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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to NH Outlook. |
| Preshow #1 Return to index of stories... |
In this edition, A day in the life of democratic presidential candidate Richard Gephardt. |
| Preshow #2 Return to index of stories... |
Plus, how early is too early to consider which candidate to support? We'll talk to some potential voters around the state. |
| Intro Gephardt Return to index of stories... |
But first: Richard Gephardt is one of the most experienced politicians running for the Democratic nomination for President. He is hoping his years of service in Washington will win him support, but with six months to go until the NH primary, he is lagging behind other candidates including Howard Dean and John Kerry. NH Outlook is following all the candidates on the campaign trail to bring you their stories. This is Richard Gephardt's. |
| Dick Gephardt Return to index of stories... |
Soundup: Gephardt campaigns Tape 1 10:57:50 "I used to do this. I did this job right here." Track: Dick Gephardt has always seen himself as the candidate for working folks, with a respect for the jobs they do no matter how menial. Soundup: Gephardt campaigns Tape 1 10:59:32 'All right, you're in trouble now" "Easiest way is to do this - go sideways." "Oh." "New career" Soundup: Gephardt campaigns tape 2 12:08:22 I started in a modest, you might say poor household. Track: Gephardt traces his populist roots to his upbringing. Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 2 11:53:02 My dad was a teamster and a milk truck driver in St. Louis. He didn't get through high school - neither did my mother. Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 2 11:53:26 When my mother died - my dad died 15 years ago - they didn't leave us anything. No money - but they left us something much more important: good values. They were good people, and every time I've been in the House voting on anything, I listen to everybody but I try to represent people like my parents. They didn't have lobbyists, they didn't have spokesmen, but they are the reason the country is great. Don't you think it's time we had a president who remembered all of the people, on every issue? Track: This is Gephardt's second run for the White House. He made his first attempt 16 years ago. Soundup: Tape LPA 491 00:23:00 crowd chanting "Gephardt, Gephardt." Track: In 1987, Gephardt got off to a fast start for the Democratic nomination by campaigning against NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Deal. Bite: Tape LPA 393 00:37;40 We're going into a situation in this country where we're trading in $15 an hour jobs for $5 an hour jobs, and I'm here to tell you if this continues, this is going to be an unhappy place. Bite; Tape LPA 393 00:38:09 I cannot compete on $7 a day. I cannot survive on it. How do we stop this? How do we stop our manufacturing jobs from running away from country?" "The story you just told can be repeated again and again, all over the country. Now how do we do it? What you have identified is the challenge of the next 20 years." Soundup: Tape LPA 393 00:38:38 And we're going to beat Bush or Kemp or whoever they put up. Track: Gephardt won the Iowa caucuses - but placed second in the NH Primary, and later dropped out for lack of funds. He went on to serve as Democratic Leader in the House for 12 years, a post he resigned last year for one simple reason: Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 4 14:52:55 You are constrained to a greater degree than when running for President or when you are President. You're called upon to strike out into some bold directions. Track: Probably the boldest direction Gephardt has taken is his proposal to provide health insurance to every American. He has been promoting it with employers which would have to provide insurance, but in turn would receive a 65% tax credit. Bite: Gephardt Health newser tape 00:15:50 It's essentially doubling the cost of the federal tax incentive to businesses for health care for their employees, so it's a lot. This is the federal govt. picking up 65% of the cost of private health insurance in the country. That's what it is. Track: The plan would be financed by repealing all the Bush tax cuts. Gephardt's big idea has its roots in a family crisis that he and his wife Jane faced when their 2-year old son Matt was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 2 11:59:50 We were devastated. The next day the doctor said we have some experimental therapies, your insurance will cover it - key phrase - we're going to try it. Don't get your hopes up - we don't think it will work but it's worth a try. He had three years of chemo and radiation, he's had 10 operations, he's 32 years old, married and lives in Georgia - he's a gift of God. Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 2 12:00:45 We met a lot of kids who also had cancer and we met a lot of parents of kids with cancer when he was sick. Some of them did not have insurance. We were all terrified our kids weren't going to make it. You want to see real terror - you look in the eyes of someone who doesn't know where they're going to get the next $500 for the next chemotherapy treatment. That's terror. Let me just say this to you - this is a moral issue. It is immoral to have people without health insurance so they can take care their loved ones when they're sick. This issue is in my heart, it's in my head, it's in my soul, I will not rest as your president until we get everybody covered with health insurance in this country. Track: Gephardt campaigns tape 4 15:04:40 THE FACT IS THAT 85% OF AMERICANS ALREADY DO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE AND DO LIKE A TAX CUT FOR THEMSELVES. IF WE ARE VOTING ON PERSONAL INTEREST ISN'T THAT GOING TO CREATE A VOTING ISSUE? Let me tell you why I think people prefer health care over tax cuts. People who have health care today have anxiety that they are going to lose their health insurance or thay they won't be able to afford it. They are experiencing benefit cuts, they're worried that their premiums are going to go up, they're worried that their employers aren't going to drop it all together. So this plan really solves a major worry and a major problem that people have today. Soundup: Gephardt campaigns Tape 1 10:26:22 "Gephardt for health care, Gephardt for health care." - supporters outside Chez Vachon Soundup: Gephardt campaigns tape 2 12:04:04 Finally, I want us to have a foreign and defense policy where we work with other countries in the world to solve problems. Track: Like the other Democratic candidates, Gephardt has been critical of President Bush's decision to invade Iraq. Bite: Outlook #76 00:17:20 We agree that the Iraqi dictator must not be permitted to threaten America and the world with horrible poisons, and diseases, and gases, and atomic weapons. Track: And like several of those candidates, Gephardt voted to make that war possible. Bite: Outlook #76 00:20:05 ….on issues of war and peace, life and death, we have entrusted those decisions not just to the president, but to the Congress as a coequal branch of this govt. We now take that solemn obligation and I believe when the debate is finished…. Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 4 14:55:05 LAST OCTOBER YOU DID VOTE FOR THE JOINT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PRESIDENT BUSH TO TAKE ACTION AS HE SAW FIT IN IRAQ. ANY REGRETS ON THAT VOTE? No, I do the best I can on any vote. I'm convinced from all the intelligence that I heard from all the agencies that there was a danger that Saddam Hussein could transfer components of weapons of mass destruction to terrorists. Bite; Gephardt campaigns tape 2 12;05:35 Now I would be a president who would have gone to the UN a year and a half ago, who would have worked through the problems and concerns, who would have listened to these other countries and their concerns about how this was being done Track: Now, with no weapons of mass destruction found, Gephardt faces questions on whether the President deceived the public on the reasons for war. |
| Dick Gephardt 2 Return to index of stories... |
Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 3 14;17:25 the bill that is coming up before congress that Waxman is bringing up to hold him accountable. How do you feel about that? Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 3 14:17:55 "Are you going to hold him accountable?" "Absolutely. We need a joint inquiry - it needs to be independent and it needs to look into every matter that is before us. This is not a witch hunt." Gephardt campaigns tape 2 12:02:10 I'll be a president who sees to it that we really leave no child behind - not just idle phrases but the things you've got to do to help the local schools actually achieve it. Track: Gephardt also faces questions on other pieces of legislation, like No Child Left Behind, that he has criticized, but voted for. BiGephardt campaigns tape 2 12:01:42 I will have an energy program to move us past the age of oil. To end our dependence on the middle east for oil - to move us into renewables - wind, solar, hydrogen fuel cells that will allow us to do all those things. Track: Despite that proposal for energy independence, Gephardt voted against a bill to increase fuel efficiency for cars. Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 4 15:10:25 WHY DID YOU VOTE AGAINST THE CAFE STANDARDS? INCREASING FUEL EFFICIENCY? Because it was only asking one group in the society to do something to advance the goal. The auto companies. That is not an energy program. That is never going to get you where you need to be. You need big incentives out there to get people to use the programs. You need programs that incent hybrid cars in the interim and renewable fuel cells down the road. WE'VE SEEN JAPANESE COMPANIES DO THAT WE'VE SEEN VARIOUS MODELS FROM TOYOTA AND HONDA. WE'VE SEEN THEM JUMP AHEAD. In Japan they have long term programs that aren't dependent on foreign oil. We've gone along thinking we have all the oil we need, we don't we import 60% of our oil. Track: As he did in 1988, Gephardt continues his fight against what he calls unfair trade. Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 2 12;10:00 I'm the only candidate in this race who led the fight against NAFTA and China trade treaties. I'm for trade - don't misunderstand me - but I'm not for trade treaties that don't pay attention to human rights, labor rights, and environmental concerns. Because what we've done by supporting these treaties that didn't do that, is that we've put up a green light for every company in the country to go wherever they need to go to get the cheapest possible labor they can get. This folks, is a race to the bottom. This is why we're losing good manufacturing jobs Track: Gephardt would like to see a universal minimum wage in every country we trade with. Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 2 12:11:59 You deserve to be paid a wage so you can live as a human being. This is a moral issue. Video: Gephardt campaigns tape 3 13;25:18 * nice shot RV driving along country road soundup: Gephardt campaigns tape 3 15:37:45 My arm feels good - I didn't throw it out. Video: Gephardt campaigns tape 3 13:05:55 Soundup: Gephardt campaigns tape 5 17:52:39 * pitcher warms up - smack into mitt Standup: Gephardt campaigns tape 5 18;11:08 ** Politics are a passion for Dick Gephardt, but so is baseball. And no campaign stop would be complete without at least some time spent on the national pastime. Track: After all, a ball park is a place where optimism comes naturally. Soundup: Gephardt campaigns tape 5 17;26:44 ** The Red Sox and the Cardinals are going to be in the World Series in 2003 - it's going to happen. Soundup: Gephardt campaigns tape 5 17;52:49 Great to be here with the Nashua Pride. I'm going to throw out the first pitch - and you all must cheer. No matter where it goes. Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 5 17;51:15 He has wanted to be a baseball player since he was a little boy. - this is it - this is the dream come true - and I hope somebody gets a good picture of it - so please get a good picture. Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 5 17:59:45 *** "Boy, that's a long way." "This is your big chance here to impress the scouts." Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 5 18:02;23 ** "WAS IT THE WIND THAT DID IT?" "Didn't you see it? It was gale-force. That's my story and I'm sticking to it." Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 5 18:44:00 One ball, no strikes - Hardwick delivers. And it's on the inside corner for strike one. One and one. So like players get better with experience, do you think the second time around for you, will you do anything differently or - that does that give you an advantage?" "That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I did good here in 88." Bite: Gephardt campaigns tape 4 14:53:20 THERE IS A PERCEPTION WITH SOME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK A FEW TIMES AND DEMOCRATS MAY NEED A FRESH FACE. HOW DO YOU FIGHT THAT PERCEPTION? HOW DO YOU SAY THAT ISN'T ENTIRELY ME? First of all, you are who you are. You can't try to be something that you're not. When I announced that I was running for President, if you're looking for the fresh face or the new face, I'm probably not your candidate. But if you're looking for somebody with really experience at the highest levels of government for fifteen years then I'm your candidate. My sense is that in this dangerous, difficult world we're living in, people are going to be looking for candidates with real experience. So I bring that to the table. Soundup: Gephardt campaigns tape 5 18:53:58 * "Now batting for your Nashua Pride, Number 26, D.J. Boston. Track: If there's one thing that Dick Gephardt has learned from baseball, it's that you get more than one pitch before you strike out. For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager. Gephardt campaigns Tape 1 11:20:13 *** Jane sings "On the road again." Gephardt does drum sounds and gets on bus. |
| Intro Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Here to talk about Gephardt, the other candidates' and the campaign are Andy Smith of the UNH Survey Center and Dante Scala with the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Allison - GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH. GOOD TO SEE YOU. Allison: WELL, LET'S START WITH LOOKING AT GEPHARDT COMING OUT EARLY ON WITH A HEALTH CARE PLAN BEFORE ANY OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES. HAS THAT SERVED TO BENEFIT HIM NOW AS WE MOVE ALONG HERE? WELL, I THINK WHAT HE TRIED TO DO WITH THAT WAS GET SOME BOUNCE OF IT, GET SOME MOMENTUM GOING HIS WAY. AND HE GOT SOME FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT IT NEVER REALLY SEEMED TO. HE NEVER SEEMED TO BE ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON IT, SO IN THE MEANTIME, THE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE COME OUT WITH THEIR COMPETING PLANS, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY HELPED HIM. HE GOT OUT IN FRONT OF THE ISSUE BUT I THINK IT'S FADING BACK A LITTLE BIT. AND ALSO IN A STATE LIKE NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHERE THE ECONOMY'S GOOD, PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY LOSING THEIR JOBS OR THEIR INSURANCE SO MUCH, THE ISSUE OF LOSING. THE ISSUE OF HEALTH CARE INSURANCE ISN'T GOING TO RESONATE HERE AS MUCH AS IT WILL IN SOME OTHER STATES. WHAT GEPHARDT'S TRYING TO DO IS GET RID OF THE IMAGE OF BEING KIND OF AN OLD CANDIDATE, SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE. ON HIS WEB SITE, YOU CAN LOOK AND SEE. HE DOESN'T JUST HAVE IDEAS, HE HAS\NEW\IDEAS. AND SO I THINK THIS IS PART OF. THE HEALTH CARE IS PART OF THE WAY TO TRY TO WIN THE BATTLE OF IDEAS, TO PRESENT HIMSELF AS A FRESH FACE EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, HE RAN IN 1988 AND HE'S BEEN IN CONGRESS FOR SUCH A LONG TIME AND IS SUCH A FAMILIAR FACE IN DEMOCRATIC CIRCLES. Allison: WELL, HE GOT SOME MEDIA ATTENTION WITH THAT WHEN HE FIRST CAME OUT WITH IT, BUT COULD IT BE THAT HE CAME OUT WITH IT TOO EARLY, WHILE PEOPLE AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION, DO YOU THINK? WELL, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HE'S GOING TO REPEAT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. FOR A LOT OF VOTERS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO START PAYING ATTENTION UNTIL PROBABLY LATE FALL. SO HE'S GOING TO KEEP HARPING ON THESE THEMES AND IN A LOT OF WAYS, HE'S A BREAD AND BUTTER CANDIDATE. HE STARTED OUT IN 1988 AS A CANDIDATE OF THE WORKING CLASS AND HE'S GOING TO RUN THE SAME SHOW THIS TIME AROUND. HE'S GETTING OUT THERE ON FAIR TRADE, HEALTH CARE, UNIVERSAL PENSIONS. HE'S STICKING WITH WHAT HE KNOWS. THAT MAY BE ONE OF THE REASONS HE'S HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING SOME TRACTION RIGHT NOW IS THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTORATE IS A HIGHLY EDUCATED, LIBERAL, HIGH-INCOME ELECTORATE. IT'S NOT REALLY A WORKING CLASS ELECTORATE, BY AND LARGE. SO THE ISSUE THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT ARE NOT GOING TO BE RESONATING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY GET INVOLVED WITH POLITICS EARLY, WHO TEND TO BE MORE EDUCATED AND HIGHER INCOMES, SO THOSE MORE BLUE COLLAR DEMOCRATS THAT ARE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THEY'RE NOT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE CAMPAIGN YET. THEY'RE LIKELY TO START PAYING ATTENTION TO IT IN THE FALL, AND I THINK THAT'S WHEN YOU'LL START SEEING HIM MAYBE GET SOME TRACTION OUT OF THESE ISSUES. Allison: WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THE LATEST POLL NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE FROM FRANKLIN PIERCE AND IT WAS FOR FRANKLIN PIERCE AND WNDS. GEPHARDT IS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. DEAN AND KERRY ARE NECK-AND-NECK IN THE 20TH PERCENTILE. IF YOU'RE 6%, WHICH IS I BELIEVE WHERE GEPHARDT IS, WHAT DO YOU DO? WELL, I THINK YOU BASICALLY. YOU MUST WIN IOWA. GEPHARDT MUST WIN IOWA TO HAVE A CHANCE. BUT IF HE DOES, THEN HE'S GOT A GOOD CHANCE, I THINK, OF HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE ONCE THE DUST CLEARS AFTER IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE WINNOW DOWN THE FIELD TO TWO OR THREE CANDIDATES. FOR INSTANCE, IF GEPHARDT WINS IOWA SOLIDLY, COMES TO NEW HAMPSHIRE AND FINISHES THIRD, EVEN, AND LET'S SAY DEAN BEATS KERRY HERE, THEN BASICALLY YOU'VE GOT A GEPHARDT-DEAN MATCH-UP THE REST OF THE WAY, AND GEPHARDT'S GOT TO LIKE THE WAY THAT LOOKS BECAUSE AFTER YOU LEAVE NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE AVERAGE INCOME LEVEL, EDUCATION LEVEL OF THE DEMOCRATIC VOTER GOES DOWN AND DEAN MAY HAVE TROUBLE WITH THOSE VOTERS. YEAH. Allison: ALL RIGHT. NO WE'VE SAID. HE'S IN THE LEAD, IS HE NOT NOW, IN IOWA? YES, HE IS. Allison: OKAY. GEPHARDT IS. Allison: I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS. RICHARD, IN THE TRANSCRIPT OF RICHARD'S INTERVIEW WITH HIM, AT ONE POINT DICK GEPHARDT SAID THAT PEOPLE MISTAKE HIM FOR JOHN KEMP AND ALSO AT THE ST. LOUIS AIRPORT, SOMEONE THOUGHT HE WAS DAN QUAYLE. EXCUSE ME, JACK KEMP. I MEAN, THAT'S NOT TOO GREAT, IS IT, IF YOU'RE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT? ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HE'S GOT, HE'S BEEN MINORITY LEADER IN THE HOUSE AND HE'S HAD HIGH PROFILE POSITIONS IN CONGRESS BUT MOST FOLKS OUT HERE IN THE COUNTRY DON'T PAY THAT MUCH ATTENTION. I HASTEN TO BET THAT IF YOU ASKED PEOPLE WHO THE CURRENT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IS, MAYBE 50% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, AT BEST, ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO NAME HIM. SO HE'S NOT. HE'S IN A POSITION WHERE HE'S VISIBLE SO HIS FACE IS RECOGNIZABLE BUT THE NAME AND THE RESUME ARE NOT AS RECOGNIZABLE TO MOST PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF HIS OWN DISTRICT OR OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. YEAH. I MEAN, RICHARD GEPHARDT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE OF HOWARD DEAN. HOWARD DEAN IS THE TRENDY CANDIDATE. HE'S THE INSURGENT. HE'S THE CANDIDATE WHO USES THE INTERNET TO RAISE FUNDS AND ORGANIZE AND SO FORTH. RICHARD GEPHARDT'S MORE LIKE A KIND OF PROCTOR AND GAMBLE-- A STURDY, OLD-FASHIONED DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, AND HE'S GOT THE REVERSE PROBLEM OF DEAN. FOR DEAN, THE PROBLEM IS MAYBE THE EXPECTATIONS ARE NOW TOO HIGH FOR HIM, BUT FOR GEPHARDT, PEOPLE ARE KIND OF LOOKING FOR A REASON FOR HIM TO FALTER. FOR INSTANCE, HIS SECOND QUARTER FUNDRAISING NUMBERS WEREN'T SO HOT. AND I THINK WE SAW A SIMILAR PHENOMENON IN 1980 WHEN BRADLEY REALLY, IN THE FALL OF 1980. EXCUSE ME, FALL OF 2000, REALLY PUSHED AHEAD OF GORE FOR A WHILE. AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENED THERE WAS A LOT OF THE MORE BLUE COLLAR, THE MORE RANK-AND-FILE TYPE DEMOCRATS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE HADN'T STARTED TO FOCUS ON THE RACE YET AND WHEN THEY DID, GORE WAS MORE IN LINE WITH THEIR POSITIONS, NOT QUITE AS LIBERAL AS BRADLEY WAS AND HIS SUPPORT CAME UP. I THINK THAT YOU MIGHT SEE THAT SAME SORT OF PHENOMENON WITH EITHER GEPHARDT, LIEBERMAN OR EDWARDS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE POSITIONING THEMSELVES ARE MORE MODERATE DEMOCRATS HERE. Allison: WHAT ABOUT IRAQ AND WE SAW DICK GEPHARDT WITH PRESIDENT BUSH AT THE TIME SAYING THAT HE SUPPORTED GOING INTO IRAQ, OR A WAR RESOLUTION. SINCE THEN, HE'S COME OUT AND SAID, "GEE, IF I WERE PRESIDENT, I WOULD HAVE WORKED MORE WITH THE U.N.," ET CETERA. IS THAT GOING TO END UP HURTING HIM OR HELPING HIM, OR IS IT A DAY-BY-DAY THING DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS IN IRAQ? I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THESE CANDIDATES-- GEPHARDT AND KERRY, FOR EXAMPLE, EDWARDS-- ARE TRYING TO MUDDY THE ISSUE SOMEWHAT SO THAT IN A WAY THEY CAN HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. THEY CAN BE CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT, THE POSTWAR SITUATION IN IRAQ, WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR ORIGINAL VOTE. I MEAN, GEPHARDT'S GONE AS FAR AS TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT AS SECURE AS WE OUGHT TO BE, THAT BUSH HAS MADE THE COUNTRY LESS SECURE, AND THAT'S A FAIRLY BIG STATEMENT TO MAKE, AND YOU'LL BE SURE TO HEAR THAT IN REPUBLICAN ATTACK ADS IF GEPHARDT'S THE NOMINEE. AND I DON'T EVEN THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE REPUBLICAN ATTACK ADS. IF GEPHARDT DOES START CATCHING ON AND HIS POLL NUMBERS START GOING UP, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT CLIP THAT WE SAW IN A DEMOCRATIC COMMERCIAL BEING RUN AGAINST HIM. AGAIN, IN THIS ELECTORATE, THIS IS AN ANTIWAR ELECTORATE, ANTI-BUSH ELECTORATE. Allison: AND IN THAT CLIP THAT WE SAW, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, "COEQUAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT MAKING THIS DECISION," SO I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED, EITHER. WHAT ABOUT ENERGY ISSUES? WE HEARD RICHARD ASKING ABOUT HIS VOTE AGAINST C.A.F.E. STANDARDS. IS ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT GOING TO PLAY IN THIS PRIMARY HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE? ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN GENERAL TEND NOT TO BE VERY IMPORTANT AT ALL IN ELECTIONS. THEY'RE DOWN IN THE 2% OR 3% OF FOLKS THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES. I THINK WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THE BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES: THE ECONOMY, THE WAR IN IRAQ, HEALTH CARE I THINK IS MAYBE A THIRD, AND EDUCATION WILL BE THE FOURTH ONE. SO I THINK SOME OF THE OTHER ONES, THEY'LL BE ATTRACTIVE AND HELP HIM OUT WITH SOME SMALL SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION, BUT I WOULDN'T SAY THAT BIG. YEAH, AND GEPHARDT'S GOT TO TRY AND ATTRACT. I MEAN, SOME OF THE VOTERS ON THE LEFT WING OF THE PARTY MAY BE ATTRACTED BY HIS TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO TRADE AND GLOBALIZATION, BUT HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T ALIENATE HIS BASE AND HIS BASE HAS GOT TO BE THE LABOR UNIONS. I MEAN, HE'S HOPING FOR THE BIG A.F.L./C.I.O. ENDORSEMENT TO COME OUT ON HIS BEHALF. HE CERTAINLY HAS A LOT OF FAVORS IN THE BANK WITH LABOR. SO HE'S GOT TO DO THIS BALANCING ACT. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT, BECAUSE IN 1988, HE WAS DEFINITELY THE CANDIDATE OF LABOR. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HIM TO THE POINT WHERE HE WON IOWA AND CAME IN SECOND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE SUPPORT WASN'T ENOUGH TO GET HIM OVER THE TOP. Allison: IS THERE A DOWNSIDE TO THAT AT ALL? THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE IN LABOR UNIONS IN AMERICA. THE PERCENTAGE OF THE WORK FORCE NOW IS LOWER THAN ITS BEEN IN DECADES, SO CERTAINLY THERE IS A DOWNSIDE WHEN YOU GET TO THE GENERAL ELECTION, BEING A FRIEND OF LABOR. IT'S NOT AS BIG OF AN ISSUE IN THE PRIMARIES. I THINK THAT'S RIGHT, AND ESPECIALLY LABOR UNIONS WILL ORGANIZE AND GET THEIR PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE AND THAT'S KEY IN A PRIMARY. AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU THINK BACK TO 2000 HERE, YOU CAN MAKE THE STRONG ARGUMENT THAT IT WAS LABOR UNIONS WHO GOT AL GORE THE WIN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT LAST WEEKEND. Allison: IF YOU WERE DICK GEPHARDT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO RIGHT NOW TO MAYBE GET THOSE NUMBERS UP IN THE POLLS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE? WELL, CERTAINLY SPENDING TIME IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AND BASICALLY HOLDING OFF OTHER CENTRIST CANDIDATES LIKE JOE LIEBERMAN. I THINK REALLY THE BATTLE IS FOR THIRD PLACE HERE. AND THE BATTLE IS TO BE THE ALTERNATE TO WHOEVER EMERGES BETWEEN DEAN AND KERRY, AND IF GEPHARDT CAN WIN THIRD, MAYBE SECOND. YEAH. IF I WERE GEPHARDT, I'D BE TRYING TO LOWER EXPECTATIONS AND SAY A SOLID THIRD-PLACE FINISH IS WHERE I WANT TO BE. Allison: ANDY SMITH, THANKS SO MUCH. DANTE SCALA, THANKS TO YOU, TOO. |
| Intro Voters Return to index of stories... |
The presidential primary is not until January - but the campaign for president has been going on for about a year. If you are someone who has yet to make your decision on who to vote for, you're not alone. Celene Ramadan hits the streets of Portsmouth to get the pulse on political interest. |
| Voter Voices Return to index of stories... |
AHH, SUMMERTIME. TIME FOR SUNSHINE, LEMONADE AND… Our two women arguing …POLITICS? WHILE MANY OF US ARE OUT SOAKING UP THE RAYS, PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS HAVE BEEN BUSY CAMPAIGNING FOR VOTES. SO, HAS ANYONE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? HAVE YOU DECIDED ON WHO YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR? Karen Bouffard, Portsmouth - Not yet. Sandy - I have not made my decision. J. MARK WRIGHTON - I think the phenomenon is well, let me just wait and see - get through summer and when we get back to the usual daily routine of kids going to school, and when the primary is coming up - then I'm going to start making up my mind a little bit more so I think beyond political scientists and journalists, there's still a lot of indecision at this point. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME AT THESE EARLY STAGES THAT HAVE MADE UP THEIR MINDS -- Carol - Anyone but George Bush… Bruce Soiett, Newmarket, NH Bush for another 4! James Walden, Portsmouth - I'm always open, but I'm leaning towards Dr. Dean from Vermont. Dave Jennings - Lorton, VA Well, I'm inclined to vote for president bush again. Gary - Howard Dean would be my first choice. SO, HOW DO PEOPLE MAKE THESE DECISIONS? J. MARK WRIGHTON - There are so many things that motivate people when they're thinking about who to support. It maybe something as mundane as he shook her hand six times in the last election - or it could be something as deep as Bush's stand on any number of issues. The psychology of that choice is so complex Jane -"would you guys vote for me if I ran for president?" Nadine - "No way." Jacquelyn - "Not a chance." They argue for a bit… J. Mark Wrighton - Everybody has their own political interests and they surround themselves with people who share their political preferences or they surround themselves with people of varied political interests… J. Mark Wrighton - it's nice to know that people can still have political differences and have it not ruin their relationships. But, people are affected by the opinions that they hear around them and they need to factor that in with their own choices. WHETHER MUNDANE OR COMPLEX, MAKING A DECISION AND CASTING A VOTE IS AN IMPORTANT EXERCISE OF THE FREEDOMS GRANTED TO US BY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS. James Walden, Portsmouth Well, when Ben Franklin came out of the continental congress, someone said "Mr. Franklin - what form of government did you give us?" And he said "a republic…if you can keep it" so I think right there the founding fathers understood, as unique as they were, they understood that we all have a responsibility to each other and that includes the responsibility of choosing who we want to be our leaders. If we don't chose who we want to be our leaders then everything else gets chosen for us and that's not in the long term interest of our republic because we want to see it last as long as it can and come to the ideal that it was founded upon. And continues to be within people, I think. SOME PEOPLE TOLD US HOW THEY WILL BE MAKING THEIR FUTURE DECISIONS. Dave Jennings - I look for a candidate that really has substantial viewpoints - not afraid to you know say something different - say something unpopular - but have a passion for what he believes in. what turns me off too is someone who flip-flops on issues because the popular vote. James Walden - Honesty is the most important quality in a president. Allen Nelson - Portsmouth, NH The same old song and dance just doesn't cut it for me any more. I think it's time for people make a stand for what they truly believe in and not develop a strategy based on polls. FOR THOSE STILL UNDECIDED VOTERS, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES. WE RAN INTO A FEW CONTENDERS FOR WRITE-INS. What would you do if you were president? Young girl - Um…decide on…raise the allowances for all kids??? Mr. Z - ARE YOU GOING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT? He nods… THE REAL HORSE RACE OFFICIALLY BEGINS ON NOVEMBER 21ST WHEN ALL CANDIDATES ARE REQUIRED TO FILE THEIR DECLARATIONS OF CANDIDACY. FOR NH OUTLOOK, I'M CELENE RAMADAN. |
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On the next New Hampshire Outlook - Get ready - fair season is about to get underway! We'll look at how this summer tradition has evolved over the years. |
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Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Get ready - fair season is about to get underway! We'll look at how this summer tradition has evolved over the years. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
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NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 7/30/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, a day in the life of democratic presidential candidate Richard Gephardt. Plus, how early is too early to consider which candidate to support? We'll talk to some potential voters around the state. But first: Richard Gephardt is one of the most experienced politicians running for the Democratic nomination for President. He is hoping his years of service in Washington will win him support, but with six months to go until the NH primary, he is lagging behind other candidates including Howard Dean and John Kerry. NH Outlook is following all the candidates on the campaign trail to bring you their stories. This is Richard Gephardt's. In studio to talk about Gephardt, the other candidates' and the campaign are Andy Smith of the UNH Survey Center and Dante Scala with the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College. And the presidential primary is not until January - but the campaign for president has been going on for about a year. If you are someone who has yet to make your decision on who to vote for, you're not alone. Celene Ramadan hits the streets of Portsmouth to get the pulse on political interest. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager, Allison McNair, Celene Ramadan NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Dick Gephardt\Democratic Presidential Candidate, Jane Gephardt\Candidate's Wife, John Collins\WOTW-AM Announcer, Andy Smith\UNH Survey Center, Dante Scala \NH Institute of Politics, J. Mark Wrighton\Political Science, UNH, James Walden\Portsmouth, Dave Jennings\Lorton, VA, Allen Nelson\Portsmouth |
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Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. . Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |