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American Morning
Keery Challenges Still High, So Are Poll Results
Aired January 22, 2004 - 09:04 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In the race to become the Democratic presidential nominee, the latest polls indicate that there is a new clear leader. A "Boston Herald" poll released this morning shows that John Kerry is 10 percentage points ahead of Howard Dean in New Hampshire. Then comes Wesley Clark at 16 percent, John Edwards at 11 percent and Joseph Lieberman with only single digit support. Other polls, at least two others out today, show Kerry leading, as well.
So will he now be in the crosshairs, as they head into tonight's big debate?
National correspondent Kelly Wallace is covering the Kerry campaign and she joins us from Manchester, New Hampshire this morning -- Kelly, good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, Kerry's aides say they are preparing the senator for the attacks they fully expect will come tonight. At the same time, when you ask the campaign its strategy, aides say that Kerry will continue to act like an underdog, even though right now, according to the polls, he appears to be the candidate to beat.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (voice-over): John Kerry will stick to the same game plan which led to his stunning Iowa victory, according to his campaign aides. They say that means talking to as many voters as he possibly can.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is the most important election of my generation.
WALLACE: The crowds are larger, the donations coming in faster, aides say, with the campaign raising a half million dollars online alone since Monday night. Just as he did in Iowa, Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, will try to win the support of veterans. He'll get some help from Jim Rassman, the Green Beret whose life Kerry saved in Vietnam 35 years ago and who campaigned with him last weekend.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And Kerry is also looking beyond New Hampshire, sending some of his Iowa staff to the states which will be holding primaries on February 3, including Missouri, the home state of Congressman Dick Gephardt. And CNN has learned that most of the candidates are now actively courting Dick Gephardt for his endorsement. A Gephardt campaign aide telling us that so far Senator Kerry has been calling more than the others -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Not necessarily a surprise there.
Kelly Wallace for us this morning.
Kelly, thanks.
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 - 09:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In the race to become the Democratic presidential nominee, the latest polls indicate that there is a new clear leader. A "Boston Herald" poll released this morning shows that John Kerry is 10 percentage points ahead of Howard Dean in New Hampshire. Then comes Wesley Clark at 16 percent, John Edwards at 11 percent and Joseph Lieberman with only single digit support. Other polls, at least two others out today, show Kerry leading, as well.
So will he now be in the crosshairs, as they head into tonight's big debate?
National correspondent Kelly Wallace is covering the Kerry campaign and she joins us from Manchester, New Hampshire this morning -- Kelly, good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, Kerry's aides say they are preparing the senator for the attacks they fully expect will come tonight. At the same time, when you ask the campaign its strategy, aides say that Kerry will continue to act like an underdog, even though right now, according to the polls, he appears to be the candidate to beat.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (voice-over): John Kerry will stick to the same game plan which led to his stunning Iowa victory, according to his campaign aides. They say that means talking to as many voters as he possibly can.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is the most important election of my generation.
WALLACE: The crowds are larger, the donations coming in faster, aides say, with the campaign raising a half million dollars online alone since Monday night. Just as he did in Iowa, Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, will try to win the support of veterans. He'll get some help from Jim Rassman, the Green Beret whose life Kerry saved in Vietnam 35 years ago and who campaigned with him last weekend.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And Kerry is also looking beyond New Hampshire, sending some of his Iowa staff to the states which will be holding primaries on February 3, including Missouri, the home state of Congressman Dick Gephardt. And CNN has learned that most of the candidates are now actively courting Dick Gephardt for his endorsement. A Gephardt campaign aide telling us that so far Senator Kerry has been calling more than the others -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Not necessarily a surprise there.
Kelly Wallace for us this morning.
Kelly, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
