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Campaigning Continues as Voting Progresses

Aired February 09, 2008 - 17:00   ET

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

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Welcome back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL. I'm Candy Crowley in Richmond, Virginia. Joined this hour by my co-anchor Dana Bash in Washington, DC. Mary Snow in College Park, Maryland, Jessica Yellin in Washington and Suzanne Malveaux in Los Angeles. We're not only bringing you these candidates this hour, some taped and some live. There are also elections going on this Saturday, election that is will be vital on both the Republican and Democratic side. We want to give you a look at this map. We are as far west as Washington state where there are caucuses. And then in the Midwest, Democratic caucuses in Nebraska, a primary in Louisiana, and a Republican caucus in Kansas which is why we want to bring in dana bash for some of the result s.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Candy. Kansas is the one area today where we know the results. The winner there of those caucuses on the Republican side is Mike Huckabee who won with a very, very healthy margin. He had 62 percent of the vote to John McCain's 22 percent of the vote. So let us tell you what that means in terms of the big picture, the overall delegate count for the Republican candidates and the race for the nomination. For John McCain he still has a commanding lead in the delegate race. He has 714 delegates with Kansas, if you add Kansas now. Mike Huckabee has 214 delegates at this point.

And the name of the game, the big number to officially become the nominee is 1,191 delegates. That's what both of these men, and including Ron Paul, of course, are striving for. But you see the numbers there. John McCain still has a healthy lead. Now, there are 92 delegates at stake in contests all over the country. Really, as far away as Guam, Virgin Islands and northern Marijuana Islands today, we're going to see the results of those contests and Louisiana and Washington State. Those caucuses later tonight with our election night program coverage. Meanwhile we want to take you to so far the only winner of the day. That is Mike Huckabee, Republican, former governor of Arkansas. He spoke earlier today where I am here in Washington at a very important conference. It's been going on for several days now. A conference of conservative activists, it's called the conservative political action conference. There Mike Huckabee made it very, very clear to those gathered in the room, despite the fact he is far behind in the delegate count, he's not going to follow Mitt Romney's lead and drop out of the race.

MIKE HUCKABEE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Sometimes in the course of elections, a lot of things get said, people question other people's motives or maybe their qualifications or their credentials. Mine certainly have been questioned from time to time as to whether I was a true conservative. Let me tell you the critics who have been saying some of those things weren't put with me when I was put in the back of parades at in Arkansas when I had the audacity to be a conservative in a state that didn't really welcome them. They weren't there when my door was being nailed shut upon my election as lieutenant governor in 1993 nailed shut by the Democrats in the state capitol who kept it nailed shut for the first 59 days I was in office.

I'd get on an elevator, they'd get off. I'd walk down the hall, they'd turn the other way. The times when I'd go in cafes and restaurants and campaign and people refused to shake my hand because I had the audacity to be a Republican in a state where that just wasn't acceptable. Believe me I understand what it is to go into a state capital when there had never been a general broad-based tax cut in 160 years and propose one and three months later sign it into law and 94 times after that sign tax cuts into law in a state that didn't know how to handle it. That's a conservative, folks, against the head winds that weren't easy.

To reform welfare in a state that believed it was an entitlement and to take half the people off and get them into jobs, not just take them off welfare, but get them employed and to see the lowest unemployment numbers in our state and the highest employment numbers and the largest number of new jobs and a 50 percent increase in per capita income and the cutting capital gains tax and elimination of the marriage penalty and doubling of the child care tax credit and indexing of the income tax for inflation and the freezing of property taxes for elderly people so they didn't lose their homes because government made them end up having to move away. I understand something about the necessary stay of that. I remember when legislators were on the capital steps having news conferences every day demanding we have a special session to raise taxes. I finally created the tax me more fund. Said there's nothing in the law that says you can't pay more taxes if you feel like you're not paying enough. I had envelopes printed. I said if you feel like you're not paying enough, here is an envelope. Would you like to fill it up? Here. Take one. Eighteen months later, $1,200 was all the people of Arkansas thought they were undertaxed.

A thousand of that given by a liberal senator who started the whole process of screaming at it.

I spent 10 1/2 years term of governor fighting the corruption of a one-party political machine that I happen to know a little about because I'm the only person who has ever run against the Clinton political machine and beat it four times. If you think we've got an easy race this year, let me assure you we don't.

I stand in this race and I stay in this race not to be a fly in the ointment because I believe, as Phyllis Schlafly's book taught me in the 1960s, that our party, our country is about a choice, not an echo. If people want an echo, they can get it from somewhere else. If they want a choice, I plan to give it to them. There are only a few states that have voted. Twenty-seven have not. People in those 27 states deserve more than a coronation. They deserve an election.

They deserve the opportunity to have their voices and their votes heard and counted. I know the pundits and I know what they say. The math doesn't work out. Folks, I didn't major in math. I majored in miracles and I still believe in those.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Didn't major in math, majored in miracles. That's perhaps the quote of the weekend here from Mike Huckabee as he continues to soldier on in his bid for the Republican nomination. You saw him there speaking this morning. That was a taped portion, large portion of his speech this morning at the Conservative Political Action Conference which has been going on for several days here in Washington. We just got some results of a straw poll that went on during the course of that convention. In that straw poll, believe it or not, the winner of the straw poll was a man no longer in the race. That is Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney according to the activists who were attending that conference, conservative activists, they said they wanted Mitt Romney, that he was their best candidate from their perspective.

So that is quite telling, perhaps, in terms of the challenge that john McCain still has, which was evident in that room when he spoke just a few hours after Mitt Romney did on Thursday, the challenge that McCain has in terms of uniting the party, uniting the party is sort of the buzzword that you hear from John McCain over and over again as he is trying, even today we're told, making phone calls to reach out to conservatives, many of whom still distrust him because of his stance on a host of issues from tax cuts to his stance on immigration to even his stance on stem cell research.

I want to bring in my colleague Mary Snow who has been covering Mike Huckabee. To go back to his win in Kansas today in the Kansas caucuses. You got some reaction from the Huckabee camp about that.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dana, they are certainly calling it a strong victory. And senior adviser to Mike Huckabee, Jim Pinkerton said winning is big, winning big is bigger. These results show that all the voters in all the states want to fully participate in choosing the next Republican nominee.

And you just heard Mike Huckabee talking earlier today, reminding people that 27 votes - that 27 states, that is, have yet to vote. And he is making the case that he wants to stay in this until there is a Republican nominee and until someone gets 1,191 delegates in the race.

And Mike Huckabee is saying, you know, he wants -- he believes in miracles as he just said. The fact that he won in Kansas, though, kind of underscores whether or not he ever catches up with the delegate count. But it certainly underscores the point you were making about conservatives still angry with Senator John McCain and Senator McCain trying to patch things up with those conservatives. And Virginia is expected to be another test for Senator McCain with conservatives. Mike Huckabee is going to be concentrating that state in these coming days ahead of Tuesday's primary, particularly with evangelicals in the state.

That could be another one where this division between conservatives and Senator McCain is punctuated. Dana? BASH: It certainly could be, Mary. Thank you very much. Mary Snow with us from College Park, Maryland, where Mike Huckabee was campaigning earlier today. I want to and Mary talked about the reaction to the Kansas - to Mike Huckabee's Kansas win from Mike Huckabee's campaign. I spoke to senior adviser to John McCain a short while ago who said, insisted they're not surprised by the results in Kansas despite the fact that John McCain did make a stop in Wichita last night to campaign there. They insist despite the loss in that caucus, despite the fact they think they will lose some more in the days and weeks ahead, they say that they still intend to campaign as if John McCain is the nominee of their party. That is the way they're going to proceed. That's their strategy from here on out.

And we're going to go from the Republican side back to the Democratic side. We're going to go well across the country from where I am in Washington, DC to Washington State. Jessica Yellin is there. She's going to be reporting on the caucuses going on over there in Washington State. And we're going to get to that right after the break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CROWLEY: Welcome back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL where not only do we bring you today, the speeches of these candidates that are sometimes live and sometimes taped, but today we bring you some voting. On the left of your screen you see New Orleans, Louisiana, which is having a primary today, the state. We are told anecdotally by Suzanne Malveaux who is at the polling place that it's been a little slow. We have to wait to see how the rest of the state comes in.

On the right-hand side of your screen, you see Seattle, Washington holding caucuses today. I'm told already these caucus- goers have received their instructions. We have Jessica Yellin there inside the caucus. Jessica, what's going on?

Jessica, Yellin, with you with me in Seattle?

OK. We're going to check with Jessica after a break. But as you can see there, lots and lots of caucus-goers in Seattle, Washington. Obviously every state at this point, particularly on the Democratic side, really crucial to these candidates. We'll be back right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CROWLEY: Welcome back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL '08. I'm Candy Crowley in Richmond. But right now what you are looking at is a caucus. This is in Washington. And right now Governor Christine Gregoire is addressing this particular caucus in Seattle. Our Jessica Yellin is there. We'll get back to her as soon as she can hear. Barack Obama on the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side have been in Washington state in the last 24 hours. We want to take you to a little bit of Hillary Clinton yesterday in Spokane.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are going to make ...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have been very specific in this campaign. You know, I know that sometimes it's exciting to hear a speech that is really powerful and raises your sights, but when the lights are down and the cameras are gone, you need to know what I'm going to do, because we need a president who will actually produce results for the American people. We have had enough of a president who doesn't care about the American people and doesn't really solve the American people's problems and puts our country at risk.

So that's why I've been so specific because I want to run a campaign about what I'll do for the economy and energy and healthcare and everything else.

And then when I'm in office, I want the American people to be partners with me in making these changes. Change is not easy. Change is just a word if you don't have the strength and experience to make it happen. And from my perspective, if we're going to win an election against John McCain who apparently is going to be their nominee, we have to have a candidate who can go toe to toe with Senator McCain on national security and national defense and homeland security and caring for the military and on the economy and healthcare and everything else.

I believe that I am the best-prepared, the best-tested, the best- vetted to be able to do that. But I can't do it without your help. You know, Washington has a caucus. You know, I'd prefer a primary because more people get to participate. But you have a caucus. So tomorrow at 1:00 people from across Washington are going to gather to caucus. And I was just in Tacoma where I was so honored to get the American Nurses Association endorsement. I had three nurses -- I said to them, I hope you'll caucus for me tomorrow. They all three said we're going to be working. I need people to caucus for the people who can't be there, who want to be there to support me, to stand up for me.

Because if you will go tomorrow and stand up for me, I will wage a campaign all the way to victory where I will stand up and fight for you and fight for the kind of America we want to see again. And then in the White House, I will get up every single day and I will remember who sent me there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CROWLEY: Democratic contender Senator Hillary Clinton last night in Spokane, Washington, urging people to go to the caucuses for her. Well, the proof is in the pudding. Those caucuses are now underway. We showed you earlier some pictures from a Seattle, Washington caucus. We have our Jessica Yellin there right now. Jessica, tell me what's going on. Give me a little idea of the atmosphere.

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Candy, it is so crowded here that they think they've run out of some of the paperwork used for these caucuses, though they've managed to Xerox more. When they ask folks who is attending a caucus for their first time, about half this room raised their hands, maybe even more. This is just one of several rooms taking place at this school campus right now.

Just to give you a sense of how energized people are this year, in the year 2000, we're told that only 63 people turned out to caucus in this area for this group of precincts. And four years ago 600 turned out. This is well over a thousand. Now, what they've done is they've already broken off into their groups saying which is their preferred candidate between Senators Clinton and Obama. They've had a chance for people to tell them why they should change their minds. And now they can reallocate or realign with a different person if they want to.

There's a huge sense of excitement and enthusiasm here. Before the caucus started, the person who speaks to the crowd told them this is their opportunity to restore America's place in the world. It's a very anti-war, very liberal, liberal crowd that we have here. I'll tell you in general, the sense is that these caucuses tend to favor Barack Obama.

In fact, his own campaign had some earlier projections that they may have accidentally or intentionally, who knows, released from their campaign that showed that they expect he will win in these states. And he has even said himself that he does well in caucuses. But the Obama camp says that's just one set of possibilities.

And they are fighting hard. And Senator Clinton is hoping to get a good number of the -- almost 80 delegates that are at stake here in Washington State today. I'll tell you this caucus should end in the next half hour or so. It will take a little while for them to tally their results. We might not know them until around 7:00 local time. Candy?

CROWLEY: Jessica, I'm going to take a chance that you can actually hear me and ask you if you get a sense inside that room as to whether there are more Obama supporters or Clinton supporters, or have they not divided up quite that cleanly?

YELLIN: They're not divided up cleanly. When I go around and ask people, because I don't want to ask them in this room, when I ask them away are the building, you get a little bit of both. I don't have a sense just yet. But if you can see each of these tables behind me represents its own caucus -- I'm sorry, its own precinct. They're having individual caucuses around each table.

So it's not the whole room dividing into sides. It's many divisions. There are 26 different pre since on this school campus. You'd think it would be confused, but they're very organized. They even have laptops at every single table tabulating the latest results and what the delegate allocation would be. It's Washington State, home of Microsoft. Maybe not a surprise. Candy.

CROWLEY: Jessica Yellin in Seattle, Washington. Quite a difference between that scene behind you and what we've seen behind Suzanne Malveaux who is in Louisiana where they are holding a primary. We're going to check in with Suzanne right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CROWLEY: Welcome back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL where we give you a chance to hear these candidates much as we hear them, live, sometimes taped, but always unfiltered and raw so that you can get a chance to hear them in their own words.

Today we have the added attraction of the fact that there are contests going on, caucuses and primaries across the country. We've already had some results from the Kansas primary, the Republican primary where CNN has projected Mike Huckabee as the winner. But right now we want to turn to Louisiana which our Suzanne Malveaux is covering there in New Orleans. Suzanne, you just saw that scene where Jessica was in Seattle, Washington. Give me a comparison.

MALVEAUX: Candy, there are 56 delegates up for grabs here in Louisiana. All of it really counting -- they are counting on the fact that nearly 50 percent of the Democratic voters are African American. Certainly Barack Obama would really benefit from that. What you're seeing behind me here is really kind of very light voter turnout, at least for this area. We're in Gentilly, there are many various precincts that have gathered together. One of those areas is the Ninth Ward, as you know, the Lower Ninth Ward, a really devastated place by Hurricane Katrina. Still very much struggling two and a half years earlier. There are older people who have come by, mostly women, but very few. The polls are closing at 8:00 local, 9:00 Eastern.

Even state party officials who I have spoken with say they're not expecting a big voter turnout here, perhaps as much as 15 percent. Why is that necessarily happening? You've seen these candidates out here. They have been campaigning. Senator Clinton was not here this past week or so, but her husband was, Bill Clinton out in a university trying to at least tell them that they is concerned, she does have a plan for the Gulf Coast. Two days ago we saw Barack Obama, a very large rally, but kind of uncertain -- unclear whether or not those students were actually from Louisiana State in state, could actually be involved in this process here.

So that's really going to make a big, big difference how this day develops. There are a couple things that are happening here. State party officials say you really need some exciting local elections to happen if you're going to bring people out. There are some things that are happening in Monroe, there is a mayoral election, in east New Orleans there's a gambling referendum, if they can have another river boat that's out there, a casino. Those are the kind of things that will draw voters in.

But there's also, Candy, a sense of frustration among a lot of people here not necessarily looking at the federal government for assistance, having a really difficult time with FEMA and with other areas. And so they believe -- some believe it's not really going to make that much difference if they show up today. Candy?

CROWLEY: Suzanne, I know that both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have a New Orleans recovery plan. Does that make any difference to voters or does that sort of sound to them like more government speak? MALVEAUX: The one candidate they were really listening to when you speak with voters is John Edwards. John Edwards started his campaign at the Lower Ninth Ward. That's where he ended his campaign last week. It really seemed to resonate with people. As you know, he's since dropped out.

But voters are not really all that impressed with what they've heard from Senators Clinton and Barack Obama when it comes to new ideas and when it comes to specifics. They express a certain sense of frustration here. They're hearing the language, hearing the rhetoric, but they're a little wary here of whether or not that is really going to come to fruition.

Part of that, of course, being the experience of Hurricane Katrina, having so many things still up in the air today. And they also look at these two Senators and say, you're still in the Senate, what have you done for us lately? Where have you stood on these positions? Have you really been active when it comes to Gulf Coast recovery before you come to our state, before you have this kind of primary contest -- Candy?

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Thanks. Suzanne Malveaux in New Orleans for us, watching that very important primary. Although, as she says, so far it doesn't look like the kind of huge turnouts we've had in the Democratic race. So that's the view on the Democratic side.

We want to take a look at the Republican side. I want to bring in Dana Bash in Washington -- Dana?

DANA BASH, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Thanks, Candy. Before I let you go, I want to ask you about the Democrats and sort of how they're shifting a little bit, or a lot, I should say, with regard to looking ahead to the general election now that it seems like John McCain is going to be the Republican nominee. I know we've seen what they've been saying in the public. What are you hearing from your sources in the Clinton and Obama campaigns about sort of the way they're kind of thinking about a McCain rival if, in fact, they do get that chance in the general election?

CROWLEY: Well, it won't surprise you that both camps kind of argue that they're the ones that should take on John McCain. The view from the Obama camp is this: Listen, this is the man who, probably as much as George W. Bush, has been the face of the Iraq war. He continues to think it's a good idea. He continues to believe that the surge is working, that we ought to stay in there until the job the done. Obama says I am the person that was against the war at the beginning. If Hillary Clinton goes against John McCain, she voted with him to begin with. So that's not much of a contrast. What you need is someone who voices where the country is right now, and that is anti-war.

Now, it's fascinating to me on the Clinton side. Here is what they argue. They say, the fact of the matter is, nobody really doubts that Hillary Clinton can be tough, that when it comes to national security matters, they believe that voters will see her able to go toe to toe with John McCain. So what they believe is that, if she can kind of neutralize John McCain's national security credentials -- which they believe Barack Obama cannot -- but they believe she can neutralize those credentials and move on to her turf, which is domestic policy, the economy, jobs, student loans, energy. And they believe that that's the weak spot for John McCain and if they can get him on her turf, she wins.

Those are -- obviously they're both arguing that they're the toughest one to go against John McCain -- Dana?

BASH: What's going to be really interesting, Candy, is the fact that we're going to have, pretty much no matter what, two Senators going head to head in this general election, which will be interesting to watch.

Candy, thank you very much.

Before we talk more about the Republicans, I want to go back to my colleague across the country in Washington State, Jessica Yellin, who is inside a caucus there. Jessica has a very special guest, the governor of that state.

Hi, Jessica.

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hi Dana. Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire came in to visit this caucus site. We asked her to talk to us for a few minutes.

You've been to a number of other caucuses today. We understand this is a record-high turnout for this site. How does it compare across this area?

CHRISTINE GREGOIRE, GOVERNOR OF WASHINGTON STATE: Everywhere is record beyond belief. Standing room only, struggling to get people in the door. Amazing.

YELLIN: What do you attribute it to? I understand eight years ago only 63 people turned out for this. Four years ago, 600. It's more than double that this year. Why this enthusiasm?

GREGOIRE: People are tired of America taking a second seat to anybody in the world. They want to return their rightful position in the globe as a leader in the environment, human rights, healthcare, education. They firmly believe the way to do that is a Democratic president. It is amazingly exciting for me.

YELLIN: Let me ask you, because you came out and endorsed Barack Obama I think it was yesterday, the Senators from the state, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray have endorsed Senator Clinton. Why did you make that choice?

GREGOIRE: You know, I struggled with it. No question about it. We have two great presidents, either one makes history and will be terrific. I see America needing a unique leader that can unite us, that returns the hope that we all feel in our hearts, returns us to a greatness. I remember John Kennedy and my inspiration. That's what Barack Obama is doing. I just think he's uniquely qualified as that kind of leader to unite America.

YELLIN: Let me ask you a question that has some sensitivity around it. People talk about there are certain women candidates who feel they have an obligation to support other women candidates. Some people say we're past all that. A lot of women in elective office got there through Emily's List or women saying we have to put women in office. Is that thing you thought about?

GREGOIRE: I thought about it a lot. We haven't broken the glass ceiling in America. We've never had a woman president. I would desperately love to see a woman president. I thought about it a lot. In the end, I thought, I need someone for America that can be as inspirational as John F. Kennedy was to me. When I was there yesterday with Barack Obama, I saw it. I saw people, tears flowing down their cheeks, inspired, ready to believe in America and take it to a new level. Barack Obama has brought out the best in people.

YELLIN: Certainly a lot of enthusiasm on both sides. Let me ask you this. Do you have a sense from Washington State how they're likely to go in this area? And also, if it's not Obama, do you get the sense that are you and others ready to get behind Senator Clinton in the Democratic Party?

GREGOIRE: I talked to Senator Clinton. I made it clear if she wins the nomination, I will do everything in my power to make her the next president. I think everybody feels the same way. We're here with two marvelous choices. Either way, we win. What we're here for is to win in November. We want a Democratic president to take us in a new direction and make us great again.

YELLIN: Any prediction for today?

GREGOIRE: I think Obama will win our state today. But there's no question, it could be close, but there's a fever pitch now for either one. Whoever wins ultimately we're ready to back.

YELLIN: Thank you, Governor, for taking the time. I appreciate it.

GREGOIRE: My pleasure.

YELLIN: Dana, Governor Christine Gregoire. As you can hear in her voice, an enormous amount of enthusiasm. You find that also among Clinton supporters that we interview, those who endorse Senator Clinton as well.

A poll taken in this state not so long ago showed I think somewhere above 60 percent of the people who support either Clinton or Obama are passionate, convinced their candidate is the best. This enormous determination within the Democratic party in state after state that I've gone to, to actually come out and participate this year for people who felt disillusioned in times past, that this is a year to definitely play a role in this election.

I'm sure you're seeing something similar or comparable on the Republican side. I can tell you from the Democratic side, it's certainly a lot of the passion we just heard from Governor Gregoire going to both the Clinton and the Obama camps when they speak in favor of their candidate -- Dana?

BASH: One thing we're not seeing on the Republican side is the fascinating question that you asked the governor there and her answer, which was really telling about the fact that she is obviously a female elected official who decided not to support the female candidate, and sort of the anguish clearly in her answer to you about that decision. A really interesting dynamic. One of the many sub narratives in this really dramatic race on the Democratic side.

Jessica, in the thick of it inside a caucus in Washington State. Thanks, Jessica.

We'll have a lot more of BALLOT BOWL and today's other news right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TONY HARRIS, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Tony Harris, live in the CNN Center in Atlanta. Here's a quick look at the headlines this hour.

Firefighters in Savannah, Georgia, say they have identified two key locations in the search for four people missing in the ruins of a sugar refinery. Authorities are still trying to pin down the cause of that massive blast that left four workers dead and 20 badly burned.

A vigil in Kirkwood, Missouri, where a local businessman opened fire at a city council meeting. Charles Lee Thornton, who had a history of run-ins with city hall, killed five people before police killed him. His victims included two police officers, including Tom Ballman. His other victims included public works head Kenneth Yost and two council members.

Overflow crowds are packing funerals for victims of this week's deadly tornadoes. At least 59 people were killed when twisters tore through five southern states. Nearly half of those fatalities happened in Tennessee. Many people were left homeless.

Hundreds of homes inundated by water in northwest Ohio. The results of three days of heavy rains and melting snow. It is the second time in five months the area has had to clean up from devastating floods.

Jacqui, those hard-hit areas, the towns there, we're talking about Defiance, maybe Findlay, or within northwest Ohio?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. Many of those places still dealing with that. They're going to throughout the weekend. The trouble is some very cold air is going to be moving in on top of that. Right now the cold air is really bottled up here in the upper Midwest. Look at the wind chill readings this hour, in the 20s, 30s 40s below. As the sun is going down at this hour and the temperatures are going to be plummeting. It's going to be feeling like 40 to 50 below in these purple areas; 20 to 30 below towards Des Moines and into Chicago. You can see it extending all the way over toward Cleveland and much of the northern parts of Ohio.

That cold air will take its time moving to the south and the east. High temperatures will be between 10 and 40 degrees below what they should be for this time of year. A little bit of snow going along with that. There you can see the snow showers moving through Chicago and Milwaukee right now. The winds are so strong it's causing visibility issues. We have some delays at Chicago's O'Hare as a result of that -- Tony?

HARRIS: Wacky, wacky weather. Jacqui, appreciate it. Thank you.

A whole lot of shaking going on in Mexico's Baja, California. Rescue workers are inspecting schools for cracks and other damage after a 5.4 magnitude earthquake rocked that area. About 400,000 people lost power for several hours overnight. No major damage or injuries reported.

Astronauts on board the space shuttle "Atlantis" won't go on their first space walk tomorrow. NASA is postponing the space walk until Monday. We're hoping to find out why in about 15 minutes or so when NASA holds a new conference. That's schedule to start 6:00 p.m. eastern time. Officials may reveal details about two areas on the shuttle that may have been damaged during the launch.

Hollywood writers are getting the first look at the details of a proposed deal to end the three-month-old strike. Included is a provision to compensate writers for materials streamed on the Internet. That was one of their key demands. If the key is ratified, Hollywood could actually get back to work as early as Monday.

BALLOT BOWL returns after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BASH: Welcome back to BALLOT BOWL '08. I'm Dana Bash in Washington, D.C.

Over the past several hours we've been bringing you candidates running for president, running to live and work in the building behind me. That, of course, would be the White House. As we've been bringing you these speeches from candidates both live on the campaign trail and also taped from earlier today and for the past couple days, bringing them to you unfiltered, we've been also giving you results of contests that are going on today.

One of those contests that we have the results from is the caucus or caucuses in the state of Kansas. And in that state John McCain lost and he lost big to Mike Huckabee. And so that is sort of indicative perhaps of the problem that John McCain may have -- may have in trying to make the case as he has been doing for the past day or so, that he is the presumptive nominee, and that he intends to have the party unite behind him.

At least in the state of Kansas and in those caucuses, Republicans voting they decided they did not yet want to unite behind John McCain. Instead they gave Mike Huckabee a win there.

Nevertheless, John McCain did campaign in Kansas. He was in Wichita last night and we'll bring you some of that now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN MCCAIN, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I would like to say a word about Governor Romney. He ran a hard race, worked hard. He and his family are fine people. I talked to him yesterday. Governor Romney and I are committed to uniting this party and winning the election in November. We will work together. We'll unite this party.

I also spoke again yesterday to my friend Fred Thompson, who assured me he is ready to do whatever it takes to help me win this election in November. I'm very proud to have the friendship and support of Fred Thompson as well.

Could I mention, my friends, we know primaries are tough. People work hard for their candidates. They commit hours and money and effort and dedication to their candidates. We understand that. But we also understand that once the dust settles we all join together because we all know -- we all know what would happen to the United States of America if the wrong party wins in November. And we have the vision, the strength for the future of this country, and I want to assure you right now there will be a spirited debate between me and the nominee of the Democratic Party.

My friends, we will draw differences, and we will have that debate. And that will be a respectful debate. But it's going to be about things like, do you want the government to take over the healthcare system in America? Do you want families in America to run the -- make the choices about the healthcare for them and their families? Do you want higher taxes and increase your tax burden and bigger government? Or do you want lower taxes and smaller government? I think you know the answer to that. Do we want -- do we want this nation to declare that we are going to surrender in Iraq? Do we want to do that after the sacrifice that has been made?

My friends, I believe that this debate will be as stark a difference as any contest we've ever had. And I am proud to carry the banner of a conservative Republican with a record of conservative thought and action in voting and principles and values in to this election in November. And I need you to help me get there.

Kansas -- Kansas is the heartland of America. We all know it. And I want to tell you what an honor it was for me back in 199 to visit Russell, Kansas, on Election Day with one Bob Dole. And as we left the town of Kansas, and the people lined up on either side of the street, as we left the city of his birth, it was nothing more moving or more wonderful experience to know that that great American hero was willing to serve his country again.

My friends, I've had the great honor of serving my country, and I want to serve a little while longer. With your help, I can do it.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BASH: Republican presidential candidate John McCain speaking yesterday in Kansas asking for the help of Republicans there in giving him the nomination. But now we know that did not happen. In fact, John McCain, despite having the support of the man you saw over his left shoulder, the home state Senator Sam Brownback, who has intense support, huge support among conservatives, that didn't help John McCain. He lost big to Republican Mike Huckabee in those caucuses. We brought you those results a short while ago.

And you heard John McCain talk there about the Democrats though. That is his message. He's already looking ahead to the general election and the Democratic side.

Speaking of the Democratic side, I want to kick it to my colleague, Candy Crowley, who in Richmond, Virginia, who is covering the Democrats.

Hi Candy.

CROWLEY: Hi Dana. Not only for today's BALLOT BOWL do we bring you all these candidates, we're also bringing you some actual ballots. Before those ballots get counted, we get exit polls. That is, talking with people as they come out of the voting booth to kind of get a sense of what they're thinking and what affected their vote.

I want to bring in our senior political analyst Bill Schneider to talk to him a little bit about what's going on in Louisiana which is holding a primary today.

I think, Bill, in my lifetime I will never think of Louisiana without thinking Katrina. Particularly, I think, on this election, you're not going to see -- you're not going to see voting results that don't have something to do with Katrina. What did you find out?

BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: We asked the voters in both parties in Louisiana today whether Hurricane Katrina caused hardship for themselves and their families. We found a noticeable difference between the Democratic voters and Republican voters.

Take a look. These are Louisiana republican voters. 32 percent, one-third of them just about said Katrina did cause hardship for themselves or their families. Two-thirds said no, it didn't. Let's compare that with Democratic voters today in Louisiana. The Democrats, 44 percent said Katrina caused hardship for themselves and their families. One of the reasons is more of the Democrats come from the New Orleans area. Republicans tend to come from northern Louisiana which was, of course, away from the Gulf Coast and less damaged by the hurricane. Clearly, there was a partisan difference in the damage caused and perception of hardship caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Now, let's take a look just at Democrats and see if there was any racial difference. Here are white voters and black voters today in Louisiana, all Democrats. Here is their answer. This is the number who said yes, Katrina did cause a hardship for them and their families; 40 percent of white voters said it did; 46 percent of black voters. A slight difference, but not as much as some people might think. There was no great racial disparate, at least among Democrats in the hardships created by Hurricane Katrina -- Candy?

CROWLEY: You know, Bill, I'm not sure these aren't the same question in some ways, but the economy has emerged, as you know, as the overriding issue of this campaign in state after state. Given the kind of hardship we're seeing in those polls from Katrina, how does the economy shape up? And what are those voters saying about the economy in Louisiana?

SCHNEIDER: The question was asked, how would you assess the condition of the national economy, in the country as a whole? Here we find pretty substantial partisan difference.

Here we are with Republican voters. They're split, just about 50/50 on whether the condition of the nation's economy is good or not good or poor. About half say it's in excellent or good shape. About half say it's not such good shape or poor. They really are split on that issue.

Now, compare that with Louisiana Democrats, and you find a far more pessimistic assumption. Louisiana Democrats, fully 90 percent of them say the condition of the nation's economy is not good. Only 10 percent say it's good.

So it looks like, when people assess the national economy, they do it with partisan glasses.

CROWLEY: Thanks so much. Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider. We appreciate it.

We're running out of time here on BALLOT BOWL '08. I want to toss it back to my co-anchor, Dana Bash.

BASH: Thanks, Candy.

We are out of time unfortunately here at BALLOT BOWL '08. We hope you enjoyed the coverage this afternoon, bringing you the candidates on the trail, those candidates hoping the trail ends right behind me at the White House, all of them.

We have a lot more BALLOT BOWL tomorrow. We want you to tune in for that. We want you to make sure you know that politics is not over tonight. "This Week in Politics" is going to be on at 7:00 p.m. eastern. Just after that we'll have the results of today's elections, the caucuses and primaries across the country today. That's going to be at 8:00 eastern. But up next is "Lou Dobbs this Weekend."

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