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CNN Live Saturday
Landrieu Faces Terrell in Louisiana Senate Runoff
Aired December 07, 2002 - 16:36 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now our attention to U.S. politics and the Senate race in Louisiana. Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu is facing Republican Suzanne Terrell in a run-off election today. And if she were to win, Terrell would become the first Republican senator from Louisiana.
Congressional Correspondent Candy Crowley joins us now live from New Orleans with the latest on the election in the Big Easy. Hi, Candy.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you, Kyra? Indeed it's a big one here in the Big Easy, as you said earlier. This is the final election of the election season and they've got about four and a half more hours to vote here in Louisiana.
And somebody said a long time ago, "In the political world it will belong to those who show up." So this is all about turnout now since the campaign has essentially ended.
First things first for both candidates. Suzanne Terrell, who is, of course, the Republican pick, voted fairly early this morning. She has been the beneficiary of a lot of Republican attention, as you can imagine.
President Bush was down here this week, Vice President Cheney has visited along with a host of other political celebrities including the president's father -- 41, as they call him -- the former President Bush.
As for Mary Landrieu, she, too, cast her vote today and then what they call canvassing, which essentially is campaigning on Election Day. She is hoping for a big turnout in the city -- urban areas -- in New Orleans and elsewhere.
Everyone here believes that what Landrieu needs to keep her seat in the U.S. Senate is a big turnout by her base, which is the African- American vote.
There are people down here from the NAACP who are manning the street corners, who are handing out pamphlets and who are putting brochures on doors telling people if they need someone to drive them to the polls they will.
As for a turnout, nobody we have talked to in any of the elections offices have any idea -- there is some anecdotal stories that perhaps voting has been light. We heard otherwise on the street from those who would love to see a very heavy turnout. So we're going to have to wait and see -- about four and a half hours.
This is a huge one being closely watched in Washington. The Republican majority is already set for next year. Republicans will control both the Senate and the House. The difference here is how much running room will President Bush have?
A Republican victory here will not only make history, as you mentioned, Kyra, but it will also very much help George Bush in the present.
As for Mary Landrieu -- if she keeps her seat it will certainly keep a Democratic stronghold here in Louisiana and give Democrats a reason to cheer. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: All right -- we'll be following it with you. Candy Crowley, thanks so 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
Aired December 7, 2002 - 16:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now our attention to U.S. politics and the Senate race in Louisiana. Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu is facing Republican Suzanne Terrell in a run-off election today. And if she were to win, Terrell would become the first Republican senator from Louisiana.
Congressional Correspondent Candy Crowley joins us now live from New Orleans with the latest on the election in the Big Easy. Hi, Candy.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you, Kyra? Indeed it's a big one here in the Big Easy, as you said earlier. This is the final election of the election season and they've got about four and a half more hours to vote here in Louisiana.
And somebody said a long time ago, "In the political world it will belong to those who show up." So this is all about turnout now since the campaign has essentially ended.
First things first for both candidates. Suzanne Terrell, who is, of course, the Republican pick, voted fairly early this morning. She has been the beneficiary of a lot of Republican attention, as you can imagine.
President Bush was down here this week, Vice President Cheney has visited along with a host of other political celebrities including the president's father -- 41, as they call him -- the former President Bush.
As for Mary Landrieu, she, too, cast her vote today and then what they call canvassing, which essentially is campaigning on Election Day. She is hoping for a big turnout in the city -- urban areas -- in New Orleans and elsewhere.
Everyone here believes that what Landrieu needs to keep her seat in the U.S. Senate is a big turnout by her base, which is the African- American vote.
There are people down here from the NAACP who are manning the street corners, who are handing out pamphlets and who are putting brochures on doors telling people if they need someone to drive them to the polls they will.
As for a turnout, nobody we have talked to in any of the elections offices have any idea -- there is some anecdotal stories that perhaps voting has been light. We heard otherwise on the street from those who would love to see a very heavy turnout. So we're going to have to wait and see -- about four and a half hours.
This is a huge one being closely watched in Washington. The Republican majority is already set for next year. Republicans will control both the Senate and the House. The difference here is how much running room will President Bush have?
A Republican victory here will not only make history, as you mentioned, Kyra, but it will also very much help George Bush in the present.
As for Mary Landrieu -- if she keeps her seat it will certainly keep a Democratic stronghold here in Louisiana and give Democrats a reason to cheer. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: All right -- we'll be following it with you. Candy Crowley, thanks so 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
