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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Coverage of the National Democratic Convention

Aired July 26, 2004 - 17:00   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.


WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now. Handle with care. Did tonight's speakers at the Democratic National Convention get the message to go easy on President Bush?
We're waiting to hear from Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Underway. The Democrats gather amid pageantry, protests and extraordinary security.

Side joke.

TERESA HEINZ KERRY, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN KERRY: You said something I didn't say. Now shove it.

BLITZER: Will a flash of temper be a distraction?

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: A lot of Americans are going to say, good for you. You go, girl.

BLITZER: Heavy hitters. Will they keep it positive or swing away at the man who really unites the Democrats?

A world away. Fresh reminders of what's at stake.

ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS live from the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Hello. We're here on the floor of the Democratic National Convention at the Fleet Center in Boston. Four days of carefully choreographed high-stakes hoopla.

TOM MCAULIFFE, DNC CHAIRMAN: The 44th quadrennial National Convention of the Democratic party will now come to order.

BLITZER: It began less than an hour ago when the Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe brought down the gavel here at the Fleet Center.

Shortly afterwards, the presentation of the colors. Organizers here will try to wrap John Kerry and his party in those colors. The convention theme, "stronger at home, respected in the world."

Speaking right now on the podium, Lottie Shackelford. She's the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. So many of these speakers getting into this excitement of the Democratic party. This is a big stakes event for John Kerry and John Edwards. The Democrats, as a result, will roll out all their big guns tonight. We'll get a preview from CNN's Kelly Wallace. She's on the convention floor. That's also where we find CNN's John King. He will look at the effort being made to portray John Kerry as a strong, experienced leader. And over at City Hall Plaza, CNN's Dan Lothian keeping an eye on the protesters. Let's begin with Kelly Wallace. She's with the Arkansas delegation -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, with the Kerry campaign sending out the message, no bashing of the president allowed, a key question, will tonight's speakers comply?

First up, former Vice President Al Gore who has delivered a series of speeches very critical of the president and the war in Iraq.

Then it is time for former President Jimmy Carter. He sat down with our own Judy Woodruff and he says no one has vetted his speech and that he won't be deviating from the role he has played on the international stage as senior statesman.

Then all eyes will be on former President Bill Clinton. Does he overshadow the presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry? Does he put to rest questions or suggestions that he might want Kerry to win but he wants his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, to be president more. Doubtful he'll put to rest those questions but his main goal, according to Kerry advisers, to rally the Democratic base and no one can quite do that with the Democratic party like Bill Clinton -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Wallace on the convention floor. Other speeches tonight will offer more poignant examples of just who John Kerry is and how he's connected with various people. Picking up that part of the story, CNN's John King. He's in the New York delegation -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this is the first convention since 9/11, the first presidential election since the terrorist attacks three years ago. A major challenge for John Kerry trying to convince the American people to unseat an incumbent president in the middle of what President Bush calls a global war on terrorism. That is the challenge the Kerry campaign will take on beginning tonight head on with one of the men who served with him back in Vietnam. He is Reverend David Alden (ph) in South Carolina, one of those swift boat crew members that John Kerry commanded back in Vietnam. And he will make the case that John Kerry not only knows how to fight in a war, he knows how to lead men in a war. That is a major message the Kerry campaign will present this week.

It is also a major challenge and one right now even Democrats can see Senator Kerry is not winning. Look at our own CNN polling. "Who do you trust to lead the war on terrorism?" President Bush with a 18- point advantage. That's a huge advantage for the incumbent president and a huge problem for Senator Kerry at this convention -- Wolf. BLITZER: All right. John King. We'll have you back. Kelli Wallace is coming back as well.

While delegates are gearing up for tonight's speeches protesters are trying to turn up the heat outside. For more on that part of the story, our Boston bureau chief Dan Lothian. He is standing by over at City Hall Plaza -- Dan.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN BOSTON BUREAU CHIEF: That's right, Wolf. At City Hall Plaza behind me, yet another protest about to get underway. Things have been relatively quiet here, relatively peaceful in the city today. Law enforcement officials saying they are very pleased with their security plan. But some people say there's too much security.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOTHIAN (voice-over): A protest rally in Boston. Music, speakers, signs, but where is the audience?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I expected it to be larger but in some sense I'm not surprised.

LOTHIAN: Not surprised because demonstrators say the heavy police presence has been intimidating, keeping many away.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ...the police presence here in Boston. On the subway there's national guards and then the free speech zone which was crazy.

LOTHIAN: That free speech zone, a fenced-in area across from the Fleet Center, was the site of the silent protest, a statement against what they called an extreme crackdown.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do the Democrats remain silent while the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of democracy occurs in the shadow of the Fleet Center itself.

LOTHIAN: Civil rights lawyers say there has been a converted effort to silence dissent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Putting pressure on people certainly scares people away. I certainly suspect that that may be one of the reasons that it's done.

LOTHIAN: In an effort to be seen and heard, a few hundred protesters took to the streets. A peaceful march through Boston accompanied by police on bikes and motorcycles. Law enforcement officials say because of security concerns a strong presence is necessary. But they insist there is no effort to silence protesters.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want to do everything in our power to accommodate those who want to demonstrate peacefully.

(END VIDEOTAPE) LOTHIAN: One other development. Civil rights lawyers are now suing the MBTA. That organization operates the train service here in Boston. They're trying to halt the random searches of backpacks and purses of those passengers getting on to the trains. They say it is unconstitutional. Law enforcement officials say it is necessary because of security -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dan Lothian covering the story for us. Dan, thanks very much.

John Kerry is making campaign stops in several battleground states before arriving in Boston Wednesday. Stops today, Florida and Virginia. Our national correspondent Frank Buckley is traveling with John Kerry.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senator John Kerry here in Florida, a key battleground state, on his way to Boston. In 2000, of course, President Bush won this state by a mere 537 votes. A new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll indicating that once again it is a very close race. President Bush ahead over Senator Kerry. That's within the margin of error.

Here at Cape Canaveral today Senator Kerry appeared with former Senator John Glenn, former spaceman John Glenn at the Kennedy Space Center where Senator Kerry was talking about American values and optimism. He also reached out to a key voter group, Independent voters and moderate Republicans who he issued a challenge to.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to talk to Republicans and Independents who kind of have an automatic response. Who are you going to vote for. I'm Republican. I've always voted Republican. Whatever. Stop and think. Stop and think about what's happening in America.

BUCKLEY: The next step on the road to Boston for Senator Kerry taking place in Norfolk, Virginia where Senator Kerry will talk about the U.S. military. Frank Buckley, CNN, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: In keeping with tradition, President Bush is staying out of the spotlight this week, spending the week at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is there. Suzanne, give us a little flavor how the president is dealing with all this.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Bush is laying low at his Crawford ranch but he is really taking this on very quickly. His White House aides say he conducted his first meeting of his task force dealing with the 9/11 report and those recommendations and we are told, of course, that he is looking at a number of things. He is enacting very quickly.

A part of that conference call, that teleconference call that was done through secure video line had a number of high-level cabinet officials who were on that call at the White House as well, including Vice President Dick Cheney, secretaries of homeland security, Defense Department, acting director of the CIA, head of the FBI and top officials from Justice, State, as well as other agencies. The priority here we're told is the president wants to enact some of those recommendations immediately through executive order. We saw earlier today Vice President Dick Cheney in Washington state who elaborated on that meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are in the process now. We had a session just this morning where we began the process of looking specifically at specific recommendations that they have made. I think we're at the beginning here of what will be and should be a great debate as we look at how we can improve both the executive branch and legislative branch's ability to function in this area.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice arrived this afternoon to join the president at the Crawford ranch to continue those discussions. We are told that the president is expected perhaps to make some decisions on some of those recommendations within days -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne, we understand the president took a little spill from his mountain bike today.

MALVEAUX: Well, yes, he did. As a matter of fact, AP reporter Scott Lindlaw was with him. An exclusive. He went bike riding with him. He has a mountain bike. And he was on his Crawford ranch. And he went down a hill and didn't quite make it. Took a spill. We are told that he had some bruises, some scrapes, particularly on one of his knees. He got up really quickly we're told and got right back on his bike. This is a president who is very, very active. He had to give up running because of a bad knee just months ago -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Let's hope the president just fine after that little accident. Thanks very much, Suzanne Malveaux, reporting from the ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Heated words but no apologies. A run-in that has Senator Kerry's wife now in the spotlight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HEINZ KERRY: You said something I didn't say. Now shove it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Teresa Heinz Kerry takes on a journalist. Will her harsh words hurt her husband's campaign?

BLITZER: Kerry's service. How the senator's Vietnam experience will come into play during the convention. The former Democratic senator and veteran Max Cleland joins me live. That's coming up.

And united they stand against one man. President Bush has polarized the Democratic party. Our live coverage of the Democratic National Convention will continue.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to our special coverage from the floor of the Democratic National Convention. For all the careful choreography of this campaign and all the effort to stage everything perfectly, there's a lot of buzz today about an unscripted moment involving the candidate's wife.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): This is what Teresa Heinz Kerry said Sunday to her delegates from her home state of Pennsylvania.

HEINZ KERRY: We need to turn back some of the creepy unPennsylvanian and sometimes unAmerican traits that are coming into some of our politics.

BLITZER: Afterward a journalist questioned what she meant. But the two disagreed on exactly what she said.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You mentioned unAmerican...

HEINZ KERRY: No. I didn't say that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you mean?

HEINZ KERRY: I didn't say that. I didn't say that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just asking what you said.

HEINZ KERRY: Well, why did you put those words in my mouth?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But you said something about unAmerican...

HEINZ KERRY: No, I did not say that.

BLITZER: She did say "unAmerican traits" but not "activities." But it is what she said next that raised some eyebrows.

HEINZ KERRY: Of course. Understandable. You said something I didn't say. Now, shove it.

BLITZER: No apology from the campaign. But a spokesperson later explained the comment this way. "This was sheer frustration aimed at a right-wing rag that has consistently and purposely misrepresented the facts in reporting on Mrs. Kerry and her family."

The paper in question, the "Pittsburgh Tribune Review" is widely regarded as editorially conservative. It is owned by Richard Miller Scathe who has donated millions to conservative causes. In a statement the paper defended its employee saying, "Colin McNickle did just what any good reporter does. He asked questions. And the question he posed in this instance was legitimate. The tape of Teresa Heinz Kerry's speech shows she used the word "unAmerican" even though she denied it. It is unfortunate that she ruined what was an otherwise good message by resorting to exactly the type of tactics she was criticizing."

The candidate doesn't seem to be bothered by it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any comment on your wife's comment yesterday to the Pittsburgh editorial writer?

KERRY: I think my wife speaks her mind appropriately.

BLITZER: This is not the first controversial comment of the campaign season. There was Vice President Dick Cheney's use of a four-letter word in the Senate and Jenna Bush had tongues wagging when she showed hers to the media. But those incidents proved to be tempests in teapots and were quickly forgotten. As for Teresa Heinz Kerry, her "shove it" earned her at least one fan.

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: A lot of Americans are going to say, good for you. You go, girl. And that certainly is how I feel about it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And among John Kerry's strongest supporters is my next guest. He's here on the Senate floor with me. The former Georgia senator, Max Cleland. You will be introducing John Kerry Thursday night here. Big speech for you. Quickly, what's your reaction to the "shove it" comment from Teresa?

MAX CLELAND (D), FMR GEORGIA SENATOR: You know, for the other side to criticize Teresa, they're the people that went after John McCain and called him unpatriotic in 2000 in South Carolina. They went after me, basically challenged me as unpatriotic in 2002. They went after John Kerry. This crowd is not in the position to really challenge anybody on unpatriotic questions. I am so proud to introduce John, I can't tell you. He's my brother. We'll have a band of brothers up there on stage. It will be a great night. We're just going to tee it up for John to knock it out of the park.

BLITZER: When you hear them criticizing for supposed flip-flops on national security, voted for the troops to go to Iraq but then he didn't support the $87 billion, that's become a very important ad on behalf of the Bush-Cheney campaign. What goes through your mind?

CLELAND: Well, first of all the greatest flip-flop is to sell the war in Iraq as there being weapons of mass destruction there, ties to al Qaeda, nuclear weapons program there that didn't exist. That was not true. So in many ways John and I, when I was in the Senate, voted to give the president our trust, our belief that what he was saying was true. It was not true. Therefore, John voted to change course. And as General Zenni (ph), the former Centcom commander, "if your boat is going over Niagara Falls, it's time to change course." I think more and more people in America feel we got to change course and change direction. That's one reason why they're attracted to John Kerry.

BLITZER: When I spoke with Senator George McGovern, he thought this was another Vietnam already. In your opinion, is this another Vietnam?

CLELAND: Absolutely. It has all the earmarks. First of all, there was no strategy to win. There was -- there is no strategy to get out. It is a quagmire. We are seeing the cream of the American military might there, to what end? The rationale and the elements of the rationale for going in do not exist. Therefore, we're in deep trouble. We're just digging ourselves a hole.

BLITZER: What do you want the U.S. to do now?

CLELAND: First of all, you have got to have a new president to rally the world community to help out in Iraq and take the target off the backs of young Americans who are being shot at and killed every day and taking 90 percent of the casualties.

Secondly, you have to get, as John Kerry says, NATO muddy boots on the ground, and third, you've got to build up the Iraqi forces.

You won't do anything unless you get the world community in there, and this president cannot. John Kerry will.

BLITZER: I know you and Senator Kerry both Vietnam veterans, both on the same page right now, but were you on the same page when he came back from Vietnam and threw his ribbons into that crowd, as you well remember?

CLELAND: I wasn't so much into throwing ribbons, but what John Kerry expressed, in terms of his frustration with the war at the time, to end it, he was speaking for me, he was speaking my thoughts and my feelings and my anger at the time. And so that's why one of the many reasons I think John Kerry is my brother. Not only did he fight in combat, but he had enough common sense to understand that it was time to end the -- end the war in Vietnam.

Now, we've got another war started by another president, and it's time to get that over with. And you will never get it over with unless you get the world community in there, and John Kerry can do that, especially with his 20 years on the Foreign Relations Committee, he's got the know-how and knowledge to do it.

BLITZER: Senator Cleland, we'll be watching you closely Thursday night in that speech. Thanks very much for joining us.

We're going to go up to the podium, the governor of Iowa, Governor Tom Vilsack, once considered a possible vice presidential running mate. He's addressing this crowd right now. Let's listen in briefly.

GOV. TOM VILSACK (D), IOWA: ... to lead our country and the world in the war against terror. We will be sure that our people on the frontlines, our police, our firefighters and other emergency personnel have the training and the resources to do their critical work. The current administration has not adequately supported these heroes, but we will.

I want to thank you.

BLITZER: Governor Tom Vilsack from Iowa, speaking here at the Democratic National Convention. We have much more, much more coverage coming up from the convention floor throughout this hour, indeed throughout the night. When we come back, we'll check some other stories in the news today as well, including a hostage who has been freed in Iraq. We'll have details on the release. That's coming up.

He was the leading man at the 2000 convention. Now Al Gore a supporting player. What's he going to say tonight?

And if you tried to Google something today, you may have run into some problems. We'll tell you why. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The former Defense Secretary William Perry speaking right now here at the Democratic National Convention. We're monitoring all these speakers, all these developments, defense critically important issue for the Democrats and the Republicans. We'll have much more coverage of what's happening here at the convention coming up. Let's check some other news in the headlines right now, including in Iraq.

The newest weapon in the insurgents' arsenal, kidnapping. More hostages were grabbed today. But in a late development, an Egyptian diplomat snatched last week has been freed. Let's go live to CNN's Matthew Chance. He's joining us in Baghdad -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, thank you. A positive development for this Egyptian diplomat, Mamdouh Qutb. He is the third highest ranking diplomat in the Egyptian embassy here in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. He was abducted on Friday night as he came out of a mosque. It has now been confirmed to CNN that he has been released by this hereto unknown group, calling themselves the Lion of God Brigades. It is not known what was given, if anything, for his release. But this group said that it had taken Mr. Qutb hostage because of Egypt -- the Egyptian government's commitments to provide security assistance to the new Iraqi interim government.

We know that there have been intensive negotiations under way between diplomats from Egypt and intermediaries, trying to get the freedom for this Egyptian diplomat. That has now happened. But again, the exact terms of what they had to give, if anything, in response -- in return for that freedom isn't yet clear.

Also, there is still a number of hostages still in custody, at least 11, mainly truck drivers being held from various countries by different groups across this kidnap-prone country -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Matthew Chance in Baghdad, with the latest developments there.

Iraq's insurgents today used just about every weapon in their arsenal, and every bloody tactic in their playbook. In Baghdad, gunmen killed the senior Interior Ministry official and two of his bodyguards. The drive-by shooting took place at the official's home.

In the northern city of Mosul, a suicide bomber blew up a car packed with explosives outside the gates of the U.S. base. Three Iraqis were killed, including a woman and a child. Three Americans were wounded.

In the south, two Iraqi women were killed and two others wounded when gunmen opened fire on their car. The women worked as cleaners for the British forces in Basra.

So can U.S. forces get a handle on this matter? The matter of hostage taking in Iraq? And just how dangerous is this weapon?

Joining us live from New York our world affairs analyst, the former defense secretary, William Cohen.

Mr. Secretary, thanks so much for joining us. What do you do with this matter? Seems they're picking up hostages on an almost daily basis.

WILLIAM COHEN, CNN WORLD AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, the first thing you do is not succumb to the demands of the extortionists or blackmailers. By setting a precedent that you are willing to yield to their demands, you only encourage them to take further action.

Secondly, I would hope that those countries who have construction workers or diplomats in Iraq would take just the opposite action. Namely, to increase their presence or indeed contribute military support to the Iraqi government, the interim government asked for it. That would send a very strong signal to those who are seeking to exploit weaknesses on the part of those governments who may have a desire to bring their -- either people, the construction people, those who are trying to rebuild Iraq, home. So I would send just the opposite signal. But it takes commitment and not yielding to the demands.

BLITZER: Were you surprised when the government of the Philippines did exactly that, they yielded to demands, albeit they only had 51 troops there. They only accelerated the return by, what, about a month. But still, they made that concession.

COHEN: I wasn't as much surprised as I was disappointed. I had hoped that President Arroyo, knowing something about extortionist demands by terrorists in her own country, would see the difficulty that would be created by setting that kind of precedent for others. Hopefully, other nations will not follow that, and they will hold firm, as I believe Egypt and Australia, other countries, South Korea committing even more troops. Again, send a signal that we're not going to be blackmailed, we're in fact going to do just the opposite, we're going to get tougher with you rather than weaken. BLITZER: But you can understand the political pressure. This Filipino worker in Iraq was a father of eight, eight children. Enormous domestic political pressure to try to get him home.

COHEN: I understand the political pressure domestically.

But, also, President Arroyo has to take into account that she has terrorists operating in her country who might try a similar tactic. Now, perhaps the domestic reaction would be hard and harsh with the domestic terrorists. But, under the circumstances, we think it would be best for you to bring the individual home to save and spare the agony to his family.

But I think, again, you have to take the long-term interest here. And that is, every time you make a concession, you are going to only have to face it again in the future and perhaps on a larger scale.

BLITZER: William Cohen, the former defense secretary, thanks very much for joining us.

COHEN: Pleased to be with you, Wolf.

BLITZER: What does Senator John Kerry have to do on the issue of Iraq to win? You can submit your thoughts and suggestions. Go to my Web site, CNN.com/Wolf. Click on the link that says sends your comments. We're anxious to hear what you have to say.

He promised to be a uniter and some say that's exactly what President Bush is doing for the Democrats. We'll take a look at his influence here in Boston.

Also, he's been one of the most vocal critics of the Bush administration. Will Democrats try to rein in Al Gore when he speaks tonight?

Plus, the latest on the missing expectant mother in Utah. Details of a possible clue in the week-old mystery.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: And you're looking at a live picture.

This is Interstate 93 here in Boston, a major interstate. Clearly, this is rush hour. But look at this, very, very few cars still allowed to cross this span of Interstate 93. Pretty soon, there won't be any cars going along this span, only a few cars going by right now. They've shut down Interstate 93 along this area for security reasons. It will be shut down several hours a night, as this Democratic Convention continues until Thursday night. Security intense here in Boston.

Welcome back to our continuing coverage.

In the spotlight tonight, the former Vice President Al Gore's role in this year's convention and election. We'll have details.

First, though, a quick check of some other stories now in the news.

Investigators in Salt Lake City are waiting for forensic test results on a clump of hair they think may be that of Lori Hacking. The expectant mother disappeared a week ago today. Police say her husband is a person of interest in the case. He is being treated in a psychiatric hospital.

Slow going for some Google users today. The Internet's most popular search engine says it was hit by a virus called My Doom. It comes on the same day Google offered details of its initial public offering. Shares will priced between $108 and $135.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

Now back to presidential politics. During the 2000 election campaign, George W. Bush promised to be a uniter, not a divider. Four years later, one thing seems clear. President Bush has united the Democrats against him.

Once again, our senior White House correspondent, John King, with a closer look at that. He's at the Texas delegation -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And, Wolf, those Texas Democrats behind us enthusiastic about the goals of this convention. They certainly want to send George W. Bush home.

And that is one of the interesting dynamics here. By the end of the convention, the Democrats hope for there to be a very strong pro- Kerry sentiment. But they say the Democrats so far are united around this fact. They want to send this president, those Texas Democrats' former governor, into retirement.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KING (voice-over): This is John Kerry's convention, but it is this candidate for president who most unifies and motivates the Democrats.

STAN GREENBERG, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, he is the most polarizing political figure that I've seen or worked against in an election. He not only greatly energizes his own base, his loyalist supporters, but he seems to have an equal and maybe even greater impact on the other side.

KING: Mr. Bush is the dividing line now, but not always.

BILL MCINTURFF, PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES: He has inherited the post-Clinton situation. And we need to remember that Bill Clinton was the most polarizing president in history until the recent Bush numbers.

KING: Those numbers show overwhelming loyalty among Republicans and a Democratic party that is, at least so far, more anti- Bush than it is pro-Kerry.

Among Republicans, deep support: 89 percent approve of how Mr. Bush is handling his job; 81 percent his economic performance; and 79 percent back his handling of Iraq.

But among Democrats, overwhelming opposition: 83 percent disapprove of how the president is handling his job; 86 percent give him failing grades on the economy; and 89 percent disapprove of how Mr. Bush has handled Iraq.

MCINTURFF: There is a chunk of this country that gives him low marks on everything, a chunk of this country that gives him high marks on everything and not a lot of voters in between.

KING: The contested election of four years ago is another factor in the sharp political divide. And there are also social and cultural factors.

GREENBERG: There are a lot of people who go to church, you know, every week, but there is an equal number who don't go to church at all. And that's very good, you know, criteria for figuring out political support.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Roll back the unaffordable, unwise tax cut for Americans.

KING: The impact of polarization is abundantly clear on the campaign trail.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And we're going to talk about some of that tax relief right quick.

KING: Making sure your most loyal supporters are energized takes precedent, because both campaigns expect such a close election, and there are fewer swing voters up for grabs.

BILL MCINTURFF, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Voters in 1984 about 22 or 24 percent of the country was available for the different candidates to get. That number today is probably closer to eight.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: Now a smaller pool of independent and swing voters available to the voters. That's the main target of the speeches from the main podium. That's one of the reasons the Kerry campaign has asked the primetime speakers especially to be polite. They want to introduce John Kerry to that pool of information and swing voters.

But, Wolf, down here on the floor, especially down here among the Texas Democrats, they would like a bit more red meat. You might say they would like a bit more Bush bashing -- Wolf.

BLITZER: They might wind up getting it. There's no doubt about that. Thanks very much, John King, for that.

Four years ago, of course, the Democratic National Convention nominated Al Gore. The former vice president is scheduled to speak at this year's convention.

Once again, our national correspondent Kelly Wallace is here to tell us about Al Gore's role at this convention. She, appropriately, is in the Tennessee delegation right now -- Kelli.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, and, of course, as you know, Al Gore losing his home state in 2000 of Tennessee. And many Democrats believe that cost him the election.

Following up on you and John, will Al Gore engage in Bush bashing tonight? Well, a senior Gore adviser saying that the Kerry vetters are applauding the former vice president's speech, and a senior Kerry adviser also saying the speech is very good, a good tone-setter to get people excited and let them know how much work has to be done.

Gore advisers say the main message coming from Al Gore, that every vote counts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE (voice-over): He is the forgotten man of campaign '04. He even jokes about it.

GORE: I am Al Gore. I used to be the next president of the United States of America.

WALLACE: Rarely seen, rarely mentioned, but when he has spoken lately about the war in Iraq, he's gotten people's attention.

GORE: Donald Rumsfeld ought to resign immediately as the chief architect of this plan.

WALLACE: He's become one of the most outspoken Democrats against the Iraq war.

GORE: This is a disaster for our country!

WALLACE: A contrast to the centrist who backed the 1991 Persian Gulf War. But daughter Karenna says her father is not the one who has changed positions.

KARENNA GORE SCHIFF, DAUGHTER OF AL GORE: Well, my dad hasn't moved from the center to left. I think it's just that the right has moved further to the right and they happen to be in control of the country.

WALLACE: Gore endorsed Howard Dean, not John Kerry. His invitation to speak more about getting the Democratic base fired up than about how fired up camp Kerry is about Gore.

PETER BEINART, EDITOR, "THE NEW REPUBLIC": Putting Gore out there, you show, particularly to the African-American base, who was most upset about feeling disenfranchised in Florida, that the party recognized that that happen and is going to make sure it doesn't happen again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And since our report has been on the air, I heard from another Kerry adviser who said they liked the speech so much -- quote -- "We didn't change a thing" -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Kelly Wallace, we'll all be watching Al Gore tonight here on CNN.

Unifying a traditionally fractious party, we'll talk about it with one of this week's primetime speakers, Illinois Senator Richard Durbin.

And they're the heart and soul of this convention, but just who are these Democratic delegates? We'll introduce you.

Plus, Lance Armstrong rides into the record books.

All of that. First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): One of Taiwan's most wanted criminals made a daring escape after a four-hour gun battle with police. The suspected kidnapper of several wealthy businessmen and a bodyguard briefly held a farmer hostage as they hijacked a car. Another bodyguard was shot in the chest. A third surrendered. And four policemen were wounded.

Whistle-blowers banned. The Israeli Supreme Court has upheld restrictions on Mordechai Vanunu, the man who spent almost 18 years in prison for leaking details of Israel's nuclear program. The restrictions limit Vanunu's movements and what he can say to the international news media.

New home. Nine lions who once lived in an Iraqi palace used by Saddam Hussein's son Uday now have new digs, the Baghdad Zoo. The zoo, bombed during the Iraq war, reopened last year.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

At its heart, a national political convention is a gathering of delegates picked by rank-and-file party members at local meetings across the nation.

This week, CNN senior analyst Jeff Greenfield will introduce us to some of those delegates and their concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LORI O'NEILL, OHIO DELEGATE: Once I get this broken up, I will put the other sausage in.

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST (voice-over): Saturday afternoon, Auburn, Ohio.

O'NEILL: How is that bread coming?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good.

GREENFIELD: Lori O'Neill and her mother are busing in the kitchen making casseroles.

O'NEILL: And we'll get the eggs going.

GREENFIELD: But these aren't destined for the dinner table. They will make an appearance at a small fund-raiser for Ohio Senate candidate Eric Fingerhut.

For Lori O'Neill, volunteering for a cause or a candidate has become something between a pastime and a passion.

O'NEILL: I have a couple of casseroles, too.

If you believe strongly enough and you decide to put the time in, and it really is a choice that this is important for you to take your personal time to work on this, you can do amazing things.

GREENFIELD: For the 44-year-old O'Neill, doing amazing things began with this letter sent 11 years ago to the editor of a local paper. Her outrage over drive-by shootings has led to a decade of speaking out against gun violence.

O'NEILL: This wall is a living memorial.

GREENFIELD: Currently, Lori serves as president of the Cleveland chapter of the Million Mom March, an organization dedicated to preventing gun violence. That's why she was here in front of this abandoned building in the heart of one of Cleveland's toughest neighborhoods. It shows the names of nearly 900 young people killed by guns since 1990.

O'NEILL: Forty-six states have concealed carry weapons laws and you have people carrying around loaded handguns around in their pockets. That's where I think there is a problem.

GREENFIELD: O'Neill counts five brothers and sisters among the 28 people in her extended family.

O'NEILL: Hi, Bill. How are you?

GREENFIELD: Many of them gather every weekend at the family horse farm in the Cleveland suburbs. As a child, she recalls, it was her father's service on the local school board that guided her along a path toward public service.

O'NEILL: When I see conservatives acting as if they own the flag or they own patriotism or they own Christianity, I'm outraged on behalf of everybody else in America.

GREENFIELD: As for the likelihood that Ohio is a key state in this election:

O'NEILL: I'm completely conscious of it. And I think most Ohioans who participate in any way at any level politically are very well aware of it.

GREENFIELD: And as for being a first-time delegate in Boston:

O'NEILL: My father would be thrilled. He was someone who told me I could do anything I imagined in my life. And all I had to do was work hard. I think he'll be there with me in spirit. So here's to my dad.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GREENFIELD: And here is Lori O'Neill, fresh from Ohio.

Welcome.

O'NEILL: Thank you.

GREENFIELD: Getting juiced?

O'NEILL: Yes, very much so.

GREENFIELD: Let me ask you a political question.

Gun violence is your passion. But there are Democrats who think that the issue of guns cost Al Gore Ohio and West Virginia. How nervous are a lot of Democrats about this issue?

O'NEILL: I think they're a little bit nervous about it, but I think that they've also learned that the gun issue has so many different facets. So we're not taking about guns away. We are really about very commonsense gun legislation. So right now it is really all about the assault weapons ban and renewing it.

GREENFIELD: What are you most looking forward to? Who do you want to hear most, beside Kerry?

O'NEILL: Oh, I think I want to hear Bill Clinton and I want to hear Barack Obama and a number of other people.

(CROSSTALK)

GREENFIELD: OK, well, welcome to Boston.

O'NEILL: Thank you.

GREENFIELD: Wolf, we'll be meeting some more.

BLITZER: Welcome to Boston, indeed. Thanks very much.

O'NEILL: OK.

BLITZER: We'll take a quick break.

Up next, though, Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois. He will join me live here on the floor. First, though, a quick look at some stories you may have missed this past weekend.

A Turkish passenger train slammed into a minibus carrying wedding party guests; 15 people died. Last week, another Turkish train accident killed 37 people.

Linking arms. Israeli settlers and their baggers formed a human chain to protest Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza. The chain stretched from Jerusalem to Gaza with a few gaps. And estimates of the turnout ranged from 70,000 to 150,000.

Record breaker. American cyclist Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France, becoming the first person in the history of the 101-year-old race to win six times consecutively.

And that's our weekend snapshot.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

We're here at the Fleet Center in Boston as the opening session of the Democratic National Convention continues.

We're joined now by Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois, a Democrat.

This convention seems to be slightly different than earlier Democratic Conventions in the sense that...

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: Yes.

I will tell you, it reflects America. There is an intensity of feeling on both sides, you have to be honest about it, when you have 79 percent of the American people say, I've already made up my mind. But I've never seen a presidential election where people thought there was as much at stake.

BLITZER: Is the Ralph Nader factor, potentially, a spoiler for you?

DURBIN: Yes.

BLITZER: How worried are you about it?

DURBIN: Oh, I'm very worried about it, because...

BLITZER: In Illinois as well?

DURBIN: Well, not in Illinois so much, but in other states. And, frankly, I think what happened with Ralph Nader's vote last time cost us the last election. And we look at what's happening. Ralph has Nader stood for some important causes. And I stood with him. But now the Republican Party is pushing him on to the ballot in some states. They understand what it's about. If Ralph Nader can be on some ballots, win some votes, it could cost John Kerry support.

BLITZER: You have got a little button on your lapel, Obama. That would be Barack Obama, who is running unopposed, at least right now, for the U.S. Senate in Illinois.

DURBIN: He is.

Exceptional candidate for the open seat for Senate in Illinois, captured the imagination of our state, got more votes in the primary than all other six other Democratic opponents combined, and now of course has reached a part where he has no announced candidate to run against him. I think, ultimately, he will, but he's doing very well.

BLITZER: Is there a chance the Democrats will regain the majority in the Senate?

DURBIN: I think there is. And we feel that the race in Illinois is where it starts. Barack Obama picks up a Republican seat for us. And then, of course, we look to other important states, Alaska, Oklahoma. We have chances in the South. There, we have Erskine Bowles to hold on to John Edwards's seat.

The list -- when you go through the list, we are within one or two Senate seats of taking the majority for Tom Daschle.

BLITZER: What does John Kerry need to do this week to convince those who are undecided to commit to him?

DURBIN: I think people are paying a little more attention. It almost is counterintuitive. He has to retell his story. We go into battleground states and find voters who don't know that he is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran. And you think to yourself, how did they miss that? Well, they aren't tuned in. And the voters who aren't tuned in are going to make the difference in this election.

BLITZER: You could have been up there if he would have picked you to be his running mate. You were, as you know, being considered.

DURBIN: I was being considered by CNN, but they put out a story. But I never really actively went after that. I'm helping John, assisting his campaign. I like what I'm doing. Being senator from Illinois is a pretty good job.

BLITZER: Dick Durbin, senator from Illinois, thanks very much for joining us.

DURBIN: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: We're going to continue our coverage. We'll take a look at what's ahead tonight at the Democratic National Convention. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: They have taken a quick recess here until 6:30.

We'll be back, of course, later today and tomorrow as well, 5:00 p.m. Eastern on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS. Among my guests tomorrow, Senators Norm Coleman and Bob Graham. They'll join me live. I'll be back later tonight in two hours for the start of our primetime coverage. Among the speakers tonight, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Hillary and Bill Clinton.

Until then, thanks very much for joining us. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Boston.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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Aired July 26, 2004 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now. Handle with care. Did tonight's speakers at the Democratic National Convention get the message to go easy on President Bush?
We're waiting to hear from Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Underway. The Democrats gather amid pageantry, protests and extraordinary security.

Side joke.

TERESA HEINZ KERRY, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN KERRY: You said something I didn't say. Now shove it.

BLITZER: Will a flash of temper be a distraction?

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: A lot of Americans are going to say, good for you. You go, girl.

BLITZER: Heavy hitters. Will they keep it positive or swing away at the man who really unites the Democrats?

A world away. Fresh reminders of what's at stake.

ANNOUNCER: This is a special edition of WOLF BLITZER REPORTS live from the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Hello. We're here on the floor of the Democratic National Convention at the Fleet Center in Boston. Four days of carefully choreographed high-stakes hoopla.

TOM MCAULIFFE, DNC CHAIRMAN: The 44th quadrennial National Convention of the Democratic party will now come to order.

BLITZER: It began less than an hour ago when the Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe brought down the gavel here at the Fleet Center.

Shortly afterwards, the presentation of the colors. Organizers here will try to wrap John Kerry and his party in those colors. The convention theme, "stronger at home, respected in the world."

Speaking right now on the podium, Lottie Shackelford. She's the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. So many of these speakers getting into this excitement of the Democratic party. This is a big stakes event for John Kerry and John Edwards. The Democrats, as a result, will roll out all their big guns tonight. We'll get a preview from CNN's Kelly Wallace. She's on the convention floor. That's also where we find CNN's John King. He will look at the effort being made to portray John Kerry as a strong, experienced leader. And over at City Hall Plaza, CNN's Dan Lothian keeping an eye on the protesters. Let's begin with Kelly Wallace. She's with the Arkansas delegation -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, with the Kerry campaign sending out the message, no bashing of the president allowed, a key question, will tonight's speakers comply?

First up, former Vice President Al Gore who has delivered a series of speeches very critical of the president and the war in Iraq.

Then it is time for former President Jimmy Carter. He sat down with our own Judy Woodruff and he says no one has vetted his speech and that he won't be deviating from the role he has played on the international stage as senior statesman.

Then all eyes will be on former President Bill Clinton. Does he overshadow the presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry? Does he put to rest questions or suggestions that he might want Kerry to win but he wants his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, to be president more. Doubtful he'll put to rest those questions but his main goal, according to Kerry advisers, to rally the Democratic base and no one can quite do that with the Democratic party like Bill Clinton -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kelli Wallace on the convention floor. Other speeches tonight will offer more poignant examples of just who John Kerry is and how he's connected with various people. Picking up that part of the story, CNN's John King. He's in the New York delegation -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this is the first convention since 9/11, the first presidential election since the terrorist attacks three years ago. A major challenge for John Kerry trying to convince the American people to unseat an incumbent president in the middle of what President Bush calls a global war on terrorism. That is the challenge the Kerry campaign will take on beginning tonight head on with one of the men who served with him back in Vietnam. He is Reverend David Alden (ph) in South Carolina, one of those swift boat crew members that John Kerry commanded back in Vietnam. And he will make the case that John Kerry not only knows how to fight in a war, he knows how to lead men in a war. That is a major message the Kerry campaign will present this week.

It is also a major challenge and one right now even Democrats can see Senator Kerry is not winning. Look at our own CNN polling. "Who do you trust to lead the war on terrorism?" President Bush with a 18- point advantage. That's a huge advantage for the incumbent president and a huge problem for Senator Kerry at this convention -- Wolf. BLITZER: All right. John King. We'll have you back. Kelli Wallace is coming back as well.

While delegates are gearing up for tonight's speeches protesters are trying to turn up the heat outside. For more on that part of the story, our Boston bureau chief Dan Lothian. He is standing by over at City Hall Plaza -- Dan.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN BOSTON BUREAU CHIEF: That's right, Wolf. At City Hall Plaza behind me, yet another protest about to get underway. Things have been relatively quiet here, relatively peaceful in the city today. Law enforcement officials saying they are very pleased with their security plan. But some people say there's too much security.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOTHIAN (voice-over): A protest rally in Boston. Music, speakers, signs, but where is the audience?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I expected it to be larger but in some sense I'm not surprised.

LOTHIAN: Not surprised because demonstrators say the heavy police presence has been intimidating, keeping many away.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ...the police presence here in Boston. On the subway there's national guards and then the free speech zone which was crazy.

LOTHIAN: That free speech zone, a fenced-in area across from the Fleet Center, was the site of the silent protest, a statement against what they called an extreme crackdown.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do the Democrats remain silent while the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of democracy occurs in the shadow of the Fleet Center itself.

LOTHIAN: Civil rights lawyers say there has been a converted effort to silence dissent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Putting pressure on people certainly scares people away. I certainly suspect that that may be one of the reasons that it's done.

LOTHIAN: In an effort to be seen and heard, a few hundred protesters took to the streets. A peaceful march through Boston accompanied by police on bikes and motorcycles. Law enforcement officials say because of security concerns a strong presence is necessary. But they insist there is no effort to silence protesters.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want to do everything in our power to accommodate those who want to demonstrate peacefully.

(END VIDEOTAPE) LOTHIAN: One other development. Civil rights lawyers are now suing the MBTA. That organization operates the train service here in Boston. They're trying to halt the random searches of backpacks and purses of those passengers getting on to the trains. They say it is unconstitutional. Law enforcement officials say it is necessary because of security -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Dan Lothian covering the story for us. Dan, thanks very much.

John Kerry is making campaign stops in several battleground states before arriving in Boston Wednesday. Stops today, Florida and Virginia. Our national correspondent Frank Buckley is traveling with John Kerry.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senator John Kerry here in Florida, a key battleground state, on his way to Boston. In 2000, of course, President Bush won this state by a mere 537 votes. A new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll indicating that once again it is a very close race. President Bush ahead over Senator Kerry. That's within the margin of error.

Here at Cape Canaveral today Senator Kerry appeared with former Senator John Glenn, former spaceman John Glenn at the Kennedy Space Center where Senator Kerry was talking about American values and optimism. He also reached out to a key voter group, Independent voters and moderate Republicans who he issued a challenge to.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to talk to Republicans and Independents who kind of have an automatic response. Who are you going to vote for. I'm Republican. I've always voted Republican. Whatever. Stop and think. Stop and think about what's happening in America.

BUCKLEY: The next step on the road to Boston for Senator Kerry taking place in Norfolk, Virginia where Senator Kerry will talk about the U.S. military. Frank Buckley, CNN, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: In keeping with tradition, President Bush is staying out of the spotlight this week, spending the week at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is there. Suzanne, give us a little flavor how the president is dealing with all this.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Bush is laying low at his Crawford ranch but he is really taking this on very quickly. His White House aides say he conducted his first meeting of his task force dealing with the 9/11 report and those recommendations and we are told, of course, that he is looking at a number of things. He is enacting very quickly.

A part of that conference call, that teleconference call that was done through secure video line had a number of high-level cabinet officials who were on that call at the White House as well, including Vice President Dick Cheney, secretaries of homeland security, Defense Department, acting director of the CIA, head of the FBI and top officials from Justice, State, as well as other agencies. The priority here we're told is the president wants to enact some of those recommendations immediately through executive order. We saw earlier today Vice President Dick Cheney in Washington state who elaborated on that meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are in the process now. We had a session just this morning where we began the process of looking specifically at specific recommendations that they have made. I think we're at the beginning here of what will be and should be a great debate as we look at how we can improve both the executive branch and legislative branch's ability to function in this area.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice arrived this afternoon to join the president at the Crawford ranch to continue those discussions. We are told that the president is expected perhaps to make some decisions on some of those recommendations within days -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne, we understand the president took a little spill from his mountain bike today.

MALVEAUX: Well, yes, he did. As a matter of fact, AP reporter Scott Lindlaw was with him. An exclusive. He went bike riding with him. He has a mountain bike. And he was on his Crawford ranch. And he went down a hill and didn't quite make it. Took a spill. We are told that he had some bruises, some scrapes, particularly on one of his knees. He got up really quickly we're told and got right back on his bike. This is a president who is very, very active. He had to give up running because of a bad knee just months ago -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Let's hope the president just fine after that little accident. Thanks very much, Suzanne Malveaux, reporting from the ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Heated words but no apologies. A run-in that has Senator Kerry's wife now in the spotlight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HEINZ KERRY: You said something I didn't say. Now shove it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Teresa Heinz Kerry takes on a journalist. Will her harsh words hurt her husband's campaign?

BLITZER: Kerry's service. How the senator's Vietnam experience will come into play during the convention. The former Democratic senator and veteran Max Cleland joins me live. That's coming up.

And united they stand against one man. President Bush has polarized the Democratic party. Our live coverage of the Democratic National Convention will continue.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to our special coverage from the floor of the Democratic National Convention. For all the careful choreography of this campaign and all the effort to stage everything perfectly, there's a lot of buzz today about an unscripted moment involving the candidate's wife.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): This is what Teresa Heinz Kerry said Sunday to her delegates from her home state of Pennsylvania.

HEINZ KERRY: We need to turn back some of the creepy unPennsylvanian and sometimes unAmerican traits that are coming into some of our politics.

BLITZER: Afterward a journalist questioned what she meant. But the two disagreed on exactly what she said.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You mentioned unAmerican...

HEINZ KERRY: No. I didn't say that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you mean?

HEINZ KERRY: I didn't say that. I didn't say that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just asking what you said.

HEINZ KERRY: Well, why did you put those words in my mouth?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But you said something about unAmerican...

HEINZ KERRY: No, I did not say that.

BLITZER: She did say "unAmerican traits" but not "activities." But it is what she said next that raised some eyebrows.

HEINZ KERRY: Of course. Understandable. You said something I didn't say. Now, shove it.

BLITZER: No apology from the campaign. But a spokesperson later explained the comment this way. "This was sheer frustration aimed at a right-wing rag that has consistently and purposely misrepresented the facts in reporting on Mrs. Kerry and her family."

The paper in question, the "Pittsburgh Tribune Review" is widely regarded as editorially conservative. It is owned by Richard Miller Scathe who has donated millions to conservative causes. In a statement the paper defended its employee saying, "Colin McNickle did just what any good reporter does. He asked questions. And the question he posed in this instance was legitimate. The tape of Teresa Heinz Kerry's speech shows she used the word "unAmerican" even though she denied it. It is unfortunate that she ruined what was an otherwise good message by resorting to exactly the type of tactics she was criticizing."

The candidate doesn't seem to be bothered by it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any comment on your wife's comment yesterday to the Pittsburgh editorial writer?

KERRY: I think my wife speaks her mind appropriately.

BLITZER: This is not the first controversial comment of the campaign season. There was Vice President Dick Cheney's use of a four-letter word in the Senate and Jenna Bush had tongues wagging when she showed hers to the media. But those incidents proved to be tempests in teapots and were quickly forgotten. As for Teresa Heinz Kerry, her "shove it" earned her at least one fan.

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: A lot of Americans are going to say, good for you. You go, girl. And that certainly is how I feel about it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And among John Kerry's strongest supporters is my next guest. He's here on the Senate floor with me. The former Georgia senator, Max Cleland. You will be introducing John Kerry Thursday night here. Big speech for you. Quickly, what's your reaction to the "shove it" comment from Teresa?

MAX CLELAND (D), FMR GEORGIA SENATOR: You know, for the other side to criticize Teresa, they're the people that went after John McCain and called him unpatriotic in 2000 in South Carolina. They went after me, basically challenged me as unpatriotic in 2002. They went after John Kerry. This crowd is not in the position to really challenge anybody on unpatriotic questions. I am so proud to introduce John, I can't tell you. He's my brother. We'll have a band of brothers up there on stage. It will be a great night. We're just going to tee it up for John to knock it out of the park.

BLITZER: When you hear them criticizing for supposed flip-flops on national security, voted for the troops to go to Iraq but then he didn't support the $87 billion, that's become a very important ad on behalf of the Bush-Cheney campaign. What goes through your mind?

CLELAND: Well, first of all the greatest flip-flop is to sell the war in Iraq as there being weapons of mass destruction there, ties to al Qaeda, nuclear weapons program there that didn't exist. That was not true. So in many ways John and I, when I was in the Senate, voted to give the president our trust, our belief that what he was saying was true. It was not true. Therefore, John voted to change course. And as General Zenni (ph), the former Centcom commander, "if your boat is going over Niagara Falls, it's time to change course." I think more and more people in America feel we got to change course and change direction. That's one reason why they're attracted to John Kerry.

BLITZER: When I spoke with Senator George McGovern, he thought this was another Vietnam already. In your opinion, is this another Vietnam?

CLELAND: Absolutely. It has all the earmarks. First of all, there was no strategy to win. There was -- there is no strategy to get out. It is a quagmire. We are seeing the cream of the American military might there, to what end? The rationale and the elements of the rationale for going in do not exist. Therefore, we're in deep trouble. We're just digging ourselves a hole.

BLITZER: What do you want the U.S. to do now?

CLELAND: First of all, you have got to have a new president to rally the world community to help out in Iraq and take the target off the backs of young Americans who are being shot at and killed every day and taking 90 percent of the casualties.

Secondly, you have to get, as John Kerry says, NATO muddy boots on the ground, and third, you've got to build up the Iraqi forces.

You won't do anything unless you get the world community in there, and this president cannot. John Kerry will.

BLITZER: I know you and Senator Kerry both Vietnam veterans, both on the same page right now, but were you on the same page when he came back from Vietnam and threw his ribbons into that crowd, as you well remember?

CLELAND: I wasn't so much into throwing ribbons, but what John Kerry expressed, in terms of his frustration with the war at the time, to end it, he was speaking for me, he was speaking my thoughts and my feelings and my anger at the time. And so that's why one of the many reasons I think John Kerry is my brother. Not only did he fight in combat, but he had enough common sense to understand that it was time to end the -- end the war in Vietnam.

Now, we've got another war started by another president, and it's time to get that over with. And you will never get it over with unless you get the world community in there, and John Kerry can do that, especially with his 20 years on the Foreign Relations Committee, he's got the know-how and knowledge to do it.

BLITZER: Senator Cleland, we'll be watching you closely Thursday night in that speech. Thanks very much for joining us.

We're going to go up to the podium, the governor of Iowa, Governor Tom Vilsack, once considered a possible vice presidential running mate. He's addressing this crowd right now. Let's listen in briefly.

GOV. TOM VILSACK (D), IOWA: ... to lead our country and the world in the war against terror. We will be sure that our people on the frontlines, our police, our firefighters and other emergency personnel have the training and the resources to do their critical work. The current administration has not adequately supported these heroes, but we will.

I want to thank you.

BLITZER: Governor Tom Vilsack from Iowa, speaking here at the Democratic National Convention. We have much more, much more coverage coming up from the convention floor throughout this hour, indeed throughout the night. When we come back, we'll check some other stories in the news today as well, including a hostage who has been freed in Iraq. We'll have details on the release. That's coming up.

He was the leading man at the 2000 convention. Now Al Gore a supporting player. What's he going to say tonight?

And if you tried to Google something today, you may have run into some problems. We'll tell you why. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The former Defense Secretary William Perry speaking right now here at the Democratic National Convention. We're monitoring all these speakers, all these developments, defense critically important issue for the Democrats and the Republicans. We'll have much more coverage of what's happening here at the convention coming up. Let's check some other news in the headlines right now, including in Iraq.

The newest weapon in the insurgents' arsenal, kidnapping. More hostages were grabbed today. But in a late development, an Egyptian diplomat snatched last week has been freed. Let's go live to CNN's Matthew Chance. He's joining us in Baghdad -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, thank you. A positive development for this Egyptian diplomat, Mamdouh Qutb. He is the third highest ranking diplomat in the Egyptian embassy here in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. He was abducted on Friday night as he came out of a mosque. It has now been confirmed to CNN that he has been released by this hereto unknown group, calling themselves the Lion of God Brigades. It is not known what was given, if anything, for his release. But this group said that it had taken Mr. Qutb hostage because of Egypt -- the Egyptian government's commitments to provide security assistance to the new Iraqi interim government.

We know that there have been intensive negotiations under way between diplomats from Egypt and intermediaries, trying to get the freedom for this Egyptian diplomat. That has now happened. But again, the exact terms of what they had to give, if anything, in response -- in return for that freedom isn't yet clear.

Also, there is still a number of hostages still in custody, at least 11, mainly truck drivers being held from various countries by different groups across this kidnap-prone country -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Matthew Chance in Baghdad, with the latest developments there.

Iraq's insurgents today used just about every weapon in their arsenal, and every bloody tactic in their playbook. In Baghdad, gunmen killed the senior Interior Ministry official and two of his bodyguards. The drive-by shooting took place at the official's home.

In the northern city of Mosul, a suicide bomber blew up a car packed with explosives outside the gates of the U.S. base. Three Iraqis were killed, including a woman and a child. Three Americans were wounded.

In the south, two Iraqi women were killed and two others wounded when gunmen opened fire on their car. The women worked as cleaners for the British forces in Basra.

So can U.S. forces get a handle on this matter? The matter of hostage taking in Iraq? And just how dangerous is this weapon?

Joining us live from New York our world affairs analyst, the former defense secretary, William Cohen.

Mr. Secretary, thanks so much for joining us. What do you do with this matter? Seems they're picking up hostages on an almost daily basis.

WILLIAM COHEN, CNN WORLD AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, the first thing you do is not succumb to the demands of the extortionists or blackmailers. By setting a precedent that you are willing to yield to their demands, you only encourage them to take further action.

Secondly, I would hope that those countries who have construction workers or diplomats in Iraq would take just the opposite action. Namely, to increase their presence or indeed contribute military support to the Iraqi government, the interim government asked for it. That would send a very strong signal to those who are seeking to exploit weaknesses on the part of those governments who may have a desire to bring their -- either people, the construction people, those who are trying to rebuild Iraq, home. So I would send just the opposite signal. But it takes commitment and not yielding to the demands.

BLITZER: Were you surprised when the government of the Philippines did exactly that, they yielded to demands, albeit they only had 51 troops there. They only accelerated the return by, what, about a month. But still, they made that concession.

COHEN: I wasn't as much surprised as I was disappointed. I had hoped that President Arroyo, knowing something about extortionist demands by terrorists in her own country, would see the difficulty that would be created by setting that kind of precedent for others. Hopefully, other nations will not follow that, and they will hold firm, as I believe Egypt and Australia, other countries, South Korea committing even more troops. Again, send a signal that we're not going to be blackmailed, we're in fact going to do just the opposite, we're going to get tougher with you rather than weaken. BLITZER: But you can understand the political pressure. This Filipino worker in Iraq was a father of eight, eight children. Enormous domestic political pressure to try to get him home.

COHEN: I understand the political pressure domestically.

But, also, President Arroyo has to take into account that she has terrorists operating in her country who might try a similar tactic. Now, perhaps the domestic reaction would be hard and harsh with the domestic terrorists. But, under the circumstances, we think it would be best for you to bring the individual home to save and spare the agony to his family.

But I think, again, you have to take the long-term interest here. And that is, every time you make a concession, you are going to only have to face it again in the future and perhaps on a larger scale.

BLITZER: William Cohen, the former defense secretary, thanks very much for joining us.

COHEN: Pleased to be with you, Wolf.

BLITZER: What does Senator John Kerry have to do on the issue of Iraq to win? You can submit your thoughts and suggestions. Go to my Web site, CNN.com/Wolf. Click on the link that says sends your comments. We're anxious to hear what you have to say.

He promised to be a uniter and some say that's exactly what President Bush is doing for the Democrats. We'll take a look at his influence here in Boston.

Also, he's been one of the most vocal critics of the Bush administration. Will Democrats try to rein in Al Gore when he speaks tonight?

Plus, the latest on the missing expectant mother in Utah. Details of a possible clue in the week-old mystery.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: And you're looking at a live picture.

This is Interstate 93 here in Boston, a major interstate. Clearly, this is rush hour. But look at this, very, very few cars still allowed to cross this span of Interstate 93. Pretty soon, there won't be any cars going along this span, only a few cars going by right now. They've shut down Interstate 93 along this area for security reasons. It will be shut down several hours a night, as this Democratic Convention continues until Thursday night. Security intense here in Boston.

Welcome back to our continuing coverage.

In the spotlight tonight, the former Vice President Al Gore's role in this year's convention and election. We'll have details.

First, though, a quick check of some other stories now in the news.

Investigators in Salt Lake City are waiting for forensic test results on a clump of hair they think may be that of Lori Hacking. The expectant mother disappeared a week ago today. Police say her husband is a person of interest in the case. He is being treated in a psychiatric hospital.

Slow going for some Google users today. The Internet's most popular search engine says it was hit by a virus called My Doom. It comes on the same day Google offered details of its initial public offering. Shares will priced between $108 and $135.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

Now back to presidential politics. During the 2000 election campaign, George W. Bush promised to be a uniter, not a divider. Four years later, one thing seems clear. President Bush has united the Democrats against him.

Once again, our senior White House correspondent, John King, with a closer look at that. He's at the Texas delegation -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And, Wolf, those Texas Democrats behind us enthusiastic about the goals of this convention. They certainly want to send George W. Bush home.

And that is one of the interesting dynamics here. By the end of the convention, the Democrats hope for there to be a very strong pro- Kerry sentiment. But they say the Democrats so far are united around this fact. They want to send this president, those Texas Democrats' former governor, into retirement.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KING (voice-over): This is John Kerry's convention, but it is this candidate for president who most unifies and motivates the Democrats.

STAN GREENBERG, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, he is the most polarizing political figure that I've seen or worked against in an election. He not only greatly energizes his own base, his loyalist supporters, but he seems to have an equal and maybe even greater impact on the other side.

KING: Mr. Bush is the dividing line now, but not always.

BILL MCINTURFF, PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES: He has inherited the post-Clinton situation. And we need to remember that Bill Clinton was the most polarizing president in history until the recent Bush numbers.

KING: Those numbers show overwhelming loyalty among Republicans and a Democratic party that is, at least so far, more anti- Bush than it is pro-Kerry.

Among Republicans, deep support: 89 percent approve of how Mr. Bush is handling his job; 81 percent his economic performance; and 79 percent back his handling of Iraq.

But among Democrats, overwhelming opposition: 83 percent disapprove of how the president is handling his job; 86 percent give him failing grades on the economy; and 89 percent disapprove of how Mr. Bush has handled Iraq.

MCINTURFF: There is a chunk of this country that gives him low marks on everything, a chunk of this country that gives him high marks on everything and not a lot of voters in between.

KING: The contested election of four years ago is another factor in the sharp political divide. And there are also social and cultural factors.

GREENBERG: There are a lot of people who go to church, you know, every week, but there is an equal number who don't go to church at all. And that's very good, you know, criteria for figuring out political support.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Roll back the unaffordable, unwise tax cut for Americans.

KING: The impact of polarization is abundantly clear on the campaign trail.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And we're going to talk about some of that tax relief right quick.

KING: Making sure your most loyal supporters are energized takes precedent, because both campaigns expect such a close election, and there are fewer swing voters up for grabs.

BILL MCINTURFF, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Voters in 1984 about 22 or 24 percent of the country was available for the different candidates to get. That number today is probably closer to eight.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: Now a smaller pool of independent and swing voters available to the voters. That's the main target of the speeches from the main podium. That's one of the reasons the Kerry campaign has asked the primetime speakers especially to be polite. They want to introduce John Kerry to that pool of information and swing voters.

But, Wolf, down here on the floor, especially down here among the Texas Democrats, they would like a bit more red meat. You might say they would like a bit more Bush bashing -- Wolf.

BLITZER: They might wind up getting it. There's no doubt about that. Thanks very much, John King, for that.

Four years ago, of course, the Democratic National Convention nominated Al Gore. The former vice president is scheduled to speak at this year's convention.

Once again, our national correspondent Kelly Wallace is here to tell us about Al Gore's role at this convention. She, appropriately, is in the Tennessee delegation right now -- Kelli.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, and, of course, as you know, Al Gore losing his home state in 2000 of Tennessee. And many Democrats believe that cost him the election.

Following up on you and John, will Al Gore engage in Bush bashing tonight? Well, a senior Gore adviser saying that the Kerry vetters are applauding the former vice president's speech, and a senior Kerry adviser also saying the speech is very good, a good tone-setter to get people excited and let them know how much work has to be done.

Gore advisers say the main message coming from Al Gore, that every vote counts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE (voice-over): He is the forgotten man of campaign '04. He even jokes about it.

GORE: I am Al Gore. I used to be the next president of the United States of America.

WALLACE: Rarely seen, rarely mentioned, but when he has spoken lately about the war in Iraq, he's gotten people's attention.

GORE: Donald Rumsfeld ought to resign immediately as the chief architect of this plan.

WALLACE: He's become one of the most outspoken Democrats against the Iraq war.

GORE: This is a disaster for our country!

WALLACE: A contrast to the centrist who backed the 1991 Persian Gulf War. But daughter Karenna says her father is not the one who has changed positions.

KARENNA GORE SCHIFF, DAUGHTER OF AL GORE: Well, my dad hasn't moved from the center to left. I think it's just that the right has moved further to the right and they happen to be in control of the country.

WALLACE: Gore endorsed Howard Dean, not John Kerry. His invitation to speak more about getting the Democratic base fired up than about how fired up camp Kerry is about Gore.

PETER BEINART, EDITOR, "THE NEW REPUBLIC": Putting Gore out there, you show, particularly to the African-American base, who was most upset about feeling disenfranchised in Florida, that the party recognized that that happen and is going to make sure it doesn't happen again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And since our report has been on the air, I heard from another Kerry adviser who said they liked the speech so much -- quote -- "We didn't change a thing" -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Kelly Wallace, we'll all be watching Al Gore tonight here on CNN.

Unifying a traditionally fractious party, we'll talk about it with one of this week's primetime speakers, Illinois Senator Richard Durbin.

And they're the heart and soul of this convention, but just who are these Democratic delegates? We'll introduce you.

Plus, Lance Armstrong rides into the record books.

All of that. First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): One of Taiwan's most wanted criminals made a daring escape after a four-hour gun battle with police. The suspected kidnapper of several wealthy businessmen and a bodyguard briefly held a farmer hostage as they hijacked a car. Another bodyguard was shot in the chest. A third surrendered. And four policemen were wounded.

Whistle-blowers banned. The Israeli Supreme Court has upheld restrictions on Mordechai Vanunu, the man who spent almost 18 years in prison for leaking details of Israel's nuclear program. The restrictions limit Vanunu's movements and what he can say to the international news media.

New home. Nine lions who once lived in an Iraqi palace used by Saddam Hussein's son Uday now have new digs, the Baghdad Zoo. The zoo, bombed during the Iraq war, reopened last year.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

At its heart, a national political convention is a gathering of delegates picked by rank-and-file party members at local meetings across the nation.

This week, CNN senior analyst Jeff Greenfield will introduce us to some of those delegates and their concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LORI O'NEILL, OHIO DELEGATE: Once I get this broken up, I will put the other sausage in.

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST (voice-over): Saturday afternoon, Auburn, Ohio.

O'NEILL: How is that bread coming?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good.

GREENFIELD: Lori O'Neill and her mother are busing in the kitchen making casseroles.

O'NEILL: And we'll get the eggs going.

GREENFIELD: But these aren't destined for the dinner table. They will make an appearance at a small fund-raiser for Ohio Senate candidate Eric Fingerhut.

For Lori O'Neill, volunteering for a cause or a candidate has become something between a pastime and a passion.

O'NEILL: I have a couple of casseroles, too.

If you believe strongly enough and you decide to put the time in, and it really is a choice that this is important for you to take your personal time to work on this, you can do amazing things.

GREENFIELD: For the 44-year-old O'Neill, doing amazing things began with this letter sent 11 years ago to the editor of a local paper. Her outrage over drive-by shootings has led to a decade of speaking out against gun violence.

O'NEILL: This wall is a living memorial.

GREENFIELD: Currently, Lori serves as president of the Cleveland chapter of the Million Mom March, an organization dedicated to preventing gun violence. That's why she was here in front of this abandoned building in the heart of one of Cleveland's toughest neighborhoods. It shows the names of nearly 900 young people killed by guns since 1990.

O'NEILL: Forty-six states have concealed carry weapons laws and you have people carrying around loaded handguns around in their pockets. That's where I think there is a problem.

GREENFIELD: O'Neill counts five brothers and sisters among the 28 people in her extended family.

O'NEILL: Hi, Bill. How are you?

GREENFIELD: Many of them gather every weekend at the family horse farm in the Cleveland suburbs. As a child, she recalls, it was her father's service on the local school board that guided her along a path toward public service.

O'NEILL: When I see conservatives acting as if they own the flag or they own patriotism or they own Christianity, I'm outraged on behalf of everybody else in America.

GREENFIELD: As for the likelihood that Ohio is a key state in this election:

O'NEILL: I'm completely conscious of it. And I think most Ohioans who participate in any way at any level politically are very well aware of it.

GREENFIELD: And as for being a first-time delegate in Boston:

O'NEILL: My father would be thrilled. He was someone who told me I could do anything I imagined in my life. And all I had to do was work hard. I think he'll be there with me in spirit. So here's to my dad.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GREENFIELD: And here is Lori O'Neill, fresh from Ohio.

Welcome.

O'NEILL: Thank you.

GREENFIELD: Getting juiced?

O'NEILL: Yes, very much so.

GREENFIELD: Let me ask you a political question.

Gun violence is your passion. But there are Democrats who think that the issue of guns cost Al Gore Ohio and West Virginia. How nervous are a lot of Democrats about this issue?

O'NEILL: I think they're a little bit nervous about it, but I think that they've also learned that the gun issue has so many different facets. So we're not taking about guns away. We are really about very commonsense gun legislation. So right now it is really all about the assault weapons ban and renewing it.

GREENFIELD: What are you most looking forward to? Who do you want to hear most, beside Kerry?

O'NEILL: Oh, I think I want to hear Bill Clinton and I want to hear Barack Obama and a number of other people.

(CROSSTALK)

GREENFIELD: OK, well, welcome to Boston.

O'NEILL: Thank you.

GREENFIELD: Wolf, we'll be meeting some more.

BLITZER: Welcome to Boston, indeed. Thanks very much.

O'NEILL: OK.

BLITZER: We'll take a quick break.

Up next, though, Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois. He will join me live here on the floor. First, though, a quick look at some stories you may have missed this past weekend.

A Turkish passenger train slammed into a minibus carrying wedding party guests; 15 people died. Last week, another Turkish train accident killed 37 people.

Linking arms. Israeli settlers and their baggers formed a human chain to protest Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza. The chain stretched from Jerusalem to Gaza with a few gaps. And estimates of the turnout ranged from 70,000 to 150,000.

Record breaker. American cyclist Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France, becoming the first person in the history of the 101-year-old race to win six times consecutively.

And that's our weekend snapshot.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

We're here at the Fleet Center in Boston as the opening session of the Democratic National Convention continues.

We're joined now by Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois, a Democrat.

This convention seems to be slightly different than earlier Democratic Conventions in the sense that...

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: Yes.

I will tell you, it reflects America. There is an intensity of feeling on both sides, you have to be honest about it, when you have 79 percent of the American people say, I've already made up my mind. But I've never seen a presidential election where people thought there was as much at stake.

BLITZER: Is the Ralph Nader factor, potentially, a spoiler for you?

DURBIN: Yes.

BLITZER: How worried are you about it?

DURBIN: Oh, I'm very worried about it, because...

BLITZER: In Illinois as well?

DURBIN: Well, not in Illinois so much, but in other states. And, frankly, I think what happened with Ralph Nader's vote last time cost us the last election. And we look at what's happening. Ralph has Nader stood for some important causes. And I stood with him. But now the Republican Party is pushing him on to the ballot in some states. They understand what it's about. If Ralph Nader can be on some ballots, win some votes, it could cost John Kerry support.

BLITZER: You have got a little button on your lapel, Obama. That would be Barack Obama, who is running unopposed, at least right now, for the U.S. Senate in Illinois.

DURBIN: He is.

Exceptional candidate for the open seat for Senate in Illinois, captured the imagination of our state, got more votes in the primary than all other six other Democratic opponents combined, and now of course has reached a part where he has no announced candidate to run against him. I think, ultimately, he will, but he's doing very well.

BLITZER: Is there a chance the Democrats will regain the majority in the Senate?

DURBIN: I think there is. And we feel that the race in Illinois is where it starts. Barack Obama picks up a Republican seat for us. And then, of course, we look to other important states, Alaska, Oklahoma. We have chances in the South. There, we have Erskine Bowles to hold on to John Edwards's seat.

The list -- when you go through the list, we are within one or two Senate seats of taking the majority for Tom Daschle.

BLITZER: What does John Kerry need to do this week to convince those who are undecided to commit to him?

DURBIN: I think people are paying a little more attention. It almost is counterintuitive. He has to retell his story. We go into battleground states and find voters who don't know that he is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran. And you think to yourself, how did they miss that? Well, they aren't tuned in. And the voters who aren't tuned in are going to make the difference in this election.

BLITZER: You could have been up there if he would have picked you to be his running mate. You were, as you know, being considered.

DURBIN: I was being considered by CNN, but they put out a story. But I never really actively went after that. I'm helping John, assisting his campaign. I like what I'm doing. Being senator from Illinois is a pretty good job.

BLITZER: Dick Durbin, senator from Illinois, thanks very much for joining us.

DURBIN: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: We're going to continue our coverage. We'll take a look at what's ahead tonight at the Democratic National Convention. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: They have taken a quick recess here until 6:30.

We'll be back, of course, later today and tomorrow as well, 5:00 p.m. Eastern on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS. Among my guests tomorrow, Senators Norm Coleman and Bob Graham. They'll join me live. I'll be back later tonight in two hours for the start of our primetime coverage. Among the speakers tonight, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Hillary and Bill Clinton.

Until then, thanks very much for joining us. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Boston.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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