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Democratic National Convention: Gov. Shaheen Discusses Gore's Strengths

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LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen will be with us just shortly. We want to play you a little excerpt here of her address to the convention on Monday when she talked about Al Gore's character.

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GOV. JEANNE SHAHEEN (D), NEW HAMPSHIRE: Pride when he meets working families whose lives have been turned around. And you can see his commitment to providing more opportunities to all Americans.

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WATERS: And Governor Shaheen joins us.

I'm surprised that you could make it with your full schedule. I mean, you are all over this place. Why the high demand for Jeanne Shaheen here?

SHAHEEN: Well, I don't know, but it gives me a great opportunity to talk about New Hampshire and to talk about what I've been doing there, which I think mirrors what's been going on in this country in the last eight years.

WATERS: Well, most of us -- most folks heard about you when vice presidential possibilities were being mentioned. Your name was on the list. Some said you were being considered and then they said: no, no, she's not being considered. And then you said you didn't want to be considered. Were you being considered and said you didn't want to be? what was that all about?

SHAHEEN: Listen, it was nice to be on -- to have my name appear on that list. But the important thing for me was that I think it said something about what's going on in New Hampshire; about how good the economy is in the state, how many jobs we've been creating for people, what we've been doing on health care, to enroll children in the children's health insurance plan, what we've been doing to try and improve schools. And, again, I think that was important because it reflects what's been going on across this country in the last eight years under the Clinton/Gore administration.

WATERS: What that list said to many of us was that here's a prominent Democratic woman on a short list for vice president for a man who is having women problems. The polls show that Bush is ahead of Al Gore with women. What's the problem?

SHAHEEN: You know, I think one of things that needs to happen in the next 2 1/2 months before November is to clearly point out the differences between Al Gore and George Bush on the issues that women and families care about in this country. The difference on health care, Al Gore is the only one who's talking about expanding access to health care for all Americans. He's the only one who's talking about providing pre-kindergarten for all the children in this country, something that's so critical if we want our kids to be ready to learn when they go to school. He's the only one talking about a prescription drug benefit for all of our seniors so that they don't have to choose between whether they can buy their medication or have food to eat, someone who's protecting Social Security. Those are issues that matter to working class -- to working families. Those are issues that matter to women.

WATERS: There's no one better prepared on issues than Al Gore. I think we can all concede that. But somehow he's not getting it across that he is the man for these issues. So what does he have to do at this convention to -- what many say is a process of introducing himself to the American people. Does Al Gore really have to introduce himself to the American people after being vice president for eight years?

SHAHEEN: Well, you know, people haven't been focused on this race. They've got busy lives. And they're just beginning to tune in now. It's like what happened in the New Hampshire primary, you know, the polls showed that George Bush was way ahead of John McCain, way ahead of Al Gore, in New Hampshire and the primary, until the voters of New Hampshire started paying attention to the two candidates. When they got to know Al Gore, and they got to know George Bush, they chose Al Gore. They didn't choose George Bush.

WATERS: OK, and good luck with your reelection campaign there in New Hampshire.

SHAHEEN: Thank you very much.

WATERS: And try to have enough energy for all they're calling upon you to do here at the Democratic convention. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire governor, appreciate very much, you being here.

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