MTP Transcript for Jan. 21, 2007

SEN. KENNEDY: Well, it tells me that Senator Clinton is in a very strong position for the nomination. I’ve—our family’s had a good personal relationship with the Clintons for the time that he was the president. And she’s been on—I’ve worked with her on our committee on health and education issues. She’s a very competent person and has a lot of ability, and I have a lot of respect for her. And I know all of the other candidates. I know them well and have worked all well with them...

MR. RUSSERT: Are you going to endorse any of them?

SEN. KENNEDY: I—John Kerry will probably make his judgment decision, I expect, soon. I’m going to support, support John. I’ve worked with him in the United States Senate, I—he’s my colleague, he’s a friend, he’s an authentic war hero. I think he’s got a great wealth of information on national security. And I know there are people that think that John would have an uphill battle. Well, he had that the last time, as well, when he went for the nomination. And I think all of these—but he did superbly well. So he’s going to have to make up his own mind. I think it’ll be done in the next very few weeks. I think all of the...

MR. RUSSERT: Are you, are you going to encourage him to run?

SEN. KENNEDY: I’ll—I’ve had long talks with him. It’s a very—at this time, it’s a very personal decision, a judgment that he has—that he has to make.

MR. RUSSERT: But, but, senator, he was the nominee in 2004, and there you see he’s at 8 percent amongst Democrats.

SEN. KENNEDY: That’s right.

MR. RUSSERT: What’s the problem?

SEN. KENNEDY: Well, I think it’s, it’s a question—I think these go up and vary—these polls go up and—up and down. The fact is, no matter where you are, as one who’s had some practical experience with this, you have to go back out to that countryside. You have to get out to Iowa and get to New Hampshire homes and get out to the Iowa countryside, and you have to sort of win that nomination. These polls are interesting for a time, but that’s, that’s where this is decided. And that’s for each and every one of them. That’s, that’s what is going to decide. As we all know, that’ll be entirely different in four, five months from now. And each of these people have a lot of—and some others that aren’t on that list—have some good, good talent.

You know, it’s amazing, the Democratic Party, for the nomination this time, for the candidates for the presidency, really reflect the country in terms of the, the nation itself, the—with the candidates that we have. That’s an extraordinary sense of progress, and I think it’s a reflection of the party itself. I think that’s a very healthy sign. No one knows quite still what’s going to happen. They’re going to have to, to win it. But it’s a very hopeful and good sign for our party.

MR. RUSSERT: One of John McCain’s primary opponents for the Republican nomination is Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. How would you assess Governor Romney as a presidential candidate?

SEN. KENNEDY: Well, I don’t—wouldn’t underestimate Mitt. I didn’t agree with him on a lot of things, but I don’t think he should be underestimated. He’s going to—I’m not an expert on the Republican nomination, but ...

MR. RUSSERT: Has he changed his views?

SEN. KENNEDY: It appears that he’s adjusted some of those views. I’ll let others get to it. That campaign was a long time ago. It’s past. It worked out OK for me. I’ll, I’ll, I’ll let it lie there.

MR. RUSSERT: Senator Ted Kennedy, we thank you as always for joining us and sharing your views.

SEN. KENNEDY: Yes.

MR. RUSSERT: And we’ll be right back on MEET THE PRESS.

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