DNC Chairman Terry McAuliff on Convention Mechanics

This is a partial transcript from "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren, July 23, 2004 that has been edited for clarity.

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GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, HOST: Tonight we're live from Boston where crowds are building ahead of Monday's Democratic Convention, as police scramble to secure the city.

Joining us is Terry McAuliffe, Chairman of the DNC, nice to see you Terry.

TERRY MCAULIFF, DNC CHAIRMAN: Greta, great to be with you in Boston.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right, Terry. It's pretty clear you got all the Democrats are going to vote for John Kerry. How do you get the undecideds and how do you use the convention to get to the undecideds?

MCAULIFF: Well, we have four days here to talk about John Kerry's commitment, his service to our country and, most importantly, what he's going to do, his positive, optimistic vision for the future of this country. That's what we're going to do here for four days.

VAN SUSTEREN: But do you aim at your base or are you trying to get the undecideds? This is going to be a really close race.

MCAULIFF: Very close race. We're going to try and reach out to everybody. We want a message that is optimistic, get jobs created back in this country again. George Bush, as you know, lost three million jobs, 42.5 million Americans with no health insurance at all, under funding education by $9 billion, so we're going to address all those issues up here.

We're going to talk about John Kerry and John Edwards what they have done with their lives, so everybody has a full understanding, the introduction of the two of them but, most importantly, what their vision is and how we're going to get this country moving again and a foreign policy working with our allies based upon mutual respect. That's going to be the convention, stronger at home and respected in the world.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right. Tell me the mechanics.

MCAULIFF: Sure.

VAN SUSTEREN: The DNC and you have Senator Kerry's campaign, who actually decides who's speaking and who's speaking what night? Is that the DNC or is that the senator?

MCAULIFF: Well, the senator decides ultimately who speaks what night in the campaign. We work very collaboratively together obviously in all the mechanics and putting it together.

The Democratic National Convention Committee has been responsible, has been up here for 18 months getting the hotels, the credentials and all the issues that go around it but this is Senator Kerry's, this is his time. This is...

VAN SUSTEREN: So, he tells you who's speaking. You don't tell him who's speaking.

MCAULIFF: Oh, no. This is his convention. He's the nominee of the Democratic Party.

VAN SUSTEREN: Do you actually sit down with him and plan it or do you sit down with his staff?

MCAULIFF: The staffs have been meeting now for months to determine speaking and obviously there are people in the party who want to speak. We work this out together.

VAN SUSTEREN: And how many people do you expect to be in the city?

MCAULIFF: Thirty-five thousand.

VAN SUSTEREN: Extra, extra, beyond what they already have.

MCAULIFF: Yes, we'll have 35,000 people who will come into Boston. They've started to arrive today. Tomorrow many more will come and by Sunday everybody will be here.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right. People have a little, you know, sensitivity to the issue of terrorism. In fact, I've seen — I've seen a German Shepherd, a Springer Spaniel and a Labrador go through my hotel already.

MCAULIFF: Yes.

VAN SUSTEREN: Are you hearing anything about security and are you coordinating with the security people, with law enforcement?

MCAULIFF: Right. There are 100 different law enforcement agencies that have been working up here literally for the last 18 months working with us. They have assured us. We talk to them on a daily basis. We've been meeting with them for 18 months.

It's going to be a 100 percent safe and secure convention. You're here in this beautiful hotel. You have many governors and senators who are staying in this hotel.

VAN SUSTEREN: That might make it more dangerous.

MCAULIFF: Well, you know, it's going to be safe. We're going to have a great time but, as I say, it's 100 different law enforcement agencies involved in this. The city is 100 percent secure. People are excited. You know we're raring to go.

We've been working on this for the last three and a half years to get ready for this convention. We're coming into this convention the best shape this party's ever been in. We're more unified, energized than we've ever been before. It's an exciting time for Democrats.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right. You're speaking first. Have you written your comments yet?

MCAULIFF: I have. My speech is written.

VAN SUSTEREN: How long?

MCAULIFF: I'll be about ten minutes. I speak about 7:45 on Monday night.

VAN SUSTEREN: Have you practiced?

MCAULIFF: I've looked at the speech several times. They change as it gets closer but I'm ready to go.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right. Well, we'll all be watching, Terry.

MCAULIFF: You bet.

VAN SUSTEREN: Thanks for joining us.

MCAULIFF: Thanks, Greta.

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