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Anxiously Awaiting Obama's Historic Speech; Gustav Revs Up and Hits Carribean; Who Will McCain Tap as VP
Aired August 28, 2008 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. Welcome back, everybody. Soledad O'Brien coming to you from the CNN Election Center in New York bringing you continuing coverage of the Democratic National Convention from Denver.
Only one thing left to do in this convention, but it's the biggie. How is this for a challenge? Just hours after becoming the first-ever major party African-American presidential nominee, speak to a stadium full of supporters. That's something that's not done since John F. Kennedy. Do it while essentially tied in the polls and under attack from Republicans from being everything from too flashy to unpatriotic.
And then on the biggest stage you could find, do it on a day that invites comparison to one of the greatest speeches that has ever been made in history. That's going to be a huge challenge that Barack Obama set for himself.
One thing in his favor though, his Clinton problem has gotten a whole better. First with Hillary Clinton's speech on Tuesday and then last night, her words sealing his nomination and then the words of her husband aimed at healing the Clinton-Obama split.
Let's talk about that with CNN's Candy Crowley. She's in Denver.
Hey, Candy. Good morning.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: How are you doing? Good morning to you.
O'BRIEN:: There was lots of anxiety - you know and I'm just repeating it that between the Clintons and the Obamas about sort of what would be said, would the rift be healed. First I'm going to play a little bit about what President Clinton had to say about his speech. And then we'll talk on the other side about whether that was solved.
CROWLEY: Sure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Together we prevailed in a hard campaign in which the Republicans said I was too young and too inexperienced to be commander in chief. Sound familiar? It didn't work in 1992 because we were on the right side of history. And it will not work in 2008 because Barack Obama is on the right side of history. (END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: He had a couple of things he had to do in his speech. One was to really reach out to Barack Obama and put his seal of approval on him. But also he had some work to do on his own, you know, what people felt about Bill Clinton. Was he able to - how did he do on both fronts, I guess?
CROWLEY: Well, you know, judging from that room, because you're right there were a lot of hard feelings about Bill Clinton, particularly obviously among Barack Obama supporters. They felt he crossed the line during the campaign. He did some real damage to himself within the African-American community, many of whom thought that he had played the race card or somehow equated Barack Obama's success to his race, that kind of thing. But I have to tell you, I heard none of that. This is after the speech, this is a party that really loves the Clintons. They always have, and it was there and ready to come back. He just needed to be there, remind them of who he was, what they loved about the Clinton era. So they were ready for that. They really were.
I thought on the other question that you played exactly the right bite because after we came out of the Hillary Clinton speech there were some complaints in the delegations that she didn't address the experience issue because she had criticized his experience a lot during the primary campaign, particularly as it got more and more tense between the two of them. So a lot of people said, you know, she should have come out and said, yes, he is experienced enough.
But that's what Bill Clinton did. And Bill Clinton has been commander in chief. He made the perfect point there as far as Democrats were concerned. He was the one that said Barack Obama is ready. So he touched just the right cord that so many at this convention really wanted one of the Clintons to say. And obviously, again, they really were ready to love Bill Clinton again in the Democratic Party because they really do. He is the good old days and they were ready to reembrace him. He did the job that he needed to do, which was just to remind them what they loved about him, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Last night was also Joe Biden's first big sort of introduction to a wide audience. We've interviewed him for forever but really to a wide audience. Let's play a little chunk of what he has to say in his speech.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our greatest presidents from Abraham Lincoln to Franklin Roosevelt to John Kennedy, they all challenged us to embrace change. Now it is our responsibility to meet that challenge. Millions of Americans have been knocked down, and this is a time as Americans together we get back up, back up together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN:: Do you think he did what he had to do? Some people said he was going to be the red meat. Some people said he is going to be the one underscoring the working class values. All those things. Did he do it?
CROWLEY: He did both those things, as a matter of fact. And really laid out the most cogent case that the ticket has done to date, particularly on foreign policy. He ticked through a number of issues and said, look, Barack Obama was right on these issues.
Now we are seeing that John McCain was wrong all along. So he did a really good job of that contrast, which is what they hired him for. But more than that, that bite you played was preceded by Biden's son Beau telling Biden's life story about how his wife and infant daughter were killed in a car crash, his two sons, including Beau, seriously injured and how he came back after that.
So this was a way to take Biden's story and molded into that working class, you know, we're going to fight back together, I understand you. Because Joe Biden was hired to reach out to that voter bloc that is having a little trouble signing onto Barack Obama at this point. This has been his weakest bloc.
O'BRIEN: Let me stop you there because I think that's a really good point. Is it possible though, in politics, which you've covered for a long time, to sort of take the embrace that the working class voters have of Joe Biden, you know, the ham and cheese, the guy who rides Amtrak to work, the regular guy, and then transfer that embrace to somebody else? I mean, that's kind of the challenge, isn't it?
CROWLEY: No. Right, it is. And no, it's not possible. But what Joe Biden can do is vouch for Barack Obama. He can get people to take a second look. He can go into some of these areas in Pennsylvania. He's from Scranton, in Ohio, in West Virginia, in sort of like areas where they're really struggling economically and say, listen to me. I want you to look at Barack Obama's plans for this and that. So he can bring people in.
He has a way of connecting to that voting bloc, and he can get them to take a second look. That's the best they can hope for because people don't vote for number two. They vote for number one. You're exactly right. But you bring a number two in to try to frame your policies in a way that reaches out to constituency that Joe Biden really does have some sway with.
O'BRIEN: And it seems like finally, as we head into day four, the conversations about a rift, conversations about disorganization are all gone. Everybody is looking toward the historic speech tonight, really.
CROWLEY: Yes. Tra la la. Yes, they have sort of moved beyond this at this point publicly. Do I think that all of the issues that the Clintons and the Obamas had in the primary are gone?
O'BRIEN: I know the answer to that.
CROWLEY: I don't. Nonetheless, I do think that they have publicly moved on. The Clintons did what they were supposed to do. They did it whole heartedly, put the period on that when Hillary Clinton said, let's have an acclamation here, make Barack Obama our nominee. So, yes, they moved forward out of here.
Now, remember that this is the view from inside the convention hall. This is the view from those, the party faithful. They weren't going to go anywhere any way. These are Democrats. How it's going to play outside this convention hall we're going to have to watch because we really don't know.
O'BRIEN:: Guess what? And we'll be following it as we continue our rolling coverage. Candy Crowley for us this morning. Thanks, Candy. Appreciate it.
Up much more on the history being made in Denver and the extravaganza that's yet to come. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Barack Obama making a surprise appearance last night on stage with his running mate Joe Biden. His cameo, the rather informal opposite of what's on tap for tonight, a massive stage, a massive audience, massive expectations.
And as CNN Jason Carroll reports, colossal footsteps to fill.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dr. Martin Luther King's words "I Have a Dream" --
MARTIN LUTHER KING, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: ...to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice.
CARROLL: -- were perhaps never realized more fully than today. Senator Barack Obama will accept the Democratic Party's nomination on the 45th anniversary of King's dream speech, a significance not lost on Myrlie Evers.
MYRLIE EVERS, WIDOW OF MEDGAR EVERS: This did not come by easily. Much sacrifice was made and now it's a push forward to the future.
CARROLL: Evers is the widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, a Klansman assassinated Evers because he fought for the rights of blacks. It was 1963.
EVERS: To come together to a point where Barack Obama will accept running for president for the Democratic Party is something that I'm not sure I ever thought of that would happen within my lifetime.
CARROLL: For leaders like former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder, the first black governor-elected in the United States, this day reaffirms deeply-held beliefs.
DOUGLAS WILDER, FMR. VIRGINIA GOVERNOR: I think it's saying that America is indeed as Lincoln described it, the greatest experiment for democracy, the greatest opportunity for people to achieve.
CARROLL: It's a lesson a new generation of leaders consider sacred.
REP. JESSE JACKSON, JR., (D), ILLINOIS: This is not a generational struggle. This is a struggle that is picking up the torch that is picking up the responsibility, that is assuming its rightful place in the great movement for change.
CARROLL: Evers, like Dr. King, dreamed of a better future, not just for black Americans but for all Americans.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It means a lot to me and to many, many people I know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 45 years ago, you know, both Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy said that in 40 years we may even have a black president of the United States. And here we are 45 years later.
CARROLL: Obama's nomination goes a long way toward reaching King's dream, but Evers reminds us the struggle is not over.
EVERS: It is not about one man. It's about a collective group of Americans who believe in justice and freedom and equality.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: CNN's Jason Carroll reporting. At that's it for now. I'm Soledad O'Brien from the CNN Election Center in New York. I'll see you back here in just about 15 minutes, continuing our nonstop coverage from the convention. Back to CNN NEWSROOM and storm coverage of Gustav right after these short messages.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. Tony Harris is on assignment.
Stay informed all day right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown.
Gustav revving up for the Gulf Coast, putting New Orleans on alert for possible evacuations. Today, the storm is speeding floodwaters in the Caribbean.
Heading for a Gulf vacation this holiday weekend? How to keep hurricane season from wrecking your getaway.
And he wants a piece of the Democratic spotlight. John McCain has decided on a running mate. Today, Thursday, August 28th, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Gulf coast on watch. Bad storm on move. Tropical storm Gustav expected to re-strengthen into a hurricane today with a possible U.S. landfall early next week. Rob Marciano is in the weather center with the latest on Gustav's track. We begin with CNN's Morgan Neil who is in Havana this morning with the very latest on the destruction in the Caribbean. Morgan.
MORGAN NEIL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Well, here in Cuba, at least on the east of the island, people are breathing a little bit easier and that's because during the night the course of this storm changed fairly significantly, certainly as it applies to Cuba, whereas they thought the storm would pass between Jamaica and Cuba, it has now gone to the south of Jamaica, expected to turn into a hurricane in the coming hours.
Now, Jamaica has warned people in rural areas to get to safer ground and they've opened shelters as well as issuing a hurricane warning. Also in the Cayman Islands we've seen a hurricane watch issued. This storm has already taken a pretty heavy toll in human life on the island of Hispaniola, that is the Dominican Republic and Haiti. We've seen at least 22 people dead as a result of this storm. 14 in Haiti as a result of flooding and landslides and in one Santo Domingo neighborhood, a mud slide killed eight people.
Here in Cuba, in the east, we had seen a lot of preparation before this storm. We saw at least 40,000 people evacuated, 20,000 in Santiago de Cuba province, 20,000 more in Granma. They are now breathing a little bit easier. But on the western side of the island now, preparations will start ramping up because it looks like, according to the latest trajectory, this storm could pass very close to the westernmost part of Cuba that could affect the Pinar del Rio area.
COLLINS: All right. CNN's Morgan Neil, live from Havana this morning. Thank you, Morgan.
I want to get over to Rob Marciano now who of course is tracking Gustav from the weather center this morning.
All right. Where are we at, Rob?
ROB MARCIANO, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: Right near Jamaica, Heidi. 70-mile-an-hour winds with this. In the last couple of frames of this satellite imagery certainly shows a bit more of organization. Kingston, Jamaica, it's pretty much about 50 miles east of you and heading your direction. And it's pretty much going to scrape if not directly hit the island. The southern part of the island is going to see hurricane conditions likely in the next 12 to 24 hours. So hurricane warnings posted for that.
Then the path of this thing remains pretty much on track. There's been a few adjustments, this thing kind of jumped south, by the way. But category 1, category 2, category 3 into the Gulf by this weekend. It has slowed down a little bit, the forecast track. Not that we take the line off here the past three days, the margin of error just gets a little bit crazy, and anybody really from the upper Texas coastline to the Florida panhandle will be having to watch this very, very carefully. Water temperatures here pretty strong. There was some hope that winds might very well knock this thing down a little bit as we head towards the weekends. But the latest forecast models do indicate that will probably be a major hurricane by the weekend. All right. This is tropical depression number eight. It's going pretty close to and going to become a tropical storm and probably our next hurricane as well as it heads toward the Bahamas. But we shouldn't have to worry about this, at least, for the next five days, we have to deal with Gustav first off.
COLLINS: All right. Good idea. Thank you, Rob. Appreciate that.
Meanwhile, plans in place for New Orleans in case Gustav comes its way. A phased evacuation now for motorists that includes counter flow of some 30 hours before landfall where all interstate traffic is actually turned outbound. Officials say buses and trains are ready to move some 30,000 people.
Before heading home early from the Democratic Convention in Denver, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin spoke about the improvements since Hurricane Katrina hit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAY NAGIN (D), MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS: Since Katrina we have been working cooperatively together. We've tested our plans. We've gone through mock drills. And it all seems to be in place. Now, we got a new player and a new governor who has a better relationship with the president. So hopefully up and down the line there will be better communication.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency and put 3,000 National Guard troops on standby.
We're also following another weather story here, developing out of Canada now. the U.S. Geological Survey is reporting a 6.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Vancouver Island. Canadian media reports that today's quake is actually the third in the same area since yesterday. The earlier quakes had magnitudes of around 5. Canadian seismologists say the tremors are occurring in an active region that is too far offshore to be felt on land. They say the quake is also too small to cause a tsunami. Good news there.
The travel hazards of hurricane season. What you need to know to protect yourself and your money.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: All eyes on potential hurricane Gustav as it heads towards the Gulf. If you plan on traveling this hurricane season, personal finance editor Gerri Willis is here with what you need to know.
But before we get to that, Gerri, I want to talk a little bit about this shakeup at Fannie Mae.
How big of a deal is this really?
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: I spoke to an analyst yesterday, Heidi, about Fannie Mae as it announced a shakeup, a management shakeup in its senior ranks. He described it as sort of moving around the chairs on -- deck chairs on the Titanic. He said it is not that important but it does point to the problems that Fannie Mae, certainly that company in transition as is Freddie Mac, which is actually looking for a new chief executive to replace Richard Syron. Both of those companies under pressure in the mortgage meltdown.
We're watching carefully those companies to see what happens with them next. They are critical to the mortgage market and will, of course, bring you news on that as it happens. Heidi.
COLLINS: OK. Very good. Meanwhile, back to traveling and vacationing during hurricane season, we should probably talk first about what regions are most at risk here.
WILLIS: Well, OK. Be advised if you booked a trip to New Orleans or anywhere near the Gulf of Mexico, you may face the storm as early as this weekend. The places that are generally most vulnerable to hurricanes generally, the Caribbean, Cancun, Central America, hurricane season, of course, runs from June to the beginning of November so we've got a ways to go before it's over.
COLLINS: Yes, and a lot of people, of course, plan these vacations months, sometimes years in advance. If you're talking about, special anniversary or something. So if you do have something already planned, what can you do?
WILLIS: Well, OK, before you leave, register with the nearest U.S. embassy at travel.state.gov. If there's an emergency, it will be easier to contact you. And if you're in one of the areas where Gustav could hit, check in with your tour operator or airline about their policies. For example, Delta is allowing passengers who may be affected by Gustav to change their travel plans if they had planned to travel by this Monday. And of course, leave a detailed itinerary and your local contact info with a friend or family member in the U.S.. Remember, some bigger named resorts will give you a credit to come back at different time if you want to cancel your trip this weekend.
COLLINS: Yes. What about your advice for people who haven't booked yet?
WILLIS: Well, you've really got to consider your options, Heidi. Look, in Gustav's case, think about traveling to safer areas in the eastern Caribbean. That would be like Barbados, St. Lucia, Bermuda. In general, think about areas that are less hurricane-prone like Aruba or Bonaire or even Curaco. Otherwise, book a cruise. Cruises can divert around the storm and go to different ports of call.
If you plan on spending thousands of dollars on your vacation, you may want to think about travel insurance. But it doesn't come cheap. Some travel insurance policies can cost you up to eight percent of your trip.
COLLINS: All right. Well, we sure do appreciate all of those thoughts because it's very unfortunate if people already have been through it.
WILLIS: That's right. Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. We sure do appreciate it. We'll talk soon.
WILLIS: My pleasure.
COLLINS: Meanwhile, she may be a bit older than other members of the class of 2008, but a Tennessee woman is living proof it is never too late to learn. Nancy Hightower earned her high school equivalency diploma at age 85.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANCY HIGHTOWER, EARNED GED AT 85: Math was hard. Math was hard. Everything was hard. But I had to keep it up. It's different. See, when I went to school, it was easier.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: It took Hightower three tries to get her GED. She's looking into college courses now. Good for her.
A history making night for Barack Obama. Convention coverage from CNN, the best political team on television.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: And good morning. Welcome back, everybody. Soledad O'Brien at the CNN Election Center in New York. Bringing you continuing coverage of the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Preparations are under way right now, turning Mile High Stadium into a combination political arena/bully pulpit/movie backdrop and piece of living history. In just a few hours Senator Barack Obama will accept his party's nomination for president. And he's going to do it in front of perhaps 75,000 people at Mile High and millions more across the country who will be watching. And it's all going to happen on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
And then there's this: His opponent John McCain gearing for convention and still deciding on a running mate. Also, some new polls to tell you about today. The words of Bill Clinton echoing from last night and lots more to talk about.
Let's get right to it with CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser. He joins us from Denver.
Hey, Paul. Good morning to you.
Lots of polls to tell us about, what do you got? PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. We've got some brand new CNN, Time" magazine and Opinion Research Corporation polls in the battleground states.
And let's start right here in Colorado, because that's where we are. This brand new poll out shows it's basically a dead heat right here in Colorado. John McCain up by one point, but that's well within the polls sampling error. This was a state that went twice for George Bush. This is a state the Democrats would love to turn from red to blue. And I think that's one of the reasons they're holding the convention right here in Denver.
Let's move over to Nevada, another western state the Democrats have their sights on. And right now Barack Obama, according to our poll, he's up about five points over John McCain. It's still pretty close. This is a state both of them are going to fight hard for.
Let's head down to New Mexico. This is a state that George Bush won very closely last time. Al Gore won it in 2000. And check out these new numbers from our CNN/"Time" and Research Opinion Corporation poll. Barack Obama now up by 13 points, according to our new numbers. And that's one of the reasons we're turning New Mexico, from a battleground state to a leans-Democrat state. This is again, a state where both of these candidates are really going to be spending time and money.
And finally to Pennsylvania, why? Why, why are we getting out of the west? Because Pennsylvania is where Joe Biden grew up. And that's a state we wanted to see if it had impact. Right now, our new numbers have Barack Obama up by about five points over McCain. That's pretty much where it's been in the last couple of weeks. That's another state with a lot of electoral votes. Both candidates are going to be spending a lot of time there -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: You touched on it a little bit, Paul. But I'd like you to go further for me.
So, when the politicians see these poll numbers, how does that connect to strategy, for both sides here? What do the Barack Obama people think that they now need to do and what about the John McCain people? What do they think that they need to do, looking at those new poll numbers?
STEINHAUSER: You know, they look at our numbers and the other news organizations that come out with polling. But, they also do their own polling as well.
And between the two, that's how they kind of decide where to put their resources, where to campaign and just as importantly, where to spend money on advertising, where they think they have a shot, where they need to do it and where they don't need to do it -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, when you're looking let's say, in the John McCain, camp, who's still look for a vice presidential pick, does he then analyze these polls and say, this is going to or should lead me to candidate X, or candidate Y, or candidate Z, when it comes to the VP pick?
STEINHAUSER: That is one of the factors. Take Mitt Romney, for instance. You keep hearing that Mitt Romney is on the so-called short list for John McCain.
Now, Mitt Romney, in Massachusetts is where he was governor. That's a Democratic state very heavily. But he grew up in Michigan, his father was the governor there. And there's a thought from the McCain campaign that maybe putting Mitt Romney on the ticket could help John McCain in Michigan, a state that is also a battleground that both campaigns are fighting for.
So yes, that's one of factors but not the only factor. Another factor of course is, does that running mate bond and gel well with the nominee? Take, for instance, Tim Pawlenty, the governor of Minnesota. You hear a lot about him also being on the short list. John McCain knows Pawlenty well, they're friends, they bond. So, that's another reason Pawlenty could be on the ticket, less about location. But then again, Minnesota's also a pretty tight state as well -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All the things they have to consider as they look toward that.
Paul Steinhauser for us this morning. Paul, thanks a lot, as always.
Up next, we are digging a little bit deeper with CNN's Roland Martin and David Brody from the Christian Broadcasting Network. That's right after this short break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Joe Bided last night, his acceptance speech, an homage to his family and a quiet but powerful attack on the opposition.
With us to talk VP's and much more, CNN political analyst Roland Martin and CNN contributor David Brody, with Christian Broadcasting Network.
Nice to see both you gentleman as you get ready there.
Roland, let's start with you. Let's begin with -- i fact, let's play a little clip of what Joe Biden said last night, a little piece of his speech. And then I'll ask you a question on the other side.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Should you trust the judgment of John McCain when he said only three years ago, Afghanistan, we don't read about it anymore in the papers because it succeeded. Should we trust John McCain's judgment when he rejected talking with Iran and then asked, what is there to talk about?
Or Barack Obama who said, we must talk and make clear to Iran that it must change. Now, after seven years of denial, even the Bush administration recognizes that we should talk to Iran. (END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: He rang home the national security issue, which was kind of his job in being the attack dog, too.
Roland, earlier in the week you were very unhappy. You were saying that these guys just did not have it together yet.
Do you think that the Democratic Party's finally gotten it together in this convention?
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, actually, what we were looking at is in terms of really a continuant. I mean, David and I really talked about it from day one. If you look at Monday: Faith, values, family. You need to set the stage. Tuesday: A day of healing. Wednesday: National security, economy. Today: Barack Obama closes it up.
This is a relay, OK? We had the first leg, the second leg, the third leg. Now you're putting this baton in the anchor guy, saying, look, take us home. Let's win the gold. That's really what this is all about. So, their messaging I thought, has been right as opposed to attacking from day one.
O'BRIEN: David, you had some concerns --
DAVID BRODY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, Soledad, let me just add to that --
O'BRIEN: Oh, I'm sorry. You know, but your concerns David, in fact when we spoke earlier. I mean, on Monday, was that that Clinton speech could actually overshadow Barack Obama.
Do you think the speech overshadowed him? It was a good speech, by most people's estimations, a very good speech or a great speech. Do you think it overshadowed or do you think it teed-up Barack Obama for tonight?
BRODY: No. I think it teed him up. I don't think there's any question.
But look, this is Barack Obama's convention. The Clintons had their couple of days. It will be Barack Obama tonight. It was Barack Obama last night to a certain degree as well.
So, you know, the real issue, Soledad, is the authenticity issue and here's what I mean by that. Joe Biden and a lot of these other speakers that have come to the podium -- President Clinton, for example, all talking about Barack Obama has the right judgment.
The problem here, Soledad, is that the Republican National Committee is armed. Armed with videotape, armed with YouTube clips of Joe Biden, President Clinton on the "Charlie Rose Show." I mean, talking about all this stuff, about how maybe a risk to go with Obama.
This is the problem. And so even though they're talking about judgment here, even though Joe Biden talked a lot about how this will be about judgment, the problem is they have arsenal, lots of it, on the other side, against that argument.
O'BRIEN: Well, let me ask you a question about that. Hey, hang on Roland. Let me ask you a question about than then.
Because you heard President Clinton try to sort of get rid of that last night, one by saying similar things were said about me and, two, I think also by kind of referring to the primary got very heated.
Do you think realistically, not just in the staged convention, but for voters, isn't there a sense that, yes, these people get out there and they sling mud at each other and that's kind of the way it works. You know, that they're against each other in the primary and at some point you move on.
Or do you think people really -- that that sticks and it can't be overcome with a speech highlighting and endorsing a candidate?
BRODY: It depends, Soledad. It can stick if it continues to be the narrative. And this is what we're talking about here. What's going to happen over the next months is who can better craft the narrative. And this is why the Obama campaign must, must have this authenticity issue not taken away from them.
O'BRIEN: Well, what do you think, Roland? Hang on. So Roland, do you think it's going to be a --
MARTIN: Well, first of all, he's right. Soledad, this is all about who can hit the hardest, OK?
Look, more than likely, McCain is going to choose Mitt Romney. And guess what, the Democrats have a treasure trove of Mitt Romney saying McCain knows nothing about the economy, he's not good. And so they're going to be battling back and forth. There's no doubt it's going to happen.
The real key is also the word usage. For the Democrats on national security, they're saying judgment. McCain saying experience. McCain is going to say, I have targeted the economy. Obama people are going to say, yes, but you said he knew nothing about it.
And so there will be battling back and forth. So again, what does the public buy into? That is going to be the key. Absolutely, David's right.
O'BRIEN: Expectations certainly for Barack Obama are a lot for this evening. I mean, if you listen to the critics on both sides, he's got to be lofty and he's got to be specific. He's got to be presidential, but also down to Earth. He's got to be compelling, but not proffesorial. And you know, it's like, you got to be A and you got to be Z.
How, Roland -- why don't you start. How do you pull that all off? Oh, and by the way, this is the anniversary of a very historic event, probably the best speech ever in history was given on this day. That's a lot.
MARTIN: You know what? I think he should just go ahead and skip tonight and go ahead and go back to Chicago. But you know what? But, you're right.
I mean, first of all, what you're seeing on the Republican side, they've been trying to raise the expectations in a large way. They released a memo last way saying oh, he should get a 15-point (INAUDIBLE) out of the convention, which is a absolute joke. It's not going to happen. So, they all want to do that.
If I'm Obama, I'm talking to Obama, here's what I say: Do you. Just do you. Don't sit here and try to satisfy everybody. Walk in there, speak from the heart, tell your story, talk to America in a conversation. Do you.
BRODY: Yes, Soledad, here's the thing. The bar is just not high, it's mile high if you what I'm saying here in Denver. Look --
MARTIN: Oh, that was cute, David.
BRODY: Thank you so much. Listen, I've been working on that all week, by the way, Soledad. I figured I'd use it and break it out here.
MARTIN: There you go.
BRODY: But, listen. Here's the one word I think Obama cannot say tonight, but, I have a feeling he's going to say it. And that is the word world.
In other words, he needs to talk about America, America, America. World is not a good word for him and here's why. You have the Berlin speech, 200,000 people, you're talking about changing the world. Hey listen. That sounds great, it's "Kumbaya," it's "We Are the World" video
The problem is, is that the McCain campaign is already going on with this temple of Obama, the celebrity ad. It's a little bit raised to the point where, is it going to look like Obama is above the people? I mean, this whole bitterness cling to guns and religion, it's all playing into this that the McCain camp loves. He needs to stick to America, rather than the world vision because that raises him too much to the point where there may be a disconnect.
MARTIN: Now, I'm going to say what David doesn't want to say. And the problem, Soledad, Americans flat out don't want to act like we know about the rest of the world. It's all about us. But the reality is, when we get in trouble, we need to call our partners.
So maybe Americans need to step up and realize we can talk about the world not only in a crisis, but also right now.
O'BRIEN: I'm sure Senator Obama is quickly writing notes from the helpful advice you're giving him. And he may even steal your mile high expectations (INAUDIBLE), because it was cute. MARTIN: We just got an e-mail.
O'BRIEN: Gentlemen, I thank you very much, as always. We'll check in with you a little bit later.
More convention coverage coming to you in just about 15 minutes and of course, throughout the day. In New York, I'm Soledad O'Brien at the CNN Election Center.
Going to send you back to Atlanta and CNN NEWSROOM right after this short break. Stay with us.
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COLLINS: On the brink of becoming a hurricane again and on a possible collision course with the U.S. Gulf Coast. Tropical Storm Gustav being blamed for flooding, landslides and 22 deaths in the Caribbean. Expected to head into the Gulf of Mexico and explode into a Category 3 hurricane.
Our Rob Marciano watching the trek now from the weather center.
Hi there, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Heidi. We're just waiting now. Just minutes away from the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center on Gustav. And it may popping up while we're on the air.
Winds 70 miles an hour right now, gusting to 85. But this thing has looked a little bit more impressive over the last couple of frames. So, 50 or so miles east of Kingston, Jamaica, heading if that direction. They'll likely experience hurricane-force winds or at least hurricane conditions over the next 12 to 24 hours. And hurricane warnings have been posted for the island of Jamaica.
Heading across the northwest Caribbean, expect it to strengthen. That's been the forecast for the past couple of days. Expect it to get to major Category 3 status once it gets into the Gulf of Mexico. Waters here are very warm, upper levels not too bad. There may be a little interruption in its intensity. We certainly hope that.
But you get past day three and the margin of error gets to be huge, upwards of 200 and 300 miles. So, anywhere from the panhandle of Florida back to the upper Texas coastline is where this thing very well may hit.
This was tropical depression number eight. It has just minutes ago been upgraded to Tropical Storm Hannah. And it's just to the east of the Leeward Islands, heading towards the west. And this is also expected to become a hurricane as well, over the next several days. Get close to the Bahamas and start kind of a westerly turn toward Florida.
So, we'll deal with that at a later juncture. But, folks in the East Coast, the south East Coast, should be aware with what's going on with what is now Hannah, as well.
COLLINS: Yes. Absolutely.
All right, Rob. Thank you.
State of emergency in place now for Louisiana, as residents there prepare for a possible landfall by Gustav. No evacuations orders have been set yet, but if they come, all interstate traffic will be redirected outbound from New Orleans. Officials also have buses and trains ready for those who cannot go by car.
Before leaving the Democratic Convention in Denver, New Orleans's mayor Ray Nagin spoke with CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR RAY NAGIN, NEW ORLEANS: Well, we are ready to evacuate. Now, the big question is, what shape are our levees in? With all the work that the Corps of Engineers has done, is it going to be sufficient enough to handle what is projected to be a Category 3, that right now is poised and pointed toward New Orleans?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Ominous timing for a possible New Orleans landfall. Hurricane Katrina hit three years ago this weekend.
We are also following a developing story out of Canada. The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting a 6.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Vancouver Island. Canadian media reports today's quake is actually the third in the same area since yesterday. The earlier quakes had magnitudes of around 5. Canadian seismologists say the tremors are occurring in an active region too far offshore to be felt on land. They say the quake is also too small to cause a tsunami.
A disaster, though, of epic proportions in India. A monsoon swollen river has burst its banks flooding some 1,600 villages. Officials say 47 people have died. But thousands are said to be stranded, as you can tell by those pictures. And unfortunately, more rain is on the way.
A deadly bombing in Pakistan's lawless province bordering Afghanistan. Officials report at least seven people killed in an attack on a van. Six of the victims, police officers. At least a dozen others wounded in the the blast. The bomb detonated by remote control. It went off as the van crossed a bridge. Islamic militants have recently carried out several attacks in the region. The fighting flared after Pakistan's military launched its biggest push yet, against extremists.
John McCain's choice. Who will be his running mate? One name in particular keeps popping up.
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COLLINS: Russia's prime minister ratchets up tensions among military action in the Republic of Georgia. In an exclusive interview with CNN's Matthew Chance, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says the U.S., not Russia, is to blame for the conflict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The fact is that U.S. citizens were indeed in the area in conflict during the hostilities, that it should be admitted that they would do so only following direct orders from their leaders. Therefore, they were acting in implementing those orders, doing as they were ordered, and the only one who can give such orders is their leader.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: We will have more in a live report coming up with Matthew Chance in the next hour. So stay tuned for that.
Meanwhile, the U.S. economy is finally showing signs of life. A new report says economic growth picked up in the last quarter. Stephanie Elam is at the New York Stock Exchange now with that and the latest on oil prices.
Stephanie, no, no, no. Good news?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I actually have something good to share today, Heidi. It's kind of nice. We'll take it for now.
All right. Let's take a look at the last two quarters. We know that those were very dismal, the economy finally shifted into high gear, though, it seemed. Second quarter, economic growth came in at 3.3 percent. The fastest pace in nearly a year, and that is considered a solid growth rate. That's pretty good there. And it is much stronger than economists had expected.
So the question is, what's with the turnaround?
Well, exports surged. We had that weak dollar that made U.S. goods more attractive to overseas buyers and consumer spending picked up, and a lot of people think that's thanks to the stimulus checks. The solid GDP reading is giving stocks a boost.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
ELAM: So, solid gains here on Wall Street, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. And I heard you say that word, turnaround. Is it too early to say that, or can we glom onto it?
ELAM: Well, let's put it this all into perspective. As much as I would be happy to glom along with you, I love to glom --
COLLINS: Glomming is good.
ELAM: -- glooming is good. I don't think we should glom just yet. For the economy to really turn around, growth needs to be sustained. Analysts say that won't happen until the housing and credit markets recover. So despite the strong reading, we still have to see what the second half of the year has in store for us -- Heidi.
COLLINS: OK, appreciate that. Stephanie Elam at the New York Stock Exchange.
Thank you.
ELAM: Thanks.
COLLINS: Democrats have their convention, but Republican John McCain has the attention of snooping reporters. Who will he choose as his running mate?
CNN's Ed Henry looks at one candidate whose name just keeps coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Governor Mitt Romney.
HENRY (voice-over): Mitt Romney in the key swing state of Nevada, auditioning to be John McCain's running mate.
MITT ROMNEY (R), FMR. GOVERNOR, MASSACHUSETTS: We didn't all agree a few months ago about what the direction of our party ought to be, but we sure agree now that John McCain needs to be the next president of the United States.
HENRY: He deflected questions about the job during an interview with CNN, but sure sounded like someone comfortable with being number two.
ROMNEY: I'm campaigning across the country to help John McCain get elected. My turn is over. I'm anticipating continuing to work for Senator McCain and his ticket until November and a victory, I sure hope. And so this is about him. It's not about me.
HENRY: Based on the reception he received from conservatives here, it's easy to see why he's high on McCain's short list. As a former businessman, he could complement McCain's national security credentials.
JOHN FEEHERY, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: He's really good on economic issues. I think he would be a strong vice presidential candidate.
HENRY: With the election so tight, McCain advisers privately say it's tantalizing to consider. Romney might deliver the 17 electoral votes of Michigan where his late father served as governor. But in the Republican primaries, McCain and Romney were bitter rivals.
ROMNEY: He voted twice against the Bush tax cuts. Only two Republicans did that.
HENRY: That question of chemistry is a big reason other contenders are still in the hunt for the veep slot, including 47-year- old Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.
GOV. TIM PAWLENTY (R), MINNESOTA: Well, you see the difference between John McCain and Barack Obama -- it's not even a close call.
HENRY: With two Senate insiders now on the Democratic ticket, McCain could benefit with a fresh-faced outsider. But Pawlenty could be too new as Republicans stress experience. McCain could highlight his maverick image and win some independents by tapping Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge. Both of whom support abortion rights. But conservatives would be furious, which is why all eyes are back on Romney, who is trying to show he hit it off with McCain during a weekend together.
ROMNEY: I didn't realize he is such a great barbecue chef. I didn't know that he also, you know, just is with his family all the time, loves being with his kids. He had his two daughters and one of his sons who is on leave from the military there. He was a proud father. He could not get enough of his son.
HENRY (on camera): Democrats say if Romney gets the nod, they'll make a big deal out of his wealth. But when I asked him how many homes he owns, he said four -- quote -- "one less than John Kerry." So it's clear he's ready to turn it around on Democrats.
Ed Henry, CNN, Henderson, Nevada.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The Democrats patch things up and put on a show of unity in Denver. CNN, your home for politics and convention coverage.
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