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Ballot Bowl 2008

Hillary Speaks Live in Indiana; Obama Reverses Charges of Elitism

Aired April 15, 2008 - 17:00   ET

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

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Welcome back to our final hour of BALLOT BOWL on CNN. This is a chance for you, the viewers, to hear the candidates in their own words. I'm in Valparaiso, Indiana, where Hillary Clinton is expected to address a big crowd of supporters here, packed inside this high school gymnasium, Washington Township High School here in Valparaiso, Indiana, home of the Senators, I should note. And that is coming up in just a moment.
My colleague, Suzanne Malveaux, is following the fast-moving events over there on the Obama campaign. That controversy swirling around those remarks that he made at a fund-raiser referring to blue collar workers in Pennsylvania as being bitter.

Suzanne, it will be interesting to see how Hillary Clinton responds to all of this here at this event coming up in just a few moments.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You're absolutely right, Jim. And this has been a fast developing story. We have been following all the twists and turns. Obviously, it is a controversy that has not died down. It is certainly just grown in the last 24 hours.

It started last week, San Francisco, a closed fund-raiser, Senator Barack Obama making some comments about some Pennsylvania voters, characterizing them as bitter, saying they turn to guns and religion to deal with some of the difficulty and complexities of their lives.

Obviously, that was something that was picked up by both of the campaigns, McCain, as well as Hillary Clinton, seizing on that, saying they believe that those comments were offensive -- would be offensive to Pennsylvania voters, as well as other working class folks around the country, clearly trying to set themselves up to take advantage of this moment here.

Let's take a listen, first, to what unfolded. This is audio that was recorded from someone who was sitting in that closed event. It was posted on Huffington Post. Take a listen.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing has replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are going to regenerate and they have not.

And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti- immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now since those comments came out, there has been a lot of problems here for the Obama campaign because Senator Clinton came out saying Barack Obama was an elitist. Senator McCain's camp calling out, saying that he just doesn't understand, not in touch with the working class people of this state of Pennsylvania, of people throughout the country.

Therefore, Barack Obama really having to fully explain -- further explain what he meant by these comments. He first shot back yesterday in Terre Haute, Indiana. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: No, I'm in touch. I know exactly what's going on. I know what's going on in Pennsylvania. I know what's going on in Indiana. I know what's going on in Illinois. People are fed up. They're angry and they're frustrated and they're bitter. And they want to see a change in Washington. And that's why I'm running for president of the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, those comments certainly did not pacify either one of the campaigns who really see this as an opening here, a real test for Barack Obama. We are hearing from the Clinton campaign, they are making the case to superdelegates, saying, look, this could be a big problem in the general election, the Republicans could really go after him on this issue.

The McCain camp already seeing this as a real opportunity to paint Barack Obama as being out of touch. So Barack Obama once again today, decided that he needed to explain further what his positions are and put this to rest. This is Barack Obama earlier today in Indiana.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I said something that everybody knows is true, which is that there are a whole bunch of folks in small towns in Pennsylvania, in towns right here in Indiana, in my hometown in Illinois, who are bitter. They are angry. They feel like they've been left behind. They feel like nobody is paying attention to what they're going through.

So I said, well, you know, when you're bitter, you turn to what you can count on. So people, you know, they vote about guns, or they take comfort from their faith and their family and their community. And they get mad about illegal immigrants who are coming over to this country, or they get frustrated about, you know, how things are changing. That's a natural response.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Barack Obama further decided that they needed to explain, but not only explain, but offer a sense of regret here, an apology, if you will. That happened just within the last couple of hours or so within our program.

He released a statement. This was coming to The Winston-Salem Journal. This is what he stated. And I'm going to give it to you verbatim here. He said: Well, look, if there -- obviously "if I worded things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that. The underlying truth of what I said remains, which is simply that people who seen their way of life upended because of economic distress are frustrated and rightfully so.

"And I hear it all the time when I visit these communities. People say they feel like no one is paying attention or listening to them and that is something -- that is one of the reasons I am running for president. I saw this when I first started off as a community organizer and the steel plants had closed.

"I was working with churches and communities that had fallen on hard times. They felt angry and frustrated."

This, from Barack Obama, essentially apologizing, trying to move forward, not only giving his context, but also saying that he regretted this. I want to go to Chris Welch, he's our embedded producer who is with the Barack Obama campaign.

Chris, you're the one who obviously broke this, giving this to us first here, these statements to this newspaper. Tell us what you know. Clearly, it seems like there's a sense there in the campaign there that the folks that you're dealing with, that they have got to try to move beyond this, and that this is really a true test in this campaign -- Chris.

CHRIS WELCH, CNN PRODUCER: Hi, Suzanne. Well, yes, there is a sense that they do want to move beyond it. And I just want to point out right away to you, too, this statement that he made today, he doesn't quite go as far as saying he regrets what he said in general...

(AUDIO GAP)

WELCH: ... if he offended with the words he used, he regrets that. And you know, this is different than what he started saying yesterday, he had this phrase just this afternoon in an interview he did with a North Carolina newspaper.

But what he said this morning was basically just that he wished he had said it a little differently. You know, he used the phrase here -- well, the campaign is spinning, I should say, that he wished he used different words to make this point.

He regrets it in that way. Again, not regrets -- doesn't regret the whole thing. But the point he was trying to make, the campaign says, is still the same. And that is that, you know, he's reiterating that Pennsylvanians are not voting on issues of the economy because they can't trust their government to do that for them. So they're voting on issues like guns and religion.

MALVEAUX: One of the things, too, Chris, that I noticed that he has been saying when he explains these statements, and there are a lot of people, I guess, on the blogs, the Internet who are echoing this, is that he says he's speaking the truth here and that the people are bitter and they're angry, and that this is really kind of what he's talking about here.

Can you give us a sense of what they're saying to you, how they are explaining the larger context here? Do they feel misunderstood?

WELCH: Well, you know, people have come out and said, you know, he's not far off from the truth. And the campaign maintains that the arguments that the Clinton campaign and that the McCain campaign is making is that Obama is wrong.

There are not people who are bitter out there, that's how the other campaigns are spinning it. But the Obama campaign came back again and said, you know what, I'm not out of touch with these people. He's right in saying that they're bitter and they're angry and they're frustrated with their government. So you know, it's kind of -- it's all campaigns against...

(AUDIO GAP)

WELCH: ... right now.

MALVEAUX: And, Chris, you and I, we've been intimately involved in talking to the handlers, to his producers, to the folks who are in the communications, the ones who circle around him and also who deal with us as well.

We were in this when he was dealing with the controversy over some of the statements his pastor made, Richard (ph) Wright. And they -- obviously, they felt that they had to explain and explain and explain. And then finally, they got over it. They moved beyond.

Is this the kind of thing that they think that they can move beyond? It's a test, it's difficult now, but it may not be an issue a couple of days or even a week from today?

WELCH: Well, I think that they're hoping they can move beyond this quicker than the Reverend Jeremiah Wright controversy. They came out right away last night, at the first events that he held last night since the comments broke on the Web site, huffingtonpost.com.

He made comments in person to a town hall meeting last night in Terre Haute, Indiana. I think that, you know, from the campaign...

(AUDIO GAP)

WELCH: ... let's try and nip this in the bud, get it out of the way in hope that it doesn't stick around too long.

MALVEAUX: Chris, thank you so much. I want to clarify that, it was not Richard Wright, but rather Jeremiah Wright, the pastor that I was referring to. I want to go to my colleague, Jim Acosta, who's standing by, seeing if this is going to further develop with the Clinton campaign.

Jim, we've already heard from the McCain folks, they've sent out a statement saying that they don't buy this. They don't really accept this statement of regret here. They believe that he has not fully explained himself and that he has been elitist and out of touch with the voters.

They are clearly believing that if he is the nominee that this is going to be a real issue in the general election. And that is what the Clinton campaign folks are quietly arguing -- or not so quietly arguing to the superdelegates, saying this could be a real big problem, therefore Senator Clinton is better positioned in the general election to go against John McCain.

What are you hearing, Jim?

ACOSTA: Well, Suzanne, absolutely, this is another test for Barack Obama. And pardon me if I lower my voice a little bit. I'm not broadcasting from The Masters in Augusta, but I don't want to offend the audience who came to hear Hillary Clinton.

But clearly, this is another test for Barack Obama. And as you noted, the McCain campaign is coming down hard on Obama with those comments, so is the Clinton campaign. Our BlackBerry runneth over today with e-mail from Clinton campaign officials talking about what their superdelegate supporters are saying about all of this, what some of their contacts and supporters down in North Carolina are saying about this.

And the resounding chorus from both of these campaigns is highly critical of Barack Obama. But we heard from the conventional wisdom before, regarding that controversy swirling around Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright.

And the conventional wisdom at that time was that it was, if not fatal, near fatal for Barack Obama. And we're hearing some of that same debate happening again over these comments.

I have to tell you, being at this event here in Valparaiso for a good three or four hours, I haven't had a Hillary Clinton supporter come up to me, pull me by the arm and say, you know what, I'm really fired up over those comments that Barack Obama made.

But we want to tell you that in just a few moments here we're expecting Hillary Clinton at the podium. Her superdelegate supporter, Evan Bayh, the senator from Indiana, is at the podium right now. But we hope to get to Hillary Clinton in just a few moments. So stick with us. We're going to a break. But coming after break, Hillary Clinton here on BALLOT BOWL on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ACOSTA: Welcome back to BALLOT BOWL on CNN. I'm Jim Acosta in Valparaiso, Indiana. We're expecting Senator Clinton to take the podium at any moment. Right now, her superdelegate, Senate supporter in this state, Evan Bayh, is at the podium. And he is introducing the senator from New York and firing up this crowd, talking about trade issues, saying that this country needs a president who will stand up to the Chinese on trade issues.

And Evan Bayh, as you can see there, is introducing the senator from New York now. On the other side of your screen, you're seeing Clinton in stereo here. Hillary Clinton on the left. Bill Clinton on the right. Bill Clinton is in Deep Run, North Carolina.

But let's go to Hillary Clinton now, who is just taking the podium here in Valparaiso, Indiana.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you so much. I have to say, there's a lot of energy in this gym today. And I am thrilled to be with you and to be introduced by your wonderful senator. Evan Bayh is...

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: ... such an effective advocate and champion for you. And he's a great friend to me. And we do serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee. We actually sit next to each other. And I have seen firsthand how hard he works for all of you. So it is a great personal pleasure to be here with him. And I also want to thank Representative Greg Simms and Representative Shelli VanDenburgh for being here as well. Thank you very much for coming.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: You know, in a few minutes, I'm going to say a little more about the two panelists we have up here who are going to talk very personally about their experience with respect to Magnaquench and what we need to be doing for our country. Terry Luna (ph) and Stan Trout (ph).

But before I get to Terry and Stan and have a chance to take questions from all of you, I want to thank you because it is exciting that Indiana is going to help pick the next president of the United States.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: And it is great being here in the heart of America. I was born in Chicago and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. I spent a lot of time at the Dunes, including...

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) CLINTON: ... if you promise not to tell anybody, that's where we had our after-party, after my senior prom.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: But I'm hoping that nobody tells anybody that. I was raised with Midwestern values and an unshakeable belief in the promise of America. I could not be standing here asking for your support to become the Democratic nominee for president if I did not benefit from the wonderful hard work of my family, from the extraordinary teachers who taught me from kindergarten through high school and my public school system.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: From the people that gave me my first jobs when I was 13 and 14 years old, helping out at one of the parks in the town where I grew up, to the neighbors whose children I played with, and who kept an eye on all of us as we ran around the neighborhood.

I have been so blessed, and of course, I think many of us know that we would not be who we are today, were we not so fortunate as to be a citizen of the United States of America. With all that means and all that offers to each of us.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: And I know how hard people work. People work really, really hard in America. We're the hardest working people in the world, aren't we? People get up, go to work, sometimes, go to another job, trying to make tomorrow better than today for themselves and their families.

And I was raised to believe in hard work, not that anybody was going to hand you anything. You were going to work. You were going to be responsible and self-reliant. But you'd have a community and a country that was all moving in the same direction because we know we do better when we're all going up together.

And what we have to get back to is having leadership that's as good and hard-working as the people of Indiana and America are again.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: Well, I must say, you're holding one of my favorite signs, "Real Men Vote Hillary." I really like that.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: You know, one of the highlights of this campaign has been when, out of blue, Jack Nicholson endorsed me.

(LAUGHTER)

CLINTON: And he called up a radio station in Los Angeles, and he said, you know, I've been thinking, I'm for the woman. And went on to say "real men are for Hillary." So I thought that was a pretty good endorsement.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: You know, what's so great about our country is if you're fortunate, as I have been, to travel from one end to the other, and to me, oh, my gosh, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people over the last 16 years, you always come away energized by what people are doing in their lives, how committed they are to a better future to themselves and their family.

Now, that doesn't mean that people don't have problems. Everybody has problems. But what always strikes me is how amazing people are about trying to find a way to get around the problems and solve the problems, and get beyond the problems.

Now, Americans are such a fundamentally optimistic and positive people. Now that's one of the reasons we've done so well over the course of our history. We don't get bogged down in looking back. We're always looking forward.

Yes, and whatever obstacle we see, we get over it. Whatever challenge we have, we meet it. We are the problem-solvers. We are the innovators.

ACOSTA: Hillary Clinton describing the American people as positive, we're going to stick with these comment, stick with this speech. Come back after the break. We'll have more Hillary Clinton. This is BALLOT BOWL on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ACOSTA: Welcome back to BALLOT BOWL on CNN. I'm Jim Acosta in Valparaiso, where Hillary Clinton is right now firing up a big crowd of supporters here in Hoosier country. She just addressed the controversy swirling around Barack Obama over those remarks that he made referring to blue collar voters in Pennsylvania as being bitter.

Unfortunately, it was during our break when she made reference to those remarks. And we're working on our instant replay capacity to get those comments to you in just a few moments.

But just to paraphrase, she talked about Obama and those remarks where he called working class voters bitter. And he said -- Hillary Clinton said, I should say, that people here in Indiana and Pennsylvania don't cling to their religion or to their guns because they're bitter. They cling to their religion because of their faith in God.

Paraphrasing here, she also said that people cling to their belief in the Second Amendment because it is what they believe. And Hillary Clinton is able to weave those comments that she made about Barack Obama into a greater narrative about her upbringing in Scranton, Pennsylvania, talking about her father raised a working- class family that included herself in Scranton, that her grandfather worked in the mills. And in the summer, they vacationed at Lake Winola, where she was raised with working class values. So Hillary Clinton not only taking a swipe at Barack Obama, then weaving that swipe into a greater narrative about her working class upbringing, as she describes it, in Pennsylvania.

But let's go back to Hillary Clinton here in Valparaiso.

CLINTON: ... into one America that, in his view, that is enlightened and one that is not. We know there's an unacceptable economic divide in America. But that is certainly not the way to bridge it. The way to do that is to roll up our sleeves and get to work advancing the cause of economic justice and economic opportunity in America.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: I don't think that Americans need a president who looks down on them. We need a president who stands up and fights for the American people again.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: And that's what I'm offering in this campaign. Now, I know that some folks would wish that you don't have to fight to get what we need. I do, too. But I somehow don't believe that we're going to win this election without fighting for it.

That we're going to turn our economy around, take on the special interest, stand up to the Chinese, achieve universal health care and No Child Left Behind, make college affordable, have a new energy future, if we don't fight for it as Americans. That's what we're going to do.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: And, you know, I think it's time that we said once and for all, we're not on different teams. We're not on the labor team, or the management team, or the Republican team, or the Democratic team, or the city team, or the suburban team, or the small town team, or the rural team. We're on America's team.

And America needs each and every one of us in order to chart a new course.

And I have been campaigning across indiana, talking about all the issues, but emphasizing what, to me, here at home, is the most important one. That's jobs, jobs and jobs -- a strong economy that creates opportunity for people willing to work for it.

And, you know, we have been on a day's journey here. It started, as evan said, in Indianapolis. we went to allison, and AM General. And now here we are. Part of the reason i wanted to come here is because evan told me the story about what happened to magnaquench. Now, you know it used a subsidiary of General Motors. It did manufacture those powerful magnets that evan was describing. And it provided good jobs not only for families here, but it provided the critical technology for our national defense. About five years ago, that plant was shut down. And it was shipped to China. So the jobs were lost. And equally importantly, we lost a critical military advantage. We have every reason to believe that the chinese government now has magnaquench's technology.

So we are now relying on China to make a product that is critical to our security. And then we have hope to they'll keep selling it to us.

Now, i don't think America's security should depend on chinese spare parts or the chinese government's goodwill. I think that is a losing strategy for our country. Letting a company essential for making smart bombs pack up and leave for China is anything but smart.

And this issue goes way beyond magnaquench. In recent years, we've seen so many defense jobs go abroad. And the critical technology and the know-how went with them. We're not just outsourcing jobs, we're outsourcing our security. And this has got to stop. Made in America can't just be a slogan. It must be a strategy. And i will work with Senator bayh to make sure it is.

Earlier today, i outlined a very specific plan of what i think we ought to do. See, i believe we got to bring manufacturing back to indiana and America. I don't think that we can remain a strong country if we don't make anything. Right? And i don't think we remain the strongest military in the world if we don't make a lot of what our military needs here at home.

You know, there's an issue in this campaign that never gets talked about. And it's the issue of how comMitted and determined China is to be our military equal. Now, i hope that we will have a productive and peaceful relationship with China. We're going to have to stand up to them on trade. We're going to have to make it very clear they've got to quit manipuLating their currency. But we don't want conflict. We want healthy competition.

But it's very clear what's happening. China is investing billions of dollars in building up its army and its air force and in creating what they call a blue water Navy, from nuclear-powered subMarines to aircraft carriers. And we're sitting here. We have no strategy under this president. If anybody can tell me what president Bush's policy toward the chinese are, i have give you $1,000. There is none, the best i can determine.

You know, i called on him last week to say he would not go to the opening ceremonies of the olympics unless the chinese changed their behavior toward tibet and darfur and human rights.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: So there you hear Hillary Clinton talking about the China challenge which earlier in this address, she referred to Barack Obama's comments about blue collar workers in pennsylvania, saying that America needs a president who doesn't look down at them.

We'll come back to Hillary Clinton after a break. Stick with us. This is "BALLOT BOWL" on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Welcome back to "BALLOT BOWL" on CNN.

ACOSTA: And again, let's go back to Hillary Clinton who is talking to a big crowd in valparaiso, indiana.

CLINTON: We're going to try to prevent it from happening until finally, the moving van leaves the back of the White House, heading for the ranch in texas. And then i will work with evan to make sure we keep this as part of our national defense.

And third, i will create a task force aimed at combatting industrial espionage. We are losing our intellectual property. You know, it's clear that, again -- not to pick on them or anything because they are doing what they think they have to do -- the chinese have a full court press to steal everything they can't buy from us. And we've got to do more to protect and defend our vital security, information and intellectual property. We invent it. We innovate it. And then we lose the jobs and we lose the information to people who are trying to undercut us, undercut our jobs, and undercut our security.

And, fourth, i will require regular public reviews, of foreign investments in key national security technologies. You know, when that company bought magnaquench, they said they wouldn't move the jobs for ten years. As soon as the ten years were up, they were getting ready to move those jobs to China. Evan went time and again with the Congressman to try to persuade the White House and the Pentagon to ask some of the hard questions that should have been asked. They weren't interested.

So we're going to change the law, and we're going to require public reviews, and we're not going to lose vital security material and technology like we did when magnaquench packed up and left.

ACOSTA: And we're going breakaway from this live coverage of this Hillary Clinton event to bring you what she just said a few minutes ago about those reMarks made by Barack Obama referring to blue collar workers in pennsylvania as bitter. Hillary Clinton during one of our breaks, unfortunately, laid into Senator Obama about those comments. Let's go to those comments now.

BVT

CLINTON: I was kind of taken aback by the reMarks that Senator Obama made the other day because they don't reflect my experience. You know, they seemed kind of elitist and out of touch in talking about people who live in small towns and rural areas throughout America. You know, Americans who believe in the Second Amendment as a constitutional right, Americans who believe in god as a matter of personal faith, Americans who believe in protecting good jobs for the American dream right here in valparaiso and indiana.

EVT ACOSTA: So there you have it, Hillary Clinton taking aim at Barack Obama over those comments.

Barack Obama made referring to blue collar workers in pennsylvania as being bitter. There's much more on this tonight. You're going to want to stick around for our extended political coverage at 10:00 tonight eastern, John King with the CNN Election Express. He's been traveling across the state of pennsylvania. It's "Route 2008." That's coming up tonight, 10:00 eastern. A political road trip across pennsylvania with our very own John King.

Stick with us. This is "BALLOT BOWL" on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOSH LEVS, CNN BUSINESS ANALYST: Hello, I'm Josh levs at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. We've got more "BALLOT BOWL" ahead but first, a check of the headlines.

A deadly bomb blast in southern iran. State-run tv is reporting that 9 people werekilled and 105 people were wounded. A hand-made bomb rocked a mosque in the city of shirha. It was just after evening prayers. That city is 400 miles south of tehran.

Iraqi cleric muqtada al sadr slammed the U.S. and Defense Secretary robert Gates. He called GAtes a, quote, "terrorist" and the U.S. his, quote, "enemy." His comments were in response toa reference Gates made suggesting that al sadr refuses to work within iraq's political process.

This week in Iraq, 19 U.S. troops have been killed, many of them in clashes to militiamen loyal to al sadr.

Could this be true? American Airlines is telling CNN, all but three of its MD-80s have been cleared to fly. More than 2,000 wer cancelled this week over concerns of wire bundling.

Meanwhile, after blizzard-like conditions yesterday, some spring snow showers are heading to the upper midwest today. Northern new england could also get a dusting. And parts of the south are cleaning up after yet another round of severe weather. Yesterday's storms left several people injured in kentucky and also in tennessee.

We're going to health news now. One person managed to find a silver lining in his heart attack. Chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay gupta explains in today's "Fit Nation" report.

BVT

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Kris Verdin was living on borrowed time. He was 366 pounds and had a family history of heart disease.

KRIS VERDIN, HEART ATTACK SURVIVIOR: A year and a half ago almost to the day. I got done cut might go grass. Was watching some football and started having some breathing difficult tiffs. GUPTA: Kris' prediction came true, but much earlier than expected.

VERDIN: I had a heart attack at the age of 32.

GUPTA: He was rushed to the hospital and had an emergency angioplasty where doctors reopened an artery that was 100 percent blocked. He had five more stents put in the following week.

VERDIN: It was a traumatic experience and i don't wish it on my worst enemy. I said many times, the best thing that ever happened to me what was i had a heart attack.

GUPTA: Since that day, Kris traded in pizza and fast-food eating habits for salad and chicken and came a group cycle instructor local YMCA. So far, he's dropped 110 pounds.

So what has the experience taught him?

VERDIN: You have to change. You've got to take your life in your own hands. And you have a wake-up call. Don't let the wake-up call taking you to the hospital and a nurse telling you, "You had a heart attack."

My name is Kris Verdin and i've lost 110 pounds.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting

EVT

LEVS: Wow.I hope some people i know are taking a look at that report there.

That is it for atlanta. More "BALLOT BOWL" coverage straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BVT

VIOLA VAUGHN, CNN HERO: When a girl reaches the age when she can help in the house, the mother starts keeping this girl at home. That girl begins missing school, missing homework and she starts to fail. It's a downward cycle.

My name is Viola Vaughn. I came from detroit, michigan. I started a girl's education and self-sufficiency program.

You did good.

I have a limitation of 100 girls. That's the mazimum. That's all it's going to do.

I came here to the synagogue to retire. The girls said, no, we want to take it to 10,000.

We take girls who have already failed in school. They learn how to perfect a skill to produce products for export.

We have the pastry shop and in the sewing workshop they make sheets, t they make dolls, they make any kind of household linens.

Half of the funds goes back to them. The other remainder goes into the education program.

Come on, give me a hug. We're doing this all the time.

They're passing school. They're opening businesses. And i see the success. Right now, we already have seven girls in university.

It's their program.

And they run everything. I'm there just to make all the "I"s are dotted and the "t"s are crossed.

Here i am retired. And this is the best job i've ever had in my life.

EVT

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ACOSTA: Welcome back to "BALLOT BOWL" on CNN. I'm jim acosta along with suzanne malveaux. I'm currently in valparaiso, Indiana, where Hillary Clinton has been campaigning in hoosier country. She's talking to voters here about issues ranging from trade to the economy to the iraq war.

But the big headline here is that she went back to that controversy over comments made by Barack Obama when he referred to blue collar workers in pennsylvania as being bitter, and being so bitter that they -- paraphrasing here -- cling to guns and religion.

It's been a difficult day for Senator Obama. And Hillary Clinton has not been letting up. She's been capitalizing on those comments. And even though she did not make mention of those reMarks from Obama, at an event earlier today, she did do that at valparaiso, indiana.

Suzanne, we were talking about this earlier today. we were curious as to whether or not she was going to lay off this controversy after that apology came from the senator early in the afternoon. But it appears that is not the case. Hillary Clinton is running with the story.

BVC

CLINTON: I was kind of taken aback by the reMarks that Senator Obama made the other day because they don't reflect my experience. You know, they seem kind of elitist and out of touch in talking about people who live in small towns and rural areas throughout America.

You know, Americans who believe in the Second Amendment as a constitutional right, Americans who believe in God as a matter of personal faith. Americans who believe in protecting good jobs for the American dream right here in valparaiso, in indiana.

EVC

ACOSTA: So there you have it, suzanne. Hillary Clinton is not backing off this controversy. She is continuing to raise it during these events, despite the fact that an apology came from Barack Obama.

Suzanne, it's going to be interesting to see how Obama responds to this. Obviously, this is going to come up during the sunday talk shows and as the days move forward here.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: And, jim, it really is another big test for Barack Obama. We saw this once before when the controversial reMarks of his pastor came up. He addressed them. He put it in larger context talking about race. And then he seemed to get over it, the polls even showing that he was not really damaged or hurt so much by that controversy.

This is the second big test for his campaign, ten days away from that critical pennsylvania primary. Barack Obama, explaing it twice, but also putting out this statement here to the "Winston-Salem Journal." It's about as close to an apology that we've seen here.

He said: "If I worded things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that. The underlying truth of what I said remains, which is simply that people who have seen their way of life upended becuae of economic distress are frustrated, and rightfuly so. And I hear it all the time when I visit these communities. People say they feel like no one is paying attention or listening to them and that is something -- that is one of the reasons I am running for president. I saw then when I first started off as a community organizaer and the steel plants had closed. I was working with churches in communtities that had fallen on hard times. They felt angry and frustrated."

So, jim, this is really something that we are seeing them address. But also try to move beyond. And the big question is whether or not that is really going to work, whether or not that's going to resonate with pennsylvania workers.

And the one person who has the pulse of those pennsylvania voters is our own John king. He is going to have a speCIAl tonight at 10:00. It is called "Route 2008." He's been traveling across the country, talking to voters, talking to organizers. Stay tuned for that at 10:00 eastern tonight.

Thank you for joining us here at CNN as "BALLOT BOWL continues."

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