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Review of Saturday's Results; More Candidate Appearances

Aired February 10, 2008 - 13:00   ET

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

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello and welcome to CNN's BALLOT BOWL '08. I'm Candy Crowley in Alexandria, Virginia, where we are awaiting an appearance from Barack Obama who will first give a roundtable, an economic roundtable followed by a rally here in Alexandria. These candidates from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama to John McCain to Mike Huckabee are looking now toward the Tuesday primaries, the so-called Chesapeake primaries -- Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
But today, there are caucuses in Maine, so all of these candidates will be watching those results as well. Also here with me we have our Suzanne Malveaux she is in Manassas with Hillary Clinton. And Mary Snow in Lynchburg, Virginia. She with Mike Huckabee. We've got a busy day ahead for all of you, our game plan this hour will be a Hillary Clinton appearance in Manassas, Virginia.

We want to take you back to yesterday, however, and give you some results. Barack Obama swept the contests of Saturday, Washington State, Louisiana, Nebraska, and the Virgin Islands. Most of them caucuses -- Louisiana of course was a primary -- again, Barack Obama sweeping them all. Although Hillary Clinton will take away some delegates because that's how the Democrats dole them out, proportionately.

Now, both candidates, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side, were in Richmond last night for a Jefferson Jackson day dinner, a big fundraiser for Democrats in any state. Both of them wowed the crowd. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Today the voters from the west coast to the gulf coast, to the heart of America, stood up to say yes, we can. We won in Louisiana. We won in Nebraska. We won in Washington State. We won north, we won south, we won in between. And I believe that we can win Virginia on Tuesday if you're ready to stand for change.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If I'm your nominee, you'll never have to worry that I'll be knocked out of the ring because I do have the strength and experience to lead this country and I am ready to go toe to toe with Senator McCain whenever and where ever he desires.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP) CROWLEY: Now, on the Republican side, also some caucuses and a primary last night. John McCain looking like the prohibitive front- runner took the Washington State caucuses but Mike Huckabee giving him a run for his money, taking the Louisiana primary and the Kansas caucuses. Mike Huckabee still very much in the race. We want to take a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE HUCKABEE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our strategy has been let's go head-to-head wherever we can because we've always felt that once the field narrowed and people had a clear choice that we would be in a real position to start winning greater numbers of delegates. When the votes of many of the conservatives were split all over the place, it obviously made it a little bit more difficult. But when the race is focused and you only have a couple of candidates and people are starting to really look at where we stand and differences, you know, not maybe hostile differences, but differences. I think that what you're going to continue to see is that this is a real race despite what people may have thought about it.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

CROWLEY: Republican Mike Huckabee still in that race, giving trouble to John McCain. Again, Huckabee taking both the Louisiana primary and the Kansas caucuses. John McCain taking the Washington State caucuses. We want to take you back now to Manassas, Virginia that's where our Suzanne Malveaux is, and she is with Hillary Clinton.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Candy, we think she's going to speak in just a moment. He just announced her before this group here. They do believe that Virginia is going to be competitive, why, because there are pockets of the state where there's a high number of federal employees, military families and soccer moms, also they are looking at southwest Virginia, that is where the job losses have been very difficult. Housing prices, the housing crisis are really devastating in that area. Also take a look at the south side of the state as well, used to be textile country just across the border with North Carolina. And so what the people are listening for here is about her economic message. She's going to be talking about her health care plan, she's going to be talking about jobs, and she's going to be talking about why she believes she's the stronger candidate. Not only to Barack Obama but she's already moving ahead talking about John McCain. Let's take a listen.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Students of Grace E. Mets Middle School and I am very touched by this huge crowd and who got in early don't know that we have so many people we can't get in. That's why we've been trying to get everybody in the door. We've got a big crowd back there that is hearing it down the corridor. But it's wonderful to be here with all of you, and to have this chance to really talk with you seriously about what's at stake in this election. Why it is so important as Carlos said that you become involved. We do have two days left before the primary on Tuesday. And that you do everything you can, not only to vote yourselves but to get your family, your friends, my good friend Congressman Rubin (INAUDIBLE) from southern Texas is here, I want to thank the congressman for being here. Because we have so much at stake. And I know just as Carlos said from the bottom of my heart, that our country can do anything we set our minds to. We are the greatest and best nation, we have given more hope, more opportunity, more freedom to more people than anyone in the history of the world. Yet, there is no guarantee that our country remains what it has been unless we make it so. It is imperative that we have leadership that believes again, that we can solve our problems, we can set goals, we can achieve them together, we can deliver results. I'm running for president because I believe that and I know I can do it. And with your help that is exactly what will happen. (Applause)

You know, I was very overwhelmed last week when people found out that I had actually lent money to my campaign but I feel that strongly about it. And I know how important it is that this -- that this contest continue because I know that if we ask ourselves who would be the best president to be commander in chief on day one, to turn the economy around, to begin to solve our problems, I am going to be your next president. And so many people -- so many people responded, they went to my website hillaryclinton.com that we have raised since Tuesday, $10 million. And you know, the messages that I'm getting are just so extraordinary. You know, the young mother who e-mailed in and sent what she could, and said well, it's not much but I sit with my daughters and watch you on TV because I want them to know that they can be anything they want to be in our great country. The gentleman who wrote in and described himself as a crusty old conservative, and he said, but I'm for you because I know you'll get us back to fiscal responsibility, and I said yes, I will.

So, our campaign is going stronger and stronger. But we need your help. And there is so much to talk about today. I want to just say a few brief points because I want to hear from you. I haven't had the great pleasure of campaigning as much as I would have liked to in this commonwealth. You know, I love driving through and going to the places of such historic significance to our country, thinking about those geniuses who founded America, who gave us our ideals and our values. So, I want to hear from Virginians. But I want you to know that on January 20th, 2009, when the next president is sworn in, on the steps of the capitol, that president will face as big a pile of problems as we've had to confront in many years. I had a historian tell me the other day that it's probably not been since Harry Truman that we've had a president who inherits two wars, and an economy in trouble, millions of people losing their health care, millions of families on the brink of losing their homes, a series of challenges that we have to face when it comes to energy and global warming and education. That president will walk into that oval office and no matter how big the crowds at the inauguration, making those decisions will rest on the shoulders of that one person. And that is what we're here today to try to make sure we get right.

We have been through what I consider to be a seven-year detour from America's destiny. We have been ruled by fear and fatalism. Fear has been used to divide us, and we've adopted a kind of fatalistic attitude. We can't take on the oil companies and the oil producing countries and begin to produce home grown energy because that would wreck the economy. We can't tackle global warming because that would undermine our position in the competitive global economy. We can't provide health care to everyone because that's just something we're not up to doing. I reject all of that fatalism. Since when did America become the can't do country? That is not us. Here in Virginia, we know that there are people who are really stretched thin. They're not able to pay their heating bills. The cost of energy keeps going up. We used to have a system where we would provide help to seniors on fixed incomes and to families that were struggling. We can't get that done under this current leadership. So hundreds of thousands of Virginians are really worried about how they are going to pay those utility bills. We have 16,000 homes in foreclosure in this commonwealth. People who were very often taken advantage of by predatory lending practices and unscrupulous mortgage brokers. I think we should have a moratorium on foreclosures and help people work out a way to pay and stay in their homes.

CROWLEY: Hillary Clinton campaigning in Virginia. We'll have more from the senator right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CROWLEY: Welcome back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL '08. You are looking at Senator Hillary Clinton, of course a candidate for Democratic nominee this year. She is campaigning in Virginia, one of three primary contests coming up on Tuesday, we invite you to listen in.

CLINTON: I also believe that we can start creating jobs again in America. We haven't been creating private sector jobs. The best way to do that is with a clean energy plan that would put people to work weatherizing homes, insulating them, installing solar panels, doing the work for wind and geothermal and biofuels. This is the way to create millions of new good jobs in our country. And I am convinced we can do this if we start following what worked for us in the past. Every time we've had a big problem in America we finally got together and addressed it. We had to electrify the country, we figured out how to do it. We needed an interstate highway system, we figured out how to do it. We needed to win the space race, we did it. The human genome we mapped it. The information technology revolution, we invented the internet. We have always stepped up as Americans. The federal government in partnership with the private sector and our great universities that is what we need to do now when it comes to energy. It needs to be the equivalent for this generation that the space race was for mine. And of course, how would we pay for it? Well, I want to have a strategic energy fund. Let's take the tax subsidies away from the oil companies and put them to work on behalf of clean renewable energy. I am aware that we won't make much progress on this vital agenda until the two oil men leave the White House but when they do, let's get ready and take charge.

And let's start investing smartly in our infrastructure with long-term bond financing. Our competitors are, Europe and Asia, they're building airports, light rail, mass transit, they intend to be at the forefront of the 21st century. I'm not ceding that ground to anybody. We're going to invest in our infrastructure, we're going to put people to work, we're going to have an economy that is ready for the future. Let's also end President Bush's war on science. We need to end his muzzling of government scientists, his taking information off of websites. I have said that I would ask the congress to immediately send me the stem cell research bill so I could sign it and we could begin to do that work. And let's be sure that we start seeing our government employees as the dedicated public servants that they are. Doing the work that needs to be done in America. Our education system has to remain a passport to opportunity. You heard Carlos talk about what public schools meant to him. They meant the same to me. And we need to invest all that we have in our imaginations in a 21st century public education system. We have got to think differently how to reach every child. We need use more technology, more mentoring, we need to let children go as fast and far as they're able to. We need to help those who need the extra help. But let's look at individual children, how they can fulfill their God given potential. So let's be sure that we do start with pre kindergarten because you know that if a child is not ready when he or she enters school it is so hard for them to catch up. And we lose kids by third grade. They're drop-outs. We lose a child every 26 seconds to dropping out. That costs us money in lower wages, lost productivity, criminal justice, incarceration. Let's make a front end investment that actually pays off. I will end the unfunded mandate known as no child left behind.

Now, I believe in accountability, I took on the hard issue of accountability 20 years ago, 25 years ago. Standing for increased accountability from our students, from our teachers, but there's a right way to do it and a dumb way to do it. And when -- when the federal government sits up here on Olympus and tells school districts what they're supposed to do and doesn't give them the resources to do it that is a recipe for failure.

CROWLEY: Hillary Clinton campaigning in Virginia. You want to stick with BALLOT BOWL because coming up we will hear from Republicans, Mike Huckabee and John McCain, and of course we will hear from Hillary Clinton's main competitor, Barack Obama. Stick with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CROWLEY: Welcome back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL '08 where we give you your chance to see these candidates, Republicans and Democrats, live and sometimes on tape, in extended form and always unfiltered. We have big doings today here in northern Virginia where we find both Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Why Virginia? Let's take a look at what's at stake next Tuesday. We are calling it the Potomac primaries for obvious reason, if you look at that map. Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. all holding primaries this coming Tuesday. So, lots of activities in the state. Also including Republicans, Mike Huckabee today, down in Lynchburg, Virginia, home of Jerry Falwell, the late Jerry Falwell, but home of a lot of conservatives which of course are the base of Mike Huckabee's drive right now towards the White House, towards the nomination. It is a long shot some say an impossible shot. Nonetheless he is a favorite among conservatives. We want to take you down now to Lynchburg and our Mary Snow. Mary?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Candy, it's something that Mike Huckabee says will take a miracle for him to catch up to Senator John McCain's delegates but he came here this morning, one day after saying he'll need a miracle. He came to this church that the late Reverend Jerry Falwell built and he spoke to an enthusiastic crowd. The church officials anticipate that there were about 6,000 to 7,000 people here. And his message has been that he is reaching out to conservatives. He spoke very briefly at the church this morning, he did not mention any political ambition, but he certainly spoke about his opposition to abortion and to same-sex marriage. Let's go to Mike Huckabee just a short time ago here in Lynchburg, Virginia, speaking to the congregation at the Thomas Road Baptist Church. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE HUCKABEE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I loved Dr. Falwell. First met him in 1977 when I was working for James Robinson back in Texas and he would come to our bible conferences. I was just a young guy, young kid working there. And what an incredible influence he's had, first on the country, but in the lives of so many individuals including me. And I was sharing with Jerry Junior just a few minutes ago as we were coming the moment that we were at a bible conference and one of the speakers was supposed to take 15 minutes and took two hours and 10. And Dr. Falwell was supposed to be the keynote speaker. He was to close the conference. But by the time we got to him on the program, we were an hour and 20 minutes behind, when we were supposed to be finished. So everybody, there were two things people were talking about, one, the guy that took two hours and 10 minutes. The other one was, what will Dr. Falwell do. And he came to the pulpit and he delivered in seven minutes the most powerful message on Peter walking on water that I think I've ever heard. I still remember the details and I almost shared it with you today. But he probably preached that several times here so I didn't want to mess it up. But I remembered not only his power of being able to take those few moments and totally change the atmosphere of that conference, but then every time I saw him, whether he was at the pulpit or off stage or in a car or in an airplane, wherever it was, he was always the same. Just a man of God and the most humble and grateful person to be alive. The only thing that to me is more magnificent is I see those same qualities in the lives of both of his sons and I know that no one could be prouder than Dr. Falwell to see Jonathan and Jerry Jr. continuing his legacy.

Speaking of legacy, all of us are the recipients of being a part of an incredible nation that was conceived by 56 signers who wrote their names on a document called the declaration of independence. Who when they put their names on that document knew that if this bold and rather radical experiment in government didn't work out they would pay with their lives. It wasn't just higher taxes that would be the consequences of this idea of theirs failing. They would die for it. And yet they still were willing to first get on their knees and then get on their feet and to do what seemed to be the impossible. Today, we are the recipients of their courage and their valor. We live in the greatest country on the planet. I've been to some forty countries across the world, and some are wonderful and magnificent in all of many ways. But I have yet to be in any country with all of its charm and history that I ever would even consider for a moment exchanging my citizenship as a United States citizen and giving it over to anywhere else on this earth. But we must understand that our freedom does not exist in a vacuum. It exists only when there is moral clarity that guides it. The reason we have so much government and so much law is because it is proportionate to the level of individual capacity that we have for our own moral direction.

Frankly, we really don't need a lot of law if we're people of morality. There are only 10 basic laws that we need, if you think about it: the Ten Commandments cover it all. There's no need for an 11th. Everything that we need in life is covered in the ten. And the reason that law gets more complicated is because we try to figure out clever ways around those ten.

I remember when I was governor in the Jonesboro school shootings happened in 1998, and I remember there was an outrage because people found out that we could only hold those shooters until they were 18 years old, then by law they were going to have to be released.

And people were angry and said what do you mean you have to release these kids who committed the murders? And we said because that's the law. You can't hold them longer. We ended up changing the law. But one of the things we were confronted with was that it was never in the minds of our legislature in 161 years of our state's history that we would ever have 11-year-olds committing mass murder on a school campus. So we had to add to the law to compensate for the degeneration of morality that had become a part of our culture.

When I hear today people say well, all of you people that talk about morality just need to keep that separate because it has nothing to do with this country. Let me just remind us all, that the day that we do not have personal responsibility in our own moral commitments, the day that we do not understand what is right and what is wrong, is the day that we then have to compensate with additional levels of government.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: That was Mike Huckabee earlier today speaking to the congregation at the Thomas Road Baptist Church, the church that the late Dr. Jerry Falwell built here in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Of course, the symbolism in the Republican race because back in 2000, there was a big dustup when Senator John McCain referred to Reverend Falwell and other evangelical leader as agents of intolerance. He has since made peace with Reverend Falwell before Reverend Falwell died last year. But certainly it caused a big stir and some churchgoer today say they haven't quite gotten over that.

However, Jonathan Falwell, the son of Reverend Falwell says that he has forgiven John McCain. He is not endorsing any candidates but says he has extended an invitation to Senator McCain to come and speak here.

And in terms of Mike Huckabee, he is hoping that he will pull off a surprise in Virginia as he won Kansas yesterday and Louisiana. Really appealing to those conservatives. And some say that despite the fact that the math really is daunting, you look at his delegates, right now he has 217 compared to Senator McCain's 714, they say that he's continuing to get out the conservative message, keeping it in the conversation, keeping it in the campaign. He's running ads here in the state of Virginia that try to portray him and the words of the ad, authentic conservative and he vows the he's going to stay in this fight. But of course there has been so much talk whether he is staying in this to be Senator McCain's vice president. He keeps saying he's not. Candy?

CROWLEY: Thanks so much, Mary Snow in Lynchburg, Virginia, with former governor Mike Huckabee. So, so far Mike Huckabee and Hillary Clinton, coming up after the break, a little Barack Obama. Stick with CNN's BALLOT BOWL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CROWLEY: Welcome back. This is the Sunday edition of CNN's BALLOT BOWL '08, your chance to see these candidates, large chunks of their speeches, sometimes taped, sometimes live, always unfiltered. It gives you a chance to see and hear these candidates as we do, going across the country from coast to coast, and north to south, as they battle for the Democratic and the Republican nomination.

Not only today will we bring you these candidates, we may even bring you some results at some point because there is a contest going on today. It's in Maine where they are holding caucuses. Now, Hillary Clinton looks at this area of the country as a big strength for her, and there is some thought that her New Hampshire win could well sort of nudge those caucuses toward her in Maine.

The Barack Obama campaign admits this is not an area of the country that has been particularly friendly to him, so perhaps Hillary Clinton picking up a win in Maine today. But those caucuses yet of course to produce any results.

Yesterday of course, was a clean sweep for Barack Obama from Washington State down to the Virgin Islands. And the Louisiana primaries and of course the Nebraska caucuses. So, he won all of those. They are of course watching these delegates very closely. There are 24 at stake in Maine. All of them completely important.

But even as they watch their own delegate count, these Democrats are watching the Republican race as well, trying to size up the opposition once the general election gets under way. In fact, to a campaign they believe on the Democratic side that that man will be John McCain, that there is no way he can be caught by Mike Huckabee despite Huckabee's huge appreciation within the conservative community of the Republican Party.

Last night both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were in Richmond at a fund-raising dinner for democrats, the last time Virginia Democrats will see these two together on the same stage before the all-important Tuesday primaries. Barack Obama talked a little bit about how he would fare in the upcoming general election against John McCain.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In this election our party can't stand for business as usual in Washington. The Democratic Party must stand for change, not change as a slogan, not change as a bumper sticker but change we can believe in. That's what this campaign is all about.

This fall, this fall we owe the American people a real choice. It's a choice between debating John McCain, about who has the most experience in Washington, or debating him about who's most likely to change Washington. Because that's a debate that we can win. It's a choice between debating John McCain about lobbying reform with a nominee who has taken more money from lobbyists than he has, or doing it with a campaign that hasn't taken a dime of their money because we've been funded by you, the American people.

It's a choice between taking on John McCain with Republicans and independents who are already united against us, or running against him with a campaign that's uniting Americans of all parties around a common purpose.

There is a reason why the last six polls in a row show that I'm the strongest candidate against John McCain because I've done better among independents in almost every single contest we've had. That's why we won more red states and swing states that the next Democratic nominee needs to win in November. We need to win. America needs us to win. Virginia Democrats know how important this is. That's how Mark Warner won this state, that's how Tim Kaine won this state, that's how Jim Webb won this state.

And if I'm your nominee that's how I will win this state. We are here, we are here, we are here to make clear that this election is not between regions or religions or genders, it's not rich versus poor or young versus old, it's not about black versus white. It's about the past versus the future.

The Republicans in Washington are already running on the politics of yesterday. Which is why our party must be the party of tomorrow. And that is the party I intend to lead as president of the United States of America.

I know what it takes to pass health care reform because I've done it. Not by demonizing anyone who disagrees with me but by bringing Democrats and Republicans together to provide health insurance to 150,000 children and parents in Illinois. And when I am president of the United States we are going to pass universal health care, not in 20 year, not in 10 years but by the end of my first term as president of the United States of America.

You don't have to take my word for it. You don't have to take my word for it. Senator Ted Kennedy recently said he wouldn't have endorsed me if he didn't believe passionately that I will fight for universal health care as president. And he knows a little something about health care. My plan would bring premiums down for the typical family by $2,500 per year. We'd ban insurance companies from excluding people from coverage because of pre-existing conditions. We'd allow every American to get the same health care I have as a member of Congress.

And I know -- I know that Senator Clinton likes to point out the difference between our health care plans. There is a real difference here because Senator Clinton has said that the only way to provide universal health care is to say that we'll go after your wages if you don't buy health care. Well, I believe the reason people don't have health care isn't because they can't -- isn't because they don't want to buy it. It's because they can't afford it. And that is why my plan does more to reduce costs than any other plan out there, that's how we're going to make sure every single American has the health care that they need and we're going to do it by the end of my first term.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CROWLEY: And that was Barack Obama last night in Richmond, Virginia. Hillary Clinton also at that event, making her case that her universal health care is really what the country needs. She also said that she is the one that ought to go up against John McCain because she has been battle scarred and worn by constant fights with Republicans and that she is the only one tough enough to take them on this fall.

So, Barack Obama we're waiting now, he has moved north since that Richmond event. He is up here in Alexandria, Virginia now given an economic roundtable. He is expected here for a rally.

Next up we're going to get a little bit from John McCain on the Republican side. So stick with CNN's BALLOT BOWL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CROWLEY: Thanks for being with us. This is CNN's BALLOT BOWL '08, our Sunday edition. I'm Candy Crowley in Virginia where we await Barack Obama, one of three candidates stumping through Virginia today. Virginia of course one of three states holding primaries this Tuesday, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC, of course not a state but nonetheless holding a primary there.

Also in the state Senator Hillary Clinton, his chief rival, and Mike Huckabee still standing after all of these months, courting conservatives toward southern Virginia. He says he's going to stay in the race until it is certain that John McCain is the nominee. For McCain, he has been down this entire weekend, not campaigning. He will be back tomorrow, we're told, on the trail.

The last time we were with John McCain he was in Wichita, Kansas. Now, Kansas is a state that he lost big time to Mike Huckabee yesterday. Nonetheless, he was there campaigning with the backing of some powerful senators from Kansas. Here's a little bit of what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Governor Romney and I are committed to uniting this party and winning the election in November. We will work together to 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 the election in November.

I'm very proud to have the friendship and support of Fred Thompson as well. So -- And could I mention, my friends, we know that 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, then 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 and -- 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 health care system in America -- or do you want families in America to run the -- make the choices about the health care 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 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 and voting and principles and values into this election in November and I need you to help me get there. 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 1996 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. And with your help I can do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CROWLEY: That was Senator John McCain on Friday, pitching for votes in Kansas. We should mention that on Saturday he got swamped by Mike Huckabee, a huge win for Mike Huckabee in Kansas and embarrassment for John McCain. Nonetheless, mccain looks as though when you add up the numbers he will be the Republican nominee but Mike Huckabee not getting out until she convinced of that. McCain of course calling for party unity but he's going to have to wait longer for that.

Of course, hard as it is to believe there is other news happening in the world. We're going to get to some of that after this break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Back to BALLOT BOWL in a moment after a look at what's happening in the news.

A suicide bombing in a market north of Baghdad has killed at least 25 people and wounded 40 more. Reports say the bombers sped toward the market in a car and detonated the blast as checkpoint police opened fire.

Defense secretary Robert Gates departed Munich and made an unannounced landing in Baghdad. He is to meet with General Petraeus about troop withdrawal prospects and press Iraqi leaders to resolve disputes that have handcuffed their government.

Also in Iraq, a military court has sentenced a U.S. Army sniper to 10 years in prison for murder. The court convicted Sergeant Evan Vella (ph) of killing an unarmed Iraqi man and planting incriminating evidence on his body. Vella had faced a possible life sentence.

And today's planned space walk at the International Space Station now postponed until tomorrow after one of the astronauts involved fell ill. A backup crew member will step in to help install a $2 billion science lab at the International Space Station today. Astronauts and engineers are inspecting a possible small tear to the shuttle's thermal blanket.

And Hollywood's crippled writers' strike appears to be nearing an en. Writers expressed support for a deal worked out between the writers' guild and the studios. It would give the writers a percentage of profits from content delivered by digital media. Filmmaker Michael Moore calls the deal a victory for organized labor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER: The chief thing has already been gained, that a union in the united states of America stood up to corporate America and said we're not going to take this any more. I wouldn't have thought it would be the writers. Usually - I'd expect it from the steelworkers or the auto workers. The fact it was people that got beat up in school because they liked to sit around and write in their journals, it's kind of impressive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The deal still faces a formal vote but writers could return to work as early as Wednesday.

Well, the talented but troubled singer's highly anticipated performance around the 50th Grammy Award show tonight. Amy Winehouse will perform live via satellite from Britain after her U.S. visa was not approved in time. She has six nominations including album of the year. You're not seeing the video of Amy Winehouse. Winehouse will be competing for the award with Kanye West who has racked up eight nominations in all. We're back to the BALLOT BOWL right after a quick break.

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