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Candidates Push for Tuesday's Primaries
Aired February 09, 2004 - 14:43 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: On the campaign trail with the president and his Democratic rivals, President Bush stumping for his re-election campaign.
Mr. Bush in Missouri today, a state he narrowly won in 2000. The president spoke to an automotive company in Springfield and touted the recovering economy.
Ahead of tomorrow's primaries in Virginia and Tennessee, the Democratic frontrunner is asking for support. John Kerry spoke to voters in Roanoke, Virginia, earlier. Virginia's governor endorsed Kerry just yesterday.
And former General Wesley Clark campaigning across Tennessee. Clark tells voters that he can right the nation's economy. Candidate John Edwards also held a rally in that state.
And former front-runner Howard Dean isn't worried about tomorrow's primaries. Dean is focusing on Wisconsin, a state he says he must win. The former Vermont governor urged voters to prove wrong polls that show him trailing in the race.
North Carolina Senator John Edwards says it's probably going to be a two-man race after tomorrow's primary battles in the South. He's counting himself as one of the survivors.
CNN political correspondent Candy Crowley has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The states change, but the message rarely does. It is a disciplined repetition of the same speech, a mix of personal biography, populism and, well, whatever it takes to move them.
JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: By the way, I used to live in Tennessee. My first child was born in Tennessee. I feel very much at home here.
CROWLEY: John Edwards says Tuesday's primaries in Tennessee and Virginia are not do or die. It is both true and a reflection of the reality that John Kerry is polling first in both states.
EDWARDS: I'd like to be in the top two in those two places. Then we go to Wisconsin. This is a long-term effort for me. We have the money and the resources and most importantly, the message to prevail over the long term. CROWLEY: Edwards' game plan is to survive until it's one on one, John Edwards versus John Kerry. In the interim, Edwards hopes someone or something decks the frontrunner.
But Edwards has been unwilling to throw a punch. He says it's because he's running a positive campaign.
Even the president got some Southern comfort when Edwards was asked about the president's military resume.
EDWARDS: We've had presidents who've had no combat experience who were excellent presidents. We've had presidents who had military experience who also made good presidents. I don't think that's -- I don't think it's the only test.
CROWLEY: It is both true and a reflection of the reality that John Edwards did not serve in the military.
(on camera) The only problem with Edwards' strategy to be the last standing alternative to John Kerry is that both Howard Dean and Wesley Clark have the same plan.
"Yes," said one Edwards adviser, "but our guy is the only one whose movement has been consistently upward."
Candy Crowley, CNN, Nashville, Tennessee.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 9, 2004 - 14:43 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: On the campaign trail with the president and his Democratic rivals, President Bush stumping for his re-election campaign.
Mr. Bush in Missouri today, a state he narrowly won in 2000. The president spoke to an automotive company in Springfield and touted the recovering economy.
Ahead of tomorrow's primaries in Virginia and Tennessee, the Democratic frontrunner is asking for support. John Kerry spoke to voters in Roanoke, Virginia, earlier. Virginia's governor endorsed Kerry just yesterday.
And former General Wesley Clark campaigning across Tennessee. Clark tells voters that he can right the nation's economy. Candidate John Edwards also held a rally in that state.
And former front-runner Howard Dean isn't worried about tomorrow's primaries. Dean is focusing on Wisconsin, a state he says he must win. The former Vermont governor urged voters to prove wrong polls that show him trailing in the race.
North Carolina Senator John Edwards says it's probably going to be a two-man race after tomorrow's primary battles in the South. He's counting himself as one of the survivors.
CNN political correspondent Candy Crowley has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The states change, but the message rarely does. It is a disciplined repetition of the same speech, a mix of personal biography, populism and, well, whatever it takes to move them.
JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: By the way, I used to live in Tennessee. My first child was born in Tennessee. I feel very much at home here.
CROWLEY: John Edwards says Tuesday's primaries in Tennessee and Virginia are not do or die. It is both true and a reflection of the reality that John Kerry is polling first in both states.
EDWARDS: I'd like to be in the top two in those two places. Then we go to Wisconsin. This is a long-term effort for me. We have the money and the resources and most importantly, the message to prevail over the long term. CROWLEY: Edwards' game plan is to survive until it's one on one, John Edwards versus John Kerry. In the interim, Edwards hopes someone or something decks the frontrunner.
But Edwards has been unwilling to throw a punch. He says it's because he's running a positive campaign.
Even the president got some Southern comfort when Edwards was asked about the president's military resume.
EDWARDS: We've had presidents who've had no combat experience who were excellent presidents. We've had presidents who had military experience who also made good presidents. I don't think that's -- I don't think it's the only test.
CROWLEY: It is both true and a reflection of the reality that John Edwards did not serve in the military.
(on camera) The only problem with Edwards' strategy to be the last standing alternative to John Kerry is that both Howard Dean and Wesley Clark have the same plan.
"Yes," said one Edwards adviser, "but our guy is the only one whose movement has been consistently upward."
Candy Crowley, CNN, Nashville, Tennessee.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
