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CNN Live At Daybreak
Election Day; 'Today's Talker'; Calling the Winner
Aired November 02, 2004 - 06:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: OK, the wait is over. It is finally decision day. Time to choose who you want to lead this country for the next four years. And voters are lining up at the polls across the country this morning. It has begun.
Our reporters are at polling stations in crucial states. CNN's Gary Tuchman joins us live from West Palm Beach, Florida. Our Adora Udoji is in Canton, Ohio. And our Jason Carroll is at a polling place in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
Let's begin with you, Gary, in Florida.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning to you.
The polls open here in about 25 minutes, and there is already a short line of people at this precinct here in West Palm Beach, Florida. The fire trucks have been moved out of the firehouse. That's because the firehouse is being used as Precinct No. 905 here in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The magnificent people and their voting machines right behind me. These are the machines that are being used, the five touch-screen machines. They'll be used in this precinct here in West Palm Beach.
About 900 registered voters here. A hundred of these people in this particular precinct have voted absentee already, so they're only expecting a maximum of 800. But they know that this is ground zero.
This is the place where four years ago there were so many problems, particularly here in Palm Beach County. This is the home of the butterfly ballot, the punch card ballots that were used four years ago, names on both sides of the ballot. Some of the voters got confused, accidentally voting for Pat Buchanan instead of Al Gore.
Well, the state of Florida has outlawed the punch card ballots. What's being used in 15 of the state's 67 counties are these touch- screen machines behind me. In the other 52 counties in the state of Florida, they're using the optical scanning system. That's a system where you fill in the oval, and then it's registered by a machine. But no punch card ballots in this state. Punch card ballots are being used elsewhere, but not in the state of Florida.
There has been a lot of concern in this state that when they go to these touch-screen machines they don't get a receipt, the paper trail afterwards, but that's the way it's going in Florida. They're hoping for the best, but everyone knows that what happened four years ago, well, problems could possibly happen again.
Carol -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Well, we're keeping our fingers crossed. Gary Tuchman in Florida this morning.
You know, those punch card ballots are being used in Ohio, where the polls are also opening. And controversial vote challengers are being allowed into the polling places.
Our Adora Udoji joins us live from a polling site in Canton, Ohio.
Good morning.
ADORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
We certainly have a lot going on here. We're in Canton, and the polls have just opened. And we've seen roughly 50 people or so, probably about 40 of them in line before the doors even opened. And this is all happening, as you said, as these court decisions have been rolling in one after another.
Early, early this morning, the Republicans can claim a victory after a federal appeals court struck down two lower court decisions about those challengers in polling stations that you mentioned. Now, challengers essentially are partisan volunteers, Democrats or Republicans, which Ohio law allows them to stand in those polling stations and question the legitimacy of any voter.
Now, Democrats have argued that some Republicans were simply trying to intimidate voters, particularly African-American voters; that their intent was to suppress the vote. Republicans have denied that. They have said they're concerned about voter fraud.
And the big question at 6:30 in the morning here in Ohio is whether or not the 50,000 poll workers across the state know exactly where the law stands this morning. Each side has hundreds of lawyers on standby. The Democrats have said they will appeal that decision to the Supreme Court, that they have done so very early again this morning. As I said, each side saying they have hundreds of lawyers on standby, ready to deal with any issues that come up today.
And they are expecting heavy turnout. This state is expecting a heavy turnout, and that includes the possibility of 800,000 new voters, Carol. And that's after massive voter drives this year.
And there are also massive get-out-the-vote efforts. Republicans and Democrats saying they have tens of thousands of volunteers helping folks get to the polls today.
Each side clearly ready for battle, and late last night, the secretary of state was urging caution on every side.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) J. KENNETH BLACKWELL, OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE: We have thousands of out-of-state lawyers, law students and news media descending on our state. We have not asked for their help, nor do we need it. But we will welcome them and treat them with the respect that comes natural to Ohioans as long as they follow our laws and do not disrupt our election process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UDOJI: With everything else going on here, Carol, there is one other concern, particularly by the get-out-the-vote folks, is the weather. There is widely forecasted rain across the state of Ohio, and there is just real concern that that could potentially affect the number of folks who get to the polls. And clearly, we'll be watching all day -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Adora Udoji reporting live from Canton, Ohio, this morning.
Now on to Pennsylvania, the nation's fifth-largest state and another must-win in this presidential election. Our Jason Carroll joins us live from Lehigh County.
Good morning -- Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Carol.
The polls don't open until 7:00 a.m., a little bit more than 20 minutes from now or so. As you said, this is a battleground state, and it's also a battleground county. During the last presidential election here in Lehigh County, the margin separating the two candidates was just a little more than 1,100 votes. Vice President Al Gore carried Lehigh County by a little bit more than 1,100 votes.
This time around in this state of Pennsylvania, there are obviously a lot of election concerns, some of the same concerns that you heard about in Ohio: provisional ballots, allegations of voter suppression, allegations of voter intimidation.
Spoke to the secretary of commonwealth, CNN did, and he said that the poll watchers, he is hoping, will be on their best behavior.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEDRO CORTES, PENNSYLVANIA SECRETARY OF STATE: My hope here is that anyone who is acting as a poll watcher or those who are involved in the potential questioning of the voters that they will exercise prudence and good judgment in what they do, that certainly challenges, I hope, are raised when you're talking about ballot concerns are in good faith. But my hope would be that nobody just decides to challenge the votes for the sake of being argumentative and disruptive to the process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Again, the polls here in Pennsylvania open at 7:00 a.m. Already inside some people are starting to line up, and the line is working its way back through the building here.
Again, expecting record turnout in the state of Pennsylvania. Also expecting things to be very busy at this polling place and other polling places throughout the state. Election workers are asking people just to be as patient as they can -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Patience will be a virtue today. Jason Carroll from Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, this morning, thank you.
We've got a lot more to discuss on the presidential election. It's "Today's Talker" with Neal Boortz and Nancy Skinner. It's coming your way next.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A record turnout is expected at the polls today, and some of you will not be alone. In Ohio, there will be challengers, in other states monitors and lawyers. So let's talk about it.
From the right, Neal Boortz joins us live in Atlanta.
NEAL BOORTZ, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.
COSTELLO: From the left, Nancy Skinner live from Chicago.
Good morning to both of you.
NANCY SKINNER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.
BOORTZ: How are you doing?
SKINNER: Here we are.
COSTELLO: Yes, it's finally time, isn't it? I can't believe it's finally here. You know, we've been asking our viewers this morning if their vote will count. Most say no. Can you comfort them, Nancy?
SKINNER: Oh, absolutely, Carol. I think today, for many of us, our long national nightmare is finally over. And what we have a chance to do is go to the polls and remember that day in 2000 when the Supreme Court stopped the counting of votes in America and gave us the president who destroyed our economy, who ran up a huge deficit. Osama bin Laden, like, at a Club Med or something on TV, the main terrorist who tried to kill us, is still on the loose. We invaded the wrong country. Our kids are dying. This is our day, and you go out there and make sure you vote.
We have 10,000 lawyers on the streets to make sure that all of the shenanigans they tried to pull will not be successful this time. COSTELLO: Neal...
SKINNER: And maybe we'll see President Kerry tomorrow morning.
COSTELLO: Neal, it's your turn.
BOORTZ: Well, I hope Nancy is not in Chicago, because if she is, she can't vote today. Her precinct is in fantasyland. But I can't respond to that. That was probably the most absurd tirade I've heard in -- let it go. Just let that one slide.
COSTELLO: All right. Well, let's talk about the -- let's talk about these Republican challengers now allowed inside polling places in Ohio. We went out and interviewed a few people about what they thought about that in the great Buckeye State. Let's listen to what they had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would it affect my vote? Absolutely not. But it might affect other people's vote.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the only people who should be there are the people that are voting and the people that are working in the precinct. To have someone looking over your shoulder, even if they don't say anything or if they ask you questions, I find that it's -- to me, it's in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the media is still hyping this up to kind of create news (AUDIO GAP) reporting what's happening.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It's always the media's fault, isn't it? But, Neal, seriously, these challengers, won't they intimidate voters?
BOORTZ: Well, the type of voter that would be intimidated by having to -- hey, can you show us some I.D.? Hey, are you registered? Are you a citizen? If that intimidates them, then so be it. Look, there are 35 or -- excuse me. There are four counties in Ohio with more registered voters than there are people over 18; 35,000 newly- registered voters in Ohio can't be found. The letters to these voters came back. They're dead. They don't live at this address. They don't exist. The attempt at fraud is clear.
SKINNER: But, Neal, what are you going to do? I mean, you can't pick someone out by color or race and say, I'm challenging you. You don't know who that person is.
BOORTZ: Well, of course, Nancy, I'm not suggesting that you pick anybody out by color.
SKINNER: Then how are they going to do it?
BOORTZ: You can -- I.D. is one thing. Look, here's the situation. Democrats are determined that anybody that shows up in a poll today gets to vote. Period. And it gets to count, regardless of citizenship, registration, legality, age, none of it. And any challenge, any challenge, is intimidation. It's such a shallow thing.
SKINNER: Neal, what would you say to those people if they get caught standing in line because these bogus challenges keep them from the polls? What do you say to all of those citizens who have voted their whole life and won't get to vote because of this dirty pull?
BOORTZ: False claim, Nancy. Every single person who is in line at the time the polls close gets to vote. Nobody will be denied the right to cast a legal vote because of a challenge.
COSTELLO: Let's go, like, deeper with this. Who can believe that in America that we would need monitors, challengers and 30,000 lawyers at polling places across the country to make sure that people vote properly or legally? Should that happen in America?
BOORTZ: Nancy -- Carol, we wouldn't need that if Democrats wouldn't block very simple things: Show an identification to register to vote. You don't even have to prove citizenship or show an I.D. to register to vote in this country. If we could just have those simple controls in place, then a lot of these problems on Election Day would be avoided.
COSTELLO: Nancy, last word.
SKINNER: Carol, look at what happened in the election year of 2000. I mean, the dirty tricks, where they're calling Democrats and telling them if you've got an absentee ballot you have to take it to the wrong place.
We have been through a long storied history of voter suppression. That's why we had to pass acts. So, it's not a surprise to me that we're doing this. But it can't scare people, because you must -- voting is what is the priority on this day. Don't let these guys scare you. Get out the polls and do it, and we will have a new president tomorrow.
BOORTZ: I agree. If you are legally registered and legally qualified to vote, you get to the polls today and do it. If you are not, stay home.
COSTELLO: Nancy Skinner and Neal Boortz, thanks for joining DAYBREAK, as is usual on Tuesday. And I understand you'll both be back on Wednesday, because I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about then. Thanks to you both.
I'm going to take you out live to Brooklyn, New York. This is a live picture of a polling place there. And as you can see, it is literally packed with people, people in line already. Of course, some polling places open up at 6:00 a.m. Eastern, others at 7:00 a.m. Eastern. And you can see by that little blue box in the corner that is, oh, 12 hours and 14 minutes until the last poll closes in this country. And hopefully, we will know who will be the next president of the United States.
Let's head live not far away to Manhattan and Soledad and Bill Hemmer coming up.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We've got to tack two more hours onto that here from New York.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: That's when the first poll closes.
HEMMER: A lot of these places are open -- the first ones, yes, because in New York they had to go to 9:00 Eastern Time, so...
COSTELLO: Well, we'd better update our little blue box then, shouldn't we?
O'BRIEN: You know, it's...
HEMMER: How are you, Carol?
COSTELLO: I'm fine. I'm excited actually.
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: It's all about voter turnout today, all about voter turnout. Of course, it is E Day. We're going to bring you to voting stations across the country with live reports. It could get most heated, though, we are being told, in Ohio, where there's a ruling on whether voter registration can be challenged at the polls. We're going to talk to the governor, Bob Taft, this morning.
HEMMER: We have a huge show today for you today, Carol. Five hours in length. Howard Dean's along, early on thought to be a Democratic frontrunner, what he thinks of a possible cabinet position if Senator Kerry wins. Commerce Secretary Don Evans, find out why he thinks President Bush will win despite questions about the economy. And there are op-ed pieces today in "USA Today" from President Bush and Senator Kerry. We'll get to all of that throughout the morning here.
O'BRIEN: And this morning, the analysts are looking back. What was the turning point of the campaign? We'll talk to DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe this morning, also RNC Chair Ed Gillespie. All that and much, much more, because, as Bill said, we've got five hours to talk to you today.
HEMMER: Carol, you're going to be so sick and tired of us by the end.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: I'm going to watch the whole show.
O'BRIEN: I know you are. Thank you.
COSTELLO: I'm watching the whole show. And the little blue box is the time when the first poll closes.
HEMMER: The first. And, yes, where is the first poll closing?
O'BRIEN: That box right there.
COSTELLO: Well, actually the first poll closed early this morning in Dixville Notch.
HEMMER: Oh.
O'BRIEN: That's true.
COSTELLO: They've already voted, 100 percent voter turnout for the 26 people who live there. George Bush won, by the way.
HEMMER: Yes.
COSTELLO: Catch you guys later.
HEMMER: See you later. Bye-bye.
O'BRIEN: Bye-bye, Carol.
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 6:46 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
The same-sex marriage issue is on the ballot in 11 states today. Voters will decide whether to amend their state constitution to ban gay marriages or civil unions.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urges voters in his state to terminate Proposition 66. The initiative would ease California's three strikes law. Schwarzenegger says it would allow violent criminals to be released from prison.
In money news, Whole Foods, the No. 1 natural food chain, is getting ready to kick off an organic clothing line. Company execs say the collection will feature clothes made of -- get this -- bamboo, soy and other natural fibers.
In culture, I'll bet you aren't reading the newspaper as much as you used to. Newspaper circulation is down all across the country, except among the Big Three. The Newspaper Association of America reports that readership is up for "USA Today," "The Wall Street Journal" and "The New York Times."
In sports, the New York Jets grounded the Miami Dolphins 41-14 last night, grabbing a share of the AFC and upping their record to 6- 1. The Dolphins sank, or should I say sink. They're 1-7 -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm glad you said it.
COSTELLO: Oh, man!
MYERS: I don't want to get in trouble for that one. Yes, but they'll rebound in a couple of years.
COSTELLO: Well...
MYERS: They're young. (WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, we all know how much Americans will rely on us tonight. Coming up, a look at how the network news operations are working to avoid a repeat of 2000. And by the way, our coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern with real-time results on dozens of screens live from CNN's new election headquarters at the Nasdaq.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: At some point today, we in the media will be the focus of intense scrutiny. Everybody will be watching to see if we project a winner in the presidential race and if we get it right.
As CNN's Peter Vials reports, after the fiasco in 2000, the watch word this time is "caution."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RATHER, CBS ANCHOR: And I'm so sorry to interrupt you. Mike, you know I wouldn't do this if it weren't big. Florida goes for Al Gore.
PETER JENNINGS, ABC ANCHOR: ABC News is now going to project that Florida goes to Mr. Bush.
PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Election Night 2000, a media meltdown.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: A big call to make. CNN announces that we call Florida in the Al Gore column.
RATHER: Florida comes out of the Gore column, back up in the air.
VILES: Election results were misreported.
TOM BROKAW, NBC ANCHOR: It ends with a victory for George W. Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the American people appreciate that, frankly.
VILES: Network executives called to Capitol Hill to explain.
Four years later, "caution" is the watch word in network newsrooms.
ANDREW KOHUT, PEW RESEARCH CENTER: Network presidents like to cover Congress. They don't want to appear before Congress. So I think there's going to be a great deal of caution and care taken. And everyone's going to be on edge, and it's going to be a higher priority on triple-checking that things are right rather than rush to be first. VILES: CBS News is now bragging that it was last to call John Kerry the victor in the Wisconsin Democratic Primary. ABC News says it will not project a winner in a state if the margin in that state in tabulated votes is less than 1 percent.
LARRY NOBLE, CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS: I don't think any of the news organizations want a repeat of 2000, where they had to -- they called the election one way, then had to switch, and then by the end of the night had to say we don't know who won.
VILES: The networks are cautious, in part, because on Election Night they will share information, the same exit polls, computer models to interpret those polls, the same vote counts gathered by 5,000 stringers for the Associated Press. Each network then uses its own statistical models, news gathering, standards and its own nerve to project winners.
Peter Viles, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: You're looking at a picture of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, at a polling station there. The polls open at 7:00 a.m. Eastern. As you can see, people are already in line. So intense interest in this campaign.
How cold is it there, Chad?
MYERS: Lehigh is nice and warm right now, like 54.
COSTELLO: Oh. So they can wait outside for a little while and not mind it all that much.
MYERS: Sure. Not too bad in the Poconos this morning.
COSTELLO: Oh, I wish I was in the Poconos this morning. Your chance to win a DAYBREAK coffee mug in two minutes. And this reminder: CNN's election coverage kicks off at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Wolf Blitzer and our entire election team will handle coverage throughout the night.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had to deal with a whole new terror group here in Washington this summer called al Cicada. And I have good information that al Cicada has gone underground for 17 years, so we're all right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MYERS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
COSTELLO: Capitol Steps, a group that's been around a long time in Washington, D.C.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Giving you some of their magic this morning.
You know, we've been telling you CNN has extensive coverage of today's big election. CNN's Wolf Blitzer is heading our coverage.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: They're going to be at the Nasdaq in New York. Wolf is here to explain. Actually he's not physically here, because he's resting before the big night tonight. But here's how it will all come together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much. We're here at CNN election headquarters, right in the heart of Times Square at the Nasdaq Marketsite. We've got all of these video screens, 72 of them behind us. We're going to be able to show you election results like you've never seen them before. We'll go across the country.
We'll show you the total votes, the balance of power in the Senate, the House, the governors races. And at any one moment, we'll be able to put up on the screens behind me all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. We'll show you where the race stands at any one moment. This is something that our viewers are going to appreciate. We expect to have a very, very long night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MYERS: I think we would have a very, very big TV to see all of those numbers, too.
COSTELLO: Boy, you're not kidding. Expect to have a very long night, Wolf?
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: You're going to have a very long week. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello along with Chad Myers.
MYERS: Yes. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now. It's going to be a long day. Enjoy it.
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Aired November 2, 2004 - 06:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: OK, the wait is over. It is finally decision day. Time to choose who you want to lead this country for the next four years. And voters are lining up at the polls across the country this morning. It has begun.
Our reporters are at polling stations in crucial states. CNN's Gary Tuchman joins us live from West Palm Beach, Florida. Our Adora Udoji is in Canton, Ohio. And our Jason Carroll is at a polling place in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
Let's begin with you, Gary, in Florida.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning to you.
The polls open here in about 25 minutes, and there is already a short line of people at this precinct here in West Palm Beach, Florida. The fire trucks have been moved out of the firehouse. That's because the firehouse is being used as Precinct No. 905 here in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The magnificent people and their voting machines right behind me. These are the machines that are being used, the five touch-screen machines. They'll be used in this precinct here in West Palm Beach.
About 900 registered voters here. A hundred of these people in this particular precinct have voted absentee already, so they're only expecting a maximum of 800. But they know that this is ground zero.
This is the place where four years ago there were so many problems, particularly here in Palm Beach County. This is the home of the butterfly ballot, the punch card ballots that were used four years ago, names on both sides of the ballot. Some of the voters got confused, accidentally voting for Pat Buchanan instead of Al Gore.
Well, the state of Florida has outlawed the punch card ballots. What's being used in 15 of the state's 67 counties are these touch- screen machines behind me. In the other 52 counties in the state of Florida, they're using the optical scanning system. That's a system where you fill in the oval, and then it's registered by a machine. But no punch card ballots in this state. Punch card ballots are being used elsewhere, but not in the state of Florida.
There has been a lot of concern in this state that when they go to these touch-screen machines they don't get a receipt, the paper trail afterwards, but that's the way it's going in Florida. They're hoping for the best, but everyone knows that what happened four years ago, well, problems could possibly happen again.
Carol -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Well, we're keeping our fingers crossed. Gary Tuchman in Florida this morning.
You know, those punch card ballots are being used in Ohio, where the polls are also opening. And controversial vote challengers are being allowed into the polling places.
Our Adora Udoji joins us live from a polling site in Canton, Ohio.
Good morning.
ADORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
We certainly have a lot going on here. We're in Canton, and the polls have just opened. And we've seen roughly 50 people or so, probably about 40 of them in line before the doors even opened. And this is all happening, as you said, as these court decisions have been rolling in one after another.
Early, early this morning, the Republicans can claim a victory after a federal appeals court struck down two lower court decisions about those challengers in polling stations that you mentioned. Now, challengers essentially are partisan volunteers, Democrats or Republicans, which Ohio law allows them to stand in those polling stations and question the legitimacy of any voter.
Now, Democrats have argued that some Republicans were simply trying to intimidate voters, particularly African-American voters; that their intent was to suppress the vote. Republicans have denied that. They have said they're concerned about voter fraud.
And the big question at 6:30 in the morning here in Ohio is whether or not the 50,000 poll workers across the state know exactly where the law stands this morning. Each side has hundreds of lawyers on standby. The Democrats have said they will appeal that decision to the Supreme Court, that they have done so very early again this morning. As I said, each side saying they have hundreds of lawyers on standby, ready to deal with any issues that come up today.
And they are expecting heavy turnout. This state is expecting a heavy turnout, and that includes the possibility of 800,000 new voters, Carol. And that's after massive voter drives this year.
And there are also massive get-out-the-vote efforts. Republicans and Democrats saying they have tens of thousands of volunteers helping folks get to the polls today.
Each side clearly ready for battle, and late last night, the secretary of state was urging caution on every side.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) J. KENNETH BLACKWELL, OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE: We have thousands of out-of-state lawyers, law students and news media descending on our state. We have not asked for their help, nor do we need it. But we will welcome them and treat them with the respect that comes natural to Ohioans as long as they follow our laws and do not disrupt our election process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UDOJI: With everything else going on here, Carol, there is one other concern, particularly by the get-out-the-vote folks, is the weather. There is widely forecasted rain across the state of Ohio, and there is just real concern that that could potentially affect the number of folks who get to the polls. And clearly, we'll be watching all day -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Adora Udoji reporting live from Canton, Ohio, this morning.
Now on to Pennsylvania, the nation's fifth-largest state and another must-win in this presidential election. Our Jason Carroll joins us live from Lehigh County.
Good morning -- Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Carol.
The polls don't open until 7:00 a.m., a little bit more than 20 minutes from now or so. As you said, this is a battleground state, and it's also a battleground county. During the last presidential election here in Lehigh County, the margin separating the two candidates was just a little more than 1,100 votes. Vice President Al Gore carried Lehigh County by a little bit more than 1,100 votes.
This time around in this state of Pennsylvania, there are obviously a lot of election concerns, some of the same concerns that you heard about in Ohio: provisional ballots, allegations of voter suppression, allegations of voter intimidation.
Spoke to the secretary of commonwealth, CNN did, and he said that the poll watchers, he is hoping, will be on their best behavior.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEDRO CORTES, PENNSYLVANIA SECRETARY OF STATE: My hope here is that anyone who is acting as a poll watcher or those who are involved in the potential questioning of the voters that they will exercise prudence and good judgment in what they do, that certainly challenges, I hope, are raised when you're talking about ballot concerns are in good faith. But my hope would be that nobody just decides to challenge the votes for the sake of being argumentative and disruptive to the process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Again, the polls here in Pennsylvania open at 7:00 a.m. Already inside some people are starting to line up, and the line is working its way back through the building here.
Again, expecting record turnout in the state of Pennsylvania. Also expecting things to be very busy at this polling place and other polling places throughout the state. Election workers are asking people just to be as patient as they can -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Patience will be a virtue today. Jason Carroll from Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, this morning, thank you.
We've got a lot more to discuss on the presidential election. It's "Today's Talker" with Neal Boortz and Nancy Skinner. It's coming your way next.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A record turnout is expected at the polls today, and some of you will not be alone. In Ohio, there will be challengers, in other states monitors and lawyers. So let's talk about it.
From the right, Neal Boortz joins us live in Atlanta.
NEAL BOORTZ, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.
COSTELLO: From the left, Nancy Skinner live from Chicago.
Good morning to both of you.
NANCY SKINNER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.
BOORTZ: How are you doing?
SKINNER: Here we are.
COSTELLO: Yes, it's finally time, isn't it? I can't believe it's finally here. You know, we've been asking our viewers this morning if their vote will count. Most say no. Can you comfort them, Nancy?
SKINNER: Oh, absolutely, Carol. I think today, for many of us, our long national nightmare is finally over. And what we have a chance to do is go to the polls and remember that day in 2000 when the Supreme Court stopped the counting of votes in America and gave us the president who destroyed our economy, who ran up a huge deficit. Osama bin Laden, like, at a Club Med or something on TV, the main terrorist who tried to kill us, is still on the loose. We invaded the wrong country. Our kids are dying. This is our day, and you go out there and make sure you vote.
We have 10,000 lawyers on the streets to make sure that all of the shenanigans they tried to pull will not be successful this time. COSTELLO: Neal...
SKINNER: And maybe we'll see President Kerry tomorrow morning.
COSTELLO: Neal, it's your turn.
BOORTZ: Well, I hope Nancy is not in Chicago, because if she is, she can't vote today. Her precinct is in fantasyland. But I can't respond to that. That was probably the most absurd tirade I've heard in -- let it go. Just let that one slide.
COSTELLO: All right. Well, let's talk about the -- let's talk about these Republican challengers now allowed inside polling places in Ohio. We went out and interviewed a few people about what they thought about that in the great Buckeye State. Let's listen to what they had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would it affect my vote? Absolutely not. But it might affect other people's vote.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the only people who should be there are the people that are voting and the people that are working in the precinct. To have someone looking over your shoulder, even if they don't say anything or if they ask you questions, I find that it's -- to me, it's in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the media is still hyping this up to kind of create news (AUDIO GAP) reporting what's happening.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It's always the media's fault, isn't it? But, Neal, seriously, these challengers, won't they intimidate voters?
BOORTZ: Well, the type of voter that would be intimidated by having to -- hey, can you show us some I.D.? Hey, are you registered? Are you a citizen? If that intimidates them, then so be it. Look, there are 35 or -- excuse me. There are four counties in Ohio with more registered voters than there are people over 18; 35,000 newly- registered voters in Ohio can't be found. The letters to these voters came back. They're dead. They don't live at this address. They don't exist. The attempt at fraud is clear.
SKINNER: But, Neal, what are you going to do? I mean, you can't pick someone out by color or race and say, I'm challenging you. You don't know who that person is.
BOORTZ: Well, of course, Nancy, I'm not suggesting that you pick anybody out by color.
SKINNER: Then how are they going to do it?
BOORTZ: You can -- I.D. is one thing. Look, here's the situation. Democrats are determined that anybody that shows up in a poll today gets to vote. Period. And it gets to count, regardless of citizenship, registration, legality, age, none of it. And any challenge, any challenge, is intimidation. It's such a shallow thing.
SKINNER: Neal, what would you say to those people if they get caught standing in line because these bogus challenges keep them from the polls? What do you say to all of those citizens who have voted their whole life and won't get to vote because of this dirty pull?
BOORTZ: False claim, Nancy. Every single person who is in line at the time the polls close gets to vote. Nobody will be denied the right to cast a legal vote because of a challenge.
COSTELLO: Let's go, like, deeper with this. Who can believe that in America that we would need monitors, challengers and 30,000 lawyers at polling places across the country to make sure that people vote properly or legally? Should that happen in America?
BOORTZ: Nancy -- Carol, we wouldn't need that if Democrats wouldn't block very simple things: Show an identification to register to vote. You don't even have to prove citizenship or show an I.D. to register to vote in this country. If we could just have those simple controls in place, then a lot of these problems on Election Day would be avoided.
COSTELLO: Nancy, last word.
SKINNER: Carol, look at what happened in the election year of 2000. I mean, the dirty tricks, where they're calling Democrats and telling them if you've got an absentee ballot you have to take it to the wrong place.
We have been through a long storied history of voter suppression. That's why we had to pass acts. So, it's not a surprise to me that we're doing this. But it can't scare people, because you must -- voting is what is the priority on this day. Don't let these guys scare you. Get out the polls and do it, and we will have a new president tomorrow.
BOORTZ: I agree. If you are legally registered and legally qualified to vote, you get to the polls today and do it. If you are not, stay home.
COSTELLO: Nancy Skinner and Neal Boortz, thanks for joining DAYBREAK, as is usual on Tuesday. And I understand you'll both be back on Wednesday, because I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about then. Thanks to you both.
I'm going to take you out live to Brooklyn, New York. This is a live picture of a polling place there. And as you can see, it is literally packed with people, people in line already. Of course, some polling places open up at 6:00 a.m. Eastern, others at 7:00 a.m. Eastern. And you can see by that little blue box in the corner that is, oh, 12 hours and 14 minutes until the last poll closes in this country. And hopefully, we will know who will be the next president of the United States.
Let's head live not far away to Manhattan and Soledad and Bill Hemmer coming up.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We've got to tack two more hours onto that here from New York.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: That's when the first poll closes.
HEMMER: A lot of these places are open -- the first ones, yes, because in New York they had to go to 9:00 Eastern Time, so...
COSTELLO: Well, we'd better update our little blue box then, shouldn't we?
O'BRIEN: You know, it's...
HEMMER: How are you, Carol?
COSTELLO: I'm fine. I'm excited actually.
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: It's all about voter turnout today, all about voter turnout. Of course, it is E Day. We're going to bring you to voting stations across the country with live reports. It could get most heated, though, we are being told, in Ohio, where there's a ruling on whether voter registration can be challenged at the polls. We're going to talk to the governor, Bob Taft, this morning.
HEMMER: We have a huge show today for you today, Carol. Five hours in length. Howard Dean's along, early on thought to be a Democratic frontrunner, what he thinks of a possible cabinet position if Senator Kerry wins. Commerce Secretary Don Evans, find out why he thinks President Bush will win despite questions about the economy. And there are op-ed pieces today in "USA Today" from President Bush and Senator Kerry. We'll get to all of that throughout the morning here.
O'BRIEN: And this morning, the analysts are looking back. What was the turning point of the campaign? We'll talk to DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe this morning, also RNC Chair Ed Gillespie. All that and much, much more, because, as Bill said, we've got five hours to talk to you today.
HEMMER: Carol, you're going to be so sick and tired of us by the end.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: I'm going to watch the whole show.
O'BRIEN: I know you are. Thank you.
COSTELLO: I'm watching the whole show. And the little blue box is the time when the first poll closes.
HEMMER: The first. And, yes, where is the first poll closing?
O'BRIEN: That box right there.
COSTELLO: Well, actually the first poll closed early this morning in Dixville Notch.
HEMMER: Oh.
O'BRIEN: That's true.
COSTELLO: They've already voted, 100 percent voter turnout for the 26 people who live there. George Bush won, by the way.
HEMMER: Yes.
COSTELLO: Catch you guys later.
HEMMER: See you later. Bye-bye.
O'BRIEN: Bye-bye, Carol.
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 6:46 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
The same-sex marriage issue is on the ballot in 11 states today. Voters will decide whether to amend their state constitution to ban gay marriages or civil unions.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urges voters in his state to terminate Proposition 66. The initiative would ease California's three strikes law. Schwarzenegger says it would allow violent criminals to be released from prison.
In money news, Whole Foods, the No. 1 natural food chain, is getting ready to kick off an organic clothing line. Company execs say the collection will feature clothes made of -- get this -- bamboo, soy and other natural fibers.
In culture, I'll bet you aren't reading the newspaper as much as you used to. Newspaper circulation is down all across the country, except among the Big Three. The Newspaper Association of America reports that readership is up for "USA Today," "The Wall Street Journal" and "The New York Times."
In sports, the New York Jets grounded the Miami Dolphins 41-14 last night, grabbing a share of the AFC and upping their record to 6- 1. The Dolphins sank, or should I say sink. They're 1-7 -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm glad you said it.
COSTELLO: Oh, man!
MYERS: I don't want to get in trouble for that one. Yes, but they'll rebound in a couple of years.
COSTELLO: Well...
MYERS: They're young. (WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, we all know how much Americans will rely on us tonight. Coming up, a look at how the network news operations are working to avoid a repeat of 2000. And by the way, our coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern with real-time results on dozens of screens live from CNN's new election headquarters at the Nasdaq.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: At some point today, we in the media will be the focus of intense scrutiny. Everybody will be watching to see if we project a winner in the presidential race and if we get it right.
As CNN's Peter Vials reports, after the fiasco in 2000, the watch word this time is "caution."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RATHER, CBS ANCHOR: And I'm so sorry to interrupt you. Mike, you know I wouldn't do this if it weren't big. Florida goes for Al Gore.
PETER JENNINGS, ABC ANCHOR: ABC News is now going to project that Florida goes to Mr. Bush.
PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Election Night 2000, a media meltdown.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: A big call to make. CNN announces that we call Florida in the Al Gore column.
RATHER: Florida comes out of the Gore column, back up in the air.
VILES: Election results were misreported.
TOM BROKAW, NBC ANCHOR: It ends with a victory for George W. Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the American people appreciate that, frankly.
VILES: Network executives called to Capitol Hill to explain.
Four years later, "caution" is the watch word in network newsrooms.
ANDREW KOHUT, PEW RESEARCH CENTER: Network presidents like to cover Congress. They don't want to appear before Congress. So I think there's going to be a great deal of caution and care taken. And everyone's going to be on edge, and it's going to be a higher priority on triple-checking that things are right rather than rush to be first. VILES: CBS News is now bragging that it was last to call John Kerry the victor in the Wisconsin Democratic Primary. ABC News says it will not project a winner in a state if the margin in that state in tabulated votes is less than 1 percent.
LARRY NOBLE, CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS: I don't think any of the news organizations want a repeat of 2000, where they had to -- they called the election one way, then had to switch, and then by the end of the night had to say we don't know who won.
VILES: The networks are cautious, in part, because on Election Night they will share information, the same exit polls, computer models to interpret those polls, the same vote counts gathered by 5,000 stringers for the Associated Press. Each network then uses its own statistical models, news gathering, standards and its own nerve to project winners.
Peter Viles, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: You're looking at a picture of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, at a polling station there. The polls open at 7:00 a.m. Eastern. As you can see, people are already in line. So intense interest in this campaign.
How cold is it there, Chad?
MYERS: Lehigh is nice and warm right now, like 54.
COSTELLO: Oh. So they can wait outside for a little while and not mind it all that much.
MYERS: Sure. Not too bad in the Poconos this morning.
COSTELLO: Oh, I wish I was in the Poconos this morning. Your chance to win a DAYBREAK coffee mug in two minutes. And this reminder: CNN's election coverage kicks off at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Wolf Blitzer and our entire election team will handle coverage throughout the night.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had to deal with a whole new terror group here in Washington this summer called al Cicada. And I have good information that al Cicada has gone underground for 17 years, so we're all right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MYERS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
COSTELLO: Capitol Steps, a group that's been around a long time in Washington, D.C.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Giving you some of their magic this morning.
You know, we've been telling you CNN has extensive coverage of today's big election. CNN's Wolf Blitzer is heading our coverage.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: They're going to be at the Nasdaq in New York. Wolf is here to explain. Actually he's not physically here, because he's resting before the big night tonight. But here's how it will all come together.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much. We're here at CNN election headquarters, right in the heart of Times Square at the Nasdaq Marketsite. We've got all of these video screens, 72 of them behind us. We're going to be able to show you election results like you've never seen them before. We'll go across the country.
We'll show you the total votes, the balance of power in the Senate, the House, the governors races. And at any one moment, we'll be able to put up on the screens behind me all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. We'll show you where the race stands at any one moment. This is something that our viewers are going to appreciate. We expect to have a very, very long night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MYERS: I think we would have a very, very big TV to see all of those numbers, too.
COSTELLO: Boy, you're not kidding. Expect to have a very long night, Wolf?
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: You're going to have a very long week. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello along with Chad Myers.
MYERS: Yes. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now. It's going to be a long day. Enjoy it.
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