CNN The Situation Room - Transcript
CNN THE SITUATION ROOM - Transcript
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BLITZER: It seemed like a pipe dream for Democrats, but, on this day, before America votes, the minority party has a shot at seizing control of the Senate, along with the House of Representatives.
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York is the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. He's the man overseeing his party's battle to try to reclaim the Senate.
Senator, thanks very much for coming in.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Glad to be here, Wolf.
BLITZER: Do you think you're going to get those six seats you need to be the majority in the United States Senate?
SCHUMER: Well, it's a tough battle. It's like pulling a straight flush.
But we're right on the edge. We have two seats -- first, I think, in all the blue states, we're doing well, including New Jersey and Maryland. And in the red states, where we have to win six -- and that is a big battle, beating five incumbents, because, one, Frist s a vacancy -- out of the -- we have to win six out of those eight. And they're in red states.
But we are significantly ahead in two, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and we're a little bit ahead in four more, which is Montana, Missouri, Virginia, and Rhode Island. Tennessee, we're a little bit behind, but that's within reach, and the same with Arizona.
So, you know, if there is a strong wind at our back tomorrow, if the voters are voting overwhelmingly for Democrats, yes, it could happen. We have put all the right pieces in place, Wolf. And whether there is enough in this tough map to get us over the top, we will have to wait and see tomorrow.
BLITZER: What if you get five seats? This would be interesting. And there would be 50/50, 50 Democrats in the Senate, 50 Republicans. The president of the Senate is the vice president. That would be Dick Cheney, so he breaks the tie. You remain in the minority.
But is there a Republican or two you could try to convert, not necessarily to becoming a Democrat, but an independent, in order to gain the majority?
SCHUMER: Well, it's always possible.
But that's a tough thing to do. People like to stick with their party, their state structures at home, or their party. But, even that way, if it's 50/50, at least the last time that happened, the committees were even. Therefore, you needed bipartisanship to get anything out of committee. That's probably good for America.
And, second, the staff dollars were decided equally. And, so, it was a much more even split. You wouldn't get the same situation that you have even if it's 51/49.
BLITZER: Are you...
SCHUMER: And, so...
BLITZER: Are you completely confident that Joe Lieberman, if he's reelected as an independent, will caucus with the Democrats, given the hard feelings -- I'm sure he is upset that Democrats did not treat him as he would have wanted.
SCHUMER: Well, I think he has promised Harry Reid that that would happen over and over again.
He has told the voters of Connecticut that. He's getting a significant portion of the Democratic vote, a large proportion of the independent vote. So, yes, I have very little doubt, because Joe's word is good. And he's given it both publicly and privately on innumerable occasions.
BLITZER: Including on this program, when we interviewed him a -- a few weeks back, as well.
I want you to listen to what Bill Clinton, the former president, said earlier today. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are still people who will go to the polls tomorrow not entirely sure of who they're going to vote for, because, frankly, a lot of these people have never voted for us before.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: Do you think he's referring to conservatives or anti- war voters who may have voted Republican in the past? What's going on here?
SCHUMER: Well, what we have found, Wolf, is that, even in states that are decidedly red, you're getting a large number of voters, independents, Republicans, who are voting for us, because either they're fed up with the war and George Bush's inability -- the only people in the world who seem to think Iraq is going swimmingly well are George Bush and his small coterie of advisers; they are the ones who are saying, don't change the course -- or because they're not happy with the situation domestically.
It's harder for the middle class to make do. I think you are going to find voters in states like Missouri, and Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and Tennessee like that.
Or there are some, even real conservative people who think you need some checks and balances in this government. And, so, you're getting across-the-board support. And we're -- we're getting support in places we never expected. The independent vote in most states is breaking heavily for the Democrats. And that owes -- bodes well for us.
BLITZER: You think this guilty verdict of Saddam Hussein, and the death sentence, is going to have any impact on voters tomorrow?
SCHUMER: No, I don't.
I think, when Dick Cheney said, we're staying the course, no matter what, when George Bush said he is keeping Donald Rumsfeld, no matter what, that is going to have more of an effect on the voters tomorrow than Saddam's conviction.
Saddam's conviction was a good thing. Make no mistake about it. But it's sort of the past. People are looking to the future and who has a better plan, who can do more.
BLITZER: We're going to leave it right there, Senator Schumer. Thanks very much for coming in.
SCHUMER: Thank you, Wolf. Good to talk to you.
And good luck tomorrow...
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