CARLSON:   Welcome back. They battle over sugar, jobs, abortion, the Boy Scouts and how their views reflect George Bush's priorities. Before we find out what the Louisiana voters think, let's ask a couple campaign strategists if the candidates are connecting. Joining us from New Orleans is Democratic strategist Donna Brazile. Here in Washington is Republican strategist Alex Castellanos. 
CARVILLE:   Let's go to this sugar issue here. I mean, the inference is that "Reforma," which is a Mexican newspaper -- somehow or another we can't trust Mexican newspapers. I know "Reforma" well; it's a fine newspaper. But let's go to Louisiana and Jackie Theriot, chairman of the Thibidaux-based Sugar Cane League. Quote, "We had a pretty good relationship with the U.S. trade representative until about two weeks ago when we asked to look at some of the documents traded back and forth. And were told that we'd be able to examine them in the USTA office when the time is right." Now, this is my question, Alex: Senator McCain says this administration can't be trusted. I know they can't be trusted. Why would anybody in Louisiana trust this administration when it says it hadn't agreed to bring more sugar into the state at the expense of Louisiana sugar growers? 
CASTELLANOS:   James, I'm shocked that you don't trust the Bush Administration. 
CARVILLE:   I don't. John McCain doesn't. Why would I, after all these deficits. 
CASTELLANOS:   The fact is that Suzie Terrell's done more to advance the interests of Louisiana sugar growers in two weeks than Mary Landrieu has done in two years. 
CARVILLE:   Like what? 
CASTELLANOS:   She talked about this to the trade representative today. She's talked to the White House. She's talked with the president about it personally. And on top of that, for the past two years, what's Mary Landrieu done? She's not worked with this administration, she's fought it. Blocked it on Homeland Security, voted against the president's tax cuts 24 times. No wonder she doesn't know what's going on. If she did, she'd know that the trade representative said there's no secret deal. It's a Mary myth. 
CARVILLE:   Why can't Jackie Theriot get in there? What is the problem here? Well, listen -- Why is it that the AP report -- this is not -- somehow or another, it's y'alls position that Mexicans can't be trusted. I find them to be very honest people. 
CASTELLANOS:   I don't know why you all trust that. 
CARLSON:   That's an outrageous and stupid thing to say. Mexican newspapers are pretty bad. Doesn't mean Mexicans are bad people. 
CASTELLANOS:   Has he been eating that spicy Cajun food? 
CARVILLE:   I've been down there in Mexico and the "Reforma," it's a damn good newspaper. 
CARLSON:   OK, Donna Brazile, I think all candidates are allowed to change their minds, grow in office, whatever, come to different points of nuance. However, Mary Landrieu's statements on abortion really are lies. Let me tell you what I'm talking about. 
BRAZILE:   Are you sure you're not talking about Suzie Terrell, who's changed her position four times in four weeks? Come on, Carlton. She's changed her position four times in four weeks? 
CARLSON:   James, hush. Last year Mary Landrieu sends out a fund-raising letter. This is exactly what it said, quote, "I want to defend the reproductive rights of all women. Throughout my public career, which began more than 20 years ago in the Louisiana legislature, I've been a consistent supporter. I'm proud that both the National Abortion Rights Action League and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America have acknowledged my support of reproductive choice with current 'scorecard' ratings of 80 percent and 90 percent respectively." That's what she said last year, she's pro-abortion. Fine. Then, last month, here's what she... 
BRAZILE:   There's a big difference between being pro-choice and pro-abortion. Mary is pro-choice on this issue. 
CARLSON:   Is she, Donna? Is she, Donna? 
BRAZILE:   ... This is a fundamental right; and a woman that's with child will abide in her faith (ph), and let me tell you, in this election they've done more to question Mary's than any election I've ever seen in my life...    She's pro-choice. She's not pro-abortion. 
CARLSON:   If I can just interrupt you for one second. This is the answer she gave last month to the Louisiana Catholic Conference when they gave her a question. This is her answer. She pledged, quote, "to support federal legislation that respects human life from the moment of conception to the of death."  That is not a so-called pro-choice or pro-abortion position. That's an anti-abortion position. And that was her position. And that's a lie, isn't it? 
BRAZILE:   No, it's not. Mary Landrieu has been very consistent in her support for a woman's right to choose. However, she's not pro-abortion. Mary Landrieu has come out against late term abortions. She's not received the support of NARAL in this election  . She's run as an independent moderate Democrat. And let me tell you, James, there's a new recipe in Louisiana: 300 tons of Mexican sugar, a sweet deal that they are going to announce after the election, stir in $15 million worth of lies and distort Mary's record, and then you add a little ounce of right wing extremism and what you get, you beat up Mary Landrieu. But she's going to win tomorrow because she is someone Louisiana knows they will put first. 
CARVILLE:   Can you take us through Terrell's different positions on this issue, please? 
CASTELLANOS:   I can take you through Mary's. 
CARVILLE:   I'm asking about Suzie Terrell's. 
BRAZILE:   I can take you through Suzie's, because I'm sure she's changing it tonight. 
CASTELLANOS:   She said -- Mary Landrieu said in a debate just this past week she is as pro-life as anybody. This is the same Mary Landrieu, June 30, year 2000 votes -- there's a vote on the Senate floor. We're going to prohibit using taxpayer's money to distribute the morning after pill in schools without parents consent. Breaux said common sense, good idea. He votes to prohibit it. Landrieu votes to cancel his vote. 
CARVILLE:   Did you think that she might be saying that I'm personally as pro-life as anybody, but I wouldn't tell somebody what to do? 
CASTELLANOS:   Except when it comes time to vote? 
CARVILLE:   No, I'm saying -- you can be against abortion but I wouldn't stop somebody else -- it's a very consistent -- a very consistent position to say I would choose not to have an abortion but I am not going to stop you from having one. 
CARLSON:   I wouldn't choose segregation, but I'm going to vote for it anyway. 
CARVILLE:   She will not allow a woman to go to jail. You always want to impose everything on everybody else. 
CARLSON:   Absolutely. 
CARVILLE:   There's medication for that. 
CARLSON:   I agree with you. 
CARVILLE:   You ought to take it. 
CARLSON:   Donna Brazile, I'm amazed by the number of Republicans who have come in on behalf of Suzie Terrell. 
BRAZILE:   It's been overkill, by the way. 
CARLSON:   It may be, but... 
BRAZILE:   Can't they find a Republican in Louisiana who supports Suzie Terrell? 
CARLSON:   I can find a Democrat... 
BRAZILE:   They've had to import more Republicans in the last two weeks than I've seen in my entire life. 
CARVILLE:   They've got a Republican government to support. 
CARLSON:   Have you heard that there -- this ad that apparently shows that there is in fact a Democrat on the side of Mary Landrieu. Listen to this ad that makes the point that at least one Democrat does support Senator Landrieu. Here it is. 
ANNOUNCER:   Hi. Remember me? Bubba here. You know I miss Washington, but there's a woman in the Senate I can always count on, my Washington Hollywood friends think she's great. Hillary, heck no. I'm talking about Mary Landrieu. Mary Landrieu voted over 120 times for higher taxes. She even voted to keep the Clinton tax on social security benefits, one of my personal favorites. 
CARLSON:   So the point here, Donna, is that any reminder that Mary Landrieu is in fact a Democrat is bad for her in the end, isn't it?  
BRAZILE:   That's not true. Look, she's been campaigning nonstop with John Breaux at her sides, Chris John and William Jefferson, who is the congressman from the city of New Orleans. She's been campaigning with local mayors and sheriffs and police. And those are -- these are Louisianaians, because she's decided to put Louisianans first. And that is why I'm down back home in Louisiana right where, like James, where I grew up. 
CARVILLE:   I know -- One thing, too, about Louisiana is you use somebody's voice, use their voice. Everything about this spot was a lie, up to and including some Clinton impersonator. If you can't get a -- Why do you all like lies so much? What is it about -- why do you want to attack Mexicans? What is it that so fascinates you? 
BRAZILE:   Because they don't talk about issues, it's just lie, lie. 
CARLSON:   I don't know, James. I look to you. I look to you for tips. 
CARVILLE:   You know what? You don't need me, because if this administration tells more lies in a week than the Clinton Administration told in eight years. 
CARLSON:   Is that right? I think you beat the administration. 
CARVILLE:   And they're telling lies about this sugar thing down there in Louisiana. 
BRAZILE:   It's a policy of lies and distortion. 
CARLSON:   Donna Brazile, can I ask you a question before we go way back to Huey Long, what do you think is going to be the outcome tomorrow? Tell me. I want to get you on record, Donna Brazile, telling me how much you think Senator Landrieu's going to win by tomorrow. So give it to us. 
BRAZILE:   Look, Mary understands how to win with just one extra vote, so I think she's going to win by more than 2 percentage points. 
CARLSON:   One vote? 
BRAZILE:   We'll take one. I have over 500 dozen. We'll take the 500 we didn't get in Florida. 
CASTELLANOS:   I'm sorry, but did he say let someone answer? 
CARVILLE:   Let her answer the question. 
BRAZILE:   I think Senator Landrieu will do very well. I think Suzie Terrell's -- Suzanne had momentum; it stopped a couple days ago. I think Mary will win by two and Democrats will once again show that we can be competitive in the Deep South. 
CARLSON:   Alex, what do you think's going to happen? 
CASTELLANOS:   I think this is still a very tough race. Suzie's the underdog. This is a state that's 1 million more votes Democrat than Republican, 57 percent Democrat and 23 Republicans. I think we've closed the gap, Suzie Terrell. Mary Landrieu is just so out of touch, so extremely different than most people in Louisiana that I think Suzie has a very good shot to win this thing. But I agree it's going to be very tight. 
BRAZILE:   But Alex, you should come and see Mary's rally. She has hundreds of people. Suzie had 18, ten who came from her staff. 
CASTELLANOS:   She'd have to. They're from the Democratic Senatorial Committee. 
BRAZILE:   These are home grown Louisianaians eating jambalaya. 
CARVILLE:   They have people coming from out of state to campaign for Suzie Terrell in Louisiana. She can't even get the governor to campaign with her. 
BRAZILE:   We'll find out on Monday what happens, actually tomorrow. 
CARLSON:   Thank you very much, Donna Brazile, in New Orleans. Thanks for joining us, Alex. Thank you very much. We'll go to "Fireback" in a minute, but as we go to break there's an event tonight in Washington where the former President Bush, 41, is receiving an award at the National Defense University. In attendance, Dick Cheney, Brent Scowkroft, General Norman Schwarzkopf. The emcee is CNN's own Paula Zahn. There she is. 
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR:   The former president on that trip reflected, on that fateful day, his service to the country and how that would ultimately shape his presidency. We are together again tonight to celebrate patriotism, to recognize the National Defense University Foundation and, most of all, to honor our distinguished accomplishments of our 41st president, George Herbert Walker Bush.
