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CNN Live Sunday
Bush Campaigns for Coleman in Minnesota
Aired November 03, 2002 - 17:03 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is pumping up the volume for Americans to vote in the midterm elections. Mr. Bush is in the middle of a very busy travel schedule. He's been in Illinois. He is in Minnesota now, and he heads to South Dakota and Iowa later this evening. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is in St. Paul, Minnesota -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, President Bush just finished his remarks a short time ago. This is a very important state. It could decide the balance of power in the United States Senate, which is why it is getting presidential attention. The circumstances here, though, indeed difficult and very sensitive politically with the sudden death of Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone in a plane crash just nine days ago. The president, though, getting really a thunderous reception here, inside this downtown St. Paul arena. You can see him shaking some hands now.
It was his first visit to Minnesota since Senator Wellstone's death. Senior administration officials saying the president always wanted to come, but that ultimately it was up to Norm Coleman to decide. Coleman obviously hoping to get a boost sharing the state with the president, and Mr. Bush trying to walk a very careful line between campaigning for Coleman and paying tribute to the late senator, Paul Wellstone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Just nine days ago, you lost a principled senator, along with his wife and daughter and five other fellow Americans. Paul Wellstone was respected by all who worked with him, will be missed by all who knew him.
Now a vote is coming on in the middle of a state that is mourning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: And Coleman now locked in a neck-and-neck fight with former Vice President Walter Mondale, who stepped into the race to replace Paul Wellstone. This race is so tight, one newspaper poll has Mondale up by four or five points; another newspaper poll has Coleman up by six. The two men to square off in one debate. That debate will take place tomorrow morning. Democrats pouring a lot of money, a lot of energy into this state as well, and the Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, hoping to pour in some ammunition, saying that if Walter Mondale wins and becomes the state's next senator, he will get a leadership position in the Senate. Paul Wellstone did not have a leadership position.
Fredricka, back to you.
WHITFIELD: All right, Kelly Wallace from St. Paul, thank you very much.
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 3, 2002 - 17:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is pumping up the volume for Americans to vote in the midterm elections. Mr. Bush is in the middle of a very busy travel schedule. He's been in Illinois. He is in Minnesota now, and he heads to South Dakota and Iowa later this evening. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is in St. Paul, Minnesota -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, President Bush just finished his remarks a short time ago. This is a very important state. It could decide the balance of power in the United States Senate, which is why it is getting presidential attention. The circumstances here, though, indeed difficult and very sensitive politically with the sudden death of Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone in a plane crash just nine days ago. The president, though, getting really a thunderous reception here, inside this downtown St. Paul arena. You can see him shaking some hands now.
It was his first visit to Minnesota since Senator Wellstone's death. Senior administration officials saying the president always wanted to come, but that ultimately it was up to Norm Coleman to decide. Coleman obviously hoping to get a boost sharing the state with the president, and Mr. Bush trying to walk a very careful line between campaigning for Coleman and paying tribute to the late senator, Paul Wellstone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Just nine days ago, you lost a principled senator, along with his wife and daughter and five other fellow Americans. Paul Wellstone was respected by all who worked with him, will be missed by all who knew him.
Now a vote is coming on in the middle of a state that is mourning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: And Coleman now locked in a neck-and-neck fight with former Vice President Walter Mondale, who stepped into the race to replace Paul Wellstone. This race is so tight, one newspaper poll has Mondale up by four or five points; another newspaper poll has Coleman up by six. The two men to square off in one debate. That debate will take place tomorrow morning. Democrats pouring a lot of money, a lot of energy into this state as well, and the Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, hoping to pour in some ammunition, saying that if Walter Mondale wins and becomes the state's next senator, he will get a leadership position in the Senate. Paul Wellstone did not have a leadership position.
Fredricka, back to you.
WHITFIELD: All right, Kelly Wallace from St. Paul, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
