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American Morning

America Votes 2004

Aired February 16, 2004 - 07:04   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The Wisconsin primary tomorrow could be the last best hope for Democrats without the name John Kerry. The five remaining candidates debated last night.
Bob Franken live in Milwaukee for the highlights this morning on the morning after.

Bob -- good morning there.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

And, Bill, as you know, just about each of these primaries has been followed by one of the candidates withdrawing. And now there is quite a bit of speculation about whether that's going to happen again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): Right now it is Howard Dean who is getting a major share of the attention, and publicly his hope is still springing eternal.

HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Wisconsin has a long history of voting for people like me, and I hope they'll do it on Tuesday.

FRANKEN: But as Dean debated the other Democrats last night, his prospects in Wisconsin were looking dismal, and several advisors were discussing the possibility he might pull back as a candidate. Dean was having none of it.

DEAN: I don't know what they're talking about. We're not dropping out after Tuesday, period, no matter what.

FRANKEN: After winning still again over the weekend in D.C. and Nevada, John Kerry was focusing on the Republicans.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm prepared to stand up to any attack that they come at me with. I've been in public life since I was about 27 years old. I've been in very visible, tough races in the course of my life. I'm ready for what they throw at me.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Not so fast, John Kerry.

FRANKEN: John Edwards made it clear he's not ready to concede anything to the front-runner. EDWARDS: We're going to have an election here in Wisconsin this Tuesday, and we've got a whole group of primaries coming up. And I, for one, intend to fight with everything I've got for every one of those votes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: So, John Kerry does not yet have a clear road ahead, but many believe that the best hope for any of his Democratic opponents would be obstacles that are thrown up by John Kerry, and nobody else -- Bill.

HEMMER: Bob Franken, thanks -- live in Milwaukee.

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 February 16, 2004 - 07:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The Wisconsin primary tomorrow could be the last best hope for Democrats without the name John Kerry. The five remaining candidates debated last night.
Bob Franken live in Milwaukee for the highlights this morning on the morning after.

Bob -- good morning there.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

And, Bill, as you know, just about each of these primaries has been followed by one of the candidates withdrawing. And now there is quite a bit of speculation about whether that's going to happen again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): Right now it is Howard Dean who is getting a major share of the attention, and publicly his hope is still springing eternal.

HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Wisconsin has a long history of voting for people like me, and I hope they'll do it on Tuesday.

FRANKEN: But as Dean debated the other Democrats last night, his prospects in Wisconsin were looking dismal, and several advisors were discussing the possibility he might pull back as a candidate. Dean was having none of it.

DEAN: I don't know what they're talking about. We're not dropping out after Tuesday, period, no matter what.

FRANKEN: After winning still again over the weekend in D.C. and Nevada, John Kerry was focusing on the Republicans.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm prepared to stand up to any attack that they come at me with. I've been in public life since I was about 27 years old. I've been in very visible, tough races in the course of my life. I'm ready for what they throw at me.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Not so fast, John Kerry.

FRANKEN: John Edwards made it clear he's not ready to concede anything to the front-runner. EDWARDS: We're going to have an election here in Wisconsin this Tuesday, and we've got a whole group of primaries coming up. And I, for one, intend to fight with everything I've got for every one of those votes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: So, John Kerry does not yet have a clear road ahead, but many believe that the best hope for any of his Democratic opponents would be obstacles that are thrown up by John Kerry, and nobody else -- Bill.

HEMMER: Bob Franken, thanks -- live in Milwaukee.

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