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CNN Live At Daybreak

Al Sharpton for President?

Aired August 22, 2001 - 07:56   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, news the Reverend Al Sharpton is considering a run for the White House is causing ripples in political waters and even his own followers are shocked.

COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Imagine that.

CNN's Jeanne Moos took one of her famous polls of New Yorkers. Here's what she found out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the old days, Al Sharpton often dressed as if he were going for a run, but not a run for office. Whether chasing a TV crew or getting decked by a fellow guest on a talk show, Reverend Sharpton made headlines and turned heads.

REVEREND AL SHARPTON, ACTIVIST: I'm not a miniature black man. If you're going to lynch me, get your biggest tree.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right on.

MOOS: A decade later, he's still not miniature, but he did lose 32 pounds fasting in jail to protest the bombing of Vieques.

SHARPTON: Well, I'm half as stylish as I used to be.

MOOS: Supporters have a nickname for him.

SHARPTON: Thank you, Reverend Al.

SHARPTON: All right.

MOOS: But these days another title is being bandied about: President Sharpton?

(on camera): How you doing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President of what?

MOOS: The United States.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not a joke?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not April Fool's is it?

MOOS: President Sharpton, how's that strike you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty odd.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, not bad. We got President Bush so it can't be too bad.

SHARPTON: Every time I look at George Bush I know that I am qualified to at least do what he does.

MOOS (voice-over): Reverend Sharpton came out of jail bearded but not for long, unlike another Al.

SHARPTON: There may be two Als in this race, but one Al shaved and lost weight, the other one grew a beard and gained weight.

MOOS: All you have to do is mention his name.

(on camera): We're doing a story on Al Sharpton because he announced an exploratory. I saw you make that face.

(voice-over): Even people who like him can't help reacting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will never turn around. We will never back down.

MOOS: Reverend Al is the closest thing America has to the wrapping Senator Bulworth.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "BULWORTH")

WARREN BEATTY, ACTOR (singing): Big money, big money, one man, one vote, now is that really real? The name of our game is let's make a deal. Now people got their problems, their haves and their have nots, but the ones that make me listen take a 30 second spot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: Sharpton's sharp tongue cuts both ways.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't really like him. I think he's too outspoken. I think he speaks too much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't like him at first, now I think very highly of him.

MOOS: Sharpton has toned down his image. Matured, he says, since the old days.

SHARPTON: They like my hair.

MOOS: The hair Jay Leno still jokes about.

JAY LENO, "TONIGHT SHOW" HOST: I'm thinking who's hairdo is it, and I realized today, show them, see what -- look, you see,... (LAUGHTER)

MOOS: Nah, not Mary Tyler Moore.

SHARPTON: That's my bond with James Brown. When I was a kid, he was like my father, and he's the one who got my hair styled like this so I'd look like him.

JAMES BROWN, SINGER: Papa's got a brand new bag.

MOOS: Al Sharpton may someday have a brand new bag running for president, but he'll still be running his fingers through his James Brown hair.

Jeannie Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Styling.

MCEDWARDS: He is too. He's a huge James Brown fan.

LIN: I know.

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