Fox News "Fox & Friends" - Transcript

Interview

Fox News "Fox & Friends" - Transcript

MR. KILMEADE: Well, Senator Amy Klobuchar is a Democrat from Minnesota and she joins us now.

Good morning to you!

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: Good morning. Good to see you.

MR. DOOCY: I love this place, by the way! Good job in St. Paul and Minneapolis.

(Cross talk.)

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: -- it's beautiful. It's a beautiful state. Thank you for coming.

MR. DOOCY: You've got to be a little conflicted, though, because of what's going on with the RNC. You're a Democrat, and yet the Republicans are having their convention here in the Twin Cities, and you want it to go off well for Minnesota, but at the same time (there's the spending thing ?).

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: Well, we do. And as Senator Obama has put it, this is not a time for politics. This is time to bring people together. You can see that happening in our state. You know, we had a bridge collapse in the middle of the Mississippi River so we know a little bit about how terrifying this can be for a state and for the Gulf Area. And we just stand ready to help out. And we are flexible. We're working with the RNC and I think things are going well.

MR. KILMEADE: Sure. Well, what do you hear as the latest? Because we know about today it's going to be a ceremonial open for a couple of hours for legal reasons. What are you hearing down the line?

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: Well, just that we're going to wait and see what happens with this storm. And the first priority -- Senator Obama has said this -- the first priority is to make sure that people are okay; to do what we can to help and then we'll see what happens with this convention and we'll work with the Republicans to make it work.

MR. DOOCY: Senator, we're looking at pictures of Sarah Palin, who has been named by John McCain. These are pictures from Friday. It was an electrifying rollout of her.

You're a Democrat, so I've got to ask you whether or not -- and I don't know exactly which camp you were in, whether you were a Hillary supporter and whether now you feel as if Sarah Palin could actually peel off some of those Hillary supporters from Obama to go to McCain.

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: Well, you know, first of all, I was a Senator Obama supporter. And I believe that those 18 million Hillary people that we keep talking about -- I think they're going to stick with Senator Obama.

MR. DOOCY: Well, you hope they do!

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: I do, but I really don't think this is about gender. It's about an agenda. And I believe when American women start -- American people get to know Barack Obama, like they did last week, he's fighting for the middle-class.

But I will tell you this: Today, as both parties have said, is not the day to start having wedges between people. This is about the victims on the Gulf Coast and making sure we do everything to help.

MR. KILMEADE: That's really true. And one thing, in the big scheme of things, is this an important moment for women, because I noticed in the governor's speech he immediately says, I'd like to credit Congresswoman Ferraro and Hillary Clinton for what they did? Do you think this is the third step for women in politics -- a great moment?

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: Well, you know, it is always exciting to have a woman on the national ticket and we're pleased about that. But the point here is we don't really know much about Sarah Palin. I don't think there's a sign she's going to deviate greatly from Senator McCain's agenda. And so I'm not sure in the end that it's going to make as much a difference as people think. I think that this is between McCain and Obama.

But again, today from Senator Obama's perspective -- and I know Senator McCain -- we have got to focus on these people on the Gulf Coast.

MR. DOOCY: So rather than talk politics, let's just talk a little bit -- some numbers. Any idea why -- I mean, Senator Obama did get a little bit of a bounce. He was up by eight points at the conclusion of your convention and now down to six. And a couple of polls have him actually tied.

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: Well, first of all, I think last week in Denver was quite a week for people to finally get to know Michelle Obama a little bit, what she stands for, her kids -- that story of her dad getting up an hour early every day just to button his shirt to get to work because he had multiple sclerosis. The Clintons did such a great job of really reaching out and talking about how Senator Obama's ready to lead. And then you had the culmination with his speech.

And I think, you know, polls come and go, but basically a lot of them show that the American people liked what they saw.

MR. KILMEADE: It was a great week. Forty million people watched and 84,000 people saw it live. And when you see newscasters who've been doing this for decades moved, you know it was something the nominees will never forget.

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: It was. It was a beautiful week. And I just appreciate you guys coming to the Twin Cities.

MR. DOOCY: And thank you very much for your hospitality!

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: And Gretchen is from Minnesota!

MR. DOOCY: And Gretchen is in the other room.

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: That's right. She's going to be interviewing the first lady.

MR. KILMEADE: Very good. If you would just tell us a few restaurants to hit tonight, then we can let you go, Senator Klobuchar.

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: Okay, well, probably go to the state fair one more day --

MR. DOOCY: I've been there!

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: -- for a chop on a stick.

MR. DOOCY: I had -- my son had chocolate dipped bacon.

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: That's the newest thing.

MR. DOOCY: Not a good thing!

MR. KILMEADE: All right, Senator, thank you for --

SEN. KLOBUCHAR: Thank you so much.

MR. KILMEADE: Thank you, Senator.

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