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American Morning
American Votes 2002: Homestretch
Aired October 31, 2002 - 07:08 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Election countdown is on, and with the elections just days away, control of Congress is at stake. Everyone who is anyone is setting out on the campaign trail this morning. President Bush is hitting three states today.
Former Vice President Walter Mondale begins his Senate campaign in Minnesota, hoping to win the late Paul Wellstone's seat.
It is crunch time in America with Election 2002 now on her doorstep.
Bob Franken is covering the race in Minnesota, John King joins us from the White House, and Kate Snow from the capital.
Let's begin in Minneapolis this morning.
Bob, what does Mondale have planned for the first day of the shortest of campaigns?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, he's holding a news conference this morning in about three hours, which will be marking the official start.
This is a man who is 74 years old, hasn't run for office since 1984. But last night in the theater in back of me, he was appointed to take over for Paul Wellstone, who, of course, died less than a week ago in that plane crash.
And Walter Mondale in his acceptance speech did what so many politicians have done over so many years; he cited the Bible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTER MONDALE (D), SENATE CANDIDATE: The scriptures say, "To everything, there is a season, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." Faith has thrust upon us a double season. It is both a time to break down and a time to build up.
My fellow Minnesotans, let us mourn together, but let us also together make the music of democracy. Thank you so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Mondale's Republican opponent, Norm Coleman, has gone back to campaigning in earnest. He says that Mondale season has come and gone. According to Coleman, he told CNN's Jon Karl that it is like running against Mount Rushmore. One final bit of business, an argument in the State Supreme Court today about the absentee ballots already cast for Paul Wellstone. The Democrats want the state law changed, so those who cast that vote can now cast it presumably for Mondale -- Paula.
ZAHN: It was interesting to note Mr. Mondale's tone there after so much criticism that the Democrats had turned Senator Wellstone's memorial service into a political pep rally.
FRANKEN: Well, as a matter of fact, Republicans are still making that complaint. The Democrats, of course, are saying it was not intentional that that was political. You can take that as the kind of thing a politician would say.
And the Republicans, of course, are expressing outrage of that, and of course, one might remember that it's advantageous for the Republicans to do so, looking for any advantage. It's sort of like "Casablanca," Paula, where the Republicans are saying they are "shocked, shocked."
ZAHN: Thank you so much, Bob Franken.
So, just how shocked are they? Let's turn to John King who joins us at the White House this morning. He's going to run us through the president's day.
Good morning -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.
The president's party traditionally loses seats in the midterm elections. President Bush trying to defy history. He has been very active in this campaign.
This morning, a bit of a Halloween celebration here at the White House. The president surrounded by some young children dressed up for the holiday, as he left the White House this morning. Mr. Bush, you see him there with a young cowboy on the South Lawn of the White House, waving to the reporters; more children coming out.
Three states on the president's agenda today. He will travel first to South Dakota, a critical Senate race there, then to Indiana and to West Virginia, campaigning for Republican congressional candidates in those states.
This, all part of a 15-state blitz by the president in the final five days of campaigning; 40 states in all Mr. Bush will have visited by the time he is done, a record-shattering $140 million raised for Republican candidates this year. The president trying to keep the House in Republican hands, trying again to defy history and break the Democrats' hold on the United States Senate.
And it's not just the president, Paula. Vice President Cheney in Texas and Missouri today. He is out through the Tuesday elections. Most of the Bush cabinet out, First Lady Laura Bush getting involved, Lynne Cheney as well. And what they call here the "Thelma and Louise" tour, Mary Madeline and Karen Hughes, two of the president's better- known aides here at the White House, they are out jointly campaigning for Republicans as well.
The president knows he's not on the ballot Tuesday, but the shape of his agenda in the two years -- the critical two years running up to his reelection campaign will be determined by what the voters decide on Tuesday -- Paula.
ZAHN: John, very quickly, how sensitive is the administration to criticism at a time when we're talking so much about the prospect of war that the president, according to some, has diminished himself by being out there on the campaign trail so much?
KING: Well, they say here at the White House the president has many jobs and many challenges, and he is the leader of the Republican Party. He has every right, every responsibility, every obligation to be out there campaigning for Republican candidates, eve as he tries to build support in the United Nations, even as he deals with other issues --like North Korea, like the economy; that Republicans and people where at the White House especially say the Democrats are just trying to find some reason to criticize the president. He's just doing his job.
ZAHN: Thanks so much, John King.
Let's check in with Kate Snow now to give us perspective on what they're saying at the capital today.
Good morning -- Kate.
KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And good morning, Paula.
You know, the chatter up here is mostly about the U.S. Senate. That's because it really hangs in the balance. As you know, the Democrats control the Senate by just one vote.
We're looking at about 10 races around the country that people are most concerned about. Those are tight races. Five of them are Democratic seats, five of them are Republican seats.
Democrats will tell you they think they're in good shape to keep control of the Senate, maybe even pick up a seat or two.
But Republicans will tell you that they've got a real shot at this. For one reason, you just heard John King mention South Dakota. That's a really critical race where a Democrat might be in trouble. Democratic incumbent Senator Tim Johnson in a very tight race within the margin of error with John Thune who is the Republican House member out there.
Republicans say an even more Democratic -- a vulnerable Democrat might be Senator Jean Carnahan of Missouri. That's another race to watch. You'll remember, she was elected two years ago when her husband died in a plane crash, and he was actually elected, and then she was appointed to take his place. She's not a career politician, and if you believe the latest polls, she's having a little bit of trouble.
On the other side, Republicans tell me they are most worried about the state of Arkansas. They've got a Republican senator there, Tim Hutchinson. He's running against the state attorney general, Mark Pryor.
That race getting very nasty. Hutchinson has been accusing Pryor and Democrats of playing the race card. And meantime, Democrats are accusing Republicans of trying to disenfranchise black voters. It's getting downright ugly out there, Paula.
All of the focus on the Senate for the most part, because the House, at least according to outside analysts at this point, doesn't seem to really be in play anymore. Democrats have been hoping and hoping that they might be able to take back the House. But if you work out the numbers, most analysts in Washington now saying it doesn't look really good for Democrats.
Now, Democrats will still sit down with you and try to work out the numbers and show you how they think they can do it, but that said, I've had some Democrats even admit to me, Paula, that they don't think it's within reach.
And Republicans saying they may be able to even gain some seats in the House, which would be very unusual, as John King pointed out. The first time since 1928 that a president's party would gain seats in a midterm election -- Paula.
ZAHN: Well, all I know, the only certainty is it's going to be a very long night for those of us working on the election desk that night, including you. Thanks, Kate -- appreciate it.
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 31, 2002 - 07:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Election countdown is on, and with the elections just days away, control of Congress is at stake. Everyone who is anyone is setting out on the campaign trail this morning. President Bush is hitting three states today.
Former Vice President Walter Mondale begins his Senate campaign in Minnesota, hoping to win the late Paul Wellstone's seat.
It is crunch time in America with Election 2002 now on her doorstep.
Bob Franken is covering the race in Minnesota, John King joins us from the White House, and Kate Snow from the capital.
Let's begin in Minneapolis this morning.
Bob, what does Mondale have planned for the first day of the shortest of campaigns?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, he's holding a news conference this morning in about three hours, which will be marking the official start.
This is a man who is 74 years old, hasn't run for office since 1984. But last night in the theater in back of me, he was appointed to take over for Paul Wellstone, who, of course, died less than a week ago in that plane crash.
And Walter Mondale in his acceptance speech did what so many politicians have done over so many years; he cited the Bible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTER MONDALE (D), SENATE CANDIDATE: The scriptures say, "To everything, there is a season, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." Faith has thrust upon us a double season. It is both a time to break down and a time to build up.
My fellow Minnesotans, let us mourn together, but let us also together make the music of democracy. Thank you so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Mondale's Republican opponent, Norm Coleman, has gone back to campaigning in earnest. He says that Mondale season has come and gone. According to Coleman, he told CNN's Jon Karl that it is like running against Mount Rushmore. One final bit of business, an argument in the State Supreme Court today about the absentee ballots already cast for Paul Wellstone. The Democrats want the state law changed, so those who cast that vote can now cast it presumably for Mondale -- Paula.
ZAHN: It was interesting to note Mr. Mondale's tone there after so much criticism that the Democrats had turned Senator Wellstone's memorial service into a political pep rally.
FRANKEN: Well, as a matter of fact, Republicans are still making that complaint. The Democrats, of course, are saying it was not intentional that that was political. You can take that as the kind of thing a politician would say.
And the Republicans, of course, are expressing outrage of that, and of course, one might remember that it's advantageous for the Republicans to do so, looking for any advantage. It's sort of like "Casablanca," Paula, where the Republicans are saying they are "shocked, shocked."
ZAHN: Thank you so much, Bob Franken.
So, just how shocked are they? Let's turn to John King who joins us at the White House this morning. He's going to run us through the president's day.
Good morning -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.
The president's party traditionally loses seats in the midterm elections. President Bush trying to defy history. He has been very active in this campaign.
This morning, a bit of a Halloween celebration here at the White House. The president surrounded by some young children dressed up for the holiday, as he left the White House this morning. Mr. Bush, you see him there with a young cowboy on the South Lawn of the White House, waving to the reporters; more children coming out.
Three states on the president's agenda today. He will travel first to South Dakota, a critical Senate race there, then to Indiana and to West Virginia, campaigning for Republican congressional candidates in those states.
This, all part of a 15-state blitz by the president in the final five days of campaigning; 40 states in all Mr. Bush will have visited by the time he is done, a record-shattering $140 million raised for Republican candidates this year. The president trying to keep the House in Republican hands, trying again to defy history and break the Democrats' hold on the United States Senate.
And it's not just the president, Paula. Vice President Cheney in Texas and Missouri today. He is out through the Tuesday elections. Most of the Bush cabinet out, First Lady Laura Bush getting involved, Lynne Cheney as well. And what they call here the "Thelma and Louise" tour, Mary Madeline and Karen Hughes, two of the president's better- known aides here at the White House, they are out jointly campaigning for Republicans as well.
The president knows he's not on the ballot Tuesday, but the shape of his agenda in the two years -- the critical two years running up to his reelection campaign will be determined by what the voters decide on Tuesday -- Paula.
ZAHN: John, very quickly, how sensitive is the administration to criticism at a time when we're talking so much about the prospect of war that the president, according to some, has diminished himself by being out there on the campaign trail so much?
KING: Well, they say here at the White House the president has many jobs and many challenges, and he is the leader of the Republican Party. He has every right, every responsibility, every obligation to be out there campaigning for Republican candidates, eve as he tries to build support in the United Nations, even as he deals with other issues --like North Korea, like the economy; that Republicans and people where at the White House especially say the Democrats are just trying to find some reason to criticize the president. He's just doing his job.
ZAHN: Thanks so much, John King.
Let's check in with Kate Snow now to give us perspective on what they're saying at the capital today.
Good morning -- Kate.
KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And good morning, Paula.
You know, the chatter up here is mostly about the U.S. Senate. That's because it really hangs in the balance. As you know, the Democrats control the Senate by just one vote.
We're looking at about 10 races around the country that people are most concerned about. Those are tight races. Five of them are Democratic seats, five of them are Republican seats.
Democrats will tell you they think they're in good shape to keep control of the Senate, maybe even pick up a seat or two.
But Republicans will tell you that they've got a real shot at this. For one reason, you just heard John King mention South Dakota. That's a really critical race where a Democrat might be in trouble. Democratic incumbent Senator Tim Johnson in a very tight race within the margin of error with John Thune who is the Republican House member out there.
Republicans say an even more Democratic -- a vulnerable Democrat might be Senator Jean Carnahan of Missouri. That's another race to watch. You'll remember, she was elected two years ago when her husband died in a plane crash, and he was actually elected, and then she was appointed to take his place. She's not a career politician, and if you believe the latest polls, she's having a little bit of trouble.
On the other side, Republicans tell me they are most worried about the state of Arkansas. They've got a Republican senator there, Tim Hutchinson. He's running against the state attorney general, Mark Pryor.
That race getting very nasty. Hutchinson has been accusing Pryor and Democrats of playing the race card. And meantime, Democrats are accusing Republicans of trying to disenfranchise black voters. It's getting downright ugly out there, Paula.
All of the focus on the Senate for the most part, because the House, at least according to outside analysts at this point, doesn't seem to really be in play anymore. Democrats have been hoping and hoping that they might be able to take back the House. But if you work out the numbers, most analysts in Washington now saying it doesn't look really good for Democrats.
Now, Democrats will still sit down with you and try to work out the numbers and show you how they think they can do it, but that said, I've had some Democrats even admit to me, Paula, that they don't think it's within reach.
And Republicans saying they may be able to even gain some seats in the House, which would be very unusual, as John King pointed out. The first time since 1928 that a president's party would gain seats in a midterm election -- Paula.
ZAHN: Well, all I know, the only certainty is it's going to be a very long night for those of us working on the election desk that night, including you. Thanks, Kate -- appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
