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Countdown to Super Tuesday; Political Memorabilia
Aired February 04, 2008 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Twenty-four states, 2,700-plus delegates, a few remaining candidates, they're all gearing up for Super Tuesday, one of the most crucial days of the presidential nominating season.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And today the contenders are out in force and all over the map in a last-minute scramble for the hearts, minds, and the votes of people across the nation. And, of course, the best political team on television is with all of them.
Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.
PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips.
You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
LEMON: We start now with the Democrats. And on the Democratic side, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are targeting the rich crop of delegates in the Northeast, as national polls show them in a virtual dead heat heading into Super Tuesday.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is with the Obama campaign, and she joins us now from Hartford, Connecticut.
Hi, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hey, Don.
Connecticut, as well as New Jersey, as you know, it really used to be a Clinton camp, a real stronghold for them, but it is very competitive now. There are 107 delegates that are up for grabs. So, clearly, Obama starting his day there. And what is important to note about this is that you have Latinos, about 13 percent. You have African-Americans, 13 percent.
But you also as well have independents. This is an open primary which means independents can participate in the Democratic primary. And what the hope is, is that Barack Obama's going to be able to appeal to some of those independents who are going to vote in the Democratic primary and that that is what's going to put him over the top, Barack Obama trying to appeal not only to the Democratic base there, which they believe is very strong, a critical state, but also to those who may have crossover appeal.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have said repeatedly that this campaign is about bringing people together. And for me to be able to bring a Patriots fan to the Meadowlands the day after the Super Bowl is like bringing the lion and the lamb together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, Don, a little bit of a Super Bowl analogy that he's using there, but obviously trying to attract those independent voters.
What's also important about New Jersey is that they are really trying to get free advertising at this point, an important state but also the largest markets of New Jersey outside of that state in New York and Philadelphia. Clearly, he's going to get a lot of local media attention that's going to spill into those other two areas, which is critical for New York.
The next stop, the second stop, is going to be here in Connecticut. Now, Connecticut really just has 48 delegates. So, why is it important? Again, it's one of those small states. Every delegate counts. But it's also one of the states -- you have to remember the last GOP primary when McCain beat Bush. The reason he did? Because more than 50 percent of the Republicans identify as either liberal or moderate, again, those same group of folks he wants to show Democrats that he is actually competitive in a state like Connecticut, in a place where they have those moderate, independent- minded Republicans.
The other thing here is that Connecticut has the highest per capita income in the whole country. And Barack Obama seems to be doing very well in those upper-income levels, middle-class voters that he has done very well in the early states. He is hoping to also have a solid showing among those voters here -- Don.
LEMON: And it's amazing to listen there, Suzanne. You hear like on the campaign trail, like, you know, they sound more preacher-like, their drawls. Depending on their audience, their voices change. I know we have been noticing that.
But also a lot of them are losing their voices. This is a marathon. Where is Barack Obama going to end this marathon, Super Tuesday, or before Super Tuesday, Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: Well, he's actually going to end up in Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts. It's really supposed to be a blowout affair. And that's really why you are going to see kind of the gray-haired, the old Democratic establishment, Senator John Kerry, Senator Ted Kennedy, meeting the new, fresher, younger faces of the Democratic Party.
The first black governor, Deval Patrick, of Massachusetts also going to be there. So they are really trying to show that picture of the establishment, as well as the new leadership, including African- American leadership who are a part of the party. Also should let you know that they are spinning this, if you will, not surprisingly, spinning what tomorrow is going to look like, what the expectations are. It's all about the headlines, who comes out ahead and how they define success, with their campaign already putting out a memo, Don, that essentially they said that they fully expect that Senator Clinton will earn more delegates tomorrow. They also say that she will win more states. But, if they were to be within 100 delegates of that number and if they were to win some states, that would be the threshold for success for the campaign, and they would feel very competitive moving beyond February 5 to win the most delegates later on down the road -- Don.
LEMON: And we shall see.
OK, Suzanne Malveaux, Hartford, Connecticut, thank you so much for that.
One-on-one with Barack Obama. The Democratic presidential Democratic contender is Wolf Blitzer's guest tonight. That's during the 6:00 hour of "THE SITUATION ROOM." It's only here on CNN, of course, your home for politics.
PHILLIPS: After a stop in Connecticut, Hillary Clinton is now in Massachusetts. Clinton had some tough words for President Bush just a short time ago at a rally in Worcester.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The average American families has lost $1,000 in income under George Bush. But we're not going to do anything about it. Well, the wealthy and well-connected have had a president. It's about time we had a president who stands up for the American people again. And that's what I intend to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, at a stop this morning in New Haven, Connecticut, Clinton teared up when a longtime acquaintance who introduced her choked up himself. Clinton was attending a discussion on child care and health care with a group of Connecticut women.
Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton talks about her campaign and her hopes for Super Tuesday, tomorrow, right here on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING." That's at 6:00 a.m. Eastern.
LEMON: And Republican candidate Mitt Romney is hoping to pick up support in the South on Super Tuesday. He's on the trail today. As a matter of fact, he is in Georgia.
And our Mary Snow joins us now from Atlanta with more on that.
Hey, Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Don. Yes, and Mitt Romney had a rally here at Georgia Tech earlier today. You certainly get the sense of urgency. This is Mitt Romney's -- really his last chance to make a stand for the Republican nomination. He describes himself as the underdog, but he vows to pull off a surprise.
National polls have been showing him trailing Senator John McCain. But Mitt Romney is counting on conservatives, tapping in to the discontent with talk show radio hosts and columnists who are unhappy with Senator John McCain and Mitt Romney is hoping that they will go to his side and at rally after rally, he is repeatedly taking aim at his chief rival.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Do we really want to have as the leader of our party and our nominee a person who voted against the Bush tax cuts?
CROWD: No!
ROMNEY: Do you want to have as our nominee and the leader of our party someone who voted against the amendment to define marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman?
CROWD: No!
ROMNEY: Do you want to have -- do you want to have as our nominee a person who voted to say no to drilling for oil in ANWR?
CROWD: No!
ROMNEY: Do you want a person as our nominee, somebody who fought for McCain/Feingold, which is this campaign finance bill that took powers away from the First Amendment and hurt our party very badly?
CROWD: No!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: Now, Mitt Romney is repeatedly bringing up John McCain on the campaign trail, trying to cast him as a liberal. He's also bringing up Ronald Reagan, invoking his name several times at each stop that he makes.
And a stop that he is going to make tonight is telling. He rearranged his schedule to go out to California. His camp is encouraged by polls there. And Mitt Romney squeezed in one final trip to California before Super Tuesday. But here in the South, he also has stiff competition from Mike Huckabee, who is spending a lot of his time here courting that conservative vote -- Don.
LEMON: All right, Mary Snow, thank you very much for that, right here in Atlanta, Georgia.
New national poll numbers show John McCain leading the GOP pack, holding a double-digit lead over Mitt Romney among registered Republicans. McCain stumping in the Northeast today, including Romney's home state of Massachusetts. Mike Huckabee is hoping to be the spoiler Tuesday, on Super Tuesday, reaching out to evangelicals in Tennessee and Arkansas.
As for long-shot candidate Ron Paul, he isn't raking in many delegates, but he is raking in the cash. His latest financial disclosure report shows he raised $20 million in the last quarter of 2007. That tops all of his GOP rivals.
Super Tuesday's races are super close. See what's up for grabs in a state-by-state guide, also analysis from the best political team on television, fresh polls and the political ticker, all of it at CNNPolitics.com.
PHILLIPS: Rescue near Lake Tahoe. Two skiers missing since Saturday have been found safe. Searchers say that the pair was spotted from the air this morning about two miles from the Alpine Meadows ski resort. No word on how the skiers are doing. It's been extremely cold and stormy there the past two days.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: A tightening Democratic race, but apparently a bit of breathing room for Republican John McCain. We will check out some new polls on the presidential race.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Richard Quest aboard the Election Express. When we come back, I will give you a tour of this fantastic bus, because you will be in the mobile newsroom -- in a moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: A robbery gone bad, a gunman gone missing. Police outside Chicago are looking for whomever shot and killed five women inside a clothing store on Saturday morning. They're not saying much, but they're reportedly getting information from a sixth woman who survived the attack.
Joining us now with the latest, reporter Aaron Baskerville with CNN affiliate CLTV.
Aaron, tell us what you know.
AARON BASKERVILLE, CLTV REPORTER: Well, it's definitely an eerie scene out here. Friends and even strangers are showing up to the Lane Bryant clothing store in Tinley Park, paying their respects and putting down flowers in front of five crosses that are out here as a makeshift memorial for the five women that were shot and killed out here. Shoppers are looking scared and nervous as they're entering the stores in this shopping center. It's now believed a sixth person was inside the store at the time of the crime and was apparently shot, but survived.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASKERVILLE (voice-over): Investigators are standing guard in front of the Lane Bryant clothing store in Tinley Park for the third day in a row. Five women were gunned down during a botched armed robbery Saturday morning. And it's now believed a sixth woman was inside the store. She was apparently grazed in the neck by gunfire and was able to call 911.
Police are not confirming the situation right now. The gunman is still on the loose and we continue to learn more about the victims, 34-year-old Jennifer Bishop of South Bend, Indiana, 37-year-old Connie Woolfolk of Flossmoor, 22-year-old Sarah Szafranski of Oak Forest, 33- year-old Carrie Hudek Chiuso of Frankfort, and store manager, 42-year- old Rhoda McFarland of Joliet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's sad how she went, but the lord took his angel home, and everyone in the family knows that and believes it.
BASKERVILLE: Those who know the victims or were touched by the story are showing up to the scene. Five crosses now have all the names of the women with their pictures. As the memorial grows out front, a friend of Woolfolk stopped by.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just saddened, because you know how you say, I need to call this person back, and you -- I didn't -- I never got the opportunity to call her back.
BASKERVILLE: Some shoppers feel they need more information from police, wanting them to go door to door in neighborhoods or set up a reverse 911 alert system.
Latoya Prayer (ph) was so nervous she forgot her wallet as she was going inside one of the stores today.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do want the police to give us more information and clarity on -- I know they are still searching for him, and do they have any clues or where he's at, his whereabouts, or, you know, if he was alone?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASKERVILLE: It's said the sole survivor is a 33-year-old student who worked on the weekends at the Lane Bryant clothing store, and she is apparently helping out with investigators.
There is a $55,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of this suspect -- back to you.
PHILLIPS: And we will track it. Aaron Baskerville, thanks. LEMON: Well, California is the biggest prize of all for both parties on Super Tuesday, big enough to lure, get this, all the way across the pond, our Richard Quest is on the Election Express. And he joins us from Huntington Beach.
Richard, could you stop? You know, you're like chilling out, laid back. Got your mind on your money, your money on your mind, huh, on the Election Express?
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: What's going on there, Richard? Show us around.
QUEST: Four years ago, when I was on the Election Express, it was like an old tin can, rattling around.
Well, look at this. We have clearly not spared any money. I want to show you around this magnificent beast, this broadcasting tool. You have -- you have sofas. Just think, on this very sofa has sat the posteriors of Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Barack Obama, the lot of them.
LEMON: John Edwards.
QUEST: Yes, well, the lot of -- yes. Some...
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Richard Quest.
The beauty of -- the beauty of this bus is, of course, that we can broadcast on the move. We have got our staff here, our producers, who are doing some work eventually. Who knew we had so many people? We have the bathroom.
I tell you, there's more people back here -- this is almost like a work employment scheme, and right the way down to the back, where you end up with the nuts and bolts, although, I have to say, if I touch anything in there, I will probably get into deep trouble.
Let me just give you a little bit of serious news about the bus. Are you all right?
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very good. Thank you.
QUEST: He hasn't got the memo yet.
(LAUGHTER)
QUEST: And the bus has done 60,000 miles so far. And we're not even out of the primary season. Just think of what it's going to do.
Are you still here?
LEMON: Yes. Hey, Richard...
QUEST: The bus is really quite -- yes, yes, Don.
(CROSSTALK)
QUEST: I will join you outside. It's California. Hang on. Hang on.
LEMON: Before you go outside, I wanted you to show folks the state-of-the-art -- did you see all that lighting in there, how we get the candidates and everybody to look so good? You have got beautiful lighting inside on the Election Express. And look at that, with the sun. Richard, man, you look great. There must be some lights on you.
What, you got a big...
(CROSSTALK)
QUEST: There are buttons -- there are buttons inside there that I dare not touch, either because I will take some network off the air, or more likely, I will probably send Josh (ph), the producer, flying, because those sofas turn into beds. It really is a remarkable.
But the serious point -- and I do like to be serious occasionally -- the serious thing is, this is a broadcasting tool. We are here in Huntington Beach, California. We're telling our international viewers what the elections -- people like these people over here, who have just popped along for a bit of light relief, we are telling them what is happening in the election and the important issues.
And what the bus is -- it's great. I love it. And, of course, come January 2009, it will be up for sale on eBay. And we will take the best offer we can get.
LEMON: Yes. And you know what? The size expand, right, Richard? So, you know, if you need some extra sleeping...
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: ... you can do that.
(CROSSTALK)
QUEST: Well, never you mind. Never you mind expanding sizes.
(LAUGHTER)
QUEST: This is -- this...
LEMON: Yes, see, there you go.
QUEST: ... is the expanding -- look at this. You can't drive down the road like this, of course. I will tell you, Dale (ph), the driver, just look how polished that is.
LEMON: Did you do it yourself before? QUEST: Other networks don't keep...
(LAUGHTER)
QUEST: I will tell you, other networks don't keep their mirrors as polished as that. You could floss in that mirror.
LEMON: Oh, my gosh. Richard Quest, OK.
(CROSSTALK)
QUEST: ... Huntington Beach.
LEMON: Richard, we got to get out of here. But, real quick, do they ever let you get behind the wheel of that thing?
QUEST: For goodness' sake, man, they don't let me get on a bicycle. Do you think they're going to let me drive a 45-foot bus down I-95?
(LAUGHTER)
QUEST: NO, they leave they leave me to do the work at the back of the bus.
LEMON: Yes, OK. Richard Quest, thank you.
And, very seriously, it is -- we're getting around the country and we're getting to get the pulse of everyday folk because of the Election Express.
Richard Quest, thank you very much.
Huntington Beach, beautiful place in California. I have been kayaking there, or canoeing there. It's a great place. Thank you, Richard.
If you would like to watch any of the candidates today, just go on to CNN.com/live to watch their rallies and their events live and unfiltered. Again, that's CNN.com/live.
PHILLIPS: Doctors said he might never walk again. We are going to hear from Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett about his fight to prove them wrong and why he's being called the miracle man.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, the rarest political memorabilia can be worth thousands, so even if your favorite candidate is long gone, there is still hope for the souvenirs that you may have picked up along the way in this week's "Right on Your Money."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: So, let's hear from Senator McCain. Thank you very much.
(APPLAUSE)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It won't be just party nominations at stake on Super Tuesday. The value for political collectibles hangs in the balance, as well. Mark Warda has been selling political memorabilia of all kinds for 40 years.
MARK WARDA, AUTHOR: You could buy buttons today for $2 or $3 each and just have a small collection, if that's where your budget. Or you could buy buttons for $5,000 or $10,000 each.
ROMANS: With so many choices out there, Warda says look for items that are limited editions and colorful.
WARDA: If you look for things that are unusual -- not just the name button or just a little button that says Nixon on it or McCain or Obama. If it's just a simple button that they made a million of, by the national headquarters, there is going to be still millions of them around 30 years from now. But if it's a small group that made something -- maybe a little union made something or a club made something in your town -- then that might be worth something some day.
ROMANS: The saying goes, to the victors go the spoils. But Ward says the rarest and hardest to find collectibles are from the losers.
WARDA: You might want to take a chance and buy up all the Dole buttons you can find and maybe in 100 years, your grandchildren will pay for their college education with them.
ROMANS: Christine Romans, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right.
There's our Betty Nguyen -- Betty this case Georgia, North Carolina. You're going to talk about new developments in North Carolina, right?
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: In North Carolina. We are learning information from a news conference out of Macon County, North Carolina. And it does appear that a missing hiker -- his skeletal remains have been found.
This is what we know so far. Those remains were found in Western North Carolina over the weekend -- on Saturday, in fact -- by a hunter. This according to officials there. And those remains are that of John Bryant, according to officials.
Now, you may recall -- we're going to show you a picture. There's John Bryant there and his wife Irene. They disappeared while hiking in the Pisgah National Forest. Now, Irene's Bryant's body was found near a hiking trail back in November. But they could not find the whereabouts of John Bryant. Again, this was back in November.
Well, shortly after this, we learned that there was a missing young lady in Georgia. She was hiking. It turns out that she was killed. And Gary Hilton -- Gary Michael Hilton pleaded guilty just last week to her death. And officials believe that the man that you see there -- 61-year-old Gary Michael Hilton -- could also be responsible for both John and Irene Bryant's death.
And today we have learned that, indeed, the skeletal remains that were found in North Carolina over the weekend by a hiker -- those remains have been identified to be John Bryant. So a little bit of the mystery is gone. But, unfortunately, it's just a sad case of a couple who went hiking and now it's learned that both of them, indeed, are dead. And Gary Hilton could be the person responsible for that -- Don.
LEMON: All right.
Betty Nguyen in our newsroom. Thank you, Betty.
PHILLIPS: Well, the battle for the Democratic nomination for president is now even more of a nail-biter. The latest CNN/Opinion Research national poll of registered Democrats shows a virtual tie. Barack Obama leads with 49 percent to Hillary Clinton's 46 percent. The gap is well within the poll's sampling error. And then our poll of polls -- an average of five recent national polls -- shows Clinton with 45 percent to Obama's 43 percent.
Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, joins us from New York with more on that, plus some new Republican poll numbers -- Bill, let's start with the Democrats. We're looking at a race that definitely is so tight.
Do you think we'll see a clear frontrunner Super Tuesday?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: No, I don't think so.
PHILLIPS: No? Absolutely not?
SCHNEIDER: No, I don't think we will, for two reasons. One, obviously, is that the race across the country is very tight. Notice that was a national poll. There is no national primary, but there are races all over the country. So my guess is that Hillary Clinton will win some or Barack Obama will win some.
But in all those races the Democratic rules require that they split the delegates proportional to the vote. There's no winner-take- all primaries in the Democratic primary. So the result is the delegate race is going to end up very close to the end of evening tomorrow.
PHILLIPS: All right let's go ahead and put up our latest polling on the Republican race. McCain in double digit lead right now. Is he set to run away with this tomorrow, based on the polling?
SCHNEIDER: Yes, it's possible, because he's doing very well. And the Republican rules allow a frontrunner to establish himself -- or herself, if that should happen -- more quickly. The Republican rules enable states and Congressional districts of states to award their delegates winner-take-all. That's what New York does New Jersey, Connecticut, Missouri, Delaware a few other states -- so that whoever wins the state, even by the narrowest of margins -- gets all the delegates.
So McCain, if he does well tomorrow, as he's polling -- he is polling well in those states -- he could win a treasure trove of delegates and come out as the clearly established frontrunner, while the Democrats are in a muddle.
PHILLIPS: And we're still waiting for a number of people to come forward and give endorsements, correct? I mean not everybody that was in the race has come forward and made these...
SCHNEIDER: Oh, yes.
PHILLIPS: Right, and that could make a big impact?
SCHNEIDER: That could. John Edwards has not endorsed either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. He says he will not do that before tomorrow. Rudy Giuliani, of course, has endorsed John McCain. Schwarzenegger endorsed John McCain. I don't think Fred Thompson has endorsed anyone yet. So there are still some shoes yet to drop. But it's especially important in the Democratic race, where this is down to the wire and is likely to go on and on beyond Super Tuesday.
PHILLIPS: Bill Schneider thanks a lot.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
PHILLIPS: Don?
LEMON: Thank you, Kyra.
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 of a million dollars on a regional ad that aired during last night's game in the 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. Well, Clinton was attending a discussion on child care and health care with a group of Connecticut women.
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 with six percent.
Well, the polls may not show it, but Ron Paul is 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.
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? To find analysis from the best political team on television, plus the Political Ticker fresh polls and lots more, all at CNNPolitics.com.
PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, doctors said he might never walk again. We're going to hear from Buffalo Bills' tight end Kevin Everett about his fight to prove them wrong.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: One of the most super spends full -- suspenseful -- I've got Super Tuesday on my mind -- suspenseful Super Bowls in memory was reportedly the most watch ever. A.P. -- that's "The Associated Press," quoting Nielsen, reports historic ratings for last night's come from behind upset of the New England Patriots by the New York Giants.
New York is planning a victory parade tomorrow. It's supposed to be a ticker tape parade. That will be amazing to see. Yes, on Super Tuesday. The victory comes with a price. Officials are warning of gridlock on the roads and the trains, as parade goers vie for space with morning commuters. I'm sure most New Yorkers will not mind that after that win.
Well, he knows he'll never play football again, but Kevin Everett says life could be a whole lot worse. Less than five months ago, the Buffalo Bills' tight end went down after a tackle and he didn't get up. Doctors say he suffered a severe spinal cord injury. At the time, they didn't know whether he'd ever walk again.
Well, he is walking and telling his story in hopes of inspiring others with spinal cord injuries. Today, he sat down with "AMERICAN MORNING'S" Kiran Chetry.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: The first sign of optimism is that you were able to lift a finger in the early days after that.
What do attribute your ability to come back from what many thought may have been permanent paralysis?
KEVIN EVERETT, SUFFERED SPINAL CORD INJURY: I just, you know, give people hope. And, you know, I gave myself hope during that time when I was able to move my limbs. I was very fortunate things worked out.
CHETRY: You were asking at first, why God, why would this happen to me? And then after that you found a lot of comfort through prayer. Has this entire experience made you more religious?
EVERETT: You know, it made me move closer to God. You know, I was on that path anyway. And I mean it just -- it just opened up my eyes to many different things. CHETRY: How much of your recovery and the fact you were able to -- within two weeks -- stand on your own, how much of that was your own perseverance in the physical therapy and how much was just what they describe as, you know, maybe a medical marvel?
EVERETT: I think it had a lot to do with just my physical condition. I was in top notch shape -- the best condition of my life. And I think that played a major part, you know, in my recovery. Thank god for that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Glad he's doing better. Everett says he still has trouble with balance and he hasn't regained full use of his hands, but hopes that, too, will come in time. And he's still going to therapy three times a week.
PHILLIPS: This might make your head spin.
Our Alessio Vinci has a meeting with an exorcist.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And how do you know that I am possessed by the devil and not just crazy?
(voice-over): "I can tell it from the movement of your eyes," he says.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
PHILLIPS: Believe me, if you knew Alessio like we know Alessio, he's a little crazy.
The Vatican fighting the devil head-on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Fleeing the fighting in Chad -- hundreds of foreign evacuees were rushed from the capital and arrived in Paris today on a flight arranged by the French. Lacking that option, thousands of residents are fleeing into neighboring Cameroon, presenting a possible refugee crisis.
It's been a third day of fighting between Chad's army and the rebel force that barreled in from Sudan. Chad says that Sudan is behind the invasion as a way to thwart European peacekeepers from getting into Darfur. The U.N. Security Council has condemned the rebel attacks, opening the way for other countries to answer the Chad government's call for help.
And it's something Israel hasn't seen in more than a year. Suicide bombers targeted a shopping center in the Southern town of Dimona today, killing one woman and wounding 11. The first attacker blew himself up. The second was quickly shot dead by police. The militant Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility. A spokesman for the group says the bomber sneaked into Egypt from Gaza at a border breach, then from Egypt to Israel.
Shortly after that attack, Israeli aircraft bombed a target Gaza. That strike killed a commander with the militant group believed responsible for creating that breach at the border.
LEMON: OK, well, the Vatican is looking for a few good exorcists -- make that a lot of good exorcists. The Catholic Church's go to priest in the fight against devil says demonic possession isn't just a Hollywood fantasy.
CNN's Alessio Vinci has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VINCI (voice-over): This is the stuff of the Hollywood fiction -- the movie, The Exorcist" -- priests performing the ancient Catholic ritual to drive the devil from a young girl. But the Vatican says people really do become possessed and the devil is closer than you think.
At least that's what the man in charge of fighting demons in Rome says. Father Gabriele Amorth is showing me what an exorcism is like. The Catholic Church forbids filming the real ones. He is a busy man. At 83, his practice is open seven days a week -- Christmas and Easter included, he says. The calendar is full.
"There is a progressive distancing from God and this helps the devil," he says. "The action of the devil is a lot more widespread than in the past, not because he has more strength, but because he is given more space."
Father Amorth says the church is ill-equipped to deal with the problem. Many priests, he says, are unwilling or unable to perform exorcism. "We deal with priests and bishops who know nothing about the subject because for three centuries, exorcisms were almost totally abandoned. They have never seen exorcisms. They never performed them. They believe in the devil, but they don't believe much in the actions of the devil, so they prefer to send everyone to psychologists and psychologists."
(on camera): And how do you know that I am possessed by the devil and not just crazy?
(voice-over): "I can tell it from the movement of your eyes," he says.
Father Amorth says the lack of experience exorcists is hurting the church. Those possessed, he says, seek alternatives in obscure sects and satanic practices and lose faith in the church. The problem has reached the highest levels of the Vatican. Father Amorth said the pope is encouraging bishops to nominate more exorcists in their parishes.
"Thank God," the father said, "there is a pope who wants to fight the devil head-on."
Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Time to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
PHILLIPS: Someone who is definitely not possessed.
He's standing by in "THE SITUATION ROOM" to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour.
Hey, Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, guys. Thanks very much.
Coming up at the top of the hour, Senator Barack Obama right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM" one-on-one. We'll be talking about his experience versus the experience of John McCain and his plan for dealing with America's enemies. That's coming up, my interview with Barack Obama.
And on this day before Super Tuesday, the race is incredibly title, getting tighter. A look at the latest poll numbers, plus how the candidates are trying to set themselves apart.
The conservative radio talk show hosts continuing their attacks on John McCain. But is Mike Huckabee really hurting Mitt Romney's campaign? We're watching that part of the story, as well.
All that and a lot more, guys, coming up right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
PHILLIPS: Wolf, maybe I should have said you're angel, not a devil.
BLITZER: I'm neither.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Wolf Blitzer, see you at 4:00.
The closing bell and a wrap of all the action on Wall Street straight ahead.
Poor Wolf.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Let's click in at CNN.com -- some of our most watched videos.
No snow relief for one Oregon town. It's been inundated. Budget problems mean no green stuff to get rid of the white stuff. A whale of a viral video decades after the fact. The back story on the famous exploding whale experiment that proved a stinker. I have an idea.
And the Manning family pretty proud of their three sons. CNN's Larry Smith looks at Giants' quarterback, and Super Bowl MVP, Eli Manning, his famous brother Peyton -- did you see Peyton beaming? He was up in the press box or wherever. And his less famous brother Cooper.
PHILLIPS: Really?
LEMON: A link to all of the -- what did you say? A link to all of the top 10 lists on the front page right on CNN.com.
PHILLIPS: Well, a pig's big rig rollover. Say that six times. A truck accident on a California highway became a bit of a rest stop for the pigs. A few were content to grab a bite along the side of the road. Other swine took a walk and had to be persuaded to return. The driver, thank goodness, was not injured. The closing bell about to ring on Wall Street now.
LEMON: Yes. Have you noticed that Stephanie Elam has been just glowing?
What's going on here?
PHILLIPS: Oh, something about her.
LEMON: Something tells me Jeff (ph) in the picture...
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jeff had a lot to do with it.
LEMON: Congratulations, my dear.
ELAM: Thank you. And it's very cool. I'm very happy.
(LAUGHTER)
ELAM: It was a...
PHILLIPS: Look at that little shiny...
LEMON: Let's see the big engagement...
PHILLIPS: ... sparkly diamond on that left hand. All right, so how did...
ELAM: There it is!
PHILLIPS: How did he do it, Steph?
LEMON: Laguna Niguel.
ELAM: Yes. Near Kyra's hometown, just north of there, down in Orange County. And we were overlooking the ocean. And it was great. It was beautiful -- even though the delivery company was 24 hours late getting my ring out to the Ritz Carlton where were. I knew I was getting engaged, but he still managed to surprise me. So, it was a really nice time.
PHILLIPS: Oh. LEMON: Oh.
ELAM: Yes. It was really good.
LEMON: I called you after the win last night. I had no idea. So I'm -- pardon me for...
PHILLIPS: Listen to that music.
LEMON: I know -- for waking you up. But love lifts us up.
ELAM: I'm glad that we found a song from 1982.
PHILLIPS: You've got to love it.
ELAM: Yes, immortalized our love.
PHILLIPS: Nothing like a little lobster (ph) and a gentleman for you.
LEMON: Yes. Hey, congrat --
PHILLIPS: Steph, you deserve all the happiness.
LEMON: Yes.
ELAM: Exactly. Well, it is really cool. And then I got a cold, because I guess I showed my hand to too many people.
LEMON: Yes.
ELAM: Yes...
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes, right.
ELAM: But it's OK. I still have a little bit of a voice here. And it's been -- it's been good.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Well, all you Woody Allen fans, you know, he once said that 80 percent of success is just showing up. Well, getting young voters to show up on election day has been a real challenge in the past. Will this year be in different?
Here's CNN's Ted Rowlands.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't forget to rock the vote on Tuesday, folks.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They show up in force for rallies and speeches -- young faces full of enthusiasm. Political strategists call them millennial voters -- an almost 50 million member group of Americans, ages 18 to 29. While young people represent a huge block of potential votes, they have a bad reputation for not showing up on election day. Many, however, including this group of UCLA students watching CNN's Democratic debate last week, say this election will be different.
JESSE MELGAR, STUDENT ACTIVIST: A lot of youth are getting excited about this. The candidates are actually speaking to us at this election. It's a very exciting time.
ROWLANDS: Lauren Lees is a millennial voter from California who's never bothered to vote before. But she agrees that 2008 is different.
LAUREN LEES, FIRST-TIME VOTER: It's definitely the candidates. It's definitely just what's going on. I mean we have the war in Iraq and all the education and all these different things.
SCHNEIDER: Young voters are voting in unprecedented numbers. We've never seen numbers like this ever. Even when they first got the vote, 18 to 20-year-olds, in 1972, they were supposed to make a decisive difference. And they didn't. They didn't show up.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And for more political coverage, we now turn to Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
LEMON: Hi, Wolf.
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