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American Morning

New Hampshire Race

Aired January 22, 2004 - 07:03   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: First up today, the Democratic presidential political race. If there was any question about the effect of John Kerry's Iowa win and his standing in New Hampshire, it may be answered by the latest polling numbers.
A new "Boston Herald" survey, out today, shows Kerry at 31 percent, a lead of 10 points over Howard Dean, Wesley Clark at 16, John Edwards at 11 and Joseph Lieberman trailing badly at 4 percent.

A "Boston Globe" poll, also out today, shows the same numbers for the leading candidates.

Tonight, a big debate in New Hampshire before the primary next Tuesday.

Let's kick it off in New Hampshire with Bob Franken there this morning.

Good morning -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Today, we come to you from Exeter, New Hampshire, a beautiful city -- a beautiful town, I suppose we should call it.

As for John Kerry, John Kerry now has to cope with being the favorite of the day, while the primary competition has to worry about a downward spiral.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): Howard Dean is trying to regain equilibrium after his bad fall, trying to obliterate the failure in Iowa with success here in New Hampshire.

HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are going to win in New Hampshire, and it's because of you, and I really appreciate it.

FRANKEN: The sometimes correct experts believe Dean better win in New Hampshire. It would certainly cause serious harm if he squanders another lead in the polls, particularly since he's from neighboring Vermont, where he retreated after just one campaign event.

As for John Edwards, his goal is to grind out another surprise, like the one he pulled off in Iowa. He's sticking to his power of positive campaigning message. SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And we've seen over the course of the last year, particularly over the course of the last few weeks, this message resonate and catch fire in Iowa, here in New Hampshire.

FRANKEN: What's different here from Iowa is the cast of characters. While Gephardt is out, Lieberman is in, and so is Wesley Clark. It's here where the general is making his first stand, here where he shows whether his decent start results in a decent finish next week.

WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've done the leadership at the highest levels of government. I've worked with heads of states and members of governments. I did national security affairs, negotiated agreements. I am from the south. My mother was a secretary, and I'm going to run well across this country.

FRANKEN: And Joe Lieberman? So far, he's way down in the pack, even though he's literally made New Hampshire his home away from home. He's making the argument that he is the candidate best suited to take on the incumbent president.

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm running on my record, and that's why I say, I'm the Democrat that the Republicans don't want to run against for president.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: Given the nature of the race, Bill, everybody is considering tonight's debate the be-all, end-all. Of course, that will be until tomorrow's be-all, end-all -- Bill.

HEMMER: Bob, quickly on John Edwards, a leak came out last night. Apparently there was some packet that was distributed back in Iowa that did not necessarily reflect the positive image John Edwards is trying to project. What do you have for us on that?

FRANKEN: Well, what it was, was staff members coming up with different weak points in the competition. That used to be called oppo (ph) research. Edwards is saying that he takes responsibility for it, but he wasn't aware it was being prepared. In other words, he takes responsibility for it, but he doesn't take responsibility for it.

HEMMER: Got it. Bob, thanks. Keep warm up there. Bob Franken in New Hampshire.

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 January 22, 2004 - 07:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: First up today, the Democratic presidential political race. If there was any question about the effect of John Kerry's Iowa win and his standing in New Hampshire, it may be answered by the latest polling numbers.
A new "Boston Herald" survey, out today, shows Kerry at 31 percent, a lead of 10 points over Howard Dean, Wesley Clark at 16, John Edwards at 11 and Joseph Lieberman trailing badly at 4 percent.

A "Boston Globe" poll, also out today, shows the same numbers for the leading candidates.

Tonight, a big debate in New Hampshire before the primary next Tuesday.

Let's kick it off in New Hampshire with Bob Franken there this morning.

Good morning -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Today, we come to you from Exeter, New Hampshire, a beautiful city -- a beautiful town, I suppose we should call it.

As for John Kerry, John Kerry now has to cope with being the favorite of the day, while the primary competition has to worry about a downward spiral.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): Howard Dean is trying to regain equilibrium after his bad fall, trying to obliterate the failure in Iowa with success here in New Hampshire.

HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are going to win in New Hampshire, and it's because of you, and I really appreciate it.

FRANKEN: The sometimes correct experts believe Dean better win in New Hampshire. It would certainly cause serious harm if he squanders another lead in the polls, particularly since he's from neighboring Vermont, where he retreated after just one campaign event.

As for John Edwards, his goal is to grind out another surprise, like the one he pulled off in Iowa. He's sticking to his power of positive campaigning message. SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And we've seen over the course of the last year, particularly over the course of the last few weeks, this message resonate and catch fire in Iowa, here in New Hampshire.

FRANKEN: What's different here from Iowa is the cast of characters. While Gephardt is out, Lieberman is in, and so is Wesley Clark. It's here where the general is making his first stand, here where he shows whether his decent start results in a decent finish next week.

WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've done the leadership at the highest levels of government. I've worked with heads of states and members of governments. I did national security affairs, negotiated agreements. I am from the south. My mother was a secretary, and I'm going to run well across this country.

FRANKEN: And Joe Lieberman? So far, he's way down in the pack, even though he's literally made New Hampshire his home away from home. He's making the argument that he is the candidate best suited to take on the incumbent president.

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm running on my record, and that's why I say, I'm the Democrat that the Republicans don't want to run against for president.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: Given the nature of the race, Bill, everybody is considering tonight's debate the be-all, end-all. Of course, that will be until tomorrow's be-all, end-all -- Bill.

HEMMER: Bob, quickly on John Edwards, a leak came out last night. Apparently there was some packet that was distributed back in Iowa that did not necessarily reflect the positive image John Edwards is trying to project. What do you have for us on that?

FRANKEN: Well, what it was, was staff members coming up with different weak points in the competition. That used to be called oppo (ph) research. Edwards is saying that he takes responsibility for it, but he wasn't aware it was being prepared. In other words, he takes responsibility for it, but he doesn't take responsibility for it.

HEMMER: Got it. Bob, thanks. Keep warm up there. Bob Franken in New Hampshire.

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