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Ballot Bowl '08: Continuing Campaigns; Democrats Use Internet to Fight Rumors; Mike Huckabee Appears on SNL

Aired February 24, 2008 - 17:00   ET

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

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It wasn't about tearing each other down but it was about living the country up. They wanted politicians to learn about spin and PR and double talk, but wanted somebody who would speak truthfully to them, provide them with some straight talk about how we would solve the problems that we face.
And most of all, I was betting on you, the American people, because some of you know I now live in Chicago but I'm not originally from Chicago. I moved to Chicago after college, because I wanted to work at a grassroots level. To help those in need. And there are a group of churches who were dealing with steel plants that are closed down on the south side of Chicago.

So, black and Hispanic and white folks had been laid off. We work with them at a local level to try to set up job training programs for the unemployed and bring economic development to communities that have fallen on hard times. And I have to say that it was the best education I ever had. Because it taught me that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they're given an opportunity.

And in other words, I believe the change doesn't happen from the top down. But it happens from the bottom up. It happens because the American people decide that we have to take a new direction. And so, I believe that the American people are decent and generous, willing to work hard and sacrifice on behalf of future generations. And I was firmly convince that if we could just come together and get beyond the divisions, that sometimes politicians make worse.

If we could join together, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, native- American, young, old, rich, poor, if we could come together, unify to challenge the special interests that have come to dominate Washington, but also to challenge ourselves to be better, to be better neighbors and better citizens, better parents. And I believe there was no challenge we could not solve, there was no destiny we could not fulfill.

That was the bet that I was making over one year ago. And I'm here to report to you, Toledo, that after crisscrossing the country, after logging thousands of airplane miles, after talking to hundreds of thousands of people, after shaking tens of thousands of hands, after eating hundred of chicken dinners, after kissing hundreds of babies, I am here to report to you that my bet has paid off. My faith in the American people has been vindicated because everywhere I go, people are telling me: We want something new. We want to turn the page. We want to write a new chapter in American history.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: I mean, we have seen unbelievable turnout, unbelievable interest in this election. Young people have been turning out in record numbers. College students have been organizing like never before. People who've been cynical for 20, 30 years, they're starting to get involved again, volunteering in offices and calling their friends and talking to their neighbors. Now, I would like to take credit for all of this.

But I have to admit that part of the reason that people are so excited about this election is not because of me. It's because they know that they're going to be selecting the next president of the United States in November. And when they go into that polling place, no matter what else happens, the name George W. Bush will not be on the ballot. That has people excited.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: No Bush. No Bush. Now, you know what? Before I'd continue, I have to say I was derelict because I have a great friend here who has been campaigning on my behalf. And I want to make sure to acknowledge him. There are a lot of local officials here but this is one of the deans (ph) of the Congressional Black Caucus, John Conyers is here. I want to make sure everybody acknowledges John Conyers, out of Detroit, Michigan.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: So, Bush won't be on the ballot and the name of my cousin, Dick Cheney, will not be on the ballot. Some of you may have heard this. They found a distant relative somewhere connecting me and Cheney. When they do these genealogical surveys, you know, you're hoping that you're related to somebody cool. But they're Cheney. That's a letdown. But that's all right. His name won't be on the ballot. So, the last seven years of failed policies, of Katrina, and warrantless wire taps, of Scooter Libby justice and Brownie incompetence and Karl Rove politics will finally be over next year. But, you know, that's not the only reason that you're here. You're here not just because you want to be against something, but also, because you want to be for something.

You want to believe that we can still come together and try to do great things. And try to actually take on some of the struggles that the American people are experiencing. And let me tell you, everywhere I go, I'm hearing stories of struggle and stories of hardship. All across this country, all across this country, I meet people who are struggling to find work that pays a living wage. You know, you go into factories and people are actually bolting up equipment, putting them on flat bed trucks and shipping them to China because of bad trade agreements like NAFTA.

And suddenly, people don't just lose their jobs, they've lost their health care, they've lost their pension. They've lost hope. They're trying to survive on a $7 an hour job at the local fast food joint. All across this country, all across this country, I meet people who are fearful of losing their homes because they've been suckered into some predatory loan. I met a couple just a couple days ago. They've taken out a loan to repair their house. They didn't realize the terms, the servicing, the debt doubled in two weeks.

And suddenly, they were at risk of foreclosure and they had to cut back on medicines that they need to stay well, because nobody in Washington was regulating those predatory lenders, cracking down on them.

All across this country, I meet people who are desperate for health care. You have mothers who are trying to figure out how to get the children insured because at the age of eight, the child is already considered somebody with a preexisting condition. Senior citizens who are having to take half a dose of medicine because they can't afford a whole dose, despite what the doctors tell them to do.

All across this country, I meet young people who have the grades, the will, the desire to go to college but they just don't have the money, and so, they end up taking $20,000, $30,000, $50,000, $80,000 worth of debt. They are broke before they ever get a job.

I meet veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who are proud of their service and rightfully so, because our veterans have done every single thing that has been asked of them. Our troops have done everything that's been asked of them. They have performed magnificently. But, you know, they wonder sometimes about the buddies that they've left behind. And they question a mission that has cost them so dearly in blood and in treasure.

And sometimes, I meet homeless veterans or disabled veterans who wonder how it is that this country could have forgotten their service. Sometimes in rope lines after rallies like this where I'll end up having to hug a mother or a father like the one that gave me this bracelet up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. commemorating the death of Ryan, 20 years old, who died in a roadside bomb. That's the story that I'm hearing all across this country, of struggle and of hardship. People know that we have to move -

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You've been listening to Senator Barack Obama in Toledo, Ohio when BALLOT BOWL continues after this break. You'll also have the chance to hear from Senator Hillary Clinton out of Providence, Rhode Island.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Welcome back to BALLOT BOWL '08. I'm Jim Acosta. My colleague, Suzanne Malveaux is in Toledo, Ohio, following Barack Obama who is addressing an enthusiastic crowd out there, it sounds like, Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: He certainly is. And he is specifically talking about his healthcare plan. This is something that Senator Hillary Clinton has been hammering about some of those differences between the two; a very important issues to the voters here as well as other states. Let's take a listen to Hillary Clinton from earlier today out of Providence, Rhode Island.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We can't make progress if we don't have universal health care and this is a big difference between Senator Obama and myself. You know, I was pleased when he agreed with me that we should have clean energy jobs. What I call green collar jobs. I've been somewhat disappointed that he doesn't agree with me on a moratorium and an interest rate freeze when it comes to stopping the home foreclosures. But of all of our differences, the one that is just inexplicable to me is his refusal to put forth a plan for universal health care and his continuing attacks on my plan to do so.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: I believe, Senator Obama says one thing in speeches but his campaign does something else. In his speech, he says, he's for universal health care but his plan is not. His plan cannot cover everyone because there is no requirement that people be covered. That would be as though Franklin Roosevelt had said: Social security is a good idea but we shouldn't make it required. Let's just sort of go halfway. And see what happens. Or if President Johnson had said: Medicare is a good idea, why don't we cover a lot of but not all of our seniors. Those two programs have been the greatest blessing for our seniors of anything that has ever been done in American history.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: And they would not have worked if they had not required people to participate. And so, Senator Obama says that I'm going to make people get health care whether they can afford it or not. That is false. It is misleading and it has been discredited and yet, he and his campaign continue to say it. You know, let's have a real debate. He has a different idea. His idea is: We'll cover all kids and we'll leave it voluntary for adults. The problem with that idea is that the insurance companies will continue to cherry pick. If you have a preexisting condition, if you have some other problem, you're not going to be covered necessarily. And if you get sick, or you have an accident and you show up at the emergency room and you don't have insurance, then all the rest of us are going to keep paying for you. That's like a hidden tax on every other person who has insurance.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: Now, what I really don't understand is how anyone can run to be our Democratic nominee who is not committed to universal health care. John Edwards had a plan. I had a plan. Chris Dodd had a plan. Dennis Kucinich had a plan. Bill Richardson had a plan. Because we're Democrats, we stand for the principle that every single person should have quality affordable health care.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: If you do not start with a universal health care plan, you know what will happen. The health insurance companies, the Republicans will just undermine it all the way. That's why I'm so proud of Jim Langevin who has just introduced the first bipartisan universal health care plan in the House of Representatives.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: So, if you believe as I do, that health care is not a privilege but a right, then we are smart enough in our country to figure out how to provide it, that we can make it affordable by taking away the tax cuts from people making more than $250,000 a year and put that money to work to help those of you who need some help.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: Then I hope you will support me because one thing you know about me, I am 100 percent committed to making sure we have quality affordable health care, no exceptions, no excuses.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And for more details about Senator Hillary Clinton's plan as well as Senator Barack Obama when it comes to health care, when it comes to the economy, when it comes to Iraq, all of that is being replayed from Thursday's Austin CNN debate where they went one- on-one. Watch that being replayed at 8:00 o'clock Eastern tonight right here on CNN, certainly, it's worth a second or even a third look. Jim, I know that you're following the Republicans. And what are you focusing on?

ACOSTA: Well, Suzanne, coming up after the break, we're going to be checking in with Republican presidential candidate, John McCain. While he does not have a challenger out there who is keeping him on the hot seat in the way that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have been doing to one another over the last 24 hours, he is out there sharpening his knives for the upcoming general electric fight with whoever the Democratic nominee is. We'll check in with John McCain after the break on BALLOT BOWL, here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ACOSTA: Welcome back to BALLOT BOWL. I'm Jim Acosta in New York, following the Republicans in this race for the White House, and last night in Washington, D.C., John McCain was trying to solidify the conservative base of the Republican Party. And address the Republican governors down there at a dinner in Washington. But over this weekend, John McCain inched closer to the nomination that may not be all that well known at this point but John McCain swept all of the U.S. territories outside of the United States, 38 delegates in all. That includes 20 from Puerto Rico, if you're counting nine from American Samoa. I did put in for that trip if McCain should campaign in American Samoa. It did not work out. That's just a joke. Sorry. But no, John McCain was at the Republican Governors Association dinner last night talking about those issues that are near and dear to conservatives and he offered some support for President Bush's job in the war on terrorism. It's not something you hear very much on the Republican side because President Bush is seen by many Republicans as somewhat of a drag on their hopes for the 2008 race for the White House. But here is John McCain, offering some praise to President Bush last night at that GOP Governors dinner. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: By the way, could I say a word about our president? Don't you think that maybe it might be nice occasionally that we might give the president a little credit for the fact that there's not been another attack on the United States of America?

(APPLAUSE)

MCCAIN: I think we all know that what would happen that he would, might be getting some response if we did many but anyway, I think there are going to will be some -- and could I just mention, I respect Governor Huckabee. I know that you know he's friends and I respect his desire to remain in the primary. I hope we can get the required number of delegates and I understand. And one of the things, forget everything I say to you tonight, I need your help in uniting the party. I think Rick Perry put his finger on one of the problems. And obviously, that is that the spending in Washington got out of control. And it alienated our base. Dispirited them and alienated them. And the business of earmarks got out of control. And there were some of us that have fought against it for a number of years. And unfortunately, it led in some cases, even to corruption. I want that money to stay in your hands and not go to Washington. Why don't you decide, and the legislature decide what happens to those dollars that people pay when they go to fill up their gas tank and sent to Washington and rush through Washington -

(APPLAUSE)

MCCAIN: And these projects are decided, not on the basis of merit but on the basis of seniority and power in Washington. I think you know best, how transportation money could be spent. I think you know best, how a whole lot of these moneys and taxpayers' dollars could be spent a lot better, very frankly, than those of us who work here in the nation's capital. And we got to cut the taxes. There are so many ways we can cut taxes. But on the subject of earmarks, if I could just mention to you, the president signed into law two major spending bills in the last two years that totaled $35 billion in earmark projects. And I'm not judging them, my friends. I have no way of judging many of these projects. They may look good on paper, they maybe good a bit. All I'm asking is for them to compete, for them to compete in the authorization and appropriations process. Or you decide. Either way. But for that $35 billion that was in the form of earmarks, we could have, according to my dear friend, Phil Graham, the smartest economist I know, Phil Graham said that could mean a $1,000 tax credit for every child in America. My friends, we're talking about a lot of money. We're not just talking about a small amount as some people say. So, I want to tell you that it's not going to be easy because it's part of the Washington culture. But the first bill come across my desk with an earmark project on it, if I am president of the United States, I will veto. I will veto.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Now, Republicans woke up this morning after hearing from their frontrunner at this point, John McCain. They woke up this morning to hopefully see what they envision as a potential spoiler in the race for the White House, Ralph Nader, the consumer advocate, well-known for his crusading for car safety and all sorts of other product safety issues over the last few decades, decided to jump into the race for the White House yet again after unsuccessfully mounting much of a bid in 2004. He did not put much of a dent in John Kerry's prospects. He only picked up 0.3 percent of the vote in 2004 and did not affect John Kerry's chances. Democrats still don't forgive Ralph Nader for what happened back in 2000 in the state of Florida where Ralph Nader picked up 90,000 votes. Many Democrats saying siphoning off enough votes to deny Al Gore the state of Florida and the White House in the year 2000. Ralph Nader still to this day is trying to live that down. But yet, he wants to throw his hat into the ring one more time, saying that this country should be more like countries in Western Europe and in Canada where there are multiple parties running for the White House. And so, with all of that said, Ralph Nader announced this morning on MEET THE PRESS that he is back in the race for the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RALPH NADER, (I) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: One feels an obligation, Tim, to try to open the doorways, to try to get better ballot access, to respect dissent in America in terms of third parties and independent candidates; to recognize historically that great issues have come in our history against slavery, women's right to vote, worker and farmer progressive, through little parties that never ran -- won any national election. Dissent is the mother of ascent. And in that context, I have decided to run for president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: So, there is Ralph Nader and there is the declaration -- the announcement, if you will, that he is running for president and one of those Republicans who is very happy to hear those words this morning was Mike Huckabee. He said on CNN earlier this morning that he said he thinks Nader takes more votes from Democrats than from Republicans. So, he hopes to see not only Ralph Nader but other candidates jump in to the race that can siphon off votes from the Democrats. And we'll hear more from Mike Huckabee coming up later on BALLOT BOWL: The lighter side of Mike Huckabee. He was on "Saturday Night Live" last night, poking fun at his own remote chances to win the White House. That's coming up after the break. This is BALLOT BOWL on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Here a look at some of the day's headlines.

Cuba's new leader has been chosen. And the result is not a surprise. The island's national assembly appointed Raul Castro to succeed his ailing brother. Fidel Castro announced last week that he would step down after 49 years in power. In his final assay as president, Fidel Castro said he had no regrets about stepping down and added, quote, "I promised myself a vacation."

Crews in west Texas are fighting a number of wildfires from the air and on the ground. One of the big ones, a 3,000-acre blaze near the city of Snyder about 230 miles west of Fort Worth. No injuries at last report. At least three structures have been burning. Red flags, fire warnings are in place across much of the state.

How does the weather factor in the situation there? Let's check in with Jacqui Jeras.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We're kind of in between today. In Texas, the winds still a little blustery around 15 miles per hour. The relevant humidity is extremely low. Our storm system out west will be approaching by tomorrow and then we'll be talking about extremely critical fire weather conditions for much of west Texas. Hopefully they can get a better handle on this today. Once those winds kick up, we're talking 50, 60, maybe even 70-mile-per-hour wind gusts at times.

(WEATHER REPORT)

JERAS: Fredricka, this storm will be hitting everyone in the USA. It's going to be affecting folks in the northeast by Tuesday and into Wednesday.

WHITFIELD: So everyone, brace for it.

JERAS: That's right.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Jacqui.

How about this? A strange sight for motorcyclist on Indiana's Interstate 70. That is not a runway but Interstate 70. A pilot takes off after making an emergency landing on the roadway. The pilot says he lost power after refueling his pane at a nearby airport but was able to safely guide the plane back down to that highway, as you saw.

All right gray skies hit clouds of gold and mood in Hollywood where the Academy Awards get underway two hours from now. Jon Stuart will be doing his second hosting gig there. Poised for a big night, dramas, "There Will be Blood" and "No Country for Old Men" with eight Oscar nominations each. And certainly, CNN will be at the red carpet at the Academy Awards. Join A.J. Hammer for Hollywood's gold rush tonight.

Lindsey Lohan -- not up for an Oscar. She's already had a big week cleaning up for the Razzies for her role in "I Know Who Killed Me." Unfortunately, the Razzies honor the worst of the year in film.

Also killing at the Razzies, Eddie Murphy acknowledged for playing three different roles in "Norbitt." Murphy was named worst actor, worst supporting actor and worst supporting actress.

More "BALLOT BOWL" right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It won't be easy but I promise you this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Senator Barack Obama addressing a packed audience here in Toledo, Ohio. It sounds very much like he is wrapping up his speech.

Just a little earlier, however, we took on Senator Hillary Clinton over the whole issue of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. A lot of heated words between the two candidates over the weekend, certainly reaching a feverish pitch.

We heard from Barack Obama earlier today taking on that issue. It is an issue that a lot of people, a lot of voters are paying attention to. They believe it is all about bringing back American jobs. Let's take a real quick listen.

BARACK OBAMA, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm in a little discussion with Senator Clinton about NAFTA right now. I've always opposed NAFTA, because it didn't have those agreements that were enforceable. Senator Clinton has gotten mad at me because I said she supported NAFTA. She said, well, that's misleading. And I have to say, well, hold on a second. The Clinton administration championed NAFTA, passed NAFTA, signed NAFTA. She's saying the part of the experience that makes her the best qualified to be president is all the work that she was doing in the Clinton administration. You can't take credit for everything that's good in the Clinton administration and then suddenly say you don't want to take credit for what folks don't like.

MALVEAUX: Senator Barack Obama wrapping up his speech here in Ohio. A critical state not only for Barack Obama but more importantly for Hillary Clinton. Former President Bill Clinton earlier saying that she needed to win Texas and Ohio to make that nomination and to move forward.

Jim Acosta, we have a real race here. A lot of voters paying attention, particularly this weekend, the specifics of the health care plans and those trade deals that they believe will make a huge difference in the huge state of Ohio -- Jim?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: That's right, Suzanne. And when it comes to NAFTA, it is after NAFTA that matters in Ohio. A lot of people say after that trade agreement, a lot of jobs left the state. It has become a critical issue there in the Buckeye State. And we'll be turning back to you shortly. Thank you, Suzanne, at that very enthusiastic Barack Obama rally there in Toledo, Ohio.

We want to turn to Josh Levs, who joins us from Atlanta. He has been checking the facts on this flier flap that has just flared up, if you will, that has been going on between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and other issues online.

Josh, what have you found?

JOSH LEVS, CNN ECONOMIC ANALYST: Yes, Jim. I'm going to talk you through this because we've been seeing over the last 24 hours, as you're saying, each candidate trying to fight off a big rumor. What the candidates said is a lie out there.

For example, with Hillary Clinton, obviously, as we know, she's been talking about the mailers involving NAFTA and involving health care. It's getting a lot of attention there for her. She is focusing on that.

Barack Obama, meanwhile, is fighting something else. Not just in this case, something from the Clinton campaign, but an e-mail rumor that is out there about him. Look at what he said today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: First it was my name. Right? That was a problem. And then there was the Muslim e-mail thing. That's not, it hasn't worked out so well. And now it is the patriotism thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: The patriotism thing. What's going on is that there are some rumors out there about him, just in general, in America, getting sent out by e-mail. And he has been trying to fight those off. The thing about "BALLOT BOWL," unfiltered, right? So one thing that we get to do is show you how the candidates reach out to people, to potential voters, to potential supporters, partly on the stump, but also through their website. I'm going to show you right now is how easy it is to use website to fight off what they say are lies about them.

I'm going to start right here. What Barack Obama calls his fact check. This is him focusing on patriotism. If you look here, Barack Obama's fact check website, he lists over here, focus on religion, focus on patriotism. I've pull up the patriotism page to show how far this has gone. He lists his experience, his grandfather teaching them Pledge of Allegiance, because there was a rumor out there about him not putting his hand over his heart for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Look at this. He actually put up YouTube videos of him saying the Pledge of Allegiance. That's how far they're going to try to fight off some of these rumors.

Hillary Clinton, meanwhile -- we were just talking about some of the complaints she feels she's facing from the Obama campaign. She has a fact hub. She does something very similar. She points to her positions on a lot of issues. She accuses sometimes those accusing her. She says that they're wrong. And she includes a lot of links, like right here, to independent organizations, third parties, news organizations, talking you through that. And she also includes video. It is called fact check. Now there is a huge financial context for all of this. I want to show you what's going on. Look, it's major, major fundraising. When people look at this race, one of the things that makes this historic, the massive sums of money. I was looking at this. She is trying to raise $2.2 million in order to, what she says, is match Obama's ad buys in Ohio and Texas.

Folks, I've been looking at this yesterday morning when it was just a few hundred thousand dollars. They're already almost at $2.1 million, which is close to what they say he had. That's just this weekend. We're talking huge sums of money.

Not to be outdone, look at Barack Obama's website. Front and center right here. What he wants is to have a million contributors total to his campaign. Look how close he is now, almost $966,000. They're getting up there. They're getting a lot of people.

And the more those complaints get in the news and they step out and say people are attacking me. I need your support. Boom. The more money they get.

It is unfiltered time, but I can't help this. I have to take you with you more site that's terrific. Factcheck.org. We've mentioned it before. What they do is they look at a lot of the latest claims on both sides.

For example, Barack Obama's mailing, whether they're false. They're looking at CNN debate the other night. It is a third party. They look at the facts and fact-check them. I encourage you to look at that, if you can.

Jim, you know, we've been talking about these complaints, about the back and forth, about how many things they have to face. It's interesting to note that not only are they facing these challenges from each other but also these broader rumors out there that aren't necessarily coming from the opposite campaign. Like what Obama is dealing with today like this patriotism issue.

Some are concerned it could it affect either of them in the general election. Some are concerned. They're not sure where these rumors come from. But not only do they have to battle what they feel are unfair attacks from each other, but they have to constantly be battling what they feel are unfair attacks in general in America.

I know you're seeing that from the campaigns right there in person. I'm seeing how they use their websites to do it. They update those things sometimes every hour because it is that critical to them at this stage -- Jim?

ACOSTA: Absolutely, Josh. Thanks for keeping an eye on that. We appreciate it very much.

Coming up after the break on "BALLOT BOWL" on CNN, Mike Huckabee, live from New York -- it is "Saturday Night." Not exactly. But he was on during the weekend update of that show. We'll show you that coming up on "BALLOT BOWL" here on CNN. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ACOSTA: Well, he didn't fry up any squirrel as did back in his college days, but Mike Huckabee did poke fun at himself last night on "Saturday Night Live," taking a poke at himself on the squirrelly issue, if you will, of exiting the stage gracefully.

Here's Mike Huckabee last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SETH, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: So you remain in the race despite that it is a mathematical impossibility that you can win. Our question is, why?

MIKE HUCKABEE, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, Seth, the media loves to throw around the term mathematical and possibility. Yet no one can ever explain exactly what that means to me.

SETH: Well, let me give it a shot. Basically, takes 1191 delegates to clinch your party's nomination. Even if you won every remaining unpledged delegate, you would still fall 200 delegates short.

HUCKABEE: Wow. Seth, that was an excellent explanation. But I'm afraid that you overlook the all important superdelegates. Don't forget about them.

SETH: I won't forget about them. But the superdelegates are only in the Democratic primary.

HUCKABEE: They can't vote in the Republican primary?

SETH: They cannot.

HUCKABEE: Oh-oh! That's not good news. Seth, I was counting on those superdelegates.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: It is that gift for gab and that quick wit that has made Mike Huckabee a lot of fun to cover on the campaign trail for the reporters out there, and the producers.

Our CNN political producer, Alex Marquardt, filed this report on what it is like behind the scenes on the Mike Huckabee campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER (voice-over): Aside from being a presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee is a pretty decent bowler. Not good enough to beat the press when he and wife, Janet, took on reporters at a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bowling alley.

That Sunday night, reporters traveling with the campaign, or the embeds as we're known, saw a side of the governor that few get to. In general, Huckabee enjoys a friendly relation with the traveling press.

HUCKABEE: You talk about bowling all day.

MARQUARDT: Covering Huckabee these days is an interesting task. John McCain leads an insurmountable delegate count. But Huckabee says he'll today? Until he gets the 1091 delegates needed to secure the nomination.

HUCKABEE: Last night one of the talking heads sitting on one of the networks would ask, why is Huckabee still in this race, here's what he had to same. He said I think he likes to identify around on airplanes.

MARQUARDT: Huckabee often criticizes the press, especially the television networks for counting him out. Though the networks are the only national media still following him. Gone are the wire services and national newspapers.

Nevertheless, he marches on and with gusto. He regularly packs his days with three or four campaign stops. Some are big...

HUCKABEE: We've got about four times the number of people that we anticipated. And we've had to open two or three different rooms to get everybody in here.

MARQUARDT: Others are smaller.

HUCKABEE: Anybody that will brave Houston traffic to get here at 8:00 in the morning, you are remarkable people.

MARKQUARDT: Wherever Huckabee goes, we follow, from plane to bus to rally.

(on camera): Huckabee just wrapped up a speech, a speech that those of us traveling with him have come to know well. We always know he's coming to the end because he tells the story of going to meet the governor of Arkansas as a boy, a position he would later hold. As soon as he is done shaking hands, it is right back to the bus and on to the next stop.

(voice-over): From the frozen tundra of Wisconsin to the Alamo, the Huckabee campaign keeps us on the move so much, we have to work whenever and wherever we can.

The rhythm takes its toll. Away from the phones and Internet, you'll often find embeds trying to squeeze in a few winks and get some food that isn't very healthy.

When the day comes to an end...

HUCKABEE: Thank you, folks.

MARQUARDT: ... we get right back on the plane and do it again the next day.

Alex Marquardt, CNN, on the Huckabee campaign. (END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: What struck me about that piece is you don't often see reporters bowling presidential candidates on the campaign trail. It doesn't happen all that often.

And I have to bring in Suzanne Malveaux, who may be cringing as I ask this question -- if you've ever had that chance with Barack Obama? I know he fills those big stadiums. There's probably not a lot of room for setting up ten pins.

MALVEAUX: Jim, we have not been bowling yet. I'll get back to you on that, maybe a pick up game of basketball or something.

ACOSTA: There you go.

MALVEAUX: What was really fascinating was we urged Senator Clinton to issue a challenge to Barack Obama essentially saying, meet me in Ohio where we will discuss the issues. We will debate the issues, as well into the campaign behavior. Senator Barack Obama, saying, of course, their campaign is all about taking her on as well. And we will see a really heated debate. An interesting exchange on Tuesday in Ohio. A critical state for both of them, but particularly for Senator Clinton. Even her husband Bill Clinton, former president, saying that Ohio, one of two states that is really going to be make or break for her nomination -- Jim?

ACOSTA: Thanks so much, Suzanne.

And if not the 7-10 split, maybe a jump shot. We'll hope for best out there on the campaign trail.

Thanks a lot Suzanne. It's good to see you again.

MALVEAUX: Good to see you.

ACOSTA: And thanks again everybody for watching "BALLOT BOWL." That wraps up another weekend of coverage out on the campaign trail. And "CNN NEWSROOM" is coming up after the break here on CNN.

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