Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Final Battle of the Democratic Primary; General Motors Talking About Layoffs and Closures; Credit Card Rewards Program; John McCain Officially Launches his General Election Campaign With a Speech Tonight
Aired June 03, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JAMES CARVILLE, HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTER: And I think that's why we see the public that is getting so turned off by this kind of stuff. And they're seeing this woman run this very courageous campaign, who according to the Gallup Poll was once favorable to (INAUDIBLE) anytime in the campaign.
And I suspect they're going to do nothing but go up here. And I think that a lot of times the press is responsible for her increase in popularity. And I really mean that.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Big night tonight. James Carville, thanks for your time.
CARVILLE: Yes, thank you.
PHILLIPS: All right.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: This is it. The beginning of the end. The polls in parts of South Dakota opening just now. Montana opens its doors in an hour. This is the last of the Democratic primaries. It's almost over.
The Obama campaign is pushing hard to have enough super delegate on hand by tonight to declare the contest over. At the same time, Clinton's team has gathered in New York City waiting for her next move.
And we have got the countdown clock rolling. Polls close at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. That's 9:00 -- that's 8:00 Eastern. And the Montana polls close at 9:00 Eastern. The polls there open in less than an hour. And we've got breaking election news this morning.
The third ranking Democrat, the majority whip in the House just endorsed Barack Obama for the nomination. Here's what Congressman James Clyburn just said on the "Today" show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D), SOUTH CAROLINA: I've decided to cast my delegate ballot for Senator Barack Obama. I think that as I watch this campaign unfold, he is elevating the political rhetoric, he's elevating our party, he's energizing our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROBERTS: In a statement also released this morning, Clyburn said now is the time for the party to come together and success depends in large part on how Democrats treat each other between now and the convention.
PHILLIPS: And breaking news just in from GM, the world's biggest automaker. You know, in this time where our economy is taking a big hit right now. They were talking about layoffs and closures. Let's listen just for a moment here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK WAGONER, GEO, GENERAL MOTORS: Structure to business for sustained profitability and growth. We've been moving very well on that track but recent developments on the global oil scene have made it necessary for us to take additional actions.
Since the first of this year, the U.S. market and economic conditions have become significantly more difficult. Of greatest concern is the unprecedented rise in oil prices which have more than doubled over the past 12 months alone and are viewed by most experts as part of a long-term trend towards higher energy costs. A structural change, not just a cyclical change.
You see these results at the gas pumps every day. The national average price of gasoline is now almost $4 a gallon for the first time ever. These higher gasoline prices are changing consumer behavior and rapidly, significantly affecting the U.S. auto industry sales mix.
We at GM don't think this is a spike or a temporary shift. We believe that it is by and large permanent. Reflecting this rapid increase in oil prices, general economic conditions in the U.S. have changed considerably in recent months, and while we remain recently constructive over the long-term prospects for the auto industry in the U.S., we view the near term U.S. economic and auto market environment with considerable caution. These conditions along with the rapid change in auto energy sales mix that required us to take further actions -- (END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Higher gas prices, higher oil prices, higher energy costs. It's all affecting not only all of us at home, but also companies like GM. You're hearing the CEO right there layoffs, closure, tough time. Ali Velshi -- not only for our country, but businesses like GM.
OK. We're going to -- Ali is monitoring that, John, I'm told. We are not going to go to him. He's watching it. He's going to bring us the details and talk more about the impact of this on our economy.
John?
ROBERTS: All right. Kyra, thanks.
So the candidates are saying all the right things publicly. But what are the chances of peace and harmony between the camps? Our Suzanne Malveaux joins me now.
So you heard Robert Gibbs a little while ago saying that there's a likelihood, possible that Barack Obama could have enough super delegates on hand to declare victory when he hits the stage tonight. So what's the next step if he gets there?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: John, they've been working the phones all night. They've got people that are basically trying to get those super delegates to get signed on today because he really does want to declare victory.
The next phase of this and Barack Obama has expressed it publicly but also privately. He has sent a message to Hillary Clinton that I am willing to sit down and talk with you. I will not talk about the vice presidential position or post by phone. But I will sit down and talk about what it is that you need and what we need to do to move forward.
There are people on the Clinton side, obviously close friends and advisers who have been asking her what do you want, where do we go from here? And she has expressed and she will express today before her supporters. She'll do anything that the party asks in order to win in November.
Part of that message, obviously, is also considering if she was to be offered the second post, the number two post that she would be willing to do that. That is not something that the Obama campaign is offering at this time.
There are a lot of people who feel that it would be detrimental, that to include her in this ticket that there are still quite a bit of animosity but also, too, that story that you guys just covered about whether or not the Clintons are vetted -- both Bill and Hillary -- whether or not they're fully vetted and whether or not some of that baggage is going to be worth it to bring these two teams together.
ROBERTS: Well, you know, Bill Clinton has said some things about the Obama campaign that may be difficult to repair. Just what he said in that statement yesterday about how they send other people out there to slime Hillary Clinton and this is all part of their campaign to do that.
Does she expect to get offered the running mate position?
MALVEAUX: She doesn't think it's likely, actually. I mean, there's been some lobbying, informal lobbying that has taken place. She doesn't think that it's a likely possibility. There are a couple of things that she's thinking about right now.
The first thing is her legacy. What has she accomplished from running? And that's a part of it. She wants to see a Democrat in the White House after this is all over. So what can she do? What role can she play to make that happen? That's why you hear kind of this back and forth about this dream ticket.
If that doesn't happen, the second question is what does she do shy of that, short of that? How aggressive does she campaign as a surrogate for the party itself. What does she do with her senatorial career, and of course, the $20 million that are owed to her?
ROBERTS: All questions is yet to be answered. And we'll find out the answer to those very soon. Suzanne, it's good to see you. Thanks.
MALVEAUX: Thanks.
ROBERTS: Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Best Political Team on Television breaks down the results for Montana and South Dakota. Right here, starting tonight, 8:00 Eastern Time. And don't forget, we'll pick up the election coverage an hour early, tomorrow, 5:00 a.m. Eastern for a special election edition of AMERICAN MORNING.
It's just the end of the beginning. What we can expect from a John McCain victory speech tonight. A top campaign adviser joins us live.
Vice President Dick Cheney apologizes for bad joke. We're going to tell you who he insulted.
And you're stuck in neutral, but saving on gas big time. See how hypermiling can help you drive all the way to the bank. Right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW": Hillary now says that she's winning the popular vote. Winning the popular vote. And Al Gore said, yes, well, a lot of good that does. That's what Al Gore said.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Having memories from the last election. That was David Letterman last night on the late show.
And after month of campaigning, it all comes down to the primaries in South Dakota and Montana. Polls just open in some parts of South Dakota. And in less than an hour, polls open in Montana. When the final polls close tonight, Hillary Clinton's campaign will be facing an estimated $20 to $30 million of debt. And here's your "A.M. Extra" expert say.
It's not unusual for the winning candidate to lend a hand. Likely Democratic nominee Barack Obama could point his donors in her direction. Clinton might also be able to reassigned the nearly $23 million that she raised for the general election if those donors approved. Another option, she could use contributions to her 2012 Senate reelection campaign to help pay down that debt.
ROBERTS: It's coming up on 10 minutes after the hour. Let's go to Rob Marciano who's got the primary day forecast.
How is it looking in Montana and South Dakota today, Rob?
(WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Well, Barack Obama expects to be the Democratic candidate. Maybe as early as tonight. What does he mean when he says that he and Hillary Clinton will be working together in November? New signals from both campaigns.
Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, running on fumes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in neutral (INAUDIBLE), starts were going.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was like immediately into drive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Hypermiling, how the little known practice could help you double your gas mileage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm thinking that like three lights ahead in a suburban traffic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Miles O'Brien gets lessons from a master, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: 14 minutes after the hour. And there's a look at where we are in terms of the primary.
South Dakota, the polls are open. They close in 12 hours and 45 minutes. Because half of South Dakota is in the Central Time Zone, the western half in the Mountain Time Zone, some polls will close at 8:00 tonight Eastern, some will close until 9:00.
Montana opens in 45 minutes' time. The polls there all close at the same time. And then we'll check on that for you, but I believe its 10:00 p.m. Eastern that they all close.
Breaking news just in from General Motors. The world's biggest automaker. Ali Velshi with us now from the business update desk to tell us more about what's going on. And bad news, Ali.
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Shifting product - shifting customer behavior because of gas prices, CEO Rick Wagoner is on stage right now at the company's annual meeting in Delaware. He says that going forward; the focus of GM will be on cars and crossover vehicles.
Eighteen of the next 19 product launches they have will be cars or crossovers. But they are closing plants. They have announced closure of four plants involving trucks and SUVs.
Oshawa, Ontario where they make the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra will seize production starting in 2009. Moraine, Ohio where they make the Chevy Trailblazer and the GMC Envoy will seize production in 2010. Janesville, Wisconsin where the big Tahoe and Suburban and some Chevy medium-duty pickup trucks were made will seize production as well. And Toluca, Mexico where the Kodiak, medium-duty truck is made, they will stop making trucks there.
Those will all seize over the course of the next year and a half or so. They're increasing. They're writing a third shift to two plants. I'm of them is the Orion plant in Michigan where they make the Chevy Malibu. And a third shift is going into Lordstown, Ohio where they make the Chevy Cobalt and similar cars on other platforms. So they are increasing -- two extra shifts at plants that make cars that are selling very well. The Malibu is doing very, very well for Chevy. And Ford plants where they make trucks, SUVs, light-duty, and medium-duty trucks are being shut down.
The announcement is still going on. I'm listening in to see what further implications there are. But let's be clear, this is about gas prices.
ROBERTS: All right. Ali Velshi for us this morning. Ali, thanks very much.
You're watching the "Most News in the Morning." There will be a victory speech tonight. John McCain's plans to kick off his campaign as the other side counts the votes. One of his top campaign advisers joins us live, just ahead.
PHILLIPS: Vice President Dick Cheney apologizing for a joke that he made. We're going to tell you what he said, coming up.
And credit card companies constantly advertising the great rewards program. But from airline miles to free gas, are we really getting what we earn? Gerri Willis breaks it down for us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Here's a picture of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama shaking hands this morning. South Dakota and Montana holding their primaries today. The last two states in this long Democratic primary season in full coverage here tonight on CNN. The Election Center with Wolf Blitzer and the Best Political Team on Television, beginning at 8:00.
PHILLIPS: Well, if you've ever tried to redeem your frequent flier miles you know that it can be pretty tangled web of restrictions and blackouts.
ROBERTS: So which credit rewards programs really live up to their promises? Joining us now to tell us more about this, CNN's personal finance editor Gerri Willis. You're becoming quite popular among people. But which are the best?
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Oh my -- you know, 85 percent of Americans have one of these rewards cards. And let's just start with a couple of caveats. They often don't make sense for people. Look, if you're a revolver, you carry debt month to month, every month on your credit card. A rewards card isn't for you because the interest rates are typically higher.
What's more, about 41 percent of the people, they never get the rewards. They never even go in and cash in anything. So if you're doing that, it makes no sense to have a card. You probably want a cash back card if you want anything. But now to get to those cards because we have a list of cards.
This was put together by Consumer Reports. They took a hard look at all the rewards cards out there. Let's start with gas reward cards. That chase rewards card that you're looking at for gas, six percent rebate on all gas purchases.
And what's interesting, guys, about this category, I think, is that, you know, it used to be that you would only get, you know, the vendor of the gas. There are label on that card. You could only buy Shell or you could only buy mobile or you could only buy one brand. That's not the case anymore. They give you rewards for buying any kind of gas.
ROBERTS: I wanted to get a Harley-Davidson rewards visa but my wife wouldn't let that.
PHILLIPS: Gee, I wonder why.
ROBERTS: I thought it would be great. Every time I buy a motorcycle part --
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: Boys, but they are expensive toys.
WILLIS: Wow.
PHILLIPS: How about like food --
WILLIS: And the guitar credit card.
PHILLIPS: Yes, you know him well.
WILLIS: Yes, exactly.
PHILLIPS: What about other -- besides the gas. What about supermarkets, what about cash back, what about all these other options?
WILLIS: Oh, let's look at the Kroger 1, 2, 3 rewards cards. They give you a point for every $1 you spend. Anywhere, again not just at Krogers. Two points for every dollar you spend at a Kroger. You can see the list here. Wal-Mart Discover, also the Amex card as well.
We also took a look at -- consumer reports also took a look at the cash back offers. Their favorite cash back Amex Blue Cash. They gave you up to five percent back on money you spend at supermarkets, gas and drugstores. So that's an interesting card there.
But I have to tell you. Devil is in the details here, guys. You've got to know how to cash them in. You got to use them and you got to pay them off monthly to make it make sense. But they are really popular.
ROBERTS: Yes, absolutely. Gerri, thanks for that.
WILLIS: My pleasure.
PHILLIPS: Well, this week, we're going to be adding something new to help our viewers. Our legal analyst Sunny Hostin will start taking your e-mails every Friday on various legal topics. Sort of what Sanjay Gupta does with us on the medical front.
And this week, homeowners, if you've had a nightmare experience with your contractor, tell Sunny, your story. Just log on to our web site at cnn.com/americanmorning or e-mail, Sunny, directly at sunnyslaw@cnn.com.
ROBERTS: 21 minutes after the hour. Vice President Dick Cheney in hot water this morning. We'll tell you why he's apologizing for a joke that he told. That's coming up.
And John McCain's official campaign kickoff is tonight. Looks like he's already picked his opponent. How he could spoil the party for the other party. A senior McCain adviser is here, just ahead.
PHILLIPS: Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, running on fumes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in neutral (INAUDIBLE), starts were going.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was like immediately into drive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Hypermiling, how the little known practice could help you double your gas mileage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm thinking that like three lights ahead in a suburban traffic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Miles O'Brien gets lessons from a master, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want your foot on the brake and I want you to shut off the car at 1100 rpm. And you're working your butt off right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: 24 minutes after the hour. And happening right now, they're voting in South Dakota. One of the last two contests of this primary season. Polls close at 8:00 and 9:00 Eastern Time. Part of the state is in the Mountain Time Zone.
And Montana, doors open there at about 30 minutes. They'll remain open until 8:00 p.m. Mountain, 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
Tonight may be the final battle of the Democratic primary. But Republican John McCain hopes to grab some of the limelight as well. The presumptive nominee officially launches his general election campaign with a speech tonight in New Orleans.
And it's no coincidence that he timed it just as Barack Obama appears to be on the cusp of clenching the Democratic nomination.
Steve Schmidt is a senior McCain campaign adviser. And he joins me now from New Orleans.
Steve, good to see you. What's Senator McCain going to be talking about tonight?
STEVE SCHMIDT, MCCAIN CAMPAIGN SENIOR ADVISOR: Well, John, tonight, there are great issues before the country, and Senator McCain is very excited to talk to the country and to talk about the great debate we ought to have in this country -- our national security, getting the economy moving again, fixing health care, fixing the energy issue that affect so many millions of Americans.
And he's going lay -- to begin to lay out the choice tonight between his vision and the likely Democratic nominee's position, Senator Obama.
ROBERTS: You chose New Orleans as the site for this speech because according to the campaign quoted, "Epitomizes the government's failure to act." But it also brings President Bush into the conversation.
And do you expect that while some people will talk about the differences between Senator McCain and President Bush, people who write about tonight's speech will also talk about what they have in common and that might not be so good for you?
SCHMIDT: All elections are about the future. This election will be about the future. It's going to be about Senator McCain's vision to move this country forward versus Senator Obama's vision.
Senator Obama gives a great speech, but a lot of his ideas will take us back. Back to days of higher taxes, to a less secure America with regard to national security. New Orleans is a city that more than any other in the country signifies the American people what is broken about our government and institutions.
Senator Obama is fond of saying that John McCain represents a third term for George W. Bush. The reality is that Senator McCain has disagreed on issue after issue with President Bush over the last eight years. He is his own man. He has his own opinions. You know, one issue --
ROBERTS: So, Steve, if I could --
SCHMIDT: The energy bill --
ROBERTS: If I could just jump in here.
SCHMIDT: Sure. Go ahead.
ROBERTS: You say that he had shown his independence over the eight years of the Bush administration and certainly ran on a different platform than President Bush did in the 2000 campaign. But people have written about Senator McCain that he has run to the right, to mollify the conservative base and they're wondering when are we going to see this maverick that independents like so much out there on the campaign trail?
SCHMIDT: Well, I think you see him every day. For instance, when this war was going so badly, the one person in America who stood up and said we're losing this war, we have to change the strategy, he was attacked mercilessly for disloyalty by saying that things were going badly. That person was John McCain. That strategy is working today.
We are winning this war in Iraq. Senator Obama opposed that change strategy. When we look at the energy bill that Vice President Cheney was a great supporter of in 2005, and give away to the oil companies, Senator Obama supported it, Senator McCain voted against it. Surprised? I think a lot of your viewers probably will be.
Over the course of the campaign, Senator McCain is going to talk about his views, his vision, and a lot of times that views -- those views and that vision is different than the president's policy.
Again, we ought to have a great debate about the future. And when Senator Obama repeats his talking point 300 times a day about the third term of George Bush, it's a dishonest debate. It's one that doesn't disservice to the American people.
ROBERTS: Let me come back to Iraq and by association Iran. Senator McCain has been hammering Barack Obama on his idea of meeting with Iranian leaders. But Senator Obama has been mocking Senator McCain for saying late last week that U.S. troops in Iraq were backed down to pre-surge levels. Let's listen to what Senator Obama said. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He said, quote, "We have drawn down to pre-surge levels." That's what he said. There's the guy who said I had no knowledge. John McCain was wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Steve, there are more troops in Iraq now than there were pre-surge. So the Senator was incorrect when he said that. And he also once said that General David Petraeus drives around Baghdad in a light skinned Humvee and not an up armored one.
And some people are wondering does Senator McCain have a full grasp of the facts on the ground there in Iraq?
SCHMIDT: Well, Senator McCain, of course, he does. The reality here is the strategy that Senator McCain advocated is working. "The Washington Post" in an editorial this week talked about politicians like Barack Obama time to reconsider their rhetoric about the fact that this war is lost.
Three of the five brigades that were part of the surge are home. Two more are coming home. We are drawing down troops in Iraq. The reality is that the strategy Senator McCain advocated has turned a corner in Iraq. That was a strategy opposed by Senator Obama. Judgment counts here, too.
After promising that he wouldn't do it, Senator Obama voted against funds for combat troops in the field. He's not ready to be commander-in-chief. And on the biggest question this country has faced, over the last couple of years, while the two of them have been in the Senate, it was this question about how we change the strategy in Iraq.
Senator McCain advocated a change in strategy that has led to where we are today, which is success in Iraq. We are winning this war after many years of mismanagement. Senator Obama said that strategy would not succeed. He was wrong. Senator McCain was right. Senator Obama's trying to nit pick around the fringes because he's wrong on the big question.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we look --
SCHMIDT: And the debate in this country is who can secure the peace for the next generation and that person is Senator McCain.
ROBERTS: Well, we look forward to the speech tonight. Steve Schmidt, thanks for joining us this morning from New Orleans. Appreciate it. Good to see you.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And breaking news just in from GM, the world's biggest automaker announces plant closures. Ali Velshi with us now from the business update desk. You heard the CEO speaking live, Ali, just a few minutes ago talking about the lay offs, talking about how the hit in the economy with the high gas prices affecting his business.
ALI VELSHI, CNN, SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Very much the message we heard from Ford just over a week ago that at these gas prices, they have seen a remarkable shift in the buying patterns of Americans. So, they are shifting their production accordingly. Rick Wagoner, the chairman and CEO of GM has announced they are shutting down four plants. Two in the United States, one in Canada, and one in Mexico. They're shutting down a plant in Canada which makes the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra, one in Ohio, Moraine, Ohio, where they make the Trailblazer and the Envoy, another one in Wisconsin, in Janesville, where they make the suburban and the Yukon and Toluca, Mexico where they make the Kodiak medium duty truck. Those plants will close starting at the end of this year through the 2010. They're adding a third shift to two plants which makes cars. One in Orion, Michigan, Oreon, Michigan, I'm sorry, where they make a Malibu and a G-6 and one in Lords town, Ohio, which produces the Chevy Cobalt and the Pontiac G-5. So, they're shifting. The chairman and CEO saying they do not see this as a short-term matter. They see it as a structural change in the behavior of Americans as gas prices are now around $4 nationwide. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. We'll be tracking it. Ali Velshi, thanks so much.
And breaking election news also this morning. The third-ranking Democrat, the Majority Whip in the House has just endorsed Barack Obama for the nomination. Here's Congressman James Clyburn this morning on the "Today" show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D), SOUTH CAROLINA: I've decided to cast my delegate ballot for Senator Barack Obama. I think that as I watch this campaign unfold, he is elevating the political rhetoric. He's elevating our party, he is energizing our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Congressman Clyburn is working his way over here. He's going to join John live in just a few minutes for the interview here on AMERICAN MORNING.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN, ANCHOR: Looking forward to that. 33 minutes after the hour. Vice President Dick Cheney is apologizing this morning. He made a joke about the people of West Virginia while answering a question at a luncheon about his family tree.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We had always known at the Cheney family line on my father's side of the family, back to Massachusetts in the 1630s. My grandmother was named Tyler but it turned out she was a descendent from a Richard Cheney. Same last name who descended, who landed in Maryland in the 1650s. So we had Cheneys on both sides of the family. And we don't even live in West Virginia. But - you can say those things when you're not running for re-election.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Or can you? Well, for reaction at Cheney's remark we bring in Elaine Quijano live from the White House this morning. Elaine, Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia very, very hot about what Vice President Cheney said yesterday.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN White House CORRESPONDENT: Yes, very hot, John. Senator Byrd blasting Vice President Cheney and the Bush administration for this. The senator saying that the Vice President showed contempt and ignorance toward his fellow countrymen in a written statement going on to say, "now that he or the administration he represents no longer needs their vote, Mr. Cheney apparently feels that he is now free to mock and belittle the people of West Virginia."
Now, for his part though, the Vice President did offer an apology through his spokeswoman Leanne McBride. She said in a statement, "on reflection, he concluded that it was an inappropriate attempt at humor, that he should not have made. The Vice President apologizes to the people of West Virginia for the inappropriate remark." Now, McBride says the Vice President made an offhand comment that wasn't meant to hurt anyone. Nevertheless, Senator Byrd points out as we've heard just a moment ago that it appeared the Vice President did have a moment of reflection there and decided after his remark that it was OK to say such things because he was not running for re-election.
By the way, John, West Virginia, of course, did go for the Bush- Cheney ticket twice, in 2000 and 2004, both times, John, by more than 50 percent. John.
ROBERTS: One thing we can be certain of is it won't go for Bush- Cheney this November.
QUIJANO: I'm sure.
ROBERTS: And we should also mention, Elaine, that Senator Byrd is in the hospital this morning. We don't think as a result of being worked up over this. Apparently he's got a fever. Thanks for joining us this morning. Elaine Quijano from the White House.
QUIJANO: Sure.
PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, an experimental vaccine that could help Senator Kennedy. Cancer researchers say the vaccine more than doubles the survival rate of people with the same type of tumor that he has. We'll have that story straight ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: And this is it, the last two primaries in the race for the Democratic nomination. Voters already hitting the polls in some parts of South Dakota. The rest of the state and Montana will open in just about 20 minutes.
So who needs cruise control when you're hypermiling? It's a gas- saving concept that can double your car's mileage. Our chief technology and environment correspondent Miles O'Brien got some lessons from the master hypermiler and, yes, he is driving and hypermiling and doing a live shot and not looking at the road and ticking off every cabbie on New York streets right now. Hi, Miles.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CHIEF TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT: And I'm about to send a blackberry to you, Kyra. Yes, I'm here on Central Park South. Can you see me up there? Can you see me in my big honking' SUV?
PHILLIPS: No, wait a minute. I thought it was called FSP?
O'BRIEN: Yes, FSP, fuel-sucking pig. That's what I'm driving right now. I just want to tell you right now I am getting 2.7 miles per gallon here on Central Park south. This is why we take the subway in New York City. But there are ways to improve the picture even if you drive a beast like this one. I met the king of the hypermilers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): Wayne Gerdes may look like he's out of gas. But actually he's just kind of hyper about saving every drop he can. And I mean hyper.
WAYNE GERDES, HYPERMILER: We're in neutral so I'm ready to pop, starts, we're going.
O'BRIEN: Wait, you just went. You just - that was like immediately into drive.
GERDES: Right. There's no point in wasting any fuel.
O'BRIEN: Wayne is the reigning king of the gas mileage misers known as hypermilers. A ride with him is a real eye opener, not to mention a filling loosener.
I'm going to hold on. I'm going to hold on. That's what happens when you take a turn without touching the brake pedal. Wayne avoids it like, well, gas stations. He routinely gets 50 miles per gallon in his plain old Accord, twice what Honda promised.
GERDES: I'm already going to shut it down. This is an advance technique.
O'BRIEN: He kills the engine whenever he can. Never tailgates, but does draft behind big trucks. He always drives the speed limit and plans trips as if they were the D-day invasion. So it forces you to think entirely differently about how you're driving?
GERDES: Yes, I'm already - I'm thinking like three lights ahead in a suburban traffic area and now I'm going to use my power red dry.
O'BRIEN: In Wayne's world, angry tailgaters are proctologists.
GERDES: Guys that ride on your butt.
O'BRIEN: And when they pass him in a huff?
GERDES: There's the mad rabbit.
O'BRIEN: And big SUVs are FSPS as in -
GERDES: Fuel-sucking pigs.
O'BRIEN: I almost didn't have the heart to tell him about my Yukon XL but when he came to New York the other day, he held his nose, plugged in a gadget that displays fuel economy and we were off like a herd of turtles for hypermiling 101.
GERDES: Easy, back off a little bit. No sense in riding. Shift to first because we're going slow enough to first. I want your foot on the brake and I want you to shut off the car at 1100 rpms. And you're working your butt off right now.
O'BRIEN: Hard work. It is.
Using his techniques, I instantly curtailed my FSPs thirst for unleaded by 30 percent. But still a long way from 50 miles a gallon.
GERDES: This vehicle just isn't meant for downtown.
O'BRIEN: You think?
GERDES: I have to watch my own speed on this.
O'BRIEN: Wayne started doing this after 9/11 made him reconsider our dependency on foreign oil. He runs a web site with tips and with gas where it is now, he has a growing, albeit slow moving, following. He sure made me a believer.
OK. Call me hyper Miles.
In fact, you might say I'm pushing the concept. OK. That should do it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (on-camera): All right. So, Kyra, here's the deal. It's not just about the driving technique. It's about setting up the vehicle. First of all, inflate your tires to the maximum side wall pressure. Makes for a little bit of a stiffer ride but definitely better mileage. Change out the filters. That's obvious. Here's what I didn't know about. Lower viscosity oil, that means the engine can move a little more easily so the lower number is not the higher numbers. And one other thing he talks about, too, is taking the roof rack off your car because that improves aerodynamics. Wayne doesn't miss a trick.
PHILLIPS: What about the gun rack?
O'BRIEN: What's that?
PHILLIPS: What about the gun rack? O'BRIEN: The gun rack? Well, it depends on what part of the world you're in. You might need the gun rack no matter what.
PHILLIPS: Miles O'Brien hypermiling for us. Interesting concept. I don't know if I could do it but Miles is the king of multitasking and hypermiling. Thanks, Miles.
O'BRIEN: See you, Kyra.
ROBERTS: 42 minutes after the hour. A vaccine that shows great promise for brain cancer victims. Senator Ted Kennedy could be a candidate for the treatment. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells us about it. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: 44 minutes after the hour, after months of campaigning, it all comes down to the primaries in South Dakota and Montana today. Polls are open in some parts of South Dakota as we speak. At the top of the hours, the polls open in the rest of that state because half of it is in the mountain time zone. They also open in Montana. It's staggered closing there. Some of the polls will close at 7:00 p.m. Central time, some at 8:00 p.m. Mountain. So, we'll begin to be able to talk to you about what's going on with the vote as of 8:00 tonight when we get into the "Election Center." And it's interesting to see, Kyra, what's going on in those two states based on what's happened in the last few primaries.
PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about some of the numbers and you were doing that all last night. You'll be doing that again tonight, working the magic board, as we call it. Kind of put things in perspective for us.
ROBERTS: Well, Barack Obama, 42 delegates away now from taking the nomination. He's got to get across the finish line which is 2,118. Hillary Clinton is back at 201. Four super delegates in the last day have broken for Barack Obama whereas one has broken for Hillary Clinton. So, he's just in the last 24 hours beating her four to one in the super delegates. And we heard Robert Gibbs, the communications director a little while ago who says that it is possible that they may have enough super delegates to his side by the time he goes out there on stage tonight, that he is the presumed nominee of the Democratic Party.
PHILLIPS: And the big news today, Suzanne Malveaux, actually broke that this was going to happen. Minutes afterward, James Clyburn coming forward extending his support for Barack Obama.
ROBERTS: Yes. And I was just mentioning how the numbers are changing a little bit in Montana and South Dakota. Last polling we had was back in March and it showed Barack Obama with substantial leads in both of those states. But new American Research Group polls that came out yesterday shows that he is only ahead by four points now in Montana and that she is up by almost a margin of almost 60/40 in South Dakota. So, we'll see how that whole thing turns out. PHILLIPS: And of course, talk about Hillary Clinton, will she suspend her campaign or not? James Carville coming forward. He was working for several years. He said, no, she's going to stay until the end. So...
ROBERTS: Hey, we got some breaking news this morning. We were telling you and Kyra mentioned it just a second ago that another super delegate officially behind Barack Obama. The House Majority Whip Congressman James Clyburn from South Carolina, he joins me now from Capitol Hill.
Congressman Clyburn, good to see you. It's been a while. We talked back there in Myrtle Beach at the end of January. Tell me, what is your decision here regarding who you're going to back and why did you make it?
REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D-SC), HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP: Well, I decided to cast my ballot at the convention for Barack Obama. I came to that decision because I do believe that he has elevated this campaign. He has energized our constituents. He is redrawing an electoral map for Democrats. He has put in place a 48-state plan that dictates very well with the 50-state program developed by Governor Dean. And all of this, I think, is a much better position for Democrats to be in than that old 17-state plan that we ran on for the last two cycles and got us nowhere.
ROBERTS: Now, do you believe that he is the strongest candidate to lead the Democratic Party into the November election. Hillary Clinton has been making the case that she is the stronger candidate that she can win in battleground states like Ohio and Pennsylvania and Florida and West Virginia. Do you not buy her argument?
CLYBURN: Well, I think you're mixing apples and oranges when you talk about primary voters as opposed to general election voters. I think her argument is substantial in the primary, but when we come to the general election, remember, in a lot of these states, independents were not allowed to vote in the Democratic primary. They will be voting in the general election. Republicans will be voting in the general election. And I think Barack Obama gets a lot of Republican votes. So I think that you're mixing apples and oranges if you were to just take what happens in a Democratic primary and project that to be the case in November.
ROBERTS: Congressman, I want to ask you because we talked about this at the end of January. How much did Bill Clinton's behavior in South Carolina play into your decision? Because you told me here on AMERICAN MORNING that he needs, to as they say in (Galigichi) territory, just chill a little bit.
CLYBURN: Yes.
ROBERTS: Did he have any kind of bearing on your decision?
CLYBURN: Well, I think that Bill Clinton has been a tremendous asset to our party. He has been a tremendous leader for our country. You know, I do believe that in some instances President Clinton did, in fact, say some things at times that made some of us a little bit uneasy. And that's why I said he should just chill. At that time, I have bought into conventional wisdom that come February 5th, this whole thing will be over, that Senator Clinton will then in all probability be our nominee. But I think things materialized and developed differently and I think a lot of it had to do with what happened in South Carolina.
ROBERTS: Congressman Clyburn, it's great of you to come on this morning. We appreciate it. Thanks so much.
CLYBURN: Thank you so much for having me.
ROBERTS: All right. We'll see you again soon.
PHILLIPS: Dr. Sanjay Gupta looking into a new treatment for brain cancer. Hi, Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi Kyra, as we've been reporting this story about Ted Kennedy, a lot of people have been asking us, surgery, chemo, radiation, then what? What else is out here? Some news this week. I'm going to have it for you and what it means for you, coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, doctors said the surgery to remove a malignant tumor from Senator Ted Kennedy's brain was successful and Kennedy should suffer no permanent damage from the operation. And over the next few days, he's going get drugs to prevent brain swelling and seizures. Doctors will be watching him for signs of bleeding that could lead to a stroke. In another week, he's expected to go home to Massachusetts where he will begin chemotherapy and radiation. Now, Senator Kennedy could be a candidate for a new vaccine that is having great success in some brain cancer candidates. CNN's senior medical correspondent and practicing neurosurgeon, Dr. Sanjay Gupta with us from the CNN Center. Tell us about this vaccine.
GUPTA: Well, it just made some news this week. You know, one caveat is it's a relatively small study so far just 23 patients. But as you mentioned, this is a vaccine that could potentially double survival of patients with the most malignant. Let's take a look at some of the numbers there. Again, 23 patients. Now, what we know is with the vaccine, patients live on average 33 months. Now, that may not seem like a lot or it may seem like a lot, depending on your perspective. But compared to without the vaccine, which is an average of 14 months. So, again, more than double the survival. With the vaccine as well, something we learned is that the cancer takes longer to return. So, if you have the surgery, you had the chemo and radiation and you also get the vaccine, it's going to take a longer time for the cancer to actually start to come back.
Now, we don't know if Senator Kennedy is a candidate for this particular trial. I did talk to some of the doctors at Duke yesterday and they said he certainly will be considered for this sort of thing. And we're not sure that he even has the most malignant of all these tumors. But this is something that is happening at Duke. It's an early phase, this is happening in a few centers across the country. And it might offer some relief. You know, I mean, for a long time the statistics, the survival rates for these tumors, Kyra, just haven't budged much. This is one of the first things in a while that have actually really moved that goal post down the field a bit.
PHILLIPS: Well, will follow up. Interesting timing, too, when this is coming out and what's going on with the Senator. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much.
GUPTA: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: All right. John.
ROBERTS: The end is near, or at least we think it is. And we've seen just about all that there is no to see. But Jeanne Moos takes a look back at the lighter moments on the campaign trail. And that's coming your way next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: It's been a fight to the finish between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
PHILLIPS: CNN's Jeanne Moos looks at the lighter side of the long and winding campaign road.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The worse it has looked for Hillary, the better she has looked. Until she lost her voice Monday.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Chelsea, come back and talk a minute.
CHELSEA CLINTON: What should I talk about.
MOOS: Flogging through town after interchangeable town.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Even after we left Mitchell -- even after we left Greenwood. We're in Mitchell now.
MOOS: The younger man has seemed weary, while the 60-year-old has bounced back. Sort of like Hillary in a box, discovered by the folks at the long cat web site, 1200 of these pro-Hillary keepsakes were manufactured. Its creator says half has been sold. Although Hillary has seemed almost liberated lately, for once even at the opposite ends of the blogosphere agree, the end, it's over. The fight has divided even kitties in one family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hillary. Hillary. Hillary.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama.
MOOS: The fight seems to be winding down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hillary.
MOOS: Those kids are real, these kids are actors.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Young Hillary Clinton.
MOOS: Featured in a parody of Hillary's tenacity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One, two, three, four, connect four! Actually not all the stations have been counted yet so I'm not going to officially declare you the winner.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But I won!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, you didn't.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, you didn't.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, you didn't.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I did.
MOOS: But the writing is on the wall. Forecast on foreheads, Obama critics have come up with an unforgettable video of their own.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unelectable in every way.
MOOS: Unelectable or not, the nomination is within Obama's grasp.
MOOS (on-camera): And as the sun seems to set on the Hillary campaign, figure someone would bring up "Sunset Boulevard."
MOOS (voice-over): You know, the film about the delusional once famous actress?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What am I?
MOOS: Well, now, there's a Hillary version.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where am I?
MOOS: Down the staircase comes Norma Desmond, likewise the Hillary impersonator.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Another picture and another picture. And another! And those wonderful people out there in the dark. Out in the dark who voted for me.
MOOS: But the funny thing about that famous line.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up. I'm ready for my presidency.
MOOS: The thing about that line is that Hillary Clinton actually seemed readier for her close-up at the end than at the beginning. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
ROBERTS: And that's it. We'll see you in the "Election Center" tonight, 8:00. Thanks so much for joining us on this AMERICAN MORNING.
PHILLIPS: CNN NEWSROOM with Tony Harris and Heidi Collins begins right now.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. See events come into the NEWSROOM live on Tuesday, June 3rd. here's what's on the rundown. Voting underway now in the final two primaries.
