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Sunday Morning News

Republican and Democratic Conventions Can Prove to be Pivotal Events

Aired June 4, 2000 - 9:15 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to politics, the Republican National Convention gets under way in Philadelphia at the end of July, followed two weeks later by the Democratic convention in Los Angeles.

With the presidential nominees a foregone conclusion, you may think there's little drama left, but that's not necessarily so.

CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider recalls the 1988 election and how the party conventions then proved to be pivotal events.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): When was it exactly in 1988 that Bush turned things around? In May and June, Democrat Michael Dukakis had a solid lead over Bush. After the Democratic convention, Dukakis widened his lead to 17 points.

Then in August, the Republicans held their convention in New Orleans. Remember this moment?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, 1988)

GEORGE BUSH, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My choice for the vice presidency is Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER: At the time, the convention was widely regarded as a disaster for Bush and the GOP. The Quayle frenzy had stepped on the party's message. But guess what? The press missed the story. It was during that so-called disastrous convention that Bush started to pull ahead for the first time, and he stayed ahead for the rest of the campaign.

What exactly did the Republicans do at that convention to change the dynamic of the campaign?

The voters wanted two things in 1988, continuity of policy and change of leadership, the same two things they want this year. In 1988, Republicans brought President Reagan in on the first night of the convention to make a call for continuity... (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRES. RONALD REAGAN: But George, just one personal request. Go out there and win one for the Gipper.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER: ... and quickly got him off the stage.

Clinton too is a damaged president. Advice to Gore, get him in and out fast.

In 1988, Dukakis pretended to offer continuity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, 1988)

MICHAEL DUKAKIS, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Because this election is not about ideology, it's about competence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER: The Republicans made short work of that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, 1988)

BUSH: There are those who say there isn't much of a difference this year, but America, don't let them fool you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER: They used the convention to accelerate a relentless attack on Dukakis's ideology.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, 1988)

BUSH: Should public school teachers be required to lead our children in the Pledge of Allegiance? My opponent says no, and I say yes.

Should society be allowed to impose the death penalty on those who commit crimes of extraordinary cruelty and violence? My opponent says no, but I say yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER: Advice to Gore, expose the ideological agenda behind "compassionate conservatism."

In 1988, Bush used his convention speech to send a message, I'm my own man.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, 1988)

BUSH: And I don't hate government. I want a kinder and gentler nation, like a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER: Advice to Gore, make this the defining speech of your career, where you show you're your own man.

In 1988, voters had trouble seeing the vice president as a strong leader. Bush turned that perception around at the convention. He stood by his man...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, 1988)

BUSH: Listened to his peers, and the accolades from the senators with whom he serves speak eloquently of Dan Quayle's standing to be one heartbeat away from the presidency, yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER: ... and he sounded like a leader.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, 1988)

BUSH: ... and I will, and the Congress will push me to raise taxes, and I'll say no. And they'll push, and I'll say no. And they'll push again, and I'll say to them, Read my lips, no new taxes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER (on camera): Advice to Gore, the convention is your best, perhaps your only, opportunity to show you're a leader. Don't wimp out the way you did on Elian Gonzalez. Show the voters who the real son-of-a-Bush is in this campaign.

Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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