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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Interview with Nancy Pelosi; U.S. Marines In Iraq Honor Fallen Soldiers Today; Interview with Christopher Dodd

Aired November 03, 2004 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now, race over. President Bush the son achieves what his father could not: a second term in the White House.
Also, red America. The latest snapshot of the country we live in. Is there any bright spot left for blue?

In U.S. politics, I'll ask the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi and another Democrat, Senator Chris Dodd, who plans to announce this hour whether he'll run for his party's leadership in the U.S. Senate.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: Four more years. President Bush declares victory.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will do all I can do to deserve your trust. A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation.

ANNOUNCER: In the light of day, Kerry concedes.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Today, I hope that we can begin the healing.

ANNOUNCER: The next administration, new faces and new policies?

A new Congress and an aging court. Keys to carrying out the Bush agenda.

And this...

War in Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never wanted to be here in the first place. Now he's in a better place. A place where there's no fear.

ANNOUNCER: As U.S. troops pay a heavy price, can the president finish what he started?

This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, November 3, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: Hello from New York City. After an anxious night, a triumphant day. President Bush promised to make the nation stronger and better today after becoming the first Republican president in 20 years to win reelection. Even though two states, Iowa and New Mexico, remain undecided, President Bush has 274 electoral votes. He has 51 percent of the popular vote, compared to 48 percent for John Kerry. 1 percent for Ralph Nader. The numbers, 59 million plus for Bush. 55,435,808 for Kerry, 394,794 for Ralph Nader.

Let's go immediately to our White House correspondent, Dana Bash with more on this historic day -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. Well, you know, it was just about this time yesterday that the mood at the Bush campaign shifted from concerned to confidence that the president was going to hear the phrase that he's been waiting 12 years to hear. That is, a second Bush term. Now, until about 5:30 this morning, the White House, the Bush campaign planned on the president actually coming and delivering a victory speech here at the Reagan Building without a concession from John Kerry, but they decided to hold off until he got that phone call from the senator which happened this morning. It was about four minutes in length. And during that call the two men talked about the need to unite the country. And that was a central theme in the president's speech here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support. And I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust. A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one constitution, and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together there is no limit to the greatness of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: And the president's opponents are likely to hear that and question it because, of course, the president did run a campaign that was very much targeted at getting at his own voters, very much targeted at playing up conservative issues, conservative themes. Nevertheless, the president did give a quintessential George W. Bush speech, very short in length, 10 minutes long, looking forward. But nevertheless, his campaign aides are spending some time looking back, lifting the veil a little bit in what their strategy was to get this win, talking a little bit about the way they tried to use what Matthew Dowd, his senior strategist called cutting edge technology to really reach out to voters in different ways, not going through the mainstream media. We'll hear more about that, I'm sure, in the days ahead, Wolf.

BLITZER: Dana Bash in Washington, thank you very much.

President Bush declared victory shortly after Senator Kerry gave an emotional concession speech. Our national correspondent, Frank Buckley, joining us live from Boston with that -- Frank. FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, campaign aides quickly organized what was the last event of the campaign with Senator Kerry here to make his formal announcement of his decision. Senator Kerry, warmly received along with Senator John Edwards, his running mate, by staffers and family and friends. Senator Kerry said that he wouldn't have given up if there had been a chance of winning, but the votes just weren't there in Ohio. As you said, it was an emotional day for staffers and for Kerry who looked back on the campaign that was.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERRY: It was here that we began our campaign for the presidency. And all we had was hope and a vision for a better America. It was a privilege and a gift to spend two years traveling this country coming to know so many of you. I wish that I could just wrap you up in my arms and embrace each and every one of you individually all across this nation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: And Senator John Edwards, his running mate, also spoke briefly. He acknowledged the voters who voted for their ticket, some of them standing in line for up to ten hours. He said, all of their votes would be counted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It was a long night and a long morning. And even though the outcome won't change, I want you to know that we will continue to fight for every vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: And as you said, Wolf, it was an emotional day for many campaign aides and family members and friends who were here at Faneuil Hall. They thought they were in a very strong position toward the end of the day yesterday. But then suddenly, Florida fell and then Ohio became very tight. And then overnight, early this morning, they said they realized they didn't have the votes in Ohio. Senator Kerry was urged apparently by some of the lawyers on the team to move into Ohio and file suit. He said no, he didn't want to do that. He didn't want to put the country through that -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Frank Buckley in Boston, thank you very much.

Now that most of the votes have been counted, almost all of them, one question remains. Why were the exit polls so far off? Our senior political analyst Bill Schneider looking into that. Is there a simple answer?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, yes. The exit polls were no less reliable, no more unreliable than usual. The early exit polls that come out during the day are always unreliable, because they're based on partial results. They're incomplete samples. As the day and night go on, the exit polls become more reliable. What happens is they get out. There's something called bloggers on the Internet and the exit poll information leaks in a way that it didn't 20 or 30 years ago. And everybody talks about it and it comes to affect the campaigns. So you have Democrats looking at it and saying oh, Kerry's two points ahead and they're preparing their resumes and Republicans are becoming forlorn based on unreliable information.

BLITZER: And those early exit polls were showing Kerry doing better in Florida for example than he eventually wound up doing, causing some consternation, some confusion out there. That's not unusual, as you correctly point out. Let's talk about the young voters. We were expecting a huge young voter turnout. Did we get it?

SCHNEIDER: Here's what happened with young voters. It's interesting. There was supposed to be a throng of young voters. This is how they voted in 2000. Between Bush and Gore, it was even. 46 percent for Bush, 48 percent for Gore. This time, the idea was to register them and have them come out for John Kerry. Let's look at what actually happened in 2004. They did. 54 percent of the young voters, under 30, that's not quite my age group, but they're there. 54 percent voted for John Kerry. And that was the only age group in the electorate that actually supported John Kerry. So what happened? They did vote for Kerry, but they were 17 percent of the voters this time and they were exactly the same as last time, 17 percent.

BLITZER: Didn't go up much. All right, Bill Schneider, thanks very much.

Republicans have renewed their lease on Capitol Hill, boosting their majorities in both bodies. As it stands now the new Senate will have 55 Republican, 44 Democrats and one Independent. In the House of Representatives Republicans have added at least two seats. Two Louisiana races will be decided in runoffs and a New York race is still too close to call. For more on the balance of power in Congress, let's go to our congressional correspondent Ed Henry -- Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Wolf. That's right. Republicans up here are riding high, particularly in the Senate with those 55 seats now. They believe they have a great chance of passing much of President Bush's second term agenda. Republicans believe that these victories were a direct repudiation of Democratic obstructionism that in their eyes was embodied in Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, who was defeated last night in South Dakota, the first Senate leader to go down in re-election in 52 years. Daschle today, a very disappointed Daschle, greeted supporters in South Dakota.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D), MINORITY LEADER: So beginning in January, I may not serve in the Senate, but that work is not done and I will continue to work for the state of South Dakota and the people of our state so long as I have an opportunity to do so. We're going to do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: This obviously creates a hole at the top of the Democratic leadership. Senator Harry Reid, Daschle's number two, today announced that he hopes to fill that job. He thinks he has the votes for it. But Senator Chris Dodd is taking a look at the race. He's somebody who, if Democrats in their time of need now, after this shattering election, feel that they need someone maybe more liberal, more aggressive than Harry Reid, they may want to turn to Dodd. Now Dodd has been in contact with colleagues about the potential of jumping into the race, but he has not yet announced whether or not he'll get in.

As I mentioned, Harry Reid and his supporters very confident that whether Chris Dodd gets in or not, Harry Reid will win.

A much different mood on the Republican side. Today, Senator George Allen was breaking out the champagne at a press conference on Capitol Hill. They're very pumped. They think they're going to be able to push through more tax cuts, more conservative judges. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist as well feels emboldened. He went on a fly-around today to several states to greet some of the winning candidates for the Republicans. Frist talking very tough about an aggressive agenda in the second term for President Bush. And though, like President Bush, Frist today was trying to give a little olive branch to the Democrats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BILL FRIST (R), MAJORITY LEADER: Now is the time and I think by the end of today, when all these elections are wrapped up, for us all to concentrate on governing, on working together, on reaching across the aisle, on getting the very best out of everybody at the table, whoever they are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: But despite some of that happy talk and the bipartisanship, there's a not so subtle warning from Republicans right now to Democrats. Look what happened to Tom Daschle. If you stand in the way of President Bush's agenda, you could be next. They're going to be going very hard against Democrats from red states who are up for reelection in 2006 -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Ed Henry reporting from Capitol Hill, thank you very much.

So the Democrats, are they in disarray? How are they going to regroup? Coming up, I'll speak with Senator Chris Dodd. He'll announce on this program whether he'll challenge Harry Reid to become the minority leader in the Senate. That's coming up.

Also, comings and goings in the second term. Who's in, who's out of the Bush administration? We'll look at possibilities.

Tears and rage. U.S. marines preparing to storm an Iraqi insurgent stronghold, while mourning the latest casualties. Plus lessons learned. What's changed in the networks' election night coverage? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The war in Iraq was a key theme in the presidential campaign. As the votes are being counted at home, U.S. marines in Iraq were honoring those who won't be coming home. CNN's Karl Penhaul is with the marines near Fallujah, a hotbed of the insurgency where U.S. forces right now are mobilizing for what may be a major offensive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Remembering fallen comrades. A memorial service for U.S. marines killed in a suicide car bomb attack this past weekend.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.

PENHAUL: Hardened warriors paying tribute to dead buddies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never wanted to be here in the first place. But now he's in a better place. A place where there's no fear.

PENHAUL: These marines begin piecing together memories of the ones they've lost.

Sergeant Kelley Courtney loved to write poems. Lance Corporal John Byrd, a motorcycle fanatic. Lance Corporal Michael Scarborough dreamed of running a logging company. Lance Corporal Travis fox, full of southern charm. Private First Class John Lukac took pride in his shooting ability. Lance Corporal Andy Riedel, a great marine and a better man. Lance Corporal Jeremy Bow, a devout Mormon, great machine gunner. Corporal Chris Lapka quit college to serve his country.

The survivors of that Iraqi insurgent attack unafraid to show raw emotions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It breaks my heart to lose one of my brothers. It's happened so fast and it's very shocking. And I know you guys are going through the same pain.

PENHAUL: The attack took place Saturday a few miles east of here. A marine truck like this one had broken down and was being towed when a suicide bomber drove an SUV into the middle of a convoy. This Navy medic was blown out of the truck but survived with second degree burns.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I looked back and the vehicle was on fire. And I saw some of my buddies still laying down on the vehicle.

PENHAUL: Now, as these marines wait for the order to storm the rebel stronghold of Falluja, they're battling with sadness and rage. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He'd want us to burn Falluja down for what those bastards did to him and that's exactly what's going to happen. .

PENHAUL: Officers call on them to focus the anger. And as they pray for fallen friends, they have time to reflect too on their own mortality. Karl Penhaul, CNN, near Falluja.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Democrats in defeat. Can they make a comeback in Congress? I'll ask the house Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Reshaping the Supreme Court. A once in a generation opportunity for the president?

Cabinet shuffle. We'll take a look at who might be moving out in a second term turnover.

Hands down, why Florida wasn't even close this time. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: In the end, it all came down to Ohio, where counting of provisional ballots hasn't even started. But a look at the raw numbers shows why John Kerry conceded. Let's look at those numbers in Ohio. With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, the president with 51 percent, John Kerry with 49 percent. A clear, decisive edge going to the president. Even with provisional ballots uncounted, it becomes clear to the Democrats, and it did very early in the day, that they simply did not have enough votes to overcome the president's lead in the Buckeye State.

There was no real cliffhanger in Florida, where President Bush barely eeked out a victory few years. This time around, it was a solid win. Four years ago, 534 votes spelled the difference. This time around, the president had 52 percent compared to Kerry's 47 percent of the vote, 1 percent going to Ralph Nader.

Our national correspondent Susan Candiotti is in Orlando right now with a look at how the president did it -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well the answer, Wolf, appears to be pretty much what happened nationwide. The Republicans simply doing a better job of getting out the vote, especially among those concerned about two things: Moral values and anxiety over terrorism.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every vote counts.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Turnout, turnout, turnout.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go, go, go! CANDIOTTI: This near, nearly 2 million more Floridians went to the polls than in 2000. President Bush besting Senator Kerry by about five percentage points. Forget a mere 537 votes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hurry, go. You got to be in line. If you're in line at 7:00, you get to vote.

CANDIOTTI: Strong Bush support came from those who credit his faith-based values and anti-abortion stand, say exit polls.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Never been more proud of my president. Somebody who will stand up and confess that he loves God and pray and I'm proud of him.

CANDIOTTI: Regular church-goers also came out for Bush in big numbers, up nearly 70 percent over 2000.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of people relate to Bush, because Bush is openly religious.

CANDIOTTI: The Latino vote, about 52 percent to 44 percent helped push Bush over the top, as predicted, especially along the I-4 corridor across central Florida.

JAMES COOK, REPUBLICAN VOLUNTEER: Family values, hard work, you know, the American dream. And that's where the Hispanic community is and that's where we offered them.

CANDIOTTI: In Oceola County, where Al Gore won 4 years ago, Bush won easily here. A third of the voters were Hispanic and Bush won a majority among them.

COOK: It will be somewhere, 50s, in the upper 50s.

CANDIOTTI: CNN exit polls show the war on terror was overwhelmingly the key issue for Bush Florida backers. The war in Iraq only 25 percent. The president's brother sees it this way.

GOV. JEB BUSH, (R) FLORIDA: I think there's a belief in our state that it was inappropriate to change leaders during a time of crisis, a time of war. And the president clearly, I think, explained to the voters of this state that we are at war. Senator Kerry couldn't quite get there.

CANDIOTTI: This Kerry supporter, who flew all the way from Alaska to volunteer in Florida, is circumspect.

DAN LASOTA, KERRY SUPPORTER: There's one consolation that I wasn't sitting home and doing nothing. At least I gave it my all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: Governor Jeb Bush admits his brother faces a divided nation. As he puts it, the president will have to reach out and soothe the wounds, adding, I know he will do it -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Susan Candiotti in Orlando, thank you very much.

We're standing by to speak with Senator Chris Dodd. He will announce on this program whether or not he will try to become the next minority leader, the next Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate. We're standing by for that.

Also, America's shifting loyalty. As the U.S. moves to the right , is there any political power left for the left? The House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi will also weigh in.

In our look around the world, how the international community is reacting to the presidential results. Plus, with 4 more years of President Bush and the illness of the Chief Justice William Rehnquist what could be the future makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court. We'll take a closer look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Senator Chris Dodd, about to announce whether or not he will try to become the Senate Democratic leader. We're standing by to speak with him. He'll make that announcement on this program. First, though a quick check of some other stories now in the news.

Voters in 11 states have approved constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. They include Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. Gay rights activists are already mounting legal challenges in some of those states.

California voters have approved a $3 billion bond measure to fund state embryonic stem cell research. The measure was designed to get around restrictions put in place by President Bush. Proposition 71, as it's known, was supported by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

With President Bush's reelection, and the illness of the Chief Justice William Rehnquist, one area of keen focus is expected to be on the future makeup of the United States Supreme Court. Joining us now over at the Supreme Court with what might happen next, our national correspondent, Bob Franken -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, during the campaign, the issue of succession of the Supreme Court was not much of an issue. It is now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over: It is premature to assume that William Rehnquist, the chief justice, will not be able to swear in President Bush once more.

BUSH: I, George Walker Bush do solemnly swear.

WILLIAM REHNQUIST, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT: That I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States. FRANKEN: But he has been too ill to take his place on the bench this week, increasing already intense speculation the Supreme Court could change dramatically during a second Bush term.

CROWD: Women must decide our fate.

FRANKEN: Abortion is the court flash point. A change could affect many issues.

TOM GOLDSTEIN, SUPREME COURT ATTORNEY: There's likely to be more restriction on abortion. There's likely to be less affirmative action. There's likely to be more involvement with the government in religion.

FRANKEN: If Rehnquist were to step down, Bush would almost certainly nominate another conservative to replace him. But the oldest justice, John Paul Stevens, is the court's leading liberal. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, also considered liberal, has had health problems, as has Sandra Day O'Connor, the powerful so-called swing vote. There's speculation she might retire, but also speculation she'd be consensus candidate for chief justice.

An increasingly Republican Senate might embolden the president to nominate conservatives in the mold of Justices Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia. Liberal groups are already gearing up for a Senate confirmation fight.

RALPH NEAS, PRESIDENT, PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY: My guess is, there will be a long confrontation that will be really at the highest levels in terms of the issues at stake.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: Any nomination fight could easily last for months, because judicial appointments, Wolf, are widely considered to be a president's most lasting legacy -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Bob Franken in Washington, thank you very much.

Presidents traditionally begin a second term with a Cabinet shuffle. This president will be no exception.

Our Kathleen Koch is listening to Washington whispers on who will stay and who will go -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this is a president who puts a premium on loyalty, who, as many people know, likes to be surrounded by advisers that he's comfortable with. But we're hearing that there will likely be new some faces at the Cabinet table.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gentlemen, the president of the United States!

KOCH (voice-over): The buzz about the second-term Bush Cabinet centers on possible changes in the president's national security team, from Secretary of State Colin Powell...

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I serve at the pleasure of the president.

KOCH: To Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who this spring faced calls for his resignation.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's an important part of my Cabinet and he'll stay in my Cabinet.

MICHAEL WEISSKOPF, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, "TIME": I would say that, on the defense side, he'll leave most everyone in place as long as they'll want to stay. I would expect Secretary Powell to move over very quickly, possibly turning General Ashcroft, who has been there for four years, had some health problems, might move out, particularly because he was a symbol for the far right.

KOCH: It's rumored National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice might switch to another role, and there's widespread speculation Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge will leave.

ALLAN LICHTMAN, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: So the continuity we saw in the national security and foreign policy team I think is going to be replaced by fundamental change, which is quite typical of second- term presidents, looking from Eisenhower through Clinton.

KOCH: Other possible departures, Commerce Secretary Donald Evans, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, Education Secretary Roderick Paige and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. Important now, say some, is including Democrats.

JACK QUINN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: That's the sort of gesture the president needs to employ to let the American people know that he intends to be a president of the American people and all the American people, and not just the leader of a political faction.

KOCH: Much of the rest of the Bush Cabinet is expected to stay. And some prominent Republicans are clearly reflecting on joining them.

RUDOLPH GIULIANI (R), FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK: I'm saying I'm not interested. No, you never say no to the president of the United States. Absolutely not.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: So, as hopefuls begin to jockey for position, those who have served are now beginning to plan new lives, often involving more time with their families and more lucrative jobs in the private sector -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kathleen Koch in Washington -- thank you, Kathleen.

The longest night gives way to a new day and renewed messages of unity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BUSH: I will do all I can do to deserve your trust.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The president officially accepts and Kerry officially concedes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERRY: Earlier today, I spoke to President Bush and I offered him and Laura our congratulations on their victory. We had a good conversation. And we talked about the danger of division in our country and the need, the desperate need for unity, for finding the common ground, coming together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Kerry pledges his support. More from both men, that's coming up.

Plus, a tale of several networks, how it all played out on live television. We'll examine the differences.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The Democratic Party suffering a major, major setback across the board yesterday. Coming up, I'll speak to two Democratic leaders in the U.S. Congress, Nancy Pelosi and Chris Dodd. That's coming up.

In a victory speech today, the president told cheering supporters his win over John Kerry was historic and he called on Kerry's supporters for help in his next term. Here's an excerpt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust.

A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one Constitution, and one future that binds us.

And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

BUSH: I want to thank the thousands of our supporters across our country. I want to thank you for your hugs on the rope lines. I want thank you for your prayers on the rope lines. I want to thank you for your kind words on the rope lines.

I want to thank you for everything you did to make the calls and to put up the signs, to talk to your neighbors and to get out the vote.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

BUSH: In four historic years, America has been given great tasks and faced them with strength and courage.

Our people have restored the vigor of this economy and shown resolve and patience in a new kind of war.

Our military has brought justice to the enemy and honor to America.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

BUSH: Our nation has defended itself and served the freedom of all mankind.

I'm proud to lead such an amazing country, and I'm proud to lead it forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Saying he wished things had turned out a little differently, Senator John Kerry today chose Boston's historic Faneuil Hall as the setting for emotional concession speech. He choked up several times.

Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm sorry that we got here a little bit late and little bit short.

Earlier today, I spoke to President Bush and I offered him and Laura our congratulations on their victory.

We had a good conversation, and we talked about the danger of division in our country and the need -- the desperate need for unity, for finding the common ground, coming together.

Today I hope that we can begin the healing.

(APPLAUSE)

KERRY: In America, it is vital that every vote count, and that every vote be counted. But the outcome should be decided by voters, not a protracted legal process. I would not give up this fight if there was a chance that we would prevail.

It was a privilege and a gift to spend two years traveling this country, coming to know so many of you.

I wish that I could just wrap you up in my arms and embrace each and every one of you individually all across this nation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

KERRY: I did my best to express my vision and my hopes for America. We worked hard and we fought hard, and I wish that things had turned out a little differently.

But in an American election, there are no losers, because whether or not our candidates are successful, the next morning we all wake up as Americans.

So with a grateful heart, I leave this campaign with a prayer that has even greater meaning to me now that I've come to know our vast country so much better thanks to all of you and what a privilege it has been to do so.

And that prayer is very simple: God bless America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this. Did the election go the way you thought it would? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results a little bit later in this broadcast.

A media muddle, same facts, different presentations, a look at how the various news outlets handled the election results. We'll get to that.

First, though, a quick check at how the international community is reacting to the presidential elections.

Here's CNN's Jonathan Mann.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Many international leaders waited for Senator Kerry to concede before congratulating President Bush. But, at one point, it looked like British Prime Minister Tony Blair was about to jump the gun.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I'm sure the whole House would join with me in sending our warmest congratulations to President Karzai of Afghanistan.

(LAUGHTER)

MANN: Mr. Blair was referring to the official declaration today that Hamid Karzai won last month's presidential election in Afghanistan.

Later that day, after the U.S. election was officially settled, the British prime minister did offer his congratulations to President Bush.

BLAIR: Such is the strength of the United States that the election of the president is an event of genuine significance right around the world. It is of particular significance to Britain.

MANN: One of the most outspoken reactions to the Bush victory came from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Putin, who has battled terrorist attacks inside Russia, said the U.S. election results prove Americans will not give in to terror.

While many European leaders have been sharply critical of President Bush's leadership over the past four years, European reaction to his reelection was often polite and positive.

PHILIPPE LABRO, AUTHOR: The French have to accept the idea that Bush is back for four more years. It's a reality. So -- and you cannot avoid America.

MANN: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi praised President Bush's reelection, saying it means America will promote freedom and democracy.

In the Middle East, much of the reaction on the Arab street was negative. In Baghdad, this man said, President Bush came to Iraq as a liberator, but Iraqis have not benefited. Several U.S. Marines stationed in Iraq, however, cheered the election's outcome.

CORPSMAN JUSTIN OLIVER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: No, it's not 100 percent, but most of -- myself here and the Marines here, we agree that the commander in chief at this point is doing a great job. And keep him going.

MANN: And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: For the most part, there's one word that sums of television coverage of the election night returns, that word being caution.

Here to tell us more, CNN's Brian Todd -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, I imagine you might have heard that word a few times in your pre-election briefings. As last night progressed into this morning, a clear pattern of deliberation was seen throughout the coverage a, strategy that was four years in the making.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): It seems everyone got the memo.

CHRIS MATTHEWS, MSNBC ANCHOR: We have got a vote going on in Florida that is so close. We've got a vote in Ohio that is so close. Pennsylvania, where I come from, that was supposed to be a Democratic state a few weeks ago. That is so close.

We don't even have a result in New Hampshire yet. Much less do we have results in the Midwest yet. It's just because it's not incompetence on anybody's part. It's caution.

TODD: That was the watchword throughout the night, according to one network executive, the broadcast and cable news networks determined not repeat those bold calls and corrections of 2000.

HOWARD KURTZ, "RELIABLE SOURCES": Nobody wanted to be out there with a prediction that turned out to be wrong. As a result, they were slower. They were more deliberate. They didn't go out on a limb.

TODD: With two exceptions. Between 12:30 and 1:00 a.m. Eastern time, Fox News, then NBC made the boldest projections.

TOM BROKAW, NBC ANCHOR: We have to await -- this race is all but over. President Bush is our projected winner in the state of Ohio.

TODD: The other networks stayed away from that call all night.

BLITZER: Too close to call in Ohio.

TODD: How much of a stretch was that projection for Fox and NBC?

REM RIEDER, AMERICAN JOURNALISM REVIEW: It was a little bolder than most of the night, but I don't think, you know, there was really a journalistic crime or anything like that.

TODD: Still, for that growing constituency of viewers who flip around the dial, it did add some confusion. Which network do you believe? Most news organizations got their results from the central consortium called the National Election Pool. It was then up to the network's own experts to interpret those numbers.

KURTZ: It's kind of like letting people inside the newsroom. They can see the raw process. They can see the judgments that different networks make, some being cautious, some being not so cautious, and they can make up their own minds about who's right, who's wrong and what remains to be seen.

TODD: Network executives and news watchdog groups tell CNN they generally believe the cautious approach worked, even though it made for long stretches of not exactly breathless television.

RIEDER: You have great anticipation. You want to know who's going to win. At 7:00, you turn on the television. You're fired up. And then, except for a few predictable states being awarded, it takes a long time to really learn anything.

TODD: CBS viewers could have filled that void by keeping count of what are now widely referred to as Ratherisms.

DAN RATHER, CBS NEWS: This presidential race is hotter than the devil's anvil.

We're on these returns like white on rice.

George Bush is sweeping through the South like a big wheel through a Delta cotton field. In Missouri, the Show-Me state, show me insufficient data.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: Now, Wolf, as you know, there were a lot of phrases like that used, insufficient data, too close to call. One word you didn't hear very much, if at all, the word declare. The networks all took pains to say, we project, a much safer term. One media critic told me, expect that trend to continue -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Brian Todd in Washington, thanks very much.

So what happens now to the Democratic Party?

Let's get some insight, thought. Senator Chris Dodd is a Democrat from Connecticut. He is joining us now live.

Speculation rampant that you're going to challenge Harry Reid, as you know, Senator Dodd, for the leadership post in the Democratic Party in the Senate. Are you?

SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: Well, Wolf, I've got a lot of encouragement from some of my colleagues who called and asked me to consider it.

But I've decided I can better serve my party by being involved in some of these issues. And I think Harry Reid is going to be our choice of leader. He's been a good majority whip, and he's going to have my support. I think he'll have the support of a majority of our colleagues. And we need to pull together.

We don't need a battle right now in the caucus of Democrats, whatever the number will finally be. We'll need to pull together, understand what happened last night. This was a very profound election, had a profound effect on the country, but also on our Democratic Party. And we better take stock of what occurred here, reassess why we're not connecting as well as we ought to be with the American public, particularly on economic issues, on issues of foreign policy, but also on social value questions.

We need to do a far better job if we are going to have any hope of gaining a majority in the House or the Senate or winning the presidency again.

BLITZER: Senator Dodd, you lost the White House. You lost seats in the Senate. You lost seats in the House of Representatives.

DODD: Right.

BLITZER: What's wrong with the Democratic Party?

DODD: Well, I don't know the answer to that, Wolf.

I think we need to take some time and think about that. And, clearly, the major issues, I think the country did think we're going in the wrong direction on a number of very important questions, the economy, the conduct of foreign policy, health care issues, joblessness.

I think, on questions involving the cultural issues, some of the social questions, I don't think we spoke as clearly as we could have on some of those questions. We're losing ground with constituencies in those areas. Now, that's a quick analysis. There may be more profound answers to that question you've asked. But it's one we Democrats have to spend some time thinking about.

This wasn't just another election, where we lost a series of Senate races and a presidential race. I think this has been happening over the last number of years. And if we don't step back, take a good hard look at this, reorganize ourselves and address the American people very directly, we're going to be in trouble for years to come.

BLITZER: The president reached out to Democrats, saying he wants their support. He wants to work with you. Are you ready to work with the president?

DODD: Well, that's always been the case for most of us here.

And I heard the president today. I commend him for his language today. We heard some of this language back four years ago, the uniter, not a divider. I welcome the language by the president. I'm looking forward to the actions as well. We've got a lot of important work to do in this country. And, certainly, we need to try and get us back together. The partisanship is dividing the nation in far too serious a way. We all bear responsibility to get us back on track, working together for common causes.

BLITZER: Who do you see as the leader of the Democratic Party now?

DODD: Well, Nancy Pelosi is a wonderful leader in the House, done a terrific job. She did a wonderful job during this campaign all over the country. I mentioned Harry Reid in the Senate.

We've got a number of well-known spokespeople in our party. We've got good governors. We've got mayors. I don't think there's any one person here. There are various elements of our party representing state, local and national offices that I think need to be heard collectively, rather than any one person emerging as the leader.

BLITZER: Chris Dodd, thanks very much for joining us.

DODD: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Let's go to Capitol Hill now, get some reaction from the House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi of California.

I'll ask you the same question, Congresswoman. What happened to the Democrats?

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: Well, last night was not a good night for Democrats. That's for sure. And I share Senator Dodd's view that, on some of the social issues, Democrats did not connect well enough with the American people. Certainly, Democrats are faith-filled. Certainly, we love our country and we're very patriotic. But, somehow or other, that did not come across, when 61 percent of those who are regular churchgoers voted for President Bush and when 22 percent of Americans gave its highest number to what determined their vote to issues relating to morality, more than the economy, more than terrorism.

So I believe that we have it within us. I know that many of the people who are in politics on the Democratic side do so according to the Gospel of Matthew and, indeed, the Bible. But we don't demonstrate it clearly enough. And faith is such an important part of the lives of most people in our country. They want to know that we identify with that.

BLITZER: Congresswoman, you had so many issues to go after the president and the Republicans, the war in Iraq, the economy. You had millions of dollars out there. You had an attractive candidate. But you went down across the board, the White House, the Senate, the House. Who should bear responsibility for this failure?

PELOSI: Well, it's not a question of failure. It's a question of, where do we go from here?

As you look at the map of the country, you see it red-hot across much of the country. And in our races for the House, we certainly thought we had better prospects than we had in some of those red states. But as it got closer to Election Day, the intensity was such that we had to do all we could to protect our incumbents. And many of our incumbents were in the president's home state. So I take full responsibility for whatever happened as far as the House races are concerned.

But I just had a conference call with all of our House colleagues. We're ready. We're ready for the lame duck session. We're ready for the next session of Congress. We're ready for the next election. We have a clear agenda that, for us in the House, may be easier to present in a nonpresidential year.

BLITZER: What worries you the most about the Republicans in control of both houses by even bigger margins, as well as the White House, during the second term?

PELOSI: Well, I'm very concerned about the radical right-wing agenda of President Bush and the Republicans in the Congress. They couldn't talk to the American people about creating jobs or expanding access to quality health care for more Americans or including many more people into education, higher education.

They starved No Child Left Behind, 30 years of bipartisan environmental progress rolled back quietly and quickly, concerns that we have about the war in Iraq. They diverted the public's attention to issues of faith and family and country, which are issues of grave concern to all of us. They are our highest priorities. They are our lives. But they did it in a way that eclipsed the issues that government really has to deal with. And when they took it to religion, I think they dangerously blurred the line between church and state. And I think that's a very major concern that I have with the president and the Republicans in Congress. I might add, President Kennedy said it best in Houston when he was running. He said, the issue is not what church I believe in. It's what America I believe in.

And that's where we have to take the debate.

BLITZER: Nancy Pelosi, thanks for joining us.

PELOSI: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: We'll have the results of our Web question of the day. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here are the results of our Web question of the day. Did the election go the way you thought it would? Fifty-four percent of you said yes; 46 percent of you said no. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

A reminder, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, we're on weekdays every day, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. I'm also on noon weekdays as well. I'll be back in Washington tomorrow. Until then, thanks very much for joining us.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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Aired November 3, 2004 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now, race over. President Bush the son achieves what his father could not: a second term in the White House.
Also, red America. The latest snapshot of the country we live in. Is there any bright spot left for blue?

In U.S. politics, I'll ask the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi and another Democrat, Senator Chris Dodd, who plans to announce this hour whether he'll run for his party's leadership in the U.S. Senate.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: Four more years. President Bush declares victory.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will do all I can do to deserve your trust. A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation.

ANNOUNCER: In the light of day, Kerry concedes.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Today, I hope that we can begin the healing.

ANNOUNCER: The next administration, new faces and new policies?

A new Congress and an aging court. Keys to carrying out the Bush agenda.

And this...

War in Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never wanted to be here in the first place. Now he's in a better place. A place where there's no fear.

ANNOUNCER: As U.S. troops pay a heavy price, can the president finish what he started?

This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, November 3, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: Hello from New York City. After an anxious night, a triumphant day. President Bush promised to make the nation stronger and better today after becoming the first Republican president in 20 years to win reelection. Even though two states, Iowa and New Mexico, remain undecided, President Bush has 274 electoral votes. He has 51 percent of the popular vote, compared to 48 percent for John Kerry. 1 percent for Ralph Nader. The numbers, 59 million plus for Bush. 55,435,808 for Kerry, 394,794 for Ralph Nader.

Let's go immediately to our White House correspondent, Dana Bash with more on this historic day -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. Well, you know, it was just about this time yesterday that the mood at the Bush campaign shifted from concerned to confidence that the president was going to hear the phrase that he's been waiting 12 years to hear. That is, a second Bush term. Now, until about 5:30 this morning, the White House, the Bush campaign planned on the president actually coming and delivering a victory speech here at the Reagan Building without a concession from John Kerry, but they decided to hold off until he got that phone call from the senator which happened this morning. It was about four minutes in length. And during that call the two men talked about the need to unite the country. And that was a central theme in the president's speech here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support. And I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust. A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one constitution, and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together there is no limit to the greatness of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: And the president's opponents are likely to hear that and question it because, of course, the president did run a campaign that was very much targeted at getting at his own voters, very much targeted at playing up conservative issues, conservative themes. Nevertheless, the president did give a quintessential George W. Bush speech, very short in length, 10 minutes long, looking forward. But nevertheless, his campaign aides are spending some time looking back, lifting the veil a little bit in what their strategy was to get this win, talking a little bit about the way they tried to use what Matthew Dowd, his senior strategist called cutting edge technology to really reach out to voters in different ways, not going through the mainstream media. We'll hear more about that, I'm sure, in the days ahead, Wolf.

BLITZER: Dana Bash in Washington, thank you very much.

President Bush declared victory shortly after Senator Kerry gave an emotional concession speech. Our national correspondent, Frank Buckley, joining us live from Boston with that -- Frank. FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, campaign aides quickly organized what was the last event of the campaign with Senator Kerry here to make his formal announcement of his decision. Senator Kerry, warmly received along with Senator John Edwards, his running mate, by staffers and family and friends. Senator Kerry said that he wouldn't have given up if there had been a chance of winning, but the votes just weren't there in Ohio. As you said, it was an emotional day for staffers and for Kerry who looked back on the campaign that was.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERRY: It was here that we began our campaign for the presidency. And all we had was hope and a vision for a better America. It was a privilege and a gift to spend two years traveling this country coming to know so many of you. I wish that I could just wrap you up in my arms and embrace each and every one of you individually all across this nation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: And Senator John Edwards, his running mate, also spoke briefly. He acknowledged the voters who voted for their ticket, some of them standing in line for up to ten hours. He said, all of their votes would be counted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It was a long night and a long morning. And even though the outcome won't change, I want you to know that we will continue to fight for every vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: And as you said, Wolf, it was an emotional day for many campaign aides and family members and friends who were here at Faneuil Hall. They thought they were in a very strong position toward the end of the day yesterday. But then suddenly, Florida fell and then Ohio became very tight. And then overnight, early this morning, they said they realized they didn't have the votes in Ohio. Senator Kerry was urged apparently by some of the lawyers on the team to move into Ohio and file suit. He said no, he didn't want to do that. He didn't want to put the country through that -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Frank Buckley in Boston, thank you very much.

Now that most of the votes have been counted, almost all of them, one question remains. Why were the exit polls so far off? Our senior political analyst Bill Schneider looking into that. Is there a simple answer?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, yes. The exit polls were no less reliable, no more unreliable than usual. The early exit polls that come out during the day are always unreliable, because they're based on partial results. They're incomplete samples. As the day and night go on, the exit polls become more reliable. What happens is they get out. There's something called bloggers on the Internet and the exit poll information leaks in a way that it didn't 20 or 30 years ago. And everybody talks about it and it comes to affect the campaigns. So you have Democrats looking at it and saying oh, Kerry's two points ahead and they're preparing their resumes and Republicans are becoming forlorn based on unreliable information.

BLITZER: And those early exit polls were showing Kerry doing better in Florida for example than he eventually wound up doing, causing some consternation, some confusion out there. That's not unusual, as you correctly point out. Let's talk about the young voters. We were expecting a huge young voter turnout. Did we get it?

SCHNEIDER: Here's what happened with young voters. It's interesting. There was supposed to be a throng of young voters. This is how they voted in 2000. Between Bush and Gore, it was even. 46 percent for Bush, 48 percent for Gore. This time, the idea was to register them and have them come out for John Kerry. Let's look at what actually happened in 2004. They did. 54 percent of the young voters, under 30, that's not quite my age group, but they're there. 54 percent voted for John Kerry. And that was the only age group in the electorate that actually supported John Kerry. So what happened? They did vote for Kerry, but they were 17 percent of the voters this time and they were exactly the same as last time, 17 percent.

BLITZER: Didn't go up much. All right, Bill Schneider, thanks very much.

Republicans have renewed their lease on Capitol Hill, boosting their majorities in both bodies. As it stands now the new Senate will have 55 Republican, 44 Democrats and one Independent. In the House of Representatives Republicans have added at least two seats. Two Louisiana races will be decided in runoffs and a New York race is still too close to call. For more on the balance of power in Congress, let's go to our congressional correspondent Ed Henry -- Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Wolf. That's right. Republicans up here are riding high, particularly in the Senate with those 55 seats now. They believe they have a great chance of passing much of President Bush's second term agenda. Republicans believe that these victories were a direct repudiation of Democratic obstructionism that in their eyes was embodied in Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, who was defeated last night in South Dakota, the first Senate leader to go down in re-election in 52 years. Daschle today, a very disappointed Daschle, greeted supporters in South Dakota.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D), MINORITY LEADER: So beginning in January, I may not serve in the Senate, but that work is not done and I will continue to work for the state of South Dakota and the people of our state so long as I have an opportunity to do so. We're going to do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: This obviously creates a hole at the top of the Democratic leadership. Senator Harry Reid, Daschle's number two, today announced that he hopes to fill that job. He thinks he has the votes for it. But Senator Chris Dodd is taking a look at the race. He's somebody who, if Democrats in their time of need now, after this shattering election, feel that they need someone maybe more liberal, more aggressive than Harry Reid, they may want to turn to Dodd. Now Dodd has been in contact with colleagues about the potential of jumping into the race, but he has not yet announced whether or not he'll get in.

As I mentioned, Harry Reid and his supporters very confident that whether Chris Dodd gets in or not, Harry Reid will win.

A much different mood on the Republican side. Today, Senator George Allen was breaking out the champagne at a press conference on Capitol Hill. They're very pumped. They think they're going to be able to push through more tax cuts, more conservative judges. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist as well feels emboldened. He went on a fly-around today to several states to greet some of the winning candidates for the Republicans. Frist talking very tough about an aggressive agenda in the second term for President Bush. And though, like President Bush, Frist today was trying to give a little olive branch to the Democrats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BILL FRIST (R), MAJORITY LEADER: Now is the time and I think by the end of today, when all these elections are wrapped up, for us all to concentrate on governing, on working together, on reaching across the aisle, on getting the very best out of everybody at the table, whoever they are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: But despite some of that happy talk and the bipartisanship, there's a not so subtle warning from Republicans right now to Democrats. Look what happened to Tom Daschle. If you stand in the way of President Bush's agenda, you could be next. They're going to be going very hard against Democrats from red states who are up for reelection in 2006 -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Ed Henry reporting from Capitol Hill, thank you very much.

So the Democrats, are they in disarray? How are they going to regroup? Coming up, I'll speak with Senator Chris Dodd. He'll announce on this program whether he'll challenge Harry Reid to become the minority leader in the Senate. That's coming up.

Also, comings and goings in the second term. Who's in, who's out of the Bush administration? We'll look at possibilities.

Tears and rage. U.S. marines preparing to storm an Iraqi insurgent stronghold, while mourning the latest casualties. Plus lessons learned. What's changed in the networks' election night coverage? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The war in Iraq was a key theme in the presidential campaign. As the votes are being counted at home, U.S. marines in Iraq were honoring those who won't be coming home. CNN's Karl Penhaul is with the marines near Fallujah, a hotbed of the insurgency where U.S. forces right now are mobilizing for what may be a major offensive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Remembering fallen comrades. A memorial service for U.S. marines killed in a suicide car bomb attack this past weekend.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.

PENHAUL: Hardened warriors paying tribute to dead buddies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never wanted to be here in the first place. But now he's in a better place. A place where there's no fear.

PENHAUL: These marines begin piecing together memories of the ones they've lost.

Sergeant Kelley Courtney loved to write poems. Lance Corporal John Byrd, a motorcycle fanatic. Lance Corporal Michael Scarborough dreamed of running a logging company. Lance Corporal Travis fox, full of southern charm. Private First Class John Lukac took pride in his shooting ability. Lance Corporal Andy Riedel, a great marine and a better man. Lance Corporal Jeremy Bow, a devout Mormon, great machine gunner. Corporal Chris Lapka quit college to serve his country.

The survivors of that Iraqi insurgent attack unafraid to show raw emotions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It breaks my heart to lose one of my brothers. It's happened so fast and it's very shocking. And I know you guys are going through the same pain.

PENHAUL: The attack took place Saturday a few miles east of here. A marine truck like this one had broken down and was being towed when a suicide bomber drove an SUV into the middle of a convoy. This Navy medic was blown out of the truck but survived with second degree burns.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I looked back and the vehicle was on fire. And I saw some of my buddies still laying down on the vehicle.

PENHAUL: Now, as these marines wait for the order to storm the rebel stronghold of Falluja, they're battling with sadness and rage. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He'd want us to burn Falluja down for what those bastards did to him and that's exactly what's going to happen. .

PENHAUL: Officers call on them to focus the anger. And as they pray for fallen friends, they have time to reflect too on their own mortality. Karl Penhaul, CNN, near Falluja.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Democrats in defeat. Can they make a comeback in Congress? I'll ask the house Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Reshaping the Supreme Court. A once in a generation opportunity for the president?

Cabinet shuffle. We'll take a look at who might be moving out in a second term turnover.

Hands down, why Florida wasn't even close this time. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: In the end, it all came down to Ohio, where counting of provisional ballots hasn't even started. But a look at the raw numbers shows why John Kerry conceded. Let's look at those numbers in Ohio. With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, the president with 51 percent, John Kerry with 49 percent. A clear, decisive edge going to the president. Even with provisional ballots uncounted, it becomes clear to the Democrats, and it did very early in the day, that they simply did not have enough votes to overcome the president's lead in the Buckeye State.

There was no real cliffhanger in Florida, where President Bush barely eeked out a victory few years. This time around, it was a solid win. Four years ago, 534 votes spelled the difference. This time around, the president had 52 percent compared to Kerry's 47 percent of the vote, 1 percent going to Ralph Nader.

Our national correspondent Susan Candiotti is in Orlando right now with a look at how the president did it -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well the answer, Wolf, appears to be pretty much what happened nationwide. The Republicans simply doing a better job of getting out the vote, especially among those concerned about two things: Moral values and anxiety over terrorism.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every vote counts.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Turnout, turnout, turnout.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go, go, go! CANDIOTTI: This near, nearly 2 million more Floridians went to the polls than in 2000. President Bush besting Senator Kerry by about five percentage points. Forget a mere 537 votes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hurry, go. You got to be in line. If you're in line at 7:00, you get to vote.

CANDIOTTI: Strong Bush support came from those who credit his faith-based values and anti-abortion stand, say exit polls.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Never been more proud of my president. Somebody who will stand up and confess that he loves God and pray and I'm proud of him.

CANDIOTTI: Regular church-goers also came out for Bush in big numbers, up nearly 70 percent over 2000.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of people relate to Bush, because Bush is openly religious.

CANDIOTTI: The Latino vote, about 52 percent to 44 percent helped push Bush over the top, as predicted, especially along the I-4 corridor across central Florida.

JAMES COOK, REPUBLICAN VOLUNTEER: Family values, hard work, you know, the American dream. And that's where the Hispanic community is and that's where we offered them.

CANDIOTTI: In Oceola County, where Al Gore won 4 years ago, Bush won easily here. A third of the voters were Hispanic and Bush won a majority among them.

COOK: It will be somewhere, 50s, in the upper 50s.

CANDIOTTI: CNN exit polls show the war on terror was overwhelmingly the key issue for Bush Florida backers. The war in Iraq only 25 percent. The president's brother sees it this way.

GOV. JEB BUSH, (R) FLORIDA: I think there's a belief in our state that it was inappropriate to change leaders during a time of crisis, a time of war. And the president clearly, I think, explained to the voters of this state that we are at war. Senator Kerry couldn't quite get there.

CANDIOTTI: This Kerry supporter, who flew all the way from Alaska to volunteer in Florida, is circumspect.

DAN LASOTA, KERRY SUPPORTER: There's one consolation that I wasn't sitting home and doing nothing. At least I gave it my all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: Governor Jeb Bush admits his brother faces a divided nation. As he puts it, the president will have to reach out and soothe the wounds, adding, I know he will do it -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Susan Candiotti in Orlando, thank you very much.

We're standing by to speak with Senator Chris Dodd. He will announce on this program whether or not he will try to become the next minority leader, the next Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate. We're standing by for that.

Also, America's shifting loyalty. As the U.S. moves to the right , is there any political power left for the left? The House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi will also weigh in.

In our look around the world, how the international community is reacting to the presidential results. Plus, with 4 more years of President Bush and the illness of the Chief Justice William Rehnquist what could be the future makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court. We'll take a closer look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Senator Chris Dodd, about to announce whether or not he will try to become the Senate Democratic leader. We're standing by to speak with him. He'll make that announcement on this program. First, though a quick check of some other stories now in the news.

Voters in 11 states have approved constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. They include Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. Gay rights activists are already mounting legal challenges in some of those states.

California voters have approved a $3 billion bond measure to fund state embryonic stem cell research. The measure was designed to get around restrictions put in place by President Bush. Proposition 71, as it's known, was supported by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

With President Bush's reelection, and the illness of the Chief Justice William Rehnquist, one area of keen focus is expected to be on the future makeup of the United States Supreme Court. Joining us now over at the Supreme Court with what might happen next, our national correspondent, Bob Franken -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, during the campaign, the issue of succession of the Supreme Court was not much of an issue. It is now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over: It is premature to assume that William Rehnquist, the chief justice, will not be able to swear in President Bush once more.

BUSH: I, George Walker Bush do solemnly swear.

WILLIAM REHNQUIST, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT: That I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States. FRANKEN: But he has been too ill to take his place on the bench this week, increasing already intense speculation the Supreme Court could change dramatically during a second Bush term.

CROWD: Women must decide our fate.

FRANKEN: Abortion is the court flash point. A change could affect many issues.

TOM GOLDSTEIN, SUPREME COURT ATTORNEY: There's likely to be more restriction on abortion. There's likely to be less affirmative action. There's likely to be more involvement with the government in religion.

FRANKEN: If Rehnquist were to step down, Bush would almost certainly nominate another conservative to replace him. But the oldest justice, John Paul Stevens, is the court's leading liberal. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, also considered liberal, has had health problems, as has Sandra Day O'Connor, the powerful so-called swing vote. There's speculation she might retire, but also speculation she'd be consensus candidate for chief justice.

An increasingly Republican Senate might embolden the president to nominate conservatives in the mold of Justices Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia. Liberal groups are already gearing up for a Senate confirmation fight.

RALPH NEAS, PRESIDENT, PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY: My guess is, there will be a long confrontation that will be really at the highest levels in terms of the issues at stake.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: Any nomination fight could easily last for months, because judicial appointments, Wolf, are widely considered to be a president's most lasting legacy -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Bob Franken in Washington, thank you very much.

Presidents traditionally begin a second term with a Cabinet shuffle. This president will be no exception.

Our Kathleen Koch is listening to Washington whispers on who will stay and who will go -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this is a president who puts a premium on loyalty, who, as many people know, likes to be surrounded by advisers that he's comfortable with. But we're hearing that there will likely be new some faces at the Cabinet table.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gentlemen, the president of the United States!

KOCH (voice-over): The buzz about the second-term Bush Cabinet centers on possible changes in the president's national security team, from Secretary of State Colin Powell...

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I serve at the pleasure of the president.

KOCH: To Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who this spring faced calls for his resignation.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's an important part of my Cabinet and he'll stay in my Cabinet.

MICHAEL WEISSKOPF, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, "TIME": I would say that, on the defense side, he'll leave most everyone in place as long as they'll want to stay. I would expect Secretary Powell to move over very quickly, possibly turning General Ashcroft, who has been there for four years, had some health problems, might move out, particularly because he was a symbol for the far right.

KOCH: It's rumored National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice might switch to another role, and there's widespread speculation Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge will leave.

ALLAN LICHTMAN, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: So the continuity we saw in the national security and foreign policy team I think is going to be replaced by fundamental change, which is quite typical of second- term presidents, looking from Eisenhower through Clinton.

KOCH: Other possible departures, Commerce Secretary Donald Evans, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, Education Secretary Roderick Paige and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. Important now, say some, is including Democrats.

JACK QUINN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: That's the sort of gesture the president needs to employ to let the American people know that he intends to be a president of the American people and all the American people, and not just the leader of a political faction.

KOCH: Much of the rest of the Bush Cabinet is expected to stay. And some prominent Republicans are clearly reflecting on joining them.

RUDOLPH GIULIANI (R), FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK: I'm saying I'm not interested. No, you never say no to the president of the United States. Absolutely not.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: So, as hopefuls begin to jockey for position, those who have served are now beginning to plan new lives, often involving more time with their families and more lucrative jobs in the private sector -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kathleen Koch in Washington -- thank you, Kathleen.

The longest night gives way to a new day and renewed messages of unity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BUSH: I will do all I can do to deserve your trust.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The president officially accepts and Kerry officially concedes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERRY: Earlier today, I spoke to President Bush and I offered him and Laura our congratulations on their victory. We had a good conversation. And we talked about the danger of division in our country and the need, the desperate need for unity, for finding the common ground, coming together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Kerry pledges his support. More from both men, that's coming up.

Plus, a tale of several networks, how it all played out on live television. We'll examine the differences.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The Democratic Party suffering a major, major setback across the board yesterday. Coming up, I'll speak to two Democratic leaders in the U.S. Congress, Nancy Pelosi and Chris Dodd. That's coming up.

In a victory speech today, the president told cheering supporters his win over John Kerry was historic and he called on Kerry's supporters for help in his next term. Here's an excerpt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust.

A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one Constitution, and one future that binds us.

And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

BUSH: I want to thank the thousands of our supporters across our country. I want to thank you for your hugs on the rope lines. I want thank you for your prayers on the rope lines. I want to thank you for your kind words on the rope lines.

I want to thank you for everything you did to make the calls and to put up the signs, to talk to your neighbors and to get out the vote.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

BUSH: In four historic years, America has been given great tasks and faced them with strength and courage.

Our people have restored the vigor of this economy and shown resolve and patience in a new kind of war.

Our military has brought justice to the enemy and honor to America.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

BUSH: Our nation has defended itself and served the freedom of all mankind.

I'm proud to lead such an amazing country, and I'm proud to lead it forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Saying he wished things had turned out a little differently, Senator John Kerry today chose Boston's historic Faneuil Hall as the setting for emotional concession speech. He choked up several times.

Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm sorry that we got here a little bit late and little bit short.

Earlier today, I spoke to President Bush and I offered him and Laura our congratulations on their victory.

We had a good conversation, and we talked about the danger of division in our country and the need -- the desperate need for unity, for finding the common ground, coming together.

Today I hope that we can begin the healing.

(APPLAUSE)

KERRY: In America, it is vital that every vote count, and that every vote be counted. But the outcome should be decided by voters, not a protracted legal process. I would not give up this fight if there was a chance that we would prevail.

It was a privilege and a gift to spend two years traveling this country, coming to know so many of you.

I wish that I could just wrap you up in my arms and embrace each and every one of you individually all across this nation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

KERRY: I did my best to express my vision and my hopes for America. We worked hard and we fought hard, and I wish that things had turned out a little differently.

But in an American election, there are no losers, because whether or not our candidates are successful, the next morning we all wake up as Americans.

So with a grateful heart, I leave this campaign with a prayer that has even greater meaning to me now that I've come to know our vast country so much better thanks to all of you and what a privilege it has been to do so.

And that prayer is very simple: God bless America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question of the day is this. Did the election go the way you thought it would? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results a little bit later in this broadcast.

A media muddle, same facts, different presentations, a look at how the various news outlets handled the election results. We'll get to that.

First, though, a quick check at how the international community is reacting to the presidential elections.

Here's CNN's Jonathan Mann.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Many international leaders waited for Senator Kerry to concede before congratulating President Bush. But, at one point, it looked like British Prime Minister Tony Blair was about to jump the gun.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I'm sure the whole House would join with me in sending our warmest congratulations to President Karzai of Afghanistan.

(LAUGHTER)

MANN: Mr. Blair was referring to the official declaration today that Hamid Karzai won last month's presidential election in Afghanistan.

Later that day, after the U.S. election was officially settled, the British prime minister did offer his congratulations to President Bush.

BLAIR: Such is the strength of the United States that the election of the president is an event of genuine significance right around the world. It is of particular significance to Britain.

MANN: One of the most outspoken reactions to the Bush victory came from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Putin, who has battled terrorist attacks inside Russia, said the U.S. election results prove Americans will not give in to terror.

While many European leaders have been sharply critical of President Bush's leadership over the past four years, European reaction to his reelection was often polite and positive.

PHILIPPE LABRO, AUTHOR: The French have to accept the idea that Bush is back for four more years. It's a reality. So -- and you cannot avoid America.

MANN: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi praised President Bush's reelection, saying it means America will promote freedom and democracy.

In the Middle East, much of the reaction on the Arab street was negative. In Baghdad, this man said, President Bush came to Iraq as a liberator, but Iraqis have not benefited. Several U.S. Marines stationed in Iraq, however, cheered the election's outcome.

CORPSMAN JUSTIN OLIVER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: No, it's not 100 percent, but most of -- myself here and the Marines here, we agree that the commander in chief at this point is doing a great job. And keep him going.

MANN: And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: For the most part, there's one word that sums of television coverage of the election night returns, that word being caution.

Here to tell us more, CNN's Brian Todd -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, I imagine you might have heard that word a few times in your pre-election briefings. As last night progressed into this morning, a clear pattern of deliberation was seen throughout the coverage a, strategy that was four years in the making.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): It seems everyone got the memo.

CHRIS MATTHEWS, MSNBC ANCHOR: We have got a vote going on in Florida that is so close. We've got a vote in Ohio that is so close. Pennsylvania, where I come from, that was supposed to be a Democratic state a few weeks ago. That is so close.

We don't even have a result in New Hampshire yet. Much less do we have results in the Midwest yet. It's just because it's not incompetence on anybody's part. It's caution.

TODD: That was the watchword throughout the night, according to one network executive, the broadcast and cable news networks determined not repeat those bold calls and corrections of 2000.

HOWARD KURTZ, "RELIABLE SOURCES": Nobody wanted to be out there with a prediction that turned out to be wrong. As a result, they were slower. They were more deliberate. They didn't go out on a limb.

TODD: With two exceptions. Between 12:30 and 1:00 a.m. Eastern time, Fox News, then NBC made the boldest projections.

TOM BROKAW, NBC ANCHOR: We have to await -- this race is all but over. President Bush is our projected winner in the state of Ohio.

TODD: The other networks stayed away from that call all night.

BLITZER: Too close to call in Ohio.

TODD: How much of a stretch was that projection for Fox and NBC?

REM RIEDER, AMERICAN JOURNALISM REVIEW: It was a little bolder than most of the night, but I don't think, you know, there was really a journalistic crime or anything like that.

TODD: Still, for that growing constituency of viewers who flip around the dial, it did add some confusion. Which network do you believe? Most news organizations got their results from the central consortium called the National Election Pool. It was then up to the network's own experts to interpret those numbers.

KURTZ: It's kind of like letting people inside the newsroom. They can see the raw process. They can see the judgments that different networks make, some being cautious, some being not so cautious, and they can make up their own minds about who's right, who's wrong and what remains to be seen.

TODD: Network executives and news watchdog groups tell CNN they generally believe the cautious approach worked, even though it made for long stretches of not exactly breathless television.

RIEDER: You have great anticipation. You want to know who's going to win. At 7:00, you turn on the television. You're fired up. And then, except for a few predictable states being awarded, it takes a long time to really learn anything.

TODD: CBS viewers could have filled that void by keeping count of what are now widely referred to as Ratherisms.

DAN RATHER, CBS NEWS: This presidential race is hotter than the devil's anvil.

We're on these returns like white on rice.

George Bush is sweeping through the South like a big wheel through a Delta cotton field. In Missouri, the Show-Me state, show me insufficient data.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: Now, Wolf, as you know, there were a lot of phrases like that used, insufficient data, too close to call. One word you didn't hear very much, if at all, the word declare. The networks all took pains to say, we project, a much safer term. One media critic told me, expect that trend to continue -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Brian Todd in Washington, thanks very much.

So what happens now to the Democratic Party?

Let's get some insight, thought. Senator Chris Dodd is a Democrat from Connecticut. He is joining us now live.

Speculation rampant that you're going to challenge Harry Reid, as you know, Senator Dodd, for the leadership post in the Democratic Party in the Senate. Are you?

SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: Well, Wolf, I've got a lot of encouragement from some of my colleagues who called and asked me to consider it.

But I've decided I can better serve my party by being involved in some of these issues. And I think Harry Reid is going to be our choice of leader. He's been a good majority whip, and he's going to have my support. I think he'll have the support of a majority of our colleagues. And we need to pull together.

We don't need a battle right now in the caucus of Democrats, whatever the number will finally be. We'll need to pull together, understand what happened last night. This was a very profound election, had a profound effect on the country, but also on our Democratic Party. And we better take stock of what occurred here, reassess why we're not connecting as well as we ought to be with the American public, particularly on economic issues, on issues of foreign policy, but also on social value questions.

We need to do a far better job if we are going to have any hope of gaining a majority in the House or the Senate or winning the presidency again.

BLITZER: Senator Dodd, you lost the White House. You lost seats in the Senate. You lost seats in the House of Representatives.

DODD: Right.

BLITZER: What's wrong with the Democratic Party?

DODD: Well, I don't know the answer to that, Wolf.

I think we need to take some time and think about that. And, clearly, the major issues, I think the country did think we're going in the wrong direction on a number of very important questions, the economy, the conduct of foreign policy, health care issues, joblessness.

I think, on questions involving the cultural issues, some of the social questions, I don't think we spoke as clearly as we could have on some of those questions. We're losing ground with constituencies in those areas. Now, that's a quick analysis. There may be more profound answers to that question you've asked. But it's one we Democrats have to spend some time thinking about.

This wasn't just another election, where we lost a series of Senate races and a presidential race. I think this has been happening over the last number of years. And if we don't step back, take a good hard look at this, reorganize ourselves and address the American people very directly, we're going to be in trouble for years to come.

BLITZER: The president reached out to Democrats, saying he wants their support. He wants to work with you. Are you ready to work with the president?

DODD: Well, that's always been the case for most of us here.

And I heard the president today. I commend him for his language today. We heard some of this language back four years ago, the uniter, not a divider. I welcome the language by the president. I'm looking forward to the actions as well. We've got a lot of important work to do in this country. And, certainly, we need to try and get us back together. The partisanship is dividing the nation in far too serious a way. We all bear responsibility to get us back on track, working together for common causes.

BLITZER: Who do you see as the leader of the Democratic Party now?

DODD: Well, Nancy Pelosi is a wonderful leader in the House, done a terrific job. She did a wonderful job during this campaign all over the country. I mentioned Harry Reid in the Senate.

We've got a number of well-known spokespeople in our party. We've got good governors. We've got mayors. I don't think there's any one person here. There are various elements of our party representing state, local and national offices that I think need to be heard collectively, rather than any one person emerging as the leader.

BLITZER: Chris Dodd, thanks very much for joining us.

DODD: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Let's go to Capitol Hill now, get some reaction from the House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi of California.

I'll ask you the same question, Congresswoman. What happened to the Democrats?

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: Well, last night was not a good night for Democrats. That's for sure. And I share Senator Dodd's view that, on some of the social issues, Democrats did not connect well enough with the American people. Certainly, Democrats are faith-filled. Certainly, we love our country and we're very patriotic. But, somehow or other, that did not come across, when 61 percent of those who are regular churchgoers voted for President Bush and when 22 percent of Americans gave its highest number to what determined their vote to issues relating to morality, more than the economy, more than terrorism.

So I believe that we have it within us. I know that many of the people who are in politics on the Democratic side do so according to the Gospel of Matthew and, indeed, the Bible. But we don't demonstrate it clearly enough. And faith is such an important part of the lives of most people in our country. They want to know that we identify with that.

BLITZER: Congresswoman, you had so many issues to go after the president and the Republicans, the war in Iraq, the economy. You had millions of dollars out there. You had an attractive candidate. But you went down across the board, the White House, the Senate, the House. Who should bear responsibility for this failure?

PELOSI: Well, it's not a question of failure. It's a question of, where do we go from here?

As you look at the map of the country, you see it red-hot across much of the country. And in our races for the House, we certainly thought we had better prospects than we had in some of those red states. But as it got closer to Election Day, the intensity was such that we had to do all we could to protect our incumbents. And many of our incumbents were in the president's home state. So I take full responsibility for whatever happened as far as the House races are concerned.

But I just had a conference call with all of our House colleagues. We're ready. We're ready for the lame duck session. We're ready for the next session of Congress. We're ready for the next election. We have a clear agenda that, for us in the House, may be easier to present in a nonpresidential year.

BLITZER: What worries you the most about the Republicans in control of both houses by even bigger margins, as well as the White House, during the second term?

PELOSI: Well, I'm very concerned about the radical right-wing agenda of President Bush and the Republicans in the Congress. They couldn't talk to the American people about creating jobs or expanding access to quality health care for more Americans or including many more people into education, higher education.

They starved No Child Left Behind, 30 years of bipartisan environmental progress rolled back quietly and quickly, concerns that we have about the war in Iraq. They diverted the public's attention to issues of faith and family and country, which are issues of grave concern to all of us. They are our highest priorities. They are our lives. But they did it in a way that eclipsed the issues that government really has to deal with. And when they took it to religion, I think they dangerously blurred the line between church and state. And I think that's a very major concern that I have with the president and the Republicans in Congress. I might add, President Kennedy said it best in Houston when he was running. He said, the issue is not what church I believe in. It's what America I believe in.

And that's where we have to take the debate.

BLITZER: Nancy Pelosi, thanks for joining us.

PELOSI: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: We'll have the results of our Web question of the day. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here are the results of our Web question of the day. Did the election go the way you thought it would? Fifty-four percent of you said yes; 46 percent of you said no. Remember, this is not a scientific poll.

A reminder, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, we're on weekdays every day, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. I'm also on noon weekdays as well. I'll be back in Washington tomorrow. Until then, thanks very much for joining us.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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