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CNN Live Sunday
Bush Campaigns for Republicans
Aired November 03, 2002 - 18:04 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Less than 48 hours from now, Americans will be taking part in a selection process that could affect U.S. politics for many years to come. President Bush wants to make sure Republicans get the upper hand in the midterm elections, of course. As White House correspondent Kelly Wallace explains, he is doing his best to make sure that happens.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are times you need some help from your friends. President Bush heads to a St. Paul hockey arena hoping to put his hand-picked candidate for Senate, Norm Coleman, over the top. Coleman is in a difficult position, with the people of Minnesota still reeling after the tragic death of Senator Paul Wellstone.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Paul Wellstone was respected by all who worked with him. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Now a vote is coming on, in the middle of a state that is mourning.
WALLACE: This was the president's first visit to Minnesota since Wellstone's death, and since former Vice President Walter Mondale stepped into the race. His instant name recognition and wide voter appeal giving him a slight edge going into election day.
In South Dakota, it is a genuine tossup, which is why the president returned Sunday after stumping in the state as recently as Thursday, hoping Republican Congressman John Thune can unseat Democratic Senator Tim Johnson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me welcome the president of the United States, President George Bush.
WALLACE: Earlier, in Springfield, Illinois, the focus was on maintaining Republican control of the House.
BUSH: For the sake of the country, put John Shimkus back in the United States Congress.
WALLACE: There are risks to this nonstop campaign blitz by the president. Democrats say if Republicans do poorly on Tuesday, it will represent a rebuke of the president's policies. White House officials disagree. Still, the administration strategy appears to be low- balling expectations before the election.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The average House loss in a midterm for the president's party is 30 seats, and the president's party on an average has lost Senate seats in the last two-thirds of 22 elections, so that were not getting creamed right now might be a referendum on how the country feels about George Bush.
WALLACE (on camera): On Monday, the president hits four more states before returning to the White House on election day, waiting to see if his travels and his record fund-raising effort help Republicans to victory.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, St. Paul, Minnesota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 - 18:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Less than 48 hours from now, Americans will be taking part in a selection process that could affect U.S. politics for many years to come. President Bush wants to make sure Republicans get the upper hand in the midterm elections, of course. As White House correspondent Kelly Wallace explains, he is doing his best to make sure that happens.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are times you need some help from your friends. President Bush heads to a St. Paul hockey arena hoping to put his hand-picked candidate for Senate, Norm Coleman, over the top. Coleman is in a difficult position, with the people of Minnesota still reeling after the tragic death of Senator Paul Wellstone.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Paul Wellstone was respected by all who worked with him. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Now a vote is coming on, in the middle of a state that is mourning.
WALLACE: This was the president's first visit to Minnesota since Wellstone's death, and since former Vice President Walter Mondale stepped into the race. His instant name recognition and wide voter appeal giving him a slight edge going into election day.
In South Dakota, it is a genuine tossup, which is why the president returned Sunday after stumping in the state as recently as Thursday, hoping Republican Congressman John Thune can unseat Democratic Senator Tim Johnson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me welcome the president of the United States, President George Bush.
WALLACE: Earlier, in Springfield, Illinois, the focus was on maintaining Republican control of the House.
BUSH: For the sake of the country, put John Shimkus back in the United States Congress.
WALLACE: There are risks to this nonstop campaign blitz by the president. Democrats say if Republicans do poorly on Tuesday, it will represent a rebuke of the president's policies. White House officials disagree. Still, the administration strategy appears to be low- balling expectations before the election.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The average House loss in a midterm for the president's party is 30 seats, and the president's party on an average has lost Senate seats in the last two-thirds of 22 elections, so that were not getting creamed right now might be a referendum on how the country feels about George Bush.
WALLACE (on camera): On Monday, the president hits four more states before returning to the White House on election day, waiting to see if his travels and his record fund-raising effort help Republicans to victory.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, St. Paul, Minnesota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
