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American Morning
Can Senator John Kerry Widen Lead?
Aired February 26, 2004 - 08:07 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: Can Senator John Kerry widen his lead? Will Senator John Edwards survive Super Tuesday? The two top contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination will debate tonight in Los Angeles, along with Representative Dennis Kucinich and Reverend Al Sharpton. CNN is going to air the debate live at 9:00 Eastern time.
Joining us this morning from Washington, D.C. to talk about what exactly is at stake, CNN political analyst Donna Brazile -- hey, Donna, good morning.
Nice to see you.
DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.
Good to see you.
O'BRIEN: You've got some experience in this campaign managing stuff. So let's take your perspective as a former campaign manager.
What does John Edwards have to do in this debate to move his campaign forward, do you think?
BRAZILE: Well, this is one of his last opportunities to have a clear shot at putting John Kerry on the defensive and stopping his momentum. John Edwards should continue to emote, to communicate his strong message of two Americas and to try to persuade those undecided voters that he is more electable than John Kerry.
He could also pray for a miracle, because it's an uphill battle. John Kerry has a lot of momentum. He's won 19 out of 21 states. John Edwards must really put this guy on the defensive tonight. Otherwise, it's quitting time.
O'BRIEN: And, in fact, if you look at the poll numbers going into Super Tuesday, it does not look good for Senator Edwards. Senator Kerry enjoying a strong lead in California, 40 points ahead of Senator Edwards; 30 points ahead in New York; 20 points ahead in Ohio. Obviously we're a little ways away, but still, it does not bode well.
What do you think Senator Edwards is really aiming for? I mean what's his true goal, if it's not to necessarily be the nominee? Is it the vice presidential or is it to just have a voice in the convention?
BRAZILE: I think he really wants to be president. He wants to stand up for the little guy and the woman. He wants to help Americans get their jobs back. He's run an extraordinary race.
But this is a moment tonight for him to really try to pull some undecided voters and to remind the Democratic activists that he won in a tough state, in North Carolina. He defeated an incumbent Republican. He could perhaps defeat George Bush, as well.
O'BRIEN: Senator Kerry, now, let's turn to his campaign.
Does he basically just have to stick it out, stick to the same things and he'll be just fine, considering he's so far ahead?
BRAZILE: Well, stay the course. This race favors him. Right now he has a strong team on the ground in all 10 states, 1,051 delegates at stake. Make no mistakes, bob and weave, don't let John Edwards put him on the defensive. And every time he's attacked, turn the attack on George Bush. Try to look presidential, smile a lot and just bring it home. This baby is almost in the bag for him.
O'BRIEN: Is there anything that he could do that he could lose his lead, he could lose the nomination that many people say, as you say, you know, baby, it's in the bag, essentially?
BRAZILE: Well, if he gets there and forgets that Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich are on the stage and ignored them, they could take some pot shots at him, put him on the defensive, force him to defend himself, his record. That's not a good thing.
So I think, once again, John Kerry should, you know, just look straight ahead, you know, remind the voters that he is the most electable, he can beat George Bush, he has a vision for this country. And I believe he will come out ahead after Super Tuesday.
O'BRIEN: Donna Brazile making some predictions for us this morning.
Nice to see you, Donna, as always.
BRAZILE: Good to see you.
O'BRIEN: Thanks.
We should mention that you can see the debate live right here on CNN. That's tonight, 9:00 Eastern. CNN's Larry King is hosting that debate. The event is sponsored by CNN and the "Los Angeles Times."
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 26, 2004 - 08:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Can Senator John Kerry widen his lead? Will Senator John Edwards survive Super Tuesday? The two top contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination will debate tonight in Los Angeles, along with Representative Dennis Kucinich and Reverend Al Sharpton. CNN is going to air the debate live at 9:00 Eastern time.
Joining us this morning from Washington, D.C. to talk about what exactly is at stake, CNN political analyst Donna Brazile -- hey, Donna, good morning.
Nice to see you.
DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.
Good to see you.
O'BRIEN: You've got some experience in this campaign managing stuff. So let's take your perspective as a former campaign manager.
What does John Edwards have to do in this debate to move his campaign forward, do you think?
BRAZILE: Well, this is one of his last opportunities to have a clear shot at putting John Kerry on the defensive and stopping his momentum. John Edwards should continue to emote, to communicate his strong message of two Americas and to try to persuade those undecided voters that he is more electable than John Kerry.
He could also pray for a miracle, because it's an uphill battle. John Kerry has a lot of momentum. He's won 19 out of 21 states. John Edwards must really put this guy on the defensive tonight. Otherwise, it's quitting time.
O'BRIEN: And, in fact, if you look at the poll numbers going into Super Tuesday, it does not look good for Senator Edwards. Senator Kerry enjoying a strong lead in California, 40 points ahead of Senator Edwards; 30 points ahead in New York; 20 points ahead in Ohio. Obviously we're a little ways away, but still, it does not bode well.
What do you think Senator Edwards is really aiming for? I mean what's his true goal, if it's not to necessarily be the nominee? Is it the vice presidential or is it to just have a voice in the convention?
BRAZILE: I think he really wants to be president. He wants to stand up for the little guy and the woman. He wants to help Americans get their jobs back. He's run an extraordinary race.
But this is a moment tonight for him to really try to pull some undecided voters and to remind the Democratic activists that he won in a tough state, in North Carolina. He defeated an incumbent Republican. He could perhaps defeat George Bush, as well.
O'BRIEN: Senator Kerry, now, let's turn to his campaign.
Does he basically just have to stick it out, stick to the same things and he'll be just fine, considering he's so far ahead?
BRAZILE: Well, stay the course. This race favors him. Right now he has a strong team on the ground in all 10 states, 1,051 delegates at stake. Make no mistakes, bob and weave, don't let John Edwards put him on the defensive. And every time he's attacked, turn the attack on George Bush. Try to look presidential, smile a lot and just bring it home. This baby is almost in the bag for him.
O'BRIEN: Is there anything that he could do that he could lose his lead, he could lose the nomination that many people say, as you say, you know, baby, it's in the bag, essentially?
BRAZILE: Well, if he gets there and forgets that Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich are on the stage and ignored them, they could take some pot shots at him, put him on the defensive, force him to defend himself, his record. That's not a good thing.
So I think, once again, John Kerry should, you know, just look straight ahead, you know, remind the voters that he is the most electable, he can beat George Bush, he has a vision for this country. And I believe he will come out ahead after Super Tuesday.
O'BRIEN: Donna Brazile making some predictions for us this morning.
Nice to see you, Donna, as always.
BRAZILE: Good to see you.
O'BRIEN: Thanks.
We should mention that you can see the debate live right here on CNN. That's tonight, 9:00 Eastern. CNN's Larry King is hosting that debate. The event is sponsored by CNN and the "Los Angeles Times."
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
