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American Morning

Does Republican Norm Coleman Have a Chance Against Popular Democrat?

Aired October 31, 2002 - 09:07   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: Does Republican Norm Coleman have a chance against the popular Democrat? And the gubernatorial race in Florida. How will the Haitian refugee crisis there affect that close race? Let's turn to Candy Crowley, our senior political correspondent, who has some ideas about that this morning.
Good morning, Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

No doubt here that Norm Coleman has his work cut out for him. Having to fight against both the memory of Paul Wellstone and what's really a Minnesota icon, Walter Mondale.

But listen, when you talk to Republicans, they say a couple of things. First of all, last night -- and this was in the wake of the Paul Wellstone memorial that was so criticized by some as being nothing more than a Democratic pep rally.

Last night, we are told that the Coleman campaign took in about $125,000 in pledges, which is pretty good for this time of the season, and that people were lined up out the door on the day after the Wellstone memorial, wanting to volunteer for the Coleman campaign.

I will tell you, the Democrats and Republicans also know that in Missouri, after Mel Carnahan died in the middle of a Senate race, under circumstances very similar to that of Paul Wellstone, there was a funeral just days before the election that was very somber in Missouri for Mel Carnahan, who was also a very well-known and popular politician.

Carnahan was running against John Ashcroft. Here's what Republicans tell me. They say, look at this funeral for Mel Carnahan. It was somber and it set the tone, they say, for the entire campaign.

Now, they say, contrast that with the Wellstone memorial, which at times was very raucous. And what Republicans believe is because the tone is so different, they've now been given running room.

When John Ashcroft in Missouri went back up on the air, he got really criticized for not respecting the memory of Mel Carnahan. What Republicans believe is because of the nature and the tone of the Paul Wellstone memorial, they do have running room here to take on Walter Mondale, not Walter Mondale the person, but Walter Mondale on issues about what Minnesota is now compared to when he was an elected politician, and sort of put the issues out there. So they feel OK about it. They think they have a shot at it. They know it's very tough.

ZAHN: They also can count on some continuing fallout, if Norm Coleman was able to raise that kind of money in the wake of the controversy.

CROWLEY: Well, sure, but look, there is obviously going to be a huge push by those -- I mean, when a son asks people to come out and vote in memory of his father, that's pretty heavy-duty stuff, and there is an inclination by voters to want to do something when something this tragic happens. So they do, in fact, know that there is going to be some sympathy.

But there's also, as you say, the other side. Some people who are a little outraged, thinking that this really was a Democratic pep rally in the final moments of it. And he did get, you know, some -- more of his name out there. That is, that Coleman did.

So sure, he picks up some. But all things considered, Coleman had a better shot before this tragedy.

ZAHN: Let's move on to the issue of the gubernatorial race in Florida. I want to quickly replay some sound of Representative Carrie Meek, pretty much demanding that Governor Jeb Bush try to change some policies.

Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CARRIE MEEK (D), FLORIDA: I came to ask you if you would call your brother and ask him to call INS to release the Haitians in detention. They don't need new policy. All they have to do is call, the wet foot, dry foot policy will take effect.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: So how might this Haitian issue affect Jeb Bush's re- election campaign? It's going to hurt him, isn't it?

CROWLEY: Well, you know, I think you an argue this on both sides and in the middle, as a matter of fact. Look, everybody knows that pictures can move the world, and the pictures of those Haitians coming off the boat were heartbreaking. You know, the sort of desperation to get to U.S. shores, Little girls, little boys being handed off, people jumping into the water trying to get to the Florida coast line.

Now, what does this do? It number one, reminds people that there is a huge immigration problem, particularly along the coast, that's not always under control.

Number two, it reminds people of what you heard Carrie Meek talk about, and that is that there is a different policy for Cubans who come ashore than for Haitians who come ashore. So that makes people mad. So which side of that will come out? We're not really sure. It may be that it's not an issue that really moves the voters at all.

ZAHN: I guess we'll find out next week, won't we, Candy?

CROWLEY: We will.

ZAHN: Candy Crowley, as always, good to see you. Thanks for your time this morning.

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




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Aired October 31, 2002 - 09:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Does Republican Norm Coleman have a chance against the popular Democrat? And the gubernatorial race in Florida. How will the Haitian refugee crisis there affect that close race? Let's turn to Candy Crowley, our senior political correspondent, who has some ideas about that this morning.
Good morning, Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

No doubt here that Norm Coleman has his work cut out for him. Having to fight against both the memory of Paul Wellstone and what's really a Minnesota icon, Walter Mondale.

But listen, when you talk to Republicans, they say a couple of things. First of all, last night -- and this was in the wake of the Paul Wellstone memorial that was so criticized by some as being nothing more than a Democratic pep rally.

Last night, we are told that the Coleman campaign took in about $125,000 in pledges, which is pretty good for this time of the season, and that people were lined up out the door on the day after the Wellstone memorial, wanting to volunteer for the Coleman campaign.

I will tell you, the Democrats and Republicans also know that in Missouri, after Mel Carnahan died in the middle of a Senate race, under circumstances very similar to that of Paul Wellstone, there was a funeral just days before the election that was very somber in Missouri for Mel Carnahan, who was also a very well-known and popular politician.

Carnahan was running against John Ashcroft. Here's what Republicans tell me. They say, look at this funeral for Mel Carnahan. It was somber and it set the tone, they say, for the entire campaign.

Now, they say, contrast that with the Wellstone memorial, which at times was very raucous. And what Republicans believe is because the tone is so different, they've now been given running room.

When John Ashcroft in Missouri went back up on the air, he got really criticized for not respecting the memory of Mel Carnahan. What Republicans believe is because of the nature and the tone of the Paul Wellstone memorial, they do have running room here to take on Walter Mondale, not Walter Mondale the person, but Walter Mondale on issues about what Minnesota is now compared to when he was an elected politician, and sort of put the issues out there. So they feel OK about it. They think they have a shot at it. They know it's very tough.

ZAHN: They also can count on some continuing fallout, if Norm Coleman was able to raise that kind of money in the wake of the controversy.

CROWLEY: Well, sure, but look, there is obviously going to be a huge push by those -- I mean, when a son asks people to come out and vote in memory of his father, that's pretty heavy-duty stuff, and there is an inclination by voters to want to do something when something this tragic happens. So they do, in fact, know that there is going to be some sympathy.

But there's also, as you say, the other side. Some people who are a little outraged, thinking that this really was a Democratic pep rally in the final moments of it. And he did get, you know, some -- more of his name out there. That is, that Coleman did.

So sure, he picks up some. But all things considered, Coleman had a better shot before this tragedy.

ZAHN: Let's move on to the issue of the gubernatorial race in Florida. I want to quickly replay some sound of Representative Carrie Meek, pretty much demanding that Governor Jeb Bush try to change some policies.

Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CARRIE MEEK (D), FLORIDA: I came to ask you if you would call your brother and ask him to call INS to release the Haitians in detention. They don't need new policy. All they have to do is call, the wet foot, dry foot policy will take effect.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: So how might this Haitian issue affect Jeb Bush's re- election campaign? It's going to hurt him, isn't it?

CROWLEY: Well, you know, I think you an argue this on both sides and in the middle, as a matter of fact. Look, everybody knows that pictures can move the world, and the pictures of those Haitians coming off the boat were heartbreaking. You know, the sort of desperation to get to U.S. shores, Little girls, little boys being handed off, people jumping into the water trying to get to the Florida coast line.

Now, what does this do? It number one, reminds people that there is a huge immigration problem, particularly along the coast, that's not always under control.

Number two, it reminds people of what you heard Carrie Meek talk about, and that is that there is a different policy for Cubans who come ashore than for Haitians who come ashore. So that makes people mad. So which side of that will come out? We're not really sure. It may be that it's not an issue that really moves the voters at all.

ZAHN: I guess we'll find out next week, won't we, Candy?

CROWLEY: We will.

ZAHN: Candy Crowley, as always, good to see you. Thanks for your time this morning.

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




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