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CNN Live Saturday
What Effect Would Nader Have On 2004 Race?
Aired February 21, 2004 - 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.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile Democrats are awaiting an announcement from a potential spoiler. Former Green party candidate Ralph Nader is expected to announce whether he will make another third party bid. Analysts expect his candidacy could siphon votes from the Democrats. Top Democrats are trying to persuade Nader not to run.
So what effect would a Nader candidacy have on the 2004 race? Many felt Nader's role in the 2000 race gave the election to George W. Bush. And does John Edwards still have a chance? For some perspective on all of these things we turn now to Democratic strategist Doug Schoen and radio talk show host Mark Simone.
All right good to see both of you. Let's talk about -- we are talking about the two leading Democratic contenders now, John Kerry, John Edwards, and Doug would it behoove them to be criticizing one another or to place their energies on criticizing the Bush administration?
DOUG SCHOEN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, I think they will try to do both. I think the focus of Democratic voters is removing George Bush from the White House, at the same time with a one-on-one contest now being framed for March 2. I think both Kerry and particularly John Edwards is going to try to make one another the focus of the remaining eight days till primaries.
WHITFIELD: All right, Mark is the Bush/Cheney ticket has a huge amount of money through fund-raising, mostly fund-raising, they have been able to get more than $150 million for this next election. How in the world should they be best spending this money?
MARK SIMONE, TALK, RADIO HOST: Well, you know first of all people like to point out how much money Bush and Cheney have, $150 million. Kerry has probably got that much on him. I mean a guy with nine homes and three yachts can't cry poverty here. The best --
WHITFIELD: Well he also married into money too. He had some and he married into money.
SIMONE: Yes, the best way they could spend the money is simply run video of John Kerry through the years. Especially last year when he pushed for the war as hard as anyone, when he made the case for weapons of mass destruction. Even harder than Bush made it. Some of that video will shock a lot of voters when they see it.
WHITFIELD: All right, jobs obviously will be a leading issue, once it comes down to the Democratic pick and a Republican camp focusing on issues. And so Doug do you see that this might be a soft spot for the Bush administration? The two million jobs lost even though they are trying to focus on the most recent job creation?
SCHOEN: Absolutely it's a soft spot. I think it is an Achilles heal with Bush having cost the country about 3 million jobs, saying last week he was going to create 2.6 million and backing away from it, making it clear through spokespeople that he is not a statistician with a deficit over $5 billion.
The Bush administration is very, very vulnerable on economic policy and their also vulnerable on foreign policy as well. So I think the record of the Bush administration will be a central question, and I think at this point the polling is showing that many Americans are deeply skeptical and a majority I think are turning against the president.
WHITFIELD: So Mark, how does President Bush divorce himself from this topic?
SIMONE: Let me correct one thing though, he said Bush caused the loss of 3 million jobs. He inherited a huge recession and he put into effect things that worked in the past, they worked every time, like tax cuts. We just have had an incredible run-up in the stock market.
And that is usually followed by job growth. And if history repeats itself, which it probably will, by the end of this summer we may have a lot of new jobs. The problem with the Democrats I don't think they got a clear economic plan, you know they keep pointing to tax cuts that are not the problem. Tax cuts have always increased revenue not decreased it.
WHITFIELD: But Mark, do you see the potential that Doug was saying, that this really jobs could be the Achilles heel for the Bush administration? How does he try to repel some of the attention of jobs lost and instead try to focus on job creations when you still have over two million people without jobs?
SIMONE: Well that's true. But again, we have had a couple of really good quarters, we just one of the best quarters in 19 years. And if things do pick up and we start to create a couple hundred thousand jobs a month, which we very likely will, they are going to lose that Achilles heel.
Remember Saddam Hussein was a huge Achilles heel and then all of a sudden he was captured. The Democrats need to have something more positive on the table.
WHITFIELD: All right, well let's talk about the Ralph Nader factor. I understand that some Republicans are trying really hard to court Ralph Nader, to encourage him to get into the race. While the Democrats are saying please don't do it. We don't want to see another repeat of 2000. That according to the Democrats who are willing to speak so far. So you know Doug, is this going to potentially make this a deja vu?
SCHOEN: Well, I think there's certainly a serious threat. I would say a couple things. First he is running as an independent this time, not Green party. He has to qualify for the ballot which is very difficult, time consuming and expensive. And also I think the Democrats are unified as never before with the singular goal of ousting George Bush from the White House. So I think there will be much fewer Democrats willing to cast a protest vote for Ralph Nader this time.
WHITFIELD: All right, Mark real quick you get the last word. Ralph Nader a factor or not?
SIMONE: He is going to be a huge factor and I think your going to see him in the race as of tomorrow.
WHITFIELD: All right, Mark Simone, Doug Schoen thanks very much gentleman for joining us.
SCHOEN: Thank you.
SIMONE: 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
Aired February 21, 2004 - 14:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile Democrats are awaiting an announcement from a potential spoiler. Former Green party candidate Ralph Nader is expected to announce whether he will make another third party bid. Analysts expect his candidacy could siphon votes from the Democrats. Top Democrats are trying to persuade Nader not to run.
So what effect would a Nader candidacy have on the 2004 race? Many felt Nader's role in the 2000 race gave the election to George W. Bush. And does John Edwards still have a chance? For some perspective on all of these things we turn now to Democratic strategist Doug Schoen and radio talk show host Mark Simone.
All right good to see both of you. Let's talk about -- we are talking about the two leading Democratic contenders now, John Kerry, John Edwards, and Doug would it behoove them to be criticizing one another or to place their energies on criticizing the Bush administration?
DOUG SCHOEN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, I think they will try to do both. I think the focus of Democratic voters is removing George Bush from the White House, at the same time with a one-on-one contest now being framed for March 2. I think both Kerry and particularly John Edwards is going to try to make one another the focus of the remaining eight days till primaries.
WHITFIELD: All right, Mark is the Bush/Cheney ticket has a huge amount of money through fund-raising, mostly fund-raising, they have been able to get more than $150 million for this next election. How in the world should they be best spending this money?
MARK SIMONE, TALK, RADIO HOST: Well, you know first of all people like to point out how much money Bush and Cheney have, $150 million. Kerry has probably got that much on him. I mean a guy with nine homes and three yachts can't cry poverty here. The best --
WHITFIELD: Well he also married into money too. He had some and he married into money.
SIMONE: Yes, the best way they could spend the money is simply run video of John Kerry through the years. Especially last year when he pushed for the war as hard as anyone, when he made the case for weapons of mass destruction. Even harder than Bush made it. Some of that video will shock a lot of voters when they see it.
WHITFIELD: All right, jobs obviously will be a leading issue, once it comes down to the Democratic pick and a Republican camp focusing on issues. And so Doug do you see that this might be a soft spot for the Bush administration? The two million jobs lost even though they are trying to focus on the most recent job creation?
SCHOEN: Absolutely it's a soft spot. I think it is an Achilles heal with Bush having cost the country about 3 million jobs, saying last week he was going to create 2.6 million and backing away from it, making it clear through spokespeople that he is not a statistician with a deficit over $5 billion.
The Bush administration is very, very vulnerable on economic policy and their also vulnerable on foreign policy as well. So I think the record of the Bush administration will be a central question, and I think at this point the polling is showing that many Americans are deeply skeptical and a majority I think are turning against the president.
WHITFIELD: So Mark, how does President Bush divorce himself from this topic?
SIMONE: Let me correct one thing though, he said Bush caused the loss of 3 million jobs. He inherited a huge recession and he put into effect things that worked in the past, they worked every time, like tax cuts. We just have had an incredible run-up in the stock market.
And that is usually followed by job growth. And if history repeats itself, which it probably will, by the end of this summer we may have a lot of new jobs. The problem with the Democrats I don't think they got a clear economic plan, you know they keep pointing to tax cuts that are not the problem. Tax cuts have always increased revenue not decreased it.
WHITFIELD: But Mark, do you see the potential that Doug was saying, that this really jobs could be the Achilles heel for the Bush administration? How does he try to repel some of the attention of jobs lost and instead try to focus on job creations when you still have over two million people without jobs?
SIMONE: Well that's true. But again, we have had a couple of really good quarters, we just one of the best quarters in 19 years. And if things do pick up and we start to create a couple hundred thousand jobs a month, which we very likely will, they are going to lose that Achilles heel.
Remember Saddam Hussein was a huge Achilles heel and then all of a sudden he was captured. The Democrats need to have something more positive on the table.
WHITFIELD: All right, well let's talk about the Ralph Nader factor. I understand that some Republicans are trying really hard to court Ralph Nader, to encourage him to get into the race. While the Democrats are saying please don't do it. We don't want to see another repeat of 2000. That according to the Democrats who are willing to speak so far. So you know Doug, is this going to potentially make this a deja vu?
SCHOEN: Well, I think there's certainly a serious threat. I would say a couple things. First he is running as an independent this time, not Green party. He has to qualify for the ballot which is very difficult, time consuming and expensive. And also I think the Democrats are unified as never before with the singular goal of ousting George Bush from the White House. So I think there will be much fewer Democrats willing to cast a protest vote for Ralph Nader this time.
WHITFIELD: All right, Mark real quick you get the last word. Ralph Nader a factor or not?
SIMONE: He is going to be a huge factor and I think your going to see him in the race as of tomorrow.
WHITFIELD: All right, Mark Simone, Doug Schoen thanks very much gentleman for joining us.
SCHOEN: Thank you.
SIMONE: 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
