do that?
MARKS: Well, one of the biggest booms to increasing consumer awareness of recalls is a site that the government itself created. It's sort of a web portal to all things recall related.
It came out in November. It's called recalls.gov. And you can find breaking information regarding recalls on that site almost as it happens.
COLLINS: OK. But getting back to the vehicles now for a moment. They seem to have done a pretty good job of notification. Why is that? And why has it gotten better?
MARKS: Well, with vehicles it's almost a no-brainer because each state in the union has its own motor vehicle department. There are vehicle registration records where you keep VIN numbers, vehicle identification numbers. So, they have a list of all registered owners.
Even so, about 72 percent -- the number has stayed pretty firm in recent years -- have been repaired. But that means 28 percent haven't been repaired.
COLLINS: You're right. Now, there is a system in place that is supposed to protect consumers, at least to some degree, something like six agencies working together to watch all of these things.
Would you say that there is some sort of breakdown, though, in that system?
MARKS: Well, you know, there are six agencies, but they're not always working together. And that's part of the problem.
The fact of the matter is there are six disparate agencies all with their own rules and regulations. There is no one recall czar that can raise the fist of fury and demand that problem products be removed from shelves immediately. It can't happen.
These agencies are empowered to go to court, but with their limited resources they have to pick their spots really carefully. That means they can't fight every fight.
COLLINS: Sure, it definitely does. But before we go, I just quickly want to mention that Web site once again so you can kind of take it into your own hands, should you want to do that -- recalls.gov.
And you can find out much more about all kinds of different recalls for different products that you may own.
Todd Marks, thanks for your time.
MARKS: My pleasure.
COLLINS: I appreciate it -- Bill?
HEMMER: Heidi, the guys are all here.
COLLINS: Uh-oh.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Indeed we are.
COLLINS: Scary.
CAFFERTY: Here's the deal. If you're a shareholder, it's called streamlining. If you work there, it's they're taking away my stuff.
Microsoft, a brand new program that they're rolling out. And Andy Serwer is here "Minding Your Own Business."
If you own stock, it's streamlining.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, it's a good thing. If you work there, it's a bad thing.
Microsoft went public in 1986, Jack. And for years, it was the ultimate start-up enriching employees and shareholders. But lately, I'd say over of past five years, that hasn't been true because the stock has went from about $60 a share to $30 a share.
Yesterday, Steve Ballmer, he's the CEO -- remember Bill Gates is the chairman now - issued his, rally the troops memo. It didn't really rally them too much. It had to do with $1 billion of cost cutting. Here's what you got at Microsoft. Stock option program, that's gone last July. Towels in locker room, they got rid of that last month.
CAFFERTY: Oh no.
SERWER: And now free sodas -- they're looking at getting rid of that as well. This company has $56 billion in cash and $10 billion shares outstanding. A lot of shareholders say, give me the cash. And they are looking to cut costs there.
CAFFERTY: All right. The market kind of got whacked around a little bit yesterday. Do you suppose any of that was the Edwards pick and the fact that, that might give a boost to the Kerry ticket?
SERWER: I don't think so
CAFFERTY: No. OK.
SERWER: I don't think so. It was oil, oil, oil. You can see here the Nasdaq falling below the vault and hammer (ph) line, below 2,000. And we're going to be looking at -- Techs also got really beat up there. You can see that. So, we'll be checking that a little bit later on today.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, sir.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
In a moment here, much more on the Kerry-Edwards ticket including why some say the Edwards pick was surprise that was not a surprise, in the end.
Top of the hour -- we continue right after this.
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