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Morning News

Bush and Gore Camps Acknowledge Importance of Tonight's Debate

Aired October 3, 2000 - 9:07 a.m. ET

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

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's look at out focus here in the U.S., now. That's the presidential election only five weeks away, now. Al Gore and George W. Bush come face to face tonight in what could be a very critical test of this campaign, debate number one this evening.

Our CNN senior White House correspondent, John King, live in Boston with a preview now.

Hey, John, good morning.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

Many days, too much hype in politics, but this is a big event tonight. Sixty to 75 million people expected to watch the first face- to-face showdown between the Democratic nominee, Vice President Al Gore, the Republican nominee, Texas governor George W. Bush. The polls show a dead heat, not only nationally, but if you wander through the key battleground states, most of them very competitive as well. Both campaigns acknowledging this could be the turning point tonight, here at this debate.

Now, as we speak to the top strategists from both campaigns earlier this morning on CNN, Tad Devine, he is one of the vice president's closest advisers. He said what the vice president wants is to get into a very polite but sharp contrasted policy debate. Look for the vice president -- and he gets the first question tonight -- to try to draw out Governor Bush on the issues of education, health care and taxes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAD DEVINE, GORE CAMPAIGN SR. ADVISER: As many as 75 million Americans will watch this debate tonight, and Al Gore wants them to know about his vision for the future of this nation. That, at this time of unprecedented prosperity, we should use our surplus to enrich all families, not just the few, that we should strengthen families and help parents, and that means investing in education, in middle class tax cuts and secure retirement. If he can get that out to the people of this nation tonight, he's going to do very well.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KING: Now, as always, the pre-debate expectations game well under way. Karl Rove is the top political strategist for the Bush campaign. He says Al Gore has a lot more experience in such formats. He says, when the American people tune in tonight, they won't see the world's greatest debater, or greatest orator in George W. Bush. But, he does believe they will see in the Texas governor the qualities they want in a president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARL ROVE, SENIOR BUSH STRATEGIST: He's a plain-spoken person. He's not an accomplished orator; he's not a practiced debater. He's a person who, you know, sort of, says what he feels. And, so look, there are people that are far more accomplished at debating, but he's a good, strong leader, and that's what, really, the American people are really looking for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Both campaigns say key decisions will be made based on what happens here tonight: where to advertise, where to spend the candidates' time. Two more presidential debates, one more vice presidential debate, both campaigns, though, believe this is the key night in this campaign. The two candidates will be here, standing at lecterns tonight. There will be a moderator. But, they also get to ask each other questions, very interesting dynamic here. Again, an audience of 60 to 70 million Americans expected to watch in a very close, perhaps the closest, Presidential race since 1960.

John King, CNN, reporting live from Boston.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: John, thank you very much.

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