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Democrats to Debate in Los Angeles

Aired February 26, 2004 - 15:05   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, airwave pollution will not be a problem at tonight's Democratic debate unless, of course, you're offended by public displays of politics.
As you've heard, Messrs. Kerry, Edwards, Sharpton and Kucinich will mix it up, or so we hope here, at a forum sponsored by CNN and "The Los Angeles Times."

And CNN's Judy Woodruff is joining us now with a preview live from the site of the debate.

Judy, it seems to be this is a very important night for Edwards, correct?

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: It is an important night for Edwards.

And, Miles, I am on the campus of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where this debate is taking place tonight. It's important for John Edwards frankly because he's only won one out of 21 contests that he and John Kerry, who are the two major candidates still in this race.

John Edwards somehow has got to shake up this race tonight if he has any hope of breaking through. You know, even the analysts, the experts are saying, even if John Edwards wins one or two of the 10 states that vote on Tuesday, that still may not be enough to put him in contention for winning the nomination, winning enough delegates. So, one way or another, John Edwards has got to break through. And tonight may be his last opportunity.

O'BRIEN: Perhaps the sad but honest truth is that, in American politics, nice guys finish second. Is he apt to make this a pivotal moment and kind of go negative on John Kerry?

WOODRUFF: Well, what we're hearing from the Edwards campaign, Miles, is that the senator will continue -- from North Carolina -- will make -- will draw distinctions between him and -- himself and John Kerry.

But, beyond that, John Edwards has to be careful, because, I think as you noted, his trademark has been this positive, uplifting, upbeat campaign that he's been running. So, if he suddenly turns around and gets -- turns around and gets snarly and very critical of John Kerry, he runs a risk of contradicting his own message.

So John Edwards has to find a way to draw distinctions and draw sharp distinctions, but without seeming overly negative. And it's going to be interesting. You know, tonight, we talked to the folks who are putting this debate together. The candidates are going to be seated at a table. There's going to be an effort to bring them out in a more conversational way. So it should be a really interesting debate.

O'BRIEN: All right. Boy, that's a high-wire act worthy of Karl Wallenda, trying to be nice and yet draw distinctions.

Let's talk a little bit about -- you've got an interesting interview. She's always quotable. It seems like there's, well, 57 varieties of good quotes from here, Teresa Heinz Kerry. Tell me about your interview.

WOODRUFF: A reference to the Heinz ketchup fortune.

Miles, last night, Teresa Heinz Kerry was campaigning here in Los Angeles. She was in one of the city's Latino neighborhoods. And she was talking to the crowd largely about the fact that she could identify with what it was like. She herself was an immigrant. She had to go through trying to get citizenship papers for herself. But after that appearance, I did have a chance to talk to her.

And among other things, I asked her what it means to her when she hears John Edwards out on the campaign trail saying he's the one who identifies with working people, with people who are out of a job because of his own working-class background. Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERESA HEINZ KERRY, WIFE OF SENATOR JOHN KERRY: I think it's great that John Edwards has come from where he's come. And that's also a presumption, because he does not know where John Kerry came from, in fact. He only knows some of it. And he doesn't know all about it.

And it's also disregarding the sacrifices and more importantly the lessons that he learned with his fellow veterans in Vietnam, in school and in all his three years when he ran around the country trying to stop the war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: So, Miles, Teresa Heinz Kerry someone who is defending her husband, speaking up for him, saying he went through some tough times as well, the message being, John Edwards isn't the only one who can identify with people who are out of work and otherwise in need, Teresa Heinz Kerry somebody who is always outspoken.

O'BRIEN: Seldom minces words, correct.

All right, Judy Woodruff, we appreciate you joining us. And that's just a little bit of what you'll see when you watch the program, as we are sure you will, "INSIDE POLITICS," 3:30 Eastern time, 12:30 Pacific, right after LIVE FROM, the complete interview with Teresa Heinz Kerry, among other things. And cancel your dinner party tonight. The Democratic showdown airs at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 Pacific right here on CNN, or bring out the TV tables, anyhow.

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 26, 2004 - 15:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, airwave pollution will not be a problem at tonight's Democratic debate unless, of course, you're offended by public displays of politics.
As you've heard, Messrs. Kerry, Edwards, Sharpton and Kucinich will mix it up, or so we hope here, at a forum sponsored by CNN and "The Los Angeles Times."

And CNN's Judy Woodruff is joining us now with a preview live from the site of the debate.

Judy, it seems to be this is a very important night for Edwards, correct?

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: It is an important night for Edwards.

And, Miles, I am on the campus of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where this debate is taking place tonight. It's important for John Edwards frankly because he's only won one out of 21 contests that he and John Kerry, who are the two major candidates still in this race.

John Edwards somehow has got to shake up this race tonight if he has any hope of breaking through. You know, even the analysts, the experts are saying, even if John Edwards wins one or two of the 10 states that vote on Tuesday, that still may not be enough to put him in contention for winning the nomination, winning enough delegates. So, one way or another, John Edwards has got to break through. And tonight may be his last opportunity.

O'BRIEN: Perhaps the sad but honest truth is that, in American politics, nice guys finish second. Is he apt to make this a pivotal moment and kind of go negative on John Kerry?

WOODRUFF: Well, what we're hearing from the Edwards campaign, Miles, is that the senator will continue -- from North Carolina -- will make -- will draw distinctions between him and -- himself and John Kerry.

But, beyond that, John Edwards has to be careful, because, I think as you noted, his trademark has been this positive, uplifting, upbeat campaign that he's been running. So, if he suddenly turns around and gets -- turns around and gets snarly and very critical of John Kerry, he runs a risk of contradicting his own message.

So John Edwards has to find a way to draw distinctions and draw sharp distinctions, but without seeming overly negative. And it's going to be interesting. You know, tonight, we talked to the folks who are putting this debate together. The candidates are going to be seated at a table. There's going to be an effort to bring them out in a more conversational way. So it should be a really interesting debate.

O'BRIEN: All right. Boy, that's a high-wire act worthy of Karl Wallenda, trying to be nice and yet draw distinctions.

Let's talk a little bit about -- you've got an interesting interview. She's always quotable. It seems like there's, well, 57 varieties of good quotes from here, Teresa Heinz Kerry. Tell me about your interview.

WOODRUFF: A reference to the Heinz ketchup fortune.

Miles, last night, Teresa Heinz Kerry was campaigning here in Los Angeles. She was in one of the city's Latino neighborhoods. And she was talking to the crowd largely about the fact that she could identify with what it was like. She herself was an immigrant. She had to go through trying to get citizenship papers for herself. But after that appearance, I did have a chance to talk to her.

And among other things, I asked her what it means to her when she hears John Edwards out on the campaign trail saying he's the one who identifies with working people, with people who are out of a job because of his own working-class background. Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERESA HEINZ KERRY, WIFE OF SENATOR JOHN KERRY: I think it's great that John Edwards has come from where he's come. And that's also a presumption, because he does not know where John Kerry came from, in fact. He only knows some of it. And he doesn't know all about it.

And it's also disregarding the sacrifices and more importantly the lessons that he learned with his fellow veterans in Vietnam, in school and in all his three years when he ran around the country trying to stop the war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: So, Miles, Teresa Heinz Kerry someone who is defending her husband, speaking up for him, saying he went through some tough times as well, the message being, John Edwards isn't the only one who can identify with people who are out of work and otherwise in need, Teresa Heinz Kerry somebody who is always outspoken.

O'BRIEN: Seldom minces words, correct.

All right, Judy Woodruff, we appreciate you joining us. And that's just a little bit of what you'll see when you watch the program, as we are sure you will, "INSIDE POLITICS," 3:30 Eastern time, 12:30 Pacific, right after LIVE FROM, the complete interview with Teresa Heinz Kerry, among other things. And cancel your dinner party tonight. The Democratic showdown airs at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 Pacific right here on CNN, or bring out the TV tables, anyhow.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com