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CNN Today

Election 2000: Michigan Crucial for Both Presidential Campaigns

Aired November 6, 2000 - 2:19 p.m. ET

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

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: To the very end, Michigan remains one of those crucial battleground states. It's 18 electoral votes could tip this election to either candidate.

National correspondent Mike Boettcher is in Mt. Clemens, Michigan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a volunteer for George W. Bush.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope to have your support for our labor- endorsed candidates.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lawrence Dabineau (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's going to be an incredibly close race.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can the governor and U.S. senator count on your support?

MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the birthplace of those politically famous blue-collar Reagan Democrats who in the '90s voted twice for Bill Clinton, Michigan again will play a pivotal role.

WILLIAM BALLENGER, EDITOR, "INSIDE MICHIGAN POLITICS": It's a microcosm of the country. And in four of the last five presidential elections, we have not just picked the winner here in Michigan, we have picked the winner and the losers' percentages respectively within 1 percent of the national result.

AL GORE, VICE RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Michigan may well turn out to be the key state.

BOETTCHER: Both presidential candidates have made frequent stops here, Gore working to energize his core constituencies of union members and African-Americans.

KEN TERRY, UAW REGION 1: We're trying to reach approximately 146,000 active and retired members.

GOV. GEORGE BUSH (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you all for coming.

BOETTCHER: Bush, trying to woo the Reagan Democrats back into the Republican fold.

NATALIE MYTNYK, BUSH CAMPAIGN MICHIGAN: We'll be able to counter that union effect. I don't think it's going to be as strong as people expect, actually.

BOETTCHER: But this year in Michigan, polling shows Republicans and Democrats are standing firm with their respective candidates, crossover not much of an issue. But independents are.

ED SURPOLUS, MICHIGAN POLLSTER: The trouble is that independent voters, they're not moved by phone banks or door knocking or the other things. They have to do it on their own.

BOETTCHER: And the Independents are still undecided. Not even the movies' perfect 10, Bo Derek, campaigning in a bowling alley for Governor Bush, could make much headway.

BO DEREK, ACTRESS: Are you voting for Bush?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm undecided at this point.

BOETTCHER: So how will they eventually make up their minds in Michigan?

SURPOLUS: We're finding in our polls, and our callers are telling us also, if the people are deciding on character and personality, they're voting for Governor George Bush. If they're voting on issues, they're voting for Al Gore.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOETTCHER: The most recent "Detroit News" poll here shows Gore with 46 percent, Governor Bush with 41 percent, but that poll has been fluctuating. They call it still too close to call here. The phone banks are working overtime in this state. They expect a very heavy turnout. Approximately 65 percent in Michigan as a whole and here in Macomb County they're expecting up to 80 percent turnout for the election -- Natalie.

ALLEN: Well, I was going to say that everyone is saying now that Michigan could be the state. I would think that would get people out to the polls.

All right, Mike Boettcher, thanks so much.

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