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CNN Saturday Morning News
President Bush Doing 10-State Campaign Blitz
Aired November 02, 2002 - 09:00 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Just minutes from now, President Bush due to take the stage in Tennessee, first stop in a 10-state campaign blitz. The dizzying pace will snowball right after Tuesday's midterm elections. Nothing less than the Senate's balance of power at stake.
CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace traveling with the president. She joins us from Blountville, Tennessee. Kelly, up early and at it, and you're there before the president arrives, aren't you, as always?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That is, that is right, Miles. We are waiting for the president. He should be here just moments from now. As you said, the president in the midst really of an incredible campaign blitz, five days, 15 states, between now and election day, hoping that his relatively high approval rating will help turn out Republicans to the polls on election day.
Now, the president left the White House earlier this morning. He has a lot at stake in these midterm elections. Number one, he's trying to help Republicans maintain the House of Representatives, he's hoping to help Republicans win back control of the Senate. He's also helping in a variety of gubernatorial races around the country.
At stake for this president, hoping to get his agenda passed over the next two years and also already thinking about 2004.
Now, the first stop for the president, as we said, Tennessee. And here he will be mainly trying to help Republican Congressman Van Hillary (ph) become the state's next governor. Then he is off to Georgia. And there he will be campaigning for Republican candidate for Senate Saxby Chambliss.
And then later in the day he goes to Florida, and that is where the focus becomes a bit more personal. President Bush will be trying to give a boost to his brother, Governor Jeb Bush, who is in an unexpectedly tight race for reelection. The governor, latest polls show him just a few points ahead of his Democratic challenger, Bill McBride. So later in the day, the president will be in Tampa, urging Republicans to get to the polls to help his brother.
Democrats, though, think the president's visit helps them. They say it helps energize the Democratic base to go to the polls and vote for an alternative to the Bush agenda.
And, Miles, Democrats are pulling out the big guns as well because, get this, former president Bill Clinton will be in the state later today or in Florida later today, campaigning for Bill McBride. And former vice president Al Gore will be there Sunday and Monday.
So Democrats believe they have a lot riding on this race as well, Miles.
O'BRIEN: Boy, can't you just hear the discussion of dangling chads already, Kelly?
WALLACE: Exact. And, you know, it's funny you bring that up, because Vice President Gore, former vice president Gore, as he has been stumping, he talks about how every vote counts. He has a message saying, Remember how you felt when the U.S. Supreme Court announced that really the election of 2000 was over? Well, he said, every vote counts. Remember that.
So that's a big message he'll take to Florida probably Sunday and Monday, Miles.
O'BRIEN: I think that's a lesson folks in the Sunshine State have learned very well. Kelly Wallace with the president. We're not done with you, Kelly, as you know.
WALLACE: I know.
O'BRIEN: Grab a cup of Joe there on the tarmac, try to find a little shelter there, and join us in about 25 minutes, will you, to take questions from our loyal viewership.
WALLACE: I will.
O'BRIEN: Will you do that?
WALLACE: I will do that. I'm sorry I'm missing you guys while you're in Washington, D.C., by the way.
O'BRIEN: Yes, dropped by the office, and you weren't there yet last night. But...
WALLACE: I know. Nothing...
O'BRIEN: ... well, anyway, next time.
WALLACE: OK, sure.
O'BRIEN: She's rather peripatetic, that Kelly Wallace, you know.
Well, it's Schneider time. Let's talk about that and some other matters. We'll take a look at what he's going to be looking at come election night.
Mr. Schneider, good to see you, sir.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Miles, good to see you, even though we've reversed cities.
O'BRIEN: It's kind of odd, but no need to get into a deep explanation. But I just want to -- did you bring your tool belt? Are you helping with the setup there?
SCHNEIDER: I am indeed. This is almost like...
O'BRIEN: All right, good.
SCHNEIDER: ... a space launch.
O'BRIEN: Just quickly, before you get into your top 10 list, I'm curious, it just -- this Florida thing is just brewing. It's almost like they're spoiling for a legal fight already.
SCHNEIDER: That's right, it's already starting, and it's going to be a real showdown in Florida. That's the most-watched state in the country in this election year.
O'BRIEN: All right. Without further ado, I don't believe we have the drum roll sound effects cued up, but if we did, we would do the drum roll now and maybe a trumpet fanfare, and ask you, what are the top 10 things to be looking for, beginning with number 10, Mr. Schneider?
SCHNEIDER: All right. That would be the Senate seesaw, the big story of this election. Will the Republicans gain the one seat they need to take control of the Senate? Bring lots of milk and cookies, because absentee ballots, close races, recounts, this could stretch out a long time.
Number nine, brother, where art thou? George Bush is going to Florida to help his brother...
O'BRIEN: Cookies -- milk and cook -- no, no, no adult beverages allowed in this?
SCHNEIDER: Oh, no, no, no, no, this is election day, Miles.
O'BRIEN: Milk and cookies, OK. OK, all right, number nine. Go ahead.
SCHNEIDER: Number nine, O brother, where art thou? President Bush, can he save his brother Jeb? I said this is the most-watched race in the country. I mean that literally, because the polls -- polling places are being flooded by both Republicans and Democrats watching for election fraud.
Number eight, the sympathy vote. Will Walter Mondale win a heavy sympathy vote from voters who want to state -- make a statement of support for the late Senator Paul Wellstone? And will it spill over to Jean Carnahan in Missouri, who was appointed to replace her husband, who died just before he got elected in Missouri two years ago?
Number seven, House party. Now, no political insider believes that the Democrats can gain the six seats they need to take back the House of Representatives. But what do they know? Democrats could gain three or four seats, and then they could start trading. They could start looking for converts, Republicans looking for Democrats who might want to change parties to be in a Republican majority.
Number six, how low can it go? Every indication is turnout will reach record lows in this election. No big issues roiling the voters nationwide. In California, in the governor's race, where neither the Republican nor the Democrat is popular, the question is, which candidate has the less-demoralized supporters?
Number five, dinosaurs. Two House incumbents are liberal Republicans, they're both threatened, Jim Leach (ph) in Iowa, Connie Morella (ph) in Maryland. If they lose on Tuesday, liberal Republicans will go from endangered to extinct.
Number four, the fall of Camelot. Are the Kennedys losing it? Mark Shriver lost the Democratic primary for the House in Maryland. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend is in trouble. A tight race for governor. Have they depleted the gene pool?
Number three, hey, big spender. The two parties have spent nearly a billion dollars in this election. How high can it go? Almost $80 million for California governor, House races all over the country are costing more than $3 million.
Number two, take the initiative. Important initiatives in Florida to limit class sizes, in Oregon to mandate universal health care for every resident of that state. Can they afford it? The voters will tell us. And also interesting measures in Nevada to legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and to ban cockfighting in Oklahoma. Whoever knew such things went on?
And number one, top hat and coattails. President Bush is putting himself on the line, campaigning all over the country for Republicans. If the Republicans lose ground, this will be seen as a big loss of clout for the president, and it will tell a lot of people his popularity is his own. It doesn't transfer to his party, and his party, the Republicans, are likely to go their separate ways, Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right. Bill, very quickly, we're just about out of time, but the one thing that strikes me is the voter turnout issue. Even when compared against other midterm elections, will this be a lower turnout? And I'm a bit surprised why, with the economy rough in some places, the issue of perhaps going to war in Iraq. There seem like there are some real issues out there.
SCHNEIDER: There's the economy issue, but it doesn't seem to be paying off for Democrats because people don't blame President Bush. There's the war issue. President Bush tried to rally -- is trying to rally the country behind a military effort in Iraq, but he seems to be stirring up war anxiety.
So that with this nasty, negative campaign, that is turning off a lot of voters all over the country.
O'BRIEN: All right, Mr. Bill Schneider, one of our leading analysts, senior analysts, you have time to hang about two or three pieces of bunting (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
SCHNEIDER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: ... come back and join us.
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 November 2, 2002 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Just minutes from now, President Bush due to take the stage in Tennessee, first stop in a 10-state campaign blitz. The dizzying pace will snowball right after Tuesday's midterm elections. Nothing less than the Senate's balance of power at stake.
CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace traveling with the president. She joins us from Blountville, Tennessee. Kelly, up early and at it, and you're there before the president arrives, aren't you, as always?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That is, that is right, Miles. We are waiting for the president. He should be here just moments from now. As you said, the president in the midst really of an incredible campaign blitz, five days, 15 states, between now and election day, hoping that his relatively high approval rating will help turn out Republicans to the polls on election day.
Now, the president left the White House earlier this morning. He has a lot at stake in these midterm elections. Number one, he's trying to help Republicans maintain the House of Representatives, he's hoping to help Republicans win back control of the Senate. He's also helping in a variety of gubernatorial races around the country.
At stake for this president, hoping to get his agenda passed over the next two years and also already thinking about 2004.
Now, the first stop for the president, as we said, Tennessee. And here he will be mainly trying to help Republican Congressman Van Hillary (ph) become the state's next governor. Then he is off to Georgia. And there he will be campaigning for Republican candidate for Senate Saxby Chambliss.
And then later in the day he goes to Florida, and that is where the focus becomes a bit more personal. President Bush will be trying to give a boost to his brother, Governor Jeb Bush, who is in an unexpectedly tight race for reelection. The governor, latest polls show him just a few points ahead of his Democratic challenger, Bill McBride. So later in the day, the president will be in Tampa, urging Republicans to get to the polls to help his brother.
Democrats, though, think the president's visit helps them. They say it helps energize the Democratic base to go to the polls and vote for an alternative to the Bush agenda.
And, Miles, Democrats are pulling out the big guns as well because, get this, former president Bill Clinton will be in the state later today or in Florida later today, campaigning for Bill McBride. And former vice president Al Gore will be there Sunday and Monday.
So Democrats believe they have a lot riding on this race as well, Miles.
O'BRIEN: Boy, can't you just hear the discussion of dangling chads already, Kelly?
WALLACE: Exact. And, you know, it's funny you bring that up, because Vice President Gore, former vice president Gore, as he has been stumping, he talks about how every vote counts. He has a message saying, Remember how you felt when the U.S. Supreme Court announced that really the election of 2000 was over? Well, he said, every vote counts. Remember that.
So that's a big message he'll take to Florida probably Sunday and Monday, Miles.
O'BRIEN: I think that's a lesson folks in the Sunshine State have learned very well. Kelly Wallace with the president. We're not done with you, Kelly, as you know.
WALLACE: I know.
O'BRIEN: Grab a cup of Joe there on the tarmac, try to find a little shelter there, and join us in about 25 minutes, will you, to take questions from our loyal viewership.
WALLACE: I will.
O'BRIEN: Will you do that?
WALLACE: I will do that. I'm sorry I'm missing you guys while you're in Washington, D.C., by the way.
O'BRIEN: Yes, dropped by the office, and you weren't there yet last night. But...
WALLACE: I know. Nothing...
O'BRIEN: ... well, anyway, next time.
WALLACE: OK, sure.
O'BRIEN: She's rather peripatetic, that Kelly Wallace, you know.
Well, it's Schneider time. Let's talk about that and some other matters. We'll take a look at what he's going to be looking at come election night.
Mr. Schneider, good to see you, sir.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Miles, good to see you, even though we've reversed cities.
O'BRIEN: It's kind of odd, but no need to get into a deep explanation. But I just want to -- did you bring your tool belt? Are you helping with the setup there?
SCHNEIDER: I am indeed. This is almost like...
O'BRIEN: All right, good.
SCHNEIDER: ... a space launch.
O'BRIEN: Just quickly, before you get into your top 10 list, I'm curious, it just -- this Florida thing is just brewing. It's almost like they're spoiling for a legal fight already.
SCHNEIDER: That's right, it's already starting, and it's going to be a real showdown in Florida. That's the most-watched state in the country in this election year.
O'BRIEN: All right. Without further ado, I don't believe we have the drum roll sound effects cued up, but if we did, we would do the drum roll now and maybe a trumpet fanfare, and ask you, what are the top 10 things to be looking for, beginning with number 10, Mr. Schneider?
SCHNEIDER: All right. That would be the Senate seesaw, the big story of this election. Will the Republicans gain the one seat they need to take control of the Senate? Bring lots of milk and cookies, because absentee ballots, close races, recounts, this could stretch out a long time.
Number nine, brother, where art thou? George Bush is going to Florida to help his brother...
O'BRIEN: Cookies -- milk and cook -- no, no, no adult beverages allowed in this?
SCHNEIDER: Oh, no, no, no, no, this is election day, Miles.
O'BRIEN: Milk and cookies, OK. OK, all right, number nine. Go ahead.
SCHNEIDER: Number nine, O brother, where art thou? President Bush, can he save his brother Jeb? I said this is the most-watched race in the country. I mean that literally, because the polls -- polling places are being flooded by both Republicans and Democrats watching for election fraud.
Number eight, the sympathy vote. Will Walter Mondale win a heavy sympathy vote from voters who want to state -- make a statement of support for the late Senator Paul Wellstone? And will it spill over to Jean Carnahan in Missouri, who was appointed to replace her husband, who died just before he got elected in Missouri two years ago?
Number seven, House party. Now, no political insider believes that the Democrats can gain the six seats they need to take back the House of Representatives. But what do they know? Democrats could gain three or four seats, and then they could start trading. They could start looking for converts, Republicans looking for Democrats who might want to change parties to be in a Republican majority.
Number six, how low can it go? Every indication is turnout will reach record lows in this election. No big issues roiling the voters nationwide. In California, in the governor's race, where neither the Republican nor the Democrat is popular, the question is, which candidate has the less-demoralized supporters?
Number five, dinosaurs. Two House incumbents are liberal Republicans, they're both threatened, Jim Leach (ph) in Iowa, Connie Morella (ph) in Maryland. If they lose on Tuesday, liberal Republicans will go from endangered to extinct.
Number four, the fall of Camelot. Are the Kennedys losing it? Mark Shriver lost the Democratic primary for the House in Maryland. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend is in trouble. A tight race for governor. Have they depleted the gene pool?
Number three, hey, big spender. The two parties have spent nearly a billion dollars in this election. How high can it go? Almost $80 million for California governor, House races all over the country are costing more than $3 million.
Number two, take the initiative. Important initiatives in Florida to limit class sizes, in Oregon to mandate universal health care for every resident of that state. Can they afford it? The voters will tell us. And also interesting measures in Nevada to legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and to ban cockfighting in Oklahoma. Whoever knew such things went on?
And number one, top hat and coattails. President Bush is putting himself on the line, campaigning all over the country for Republicans. If the Republicans lose ground, this will be seen as a big loss of clout for the president, and it will tell a lot of people his popularity is his own. It doesn't transfer to his party, and his party, the Republicans, are likely to go their separate ways, Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right. Bill, very quickly, we're just about out of time, but the one thing that strikes me is the voter turnout issue. Even when compared against other midterm elections, will this be a lower turnout? And I'm a bit surprised why, with the economy rough in some places, the issue of perhaps going to war in Iraq. There seem like there are some real issues out there.
SCHNEIDER: There's the economy issue, but it doesn't seem to be paying off for Democrats because people don't blame President Bush. There's the war issue. President Bush tried to rally -- is trying to rally the country behind a military effort in Iraq, but he seems to be stirring up war anxiety.
So that with this nasty, negative campaign, that is turning off a lot of voters all over the country.
O'BRIEN: All right, Mr. Bill Schneider, one of our leading analysts, senior analysts, you have time to hang about two or three pieces of bunting (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
SCHNEIDER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
O'BRIEN: ... come back and join us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
