CNBC Capital Report - Transcript

CNBC News Transcripts

SHOW: Capital Report (7:00 PM ET) - CNBC

February 10, 2004 Tuesday

HEADLINE: Governor Mark Warner of Virginia discusses Senator John Kerry's primary victory

ANCHORS: ALAN MURRAY

BODY:
ALAN MURRAY, co-host:

Well, let's turn now to the man whose state is in the spotlight tonight. He joins me now from the Kerry campaign gathering, which is at George Mason University. He is Virginia Governor Mark Warner, a Kerry supporter, endorsed him shortly before the primary.

Governor Warner, great to have you with us.

Governor MARK WARNER (Democrat, Virginia): Thank you, Alan. Thank you, Gloria.

MURRAY: Let me ask you this question: In your view, given that Governor Kerry has now shown that he can win a Southern state, is the contest for the Democratic nomination over?

Gov. WARNER: Well, we may have some of the candidates continue, but I think by winning in the South--and one of the things in Virginia, we've got an open primary. So this was not only Democrats but Independents and Republicans who want to see a change in the White House as well. I think that this win here in Virginia, going along with the wins he's go tall across the nation, mean this is the candidate that I think Democrats and people who want to see a change in Washington will coalesce behind.

MURRAY: All right. Let me ask you a serious question here. You haven't had a Democratic presidential candidate, if I've got my facts right, win in Virginia since Lyndon Johnson. Is there any chance that John Kerry, if he gets the nomination, could actually win Virginia in November?

Gov. WARNER: Absolutely. I mean, we hadn't had a Democratic governor for years either, and I was able to win in Virginia because you've got to reach out and talk to voters about issues that care, not simply the social issues but how you link education and jobs, how you get this national deficit under control, how you fight the war on terrorism not only abroad but in terms of support for your firefighters and your cops and your veterans here at home. I think John Kerry did that in this campaign, at least here in Virginia: talked to coal miners in southwest, tobacco farmers in south side. He keeps that same message going, I think he'll be successful even in Virginia come this fall.

MURRAY: But, Governor, there is a difference here. I mean, you're a former entrepreneur. He's a senator. You have been against gun control legislation. He has supported gun control legislation. The question that people are asking is: Can a liberal Massachusetts Democratic senator win in a state like Virginia?

Gov. WARNER: Well, again, he's also a decorated war hero, a prosecutor and somebody who served with distinction in the US Senate, actually breaking with the national Democrats back in the '80s to support the Gramm-Rudman budget deficit reduction bill. He actually has told me many times on gun owners rights that he supports the Second Amendment--thinks we ought to extend the assault weapons ban but supports the Second Amendment. I think what Americans want and what Virginians want is somebody who's going to talk about jobs, talk about how our kids get a good education, how people in rural communities don't have to have their kids leave their hometowns and move away and never move back. And I think John Kerry has got a record on those issues. And if he can get that message out, I think people are going to respond all across the nation.

MURRAY: Just let me ask you very quickly before we go, do you think this issue that came up today about President Bush's National Guard service will be an issue in the campaign?

Gov. WARNER: You know, I can't tell. I think that, you know, clearly, we all want to get the facts. What we do know is that John Kerry served with distinction in Vietnam. He went to war. He came back a decorated war hero. And I think with our nation at war, that's why you see so many veterans from all across the political stripes and all across the country supporting John Kerry.

MURRAY: All right. Virginia Governor Mark Warner, thanks for being our guest on CAPITAL REPORT.

Gov. WARNER: Thank you, Alan.