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CNN Sunday Morning
All Eyes on Wisconsin
Aired February 15, 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: All eyes are now on Wisconsin, where 72 convention delegates are on the line in Tuesday's primary. Among the pre-election activities, a Jefferson Jackson dinner last night. And the candidates debate tonight.
Our national correspondent Kelly Wallace is on the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After two more decisive victories, John Kerry's strategy, don't change a thing. Rally Wisconsin Democrats by targeting President Bush.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Instead of attacking America's problems, George Bush and our opponents have once again turned to attack politics.
WALLACE: But just days after the Bush-Cheney re-election team issues an Internet ad accusing Kerry of taking special interest money, the Kerry team responds with an Internet ad of its own, slamming the president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who's the politician who's taken more special interest money than anyone in history?
WALLACE: The Massachusetts senator has not yet clinched the nomination, but the way he and the Bush-Cheney team are talking, it feels like the general election campaign has already begun.
KERRY: They can't escape the truth. November is coming. George W. Bush is going.
WALLACE: Some analysts say this primary battle is now the senator's to lose.
KERRY: I'm always hopeful, never -- you know, you've just got to remain cautiously optimistic, but I like the word cautious.
WALLACE: So Kerry, stumping in Nevada Saturday, tries to avoid any mistakes, while his rivals look to Sunday's Milwaukee debate to try and slow his momentum. Aides to John Edwards believe the senator and his positive message come out on top any time he shares the stage with the frontrunner.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: How many times has somebody said to you, you can't do this? Right? You know what I'm saying. You know exactly what I'm talking about. You and I can do this together. I can't do it by myself, but I know that you and I can do it together.
WALLACE: Howard Dean skipped Saturday's Democratic dinner to attend his son's hockey game back in Vermont, but not before answering that same question yet again. What will he do if he doesn't win the Wisconsin primary?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If Tuesday comes and you lose here again, what is going to happen?
HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, you'll find out on Wednesday.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But your plans right now are to keep going?
DEAN: Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And that debate tonight will be at Marquette University in Milwaukee. All five Democratic candidates are expected to be there.
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 15, 2004 - 07:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: All eyes are now on Wisconsin, where 72 convention delegates are on the line in Tuesday's primary. Among the pre-election activities, a Jefferson Jackson dinner last night. And the candidates debate tonight.
Our national correspondent Kelly Wallace is on the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After two more decisive victories, John Kerry's strategy, don't change a thing. Rally Wisconsin Democrats by targeting President Bush.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Instead of attacking America's problems, George Bush and our opponents have once again turned to attack politics.
WALLACE: But just days after the Bush-Cheney re-election team issues an Internet ad accusing Kerry of taking special interest money, the Kerry team responds with an Internet ad of its own, slamming the president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who's the politician who's taken more special interest money than anyone in history?
WALLACE: The Massachusetts senator has not yet clinched the nomination, but the way he and the Bush-Cheney team are talking, it feels like the general election campaign has already begun.
KERRY: They can't escape the truth. November is coming. George W. Bush is going.
WALLACE: Some analysts say this primary battle is now the senator's to lose.
KERRY: I'm always hopeful, never -- you know, you've just got to remain cautiously optimistic, but I like the word cautious.
WALLACE: So Kerry, stumping in Nevada Saturday, tries to avoid any mistakes, while his rivals look to Sunday's Milwaukee debate to try and slow his momentum. Aides to John Edwards believe the senator and his positive message come out on top any time he shares the stage with the frontrunner.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: How many times has somebody said to you, you can't do this? Right? You know what I'm saying. You know exactly what I'm talking about. You and I can do this together. I can't do it by myself, but I know that you and I can do it together.
WALLACE: Howard Dean skipped Saturday's Democratic dinner to attend his son's hockey game back in Vermont, but not before answering that same question yet again. What will he do if he doesn't win the Wisconsin primary?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If Tuesday comes and you lose here again, what is going to happen?
HOWARD DEAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, you'll find out on Wednesday.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But your plans right now are to keep going?
DEAN: Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And that debate tonight will be at Marquette University in Milwaukee. All five Democratic candidates are expected to be there.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
