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Democratic Presidential Candidates Set to Debate
Aired October 09, 2003 - 15:22 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.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Now the backdrop for tonight's Democratic presidential debate, which will take place right here in Orpheum Theater.
Wesley Clark is going to take the stage as the front-runner, the leader of the pack, at least according to our latest poll, which shows Clark with 21 percent support of registered Democrats nationwide, five points ahead of his nearest rival, Howard Dean. It's all the more reason for Clark to be a target tonight.
Here's CNN's Dan Lothian.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Order is OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Final preparations are being made for the fourth official presidential debate. A crowded field of now nine candidates after Senator Bob Graham became the first casualty, dropping out this week on the "Larry King Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "LARRY KING LIVE")
SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D-FL), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have made the judgment that I cannot be elected president of the United States, primarily because of a late start.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: Retired General Wesley Clark, who also got a late start and admittedly got a pass on tough questions in the last debate, is expected to be tested this time around. Arizona State University political science professor Richard Herrera says the candidates may demand more specifics.
PROF. RICHARD HERRERA, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY: But you can only go to the well, so to speak, with the answers like I've only been in this for a short time, I've only begun to look into issues, things like that.
LOTHIAN: And more pressure on Clark. His campaign manager has resigned and now questions are being raised about whether or not the retired general violated election laws by making paid speeches, viewed by some as political campaigning. Late Wednesday, Clark decided to cancel all future paid speeches and return money received since entering the race.
Tonight, the focus is expected to be on common themes, like tax cuts, health care, trade issues and Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN: Strategists are also saying that most of the candidates will also focus on Howard Dean. He was the focus of the last debate. He was one of the front-runners and will continue to be the focus. They also say that they'll continue the candidates' focusing on beginning after President George W. Bush. They want to set themselves up as the best option to take him on and win -- Candy.
CROWLEY: Thanks so much, CNN's Dan Lothian.
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 October 9, 2003 - 15:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Now the backdrop for tonight's Democratic presidential debate, which will take place right here in Orpheum Theater.
Wesley Clark is going to take the stage as the front-runner, the leader of the pack, at least according to our latest poll, which shows Clark with 21 percent support of registered Democrats nationwide, five points ahead of his nearest rival, Howard Dean. It's all the more reason for Clark to be a target tonight.
Here's CNN's Dan Lothian.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Order is OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Final preparations are being made for the fourth official presidential debate. A crowded field of now nine candidates after Senator Bob Graham became the first casualty, dropping out this week on the "Larry King Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "LARRY KING LIVE")
SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D-FL), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have made the judgment that I cannot be elected president of the United States, primarily because of a late start.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: Retired General Wesley Clark, who also got a late start and admittedly got a pass on tough questions in the last debate, is expected to be tested this time around. Arizona State University political science professor Richard Herrera says the candidates may demand more specifics.
PROF. RICHARD HERRERA, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY: But you can only go to the well, so to speak, with the answers like I've only been in this for a short time, I've only begun to look into issues, things like that.
LOTHIAN: And more pressure on Clark. His campaign manager has resigned and now questions are being raised about whether or not the retired general violated election laws by making paid speeches, viewed by some as political campaigning. Late Wednesday, Clark decided to cancel all future paid speeches and return money received since entering the race.
Tonight, the focus is expected to be on common themes, like tax cuts, health care, trade issues and Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN: Strategists are also saying that most of the candidates will also focus on Howard Dean. He was the focus of the last debate. He was one of the front-runners and will continue to be the focus. They also say that they'll continue the candidates' focusing on beginning after President George W. Bush. They want to set themselves up as the best option to take him on and win -- Candy.
CROWLEY: Thanks so much, CNN's Dan Lothian.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
