|
|
|
Senator John Edwards
THE CANDIDATES WITH DAVID YEPSEN #2408>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION... GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THEY WATCH ON IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. LIVE FROM THE STUDIOS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "THE CANDIDATES WITH DAVID YEPSEN." TONIGHT DAVID YEPSEN'S GUEST IS SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS OF NORTH CAROLINA, CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION. HERE IS "DES MOINES REGISTER" POLITICAL COLUMNIST DAVID YEPSEN. Yepsen: GOOD EVENING. JUST FIVE DAYS DOWN THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, THE IOWA CAUCUS CAMPAIGN OF 2004 CONTINUES TO PRODUCE LATE-IN-THE-GAME SURPRISES. THE SUPPORTERS OF OUR GUEST THIS EVENING, SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS OF NORTH CAROLINA, MAINTAIN HE'LL PRODUCE ONE OF THEM... PERHAPS IN IOWA, PERHAPS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE OR SOUTH CAROLINA. SENATOR EDWARDS HAS BEEN SCORING POINTS THESE DAYS WITH DEMOCRATS NATIONWIDE AND WITH IOWA CAUCUS GOERS FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. FIRST, HIS MESSAGE SEEMS TO BE GETTING THROUGH. SECOND, WHILE HE'S PACKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NINE-CANDIDATE FIELD, SENATOR EDWARDS' CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN NOTED FOR ITS LACK OF NEGATIVISM, AND THAT COUNTS FOR A LOT HERE IN IOWA AND ELSEWHERE. WHILE OTHERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME HARDBALL, MOSTLY DIRECTED AT FRONT-RUNNER HOWARD DEAN, SENATOR EDWARDS HAS MADE HIS MARK BY TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES. AND TODAY HIS SUPPORTERS MAINTAIN THAT WILL PRODUCE AN UPSET. WELL, WE'LL SEE. SENATOR EDWARDS, WELCOME ONCE AGAIN TO IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. Edwards: THANKS FOR HAVING ME, DAVID. GREAT TO BE HERE. Yepsen: SENATOR, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A COUPLE EDGE-OF-THE-NEWS QUESTIONS TODAY. TODAY GOVERNOR DEAN CRITICIZED YOU FOR FLIP-FLOPPING ON HOG LOT QUESTIONS. YOU VOTED FOR AGAINST -- OR FOR PACKER OWNERSHIP OF LIVESTOCK, AND THEN VOTED AGAINST IT. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT CHARGE? Edwards: WELL, FIRST, HE'S WRONG ABOUT THE FACTS. WHAT HAPPENED -- WHAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WAS A VOTE IN THE SENATE THAT WOULD HAVE PUT HUNDREDS OF NORTH CAROLINA FAMILY FARMERS OUT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE IT HAD NO EXCEPTION THAT ALLOWED THEM TO CONTINUE TO FARM AND DO WHAT THEY WERE DOING. WHAT I AM FOR -- AND I'VE MADE THIS VERY CLEAR -- IS A PACKER BAN, A PACKER BAN THAT WOULD DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE IN IOWA TO KEEP THESE BIG CORPORATE FARMING OPERATIONS FROM PUTTING FAMILY FARMERS OUT OF BUSINESS BUT HAS A PROVISION IN IT THAT ALLOWS THOSE FEW FAMILY FARMERS IN NORTH CAROLINA TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING. AND I MIGHT ADD I GO FURTHER THAN HOWARD DEAN OR ANY OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN CALLING FOR A MORATORIUM ON BUILDING ANY MORE CORPORATE HOG LOTS OR EXPANDING THESE CORPORATE HOG LOTS. Yepsen: ANOTHER THING, SENATOR, THAT I NOTICED TODAY, YOU'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE, STRATEGY BEING THERE ARE A LOT OF DELEGATES TO BE PICKED UP OUT THERE. ARE THERE ENOUGH DELEGATES IN RURAL IOWA FOR YOU TO SCORE WELL ON CAUCUS NIGHT? Edwards: WELL, WHAT I'VE TRIED TO DO -- I'VE BEEN IN ALL 99 COUNTIES, DAVID, AND THE KEY FOR ME IS TO COMPETE ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE. IT'S THE REASON I'VE GONE EVERYWHERE. IT'S THE REASON I TRAVELED ACROSS THE STATE TODAY, FOR EXAMPLE, STARTING IN SIOUX CITY AND GOING TO SPENCER AND ALGONA. I MEAN I'VE BEEN MOVING ALL OVER THE STATE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND I INTEND TO COMPETE EVERYWHERE. NOW, THE RURAL PIECE OF THAT IS IN PART NATURAL FOR ME, BECAUSE I GREW UP IN A SMALL, RURAL COMMUNITY IN NORTH CAROLINA. I CAME OUT FIRST WITH A CLEAR RURAL AGENDA, HOW TO IMPROVE THE RURAL ECONOMY IN IOWA AND ACROSS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. THE HONEST TRUTH IS IT'S PART OF WHAT I AM. I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT IT, NOT JUST WHEN I'M CAMPAIGNING IN IOWA. THIS HAS BEEN PART OF MY LIFE, AND IT WILL BE PART OF MY PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION. Yepsen: SENATOR, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M TRYING TO DO WITH THESE INTERVIEWS IS GIVE CANDIDATES JUST A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR SAY, SO I'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO GIVE US YOUR COMMERCIAL. WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT? Edwards: BECAUSE -- TO BRING REAL CHANGE TO THIS COUNTRY. AMERICA DESPERATELY NEEDS CHANGE. I DON'T BELIEVE I CAN DO IT ALONE, BUT I BELIEVE I, ALONG WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, CAN DO IT, PARTICULARLY THE CAUCUS GOERS HERE IN THE STATE OF IOWA. WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT AMERICAS. WE HAVE ONE FOR THOSE WHO CAN HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED, THE BEST HEALTH CARE, THE BEST SCHOOL SYSTEM. THEIR KIDS GO TO THE BEST COLLEGES. THEY GET ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING THEY NEED. AND THEN WE HAVE ONE FOR EVERYONE ELSE: YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE, MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES, THE POOR WHO STRUGGLE EVERY DAY JUST TO GET BY, PAY THEIR BILLS. AND WHAT MY CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE CREATE ONE AMERICA. AND I MIGHT ADD TO THAT -- YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET THIS BEING A POSITIVE CAMPAIGN. YOU KNOW, I'LL SAY THIS ABOUT GOVERNOR DEAN'S COMMENT ABOUT ME TODAY, PLUS A LOT OF THE OTHER SNIPING THAT I'VE SEEN GOING ON, NOT JUST WITH ME BUT WITH OTHER CANDIDATES. YOU KNOW, MY CAMPAIGN IS NOT A CAMPAIGN OF CYNICISM OR IT'S NOT ABOUT THE POLITICS OF CYNICISM. IT'S ABOUT THE POLITICS OF HOPE. IT'S ABOUT THE POLITICS OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE. I WANT TO DO TWO THINGS. I WANT TO BEAT GEORGE BUSH BECAUSE HE'S A HUGE OBSTACLE TO US MOVING THIS COUNTRY FORWARD AND BRINGING REAL CHANGE TO AMERICA. BUT THE SECOND THING I WANT TO DO, AND IT'S IMPORTANT. AND THE SECOND THING I WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE AMERICANS PROUD TO BE AMERICANS AGAIN AND BELIEVE IN WHAT IS POSSIBLE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. THEY'RE HUNGRY FOR THAT AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO BRING TO THEM, ALONG WITH THEIR HELP. Yepsen: SENATOR, THERE ARE A LOT OF UNDECIDED DEMOCRATS IN THIS THING. I TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY, AND THEY'RE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH THIS QUESTION OF WHICH ONE OF YOU CANDIDATES TO SUPPORT. SO GIVE ME YOUR CASE FOR WHY YOU OVER DICK GEPHARDT OR HOWARD DEAN OR JOHN KERRY. Edwards: WELL, I'D MAKE TWO POINTS. ONE IS IF YOU BELIEVE WE NEED CHANGE IN AMERICA AND IF YOU BELIEVE WE NEED CHANGE IN WASHINGTON, YOU GET TO A SECOND QUESTION, WHICH IS WHO CAN BEST BRING THAT CHANGE. AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THE PERSON TO BEST BRING THAT CHANGE ARE PEOPLE WHO'VE SPENT MOST OF THEIR LIVES IN POLITICS OR PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN IN WASHINGTON FOR DECADES, THAT'S NOT ME. WHAT I GIVE IS AN ALTERNATIVE, IS SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN FIGHTING THESE BATTLES AND WINNING THESE BATTLES. I'VE DONE IT IN THE SENATE, FIGHTING FOR AND PASSING THE PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS, WORKING ON THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE WITHOUT TAKING AWAY THEIR RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES. I DID IT BEFORE I EVER GOT THERE, FIGHTING BATTLES IN COURTROOMS FOR TWENTY YEARS ON BEHALF OF FAMILIES AGAINST BIG-CORPORATE AMERICA AND THEIR ARMIES OF LAWYERS. SO I HAVE A PROVEN RECORD OF HAVING FOUGHT THESE BATTLES AND WINNING THESE BATTLES. THE SECOND PART IS THIS IS NOT AN ACADEMIC DISCUSSION. WE HAVE TO WIN. AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL ASK ME. THEY'LL SAY, "ARE YOU THE GUY? ARE YOU THE GUY WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR? CAN YOU BEAT GEORGE BUSH"? I'M THE ONE CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE WHO CAN CHALLENGE GEORGE BUSH AND BEAT GEORGE BUSH EVERYWHERE IN AMERICA, IN THE NORTH, IN THE WEST, HERE IN THE MIDWEST, IN THE SOUTH. TALKING LIKE THIS, I'M A GOOD CANDIDATE IN THE SOUTH. AND THE SOUTH IS NOT -- I HEAR PUNDITS SAY SOMETIMES, "GEORGE BUSH IS REALLY STRONG IN THE SOUTH. IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR DEMOCRATS TO BEAT HIM AT ALL BECAUSE HE'S SO STRONG IN THE SOUTH." DEMOCRATS HAVE TO WIN SOUTHERN STATES TO GET ELECTED; THAT'S TRUE. AT LEAST WE'VE NEVER ELECTED A PRESIDENT, A DEMOCRAT, WITHOUT HAVING WINNING AT LEAST FIVE SOUTHERN STATES. WELL, THE TRUTH IS THE SOUTH IS MY BACK YARD. IT'S NOT GEORGE BUSH'S BACK YARD. AND I WILL BEAT GEORGE BUSH IN MY BACK YARD. Yepsen: SENATOR, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHO IS JOHN EDWARDS? Edwards: WELL, I GREW UP IN A REALLY GOOD FAMILY, VERY SIMILAR TO THE FAMILIES THAT MOST PEOPLE HERE IN IOWA GREW UP IN. MY FATHER WORKED IN A MILL ALL HIS LIFE. MY MOTHER'S LAST JOB WAS WORKING AT THE POST OFFICE. I WAS BLESSED TO BE THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE. I MYSELF I WORKED IN THE MILLS -- IN THE TEXTILE MILLS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. I WAS ABLE TO WORK MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE AND THEN LAW SCHOOL. AND THEN I DECIDED AS A LAWYER THE PEOPLE THAT I WANTED TO FIGHT FOR WERE THE SAME KIND OF PEOPLE THAT I HAD GROWN UP WITH. I DID THAT FOR TWENTY YEARS, DECIDED TO RUN FOR THE SENATE, RAN AGAINST THE JESSE HELMS POLITICAL MACHINE IN NORTH CAROLINA. NOBODY GAVE ME ANY CHANCE, THOUGHT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR -- TO BEAT AN INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN SENATOR, A PROTEGE OF JESSE HELMS. I TOOK ON THE HELMS POLITICAL MACHINE. I BEAT THE HELMS POLITICAL MACHINE, AND SINCE THAT TIME I'VE BEEN FIGHTING. MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN ABOUT THE SAME THING, DAVID. I MEAN WHAT DRIVES ME AND KEEPS ME GOING EVERY SINGLE DAY IS THE CAUSE OF WORKING PEOPLE. I MEAN IT'S HOW I GREW UP. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE AND CARE ABOUT, AND IT'S WHAT MY PRESIDENCY WILL BE ABOUT. Yepsen: WHAT'S THE MOST FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE IN YOUR LIFE? WHAT ONE OR TWO THINGS MADE YOU WHAT YOU ARE TODAY? Edwards: OH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION BEFORE. I THINK IT'S -- I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF EXPERIENCES. WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I WOULD SEE MY FATHER, WHO HAS A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION -- HE'S A REALLY GOOD MAN -- AND HE WAS TRYING TO WORK HIS WAY UP IN THE MILL. I WOULD COME IN AT 5:00 OR 5:30 IN THE MORNING BEFORE HE'D GO TO WORK. AND HE'D BE SITTING AT THE TABLE WATCHING PUBLIC TELEVISION, ACTUALLY, TRYING TO EDUCATE HIMSELF SO THAT HE HAD A CHANCE TO COMPETE, SO THAT THE COLLEGE GRADUATES AND THE OTHERS COULDN'T JUST STEP ON HIM AND KEEP HIM FROM BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO. THAT HAD AN EFFECT ON ME. MY FATHER ALWAYS SAID -- STILL SAYS THAT HE CAN TELL WHEN SOMEBODY IS TALKING DOWN TO HIM IN THIRTY SECONDS. I HAVE A HUGE DRIVE IN ME. IT'S PART OF WHO I AM. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO ME THAT I TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME WAY. YOU, THE PEOPLE THAT I GREW UP WITH, WHOEVER THEY ARE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. NOBODY IS BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE. WE ALL HAVE MORE -- SOME PEOPLE HAVE MORE RESPONSIBILITY THAT OTHERS, BUT THE TRUTH IS WE'RE NOT BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE. AND I FEEL THAT DEEPLY AND INSIDE. THE OTHER PROBABLY -- ONE OF THE BIGGEST EXPERIENCES I HAD THAT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON ME WAS WATCHING, WHILE I WAS GROWING UP, THE IMPACT OF SEGREGATION AND DISCRIMINATION. I SAW IT MANY DIFFERENT TIMES WHEN I WAS YOUNG GOING INTO MOVIE THEATERS AND SEEING YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN KIDS BEING SHUFFLED UPSTAIRS IN MOVIE THEATERS. I SAW -- MY SIXTH GRADE TEACHER WALKED INTO THE CLASSROOM AND ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULDN'T TEACH NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE SCHOOL WAS ABOUT TO BE INTEGRATED AND HE WOULDN'T TEACH IN AN INTEGRATED SCHOOL. WHEN I WAS PLAYING FOOTBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL, MY TEAM HAD AFRICAN-AMERICANS ON IT, AND WE PLAYED A TEAM WITH SCHOOLS NOT INTEGRATED. IT DIDN'T HAVE AFRICAN-AMERICANS, AND THE BUS WAS ROCKED THAT I WAS IN. SO I HAD TO DEFEND MY TEAMMATES. I FEEL AN ENORMOUS PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT I BELIEVE IS STILL A DEFINING ISSUE IN AMERICA, WHICH IS RACIAL DIVISION AND THE NEED TO HEAL THAT RACIAL DIVISION. Yepsen: WHAT IS IT, SENATOR, THAT YOU SOUTHERNERS SEEM TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT OTHER AMERICANS DON'T? YOU SEEM TO FEEL IT, GET IT IN A WAY THAT -- Edwards: IT'S PART OF WHAT WE ARE, DAVID. WE GREW UP WITH IT. WE LIVED WITH IT ALL OUR LIVES. I MEAN I HAVE, FROM THE TIME I WAS VERY YOUNG, SEEN UP CLOSE THE IMPACT OF RACE, AND IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE. THERE'S A TENDENCY BY THOSE WHO HAVEN'T LIVED WITH IT THEIR ENTIRE LIVES -- AND IT'S NOT OUT OF ILL WILL. IT'S NOT OUT OF -- IT'S JUST IF YOU HAVEN'T LIVED WITH IT FOREVER, IT'S HARD TO SENSE THE SUBTLETY OF IT. I MEAN IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT MY FATHER IS DESCRIBING ABOUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE TALKING DOWN TO HIM BECAUSE HE WASN'T QUITE AT THEIR STATUS OR DIDN'T COME FROM THE RIGHT FAMILY OR HAVE THE RIGHT EDUCATION. AFRICAN-AMERICANS CAN SENSE THAT CONDESCENSION A HUNDRED MILES AWAY. AND THEY KNOW -- MEAN THEY KNOW LIKE THAT WHETHER YOU TREAT THEM WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF RESPECT THAT YOU TREAT OTHER PEOPLE, AND THEY CAN FEEL IT. BUT IT'S VERY HARD FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T LIVED WITH THIS THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. SEE, I'M VERY, VERY, VERY COMFORTABLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE FOLKS I GREW UP WITH. THEY'RE PART OF MY FRIENDS. WE SPEND TIME A LOT -- AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TOGETHER. I MEAN MY FRIENDSHIPS WITH AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE EXACTLY THE SAME AS MY FRIENDSHIPS WITH WHITES. Yepsen: SENATOR, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? HOW WOULD YOU AS PRESIDENT SEEK TO OVERCOME THE NATION'S RACIAL TENSIONS AND RACIAL DIVIDES? I MEAN SOMEBODY ONCE SAID IT'S AMERICA'S ORIGINAL SIN. IT'S BEEN WITH US SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING. Edwards: YES, IT IS. YES, IT IS. WE HAVE ENORMOUS WORK TO DO. I MEAN SOME OF IT IS POLICY. IT'S CREATING ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY SO THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OTHERS DON'T START FROM THE TIME THEY'RE VERY YOUNG -- WE HAVE A HUGE GAP IN THE QUALITY OF SCHOOLS IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES VERSUS WHITE COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE A HUGE GAP IN TERMS OF EQUALITY OF JOBS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THAT'S OUT THERE. WE STILL -- I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GO TO COLLEGE. WE NEED JUDGES THAT WE KNOW WILL ENFORCE OUR CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS. THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS WE NEED TO DO. WE ALSO, BY THE WAY, DAVID, WE NEED A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO UNDERSTANDS THESE ISSUES, NOT AT A POLICY LEVEL, NOT JUST AT A POLICY LEVEL, BUT IN THEIR GUT. IT REALLY DOES MATTER. Yepsen: WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ISSUES TO TALK ABOUT HERE, SENATOR, SO I WANT TO MOVE ON. Edwards: SURE. Yepsen: I LIKE TO GIVE CANDIDATES A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID ABOUT THEM OUT THERE. RESPOND TO THE CRITICISM THAT YOU'RE TOO YOUNG, YOU'RE TOO INEXPERIENCED. YOU WERE JUST ELECTED TO THE U.S. SENATE FIVE YEARS AGO. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT? Edwards: VERY SIMPLE. NUMBER ONE, I'VE BEEN FIGHTING AND WINNING THESE BATTLES ALL MY LIFE. I HAVE A PROVEN RECORD OF WINNING THESE BATTLES. NOT ONLY -- NOT ONLY BEFORE I GOT TO THE SENATE, I'VE BEEN FIGHTING AND WINNING THESE BATTLES IN THE SENATE. I FOUGHT FOR AND WROTE, FOUGHT FOR AND PASSED, NOT BY MYSELF BUT WITH OTHERS, A PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS. AS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, I'VE HELPED WRITE THE LAWS THAT WILL KEEP THIS COUNTRY SAFE. I'VE TRAVELED TO THOSE PARTS OF THE WORLD AND WATCHED OUR -- LOOKED AT OUR SECURITY OPERATIONS UP CLOSE: AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, THE MIDDLE EAST, EUROPE. I HAVE A REALLY STRONG SENSE AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY SAFE WITHOUT TAKING AWAY OUR RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, DAVID, IF YOU LOOK BACK HISTORICALLY AT THE PRESIDENTS WHO'VE LED AND LED AMERICA IN A WAY THAT CREATED CONFIDENCE, IT HAD MUCH MORE TO DO WITH WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT INSIDE. DID THEY HAVE THE CHARACTER, THE STRENGTH, THE INTEGRITY TO LEAD? DID THEY GENERATE TRUST IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE? I MEAN THAT'S WHAT -- WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR A PRESIDENT, WE'RE AT THAT STAGE IN THIS CAMPAIGN. AND WE'VE GOT A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE CAUCUSES. THE CAUCUS GOERS IN IOWA ARE ABOUT TO CHOOSE A PRESIDENT, AND THIS IS NOT PRELIMINARY ANYMORE. AND THEY ARE LOOKING STRAIGHT INTO MY EYES AND SAYING, "DO YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH AND CHARACTER TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY?" I BELIEVE I DO. Yepsen: IRAQ... WHAT DO WE DO NOW? WHAT DO WE DO NEXT? Edwards: WELL, WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE COURSE AND CHANGE COURSE DRAMATICALLY FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW. WE HAVE TO GET THE AMERICAN FACE OFF WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE. IT CAN'T CONTINUE TO BE JUST AN AMERICAN OPERATION AND AMERICAN OCCUPATION. WHAT I WOULD DO AS PRESIDENT IS FIRST GO TO THE UNITED NATIONS, GET THEM TO TAKE OVER THE CIVILIAN AUTHORITY, THIS TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT IN IRAQ. GO TO NATO AND OUR OTHER ALLIES AND CHANGE THE OCCUPATION FORCE TO AN INTERNATIONAL OCCUPATION FORCE. I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW WE COULD PUT NATO IN CHARGE OF THE IRANIAN BORDER, THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER, ALLOW US TO CONCENTRATE ON THE SUNI TRIANGLE, WHERE SO MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE HAS OCCURRED. BUT ONCE THAT HAS OCCURRED, ONCE WE'VE INTERNATIONALIZED THIS EFFORT, THEN WE NEED TO GET ON A REAL TIMETABLE FOR THE IRAQIS TO GOVERN THEMSELVES AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN SECURITY SO THAT WE CAN RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON OUR TROOPS, ON ALL THOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN HERE FROM IOWA WHO ARE GOING OVER THERE AND PUTTING THEIR LIVES AT RISK. Yepsen: THE ECONOMY AND TRADE, WHAT DO YOU DO? Edwards: OH, WE'VE GOT A LOT TO DO. I MEAN WE'VE HAD -- FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE LEANED SO HEAVILY INTO FREE TRADE THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT FAIR TRADE IS ANYMORE. WE DON'T HAVE THE KIND OF PROTECTIONS IN THESE TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT WE NEED. NAFTA IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. WE'VE SEEN OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND MANUFACTURING JOBS LEAVE NORTH CAROLINA. EXACTLY THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED HERE IN THE STATE OF IOWA. WE HAVE TO PUT TEETH IN THESE TRADE AGREEMENTS SO THAT WE CAN'T HAVE AMERICAN COMPANIES JUST LIFTING UP, GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE, NOT HAVING TO MEET ANY INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS OR LABOR STANDARDS OR PROHIBITIONS AGAINST THINGS LIKE CHILD LABOR AND FORCED LABOR. THESE TRADE AGREEMENTS NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO JOIN A UNION IN THEM. BUT CAN I STEP BACK FROM THIS FOR JUST A MINUTE? Yepsen: SURE. Edwards: TRADE IS A PIECE OF THIS, BUT IT'S NOT ALL OF IT. JOBS ARE A PIECE OF IT. HEALTH CARE IS A PIECE OF IT. THE LACK OF FINANCIAL SECURITY THAT MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES FACE IS A PIECE OF IT. BUT WE'VE HAD A SEA CHANGE IN THIS COUNTRY IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS. TWENTY YEARS AGO MOST WORKING MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES IN AMERICA WERE SAVING 10 TO 15 PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME. THEY WERE FINANCIALLY SECURE. IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG, THEY WERE READY FOR IT. TODAY THESE SAME FAMILIES, WHICH REPRESENT MOST OF THE COUNTRY, THEY'RE NOT SAVING ANYTHING. THEY'RE GOING INTO DEBT. THEIR CREDIT CARDS ARE MAXED OUT. WHAT THAT MEANS AS A PRACTICAL MATTER IS IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG -- A FINANCIAL PROBLEM, A HEALTH CARE PROBLEM, LAYOFF -- THEY GO RIGHT OFF THE CLIFF. I SAW A STARTLING NUMBER THE OTHER DAY. IF YOU WERE A CHILD IN A MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY IN AMERICA THIS DECADE TODAY, IT'S MORE LIKELY YOUR PARENTS WILL FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY THAN DIVORCE, WHICH IS AMAZING. AND SO MY POINT IS SIMPLY, TRADE, JOBS, HEALTH CARE, ALL THESE THINGS, THE ABILITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GO TO COLLEGE, THEY ALL CONTRIBUTE TO A BIGGER ISSUE, WHICH IS WHAT DO WE DO TO STRENGTHEN THE FINANCIAL SECURITY OF MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES. WE HAVE TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS. WE NEED TO HELP THEM SAVE, INVEST. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. Yepsen: TALK ABOUT THOSE PIECES. TALK ABOUT HEALTH CARE. WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT HEALTH CARE? Edwards: REQUIRE -- WHAT I WOULD DO IS FIRST REQUIRE HEALTH CARE AS A MATTER OF BIRTHRIGHT, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 21. SECOND, COVER THE MOST VULNERABLE ADULTS, WHICH ARE THOSE WHO WORK IN SMALL -- WORK IN THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESSES OR WORK FOR THEMSELVES, SELF-EMPLOYED; FOLKS OVER THE AGE OF 55 THAT AREN'T IN MEDICARE; THE PARENTS OF THESE SAME KIDS; PEOPLE WHO ARE BETWEEN JOBS. NOBODY CAN PAY FOR COBRA. THE COST IS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. AND THEN TAKE ON THE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND DRUG COMPANIES TO ACTUALLY BRING DOWN COST, WHICH MEANS ALLOWING REIMPORTATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FROM CANADA, USING THE POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATE BETTER PRICES, CRACKING DOWN ON DRUG COMPANY ADVERTISING ON TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN PERSONALLY VERY INVOLVED IN. ALL THOSE THINGS. Yepsen: TALK ABOUT YOUR PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATION, K-12 AS WELL AS HIGHER EDUCATION. Edwards: SURE. WELL, THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS SOMETHING ABOUT NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. I'VE GOT DEFENSE AND OFFENSE. DEFENSE... WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE IT'S DOING. THAT INCLUDES FUNDING, BUT NOT JUST FUNDING. IT'S GOT PROBLEMS THAT HAVE TO BE CHANGED. THE LACK OF ANY FLEXIBILITY IN HOW YOU MEASURE SUCCESS. THEY'RE ABOUT TO FAIL HALF THE SCHOOLS IN MY STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. I THINK YOU'RE HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM HERE IN IOWA. DEFINING HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN A WAY THAT LEAVES OUT THOUSANDS OF VERY GOOD TEACHERS. INSTEAD OF -- WHEN YOU'VE IDENTIFIED A SCHOOL THAT'S STRUGGLING, INSTEAD OF PUNISHING THOSE SCHOOLS, WHICH NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND DOES, WE SHOULD BRING RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE TO LIFTING THE SCHOOLS UP AND WORKING WITH THE EDUCATORS. THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH WHAT BUSH HAS DONE. NOW LET'S GO TO A BIGGER VISION OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH OUR SCHOOLS. WHAT I WOULD DO, FIRST LEAD A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE TEACHER PAY ACROSS THE BOARD. SECOND, GIVE BONUS PAY TO TEACHERS WHO ARE WILLING TO TEACH IN SCHOOLS IN LESS AFFLUENT AREAS, SO WE CREATE AN INCENTIVE FOR THOSE TEACHERS TO GO WHERE WE NEED THEM MOST. THIRD, GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO DO EXACTLY THE SAME THING. WE HAVE GOT TO STRENGTHEN OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS, WHICH IS A PLACE WHERE WE CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. HAVE BETTER EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR THOSE WHO TEACH IN THOSE PROGRAMS. TREATING BOTH THE NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF THE KIDS WHO ARE IN THEM. AND STARTING YOUNGER THAN FOUR YEARS OF AGE, WHICH IS WHAT HEAD START IS. WE COULD HAVE MORE IMPACT IF WE STARTED YOUNGER. AND THEN FINALLY, MORE ACCESS TO ALL YOUNG PEOPLE -- FOR ALL YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET INTO AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM. YOU MAY KNOW THIS; YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT. MY WIFE AND I STARTED TWO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN NORTH CAROLINA AND ELIZABETH, MY WIFE, WORKED OVER THERE THE FIRST FEW YEARS. WE'VE SEEN HOW IMPORTANT KIDS HAVING A PLACE TO GO WHERE THEY CAN BE PRODUCTIVE AND OFF THE STREET IS. THEY NEED TO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO THEM. Yepsen: ALL THAT COSTS MONEY, SENATOR. WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THE NATION'S TAX POLICIES? Edwards: YEAH, HERE'S THE TRUTH. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BOTHERED ME ABOUT SOME OF THE DEBATE AMONG THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IS I HEAR PEOPLE SAY, LISTEN, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU HEALTH CARE, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU KIDS GOING TO COLLEGE, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY WE NEED FOR EDUCATION, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU MIDDLE-CLASS TAX CUTS. SOMETHING I HAVEN'T HEARD THEM TALKING ABOUT ENOUGH, BY THE WAY, WHICH I HOPE WE HAVE A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT, WHICH ARE 35 MILLION AMERICANS IN POVERTY. I HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT THAT. BUT THEY TALK ABOUT DOING ALL THESE THINGS AND THEN THEY SAY, "OH, AND BY THE WAY, WE'RE GOING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET IN FIVE YEARS." IT'S NOT THE TRUTH. YOU CAN'T DO IT. AND ONE OF THE REASONS PEOPLE ARE SO CYNICAL AND SKEPTICAL IS THEY'VE BEEN PROMISED THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER IN THE PAST. WHEN YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY -- AND I SPEND MONEY IN MY PROPOSALS. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. WHEN YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY, YOU'RE MAKING THE DEFICIT WORSE. THE QUESTION IS WHAT WILL YOU DO TO MAKE IT BETTER. AND HERE'S THE TRUTH ABOUT MY PROPOSAL. WHAT I'D DO IS STOP BUSH'S TAX CUTS FOR PEOPLE WHO MAKE OVER $200,000 A YEAR. SECOND, I'D RAISE THE CAPITAL GAINS RATE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAKE OVER $300,000 A YEAR, FROM 15 TO 25 PERCENT. I DON'T THINK OTHERS ARE DOING THAT. AND I CLOSE FOUR CORPORATE LOOPHOLES. WHAT IT DOES IS PAY FOR EVERYTHING I'M PROPOSING AND IT REDUCES THE FEDERAL DEFICIT BY $3- TO $400 BILLION. IT DOES NOT ELIMINATE IT AND I DON'T CLAIM IT BALANCES THE BUDGET IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE TRUTH. I DON'T THINK THAT CAN BE DONE. Yepsen: WE'VE ONLY GOT A FEW MINUTES LEFT, SENATOR, AND I'VE GOT WAY TOO MANY ISSUES. BUT YOU MENTIONED POVERTY, SO TALK ABOUT IT. Edwards: WELL, WE HAVE 35 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY. IT'S TIME FOR US -- ME, I'LL TALK ABOUT ME -- TO QUIT WORRYING ABOUT WHAT POLITICS ARE. I KNOW THOSE FOLKS DON'T VOTE, FOR THE MOST PART. I KNOW THAT ISSUE DOESN'T POLL HIGH, BUT THIS IS A MORAL ISSUE. IT IS A MORAL ISSUE. THIS IS ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG, WHICH WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT. ANYBODY RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT NEEDS TO HAVE A REAL SENSE, A GROUNDED SENSE OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG. AND IT IS WRONG IN A COUNTRY OF OUR WEALTH TO HAVE 35 MILLION YOUNG -- 35 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY. WE HAVE KIDS GOING TO BED HUNGRY. WE HAVE KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE THE CLOTHES TO KEEP THEM WARM. WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. Yepsen: WHAT? Edwards: WE HAVE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORKING FULL TIME AND LIVING IN POVERTY. HERE'S WHAT I'D DO. FIRST I'D RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR THOSE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FULL TIME AND LIVING IN POVERTY. SECOND, I WOULD MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MORE AVAILABLE. THIRD THING I WOULD DO IS TAKE THEIR EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, EXPAND IT, AND USE IT PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE COUPLES WHO DON'T HAVE CHILDREN BUT WHO ARE IN FACT LIVING IN POVERTY. MAKE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT MORE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE IN THE LOWEST INCOME BRACKETS. WE NEED TO BRING JOBS -- GOOD JOBS TO RURAL AREAS WHERE SO MANY POOR PEOPLE LIVE AND ALSO TO URBAN AREAS WHERE POOR PEOPLE LIVE. BUT WE NEED TO -- NUMBER ONE, WE NEED A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO WILL TALK ABOUT THIS, WHO CARES ABOUT IT. I MEAN IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO SEE THESE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN POVERTY. WHATEVER THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES ARE, IT'S WRONG AND WE NEED TO STAND UP AND SAY SO. Yepsen: YOU'VE GOT A HIGHER EDUCATION PLAN. TALK ABOUT IT. Edwards: IT'S CALLED COLLEGE FOR EVERYONE. IT'S BASED, HONESTLY, ON MY OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE. I WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO BE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE, AND I WORKED WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AND DID A LOT OF JOBS UNLOADING TRACTOR-TRAILERS AND ALL KINDS OF JOBS, WORKING IN THE MILL. THIS IS WHAT I SAY. IF YOU'RE A YOUNG PERSON AND YOU'RE QUALIFIED TO GO AND YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK AT LEAST TEN HOURS A WEEK THE FIRST YEAR YOU'RE THERE, YOU CAN GO TUITION-FREE TO A STATE UNIVERSITY OR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID FOR OUT OF WASHINGTON. PEOPLE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL CAN'T PAY FOR IT. WE'VE SEEN TUITION COSTS GOING UP. BUT THE IDEA IS YOU GET YOUNG PEOPLE THERE. THEY'RE ENGAGED, THEY'RE WORKING, THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR EDUCATION. HERE'S AN EXAMPLE, BY THE WAY, OF THE TOUGH CHOICES YOU HAVE TO MAKE ABOUT THE BUDGET. MY PLAN GETS THEM THERE, TAKES CARE OF THE FIRST YEAR. I'D LOVE FOR IT TO BE ALL FOUR YEARS. IT DOESN'T. THE REASON IT DOESN'T COVER ALL FOUR YEARS IS WE CAN'T PAY FOR IT. AND SO I'VE MADE THIS JUDGMENT THAT IT'S WORTHWHILE TO GET THESE YOUNG PEOPLE -- THESE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN COLLEGE, WORKING FOR THEIR EDUCATION. THEN WE HAVE TO EXPAND PELL GRANTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL AID SO THAT THEY CAN WORK, BORROW MONEY, PLUS GET FINANCIAL AID TO GET THEM THROUGH THE OTHER THREE YEARS. Yepsen: WE'RE IN RURAL AMERICA. WHY WOULD YOU BE THE BEST PRESIDENT FOR RURAL AMERICA? Edwards: BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I AM. I MEAN I GREW UP IN -- YOU SAID TO ME ONCE YOU COULD SMELL A HOG LOT. YOU KNOW WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE, AND YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT. Yepsen: BEFORE YOU GOT HERE. [ LAUGHTER ] Edwards: LONG BEFORE I GOT HERE. THIS HAS BEEN PART OF MY WHOLE LIFE EXPERIENCE, WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE RURAL ECONOMY IN THIS COUNTRY. I THINK, HONESTLY, FOR SOME DEMOCRATS RURAL AMERICA IS A PLACE YOU FLY OVER BETWEEN NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA. FOR ME IT'S BEEN PART OF MY WHOLE LIFE. AND IT'S THE REASON I LAID OUT A VERY SPECIFIC AGENDA ABOUT CREATING INCENTIVES FOR JOBS TO COME TO RURAL AREAS; MAKING SURE THAT WE IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR SCHOOLS IN RURAL AREAS; ADDRESSING THE VERY UNIQUE HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE FACE IN RURAL AREAS, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE THE USE OF TELEMEDICINE SO THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY, MOST SOPHISTICATED MEDICAL CARE IN THE RURAL AREAS IN THIS COUNTRY; THE FARM ISSUES, WHICH YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT ALREADY. THIS IS IN MY BLOOD. Yepsen: SENATOR, VERY QUICKLY, HOW DO YOU DO THE WAR ON TERRORISM? WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY ON THE WAR ON TERRORISM? JUST ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT. Edwards: I'D DO TWO THINGS. I'LL DO IT QUICK. FIRST, WE HAVE TO WORK BETTER WITH OUR ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW WHERE THE TERRORIST CELLS ARE LOCATED AROUND THE WORLD, YOU CAN'T GET TO THEM WITHOUT A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL THESE OTHER COUNTRIES. HERE AT HOME, BETTER JOB OF PROTECTING OUR PORTS. WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF CONTAINERS COMING IN. WE'RE LOOKING AT ONLY 3 OR 4 PERCENT OF THEM. VERY DANGEROUS. BETTER JOB OF PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE TARGETS, CHEMICAL PLANTS, NUCLEAR PLANTS. BETTER JOB OF INVOLVING OUR COMMUNITIES IN RESPONDING TO A NUCLEAR ATTACK -- I MEAN TO A TERRORIST ATTACK. AND A WARNING SYSTEM SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT ONE IS COMING. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, DOING A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE JOB OF GETTING HUMAN PENETRATION OF THE TERRORIST CELLS THAT WE KNOW ALREADY EXIST WITHIN THIS COUNTRY. Yepsen: SENATOR, WE'VE GOT JUST ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT. I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU. WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT CAUCUS GOERS TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOU AS THEY HEAD OUT ON MONDAY NIGHT? Edwards: I HAVE RUN THE MOST POSITIVE, OPTIMISTIC CAMPAIGN OF ANY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE. FOR ME THIS IS NOT ABOUT SNIPING AT OTHER DEMOCRATS. IF CAUCUS GOERS WANT THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE BEST AT SNIPING AT OTHER DEMOCRATS, THEY'VE GOT SOMEBODY ELSE. IF THEY WANT SOMEBODY WHO'S SPENT THEIR ENTIRE LIFE PREPARING FOR THIS FIGHT AGAINST GEORGE BUSH -- I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW READY I AM FOR THIS FIGHT. IT DRIVES ME EVERY DAY. AS "THE DES MOINES REGISTER" SAID WHEN THEY ENDORSED ME, I'M THE POLAR OPPOSITE OF GEORGE BUSH. AND I AM SO READY FOR THIS FIGHT. MY CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT LIFTING PEOPLE UP. IT'S ABOUT OPTIMISM. IT'S ABOUT HOPE. IT'S THE POLITICS OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE. Yepsen: SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. Edwards: THANKS, DAVID. Yepsen: WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME TO DO THAT. Edwards: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. Yepsen: NOW, TOMORROW EVENING WE CONTINUE WITH OUR TEN-PART SERIES AND WE GET THE CAMPAIGN LAY OF THE LAND WITH THE FRONT-RUNNER. DR. HOWARD DEAN, THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF VERMONT, IS LEADING THE PACK OF DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS HERE IN IOWA, IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND NATIONWIDE. BUT IT'S CLOSE. WE DISCUSS THE DYNAMICS OF DEAN'S CAMPAIGN AND THE ISSUES HE'S DISCUSSING. THAT'S TOMORROW EVENING AT 6:30. I HOPE YOU'LL BE JOINING US THEN. I'M DAVID YEPSEN OF "THE DES MOINES REGISTER." THANKS FOR BEING WITH US HERE ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. CAPTIONS BY: MIDWEST CAPTIONING DES MOINES, IOWA. FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION... GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THEY WATCH ON IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION.
|
|
