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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Special Edition: America Votes 2004
Aired February 10, 2004 - 19:00 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST: Good evening to you. Welcome to this special edition of 360, with live primary coverage. Two battleground states tonight, both in the South. A total of 151 delegates at stake. Yankee John Kerry is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to come out on top, but will Southerners John Edwards and Wesley Clark slow his momentum? Or if they'll do poorly, will it be the end of the line for at least one of them? In just seconds, the polls will close in Virginia. Eighty-two delegates are up for grabs, and in an hour, polls close in Tennessee. Sixty-nine delegates at stake there. The magic delegate number for the nomination, 2,161. The scorecard so far, let's take a look: Kerry in the lead, 431, followed by Dean, 182, and Edwards, 117. Clark, 84. Sharpton, 12. And Kucinich, 2.
In the next hour, the latest results, the best analysis. Right now, standing by in Atlanta, CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Judy Woodruff, Jeff Greenfield. Good evening. Let's go to Wolf for the early results out of Virginia -- Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Anderson. At this hour, the polls are closed in Virginia. CNN is ready to project a winner. Based on interviews with people who voted, John Kerry will win the Virginia primary. A large margin over the number two candidate, the senator from North Carolina, John Edwards will come in second, trailing far behind Wesley Clark and Howard Dean. Another win for John Kerry in Virginia. That makes him 11 of 13 so far in these Democratic contests, caucuses and primaries.
Let's immediately go to CNN's Kelly Wallace over at John Kerry campaign headquarters, at least for tonight, in Fairfax, Virginia just outside Washington, D.C.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the crowd applauding as soon as they heard CNN call that this race would be won by John Kerry in Virginia. I talked to a senior Kerry campaign adviser who said the campaign is thrilled. Thrilled about the victory in Virginia. Aides putting this into context saying, just a month ago John Kerry was in single digits in the polls both in Virginia and Tennessee. They say this shows that the senator can win and connect with Democratic primary voters in the south. They're also very pleased with how he appears to be doing with African-American voters in Virginia, with veterans. They are saying that they believe that John Kerry is the nominee. He says he can give Republicans a run for their money in states in the south, including places like Virginia.
BLITZER: (AUDIO GAP) you, Kelly. Let's check in with our other correspondents as well. Candy Crowley is covering John Edwards' campaign. She's in Milwaukee where there will be a primary one week from today.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The location says it all. The John Edwards campaign will move on. This is a man who campaigned for the last week, indeed for the last two weeks, saying, I'm a southerner. I can win here in the south. This is not George Bush's backyard. This is my backyard. Nonetheless, it look as though, at least in Virginia, Edwards will be beaten by a northeaster. Nonetheless, Edwards has said that he would take a couple of seconds in Virginia and Tennessee, moving on to Wisconsin. In fact, this is a campaign that is looking far down the line. I was in fact told that today there was a conference call as they looked at the March 2 states deciding where to put their resources -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Big primary, super Tuesday march 2. Candy, we'll get back to you.
Dan Lothian is covering Wesley Clark's campaign. They're in Memphis, Tennessee. The polls will be closing in Tennessee at the top of the next hour. What's going on over there, Dan?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, certainly a difficult day for Clark campaign right now. Aides telling CNN they are discussing where to go from here because of the showings at the polls at this point. The Clark campaign has said that winning in Tennessee was important to moving forward. That decision is being discussed. Obviously, Clark has put so much money and time and effort into campaigning here in Tennessee. He did go to Virginia for a number of rallies there. But did spend most of his time here in the volunteer state. Already, we do know a fundraiser has been canceled for tomorrow night in Houston. Perhaps that's some indication, as to where the campaign is going. But right now, the campaign meeting, trying to decide how to move forward. One of the key element will be money. We already know that some 250 staffer had to forego their paychecks in order to help fund the television ads here in Tennessee. So, that will be crucial as they decide what to do next.
BLITZER: That will be a important storyline to see what General Wesley Clark does next. Dan Lothian.
Let's now go over to Howard Dean's campaign headquarters. He's in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. primary one week from today. Joe Johns our reporter.
Joe, what's the mood?
What's going on in Milwaukee at Howard Dean's headquarters?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Howard Dean is not competing in Tennessee or Virginia, as you know. He did spend the day touring middle schools across the state of Wisconsin and ended up at this well-attended rally in Milwaukee. Of course, as you know, he has just said he's not quitting the race, regardless of what happens here in Wisconsin -- Wolf. BLITZER: All right. Joe Johns, we'll be watching with you as well. Think all of our correspondents will be checking with them. All of them in the hours to come.
Just repeating, CNN projecting that John Kerry will win the primary in Virginia by a very healthy margin, a large margin over John Edwards who will come in second, Wesley Clark and Howard Dean trail far behind.
Judy Woodruff is with us again tonight. Not a huge surprise. The polls showed Virginia was John Kerry's territory at least on this day.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Not a huge surprise. This is an important night for John Kerry, Wolf. His bandwagon is steam rolling down the road. He's shown he can win in not just his home territory in New England, he can win in the Midwest, he can win in the Pacific Northwest, and he can win in the south. Running against into southerners vote for me. I'm from a neighboring state. Whether it was John Edwards or Wesley Clark. The other argument that John Kerry knocked out is the argument this country needs an outsider and not an insider. John Kerry is an insider, he has served almost two decades in Washington. These voters are saying we want experience over an outsider.
BLITZER: Very interesting.
Jeff Greenfield, as we do all the time during these contests, you look at specific questions that you want answered by the end of the night.
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST: I insist on having them answered. Apart from the question will we ever be able to hear Kelly Wallace from the headquarters. The question we are posing tonight.
First, does the field narrow?
Can either or both of the southerners John Edwards or Wes Clark survive loses on their home turf? Tennessee will help answer that in about an hour or so.
Second, what is the case against nominating Kerry?
Edwards and Dean and Clark go on, what will persuade Democrats that indeed that this contest needs to continue?
Third, November themes.
Listen carefully to what Kerry says tonight. Will his remarks reflect a move to the center, getting ready for the general election on the assumption he's going to be the nominee?
Fourth, party pressure. Will Democrats and their allies, unions and others start a drum beat for this race to end?
And as I say, in 24 hours or less, we may start to hear those noises for let's get this wrapped up.
BLITZER: I think, we've been hearing that from some Democratic party leaders for some time, but we'll be watching obviously throughout the night.
Stand by to our correspondents. We're going back to Anderson Cooper in New York, right now -- Anderson.
COOPER: Wolf, thanks very much.
Also, all throughout the night, we're going to be looking at exit polls.
What the voters were thinking when they went to the polls in Virginia and Tennessee?
What issues caused Virginia Democrats to support Senator Kerry, giving him the win even though he's a Massachusetts Yankee. Republicans would hasten to add liberal Massachusetts Yankee.
CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider has been studying the exit poll results so far. He joins us from Atlanta.
Bill, what do you see?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: What we're seeing is a very significant victory by John Kerry in this Southern state. His first southern victory. He did carry southern white voters. He took about half of the white vote. What is especially impressive is how he did among African-American voters in the state of Virginia. Take a look at this, 64 percent of African-Americans voted for John Kerry, 15 percent for John Edwards, much lower. And Al Sharpton, the only African-American in this race, got a miserable 8 percent among African-American voters in Virginia.
What was behind John Kerry's big victory -- one word: electability. It may be a cliche, but it is true.
Here is the answer that Democratic voters gave, would John Edwards beat George Bush?
The answer is, yes. They think it's likely, 59 percent.
How about John Kerry, would he beat George Bush?
89 percent of Virginia voters say Kerry would beat Bush, a clear margin over John Edwards from the neighboring state. Is there an anti-Kerry vote in this conservative southern state?
Not as you would notice.
COOPER: Not tonight at least. All right, Bill Schneider, thanks very much. We'll check with you again a little bit later on.
A double header win by Senator Kerry tonight could weaken if not demolish the argument a northerner can't win in the south, at least in the primaries.
Let's check in with CNN political analyst, Carlos Watson.
He joins me now. Carlos good to see you.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good to see you.
COOPER: If Kerry wins in both states, is there anything that can stop him?
WATSON: Only personal scandal, really. Something along the line that is happened to Edmund Muskie in 1972. Where it wasn't as much personal scandal, as it was kind of a self emulation if you will. What we saw in 1988 with Gary Hart and the whole Donna Rice affair. But absent that, it is difficult not only because of the wins, but don't forget the money to compete in future states. Don't forget your staff doesn't want to stay on a losing campaign. We saw that Senator Bob Graham's campaign ended last fall when his press secretary came and said, I'm leaving the campaign. And when you see people leave the ship, that's often a sign. This is in effect, round two for February. And I think by tomorrow at least one more candidate will have stepped away from the race.
COOPER: Let's look a little bit in the past how candidates from Massachusetts have done in southern states, against southern Democrats in particular, Tennessee. 1992, former Massachusetts Senator Paul Tsongas, Bill Clinton got 67 percent. In 1988, Massachusetts' Governor Dukakis got only 3 percent, Al Gore got 72 percent. 1980, Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy lost Tennessee primary to Carter, 18 to 75 percent. What is different about John Kerry.
WATSON: I think the war hero record. What John Kerry is doing is extraordinarily important for the general election campaign. For those unlike us who don't follow politics on a regular basis, all you know about John Kerry at this point is that he's a war hero. What an incredible way to introduce yourself...
COOPER: He's been able to mobilize veterans in way that has no been done in recent times.
WATSON: I'm arguing since the first time since JFK, maybe Ike, that veterans are actually becoming a constituency, the same way that you see environmentalists are, and the same way that you see the pro- lifers are and the same way that you see soccer moms are. I'm saying the 26.5 million veterans are in effect becoming a constituency.
That's critical in states like Tennessee, which was decided by four points last time. Virginia was decided by 7 points last time. Veterans make up 15 to 20 percent of the voting population. Could be huge if they start to go Kerry's, we start to see a Kerry brigade form not only among Democrats but Independents and Republicans, very different election. No longer red states and blue states.
COOPER: Let's talk about another veteran, General Wesley Clark. If he does not come in second in Tennessee, we already know Kerry has won in Virginia. Edwards is in second. If Clark does not come in second at least in Tennessee, is he gone? Can he survive?
WATSON: I'll be honest with you. I think at this point the Clark campaign, remember they've suspended pay to a number of their employees. They are not the only ones. Dean did that a while ago. Kerry did that at one point. Edwards and others have done it...
COOPER: I'm sorry to interrupt. Let's listen in to -- Howard Dean is speaking right now in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Let's listen to what he has to say.
HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This election on Tuesday is about whether we're going to have as a nominee of our party somebody who has been in the Senate forever who has taken an awful lot of insider special interest money or whether we are going to stand up and do the things that I have done in Vermont.
Are we going to have health insurance for every single American? Are we going to have jobs in America again by having an environmental rights, human rights and labor rights in our trade treaties? Are we going to have a card check so unions can stand up to organize for working people and middle class people in this country again?
Are we going to be a Democratic party that's a real Democratic party? It is time to say to those Washington Democrats who stood with the president when they went to war in Iraq, it is time to say to those Washington Democrats who stood with the president when they passed "No Child Left Behind" and gutted our public schools system that we ought never as Democrats to be afraid of standing up for the right to organize and for ordinary men and women to have a decent middle class life style. We ought never to be ashamed as Democrats of demanding, as Harry Truman did in 1948, when he fought for health insurance for every single American. That we ought never...
COOPER: Carlos Watson, Howard Dean has chosen right now to make this speech. He's well aware of TV coverage.
WATSON: Very strategic, in fact. Anderson, if you go back the last couple of weeks, the February 3 contest, you got back to New Hampshire and Iowa. There's a very strategic move on a number of the campaigns. They are not waiting until the end of the night. Remember back in 1972. We don't remember that well. We can look at tape. Back in '72 the Democrats made their nomination early in the morning. No one paid attention. People are savvier now. Their big audience is early on, shortly after winners are announced.
COOPER: Dean has really said Wisconsin would be a final stand. He's now come off it. He's spending a great deal of time there. He wants to do well and needs to do well. Were you surprised to hear that he plans to continue on? He says it's because the people in the streets, the people at his rallies are saying, don't drop out.
WATSON: I was surprised. But here's what's significant. The Howard Dean who I just heard spoke is a different Howard Dean than I've heard speak...
COOPER: How so? WATSON: He's more confident, stronger timbre in his voice. He seemed to wave. He didn't seem like the Howard Dean who I remembered going out to stump speeches last fall in Washington and Texas and other places. That was a confident Howard Dean. Whether or not you agree with his message, he was in fine order when you listened to him speak those days. I'm hearing a little bit of the return. Maybe this is just one night, one event. There's some confidence. When you're around those who absolutely love you, the Deaniacs, if you will, whether it is a delusion or whether it's real opportunity, you pick up new confidence.
COOPER: Tonight is not about Howard Dean. It is about John Kerry very much. He is the projected winner right now in Virginia. John Edwards is coming in second. CNN projecting at this point. We'll have more coverage in the hour ahead. Howard Dean now says he's going to stay in the race if he doesn't win in Wisconsin. That's a reversal, of course, of an earlier statement he made.
It gets us to today's buzz question. "Should Howard Dean stay in the race until the convention?" Vote now. CNN.com/360. We'll have the results at the end of this hour.
So what do tonight's results mean for John Edwards and Wesley Clark? Will one of them have to drop out? Questions I'll put to "CROSSFIRE'S" Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson. Coming up.
Also, President Bush launching his own campaign offensive. We'll look at his strategy to stay in the White House with Ed Rollins.
And live report from all the campaign headquarters as the latest results pour in. All ahead. Our special primary edition of 360 continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: You're looking at a live picture of downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Polls will close at 8:00 Eastern time. We already have results out of Virginia. CNN is projecting John Kerry has won in the state of Virginia. Southern Democrats seem to like the Yankee John Kerry at least in the primary. Native sons of the south, John Edwards and Wesley Clark coming in second and third. Is there anything Edwards and Clark can do to stop the front-runner? That is the question. Should Kerry now look at the bigger picture, the fight against President Bush? All these questions, we're going to put to "CROSSFIRE" hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson. They join us now.
Paul, let me start off with you. Does the race now change for John Kerry? Where does he go from here?
PAUL BEGALA, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": He's still got to keep winning. He keeps winning, he's been very impressive but, you know, Governor Dean, we just heard him, he's going to make a stand in Wisconsin. We'll see what Wes Clark and John Edwards does. He has to run two campaigns. He has to continue winning the primaries. When you talk to the leadership in this campaign as I have, that's what they say. They sound like a football game. We're happy to be here. We want to win the next game. But there's a part of their campaign that has to peel off and start preparing for the onslaught from President Bush and the $200 million he's got and Karl Rove and his manifest talent. So they've got to run two campaigns at once. It will be fun to see if they can do it.
COOPER: We're going to check with Tucker Carlson in just a moment but first, let's go back to Wolf Blitzer, campaign center in Atlanta, he has some more results from Virginia. Wolf, what do you have?
BLITZER: We're getting the first raw results, Anderson. They're coming in now. John Kerry, as we projected, will go ahead and win this race. Look at this. With 3 percent of the vote now in, John Kerry almost at 50 percent. 47 percent of the vote in Virginia to John Edwards, 29 percent. Wesley Clark down at only 10 percent. Al Sharpton and Howard Dean at 6 percent. This is very very early. 3 percent of the vote in. We are projecting that John Kerry will win decisively in Virginia with John Edwards coming in second. Wesley Clark and Howard Dean trailing far behind. We will continue to monitor these numbers for all of our viewers. Anderson, back to you.
COOPER: All right, Wolf. We'll check in with you in a moment. I'm joined now again by Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson from "CROSSFIRE." Tucker, I want to go to you now. Attacks against John Kerry have been pretty mild. John Edwards really not sharpening the knives against the candidate. Has Kerry really been tested thus far? And if not, is that hurt him down the road if he does become the nominee?
TUCKER CARLSON, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": It could. There is something to be said for long primaries. When you follow candidates for a couple months, they change during the course of the campaign. They get tougher and better, sometimes crazier. The good ones get better and more resilient, faster on their feet. There is really something to be said for a primary. Also it helps to get the negative stories out early.
The reasons the primaries were compacted by the Democratic National Committee was the fear was the candidate would be torn down. Whoever he was would be really wounded by the end. On the flip side of that though, again, it is nice to get this stuff out before, say, September. In the same way it is nice for President Bush to face these negative National Guard stories now rather than in the summer when it can hurt him.
COOPER: Paul, where does John Edwards go from here? He's come in second in Virginia. Obviously, he would like to win in Tennessee, although that doesn't seem likely at this point.
BEGALA: Yeah, he's staked more of his claim to Virginia. Yeah, he's three to one ahead of Wesley Clark in third place, but I think that's small comfort right now.
He has got to take a really hard look. He's the guy I think who has the brightest future in this Democratic field, besides the front- runner, John Kerry. He has run a great race, he's been positive, he looks to be the future of the Democratic Party in many people's eyes, but voters say, well, maybe not just this year.
He has got to have to sit down with Elizabeth, his chief adviser and wife, and decide, is it worth it anymore to fight on.
You know, yesterday he said, yes, on to Wisconsin. I don't know. I think that they are going to be doing some soul-searching tonight at the Edwards campaign.
COOPER: But is there a benefit, as Tucker mentioned, for continuing this race, for these candidates to continue sort of battling it out, keeping the nominating process going longer, Paul?
BEGALA: Yeah, not for the losers. Losing is no fun and it doesn't give you much strength. Winner, for the winner, yeah, there is an argument for that. But the Kerry campaign will tell you -- and I think they make a good point -- their guy has been tested. Good Lord, it has been a short campaign, but for him he hasn't been the easy, obvious, clear front-runner all along. It was just a few weeks ago he was 32 points behind in New Hampshire, you know, the neighboring state to his home in Massachusetts. And so they believe that the trial by fire that they've gone through in a brief but enormously intense campaign has tested their man. They feel like they are ready to wrap it up. And so they feel like they have met the test. It's been a more compacted test, but been very intense.
CARLSON: I want to say one thing about Edwards, though. I mean, he's there at this point for the same reason the vice president is there, in case the main guy screws up. He's kind of the vice candidate. And as Paul just pointed out, it has been less than a month that John Kerry has been the front-runner. I think he's a pretty seasoned guy. He knows what he's doing. It is unlikely he will somehow blow up. But you never know. It's a volatile season. He could. And so I think that's Edwards' calculation. He's sort of waiting there in case something happens to the primary guy. And that's why you don't see him attacking Kerry. That and the chance that he'll be selected vice president.
COOPER: Tucker and Paul, we're being joined right now by CNN's Jeff Greenfield and Judy Woodruff, both in Atlanta.
Jeff, let me start off with you. A good night for John Kerry?
GREENFIELD: Well, that's, see, that's why I get paid the big bucks. When you win almost two to one in a state that you didn't think you were going to win a few weeks ago, yes. And the question is, if they can pull another victory out in Tennessee, the question then even for John Edwards, who is running second to him in Virginia is, all right, you told us this is why we had to nominate you instead of John Kerry, that you could win where John Kerry couldn't.
Well, if you can't win the votes of Democrats in the South, then how does that argument survive? I think this is the kind of victory that John Kerry really needed to make the point that Judy made earlier, that he is in fact a national candidate. And I'll say one more thing. The frustration of the Edwards campaign over last week's close finish in Oklahoma, must -- you must be able to cut it with a knife. Twelve hundred and twenty votes different. Wesley Clark loses Oklahoma, maybe drops out, leaving Edwards as the only Southerner. But as it was, he and Clark had to split that Southern claim, and at least in Virginia, John Kerry is the beneficiary. Yes, a good night.
COOPER: Judy, how does General Clark continue from here? I mean, if he doesn't win in Tennessee or maybe come in second, I mean, can he survive in this campaign?
WOODRUFF: Well, I just want to pick up first quickly, Anderson, on something Jeff said. And that is, I think there got to be -- there have to be regrets. There are regrets inside the Clark campaign that he did not compete in Iowa, because there are all sorts of people now you talk to who say if he had only run in Iowa, he would have done better than some of these other candidates, would have held Edwards' vote now. Who knows. It is all should have, would have, could have.
But I think there is a lot of looking back and thinking, you know, maybe we could have done this differently.
Where does he go from here? They are bound to be doing some soul-searching tonight, Anderson, in that campaign. This is somebody who has, though, never run for office before. And you are seeing -- I talked to somebody on the phone this afternoon who watched Ronald Reagan very closely, and he said when Ronald Reagan ran his first campaign, as brilliant as he was, there is something about having done it before and done it and been through it that makes you a better candidate.
And Wes Clark is learning that the hard way.
COOPER: They certainly are. All right, we're going to check in with all of you again. Judy Woodruff, Jeff Greenfield, Paul Begala, Tucker Carlson. Our special primary coverage continues in the next half hour. We'll go live to John Kerry headquarters. A lot of happiness there tonight. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Welcome back to CNN special primary coverage. I'm Anderson Cooper. John Kerry, the undeniable front-runner. Is there any Democrat left who can beat him? He is the winner in Virginia. We're going to take a closer look at his candidacy tonight.
Plus, President Bush and his massive campaign war chest. We'll talk with Republican strategist Ed Rollins about how the race for the White House may play out.
In a moment, we'll check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer for the latest election results.
First, a quick look at tonight's top stories in "The Reset."
In Iraq, al Qaeda's fingerprints are said to be all over a suicide bombing that killed at least 50 people today. A pick-up truck exploded outside a police station south of Baghdad, where applicants were standing in line for police jobs. In Washington, the White House has released payroll documents that it says demonstrate President Bush fulfilled his duties in the National Guard. Democrats have accused the president of being AWOL during the early 1970s.
In Delaware, more chickens are sick. Agriculture officials have discovered the bird flu virus in a second chicken flock. The state plans to kill 72,000 chickens to stop the spread. The disease could seriously threaten the poultry industry.
In New York, Martha Stewart's assistant goes back on the stand. She says Stewart altered a message from her broker and then wanted it changed back. The message allegedly said ImClone was going to, quote, "start trading downward."
In France, Muslim head scarves are out of public schools. The French National Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a ban of religious symbols in French classrooms. Opponents say the measure discriminates against France's Muslim minority. Jewish skull caps and large Christian crosses are also banned.
And that is a quick look at stories in "The Reset" tonight.
Now to Wolf Blitzer in Atlanta with the latest election returns -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Anderson. We're getting more information all the time. CNN has projected that John Kerry will go ahead and win the Virginia primary, an important primary, his first win in the South. He's now 11 for 13 in these Democratic contests. With about 11 percent of the vote of the official vote now in, half going to John Kerry so far; 28 percent for John Edwards, 11 percent for Wesley Clark. A significant disappointment for him. Only 5 percent for Howard Dean, 4 percent for Al Sharpton.
Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, is taking a look at the numbers behind these numbers, how John Kerry did it. What are you learning from our exit poll research, Bill?
SCHNEIDER: John Kerry and Wesley Clark were competing for many of the same voters in the state of Virginia. Let's take a look at those voters who were veterans. That's a huge vote in Virginia, 28 percent of the voters. Did Kerry and Clark split the veterans' vote? No. Kerry got 50 percent of the veterans, followed by John Edwards, who got about a quarter of the veterans. Clark came in a very poor third, with just 11 percent of those veterans. Now, Kerry and Clark were both promised they would make America secure and protect the country from terrorism. Virginia was a primary target, the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. And 20 percent of Virginians said they were worried about another attack.
Those who were very worried, how did they vote?
Clearly they voted for John Kerry, 58 percent. Clark got a very poor 5 percent among those voters who said they were very, very worried about terrorism. So had two candidates, Wesley Clark, John Kerry, competing for the same voters, the same pool of voters. Kerry clearly out polled Clark in those constituencies. And I think, if Clark had run in Iowa, had compete indeed the Iowa caucuses he might have made a stronger showing. He chose not to and gave up those voters to John Kerry.
BLITZER: Very, interestingly, Bill, you were talking about the African-American vote. You we're getting number from, Virginia. Al Sharpton not doing well with his fellow African-Americans?
SCHNEIDER: That's certainly, true. He doing very poorly with African-Americans. He's coming in third or fourth in most states. He did not do well with in South Carolina. A lot of people suspected he might be running to be the new leader of the African-American community, replacing Jesse Jackson. But he did not do nearly as well as Jesse Jackson did the last time he ran for president in 1988. For instance, Jackson carried the Michigan caucuses in 1988. Sharpton didn't even come close.
BLITZER: All right, Bill, we'll get back to you.
In the meantime, let's go back to Anderson Cooper -- Anderson.
COOPER: Wolf, thanks very much.
We have correspondents covering all the campaigns tonight. At Camp Kerry, in Fairfax, Virginia, Kelly Wallace, joins us. And Candy Crowley standing by at Edward's camp in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Let's start of with Kelly Wallace. Kelly, there's got to be a lot of enjoyment in Fairfax tonight.
WALLACE: A lot of excitement here, Anderson. We have the first official reaction from the Kerry campaign to the Kerry victory here in Virginia. Stephanie Cutter (ph), Kerry's campaign spokesperson saying we are thrilled with the results and heartened by the support of the voters. Saying this shows Democrats are united in their desire to defeat President Bush. Also, she's saying it doesn't matter where you come from, it just matters where you stand and the battles you're willing to fight for privately.
Kerry campaign advisers says this shows John Kerry is not a regional candidate, not a niche candidate. That he's winning across the board with all definite graphic groups, that he is running a national campaign with all demographic groups. The he is running a national campaign. On background privately another Democratic source saying that John Kerry with will continue to take this state by state this. But this source saying he's the only one traveling everywhere. This source saying it is very difficult for anyone to catch John Kerry right now Anderson.
COOPER: Kelly Wallace standing by. Thanks very much.
Kelly, exit polls now closing in -- well actually polls close in 30 minutes -- a little bit under 30 minutes in Tennessee. We're of course, bringing you all the results. John Kerry the projected winner in the state of Virginia, John Edwards coming in second. Candy Crowley is standing by with the Edwards camp already in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What's the mood there?
CROWLEY: Well, hasn't started yet. The candidate himself is expected -- he flew in from Virginia Dulles Airport. We expect him within the hour. He's going to watch the returns privately with his wife and come out here. They're opening the doors in another 20, 30 minutes. Look the Edwards campaign said for the last week or so, if we finish in the top two, we're going to move on. They feel that because both Wesley Clark and John wards had are southerners, they made a big play in Virginia and Tennessee, that Clark did take some votes away from Edwards. They split the vote.
Edwards believe if he can get on a playing field where it is just John Edwards and John Kerry, he could do better. They would not disagree with the Kerry camp assessment, that it's going to be very difficult to catch John Kerry. They know that as well in the John Edwards camp. They think it is worth a try. They are plotting, Anderson, how they will play super Tuesday. And on March 2, and they are planning a trip out to California later this week. So this is still a campaign that's determined to keep on going. Whether they have the resources, they say, yes, they do. They're getting federal matching funds. So, they can play. Certainly not as heavily as John Kerry can at this point. They intend to go on.
How long -- we're not sure at this point. This is not a campaign that's setting any kind of deadlines or state where they will call it quits, Anderson.
COOPER: All right, we'll be watching, Candy Crowley. We'll check back with you at the Edwards camp, and Kelly Wallace at camp Kerry in Fairfax, Virginia, we'll also check back in with you shortly.
Joining me now in the studio is CNN analyst Carlos Watson.
Carlos, it's good to see you again.
Where does John Kerry go from here?
WATSON: Two places. One, to Wisconsin. He is actually going to plant himself there. He's worried that someone can make a comeback there. So, he you'll see spend several days and he'll be with the governor over the weekend. Don't be surprised, by the way, that the governor has not offered an endorsement, if Governor Doyle (ph), Democratic Governor does offer him an endorsement. Much in the same way in Virginia he got a last minute endorsement from Mark Warner here, the governor there. Second, he's going to start to make some significant policy speeches maybe as early as this Friday. Look for conversation not only about Iraq but about the economy and healthcare.
COOPER: Is that him trying to be presidential?
WATSON: Very much so, turning towards the general election because there are number of things you have to do. One, you have got to raise money, right. You've got to replunge it. Two, you've got to put together an organization that can actually compete in a variety of states. And three, you actually have to have a message. The message can't be ABB, anybody beat Bush. He now has to have a much more pointed message on how he going create jobs to the extent you criticize the presidents job record, two and half million jobs lost over they years. You've got to offer an alternative. And again, today, the president said -- the president's people that they're hoping to create 2.6 million jobs this year. You have got to offer a credible alternative to that.
COOPER: Does the campaign, for those who remain in it, does it still remain positive?
There's been talk about voters not wanting negative campaigns. Some are sort of are saying the Democrats have sort boxed themselves in a corner.
WATSON: I think it honestly, and I think in some case it depending on your goals. To the extent you have got at least one eye on the vice presidential ball, Edwards who might want to make a case he's vice presidential nominee, the last thing you want to do is go very negatively after the nominee. Remember in 1988 many thought early on that Bob Dole would be on the ticket with George Bush. But it was so acrimonious particularly after New Hampshire that Dole ended up not on the ticket. So, the last thing you want to do is have something like that happen. That's one of the reasons I think you see them a maintaining kind of a positive facade.
COOPER: So, John Kerry planting himself in Wisconsin. Of course that's is where Howard Dean has also planted himself. Said it was make or break for him. He's now said not necessarily make or break, he'll stay in it for quite a long time.
WATSON: These guys have learned from Howard Dean, that you can't take anything for granted. You have to fight to the end. You can't act like a front-runner even if you are.
COOPER: All right, Carlos Watson, thanks very much.
The talk about Howard Dean gets us to our "Buzz" question. "The Buzz" is this, should Howard Dean stay in the race until the convention?
Vote now, cnn.com/360. We're going to have results on that at the end of the program.
Our special coverage continues tonight. President Bush has launched his own offensive, in case you haven't noticed. We'll look at his battle plan for staying in the White House. We'll talk to Republican strategist Ed Rawlins just ahead. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Welcome back. This special edition of "360" live coverage on tonight's Virginia and Tennessee primary races. You are looking at a live shot of the White House. That of course, is the ultimate prize, what everyone is aiming for.
Tonight we have already, projected Senator John Kerry the winner Virginia. Tennessee's polls close in just about 20 minutes. You can you bet President Bush is keeping an eye on the Democratic showdown. He has launched his own offensive.
With details on Bush's battle plan, we'll go live to Washington and CNN White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, it's a very aggressive campaign. But it is about to get more aggressive. The White House aides looking at this matchup, very much so, more and more likely to be a Bush-Kerry matchup. President Bush is going to be using the bully pulpit to make his priorities known, talking about the economy, as well as the war on terror. He is also going, of course, to key battleground states, Pennsylvania and Florida. We saw him hit some of those states where he was hammered by the Democrats where they were holding their primaries, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Missouri.
And of course, another part of this strategy is that the White House is fighting back, fighting back from criticism on a number of fronts, but, most recently, of course, today the White House releasing documents regarding President Bush's time in the National Guard, a service that he did. Some Democrats claiming that he was AWOL during a period between 1972 and '73. They released documents, payroll records and point summaries today to show that he put in his time and that he did get paid.
A personnel director for the Texas National Guard, who was asked to review these documents by the White House put out a statement along with the records saying this clearly shows that First Lieutenant George W. Bush has satisfactory years for both '72 and '73, and '73 and '74, which proves that he completed his military obligation in a satisfactory manner.
Now, one point of contention and controversy in over a six-month period when President Bush was in an Alabama unit. That was when he was transferred because he was working on a political campaign. While some of these records show that he was paid for a period of time during that controversial period, there is no one at this time who has actually come forward, including his former commanders to say, yes, we saw him performing active duty, we recall that he was actually there. But Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, earlier today saying this is simply politics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president was proud of his service in the National Guard. He fulfilled his duties. He was honorably discharged. I think there are some that we're now seeing are not interested in the facts. What they are interested in is trying to twist the facts for partisan political advantage in an election year. And that's unfortunate.
(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: Of course, the White House is very much aware of the pictures of Senator Kerry, of course, with his band of brothers from Vietnam, a Vietnam war hero. Really out at the front of the Democratic presidential nominees. They say that, of course, these records show that he did fulfill his service, but they also want voters to focus on his military leadership during wartime -- as a wartime president -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Suzanne Malveaux at the White House. Thanks, Suzanne.
Let's talk more about President Bush's battle plan and how he might take on Democratic front-runner, John Kerry, if Kerry is in fact the nominee. Joining me now, Ed Rollins, Republican strategist and former campaign manager for Ronald Reagan. Where do you think John Kerry is most vulnerable?
ED ROLLINS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, he certainly is a Northeasterner, has a very liberal long history in Congress, a record he won't run from or try to run from. Democrats have done well when they've run centrists, when someone moves to the center, as Jimmy Carter did or Bill Clinton does, they're successful. When they run as a liberal candidate, usually they don't do well. This is going to be a classic campaign between a conservative president, who I think most people think has served pretty well, versus a truly, truly liberal member of the Congress.
COOPER: So you think he's going to in effect be painted with sort of the brush that Michael Dukakis was painted with?
ROLLINS: He will be painted with his own record, just as Michael Dukakis was painted with his own record. You know, the Bush team did nothing to Dukakis but explain to people who he was. And Kerry was Dukakis' lieutenant governor, you know, hand picked. So I mean, the reality is, I don't think Kerry is going to run away from his record. I think he's proud of his record. I would expect it to just be a classic debate on where the country should be going.
COOPER: It's interesting, because Howard Dean has been saying that this process thus far, because of sort of Kerry's momentum, he hasn't -- Kerry has not been put under the microscope to the degree that Howard Dean was. Whether that is true or not, I'm curious to see if you think John Kerry's record is sort of well known right now by those voting for him.
ROLLINS: I think there is no question that there is going to be a lot more scrutiny. We have not -- you know, you get to tell your best side of the story when you're out campaigning. Howard Dean is not on the sidelines because of anything that John Kerry did to him. Howard Dean basically ran around talking about all the things he did in Vermont. Vermont is a state of 600,000 people, the size of a congressional district. He was not ready for prime time. And he clearly showed that in the course of the campaign. John Kerry has been through four tough Senate races, one in particular against Bill Weld, the former governor. You know, he's used to this battle. And he will be scrutinized, and he will be scrutinized plenty. COOPER: Well, let's talk straight. Does George Bush enter this race from a position of strength right now?
ROLLINS: Well, I think to a certain extent, the country is polarized. I think Bush is, you know, good as you can be with an economy that's weak. He has $240 -- he has $140 million in the bank right today, which is a substantial sum of money.
COOPER: And it is probably going to grow?
ROLLINS: It can grow. And it has to be spent before the convention. So it's -- you know, he really can run a national campaign, spend more money in the next five months that's ever been spent in a presidential campaign, defining himself, telling his story and telling the Kerry story.
COOPER: Do you think that money is going to be spent sooner rather than later?
ROLLINS: Oh, sure. I think certainly by March 2, when this thing is perceived as over, they will start full bore. And I think they'll -- they always wanted Kerry. I mean, the truth of the matter is, Dean became sort of a pipe dream for Republicans, but we always assumed Kerry might be the candidate. And he was the perfect candidate to be put off against.
COOPER: That's going to be a fascinating race. Ed Rollins, thank you very much for joining us.
ROLLINS: Thank you.
COOPER: Thanks very much. Wolf Blitzer has some more results now live from Atlanta. Wolf, what have you got?
BLITZER: Thanks, Anderson. John Kerry will go ahead and win Virginia, as we've been reporting since the polls closed at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. John Kerry winning decisively. We're getting more numbers coming in right now. With 34 percent, more than a third of the vote now in, John Kerry still maintaining 50 percent of the turnout, 28 percent for John Edwards. Wesley Clark down at only 10 percent. Howard Dean, who didn't really campaign in Virginia, at 5 percent. Al Sharpton, 4 percent. Dennis Kucinich with only 1 percent of the vote.
We'll watch all of these numbers. We're also standing by to see what happens in Tennessee. The polls close there in a few minutes, at the top of the hour. We'll go live to Tennessee and see what's happening there at the top of the hour -- Anderson.
COOPER: Wolf, as you watch this -- as the results come in, what surprises you the most thus far?
BLITZER: Wesley Clark not doing very well in Virginia. I would have thought he would have done better. There is a very, very large military population around Norfolk. The Navy has a huge civilian and military community in Virginia, throughout the state. And I would have thought a retired four-star general, the NATO supreme allied commander, would have done better in Virginia than he's, apparently, doing. In fact, among veterans and veteran families, he's not doing very well at all. That's a surprise for me.
COOPER: Interesting also, when you consider that Carlos Watson, a CNN analyst, said that John Kerry really has been able to mobilize veterans in a way that he has at least not seen since perhaps John F. Kennedy. So it will be interesting to see how that plays out in Tennessee, as we move forward tonight. Wolf, thanks very much for that. We'll check in with you very shortly.
What do the Democrats need to do to win in November? John Kerry supporters would love to see him move into the White House, of course. You are looking at a live shot right now at Kerry campaign headquarters, where there are a lot of happy people tonight. We're going to talk Democratic strategy ahead with Joe Klein, Donna Brazile, when our special primary edition of 360 continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Welcome back to our continuing primary coverage. You are looking at a live shot of downtown Nashville where the polls close in 11 minutes. We'll have results as soon as they become available.
Politics, of course, a very serious business. Doesn't mean the coverage of it always has to be. Let's give the latest political news a spin in tonight's edition of "The Current."
Wesley Clark and Dennis Kucinich ran into each other by accident in Tennessee at the Nashville Deli. Turns out Kucinich was giving a speech next door. He was not there for a job interview. A little surprise about that.
Wesley Clark responded to a pop culture quiz by confessing that he didn't know what group Justin Timberlake was from. He guessed the Beach Boys, which might have hurt him with younger viewers if any of them had ever even heard of the Beach Boys.
And Daniel Parisi, the owner of WhiteHouse.com says he is selling the pornographic site because he's worried about the effect it might have on his young son. If Parisi gets a good offer, he could raise enough funds to buy some consideration for other people's children.
Tonight's primaries, of course, are just a step toward the big prize in November. Let's talk Democratic strategy in the weeks ahead. CNN political analyst and former Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile joins us from Washington and right here in New York "TIME" magazine's Joe Klein. Good to see both of you with us. Joe, let me start off with you. Obviously, a very good night for John Kerry at least starting of in Virginia and, most likely, in Tennessee as well. Who is the big loser?.
JOE KLEIN, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Anybody who wants to challenge John Kerry is the big loser. It's getting hard. We love to have a horse race, those of us who are in the political commentary business. It is hard to find one here. It is hard to see anybody who can successfully challenge this guy. He's doing it in the south tonight, in the state that is right next to John Edwards' home state, in a state filled with military -- career military people whom you would expect Wesley Clark would have support among. He's clobbering them. What you're finding is the Democratic party has become very very happy with this guy.
COOPER: Donna, I know you just talked to a high level person in the Edwards campaign. What are you hearing?
DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I talked to Nick Baldick, Senator Edwards' campaign manager. They are on their way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They expect to compete in Wisconsin over the next couple days. Senator Edwards would like to have a one on one match with Senator Kerry. He's looking forward to that dialogue. I think that over the next couple weeks what you'll see is the race narrow down to perhaps two candidates, and I believe it will be Kerry and Edwards.
COOPER: Joe, Ted Kennedy was everywhere. In New Hampshire and in Iowa. Did they not get him his ticket down to Nashville? Where's he been?
KLEIN: Shocking that they wouldn't have Ted Kennedy campaign down south. It's shocking but Max Cleland who comes from Georgia and is a Vietnam veteran, triple amputee, was all over the place in Virginia and Tennessee. That's the way politics is played. That's what Donna just said, I don't know. To have a one on one, you have to kick Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich and maybe Howard Dean and, who knows, General Clark off the stage. I think it would be a -- it would be a fun thing to watch. I'd pay money to see but I don't know if we'll get it.
COOPER: Donna, how does John Kerry move his campaign from a primary campaign to a national campaign?
BRAZILE: Well, he must begin to unify the party. Joe is right. The other candidates must either drop out -- in some cases they will have to be defeated. He has to begin raising money and pulling the party together. You have a large number of super delegates that is must be courted and they must brought onboard. And John Kerry needs to turn his entire focus to defeating George Bush and taking on the Republicans.
COOPER: Joe, do you think, though, this nominating process is making the candidates stronger? You could argue very easily that John Kerry is a better campaigner than he was two months ago.
KLEIN: This was one of the weirdest nominating processes I've ever seen. Nothing has happened since Iowa. The same dynamic has (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Kerry hasn't been stopped anywhere. No one really has attacked him successfully. It has just been a tidal wave. And usually you'll find the party divided in one way or another. You don't have significant numbers of Democrats who are opposing John Kerry at this point. There isn't a significant faction in the party. It is clear he's doing well in the south. Who is opposed to this guy?
COOPER: Joe and Donna, Jeff Greenfield will join us now from Atlanta. Jeff, your thoughts. GREENFIELD: I think Joe is exactly right. It leads me to think, you know the old movies, the westerns when somebody would say, it is quiet here. The other guy would say, yes, too quiet. There would be an attack by what we call native Americans. It is almost impossible to believe that we can go through the rest of this primary season without something happening if only because we've always seen a case where whether it's late primaries, a front-runner stumbling, something happening to turn it around.
If John Kerry actually glides to the nomination, it will not only set a historical marker for both Republicans and Democrats, it raises an interesting question. Is it really in his interest to become the general election candidate now or would the party benefit by another few weeks of a gentle competition among people who are essentially going after Bush? Joe is right. This is one of the things where you scratch your head and say, I've never seen anything like this before. Could it really be the Democratic party has stopped forming a circle when it makes a firing squad.
COOPER: Joe?
KLEIN: I think that's why you're hearing a lot of Democrats quietly saying what Donna Brazile just said. We'd like to see a one on one debate between John Kerry and John Edwards. The two guys respect each other. Edwards has run a campaign on the up and up and if they can argue issues in a way that will elevate them both, which is not impossible, then it would probably be a good thing for the Democratic party. I just don't see it happening.
COOPER: Donna, your final thoughts?
BRAZILE: The process is working. Democrats are excited. They are coming out in large numbers across the country. And, you know, tonight, John Kerry proved he can win in the south. Hopefully he'll continue to campaign in the south because I believe the south is fertile for a Democratic candidate this year.
COOPER: All right. Donna Brazile, Joe Klein, Jeff Greenfield, we'll check in with you shortly. Polls close in Tennessee in under five minutes Who does Kerry really have to worry about? Could it be fellow Massachusetts liberal, Michael Dukakis? How quickly we forget about it. We'll have that when we come back. But first, today's buzz. We asked you, "should Howard Dean stay in the race until the convention?" What do you think? Vote now. CNN.com/360. Results at the end of the program. In just a moment our election coverage continues. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Time now for "The Buzz." We asked you, "should Howard Dean stay in the race until the convention?" Here's what you said. 38 percent of you said yes. 62 said no. Not a scientific poll. Just your buzz.
Some Democrats are worried and some Republicans excited about the prospect of the Democrats nominating a liberal candidate from Massachusetts. Call it the ghost of the Michael Dukakis with our apologies to the still-living former governor. But if anyone thinks Kerry automatically equals Dukakis, how quickly we forget.
For one thing, say supporters, Kerry doesn't have to worry about looking, well, out of place in the military setting. A chestful of medals helps ward off implications you are an ivory tower techno dweeb. Dukakis, of course, was a governor directly linking him to the policies of Taxachusetts (ph). While Kerry did serve as lieutenant governor under Dukakis, he is better known as a senator and believes he can win any arguments with Bush 43 about fiscal responsibility.
What many may have forgotten about Dukakis is that he wasn't always a political loser. In many polls during the 1984 race, Americans preferred Dukakis over Bush senior by as much as 17 or 18 points. How did Bush senior shrink that deficit? Well, in debates, Dukakis didn't come off that well. Remember his robotic reply to a question about rape? And Bush senior was boosted by a strong convention and by tough campaigning.
Remember the Willie Horton ad? Can Kerry shake criticism that like Dukakis, he seems aloof (UNINTELLIGIBLE)? In these days of personal politics, his success may depend on it. I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for watching. Our election coverage continues with "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
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ANDERSON COOPER, HOST: Good evening to you. Welcome to this special edition of 360, with live primary coverage. Two battleground states tonight, both in the South. A total of 151 delegates at stake. Yankee John Kerry is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to come out on top, but will Southerners John Edwards and Wesley Clark slow his momentum? Or if they'll do poorly, will it be the end of the line for at least one of them? In just seconds, the polls will close in Virginia. Eighty-two delegates are up for grabs, and in an hour, polls close in Tennessee. Sixty-nine delegates at stake there. The magic delegate number for the nomination, 2,161. The scorecard so far, let's take a look: Kerry in the lead, 431, followed by Dean, 182, and Edwards, 117. Clark, 84. Sharpton, 12. And Kucinich, 2.
In the next hour, the latest results, the best analysis. Right now, standing by in Atlanta, CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Judy Woodruff, Jeff Greenfield. Good evening. Let's go to Wolf for the early results out of Virginia -- Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Anderson. At this hour, the polls are closed in Virginia. CNN is ready to project a winner. Based on interviews with people who voted, John Kerry will win the Virginia primary. A large margin over the number two candidate, the senator from North Carolina, John Edwards will come in second, trailing far behind Wesley Clark and Howard Dean. Another win for John Kerry in Virginia. That makes him 11 of 13 so far in these Democratic contests, caucuses and primaries.
Let's immediately go to CNN's Kelly Wallace over at John Kerry campaign headquarters, at least for tonight, in Fairfax, Virginia just outside Washington, D.C.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the crowd applauding as soon as they heard CNN call that this race would be won by John Kerry in Virginia. I talked to a senior Kerry campaign adviser who said the campaign is thrilled. Thrilled about the victory in Virginia. Aides putting this into context saying, just a month ago John Kerry was in single digits in the polls both in Virginia and Tennessee. They say this shows that the senator can win and connect with Democratic primary voters in the south. They're also very pleased with how he appears to be doing with African-American voters in Virginia, with veterans. They are saying that they believe that John Kerry is the nominee. He says he can give Republicans a run for their money in states in the south, including places like Virginia.
BLITZER: (AUDIO GAP) you, Kelly. Let's check in with our other correspondents as well. Candy Crowley is covering John Edwards' campaign. She's in Milwaukee where there will be a primary one week from today.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The location says it all. The John Edwards campaign will move on. This is a man who campaigned for the last week, indeed for the last two weeks, saying, I'm a southerner. I can win here in the south. This is not George Bush's backyard. This is my backyard. Nonetheless, it look as though, at least in Virginia, Edwards will be beaten by a northeaster. Nonetheless, Edwards has said that he would take a couple of seconds in Virginia and Tennessee, moving on to Wisconsin. In fact, this is a campaign that is looking far down the line. I was in fact told that today there was a conference call as they looked at the March 2 states deciding where to put their resources -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Big primary, super Tuesday march 2. Candy, we'll get back to you.
Dan Lothian is covering Wesley Clark's campaign. They're in Memphis, Tennessee. The polls will be closing in Tennessee at the top of the next hour. What's going on over there, Dan?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, certainly a difficult day for Clark campaign right now. Aides telling CNN they are discussing where to go from here because of the showings at the polls at this point. The Clark campaign has said that winning in Tennessee was important to moving forward. That decision is being discussed. Obviously, Clark has put so much money and time and effort into campaigning here in Tennessee. He did go to Virginia for a number of rallies there. But did spend most of his time here in the volunteer state. Already, we do know a fundraiser has been canceled for tomorrow night in Houston. Perhaps that's some indication, as to where the campaign is going. But right now, the campaign meeting, trying to decide how to move forward. One of the key element will be money. We already know that some 250 staffer had to forego their paychecks in order to help fund the television ads here in Tennessee. So, that will be crucial as they decide what to do next.
BLITZER: That will be a important storyline to see what General Wesley Clark does next. Dan Lothian.
Let's now go over to Howard Dean's campaign headquarters. He's in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. primary one week from today. Joe Johns our reporter.
Joe, what's the mood?
What's going on in Milwaukee at Howard Dean's headquarters?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Howard Dean is not competing in Tennessee or Virginia, as you know. He did spend the day touring middle schools across the state of Wisconsin and ended up at this well-attended rally in Milwaukee. Of course, as you know, he has just said he's not quitting the race, regardless of what happens here in Wisconsin -- Wolf. BLITZER: All right. Joe Johns, we'll be watching with you as well. Think all of our correspondents will be checking with them. All of them in the hours to come.
Just repeating, CNN projecting that John Kerry will win the primary in Virginia by a very healthy margin, a large margin over John Edwards who will come in second, Wesley Clark and Howard Dean trail far behind.
Judy Woodruff is with us again tonight. Not a huge surprise. The polls showed Virginia was John Kerry's territory at least on this day.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Not a huge surprise. This is an important night for John Kerry, Wolf. His bandwagon is steam rolling down the road. He's shown he can win in not just his home territory in New England, he can win in the Midwest, he can win in the Pacific Northwest, and he can win in the south. Running against into southerners vote for me. I'm from a neighboring state. Whether it was John Edwards or Wesley Clark. The other argument that John Kerry knocked out is the argument this country needs an outsider and not an insider. John Kerry is an insider, he has served almost two decades in Washington. These voters are saying we want experience over an outsider.
BLITZER: Very interesting.
Jeff Greenfield, as we do all the time during these contests, you look at specific questions that you want answered by the end of the night.
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST: I insist on having them answered. Apart from the question will we ever be able to hear Kelly Wallace from the headquarters. The question we are posing tonight.
First, does the field narrow?
Can either or both of the southerners John Edwards or Wes Clark survive loses on their home turf? Tennessee will help answer that in about an hour or so.
Second, what is the case against nominating Kerry?
Edwards and Dean and Clark go on, what will persuade Democrats that indeed that this contest needs to continue?
Third, November themes.
Listen carefully to what Kerry says tonight. Will his remarks reflect a move to the center, getting ready for the general election on the assumption he's going to be the nominee?
Fourth, party pressure. Will Democrats and their allies, unions and others start a drum beat for this race to end?
And as I say, in 24 hours or less, we may start to hear those noises for let's get this wrapped up.
BLITZER: I think, we've been hearing that from some Democratic party leaders for some time, but we'll be watching obviously throughout the night.
Stand by to our correspondents. We're going back to Anderson Cooper in New York, right now -- Anderson.
COOPER: Wolf, thanks very much.
Also, all throughout the night, we're going to be looking at exit polls.
What the voters were thinking when they went to the polls in Virginia and Tennessee?
What issues caused Virginia Democrats to support Senator Kerry, giving him the win even though he's a Massachusetts Yankee. Republicans would hasten to add liberal Massachusetts Yankee.
CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider has been studying the exit poll results so far. He joins us from Atlanta.
Bill, what do you see?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: What we're seeing is a very significant victory by John Kerry in this Southern state. His first southern victory. He did carry southern white voters. He took about half of the white vote. What is especially impressive is how he did among African-American voters in the state of Virginia. Take a look at this, 64 percent of African-Americans voted for John Kerry, 15 percent for John Edwards, much lower. And Al Sharpton, the only African-American in this race, got a miserable 8 percent among African-American voters in Virginia.
What was behind John Kerry's big victory -- one word: electability. It may be a cliche, but it is true.
Here is the answer that Democratic voters gave, would John Edwards beat George Bush?
The answer is, yes. They think it's likely, 59 percent.
How about John Kerry, would he beat George Bush?
89 percent of Virginia voters say Kerry would beat Bush, a clear margin over John Edwards from the neighboring state. Is there an anti-Kerry vote in this conservative southern state?
Not as you would notice.
COOPER: Not tonight at least. All right, Bill Schneider, thanks very much. We'll check with you again a little bit later on.
A double header win by Senator Kerry tonight could weaken if not demolish the argument a northerner can't win in the south, at least in the primaries.
Let's check in with CNN political analyst, Carlos Watson.
He joins me now. Carlos good to see you.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good to see you.
COOPER: If Kerry wins in both states, is there anything that can stop him?
WATSON: Only personal scandal, really. Something along the line that is happened to Edmund Muskie in 1972. Where it wasn't as much personal scandal, as it was kind of a self emulation if you will. What we saw in 1988 with Gary Hart and the whole Donna Rice affair. But absent that, it is difficult not only because of the wins, but don't forget the money to compete in future states. Don't forget your staff doesn't want to stay on a losing campaign. We saw that Senator Bob Graham's campaign ended last fall when his press secretary came and said, I'm leaving the campaign. And when you see people leave the ship, that's often a sign. This is in effect, round two for February. And I think by tomorrow at least one more candidate will have stepped away from the race.
COOPER: Let's look a little bit in the past how candidates from Massachusetts have done in southern states, against southern Democrats in particular, Tennessee. 1992, former Massachusetts Senator Paul Tsongas, Bill Clinton got 67 percent. In 1988, Massachusetts' Governor Dukakis got only 3 percent, Al Gore got 72 percent. 1980, Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy lost Tennessee primary to Carter, 18 to 75 percent. What is different about John Kerry.
WATSON: I think the war hero record. What John Kerry is doing is extraordinarily important for the general election campaign. For those unlike us who don't follow politics on a regular basis, all you know about John Kerry at this point is that he's a war hero. What an incredible way to introduce yourself...
COOPER: He's been able to mobilize veterans in way that has no been done in recent times.
WATSON: I'm arguing since the first time since JFK, maybe Ike, that veterans are actually becoming a constituency, the same way that you see environmentalists are, and the same way that you see the pro- lifers are and the same way that you see soccer moms are. I'm saying the 26.5 million veterans are in effect becoming a constituency.
That's critical in states like Tennessee, which was decided by four points last time. Virginia was decided by 7 points last time. Veterans make up 15 to 20 percent of the voting population. Could be huge if they start to go Kerry's, we start to see a Kerry brigade form not only among Democrats but Independents and Republicans, very different election. No longer red states and blue states.
COOPER: Let's talk about another veteran, General Wesley Clark. If he does not come in second in Tennessee, we already know Kerry has won in Virginia. Edwards is in second. If Clark does not come in second at least in Tennessee, is he gone? Can he survive?
WATSON: I'll be honest with you. I think at this point the Clark campaign, remember they've suspended pay to a number of their employees. They are not the only ones. Dean did that a while ago. Kerry did that at one point. Edwards and others have done it...
COOPER: I'm sorry to interrupt. Let's listen in to -- Howard Dean is speaking right now in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Let's listen to what he has to say.
HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This election on Tuesday is about whether we're going to have as a nominee of our party somebody who has been in the Senate forever who has taken an awful lot of insider special interest money or whether we are going to stand up and do the things that I have done in Vermont.
Are we going to have health insurance for every single American? Are we going to have jobs in America again by having an environmental rights, human rights and labor rights in our trade treaties? Are we going to have a card check so unions can stand up to organize for working people and middle class people in this country again?
Are we going to be a Democratic party that's a real Democratic party? It is time to say to those Washington Democrats who stood with the president when they went to war in Iraq, it is time to say to those Washington Democrats who stood with the president when they passed "No Child Left Behind" and gutted our public schools system that we ought never as Democrats to be afraid of standing up for the right to organize and for ordinary men and women to have a decent middle class life style. We ought never to be ashamed as Democrats of demanding, as Harry Truman did in 1948, when he fought for health insurance for every single American. That we ought never...
COOPER: Carlos Watson, Howard Dean has chosen right now to make this speech. He's well aware of TV coverage.
WATSON: Very strategic, in fact. Anderson, if you go back the last couple of weeks, the February 3 contest, you got back to New Hampshire and Iowa. There's a very strategic move on a number of the campaigns. They are not waiting until the end of the night. Remember back in 1972. We don't remember that well. We can look at tape. Back in '72 the Democrats made their nomination early in the morning. No one paid attention. People are savvier now. Their big audience is early on, shortly after winners are announced.
COOPER: Dean has really said Wisconsin would be a final stand. He's now come off it. He's spending a great deal of time there. He wants to do well and needs to do well. Were you surprised to hear that he plans to continue on? He says it's because the people in the streets, the people at his rallies are saying, don't drop out.
WATSON: I was surprised. But here's what's significant. The Howard Dean who I just heard spoke is a different Howard Dean than I've heard speak...
COOPER: How so? WATSON: He's more confident, stronger timbre in his voice. He seemed to wave. He didn't seem like the Howard Dean who I remembered going out to stump speeches last fall in Washington and Texas and other places. That was a confident Howard Dean. Whether or not you agree with his message, he was in fine order when you listened to him speak those days. I'm hearing a little bit of the return. Maybe this is just one night, one event. There's some confidence. When you're around those who absolutely love you, the Deaniacs, if you will, whether it is a delusion or whether it's real opportunity, you pick up new confidence.
COOPER: Tonight is not about Howard Dean. It is about John Kerry very much. He is the projected winner right now in Virginia. John Edwards is coming in second. CNN projecting at this point. We'll have more coverage in the hour ahead. Howard Dean now says he's going to stay in the race if he doesn't win in Wisconsin. That's a reversal, of course, of an earlier statement he made.
It gets us to today's buzz question. "Should Howard Dean stay in the race until the convention?" Vote now. CNN.com/360. We'll have the results at the end of this hour.
So what do tonight's results mean for John Edwards and Wesley Clark? Will one of them have to drop out? Questions I'll put to "CROSSFIRE'S" Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson. Coming up.
Also, President Bush launching his own campaign offensive. We'll look at his strategy to stay in the White House with Ed Rollins.
And live report from all the campaign headquarters as the latest results pour in. All ahead. Our special primary edition of 360 continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: You're looking at a live picture of downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Polls will close at 8:00 Eastern time. We already have results out of Virginia. CNN is projecting John Kerry has won in the state of Virginia. Southern Democrats seem to like the Yankee John Kerry at least in the primary. Native sons of the south, John Edwards and Wesley Clark coming in second and third. Is there anything Edwards and Clark can do to stop the front-runner? That is the question. Should Kerry now look at the bigger picture, the fight against President Bush? All these questions, we're going to put to "CROSSFIRE" hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson. They join us now.
Paul, let me start off with you. Does the race now change for John Kerry? Where does he go from here?
PAUL BEGALA, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": He's still got to keep winning. He keeps winning, he's been very impressive but, you know, Governor Dean, we just heard him, he's going to make a stand in Wisconsin. We'll see what Wes Clark and John Edwards does. He has to run two campaigns. He has to continue winning the primaries. When you talk to the leadership in this campaign as I have, that's what they say. They sound like a football game. We're happy to be here. We want to win the next game. But there's a part of their campaign that has to peel off and start preparing for the onslaught from President Bush and the $200 million he's got and Karl Rove and his manifest talent. So they've got to run two campaigns at once. It will be fun to see if they can do it.
COOPER: We're going to check with Tucker Carlson in just a moment but first, let's go back to Wolf Blitzer, campaign center in Atlanta, he has some more results from Virginia. Wolf, what do you have?
BLITZER: We're getting the first raw results, Anderson. They're coming in now. John Kerry, as we projected, will go ahead and win this race. Look at this. With 3 percent of the vote now in, John Kerry almost at 50 percent. 47 percent of the vote in Virginia to John Edwards, 29 percent. Wesley Clark down at only 10 percent. Al Sharpton and Howard Dean at 6 percent. This is very very early. 3 percent of the vote in. We are projecting that John Kerry will win decisively in Virginia with John Edwards coming in second. Wesley Clark and Howard Dean trailing far behind. We will continue to monitor these numbers for all of our viewers. Anderson, back to you.
COOPER: All right, Wolf. We'll check in with you in a moment. I'm joined now again by Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson from "CROSSFIRE." Tucker, I want to go to you now. Attacks against John Kerry have been pretty mild. John Edwards really not sharpening the knives against the candidate. Has Kerry really been tested thus far? And if not, is that hurt him down the road if he does become the nominee?
TUCKER CARLSON, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": It could. There is something to be said for long primaries. When you follow candidates for a couple months, they change during the course of the campaign. They get tougher and better, sometimes crazier. The good ones get better and more resilient, faster on their feet. There is really something to be said for a primary. Also it helps to get the negative stories out early.
The reasons the primaries were compacted by the Democratic National Committee was the fear was the candidate would be torn down. Whoever he was would be really wounded by the end. On the flip side of that though, again, it is nice to get this stuff out before, say, September. In the same way it is nice for President Bush to face these negative National Guard stories now rather than in the summer when it can hurt him.
COOPER: Paul, where does John Edwards go from here? He's come in second in Virginia. Obviously, he would like to win in Tennessee, although that doesn't seem likely at this point.
BEGALA: Yeah, he's staked more of his claim to Virginia. Yeah, he's three to one ahead of Wesley Clark in third place, but I think that's small comfort right now.
He has got to take a really hard look. He's the guy I think who has the brightest future in this Democratic field, besides the front- runner, John Kerry. He has run a great race, he's been positive, he looks to be the future of the Democratic Party in many people's eyes, but voters say, well, maybe not just this year.
He has got to have to sit down with Elizabeth, his chief adviser and wife, and decide, is it worth it anymore to fight on.
You know, yesterday he said, yes, on to Wisconsin. I don't know. I think that they are going to be doing some soul-searching tonight at the Edwards campaign.
COOPER: But is there a benefit, as Tucker mentioned, for continuing this race, for these candidates to continue sort of battling it out, keeping the nominating process going longer, Paul?
BEGALA: Yeah, not for the losers. Losing is no fun and it doesn't give you much strength. Winner, for the winner, yeah, there is an argument for that. But the Kerry campaign will tell you -- and I think they make a good point -- their guy has been tested. Good Lord, it has been a short campaign, but for him he hasn't been the easy, obvious, clear front-runner all along. It was just a few weeks ago he was 32 points behind in New Hampshire, you know, the neighboring state to his home in Massachusetts. And so they believe that the trial by fire that they've gone through in a brief but enormously intense campaign has tested their man. They feel like they are ready to wrap it up. And so they feel like they have met the test. It's been a more compacted test, but been very intense.
CARLSON: I want to say one thing about Edwards, though. I mean, he's there at this point for the same reason the vice president is there, in case the main guy screws up. He's kind of the vice candidate. And as Paul just pointed out, it has been less than a month that John Kerry has been the front-runner. I think he's a pretty seasoned guy. He knows what he's doing. It is unlikely he will somehow blow up. But you never know. It's a volatile season. He could. And so I think that's Edwards' calculation. He's sort of waiting there in case something happens to the primary guy. And that's why you don't see him attacking Kerry. That and the chance that he'll be selected vice president.
COOPER: Tucker and Paul, we're being joined right now by CNN's Jeff Greenfield and Judy Woodruff, both in Atlanta.
Jeff, let me start off with you. A good night for John Kerry?
GREENFIELD: Well, that's, see, that's why I get paid the big bucks. When you win almost two to one in a state that you didn't think you were going to win a few weeks ago, yes. And the question is, if they can pull another victory out in Tennessee, the question then even for John Edwards, who is running second to him in Virginia is, all right, you told us this is why we had to nominate you instead of John Kerry, that you could win where John Kerry couldn't.
Well, if you can't win the votes of Democrats in the South, then how does that argument survive? I think this is the kind of victory that John Kerry really needed to make the point that Judy made earlier, that he is in fact a national candidate. And I'll say one more thing. The frustration of the Edwards campaign over last week's close finish in Oklahoma, must -- you must be able to cut it with a knife. Twelve hundred and twenty votes different. Wesley Clark loses Oklahoma, maybe drops out, leaving Edwards as the only Southerner. But as it was, he and Clark had to split that Southern claim, and at least in Virginia, John Kerry is the beneficiary. Yes, a good night.
COOPER: Judy, how does General Clark continue from here? I mean, if he doesn't win in Tennessee or maybe come in second, I mean, can he survive in this campaign?
WOODRUFF: Well, I just want to pick up first quickly, Anderson, on something Jeff said. And that is, I think there got to be -- there have to be regrets. There are regrets inside the Clark campaign that he did not compete in Iowa, because there are all sorts of people now you talk to who say if he had only run in Iowa, he would have done better than some of these other candidates, would have held Edwards' vote now. Who knows. It is all should have, would have, could have.
But I think there is a lot of looking back and thinking, you know, maybe we could have done this differently.
Where does he go from here? They are bound to be doing some soul-searching tonight, Anderson, in that campaign. This is somebody who has, though, never run for office before. And you are seeing -- I talked to somebody on the phone this afternoon who watched Ronald Reagan very closely, and he said when Ronald Reagan ran his first campaign, as brilliant as he was, there is something about having done it before and done it and been through it that makes you a better candidate.
And Wes Clark is learning that the hard way.
COOPER: They certainly are. All right, we're going to check in with all of you again. Judy Woodruff, Jeff Greenfield, Paul Begala, Tucker Carlson. Our special primary coverage continues in the next half hour. We'll go live to John Kerry headquarters. A lot of happiness there tonight. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Welcome back to CNN special primary coverage. I'm Anderson Cooper. John Kerry, the undeniable front-runner. Is there any Democrat left who can beat him? He is the winner in Virginia. We're going to take a closer look at his candidacy tonight.
Plus, President Bush and his massive campaign war chest. We'll talk with Republican strategist Ed Rollins about how the race for the White House may play out.
In a moment, we'll check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer for the latest election results.
First, a quick look at tonight's top stories in "The Reset."
In Iraq, al Qaeda's fingerprints are said to be all over a suicide bombing that killed at least 50 people today. A pick-up truck exploded outside a police station south of Baghdad, where applicants were standing in line for police jobs. In Washington, the White House has released payroll documents that it says demonstrate President Bush fulfilled his duties in the National Guard. Democrats have accused the president of being AWOL during the early 1970s.
In Delaware, more chickens are sick. Agriculture officials have discovered the bird flu virus in a second chicken flock. The state plans to kill 72,000 chickens to stop the spread. The disease could seriously threaten the poultry industry.
In New York, Martha Stewart's assistant goes back on the stand. She says Stewart altered a message from her broker and then wanted it changed back. The message allegedly said ImClone was going to, quote, "start trading downward."
In France, Muslim head scarves are out of public schools. The French National Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a ban of religious symbols in French classrooms. Opponents say the measure discriminates against France's Muslim minority. Jewish skull caps and large Christian crosses are also banned.
And that is a quick look at stories in "The Reset" tonight.
Now to Wolf Blitzer in Atlanta with the latest election returns -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Anderson. We're getting more information all the time. CNN has projected that John Kerry will go ahead and win the Virginia primary, an important primary, his first win in the South. He's now 11 for 13 in these Democratic contests. With about 11 percent of the vote of the official vote now in, half going to John Kerry so far; 28 percent for John Edwards, 11 percent for Wesley Clark. A significant disappointment for him. Only 5 percent for Howard Dean, 4 percent for Al Sharpton.
Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, is taking a look at the numbers behind these numbers, how John Kerry did it. What are you learning from our exit poll research, Bill?
SCHNEIDER: John Kerry and Wesley Clark were competing for many of the same voters in the state of Virginia. Let's take a look at those voters who were veterans. That's a huge vote in Virginia, 28 percent of the voters. Did Kerry and Clark split the veterans' vote? No. Kerry got 50 percent of the veterans, followed by John Edwards, who got about a quarter of the veterans. Clark came in a very poor third, with just 11 percent of those veterans. Now, Kerry and Clark were both promised they would make America secure and protect the country from terrorism. Virginia was a primary target, the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. And 20 percent of Virginians said they were worried about another attack.
Those who were very worried, how did they vote?
Clearly they voted for John Kerry, 58 percent. Clark got a very poor 5 percent among those voters who said they were very, very worried about terrorism. So had two candidates, Wesley Clark, John Kerry, competing for the same voters, the same pool of voters. Kerry clearly out polled Clark in those constituencies. And I think, if Clark had run in Iowa, had compete indeed the Iowa caucuses he might have made a stronger showing. He chose not to and gave up those voters to John Kerry.
BLITZER: Very, interestingly, Bill, you were talking about the African-American vote. You we're getting number from, Virginia. Al Sharpton not doing well with his fellow African-Americans?
SCHNEIDER: That's certainly, true. He doing very poorly with African-Americans. He's coming in third or fourth in most states. He did not do well with in South Carolina. A lot of people suspected he might be running to be the new leader of the African-American community, replacing Jesse Jackson. But he did not do nearly as well as Jesse Jackson did the last time he ran for president in 1988. For instance, Jackson carried the Michigan caucuses in 1988. Sharpton didn't even come close.
BLITZER: All right, Bill, we'll get back to you.
In the meantime, let's go back to Anderson Cooper -- Anderson.
COOPER: Wolf, thanks very much.
We have correspondents covering all the campaigns tonight. At Camp Kerry, in Fairfax, Virginia, Kelly Wallace, joins us. And Candy Crowley standing by at Edward's camp in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Let's start of with Kelly Wallace. Kelly, there's got to be a lot of enjoyment in Fairfax tonight.
WALLACE: A lot of excitement here, Anderson. We have the first official reaction from the Kerry campaign to the Kerry victory here in Virginia. Stephanie Cutter (ph), Kerry's campaign spokesperson saying we are thrilled with the results and heartened by the support of the voters. Saying this shows Democrats are united in their desire to defeat President Bush. Also, she's saying it doesn't matter where you come from, it just matters where you stand and the battles you're willing to fight for privately.
Kerry campaign advisers says this shows John Kerry is not a regional candidate, not a niche candidate. That he's winning across the board with all definite graphic groups, that he is running a national campaign with all demographic groups. The he is running a national campaign. On background privately another Democratic source saying that John Kerry with will continue to take this state by state this. But this source saying he's the only one traveling everywhere. This source saying it is very difficult for anyone to catch John Kerry right now Anderson.
COOPER: Kelly Wallace standing by. Thanks very much.
Kelly, exit polls now closing in -- well actually polls close in 30 minutes -- a little bit under 30 minutes in Tennessee. We're of course, bringing you all the results. John Kerry the projected winner in the state of Virginia, John Edwards coming in second. Candy Crowley is standing by with the Edwards camp already in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What's the mood there?
CROWLEY: Well, hasn't started yet. The candidate himself is expected -- he flew in from Virginia Dulles Airport. We expect him within the hour. He's going to watch the returns privately with his wife and come out here. They're opening the doors in another 20, 30 minutes. Look the Edwards campaign said for the last week or so, if we finish in the top two, we're going to move on. They feel that because both Wesley Clark and John wards had are southerners, they made a big play in Virginia and Tennessee, that Clark did take some votes away from Edwards. They split the vote.
Edwards believe if he can get on a playing field where it is just John Edwards and John Kerry, he could do better. They would not disagree with the Kerry camp assessment, that it's going to be very difficult to catch John Kerry. They know that as well in the John Edwards camp. They think it is worth a try. They are plotting, Anderson, how they will play super Tuesday. And on March 2, and they are planning a trip out to California later this week. So this is still a campaign that's determined to keep on going. Whether they have the resources, they say, yes, they do. They're getting federal matching funds. So, they can play. Certainly not as heavily as John Kerry can at this point. They intend to go on.
How long -- we're not sure at this point. This is not a campaign that's setting any kind of deadlines or state where they will call it quits, Anderson.
COOPER: All right, we'll be watching, Candy Crowley. We'll check back with you at the Edwards camp, and Kelly Wallace at camp Kerry in Fairfax, Virginia, we'll also check back in with you shortly.
Joining me now in the studio is CNN analyst Carlos Watson.
Carlos, it's good to see you again.
Where does John Kerry go from here?
WATSON: Two places. One, to Wisconsin. He is actually going to plant himself there. He's worried that someone can make a comeback there. So, he you'll see spend several days and he'll be with the governor over the weekend. Don't be surprised, by the way, that the governor has not offered an endorsement, if Governor Doyle (ph), Democratic Governor does offer him an endorsement. Much in the same way in Virginia he got a last minute endorsement from Mark Warner here, the governor there. Second, he's going to start to make some significant policy speeches maybe as early as this Friday. Look for conversation not only about Iraq but about the economy and healthcare.
COOPER: Is that him trying to be presidential?
WATSON: Very much so, turning towards the general election because there are number of things you have to do. One, you have got to raise money, right. You've got to replunge it. Two, you've got to put together an organization that can actually compete in a variety of states. And three, you actually have to have a message. The message can't be ABB, anybody beat Bush. He now has to have a much more pointed message on how he going create jobs to the extent you criticize the presidents job record, two and half million jobs lost over they years. You've got to offer an alternative. And again, today, the president said -- the president's people that they're hoping to create 2.6 million jobs this year. You have got to offer a credible alternative to that.
COOPER: Does the campaign, for those who remain in it, does it still remain positive?
There's been talk about voters not wanting negative campaigns. Some are sort of are saying the Democrats have sort boxed themselves in a corner.
WATSON: I think it honestly, and I think in some case it depending on your goals. To the extent you have got at least one eye on the vice presidential ball, Edwards who might want to make a case he's vice presidential nominee, the last thing you want to do is go very negatively after the nominee. Remember in 1988 many thought early on that Bob Dole would be on the ticket with George Bush. But it was so acrimonious particularly after New Hampshire that Dole ended up not on the ticket. So, the last thing you want to do is have something like that happen. That's one of the reasons I think you see them a maintaining kind of a positive facade.
COOPER: So, John Kerry planting himself in Wisconsin. Of course that's is where Howard Dean has also planted himself. Said it was make or break for him. He's now said not necessarily make or break, he'll stay in it for quite a long time.
WATSON: These guys have learned from Howard Dean, that you can't take anything for granted. You have to fight to the end. You can't act like a front-runner even if you are.
COOPER: All right, Carlos Watson, thanks very much.
The talk about Howard Dean gets us to our "Buzz" question. "The Buzz" is this, should Howard Dean stay in the race until the convention?
Vote now, cnn.com/360. We're going to have results on that at the end of the program.
Our special coverage continues tonight. President Bush has launched his own offensive, in case you haven't noticed. We'll look at his battle plan for staying in the White House. We'll talk to Republican strategist Ed Rawlins just ahead. We'll be right back.
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COOPER: Welcome back. This special edition of "360" live coverage on tonight's Virginia and Tennessee primary races. You are looking at a live shot of the White House. That of course, is the ultimate prize, what everyone is aiming for.
Tonight we have already, projected Senator John Kerry the winner Virginia. Tennessee's polls close in just about 20 minutes. You can you bet President Bush is keeping an eye on the Democratic showdown. He has launched his own offensive.
With details on Bush's battle plan, we'll go live to Washington and CNN White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, it's a very aggressive campaign. But it is about to get more aggressive. The White House aides looking at this matchup, very much so, more and more likely to be a Bush-Kerry matchup. President Bush is going to be using the bully pulpit to make his priorities known, talking about the economy, as well as the war on terror. He is also going, of course, to key battleground states, Pennsylvania and Florida. We saw him hit some of those states where he was hammered by the Democrats where they were holding their primaries, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Missouri.
And of course, another part of this strategy is that the White House is fighting back, fighting back from criticism on a number of fronts, but, most recently, of course, today the White House releasing documents regarding President Bush's time in the National Guard, a service that he did. Some Democrats claiming that he was AWOL during a period between 1972 and '73. They released documents, payroll records and point summaries today to show that he put in his time and that he did get paid.
A personnel director for the Texas National Guard, who was asked to review these documents by the White House put out a statement along with the records saying this clearly shows that First Lieutenant George W. Bush has satisfactory years for both '72 and '73, and '73 and '74, which proves that he completed his military obligation in a satisfactory manner.
Now, one point of contention and controversy in over a six-month period when President Bush was in an Alabama unit. That was when he was transferred because he was working on a political campaign. While some of these records show that he was paid for a period of time during that controversial period, there is no one at this time who has actually come forward, including his former commanders to say, yes, we saw him performing active duty, we recall that he was actually there. But Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, earlier today saying this is simply politics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president was proud of his service in the National Guard. He fulfilled his duties. He was honorably discharged. I think there are some that we're now seeing are not interested in the facts. What they are interested in is trying to twist the facts for partisan political advantage in an election year. And that's unfortunate.
(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: Of course, the White House is very much aware of the pictures of Senator Kerry, of course, with his band of brothers from Vietnam, a Vietnam war hero. Really out at the front of the Democratic presidential nominees. They say that, of course, these records show that he did fulfill his service, but they also want voters to focus on his military leadership during wartime -- as a wartime president -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Suzanne Malveaux at the White House. Thanks, Suzanne.
Let's talk more about President Bush's battle plan and how he might take on Democratic front-runner, John Kerry, if Kerry is in fact the nominee. Joining me now, Ed Rollins, Republican strategist and former campaign manager for Ronald Reagan. Where do you think John Kerry is most vulnerable?
ED ROLLINS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, he certainly is a Northeasterner, has a very liberal long history in Congress, a record he won't run from or try to run from. Democrats have done well when they've run centrists, when someone moves to the center, as Jimmy Carter did or Bill Clinton does, they're successful. When they run as a liberal candidate, usually they don't do well. This is going to be a classic campaign between a conservative president, who I think most people think has served pretty well, versus a truly, truly liberal member of the Congress.
COOPER: So you think he's going to in effect be painted with sort of the brush that Michael Dukakis was painted with?
ROLLINS: He will be painted with his own record, just as Michael Dukakis was painted with his own record. You know, the Bush team did nothing to Dukakis but explain to people who he was. And Kerry was Dukakis' lieutenant governor, you know, hand picked. So I mean, the reality is, I don't think Kerry is going to run away from his record. I think he's proud of his record. I would expect it to just be a classic debate on where the country should be going.
COOPER: It's interesting, because Howard Dean has been saying that this process thus far, because of sort of Kerry's momentum, he hasn't -- Kerry has not been put under the microscope to the degree that Howard Dean was. Whether that is true or not, I'm curious to see if you think John Kerry's record is sort of well known right now by those voting for him.
ROLLINS: I think there is no question that there is going to be a lot more scrutiny. We have not -- you know, you get to tell your best side of the story when you're out campaigning. Howard Dean is not on the sidelines because of anything that John Kerry did to him. Howard Dean basically ran around talking about all the things he did in Vermont. Vermont is a state of 600,000 people, the size of a congressional district. He was not ready for prime time. And he clearly showed that in the course of the campaign. John Kerry has been through four tough Senate races, one in particular against Bill Weld, the former governor. You know, he's used to this battle. And he will be scrutinized, and he will be scrutinized plenty. COOPER: Well, let's talk straight. Does George Bush enter this race from a position of strength right now?
ROLLINS: Well, I think to a certain extent, the country is polarized. I think Bush is, you know, good as you can be with an economy that's weak. He has $240 -- he has $140 million in the bank right today, which is a substantial sum of money.
COOPER: And it is probably going to grow?
ROLLINS: It can grow. And it has to be spent before the convention. So it's -- you know, he really can run a national campaign, spend more money in the next five months that's ever been spent in a presidential campaign, defining himself, telling his story and telling the Kerry story.
COOPER: Do you think that money is going to be spent sooner rather than later?
ROLLINS: Oh, sure. I think certainly by March 2, when this thing is perceived as over, they will start full bore. And I think they'll -- they always wanted Kerry. I mean, the truth of the matter is, Dean became sort of a pipe dream for Republicans, but we always assumed Kerry might be the candidate. And he was the perfect candidate to be put off against.
COOPER: That's going to be a fascinating race. Ed Rollins, thank you very much for joining us.
ROLLINS: Thank you.
COOPER: Thanks very much. Wolf Blitzer has some more results now live from Atlanta. Wolf, what have you got?
BLITZER: Thanks, Anderson. John Kerry will go ahead and win Virginia, as we've been reporting since the polls closed at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. John Kerry winning decisively. We're getting more numbers coming in right now. With 34 percent, more than a third of the vote now in, John Kerry still maintaining 50 percent of the turnout, 28 percent for John Edwards. Wesley Clark down at only 10 percent. Howard Dean, who didn't really campaign in Virginia, at 5 percent. Al Sharpton, 4 percent. Dennis Kucinich with only 1 percent of the vote.
We'll watch all of these numbers. We're also standing by to see what happens in Tennessee. The polls close there in a few minutes, at the top of the hour. We'll go live to Tennessee and see what's happening there at the top of the hour -- Anderson.
COOPER: Wolf, as you watch this -- as the results come in, what surprises you the most thus far?
BLITZER: Wesley Clark not doing very well in Virginia. I would have thought he would have done better. There is a very, very large military population around Norfolk. The Navy has a huge civilian and military community in Virginia, throughout the state. And I would have thought a retired four-star general, the NATO supreme allied commander, would have done better in Virginia than he's, apparently, doing. In fact, among veterans and veteran families, he's not doing very well at all. That's a surprise for me.
COOPER: Interesting also, when you consider that Carlos Watson, a CNN analyst, said that John Kerry really has been able to mobilize veterans in a way that he has at least not seen since perhaps John F. Kennedy. So it will be interesting to see how that plays out in Tennessee, as we move forward tonight. Wolf, thanks very much for that. We'll check in with you very shortly.
What do the Democrats need to do to win in November? John Kerry supporters would love to see him move into the White House, of course. You are looking at a live shot right now at Kerry campaign headquarters, where there are a lot of happy people tonight. We're going to talk Democratic strategy ahead with Joe Klein, Donna Brazile, when our special primary edition of 360 continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Welcome back to our continuing primary coverage. You are looking at a live shot of downtown Nashville where the polls close in 11 minutes. We'll have results as soon as they become available.
Politics, of course, a very serious business. Doesn't mean the coverage of it always has to be. Let's give the latest political news a spin in tonight's edition of "The Current."
Wesley Clark and Dennis Kucinich ran into each other by accident in Tennessee at the Nashville Deli. Turns out Kucinich was giving a speech next door. He was not there for a job interview. A little surprise about that.
Wesley Clark responded to a pop culture quiz by confessing that he didn't know what group Justin Timberlake was from. He guessed the Beach Boys, which might have hurt him with younger viewers if any of them had ever even heard of the Beach Boys.
And Daniel Parisi, the owner of WhiteHouse.com says he is selling the pornographic site because he's worried about the effect it might have on his young son. If Parisi gets a good offer, he could raise enough funds to buy some consideration for other people's children.
Tonight's primaries, of course, are just a step toward the big prize in November. Let's talk Democratic strategy in the weeks ahead. CNN political analyst and former Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile joins us from Washington and right here in New York "TIME" magazine's Joe Klein. Good to see both of you with us. Joe, let me start off with you. Obviously, a very good night for John Kerry at least starting of in Virginia and, most likely, in Tennessee as well. Who is the big loser?.
JOE KLEIN, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Anybody who wants to challenge John Kerry is the big loser. It's getting hard. We love to have a horse race, those of us who are in the political commentary business. It is hard to find one here. It is hard to see anybody who can successfully challenge this guy. He's doing it in the south tonight, in the state that is right next to John Edwards' home state, in a state filled with military -- career military people whom you would expect Wesley Clark would have support among. He's clobbering them. What you're finding is the Democratic party has become very very happy with this guy.
COOPER: Donna, I know you just talked to a high level person in the Edwards campaign. What are you hearing?
DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I talked to Nick Baldick, Senator Edwards' campaign manager. They are on their way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They expect to compete in Wisconsin over the next couple days. Senator Edwards would like to have a one on one match with Senator Kerry. He's looking forward to that dialogue. I think that over the next couple weeks what you'll see is the race narrow down to perhaps two candidates, and I believe it will be Kerry and Edwards.
COOPER: Joe, Ted Kennedy was everywhere. In New Hampshire and in Iowa. Did they not get him his ticket down to Nashville? Where's he been?
KLEIN: Shocking that they wouldn't have Ted Kennedy campaign down south. It's shocking but Max Cleland who comes from Georgia and is a Vietnam veteran, triple amputee, was all over the place in Virginia and Tennessee. That's the way politics is played. That's what Donna just said, I don't know. To have a one on one, you have to kick Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich and maybe Howard Dean and, who knows, General Clark off the stage. I think it would be a -- it would be a fun thing to watch. I'd pay money to see but I don't know if we'll get it.
COOPER: Donna, how does John Kerry move his campaign from a primary campaign to a national campaign?
BRAZILE: Well, he must begin to unify the party. Joe is right. The other candidates must either drop out -- in some cases they will have to be defeated. He has to begin raising money and pulling the party together. You have a large number of super delegates that is must be courted and they must brought onboard. And John Kerry needs to turn his entire focus to defeating George Bush and taking on the Republicans.
COOPER: Joe, do you think, though, this nominating process is making the candidates stronger? You could argue very easily that John Kerry is a better campaigner than he was two months ago.
KLEIN: This was one of the weirdest nominating processes I've ever seen. Nothing has happened since Iowa. The same dynamic has (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Kerry hasn't been stopped anywhere. No one really has attacked him successfully. It has just been a tidal wave. And usually you'll find the party divided in one way or another. You don't have significant numbers of Democrats who are opposing John Kerry at this point. There isn't a significant faction in the party. It is clear he's doing well in the south. Who is opposed to this guy?
COOPER: Joe and Donna, Jeff Greenfield will join us now from Atlanta. Jeff, your thoughts. GREENFIELD: I think Joe is exactly right. It leads me to think, you know the old movies, the westerns when somebody would say, it is quiet here. The other guy would say, yes, too quiet. There would be an attack by what we call native Americans. It is almost impossible to believe that we can go through the rest of this primary season without something happening if only because we've always seen a case where whether it's late primaries, a front-runner stumbling, something happening to turn it around.
If John Kerry actually glides to the nomination, it will not only set a historical marker for both Republicans and Democrats, it raises an interesting question. Is it really in his interest to become the general election candidate now or would the party benefit by another few weeks of a gentle competition among people who are essentially going after Bush? Joe is right. This is one of the things where you scratch your head and say, I've never seen anything like this before. Could it really be the Democratic party has stopped forming a circle when it makes a firing squad.
COOPER: Joe?
KLEIN: I think that's why you're hearing a lot of Democrats quietly saying what Donna Brazile just said. We'd like to see a one on one debate between John Kerry and John Edwards. The two guys respect each other. Edwards has run a campaign on the up and up and if they can argue issues in a way that will elevate them both, which is not impossible, then it would probably be a good thing for the Democratic party. I just don't see it happening.
COOPER: Donna, your final thoughts?
BRAZILE: The process is working. Democrats are excited. They are coming out in large numbers across the country. And, you know, tonight, John Kerry proved he can win in the south. Hopefully he'll continue to campaign in the south because I believe the south is fertile for a Democratic candidate this year.
COOPER: All right. Donna Brazile, Joe Klein, Jeff Greenfield, we'll check in with you shortly. Polls close in Tennessee in under five minutes Who does Kerry really have to worry about? Could it be fellow Massachusetts liberal, Michael Dukakis? How quickly we forget about it. We'll have that when we come back. But first, today's buzz. We asked you, "should Howard Dean stay in the race until the convention?" What do you think? Vote now. CNN.com/360. Results at the end of the program. In just a moment our election coverage continues. We'll be right back.
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COOPER: Time now for "The Buzz." We asked you, "should Howard Dean stay in the race until the convention?" Here's what you said. 38 percent of you said yes. 62 said no. Not a scientific poll. Just your buzz.
Some Democrats are worried and some Republicans excited about the prospect of the Democrats nominating a liberal candidate from Massachusetts. Call it the ghost of the Michael Dukakis with our apologies to the still-living former governor. But if anyone thinks Kerry automatically equals Dukakis, how quickly we forget.
For one thing, say supporters, Kerry doesn't have to worry about looking, well, out of place in the military setting. A chestful of medals helps ward off implications you are an ivory tower techno dweeb. Dukakis, of course, was a governor directly linking him to the policies of Taxachusetts (ph). While Kerry did serve as lieutenant governor under Dukakis, he is better known as a senator and believes he can win any arguments with Bush 43 about fiscal responsibility.
What many may have forgotten about Dukakis is that he wasn't always a political loser. In many polls during the 1984 race, Americans preferred Dukakis over Bush senior by as much as 17 or 18 points. How did Bush senior shrink that deficit? Well, in debates, Dukakis didn't come off that well. Remember his robotic reply to a question about rape? And Bush senior was boosted by a strong convention and by tough campaigning.
Remember the Willie Horton ad? Can Kerry shake criticism that like Dukakis, he seems aloof (UNINTELLIGIBLE)? In these days of personal politics, his success may depend on it. I'm Anderson Cooper. Thanks for watching. Our election coverage continues with "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
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