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Romney Stumps in Georgia; Clintons Campaign on Both Coasts; Lane Bryant Killer Still Sought; John McCain Rallies in New Jersey
Aired February 04, 2008 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: Dueling for delegates, vying for votes. The presidential contenders are on the stump, trying to get voters off the fence.
DON LEMON, CO-HOST: They're in the middle of a last-minute sprint before Super Tuesday, hoping to grab most of the 2,700-plus delegates up for grabs in 24 states.
PHILLIPS: We're going to take you live to the rallies, crunch the latest poll numbers and look ahead to one of most important days of the presidential season.
Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: Live to Hamilton, New Jersey. Presidential hopeful Senator John McCain getting ready to speak there in front of a large crowd, stumping for votes, of course, in this tight race as it's coming to a close approaching Tuesday. We're going to take it live as soon as he steps up to the mike.
LEMON: And Republican candidate Mitt Romney is on the trail today. He is in Georgia, right here where we are. Our Mary Snow joins us now from here in Atlanta.
Hello, Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Don.
You know, this is part of an aggressive push by Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential hopeful, who has made a last-minute switch. After stopping here in Georgia, he'll head out to California. That was just added last night. He believes his chances are good there.
He just had a rally here in Georgia just a few moments ago that wrapped up, saying that he believes the liberals in his party -- that's a jab at Senator John McCain -- will have a surprise to contend with tomorrow. He is vowing to fight on.
He took a couple of jabs at Senator McCain, trying to contrast them and trying to portray himself as the real conservative of the Republican Party. But he also took a jab at McCain for campaigning in Massachusetts. That's Romney's home state; he was the governor there. Here's a little bit of what he had to say. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Senator -- Senator McCain, I think this morning, is in Massachusetts, which is-- which is just fine with me. I've got a lot of friends there. And I guess he spent a whole day there. I've been spending my time in, you know, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, and right here in Georgia where I can get delegates.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: And delegates is the key word. Romney has a very strategic approach, going to places where he thinks he can do well. There are 69 Republican delegates at stake here. As I said, he's going to be going to California; tomorrow, West Virginia -- Don.
LEMON: All right. Mary, I've got to -- besides not having enough voice to continue to campaign -- everyone seems to be screaming, and they all sound like they're hoarse. Does Romney people like he has enough delegates to, you know, the count to continue after tomorrow?
SNOW: You know, the campaign is not giving a specific number of delegates that they feel they need in order to stay competitive. But Romney certainly is saying that he is staying in this past Tuesday, and he has repeatedly said that he does not believe the race will be decided tomorrow, although Senator John McCain, his chief rival, has been sounding very confident that it will. And right now the real hope for Romney is California.
LEMON: All right. Mary Snow, in -- here in Atlanta, thank you very much for that.
PHILLIPS: The latest poll shows the battle for the Democratic nomination is extremely close. And on this day before Super Tuesday, Senator Hillary Clinton is stumping for votes in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Her rival, Senator Barack Obama, is also in that part of the country. He's on the trail today in New Jersey and Connecticut.
There's also the Bill Clinton factor. The former president is campaigning for his wife in the state with a gold mine of delegates, California. CNN's Jessica Yellin joins us now from Santa Ana.
Hi, Jessica.
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
That's right. The Clintons are splitting the country. She's on the East Coast. He's on the West Coast.
Let's start with Senator Hillary Clinton. She was at Yale today, her old alma matter, and she had another one of those emotional moments. Remember that back in New Hampshire? So many people thought it turned the race around for her. She was sitting at the round table talking to somebody who remembers her back from the school days. And our producer there says she -- somebody said, "I'm so proud to see that you're running, the girl I remember back in those days who worked so hard on the issues she cared about."
And that's when she started to tear up, saying, "I didn't want to get emotional, but I" -- and she's clearly tired. She is losing her voice. We'll see what kind of reaction there is to that emotional -- that emotion from Senator Clinton.
She's hitting those themes that we keep hearing her talk about now, that she is the only Democratic candidate promising universal health care. This is the point she keeps emphasizing, the distinction between her promise and Senator Obama's promise. She says he doesn't guarantee health care for everyone.
On my side of the country, here in California, her husband, Bill Clinton, is stumping aggressively in the delegate-rich state. He's got a new, very positive message. He says that this is the campaign he's always dreamed of. He's always wanted to vote for an African- American for president. He's always wanted to vote for a woman for president. He says what a cruel irony that it's coming at the same time and we all have to choose.
But he said he's supporting his wife, because she's best prepared and the one that he thinks can deliver the promises of a better economy and universal health care for Americans.
So, aggressive push by the Clintons on both sides of the country, and, of course, you see Barack Obama stumping hard in New Jersey. The fight is going to go right down to the wire -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: OK. Jessica Yellin, of course, will be tracking it.
Also want to take you to live pictures right now in Worcester, Massachusetts, Senator Hillary Clinton about to -- OK, she's about to step up to the mikes. And we'll check in on that as soon as she begins.
Now Super Tuesday is now super close. See what's up for grabs in the state-by-state guide at CNNpolitics.com. Plus, will it be the end for some? You're going to find analysis from the best political team plus the political ticker, fresh polls and lots more. All at CNNpolitics.com.
LEMON: How about some weather now? Maybe it's affected votes on the campaign trail. Certainly affecting folks near Lake Tahoe. Look at this. It's been snowing again. And it's not helping in the search for two hikers or two skiers, I should say, that haven't been seen since Saturday morning.
Since then, it's gotten windy and much colder. So rescuers say if the two experienced skiers found shelter, well, aren't wet and aren't in avalanche zones, well, their chances of surviving are pretty good. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(EXPLOSION)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Wow. Expect more of that this week near Snoqualmie Pass in Washington. The state transportation department has been setting off controlled blasts since the middle of last week to lessen the risk of avalanche. Roads through the pass can be closed at any time.
Well, some of you are getting snow and rain today. But Chad Myers, you think it's really the calm before the storm? I heard that's what you're saying over there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: Yes. Super Tuesday in a number of ways. Super bad weather.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, a lock out, that wouldn't be good.
LEMON: Yes. OK, thank you, Chad.
MYERS: You bet.
PHILLIPS: A killer is still on the loose more than two day after he shot dead five women at a Lane Bryant clothing store in Tinley Park, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.
Police say the gunman went into the store to rob it, then for some reason just opened fire. He's described as a stocky African- American man about 5'9". The store's parent company has offered a $50,000 reward in the case.
Mother, sisters, dear friends, the five victims had so much to offer, families and friends say. More now from Ben Bradley of our Chicago affiliate, WLS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN BRADLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Flags are lowered, victims are mourned tonight, five women from different walks of life whose paths crossed at this store on Saturday morning.
Police now confirm a sixth woman interrupted the robbery. She got a look at the gunman and survived. She's now talking with investigators.
CHIEF MIKE O'CONNELL, TINLEY PARK POLICE: We are addressing as many witness information, witness statements as possible, trying to locate as many witnesses. That's all the comment I'm going to make on it.
BRADLEY: Police say the robber ordered the Lane Bryant store manager and four customers into the back office. It's where the store's safe is located. But a former sales clerk says, if quick cash was the motive, the suspect picked the wrong store.
RANDI REXFORD, FORMER STORE EMPLOYEE: There's not much on hand at all. Every day it was deposited.
BRADLEY: As families gathered to remember lost loved ones, the element of chance is something many discuss.
PATRICE BLOUNTT, VICTIM'S FRIEND: Normally, I would have been with her.
BRADLEY: Patrice Blountt says her dear friend Connie Woolfolk went to the shopping center for a manicure and, on a whim, decided to look for deals in Lane Bryant. Woolfolk worked for the village of Park Forest for many years. She was the mother of two sons.
AARON WOOLFOLK, VICTIM'S BROTHER: They're going to be the people who are going to have to continue to watch and help get through this.
BRADLEY: Carrie Chiuso was married a little more than a year ago and looked forward to starting a family. She graduated from Homewood- Flossmoor High School and a decade later returned to be a social worker at the school.
BOB BRAMLETTE, VICTIM'S FRIEND: The kids had a lot of confidence in her. They could trust her.
BRADLEY: Twenty-two-year-old Sarah Szafranski of Oak Forest was the youngest victim. Her family released a statement saying, "Sarah was loved by all who knew her, and we are counting on that love to sustain us while we mourn."
Another customer was 34-year-old Jennifer Bishop, a nurse and mother from South Bend, Indiana.
SARAH PATURALSKI, VICTIM'S CO-WORKER: We didn't just lose Jenny, but her three kids lost their mom. She's has a little girl that's going to be a teenager. And all little girls need their mom.
BRADLEY: Rhoda McFarland of Joliet was the store's manager. She was recently engaged, remembered as a warm and forgiving woman, traits her family says that, even in death, she would extend to her killer.
MAURICE HAMILTON, VICTIM'S BROTHER: It's best for you just to go turn yourself in. Like I said, my sister will forgive you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And next hour, we're going to get a live update from Stacy St. Clair, who's been reporting on this case for the "Chicago Tribune."
LEMON: We'll have a lot more on Super Tuesday coming up. And will either party have a clear nominee come Wednesday? Our roundtable discussion will grapple with that. PHILLIPS: Also, a possible new hazard in baby's bath time.
You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: As the race becomes tighter, so do all the interesting conversations across the country. You're watching a "ballot bowl" right now here, live on CNN.
John McCain, his wife Cindy there, side by side with him in Hamilton, New Jersey, getting ready to speak at a live event, stumping for votes as the race just gets closer among the candidates. Dana Bash is there.
Dana, it's pretty amazing to think where John McCain was just a few months ago and where he is now.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's no question about that. This is a man who was absolutely left for political dead just a few months ago. Nobody thought -- nobody thought -- that he had any chance of get anywhere, much less to where he is right now, which is, if you look at our new national poll, if you look at others, he is at the top of the polls right now. And he is hoping that he is going to carry momentum, which is, in most years, everything in politics, through to the nomination.
But it is important to remember, Kyra, as you well know, that this is not every year. Not every other year at all. And we have had surprises at every twist and turn of this race. And you know, you never know what's going to happen tomorrow night.
But there you see Senator McCain finally taking the stage here in Hamilton, New Jersey. New Jersey is, of course, one of the 21 states where Republicans are going to have their primaries tomorrow.
The northeast is really the -- one of the places where the McCain campaign is hoping that they can gobble up a lot of delegates. New Jersey, the neighboring state of New York, where he is going to head after this. Those are winner-take-all states. So you have almost about 150 or even more delegates at stake just in these two states alone.
So John McCain, you see there his wife, Cindy, speaking. You're likely going to hear his twin themes today that you've heard for the past several days of the economy, a new thing for John McCain, talking about the economy first.
PHILLIPS: We'll go ahead and listen in, Dana.
BASH: ... national security, Kyra.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... to introduce my mother, 95 almost 96, Roberta McCain. She's here. Anybody has any questions about my vigor, last Christmas my mother wanted to drive around France, so she flew to Paris, tried to rent a car. They said she was too old, so she bought one and drove around France. Way to go, Mom!
Could I mention not only was Governor Kean a great, great governor of this state, but the work that he did, the work that he did on the 9/11 Commission, America is safer today, thanks to the great work that he did chairing that commission. I'm so proud of the work he continues to do.
America's safer, but Governor Kean would be the first to tell you, it's not safe. Thank you, Governor, for everything you did with that -- heading that commission and those recommendations, which we still haven't put them all into law, but you did a magnificent job. And I'm proud to have your support. And I thank you.
We've got -- we've got another governor. I found him on the tarmac, shivering in the cold. He's from the great state of Florida. He really came to thank all of you. Come and spend time with him down in the great state of Florida.
He's a great governor, a great leader, a person who is reducing property taxes. He is a person who is fighting to get protection for all of the citizens of Florida against hurricanes. He is a great leader.
And my friends, in the Florida primary, he could have stood on the sidelines. He respected everybody who was in that race. But he came out and endorsed my candidacy, and I will always be grateful for his friendship and support. Governor Charlie Crist, the state of Florida.
We have two Senator Grahams here, one smart, one not so smart. This one was 12 years as a professor of economics at Texas A&M University, the foot-soldier in the Reagan revolution where we cut taxes, we restored prosperity, we restored this nation, and won the Cold War without firing a shot. Here was the foot-soldier in the Reagan revolution, Senator Phil Graham of Texas.
Vito. Vito Fossella, Congressman from the state of New York. Vito, thank you, Vito Fossella. Thank you for being here. Thank you very much.
Now, the other Graham. Senator Lindsey Graham of the great state of South Carolina. Can you thank Lindsey Graham for being here?
My friends, Lindsey Graham's not only a great United States Senator; he also serves as a colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve, where he serves as a lawyer. Last August and at other times -- oh my goodness gracious, before I interrupt about him, here he is, ladies and gentlemen, the former mayor of New York.
Before -- before -- if I could -- before I ask the mayor to a say few words, may I say that we had a bet and I lost? Congratulations to the New York -- to the Giants. Thank you. Congratulations on your team.
RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: Thank you. Thank you very much. Senator, governor, governor, Vito, Senator, Senator, Senator.
PHILLIPS: Quite a slew of support there. Rudy Giuliani speaking now. You've got Governor Charlie Crist, Senator Jon [SIC] Lieberman, Senator Phil Graham, Senator Lindsey Graham. A number of supporters turning up there as it really gets close for John McCain, as the run- up, of course, to Tuesday.
We're live in Hamilton, New Jersey, right now, where John McCain is stumping for votes, his 95-year-old mother there. Always seems to be close behind him at every big rally. Also his wife, Cindy, who actually got up to the mike. We don't see that very often. So it will be interesting to follow this. As John McCain, once again, goes to the mikes. We will dip in live. We're following it. Our Dana Bash is also there.
And if you'd like to watch any of the candidates today, just go to CNN.com/live to watch the rallies and events live and unfiltered. Again, CNN.com/live.
LEMON: Meantime, new evidence in an old case. Was a missing teen's body dumped in deep water off Aruba?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: There he is. Looks like he's just taking the mike. Senator John McCain. We're going to listen in right now.
MCCAIN: Very briefly, I don't have to tell you that we're in the presence of an American hero. And I'd like mention one brief anecdote.
As some of you may remember that are Yankees fans, there was a World Series in 2001 between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees. I was honored to attend those games with Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He inspired America. He put -- brought Americans together.
And one of the anecdotes, if you don't mind if I bore you with, was we came to Arizona. Here we are in Diamondback stadium, 49,000 people, all avid Diamondbacks fans. Here's this guy sitting there with a Yankees hat on. They show -- they show his face on the Jumbotron. Everyone in that stadium, 49,000 people, stood and cheered America's hero and America's mayor.
And I'll never -- and I promise you I will never forget that as long I live, because this was a genuine American hero. And it's very -- not very often I have the honor of being in their company.
I was back to the other Graham here a second, if I could. The colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve, lawyer, when we Congress -- in Congress vote ourselves a pay raise and go on vacation in August, he goes to Baghdad, puts on his uniform, helps the people of Iraq with the rule of law. And I'm proud of the work that he does.
I'd like that Bill Baroni. Bill, thank you for all your great work. He's a great guy. Thank you.
Senator Kevin O'Toole, where are you? Senator, thank you, sir, for all of your good work.
And Richard Marose (ph), thank you for all of your help, as well.
So -- and by the way, in case you didn't know, did you hear the story about the two inmates in state prison in the chow line? One of them turns to the other and said, "The food was a lot better in here when you were governor." I don't know if you get that or -- I don't know if you ever heard that story or not. I don't -- some people -- some states you can't tell that joke in.
By the way, and -- could I just mention to you, again, I've had the honor of knowing people who want to get things done in Washington. I've had the honor of knowing people who reach across the aisle and work with Republicans and Democrats for the good of this nation.
I was very honored to co-sponsor with this gentleman many pieces of legislation, but one of them was the creation of the 9/11 Commission, which I think was vital in moving our forward -- our nation forward in response to the terrible attacks on America.
This is one who really could have sat on the sidelines. This is one who I am so honored and privileged to call my friend and comrade, Senator Joe Lieberman.
LEMON: All right. John McCain speaking, Hamilton, New Jersey, talking about reaching across the aisle. Of course, you're going to hear lots of that, lots of change coming up from all the candidates, talking about what they plan to do, if they are nominated and if they, in fact, do become the president.
We also have a reminder for you, what the Super Tuesday map looks like: 24 states, coast-to-coast. California's the biggest prize with the most delegates at stake. Twenty-three other states also will hold contests, with New York and Illinois also rich in delegates.
CNN will have round-the-clock coverage with the best political team on television.
PHILLIPS: All right. Now it's 1:25 Eastern Time. Here are some of the stories we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Police now questioning a 16-year-old student after a shooting at a Memphis, Tennessee, high school. That shooting left another student wounded today but not seriously. No word on the motive. No other injuries reported.
President Bush is taking the wraps off his proposed $3.1 trillion budget. He says it will boost the economy, reign in spending and cut wasteful government programs. Democrats say the plan will simply cause more debt.
Strong condemnation from the U.N. Security Council is aimed at the ongoing rebel attacks on the government in the African nation of Chad. The council is urging member states to provide all aid and assistance to help Chad fend off the rebels. LEMON: Is it enough to get police to reopen their case? Is this new evidence in an old case? Was a missing teen's body dumped in deep water off Aruba?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Plenty of New York Giants fans on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. But can the big Super Bowl win actually help the market? Stephanie Elam down there on the floor to tell us all about it.
What do you think, Steph?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I can tell you this, Kyra. It's drizzly outside, but there's a warm little glow here. There's Giants ties, Giants hats. There's a lot of little Giants, random clapping about it. Just happiness. And I think the Giants will be around this way tomorrow. So that will add to the overall mirth.
But there is something called a Super Bowl theory. I don't know if you've heard about this. It's basically taking a look at what happens to the markets in the year that an NFC team wins. Now, obviously, this is no exact science, but the track record is pretty good. And it says that when the old NFC teams like the Giants wins, for that year we see the markets go up. And obviously, we could use that in a year that started out the way this one did.
But right now it's not helping out too much. Let's take a look at the numbers. The Dow up 96 points at 12646. There's some of that cheering I was talking about. NASDAQ on the downslide by 24. And the s&p 500 on the downslide by 12 as well.
Now let's take a look at what happened last week. It was best week in nearly five years for the Dow and the s&p. But once again, it's those financial stocks that are dragging down the markets today. We're seeing some weakness from JP Morgan, Citi, as well as -- or Citigroup, I should say -- as well as American Express. They're all lower today.
And this is a trend we've seen throughout earnings period. Right now, about 50 percent of the s&p companies have reported earnings. And if you take a look at that, earnings are down 19 percent so far, right? A little bit more than that, as you can see there on that graphic.
But when we exclude financial companies, earnings are actually up 11 percent. This is according to calculations down by Reuters. So overall, it seems some companies are doing okay. Kyra?
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. So is the glass half empty or half full?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hmm, where's my crystal ball to figure it all out. Well, it depends. You know, the financial sector; is that kind of what really brings the markets all the way down, or will the recovery be based outside of the financial sector? That's something that we just have to let time pass and see what's happening there.
But there is one stock worth noting, Countrywide Financial, obviously it is the largest -- one of the largest mortgage lenders in the country. Well when they reported earnings last week, Fortune found a little bit of information that is a bit troubling here. It's pointing to the fact that their prime home equity loans may be in trouble; not just the subprime loans, they took $700 million charge for these loans, and that's bad news for financial companies, obviously.
And it could present a tough time for people who are looking to go out and get a home loan at this time, as lenders are toughening their standards. And obviously, the problem just gets worse as home prices continue to fall.
Now, coming up, President Bush, his new budget will certainly be the start of a big battle on Capitol Hill. We'll find out why some people are saying this could be kind of like going into World War II. So we'll take a look at why that will be in the next hour of the NEWSROOM. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: That's a little fear factor. All right, we'll talk to you in a little bit. That's Steph.
ELAM: Thanks.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Did you notice that Stephanie's glowing a little bit?
PHILLIPS: Yes she is, we'll talk why, coming up at the end of the newscast.
LEMON: Ever wonder what's in your baby's lotions and shampoo? Well you may be alarmed by what you're about to find out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well it could be the biggest break yet in the Natalee Holloway case or it could be a lie. Either way, a newly aired, secretly recorded claim from a long-time suspect has led prosecutors in Aruba to reopen their investigation. CNN's Frederick Pleitgen has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Reporter: Aruba's chief prosecutor had closed the case on the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Joran Van Der Sloot was one a suspect, but never charged. Now a Dutch crime reporter appears to have caught Van Der Sloot on tape claiming the 18-year-old high school student died suddenly while they making out on a beach in Aruba.
"All of a sudden what she did was like in a movie. She was shaking, it was awful," he says. " And I prodded her, there was nothing." Van Der Sloot describes calling a friend he says was never questioned by police, who had a boat nearby. Van Der Sloot says that they carried Natalee Holloway's body to the boat.
"He went out to the sea and then he threw her out like a rag," he said. Van Der Sloot is heard on the tape saying neither he nor his friend were certain Natalee Holloway was dead. But he seems to say, it didn't bother him. "I felt fine, I didn't lose a minute of sleep over it," he says.
The recordings of Van Der Sloot talking to another man were made in a car outfitted with hidden cameras by dutch journalist, Peter De Vries " We searched for Joran Van Der Sloot in his hometown of Arnhem, in the Netherlands, but he was nowhere to be found."
This is where Joran Van Der Sloot's grandparents live, and press reports said that he had been staying here. But we just talked to his grandfather and he says that Joran is not here, and he doesn't know where he is.
But a dutch TV program was able to track him down here on friday. His confessions he said on the phone were lies. "That is what he wanted to hear, so I told him what he wanted to hear," he said. Investigators in Aruba say now they are reopening their investigation into the case of Natalee Holloway. Frederick Pleitgen, CNN, Hilversum, the Netherlands.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Leading our political ticker, Barack Obama hopes to use the Super Bowl as a springboard to Super Tuesday. The Democratic senator from Illinois spent about a quarter million dollars on a regional ad that aired during last night's game in two dozen Super Tuesday states.
Another emotional moment for Hillary Clinton at a stop this morning in New Haven, Connecticut. The Democratic candidate teared up when a longtime acquaintance who introduced her choked up himself. Clinton was attending a discussion on childcare and healthcare with a group of Connecticut women.
PHILLIPS: Republican Mitt Romney cruised to an easy weekend victory in the Maine Republican caucuses. With some votes still uncounted, Romney has 52 percent, followed by John Mccain with 21 percent, Ron Paul 19 percent and Mike Huckabee, 6 percent.
The polls may not show it, but Ron Paul's a giant when it comes to raising money. His latest financial disclosure report shows he raised $20 million in the last quarter of 2007. That tops all other Republican candidates. You can get more on the ticker at CNNpolitics.com.
LEMON: Well, both Democratic frontrunners have deep roots in Chicago. Hillary Clinton grew up in suburban Park Ridge. Barack Obama's political career began in Chicago's south side. CNN's John Roberts went back to his old neighborhood.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEBATOR BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It was in these neighborhoods that I received best education that I ever had.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Whenever his experience is called into question, Barack Obama often refers to the time he was a community organizer here in Altgeld Gardens, a public housing project on Chicago's south side.
ROBERTS (on-screen): Barack Obama says that the best education he ever had was right here in these neighborhoods.
EMILE JONES, ILLINOIS SENATE PRESIDENT: Yes. He worked with a lot of grassroot people.
ROBERTS (voice-over): Emile Jones is the president of the Illinois Senate. He met Obama when he first moved to Chicago in 1985.
ROBERTS (on-screen): What is the single most important quality he possesses, based on your experience?
JONES: In my experience, is a quality to bring opposing forces together. Those on the opposite end of the spectrum, to be able to sit down with them and talk to say, hey, we can come together, we can resolve these issues.
ROBERTS (voice-over): Obama knew little about the landscape, but learned quickly, helping tenants take on landlords over asbestos, organizing job trading programs, helping fill potholes and put up stop signs.
JERRY KELLMAN, FORMER COMMUNITY ORGANIZER: Barack came in very idealistic. He left very idealistic, but he was impractical when he got here. After three years on the streets of Chicago he hadn't lost his idealism, but he became extremely practical and he found a way to fuse the two.
ROBERTS: Lack of experience it seems, was never much of a problem for Obama. Whether it was community organizing, state, or national politics.
PAUL GREEN, ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY: Obama's different. He doesn't come from a ward organization. Unlike other successful African- American politicians, he doesn't have a long history working for other candidates. He's barely unwrapped, and yet he is going for the highest office in the land.
ROBERTS: In Illinois he was the outsider who became a hometown hero. Can he repeat that success in contests across the land on Tuesday?
GREEN: The oldest line in politics is not how good you are often, it's how lucky you are. Fates have been smiling on Barack Obama at least for the last six, seven years.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Well, Obama served eight year in the Illinois state Senate. In the next hour, we'll take a look at Senator Clinton's old stomping grounds, Park Ridge, Illinois.
PHILLIPS: Will Super Tuesday be the end for more of the presidential hopefuls, or will the races run all the way to the conventions? We're going to look at the candidates, the delegates, the polls, and you the voter with our political roundtable.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: A study involving babies has turned up some potentially nasty chemicals possibly linked to asthma and other health problems. Medical Correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, a mother of many, joins us from New York today. I'm curious if you're a worried parent. Because I know I supposed to ask you how worried should parents be?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, I have to say that reading the study definitely made me think, gee, what is with these chemicals? Why are they in the products, and how come it's not on the label? How come I can't look at a label to see if it contains phthalates? But, I must say as a mom I did not freak out.
So, let me tell you about the study, and talk to you about why parents shouldn't freak out, but what some of their options are. What the study did was, it look at about 163 babies, and they were using product likes shampoo and lotion like most babies do.
What they found was when they looked at urine 80 percent of the babies had excretions in their urine with seven or more phthalates, that's the name of the chemical that's in question here. In animal studies, not in human studies, but in animal studies phthalates have been linked to reproductive problems for those animals later in life.
So, the concern is could these cause reproductive problems for babies later in life. But, the industry points out, look there are no studies that directly link phthalates and problems in human beings. They don't see any reason for people to start changing their habits now with their babies.
PHILLIPS: So, are there certain products that are safe that parents can look for?
COHEN: There are some products out there that say on the label that they're phthalate-free, and that's one thing that you can think about, if that's what you want to do. Another thing is that is a pediatrician we recommended she said, you know if your baby skin is dry, you can try putting a little olive oil on. That's another option.
And also, just use as little of the shampoo as you can. You don't need a lot. These are babies. They're not out running marathons. They don't get that sweaty. You don't need to give them that much shampoo, and you don't need to bathe them every single day either.
PHILLIPS: Olive oil. You caught my attention there. Use it for cooking, babies and I hear you can also use it in your hair as well.
COHEN: Incredible product.
PHILLIPS: OK. Elizabeth Cohen, appreciate it. In our next hour, caring for elderly parents, that's coming up in Elizabeth's empowered patient segment.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone's running to try and get a seat. Because we all know, we could be stuck on this train for hours or possibly days.
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LEMON: On their way home. Finally. China's weary travelers back on track.
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LEMON: On the even of Super Tuesday the Democrats have a horse race on their hands, while the Republicans have an apparent front- runner. A CNN average of five national polls of registered Republican voters, here's what they show. John McCain with a 21-point lead over Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul are trailing.
Among registered Democrats, a poll of polls has Hillary Clinton with 45 percent. Barack Obama with 43 percent. That is a virtual dead heat. All right, guys, you ready? Let's put a number of -- political round table, to our guys, our Senior Political Analyst, David Gergen.
Senior Contributor, Carl Bernstein, and Republican Strategist, Cheri Jacobus. Thank you for joining us today. I have to start off and ask you about Hillary Clinton's emotional moment, another one. I'll start with you, Carl.
CARL BERNSTEIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I think you better give a little background as to what happened. She was in Connecticut, she was introduced to audience by a man who had been her mentor when she was at Yale, studying child development. They had done some publications together. He's a real mentor. There's -- I think we can do -- too much with all of this emotional stuff.
This was a moment when, under similar circumstances, I suspect you or I might tear up. We're up there with an old friend, we haven't seen him in years, he figured in our life long ago and he said, who would have thought then that you'd be up here running for president and she got a little misty. Enough already.
LEMON: OK. Enough already. It was -- something about, you know, I forget, I don't want to get it out of context, pigtails or socks, a little girl, and something like that. Knickers --
BERNSTEIN: Well, I think it had to do with the way she dressed at the time during the '60s.
LEMON: Share -- BERNSTEIN: I haven't seen the tape. I simply read the story. But in my book, my biography of Hillary Clinton, I write about their work together.
LEMON: Carl, every time you mention that book, we're going to do a little thing, I'm going to make you put a dollar in the till every time you mention it.
BERNSTEIN: I didn't mention the name.
LEMON: Every time you mention your book.
BERNSTEIN: Read Gergen's book about the Clinton years.
LEMON: OK. You guys owe me $2 now for each of your books.
LEMON: Cheri, you think we're making too much of this? Do you think that Carl is right?
CHERI JACOBUS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: You know I think that -- were you talking to me? I'm sorry.
LEMON: Yes.
JACOBUS: I think that it was probably a genuine moment for Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately it's the second time. It takes up a lot of time explaining it. I don't think this is really what she wants to be talking about you know on the eve of Super Tuesday. By the way, I don't think it was pigtails and bobby socks, I think they said bell bottoms and furry vests, or something like that.
LEMON: Yes, something like that.
JACOBUS: But again, this is just not what she wants to have to be explaining away at this stage in the game. So while it may have been a legitimately emotional moment for her, I think it's unfortunate.
LEMON: OK. So McCain has a lead over Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. And then we're looking at a virtual dead heat, David, between the Democratic side. And what might we garner from -- about Super Tuesday from these poll numbers?
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, right now the -- of course conventional wisdom I think is right, is that John McCain can basically put this away tomorrow night. If he maintains this lead, he sweeps -- there are all of the -- most of the states are winner take all for Republicans. So if he sweeps, he'll be proclaimed coast-to-coast from New York to California, as the first choice for Republicans. I think that basically makes the Mitt Romney campaign -- it so staggers them that I think it'd be almost impossible to turn it around.
So, tomorrow night we may well crown the Republican. What's striking, of course, is we all thought we'd crown the Democrat earlier than the Republican. But it looks as if there's -- the race is easily going to go on after tomorrow night. What I think is important to understand is if California's the big prize, he's -- Barack Obama has been closing in on her very fast. She had a 30-point lead only a few weeks ago and it's down to -- some polls even have him ahead now. But I think what's really important to remember is that California engages in heavy early voting.
And as many as half of the ballots may have been cast already and they were cast at a time when she was ahead. So that early voting is going to tilt her way. He's -- in order to win California, he's going to have to bring a huge tidal wave of new voters into this, in order to take it way from her, and that's going to be very hard too.
I think you have to say that even though he's close in a way you can -- he's like the New York Giants of this race. You still have to rate her the favorite going into tomorrow.
LEMON: Yes. As far as it comes --
BERNSTEIN: I was waiting for the first Super Bowl reference. David got it in first.
LEMON: OK.
BERNSTEIN: Thanks, David.
GERGEN: I'm sure, Carl, it was in your book.
LEMON: My gosh! There it is, there's three bucks right now.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Real quick though, I want you take a listen to folks talking about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and how everyone says they're looking past Super Tuesday, that it really doesn't make a difference. Take a listen.
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TOM DASCHLE, OBAMA'S NATL. CAMPAIGN CHAIR: We've got some very important states coming up after Super Tuesday. And the more we look at them, the more excited we get.
KIKI MCLEAN, SR. ADVISOR, CLINTON CAMPAIGN: I think this is going to be a long race. This is a competitive primary. And it's neck and neck in a lot of places and a in lot of places she's in the lead. I don't think that everything ends tomorrow night when polls close at 7:00.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Cheri, are they downplaying Super Tuesday here?
JACOBUS: I think that the Clinton folks might be a little bit worried that she's not going to do as well as they'd like tomorrow. They thought it might be a real clean sweep for her. So they'd like to make it look like, well, of course we thought this would go on for a long time.
And it is ironic that it will be -- likely be the Republicans, my party, that will have our nominee tomorrow. You look at the very different style of both of the candidates on the Republican side today. You have Mitt Romney going very, very negative, kind of a hail mary pass. And John McCain is very positive today with all these supporters and endorsers.
So they're -- I think they both know that this is the last word, the last view of themselves they can present to voters before it's all over. And I think the Romney people know that. So it's risky on Romney's part, I think, to go this negative when you see how it hurt him in Iowa when he went negative against Huckabee, hurt him in New Hampshire when he went negative against McCain.
LEMON: Hey, Cheri. Real quick, because we've only got five seconds. And I think I'll give you the last word, unless these guys beat up on you. You cannot deny all of the power, all of the folks behind John McCain on that stage. You've got Rudy Giuliani, you've got Charlie Crist, you've got heavy hitter there.
JACOBUS: You do, you do. He's really -- I think it shows that he can pull the party together and that's the image they want. You know, Romney certainly has had his supporters but in this final stretch, and I think, again, they both know it is the final stretch, that this is pretty much it. You know, you can't deny that, as you said, that McCain has the edge in terms of the positive support. People from all spectrums, the middle, the right, it's looking good for him.
LEMON: OK, guys. Unfortunately we have to go. I just want to -- David, did you get your sleep? Because you're going to be very busy.
Carl, did you get yours?
BERNSTEIN: Yes. Yes.
LEMON: All right. Lots of coffee.
All right, Cheri Jacobus, Carl Bernstein, David Gergen, we'll be seeing a lot of you. Thank you all for joining us today.
JACOBUS: Thank you.
GERGEN: Thank you.
LEMON: All right. Super Tuesday is now super close. So what's up for grabs in state by state guide at CNNpolitics.com. Plus, will it be the end for some? You'll find analysis from the best political team. Plus, a political ticker shows you fresh polls and lots more, all at CNNpolitics.com.
PHILLIPS: And we're going to take you to one corner of the country, or maybe we should say four corners, that could get a lot of attention on Super Tuesday. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, they're rested and ready to fly. The crew of space shuttle Atlantis arrives in Florida eager for Thursday's launch. The weather is iffy. But the mission commander says everything else is look just great.
NASA engineers say they've fixed all the little problems that the caused the first two delays. The 11-day mission is set to begin Thursday afternoon. Liftoff scheduled for 2:45 Eastern. You're going to watch it right here in the CNN NEWSROOM with our space guru, Miles O'Brien.
The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
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