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Democrats Face Off in North Carolina and Indiana; Myanmar Cyclone Kills Over 20,000

Aired May 06, 2008 - 15:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: OK. Well, it may not be their last chance to turn the tide, or close the deal, or do whatever they need to do. But for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, today's primaries in Indiana and North Carolina are the last best chance. Together, they're worth 187 pledged delegates, more than any other contest still on the calendar.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: At the moment, Obama has 1,745 delegates. That is by CNN's count. That is total, including superdelegates. Clinton has 1,602. And, of course, whoever gets the magic number, 2,025, they get the nomination.

LEMON: We shall see.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Don't know if that will happen today. Probably won't, but we shall see. We have got everything covered here today in the CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN World Headquarters here in Atlanta.

KEILAR: And I'm Brianna Keilar. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

LEMON: All right. Straight off the top, we want to start with this, from Myanmar, mind-numbing estimates, a million people -- a million people homeless. More than 22,000 are dead. Thousands more are missing.

The farther one travels into southern Myanmar, the more devastating, the more disturbing those images become.

And CNN's Dan Rivers brings us some of them from a devastated township there. He is the only Western journalist in the country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It took almost everything. Cyclone Nargis has left Bogalay a shell of a town.

People scavenging in what looks like a war zone. The blank, numb stares of survivors tell of the horror here. And the horror is still stalking these streets. Some scenes are beyond words.

Bodies are unceremoniously dumped in the river. Monasteries are being used as temporary shelter for hundreds of people. Here, 600 are sleeping where they can.

(on-camera): Everyone in this room has lost their home and many have lost their loved ones. The monks say there is enough food to feed these people for two more days. After that, they don't know what they're going to do.

(voice-over): The food carefully watched by young novices.

This woman says, There's nothing left. She's totally dependent on the monastery.

This man says: "I will have to survive somehow. I will eat whatever the people donate."

In another monastery, we find what they call the operating theater. This place seems utterly without medical supplies, as this man's wounds show.

(on-camera): Well, this is one of the relief centers in Bogalay, if you can call it a relief center. But there's not much in the way of aid being given out, a little bit of rice. But many of these people have lost everything they own, and including many of their loved ones.

There are horrific scenes here, with the bodies being dumped in the river. We can't really film very overtly here. The authorities are not pleased we're here. And, at the moment, I think soldiers are coming, so we're going to have to leave.

(voice-over): Myanmar's top military brass flew in to assess the damage. From the air, the epic scale of this disaster was clear, mile upon mile of devastated countryside.

But it's only up close, on the ground, that you see the human face of this tragedy, making shelter where they can under the black skies that brought such mayhem and suffering.

Dan Rivers, CNN, Bogalay, southern Myanmar.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: And, again, CNN's Dan Rivers the only Western journalist in Myanmar.

We want to know -- to let you know how can you help. At CNN.com, we have a special page on the devastation in Myanmar, complete with links to reputable aid agencies that are organizing help for that region. This is a chance for you to impact your world and let us be your guide, CNN.com.

KEILAR: Now we want to give you a quick look at Myanmar. This country is formerly known as Burma, and the U.S. government hasn't recognized the name change or the military junta that took power back in 1988. So, you may hear it called Burma a lot. That is why.

Myanmar drew international criticism over the military's crackdown on Buddhist monks. The U.N. says at least 30 people were killed in one city during those clashes late last year. The U.S. lists Myanmar as a country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom Act. The U.S. also has imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar. And the pro-democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi won elections in 1990, but the military government chose to ignore those results.

Suu Kyi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, is still to this day under house arrest.

LEMON: All right, time now to talk some politics.

It is primary day in two states. The head of the North Carolina Board of Elections says he can't remember a primary with this much excitement. Almost half a million voters cast ballots there before the first precinct opened had morning.

And CNN's Susan Candiotti is watching the voting -- voting. She's in Raleigh.

And, Susan, I imagine if it says that many people cast their ballots before the precincts opened, I imagine turnout is significant as well.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're saying it's steady, not necessarily heavy at this time.

As you can imagine, before the polls opened up at 6:30 this morning, there was a line outside this church that stretched into the parking lot. Of course, now you have got the mid-morning lull. Then it picked up at lunchtime, lull in the afternoon. And you know it's going to pick up around dinnertime as well.

But, just for fun, I'm going to ask these two ladies a question. As you can see, one is a supporter of Hillary Clinton, the other Barack Obama.

Yet, here they are, hand in hand -- standing side by side, rather.

Any blowups, flare-ups?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. No.

CANDIOTTI: What is it like to stand here next to, in effect, an opponent?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's really not an opponent. She's a really nice gal. I like her.

(LAUGHTER)

CANDIOTTI: There you go. Well, thank you very much.

Well, checking with some other voters who came out today, we have a couple people here as we tell you that, in fact, there has been a record turnout in the state. They are expecting that to happen far more than turned out in 2004's caucuses.

Let's talk, first of all, to -- sorry, I lost your name already.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sharon (ph).

CANDIOTTI: Sharon. Thank you very much.

Sharon, before you came today, did you already make up your mind or was it a struggle?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, it wasn't really a struggle. I thought -- I was going back and forth for a while. But then I realized that the person that I voted for was the person that I knew I was going to vote for all along, so it really wasn't a struggle.

CANDIOTTI: And briefly compare this primary to the others you have voted with in the past. Is there something -- a different feel to it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. It's almost like an electricity that is in the air, because it's something that's never happened. You have a woman running for president and you have a black man running for president.

So, those are things you don't often see. And I think it's just -- it's such a sense of accomplishment that I was able to vote in a primary such as this. So, it's very important.

CANDIOTTI: Historic on the Democratic side either way.

(CROSSTALK)

CANDIOTTI: And here we have Benjamin Hudson (ph) with his young son Brady (ph) here.

You moved here recently from Nevada. You're casting your ballot here now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

CANDIOTTI: And are there any overriding issues that are most important for you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For me, a lot of it is the health care system, health care, Social Security. Of course, the environment is a big thing, and trying to get big business out of government and perhaps start opening up some avenues for science and get some more energy-efficient forms of fuel. So...

CANDIOTTI: Well, thank you very much for joining us.

And, of course, the polls will be open here until 7:30 this evening. Virtually no voting irregularities in this state to speak of. And they are expecting many more people to show up, of course, around the dinner hour -- back to you guys.

LEMON: And, Susan, he mentioned some new forms of fuel, but I imagine a lot of people on their minds today, the economy, correct?

CANDIOTTI: Oh, very much so.

But I thought it was interesting to point out some of these different things. People aren't always talking about that.

LEMON: Yes.

CANDIOTTI: A young father, health care concerns. This woman is also concerned about the economy and all kinds of things. We're hearing a lot about also about the war in Iraq. So, it really has been across the board, the number of things that people are concerned about.

LEMON: All right. Susan Candiotti, and a very cute baby there standing there with you.

Thanks a lot, Susan.

KEILAR: Cute baby indeed.

Well, let's take a look now at the key areas where Obama and Clinton are looking to boost their chances.

Here is chief national correspondent, John King.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Clinton won in Ohio. Obama won in Illinois. So, Indiana is a battleground, one of the reasons it is about a four-point lead.

So, if you're Senator Obama, this is your biggest vote, Campbell, right up here. I want to pull this down to a little bit just so everyone can see. That's Chicago. They know Barack Obama. Chicago TV has covered his entire political career. Chicago TV is shown throughout most of the state up here. The best thing for Barack Obama, the biggest test, right up in this congressional district right here, Gary, Indiana, majority African-American.

The whole state of Indiana, only about 9 percent African- American, but this district right up in here and this county right here, it's about 25 percent African-American. So, this is key to Barack Obama right here.

Let's turn this off and pull this back up a little bit.

CAMPBELL BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes.

KING: The other key places for Barack Obama, Indianapolis has a significant African-American population. Bloomington is a college town, I.U., the places where he tends to do very well. If he's going to pull off an upset, it will be based there.

I'm going to use red for Senator Clinton here. This is critical for Senator Clinton. This congressional district right through here, this is conservative Democrats who supports -- opposes abortion rights -- excuse me -- supports gun rights, doesn't think you should rush the troops home from Iraq, a very conservative, white working-class district, critical for Senator Clinton.

Let's come back down on the map again up here. Remember Pennsylvania and Catholic votes? What is in South Bend, Indiana? That's the University of Notre Dame. This is -- the 2nd Congressional District of the state is right in this area up here. George W. Bush carried this. It's a Democratic congressman right now, but a conservative Democrat. George W. Bush carried it twice, Catholic voters, white working-class voters.

Senator Clinton needs that and needs that big to if she is to carry the state. More rural out here, farm economy, she has tended to do better with those votes. But if you're Barack Obama, these blue areas, where you must turn out big highlights, and this will be -- as we watch the results come in, I would watch this one congressional district as a test of Clinton.

BROWN: Got it.

Take us through North Carolina.

KING: Let's move over. Let's come over here, bring out North Carolina.

And, actually, I want to go back just one second to look at the neighborhood. Where there are significant African-American populations, Barack Obama does well. You would expect him to do well there. If Senator Clinton is to pull off an upset here, it will be because of white support. That's an 89 percent white district out right. African-Americans lives along the city corridor right here. That's critical for Barack Obama.

Some conservative Democratic areas up here and down here that we will watch for Senator Clinton. But this one here, because you have more than 20 percent of the state being African-American, favors Barack Obama.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: Could the Democratic race for president come down to 18 cents per gallon of gas? We will gauge the mileage both candidates are squeezing out of a gas tax dispute.

LEMON: All right, let's talk now about college students working on their criminal justice and homeland security degrees now tangled up on the wrong side of the law. We have got a major drug bust to tell you about. It's at San Diego State University.

And our Homeland Security correspondent, Jeanne Meserve, joins us now live with the details on that.

Jeanne, what do you have?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Don, 96 people are arrested at this point in time, 75 of them students at San Diego State University. It all started in 2007 when a student died of a drug overdose and campus police launched an undercover investigation.

The campus police and the DEA were startled at what they found. They did not pick up here casual users of drugs. They picked up what they described as traffickers, people who had large quantities of cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, methamphetamine.

Some of the alleged dealing was taking place out of a fraternity house, Theta Chi. They said a number of the brothers there were involved in the operation using some very sophisticated techniques, including the use of text messages to let some of their faithful clients know about sale prices on cocaine, also letting them know about a trip out of town that they were all making and that cocaine would not be available for one weekend.

The president of San Diego State University was unapologetic in a press conference a short time ago about the undercover police operation on his campus.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN WEBER, PRESIDENT, SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY: Trafficking in illegal substances is inconsistent with our values and the pursuit of our mission. We are determined to remove people from our community who place our students at risk and to see that they are turned over to the criminal justice system.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: One of those arrested just a month away from getting a master's in homeland security, another a criminal justice major. In that press conference today, they said that one of the students when arrested asked if this might affect his ability to get a job as a federal law enforcement officer. The answer, I think we all know -- Don.

LEMON: That answer would be yes.

OK, Homeland Security correspondent, Jeanne Meserve.

Thank you, Jeanne.

MESERVE: You bet.

KEILAR: Protecting America's war veterans, not on the front lines, from taking their own lives right here at home.

A House committee is dealing with a tough topic today, veterans' suicides. And our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, joining us now with more on this.

This is a very serious topic that a lot of people maybe don't know a whole lot about, Jamie. JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, the issue before this particular committee, Brianna, is how many veteran suicides amount to an epidemic, and, more specifically, is there an attempt on the part of the Veterans Administration to cover up the seriousness of the problem?

The charges were first brought by an investigative news report suggesting that the Veterans Department was deliberately underplaying the number of suicides by returning veterans, and that sparked some real outrage today from the chairman of the committee, California Congressman Bob Filner.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. BOB FILNER (D), CALIFORNIA: You're talking about numbers, numbers, numbers, as if that's all -- it's just sort of a bureaucratic situation. This is not a bureaucratic situation with just numbers. This is a matter of life and death, a matter of life and death for the veterans that we are responsible for. And I think there is criminal negligence in the way this was handled.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: Now, Congressman Filner believes there was a cover-up and that the Veterans Administration has not been honest about reporting the figures for suicides across the country.

In the hot seat today was the Veterans Secretary James Peake, as well as Ira Katz, one of the top officials who was quoted in that investigative news report.

Dr. Katz defended his statements to CBS News, saying that he still believes that the data is inconclusive and that the CBS report is misleading. And the Veterans Administration secretary said that he wanted to emphasize that, while they're not sure exactly what the numbers are and what the data is, they are not waiting for perfect data to take the actions that they say are needed to help veterans who are suffering from suicides.

The numbers are quite startling. The Veterans Administration admits that there are more than 1,000 suicide attempts a month -- Brianna.

KEILAR: That is staggering. That is amazing, Jamie.

Jamie McIntyre, our senior Pentagon correspondent, thank you.

LEMON: All right, if Democrats don't know whom they run for president, Republicans don't know whom they will run against. And we will get the GOP perspective on the Democratic nomination marathon.

KEILAR: A traffic nightmare. A big rig crashes on an overpass and erupts into flames. We will tell you what happened to the driver.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD DEAN, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: We are getting thousands -- actually hundreds of thousands of new voters from the Republican Party in all 50 states. We have all of this stuff.

In the last three years we have spent putting into technology that we didn't have before -- we have all these folks' addresses. We know what they believe in. We know what they want. We know how to get them to come out and vote in the fall.

It's unbelievable to have a vote in a place like Pennsylvania or even North Carolina or Indiana, which could be important states for us in the fall. And have a dry-run election with both candidates getting all the air time they're getting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: That was the head of the DNC in the NEWSROOM just a short time ago.

And you can see he has no problem with the lack of resolution in the nomination process. But other Democrats fear they're only giving ammunition to the Republican one -- one of them who will face in November.

What do Republicans think? Is not knowing who you're going to oppose, is that a drawback? Are they OK with that?

Carly Fiorina is the victory chair for the RNC. And she joins us now.

Thank you so much for joining us.

CARLY FIORINA, VICTORY CHAIR, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: My pleasure.

LEMON: OK. He says that it -- he says he's OK with it and that it's helping people, and it's like a little election every time. They get to work out the kinks. Do you agree with that?

(LAUGHTER)

FIORINA: Well, first of all, I think, from the Republican point of view, this is up to Democratic voters. I think it's great for the American process that new voters are coming out.

I think, frankly, it doesn't really matter who we face in November, because I think, while Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are very different people with different strengths, I think they're very similar on the issues, and John McCain will run on the issues.

LEMON: So either one today, North Carolina, Indiana, whatever the scenario is, is there a better one for John McCain in all of this, or does it matter?

FIORINA: No, I really don't think it matters. As I say, I think they're different people. But, on the issues, they're very similar.

John McCain, for example, gave a speech today about how he would select judges for the Supreme Court. Judge Roberts, who is today the chief justice, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama voted against him. There were only 22 senators who voted against John Roberts. They were two out of 22, which I think puts them out of the mainstream in terms of how they think about nominating judges.

But, on the issues, they're very similar. And John McCain will run on the issues. The differences will be very stark and very clear between John McCain and either Democratic nominee.

LEMON: Well, Carly, I'm glad you bring that point up, because I questioned him about John McCain's statement on judges, and he kind of got away from it in the beginning. But, while he was getting to it, I want you to hear what he had to say about Republicans and about John McCain. And I want your response.

FIORINA: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: This is what's wrong with John McCain. He's wrong on the courts, he's wrong on Iraq, he's wrong on the economy, he's wrong on health care, supporting President Bush' veto of the children's health care bill. He's even sadly wrong on torture. He went out and stood up against using torture, which the United States should not be using if we want to be a great nation. And then he supported President Bush veto of the bill that would have stopped it. This is a guy who is back in the 1940s, and we need a president for 2010.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. There is this notion that the Democrats are putting out that John McCain is a continuation of George Bush; it would be 12 years of George Bush, instead of eight.

FIORINA: Well, you know, it's a great sound bite, but, with all due respect to Howard Dean, he's just wrong.

I mean, let's look at the facts. First of all, I think John McCain gave a very thoughtful speech today about how he would select judicial nominees. And, among other things, he said he would like for people with a proven track record of judicial accomplishment and he would focus on judicial restraint.

He would use Justice Roberts and Justice Alito as his templates. And, as I mentioned, 78 senators agreed to confirm John Roberts. Secondly, on the economy, I find it fascinating it was John McCain who came forward a month ago with the idea of a gas tax holiday.

(CROSSTALK)

FIORINA: Today gas -- oil hit $121 a barrel, and Hillary Clinton has taken up the call for a gas tax holiday.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: And we are well aware of the gas tax holiday. But I want to move on. I hate to cut you off, but we're well aware of that.

FIORINA: That's all right.

LEMON: And we have debated that a lot here.

But you had been advising John McCain on the economy. Did you advise him about this gas tax holiday? Is that part of your recommendation?

FIORINA: Yes.

I was one of several people who said that we thought this would give Americans a needed break. It is not a long-term solution to energy independence. And John McCain understands that and has a very comprehensive plan for how we will achieve energy independence. But, at a time when our economy is struggling, at a time when Americans fear losing their homes and losing their jobs, it's important to give them a break right now. It's a small break, but it helps.

LEMON: OK. RNC victory chair Carly Fiorina, real quickly -- and just a yes or a no -- there's been talk out there about you possibly being a running mate. What do you think?

(LAUGHTER)

FIORINA: I think we're focused on bigger things right now, which is, who is going to be the president of the United States?

LEMON: That's not a yes or no. That's not a yes or no.

(LAUGHTER)

FIORINA: You're right. It's not a yes or a no.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: OK. All right, Carly Fiorina, the victory chair for the RNC, thank you so much for joining us today.

FIORINA: You're welcome.

LEMON: All right.

Who's got the big mo' today in -- as in momentum, in Indiana and North Carolina? Momentum, well, ask a couple of politically-savvy radio hosts. We will talk to them in just a bit. Brianna will, as a matter of fact.

KEILAR: You have seen suspects flee on foot and evade police at high speeds on the highway, but what about on the back nine? You have got to see how this one turns out.

LEMON: Thousands upon thousands are dead or missing or homeless. Offers of aid are piling up, and they're starting to trickle into Myanmar. The view from the ground -- straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BUSINESS REPORT)

KEILAR: All right. Well, you can follow your fortunes at CNNMoney.com. We've got all of the day's new and numbers, expert analysis, as well, and much more.

LEMON: All right, we're working on a number of stories for you today, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM, starting with this one.

Polling stations are packed in North Carolina and Indiana, sites of today's crucial Democratic primaries. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are fighting for a total of 187 delegates.

Georgia is planning to execute a man convicted of killing his girlfriend 20 years ago. If it goes off as scheduled later today, William Lynd would become the first inmate put to death since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of lethal injection. The Georgia Supreme Court has just denied Lynd's request for a stay.

Nearly 100 people, including 75 students, were arrested today at San Diego State University on drug-related charges. Authorities say drugs, cash and guns were all seized from sellers and buyers in a bust that followed a five month undercover operation.

KEILAR: The death toll soaring from a monster cyclone halfway around the world.

And our T.J. Holmes is tracking developments in Myanmar from our International Desk right here at the CNN World Headquarters -- T.J. , what's going on?

T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Brianna.

Twenty-two thousand is the word we're getting now from the state News Agency there in Myanmar. And we're -- we've been hearing about this particular area of Bogalay, that's been hit pretty hard. The Chinese News Agency saying some 10,000, maybe close to half of those that are said to be dead, may have been in this one area.

And let's give you kind of an idea of why this area was hit so tough. Just take a look at the map here and the storm and the trajectory of this storm. You can see where Bogalay is, the former capital of Myanmar. Yangon right there.

Now take a look at how this storm really kind of moved its way up that southern area there. That is kind of where it went through. And you can see Bogalay there in the Southern Delta region, certainly one of the first to get hit and get hit hard. And, also, it made its way up through that country, past Yangon, as you're seeing there.

So, again, the Chinese News Agency saying that maybe up to half of the 22,000 killed were killed in that village of Bogalay, as you see there. And that gives you kind of an idea of why.

Here are some of the pictures we've been seeing. One hundred fifty mile an hour winds from this video. And, again, video information, reports hard to get from people there on the ground, because, for one, the situation is just -- there's a lot of journalists -- not a lot of people there who can be sending that stuff back to us.

This though, from the Democratic Voice of Burma. That's anti- government group. But we've been looking at these pictures. And just look at the situation there. Again, 10 straight hours of rain just dumping on these areas. Twenty inches on Friday and Saturday. A lot of areas right now no power, no communication, no cell phone -- nothing, really.

Also, the other issue -- a major issue we're certainly going to be seeing is the transportation. Roads are certainly blocked and not -- and that work isn't happening quickly to get those roads and whatnot cleared out. So even when the relief agencies -- which haven't really -- a lot of relief hasn't made it just yet.

When they do get there, they're going to have a tough time trying to get around quickly and trying to get to the people who really need help right now.

And, again, as we've been mentioning and monitoring all day, the Web sites -- a lot of this information tough to come by. So we're having to depend on Web sites right now for a lot of information, blogs.

And here is one we have gotten, again, from the Democratic Voice of Burma Web site. A lot of people writing in here. And like this one: "I am a Burmese-Canadian, originally from one of these hard hit areas. I just want to know if any of my family members are still alive. There is no way of knowing. I feel totally helpless."

Also on the Web, something similar here from a missionary group that's trying to find out where its people are, saying: "We have a critical situation in Yangon. Communication has been cut off. I have not been able to make contact with our people. All we can do at this point is to pray."

Just some of the things we are finding on the Internet right now, people desperate to get any word about some of their loved ones and then some of their co-workers that are on the ground there.

Also, we need to tell you, Brianna, that yesterday they told us here at the International Desk that the first wave of relief that was going to be coming in from a foreign country was from Thailand. Well, that relief did arrive today, I'm told.

Also, the main issues are water, are shelter and medical supplies. And those were included in this first wave of support. But a lot more is needed. As we've been hearing from some of the reports on the ground, that these folks will run out of help in the next couple of days -- will run out of aid, run out of food, run out of everything there. Very limited supplies on the ground. So hopefully more aid can get in there. And a lot of people can help. And they can help by making financial donations.

You can find out more about those -- CNN.com/impact your world. Again, CNN.com. Go to the Impact Your World section and you can find out how to help. We have a good list of reputable organizations and you can feel good about donating to those.

But right now a lot of people are trying to help and the help desperately is needed -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Right. These organizations will definitely use any money that people want to donate very wisely.

T.J. Holmes for us there at the International Desk.

We also want to tell you folks about our exclusive look from the ground. CNN is the only news organization -- Western news organization with a correspondent on the ground. Dan Rivers -- our very own Dan Rivers is there live bringing us pictures. And we will be looking at those throughout the rest of the NEWSROOM.

LEMON: The other big story today, of course, politics -- the biggest prize that's left on the board. We'll look at what effect today's primaries could really have on the Democratic race.

KEILAR: Who's got the big momentum today in Indiana and North Carolina?

We'll be asking a couple of politically savvy radio hosts.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. High stakes in North Carolina and Indiana today. Can these primaries change the Democratic race?

Here's CNN's senior political analyst, Bill Schneider.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): It's late in the game. The clock is running out. Hillary Clinton is still running behind in both popular votes and pledged delegates.

What does she need in Indiana and North Carolina?

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This primary election on Tuesday is a game changer. This is going to make a huge difference in what happens going forward.

SCHNEIDER: If Barack Obama wins both North Carolina and Indiana, that would be a game changer, but not the one Clinton is talking about. It would signal that the voters are ready to close the deal.

It would also be a game changer if Clinton wins both North Carolina and Indiana by double digit margins. Clinton needs big victories because it's so late in the game. Only 404 pledged delegates remain to be chosen -- 187 of them on Tuesday -- the biggest single primary day left. Clinton would need to win 70 percent of the remaining pledged delegates to catch up with Obama. That's very unlikely.

She stands a better chance of catching up in the total popular vote. Our estimate is that she would need about 56 percent of the remaining popular vote to catch up with Obama.

It could be a split decision, with modest victories for Obama in North Carolina and Clinton in Indiana. That means the game goes on, possibly into overtime.

If Clinton can't change the game, at a minimum, she wants to keep it going.

For how long?

Until the party decides to bring the Florida and Michigan delegates into play because those reinforcements give her her last best hope of winning.

Bill Schneider, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: We've heard the candidates make their cases. Now let's find out what the voters are saying.

Joining me now, John Hockenberry and Carl Jeffers. John is in New York. Carl is here in Atlanta with me. They hear from voters all the time on their respective shows, be it by the radio or the Internet. John his host of "The Takeaway" on Public Radio International. Carl has got his own radio talk show and is an editorial contributor to "The Huffington Post."

So, you know, guys, of course, the polls are not closed. We can't help but playing the "What If?" game, I guess you will.

CARL JEFFERS, EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR, "THE HUFFINGTON POST": Sure.

KEILAR: So let's talk about the different scenarios here. Of course, if polls were to ring true and Hillary Clinton gets Indiana and Barack Obama gets North Carolina, where do we go from here -- Carl?

JEFFERS: Well, we go on. And we go on to Denver. The reality is there were three scenarios today. One was if Barack Obama won both primaries,, if that was the case, no matter what Hillary decided to do, by Friday the superdelegates would have decided and declared for Barack Obama. But that scenario is not going to happen.

The other possibility was if Hillary Clinton won both primaries. And that's not going to happen. And that would put her back as the frontrunner. What will happen, most likely, is that Hillary wins Indiana, primarily because of the economy and the issues of oil -- oil prices and the distractions that Barack Obama has had in the last several weeks. And Barack Obama will win North Carolina, primarily because of the strength of the African-American vote and the upper educated, high income white vote that will help carry him through that state.

KEILAR: John, what do you think?

JOHN HOCKENBERRY, HOST, "THE TAKEAWAY": Well, I think that what we're seeing in this race is an evaporation of the undecideds. I think Carl is right that it's going to be a split decision. But I think the game has been changed. I think that's what we're seeing. That's certainly what we're hearing from voters.

People are exasperated, certainly on the Democratic side, with the length of this process. But people are thrilled to be engaged. As we go from state to state, we see the divisions begin to solidify. The undecideds are going down, but there are hundreds of thousands of new voters and new participants in each one of these states. And it's unclear -- it's like they bought a ticket by voting in the primary and they're headed to the play-offs in November. Everybody has to recalculate how this election is going to run, because this primary season is totally different from anything that's happened, really, since Watergate, since -- in a generation.

KEILAR: So, gentlemen, let's talk now about John McCain. He was in North Carolina today talking about judicial philosophy, basically pledging that he would nominate conservative judges. And, you know, I want to listen to what he says and then I want to get your comments on the other side.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Senators Obama and Clinton have very different ideas from my own. They're both lawyers themselves and don't seem to mind at all when fundamental questions of social policy are preemptively decided by judges instead of by the people and their elected representatives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: So he's obviously courting conservators here. But it seems like he sort of -- maybe does he have an issue, because you have conservatives on one side, who are a little suspicious of him when it comes to judicial nominees because of some of his bipartisan efforts in the past that have actually blocked some of George W. Bush's nominees.

But then, of course, you have liberals on the other end who are afraid that he will push a conservative agenda.

Is this a problem for him, John?

HOCKENBERRY: Well, I think McCain has enormous problems because -- one of the things we're seeing in the polling for all three of the candidates who remain in the race is that negatives are accumulating for all three, and especially for anyone associated with the Republicans. Negatives on the economy, negatives on the persistence of the war and negatives on a whole sense of kind of can they get the job done to pull us out of what is an extraordinary level of dissatisfaction with what's going on. Seventy-three percent in one of the latest polls think the country is going in the wrong direction.

KEILAR: And...

HOCKENBERRY: I don't know if McCain by himself has a message that can deal with those kind of numbers.

KEILAR: And, Carl, I want to give you the final word on this. Talking about McCain's judicial philosophy, is that a problem for him?

JEFFERS: Well, it's a problem for him now. But it's essentially an ephemeral problem because a -- there's going to be a bifurcated vote this November. The reality is, is that regardless of whether the Democrats have Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, I predict that the Democrats will gain seats in the House, gain seats in the Senate.

And, as a result, if McCain were to win, then here's what's going to happen when he sends up one of these arch conservative Supreme Court justices. He's going to say, I want a new Supreme Court justice who's like Scalia and like Thomas. The Democrats in the Senate are going to say, no, you're not. And he's going to say, OK, I guess I'm not.

So the reality is, is that he's only trying to shore up his strengths and weaknesses among conservatives.. And that may or may not be long-term benefits for him, because the conservatives, sure, at this point, only have about 25 percent party identification in the country.

HOCKENBERRY: Yes.

KEILAR: It is...

HOCKENBERRY: This election will not be decided by judicial philosophy, that's for sure.

JEFFERS: That's right.

HOCKENBERRY: That's for sure.

KEILAR: Yes.

All right, well, thank you gentlemen so much for joining us.

Carl Jeffers, radio talk show host, contributor to "The Huffington Post." And John Hockenberry there in New York for us, host of "The Takeaway" on Public Radio International.

KEILAR: Thanks, guys.

HOCKENBERRY: Thanks, Brianna. JEFFERS: Good to be here.

LEMON: All right, weather now -- hail, heavy rains and maybe a few tornadoes. It's never-ending for folks in the middle part of the country.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KEILAR: A worldwide manhunt underway. The target -- a white male suspected of sexually abusing young boys in Southeast Asia.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: The FBI raided office of U.S. Special Counsel Scott Bloch today. Law enforcement sources say computers were seized from Bloch's office. Under Bloch, the independent agency has been at odds with the Bush administration. Among other things, his staff investigated whether Mr. Bush's top former adviser, Karl Rove and other White House officials used federal agencies for partisan political activities.

LEMON: All right, take a look at this picture because this man is a target of a nationwide manhunt. He is suspected of sexually abusing boys as young as 6-years-old in Southeast Asia. Interpol, the international police agency, says the suspect is believed to be in his late 40s or early 50s and that he is someone who can and will abuse again.

KEILAR: Well, you've seen suspects flee on foot. And definitely you've seen them evade police at high speeds on the highway.

But what about on the back nine? You see that?

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: What does that go, like four miles an hour?

KEILAR: Stay tuned.

I know, right?

Stay tuned. You want to see how this one turns out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: What do you say we check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer?

KEILAR: Yes. He's standing by in "THE SITUATION ROOM" to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour -- Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, guys. Thanks very much.

And we're only two hours or so away from the first poll closings in Indiana; shortly thereafter in North Carolina. We're going to get the very first exit polls fairly soon. The first real time results shortly after 6:00 p.m. Eastern. Also, both Democrats need to deliver wins today. I'll ask Clinton supporter, Evan Bayh, and Obama supporter, Senator Claire McCaskill, what victory means for each campaign.

And the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, he's here in "THE SITUATION ROOM," as well. I'll ask him if he supports Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama when it comes to a gas tax holiday. His answer may surprise you.

All that, guys, coming up.

We're here at the CNN Election Center -- this -- what are you saying?

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: Who -- who's name?

LEMON: That's not us. Somebody else is talking to you, Wolf.

KEILAR: It's not us talking to you, Wolf.

LEMON: That wasn't us.

BLITZER: Oh. Somebody is talking to me.

LEMON: Yes. It's a gremlin in your ear.

BLITZER: All right, guys.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: Yes. So now...

BLITZER: All right.

LEMON: All right, Wolf.

KEILAR: Thanks, Wolf. See you in a few.

LEMON: Thank you. Yes, we'll see you at the top of the hour and all night long tonight...

BLITZER: Thanks.

LEMON: ...Wolf Blitzer and our political team will be doing it.

OK, time now to check out our "Caught on Camera" segment.

Check this out. This is an unusual police chase late yesterday in Las Vegas. A suspected car thief ditched his vehicle, climbing a fence to a golf course. He grabbed a cart belonging to one of the maintenance crews, who joined the chase. Check that out. Man, he is speeding in that.

Two wheels? The two cars wound up around the course and then through a tunnel. The suspect took off on foot. But apparently exhausted, he stopped and was taken into custody -- Brianna.

KEILAR: Well, here is something you do not want to see on your commute -- an 18-wheeler dangling over the side of an overpass in flames.

LEMON: Wow!

KEILAR: This actually happened in Dallas today. This accident blanketed the area with thick smoke, shutdown part of the roadway there. Police say the driver, though, escaped serious injury. So good news there.

LEMON: Oh my gosh. Look at that just teetering.

Well, the closing bell and a wrap of all of the action on Wall Street straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: The closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street.

LEMON: That means Susan Lisovicz -- go ahead, Susan.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: See you guys tommorow.

LEMON: And we end today on the plus side, Susan.

OK. Thank you.

KEILAR: And let's head now to "THE SITUATION ROOM" and Wolf Blitzer.