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American Morning

President Bush Given Mandate

Aired November 06, 2002 - 08:34   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: At a most unlikely juncture, President Bush has been given a mandate. It comes at the midterm elections, when the party holding the White House usually loses on average about 30 congressional seats, losing congressional control along with it.
Our Kelly Wallace joins us from the White House this morning.

Good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

ZAHN: I know the no-gloat memo has gone out to key Republican leaders, but how much credit does the White House claim this hour?

WALLACE: Advisers call and say the president deserves some of the credit. They will say that this is a president who really had no coattails after the election in 2000, but as we've been saying, that he put his prestige on the line. We know he traveled to 40 states this year, raised a record more than $140 million, so aides believe that helped lead Republicans to victory, that that juiced up debate, got Republicans to the polls. They will say the president deserves some of the credit, but no gloating is right, Paula. They want to say not all of the credit. They're definitely saying the local candidates were good, local issues were a factor, but again, they say Mr. Bush did his job as well -- Paula.

ZAHN: I'm sorry, Kelly, Someone is talking to me, so I will ask this question with this out of my ear. We talked with Senator Trent Lott who was looking ahead to the lame duck session and talking to us about what he thought was realistic to accomplish. What are you hearing from the White House?

WALLACE: Well, and it's interesting, Senator Lott telling you he spoke with President Bush bright and early this morning, 7:00 a.m. And President Bush saying to Senator Lott, where are you? He said, I'm at my desk, anxious to get things done. We are likely to hear from the president, Paula, later today. And he will call on the Republican-controlled Congress to work quickly. As for what can happen in this lame duck session, of course there are a number of spending bills that lawmakers must deal with, or pass another continuing resolution measure funding the government over the next few months. There is a terrorism insurance bill, but first and foremost, the president would likely to want to see quick action on that Department of Homeland Security, and he's hopeful if he has more Republicans in the Senate, even in a lame duck session, perhaps he can get that measure passed and passed quickly -- Paula.

ZAHN: Is the White House sharing with you this morning what they thought the biggest surprise of the night was?

WALLACE: No, but it appears Saxby Chambliss looked like a surprise. Advisers had looked at that race. They had and also looked at North Carolina and New Hampshire. One top aide I was talking to saying those would be three key races. Early in the night when North Carolina and New Hampshire went the way of Republicans, and then you had Georgia going the way of Saxby Chambliss. You know, Paula, President Bush was just in Georgia on Saturday, two stops, one in Savannah, one in Marietta, so advisers think that possibly could have helped put the congressman over the top. They look at that one as the real big surprise of the night.

ZAHN: And, Kelly, you've given me the transition in the morning, because guess where I'm going right now? To the state of Georgia. Thanks, Kelly. Have a good rest of the day.

Kelly was saying one of the bigger surprises in the evening in the Senate was the election in Georgia, and Representative Saxby Chambliss came from behind in the closing weeks to unseat Democratic Senator Max Cleland.

And Gary Tuchman is live at Chambliss headquarters in Atlanta. Is there anybody left there at this hour?

Good morning.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Paula. After a late night celebrating here at the Saxby Chambliss headquarters, the workers are coming in slowly, because many of them got some extra victory sleep.

A couple of weeks ago, many would have considered this an improbable victory. Chambliss was well behind in the polls, and he was facing a genuine Vietnam War hero, the incumbent Max Cleland, lost two legs and an arm from a grenade. But the Republican challenger portrayed him as soft on national security, and many voters agreed with that. Shortly before midnight, the Republican challenger made his victory speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. SAXBY CHMAMBLISS (R), GEORGIA SENATE-ELECT: I've told people all across the state that our base was more fired up further out from general election day than in any campaign I'd ever been involved in. And folks, y'all are what made this happen tonight. It's you folks that deserve this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: It was quite a day for Republicans nationally, but particularly here in Georgia, and particularly in the governor's race. An even bigger upset, the Democratic incumbent Roy Barnes lost to the Republican challenger Sonny Perdue. The reason historically this was such a big ups, the last Republican governor in the state was a gentleman by the name of Benjamin Conley, and you may be wondering who the heck is Benjamin Conley? The reason you don't know that name is he was governor of Georgia 130 years ago. The last time the GOP controlled the statehouse in the governor's mansion was 1872, during Reconstruction. Since then, there have been 37 Democratic governors in a row.

Sonny Perdue has broken that streak.

Paula, back to you.

ZAHN: Did anybody ever let you go home last night, or have you been standing there all night?

TUCHMAN: It was a very festive night, Paula. A lot of these people, two weeks ago, did not think they were going to win. They said they had confidence, but that's not always the case. The last couple of days, they thought the momentum was shifting in their direction, they were ready for the party, and they had their big party.

ZAHN: You enjoyed it right alongside them. Gary Tuchman, thanks for the update. Appreciate it.

TUCHMAN: Now Republicans in Maryland have two reasons to celebrate this morning. Not only did Representative Robert Ehrlich defeat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in the governor's race, but it is the first time since 1966 that a Republican has been elected ahead of the state.

Let's join Kathleen Koch who is live from Baltimore with some reaction this morning.

Good morning, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

You know, political experts a few months ago said that Kathleen Kennedy Townsend could not be beaten, and that a Republican could not be elected in this state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by two to one on the voter rolls. Obviously, they were wrong. This is the headlines in "The Baltimore Sun" this morning, plain and simple, "Ehrlich Wins." It is also very much of a Cinderella story in keeping with the symbolism of Ehrlich's campaign, because here was a local boy who grew up in an Arbutus rowhouse, who believed, yes indeed, that he could take on and beat one of America's best known political dynasties, the Kennedy family.

Well, the results were very close. This is no means a mandate. With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, 51 percent for Ehrlich, 48 percent for Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. And thousands of Ehrlich supporters turned out in downtown Baltimore last night gave him a very rousing welcome. And he told them, their time in the desert is over.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. BOB EHRLICH, MARYLAND GOVERNOR-ELECT: As we know, power must be held responsively and successfully, responsively and successfully, or it will be a temporary stay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: What happened to Kathleen Kennedy Townsend who was seen as one of the most active lieutenant governor's in Maryland's history? Experts believe that she came across, unfortunately, as a political lightweight, who ran a poor campaign and never won the hearts and minds of Maryland voters, and some believe this may be the end of her political career. During her concession speech last night, a lot of the supporters said Townsend 2006 but she wouldn't go there. She said goodbye to Maryland voters, and she, too, made history last night as the only Kennedy, Paula. to lose a general election.

ZAHN: Thank you, Kathleen Koch.

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 6, 2002 - 08:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: At a most unlikely juncture, President Bush has been given a mandate. It comes at the midterm elections, when the party holding the White House usually loses on average about 30 congressional seats, losing congressional control along with it.
Our Kelly Wallace joins us from the White House this morning.

Good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

ZAHN: I know the no-gloat memo has gone out to key Republican leaders, but how much credit does the White House claim this hour?

WALLACE: Advisers call and say the president deserves some of the credit. They will say that this is a president who really had no coattails after the election in 2000, but as we've been saying, that he put his prestige on the line. We know he traveled to 40 states this year, raised a record more than $140 million, so aides believe that helped lead Republicans to victory, that that juiced up debate, got Republicans to the polls. They will say the president deserves some of the credit, but no gloating is right, Paula. They want to say not all of the credit. They're definitely saying the local candidates were good, local issues were a factor, but again, they say Mr. Bush did his job as well -- Paula.

ZAHN: I'm sorry, Kelly, Someone is talking to me, so I will ask this question with this out of my ear. We talked with Senator Trent Lott who was looking ahead to the lame duck session and talking to us about what he thought was realistic to accomplish. What are you hearing from the White House?

WALLACE: Well, and it's interesting, Senator Lott telling you he spoke with President Bush bright and early this morning, 7:00 a.m. And President Bush saying to Senator Lott, where are you? He said, I'm at my desk, anxious to get things done. We are likely to hear from the president, Paula, later today. And he will call on the Republican-controlled Congress to work quickly. As for what can happen in this lame duck session, of course there are a number of spending bills that lawmakers must deal with, or pass another continuing resolution measure funding the government over the next few months. There is a terrorism insurance bill, but first and foremost, the president would likely to want to see quick action on that Department of Homeland Security, and he's hopeful if he has more Republicans in the Senate, even in a lame duck session, perhaps he can get that measure passed and passed quickly -- Paula.

ZAHN: Is the White House sharing with you this morning what they thought the biggest surprise of the night was?

WALLACE: No, but it appears Saxby Chambliss looked like a surprise. Advisers had looked at that race. They had and also looked at North Carolina and New Hampshire. One top aide I was talking to saying those would be three key races. Early in the night when North Carolina and New Hampshire went the way of Republicans, and then you had Georgia going the way of Saxby Chambliss. You know, Paula, President Bush was just in Georgia on Saturday, two stops, one in Savannah, one in Marietta, so advisers think that possibly could have helped put the congressman over the top. They look at that one as the real big surprise of the night.

ZAHN: And, Kelly, you've given me the transition in the morning, because guess where I'm going right now? To the state of Georgia. Thanks, Kelly. Have a good rest of the day.

Kelly was saying one of the bigger surprises in the evening in the Senate was the election in Georgia, and Representative Saxby Chambliss came from behind in the closing weeks to unseat Democratic Senator Max Cleland.

And Gary Tuchman is live at Chambliss headquarters in Atlanta. Is there anybody left there at this hour?

Good morning.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Paula. After a late night celebrating here at the Saxby Chambliss headquarters, the workers are coming in slowly, because many of them got some extra victory sleep.

A couple of weeks ago, many would have considered this an improbable victory. Chambliss was well behind in the polls, and he was facing a genuine Vietnam War hero, the incumbent Max Cleland, lost two legs and an arm from a grenade. But the Republican challenger portrayed him as soft on national security, and many voters agreed with that. Shortly before midnight, the Republican challenger made his victory speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. SAXBY CHMAMBLISS (R), GEORGIA SENATE-ELECT: I've told people all across the state that our base was more fired up further out from general election day than in any campaign I'd ever been involved in. And folks, y'all are what made this happen tonight. It's you folks that deserve this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: It was quite a day for Republicans nationally, but particularly here in Georgia, and particularly in the governor's race. An even bigger upset, the Democratic incumbent Roy Barnes lost to the Republican challenger Sonny Perdue. The reason historically this was such a big ups, the last Republican governor in the state was a gentleman by the name of Benjamin Conley, and you may be wondering who the heck is Benjamin Conley? The reason you don't know that name is he was governor of Georgia 130 years ago. The last time the GOP controlled the statehouse in the governor's mansion was 1872, during Reconstruction. Since then, there have been 37 Democratic governors in a row.

Sonny Perdue has broken that streak.

Paula, back to you.

ZAHN: Did anybody ever let you go home last night, or have you been standing there all night?

TUCHMAN: It was a very festive night, Paula. A lot of these people, two weeks ago, did not think they were going to win. They said they had confidence, but that's not always the case. The last couple of days, they thought the momentum was shifting in their direction, they were ready for the party, and they had their big party.

ZAHN: You enjoyed it right alongside them. Gary Tuchman, thanks for the update. Appreciate it.

TUCHMAN: Now Republicans in Maryland have two reasons to celebrate this morning. Not only did Representative Robert Ehrlich defeat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in the governor's race, but it is the first time since 1966 that a Republican has been elected ahead of the state.

Let's join Kathleen Koch who is live from Baltimore with some reaction this morning.

Good morning, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

You know, political experts a few months ago said that Kathleen Kennedy Townsend could not be beaten, and that a Republican could not be elected in this state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by two to one on the voter rolls. Obviously, they were wrong. This is the headlines in "The Baltimore Sun" this morning, plain and simple, "Ehrlich Wins." It is also very much of a Cinderella story in keeping with the symbolism of Ehrlich's campaign, because here was a local boy who grew up in an Arbutus rowhouse, who believed, yes indeed, that he could take on and beat one of America's best known political dynasties, the Kennedy family.

Well, the results were very close. This is no means a mandate. With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, 51 percent for Ehrlich, 48 percent for Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. And thousands of Ehrlich supporters turned out in downtown Baltimore last night gave him a very rousing welcome. And he told them, their time in the desert is over.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. BOB EHRLICH, MARYLAND GOVERNOR-ELECT: As we know, power must be held responsively and successfully, responsively and successfully, or it will be a temporary stay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: What happened to Kathleen Kennedy Townsend who was seen as one of the most active lieutenant governor's in Maryland's history? Experts believe that she came across, unfortunately, as a political lightweight, who ran a poor campaign and never won the hearts and minds of Maryland voters, and some believe this may be the end of her political career. During her concession speech last night, a lot of the supporters said Townsend 2006 but she wouldn't go there. She said goodbye to Maryland voters, and she, too, made history last night as the only Kennedy, Paula. to lose a general election.

ZAHN: Thank you, Kathleen Koch.

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