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CNN Live Saturday

Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Vie for Labor Unions' Support in Iowa

Aired May 17, 2003 - 14:33   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Vying for votes. The Democratic Presidential hopefuls are in Iowa far ahead of the first caucus. The candidates are at a town hall meeting in Des Moines. It's sponsored by the organized labor group the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which may decide which candidate to endorse after today's event and for more on this politicking, we are joined now by CNN Political Analyst Ron Brownstein who is in Des Moines for the very latest. What do you know, Ron?
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN ANALYST: Good morning, Heidi. Good afternoon. Well, it was really kind of a striking event. Earlier this month, the Democrats met for their first debate in South Carolina and it was very heated. In fact, they took a fair amount of criticism afterwards for being too personal and too focused on each other. This time, they really changed direction. They muted their differences with one another and really emphasized their disagreements with President Bush on the economy, health care, judicial appointments, and perhaps most strikingly, homeland security, where they really went after him pretty hard.

COLLINS: So they were nice. This is good to know. Also just wondering, what is it the candidates want to get out of this whole think the most? What are their priorities, do you think?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, AFSCME is one of the three largest unions in the AFL-CIO, and one of the most politically sophisticated and effective. in 1992, it broke from most of the unions to endorse Bill Clinton early in the primary process then, and they proved a key to his victory. This time it's a really important endorsement. Probably won't be decided until the fall, because Dick Gephardt, the congressman from Missouri, who tends to be pretty protectionist on trade issues has a lot of support among the industrial unions, the building trade unions who are most sensitive to those kinds of issues.

What is really left for the other Democrats is to compete for the service unions, like AFSCME. And as a result, you saw seven of the candidates were here in person, two others made taped appearances. All of the candidates are going to be focusing on AFSCME, as well as the Service Employees International Union, which is largely health care workers, because they are the ones that are most in play and could be a very valuable asset as this nomination fight moves forward.

COLLINS: Ron, is it too early for Americans to care about this?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, you know, it's funny. For the vast majority of Americans who are focusing on the general election, sure. But if you are an activist in one of the early primary states, it really isn't too early. The first contest in the Democratic race, incredibly, is going to be next January, in Iowa and New Hampshire. By February 1 of next year, we will have a very clear idea of what tier, first tier is in the Democratic race. And in fact, the AFL-CIO, which is moving through its own process in deciding whether to endorse one of the candidates, is having a critical meeting in August and hoping to make its decision by October.

So in that sense, none of it is very far away, although for the massive voters it is still a long way until the general election.

COLLINS: I know that Kerry and Dean have come out at least earlier this week with health care plans. Just wondering if we are going to hear a lot from the other candidates about what their ideas are on this very issue?

BROWNSTEIN: You know, it's a good question. It's really striking how much health care has emerged as a centerpiece of this early primary race. You had Dick Gephardt come out first with a very expensive plan to provide universal health care. In the last week, Howard Dean and John Kerry, as you mentioned, came out with more targeted plans that are considerably less expensive but also still have a substantial price tag, approaching the $900 billion range over the next decade.

It is increasing pressure on the other candidates, I think, to come out with their own ideas, and I suspect what you will see from the others who haven't spoken yet, Bob Graham, Joe Lieberman and John Edwards among the major candidates, is an argument that all of these may be somewhat unrealistically expensive, too ambitious, and the Democrats have to set their sights a little lower. That could be one of the central points of debate as they move forward in this race.

COLLINS: So what do you think, is there going to be a clear winner coming out of this event?

BROWNSTEIN: No, I don't think there was a clear winner today. I think there is a real competition going on for support, as I said, of some of these service sector unions, particularly AFSCME.

The president of the union, Jerry Macante (ph), is the chairman of the AFL-CIO's political committee. He seems very intrigued in what he said publicly about John Kerry. Clearly, Dick Gephardt, judging by the crowd today has an audience there in the union. There's interest also in Joe Lieberman, because he defended their interests in that whole big battle over the Department of Homeland Security with President Bush, but right now with this union I get the sense that John Kerry and Dick Gephardt are the main competitors for their support, and it is, as I said, one of endorsements that could go a long way to deciding who gets the upper hand in what has become a very evenly matched race among these top Democrats.

COLLINS: All right, CNN's political analyst, Ron Brownstein, in Des Moines for us today, also covering the debate for the "Los Angeles Times" as well. Thanks so much, Ron. BROWNSTEIN: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Support in Iowa>


Aired May 17, 2003 - 14:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Vying for votes. The Democratic Presidential hopefuls are in Iowa far ahead of the first caucus. The candidates are at a town hall meeting in Des Moines. It's sponsored by the organized labor group the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which may decide which candidate to endorse after today's event and for more on this politicking, we are joined now by CNN Political Analyst Ron Brownstein who is in Des Moines for the very latest. What do you know, Ron?
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN ANALYST: Good morning, Heidi. Good afternoon. Well, it was really kind of a striking event. Earlier this month, the Democrats met for their first debate in South Carolina and it was very heated. In fact, they took a fair amount of criticism afterwards for being too personal and too focused on each other. This time, they really changed direction. They muted their differences with one another and really emphasized their disagreements with President Bush on the economy, health care, judicial appointments, and perhaps most strikingly, homeland security, where they really went after him pretty hard.

COLLINS: So they were nice. This is good to know. Also just wondering, what is it the candidates want to get out of this whole think the most? What are their priorities, do you think?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, AFSCME is one of the three largest unions in the AFL-CIO, and one of the most politically sophisticated and effective. in 1992, it broke from most of the unions to endorse Bill Clinton early in the primary process then, and they proved a key to his victory. This time it's a really important endorsement. Probably won't be decided until the fall, because Dick Gephardt, the congressman from Missouri, who tends to be pretty protectionist on trade issues has a lot of support among the industrial unions, the building trade unions who are most sensitive to those kinds of issues.

What is really left for the other Democrats is to compete for the service unions, like AFSCME. And as a result, you saw seven of the candidates were here in person, two others made taped appearances. All of the candidates are going to be focusing on AFSCME, as well as the Service Employees International Union, which is largely health care workers, because they are the ones that are most in play and could be a very valuable asset as this nomination fight moves forward.

COLLINS: Ron, is it too early for Americans to care about this?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, you know, it's funny. For the vast majority of Americans who are focusing on the general election, sure. But if you are an activist in one of the early primary states, it really isn't too early. The first contest in the Democratic race, incredibly, is going to be next January, in Iowa and New Hampshire. By February 1 of next year, we will have a very clear idea of what tier, first tier is in the Democratic race. And in fact, the AFL-CIO, which is moving through its own process in deciding whether to endorse one of the candidates, is having a critical meeting in August and hoping to make its decision by October.

So in that sense, none of it is very far away, although for the massive voters it is still a long way until the general election.

COLLINS: I know that Kerry and Dean have come out at least earlier this week with health care plans. Just wondering if we are going to hear a lot from the other candidates about what their ideas are on this very issue?

BROWNSTEIN: You know, it's a good question. It's really striking how much health care has emerged as a centerpiece of this early primary race. You had Dick Gephardt come out first with a very expensive plan to provide universal health care. In the last week, Howard Dean and John Kerry, as you mentioned, came out with more targeted plans that are considerably less expensive but also still have a substantial price tag, approaching the $900 billion range over the next decade.

It is increasing pressure on the other candidates, I think, to come out with their own ideas, and I suspect what you will see from the others who haven't spoken yet, Bob Graham, Joe Lieberman and John Edwards among the major candidates, is an argument that all of these may be somewhat unrealistically expensive, too ambitious, and the Democrats have to set their sights a little lower. That could be one of the central points of debate as they move forward in this race.

COLLINS: So what do you think, is there going to be a clear winner coming out of this event?

BROWNSTEIN: No, I don't think there was a clear winner today. I think there is a real competition going on for support, as I said, of some of these service sector unions, particularly AFSCME.

The president of the union, Jerry Macante (ph), is the chairman of the AFL-CIO's political committee. He seems very intrigued in what he said publicly about John Kerry. Clearly, Dick Gephardt, judging by the crowd today has an audience there in the union. There's interest also in Joe Lieberman, because he defended their interests in that whole big battle over the Department of Homeland Security with President Bush, but right now with this union I get the sense that John Kerry and Dick Gephardt are the main competitors for their support, and it is, as I said, one of endorsements that could go a long way to deciding who gets the upper hand in what has become a very evenly matched race among these top Democrats.

COLLINS: All right, CNN's political analyst, Ron Brownstein, in Des Moines for us today, also covering the debate for the "Los Angeles Times" as well. Thanks so much, Ron. BROWNSTEIN: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




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