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American Morning
The Earliest Votes: What Can They Tell Us; Clinton Gets Emotional; Primary Issues: What's Driving New Hampshire Votes; Deadly Tornadoes in Midwest
Aired January 08, 2008 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: You can get ones with meat added as well. Kielbasa Italian sausage. Whatever you want to go along with the Polish ...
(CROSSTALK)
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: You know, the original French-Canadian poutine (ph) is simply French fries with gravy and cheese curds, but people have tweaked it and taken it to a whole new level.
CHETRY: That's right. And here in Manchester, you can get it any way you want it along with your politics, of course. We talked to some voters behind us as well, many of them undecided until the last weeks and days but saying that they have made up their minds today. And as we said, the polls are open. So we'll find out the results a little bit later on this evening.
Meanwhile, we just saw Rudy Giuliani arrive at a polling site here in New Hampshire, and we'll also be talking to Fred Thompson a bit later on AMERICAN MORNING. Fred Thompson interestingly enough not in the state today. We're going to talk about what his strategy is and how he's trying to get where he stands on the issues out to the voters, perhaps not New Hampshire voters.
ROBERTS: He's started a big bus tour in Greenville, South Carolina today.
CHETRY: Already moving on.
ROBERTS: Some people might be saying is that an indication that he thinks he's just not going to do well here so he wrote the whole thing off just to try to get a leg up on South Carolina.
CHETRY: Also on the Democratic side, Barack Obama going into today as the Democratic favorite with polls showing a growing lead for Obama over Senator Hillary Clinton. Jessica Yellin covering the Democrats for us this morning and spent a lot of time yesterday with the Obama camp. A lot of people describing the energy at the rallies and the speeches he's been giving us as quite electric if you will, Jessica.
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Kiran.
Quite a big crowd out there for Barack Obama and some big crowds expected here at the polling places today. I am at one polling place in New Hampshire where they're expecting 2,000 voters. And I could tell you across the state, they're expecting a record-high turnout. People feeling more motivated this year than ever. Whether it's the candidates that are exciting them or the issues at stake, these voters are coming out in droves.
And already, I connected with somebody in one of the neighboring polling places. He says that more voters than he's ever seen, an elderly gentleman said there are about 100 people lined up at 5:45 this morning to come out. So much of today's vote in New Hampshire will depend on the independents. This is one of those states in which independents can vote either with the Democrats or with the Republicans. They can show up and decide, and so they are the real swing vote today.
Many of them are expected to sort of make these -- sort of decisive move toward either Barack Obama or John McCain and possibly deliver them victories. But also Senator Clinton on the Democratic side struggling to make her case heard here, to be the comeback kid in New Hampshire as her husband was so many years ago.
John Edwards and Governor Richardson still staying in the race. But as you've said, Barack Obama with a very healthy lead at least in the polls connecting with voters here, not so much on the specifics of the issues, not so much because his agenda is different, but because he's offering a style of leadership that seems to connect with so many in his audiences. But, again, we'll have to wait and hear what the voters have to say later this evening -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Jessica Yellin for us live in New Hampshire right where we are as well. Thanks a lot.
ROBERTS: Well, as it happens in every New Hampshire primary, the first votes were cast in the nation's first primary while you were probably sleeping. Voters in the tiny villages of Dixville Notch and Hart's location way, way up north, it's about as far north as you can go here in New Hampshire without getting into Canada, cast votes for Senator Barack Obama and John McCain.
State law allows towns with fewer than 100 people to open their polls at midnight, and it's been a long tradition. People line up their and cast their vote. It's symbolic if anything but it may say something more this year. Of the 17 votes cast in Dixville Notch, Hillary Clinton completely shut out, as was Mike Huckabee.
CNN's Tom Foreman is live from the Election Express. He's up there in Dixville Notch for the early results and what they could mean. Tom, good morning to you. How did they break down?
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'll tell you, first of all, when you talk about turnout, this is how it first broke down. They had 100 percent participation in this. All 17 people voted, four of them by absentee ballot.
On the Republican side, John McCain is a big winner. Four votes for him. Two for Mitt Romney, one for Rudy Giuliani. Over on the Democratic side, Edwards got two votes. There was one vote in there for Richardson. But Obama got seven votes here and the room just erupted in cheers when that happened. So it's not a big indicator of how things will go in the future of everything here, but the Obama supporters are very excited, John.
ROBERTS: As well they should be. Is there any way to gauge how much of an indication Dixville Notch and Hart's location will be for the way that the voting will go over the rest of the state today?
FOREMAN: Well, it's not much of one. Once in a while, you know, once in a while, it lines up with what the final result may be, more so on the Republican side than on the Democratic side. But there is this. I mean, obviously with this kind of vote going on here, there was certainly a leaning toward the Democratic side, even though the vast number of voters here in this vote last night were independents.
So, if that's an indicator of anything, I don't know. But I guess we'll find out today as it goes on. And certainly Barack Obama did very well with independents in Iowa. We'll see if he does just as well here in New Hampshire.
ROBERTS: Yes. We'll see if there's some translation between Dixville Notch and the rest of the state today. Tom Foreman up there, way, way up north in New Hampshire. Tom, thanks very much. We'll check back with you a little bit later on -- Kiran.
CHETRY: The best thing about being a voter in Dixville Notch, you get your own actual voting machine. Seventeen of them. That's like one for each voter. Pretty cool.
Well, tonight's New Hampshire primaries a must-win for candidates hoping to get their party's nomination. Since 1952, 19 of 28 New Hampshire primary winners have gone on to win the presidential election. That's almost 70 percent. So who are the voters in New Hampshire?
Liberal, middle class Americans during the 2004 primary, 46 percent of the Democratic voters identified themselves as liberals. There were also more than 850,000 registered voters in New Hampshire and almost half are independents who can cast their vote in either primary. Independents have also played a big role in past primaries. Back in 2004, 45 percent of Democratic primary voters were independent and in 2000, they were credited with John McCain's victory over George Bush turning out on the GOP side constituting 41 percent of the Republican turnout.
Republican Mitt Romney has been under attack by his opponents for changing his positions on key issues. In the last hour, I asked him why his national health care plan is different or what he wants for a national health care plan is different than what he did as governor of Massachusetts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I like what we did in the state of Massachusetts, but we don't mandate that all states follow exactly the same plan. We have a principle of federalism in this country to encourage states to create their own ideas and hopefully from time to time come up with something better than we did in our state. But my view is that we will encourage each state through incentives to put in place a program that gets all their citizens insured.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: And that's wrong.
On the sagging economy, Romney told me that the first thing he'd do as president will be to lower the tax rate to zero on savings for middle income Americans.
ROBERTS: Well, we spoke with Senator Hillary Clinton here in New Hampshire yesterday. She got emotional at a campaign stop in Portsmouth when a voter asked her a personal question. She was asked how she stays upbeat and looks so good all the time given the rigors of the road.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, I have so many opportunities from this country. I just don't want to see us fall backwards, you know? So, you know, this is very personal for me. It's not just political. It's not just public. I see what's happening, and we have to reverse it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: So a few hours after that, I sat down with Senator Clinton and asked her about coming to the brink of tears on the campaign trail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: You know, I actually have emotions. I know that there are some people who doubt that. But I -- you know, I really am so touched by what I hear from people. It's usually about their problems. It's usually a mother who throws her arms around me and says, thank you for the children's health insurance program or a man who drove all the way here from New York to tell people that I've saved jobs in New York. I mean, that's really moving to me because that's how I judge the job I'm doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Well, we'll have much more of my conversation with Hillary Clinton coming up later on this hour and throughout the morning. Some voters suggest that seeing that softer side of her in that impromptu situation made them think, well, maybe I should reconsider my vote and maybe go for Hillary Clinton.
Of course, we'll be covering the candidates all day long here. And remember, if you're away from your television set, head to CNN.com/live to see all of the political rallies and events stream live on our Web site. And then, primetime coverage begins tonight at 8:00 Eastern with Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Lou Dobbs and the rest of the best political team on television.
And join us for AMERICAN MORNING. Our special edition begins an hour early. We'll be up bright and early tomorrow morning, 5:00 a.m. Eastern to bring you all the results -- Kiran.
CHETRY: A lot of other stories making headlines overnight. Alina Cho has the very latest developments for us right now including the latest on the tornadoes in the Midwest. Good morning, Alina.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Kiran. Good morning. And good morning, everybody. We begin with more on that extreme weather in the Midwest.
Rare tornadoes brought on in part by the unusually warm temperatures. Now, the twisters killed two people near Springfield, Missouri. Tornadoes are also believed to have touched down in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Mobile homes were flattened. Trucks overturned, and roofs were torn to shreds.
Kevin Kilgore sent us this I-Report from Loves Park, Illinois. Take a look there. A twister knocked railroad cars off of the tracks, downed power lines and trapped dozens of drivers. And check out this I-Report we're about to show you from Roland Cavazos in Kenosha, Wisconsin. You can see a funnel cloud there being lit up by lightning strikes. Eleven homes were destroyed there.
Marcus Moore of CNN affiliate KNBC is standing by live for us in Springfield, Missouri. So Marcus, what's the scene there like today?
MARCUS MOORE, KNBC REPORTER: Alina, from what we can tell so far in the darkness, it is a very messy scene right now. I want to show you just behind me here. A car that's overturned -- that overturned here about -- we're about 30 miles northeast of Springfield. We're in Webster County, Missouri, which is according to authorities may have been the hardest hit after last night's storm.
We're seeing debris like this, big wood chunks all throughout this yard here. And right back here is what is left of a home. Now, we're in Webster County near Marshville, Missouri, and this is where authorities tell us a 53-year-old woman was killed when the storm hit Monday night. And just take a look for yourself.
Everything that you will see inside her home is left out in the elements here. You see what appears to be a stove right there. A sink, a microwave and a couch. This home absolutely destroyed. And if we pan over to the right, you can see the debris there up against this tree. And that's kind of what we've been seeing here in Webster County, Missouri, in the darkness. Can't really see very much right now, but we've been seeing this along the highways here, just a lot of damage.
Now, authorities have been telling us that because of the darkness and the wet weather that you continue to see, the fall continues to fall right now, they haven't really been able to get a good idea of exactly what they're dealing with here. They have no idea how much damage is actually out there.
But you just mentioned that two people were killed. Several others were hurt when the storms moved through this area last night. And from what we understand, about nine tornadoes touched down here in southwest Missouri. So it is truly a mess and a very tragic day. Thank you, Alina.
CHO: Hopefully we'll be getting a better assessment at first light. Marcus Moore of our affiliate KNBC live for us in Springfield, Missouri. Marcus, thanks.
I want to get more on the extreme weather now. Rob Marciano off today. Jacqui Jeras at our weather update desk with more on that. Hey, Jacqui, good morning.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, good morning, Alina. Yes, it was really a rough late last evening and even continuing through the overnight hours. Right now, no tornado watches or warnings in effect but we think that will change as the day progresses and that sun starts to pops out and helps to destabilize the atmosphere.
There's a lot of rain, though, and a lot of thunderstorms producing a lot of lightning so that's something to be aware of this morning. And right there in southwest Missouri, still getting wet. But they'll watch for clearing conditions and colder conditions by this afternoon. The St. Louis metro area in the east side of town including East St. Louis over towards Granite City and down also into the Centerville area, are getting a lot of lightning and you also might get some strong wind gusts with those storms that they push off to the east and more development here into parts of Oklahoma pushing in to Arkansas. An isolated severe storm will be possible there this morning.
The real event that we think, though, will take place again late this afternoon and tonight from the Ohio River Valley down into the lower Mississippi River Valley. If you live in Nashville, Memphis, say, Indianapolis or Greenville, Mississippi, this is what you want to have in your hands today with you. Alina showed us. This is a know what? Weather radio. And this will alert you if there's a tornado warning issued for you in your area. If it happens at night, it can wake you up. You might not hear those sirens going off in your neighborhood.
CHO: Yes, that's a good little tool to have there. Jacqui Jeras, thanks so much. We want to head back up to Manchester. And John, where John, it was 64 yesterday? Is that right? And you are going to get more warm weather today somewhere around there?
ROBERTS: You know, it was -- it was warmer than it typically is, but it was kind of misty a little bit and everything is melting.
(CROSSTALK)
CHO: It lasted for turnout.
ROBERTS: It's supposed to be cold here in New Hampshire. But 72 degrees today in Washington. Unbelievable. Yes.
CHO: Your home.
ROBERTS: Hey, we've got more presidential candidates, Alina, out there at the polling places this morning. Greeting voters, saying hello. Subtle or not so subtle suggestion to hey, cast your ballot for me.
Mitt Romney out there at the Brookside Congregational Church talking to folks. Don't know who that is that we're looking at, though. But apparently, Mitt was there just a couple of minutes ago. So, we'll keep -- apparently he's on the other side of the guy in blue. There he is. Look at that. He's hiding.
It's amazing that, you know, Romney is a fairly tall guy. It's amazing that he can actually be blocked by that fellow, but out there shaking hands with people as Rudy Giuliani was and Mike Huckabee will be doing as well. They're not actually voting this morning. But they're just saying hi to folks to say it would be great if you cast a vote for me this morning. Not so subtle suggestion.
Today's primary is going to tell us what issues are most important to New Hampshire voters. Up next, we're going to hear what's on voters' minds from the senior reporter of New Hampshire's most influential newspaper. While some candidates were shaking hands with voters from New Hampshire, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul were shaking hands with talk show hosts in New York and Los Angeles yesterday. We'll show you how they did ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Today's New Hampshire union leader says that this is the most important presidential election in more than a generation.
CHETRY: John Clayton is a senior reporter for "The New Hampshire Union Leader." He joins us now. He was kind enough also to bring us a little bit of history. Everything you need to know about the state of New Hampshire as well.
ROBERTS: And including poutine, as it's called here, poutine, which is the famous dish -- the French fries covered in gravy covered in cheese curds. And also another great book of New Hampshire, the way I see it, obviously taken on a day a little nicer than today.
JOHN CLAYTON, SR. REPORTER, THE UNION LEADER: Almost 60 degrees on Election Day in New Hampshire is pretty good.
ROBERTS: What's it going to do for turnout, you think?
CLAYTON: I think it's going to help. And I think it's a remarkable statement about the voters from New Hampshire. The secretary of state is talking about a possible 500,000 voters. That's half the registered voters in New Hampshire. That's half the population of New Hampshire. So if anybody questions the validity of the New Hampshire primary, I think its turnout today is just going to be another ringing endorsement for the way people in New Hampshire get embraced by this process.
CHETRY: Yes. And you know what also is really interesting is the makeup of the New Hampshire electorate. You have a polarizing electorate. A very liberal Democrats on one side and very conservative Republicans on the other. What are the issues that are going to bring both sides out to vote today?
CLAYTON: Issues have almost fallen by the wayside. I mean, if you ask me three months ago, I would have said the war in Iraq is of paramount importance to the voters. And then, you know, a month ago, when I had an oil delivery at my home, I would have said it's the price of home heating oil and gasoline prices which are affecting everybody.
Then you get in to the subprime mortgage crisis which is affecting homeowners, but as we get down to these last days, more and more, it's not so much about the issues. For example, the Democrats are all really close.
ROBERTS: Right.
CLAYTON: So it becomes a likeability factor, you know, the personality factor as it is on the Republican side. So, you know, we're going to cast our votes but it's up to the national media, you folks, to decide who won. The expectation game is on and full.
ROBERTS: When you look at the amount of money that Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney, and the amount of attention and time that they spent in this state, what would a loss mean to both of them?
CLAYTON: For Mitt Romney, I think it means a great deal. Not only is he the governor of a neighboring state, he has a summer home in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. He's probably eligible to vote here if he really wanted to, so I think he's invested a lot and to not carry it at home would hurt him badly. On the same token, John McCain has said he will win New Hampshire. You know, that's the expectation. What if he doesn't?
CHETRY: But on the same, he won New Hampshire in 2000 as well, so he does have a history here as well when you take a look at both of them.
CLAYTON: He does. And he appeals to the independent maverick New Hampshire voter. There's a mindset around here that embraces a candidate like John McCain who doesn't always follow the party line. He goes his own way. Obviously, my newspaper has endorsed him. I'm an Indian, not a chief. Other papers have actually run anti-Romney spots.
CHETRY: That's right.
CLAYTON: So John McCain has a lot vested in this.
ROBERTS: If you're the Hillary Clinton campaign, you look at the last two primaries, Iowa and New Hampshire in 2004 and 2000. The candidate who won both of those, Gore and Kerry went on to become the nominee. Back in 1972, Edmund Muskie came sort of slightly second in Iowa.
CLAYTON: Yes.
ROBERTS: Undecideds were the number one choice. Many also won New Hampshire, did not become the nominee. George McGovern did. The only time when somebody has not won both and gone on to become the nominee.
CLAYTON: We don't have a perfect record, but I think our rested (ph) peace corps would get us into Harvard. We're pretty good at deciding who's a valid candidate and more than anything else in New Hampshire, that's what we do as we thin the herd for the rest of the nation.
CHETRY: And any directions for today?
CLAYTON: I think Obama will win handily. You folks again will decide whether it's handily enough. And I think John McCain will carry the day as he did in 2000.
ROBERTS: All right. John Clayton from the New Hampshire "Union Leader." Good to see you this morning. Good luck. I know you're going to be keeping busy today with all the coverage.
CLAYTON: I will. And I have to go vote.
ROBERTS: That's true.
CHETRY: What time are you going out there, by the way?
CLAYTON: About 10:00, after the New Hampshire public radio thing.
ROBERTS: All right.
CHETRY: All right. Thanks, John.
ROBERTS: Thanks very much. Good to see you.
CLAYTON: Thank you both.
CHETRY: More economic wars. We're going to tell you who is the latest to sound the alarm in a possible recession coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
And, also, forget hotels or his friend's apartment. There's one New York City man who's moving into an Ikea store this week. Well, he won't run of beds. He can try a different one every night. How about that? We're going to figure out why, coming up.
Plus, the latest on the New Hampshire primary. Life from Manchester this morning in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: We're excited to tell you about some new additions to the CNN family. "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" anchor Nancy Grace kicked off her return to the anchor desk last night by introducing her 2-month-old twins, John David and Lucy Elizabeth to the world. And the babies came a bit early. They were delivered prematurely by C-section in early November. Nancy reports though that both of them are doing great and that she's never been happier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANCY GRACE, CNN ANCHOR: It's like nothing I've ever done before. You know, every time I would close a file or win a case in court, I thought that -- that was all there was, prosecuting violent crimes my whole life. I never thought anything like this miracle could happen to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: And a lot of first-time moms feel that way. I certainly did as well. Congratulations, Nancy. Your babies are absolutely adorable. Nancy Grace, by the way, airs weeknights at 8:00 Eastern on "CNN HEADLINE NEWS." We're going to be talking with Nancy tomorrow right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ROBERTS: And you'll have a chance again soon to feel that way again.
CHETRY: Yes, exactly. Exactly. Three more months to go.
ROBERTS: There you go. Under construction.
Ali Velshi in New York "Minding Your Business" this morning. And Ali, an issue that's coming up quickly on the radar screen here in New Hampshire and will spread throughout this 2008 campaign, is America about to head into a recession?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, tough thing for candidates to have to deal with because we're not sure whether we are. Just yesterday, the head of the organization which actually is responsible for determining whether or not we're in a recession, said there's better than even chance we're going to be. The president chimed in on this as well. In fact, he's scheduled a speech to talk about this in Chicago yesterday.
The idea that he was facing some criticism that he wasn't really in touch with whether or not we are headed for a recession. Here's what President Bush had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've been through this before. People said are you optimistic? I said absolutely. Absolutely optimistic. Do I recognize the reality of the situation? You bet I do. During my seven years as president have I seen the great American economy bounce back? I have. People say why do you think? I said because our people are optimistic, hardworking, decent people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: Now, the president is going to be talking about tax cuts. The White House is saying the president does not want to make a decision about what to do about the economy until later on this month. He's going to have the State of the Union address at the end of the month and then he's going to issue a budget. So there's some sense that the president is going to wait to see what the next indicators are.
Also, at the end of the month, the federal reserve is meeting, John. So there's a lot of indication they'll cut interest rates again. After that, the president will determine what steps to take. Congress is looking at this situation as well to see what the government can do to help prop up this economy if it continues to head downward -- John.
ROBERTS: Yes. We're certainly going to be hearing a lot, so bet it on the campaign trail coming up as well. Ali Velshi for us this morning. Ali, thanks.
One filmmaker in New York City is spending a week living in Ikea. Mark Malkoff is staying at the furniture store while his apartment is fumigated. He says hotels are too expensive, and his friends don't really have room for him. Malkoff is best known for the "171 Starbucks" video where he documented his visits to all of the coffee chains Manhattan stores in a single day.
Ikea says they're allowing him to stay at the Paramus, New Jersey, store because they like the Starbucks video, and they also appreciate his loyalty to Ikea products.
CHETRY: And he was jumping on the bed there for a while. I guess they don't mind that either. How about it?
Well, you're watching the most news in the morning. And a dramatic survival story and the pictures that you'll see only on CNN. Two families of snowmobilers trapped finally make it out alive. What they did to make it through that bitter cold with no food.
Also, Senator Hillary Clinton up close and emotional. John talked to her about that emotional moment on the campaign. He goes one-on-one with Senator Clinton. Plus, our other top stories when AMERICAN MORNING comes right back live from Manchester, New Hampshire.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING, a special edition. It is Tuesday, January the 8th. It is primary day here at the granite state live from New Hampshire at the Sheva Shan (ph) Restaurant.
I'm John Roberts. And Kiran Chetry made her way a little deeper to the restaurant to meet with some folks. Good morning, Kiran.
CHETRY: Yes, that's right. This is one of the many places where people are going to be gathering today, maybe getting a little bit of breakfast before they head out to the polls. We talked to a lot of people here. Most of them say they are going to be voting. Some of them still undecided.
So, the polls had been open for an hour, maybe two hours in some cases. They still haven't exactly pinpointed which candidate they're going vote for. There are others who said they did make up their minds but only in the past couple of days.
So, a lot of that last minute campaigning clearly in one way or another is going to make a difference for these candidates today. We're going to continue to talk to some of these voters throughout the show and give you a little bit more of a flavor about exactly what it is that they're looking for and what issues are important to them.
And, of course, the famous dish around here, poutine is being eaten here. John Roberts prefers his with chicken gravy. However, this young lady here likes her with beef. She says that's the way they do it in Canada -- John.
ROBERTS: All right, we're going to be taking you on the road to talk to a lot of these candidates. It's Hillary Clinton coming up, as well we're going to be speaking with Fred Thompson who is not actually in New Hampshire at all today. He's in Greenville, South Carolina.
Right now, let's go to Dana Bash. She is live at the Brookside Congregational Church where some of these candidates have been showing up this morning to shake some hands. A subtle suggestion, hey vote for me today.
How are things going there this morning, Dana?
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's a happening place here, John. There have been three Republican candidates here already this morning. And it was kind of an interesting moment here that where Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani cross paths. Rudy Giuliani was here but way before the sun came up. Mike Huckabee arrived.
And the two of them, as Rudy Giuliani was leaving, sort of bump into each other. Mike Huckabee made a joke about whether he can have his vote. It's sort of telling of just how intense the race is for all of these candidates, even people like Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee who are not necessarily vying for number one here, but how they place in this race here really does make a difference in terms of how they will do in this future.
And if I had a chance to talk to Rudy Giuliani while he was here asking about the fact that, you know, he should if you look at his policies the fact that he is for fiscal responsibility, the fact that he is for less government in people's lives, that should have done incredibly well in a libertarian state like New Hampshire. But he is not doing that well here. He is vying for Mike Huckabee for the number three slot right now. So I asked him about that strategy and his strategy going forward.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is a good strategy. It's one that has us ahead in more states than anyone else. And we'll be competing in those states. The reality is, I think we're going to do well in New Hampshire. That's why we're here. We're encouraging everybody to vote. I think a vote for me is a vote for low taxes. A vote for me is a vote for staying on offense on the war on terror. We believe that that is a situation that will help us in the long run.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: And the long run is that February 5th strategy. The strategy for Rudy Giuliani is to do well in the 24 super Tuesday states on February 5th. But today, John, the real contest is between Mitt Romney and John McCain on the Republican side.
Mitt Romney was another candidate who was here. He actually just left. He was shaking hands, greeting people as they came into this polling place. He actually just talked to us just for a few moments saying that he is feeling confident. He insists that there's anecdotal evidence from the phone calls that his campaign was making. They made 78,000 phone calls yesterday. They said that they are getting undecided voters to break their way.
But you know what, John McCain feels probably about the same way. He feels very confident. He feels that he has really come up basically from nowhere just a few months ago. So he feels like the granite state, a place where he won in the year 2000 could do that again for him. So it will be fascinating to see which of these two men do take the top slot today and for both of them, it really matters. It's pretty much do or die for either John McCain or Mitt Romney if they win or come second in this state -- John.
ROBERTS: Everybody publicly feeling confident today, Dana. But I'm sure privately for some of them, they're wondering which way it's going to go. Dana Bash for us this morning outside the Brookside Congregational Church in Manchester. Dana, thanks.
Senator Hillary Clinton in a bit of a tough spot today, lagging in the polls after holding a commanding lead in New Hampshire all year. And, an emotional moment on Monday in Portsmith when she was asked how she keeps up with the frenetic pace of campaigning. We talked about that moment and also the issues, the principles upon which she stands and her campaign strategy now in the fight for New Hampshire.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Senator, it's good to see you again.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you, John. Good to see you.
ROBERTS: It's always good to see you. In the last couple of days, you've gone back to that aggressive style of compare and contrast that we saw a month ago which didn't seem to really play too well for you at that time. Why did you feel the need to go back to that? CLINTON: Well, I think the debate here in New Hampshire on Saturday night really was a turning point. All of a sudden, moderators were asking tough questions about each of us. And I thought that it was a moment that really helped to define what the election truly should be about going forward. Each of us should be compared and contrasted with the others.
This is an election that is going to, we hope, will pick the next president of the United States. And so we got to start by making sure that our candidates have their records compared and contrasted, their positions, and everything else. Because once we have a nominee, we know what the Republicans are going to do. They're not going to stand back and say we shouldn't raise those questions.
So, let's raise the questions. I thought that, you know, on Saturday night, both Senators Edwards and Obama had some, you know, answers that really bear some further thought.
ROBERTS: Let me ask you a question, did President Bush, posited, hypothetically at his last press conference, he said that he would ask the candidates, what are the principles you'll stand on in good times and in bad times. What will be the underpinning of your decisions?
CLINTON: The United States constitution first and foremost. That's the founding document of our government. The rule of law that undergirds our constitution. The understanding that we are a nation with separation of powers and checks and balances. I will also do everything that I can to protect and defend our country, and then to fulfill the goals that I have set.
We want to get back to having a position of international leadership and moral authority. We want to rebuild a strong and prosperous middle class. We need to reform this government, and we need to do it quickly because it has become a government for the wealthy and the well connected. And we need to reclaim the future for our children.
ROBERTS: In Portsmith, New Hampshire, at an event on Monday, you teared up a little bit when you were asked about the rigors of the road.
CLINTON: You know, I have so many opportunities in this country. I just don't want to see us fall backwards, you know? So -- you know, this is very personal for me. It's not just political. It's not just public. I see what's happening. We have to reverse it.
ROBERTS: I know what some people said to you was this an Edwin Muskie moment. I don't want to ask you that. Was it fatigue? Was it the nature of the question? What was it? We don't normally see that display of emotion.
CLINTON: Well, you know, I actually have emotions. I know that there are some people who doubt that. But, you know, I -- I really am so touched by what I hear from people. It's usually about their problems. It's usually a mother who throws her arms around me and says, thank you for the children's health insurance program, or a man who drove all way here from New York to tell people that I'd saved jobs in New York. I mean, that's really moving to me. Because that's how I judge the job that I'm doing.
So, with this woman, this really kind woman said to me, well, how are you doing? It was so touching to me. Because I'm so other oriented. You know, I'm not good about talking about myself. I don't get up and think about, you know, how I'm going to present myself. I think about, OK, what am I going to do today to actually make a difference in somebody's life. And I think there's been, you know, a lot of misunderstanding, perhaps. Because, you know, I am reserved, I am somebody who says, you know, let's have a little bit of distance here, because I want to be judged by my work. I want to be judged by what I've done for people.
So it was, you know, I get very passionate about my country and about what I want to do. And you know, I have this woman who's a supporter, apparently, as she said later, say, you know, but I want you to, you know, be able to go the distance. I want you to be OK. It was very touching to me.
ROBERTS: Not unusual for a presidential candidate or president to tear up. Your husband did it on occasion.
CLINTON: Well, a lot of the times. George W. Bush has ...
ROBERTS: There's President Bush. Ronald Reagan used to do it.
CLINTON: Right. But part of it, John, is that as hard as this work is, it is such a privilege. You know, I don't take anybody for granted. I'm not entitled to anything. I feel like I've been given the greatest gift to be able to travel around our country, meet with people, understand what's going on in their lives. Our country is so good. And we just need a president again who's going to lift our sights and give us our pride back and we can start making progress again.
ROBERTS: Senator, I won't ask you if you'll keep going after New Hampshire if you lose here because I know that you have the money and the organization to keep competing.
CLINTON: I will.
ROBERTS: Thanks very much for being with us.
CLINTON: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Good luck to you in the primaries.
CLINTON: Thank you, John. Good to see you.
ROBERTS: Good to see you too.
CLINTON: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE) ROBERTS: She's definitely going to keep going. The question is, might she retool her campaign a little bit to go through the next contest in South Carolina. And super Tuesday coming up on February 5th. She still has an enormous well of support in places like California and New York. The question will be, how much bounce does Obama get if he wins here in New Hampshire.
CHETRY: And you know better than I do how quickly fortunes can change when it comes to Washington. A couple of articles here pointing to the fact that there are some senators who are now quietly discussing with Obama advisers whether or not they're going to throw the support behind him.
ROBERTS: Everybody wants to back a winner.
CHETRY: And we've only had one voting in one state so far. A long way to go.
ROBERTS: That's the process. I think a lot of people sort of looking into this idea that come February 5th, we'll have a good idea of who the nominees are on both sides. Maybe not definitive, but a good idea.
CHETRY: 21 states February 5th.
ROBERTS: It's just incredible.
CHETRY: It is. Most of the candidates were talking to voters in New Hampshire, a couple were talking to late night hosts instead. That was Ron Paul who appeared on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno." He also spoke about some issues including his exclusion from a recent debate and also terrorism. And Mike Huckabee also making an appearance on the "Late Night Show." He talked with Dave Letterman about where he stood on different issues. Also threw in a joke.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE (), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If I win in New Hampshire, it's because I did this show. If I lose New Hampshire, it's because I did this show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Both candidates say they'll be headed back to New Hampshire right after the shows were taped yesterday afternoon. And also be sure to stay with CNN with the very latest on the New Hampshire primary. The polls closing tonight.
Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Lou Dobbs and the rest of the best political team on TV will be there covering every minute of it, giving us great insights. The cover begins at 8:00 Eastern time and of course, AMERICAN MORNING tomorrow. You want to know all of the results, reaction, the morning after. We're starting an hour early. We'll be back in New York. You don't look so happy about starting an hour early.
ROBERTS: I'm thrilled. Believe me. That's why I'm smiling.
CHETRY: Absolutely. And If you want to catch any of the candidates today in their final push for votes in New Hampshire, cnn.com/live to watch the rallies and the events streamed live. And speaking of various rallies, he was practically down and out. Now, John McCain on the verge of victory, many say, in New Hampshire.
I had a chance to head to one of his campaign rallies yesterday. He talked to me briefly. We're going to hear how things are going for him and where he's finally getting some unlikely support in this state. Coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. We're live here in Manchester, New Hampshire on this primary day. People buzzing behind us as they get ready to either head out to the polls or come enjoy some breakfast after already casting their votes.
In the mean time, Senator John McCain is hoping that today ends just the way it began for him with a victory in New Hampshire. McCain won in the tiny town of Dixville Notch and Hearts location where voters traditionally cast their ballots at midnight on primary day. And we caught up with him in a rally yesterday in Concord and talked with supporters about their man, McCain.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY (voice-over): 40 minutes late but in good spirit, Senator John McCain continued his all-day campaigning at the steps of the state house in Concord.
JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want your vote, I need your support. I am your candidate. I will bring about change.
CHETRY: Proving you're the candidate of change is a huge challenge on the campaign trail especially since you've been in Washington since 1983.
He's been in Washington for decades, how does that represent change to you.
KIM ROBINSON, MCCAIN SUPPORTER: Well, I think that he's got an idea of what goes on in Washington. He's not Mr. Congeniality.
CHETRY: McCain at 71, one of the oldest candidates, but at this rally, finding a lot of support among young voters.
MCCAIN: God bless, and please come out to vote.
LEE DUNN, MCCAIN SUPPORTER: I think it's very normal that we are now electing presidents that are older, more experience and with more leadership. So, I think it's great.
BECKY JENSEN, MCCAIN SUPPORTER: My mother is 75 years old. She is going strong. So, based on that, I think he's in great shape. CHETRY: What do you think he offers that you're not hearing from the other candidates?
JENSEN: Experience. Mostly, experience. He's been through a lot in the world and he knows -- and he knows what is he believes in.
CHETRY: I caught up with the Senator himself to ask him about change.
MCCAIN: I made the greatest change that anybody can make and that is we changed the strategy in Iraq that saves American lives every single day. That's the greatest change that anybody can make. I've been one of those responsible for it. NO one else is running there.
CHETRY: One quick question. Thank you.
Senator? Senator? Senator?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: All right, there he was, not stopping for reporters. He was running late the whole entire day but you know, change was certainly the theme. In a way, McCain is independent and known as the maverick. He said he was never won any points for Miss Congeniality in the Senate. He certainly is the one who's got accomplishment, been in Washington the longest.
ROBERTS: Certainly, he's also the oldest candidate in this race as well. Putting him forward as the agent of change here. Everybody's all about -- this is the word that we're going to hear from now right through until a nominee has been decided on. It's going to be the theme of the entire election as well.
CHETRY: It really is. Well, he won the state in 2000. And he does have a lot of support from the younger generations and we'll see what happens today.
ROBERTS: And we'll see if we can pull off another one. If lightning will strike twice for John McCain.
Six snowmobilers rescued from a snowy Colorado mountain said god answered their prayers. Hear their amazing story of survival, coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Ten minutes now to the top of the hour on AMERICAN MORNING. Six snowmobilers missing for three days and feared dead in a blizzard were found alive and well.
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez has an exclusive look at their amazing survival story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 10-4. Was everybody in good health, or do we need to send EMTs up there?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Negative. Everyone was fine.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): News of the six missing snowmobilers was found brings relatives to tears.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're safe.
GUTIERREZ: Alive after being lost on the mountain in a blizzard for three nights. One-by-one, they appeared on the snowy hills. The Groens, the Martins, and their children.
SHANNON GROEN, RESCUED SNOW MOBILER: And I just was really worried for my family.
GUTIERREZ: Overwhelmed, the sight of all of the volunteer rescuers who had been searching for them.
JASON GROEN, RESCUED SNOW MOBILER: All these people away from their families, their jobs.
GUTIERREZ: Do you feel loved? You feel like everybody cares?
GROEN: Yes.
GUTIERREZ: The group got lost just north of the Colorado-New Mexico border Friday. Then the storm dumped four feet of snow so they were forced to find shelter in an old train station.
We broke into the big building first.
GUTIERREZ: How did you break in?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, my husband, jarred opened a window. And we were able to climb through the window without breaking anything. That was good. So we found some blankets and we lit a fire in the ashtray.
GUTIERREZ: What were you able to eat?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We found some chicken broth and gravy mix. We heat it up and I think we were sharing granola bars every day half a granola bar or something.
GUTIERREZ: Did you have to melt the snow to get water?
JASON GROEN: Yes, we had to melt the snow to get water.
GUTIERREZ: The two families huddled together to stay warm. Then Monday, a break in the weather.
SHANNON GROEN: Jason goes I want to get up and get out and see if I can get into some cell phone range. And so he did and made the call.
GUTIERREZ: He called 911. Immediately, rescuers took food and fuel to the stranded group.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello. We're here. We're here.
Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
GUTIERREZ: Now reunited with loved ones. The Groens and Martins said their prayers were answered, a happy ending to a harrowing adventure.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Well, unbelievable survival story. Good for them. Glad they're all doing OK. We're here right now in Manchester, New Hampshire at the Shay Vashant (ph) Restaurant and joining me now, some undecided voters and one who actually is decided. The Prieto family, Mike and Heather, married as well as your niece, Megan. Thanks for being with us, to all of you.
Mike, let me start off with you because you were undecided this morning as you're getting ready to go to the polls in a couple of hours. Who are you leaning towards at this point?
MIKE PRIETO, UNDECIDED VOTER: I like McCain. I like Giuliani and I really think I'm going to go for Huckabee.
CHETRY: Why is that?
MIKE PRIETO: I just think he's got the best ideas and I've got to give him a boost in the primary.
CHETRY: You're not expecting him to win in this state?
MIKE PRIETO: Hell, no. But I got to, I think I got to give him a shot. Got to give him a shot. And, then go from there.
CHETRY: Now, you obviously don't try to convince each other who you should vote for. Because Heather is actually pretty much decided you. You are going with John McCain. Tell us why.
HEATHER PRIETO, UNDECIDED VOTER: I'm going with McCain. I think he has the most experience and I like him. So...
CHETRY: What about -- in 2000, you also voted for McCain?
H. PRIETO: No but I am this time.
CHETRY: You are this time around. What are some of the issues that he talks about that really that you're involved with?
H. PRIETO: I like his issues probably the military, and you know staying in Iraq and building a strong military and his experience in that is what I like. So...
CHETRY: All right. Let's talk to Megan. Megan, you're also undecided. You have a choice -- you think you're going to go with the G.O.P. but who's it between if you have to narrow it down this morning?
MEGAN PRIETO, UNDECIDED VOTER: If I had to narrow it down, it would probably be between definitely McCain, I'm leaning towards him the most. Perhaps Romney, but I think McCain.
CHETRY: All right. Megan may go with McCain as well. By the way, when are you guys making your decision? Because you have just until 7:00 but ...
MIKE PRIETO: Probably just shortly after this.
CHETRY: You're going to be reading anything more, watching any more television?
MEGAN PRIETO: Yes, I will, absolutely. We need to read a little more about the candidates and then during my lunch break run over and vote.
CHETRY: Thanks for joining us. Thanks for turning out today. Good luck, we'll be watching the results tonight. The Prieto family. Thank you -- John.
ROBERTS: All right. Thanks, Kiran.
While all the candidates are fighting out here in New Hampshire, a unity conference was taking place in Norman, Oklahoma. One of the big names there, talking a bi-partisan politics, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Could it be a play for a third party run? We'll take a closer look with that.
Plus, the show will not go on. The Golden Globes Award Show canceled because of the writers' strike. We'll tell you what they're doing instead coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: First in the nation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Barack Obama got seven votes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: The first votes are in and the candidates are already out. We're live from New Hampshire.
Emotional answers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: This is very personal for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHETRY: Hillary Clinton on the question that almost made her cry.
ROBERTS: We don't normally see that display of emotion.
CLINTON: Well, you know...
CHETRY: Plus, storm front.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you see the devastation in there, it's unreal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Tornadoes tear through the Midwest. Extreme weather on the move on this AMERICAN MORNING.
And welcome. Glad you're with us on this AMERICAN MORNING. It is Tuesday, January 8th. It's primary day here in New Hampshire. And boy, this restaurant, in particular, is quite a buzz. I mean, there's a lot of excitement in the state this morning with the election.
ROBERTS: Absolutely. John Roberts along Kiran Chetry.
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