Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Bush, Clinton Make Rounds to Help Congressional Candidates
Aired November 02, 2002 - 17:03 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In the final weekend before Americans go to the polls for the midterm elections, President Bush is criss-crossing the country in an effort to boost the chances of Republicans, while former President Bill Clinton makes his rounds to help Democratic candidates.
One prize up for grabs, Florida's seat for governor. CNN's John Zarrella is in Miami Beach taking the pulse there and maybe even working on his tan. Hi there, John.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF: Nice day here today, Fredricka, low 80s and perfect weather, Chamber of Commerce weather. You know Florida was pivotal two years ago. It's pivotal again now, Democrats and Republicans hoping to seize the state house because in 2004 it's expected that the president won't be able to win reelection to the White House if he doesn't carry Florida.
Well, everybody's here today. We've got the latest numbers that have come out within the last couple of days and the latest polls are showing that Jeb Bush is running ahead of Bill McBride, the Democratic challenger about 51 to 43 percent, margin of error in that poll about three to four percent. But there are also some internal polling that shows that McBride may be inching up, although he has been dead stuck on that 43 percent number for quite a while now.
Now tonight, a big night here in South Florida, for Bill McBride to upset Jeb Bush and to win the state house in Florida he's got to carry South Florida by big margins, so the big hitter is in town today, former President Bill Clinton expected here within the hour. He is at another campaign stop right now with Bill McBride. They should be here about 6:00 p.m. here on South Beach. You can see the McBride supporters are here.
Then there is another stop tonight for McBride and Bill Clinton later this evening. Then yet another event tomorrow morning before Bill Clinton leaves the state. And, before all is said and done, Vice President Al Gore, former Vice President Al Gore who all but for about 500 votes might be the president today, will be in Florida starting in Orlando and then making his way down to Miami Sunday and Monday.
Now, Jeb Bush they've said all along that an indication of whether Jeb Bush might be in trouble was if his brother, the president, made a return trip to South Florida. Well, in fact, he's coming today. He left Savannah about an hour or so ago. He will be arriving in Tampa in about an hour where there will be a huge rally this evening. Jeb Bush and his brother, the president, and then some more events scheduled tomorrow.
Jeb Bush has been on a three-day bus tour all around Florida. He started in Pensacola, will end up in Davy, Florida in Broward County tomorrow evening, so it is all out the last couple of days for both Jeb Bush and the Democratic challenger Bill McBride. And again here, for Bill McBride to have any chance, Fredricka, he's got to carry South Florida with big numbers -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, John Zarrella from Miami Beach thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Candidates>
Aired November 2, 2002 - 17:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In the final weekend before Americans go to the polls for the midterm elections, President Bush is criss-crossing the country in an effort to boost the chances of Republicans, while former President Bill Clinton makes his rounds to help Democratic candidates.
One prize up for grabs, Florida's seat for governor. CNN's John Zarrella is in Miami Beach taking the pulse there and maybe even working on his tan. Hi there, John.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF: Nice day here today, Fredricka, low 80s and perfect weather, Chamber of Commerce weather. You know Florida was pivotal two years ago. It's pivotal again now, Democrats and Republicans hoping to seize the state house because in 2004 it's expected that the president won't be able to win reelection to the White House if he doesn't carry Florida.
Well, everybody's here today. We've got the latest numbers that have come out within the last couple of days and the latest polls are showing that Jeb Bush is running ahead of Bill McBride, the Democratic challenger about 51 to 43 percent, margin of error in that poll about three to four percent. But there are also some internal polling that shows that McBride may be inching up, although he has been dead stuck on that 43 percent number for quite a while now.
Now tonight, a big night here in South Florida, for Bill McBride to upset Jeb Bush and to win the state house in Florida he's got to carry South Florida by big margins, so the big hitter is in town today, former President Bill Clinton expected here within the hour. He is at another campaign stop right now with Bill McBride. They should be here about 6:00 p.m. here on South Beach. You can see the McBride supporters are here.
Then there is another stop tonight for McBride and Bill Clinton later this evening. Then yet another event tomorrow morning before Bill Clinton leaves the state. And, before all is said and done, Vice President Al Gore, former Vice President Al Gore who all but for about 500 votes might be the president today, will be in Florida starting in Orlando and then making his way down to Miami Sunday and Monday.
Now, Jeb Bush they've said all along that an indication of whether Jeb Bush might be in trouble was if his brother, the president, made a return trip to South Florida. Well, in fact, he's coming today. He left Savannah about an hour or so ago. He will be arriving in Tampa in about an hour where there will be a huge rally this evening. Jeb Bush and his brother, the president, and then some more events scheduled tomorrow.
Jeb Bush has been on a three-day bus tour all around Florida. He started in Pensacola, will end up in Davy, Florida in Broward County tomorrow evening, so it is all out the last couple of days for both Jeb Bush and the Democratic challenger Bill McBride. And again here, for Bill McBride to have any chance, Fredricka, he's got to carry South Florida with big numbers -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, John Zarrella from Miami Beach thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Candidates>
