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American Morning

Gore Endorses Dean

Aired December 09, 2003 - 09:06   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Donna Brazile standing by live. She helped manage the campaign back in 2000.
Good morning. Same question if you heard me. If Iraq brought the two men together, why go to Harlem for the setting for this announcement today?

DONNA BRAZILE, FMR. DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I believe this was a planned trip to Harlem. Former vice -- former Governor Howard Dean was already in New York City, and they had planned to go to Harlem. I think that's the reason why this announcement was put together there at that facility.

HEMMER: Donna, last night you said you were shocked by this. Still today?

BRAZILE: Well, not after listening to Al Gore. You know, Al Gore is perhaps one of the smartest politicians I've known, a great public servant. He thinks through these things very clearly. And I believe that when he said that Howard Dean has had the most consistent position against the war, that is the reason. The other reason I believe is that Al Gore has admired over the years, you know, people who are able to go out there and mobilize the grassroots and to inspire new generation to get involved in public -- in politics and public service. So I believe those factors let Al Gore to this decision.

HEMMER: Do you believe right now this becomes an anti-war campaign for Howard Dean? And if so, does that win?

BRAZILE: Well, I don't think that's the message here. I think the other message is that Al Gore believes that Howard Dean has all of the right ingredients -- his position on the war, his position on domestic issues like healthcare, like education, the economy; that will help revive the Democratic Party and put the party in a better position to win next year against George Bush.

HEMMER: There have been many who have debated the following question over the past 12, 14 hours -- how much sway, how much influence, does Al Gore have today within the Democratic Party? What does this mean in sum total for Howard Dean?

BRAZILE: Well, I believe that Al Gore has a lot of sway. He has tremendous stature in the Democratic Party. He was of course the biggest vote-getter in 2000. He's been active in the Democratic Party for many years. He ran in 1988, won in '92, '96, I believe he won in 2000. I believe this will give the dean campaign a tremendous boost in the closing days before the Iowa caucuses. I don't believe the race is over. I strongly believe the other candidates must get their act together, rally behind one person who supported the war, and perhaps challenge Dean from that position.

But right now, with a crowded field, Howard Dean will continue to build momentum and support across the country.

HEMMER: And if the crowd is -- well, if the field is crowded still, you managed campaigns. How do you go about doing exit strategies right now? And of the nine who still remain, are they starting to plan their exit at this point?

BRAZILE: Well, they should consider exiting, for the simple reason they don't have the resources, they're not generating the type of grassroots support that Howard Dean has generated across the country. Now Howard Dean has a 50-state campaign. They have a campaign with a small segment of people supporting them in one state and nobody knowing them in the other states.

HEMMER: Who would you knock out, Donna?

BRAZILE: You know, I've said for many months that it was quitting time for some of the candidates. They know who they are. They're running out of money, their staff, the morale is low.

HEMMER: Names? Come on.

BRAZILE: For starters -- I'm not afraid to name names. But I only have one vote in this process, and I haven't decided where I'm going to, you know, cast my ballot yet, but I do believe that Kucinich, Sharpton, Moseley-Braun, Edwards, Kerry, Lieberman, and Clark and Gephardt, all of the other candidates, they need to really sit back this week and say, you know what? Am I ready to go the distance? If they're not to go the distance it's quitting time, it's time for them to go.

HEMMER: My tally says that's eight of nine. Was I adding right?

BRAZILE: I added all of them together. I'm not going to single them out. But they know it's quitting time. It's a hard decision. Look, I understand how tough it is. I've worked on many losing efforts, as well as winning efforts. But I can tell you this much, Howard Dean has money, momentum, he has people. And now with Al Gore's support, Howard Dean will be able to take his campaign across this country, and he will be able to solidify, and hopefully broaden his appeal to moderates and independents.

HEMMER: Thank you, Donna, good to see you as always. See you Friday for "Gimme a Minute." Donna Brazile in D.C.

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 December 9, 2003 - 09:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Donna Brazile standing by live. She helped manage the campaign back in 2000.
Good morning. Same question if you heard me. If Iraq brought the two men together, why go to Harlem for the setting for this announcement today?

DONNA BRAZILE, FMR. DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I believe this was a planned trip to Harlem. Former vice -- former Governor Howard Dean was already in New York City, and they had planned to go to Harlem. I think that's the reason why this announcement was put together there at that facility.

HEMMER: Donna, last night you said you were shocked by this. Still today?

BRAZILE: Well, not after listening to Al Gore. You know, Al Gore is perhaps one of the smartest politicians I've known, a great public servant. He thinks through these things very clearly. And I believe that when he said that Howard Dean has had the most consistent position against the war, that is the reason. The other reason I believe is that Al Gore has admired over the years, you know, people who are able to go out there and mobilize the grassroots and to inspire new generation to get involved in public -- in politics and public service. So I believe those factors let Al Gore to this decision.

HEMMER: Do you believe right now this becomes an anti-war campaign for Howard Dean? And if so, does that win?

BRAZILE: Well, I don't think that's the message here. I think the other message is that Al Gore believes that Howard Dean has all of the right ingredients -- his position on the war, his position on domestic issues like healthcare, like education, the economy; that will help revive the Democratic Party and put the party in a better position to win next year against George Bush.

HEMMER: There have been many who have debated the following question over the past 12, 14 hours -- how much sway, how much influence, does Al Gore have today within the Democratic Party? What does this mean in sum total for Howard Dean?

BRAZILE: Well, I believe that Al Gore has a lot of sway. He has tremendous stature in the Democratic Party. He was of course the biggest vote-getter in 2000. He's been active in the Democratic Party for many years. He ran in 1988, won in '92, '96, I believe he won in 2000. I believe this will give the dean campaign a tremendous boost in the closing days before the Iowa caucuses. I don't believe the race is over. I strongly believe the other candidates must get their act together, rally behind one person who supported the war, and perhaps challenge Dean from that position.

But right now, with a crowded field, Howard Dean will continue to build momentum and support across the country.

HEMMER: And if the crowd is -- well, if the field is crowded still, you managed campaigns. How do you go about doing exit strategies right now? And of the nine who still remain, are they starting to plan their exit at this point?

BRAZILE: Well, they should consider exiting, for the simple reason they don't have the resources, they're not generating the type of grassroots support that Howard Dean has generated across the country. Now Howard Dean has a 50-state campaign. They have a campaign with a small segment of people supporting them in one state and nobody knowing them in the other states.

HEMMER: Who would you knock out, Donna?

BRAZILE: You know, I've said for many months that it was quitting time for some of the candidates. They know who they are. They're running out of money, their staff, the morale is low.

HEMMER: Names? Come on.

BRAZILE: For starters -- I'm not afraid to name names. But I only have one vote in this process, and I haven't decided where I'm going to, you know, cast my ballot yet, but I do believe that Kucinich, Sharpton, Moseley-Braun, Edwards, Kerry, Lieberman, and Clark and Gephardt, all of the other candidates, they need to really sit back this week and say, you know what? Am I ready to go the distance? If they're not to go the distance it's quitting time, it's time for them to go.

HEMMER: My tally says that's eight of nine. Was I adding right?

BRAZILE: I added all of them together. I'm not going to single them out. But they know it's quitting time. It's a hard decision. Look, I understand how tough it is. I've worked on many losing efforts, as well as winning efforts. But I can tell you this much, Howard Dean has money, momentum, he has people. And now with Al Gore's support, Howard Dean will be able to take his campaign across this country, and he will be able to solidify, and hopefully broaden his appeal to moderates and independents.

HEMMER: Thank you, Donna, good to see you as always. See you Friday for "Gimme a Minute." Donna Brazile in D.C.

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