Special Report - Transcript
ABC News Transcripts
SHOW: SPECIAL REPORT (10:00 PM ET) - ABC
November 2, 2004 Tuesday
HEADLINE: SPECIAL REPORT INTRODUCTION
PETER JENNINGS
(Off Camera) Joining us now, and I'm perfectly honest, I don't know where he is at the moment, is Senator John McCain. And he is in Phoenix, in his home state of Arizona. Good evening, Senator McCain, thank you for joining us.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, REPUBLICAN, ARIZONA
Thank you, Peter.
PETER JENNINGS
(Off Camera) Been a nasty year, hasn't it? You must be disappointed.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN
Yes, it's been a nasty year. But I hope that tomorrow morning sometime when we, we're, we're clear who the winner is, that we start a process of reconciliation so that we'll work together. And by the way, I'm encouraged that what apparently President Bush is succeeding in Florida. I think very it's important.
PETER JENNINGS
(Off Camera) Everybody else I've talked to tonight is somewhat pessimistic about the possibility of reconciliation, especially in the body to which you belong, the Senate.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN
Well, Peter, I, I, look we realize that it takes 60 votes to do business in the Senate without the other party. And so, we're, we're going to have to, and led by President Bush, I'm sure that he's got a very busy agenda for his second term. And I think that one of the first things he's gonna do is reach out to the Democrats. And not just with a couple of cabinet appointments. But with some specific plans for working together. The way that he worked with Ted Kennedy on the No Child Left Behind Act.
PETER JENNINGS
(Off Camera) That is a matter of huge speculation you just raised. Whether or not, if President Bush is re-elected, he will -as they say, govern more towards the center. Or whether he will continue, as he has for these last four years, to appeal largely to his conservative base. What do you really think?
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN
I really think that every president in his second term has wanted to have a legacy. I think that means working together with the other side on national security issues, as well as domestic issues. So I'm confident he'll do that.
PETER JENNINGS
(Off Camera) Talk a little bit about Arizona because we're about to, we're about to face the results in Arizona. What, as you've traveled around the state, is there one issue that is absolutely dominant?
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN
Yes, there is, in Arizona. And this may surprise you a little, but probably won't, actually. Immigration. Immigration reform is the big issue here. We have terrific problems with, with lawlessness, with destruction of property, with strains on our health care. With 200-some people dying in the desert in the last year. It's, it's probably the transcendent issue. And the second one is water.
PETER JENNINGS
(Off Camera) You have a proposition on the ballot in Arizona, that should anyone applying for public health benefits has to prove that they're a citizen. How divisive has that been in the state of Arizona this year?
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN
It's been very divisive. And by the way, it just says public benefits which some of us are concerned that it might mean public libraries or parks or, or other public facilities. We understand the frustration that the people of this state feel. They're understandably frustrated. But I, and the other elected leaders of this state, don't feel it's the right answer. In fact, we think it's very much the wrong answer.
PETER JENNINGS
(Off Camera) A final question, if I may, Senator. And it's very (INAUDIBLE). Do you often or ever feel used by the Bush campaign this year? You have not always been bosom buddies, by any means.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN
Peter, I, I, I support the president strongly. I enjoyed campaigning with him. And I think the transcendent issue of this campaign was the war on terror. And I think he was best qualified. That does not detract from the fact that I am a, a good friend of John Kerry's.
PETER JENNINGS
(Off Camera) Many thanks. Nice to see you, Senator McCain.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN
Thank you, Peter.