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American Morning

America Votes 2002: Behind the Scenes

Aired November 04, 2002 - 09:11   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: What's life like for political insiders in the final days before an election? A film that offers a rare glimpse of the frenzy is "The War Room," which followed Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stay focused. Talk about things that matter to people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love Hillary's new patriotism thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the economy, stupid.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Speak from your heart tonight. I mean that's all that matters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Read my lips.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: Now let's meet two people who knew all too well what those last hectic days and hours are like.

Donna Brazile managed Al Gore's presidential campaign two years ago. She joins us from Washington this morning. And joining us from Jackson, Mississippi is former Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour.

Good luck you two.

DONNA BRAZILE, FORMER GORE CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Thank you.

ZAHN: Let's talk about what your major challenge is and No. 1 priority for the day - Donna.

BRAZILE: Well, first of all, the campaign at this moment must be very upbeat. The candidate must be ready to run and to go across the state, if they are running for a Senate or the governor's seat, as well as to rally the volunteers and the troops to get out to vote early tomorrow morning. If you're on the staff, of course you want to convert your threes to twos, your twos to ones. I'm referring to undecided, to leaners to decided. And you want to make sure that your ones, which are your most important voters, get to the polls on time so they can cast their vote early. And then you can focus on the No. 2s, the leaners, so you can pull them your way and get some robo (ph) calls into them. ZAHN: Robo calls.

And, Haley Barbour, I understand the Republicans have a whole new plan to do the kind of door-to-door canvassing that the Democrats have excelled at for so many years.

HALEY BARBOUR, FORMER RNC CHAIRMAN: Well, you know, at this point in the campaign, the management, the campaign manager is as nervous as he can be, the -- or she can be. There's a tremendous amount of pressure because in politics, unlike business, there's only one winner, and so you're trying to do everything you can.

As Donna said, you're trying to use your candidate to make news on subject matter that's helpful to the campaign, that helps you with the undecideds but helps get your voters to the polls. Because in a midterm election like this, the single most important variable is who votes. About 60 percent, 65 percent of the people in the country won't vote tomorrow so getting your people to the poll, as Donna was talking about, that is the single most important thing.

And there are a lot of things, mail, phones, as you mentioned, Paula, volunteers. The Democrats have done a much better job in recent years of literally dragging voters to the polls. Republicans have got to do better in the neighborhoods and we're going to try this year.

ZAHN: But when you look at the statistics there is a prediction that voter turnout tomorrow is going to be as low as it was going all the back - all the way back to 1942, Donna. So what is it that you can do? I mean you've had the AFL/CIO out there with 750 officers working various parts of the country. What can you do today?

BRAZILE: Well, first of all, in 1998 when I was working with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, they predicted a low turnout and we defied the odds and we brought in enough people to help bring the Democratic Party within five seats of taking back the House.

Look, there's no magic to this, it's all a science at this hour. We know the people, we've been in communication with them all summer, we've canvassed those communities, we've phone called them, we've had live calls in to them, we've had candidate visits to their homes as well as their communities. And now what we call the hour, the knock and drag hour, we knock on the doors. And tomorrow morning, whether I have to get up and you know, encourage the volunteers to go to some kind of doughnut shop and get some coffee, just get them out.

We know how to do it. We know the neighborhoods, we know the communities, and we'll just do it the old-fashioned way, we'll knock on doors and tell them that we -- we'll offer them a free ride to the polls.

ZAHN: So, Haley, I thought one of your colleagues said it best when he said the voter turnout is two things message and harassment. Is that what it comes down to in these waning hours?

BARBOUR: Well I'm sure a lot of voters feel that way about it. They get multiple calls or neighbors knock on their doors. They have people see them at work try to make sure they vote. But it really is today it's a matter of who votes.

I think the -- you mentioned earlier, labor, the AFL/CIO unions have been so, so effective in helping the Democrats. And on the Republican side, we have to do it with volunteers. But this year there is a lot of energy because so much is at stake. The House is -- the Republican lead is very small, the Senate's a virtual dead heat, there are 34 -- 36 governor's races and so for the management of all those races right now, they're thinking how do I make sure I get the maximum number of my voters to the polls? What do I do? And for Republicans, it means a lot of volunteer elbow grease.

ZAHN: Donna, we're going to show some pictures now of you behind the scenes and then some of Haley as he was working the campaign trail. Finally, in closing, what is the campaign manager's secret weapon on the eve of an election?

BRAZILE: There's no question that it's -- for me I've always believed in the power of prayer. I pray for all of the volunteers, that they're able to complete their jobs. I pray for the candidate's safety and his or her family. And after I pray, I basically roll up my sleeves and I do what I'm asking my staff to do and that is to go door to door and to encourage people to -- get the sound truck tapes out, to get the volunteers who know how to go to those wonderful key, strategic corners and encourage people to get out to vote. To go to shopping malls, to bowling alley. Wherever two or more people are gathered, I tell my volunteers they need to be the third person organizing and encouraging people to get out to vote.

The other thing that we try to do is we go on the radio and we, once again, tell people during drive time, morning and afternoon, to get out of to vote. And we try to interrupt some of the soap operas during the day and encourage seniors and others who may be watching those shows to also get out to vote.

And, as Haley mentioned, I mean we...

ZAHN: All right, let's...

BRAZILE: Go ahead, Haley.

ZAHN: Sorry, can we let Haley - yes, let Haley get in here because we got to take a quick commercial break. Do you think Republicans will more effectively use radio as the Democrats have for so many years now?

BARBOUR: Radio is important for us, but mail, phones, volunteers, you know, as Donna says, prayer. But remember, the Lord helps those that helps themselves and that's what's going to really matter tomorrow.

ZAHN: Well, we wish you both a lot of luck. We know how many hours collectively the two of you put into these many, many races over the years. Thank you for your insights this morning.

BRAZILE: Thank you. Good luck -- Haley.

BARBOUR: Thanks, Donna, you too. See you -- Paula.

ZAHN: Thank you, Haley. Thanks, Donna.

And tune in to CNN today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, 10:00 Central, for a live debate between Norm Coleman and Walter Mondale, the two candidates for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. CNN will carry it live from St. Paul.

And of course as Jeff Greenfield said, a lot of people are working today during that time, but what will be the last lingering image for Minnesota voters tonight probably what they see on the evening news,...

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: That's right.

ZAHN: ... which is a recap of those debates.

HEMMER: And then again in the morning paper tomorrow.

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 November 4, 2002 - 09:11   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: What's life like for political insiders in the final days before an election? A film that offers a rare glimpse of the frenzy is "The War Room," which followed Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stay focused. Talk about things that matter to people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love Hillary's new patriotism thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the economy, stupid.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Speak from your heart tonight. I mean that's all that matters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Read my lips.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: Now let's meet two people who knew all too well what those last hectic days and hours are like.

Donna Brazile managed Al Gore's presidential campaign two years ago. She joins us from Washington this morning. And joining us from Jackson, Mississippi is former Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour.

Good luck you two.

DONNA BRAZILE, FORMER GORE CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Thank you.

ZAHN: Let's talk about what your major challenge is and No. 1 priority for the day - Donna.

BRAZILE: Well, first of all, the campaign at this moment must be very upbeat. The candidate must be ready to run and to go across the state, if they are running for a Senate or the governor's seat, as well as to rally the volunteers and the troops to get out to vote early tomorrow morning. If you're on the staff, of course you want to convert your threes to twos, your twos to ones. I'm referring to undecided, to leaners to decided. And you want to make sure that your ones, which are your most important voters, get to the polls on time so they can cast their vote early. And then you can focus on the No. 2s, the leaners, so you can pull them your way and get some robo (ph) calls into them. ZAHN: Robo calls.

And, Haley Barbour, I understand the Republicans have a whole new plan to do the kind of door-to-door canvassing that the Democrats have excelled at for so many years.

HALEY BARBOUR, FORMER RNC CHAIRMAN: Well, you know, at this point in the campaign, the management, the campaign manager is as nervous as he can be, the -- or she can be. There's a tremendous amount of pressure because in politics, unlike business, there's only one winner, and so you're trying to do everything you can.

As Donna said, you're trying to use your candidate to make news on subject matter that's helpful to the campaign, that helps you with the undecideds but helps get your voters to the polls. Because in a midterm election like this, the single most important variable is who votes. About 60 percent, 65 percent of the people in the country won't vote tomorrow so getting your people to the poll, as Donna was talking about, that is the single most important thing.

And there are a lot of things, mail, phones, as you mentioned, Paula, volunteers. The Democrats have done a much better job in recent years of literally dragging voters to the polls. Republicans have got to do better in the neighborhoods and we're going to try this year.

ZAHN: But when you look at the statistics there is a prediction that voter turnout tomorrow is going to be as low as it was going all the back - all the way back to 1942, Donna. So what is it that you can do? I mean you've had the AFL/CIO out there with 750 officers working various parts of the country. What can you do today?

BRAZILE: Well, first of all, in 1998 when I was working with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, they predicted a low turnout and we defied the odds and we brought in enough people to help bring the Democratic Party within five seats of taking back the House.

Look, there's no magic to this, it's all a science at this hour. We know the people, we've been in communication with them all summer, we've canvassed those communities, we've phone called them, we've had live calls in to them, we've had candidate visits to their homes as well as their communities. And now what we call the hour, the knock and drag hour, we knock on the doors. And tomorrow morning, whether I have to get up and you know, encourage the volunteers to go to some kind of doughnut shop and get some coffee, just get them out.

We know how to do it. We know the neighborhoods, we know the communities, and we'll just do it the old-fashioned way, we'll knock on doors and tell them that we -- we'll offer them a free ride to the polls.

ZAHN: So, Haley, I thought one of your colleagues said it best when he said the voter turnout is two things message and harassment. Is that what it comes down to in these waning hours?

BARBOUR: Well I'm sure a lot of voters feel that way about it. They get multiple calls or neighbors knock on their doors. They have people see them at work try to make sure they vote. But it really is today it's a matter of who votes.

I think the -- you mentioned earlier, labor, the AFL/CIO unions have been so, so effective in helping the Democrats. And on the Republican side, we have to do it with volunteers. But this year there is a lot of energy because so much is at stake. The House is -- the Republican lead is very small, the Senate's a virtual dead heat, there are 34 -- 36 governor's races and so for the management of all those races right now, they're thinking how do I make sure I get the maximum number of my voters to the polls? What do I do? And for Republicans, it means a lot of volunteer elbow grease.

ZAHN: Donna, we're going to show some pictures now of you behind the scenes and then some of Haley as he was working the campaign trail. Finally, in closing, what is the campaign manager's secret weapon on the eve of an election?

BRAZILE: There's no question that it's -- for me I've always believed in the power of prayer. I pray for all of the volunteers, that they're able to complete their jobs. I pray for the candidate's safety and his or her family. And after I pray, I basically roll up my sleeves and I do what I'm asking my staff to do and that is to go door to door and to encourage people to -- get the sound truck tapes out, to get the volunteers who know how to go to those wonderful key, strategic corners and encourage people to get out to vote. To go to shopping malls, to bowling alley. Wherever two or more people are gathered, I tell my volunteers they need to be the third person organizing and encouraging people to get out to vote.

The other thing that we try to do is we go on the radio and we, once again, tell people during drive time, morning and afternoon, to get out of to vote. And we try to interrupt some of the soap operas during the day and encourage seniors and others who may be watching those shows to also get out to vote.

And, as Haley mentioned, I mean we...

ZAHN: All right, let's...

BRAZILE: Go ahead, Haley.

ZAHN: Sorry, can we let Haley - yes, let Haley get in here because we got to take a quick commercial break. Do you think Republicans will more effectively use radio as the Democrats have for so many years now?

BARBOUR: Radio is important for us, but mail, phones, volunteers, you know, as Donna says, prayer. But remember, the Lord helps those that helps themselves and that's what's going to really matter tomorrow.

ZAHN: Well, we wish you both a lot of luck. We know how many hours collectively the two of you put into these many, many races over the years. Thank you for your insights this morning.

BRAZILE: Thank you. Good luck -- Haley.

BARBOUR: Thanks, Donna, you too. See you -- Paula.

ZAHN: Thank you, Haley. Thanks, Donna.

And tune in to CNN today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, 10:00 Central, for a live debate between Norm Coleman and Walter Mondale, the two candidates for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. CNN will carry it live from St. Paul.

And of course as Jeff Greenfield said, a lot of people are working today during that time, but what will be the last lingering image for Minnesota voters tonight probably what they see on the evening news,...

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: That's right.

ZAHN: ... which is a recap of those debates.

HEMMER: And then again in the morning paper tomorrow.

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