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CNN Live Saturday
Kerry Leadingin In Washington, Michigan
Aired February 07, 2004 - 18:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Carol.
The polls are now closed both in Michigan and Washington State. And from Washington State we're beginning to get real numbers. Now, and these are percentages, delegates. We're going to put them up on the screen, show our viewers.
Take a look at this, with almost 50 percent of the vote in Washington State, the caucuses now, John Kerry maintains his lead with 48 percent. Howard Dean coming in second with 31 percent. Dennis Kucinich down at 8 percent, John Edwards, 6 percent, Wesley Clark, 4 percent, Al Sharpton, not registering. This is with almost half the caucuses now reporting.
Our Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider is now joining us.
Washington State had been a very important state for Howard Dean going in, he's coming in second, but he's certainly not winning right now.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: He's not winning and that has got to be a disappointment. Because this is his state he should win. These are -- these Democrats are latte drinking, Internet using, grunge-rock-listening -- not punk, but grunge-rock-listening, environment protecting Democrats.
Very progressive state, and it is a caucus were passion and intensity matter, and yet it is being carried by John Kerry. It shows the Democrats -- even those Democrats are in a very pragmatic mood. They want to winner.
BLITZER: And in Michigan, we won't be getting the results, the official results, at least for a couple of hours, 8 p.m. Eastern. But it looks, going into this race, like John Kerry is going to do very, very well in a real important state for the Democrats.
SCHNEIDER: It is a crucial battleground state, a major industrial state, a key battleground state, I'd say for the election in the fall. He's got the endorsement of the entire Democratic establishment, the Democratic governor, both Democratic senators. Dick Gephardt's embrace of John Kerry in Michigan, very important, because he carries a lot of weight with organized labor and that an important Michigan constituency.
So, everything going for Kerry. The other candidates just gave up on Michigan and that's an important concession. BLITZER: The other two candidates, Edwards and Clark, they're looking to Tuesday, two important Southern states, Virginia and Tennessee. They have to at least do very well there to continue.
SCHNEIDER: That's right and Kerry wants to win in Virginia and Tennessee, both if possible, to show that he's truly a national candidate, not just simply a New England Democratic liberal.
BLITZER: All right, stand by, Bill. Because we have a lot of coverage coming up throughout this night.
The Democratic Party faithful, meanwhile, they'll see several of the candidates at tonight's Jefferson/Jackson Day Dinner in Richmond, Virginia. CNN's Kelly Wallace is already there. She's joining us now live.
Set the stage. What can we anticipate tonight, Kelly?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, as you can see, many Democrats gathered behind me, milling around this ballroom here, waiting for this dinner to begin. Aides are telling me of John Kerry.
They think it is very, very possible that John Kerry win Michigan and Washington State today and Maine tomorrow. And that is why they are looking ahead as well, to Tuesday's contest here in Virginia and also in Tennessee.
And what we are going to hear from the senator, who was out campaigning in Nashville earlier today, is something new. He is sharpening his attack on the Bush administration, using a new word, according to aides. He will be calling the Bush White House extreme and saying that he represents mainstream America.
Take a look at an excerpt from John Kerry's speech that he is expected to give tonight. In that speech he says, "George Bush and the Republican smear machine have trotted out the same old tired lines of attack that they have used to divide this nation."
He goes on to say, "I have news for George Bush, and Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie", the Republican Party chairman, "and the rest of their gang: "
He goes on to say, "I fought for my country my whole life. I'm not going to back down now. This is one Democrat who is going to fight back. And I've only just begun to fight."
Well, when we arrived here in Richmond, many reporters questioned Sen. Kerry about this new strategy, one asking if he is now labeling Republicans just as he accused the White House of labeling him? Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KERRY (D), DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE: I'm not labeling them. It's an adjective that describes their administration. I think it's pretty extreme when you drive up a deficit to over $500 billion, and you're giving people a tax cut who earn more than $200, 000 a year.
You know, there's something extreme in that. No administration that is fiscally responsible would behave that way. So that is extreme behavior.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Kerry's advisors say that Republicans engaged them more than a week and a half ago so they are going to fight back. But, Wolf, this is clearly a sign of how contentious the general election could be, if John Kerry is the Democratic nominee going against President Bush.
Wolf.
BLITZER: Kelly Wallace in Richmond. We'll be standing by to hear those candidates in Richmond tonight. Kelly Wallace thanks very much.
We're getting this news now in from the Associated Press. The Associated Press now reporting that AFSME (ph), American Federation of Federal State and Municipal Employees, about to pull it's support for Howard Dean. A very significant development.
How significant, Bill Schneider, is this AFSME (ph) deciding no longer to go ahead and support Howard Dean?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Howard Dean really got an enormous boost last fall when he was embraced by AFSME, government workers, and by the Service Workers' Union. This meant that the Democratic base was embracing him as their candidate. They thought he looked like a winner and now the whole thing has fallen apart for them to withdraw their support means they're giving up on this guy.
They don't think he can win. They're desperate to go with a winner and they know it's not going to be Howard Dean. I don't know if they're endorsing John Kerry, but it's a terrible blow to Howard Dean.
BLITZER: All right, we'll continue to watch what's happening with Howard Dean's campaign and much more.
Bill, thanks very much with that.
We'll have much more coming up at the bottom of the hour including more results from Washington State. CNN will have in-depth coverage tonight of both of these Democratic caucuses, Michigan and Washington State.
A special edition of the "Capital Gang" begins at 7 p.m. Eastern. That's at the top of the hour. I'll be back for "America Votes 2004", a special report, that's at 8 p.m. Eastern and throughout the night with the latest results.
In the meantime, let's go back to Carol Lin at the CNN Center.
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 February 7, 2004 - 18:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Carol.
The polls are now closed both in Michigan and Washington State. And from Washington State we're beginning to get real numbers. Now, and these are percentages, delegates. We're going to put them up on the screen, show our viewers.
Take a look at this, with almost 50 percent of the vote in Washington State, the caucuses now, John Kerry maintains his lead with 48 percent. Howard Dean coming in second with 31 percent. Dennis Kucinich down at 8 percent, John Edwards, 6 percent, Wesley Clark, 4 percent, Al Sharpton, not registering. This is with almost half the caucuses now reporting.
Our Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider is now joining us.
Washington State had been a very important state for Howard Dean going in, he's coming in second, but he's certainly not winning right now.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: He's not winning and that has got to be a disappointment. Because this is his state he should win. These are -- these Democrats are latte drinking, Internet using, grunge-rock-listening -- not punk, but grunge-rock-listening, environment protecting Democrats.
Very progressive state, and it is a caucus were passion and intensity matter, and yet it is being carried by John Kerry. It shows the Democrats -- even those Democrats are in a very pragmatic mood. They want to winner.
BLITZER: And in Michigan, we won't be getting the results, the official results, at least for a couple of hours, 8 p.m. Eastern. But it looks, going into this race, like John Kerry is going to do very, very well in a real important state for the Democrats.
SCHNEIDER: It is a crucial battleground state, a major industrial state, a key battleground state, I'd say for the election in the fall. He's got the endorsement of the entire Democratic establishment, the Democratic governor, both Democratic senators. Dick Gephardt's embrace of John Kerry in Michigan, very important, because he carries a lot of weight with organized labor and that an important Michigan constituency.
So, everything going for Kerry. The other candidates just gave up on Michigan and that's an important concession. BLITZER: The other two candidates, Edwards and Clark, they're looking to Tuesday, two important Southern states, Virginia and Tennessee. They have to at least do very well there to continue.
SCHNEIDER: That's right and Kerry wants to win in Virginia and Tennessee, both if possible, to show that he's truly a national candidate, not just simply a New England Democratic liberal.
BLITZER: All right, stand by, Bill. Because we have a lot of coverage coming up throughout this night.
The Democratic Party faithful, meanwhile, they'll see several of the candidates at tonight's Jefferson/Jackson Day Dinner in Richmond, Virginia. CNN's Kelly Wallace is already there. She's joining us now live.
Set the stage. What can we anticipate tonight, Kelly?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, as you can see, many Democrats gathered behind me, milling around this ballroom here, waiting for this dinner to begin. Aides are telling me of John Kerry.
They think it is very, very possible that John Kerry win Michigan and Washington State today and Maine tomorrow. And that is why they are looking ahead as well, to Tuesday's contest here in Virginia and also in Tennessee.
And what we are going to hear from the senator, who was out campaigning in Nashville earlier today, is something new. He is sharpening his attack on the Bush administration, using a new word, according to aides. He will be calling the Bush White House extreme and saying that he represents mainstream America.
Take a look at an excerpt from John Kerry's speech that he is expected to give tonight. In that speech he says, "George Bush and the Republican smear machine have trotted out the same old tired lines of attack that they have used to divide this nation."
He goes on to say, "I have news for George Bush, and Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie", the Republican Party chairman, "and the rest of their gang: "
He goes on to say, "I fought for my country my whole life. I'm not going to back down now. This is one Democrat who is going to fight back. And I've only just begun to fight."
Well, when we arrived here in Richmond, many reporters questioned Sen. Kerry about this new strategy, one asking if he is now labeling Republicans just as he accused the White House of labeling him? Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KERRY (D), DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE: I'm not labeling them. It's an adjective that describes their administration. I think it's pretty extreme when you drive up a deficit to over $500 billion, and you're giving people a tax cut who earn more than $200, 000 a year.
You know, there's something extreme in that. No administration that is fiscally responsible would behave that way. So that is extreme behavior.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Kerry's advisors say that Republicans engaged them more than a week and a half ago so they are going to fight back. But, Wolf, this is clearly a sign of how contentious the general election could be, if John Kerry is the Democratic nominee going against President Bush.
Wolf.
BLITZER: Kelly Wallace in Richmond. We'll be standing by to hear those candidates in Richmond tonight. Kelly Wallace thanks very much.
We're getting this news now in from the Associated Press. The Associated Press now reporting that AFSME (ph), American Federation of Federal State and Municipal Employees, about to pull it's support for Howard Dean. A very significant development.
How significant, Bill Schneider, is this AFSME (ph) deciding no longer to go ahead and support Howard Dean?
SCHNEIDER: Well, Howard Dean really got an enormous boost last fall when he was embraced by AFSME, government workers, and by the Service Workers' Union. This meant that the Democratic base was embracing him as their candidate. They thought he looked like a winner and now the whole thing has fallen apart for them to withdraw their support means they're giving up on this guy.
They don't think he can win. They're desperate to go with a winner and they know it's not going to be Howard Dean. I don't know if they're endorsing John Kerry, but it's a terrible blow to Howard Dean.
BLITZER: All right, we'll continue to watch what's happening with Howard Dean's campaign and much more.
Bill, thanks very much with that.
We'll have much more coming up at the bottom of the hour including more results from Washington State. CNN will have in-depth coverage tonight of both of these Democratic caucuses, Michigan and Washington State.
A special edition of the "Capital Gang" begins at 7 p.m. Eastern. That's at the top of the hour. I'll be back for "America Votes 2004", a special report, that's at 8 p.m. Eastern and throughout the night with the latest results.
In the meantime, let's go back to Carol Lin at the CNN Center.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
