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Sunday Morning NewsBradley Gets Endorsement of 'Des Moines Register'Aired January 23, 2000 - 8:16 a.m. ETTHIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And we're going to turn now to Des Moines, where our Leon Harris is covering the Iowa caucuses. Hi, Leon. LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Kyra, once again. Good morning, once again, folks. The presidential candidates are all spread out over the state here in Iowa. They're making every minute count in the final hours before Iowa's kick off caucuses tomorrow night. Democrat Bill Bradley got a key endorsement today and joining me now to talk about that and tomorrow's caucuses is Blair Claflin, the legislative editor for the "Des Moines Register." We thank you for coming in and talking to us this morning. BLAIR CLAFLIN, "DES MOINES REGISTER": Good morning. HARRIS: Dark and early. CLAFLIN: Yes. I think it's good to be here. HARRIS: OK, well, good. Me, too. And listen, the first question that jumps to mind is what is it about Bill Bradley that swayed the editorial board at the "Des Moines Register?" CLAFLIN: Well, he makes a very compelling case about talking about the future, about talking about a lot of the issues that we as a country need to address. I think he takes a longer-term picture on a couple of different topics. And I think, I can't speak for the editorial board, I'm not personally part of the editorial board, but I think that's what they found appealing. But as you mentioned in your opening here, it clearly was a tough choice for the editorial board. Both candidates came back twice and had second interviews, essentially, with the board. So I know it was a difficult decision for them. HARRIS: All right, well then you, since you're not on the board, then, you have the advantage of some perspective here. Is the board really in tune with the public here? CLAFLIN: Well, you've got two things happening. If you look at the "Register's" most recent poll, you'd have to say no, the editorial board isn't in tune with the public. Al Gore's margin seems to be widening. In recent weeks he seems to be picking up momentum. But that's not really the role of the editorial page. It's supposed to lead, in theory anyway, and not really worry if the public is with it or behind it. HARRIS: So this may not be any evidence of a surprise in the offing tomorrow night? CLAFLIN: I don't think so. My experience with endorsements is in a close race they can mean something. But then again in Iowa it's not about who wins and loses, it's about expectations and margins and that kind of thing. And clearly both candidates wanted that endorsement badly and when you're talking about four or five points maybe being the difference between beating expectations or not living up to expectations, perhaps that endorsement will be important. HARRIS: Let's talk about expectations as far as the Republicans go this morning. Is John McCain making a critical error in not showing up here in Iowa and is he going to be punished for that tomorrow night? CLAFLIN: I tend to think McCain's strategy is probably a pretty good one. The ethanol issue would have been something all the other candidates could have hammered him with. He's going to be able to preserve his money against George W. Bush, who has so much money. If he's going to make a run, it's going to have to be in New Hampshire. As much as we would have loved to have him out here and actively campaigning, I think he's probably made a good call. HARRIS: How well will he do? CLAFLIN: I have a hard time believing he's going to -- he's got eight percent in our most recent poll. I know he talked on your opening about eight or 10 percent possibly. You've got to have an organization to turn people out tomorrow night. It's going to be a cold winter night and people in Iowa are going to have plenty of reason to stay in their houses and without an organization that's going to be difficult for him. HARRIS: Is there any other kind of winter night here in Iowa? CLAFLIN: Yeah, not here in Iowa, yes. HARRIS: OK, Blair Claflin, thanks much. Hope to talk to you again before we leave town here. That's it for here in Des Moines. Let's go back now to Kyra Phillips standing by at the CNN Center in Atlanta. PHILLIPS: Thanks, Leon. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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