[Gene Randall, Cnn Anchor:] A short time ago in Purchase, New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first lady, made history she declared her candidacy for the U.S. Senate. CNN's senior White House correspondent John King is standing by in Purchase with a report John.
[John King, Cnn Sr. White House Correspondent:] Gene, it is
[Hillary Clinton , New York Senatorial Candidate:] I am a new Democrat. I don't believe government is the source of all our problems, or the solution to them. But I do believe that when people live up to their responsibilities we ought to live up to ours to help them build better lives. That's the basic bargain we owe one another in America today.
[King:] Education and health-care reform among the first lady's primary issues. Her agenda very much like the president's agenda and the national Democratic Party agenda. But a key subplot here, the first lady and other New York Democrats out to make the case that the mayor is too controversial and too combative to serve in a collegial body like the United States Senate. Earlier today on CNN's "LATE EDITION," the mayor said he was indeed a Republican, but also said that he believed if he went to Washington, he could get things done. [Begin Video Clip, "late Edition With Wolf Blitzer"]
[Mayor Rudolph Giuliani , New York City:] I believe in Republican principles, but I am pretty good at advocating, I'm pretty good at getting for the people that I serve the things that they need. So I think that the idea that I could be part of the majority party actually is something that is helpful to the people of the state.
[King:] The first lady now trying to raise upwards of $25,000,000 for this election effort, her first run for public office. The president had nothing to say today. He sat on the supportive spouse, a role his wife has played throughout Mr. Clinton's career, but he is behind the scenes helping his wife prepare for this campaign. A very bruising campaign expected. Mrs. Clinton said as much when she said, "I know this will be a fight, but after all, this is New York" Gene.
[Randall:] Thanks, John. A new poll shows Mrs. Clinton is running only slightly behind Rudy Giuliani. A survey of registered voters in New York gives Republican Giuliani a 3 percentage point edge, 45 to 42, with 10 percent undecided. The Quinnipiac College Poll has a 3 percentage margin of error. Joining us to talk about Mrs. Clinton's move, from Purchase, New York, Democratic Congressman congressional Representative Nita Lowey, and from Albany, Republican Congressman John Sweeney. Mr. Sweeney, what kind of race do you see ahead and do you think Mrs. Clinton will be a formidable challenger?
[Rep. John Sweeney , New York:] Well, obviously, Mrs. Clinton has a lot of celebrity, Gene, and that and a lot of financial backing, so those two factors in and of themselves will make her formidable and tough. You know, I listened to the speech today and I kept thinking as a representative of upstate New York and someone who also serves in Congress, where have you been? Hillary Clinton has been in the White House for seven years. Many of the issues she touched on, she pointed to, I think that we could agree work needs to be done, but I think the bottom line is she hasn't really accomplished anything and doesn't come forward with a record of accomplishment.
[Randall:] Ms. Lowey, any mixed feelings today? You had thoughts about running for that Senate seat.
[Rep. Nita Lowey , New York:] I'm looking forward to continuing to serve in the House, to be in leadership in the House when the Democrats take over the House. That's the reason that Hillary Clinton will win and the Democrats will take care of the House, with all due respect to my good friend and colleague. The people's agenda is a Democratic agenda, modernizing schools, patients' bill of rights, preserving Social Security and Medicare, getting common-sense gun safety legislation passed. The reason Hillary Clinton will win, the reason the Democrats will get control of the House, because these are the issues that people care about.
[Randall:] Ms. Lowey, do you think the mayor of New York will be a very tough candidate?
[Lowey:] He certainly will be a very strong candidate. But eventually the people will make a decision based upon their concerns, their values and their future, and Hillary Clinton's agenda is my agenda, the Democrats' agenda, it's a Democrat for the future. We're unfortunately the majority of the Republican caucus want to take us backwards. Where is the patient bill of rights? They held it up. Where is gun safety legislation? They held it up. They want this huge tax cut. We all like tax cuts. But I want to target a tax cut so we can preserve Social Security and Medicare. This is the agenda that we're going to win on.
[Randall:] Mr. Sweeney?
[Sweeney:] That all makes great sound bites, Nita, but the fact is Rudy Giuliani is the one candidate here who has created jobs, who has paid down deficits, who has balanced budgets, who has done something about quality of life to reduce crime, and really can help create jobs. And I come from an upstate region that for seven years has really struggled with a lot of the polices the Clinton administration has promulgated. So I think that in the end it's really going to come down to the proven commodity versus a lot of rhetoric, and we heard a lot of rhetoric today, we will continue to hear that, but I think New York voters understand...
[Randall:] Mr. Sweeney...
[Sweeney:] Yes.
[Randall:] Mr. Sweeney and Ms. Lowey, take 15 seconds each. What holds the key in this contest in New York, Ms. Lowey?
[Lowey:] What holds the key is the people. The people of New York are going to make a decision based upon their values, and Hillary Clinton, the Democrats are in sync with them, and that's why they're going to vote Democratic in New York and around the country.
[Randall:] Mr. Sweeney, what holds the key?
[Sweeney:] It is the people, and it's not whether they're going to vote Democratic or Republican, they're going to vote for what is proven.
[Randall:] Mr. Sweeney and Ms. Lowey, thanks very much.
[Sweeney:] Thank you, Gene.
[Lowey:] Thanks very much.