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January 5, 2004 ZAHN: So Teresa, your husband has spent the better part of 2003 on the campaign trail, and if you look at the latest CNN poll, it would show that he is getting just about half the votes that Governor Dean is. Are you frustrated by where he is placing in the majority of the polls right now? SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Can I just say -- I know you asked Teresa that, and I don't -- I'm not answering for her, but it is our view, shared, and the view of our campaign that the polls right now, particularly nationally, are meaningless. We are competitive. We are growing. My campaign is on the move in Iowa, on the move in New Hampshire, and we're very excited about it. ZAHN: Nevertheless, though, Teresa, it's certainly one measure of the strength of one's campaign. Are you disappointed? Or are you really, truly satisfied with where your husband is running in the polls? TERESA HEINZ, JOHN KERRY'S WIFE: Well, I don't know -- I think the real reading out there is when I go, as I do in Iowa, and speak to groups to people who go to caucuses and are now undecided, that we get commitments at the end. Lots of commitments. And I am thankful to Iowans for that. That is a true test. ZAHN: Senator Kerry, your wife has just described herself as shy, and yet you have described her over the years as being sassy and comfortable being opinionated. She's so comfortable talking about botox treatments, your prenuptial agreement, taking on some of your competitors in a very direct way. Has she ever been a liability to your campaign because of her candor? KERRY: Never. She's the greatest asset in the world, and people love her. People who are meeting her all across Iowa, all across New Hampshire fall in love with her. ZAHN: Teresa, do you ever feel like you're being muzzled, muzzled by the campaign, that you're not able to express exactly what you want to express, to be politically correct? HEINZ: No, I have never -- no, I have never been muzzled, and if anybody who is listening has ever lived in a dictatorship, as I did, that's the one thing no one could ever do, is take my freedom of expression. You know? People in the world die for that freedom. And I rejoice in it. And that's why I campaign. Women with opinions get called opinionated. Men with opinions get called smart or well-informed. I have opinions, and I should, because I do very important work, and if I didn't have opinions on the things I know, I would be a dimlet (ph). ZAHN: A point well taken. Senator, let me move on to another issue now. You borrowed more than $6 million against your home in Boston to lend to your campaign. KERRY: Sure. ZAHN: Did you do that because not enough private donations were coming in? KERRY: No, I did that because I chose to opt out of the federal spending, and I did it because I have confidence in my campaign, and I wanted to send a message to people that I believe in my candidacy. And it gave great confidence to people across the country, and as I said to you, my campaign is growing. I have great confidence. We're going to win the nomination. ZAHN: Teresa, have you given any money to your husband's campaign? HEINZ: I gave him $2,000, which is all I'm allowed to do. ZAHN: And do you plan to... HEINZ: I gave him my brains, and my brains and my heart, of course. You can't pay enough money for those. My service. But I cannot by law allowed to do anymore than that. ZAHN: Teresa, if it turns out that Governor Dean gets the nomination, will you embrace him as a candidate? HEINZ: I don't know Governor Dean. And I'd have to have a big talk with him about a lot of subjects. ZAHN: And how about you, Senator Kerry? KERRY: I've always supported the nominee of our party, no matter who it is, but I intend to win the nomination, and we feel like this campaign is really moving now. We're growing. I think Iowa feels that, shows it. We're moving in New Hampshire. There's a lot of time left. ZAHN: And I know... HEINZ: I would like to meet Mrs. Dean, though. I'd like to meet Dr. Steinberg, though. I would like to meet her, because I like, you know, I like medicine, I do a lot of work in health and I'm jealous of her for doing the work she does. I am. ZAHN: Final question for both of you. You both have talked about the delight of engaging in very important issues on the campaign trail. Teresa, what's the worst thing about this life you're leading right now? HEINZ: The worst thing is that I'm a little too old for it, at least for the pace I'm keeping. ZAHN: Senator Kerry, final -- final thought about the downside of campaigning? KERRY: I do think the only downside that I find is raising the money. And it's hard, you know. We -- you just don't have the family time that you had before. But I hate raising money. I think it's a bad part of American politics. There is too much money in American politics. It is affecting the voices of the average Americans. It's taking it away from them. ZAHN: Well, we appreciate both of you sharing your thoughts with us. KERRY: Thank you. ZAHN: And your ideas. HEINZ: Thank you. |
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