NPR News Special: Election 2004 - Transcript

National Public Radio (NPR)

SHOW: NPR News Special: Election 2004 11:00 AM EST NPR

November 2, 2004 Tuesday

HEADLINE: Representative Nancy Pelosi on the Democrat's chances in the House

ANCHORS: LINDA WERTHEIMER

BODY:

LINDA WERTHEIMER, co-host:

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi is the minority leader in the US House of Representatives now, and she joins us from Washington, DC.

Congresswoman Pelosi, we're looking at a situation where much is unsettled and and unsolved. How are you feeling about the Democrats' chances so far?

Representative NANCY PELOSI (Democrat, California): Well, you're right. There's so much uncertainty out there, and many of our races are in the Rocky Mountain West and in Washington state. We have a couple of races there. Obviously, all eyes are on the presidential, and we're hoping that that will be resolved shortly so that we can get some more figures on our House races. We will definitely pick up seats tonight. We won't be able to take control of the House because of serious setback in Texas, which was predictable and significant. We probably could lose as many as four seats there, which is significant. So with the need to win 12, and we'll-we hope to win seven or eight Democratic seats, but losing four in Texas, we won't reach that goal. But we will move closer to the goal. And I have no doubt that in a very short period of time, the Democrats will be in control of the Congress.

WERTHEIMER: I saw that you picked up Phil Crane's seat in Illinois, and you picked up a seat in Georgia.

Rep. PELOSI: We picked up Phil Crane's, which was a-that was a mighty oak to fell. And you know, Phil Crane, the longest serving Republican in the Congress. We picked up a seat in Georgia, which people didn't expect us to do just a few short days ago, but we worked very hard and had a big ground operation. We believe that we will win a Republican seat in the state of New York that was vacated by Congressman Jack Quinn. We think that we have a chance to win-we're 10,000 votes ahead in Pennsylvania against an incumbent Republican. So on the East Coast, where we have the results, we're doing well. Now we have to move into-and the Midwest where we have the results. We still have some opportunities in the Midwest that are-where the votes aren't in yet. And then, of course, we have the fight that we're making in the Rocky Mountain West and in Washington state.

WERTHEIMER: But the next election is really the election where Democrats in the House will go up against Republicans with some substantial vulnerability.

Rep. PELOSI: Yes, that's true. And we will do it, you know, full steam ahead. Obviously, the focus this time, with the most Democrats, was on winning the White House. And I fully subscribe to that being the priority, and I'm hoping that the outcome tonight will be a Democratic victory 'cause that's the most-electing John Kerry over President Bush is our most important priority. But we did want to make progress in our House races, and we did. And we will be bringing many new members to Congress, more women, more minorities, a very dynamic group of new members in addition to the races that we talked about, some races-other races that were easier for us and not in contention tonight.

WERTHEIMER: Have you seen what-the effect of all of these young people we're hearing about coming into the voting stream. What does that mean for House members? Can you tell?

Rep. PELOSI: Well, it means a great deal to us. Just before I came on to talk with you, I met with three young bloggers who raised money-one high school student, two in college-who raised money over the Internet for our effort to win the House. So we're bringing in people we would never have had contact with into our orbit. And it's very invigorating for us to have the next generation be such an important part of our work, because the future belongs to them, and we want them to play an important role in it.

WERTHEIMER: Right. House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, talking with us here in Washington, thanks very much.

Rep. PELOSI: Thank you so much. Bye-bye.

WERTHEIMER: You're listening to live coverage of Election 2004.