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Ballot Bowl 08
Aired March 01, 2008 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, I'm Dana Bash, welcome to this edition of BALLOT BOWL. Over the next several hours this is your chance to hear the presidential candidates on the campaign trail. Sometimes they'll be live, sometimes they'll be on tape but they will always be unfiltered. And Tuesday is a crucial day in the presidential contest series. We are going to see four states vote and those votes very well could dramatically change the landscape of the presidential contest on both sides of the aisle, both for democrats and republicans. Now over the next several hours I will have a lot of help here. My co-anchor Suzanne Malveaux is in Dallas, Texas and Mary Snow is also in Texas, she's going to be joining us from Houston. I want to go first to Suzanne and Suzanne, you probably noticed this time I get the nice backdrop. You were in Hawaii last week covering the caucuses there. I'm in Arizona today because this is where the republican presidential candidate John McCain is obviously, this is home state and he's here in Sedona for a couple of days hosting some of his supporters at his ranch not far from where I am. Hey Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Dana. You definitely deserve the good weather, you've been working very, very hard. We're in Dallas, Texas and of course we're looking at a very full hour of events. We're going to give you a sense of the game plan here. We're going to start off with Senator Hillary Clinton, she's is in Ft. Worth, Texas, she is at a rally. Her daughter Chelsea Clinton is in Akron, Ohio, of course another very important state when you look at the Tuesday contest. And then on the republican side you have Mike Huckabee, he's at College Station, Texas, holding his own event. Let's start off by taking a live peek, get a good sense of what Senator Hillary Clinton is saying at that rally in Ft. Worth, Texas. Let's take a quick listen.
We understand that she just literally wrapped up that event here and that she is shaking hands and obviously, wrapping up that event. There's one thing that's really been happening over the last couple of days that has been fascinating to watch in Texas and that is this battle over this ad over national security. That has become front and center. It is an issue that Senator Hillary Clinton wants people in Texas in particular to keep an eye on. There are a lot of military families. A lot of veterans. They want to know what is the game plan here for keeping them safe and secure. She has launched this ad in Texas. It was just yesterday for the first time and essentially it sets up kind of a nightmare scenario if you will and asks a very important question. Who do they want as commander in chief to pick up the phone at 3:00 in the morning. Senator Barack Obama launched his own ad in response. Let's take a listen to how this all played out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's 3:00 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. But there's a phone in the White House and its ringing. Something is happening in the world. Your vote will decide who answers that call. Whether it's someone who already knows the world's leaders, knows the military, someone tested and ready to lead in a dangerous world. It's 3:00 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. Who do you want answering the phone?
HILLARY CLINTON: I'm Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And to be a little bit more specific -- and Senator Clinton, following up on this ad, and the battle over these dueling ads essentially saying that she believes that this is a legitimate issue here. Senator Barack Obama accusing her of fear mongering for this particular ad but she says national security should be at the forefront of this debate. That she feels that she has a stronger resume to prove that she's more qualified in dealing with a crisis situation. Let's take a quick listen to Senator Hillary Clinton defending this battle over this national security crisis ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I also understand completely what it means when that phone rings at 3:00 a.m. There isn't any time to convene your advisers, to do a survey about what will or will not be popular. You have to make a decision. And in the world that we face with both the challenges and opportunities, we need a president who picks up that phone ready to decide.
Senator Obama says that if we talk about national security in this campaign, we're trying to scare people. Well, I don't think people in Texas scare all that easily. The American people aren't afraid of the challenges and dangers we face in the world. They want a president with the strength and wisdom to take those challenges and dangers head on. Now there's a big difference between giving speeches about national security and giving orders as commander in chief. There's a big difference between delivering a speech at an anti-war rally as a state senator and picking up that phone in the White House at 3:00 a.m. in the morning to deal with an international crisis. Senator Obama talks about these issues. But when it came time to act, he was missing in action. He gave a speech. He gave a speech in 2002 against the war in Iraq. And I commend him for that speech. By 2004, he was saying he wasn't sure how he would have voted because he never had to vote. And he basically agreed with the way President Bush was conducting the war. By the time he got to the senate, he voted exactly as I did. There's a difference between making a speech when you have no responsibility and having to step up and take charge and take responsibility for your actions. He was missing in action when he failed to show up for a vote dealing with Iran. He was missing in action when he failed to hold a single substantive hearing on a committee that he chaired that had responsibility for Europe and NATO and NATO's policies in Afghanistan. Protecting and defending this country is the most solemn duty of our president. It's the pledge you take when you put your hand on that bible and take the oath of office. And you swear to protect and defend our constitution and America. I understand that. That's why I have been endorsed by 25 generals and admirals who know that I will be there to answer that phone and that my experience equips me to give the right answer when I do. Now they know that national security is the most important duty of our president. We've never had a presidential campaign where national security wasn't an issue, and we're not about to start now. Especially if the republican candidate will be Senator McCain. We know the republicans will run a campaign about national security.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now you heard some new lines that Senator Clinton is trying out on voters. That is essentially this line about Senator Obama missing in action. It is familiar military parlance. That is because of course, she is trying to reach out to veterans and military families, which are the critical voters when it comes to some towns and cities in Texas. Now the beauty of having lots and lots of money in a campaign (INAUDIBLE) for Senator Obama to the tune of some tens of billions of dollars. It's actually the fact that he can respond to those ads as quickly as possible. That is exactly what we saw Senator Obama do yesterday, putting out his own ads late in the day addressing this scenario of picking up the phone at 3:00 in the morning. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's 3:00 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep, but there's a phone ringing in the White House. [ ringing ] Something's happened in the world. When that calls gets answered, shouldn't the president be the one, the only one, who had judgment and courage to oppose the Iraq war from the start, who understood the real threat to America was al Qaeda in Afghanistan, not Iraq, who led the effort to secure loose nuclear weapons around the globe. In a dangerous world, it's judgment that matters.
BARACK OBAMA: I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Senator Barack Obama in Houston last night addressing many of those allegations from Senator Clinton that he was quote unquote missing in action when it came to critical votes dealing with Iran. A hearing dealing with Afghanistan and also this idea about not being ready as commander in chief. Senator Obama essentially being very consistent in his message talking about this is not an issue of experience, per se, but it is about judgment. He picks up the phone and makes the right decision when that crisis scenario is played out. Let's take a listen to Senator Obama and his line of thinking and his defense when it comes to national security.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I do want to take a moment to respond because the press is, I'm sure, curious, to an ad that Senator Clinton is apparently running today. It asks a legitimate question. It says, who do you want answering the phone in the White House when it's 3:00 a.m. and something has happened in the world? It's a legitimate question. We've seen these ads before. They are usually the kind that play upon people's fears and try to scare up votes. I don't think these ads will work this time because the question is not about picking up the phone. The question is what kind of judgment will you exercise when you pick up that phone. In fact, we have had a red phone moment. It was the decision to invade Iraq. Senator Clinton gave the wrong answer. George Bush gave the wrong answer. John McCain gave the wrong answer. I stood up and I said that a war in Iraq would be unwise. It would cost us thousands of lives and billions of dollars. I said that it would distract us from the real threat that we face and that we should take the fight to al Qaeda in Afghanistan. That's the judgment I made on the most important foreign policy decision of our generation, and that's the kind of judgment I intend to show when I answer the phone in the White House as president of the United States of America. The judgment to keep us safe. The judgment to keep us safe, to go after our real enemies and to provide the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States with the equipment they need when we do send them into battle and the respect and care that they have earned when they come home. I will never see the threat of terrorism as a way to scare up votes because it's a threat that should rally the country around our common enemies. That is the judgment we need at 3:00 a.m. and that's the judgment that I am running for as president of the United States of America.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: I want to bring in our own Bill Schneider who's in Providence, Rhode Island, to kind of weigh in on all of this back and forth that we have seen between these two candidates in the last 24 hours. Obviously, this is going to play out even more so over the weekend. And I understand that Senator Obama is going to be there where you are, Bill. How do you think this is actually playing out with some of the voters?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, the voters have heard this sort of thing before. Obama is calling it playing on people's fears. We've seen ads like this. What's interesting, though, we usually hear them in the general election. Republicans make ads like this usually at the end of the campaign. They use them to attack democrats. I haven't seen an ad made to attack a democrat by another democrat really since 1984 when Mondale ran a so-called red phone ad against Gary Hart. The message was the same. This person, this candidate is unknown. You have to be concerned whether an unknown person has been tested, has the leadership skills to manage a crisis.
MALVEAUX: Bill, it seems as if she's trying some new lines as well, we hear her talking about this missing in action idea that it's action, it's not words. It's deeds, not speeches. Is this the kind of thing that essentially has been resonating with voters, or do we think that people are going to dismiss this as like the message that we've heard before. But just kind of a reincarnation of the same thing? SCHNEIDER: Well, it doesn't seem to be playing very well with voters this year. In fact, it gives Barack Obama an opportunity to play off the message and to play off her because he depicts this as the same old, same old politics. The politics of the previous era. The Bush era and the Clinton era. He says he's running against the politics of the last 20 years. And whenever he's attacked, he says that's not the kind of campaign he wants to run. He answers the attacks but he says he's not going to run on fear. He doesn't intend to run a campaign of negative attacks. He wants to try to unite the country. That he's a different kind of candidate. So he uses it to run against the politics of the past and, so far, it's been working pretty well for him.
MALVEAUX: All right, Bill. We'll check back in with you in Providence, Rhode Island, when Senator Obama begins to speak. Thanks so much for all of your insights. I want to go to back to our Dana Bash who is in Arizona, who's looking at the republican race. Dana?
BASH: That's right, Suzanne. The republican race, I am in Arizona. The senator from Arizona is hoping that Tuesday is a very big day for him. John McCain and his campaign are hoping that he can finally get the number of delegates to mathematically clinch the republican nomination. We're going to hear from John McCain on the other side of the break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BASH: Welcome back to this edition of BALLOT BOWL, I'm Dana Bash in Sedona, Arizona, where John McCain is actually not on the campaign trail this weekend. He is just two days away from a very, very important day, potentially for him. A day that he hopes he could mathematically finally clinch the republican nomination. But he's decided to take a couple of days here in Arizona at his ranch in his home state. He's thanking some of his supporters in the senate and governors, people around the country who have helped him endorse him and helped him get to the point where he is right now in the republican race. But all week long, John McCain was in two of the key states coming up. He was in Ohio and he was in Texas. And specifically, in Texas, John McCain started to really focus a lot more on the democrats. And he specifically is talking about national security. National security is the issue that he thinks that he can do best on versus either democratic candidate. Either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. But he decided to really seize on something that Barack Obama said in a debate this past week suggesting Obama in response to a hypothetical question from a panelist during that debate that he could potentially send troops back into Iraq if he feels that al Qaeda is a threat there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to confess to you, I did not watch the two democrat candidates debate last night. I did not. But I was informed that Senator Obama said that if al Qaeda were -- established a base in Iraq, he would consider sending American troops back. I mentioned this morning, I have news for Senator Obama, al Qaeda is in Iraq. And that's why we're fighting in Iraq and that's why we're succeeding in Iraq. And if we do what Senator Obama wants to do, and that's immediate withdrawal, that would mean surrender in Iraq. And so I guess that means that he would surrender and then go back. But the point is -- but the point is -- the point is that if we do what both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton want to do and that is to set a date for withdrawal, al Qaeda will announce to the world that they have defeated the United States and we would be back. We'd be back in the region with much greater sacrifice of American blood and treasure. So I intend to support General Petraeus. I intend to continue to support our troops. I intend to make sure the American people appreciate that enormous success that's been achieved thanks to this great general named David Petraeus and the men and women who serve under his command. This is one of the great generals America has ever been blessed with. I think you would agree with me about that.
And, by the way, in case you missed it, there's a bill that was passed through the United States Senate with bipartisan agreement, sponsored by the president called the terrorist surveillance act. It gives us the ability to monitor the communications that al Qaeda and other organizations that are bent on our destruction around the world are trying to do. Unfortunately, that bill was not passed by the house of representatives. They are now back in session, and we need to protect this nation's security and the congress of the United States, the house of representatives and the democrats ought to pass this bill and send it to the president so we can protect America. But we are succeeding in Iraq and there is no doubt about it. When Senator Clinton and Senator Obama said the military surge wasn't working, they were wrong. When they said that Iraqi government wasn't working, functioning politically, they were wrong. So I'm not asking them to apologize because they were wrong, I'm just asking them to join with us and support this strategy, see it through to its success and bring these young Americans home but bring them home with honor. And that way we will not have to send them back again into another conflict. So, my friends, America is divided about this war, as you know. America is divided. And I understand that. Enormous sacrifices have been made. We all understand that. But, thank God, especially -- especially here in this room and in this city and in this state, and all across America, no Americans are divided about our support of the brave young Americans who are serving in the military today. We are very proud of them and we all support them. And I'm very grateful for it.
So, my friends, as you know, the fact was not about the time that I visited here last time, there was a lot of people who said that my political career was not going to succeed. In fact in the words of Chairman Mao, it's always darkest before it's totally black was pretty much the assessment. And you may know at that time I said, I would much rather lose a political campaign than lose a war. And I still feel that way today. But I also, every once in a while, all of us have an experience that puts everything into the right perspective for us. That happened to me last August in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. A woman stood up at a town hall meeting and she said, Senator McCain, would you do me the honor of wearing a bracelet with my son's name on it, Matthew Stanley. Matthew Stanley was 22 years old. He was killed in combat outside of Baghdad last year, just before Christmas. I said I would be honored to wear this bracelet with your son's name on it. Then she said, I want you to promise me just one thing. I want you to promise me that you'll do everything in your power to make sure that my son's death was not in vain. My dear friends, that puts everything in the right perspective.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: That's Republican presidential candidate John McCain speaking earlier this week in San Antonio, Texas, about the issue Iraq that he admitted full well this week in terms of the success or lack of success on the ground. That that is going to absolutely determine whether he is successful politically in November's election. So you heard him there very much test driving his messages against the democrats for the fall campaign. And you heard him specifically talking about Barack Obama. A little later on BALLOT BOWL, we're going to hear Barack Obama's response because it very much was a verbal volley going on long distance between John McCain and Barack Obama this past week over Iraq. We're also going to hear from the other republican who is still very much in this race. And that is former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. He is going to be speaking live later this hour in College Station. Our Mary Snow is with him and we're going to be hearing from her as well. But after the break, we're going to go back to the democratic side and look at Hillary Clinton. She is going to be speaking in Ft. Worth, Texas and we're going to get more of her and her intense race for the presidency against Barack Obama and how incredibly crucial this Tuesday is for Hillary Clinton. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: And all eyes are on Tuesday, a very important and big day for Senators Clinton and Barack Obama. Very important contest in the states of Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island. We just heard from Senator Hillary Clinton. She's in Ft. Worth, Texas, where she held a rally addressing national security. A very important issue, obviously, for voters, but one that she is honing in on in the days ahead leading up to Tuesday, a very important contest. We heard from her on her press plane. She's heading on her way over here to Dallas, Texas, again addressing what they believe is going to make a real difference here with the voters. And that is outlining this crisis situation. The stakes, what is at stake here when it comes to this race and her qualifications that they argue that she is more qualified when it comes to dealing with these national security crisis. Let's take a quick listen to Hillary Clinton aboard the press plane.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, we're on our way to Ft. Worth and Dallas. And I'm going to be continuing to stress the importance of national security in this campaign. I think it's a defining issue. And it's one that the voters of Texas and America deserve to think about and have information to make their decision. I know that Senator Obama has been complaining that -- talking about national security is fear mongering, and I could not disagree more. First, I don't think that, you know, Texans or Americans scare that easily, but anybody who has been paying attention knows that national security is and will be a key issue in this election. Particularly with Senator McCain as the republican nominee. And if Senator Obama is unwilling to engage me over national security, how is he going to engage Senator McCain? And I think that the debate that we have joined on this is a really important one. I will continue to point out the differences to the contrast. As I said yesterday, I was honored to have this board of more than 25 retired generals and admirals. We added another one today, another former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Shelton. These are people that have confidence in my ability to be commander in chief. Some of whom I've worked with on matters of foreign policy and security policy over the last 15 years.
And, it's, you know, it's a great way of making the point that I am ready to be the commander in chief and to, do what is necessary to end the war in Iraq and end the war in Afghanistan.
QUESTION: Senator, last night, (INAUDIBLE) the economy, Iraq, what did you mean by that?
CLINTON: Well, I was referring to the ad that Senator Obama put up which touted his experience and claimed that he was right about Afghanistan. And as all of you know, he has a responsibility in the Senate that is directly related to Afghanistan.
As the chair of an important subcommittee which had jurisdiction over Europe and, therefore, NATO, it is an important question to ask him that he was asked in the debate as to why he touts that experience in listing his credentials in foreign policy and never held a substantive hearing about the situation in Afghanistan and what we needed to do working with NATO.
And it's an important issue. It's one of our two most important challenges internationally. As I've said many times, we have to end the war in Iraq and win the war in Afghanistan. And I think he was missing in action. I think in fulfilling a responsibility he was given, and as he had said, it was because he started running for president.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)
CLINTON: Well, the issue is who will be there to answer that phone based on a lifetime of experience. And I feel very comfortable putting forth my lengthy experience of foreign policy, representing our country in more than 80 countries, helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland, to negotiate, to open up borders during the conflict in Kosovo, standing up for American values and interests from, you know, Beijing to Africa, Latin America.
And his entire campaign is based on one speech he gave at an anti-war rally in 2002 and I give him credit for making the speech, but the speech was not followed up with action, which is part of the pattern that we have seen repeatedly. A lot of talk, no action, or as they say in Texas, all hat, no cattle.
You know, by 2004, he was saying that he wasn't sure how he would have voted and he was saying that basically it reeked of George Bush in the process (ph) of the war. By the time he actually came to the Senate, he had an opportunity to vote, he voted in support of funding the war and he and I voted, I think, virtually the same.
These are important distinctions. We've got one speech in 2002 versus a record of accomplishment and a record of action. And I think that equips me for whatever might happen.
QUESTION: Can you talk about one specific time when you had to make that kind of very split-second decision based on foreign policy?
CLINTON: Well, I was involved in a lot of the decisions that were made, but again, you're looking at it from the wrong perspective. I'm presenting -- you know, no one who hasn't been president has ever done that. So, that's not the right question. The question is, what have you done over the course of a lifetime to equip you for that moment.
Now, I think you'll be able to imagine many things Senator McCain will be able to say. He's never been the president. But he will put forth his lifetime of experience. I will put forth my lifetime of experience. Senator Obama will put forth the speech he made in 2002.
And that's why national security is a critical issue for Democrats as we go into this primary because everyone knows that John McCain will make this election about national security. That is a given. And it will be imperative that we have a nominee who is able to stand on that stage with Senator McCain. And I believe I am the person best able to do that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Senator Hillary Clinton aboard her press plane heading over here to Dallas, Texas. Obviously, trying to stop the momentum of Senator Barack Obama, to pierce that 11 state win. She is making the case that she has the backing, the endorsements of top military brass, that she is better qualified when it comes to a national security crisis.
Now, we are waiting for her daughter Chelsea Clinton. She's in Akron, Ohio, at a live rally. She will be speaking there shortly. Live pictures of Chelsea Clinton who will be addressing the crowd. Also, clearly talking about jobs and education, health care, things that really people are focusing on in that particular contest and that state.
We are also waiting as well for Republican Mike Huckabee. He is in College Station, Texas. He's going to be addressing a crowd there live within the hour or so.
Let's take a listen to what he had to say earlier in the week out of Texas. He's still in the race, very much in the race, making the case that he belongs here. And we're going to get to that right after this break when BALLOT BOWL continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BASH: Welcome back to BALLOT BOWL '08. I'm Dana Bash in Sedona, Arizona, it's the home state of John McCain and it's where John McCain is spending a couple of days off the campaign trail.
But there is still a big, big race going on. Even on the Republican side, there is a little bit of drama left. And that is because Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, is still in this race.
And I want to bring in our Mary Snow who has been covering all of the Republicans throughout this primary season. But specifically, we want to talk about Mike Huckabee. And Mary, before we talk about the former Arkansas governor, I want to show our viewers the latest CNN Poll of Polls of the situation in terms of Texas with regard to the Republican race.
Right now, we show John McCain at 53 percent, Mike Huckabee at 25 percent, and Ron Paul at nine percent. Twenty-five percent, Mary. That's a quarter of Republicans in Texas look like they want to go for Mike Huckabee. I guess if you're Mike Huckabee, that's evidence of why you're in this race, isn't it?
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly, and he finds it encouraging because his argument has been, look, nobody really even heard of me when this all started. And he was clearly the underdog.
He's again the underdog here in Texas, and -- but he feels that he could do well here because it is a conservative state. And he feels that he wants to send his message here. He has been repeatedly saying that he will not get out of the race until Senator McCain or he gets 1,191 delegates. And, clearly, that could very well happen this Tuesday for Senator McCain.
But Mike Huckabee is keeping up the pace of campaigning this weekend, up until Tuesday. And particularly in Texas, because he feels his chances are better here. Also, he lives in neighboring Arkansas. And he has been a resident here in Texas for several years.
But he is expected to speak at College Station in just a few moments. We're going to be waiting for that. But, you know, he also was campaigning in Ohio earlier this week. And we're going to have an excerpt right now from Mike Huckabee speaking in Columbus to supporters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Folks, I know that there are some Republicans in our party, and many of the establishment who want to say this election is already over, there's no point even coming to Ohio because it's a done deal. We're going to have a coronation, not an election.
Well, excuse me, but the last time I checked, being a Republican meant that we were supposed to have elections. People were going to vote. And the people would make that decision.
The fact is, if you want the pundits on the East Coast and some talking head in Washington or New York to decide for you, all you have to do is sit back and don't even bother voting because they've already decided that this Republican primary is over. But you know what? It isn't over until Ohio says it's over.
(APPLAUSE)
HUCKABEE: Now, there are some folks who keep saying to me every day, governor, you don't seem to understand the math. I understand it completely. Here's what I understand. You don't have the nomination until you have 1,191 pledged delegates. And, by the way, I asked some news people this morning. I said if you guys are so sure of where this stands, how come not one of your networks, there were four in the room, I said, how come not one of your networks have the same numbers?
(APPLAUSE)
HUCKABEE: Because they don't. If this is such a done deal, how come when every one of you reports where the delegate count is, they're never the same. If it's that ambiguous, if it's that uncertain, please don't tell me that the math makes sense because obviously, you guys don't have the math figured out very well either.
So, let me give you a little "Huckamath" here today, OK. If nobody gets 1,191 pledged, confirmed delegates, then that means this goes to the convention. And if it goes to the convention, then I believe the most conservative candidate left on its feet will be the nominee. And, by the way, you would be looking at him right now.
(APPLAUSE)
HUCKABEE: Now, since it hasn't been decided, I think we ought to still have another debate before next Tuesday. And I just want to say, I'm available any time, any place, any location on any network.
And I'm hoping that maybe we'll have a chance so that Republican voters in places like Ohio and Texas will have a chance and have a choice and will have a voice and will get their vote because, my friend, if we don't go through the process of actually having an election, it's not me that's being harmed. It's you. It's this country, and it's the future of the Republican party if -- if we don't get to vote.
I've heard some people say do you think it will hurt the Republican party for you staying in the race? No, my friend, it hurts the Republican party when we don't even have a race. It hurts the Republican party when we don't have the debate. It hurts the Republican party when Republicans don't have a conservative choice. That's what hurts the Republican party.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: And there's Mike Huckabee in Ohio earlier this week campaigning. Again, his familiar theme that he is staying in this race until someone gets enough delegates. And there has been pressure on him to step aside, including from the Texas governor, Rick Perry, who is now supporting Senator John McCain.
And Mike Huckabee has resisted these kinds of suggestions, even making fun of himself last week on "Saturday Night Live" because he is staying in the race so long with so many people asking, why is he in it at this point? If nothing else, Mike Huckabee has also repeated that he wants to make a case for conservatives. And
even telling supporters that he believes there's evidence for what he called a "healthy dialogue" for Republican voters to take a look at the candidates, and he believes that he is more conservative than Senator John McCain and that's one of the reasons why he's staying in so long, Dana.
BASH: That's right, Mary. You know, we heard Mike Huckabee talking about the numbers, talking about the math. Yes, it's true. Each news organization might have it a little bit different.
But let's take a look at what CNN's delegate count is right now with regard to the Republican race. John McCain, according to CNN's count, has 1,033 delegates. Mike Huckabee is very, very far behind with 247 and don't forget Ron Paul, he still -- he's still in and he's got 21 delegates. So, look at that, 1,033. In order to clinch the nomination, mathematically, you see on the top there, you need 1,191.
Well, Mary, as you know, there are about 256 delegates at stake in Tuesday's primary. So, that's why John McCain is hoping he is -- you know, it's unclear who's going to do well and how it's really going to play out, but he's hoping with the four contests on Tuesday, he will go over the top and officially clinch the nomination.
You know, obviously, you know, our numbers are not exactly the same as others. But they're pretty close. So, when you talk to Mike Huckabee's ...
SNOW: Right.
BASH: ...aides and you really, you have -- I know you've had a chance to talk to Mike Huckabee himself. Beyond what we hear him saying at the stump, beyond what we hear him saying at press conferences, what is your sense of why he's really doing this, given the reality of the math?
SNOW: You know, just talking to so many people, I wonder whether he is staying in this to have a voice for conservatives, particularly among conservative evangelicals. Those are his real base there.
And in this time right now, where, when you talk to evangelicals with the passing of Reverend Jerry Falwell and also Pat Robertson's age factor, there seems to be, some say in the evangelical world, a vacuum. And perhaps Mike Huckabee could fill that vacuum. That is what some people are wondering.
But, you know, the fact that he is staying in this race also, as I said, gives him this voice because if he were not in the campaign, he would be gone, forgotten, and that is it. But as long as he keeps in this, he feels that he can shed light on some issues. Particularly one of the big ones, he wants a human life amendment. And he has made that point several times in this campaign of late as he stays in this. So, you really do get the sense that he wants to emerge as a voice for conservatives. There was so much talk early on that perhaps he wanted to be the vice president. But that seems to be fading, if John McCain obviously gets the nomination. But you know, the longer he stays in this, even though Senator McCain has said that he has every right to stay in it, the talk about Mike Huckabee potentially being a vice president really doesn't come up that much.
And I think Mike Huckabee knows that very well and he says himself that he doesn't believe that he would be asked. So, there certainly is another factor there. Exactly what it is, it's hard to say, but he definitely wants to shed light on some conservative issues.
BASH: He definitely does, Mary. And you know, he always said even as he was surging before the Iowa caucuses that he went from asterisk (ph), from somebody who nobody had even heard of to at least, in terms of the political world, a household name.
And in fact, Mike Huckabee, we're just told is now speaking live in College Station. You mentioned that we were waiting for him a little while ago, Mary.
Let's listen, let's tune in to Mike Huckabee as he makes his case, the case that you and I were just talking about.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
HUCKABEE: ...to have a bass masters classic there. And by the way, that was the year that Rick Klein (ph) set what has still remained the record for the most weight of fish caught in a bass masters classic at just over 75 pounds for a three-day tournament.
Those of you -- some of you probably were there covering that. And if you were, you remember it was a phenomenal weekend of fishing. And I learned to bass fish on the Arkansas river. And so, it was quite a thrill to be able to see that fishery become the home of what has now stood as a record for the greatest weekend of fish caught in a classic.
And what was really ironic, everybody is running all up and down the river fishing, trying to win the classic. Rick Klein caught every one of the fish that he won with within eyesight of the landing, where the launch was. And a little spot I had fished, I never caught that many fish there. But, believe me, I tried after that.
I want to express my deep appreciation for the opportunity to get a chance to visit with you today. It is a real thrill for me to get to talk about something other than politics. And that seems like all I've been doing for about the past 14 months. So, to get to talk about something that's near and dear to my heart is a special privilege and joy for me.
Ray had mentioned, and it's quite true that one of my first acts when I was sworn in as governor in July of 1996, because I had been Lieutenant Governor, and my predecessor was forced to resign, along with a number of officials in our state and we had sort of a scandal going on.
And so, I was sworn in as only the fourth Republican ever elected to a statewide office. And then, I was moved up to the position of governor. And it was during a period of time, there was so much scandal was going on, some people said that the five most feared words of an Arkansas politician became "will the defendant please rise."
(LAUGHTER)
HUCKABEE: So, what was funny was that period of time, our Game and Fish Commission, along with state parks and tourism, had decided to sponsor a Constitutional amendment for the people of Arkansas that would dedicate one-eighth of one cent sales tax strictly for conservation purposes. The only other state who had done anything like that was Missouri.
Well, our agencies desperately needed funding. We needed it not only for enforcement, which everybody in our state believed we needed a greater level of enforcement to keep the poachers under control. Well, we also needed it for the capacity to purchase and acquire land so that the public could hunt and fish because I'm sure it's this way in Texas, but an increasing number of acreage is going to private land owners who post it, keep it away, out of the hands of just ordinary folks.
In our state, if you grew up like I did, the real recreation you had as a kid was hunting and fishing on public land. And as land acquisitions became ...
BASH: That's Mike Huckabee speaking live in College Station, Texas, speaking to a group of outdoors writers. Really speaking to an issue that he knows a lot about, that's hunting. And it's the kind of thing that really has, throughout this primary season, even on the Republican side, set Mike Huckabee apart from everybody else he had been running against, whether it was Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani or even John McCain.
Somebody who -- he made the case, could relate to Republicans on the issue of the second amendment because he has said time and time again that he has been a life-long hunter and also, clearly making the case that he is a Southerner. The former governor from Arkansas campaigning in Texas as somebody who understands the life and the rituals for Republicans and Democrats but people in the South.
So, that's Mike Huckabee speaking live in College Station. We tell you on BALLOT BOWL that we try to bring you the candidates speaking live and on tape, but always unfiltered. There was your chance to hear Mike Huckabee live.
And when we come back after the break, we are going to go live to one of CNN's own, to Ali Velshi. He has been traveling the "Election Express" talking to voters, talking to Americans about the issue that is dominating now the race on the Republican and Democratic side, and that's the economy. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BASH: Welcome back to BALLOT BOWL '08. I'm Dana Bash in Sedona, Arizona, where Republican presidential candidate John McCain is spending the weekend.
And on the stump, John McCain has changed his speech. He very much hopes that national security will dominate. That is the issue that he believes is best for him. But he even understands that the economy is now front and center.
So over the past several weeks, he's been talking about the economy first, talking about tax cuts, talking about things that he thinks will help the economy and that is the issue that we're going to be talking about now with our own Ali Velshi who has been talking to voters, talking to real people, as we call them, across the country, and is now in Texas to give us a little bit of what he's been hearing.
And Ali, you're in an oil field in Texas, right?
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I'm in the Darst Field. This is where oil was discovered in the 1920s, first in Texas, in fact. There are not a lot of folks here. This is a real working oil field. In fact, some people came up to us and said, why are you here? We thought maybe your bus broke down. We were fixing to get you some lunch.
So, it's a bit of a surprise to people that we are here. But this is exactly what we're doing. We're moving in from small town to small town and big places talking to people about the questions that are most on their mind about the election.
And right now, you're absolutely right. It is the economy. What we've been hearing is that it's inflation and it's gas prices. So, what we did is we decided we'd come here where people actually make some money off of oil and see what they think. We ran into a few people. The ones who stopped by and said that they might get us some lunch. They stopped by.
They are actually all conservatives, two couples who we were talking to. Here's what they had to say about this election.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eight years of Bush made me more of a liberal. I've said that for a while, a couple of years now. But there were two people, Bush and Cheney, when they were president, figured those guys -- who knew more about energy than those two guys? Smart guys, everything else.
They haven't done anything to help this country in eight years. Not a thing.
VELSHI: What's your take on this?
UNIDENITIFIED MALE: Well, I'll have to wait and get my orders from Molly or whatever, so.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, right.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: And what's Molly going to say?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no, we're struggling. We are really struggling with this. I've heard it say that we need a person of McCain's caliber and experience to get us out of this war. We don't know what to believe. Yes, we really don't, but this year, for the first time, I'm not going in and pushing a Republican button.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: Now Molly and Carl English (ph) who were over on the side of that shot, they actually own a lot of the land around here. It was started many years ago by the Texas Oil Company. They leased their land and they formed the town of Gusher, Texas. That town is no more. It's a historic town.
But their property is just over behind me. And I went on to their property and saw some wells. In fact, because of the price of oil, the oil company that leases their land is now drilling a new well. I'll have that for you a little later on.
But they were saying that they are not making money off of this. They get a set royalty from the oil company for using their land. A lot of people around here have been telling me that. Who's making money? Well, the oil companies and their investors are. If you own the land and you've actually oil on that land and you didn't lease it out at a set fee, you're making money. We also talked to some of the oil field workers around here. They say business is good, too.
But talk of the town for people who have to pay for gas and buy food and things like that for their own use, they're saying that inflation and oil prices are too high -- Dana?
MALVEAUX: Hey Ali, this is Suzanne, I want to ask you a question. First, love the hat, love how you're getting into it. We're at a colosseum where they usually have rodeos. So, we're not exactly dressed for the occasion.
But I do want to ask you when you talk to voters, when you talk to folks there, what really resonates? Is it the Republican agenda, is it the Democratic agenda? Who are they looking at when they say these are the problems that we're confronted with? This is the party or this is the candidate that we're going to go for, that we're taking a real close look at this time around?
VELSHI: We're definitely running into more people who are saying that they are interested in the message that's coming from the Democratic candidates. We've heard a lot of people who have been life-long Republicans who are saying that they're not liking the message they're getting from a Republicans, which is kind of interesting.
Of the Democrats, we're hearing that the message from Barack Obama seems to be resonating a little more amongst the people we're speaking to, particularly on the issue of health care. In fact, we've been surprised by how much health care has been an issue because our polls have not shown that in the past.
Here in Texas, it's, I think one of the -- it's the second biggest issue of Democrats who are concerned about the economy. With Republicans who are concerned about the economy, immigration does still seem to rank up there. But here in oil country, we're not hearing as much about immigration as we were in Laredo and San Antonio -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Thanks, Ali.
BASH: Hey, Ali, it's Dana, thank you very much.
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