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Ballot Box '08; Hillary Clinton Remarks; Barack Obama Remarks; Joe Biden Interview

Aired January 03, 2008 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And on January 20, 2009, the next president of the United States will be sworn in. And waiting on the desk in the Oval Office will be a stack of problems -- a war to end in Iraq, a war to resolve in Afghanistan, an economy that is beginning to show troubling signs, especially in the housing market.
You know, 6,700 Iowans are already facing foreclosure this year. Forty-seven million uninsured Americans, millions more who have insurance, except the insurance company won't pay for the care their doctor or their hospital believes they need.

Oil is moving quickly toward $100 a barrel. Global warming is happening, despite the denial of our current president.

And we know that not only are those problems and others that we can talk about awaiting our next president, but as in life, there is all the unexpected and unpredictable challenges and opportunities as well. We need a president who is ready on day one, who understands that we both have to reach out to the rest of the world again and we have to restart America's confidence and optimism.

You know, there's a lot of reasons to judge the Bush administration harshly. And I think history will certainly do that. But two in particular that I find almost unprecedented in American history is the way in which they have used fear to undermine our country's unity, to divide us one from the other, and the way they have allowed a strain of fatalism to enter into the American bloodstream.

You know, we're the country that sets big goals and achieves them. We're the country whose purpose is to make progress for everything that we believe in. That's the overflow room.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: Either that or it's the end of a great New Year's Eve party. I'm not sure which.

But, you know, when I was growing up, like many of you, we thought, literally, there were no limits as to what America could achieve. If we rolled up our sleeves and we got to work, that was true for us as individuals who pursued the American dream as we defined it. And it was true for our country.

The current climate created by the Bush Republicans is, you know, we can't have universal health care because that will undermine our ability to deliver quality health care. Oh, we can't do anything about energy or global warming. That will wreck the economy.

Since when were Americans the can't do people? As far as I'm concerned, we are the people who are best at solving problems, meeting challenges, being prepared for whatever the future holds.

So, I am running for president to renew America's purpose, to provide that kind of positive change that Americans deserve in their own lives, in their country and the world, and to have a new beginning for America. I've been working for change for 35 years. You know, starting when I was a young lawyer and I got out of law school, I wasn't interested in going to work for a law firm. I went to work for the Children's Defense Fund.

You know, long before...

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: ... long before I was followed around by all these cameras, I believed that I had an opportunity and an obligation to help those who need it. Some kind of helping hand.

Maybe it was because of the family I grew up in, where I was given love and support. Maybe it was because of my church where I was exposed to those who weren't so fortunate as I. But I always believed that one of the great gifts of being an American and being so blessed, as we are, is that we can join together to help others and to continue that forward progress that is America's birthright.

So, I went to work on behalf of abused and neglected kids, kids in foster care, kids who didn't have educational and health care opportunities. And I was very excited to join with a group of us who believed that we needed to remedy an injustice that existed in our country. Because we can remember that children with disabilities were not welcomed in our schools.

When I was a young girl, down the street from where I lived there was a family with a young son who didn't go to school. There was no place for him.

I think the -- yes. I was in the middle of a blizzard yesterday and I was going on and on about something concerning President Bush and the microphone just died. And I thought, you know, I know they're a little obsessed with me, but this is getting absurd.

But, you know, I knew this young man who lived down the street when I was growing up, and he had disabilities. There was no place for him.

And so I went door to door. And we were asking people, do you have school-aged children who aren't in school? And I was invited into small apartments and modest homes, and I met children who were blind and I met children in wheelchairs.

So we compiled the evidence and then we worked hard to make the change. And I was very proud when the United States became the first nation in the world to say that every one of our children is precious and we're going to give a public school education to every single child in America.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: And in Arkansas, I helped to expand health care in rural areas and to reform education. So it didn't matter who your parents were, how poor you were, where you lived, you would have access to the kind of curriculum that would challenge you. And you could determine, you know, what your motivations were, how far you were willing to go with your own hard work and talent.

And I was privileged to go to the White House when Bill became president. And there were a lot of problems waiting on the desk in the Oval Office, you know, including having quadrupled the debt the previous 12 years, having pushed our country into a deficit. And I'm very, you know, proud that over the course of those eight years, we moved from deficit and debt to a balanced budget and a surplus...

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: ... and a projected surplus that would have done so much good for our country.

And we also tackled health care. You know, something that has bedeviled presidents since Franklin Roosevelt.

You know, there's some wonderful stories about Franklin Roosevelt being asked, well, if you're going to do Social Security, how about doing health care at the same time? Well, that's a little more than we can, you know, handle. And thank goodness he did Social Security.

And the same with Harry Truman, who ran into a brick wall. And then Lyndon Johnson, who brought us Medicare and Medicaid, but knew it was a bridge too far to try to get to universal health care.

Well, we took it on and we weren't successful, but I'm proud we tried, because it's important that we make a statement year after year until we get the change done. And there are a lot of people...

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You've been listening to Senator Hillary Clinton, Ames, Iowa. A chance for you to get to hear up close and personal some of her views, her positions, obviously the issues.

Let's check in with Bill Schneider. He is at a local bar as well as restaurant.

You have seen some of these new poll numbers. And I'm wondering if those kinds of issues, the things that she's talking about, reaching out to voters, is really making that much of an impact.

Bill, what are you seeing?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I'm here at Buzzard Billy's Flying Carp Cafe.

(CHEERING)

SCHNEIDER: Who says -- who says Democrats and Republicans can't get along? I've got McCain people to the right of me, I've got Richardson people to the left of me. And I think they're getting along just fine, as long as adult beverages keep getting served.

Now, what do the polls show in the Democratic race? It had been a three-way tie between Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. Our poll shows from the last two weeks, that's becoming a two-way tie between Obama and Clinton, a very, very close race here, with Edwards falling behind.

"The Des Moines Register" just came out with a poll today in which they show Obama leading by about seven points. Why the difference? "The Des Moines Register" poll has a larger representation of first-time voters, young voters, Independent voters.

If they turn out in high numbers -- and their poll suspects they just might do that -- they are the voters most inclined to support Barack Obama. Our poll shows that when Democrats are asked, who do you think has the right experience, the best chance to win, they name Hillary Clinton. Who's the most likable candidate, the most honest candidate? They name Barack Obama.

Tough choice for the Democrats between the candidate who's first in their hearts and the candidate who's first in their heads -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Thanks, Bill. Good to see folks get along in the bar there.

We are standing by to hear now from Senator Barack Obama. He's going to be speaking live to the voters here in Des Moines. Plus, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is facing the voters over lunch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Oh, we have a married couple here, huh?

OK. Now, whose vote matters most? OK. She's the one that influences you?

What about that, an honest man. You have no future in politics, Bill. Zero.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Mike Huckabee talks about his hopes for the White House with voters in a New Hampshire diner.

You are watching CNN's "Ballot Bowl 2008" from the best political team on television. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: You are watching the CNN "Ballot Bowl." All day we are taking you to the candidates, up close and personal.

We are standing by for Senator Barack Obama. He is going to be speaking live to a group of supporters right here in Des Moines. We will take you there as soon as he starts to speak.

Meanwhile, some voters in New Hampshire learned more about the presidential candidates in a special event sponsored by our affiliate WMUR. The candidates spoke candidly while they stopped off for a visit at the Merrimack Diner in Manchester.

Now, let's take a listen to what Republican Mike Huckabee had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HUCKABEE: Hi. How are you folks? Mike Huckabee.

Hey, Bill.

Oh, we have a married couple here, huh? OK. Now, whose vote matters most?

OK. She's the one that influences you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Usually.

HUCKABEE: What about that, an honest man.

You have no future in politics, Bill. Zero.

This is great for you guys to carve out your day today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Governor, I'm Dorothy. How are you.

HUCKABEE: Dorothy, it's good to see you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you like a drink?

HUCKABEE: Do you have iced tea?

Shall I order for everyone so it's healthy?

I just didn't have a very active lifestyle except at the table. And there, I was quite active.

Exercise for me was a second trip to the buffet. But in the eighth grade, we had this very sadistic physical education coach who I think had trained under Marquis de Sade. And in order to get a grade and pass the course, I had to complete a one-mile run.

And it took me the better part of an hour to do it. I hated it. I hated him. I swore one day I would run for governor and audit his taxes.

And I guess it was about five and a half, almost six years ago, my doctor told me, you know, hey, look, if you don't make some lifestyle changes, you're entering the last decade of your life. And then he did me a real favor and he described what that decade would be.

He had diagnosed me with Type II Diabetes, which had run in my family, both mother and father's side of the family. And really kind of explained to me what that meant. And I tell you, it got my attention.

There was once a time in my life when I would have really been angry if somebody told me that I had to run. Now, I would really be angry if somebody told me I couldn't.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can I ask you about your family...

HUCKABEE: Sure.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... and what your family thinks of you running, and also what your family thought of your weight loss. I'm assuming that your wife does the cooking.

HUCKABEE: They were very positive about, you know, my taking control of my health and, you know, I think they were very proud to see that. Because they know it means I'm going to be around a little longer.

We have three children, all of whom are grown. We have an -- our oldest son, John Mark, 31. We have a son, David, who is 27, and he's married. He has been married two years, and his wife just finished law school and passed the bar.

Then our youngest is a daughter, Sarah (ph). She's 25. My wife and I have been married going on 34 years. We were married May 25, 1974, a date that I need to remember.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Uh-huh.

HUCKABEE: So I repeat it often so I don't forget it.

One thing that really shaped our lives as a couple, when we had been married less than a year and I was still in college -- in fact, in my last semester -- my wife was diagnosed with cancer in her spine. The doctor said if they can remove it -- and they weren't sure they could -- that most likely they would have to sever her spinal cord to get the tumor out. And so the options were inoperable or, you know, probably a paraplegic the rest of her life.

The doctor was able to remove the tumor. Had weeks of radiation therapy to try and prevent it to come back and she unfortunately had to learn to walk all over again. I mean, it was a really tough time.

Wouldn't want to go through that again, but it also was very shaping for us. We learned a lot about life. We learned what a lot of people face when they, you know, kind of come to the end of themselves. And I think once you've been to the bottom of the valley, every step you get to take on the upside of the hill is just that much more special.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you talk about some other teachers or other people who have been good educators and teachers for you?

HUCKABEE: That's a great question.

There are several people that were really influential to me. One was my student council adviser in high school named Anna E. Williams (ph).

When I was in the ninth grade, she just saw something in me and wanted to kind of tutor and mentor me. So, I ended up being student body president when I was a senior. And from the ninth grade, she made me come to her office or to her classroom every morning, 30 minutes before school, and I had to show her my to-do list, all of the things I was supposed to get done that day.

And then I had to tell her what I had gotten done the day before off that other day's list. And I became a compulsive list maker. So, to this day, I make a to-do list every day.

The first job I ever had was working at the local radio station in Hope, Arkansas. He had a big influence on me. His name was Haskill Jones (ph). He was also a Republican and he was one of probably only six or seven Republicans in all of the county. That had a big influence on me, too, because I could see in him his convictions were so solid.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you have aspirations of getting into politics? Or it sounds like you were...

HUCKABEE: Always interested, Emily (ph), but I didn't -- especially once I got into pastoring. I just assumed that I would never be able to make a transition like that.

Then I was elected president of the Baptist Convention in Arkansas, the state's largest denomination. It was like one in five people are Southern Baptists alone in Arkansas. And it was that position, highly visible and often, you know, called upon for comments on whatever was going on in the state, people started saying, hey, have you ever thought about running for office?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm curious about how your faith has pushed you on that issue, or perhaps other issues in the area of politics.

HUCKABEE: I always sort of cringe when I har a candidate, when asked about, tell me about your faith, does it affect your policy? And they say oh, no, no, no, it doesn't affect me at all. You know, I keep that completely separate.

Well, what that says to me is that that person's faith is so shallow and insignificant, that it doesn't have any impact in his or her life. And I've told people, if you want someone who is totally programmed and everything is scripted, I'm not your guy. You know?

There's plenty of guys that fit that mold. But I'm not going to live like that. Life's too short. I want to have some fun at life.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So what do you think of New Hampshire, now that you've traveled around our great state?

HUCKABEE: The biggest surprise in New Hampshire is how incredibly hospitable people are. This is like, I'm in the South, but everybody has a weird accent. You know?

We do Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Pride and Joy," for example, sort of a bluesy tune. And for a song like that, it gives a bass player a lot of freedom to improvise. And I like songs where I can do that.

At a Christmas party back in '96, we played for the staff, played a couple of songs. And because I was the governor and I was their boss, they said it was pretty good. And that's all the encouragement we needed.

We played Florida, House of Blues in New Orleans, a lot of fun gigs. It's been great.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you like to play the White House?

HUCKABEE: Do I what?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you like to play the White House?

HUCKABEE: That's why I'm running for president.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: You've been listening to former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee speaking to voters in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Still ahead here on the CNN "Ballot Bowl," we are standing by for Senator Barack Obama to speak live to voters here in Des Moines, Iowa. We're going to take you there when it begins, as soon as it begins.

Plus, there is other news today. We'll get an update on the hour's top stories.

That and much, much more as CNN "Ballot Bowl" continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: I'm Suzanne Malveaux with the CNN Election Express in Des Moines, Iowa.

Just two days to go until the Iowa caucuses. More of the CNN "Ballot Bowl" coming up. Candidates, in their own words, including live coverage of Barack Obama, making his closing argument to Iowa voters.

But first, a quick check of the day's top stories. (NEWSBREAK)

MALVEAUX: We are waiting for Barack Obama. He is going to be speaking soon here in Des Moines. We're going to take you there live as soon as that starts.

And Democratic hopeful Joe Biden is also here in Iowa on this New Year's Day. The senator is going to be joining us at the Election Express straight ahead as the CNN "Ballot Bowl" continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Suzanne Malveaux with the CNN Election Express in Des Moines. We are bringing you live coverage with candidates across Iowa and New Hampshire today, including live coverage of Barack Obama speaking to supporters right here in Des Moines. His wife, Michelle Obama, has just begun speaking. Let's take a listen here to her for a moment.

MICHELLE OBAMA, WIFE OF BARACK OBAMA: ... Barack Obama as president of the United States, he is going to wake up every day, every single day, worrying, thinking, pushing, pressing, trying to find a way to make life better for our future for our kids, for all of our children. That's what he's going to be working on, making sure that regular folks, ordinary people like my dad, like the hardworking folks out there have a better life. And it's not so hard.

So, you can rest assured that when Barack wins the Iowa Caucuses on Thursday night...

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

M. OBAMA: ... that you will have a president that you can be proud of. So, it is my pleasure to introduce to you Malia and Sasha Obama, along with their dad, Barack Obama.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you, Iowa!

(LAUGHTER)

B. OBAMA: (INAUDIBLE). Thank you, Iowa. Thank you. Thank you! Thank you!

Ah, well, I want you to all, first of all, know that these are the stars of the Obama family.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: I am last on the scales of stardom. I want to thank Sasha and Malia for putting up with me running for president for the last 10 months. Give them a big round of applause.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) B. OBAMA: And how about the Christmas commercial? They hit their lines perfectly.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: All right. Now that I have embarrassed them enough, we are going to let them go. But I also want to just say that one of the things that all of you have come to learn is that my wife is smarter than me, better looking than me, a better speaker than me. But despite all that, she still puts up with me. She still campaigns with me. She is the love of my life, the rock of our household. Please give it up for the next first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: Happy New Year, everybody.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: I think 2008 is going to be a good year. That's what I think. I think some big things might happen in 2008. There are so many people I have to thank, so many friends that I see out here today. But let me just acknowledge a few folks who have been so important to this process and who I am so proud to call friends.

First of all, very early in this campaign, when folks still weren't sure whether we could pull this thing off, there were a couple of gentlemen who stepped up to become my Iowa co-chairs. They are outstanding public servants. They are gentlemen. They have been working tirelessly on our behalf.

I want everybody to give a huge round of applause to the Iowa state treasurer, Mike Fitzgerald, and the Iowa state attorney general, Tom Miller. They have been the best co-chairs you could ever hope for.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: Where are they? Tom is behind the flag here. Where is Mike? Mike's over here. Give them a big round of applause.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: Thank you. I want to acknowledge the outstanding mayor of Des Moines, a great supporter, but also somebody who is visionary in terms of understanding the importance of the environment in urban communities, how economic growth can go hand in hand with a green economy. He is a terrific public servant, he is a friend and I'm glad to have his support, Mayor Frank Cownie.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: I want to thank Megan Bobo for her wonderful entertainment. Give her a big round of applause. Thank you, Megan.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: I want to thank Marilyn Miller for her wonderful introduction of Michelle. But, more importantly, all that she has invested in this campaign. And she is representative of the leadership and the precinct captains that have built the best political organization in Iowa. I'm so proud of all of you. Give Marilyn a big round of applause. Give yourselves a big round of applause.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: Finally, some of you know that I used to be an organizer. Moved to Chicago, worked with churches to set up job training programs for the unemployed, and after-school programs for youth, and economic development strategies for communities that had fallen on hard times.

And it was the best education I ever had, because it taught me that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they're given an opportunity. But I also learned that being an organizer is hard work, that you are underpaid, you are underappreciated. You go home late at night. You have got to deal with rejection. Sometimes the heat doesn't work in the office. You're eating cold pizza.

And so, as I've traveled around the state over the last 10 months, I have been so inspired by the young people who have been organizing for us in counties all across the state. They have put their heart and soul into this campaign.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: They have believed when others did not believe. I am so proud of what they have accomplished so far. And so I want to introduce them. And if any of them are close by, I want them to come up. Chelsea Wallacer (ph), our Polk County regional field director. Chelsea, come on up here.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: Ronnie Cho (ph). Ronnie Cho, come on up here. Nathan Blake (ph). Nathan Blake, come up here. Carolyn Gray (ph). We want Carolyn. Quinn Stout (ph). Francis Yakabuchi (ph). Erica Raising (ph). Ali Sutton (ph). Erin Gardner (ph). Sam Liebert (ph). Adam Upman (ph). Johannes Abraham (ph). Jackie Ernis (ph). And Patrick Witty (ph). This is the team that has put this all together.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: You guys are great. Appreciate you, man. Thank you. You guys are great.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: I love these guys. Give it up for them.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) B. OBAMA: Now, let me ask -- yes, we should be having a lot of supporters in here. But you know what, we want to leave no stone unturned. And so, understand that their job is to...

MALVEAUX: You've been listening to Senator Barack Obama. We now want to take you to another Democratic presidential candidate, and one of her (ph) main rivals, Senator Hillary Clinton, she is speaking in Ames, Iowa. Let's take a quick listen to what she is talking about.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am thrilled by the outpouring support that I have across this state. And there are so many people who to come and caucus for me who have never caucused before. Those of you who are experienced caucus-goers, many of you have signed up to buddy with somebody, to drive somebody. We have thousands of people picking up and driving those who can't get there on their own.

This is the most important caucus that I think we've had in America as long as I can remember, because you truly are going to start the process of picking a president. And I will tell you this. If you will stand for me for one night, I will stand and wage a winning campaign.

Now, you know that the Republicans are not going to give up the White House without a fight. They love to denigrate government and they love the privileges that come with being in government. So, they are going to do what they always do, just launch those attacks.

Well, one thing you know about me is that I've been taking that incoming fire for 16 years and, much to their dismay, I am still here, still standing, still fighting, still ready to go forward and win in November 2008.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: And when I do, together we will restore pride in America, get back to making progress and, yes, make history together. Thank you all so much! And God bless you! Thank you.

MALVEAUX: You've been listening to Senator Hillary Clinton. We are going to take you next to Senator Barack Obama in Des Moines, Iowa, he will be speaking. We're also going to take you as well to Mitt Romney on the Republican side. We're going to go to a quick break. But hang on, there is a lot more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: You're watching CNN's BALLOT BOWL '08. This is an opportunity for you, the viewers, to get a sense of all the candidates today. Joining me soon will be Senator Joe Biden here aboard the Election Express. We'll talk about why he hopes to become president. But let's first go back to Senator Barack Obama, speaking live here in Des Moines.

B. OBAMA: ... the retirement system is in tatters, leaving seniors insecure. In this defining moment, we cannot afford to wait. We can't wait to provide health care to people who need it. We cannot wait to provide good jobs and good wages and a pension you can count on. We cannot wait to fix our schools. We cannot wait to halt global warming. We cannot wait to bring an end to this war in Iraq. We cannot wait!

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: We cannot wait. And it's because I determined that the size of these challenges outstripped the capacity of a broken and divided politics to solve that I decided to run, because I was positive. I had a conviction that the American people were hungry, were desperate for something new, for a different kind of politics, for a politics that would be focused on our common values and our common ideals. On a politics that was about practicality than ideology. For a politics that delivered common sense and straight talk instead of PR and spin.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: Most of all, I decided to run because I was betting on you, because I believed and continue to believe that the real agents of change in this country are the American people, that the American people are not as divided as our politics would suggest. That we are decent and generous and we are willing to work hard and sacrifice for future generations.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: And that if we could just mobilize those voices, if we could pull those voices together, to challenge the special interests, but to also challenge ourselves to be better, then there was no problem that we could not solve and there was no destiny that we could not fulfill. And let me tell you something, 10 months later, Iowa, you have vindicated my faith in the American people. Ten months later, my bet has paid off. Ten months later, we stand on the brink of doing something very, very special right here in Iowa.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

B. OBAMA: Because of you. You've come out in the blistering heat and you've come out in the bitter cold. You've come out not just to cheer, but to challenge, to ask tough questions, to lift the hood, kick the tires, take all the candidates out for a test drive.

You've given everybody a fair hearing. You've listened to our plans. You've been bombarded with mail and phone calls and "I have approved this message."

(LAUGHTER)

B. OBAMA: And so, you've earned the special place that you play in our democracy, because you take this process so seriously. Now, I have to say that we, as candidates, like to think it's all about us. But I recognize that part of the reason we have seen such enormous crowds, part of the reason that you've all been so eager and anxious following this election is you know that next year we will be going into the voting booth and selecting the next president of the United States. And you know that the name George W. Bush will not be on the ballot. And that has got you excited.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

MALVEAUX: You've been listening to Senator Barack Obama in Des Moines, speaking to supporters, trying to win those last-minute, undecided voters. And, of course, just minutes away, joining me, Senator Joe Biden here, aboard the Election Express.

SEN. JOE BIDEN (D-DE), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thanks for having me, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Happy New Year here. And I understand you've got a lot of supporters, they are waiting for him. They are at Buzzard Billy's just nearby. They're waiting to see what he has got to say. Obviously Senator Biden making his pitch as well to voters. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Thanks for joining us. CNN BALLOT BOWL '08. This is really an opportunity for all of the candidates to speak openly, candidly, personally to get you, your attention and to essentially tell you what they think the issues are, the important issues and why they should be president. Joining us on the CNN Election Express bus, Senator Joe Biden.

Thank you. Happy New Year.

BIDEN: Happy New Year to you.

MALVEAUX: Glad to be inside here. Thanks for stopping by.

BIDEN: I've always wanted to be in a bowl on January 1st.

MALVEAUX: This is a great bowl. This is a great bowl to be a part of.

BIDEN: It wasn't the bowl I had in mind, but it's one of the bowls I finally made.

MALVEAUX: You and I have had a chance to talk politics, personally as well. Tell us one thing to the voters that you don't think they know about you.

BIDEN: I don't think they know much about me in terms of my background, where I live, I'm married, my kids, my background in terms of my personal life. Everybody come to say, Senator, you're one of those millionaires. I said, I'm the only guy running that's not a millionaire. I am the only guy running that actually lives a normal life.

And so I don't think people know much about me personally. I think they know a fair amount about me in terms of knowing a little bit about foreign policy, knowing al little bit about the Constitution, being someone that you guys -- not you personally, but the press says Biden is capable as president, but can he win a caucus? Can he raise the money?

And the other thing they don't know is when -- I get asked out here all the time, Senator, you're an important senator, why can't you raise any money? Why can't you raise $100 million? And so I say, well, there's not a whole lot of interest groups that are real crazy about me being reliable.

So you know, I think there are things that are on the personal side they don't know about me. And I think when people run for president, people look more at their character than they do in any particular issue.

MALVEAUX: Is there something you want people to know about you on the personal side that says something about your character?

BIDEN: Well, yes. I would like people to know that all the years I've been in politics, my Republican colleagues and my Democratic colleagues have never questioned my word, never questioned that I do anything other than I say. I mean what I say.

I decided when I ran this time to say exactly what I would do, lay out, like I have, on the war in Iraq, on Pakistan. I'm the only one that has laid out a position, a detailed position on each of the major crises facing the country and because I think elections are about referenda on your ideas.

And -- but some say I've thought more about how to be president than how to get elected president. I'm trying to rectify that though.

MALVEAUX: Well, you know, your family is all over the state. I know your wife, you said a sister, two sons, a daughter, everybody.

BIDEN: That's right.

MALVEAUX: What does your family mean to you? Are you close to them?

BIDEN: Well, yes. I mean, everybody around me knows, everyone in the Congress knows it's the beginning, middle and end. When you lose a family like I did -- I lost my wife and daughter, who were killed in an automobile accident right after I got elected when I was a kid 35 years ago.

And my wife, Jill, of 30 years, has rebuilt my family. I have two boys survived that accident. I have a daughter. But it's everybody out here. Last night, we had New Year's Eve dinner. There are 26 Bidens at the New Year's Eve dinner. And they're all over the place.

My sister has managed all my campaigns, she's still managing this one now. My oldest son is 38, is the attorney general of the state of Delaware. He's a better campaigner than I am. My number two son is a year and a day younger. He's 37, he's out here, taking care of me. He is the guy taking me all around. My brother Jim, my brother Frank. Anyway, the whole family is here. And it all begins with family and it ends with family. And that's kind of what I -- I know it sounds corny, but I think that's kind of what we have to rebuild here in this country. We have to rebuild a sense of family, a sense of responsibility, a sense of belonging, a sense of caring.

MALVEAUX: Do you think it makes you a stronger person when you go through a tragedy like that, losing family?

BIDEN: Well, that will be for the voters to judge. But I think when you lose a family or anything like that -- and many people have gone through some very tough, tough things without the kind of family support I had, I think it either makes you stronger or weaker. I don't think it keeps you the same. Hopefully, it has made me stronger.

MALVEAUX: OK. Thank you so much, Joe Biden. We really appreciate the time here.

BIDEN: Thanks a lot...

(CROSSTALK)

MALVEAUX: Joining us for the New Year.

BIDEN: Your hands are freezing. Tell them to warm this bus up.

(LAUGHTER)

MALVEAUX: Thank you so much for warming up a little bit.

OK. Coming up here, of course, we've got Senator John Edwards, Mitt Romney, many other candidates. This is a very special coverage, a chance to get to meet these candidates up close and personal throughout the day. And we will bring you much, much more.

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