Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Sunday Morning
Battle for Delegates Heats Up; Russia Votes
Aired March 02, 2008 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING and it is March 2nd, good morning, everybody, I'm Betty Nguyen.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm T.J. Holmes. So glad you chose to start your day right here with us and the countdown to crucial Tuesday is on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER FIRST LADY: I love Rhode Island. I've been here many times.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you Rhode Island.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yeah, everybody is loving Rhode Island these days. The election season, it's a small state but it's also mighty right now. We'll take a closer look at the intense Democratic fight for a state with just 32 delegates.
NGUYEN: Also, Russians vote today for a new president while Iran's president makes a historic visit to Iraq, we're live in Moscow, Baghdad and Teheran. Plus, this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The wild card for the 2008 election, the Hispanic voter, and I personally believe Hispanics will determine who the outcome of who the president of the United States will be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yeah. And a key to that vote will be Hispanic evangelicals. All the candidates are looking for their support but who is going to get it? We'll explore that this morning in our "Faces of Faith."
NGUYEN: But first up this morning, two days before decision time in Texas.
HOLMES: It's also decision time in Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island. The next four primaries just around the corner. But Ohio is where it's at for the Democratic candidates today. Hillary Clinton has four events there after spending most of Saturday in Texas.
NGUYEN: Barack Obama is also in Ohio today. He has a couple of rallies there. Now, he was in Ohio yesterday as well. Let's take you to the Republican side. The man most expected to be the nominee, well he is still taking a break from the campaign trail. John McCain is spending the weekend in the home state of Arizona.
HOLMES: But Mike Huckabee, he's not slowing down a bit. He's spending his whole weekend talking to voters in Texas. He's not alone there. A lot of folks are there with him, including all of those folks, some of those, the best political team on television in Texas.
We have reporters in Ohio as well, Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts. We are all over the map to bring you the latest from political newsmakers as well as the voters.
NGUYEN: All right. So how important are Tuesday's primaries? Well, let's just take a look now. Here is what is at stake for the Republicans. Two hundred fifty six delegates, that is enough to clinch a nomination for John McCain. Now, for the Democrats 370 are up for grabs.
HOLMES: Here now our delegate estimates for Democrats. Barack Obama our front with a total of 1,369 delegates, that includes those all important superdelegates, 185 of those superdelegates. Hillary Clinton trails by about 100 delegates and you can see she has 236 superdelegates in her column.
Well, Texas, Ohio getting most of the primary attention this week.
NGUYEN: Yeah. But don't forget about Rhode Island. The story from senior political analyst Bill Schneider, he is part of the best political team on television.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Is Rhode Island worth fighting over. The state has only 32 delegates and it's supposed to be Clinton territory.
DARRYL WEST, BROWN UNIVERSITY: Both she and Bill have spent a lot of time here. They have made almost annual pilgrimages to the state. Much of the state's political establishment supports Hillary Clinton.
SCHNEIDER: Last weekend, Hillary Clinton showed up in Rhode Island.
CLINTON: I love Rhode Island. I've been here many times.
SCHNEIDER: But guess who showed up on Saturday and spoke in the same arena to an audience three times as large as Clinton's.
OBAMA: Thank you, Rhode Island. SCHNEIDER: Does Obama really believe he has a chance in Rhode Island? It is the most Catholic state and Catholic voters have tended to favor Hillary Clinton in primary after primary.
The latest Rhode Island poll shows Clinton with a single digit lead over Obama. Obama senses an opportunity to score an upset and Rhode Island voters are thrilled by all the attention.
WEST: There's a tremendous amount of excitement. It is the Off Broadway venue. But in this presidential campaign we're right in the middle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In my 14 years I've never seen Rhode Island be relevant in the primaries.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's more national attention here for this primary than we've ever had in the years I've been voting.
SCHNEIDER: What's at stake in Rhode Island? For Hillary Clinton, everything.
WEST: I think Hillary Clinton does have to win Rhode Island, because in terms of the politics and demography of this state, it is tailor made for her. If she can not win in Rhode Island, she is not going to be the next nominee of the Democratic Party.
SCHNEIDER: Bill Schneider, CNN, Providence.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, we'll get much more from Bill Schneider in just a bit and he will be joining us live from Providence Rhode Island in the next hour.
HOLMES: We've talked about the numbers. Now what about the issues people are focusing on in this election season? CNN's Ali Velshi has been traveling through Texas aboard that big baby, there. CNN's Election Express. He joins us now on the phone this morning from Green, Texas. Ali, good morning.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on phone): Good to talk to you guys. It is a lot of fun here in Green. It is part of the oil country in Central Texas. So we came out here to actually talk to people about what they think about the price of oil and the price of gas and whether that is helping them. But we were surprised when we ran into a bunch of people who described themselves as lifelong Republicans that actually told us their number one concern out here was health care. Listen to what they said to me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOLLY ENGLISH, RETIRED: That's all we talked about, because we're all having trouble getting health care coverage or our coverage is ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not only is it not affordable. There is affordable out there we get turned down for the most ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Insurance covers everything you don't have. As soon as you have something, there's a reason on why it doesn't cover it. And that's why we never before, maybe have thought about universal health care. But everybody is covered, and everybody is sharing the same, how everything is spread out, it's got to work. It works other places and it works other countries. Maybe not 100 percent but it doesn't work 100 percent here either.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: Now, as Bill Schneider can tell you, amongst Democratic voters here in Texas. The economy is the number one issue. The number two issue is health care. Among Republican voters, number one is the economy but immigration is the number two issues. Health care actually slips a little lower down the list. The people we talked to are quite satisfied that at least health care is a major discussion point between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
So it is interesting to hear that that's where a lot of attention is going here in Texas. Gas prices and inflation are still major issues. We did speak to some people about how they are making some money off the high price of oil. In about an hour I'm going to come back and share that with you guys. So we'll be back for that.
HOLMES: All right. We look forward to seeing you in an hour then. Ali Velshi for us in Green, Texas. Ali, we appreciate you this morning.
NGUYEN: Well, Senator John McCain is leading in Texas polls by double digits, maybe that's why he's taking today off. Well, as we have been mentioning, the senator is catching a little R&R in Arizona. McCain spent Friday in Round Rock, Texas, meeting with Dell employees and he'll be in Lubbock, Texas tomorrow, one day before the Texas primary.
HOLMES: Meanwhile, Mike Huckabee keeps on keeping on in Texas. He says this thing is not over yet and you should not count him out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: People in Texas first of all need a choice next Tuesday. I know there are some that would have suggested that I had simply left the field and ended this contest before it ever happened.
Now, I personally think nothing could be more insulting to Texans than to suggest that their choice in the Republican primary would be already made for them before it came here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Mike Huckabee is heading to church this morning in Houston. And there's a fundraiser for him in Plano and it is back to church tonight. This time he's going to be in Dallas. NGUYEN: Well, let's see how the weather is playing out today not only on this Sunday but as we get ready for Super Tuesday II as they are calling it. Reynolds Wolf has been watching the weather outside. He joins us now. Hey, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, guys. We're going to talk about a big storm system that may affect parts of the big day and we're talking about, of course, Tuesday and how it may affect spots like, well, Ohio. Right now, though, let's follow this storm system. Currently it's making its way through the Rocky Mountains. We've got some scattered snow showers in Rapid City southward into the Denver area. Where in Denver you have some rain in the downtown area where temperatures are in the 40s, back up in Boulder in the higher elevation, some of that is coming in the form of snowfall. Temperatures mainly in the teens and 20s.
And the reason I'm showing you this now is because this storm system as it moves eastward is going to really change into Monday and into Tuesday. Tuesday it is going to be very interesting to watch, especially in parts of Ohio when people are heading to the polls. In Texas, by the time we get to Monday and Tuesday, Tuesday Texas is going to be fine. For Ohio, look for the chance of scattered showers and maybe some freezing rain and some snow is certainly will be a possibility. Much of the moisture will be coming into areas of northwest Ohio where they were dealing with flood waters just a short time ago. So this is not good news in Ohio at all.
Other thing to mention, of course, much of the Eastern Seaboard is going to be dealing with the possibility of severe storms, maybe some damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes. So from now as we get into Tuesday, a big transition in your weather forecast across the nation.
NGUYEN: Oh, well, I hope folks still go to the primaries and make sure that they vote despite the weather.
WOLF: There you go.
NGUYEN: Reynolds, I want you to stick around because late night stop on the campaign trail, Senator Hillary Clinton took a break and showed up as a guest on "Saturday Night Live."
WOLF: Here she is meeting her comedy double. She got to deliver "SNL's" famous opening line. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLINTON: Oh, the campaign is going very well, very, very well. Why, what have you heard?
AMY POEHLER, CLINTON SUPPORTER: Nothing.
CLINTON: Never mind. I'm so happy to be back in New York, even for a few hours. Tonight I just want to relax and have fun and not worry about the campaign.
POEHLER: So no politics?
CLINTON: No politics. But I would like to take this opportunity to say to all Americans, be they from the great State of Ohio or Texas, Rhode Island or Vermont or Pennsylvania or any of the other states, live from New York, it is Saturday night!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Very nice. That was nicely done.
NGUYEN: Well, she took opportunity and she delivered on that like any politician would, using it, urging people in those main states.
WOLFE: Do you want what is amazing? Do you remember back in 1984, Jesse Jackson was on "Saturday Night Live" and so many people gave him all kinds of grief ...
NGUYEN: "Green Eggs and Ham"?
WOLFE: Yeah, they gave him all kinds of grief for doing that. Nowadays it is almost a month. You have to go there. It is as common as kissing babies and shaking hands. I mean, you go on "SNL."
NGUYEN: I was reading a report like the media, we'll scrutinize everything, one report she said, "Live from New York, it is Saturday night," instead of, "It's Saturday night."
WOLFE: Give her a break.
NGUYEN: Exactly. It's not that big of a deal, folks.
All right. Thank you, Reynolds. Well, Texas and Ohio, let's talk about them. They are two crucial contests for the Democrats on Tuesday. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean talks about the race today on LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER, that is coming up at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.
HOLMES: And you can stay with CNN for the best political coverage on television. Coming up at 2:00 Eastern, BALLOT BOWL is back. We're bringing you the candidate unfiltered and in her own words all day long and then BALLOT BOWL primetime starts at 8:00 tonight right here on CNN.
NGUYEN: And on Tuesday night, you don't want to miss CNN's special on the voting on Ohio. Rhode Island and Texas and Vermont. Our coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.
HOLMES: Folks, have you ever been caught between a rock and a hard place?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is our question, do we vote for a party that doesn't want us but believes what we believe or do we vote for a party that wants us but is not resonating with what we believe? (END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: We'll look at the tough questions facing Latino Christians this election season. And this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: I was surprised by the way the British media kept to their side of the bargain. I hate to say it but I am very grateful for that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yeah, you hate to praise the media sometimes. That's OK, Harry. That's the prince there talking about his deployment to Afghanistan and the deal that kept it a secret at least for a while.
NGUYEN: And check this out. You've always heard, don't mess with Texas, right? And you can see why. See what she has in her hand. Yep, granny is packing some heat.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: So, we've got a quick look now at some of the other stories making headlines.
NGUYEN: Yeah. Voters are going to the polls across Russia today to elect a new president. Vladimir Putin's handpicked successor, 42 year old Dimitry Medvedev is expected to win in a landslide. Mr. Putin has agreed to take the prime minister's post and many are watching to see if they will share power. We'll have a live report from Moscow just a little bit later this hour.
HOLMES: Also some new violence to tell you about this morning in Pakistan. Officials telling CNN that at least 30 people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a gathering of tribal leaders in northwestern Pakistan. Twenty five others wounded in that blast.
This marks the third deadly attack in three days where security forces are battling Islamic militants.
NGUYEN: Israel's prime minister vows to press on with military operations against Palestinian militants in Hamas-controlled Gaza. Palestinian security forces say three Palestinians were killed today in Israeli attacks in northern Gaza, at least since Friday. The Israeli military says it is targeting militants that have been launching rockets into southern Israel but many civilians have been killed.
HOLMES: And back here in the U.S., FBI agents and a hazmat team have searched a Riverton, Utah house. That's where a man involved in the mysterious ricin case once lived. Vials of the deadly toxin were found in his Las Vegas hotel room last week. He is now hospitalized in a coma.
NGUYEN: Well, the royal mission is over. Prince Harry is back in England after months of fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. And while he is frustrated he had to come back early, he is shocked its cover wasn't blown sooner.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY: I was surprised by the way the British media kept to their side of the bargain. I hate to say it, I'm grateful for that. And thank you to all the British media for keeping their mouth shut and I know for a fact that there was stuff they did behind the scenes to stop stuff from coming out which was also really kind of them. But at the same time, you know it doesn't surprise me once again it comes down to media, foreign media that once again spilled the beans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: So thanks for keeping your mouth shut, but hey you spilled the beans. The media, including CNN knew about Prince Harry's deployment to Afghanistan back in December but agreed to keep it secret for security reasons. It was leaked though on a U.S. Web site last week. So what did Harry think about the fighting over there?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY: Out in the middle of nowhere where the stars out, as you guys experience for a short amount of time. It was just a fantastic place to be. Sometimes you forget, as I remember watching the (inaudible) documentary before I came out, one of the (inaudible) saying it is very hard, sometimes you think you're not in a war zone. It's hard to bring yourself back and say, no I could actually get shot at any point just because the area itself is so nice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, Harry is home from his mission, but it was tough for him to praise the media there for a second.
NGUYEN: Yeah. But at the same time, like you said, he was surprised and I think a lot of other people were that he was able to stay there for 10 weeks and that cover not be blown.
HOLMES: But he is home now.
Well, a visit to Iraq. A historic visit to tell you about from Iran's president.
NGUYEN: We're live in Tehran and Baghdad and we're going to get a closer look at what this means for the war in Iraq and the race for the White House.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: Changing our role in the world begins with ending the war in Iraq and bringing our troops home! SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe that more and more Americans are realizing that this surge is succeeding and American casualties are down and that the Iraqis are succeeding militarily and politically.
OBAMA: Iran has been the single biggest strategic beneficiary of the war in Iraq. They are the ones who have been most strengthened by this war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Listen to the presidential candidates there. They talk about Iraq and Iran and those international issues certainly playing out on the campaign trail these days.
NGUYEN: Yes they are and while the presidential candidates here debate Iraq. The Iranian president is there right now. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad getting the red carpet treatment on his historic visit, it is the first by an Iranian president to Iraq. And CNN's extensive international services are bringing you the story from both countries. Michael Ware is in Baghdad and Aneesh Raman is in Tehran. Let's first start with Michael. Good morning, Michael.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty. So, yes, what we saw this morning was earlier this morning Baghdad time, President Ahmadinejad touched down at Baghdad International Airport. He stepped from the plane with a presidential wave. He was then put into a motorcade after being met by Iraqi officials and he drove what was once the notorious Airport Road, once the most dangerous piece of highway in this country.
He took that ride and went to the residence of the Iraqi President Jalal Talabani where he held a series of meetings and made his first public statement. Now this trip is so symbolically important in so many ways, even driving on the street and going to the president's residence which is not in a heavily fortified Green Zone but is out in what Americans call the Red Zone says so much. Let alone these images we're seeing on TV of him walking down a red carpet and brass bands playing national anthems and children giving him flowers. This is a statement by Iran. They are staking their claim here in Iraq. America and Iran are vying for influence in this country. And many people, even in the U.S. mission will tell you, right now Iran has the edge.
Indeed some of the most is senior American officials have said they are the big winners of the past six years. The fact that he can come here is a statement of his confidence. Even the Iranian ambassador told me last week here in Baghdad, so many countries even in this region won't even send diplomats yet we send our president.
That's how sure they are of themselves and that's how closely aligned this Iraqi government is to him and that's how America at least for today is being left on the side lines. Betty?
NGUYEN: All right. Michael Ware joining us live, thank you. It is a statement and let's see how things are playing out in Tehran where CNN's Aneesh Raman joins us now. Are people viewing this as indeed the statement that Michael was talking about?
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In part, Betty. The people here see this as Michael mentioned as largely symbolic. Keep in mind. The relationship between Iran and Iraq began anew quite literally from the moment Saddam Hussein's statue fell some five years ago.
So why is Ahmadinejad going now? Michael hit the to reason. To remind the U.S. that it is Iran, not America who will have lasting influence over Iraqi affairs. Analysts here suggest he is going in part to bolster report for Iraq's Shia prime minister, Nouri al Maliki and to refute on the ground the continued claims by both U.S. and Iraqi officials that Iran continues to arm Shia militias.
Now, Ahmadinejad's denial on that front will largely likely fall on deaf ears. But in a broad sense, for a lot of Iranians, this just symbolizes as well both the relationship that has now come between Iran and Iraq, but also the predominance that Iran's President Ahmadinejad has put on foreign policy since coming to office.
A lot of Iranians think he has spent far too much time on foreign issues and controversial statements to the world and far too little time on fixing this country's floundering economy. Hundreds of millions have been sent abroad. A billion in aid promised to Iraq. Hundreds of millions to Hezbollah in Lebanon. A lot of Iranians say bring it home. The one group Ahmadinejad has really excited about this trip are the extremely religious Iranians. They want increased ties with Iraq because it means easier access to those Shia holy sites within Iraq.
So a mixed bag of sorts among the Iranian people. Clearly symbolic of how much has changed. They fought, of course, an eight- year battle, a bloody one with Saddam's Iraq. But again a sign of how much foreign policy has really underlined Ahmadinejad's presidency. Betty?
NGUYEN: And there's a lot that we can delve into here. We're simply out of time. But we do appreciate both of you joining us live this morning. We'll talk to you shortly. Thank you.
HOLMES: Iraq of course, not the only international headline people watching today. In Russia voters going to the polls to elect a new president. We're going to be live from Russia. Also it's time for us to go to the NEWSROOM live. Say good morning to Josh Levs. Good morning, sir.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning to you guys.
You know what? Tuesday is Groundhog Day in a political sense for the Democrats. I'll explain, it's coming up on the "Reality Check," CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, good morning, everybody and welcome back. I'm Betty Nguyen. HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes at the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. We're talking politics a lot this morning. And for good reason, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both in Ohio today. The primary there, two days away. Ohio of course a key state. A close race could be decided by voters who haven't yet made up their mind.
NGUYEN: Well, the Texas primary also on Tuesday. That's why republican Mike Huckabee is campaigning there today. But frontrunner John McCain is off the trail this weekend. He's actually at home in Arizona. You definitely want to stay with us all day for complete coverage of all of candidates. The best political team on television is spread out across the country. You see them there. We're bringing you everything that is going on.
And you've heard it before, you know, the stakes are high for the democrats in Tuesday's primary and some say it might be a make or break day for Hillary Clinton. Or will the race drag on?
HOLMES: Josh, is it going to drag on? Let's just leave it at that. Josh Levs or Mr. Reality here. That is the question. Is it going to keep going and going?
JOSH LEVS, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: We were thinking about this, and doing the math if it does go past Tuesday, how much longer are we going to be facing this? It is actually quite a while. And that is one of the reason why there is so much focus right now on Tuesday. The next step isn't for really another couple of months.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And it's great to be back here in Waco with all of you.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: O-H!
LEVS (voice-over): The political world is focused on Tuesday's showdowns in Texas and Ohio, knowing they could end Clinton's campaign or press reset on the dynamics of the race and give her momentum. If that happens, what's next? The next big delegate price is in Pennsylvania, seven weeks later, on April 22nd. March 4th has become the political version of groundhog day instead of telling us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Six more weeks of winter it will be.
LEVS: Tuesday tells us if seven more weeks of this race lie ahead. Not that it would necessarily end in Pennsylvania. Clinton's campaign said she's clinch the nomination by June. The Obama calls the Clinton's camp map lunacy. But there's nothing crazy about the nomination race lasting months.
CLINTON: We forget that my husband did not win the nomination until June. That longer primaries have been frankly the norm until relatively recently.
LEVS: Still, no one seems to want that and the party's leaders has made fear April could be something of a deadline. HOWARD DEAN, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN: I think we will have a nominee sometime by March or April. If we don't, then we're going to have to make this kind of, get the candidates to get together and make some kind of an arrangement.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: That's another one of the big question that's facing the democrats right now. What will that arrangement be? How will it play out? But for right the focus is on Tuesday, we'll see how those races go. If it continues, get set for a longer ride here.
NGUYEN: All right. We'll be watching. Thank you, Josh.
HOLMES: Josh, we appreciate you. Of course, right now, Rhode Island is the little state that could. It could actually play a big role on Tuesday. Rhode Island typically has been sort of an afterthought in presidential primaries, sorry, guys. But now it has become a real live battleground state for democrats and CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is in the middle of that battle. Good morning to you, sir. I knew you wouldn't stay in Washington long and you'll be back out on the trail. And here you are in Providence.
Tell us why is Rhode Island, 32 delegates, not a whole lot in the grand scheme of things up for grabs. Why is it getting so much attention?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN, DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, you know, I guess it's all timing. And you're right, it's prime time right now here in Rhode Island. Rhode island hasn't been a primary player, T.J., in a long, long time. But it is this time because besides Ohio and Texas, since they're getting all the attention but Rhode Island and Vermont are up for grabs as well. And on the democratic side, it's a close race so every delegate count.
In this state, you would think it would be good for Hillary Clinton. A lot of Catholic voters, a lot of union workers here, blue- collar workers. Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton spent a lot of time here in the 90s. So, you think this would be Clinton country but Obama is doing quite well here too. If you look at the latest poll, Clinton is up by about nine points. So, this state could be up for grabs.
And you know, T.J., you were mentioning Rhode Island is getting attention. It sure is. All four of the top candidates have been here. Obama yesterday, Clinton, McCain and Huckabee here within the last week and a half. So, this state is loving it. They're getting a lot of attention.
HOLMES: They're loving the attention and tell me you say, we know it's only 32 delegates up for grabs, not a whole lot but still important for such a tight race. But for Hillary Clinton is this more of a moral victory or moral defeat if she wins or loses that state because she's expected to win it?
STEINHAUSER: Exactly. This state, very much like Ohio, similar demographics, you could call those states Clinton country. She needs to win these states, because as you said, if she doesn't, it really hurts. It stings more than let's say Texas where the race is much closer and people don't expect her to win. But here she needs to win Rhode Island.
HOLMES: All right. We're going to take a look here. A lot of campaigning. A lot of stuff up on the ads and a lot of coverage on television. But for whatever reason, the candidates seem to love to go to one spot to get their message out. We're going to show people what Hillary Clinton was doing last night. We'll talk about it after. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I still enjoyed that sketch a great deal because I simply adore Amy's impression of me.
AMY POHLER, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": Oh, well. My ears are ringing.
CLINTON: How are you?
POHLER: Good. Thank you.
CLINTON: I'm glad to be here. Thanks for having me.
POHLER: Thank you for coming. I love your outfit.
CLINTON: Well, I love your outfit. I do want the earrings back. Oh.
Do I really laugh like that? Well, not exactly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, tell us, why is this the spot and how important could this possibly be for her to go in front of an audience, an "SNL" audience?
STEINHAUSER: An "SNL" audience is an important audience. It reaches a lot of people. A lot of people watch that show, a lot of people in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island right here, and even Vermont, people watch this show. And another thing about this show, the demographics of the show. A lot of younger people watch the show. And that's an audience, that's a voting bloc that Obama has done very well in. And I think, you know, Hillary Clinton says if I can reach out to those voters, if I can grab some of those younger voters it could make a difference on Tuesday. So, yes, it was a smart move.
HOLMES: It's a smart move. Well, it's funny and that's a hot spot for a lot of folks who saw Obama on last week. We saw Mike Huckabee on as well. They're all making the stop. Paul Steinhauser again, we knew we couldn't keep you off the trail. Back out in Rhode Island for us. We'll be talking to you again soon, buddy. Good to see you. STEINHAUSER: Take care, T.J..
HOLMES: Of course, Texas and Ohio, crucial contest for the democrats on Tuesday. The Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean talks about the race today on "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer." That's coming your way at 11:00 Eastern.
NGUYEN: And you want to stay with CNN throughout the day for the best political coverage on television. Coming up at 2:00 Eastern. "Ballot Bowl" is back and we're bringing you the candidates unfiltered and in their own words, all day long, and then "Ballot Bowl" primetime gets started at 8:00 tonight, only on CNN.
HOLMES: And of course, on Tuesday night, don't miss CNN's special on the voting in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont. Our coverage begins 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.
NGUYEN: Russians. They are at the polls this morning electing a new president and some critics are calling that election a farce. We're going to tell you why. Plus this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ, NATIONAL HISPANIC CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONF.: The wild card for 2008 election, the Hispanic voter. As a matter of fact, I personally believe Hispanics will determine the outcome of who the next president of the United States will be.
HOLMES: And a key to that support Hispanic evangelicals, but which party will get that vote ahead in our "Faces of Faith."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: I'm Reynolds Wolf with a look at today's cold and flu season report. Hey, sneezy head, you've been feeling terrible, haven't you? You've been surrounded by all the tissue and the cough syrup and the aspirin, but you know what, things are going to get better. Not for you but much of the nation who has been suffering from the cold and flu. In fact every state you see behind me that is shaded in red is where you have widespread cases of cold and flu. Florida though is one exception. It is shaded in blue which means only regional cases to report. That's a look at today's cold and flu season report. Get better soon.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Here's a quick look at some of the other stories that are making headlines today. A New York Police say a cab driver's claim that someone left a baby in his taxi was a hoax. The cabbie is accused of making up the story to help the parents who schemed to abandon. The six-month-old girl and the 14-year-old mother, again, the 14-year-old mother not expected to face charges. Police are looking for the father now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: That's one way to do. The navy christened the new ship built with steel from the World Trade Center ruins. The Deputy Defense Secretary says the USS New York will serve as a source of strength and inspiration. Family and friends of September 11th victims among the thousands attending yesterday's ceremony.
Also a New York landmark back in business after a $400 million face lift. The Plaza Hotel first opened in 1907, re-opened yesterday after a three-year renovation. The posh New Plaza includes apartments and 282 hotel rooms. How do you pay for $400 million renovation?
NGUYEN: You raise the rent.
HOLMES: The rates for a room start at $1,000 a night. So I hear the Ramada has some availability.
NGUYEN: That better be a good bed for $1,000 bucks a night. Well, a big political story that we're watching this morning, this one in Russia. Voters there are choosing a new president to replace Vladimir Putin. But don't expect Putin's influence just to fade away.
CNN's Matthew Chance joins us live from Moscow. And Matthew, a lot of people looking and calling it, "a farce."
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. That's what critics are calling this election in Russia, because the outcome of this presidential vote has been pretty much known right from the onset. Dimitry Medvedev is the name of the man who has been hand picked by the current Russian President to succeed him in the Kremlin. He's a 42-year-old kind of close associate of Vladimir Putin.
But, again, critics say that the election campaign has been a farce and it's very much one-sided in favor of Kremlin's choice for the presidential candidate and there's also reports coming in around the country. It's a vast country of 11 time zones, pressure being put on voters to actually go out and cast their ballots and go out in vote in order to try to boost the turnout in this very dull, very predetermined election campaign, Betty.
NGUYEN: And when we look at Dimitry Medvedev, what do you know about him? I mean, is he a hard liner? Or is it a case that you're going to see him and Putin pretty much shared power here.
CHANCE: We'll it's a really big question. The usual question that you get in an election is of course, who's going to win. We don't have that question here. It's already been answered. It's going to be Dmitry Medvedev, the real question is, you know, who will wheel power once he is installed in the Kremlin because Vladimir Putin, the current president is immensely popular and immensely influential in the country. He has agreed to take on the job as the Russian prime minister and so many observers at the Kremlin are speculating that that could mean that's a way for him to continue to make the key decisions in Russia.
In terms of what we know about Medvedev. Not a great deal in terms of his policy. He has always been very much linked to Vladimir Putin. They've been together professionally for many, many years. He's been making some public pronouncements, kind of raise people's ideas that he may be more of a democrat than Vladimir Putin but really they're just words and people are waiting to see what his actual actions are once he gets installed in the Kremlin.
NGUYEN: All right. Matthew Chance joining us live. Thank you, Matthew.
HOLMES: Well, you can call it political power from the pulpit. The Hispanic evangelicals, some say the support could be key to winning the White House but who will they back. We did a closer look in our "Faces of Faith."
NGUYEN: And check this picture our. Take a good look. See that lady, see what's in her hands. Yes, you don't mess the Texan and we're going to show you why? This woman was packing some heat.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Religion and politics and the growing political clout of Hispanic Americans, specifically evangelical Hispanic Americans. Historically, the Christian conservative vote has gone republican but that could change this year as the party's hard line on immigration has soured many Latinos.
Earlier, I spoke with the Reverend Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Leadership Conference.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: How does one, how does a Hispanic evangelical or any evangelical really reconcile those two issues, because you have a party here which is in line with many evangelical beliefs when it comes to things like abortion and gay marriage. But on the other hand for Hispanic evangelicals not so much in line with them on the issues of immigration and other social issues like that. How do you tell a Hispanic evangelical, a voter to really reconcile the conflict?
REV. SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ, NAT'L HISPANIC CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: It's the proverbial rock in the hard place, on one side we have the party that believes what we believe and respect the social values but doesn't want us. On the other side, we have a party that definitely wants us but doesn't resonate completely what we believe. So, what we're looking at is what do we agree upon. Latino evangelicals are not the quintessential Christian rights. You're looking at a Christian centered equilibrium group. They are strong on life. They are strong on the preservation of traditional marriage. However, they are equally strong on immigration, health care, education, alleviating poverty, AIDS, Darfur. So, it is more of a righteousness and justice demographic that really can speak into both parties. And that's why I don't think it's going to be that difficult to move Latino evangelicals into a more centered position.
HOLMES: A more centered position. So, let me ask just through this out there. This is going to sound crazy. Evangelicals voting for democrats in the election. For some people that sounds like madness, but you're telling me that it's a real possibility that at least Hispanic evangelicals could vote in a major, in a huge percentage for democrats this time around. Do you see that as a possibility?
RODRIGUEZ: To some people, it's sacrilegious and blasphemous. But yes, I wholeheartedly believe that this year, the Latino evangelicals will consider both parties. I think we have some viable candidates here, the candidates that resonate each with the Latino community. John McCain, of course, he spent more capital on immigration reform than any of the presidential candidates. The question the Latino evangelicals have to answer is whether or not John McCain's party will support him if he attempts to pass or attempts to approve legislation that will bring about comprehensive immigration reform.
Now, Barack Obama speaks to the future. I put it this way. Hillary Clinton, the Clinton brand really resonates with the golden age of the Hispanic middle class, the 1990s. So, Hillary Clinton speaks to the past. John McCain speaks to the present immigration reform and Senator Obama speaks to the future of Hispanic Americans with the issues of hope, of coming together, of compromise and addressing some of the social justice issues that are so important to the Hispanic-American community.
HOLMES: Well, my goodness. What is a Hispanic evangelical to do? Tell me this, what do you think? I talked to a number of evangelical leaders and actually talked about how kind of, you know, it's not just gay marriage and abortion any more. There's a broader scope of issues that evangelicals are considering this time around. Why is that?
RODRIGUEZ: Well, it's because it's a new generation. The old generation, for the past 30 years, evangelicalism has been defined, both nationally and globally, more in the context of the Christian right or the moral majority. Here you have the browning of the evangelical church, you have the nexus of both a righteousness platform and a justice platform. So, the generation X and generation Y and the millennials are more committed to a centered balanced evangelical presentation. We're not abandoning our commitments to the issues of life and the preservation of traditional marriage. However, our agenda is broad. We're concerned with the environment. We believe that we as a church have a responsibility to deal with when we confront the issues of global warming. We're concerned with poverty. We're concerned with Darfur, with AIDS, with healthcare and education.
So, I believe it's a generational and a cultural dynamic as the evangelical church is no longer white evangelical but it's brown evangelical and transgeneration.
HOLMES: And finally, any way the republican party can win in November without the support of the Hispanic evangelicals.
RODRIGUEZ: Absolutely not, without the support of Hispanic evangelicals. The Hispanic evangelicals were responsible for 2004 Florida and they were responsible for 2000 Florida. Now we are targeting the ten most populated Hispanic states which happen to be many of them swing states. Without the Hispanic evangelical vote, the republican party cannot capture the White House in November 2008.
HOLMES: And when can we expect your endorsement? How soon?
RODRIGUEZ: In the next upcoming months.
HOLMES: In the next ... oh, that can mean anything.
RODRIGUEZ: In the next two months probably.
HOLMES: In the next two months. All right there. Well, Mr. Rodriguez, really, we appreciate your time. Thank you so much for being here.
RODRIGUEZ: Thank you for having me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Well, taking a stab at politics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RISA VETRI FERMAN, MONTGOMERY COUNTRY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: They were talking politics and talking politics became fighting politics.
NGUYEN: Literally. The story straight ahead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Also, next hour, a rare apology to native Americans.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Our morning team hard at work. No, none of them have guns. We're playing that song because of this story. A Danish journalist got a lesson on Texas when he ventured too far from the President's ranch in Crawford.
HOLMES: Yes, the writer for the Danish News Agency found himself face to face with a gun totting granny when he wandered on to her property. You don't do that in Texas.
NGUYEN: No, you don't. OK. Here's what he says. He says he was preoccupied on the phone dictating a story to his editors in Copenhagen that he didn't notice where he was walking. Well, check out this picture because he found himself confronted, like you said T.J., with a pistol-packing woman who demanded that he get off of her property and right now. He says he also didn't know about the Texas law that gives homeowners the right, yes it is legal, to use a gun when somebody is trespassing. See, you don't mess with Texas.
HOLMES: Got shot trying to get a story in trying to make a deadline.
NGUYEN: Yes, deadline is right. Better get off that property. Well, while the presidential candidates stay on the trail, a number of odd political stories are hitting the news.
HOLMES: And our Tom Foreman has the look at the political side show.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN, HOST (voice-over): Yes, that's the mayor of tiny Arlington, Oregon, perched on the town fire truck when the pictures were discovered on the internet as they always are, the inevitable firestorm broke. Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, that's her name, made no apologies.
CARMEN KONTUR-GONQUIST, MAYOR, ARLINGTON, OREGON: No. That's myspace, that's why they call it myspace.
FOREMAN: The voters disagreed and voted to strip her of her position. Now she's selling signed copies of her picture on ebay and will donate some proceeds to local charities.
Speaking of overexpose, here's a personal ad for you. Embattled Idaho senator in search of, yes, folks, Senator Larry "Watch your feet" Craig is seeking a summer intern to help out during his last few months in office. The job solicitation promises, "an incredible opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at how our government functions..." Insert your joke here.
And why you should never talk money, religion or politics. Two Pennsylvania brothers-in-law, one a Clinton supporter, and one an Obama fan.
RISA VETRI FERMAN, MONTGOMERY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: They were talking politics and it became fighting politics.
FOREMAN: By the time police showed up, political discourse had turned into a knife fight. Despite some injuries, both are reportedly going to be OK and for the moment so are our candidates.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And you can see more of Tom Foreman's unique take on all things political today at 1:00 Eastern only on CNN. Meanwhile, the next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING begins right now.
NGUYEN: Well, good morning, everybody. From the CNN Center here in Atlanta. It is Sunday, March 2nd. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And good morning to you all, I'm T.J. Holmes. So, glad you could start your Sunday off here with us. Up this morning, politics, two days before decision time in Texas.
NGUYEN: And you can add Ohio, Vermont, Rhode Island, all of those to the list. The next four primaries are just around the corner but Ohio is where it's at for the democratic candidates today. Hillary Clinton has four events there after spending most of Saturday in Texas
HOLMES: And Barack Obama also in Ohio today. He has a couple of rallies there. He was in Ohio yesterday as well. Meanwhile, on the republican side, the frontrunner taking a break from the campaign trail. Yes, John McCain, you can do that when you got a big lead in delegates. He's spending the weekend in home state of Arizona.
NGUYEN: But Mike Huckabee isn't slowing down. He is spending his whole weekend talking to voters in Texas. And he's not alone down there.
We have special members of the best political team in television there in Texas. Our reporters are also in Ohio, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts. They're all over the place. We are covering the map to bring you the latest from political newsmakers and voters.
HOLMES: Well, just how crucial are Tuesday's primaries? Here's a look now what at stake for the Republicans: 256 delegates up for grabs. Now, that would be enough for John McCain to clinch the nomination. On the Democratic side, 370 are up for grabs.
NGUYEN: Well, here's our delegate estimates for Democrats right now. Take a look at this. Barack Obama is out front with a total of 1,369 delegates and that includes his 185 pledged superdelegates. Hillary Clinton trails by just about 100 delegates. As you can see there, she has 236 superdelegates in her column.
HOLMES: Time for the campaign trail for what candidates are talking about with the voters. Among the topics for Barack Obama, it's international diplomacy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to restore that sense of diplomacy, the power of diplomacy. I said very earlier in the campaign that I would meet not just with leaders we like but leaders with didn't. Not just with our friends, but with our enemies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: While Hillary Clinton is talking about something as well, Barack Obama. One of her main arguments has been that he makes promises with no substance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want you to say, you know, I was at that rally, at the stock yards. I heard you say you were going to make college affordable. What have you done? Instead of saying, I was at that speech, it sure made me feel good, but I don't have a clue about what you are going to do as our president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: OK. Well, on the Republican side, Mike Huckabee keeps on keeping on in Texas. He says this race is not over yet. And, that he shouldn't be counted out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: People in Texas, first of all, need a choice next Tuesday. I know that there are some have suggested that I have simply left the field and ended this contest before it ever happened. Now, I personally think that nothing could be more insulting to Texans than to suggest that their choice in the Republican primary would be already made for them before they ever came here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Well, Huckabee is headed to church this morning in Houston and there is a fundraiser in Plano, then, it's back to church tonight this time in Dallas.
And we talked about the numbers. Now, how about the issues that you care about in this election season?
Well, CNN's Ali Velshi has been traveling through Texas on board the CNN Election Express. And he joins us on the phone this morning from Gruene, Texas. I know exactly where that is. Ali, what are people there telling you?
ALI VELSHI, CNN SR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, we pulled in to Gruene late last night but we had spent the day just about 30 miles from here, where we were in the middle of the Darst (ph) oil field, the place where oil was first discovered in 1920s or something.
And we ran into some people who actually had a piece of land, a ranch in their family for many years, and they've got oil wells on their land. Well, they just received a phone call that there was another spot that they could put a well into from the oil company. So, they had come in from Houston to come and see that land and they've showed us around their property.
Look at what they showed us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOLLY ENGLISH, OIL FIELD LAND OWNER: Over here to the right is what a well looks like, so well head and the posts.
VELSHI: I heard you refer that to mailbox money.
ENGLISH: Exactly.
VELSHI: Does the money that you get back offset the increase that you pay in the price of gasoline?
ENGLISH: No. No. Good grief, no. If you want to know an exact amount the check I received two days ago was $140. And that was the biggest check I've ever received.
VELSHI: OK.
ENGLISH: So, if you want to know -
VELSHI: Texas oil baron.
ENGLISH: You are right. If you want to know, I'm building the gusher (ph) hotel out here or spa retreat or whatever, no. It costs us $100 for us to drive round trip from Houston here to check on that stick there.
VELSHI: So, you got $50 for lunch and dinner. What you have for lunch and dinner?
ENGLISH: (INAUDIBLE) barbecue with it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: And Betty, of course, it didn't take long for us to take the power of suggestion to have a little barbecue for lunch but we went out to Darst (ph) oil field to find out what people who are on the other end of the oil question were thinking. Because in Texas, we've run in to a lot of people, who are saying the price of gas is too high, the price of oil is too high and they are not getting any particular benefit out of it.
Well, here are bunch of people who have land with oil on it said they, too, are saying, they'd rather see the price of gas and oil be lower, because they don't think they're making enough money off the gas anyway, despite the high price of oil, despite the fact that oil is above $100 per barrel.
We also ran into some oil field workers. They're doing OK because with the price of oil where it is, they're able to, you know, work is good. They're able to increase their salaries, replace equipment on the fields, get some new jacks and things like that. So, it's the other side of the coin to some degree, Betty.
NGUYEN: Yes, to some degree. I mean, the folks who have the oil underneath their land, you're only getting a small percentage of what the oil company gets.
And if you do get a rig on your land, maybe it's $15,000, $20,000 to put that up. But it's a one-time fee and then, it's done. So, it's the oil companies that you should be checking in with next, Ali.
VELSHI: That's exactly right and that's the point. The oil companies and their investors have been making a lot of money off of oil at $100 a barrel. But it's not everybody in the state.
So, they wanted me to let you know that, that people in Texas are feeling the pinch of gas prices just like everyone else in the country.
NGUYEN: Yes, they are not all oil barons. I'll tell you that. Ali Velshi in Gruene, Texas. Yes, you definitely pick up some good barbecue while you're there, Ali. Talk to you shortly. HOLMES: And of course, as we've mentioned, Clinton and Obama are battling over every single delegate. Taking nothing for granted. We talked about the big states, you know, Texas and Ohio. But candidates aren't forgetting about those smaller states as well.
CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider is certainly not forgetting about any state, big or small. He's in Providence, Rhode Island, this morning.
Looking good this morning, sir. Good morning. Tell us, Rhode Island, the folks there, are they just eating up all of this attention right now?
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, here in Rhode Island, you know, you've got Obama and Clinton fighting over 32 delegates. Only 21 pledged delegates in this state. Clinton was here a week ago, she was here last Sunday and yesterday, Barack Obama showed up in the very same arena Clinton mocked Obama calling him essentially unrealistic. Saying that if he becomes president, maybe the heavens will open and celestial choirs will sing, but what's he really going to do for you?
And yesterday he mocked her mocking him. So, it's become quite a battle here in Rhode Island for this very the tiny number of delegates. She was supposed to be the far and above favorite, the easy winner here in Rhode Island, this is part of her base. But now it's become close and very contested.
HOLMES: (INAUDIBLE) not so much because of the delegates, but just because of a matter of a moral victory for Hillary Clinton?
SCHNEIDER: I'm sorry. I didn't hear the question.
HOLMES: No. I was asking about the 32 delegates, is that state so important, not so much because of the 32 delegates, even though each one counts and matters in such a close race, but it's so important because Hillary Clinton can't appear to lose a state that she was supposed to win.
SCHNEIDER: That's true. Yes, this is part of her base. This is a state with a large population of partisan Democrats, white working class voters and especially, Catholic voters. Interestingly, Catholics have delivered for Clinton in primary after primary.
Rhode Island is the most catholic state in the union. She and Bill Clinton, her husband, have strong ties, they've been here a number of times as she constantly reminds voters. Polls earlier in the season showed her winning the state handily.
But the latest polls show a very narrow margin. The one that came out on Friday was Clinton 49 and Obama 40, just a single digit margin. That's why Obama showed up here. He wants to try to challenge her for her political base and if she loses Rhode Island, even though it's a very tiny state, it means he's taken the base away from her. HOLMES: All right. Bill Schneider is keeping an eye on things for us there in Rhode Island. Bill, always good to see you. Thank you, kind, sir.
And folks, you can stay with CNN for the best political coverage on television. Later today, we'll give you the chance to hear from the candidates beyond the sound bytes, unfiltered and in their own words. THIS WEEK IN POLITICS begins at 1:00 Eastern. Then it's CNN's BALLOT BOWL at 2:00 o'clock Eastern and then, BALLOT BOWL prime time beginning at 8:00 only right here on CNN.
NGUYEN: Well, as we talk politics, on Tuesday night, you definitely don't want to miss CNN's special on the voting in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. Our coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern and 4:00 Pacific.
And get this though. Wild weather could hit several states ahead of Tuesday's primaries and caucus.
HOLMES: It seems like the weather always plays a role in some way, form, or fashion. Something's always going on, Reynolds, when the people will start to vote.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely. You know, I mean, sprinkles can affect people going out to vote, heading to polls and when you have a chance of not only rain, but some freezing rain, some snow, some sleet and maybe even flash flooding, it's going to be an issue for the buckeye state.
Let's get things started with what's happening out west, and this a reason why we're going out west because most weather systems in our country move from west to east and right now, the weather system that will affect Ohio eventually is bringing some scattered snow showers from parts of the Central Plains and into Rockies. Right now in Denver, downtown, we got some rain, but high in the hills up in Boulder, we got temperatures that are into the 10s and with a little touch of snowfall at this point.
What we're going to see is the storm system make its way eastward. And as we get into Monday and into Tuesday. Tuesday is the big day. Believe it or not, Texas is going to be in clear. It should be great conditions in Texas. However, when you get back to Ohio for Tuesday, look again, as I mentioned, right along parts of the Ohio River and points northward, you're going to be dealing with some scattered showers, then freezing rain and then, the potential of course, some snowfall coupled in with that, some of the wind.
And keep in mind, this part of Ohio just in the northwest corridor, northwest section, you've had some issues with flooding. That could happen again as we move into Tuesday and perhaps Wednesday as well.
That's the latest on your forecast. Let's send it right back to you, guys.
NGUYEN: All right, Reynolds. Well, I'm going to need to you work on that by the time Tuesday comes. Maybe you can, you know, fix something so that folks won't be dealing with bad some weather and they head to the polls.
Thank you. Of course, you've got that power, I know.
Well, Britain's Prince Harry is expressing mixed emotions about being pulled out of combat duty in Afghanistan. British Defense officials quickly withdraw the prince after a news Web site revealed his mission last week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY, BLUES AND ROYALS REGIMENT: I didn't see it coming. Obviously, it's a shame. As I said I don't know what word I'm going to use, but I'm so very disappointed.
I thought I could see it through to the end with combat with them and the guys and the colonel himself. You know, I'm back here now and I suppose deep down inside I'm looking forward to having a bath. So, I have a nice bath, I think, (ph) it's nice to be back early, but, no, I'd like to still be out there with the guys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: I'm sure he would. Well, the prince served 10 weeks in Afghanistan. The media, including CNN knew about it but agreed to keep it secret for security reasons.
Let's talk now about a historic visit: Iran's president in Iraq.
HOLMES: And we're going to be taking a closer look at what this visit means for the future of Iraq and Iran.
NGUYEN: And Hillary Clinton, like you, have never seen her before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: Third world country, Kinney (ph) County.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, we got a brief look here at some other stories that we are following.
NGUYEN: Yes, Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is in Baghdad at this hour, beginning a historic two-day visit. He is the first Iranian leader to visit Iraq. Ahmadinejad's says, his visit opens a new chapter in brotherly relations between the two countries.
HOLMES: And voters are going to the polls across Russia today to elect a new president. Vladimir Putin's handpicked successor, 42- year-old, Dmitry Medvedev is expected to win in a landslide. Putin has agreed to take the post of prime minister. And many are watching to see if they will actually share power. NGUYEN: Investigators in east Texas have a murder mystery on their hands. Police say, a woman and two children were killed in an early morning attack on their ranch. The father is in the hospital being treated for gunshot wounds. Rains County Sheriff says, four people, including three high school students are in custody.
HOLMES: FBI agents and Haz-Mat teams want to search a Utah home link to a mysterious ricin case in Las Vegas. Our Kara Finnstrom is live for us in Vegas, where all of this began. Good morning to you Kara.
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT - LAS VEGAS: Good morning, T.J. Well, the investigation into what happened at the Vegas hotel, just behind me, has now extended to other parts of the country.
And we're going to show some videotape that was shot late yesterday with you, in Riverton, Utah. In this video tape, you can see FBI agents there, have been very busy securing a home. Now, FBI agents have confirmed to CNN at this point, that the man who is suffering from what's believed to be ricin poisoning is Roger von Bergendorff. And neighbors in this Utah community tell us that this is a home of von Bergendorff's cousin and that Bergendorff, himself, lived in the basement for a while.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAMMY EWELL, NEIGHBOR: Roger was one of those quiet guys. You know, he just sort of walked around with his St. Bernard -- German shepherd.
And then he had a cat that got lost and when it got lost, he put out flyers everywhere and came back to forth when he had move to Vegas to try and come back and find it, and hope he could find it. But, you know, kind of quiet. We really kind of kept our distance a little bit from him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FINNSTROM: Now, von Bergendorff rented the hotel room back here in Vegas where the ricin was allegedly found and handed over to police last week by the same cousin. Police also found in that hotel room anarchist literature that made specific references to ricin and also some guns.
Now, all of this started to unfold about two weeks ago when von Bergendorff himself called paramedics saying he was having trouble breathing. He later became comatose and has been in critical condition ever since.
Police are saying that they have been unable to talk with him. T.J, a couple other point to stress. One, that von Bergendorff is not a suspect at this time and police are saying, they are not suspecting terrorism in this ongoing investigation.
HOLMES: Boy, the more we learn, the more confused we get some times. Kara Finnstrom, we appreciate your staying on top of this report out there in Las Vegas.
NGUYEN: That's definitely one to sort out.
Well, let's talk about this for a minute. Presidential candidates, they are showing off their funny sides on late-night television.
HOLMES: Almost part of the campaign season these days. And last night, Senator Hillary Clinton had her turn on "Saturday Night Live." We'll show that, straight ahead.
NGUYEN: Time now for Josh Levs at the dot-com desk. Josh, it's all about politics this morning.
LEVS: Yes, I heard those clips are pretty funny, huh? You guys saw them earlier, right? Is it funny?
NGUYEN: Yes, she did pretty good.
LEVS: Yes, cool. So, here's a deal, I'm going to be popping in because for those voters who'll be taking part in the critical upcoming races, we're going to point you to some resources online where you can get the facts, not the spin, the facts, people. Betty?
NGUYEN: Well, you are Mr. Reality.
But first: Let's check in with CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He's going to look at what's coming up on HOUSE CALL.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Thanks. You know, you guys have been reporting on the economy, from soaring gas prices to the turbulent stock market. Well, those money problems are stressing people out.
We're here to help today. Tune in to HOUSE CALL and find out the three things you should do that can help your wallet and your stress level.
Plus: A mysterious debilitating illness invades a small Minnesota town. We have the medical investigation. It's coming up on HOUSE CALL at 8:30.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: How are you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good. Thank you.
CLINTON: Well, I'm glad to be here. Thanks for having me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you for coming. I love your outfit.
CLINTON: Well, I love your outfit. But I do want the earrings back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, OK.
CLINTON: Do I really laugh like that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, well, well, what can I really say?
CLINTON: Oh, the campaign, it's going very well. Very, very well. Why? What have you heard?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nothing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Some funny stuff from the political race. Thanks to "SNL," "Saturday Night Live". Hillary Clinton taking her turn appearing on last night's show.
Now, last week, it was Mike Huckabee showing his mad comedy skills as someone would say. Barack Obama was on the show last year, and of course, John McCain was a guest host back in 2002. Mad comedy skills.
HOLMES: He did have mad skills, he had mad mathematical skills as well (INAUDIBLE), yes, on his delegate count. He was good last week. (INAUDIBLE)
NGUYEN: Yes, it was. Well, of course, late-night comedy shows aren't the only way the candidates are reaching out to voters.
HOLMES: There are all sorts of political resources, especially online to help voters make their decision. Josh Levs taking off the reality hat and this is dot-com hat (ph) now, right?
LEVS: But yes, it's reality online.
HOLMES: Don't use his name, it's too much.
NGUYEN: Yes.
LEVS: Do I have to have identity at all times?
HOLMES: Yes, please.
LEVS: I get like a minute here and this is what I want to do because these races are really important and they're coming up very soon. I want to point to you to some resources where you can get away from the spin because there are so much paid advertising out there.
Facts, people. Let's start off with this site: CNN.com, we have this thing called the election center. You can't miss it. Just go to Dot.com, you'll see it right away.
It's an issues page. We're going to scroll down a little bit and you can see that there is more than a dozen issues that we're listing there, and you can see where all of the candidates weigh in on these. It's really important.
Let's give you an example here. I'm going to show you housing because the housing crisis and U.S. mortgage crisis is having such a profound economic effect. If you click on that one, take a look. We're going to scroll down a little bit. You're going to see where all of the candidates stand on the issue. You can see where Clinton is. You can see where Obama is.
And what we're doing is, we're getting you away from what they say in the ads, away from what they say elsewhere. Now, that's something, it's a little bit but not everything in the world. This is CNN.com.
There's one more thing I want to show you here.
NGUYEN: Are you serious? I thought anything ever need in life was at CNN.com.
LEVS: I used to think that and it was really tough for me to accept this.
NGUYEN: Are you going to get fired before the show is over, Josh.
LEVS: There are other Web sites that exist. I know. But to be fair, we're linking from CNN.com to what I'm about to show you. So, maybe they'll let me stick around for another week.
Factcheck.org, take a look here because it's interesting. They are phasing (ph) through the debate the other night at MSNBC. They're calling them Cleveland clinkers and they're saying what their claims are about health care, about the economy, about Iraq and comparing that to where they really stand.
So, as you start thinking about what you're going to do on Tuesday, go to CNN.com, election center. You can see all of that, a link to factcheck, to all the issues. I guarantee you.
HOLMES: You sure that's the right place they need to be?
LEVS: Always make it your home page, start up there, but it's OK for me to acknowledge the existence of outside thing as well.
NGUYEN: Just as long as you go to CNN.com for that link, right?
LEVS: Always start up with CNN.com and link anywhere from there.
NGUYEN: OK. So that we're clear on that, folks.
HOLMES: We get credit for the hit that way.
NGUYEN: Thank you, Josh. Nice knowing you, buddy. All right.
HOLMES: All right, folks. To tell you here. We'll turn to a Native American apology, broken treaties, forgotten promises, part of the troubled relationship between the federal government and Native Americans. Well, the U.S. Senate is taking a step towards making amends.
Details now from CNN's Kate Bolduan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANK ETTAWAGESHIK, OTTAWA INDIAN TRIBE LEADER: There's about 4,300 members in my tribe.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tribal leader, Frank Ettawageshik says, his of the Ottawa Indian tribe in Michigan fought for 400 years before finally being recognized by the federal government in the 1990s.
ETTAWAGESHIK: We also had generations of people that were taken away from their families and they were losing their language, they were losing cultural practices.
BOLDUAN: The government tribal relationship has been marked by a history of broken treaties and forgotten promises, but it's one that may be on the mend after a historic move in Congress.
SEN. SAM BROWNBACK, (R) KANSAS: An official apology from the United States to the Native American community for the abuses that were done, whether it is broken treaties, whether there were massacres.
BOLDUAN: Senator Sam Brownback sponsored the resolution that apologized for, quote, "The many instances of violence, maltreatment and neglect" inflicted on Native Americans. It passed the Senate. A similar legislation has been introduced in the House. Brownback says, this apology is a giant step forward.
BROWNBACK: For going to have a long-term better relationship, you got to acknowledge these things that did happen in the past and take ownership of them.
BOLDUAN: Chairman Ettawageshik says the American Indian community has mixed feelings towards the resolution. They applaud the apology.
ETTAWAGESHIK: We're at the same time realizing that these are just words on paper and that we are -- you know, there are actions we think that could be -- could be taken to follow up on this.
BOLDUAN: There are no reparations attached to the apology. But the Senate also passed major funding for Native American health care which the chairman says is crucial.
ETTAWAGESHIK: If you're a prisoner in the federal prison system, you have much, much better health care than you do if you are a client of Indian health care services of the federal government.
BOLDUAN (on camera): The government has previously apologized to Japanese Americans after World War II and native Hawaiians for the overthrow of their kingdom. But one high-profile issue not included in this group is an apology for slavery and segregation. Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: OK. They call him the chipmunk.
HOLMES: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARTHUR NELSON, GUARDIAN ANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH: Treasure island, Bellagio, Caesars.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The chipmunk and you will meet the man who makes math and money come together every single Sunday.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxantshop.com
