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Big Day in Pennsylvania; League of First Time Voters; Earth Day: How Can We Protect the Planet
Aired April 22, 2008 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen in for Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: Events come into the CNN NEWSROOM live on this Tuesday, April 22nd.
Here's what's on the rundown.
NGUYEN: Pennsylvania's big day. So, will it be Clinton or Obama? The Democratic Party boss, Howard Dean, live this hour on this never-ending battle.
HARRIS: Texas starting the process of finding homes for hundreds of children, polygamist parents ordered to get DNA samples this morning.
NGUYEN: Another penny named. Yes, another record high. Crazy gas prices in the NEWSROOM.
The presidential race and what may be the most anticipated day yet for Democrats. Polls are now open in Pennsylvania. For Hillary Clinton, simply winning may not be enough.
CNN's Jim Acosta is at a polling station in Philadelphia and Ali Velshi looks at why a lot of people will vote with their wallets.
So let's begin with Jim. Are you expecting record turnout today, Jim?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Betty. You took the words out of my mouth. Pennsylvania election officials are bracing for what could be a record turnout at the polls as Democrats in the Keystone state are fired up for this primary. It took six weeks to get here but it's finally upon us. And the latest sparring that has been going on over the last 24 hours between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has been over this last-minute Clinton campaign ad that has been airing in TV stations across this state.
The ad features an image of Osama bin Laden. The Clinton campaign says that the message of the ad is to emphasize that experience is what's needed in the White House but the Obama campaign is accusing the Clinton campaign of playing the politics of fear. And over the last day or so these candidates have been making their closing arguments to voters and the choice that they're laying out to the voters is the choice between experience and judgment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now it is time for you to decide. You've listened, you've watched, you've read. You've checked out the resume, you've asked what the plans are, and now you have to decide who would you hire to turn this economy around and start jobs growing again.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Senator Clinton has -- she is a formidable adversary and she has many good ideas. In fact, we share a lot of ideas. We share a lot of policy positions, but the reason I'm running is because I believe that I am more committed to bringing about the changes that are necessary than Senator Clinton is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: And Hillary Clinton is ending her campaign day here in Philadelphia where she will be joined by her top surrogates in the state, the governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, and the mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter. It's important to note that Barack Obama is wrapping up his campaign after six weeks fighting for votes in Pennsylvania. He is actually ending the night in Evansville, Indiana, an indication, according to many political analysts, that Barack Obama is looking forward in this campaign, not back to what is happening in Pennsylvania today.
The polls, by the way, Betty, close at 8:00 tonight. So there's still plenty of time for voters in Pennsylvania to get to these polls.
NGUYEN: And I already see people behind you so it is going to be a big day. Thank you, Jim.
Well, here is a look at what is at stake in today's Pennsylvania primary. It could be, in a word, everything.
There are 158 delegates up for grabs and it is the largest remaining contest for the Democrats. Barack Obama leads Hillary Clinton in the overall delegate count and according to CNN's running tally, he has 1,648. Now our count shows Clinton trailing with just over 1,500 delegates. Even if Clinton or Obama did the impossible and won every single delegate, it would not give them enough to clinch the nomination. But if Barack Obama pulls off an upset and wins today, Hillary Clinton could face tremendous pressure to quit the race.
HARRIS: The economy. It is "Issue #1" with American voters and as Pennsylvania holds its critical contest today we get more bad news at the gas pump.
CNN senior business correspondent Ali Velshi -- there he is with the CNN Election Express in Philadelphia.
Ali, good morning. You know, voters who stopped for gas on the way to the polls this morning could be in a pretty foul mood. ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Yes. It doesn't help when you're trying to make a decision about the future, but the present is such a big deal. This is one of the problems, Tony, because, you know, gas prices, as important as they are, you know, it's really influencing the way people make decisions on things -- for the whole country. You look at the national average for the price of a gallon of gasoline. $3.51 now, 25 cents more than it was a month ago and 25 cents in a month. That's almost a penny a day and you look at the price of oil and it's going up almost $1 a day.
$118.05 overnight and we're still around $118, so that means that this is -- because this is a lag between the price of oil and the price of gas, that means it's going to continue to go up. $3.50 is where people told us we'd be by Memorial Day. We got a way to go until Memorial Day. Where are we going to be? What's going to happen?
Now here in Pennsylvania, the economy really is "Issue #1." Let's talk about how the economy is going. I -- we've been able to sort of isolate a three-month period. This is the most recent period for which we can have numbers. If you look at the economic growth in the United States from December to February, and you compare it to the same three-month period a year ago, this is the increase in all of our productivity, everything we make, everything we sell, all that kind of stuff, the economy grew in the United States by 0.3 percent, three- tenths of 1 percent.
In Pennsylvania over the same period, Tony, it went down four- tenths of a percent. So that's a problem for Pennsylvania. Right now Pennsylvania's unemployment rate is lower than the national average. Its foreclosure rate on homes much lower than the national average because it's got an older average population. Many people have paid off their homes.
But it continues to be a problem. When the economy as a whole is slowing, as we've seen in the United States, Tony, when all of the measures of the economy show a slowdown, eventually that catches up to you on many fronts...
HARRIS: Yes.
VELSHI: ...including jobs. So Pennsylvanians really have something to be concerned about and that's why they want these candidates talking about what they're going to do about the economy.
HARRIS: And practically speaking, I'm wondering when Pennsylvanians go to the gas pump to fill up, to top off -- I'm sorry, I'm not supposed to say top off -- how is the price of gas there compared to other parts of the country?
VELSHI: Well, Pennsylvania is interesting because it's bordered by a whole bunch of states. Here in Philadelphia, for instance, as you know -- you and I actually talked about this once when oil -- when gas hit another milestone because I happened to be in Philadelphia and you cross over the river, the Delaware River into New Jersey and gas is much cheaper there. New Jersey is the cheapest gas in the entire United States, about $3.25. Here in Pennsylvania, it's around the national average. So that -- it seems to track it, but you can get about a 25-cents savings just by going across the bridge.
HARRIS: And one more quick one, just because you're so good on this. How much of that price, what is it, $116, $117 for a barrel of oil right now, would you guess is purely based on speculation? What's happening in Venezuela? What's happening in Nigeria.
VELSHI: Right. Well, as opposed to the supply and demand. Let's take it the other way.
HARRIS: Yes.
VELSHI: The part of oil that is just supply and demand, most economists say should be between $60 and $80 a barrel. So we are now fully double what the low estimate is.
HARRIS: Yes.
VELSHI: In other words, could be $40 to $60 in a barrel of oil but it's just speculation. But the bottom line is any commodity that is traded, it's part of the price. I mean you could say it should be 80 bucks, but the bottom line is that's not what people are selling it for and that not what people are buying it for. So there's nothing truer than the market price of something.
The world says oil is worth 118 bucks right now, but on a supply and demand basis probably around 80 bucks.
HARRIS: All right. Ali Velshi with the CNN Election Express in Philadelphia.
Ali, great to see you as always. Thanks, man.
NGUYEN: (INAUDIBLE) between those two numbers, because we're feeling it nonetheless.
All right. So CNN tonight, Pennsylvania voters cast their ballots in the heated Democratic primary. The best political team on TV brings you the results like no one else. CNN, the place for politics tonight beginning at 7:00 Eastern.
Also, women motivated by the vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: What I sense from you guys, though, is that you're passionate about this time around. But you're energize this time.
UNIDENTIFIED VOTER: We're six passionate chicks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Our Rick Sanchez talks to voters who've changed their minds and now want change. We'll hear from them coming up.
HARRIS: Passionate chicks.
Also making news this morning, DNA samples being taken from more than 400 children who lived in that Texas polygamist compound.
CNN's Susan Roesgen is in San Angelo, Texas for us this morning.
And Susan, great to see you again. Most of the children are in that -- did we just lose her? Let me give it just a beat or two to see if we can get her back. Susie is in front of the coliseum where the children are housed right now. Do we have her? Great.
Hey, Susie, I'm just curious, do we have an idea of what conditions are like in that building for the children and how long they'll actually be there?
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, those are really both the questions that the lawyers have, Tony, for the children. They're worried about where the children might wind up after those DNA tests are completed, after the results come back, and they're worried about the conditions are like for the kids in the coliseum behind us.
We're not allowed to bring our cameras inside so we can't show folks what's going on because of the privacy of the children. But as a one lawyer put it, it's a lose-lose situation. Everybody, both the state of Texas and the lawyers for the children, want to do the right thing for them, but nobody's really happy with the way it's going.
The lawyers have complained about a couple of issues that the judge is trying to sort through. One was the simple issue of breast- feeding. The lawyers are worried about mothers being separated from the children, the very young children. And the judge has rules that, look, working women in this country have to stop breast-feeding and go to work. People do it every day. And the mothers in this case will have to just do that as well.
Also, there was a question of prayer in the coliseum behind me, Tony. The question was, are they getting adequate time and space to have private prayer. And the judge ruled that she will allow that. She will allow a half an hour in the morning and a half an hour at night for the mothers and their children to pray in the coliseum, but she wants to have some Mormon monitors.
You know, this is a breakaway sect from the Mormon religion. But she wants the Mormon monitors to come in and make sure that if these folks here in the coliseum are gathering that there isn't any coaching of children going on, that there isn't any discussion of the case going on, that it's actual prayer. So she's asked Mormons in the community to come in and monitor the prayer.
And finally, she said she will allow some telephones in there because the children want to be able to reach their lawyers, the older children, obviously, the upper teenage children, and some of the mothers in there want to be able to reach the children. So she's going to allow some phones to be put in there.
So these were some what sounds like minor issues, but again, we have more than 400 children and some mothers in the same confined space, this basically the stadium, the coliseum here. There are some issues about...
HARRIS: Yes.
ROESGEN: ...you know, how they get to relate with each other and with the outside world.
HARRIS: And Susie, you mentioned more than 400 children in that facility behind you. The Associated Press is now reporting there are 437 young people involved. That is a higher number than we've been reporting previously.
ROESGEN: It sure is and it was a surprise to the reporters yesterday in the court hearing when they heard that number as well. Apparently, Tony, you're right, it's now more than 430 children. We had thought it was about 415. Not quite sure where the discrepancy comes from, but as one courtroom observer said, what does that say about security? How could you not know that you had an additional 15 or 20 kids in there? But that's what they're saying now...
HARRIS: Yes.
ROESGEN: ...that it's up to 437 children.
HARRIS: Just a lot of children, that's for sure.
All right. Susie Roesgen for us in San Angelo, Texas.
Susie, great to see you. Thank you.
NGUYEN: OK. So going from warm and sunny to cold and snowy. Oh, yes, and did we mention the hail? We're talking about roller coaster weather across the country. Large hail caught some people off guard in Oklahoma. Look at this. Pounding the pavement, cracking car windshields. Yes, some of that hail was the size of golf balls. Hope they have insurance.
And look at all of this snow. Spring snow in the Seattle area? Some people say they are sick and tired of it. After all, it is spring. They want that spring weather that's really due to them, but so far it doesn't look like it's happening.
HARRIS: It's mythical. Spring is mythical at this point there of the country.
But Rob Marciano, we are focusing our attention, a bit at least, on Pennsylvania.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
HARRIS: Finally after six weeks folks are getting an opportunity to go to the polls and make a decision here at least for the Pennsylvania primary later today.
MARCIANO: They got no excuses.
NGUYEN: Oh really? Good.
MARCIANO: Yes, I don't think so.
NGUYEN: Right.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MARCIANO: We got a picture quickly of Philly? There you go. City of brotherly love. That's when it all started back when it was the nation's capital. Remember that? They drew up something called the Constitution all that stuff way back when.
HARRIS: Way to go, Professor Marciano, this morning.
NGUYEN: Rob. Yes.
HARRIS: Way to handle your business there. Thank you.
MARCIANO: All right, guys.
HARRIS: Great city, isn't it? All right. Thanks, Rob.
Hillary Clinton says she'll stay in it to win it. Good for Democrats? We will hear from the party chairman next as our primary day coverage continues right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.
NGUYEN: Critical contest in Pennsylvania today, yes, watching closely along with us is Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean and he joins us live. Thanks for being with us.
HOWARD DEAN, CHMN., DEMOCRATIC NAT'L COMMITTEE: Thanks for having me on, Betty.
NGUYEN: All right. It's an exciting day and let's get straight to it because you say there is no reason not to know who the Democratic candidate is going to be by the time of the last primary, that being in June, but...
DEAN: Well, not exactly.
NGUYEN: Hold on a second. But Senator Clinton has a different idea of that, and I want you to take a listen on what she said last night on "LARRY KING LIVE."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: I'm going until we get Florida and Michigan resolved. I'm going until everybody has had a chance to vote in this process. I'm going until the automatic delegates have made their judgments based on their independent assessment as to who of us would be better against John McCain in the fall and who would be the best president for our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: So Chairman, what's wrong with that? Why not wait until there is a clear choice even if that means going up to the convention.
DEAN: That's not anything different than what I've said, what she just said. I believe all that can be done by the first of July. I didn't -- I did not say this is going to be over by the last primary. What I want is, I want the superdelegates to begin to say who they are now -- who they're for now. 60 percent of them have already said so. I'd like the other 40 percent to begin to say, spreading this out, they can take some time, but we do want a nominee well before we go into the convention in August. I don't think it's anything different than what I've said that Senator Clinton (INAUDIBLE).
NGUYEN: But you've also encouraged superdelegates to go ahead and make a decision. I mean is that...
DEAN: That's right.
NGUYEN: Is that really fair if they don't see how all these states stack up and where the popular vote is?
DEAN: Well, don't forget 60 percent of superdelegates have already made their decision, and I just want the other 40 percent to do that some times now -- sometime between now and the end of June. By that time, Florida and Michigan will be resolved and we should -- and that all the voters would have voted, which is great.
My point is, is this that there is no point in going -- having a nasty, divided convention if we can -- if the voters can say who they're for. All -- the regular voters would have said who they're for by June 3rd. Florida and Michigan would be resolved certainly by the end of June and I think the unpledged delegates, the remainder of them, ought to say who they're for by the end of June, then we'll know who the nominee is.
NGUYEN: And so it still goes back to that by the end of June is what you're hoping to get an answer. But at the same time, I mean, this is such a close race and is drawing so much excitement. How can that be bad for the party?
DEAN: It's -- I don't think it is all bad for the party. I think some of the criticism back and forth has not been so great. But I think what this has done for the party is extraordinary. 300,000 new voters in Pennsylvania, and 160,000 of whom have switched over from the Republican Party, 158,000 new voters in North Carolina. All of -- that data is all now at the DNC. We know who those folks are and we've run elections in these states, these important states, both of which will be swing, not just Pennsylvania. We think North Carolina could very well be in play in the fall. And we think we can win in North Carolina and Virginia, in places that we haven't won for a while. So - I - you know, this is a spirited contest. It is painful -- for some of the criticisms that go back and forth, but in the long run, I think people are so excited to finally have a say in who their president's going to be. And a lot of these states haven't mattered for 30 years in the primary season and now they do.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes, they do. And you know -- but at the same time as this does drag out, you've mentioned it before and I want to talk about it. We're seeing the attack ads really start to rise here and increase. So is that something that's really going to benefit John McCain?
DEAN: No, John McCain is in trouble and you know, we're talking about Florida and Michigan. I'll tell you one thing that voters in Florida and Michigan don't want is a third Bush term and that's what John McCain offers. He supports President Bush's Iraq war policy. 63 percent of the American people, as of today's Gallup poll, think that was a mistake.
He supports the Bush tax cut. Today -- yesterday he said that the deficits were not as important as extending the Bush tax cuts. The Bush tax cuts helped nobody in the middle class.
People want a real change in this country and both of our candidates, I think, will provide real change. So...
NGUYEN: Well, you usually hammered in on McCain's issue when it comes to the economy and where he stands on that. In fact, you put an add out, I want us to take a listen to that just for a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Senator McCain, are Americans better off than they were eight years ago?
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think you can argue that Americans overall are better off because we have had a pretty good, prosperous time with low unemployment, low inflation. A lot of good things have happened. A lot of jobs have been created. I think we are better off overall.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you feel better off?
The Democratic National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: All right, Chairman Dean, that was your ad, but then Senator McCain came back with a response and this is what he said. He said, quote, "Well, I have an economic plan, it's good, it's strong. Things have gotten worse in the last several months,as we all know, in our economy." Went on to say both Senator Clinton and Obama want to raise taxes. That is out of touch.
So are the Democrats out of touch when it comes to the economy especially when it comes to raising taxes?
DEAN: Think John McCain is out of touch and he's proved that. First of all, he doesn't live like most Americans. He filed his tax returns and showed everybody what he made and didn't put his wife's tax returns out there. I mean what kind of chicanery is that?
The Clintons and the Obamas both put their tax returns out there. How come the McCains can't both do that? First of all. Secondly, his policies are the same as George Bush's and he's publicly said so. That is not what America needs. America needs a different strategy, a different change, and both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have provided leadership that shows those different changes and those strategies.
So I think Senator McCain is completely out of touch...
NGUYEN: All right, Chairman.
DEAN: ...and he's saying so -- and he said so during the New Hampshire primary. He has said so on CNN. I think we just don't need a president that's -- as old fashion and out of touch as he is.
NGUYEN: Very quickly. Let me ask you this. If Senator Clinton doesn't win and win big in Pennsylvania, are you going ask her to step aside?
DEAN: Of course not, that's not my job. My job is to get one of these two extraordinary candidates elected president. The Gallup poll that was out today showed both of them will beat John McCain and now it's up to the voters to choose which one of them they want.
NGUYEN: All right. Howard Dean, the DNC chairman, we do appreciate your time today. It is an exciting day in Pennsylvania, thank you.
DEAN: Thank you.
HARRIS: The rising price of food.
Desperate times send some into the streets demanding help during the growing crisis. A closer look in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A first round playoff win. For most, Montreal Canadiens fans, the team's victory over Boston was a reason to celebrate, but for some it was an excuse for violence. Look at this. News reports say several police cars were torched and stores vandalized, more than a dozen arrests.
The trouble apparently started after a massive post-game rally of mostly peaceful fans after it broke up. Well, last night was the Canadiens' first playoff series win in four years. What is this about?
NGUYEN: I have no idea.
All right. Protesting food prices. Let's talk about that because South Africans are taking to the streets.
CNN's Robyn Curnow has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Mass action and protest in South Africa over rising food costs.
(On camera): Unlike in some other countries, this protest is peaceful, but these workers have been singing anti-capitalist songs and they say they're frustrated and angry at the high price of food.
(Voice over): Elizabeth Maluleke, a union member, says their message is clear.
ELIZABETH MALULEKE, UNION MEMBER: We want our government to cut taxes especially on basic food.
CURNOW: But government has indicated there's not much they can do to soften the blow. They've allocated an extra $11 million in addition to the social welfare grants to help the poor and the finance ministers urge more people to grow their own food, but it seems the hardest hit are the urban poor who don't have available land to farm and they'll have to buy their food.
(On camera): Have things gotten more expensive for you?
BUSI MADLOPHA, MOTHER OF SIX: Very. It's double the amount that we used to paying.
CURNOW: And things like maize. Is it the staple food in South Africa. .
MADLOPHA: Maize is crippling us because of the money that we used to pay lasts for one bag. We are now paying it with triple times. So it's so bad for us. We cannot survive like this.
CURNOW (voice over): But maize prices has not risen as much as wheat, for example. South African farmers don't produce enough wheat so the country has to rely on import to make up the short form. According to Green South Africa, the price of wheat has gone up 83 percent in a year, making bread much more expensive. But some analysts say this and the rising cost of sunflower seeds, soya beans and other produce could be an opportunity for farmers.
KHEHLA SHUBANE, ANALYST: But I think for farmers and rural constituencies, it's a good thing. For the first time people in developing countries can get higher prices for their products, and I think it opens up possibilities that have not exist for them in the past. CURNOW: But still, farmers say they don't reap the rewards of high prices because they have to pay much more for fertilizers, fuel pesticides and insurance which eats into any profits and which makes the farmers as vulnerable to global price hikes as the urban poor.
For whom protest action is really the only way they can vent their frustration with the food crisis that they and most South Africans have little control over because the warnings from the South African government is clear, higher food prices are here to stay.
Robyn Curnow, Johannesburg, South Africa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Hey, Betty, here we go. New York Stock Exchange right now just in time for the opening bell. Let's get the business day started, why don't we?
The DOW starts today at 12,825 after dropping 24 points on the day yesterday. More earnings reports that are due in today. AT&T, McDonald's, Yahoo! Yahoo!, report today. Their earnings and perhaps some forecasts for the future earnings to come as well. DOW futures indicating a bit of a sluggish start to the morning. We will keep our eye on the markets. Susan Lisovicz with us in the CNN NEWSROOM.
MALE ANNOUNCER: This is CNN, the most trusted name in news. Now back to the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Bottom of the hour. Welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen.
Big day in PA. Yes, the polls are now open in Pennsylvania and voters could decide the Democrats presidential nominee. Barack Obama leads the delegate count as he enters the largest of the ten remaining contests.
Even if he somehow won every single delegate today, it still would not give him enough to clinch the nomination. But If Obama manages an upset and wins today, Hillary Clinton could face tremendous pressure to quit the race. Clinton says she is not making a prediction on today's outcome.
HARRIS: Punxsutawney, Phil, might agree, Pennsylvania's biggest day since Groundhog Day. Will it be Clinton or Obama? Primary coverage in the NEWSROOM. And all day on CNN, your home for politics.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: We call them the League of First Time Voters, with many Americans voting or registering with the party for the first time.
CNN's Rick Sanchez in Philadelphia with the Election Express.
Rick, you've talked to some of these first-time voters. Some of them even call themselves compassionate chicks.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know what this is? This is LOFTV, League of First Time Voters. We're really excited about this. And they are either people who are voting for the very first time or people, Betty, who have just dropped out of the system and are back in now, and they're pumped, they're juiced, they are passionate about this.
Like, I don't know if you've notice, but a lot of times when you see reports out of Philadelphia today, you see wherever there are TV cameras, there are huge groups of Hillary Clinton supporters. And these are women who have come here in many cases I have found from all over the country from places like Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
They want to get their message out. In many ways, you might think that for some of them this is possibly, anyway, you know, a last stand for their candidate. These are women who want to make sure there is someone like them, they say, in the White House. That's what some of them told me anyway, not all, like the women I talked to in Scranton, PA.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've been a Republican since I'm 18 years old and two months ago I changed to Democratic, and I can't believe I did it.
SANCHEZ: You've always been a Republican?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.
SANCHEZ: And you're going to go Democrat this time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Mostly because I got really upset about the lack of ethical behavior in the current administration.
SANCHEZ: As a woman, would you feel more empowered if Hillary were to become president.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a great plus, but it's not the reason that's driving me to her.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's gutsy, she's gets up and she keeps rolling. That's the kind of president that I want.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to see a woman in the presidency before I die.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If something doesn't go her way, she kind of goes off the deep end and just does some crazy thing whereas he always stays even keel and steady.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Barack Obama offers us better choice.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he's a brilliant speaker, but that does not necessarily make a good president. He may some day make a good president, but right now it's her turn.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think she's just very intensely educated and intelligently focused.
SANCHEZ: Do you think Barack Obama has it easier than Hillary Clinton?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Look at how the press and absolutely.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's a man.
SANCHEZ: Why not McCain?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The war.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The war.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The war.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The war.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can't afford to be in a war in Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If we could put it on early childhood education or on better health care.
SANCHEZ: What makes you think that Hillary or Barack Obama will be any better?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had eight years of Bill Clinton. That's true, he had some problems, but the country prospered. We were well loved in the world.
SANCHEZ: When she talks about health care, Republicans called her a socialist.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So what?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But it isn't.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The uninsured or the working poor, I think Hillary gets it. All the baby boomers are now becoming patients and so are your nurses. And she's supporting tuition reimbursement and many funds, grants.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need someone to go out there and reach out to the people.
SANCHEZ: What I sense from you guys, though, is that you're passionate about this, this time around. But you're energized this time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are passionate chicks. Each one of us wants to win this because it means a lot to each of us.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SANCHEZ: Passionate chicks, there you go. There's your term, Betty. You know what's interesting about this, it gives us at CNN an opportunity to go out and talk to real people. I mean, this is a bottom-up news philosophy. Talk to the people out there who have something to say.
I know you know we often interview the experts, the pundits, the politicians, but with this LOFTV, this league of first time voters who gives us a chance to talk to people out there who are unique, who have something to say, who have a message, and are truly energized about what's going on in our country right now, because many of them say it's time for change.
NGUYEN: LOFTV, I like that. And you know, there's a lot of interest in this league. So for folks who are those first-time voters, who want to get their message heard, how do they join?
SANCHEZ: Well, this is a wide CNN project. As a matter of fact, you guys in the control room, if you could, put up the Web site that we've put together and you'll see it. It's pretty cool.
You can go to the Web site. You can send us I-reports there. You can join the League of First-Time Voters. You can get a message to us in terms of what you think we ought to be doing and who knows? Maybe I'll come out and pay you a visit.
We're looking for people and organizations who are new, who are unique, who are passionate about what's going on right now in the country, who are -- I suppose the best way to describe it would be newly energized. So go to the Web site, it's cnn.com/league and you'll get all the information you need. Get in touch with me. I'll get back in touch with you and maybe we'll come out and pay you a visit.
NGUYEN: Rick Sanchez. Coming to your front door. I can see people registering off the charts right now. Watch out, Rick. See you later, thanks.
SANCHEZ: All right. Thanks a lot, Bet.
HARRIS: Well, today is Earth Day and we're thinking about the environment and how all of us can protect the planet.
Miles O'Brien is our chief technology and environment correspondent. He is in Stamford, Connecticut today at a large but green home.
Miles, good to see you. You know, I'm really interested in what you're going to show us. One of the things I'm curious to know is how easy is it really to turn a home green? Maybe you can discuss that a bit with us as you show us around.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CHIEF TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, in a phrase, Tony, it takes a lot of green to be green. Now, take a look at this house. 8,000 square feet, conditioned there, cozy little bungalow there, has an awful lot of green features in it, but the question this morning that we're asking and on this Earth Day was worth asking is something that big truly an eco-friendly thing to do. Is it the real estate equivalent of a hybrid hummer?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): It's not easy being green especially when you're a giant.
MARK HALLET ROBBINS, WINDERMERE ON THE LAKE: It's particularly hard to deliver a very sustainable environmentally-conscious and economical to operate home at this scale.
O'BRIEN: But the developers of Windermere in Stamford, Connecticut say it can be done. There's geothermal heating and cooling. Ever so efficient insulation, sustainably harvested lumber, lots of LED and natural light and the homes are built in clusters to preserve the woods.
ROBBINS: I think we pushed the envelope of green pretty far.
O'BRIEN: But can a jumbo-size envelope like this really lay claim to being green?
People who live in and own green mansions, are they hypocrites?
SOPHIE PIESSE, ARCHITECT: A little, yes.
O'BRIEN: Architect Sophie Piesse designed this exquisite 2,000 square foot home near Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
PIESSE: People spend a lot of money on square footage and don't spend anything on the quality of the space.
O'BRIEN: The owners, Jan and David Markiewicz moved from a McMansion twice as big.
JAN MARKIEWICZ, HOMEOWNER: There were rooms that we never even walked into.
DAVID MARKIEWICZ, HOMEOWNER: We never really felt comfortable in terms of the way in which we really liked to live.
O'BRIEN: Their new house fits them like a well-tailored suit. The cozy living room next to the kitchen with a banquet, instead of a formal dining room.
SARAH SUSANKA, ARCHITECT: You can look at any part of our society and you can see excess.
O'BRIEN: Architect Sarah Susanka is author of the "Not So Big House" series.
SUSANKA: We're trying to balance our footprint on the planet. We each can make incredible shifts in how we're living to affect that shift and gradually, I hope, personally, that we gravitate to the smaller houses because I don't believe we all need that much square footage.
O'BRIEN: But at Windermere they say the owners of these huge eco-mansions will not owe us or the planet any apologies. But wouldn't smaller be greener?
ROBBINS: No, it's actually not. It's how you build it. It's where the houses are sided and how they operate.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Back now live at Windermere on the lake. You know, the U.S. Green Building Council which sort of judges buildings as to whether they are eco-friendly has taken a look at that building across the way to that house. And given in its highest rating, and among the things, Tony, I'm kind of a building guy, handy guy, I like this. They actually take a bead of caulk through every seam wherever studs meet studs.
But check this out. As nice it is, to have a tight house like this, this is the kitchen. Look at this kitchen. You know, when we were growing up, Tony, this would have been the whole house for God's sakes.
You know, in a generation, the average size of a U.S. home has more than doubled, and you know, in places like this you have more bathrooms than people so I guess you have to ask the question on this Earth Day, how much is too much?
HARRIS: Yes. I think you're right about that. And because you're kind of a building guy, you know this territory here. I'm just sort of curious. I can't help it, maybe it's inappropriate to ask, but in the world of McMansions, how much more expensive is it to build that home green?
O'BRIEN: It's tough to do it all. But that house over there is $3.8 million. It's just about to close out. Just to give you an example, the geothermal system, the four wells that are drilled down 400 feet in order to get the geothermal heat pump going, that was in excess of $60,000. So that gives you a little sampling.
In a sense, building, you know, sort of building green trophy homes like this is an opportunity to try out technology that isn't quite accessible or affordable to the masses just yet.
HARRIS: No. That's a great point, and you try it out and maybe then it becomes a little more accessible and a little more within reach for the masses. Miles O'Brien for us. Miles, great to see you. Thank you, man.
And still ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM, you probably recycle newspapers and shopping bags, but what about that old TV set or computer monitor? We will tell you how to find new life for old electronics. That's coming up. NGUYEN: First, let's get a check of the weather outside because it does, on the calendar, Rob Marciano, say it's spring, but many people don't believe you.
HARRIS: No.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Still to come. Well, this is an amazing story. A baby falls from a second-story window. She's caught by the mail carrier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The baby fell, you know, fell down on me. It felt like it must have hit my right side and I caught the baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Oh, man, can you believe this? Special delivery in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALE ANNOUNCER: Covering the angles, uncovering the details, see for yourself in the CNN NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: You know, more Americans are turning out to vote and registering to vote than ever before. Look who's here with us. Veronica de la Cruz here to show us the Web site.
Veronica.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN INTERNET CORRESPONDENT: Always nice to see you, Tony.
HARRIS: It's great to see you. Great to have you here in Atlanta.
DE LA CRUZ: Thank you.
HARRIS: We're used to seeing you on AMERICAN MORNING. And we get an opportunity to speak to you as well. But boy, you got to tell us about this program now where first-time voters are actually going to the web and there are opportunities for these first-time voters to really participate in a meaningful way.
DE LA CRUZ: Yes. No, you're right about that. And you know, Rick Sanchez was just talking about it moments ago. He was referring to it as LOTVF, League of First-Time Voters, or LOFTV, that's what it is.
So you know, what Rick was saying is, you know, whether it's your first time voting in a primary, maybe it's your first time voting in a presidential election come November, maybe you haven't been to the polls for a while, what we're trying to do here is we're trying to keep you inform or trying to keep you connected up-to-date, so we put together the League of First-Time Voters, LOFTV, and I wanted to show you this, Tony.
Take a look. This is the Web site, cnn.com/league. And this is going to give you everything you need to know. All the election basics, Tony. For example, maybe you haven't even registered to vote, you know?
HARRIS: Right. Right.
DE LA CRUZ: So right there, there's the link, register to vote. Just click there. Choose your state and that's going to tell you how to register to vote, where you live, because it varies state by state.
HARRIS: Well, and you need to get this done. There is a deadline.
DE LA CRUZ: There is a deadline.
HARRIS: And many folks may not know what the deadline is, nationally, if you want to participate in November.
DE LA CRUZ: Yes. Yes. And you know, it varies state by state.
HARRIS: It does.
DE LA CRUZ: So in some states, it's two weeks before the November election. Other states it's a month. But you definitely want to give yourself some time. You want to go to the Web site right now, and you want to learn how to register to vote?
HARRIS: Well, are there any other benefits -- I love what we're doing, by the way. But any other benefits of joining the League of First Time Voters?
DE LA CRUZ: You know, I think the biggest (INAUDIBLE).
(CROSSTALK)
DE LA CRUZ: Well, Rick Sanchez -- Rick Sanchez said that he would pay you a personal visit.
HARRIS: That's right.
DE LA CRUZ: So I think that is the biggest benefit.
HARRIS: Rick Sanchez at your front door. OK. All right.
DE LA CRUZ: Really, though, it's all the interactivity. This is really like an online community. You can connect to other first-time voters just like yourself. But you do have to sign up. It's a really simple process. It's right there. You see, all you do is type in your e-mail address.
HARRIS: That's right.
DE LA CRUZ: It's really, really easy. We're going to add you to the league. You can also participate in exclusive panel, polls, you can express yourself, get a sneak peek at some of the latest cnn.com election features.
Also -- this is really important, Tony. You can do a lot of research on the page.
HARRIS: That's right.
DE LA CRUZ: You know, people need to find information on the candidates. You can go in-depth there. You can also read about the candidates and where they stand on certain issues. You know, all the ones that matter to you.
So when you finally do make it out to the polls for the first time, I know you're going to be really excited, but you'll take the time and you'll make an informed decision.
HARRIS: You know, that's thrilling. Well, and I think what's particularly great about this is we get an opportunity to talk to real people, real first-time voters who are engaged in this process and this is an extraordinary process that we're watching play out before our eyes and to provide an outlet for folks to do this is going to be terrific.
Anything else you want to add to this?
DE LA CRUZ: I wanted to ask everyone to share their experience with us. You know, grab your cell phone, your video camera, you're actually on camera right now.
So is there anything that you would like to say if you were headed to the polls for the first time, Tony Harris.
HARRIS: Yes. Be safe, vote early, and often. No, no, no. (INAUDIBLE) I'm sorry. Oh, boy.
DE LA CRUZ: So I-report.com that's where you want to send your submission, but otherwise, cnn.com/league is where you can sign up for the League of First Time Voters.
NGUYEN: That's why Tony is banned from the I-report page.
HARRIS: Well, yes. Don't post that. Where is that?
DE LA CRUZ: All right, all right, I'm hitting delete right now. Right now. OK. All right, there you go.
HARRIS: And we covered all of the basis, right?
DE LA CRUZ: We did.
HARRIS: All right. Let's get you going, let's get you involved, let's get you participated. Veronica, great to see you.
DE LA CRUZ: Nice to see you. And it's nice to see you, Betty.
NGUYEN: Likewise, Veronica.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: Like the good old days.
HARRIS: Yes.
NGUYEN: Let's get you to this story, though, because first the children and now Texas wants DNA from adults at a polygamous compound, matching parent to child in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: That South Carolina teenager accused of planning to blow up his high school, well, he could be forced to take a mental health exam. The prosecutor says he'll ask the judge to order it at the bail hearing today.
Ryan Schallenberger was arrested Saturday after his parents -- yes, his parent, called 911. Police say the straight A, high school senior bought explosive materials on the Internet and kept a journal admiring the columbine killers.
Police say they also found an audiotape Schallenberger made that he apparently wanted to be heard after the bombing. Schallenberger is facing multiple charges.
HARRIS: Candidates looking to pick up unmarried women by focusing on the economy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Hello, everybody, on this Tuesday. Good morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown.
Pennsylvania at the polls, voters choose between Clinton and Obama, live this hour.
