Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Reaction From Obama's Historic Acceptance Speech; Buzz Abounds over McCain VP Pick; New Orleans Back on Alert for Gustav
Aired August 29, 2008 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour. Welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM. We really are in breaking news mode right now.
Any moment we could learn who John McCain's choice to run with him on his ticket as his vice presidential nominee is. That could happen at any moment. We have got correspondents as you know covering this story, on their phones, on their BlackBerrys, trying to figure out who John McCain's choice will be. We want to take you to Denver right now. Our John Roberts is there, and he is following all the developments here.
John, good to see you once again.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN, ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Tony. Thanks very much.
And things there are moving fast and furious on the front in the VP front in terms of who John McCain is going to pick. We're just a few minutes away from him apparently going to appear on stage with that person. We're hoping to find out very quickly who it is and bring that to you just as soon as we can. I'm in Denver where the Democrats just wrapped up their historic convention. An amazing night it was last evening as Barack Obama gave that acceptance speech in front of some 85,000 people.
But right now our focus on the Republicans waiting for word on who John McCain's running mate is going to be, unveiling that running mate at a rally in Dayton, Ohio. We're going to have that for you live just as soon as it happens.
But right now, she's been reading the tea leaves all morning. Dana Bash in Dayton, Ohio, working her sources for us this morning.
And Dana, what are you finding out?
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, here's what we know, John. What we know is that I guess maybe the first thing we should do is tell you about the people who we believe are not, are not going to be McCain's running mate, John McCain's running mate. We've been talking about for some time, Tim Pawlenty, a source close to him says that he did get a call from Senator McCain saying he is not going to ask him to appear with him on the ticket. Mitt Romney is another person we've been talking about for quite some time, John McCain's former rival, the former governor of Massachusetts. He is not coming here to Dayton according to a source close to him I spoke to. And all indications are that he is not going to be John McCain's running mate.
Here is what we do know in terms of the closest thing that we have to a possible, a possible, idea of who John McCain is picking. And that is the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. She is somebody who had been talked about a while back as a possibility because she is actually somebody, John, who is a lot like John McCain if you look at what she believes in and what she pushes. She pushes against corruption, she pushes for fiscal discipline. She is somebody who is a hunter. And she's actually very young, she's 44 years old. The reason why we're talking about her is because we learned this morning that a plane, a private plane, arrived not too far from here, about 25 miles from here, at a private airport from Anchorage, Alaska.
And our Evan Glass, our producer, who had been working this along with us, he talked to somebody at the airport who said that they saw - actually somebody working at the airport -- who said it was quite secretive, mysterious because as the plane arrived they saw a woman, two men, two teenagers, get off and get whisked into a couple of white vans. So that was the first indication perhaps it was perhaps her. We do not know. We do not know that it is for sure going to be Sarah Palin, but the indications are that it's pointing towards her right now.
Having said that, and we've been doing this all morning, having said that the McCain campaign is doing right now inside is they are hunkered down and they are trying very hard, as hard as they can, to keep this secret. They've been pretty successful at keeping for quite some time. As that has been happening, we've been getting head fakes along the way. We've been getting some suggestions from people in and around the campaign that may not have actually panned out. So we want to be very careful.
But right now we're hearing from people around the campaign, not yet from the campaign that we're talking about Sarah Palin. It might not be the worst thing to do right now. So that's where we are right now. Of course, we're continuing to work our sources and we're going to keep you posted as to when we get final word as to who is going to appear right here at this rally in Dayton with John McCain in just a couple of hours -- John.
ROBERTS: Yes, Dana, there are lots of teasers coming our way from the McCain campaign. They suggested that they were going to release the name of the running mate immediately after Barack Obama's acceptance speech last evening. And they sent out messages that they decided not to do that. They're going to hold it until early this morning. And now it seems they're holding it right to the very end.
What about this issue of experience? Certainly John McCain has got plenty of it. Sarah Palin doesn't have all that much. She's only been the governor of Alaska now for a couple of years. She was a mayor before that, sat on an energy commission as the ethics commissioner. Could this raise questions about whether or not the Republican ticket would have the experience to lead the country?
BASH: I certainly think it could, and, you know, been blackberrying, and e-mailing and calling people close to the campaign and just sort of the Republicans who have done this before, that's the first thing that they've raised. I can just tell you in talking to people who are familiar with the discussions that have been going on among those handful of McCain aides over the past few weeks, over the past week especially, really intensely, what has emerged according to at least one source that I spoke to yesterday has been that, you know, the idea of what has been referred to as a transformational figure, somebody we would expect, a woman would probably fit into that specific formula, that's been something that has been appealing to John McCain.
And of course, you know, let's face it, John McCain is somebody who like to do things that are surprising. He'd like to do things different. He likes to push against the grain and not pick somebody who people would expect. So this would fit into that idea.
But, you know, when you talk about the kind of discussions that we understand have been going on, the pros and cons of having somebody who's really, really different have been out there. Joe Lieberman is somebody who fit into that discussion as well as somebody who would be different, who would provide a kind of a new face for the ticket. A different face, not a new face, but a different face for the ticket. So that's where we are right now, John.
ROBERTS: Dana, it really would stand this election cycle on its head if it were the Republicans who put a woman on the ticket where it was the Democrats were expected to all throughout the world. Dana from Dayton, Ohio, this morning. We'll let you keep working your sources. We'll get back to you.
For the moment, Barack Obama relinquishes the spotlight. Can he seize on the momentum of last night's rousing speech? Let's take a closer look at that this morning.
Joining me now is CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. You watched the whole thing and it was an auspicious occasion, 45th anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream" speech. He needed to hit one out of the park, if you would, even though it's a football field. Did he do it?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Most people think he did and certainly the Obama camp is very pleased with what happened. All this in an atmosphere, it was really quite incredible, more than 80,000 people packed in that building, just right behind us. Also, you know, historic. As you mentioned before with Martin Luther King's 45th anniversary, "I Have a Dream," a lot of people thinking here's a guy who's perhaps realized that dream. But the really important thing about last night was sending a clear signal that they are changing things in this campaign, they are turning the corner and he is going hard after John McCain.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): Barack Obama, now the nominee.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I accept your nomination for presidency of the United States. MALVEAUX: Walking on stage to a thundering crowd. After several minutes standing ovation, Obama took John McCain head on. On experience.
OBAMA: I get it. I realize that I'm not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don't fit the typical pedigree. And I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington.
MALVEAUX: On patriotism.
OBAMA: We all put our country first.
MALVEAUX: On the economy. Not only a plan to fix it, but a way to pay for it.
OBAMA: I'll eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and start-ups. I'll pay for every dime by closing corporate loopholes and tax savings that don't help America grow.
MALVEAUX: And the war on terror.
OBAMA: John McCain likes to say that he'll follow Bin Laden to the gates of hell but he won't even follow him to the cave where he lives.
MALVEAUX: And Obama challenged McCain to a debate.
OBAMA: If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament and judgment to serve as the next commander in chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have.
MALVEAUX: But before the speech, the A-list entertainment.
SHERYL CROW, MUSICIAN: A change would do us good.
MALVEAUX: And of course party superstars. But Obama said he was not the star tonight.
OBAMA: What the naysayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. It's about you.
MALVEAUX: Hoping to turn those 84,000 attendees into a grass roots political army that in two months can deliver him the election.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And, john, what was unique as well about this was the fact that they put a lot of those folks to work. What we saw the campaign manager up there giving instructions and people were texting during the time they were actually texting friends and family. I got a couple of texts myself here, you know, saying join the campaign. Here's where we are. It was really quite an amazing thing because what they're doing is they're gathering information, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, to really get to this kind of grassroots organization they believe that's the way they won the caucuses, that that's the way they're going to win in November. ROBERTS: They've got all those new phone numbers that they can contact and they can solicit donations. And even doing so much on the small donations, under $100, funding this campaign in amounts that we've never seen before. The first three days of the convention, for the most part, were about talking to people inside the hall, the delegates, trying to unify the party, trying to bring the reluctant Hillary Clinton delegates and their supporters onboard.
Last night was all about reaching out, about the television show, the grandeur of the spectacle. In terms of outreach to people who were watching this, looking for some signals, independent-minded voters who might be thinking which way to go, what kind of message did they send out?
MALVEAUX: One thing that they're trying to do is get the independents and even some of the Republicans. So what you heard is a very clear message from Barack Obama when it came to specifics, specifics about his economic plan, when it comes to tax cuts, how he was going to pay for it, specifics about health care, specifics about foreign policy, the one thing that he's been criticized is that he's got a lofty rhetoric but he really doesn't have what are called solutions.
Hillary Clinton even put out a statement saying, oh, look, I've heard all of these solutions from Barack Obama tonight, a good successful night. So that that is what you're hearing, that they're going to reach out to those people and also values. I mean, you see the pictures of the family, the kids, the Biden family. This is all about, hey, we're just like you. Biden in particular, blue collar just like you. We need you to come on over to our side.
ROBERTS: And they're not only reaching out to blue collar workers but also reaching out to people of faith, evangelicals, born- again Christians who are not a monolithic voting bloc but certainly do seem to trend overwhelmingly Republican. George Bush got, what, 75 percent of them in 2004. So we saw an increased focus over the last week on two things that the Democrats have been lagging on, and that is religious voters and as well the military. There was a very, very significant message to the military last night.
MALVEAUX: And also, all those generals that came out beforehand, I mean, talking about the Iraq war. You heard a very clear message about he saying he should bring an end to the war. You saw Biden's son who is going off to serve in Iraq to introduce his father. All of those things that resonate with families and also things that resonate with people who have loved ones who are overseas who are fighting.
ROBERTS: So let's look at where Barack Obama is today. I recall in the 2000 campaign I was covering the Gore campaign. We came off of the convention in Los Angeles, we flew overnight I believe we landed in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, we got on a riverboat and we floated down the Mississippi River over the next three days, hitting those small towns, small river towns in the battleground states.
President Bush after the 2004 convention, we flew overnight again to another location and I was so sleep deprived that I can't remember at this point where it was. But they launched right out of the box into the battleground states. Barack Obama just recently left here, he's headed for Pennsylvania. He doesn't have an event until 7:30 tonight. Is he missing an opportunity here to immediately capitalize on the momentum coming out of the Invesco Field last evening?
MALVEAUX: One thing that -- obviously, Congressman Stephanie Tubbs Jones who passed away recently, they're going to attend her funeral on Saturday. And so that's something that they're going to do this weekend. And then moving on Monday, that's when you're going to see this bus tour and that' when they're going to take off, essentially going to the battleground states that you talked about. That's when they're going to be hitting those small towns.
You'll see the two of them together, you'll see them separate. You'll see Michelle. You'll see Jill, all of them just kind of reaching out. It will be an intensive next couple of months. You know, whether the next 12 hours is going to make an incredible amount of difference, I think they realize some of the thunder is stolen because of John McCain's and his announcement for the vice presidential slot. So they don't feel that they're really missing out on too much.
ROBERTS: You know, John Kerry did not get a post-convention bounce in 2004. In fact, he went down and it will be interesting to see with all of the conflicting sort of energies here, John McCain's vice-presidential announcement followed immediately by the Republican convention, whether or not he'll be able to get that bounce. Keep watching over the next few days.
Suzanne, thanks very much.
MALVEAUX: Thanks.
ROBERTS: And we'll be back with more coverage as we are waiting for John McCain to announce his vice presidential running mate. The Democrats have taken their swings. Next week it is going to be John McCain's turn to hit back. Experts in his corner break down his convention counterpunching style.
And Hurricane Gustav or at least tropical storm Gustav getting attention off of the Gulf Coast. Our weather center is tracking what could soon become a major hurricane.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: And welcome back. We've got the most politics here for you here on CNN coming to you now from the parking lot of Invesco Field where last night more than 80,000 people gathered to watch Barack Obama give his acceptance speech as he accepted the nomination for the democratic party and making history as the first African- American candidate. A very different scene in there now. Literally from the moment he left the stage, and people start filing out, they began tearing down the set, folding up all of those chairs and taking up the panels that were covering the field because they have got a football game coming up on Sunday between the Colorado State Rams and the University of Colorado Buffaloes. They've got to get the field ready for that.
In terms of his speech last night, Barack Obama calls for change and he calls out John McCain for his support of President Bush and his policies in what was a stinging attack. He said that international concerns over Russia and its invasion of a U.S. ally.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: You can't truly stand up for Georgia when you've strained our oldest alliances. If John McCain wants to follow George Bush with more tough talk and bad strategy, that is his choice, but that is not the change that America needs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Barack Obama preaches change. John McCain touts experience. So how does the Republican party counter-punch? CNN's Mary Snow takes a look at that for us now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Democrats have been united in one theme as Republicans gear up for their convention in Minneapolis, St. Paul. Paint John McCain as a third Bush term.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: It makes perfect sense that George Bush and John McCain will be together next week in the twin cities because these days they're awfully hard to tell apart.
SNOW: To counter that image, Republican strategist Kevin Madden says McCain will make the case he's not always towed the party lines.
KEVIN MADDEN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: It's important for John McCain to set aside a separate identity, to make a case to the American public that John McCain is not just about party, but instead he's about putting America first.
SNOW: On the economy, Democrats have painted McCain as out of touch and the GOP hurting the working class.
PRES. BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They took us from record surpluses to an exploding debt. From over 22 million new jobs to just five million.
SNOW: Republican strategist Scott Reed says McCain has to concentrate on the future.
SCOTT REED, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Now, the secret for McCain to win is to talk about his forward-looking agenda and not talk about Bush and the Bush years, but talk about what he's going to do to create economic growth.
SNOW: On foreign policy, Democrats stress judgment.
SEN. JOE BIDEN (D-DE), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Again and again John McCain has been wrong and Barack Obama is right. SNOW: Republicans will counter experience.
MADDEN: This is going to be a contest of candidates on the issue of readiness, on the issue of experience. Who is ready to lead from day one?
SNOW (on-camera): When it comes to swaying undecided voters, one Republican strategist says it will be key for John McCain to make a strong case on his economic plan saying many people are already familiar with his national security record.
Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Well, let's again some more insight now on John McCain's potential vice presidential choices and then look ahead to the GOP's convention next week.
Republican consultant Alex Castellanos joins us now from New York. Alex, good to see.
ALEX CASTELLANOS, REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT: Likewise.
ROBERTS: The name that is being bandied about this morning is that of Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, as John McCain's running mate. What would you think of her choice?
CASTELLANOS: Well, I think America needs a vice president who can eat a moose burger. She's got executive experience. You know, she's got all the credentials, conservative credentials. She's a NRA member. She's a reformer. She cleaned up government. She sold the state airplane. So she brings a lot to the table, but I think the most important thing she brings is a fresh face to the Republican ticket.
ROBERTS: Apparently she drives a mean snowmobile as well. And we should also mention as well that she in 1984 she was the first runner up in the Miss Alaska pageant. But in terms of the type of experience that she brings to the table, when you look at this idea, Alex, that the first thing, that the first role that a vice president has to fill is if something happens to the president, they need to be able to step right into that role immediately, can she do that?
CASTELLANOS: Well, that's the question that I think the McCain campaign is going to have to answer. And in doing that, I think they're going to point out she has executive experience. She's been governor of the state. She's been mayor. You know, as mayor, you know, she cut her own pay and did a good job running a town. She's put $5 billion in savings for the state of Alaska. She cleaned up a state where there was quite a bit of corruption. She's actually gotten things done, brought Democrats and Republicans together.
And I think you'll see the McCain campaign contrast that with Obama's record, which is, well, he's never had a job, you know, longer than four years, and the first four-year job he's seeking is really the presidency of the United States. A community organizer, somebody who was in the state legislature just a couple of years ago, serves a few hundred days in the Senate, and then runs for president. And has never really run anything. So I think the contrast will be on executive experience, running things.
ROBERTS: What kind of dynamic, Alex, would it create at the Republican National Convention which begins in St. Paul, Minnesota. on Monday, now here you have the Democrats who are going back and forth, was it going to be a man? Was it going to be a woman who is going to be at the top of the ticket? And then for the vice presidential selection, was it going to be a woman or was it going to be a man? If John McCain suddenly turns around and said, I'm naming a woman to the ticket, what kind of dynamic does that create next week?
CASTELLANOS: Well, it tells you a couple of things. You know, predicting John McCain is sometimes like predicting the weather. You just don't know what John McCain is going to do sometimes, and here I think he has reached outside of the traditional political establishment choices to get somebody who is a conservative, who has executive experience, and who has a record of reform much like McCain's own record. So if that is the choice and again, we're still waiting to see what that announcement is - I think it says that this is not the old Republican party that's looking back. This is a Republican party that's looking at some new challenges and with some new people.
ROBERTS: And let's get you to give us a little bit of analysis of last night vis-a-vis what it means for next week. Republicans were saying that this huge spectacle here at Invesco Field played to all of Barack Obama's negatives, in terms of focusing on his celebrity rather than his substance. Some people were floating this idea that having a single person on the stage in a massive football stadium would actually diminish his stature. This morning, to a person, Democrats and Republicans have said last night was a brilliant political event. How does it change the calculation for Republicans going into next week?
CASTELLANOS: Well, I think it was very successful. You know, he put some big shoes out there, and he filled them. He took some risks, and he made it happen and I think he earned the reward. What it does is I think it puts a premium now on substance. One of the things he did last night was say that, well, I'm not going to tax individuals. 95 percent of families will get a tax cut under Barack Obama. He left a business out there. And that's a real big question and I think you'll see Republicans exploit at the convention which is hey, if you get paid by a business or you buy anything from a business in America, like your groceries, your gas, anything else, they're going to be paying more taxes and so who's going to get stuck with the bill?
And I think it's the old bucket of water thing, I'm not going to take water out of your side of the bucket, I'm going to take it out of the other side of the bucket. And well, we're all in the same economic bucket so I think you'll see Republicans hit that as well as he said something interesting, which was, if Washington doesn't help you, you're on your own in America. That's what he said was that his big charge against Republicans last night. He wants more money to go to Washington and then Washington will send it around through the bureaucracy. And that's the only way to help people.
And I think that's a very old idea for a very young candidate so I think you're going to see Republicans talk about, isn't there a more effective way, isn't governing, isn't helping ourselves, isn't growing the economy, aren't there better ways to do it than the old way of sending it to Washington and then hoping it trickles down? It's kind of trickle-down government was the Barack Obama plan last night.
ROBERTS: All right. Well said, as opposed to a trickle-down economy. Great analysis there from Alex Castellanos for us this morning. Alex, thanks. Stick around because we'll certainly want your analysis when John McCain announces his vice presidential running mate. I'm going to be back in just a few minutes' time with more political coverage.
A top Republican senator joins me with her take on the McCain VP selection.
HARRIS: John, we're watching a hurricane in the making. Tropical storm Gustav expected to grown and threaten the Gulf Coast. Our weather center has an update for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris. And Heidi Collins is on assignment. And we'll get back to John Roberts in Denver in just a couple of moments. You know, we're watching for signs today and waiting for word on John McCain's vice presidential pick. We could find out who it is at any moment. Much more on McCain's VP pick and Barack Obama's big night straight ahead.
Boy, how about this? Three years to the day after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is back on alert, if you can believe it, bracing for another deadly storm. Gustav could hit the city as a major hurricane by Monday. Other areas along the U.S. Gulf Coast are also preparing. In Texas, for example, the governor has issued a disaster declaration and ordered 8,000 National Guard troops on alert.
As it moved through the Caribbean, the storm killed 59 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Today, Jamaica is in the crosshairs, taking a real beating now with high winds and heavy rains.
Let's get to Reynolds Wolf in the severe weather center without delay. The CNN Hurricane Headquarters with the latest on Gustav.
Good to see you, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good to see you, as always, Tony. The latest we have on Gustav is the storm looks like it's starting to begin to retain some of the chaff (ph). It took quite a beating earlier this had morning, actually a little bit of some shear coming in from the north, also was interacting with the higher elevations of Jamaica, was having a really tough time, dropping some heavy rainfall. Before all is said and done, parts of Jamaica could get anywhere from say a foot, maybe as much as two feet of rainfall. But now as the storm is slowly beginning to move off the western point of Jamaica, it's starting to retain a little bit of a chaff.
You can also notice, not really an eye, but at least a center of circulation that is forming to the southwestern tip of the island, the outflow to the north, also to the east and south looks pretty good.
But in the southwest, we're looking at a little bit of dry air invection that is beginning to sweep in. That's very important for these storms, for them to retain their power, actually to gain strength, structure is a very important thing.
Now the storm is going to be moving into an area that is going to encounter minimal shear, shear, strong winds (INAUDIBLE) can actually rip that structure of these storms apart and weaken them considerably. What we anticipate is for the storm to gain strength, Category 1 as we get into Saturday, then into Sunday, the western half of Cuba as a Category 3 storm at 2:00 a.m. Sunday with winds of 115 miles an hour.
That's a major storm, Tony, a major hurricane. Then if you continue to follow that path, the National Hurricane Center brings it into the center of the Gulf of Mexico as we get to early Monday, and then just to the southwest of New Orleans by early Tuesday.
Remember, a lot can happen. We're going to be updating you throughout the rest of the day into the evening as long as it takes, the storm comes on through, with the new information, we'll certainly pass it on to you -- Tony.
HARRIS: OK. Reynolds, appreciate it, thank you. Let's take a live look now, Dayton, Ohio, in about 90 minutes, John McCain will take the stage there with his VP choice. You know, the McCain campaign is really giving us a bit of the silent treatment for the moment, and has been for a while now, but our sources are talking about his running mate. More from the best political team on television.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: We are back with "America Votes," and we are following the speculation as to who is going to be John McCain's vice presidential running mate. Right now all of the attention focusing on the name Sarah Palin. She is the single term governor of Alaska, a 44-year-old, was elected in 2006, was a local mayor before that. Our John King has been working his sources all morning. He joins me now.
John, what's the latest on this? Nobody from the campaign, I understand at this point, has said anything about this, but we're getting some very strong indications.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's interesting. You know, we had three Republican sources outside the McCain campaign tell CNN that they have been told by people inside the campaign that the choice is, in fact, the Alaska governor, Sarah Palin. Again, that's three Republican sources, good sources, but they're outside the McCain campaign. They say they have been told by people inside the campaign that at John McCain's side in just a short while in Dayton, Ohio, will be the Alaska governor, 44-year-old Sarah Palin, a first-term governor, elected only two years ago.
But I want to caution just by saying this, inside the campaign they will not confirm this. But we are told that only -- oh, go ahead.
ROBERTS: Yes, let's got to Dayton, because Dana Bash apparently has got some new information for us.
Dana, what do you have?
BASH: It's confirmed. We do have a senior campaign source that is confirming to us that Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, is going to be appear here with John McCain and John McCain will announce that she will be his running mate on the Republican ticket.
This is now confirmed to us from a senior McCain source, John. This, as you had just been talking about with John King, is something that our sources have been leading us to all day, but the McCain campaign inside, they have been very, very, very careful about not saying anything, radio silent, in fact, about talking to us about this.
But we do have confirmation, CNN can tell you that Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, will be John McCain's running mate. And we will see that in just a short while as they come out on this stage.
And we should also remind you that this actually came to us in an interesting way and in a mysterious way, frankly. And that is, by early this morning finding out that a private plane from Anchorage, Alaska, actually landed 25 miles away from hear.
And our Evan Glass, our producer, found out from somebody at the airport that there was a woman and a man and two teenagers that were whisked into the white van and the person working at that airport says that it is something that he has never seen before, it was so, so secretive.
Now we can confirm it was, in fact, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, 44 years old, first-term. But it is something that the McCain campaign wanted to do clearly -- John McCain wanted to do clearly, is do something to shake things up and perhaps most importantly here, pick somebody who is a woman, pick somebody who is a woman.
This campaign is desperate to get Hillary Clinton voters away from Barack Obama, onto his side. And this is one way clearly they're going to try to do it -- John.
ROBERTS: All right. Dana Bash for us in Dayton, Ohio, this morning. Dana, good work working your sources there. But just about 20 minutes away from that event, at which it appears as though John McCain is now going to unveil Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, as his vice presidential running mate.
At one point, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's name was swirling around as a possible McCain running mate. She is with us from Dallas this morning to talk about Senator McCain's choice.
What are you thinking? The name Sarah Palin, this appears to be confirmed now. We expect to her out there on the stage in about 20 minutes' time. What does she bring to the ticket?
SEN. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON (R), TEXAS: Well, a lot of energy, enthusiasm, youthfulness, a record of reform. She has a record that is just fantastic, from everyone who has watched her term in Alaska. She has been a mayor. So I don't know too much about her, but maybe that's the good news.
ROBERTS: All right. Well, you know, that could be the thing, that is actually the storyline that we pursue over the next little while, who exactly is this person? I want to bring in my colleague John King this morning, Senator Hutchison, who has been working his sources all day, trying to peel back the layers of the onion here and get a look behind the curtain.
KING: Senator Hutchison, the point you just made, not all that well-known to you, a leading Republican, a leading female Republican, a leading voice for the party in the United States Senate, does that trouble you in the sense that one of the tag lines of John McCain's campaign ads against Barack Obama is dangerously inexperienced?
Cannot the Democrats now fire back saying, John McCain is 72 years old, today is his birthday and he's turning to someone who is 44 years old from a state far away from Washington, has been in office only two years? Is she qualified to be commander-in-chief if, God forbid, something happened to a President McCain?
HUTCHISON: I'm sure that John has talked to her and is comfortable that she can take the helm. Everyone had said early on that he should have a younger running mate so he certainly has picked someone who is a real up and comer.
She just has a wonderful record. And the fact that she's not a Washingtonian, that she is a reformer, that she is outside the Beltway, is, you know, a point in her favor. The fact that I don't know her, the fact that others maybe in Washington haven't known her and she doesn't know the ways of Washington might be the very best thing of all.
ROBERTS: Well, we do know one thing there, Senator Hutchison, and that is that she knows how to eat a mooseburger, she knows how to shoot a gun, use a fishing rod, and drive a snowmobile.
But on this idea of women voters, you know, Senator McCain has been appealing to Hillary Clinton supporters who feel disaffected with the fact that, A, she didn't win the nomination, B, she was not chosen as the running mate. A recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll suggests that 27 percent of Hillary Clinton supporters will vote for John McCain. His choice of Sarah Palin as the running mate, how much does that help him with disaffected women voters for Hillary Clinton?
HUTCHISON: You know, I think that anyone who is the mother of five children, who is clearly very principled because her last baby has problems and she just went right forward and had that baby, anyone who is the mother of five children has had a woman's experience.
And that is what many women relate to. She also is certainly adept at the issues. She's principled. And the fact that she's a hunter and a fisherman and eats mooseburgers is probably something that the American people can relate to, maybe not the mooseburgers, but certainly hunting and fishing.
And she certainly is a family person. I must admit we'll all probably be introduced into mooseburgers. But I think it's breath of fresh air, and that's what John McCain had as a factor in his selection. So we'll all learn a lot about her, I know, in the next weeks to come. And I'm sure she's going to be a fabulous campaigner and people will be clamoring to meet her.
KING: Senator Hutchison, it's John King again. What advice would you give her about Joe Biden? She will have a vice presidential debate against a man who I know you disagree with philosophically and ideologically on many of the issues, but I assume you would agree is a very spirited, smart, and feisty debater.
Do you worry at all that this first-term governor with two years of experience might be in a bit of a mismatch against a Joe Biden?
HUTCHISON: Well, I do think he is an adept debater. There's no doubt about it. He has had a lot of experience. But I think that she will overcome that foreign policy background with more of a freshness, the appeal to regular people.
She's clearly smart. She will, I think, be able to hold her own. She's probably a person who has been underestimated in the past, but she has always come through. She has been very successful so I think that she is going to, I'm sure, be a surprise for people, but a pleasant one, a breath of fresh air.
And I think that she brings something different from Joe Biden to this, and my guess is she'll hold her own.
ROBERTS: Senator, let's take a moment to listen to the governor herself. She was on the Glenn Beck program back in June. Let's listen to what she has to say here with Glenn. And then we'll get you to comment on it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLENN BECK, HOST, "GLENN BECK": Would you go to that den of vipers in Washington if you were asked?
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: you know, if I had to make such a decision today, it would be no. There is a lot that Alaska could be, should be doing to contribute more to the U.S., and I think that I can help do that as governor of the state staying here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: So even back then, you know, the speculation was that she might be chosen as the running pate, but she seemed very dedicated to the state of Alaska. The fact that she's leaving it behind after just two years in office, what does that say about her commitment to politics, at least on the state level?
HUTCHISON: Well, I think that probably John McCain has talked to her quite a bit. I'm sure he knows what she believes in her heart, where her strengths are, and they are different from his so there would certainly be a balance in age as well as experience.
And I think that she is -- this is probably an opportunity that is the dream of a young woman who had has become governor of her state. And I think it's very exciting.
ROBERTS: Let me just go back to the woman's issue, if I could for a second, Senator Hutchison. Hillary Clinton supporters, a very important issue for them was the idea of choice when it comes to abortion. And Governor Palin is very ardently pro-life, in fact, many people say that the fact her newborn baby is afflicted with Down's syndrome is a real example of her commitment to pro-life.
The fact that you have two candidates now on the Republican side who are pro-life, there was this idea of maybe get a Joe Lieberman, maybe get a Tom Ridge, whose views are somewhat more flexible than that, may be attractive to Clinton voters. Can Clinton voters for whom choice and abortion is a very important issue sign on with this ticket, do you think?
HUTCHISON: You know, I think that that is something that you'll have to ask Clinton supporters. Whether it is the experience of a woman, the experience of being underestimated, of having the challenges of having to overcome the obstacles to prove that you can do a job, and the forcefulness of that versus the principle that I think people take very personally on the life issue.
I think people will have to make the decision on a lot of factors what is the important one for them.
KING: Senator Hutchison, John King again. Inside the McCain campaign, they obviously made a decision that they needed a game- changer. You knew the names of the list. Your name came up early. In the end, the focus was on Governor Pawlenty, perhaps Governor Romney.
Is it a sign of -- maybe weakness isn't the right word, but the challenge ahead that John McCain is doing something that many will say is outside the box, not only going all the way out to Alaska, but going to this young unknown on the national stage governor, is that a sign that John McCain recognizes that a traditional campaign in this year with the president's approval rating so low, the Republican party approval rating so low, that he can't run a traditional campaign and pick what we would call a more of a typical Republican running mate?
HUTCHISON: Well, I think that it shows that he is bold and independent. I think that Governor Palin's reputation is the same, that she's bold and independent, a reformer. And they want to shake things up. I think they're going to challenge the Obama campaign's change mantra. And I think that must have been the deciding factor for Senator McCain.
ROBERTS: Senator Hutchison, thanks very much for being with us this morning. We really appreciate it. We'll catch up with you in St. Paul next week. No question this is really going to really change the dynamic going into the beginning here of the Republican National Convention.
HUTCHISON: I think that's what they've tried to do.
ROBERTS: Let's bring our Dana Bash back in. She is -- I think they're probably going to accomplish that, not much question about that. Let's bring Dana Bash back in. She is live in Dayton at that rally where in just a few minutes' time, Senator McCain will introduce the nation country to Governor Palin.
What's the latest from there, Dana?
BASH: The latest is that I think -- we haven't really talked much about this event here. And it's actually something that we never, never see from the McCain campaign. It is a packed house, a big arena in a college here in Dayton. Now generally he does do small town hall events.
Nothing compared to what we saw last night. In fact, nothing probably will ever compare to that, but they're definitely trying to build up the excitement, build up the momentum for what will be this first rally with John McCain's new running mate.
And it will continue over the next several days. He's going to go here in Ohio to Pennsylvania and then he's going to go to Missouri and obviously they'll end up at the Republican Convention. But I just want to tell you, now, as you know, John, because you've reported on stories like this so many had times, after you've been talking to sources and then the answer becomes clear, everything starts to make sense in what you've been talking to your sources about in the past.
And basically, what I have been hearing is that in these conversations that Senator McCain had had with this handful of advisers, and it really, really was just a handful of top advisers that he was talking to, what are the pros and the cons? What's most important here given the state of the race right now?
They looked at the map, they looked at new battleground polls to see where they could do well with certain kind of voters. But you know, at the end of the day, there was something else that every candidate needs to deal with, and that is, they need to go with their gut, what they feel most comfortable with.
And if you look, John, at what -- the way Sarah Palin is described, it's almost like a younger female John McCain, the way she's described as somebody who tries to buck the system a little bit and go after high spending. And you know, the kind of -- she is kind of an offbeat sort of person. That is clearly something that John McCain felt comfortable with.
What we don't know yet and will be really fascinating to know, we're going to get on his bus with him after this rally, is the kinds of conversations they had, when he even met her, how he got to know her. Because the other thing is, he is somebody that likes to feel comfortable with people around him, really comfortable with people around him.
And we don't know exactly how they made a connection or when they made a connection. So that is going to be interesting to see -- John.
ROBERTS: Yes, certainly a name that has been out there, Sarah Palin, but really I guess the epitome of a dark horse candidate. But John McCain went with the dark horse this time. Dana Bash for us watching that rally. We'll be back to Dana just as soon as that rally is set to begin.
Meantime, Democrat Senator Ken Salazar hit all the highlights of the Democrat's convention. He has joined us to talk about McCain's vice presidential choice now and how Barack Obama and Joe Biden are going to deal with this Republican ticket.
So Democrats, it looked like, Senator Salazar, were going to have a man and a woman at one point along the line, and now the Republicans do. How does that change the dynamic of this race?
SEN. KEN SALAZAR (D), COLORADO: I don't think it changes it at all at the end, really, about a third term of George Bush and Dick Cheney. And I think what we see across the country is a desire for change, a yearning for change. And I think that's what we celebrated here in the Mile High City here in Denver, Colorado.
So we're united and I think we're going to move forward to victory in November.
ROBERTS: Now not to say that some people would compromise their political ideals, but there were a lot of people in this country who were looking forward to voting for a woman on the ticket. And many of those people were Hillary Clinton voters, many of whom say at the will vote for John McCain because she's not on the ticket in some way, shape or form.
Do you think you could lose some of those Hillary Clinton voters or a greater chance of losing them now that Sarah Palin will be the running mate on the Republican side?
SALAZAR: You know, John, I think we heard Hillary Clinton loud and clear, and I know her well. And she says that this is about the cause, this is about moving forward with a turning a new page. And what's going to happen here is that desire to change that Hillary Clinton has helped bring about is ultimately what will lead to a Barack Obama-Joe Biden win in November. So I don't think it really changes the dynamics. I think that Hillary Clinton supporters are going to follow in lockstep with what Hillary Clinton has asked them to do.
KING: Let me ask you a question about political geography, Senator. As you know, one of the reasons the Democrats were right here for their convention is they hope to contest must better out here in Colorado, in Nevada, New Mexico, all the way up to Montana, Governor Schwietzer was here.
Are you concerned now you have your nominee as the Democratic senator from Illinois, the South Side of Chicago, the vice presidential nominee is from Delaware, born in Pennsylvania, both have supported gun control measures in the past, and John McCain now has turned to a woman who is a lifetime member of the NRA, who is from this region, the furthest -- about as far in the Pacific Northwest as you can get.
But are you concerned that she can now campaign in this region of the country and speak the language better than what many would say is a left of center Democratic ticket?
SALAZAR: You know, I think both Joe Biden as well as Barack Obama are very strong in terms of understanding the rural values, and I also believe that they're going to connect up to rural voters because of the fact that they know where the struggle is. They know that people are struggling with jobs, with high gas prices, with the lack of health care. And the important thing here really is that Barack Obama and Joe Biden have walked the path of struggle for most -- that most people walk.
They weren't born with a silver spoon in their mouth. And I think that's what allows them to relate to the people of the West. And I think they're going to have common sense approaches to all of these issues.
You know, I was attorney general here for six years. Joe Biden was one of our heroes in law enforcement because of what he did to crack down on crime. Barack Obama, when you look at his history, he could have made millions of dollars, but instead he chose to be a servant of the public.
And I think it's that life story of Barack Obama and Joe Biden that ultimately will lead them to victory in November.
ROBERTS: It's interesting to note from a strategic standpoint that the choices of a vice presidential running mate would seem to indicate a 50-state strategy on both sides, certainly the Democrats weren't having any problems in Delaware and the Republicans weren't having any problems in Alaska. So it looks like this race is going to be wide open.
SALAZAR: Yes, well it's very -- but the reality of it is that I think the judgment here is very important. And I think the fact that Barack Obama chose somebody who in a heartbeat could step in to be president as his vice presidential running mate in Joe Biden, you know, the person who Senator McCain has chosen is a person who I have not heard about until this morning. And so I think it already shows the kind of judgments that they would bring to the White House.
ROBERTS: All right. Senator Ken Salazar from Colorado, it's good to see you, sir. Thanks for dropping by.
SALAZAR: Thanks, John.
ROBERTS: We appreciate your analysis all week long.
We're going to be back with more on the vice presidential pick with Senator John McCain in just a couple of minutes. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: And we're going to be following all of the politics of the day here live from Denver, outside of Invesco Field where Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination last night. But right now let's go to Atlanta and Tony has got some more news along with Don Lemon.
HARRIS: Absolutely.
ROBERTS: Hey, Tony.
HARRIS: Hey, John, good to talk to you again. And I thought it was very interesting, your interview with Kay Bailey Hutchison. And you know, I don't know much about Sarah Palin and maybe at that's a good thing. We are all trying to ramp up as quickly as we can to learn more about John McCain's choice to run on his ticket as the vice presidential nominee.
Don Lemon is with us right now. And one of the things that we're learning more about is an investigation that is under way of the governor's office in her home state, and it has everything to do with the firing of the state's public safety commissioner.
And, Don, what are you finding out?
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's very interesting because pretty much she was not a national figure.
HARRIS: Yes.
LEMON: So not on a lot of people's radar. So now that this is breaking news and all of this is coming out, people are checking into this. But again, a legislative investigation that started this year for an apparent phone call that someone from her staff made to a state trooper -- it's kind of complicated, to a state trooper who was once married to her sister.
HARRIS: All right. Now let me stop you there. Back up just a bit. And our understanding is that this was a call that was made by someone in her office to this public safety commissioner, correct?
LEMON: No. A call from her office was made to the public safety commissioner, yes, to...
HARRIS: Yes, asking...
LEMON: To fire...
HARRIS: Allegedly asking...
LEMON: To fire the state trooper.
HARRIS: OK.
LEMON: OK. That is the accusation.
HARRIS: That is the accusation.
LEMON: And that is under investigation right now. So apparently made the call to this person to fire. Now, the governor admits that someone from the office did call and we have a response from her, I want to give to you her response and then we'll tell you -- give you more about this investigation.
The governor says: "I am truly disappointed and disturbed to learn that a member of this administration contacted the Department of Public Safety regarding Trooper Wooten," that's the trooper who was involved, "at no time did I authorize any member of my staff to do so."
So Palin suspended the staffer who made the call and the investigation now is continuing at her office and also a legislative investigation.
HARRIS: OK.
LEMON: Now let's back up.
HARRIS: A big circle back.
LEMON: Yes. Her sister was apparently married to this state trooper. They were involved in a lengthy child custody battle.
HARRIS: Yes.
LEMON: So the allegation is that she was using her influence to have the state trooper fired.
HARRIS: Gotcha. Now, what happened to -- again, this is Alaska's public safety commissioner, that commissioner...
LEMON: Gone.
HARRIS: ... was fired.
LEMON: That commissioner was fired. The person who made the call on her staff is suspended, as I said, and the investigation is still going. The trooper, though, however, is still on the job and it is her -- again, her sister's former husband.
