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Ballot Bowl 2008: Candidates Unfiltered and in Their Own Words

Aired March 08, 2008 - 14:00   ET

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

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to BALLOT BOWL, I'm Jessica Yellin and I am here in Wyoming, the site of another important caucus today. Folks in this state caucusing in the Democratic race. BALLOT BOWL as you know will bring you all the candidates sometimes live, sometimes on tape, but always unfiltered and in their own words, so you can make your own judgments about them.
Joining me now is my co-anchor for the hour Jim Acosta from Philadelphia. Jim, take it away.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN ANCHOR: Hi Jessica, I am in Philadelphia, actually right in front of Independence Hall here in downtown Philadelphia, where both candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are looking forward to next month's Pennsylvania primary.

We have a busy schedule today, so let's take a look at the game plan. It's only a small prize, just 12 delegates up for grabs, but Wyoming is looming large over the political landscape on this Saturday. We'll be looking at Wyoming throughout the state, throughout the afternoon with my colleague, Jessica Yellin in Wyoming.

How do the candidates feel about the environment, the idea of going green with green technologies? Well we have the very unique take from a young i-Reporter, a 10-year-old i-Reporter who has some interesting thoughts on the subject of going green. We'll get to that later on in BALLOT

BOWL. And Hillary Clinton is taking a break. Her husband is not. Bill Clinton is down in Mississippi campaigning there ahead of next Tuesday's Mississippi primary. So we will be hearing from the former president down in Mississippi as well.

And in the meantime, I will throw it back to my colleague, Jessica, who is in Wyoming. And Jessica, how are things looking out today for this big caucus event. Sounds like it could be a chance for Barack Obama to turn the momentum around on this campaign?

YELLIN: Yeah, this state is favored for Barack Obama. And you know we have seen him do very well in these caucuses in all of the past states that have held these organizations. They are very reliant on people who are motivated, energized to come out.

I'll tell you our early numbers, this is what we have only of those reporting already. With 43 percent of these caucuses, caucus sites reporting, Obama currently has 66 percent of the support. Senator Hillary Clinton 33 percent. Obama ahead significantly there. But I really have to emphasize that these are preliminary numbers. Less than half of the caucus sites reporting. And the place I am at right now in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is a caucus site that's actually on a lunch break. They got such a massive turnout here, unprecedented filling up this hall, so significantly. They had to have everybody come in, fill out their ballots, then leave and bring in another wave of people to fill out their ballots.

Now, the people in charge of this site are counting those ballots. Folks will come back after their lunch break and then start the actual caucusing, the part where they try to argue to get people on their side or to change sides. So this site isn't even done. So a very significant turnout around the state.

We're hearing all sorts of records being broken, in county after county. Wyoming getting a lot of attention all of a sudden when they're not used to it. I'll tell you both Senator Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were here yesterday.

Let's listen to some of what they had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She was quoted, either this morning or last night, in Mississippi because one of my advisers had said that in an interview overseas that "well, Senator Obama would not -- he has given a time frame for withdrawal, but obviously, it would be subject to decisions and the situation at the time." So Senator Clinton used this to try to imply that I wasn't serious about bringing this war to an end.

Now, I just have to mention this because I don't want anybody here to be confused. I was opposed to this war in 2002. If it had been up to me, we would have never been in this war. It was because of George Bush with an assist from Hillary Clinton and John McCain that we entered into this war. A war that should have never been authorized. A war that should have never been waged.

I have been against it since 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. I will bring this war to an end in 2009. So don't be confused. So don't be confused. When Senator Clinton is not even willing to acknowledge that she voted for war. She says she voted for diplomacy despite the title that said "authorization to use U.S. armed forces in Iraq." So, I don't want to play politics on this issue, because she doesn't have standing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We do have to restore American leadership and our moral authority around the world. And that begins with ending the war in Iraq and winning the war in Afghanistan. Those should be our two objectives.

You know, I have been to Iraq and Afghanistan three times. I have met with the leaders of every faction of the government in Iraq. I have met many times with President Karzai in Afghanistan. And with respect to Iraq, I think it is important for every one of us to recognize that our young men and women in uniform have done everything they were asked to do. They were asked to get rid of Saddam Hussein, and they did. They were asked to give the Iraqi people free and fair elections, and they did that.

And then they were asked to give the Iraqi government the space and time to make the decisions and take the responsibility that only the Iraqis can do for themselves. There is no military solution. And it is time to bring our sons and daughters home. Many of the decisions we are going to face are not easy ones. And they require the kind of thoughtfulness and experience that I believe I bring to this job.

Now tomorrow, Wyoming is going to get a chance to have your voices heard. I don't know -- how many of you have ever caucused before? Not many. Well that's what I find all across the country is that people aren't still quite sure what all this is. You know? I see you are nodding your heads.

Well it isn't any secret that a lot of the people who vote for me have never caucused before. They don't know what to do, they don't come because it -- it's not an election. In fact, time and time again, people have said to me, well you know I can't come, I work. I'm going to be out of town. There is not an opportunity for a lot of people to participate. That's why it is so important you are here today.

Because if you would prefer solutions over soundbites, if you believe we need to have reality as opposed to rhetoric about what we get from our next president, then I need you to go to those caucuses tomorrow and stand up for me. I can't do it without you here in Wyoming.

Now, look, I know -- I've got an uphill climb here because it is a caucus. I know that. A lot of people said why are you going to Wyoming? I said well it's really pretty. I have had a wonderful time in Wyoming. My goodness, first time I came to Wyoming was before many of you were born back in 1969. I was -- I was working my way across the country and drove up the Alcan (ph) Highway before it was paved and then worked my way across Alaska.

I tell you what the best job I ever had in preparation for running for office was a job I had sliming fish. It was in Valdez, Alaska, I was in a salmon fishery where they brought in the salmon. They had some experts from Japan who were there who split the salmon open and took out the caviar, then they threw them in a big pile. I was there in hip boots with a spoon. And my job was to clean out everything else.

And I have often reflected back on what preparation that turned out to be for the current life that I have chosen. But I traveled across Wyoming and camped out and had the best time. I have been back a few times since and had a wonderful time every single visit I have had. So I said, well you know what? I am going to go to Wyoming anyway. Yeah, I know that. I know it's an uphill climb. I'm aware of that. But you see -- I am a fighter.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

YELLIN: Senator Clinton making an interesting analogy about sliming fish, not sure where to go with that. Maybe she knows how to work hard and knows how to get dirty and come back strong. Which is what we see her doing these days hitting back hard at Barack Obama and she having an aggressive back and forth between their campaigns and from the stump. That was here in Wyoming yesterday. We'll continue to update you on the caucus results throughout the day.

But now I'm going to toss it back to my friend Jim Acosta who is in the city of brotherly love -- Jim?

ACOSTA: Thanks very much Jessica.

Hillary Clinton no stranger to getting her hands dirty it sounds like. Very good. Thanks, Jessica.

I am in the city of brotherly love. Although if you have been listening to some of the dialogue and debate out on the campaign trail it's been a little less than brotherly lately between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Standing in front of Independence Hall and just behind me is where they keep the liberty bell in Philadelphia.

So, throughout the afternoon we'll be taking you -- you know to the city of brotherly love to talk about some of those sites here. But in the meantime, there is a lot more to talk about in the current campaign. And one of those issues that has come up in the last several days is what to do about Florida and Michigan. They have already held their primaries.

But those delegates as many of you will remember did not count. Because those two states, they moved up their primaries against the wishes and against the rules of the Democratic National Committee. So the DNC penalized both of those states and essentially said that their delegates did not count. So now there is some debate and some talk about what to do about all of that because those delegates would like to be seated at the convention.

Hillary Clinton for one has said she would like to have those delegates seated in her column. What to do? Should we have another caucus? Should we have a primary? A second trimary if you want to call it that in Florida and Michigan? Joining me now in just a few moments I should say is Bill Schneider.

But first what we want to do is go to some sound from yesterday, James Carville, a Clinton supporter was in "THE SITUATION ROOM" yesterday, he was talking about exactly what he would like to see done about this. He threw out a proposal about both campaigns, the Obama campaign, and Clinton campaign, splitting the costs of holding a second trimary in both of those states.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES CARVILLE, CLINTON SUPPORTER: We'll put up $15 million. I will guarantee $15 million and have the Obama people put up $15 million. Let's go to post on June 7. I have fundraisers that are lined up ready to go. I think the Democratic party is going to look absolutely absurd if they don't have primaries and let these people in Florida and Michigan vote. And I'll tell you what -- they will take (INAUDIBLE) in the general election if we don't do it.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Joining me now I should say is Bill Schneider, who is joining us live. And Bill, I almost went to you before that James Carville bite, I'm glad I didn't because it was interesting to see James Carville setting up this proposal, a very interesting proposal.

Again, we're in, unchartered waters out here on the campaign trail. Haven't seen anything like this before. Two different campaigns, sharing the costs of holding a do-over, right, Bill?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: That would be very unusual. Very interesting. Do-over primaries would be somewhat irregular. It would be like taking a mulligan at a golf tournament.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Suppose the credentials committee decides to seat the Florida and Michigan delegations at the Democratic convention. Those delegates could put Hillary Clinton over the top. Sound OK to her.

CLINTON: I think that -- it would be a grave disservice to the voters of Florida and Michigan to adopt any process that would disenfranchise anyone and therefore I am still committed to seating their delegations.

SCHNEIDER: Chairman Dean sees trouble.

HOWARD DEAN, DNC CHAIRMAN: We have got to play by the rules. If you don't do that then the half of the people in the Democratic party whose candidate doesn't win this nomination are going to go away believing they have been cheated.

SCHNEIDER: He wants to avoid an angry split at the convention, possible walkouts by Barack Obama delegates. Republicans wouldn't mind that. The governor of Florida is a Republican.

GOV. CHARLIE CRIST, (R) FLORIDA: Ideally we want the votes that were already cast to be counted. I mean that's just the logical thing to do. On January 29th we had a record turnout.

SCHNEIDER: Well yes but there was something odd about the Florida and Michigan results. More Republicans than Democrats voted. In 24 of the 29 primaries that have already been held this year, the opposite was true. More Democrats voted.

Apparently a lot of Florida and Michigan Democrats stayed home because they were told the primary wouldn't count. Now, Michigan and Florida are talking about holding new primaries. That costs money. Who is going to pay?

DEAN: We hope they can comply with the rules. But they're going to have to figure out how to pay for it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCHNEIDER: Well, it might be worth it to pay for it because if Florida and Michigan hold their primaries at the end of the season, they might actually determine who wins. Isn't that what they were trying to do in the first place -- Jim.

ACOSTA: Exactly, Bill. And, so what is the problem with, just letting those results stand? From Florida and Michigan?

SCHNEIDER: It wasn't a fair fight, there was no campaign in Florida and Michigan. The candidates agreed not to campaign in those states. Barack Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan. Hillary Clinton won both of those contests because she had high name recognition. This was back in January before Barack Obama was well- known.

So the result is that there would be a real hue and cry if you tried to seat those delegates from January. Remember the turnout thing indicate that while a lot of Democrats did vote, a lot of Democrats did not vote because they were told the results didn't count.

ACOSTA: Right. There is also the issue of -- you know how exactly to hold these do-overs. Should it be a caucus format or should it be a primary format. And of course, you know with the conventional wisdom is that the caucus format favors Obama. So if that -- if that idea is floated out there, the Clinton campaign may balk at that. And essentially what we may get down to is these two campaigns agreeing to a format and that being agreeable to the Democratic Party?

SCHNEIDER: The format is a big question. Many formats being discussed. A primary which could favor Hillary Clinton. A caucus which could favor Barack Obama. So clearly they have those priorities. Some people are talking about a mail-in ballot which would be much cheaper. That would make it very easy to participate. A lot of Hillary Clinton supporters are older, they're working people. A lot of them are foreign-born American citizens. And they can't get to the polls and the caucus process is very confusing to them.

So a mail-in ballot which would be cheaper might favor Hillary Clinton. And there's another proposal I have heard. How about an internet ballot? Well I don't think that is likely to fly. A lot of people don't have computers. But I will tell you Barack Obama campaign would just love that because their supporters tend to be very young and very skilled at using the internet.

ACOSTA: Well, thanks very much. Bill Schneider. When we come back on BALLOT BOWL, you will be hearing from, oh, yes, that other candidate in the race, John McCain. He doesn't have to worry about any do-overs and so he is already sharpening his knives in the upcoming general election contest against whoever the Democratic nominee is.

That coming up after the break. This is BALLOT BOWL on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ACOSTA: Welcome back to BALLOT BOWL '08 where the political season goes on. I'm Jim Acosta in Philadelphia standing in front of Independence Hall in the city of brotherly love.

Now, we want to focus on the Republicans and actually, there is one special treat we're going to have for you. There's a special election that we want to tell you about. It's happening out in Illinois today. It is being held to fill the seat that's being vacated by the former speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. He used to represent those collar communities west of Chicago.

And Denny Hastert, not only the speaker of the house, but before his days in congress, a wrestling coach in high school. So he was certainly well versed in the -- in the skills of hand-to-hand combat before he made his way to Capitol Hill. But he has left the scene, he is leaving congress. So there is a race being held there. Some people are looking at that race as sort of a precursor for the upcoming general election and the two -- two politicians going at it in the race.

A Republican Jim Oberweiss, and he is a dairy magnate if you want to call him that from Illinois, owns an ice cream parlor in Chicago that's very popular and he's up against a Democrat by the name of Bill Foster. What's interesting about this contest besides being very important to the folks there in Illinois.

Is that on both of these sides you have had some of the leading presidential candidates campaigning for these politicians, Oberweis has had the support of John McCain out there on the campaign trail. Whereas Foster has had the support of his senator in Illinois, Barack Obama. So we'll be following those results through the day and getting back to you as to who won that very important congressional election there in the western suburbs of Chicago.

In the meantime, as we mentioned, there is that other candidate in the race, John McCain. The senator from Arizona has the nomination all locked up. Winning in Texas and Ohio, essentially nudging Mike Huckabee out of the race. So now he can focus all of his efforts. Focus all of his fundraising in an attempt to win the White House and keep the Republicans in power in the executive branch.

And he was down in Atlanta, earlier this week, talking about his big issue that he has gone back to time and again out on the campaign trail and that is the war in Iraq. As he likes to say, and as supporters like to say, he was for the surge before George Bush was for the surge. He points to success in Iraq, the improved conditions in Iraq, as reason for voters to support him come this November.

So, here is John McCain on the subject of Iraq earlier this week in Georgia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The struggle we are facing in Iraq is really a classic counterinsurgency now. And counterinsurgencies have been fought successfully using the same formula.

So it is not -- the surge was really a tactic not a new strategy. The surge was to increase the number of troops enough so that you can employ the classic counterinsurgency strategy which is to go out and control neighborhoods. Before we used to go out, kill bad guys, return to base and then they would infiltrate back in.

By the way, that was also the early Vietnam War kind of tactics. So they would go out and they lived with the people. They would work side by side with the Iraqi military and police. And they would maintain a presence so people can have secure neighborhoods. They can have secure neighborhoods in which they can come out and they can have, not only the secure environment, but the social, economic, process can move forward.

Last new year's eve, thousands of people in Baghdad turned out in the streets for the first time in years to welcome the new year. Because they have a safe environment. There are problems in America, with safe neighborhoods, as we well know. I'm not making that comparison. Because it is much more deadly obviously in Iraq. But it is kind of the same theory. So what happens is, now we, meanwhile we are training the Iraqi military and police, they are taking over more and more of the responsibilities.

An example of that is Mosul right now. One of the last outposts not the only one, but one of the last major outposts of al Qaeda in Iraq today is the city of Mosul. Guess who has taken the lead in fighting al Qaeda in Mosul? It's the Iraqi military with our support. When we had to fight the battle of Fallujah, it was the United States machines and not Iraqi military although they were there. So there has been a dramatic shift and change.

I want to emphasize to you -- look, are things all fine in Iraq. No. If you forget everything I say to you this morning, please remember this. Al Qaeda is on the run, they are not defeated. They are not defeated. They're still the most explosive, the most lethal, explosive devices coming across the Iranian border into Iraq killing young Americans, there is still suicide bombers that are landing at the Damascus airport and being transported into Iraq because they are having to bring in these foreigners who are suicide bombers. And never underestimate the difficulty of countering a suicide bomber.

Ask our World War II veterans about the Kamikaze pilot in World War II. Ask the Israelis how hard it is. They have recently just had another encounter with suicide bombers. So it is very, very difficult. But the progress that is being made is remarkably good. They have a long way to go.

Finally, I'm sorry for the long answer. But I would say, not publicized as much as perhaps it should be, the greatest long-term challenge to Iraq and making it a functioning democracy is the rule of law. The rule of law. The hardest thing in any country, look at the problems the former soviet union countries had trying to have a judicial system that's fair to one and all.

The number one target of al Qaeda in Iraq today, are judges. That's their number one target and you can certainly understand why. We have Iraqis who are willing to sit as judges and juries, particularly judges today in Iraq, risking their lives and their families as we speak.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: So there is John McCain on the subject of Iraq. It has been his go-to issue throughout this campaign and the fight for the Republican nomination. Now as you heard him there talking to supporters down in Georgia. He is urging patience to allow conditions on the ground to improve in Iraq.

And he even, earlier this week took a swipe at Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton over that infamous 3:00 a.m. ad that Hillary Clinton ran talking about who you want that phone call to go to at 3:00 in the morning. John McCain saying earlier this week that that 3:00 in the morning phone call should come to him, that he's the one who will make the strongest commander-in-chief.

Well, coming up after the break here on BALLOT BOWL on CNN, Hillary Clinton is taking a break this weekend but her husband is not. The former president, Bill Clinton, after the break. This is BALLOT BOWL on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

YELLIN: Welcome back to BALLOT BOWL. I'm Jessica Yellin coming to you from a caucus site in Wyoming. We are at a site that has taken so many people, the demand was so high that they actually had to take a lunch break. Folks will be coming back after their break to start reallocating their votes. You know, they put in their ballot once. And then they're counted, and then folks are given an opportunity to change sides. That'll happen after this lunch break.

We are seeing record high turnout across this state. County after county, reporting things they've never seen before. Everyone I spoke to today, in fact, at this very caucus site, everyone I spoke to said this is the first caucus they had attended. So, a lot of excitement and enthusiasm here.

I'll tell you our latest numbers. The caucuses here in Wyoming show that Barack Obama currently has 58 percent of the vote, 5-8. Senator Clinton has 41 percent of the vote. But that's with just 56 percent of all caucus sites reporting. So, little over half of the caucus sites done with their caucusing. Barack Obama still ahead, but Senator Clinton narrowing his lead slightly from the last time we reported these numbers.

Now, both Senators Clinton and Obama are taking a down day. At least, they have no public events with Senator Clinton in Washington and Barack Obama in Chicago. But Bill Clinton is out on the road. He is in Mississippi stumping hard for his wife. And he's been out there making a case for her on national security credentials.

Let's listen to him in Biloxi, Mississippi from today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's no question that she is the best prepared to be commander in chief and diplomat in chief to manage this country's relations to the rest of the world. And we have to restore America's standing in the world as a major source of leadership for peace as well as security, for fighting the war on terror and for making a world with more friends and fewer terrorists.

We have to do both those things. And you know, about half the world's mad at us today, you probably noticed that. And I think it's important to say that she would be the best for military and diplomatic reasons. And let's just deal with the military issues first.

She's the only member of the Armed Services Committee running. When the Republicans were still in the majority in the Senate back in 2004, the Pentagon put together a small commission to plan the future of the American military. They asked one, only one, United States senator to be on the commission. They asked Hillary because they thought she knew more, cared more and would contribute more than anybody else without regard to party. That's what you want in a commander in chief.

And since she's been a senator, she has worked, in a bipartisan way, to help our soldiers and to help our veterans, to pass bills to get body armor to our troops quicker, to guarantee that when members of the National Guard serve overseas, if they are injured and they need health care now and people from Mississippi come home, they get the same health care benefits regular military personnel get for life. That's a very big deal for them. And she did that.

She passed a bill that guaranteed that all of our soldiers coming out of Afghanistan and Iraq are tested for traumatic brain injuries which is a huge problem. We have tens of thousands of your fellow citizens who have lived through war time injuries that no one has survived in previous wars. Many of them have brain injuries because of the impact of the explosive rattling their brains around in their skulls, interrupting the kind of networks in our brains that you take for granted that will enable you to walk out of here without even thinking about why you're doing it.

She met a young lieutenant at one of her trips to Walter Reed Hospital a few months ago who illustrates why you need a president who gets this. This young man said to her, he was being fitted for a prosthesis on his right arm, his arm was blown off below the elbow by one of these roadside bombs. And he said, now Senator, don't feel bad about me. I signed on, I was honored to serve. And my body is in much better shape than a lot of people who've been wounded over there and this prosthesis will work just fine.

But he said I need some help in getting my brain back. And she said at first, she didn't know what he was talking about because they had a great conversation. And he said, oh I can talk to you about military history all day long. But I can't go outside unless my wife writes down everything I have to do and directions to get back home.

There are thousands of your fellow Americans like that. And you want a president who will not let happen what happened after the Vietnam War where we confused an unpopular war with our obligations to our veterans. She will never do that. She will take good care of these people.

(APPLAUSE)

B. CLINTON: And that's why -- even in some of these states where she didn't have enough money to compete and she got beat in these states that didn't have a good profile for her, she won the veterans' vote because they know she's on their side. And every American should know that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

YELLIN: Bill Clinton emphasizing his wife is deeply committed to caring for America's veterans. Also making her case on national security credentials, something we've seen come out of the Clinton campaign with force this week.

Again today, the campaign has sent reporters another memo hammering home this message they've been delivering since Barack Obama, one of his advisers was quoted in a foreign -- in a BBC interview suggesting that he doesn't exactly know which end date he would choose for the war in Iraq, doesn't know for sure when he could really bring the troops home. The Clinton campaign saying, well it's just evidence, again, that Barack Obama says one thing and does another behind the scenes.

Of course, the Obama campaign flatly rejects this. This adviser has resigned. She was not in fact Obama's adviser on issues regarding Iraq. But it just emphasizes the degree of tension and the backbiting that's emerged between these two campaigns.

And of course, we will have plenty of sound coming from Obama's side coming up later in BALLOT BOWL. And after this break, we're going to give you a check of other news, including a fierce storm heading into the Northeast. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Stephanie Elam live at CNN World Headquarters here in Atlanta. More BALLOT BOWL in just a moment. But first, let's catch you up with the top stories this hour.

New developments in the killing of UNC Chapel Hill student Eve Carson. Police say this picture may be their biggest break yet in the case. A person of interest pictured at an ATM possibly trying to access Carson's bank account. Police add the vehicle he's in could also belong to the victim.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF BRIAN CURRAN, CHAPEL HILL POLICE DEPT.: Description of the vehicle is as follows, a blue 2005 Toyota Highlander with a Georgia plate AIV-6690. This investigation is ongoing. The police department, we're seeking leads and continuing to urge anyone with information about this crime to call the Chapel Hill police department at area code 919-968-2760 or crimestoppers at area code 919-942-7515.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: Police investigating the death of an Auburn University student Tuesday have this man in custody, 23-year-old Courtney Lockhart, he faces one count of capital murder and a host of other serious charges.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOMMY DAWSON, AUBURN ASST. CHIEF OF POLICE: First of all, I want to quell a couple of rumors. First of all, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences have told us that she was not sexually assaulted. I know this rumor has been out there and I want to make that clear. I've already made it clear to the family she was not sexually assaulted.

Secondly, we have located a gas can in the downtown area of Auburn, we are sending that to the lab to get it tested to see what was actually in the gas can. And to -- for any DNA that might be on the can.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: And parts of Tennessee and Kentucky are trying to dig out from about a foot of snow. The winter blast is part of a violent storm system that blew through the South yesterday, spawning deadly tornadoes in Florida.

The storm is also creating blizzard conditions in Ohio. Heavy snowfall and winds of up to 35 miles an hour are making driving conditions treacherous in some spots. Take a look at that video right there. The state could get several more inches of snow before it's all over.

And of course, braving those freezing temperatures and blowing snow, CNN's Susan Roesgen has been standing out there, but she's got the hood off now. Susan, is it getting better out there now?

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I thought it was. But I'm going to put my hood back on shortly. Trust me, Stephanie, it's still ...

ELAM: I don't blame you.

ROESGEN: ...really cold and windy. The snow has let up some. But those who are lucky are watching it come down from the warmth of their living room windows. Those who are not so lucky, thousands of people have been stranded by the snow or are shoveling the snow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, it's terrible. I've been out here since 7:00 yesterday. Just wore out, ready to go home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I went to the airport and you know, flights canceled, so I'm back here at the hotel again. A lot of snow in Cincinnati.

ROESGEN: And where were you trying to get to?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Going to Texas from Hartford and ended up here in the snowstorm in Ohio. Just kind of random, but, yes, there were a lot of problems last night. So, they rebooked us. And there are still flights canceled today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: Now, all of the major airports, Stephanie, here in Ohio are struggling to get flights off the ground. But it's even worse on the roads. There are some people out on the highway here behind me.

But overall, there have been more than 600 crashes across the state of Ohio. Triple AAA is reporting more than 700 calls for help. Several people have been injured, at least one person has been killed. And in some places, the police are saying that they will arrest you if you're out on the road without an urgent reason to be there.

So, I think I'll go inside and warm up myself -- Stephanie.

ELAM: I think that it is a good plan. People need to find some ways to entertain themselves at home today, just get off the roads. Thanks, Susan Roesgen.

ROESGEN: Absolutely.

ELAM: All right, now adding to all that snow, some sleet and freezing rain, as the nation springs forward later on tonight. CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras in the severe weather center.

And I got to tell you, Jacqui, traveling yesterday, flying down here from New York, it was a wild ride. What is going on today?

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, well, still a lot of airport travel delays across the Northeastern corridor, across the Ohio Valley, and even you're lingering in the Southeast, mostly because of the wind there.

We just got word from the FAA on their Web site, they're reporting that the airport is now closed in Cleveland. They're hoping to reopen that once again in another couple of hours. And then, there's a ground stop in effect in Cincinnati, which means planes aren't able to take off from other locations to arrive in Cincinnati.

(WEATHER REPORT) ELAM: All right, shuttle astronauts are officially on the clock. The countdown for "Endeavor," 16-day mission to the International Space Station began early this morning. The seven-member crew arrived at the Kennedy Space Center just before the countdown clock started. Stormy weather at their home base in Houston delayed their trip. "Endeavor" is scheduled to blast off on Tuesday.

And here's a little reminder you don't want to forget about, don't want to be late tomorrow. Advance your clocks an hour ahead before you go to bed tonight. That's right, Daylight Savings Time. Of course, you could stay up until 2:00 a.m. and do the change officially. Either way, spring forward, one hour ahead. Do it tonight so that you'll be all ready and adjusted to that extra hour come Monday morning.

I'm Stephanie Elam. Well, we will have more news next hour. Right now though, let's get you back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ACOSTA: Welcome back to BALLOT BOWL '08. I'm Jim Acosta in Philadelphia, where the founding fathers staged their own version of BALLOT BOWL back in the late 1700s. That's Independence Hall behind me where they debated, drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Liberty Bell also behind me. And we want to thank the folks here with the National Park Service for allowing us to have this vantage point of these two very important sites.

And the Keystone State, speaking of which, could hold the keys to the Democratic nomination. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have circled April 2nd on their calendars next month for the upcoming Pennsylvania primary. It is a battle that will be waged from the city of brotherly love all the way out to the steel city.

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ACOSTA (voice-over): Less than 12 hours after the ballots were counted in Ohio, Hillary Clinton's volunteers at this Pittsburgh union hall were already taking her blue-collar message from the Buckeye State to a steel city that's showing signs of rust.

COURTNEY PELLIGRINO, CLINTON CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER: I feel that people in Pennsylvania, like the people in Ohio, are looking for a hard worker, they're looking for a fighter, they're looking for someone who can really get results for the working people.

ACOSTA: Across town, Team Obama is also just getting warmed up.

MARK ELLERMEYER, OBAMA CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER: What I don't get is the way Senator McCain and Senator Clinton criticize him. I'm glad to be inspired, I'm looking to be inspired.

ACOSTA: But there are still plenty of undecideds. Take Pittsburgh's 28-year-old Democratic mayor, Luke Ravenstahl. He wasn't old enough to vote for Clinton's husband in 1992 or 1996. But that doesn't mean he's just another young voter leaning toward Barack Obama.

MAYOR LUKE RAVENSTAHL (D), PITTSBURGH: While I am a young mayor and represent, certainly the youth of our city, I also represent the entire population. And I need to make sure that before I make a decision, my decision is based on what I think is going to be best for Pittsburgh.

ACOSTA: That could mean another race that turns on the economy, while three-quarters of the population is urban and could go Obama, a quarter of the workforce is blue collar, a number that may favor Clinton.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pennsylvania on paper is a good state for Clinton. It's a lot like Ohio demographicly. Like in Ohio, she has the support of the very politically active governor, Ed Rendell. So, I think Obama's got his work cut out for him there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: And when it comes to gaining some delegate ground, Pennsylvania is a good bet for Senator Clinton. That is because there are 158 pledged delegates up for grabs, which is a bigger prize, as a matter of fact, than Ohio.

Stick with us. Coming up after the break on BALLOT BOWL here on CNN, we'll be checking in with our very own Josh Levs, who is keeping an eye on the campaigns online. That's coming up after a break. This is BALLOT BOWL on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

YELLIN: Welcome back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL. I'm Jessica Yellin here in Wyoming where a group of caucus-goers are just starting to come back from their lunch break. The turnout was so significant here, it took quite a while for all the people to come in and issue their first ballot. They had to allow two rounds of it.

Folks went out for their lunch break and now, they're coming back for their realignment. This is the part that makes caucusing unique, where they can argue with one another and try and change sides.

Now, as we've been reporting, Barack Obama is considered favored in caucuses. He's done very well in caucus states in the past. And our own Josh Levs, who has been surfing the Internet all day, and it seems he's surfing the Internet day and night, has some insight into why it is that Obama tends to do so well in caucus states.

Josh, do you have an answer?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I do, yes, and it's interesting, because a lot of people are asking us this. And today is a really good opportunity because we're following what's going on where you guys are. But also because you know, they're still counting from the Texas caucuses just the other day. So, this is what we're going to do really quickly here is try to break it down for everyone, why is it that his campaign as a rule has succeeded so well in caucuses, why is that a good format for him? Now, there's really two sides to this coin. Part of it is that there are disadvantages in a lot of ways for Hillary Clinton. So, the basic ground work benefits him in that sense.

Let's start off taking a look at that side. Why is it that in a way this is a tougher field for Hillary Clinton? Certain people, when it comes to a caucus, are less likely to turn out. Caucuses require getting there at a certain time and often, you have to be there for several hours.

People who work evenings and double shifts. She talks about this on the campaign trail a lot. Nurses, people who work in restaurants. A lot of people with double shift or people who work evenings cannot get off to be there on time for that.

Let's move on here. Also, a lot of single parents have that same challenge because even if they could try to get day care, not as many can. A lot of people in that demographic go for Clinton. Also, some older people. As we all know, a lot of the older voters out there do support her. A lot of them have a tougher time. Plenty of them do make it, but as a rule, the demographics are a lot tougher for her.

But now, let's look at the positive side for him. He has that advantage. But, there's also a lot that his campaign has done that is very smart. First of all, something, Jessica, you've reported on repeatedly. A lot of people -- it's good to hit this again. He has invested in the states that have caucuses.

You know, a lot of the states after the big Super Tuesday where the Clinton campaign didn't put as much focus in there. Those smaller states where the caucuses don't have a lot of delegates. They add up if you get enough of them. He invested there.

Also, grass-roots organization. This is critical because if you're going to get people out to the caucuses, you got to have major teams on the ground focusing specifically on caucuses which he has done.

And a big part of that actually is enthusiasm. Now, if you think about what a caucus is like, when people get there, if they haven't decided, they still have the opportunity to decide once they get in there. They're going to pay a lot of attention to who's more enthusiastic.

What the Obama campaign did very early on, starting in Iowa, was to get a lot of enthusiasm inside those caucus rooms. And we see it in the video, where a lot of these Obama supporters are screaming and so excited and jumping up and down, they've got all those signs.

People who walk in not sure, a lot of the time, and they even say, in exit polls, that they are struck by that kind of excitement and enthusiasm, it makes them think that person might have a better shot in the general election in November. So, we just wanted to break that down for those of you out there who are asking. These are some of the biggest reasons that very often, the caucus atmosphere has paid off for him. He doesn't win all of them. For example, we know Clinton won Nevada. But even still, the way the caucus system works, she got a six-point victory there and she ended up by losing by one in the delegate count. So, his team has definitely focused heavily on those.

And Jessica, I know you are following those continuously, and still, we're seeing the early numbers right here, and it does look like as was expected, the latest caucuses might even go his way, right?

YELLIN: That's right. Right now, it looks like he is ahead. But I should point out, Josh, that the site I'm at is the largest caucus site in the state or the largest county. And they're not even done caucusing. So, we don't know yet how this will all go.

All the points you've made, you see many of them reflected in this room. A lot of the people have said that they've never caucused before, but they had to take today out just to do it because they're so excited about this contest. So, a lot of energy and enthusiasm here. And as Josh has said, it -- just like in the other caucus states around the country.

We're going to take a quick break. And after this break, we will update you on the latest caucus numbers in Wyoming, so stick with us.

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