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American Morning
Obama Makes History Accepting the Democratic Nomination; McCain Picks His VP; Whoopi Goldberg's Take on Politics; New Orleans Braces for Gustav
Aired August 29, 2008 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Crossing the top of the hour now. And we are live outside of INVESCO Field at Mile High. And this morning America is waking up in a very different place.
Barack Obama stepped up to the podium last night and made history in front of some 80,000 to 85,000 people and tens of millions more at home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for presidency of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: But before Obama took up the Democratic Party's presidential standard, former Vice President Al Gore urged the convention to "seize this opportunity for change" while making a glaring reference to his 2000 race against President Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Why is this election so close? Well, I know something about close elections so let me offer you my opinion. I believe this election is close today mainly because the forces of the status quo are desperately afraid of the change Barack Obama represents.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: And speculation this morning at a fever pitch as we wait for John McCain to reveal his running mate. Today also happens to be McCain's 72nd birthday.
This morning Barack Obama has assured many Democrats that he has what it takes to be president. Last night he blasted the Bush administration and John McCain, and defined the change that he would bring as president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am president. Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.
You know, unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America. I'll eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and start-ups that will create the high wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.
I will -- listen now. I will cut taxes -- cut taxes for 95 percent of all working families because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class. And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as president. In 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: The McCain campaign dismissed the address calling it a misleading speech that was "fundamentally at odds" with Senator Obama's record. Some pretty tough words coming from Barack Obama last night aimed at John McCain.
So is this a new Obama? A nod to Democrats who say that he hasn't responded adequately to McCain's criticisms?
Let's bring in CNN's Suzanne Malveaux. You know, we have heard for so many months, the attacking, that aggressive compare and contrast just is not in his DNA. Sounds like he might have had a gene transplant. It was last night.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is obviously a transformation, a real turning point for his campaign, because obviously what they're looking at is, what does he need to do?
He needs to address the criticism. One of the things we saw last night is that they talked about how he speaks in these soaring generalities, the wonderful rhetoric, very little substance. So he dealt with specifics when it came to energy, when it came to health care, when it came to education.
In the middle of his speech he said, I get it. He was talking about the whole notion of like, does this guy have enough experience. So he addressed those criticisms directly.
One of the other things that he talked about was patriotism. He says, you know, we all put our country first. So there was a number of things that he addressed head-on. You're going to hear a lot more of that kind of sharp, crisp type of response to John McCain.
This is really kind of a new Barack Obama, if you will. This is going to be a real turning point. He is not going to speak in those generalizations that we've heard before, and he has even come out and said, look, I've got all these plans but I have a way of actually paying for everything when it comes to tax cuts, when it comes to this kind of policy initiatives.
ROBERTS: The statement that we read coming in to you here, aside, the McCain campaign was pretty genteel last night. Senator McCain actually sent him a message of congratulations via an ad. They kind of backed off a little bit. But was there anything in that speech that leaves him open to an aggressive compare/contrast from the McCain side?
MALVEAUX: Well, you know, it's funny because we heard for the first time from the McCain camp where they really said congratulations. This is your moment. This is your time to shine. And then, it didn't take very long, not too long actually after they heard the speech and realized that he was pretty darn tough on McCain and they said, look, this is full of inaccuracies.
You're going to hear this back and forth from these two. This is not going to be kind of this nice, complimentary type of, you know, campaign. This is something where they are really going to get at him and get at him very, very tough.
ROBERTS: Now, in the ad last night, Senator McCain said tomorrow is another day but this is your night. But this is McCain's birthday. So I wonder if the Obama campaign will lay off on him today.
MALVEAUX: Birthday surprise. We'll see the present.
ROBERTS: We'll find out.
Suzanne, thanks very much.
MALVEAUX: Thanks.
ROBERTS: Let's go back to New York and here's Kiran.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: It's also his birthday but he's given out no leaks and no clues as to who John McCain will pick as his running mate. So what we do know is that he has made his choice and that he'll have to reveal it in less than six hours when the two appear at a noontime rally in Dayton, Ohio.
CNN's Dana Bash is there and she joins us live right now. And the campaign is certainly holding the VP cards close to the vest.
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. You know, Kiran, I've got to tell you covering this campaign for months and months, they are not known as a campaign that is very good at discipline except for this particular issue. Just a handful of top aides have been deliberating with Senator McCain, and we're told as of late yesterday that that was pretty much the same number that knew about this. The question we don't know is whether or not McCain's choice has been alerted yet.
As of last night in talking to sources close to some of the top contenders, it didn't seem as though anybody had gotten the phone call from John McCain either saying yay or nay. But you know, it's getting pretty close to crunch time here. We're just a few hours away, so it's hard to imagine that the call has not gone out or will not go out very shortly, Kiran. CHETRY: So tell us again who is on the short list? And are you getting any clues? Because I know you guys do get clues as to who maybe getting the nod. You read the tea leaves as best you can.
BASH: Tea leaves. Exactly, the tea leaves.
Well, let's start with what happened on this show yesterday. Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota who is really high on the contender list when you talk to people in and around the McCain campaign, he was on this program and others. And then he was scheduled for other media appearances in Denver but he abruptly canceled, went back to Minnesota, and he is still there. And we're told he still does have his regular weekly radio show scheduled for this morning in Minnesota.
Now, there's the other potential contender. It's John McCain's former rival, the former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney. He was in Los Angeles yesterday. We understand he probably still is there. He was working on some fund raising for John McCain. And as far as we know from people close to him, no calls there, at least as of late last night.
But I'm told not to rule out a couple of dark horses here. Not sure obviously a dark horse means we don't know who it is. But I'm told by somebody close to Senator McCain that he is definitely still picking up what they call a transformational figure, somebody who we're just not thinking of who could really shake up the race, Kiran.
CHETRY: So it's -- they're doing exactly what they meant to do, which is to keep us all on bated breath and see what happens later today.
BASH: That's right.
CHETRY: Dana, thanks.
Well, we're also tracking extreme weather for you this morning. Tropical Storm Gustav battering Jamaica now and looks to be on a collision course with the gulf coast. Gustav expected to make landfall early Tuesday somewhere along the Louisiana coast just about the same time Hurricane Katrina hit three years ago.
The storm, Gustav, now blamed for dozens of deaths in the Caribbean, mostly due to flooding and landslides. We are continuing to track it for you from the CNN weather center today.
Barack Obama vowing to restore the promise of America. But did his aggressive speech prove he has what it takes to be president? Our panel will weigh in.
A different point of view.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": What is Michelle going to do? Say, and I hated her dress?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Whoopi on politics. Her new gig and Obama's historic nomination.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOLDBERG: Thank God this thing is coming to a close.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Senator Barack Obama launching his most pointed attacks yet on rival John McCain. But did Obama answer the deep doubts that many voters have about his capacity to lead particularly during a time of war?
Joining me now is John Avlon, independent political analyst and author of "Independent Nation," and also Robert Zimmerman with us this morning, Democratic strategist and CNN political contributor.
So he threw down the gauntlet, Robert. Does he have the cred (ph) to back it up?
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I think we saw from the testimony from Bill Clinton and Al Gore that he has strong endorsements just proved that he's got the credibility. But this race is not going to be about years of service in government. It's going to be about wisdom and judgment to lead. And that's what the challenge is going to be. That's the argument that's being made by Barack Obama and what characterizes (ph) him from John McCain will be years of service.
JOHN AVLON, INDEPENDENT POLITICAL ANALYST: But he consistently tried to make that case last night. This was Barack Obama being tough, substantive and presidential. And before he spoke they put a number of generals behind him. From the Reagan administration, from the Bush administration, they had Republicans saying that they were going to vote for Obama, a Democrat, for the first time in their life.
All those were direct results like Susan Eisenhower to take Republicans and the military vote out of the camp. And he made the case explicitly, don't ever question my patriotism. Don't act like you own the American flag.
ROBERTS: You know, there was a real outreach to military families this week, Robert, which is pretty uncharacteristic of the Democratic Party.
ZIMMERMAN: Well, it's not -- we're not recognized for it as much as we think we should be. I think it was led by Congressman Patrick Murphy, the first Iraqi war vet to serve in Congress from Pennsylvania. But I think your point is very important because the Bush administration's record of their treatment of our soldiers in battle and their lack of care for them when they came home has really changed the dynamics of this race.
And the question is going to be whether the Republicans can fight on the level that Barack Obama's outlined, or if they're just trying to play the same tactics they normally do.
AVLON: But there has been a perceived patriotism gap in American politics.
ROBERTS: Right.
AVLON: And the Obama campaign understands that and they're trying to counteract that. And that's one of the things they're doing to try to form new coalitions to win this race.
ROBERTS: So how do you think this is going to affect the Republican Convention next week? What kind of convention are they going to have to have to balance off this?
AVLON: I think Republicans have to be very careful that they don't end up running a sort of Kerry 2004 race, by which, I mean, running essentially a negative race, an anti-Obama race rather than a pro-McCain race. Kerry's campaign seems that it was an anti-Bush race rather than pro-Kerry.
ROBERTS: Right.
AVLON: So they need to go out and be positive, not just negative. They need to really make a positive case.
ROBERTS: But, Robert, one thing they've got it going for them though is that they do not need to spend the first three days of their convention getting over Mitt Romney, right?
ZIMMERMAN: They're going to be in group therapy for the first three days because you've got Rush Limbaugh doing the vetting for the vice presidential choice. So you're going to see a Republican Party where they preserve their base they're going to lose independents. And if they try to get independents, which John McCain wants to go, they lose their base.
ROBERTS: John, I mean, if he picks Lieberman or Tom Ridge, this could really change the dynamic of the convention.
Thanks. We'll see you back again here soon. Appreciate it.
The convention bounce. It's no longer a guarantee. Here's more for you in an "AM EXTRA."
John Kerry was the first Democrat in decades to not get a lift post convention. He actually dropped a point, the polls back in 2004.
Prior to that, for more than 20 years, candidates saw at least a five-point bounce. The average bump, about seven points.
Former President Clinton got the biggest bounce back in 1992 of 16 points after his speech in New York.
CHETRY: Killer in the Caribbean. More than 50 dead as Gustav churns towards the Gulf. The latest on the storm's track.
You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. We're following breaking news this morning. Tropical Storm Gustav could develop into a major hurricane and it is headed right for the Louisiana coast, according to the tracks we have now. Gustav is expected to make landfall early Tuesday.
CNN's Reynolds Wolf is tracking the storm for us at the weather desk in Atlanta. Hi, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Kiran.
Right now, Gustav has winds of 65 miles per hour sustained. Some gusts up to 75. It's been fluctuating just a little bit in power because of its close proximity to land, that being Jamaica. But as you mentioned, it is expected to gain some strength and actually gain some forward speed moving just south of Cuba over the next couple of days.
As it does so, it is expected to interact with a minimal sheer environment, very warm water, and it will bloom into a Category one storm, then jump to a Category three moving out into the open waters, the Gulf of Mexico.
And the forecast of the National Hurricane Center brings the storm just to the southwest -- southwest New Orleans. But if you look at that cone of uncertainty, the storm could move, say, back to the east, maybe Mobile Bay or perhaps even over towards Galveston or even Corpus Christi.
There's a lot that can happen between now and early next week. So, of course, the situation is one we're going to follow, Kiran, very carefully hour by hour. Let's send it right back to you.
CHETRY: All right. Reynolds, thanks so much.
Well, outspoken actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg has a message for Hillary Clinton supporters. Hear what she has to say the morning after Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Party's nomination. She was once a Hillary supporter as well. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ROBERTS: Barack Obama bringing his family out and introducing them to the crowd at INVESCO Field last night after his acceptance speech to the music of Brooks and Dunn "Only in America." Interesting to note that that song was George Bush's campaign theme song back in 2004. But in this election cycle, it seems everybody has been using it probably because the lyrics fit kind of right in with the entire political season.
Eighty-four thousand people there last night on the final night of the Democratic Convention. Senator Obama confronted many of John McCain's attacks head on in the speech including the Republican Party line that he is not ready to lead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don't tell me that Democrats won't defend this country. Don't tell me that Democrats won't keep us safe.
The Bush/McCain foreign policy has squandered the legacy, the generations of Americans, Democrats and Republicans, have built. And we are here to restore that legacy.
As commander in chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation. But I will only send our troops into harm's way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle, and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home.
I will end this war in Iraq responsibly and finish the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. I will rebuild our military to meet future conflicts, but I will also renew the tough direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curb Russian aggressions.
I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century. Terrorism and nuclear proliferation, poverty and genocide, climate change and disease. And I will restore our moral standing so that America is once again that last best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Senator Obama consistently linked John McCain to George Bush, casting the election as a choice between "change and failure."
CHETRY: A different point of view.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOLDBERG: What is Michelle going to do? Say, and I hated her dress.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Whoopi on politics. Her new gig and Obama's historic nomination.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOLDBERG: Thank God this thing is coming to a close.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning."
The morning after Barack Obama's big speech to the DNC and one woman who has come out big with her support for Obama is Whoopi Goldberg. She was initially backing Hillary Clinton but has since thrown her support behind Barack Obama.
And I recently had a chance to sit down with the outspoken actress to get her take on the Democrat's convention as well as her new role on Broadway.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOLDBERG: It's been great fun with a great cast and lots of singing and dancing and just having fun. And then it's, like, 90 minutes. So what's better than that?
CHETRY: You know, I understand. It might seem like a vacation compared to what you usually do on "The View." No offense, but you guys are covering, you know, the day-to-day news.
GOLDBERG: Yes.
CHETRY: And certainly in the political season you had every major candidate and their spouse on the show.
GOLDBERG: Right.
CHETRY: So I'm sure you've been watching the convention.
GOLDBERG: Yes. It's been really exciting. It's fun to watch, you know, different networks because, you know, they all sort of said the same thing the first night. Oh, it was so boring. And why didn't they attack? Blah, blah.
I was like, well, you know, what is Michelle going to do? Say, and I hated her dress. No. You have to sort of put it together.
But it was beautifully handled yesterday and hopefully this will put to rest what is normal in a -- you know, this kind of political fight when you're trying to be elected or this one's trying to be elected, you say the things, oh, he snores at night. Or, you know, she can't find her way to the ladies room. You know, these are the things that you lob out there...
CHETRY: Right.
GOLDBERG: ... and hope that something sticks.
CHETRY: So do you think too much has been made about the division between the Hillary camp and the Obama camp in the primaries?
GOLDBERG: Well, yes. I mean, look, the bottom line is the people who don't have any issue with Barack Obama being a black man or Barack Obama not being female, the people who don't have those issues are going to get along the party lines and vote for Barack. The people who have those issues are not. And to say, you know, it's the Hillary people or it's the middle class white people or it's the, you know, Hispanics in, you know, Rhode Island I mean is too much.
CHETRY: But what is so amazing when you analyze how these races are won, it does sometimes seem like it comes down to a very, very, very small few, a very small number of states, a very small number of precincts within those states?
GOLDBERG: This may be the case. But what I find odd is how, you know, when you look at John McCain, he's running these ads where Hillary is saying, you know, I don't think Barack is ready.
And I can't wait to see what the Democrats run for all the people who are now on board with John McCain. Because if you recall, they made fun of him. They said he didn't know what he was doing, he was too old, he wasn't Republican enough. And now, everybody's on board. So this idea that it's a surprise...
CHETRY: Right.
GOLDBERG: ... just with the Clintons on board, or Joe Biden on board, or any other Democrat on board seems very peculiar to me.
CHETRY: You know, it's also interesting because even though it was no surprise to all of us that Barack Obama is going to be receiving the nomination from the Democrats, it still was quite a moment when it was official. What was going through your head when you saw that moment where it really happened?
GOLDBERG: I just kind of -- I had two thoughts. First was, this is really great. It's about time. And then the other thought was, thank God, this thing is, you know, coming to a close. This is, like, the longest process...
CHETRY: It is.
GOLDBERG: ... in my lifetime.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: It was certainly the primary season setting a record there for the days and days of campaigning. We're going to hear from Whoopi a little bit later as well. Her take on, her message to those who are still backing Hillary.
ROBERTS: Always interesting to listen to, Kiran.
Just about 30 minutes past the hour now. And Senator Barack Obama has made his case to the American people as to why he should be the next president. After accepting the Democratic Party's nomination, Obama, standing before a crowd of some 84,000 people, launched an assault of attacks against the Bush administration and John McCain. He also laid out a litany of what he would do as president.
Obama's historic moment followed a rousing endorsement by former Vice President Al Gore who blasted Republicans for abandoning new technology to ease global warming.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORE: Well, now, in 2008, we have everything we need to start using the sun, the wind, geothermal power, conservation and efficiency to solve the climate crisis. Everything, that is, except a president in the White House who inspires us to believe, yes, we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: And rampant speculation this morning over who is going to be John McCain's running mate. We are expected to learn who it is literally, Kiran, at any moment now.
CHETRY: Yes, and of course we'll bring it to our viewers as soon as we get word.
Meanwhile, regardless of your party affiliation last night was historic, Barack Obama becoming the first black man to accept a major party's nomination. Before a crowd of 84,000 people, Obama slammed his rival, John McCain, for not understanding the economy and the way that working-class people live. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans. I just think he doesn't know.
Why else would he define middle class as someone making under $5 million a year? How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies, but not one penny of tax relief to more than 100 million Americans?
How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people's benefits? Or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college; or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement?
It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it. For over two decades, for over two decades he subscribed to that old discredited Republican philosophy: Give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else.
In Washington they call this the "ownership society". What it really means is that you're on your own. Out of work, tough luck. You're on your own. No health care? The market will fix it. You're on your own. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own boot straps, even if you don't have boots, you are on your own.
(APPLAUSE)
Well, it's time for them to own their failure. It's time for us to change America. And that's why I'm running for president of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Senator Barack Obama last night on the stage at INVESCO Field. Shortly after that speech the McCain camp shot back calling it, quote, "misleading and at odds with his record".
Joining me now with his morning-after analysis is Christian Broadcasting Network correspondent David Brody. He's also a CNN contributor.
Overall, what did you think of the speech?
DAVID BRODY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, it was a touchdown, really. I mean, it was a great speech. It hit on so many different points. But the patriotism angle was very interesting.
ROBERTS: In fact, why don't we play a little bit of sound from that, because you had said the other day, this was an issue that was of particular interest to you.
BRODY: Yes.
ROBERTS: Let's listen to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I love this country and so do you. And so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together, and some died together under the same proud flag.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Was that what you were looking for?
BRODY: Pretty much. And he brought it strong. Look, in that speech, I counted it up, 52 times he said the word America. He needed to say that rather, than the world. You know, we hear a lot about changing the world. He said it in Berlin, but it's not just Berlin. He was saying it all over the place, across this country he would talk about how we need to change the world. Michelle Obama said that the other night, a few times. He stayed away from that.
ROBERTS: Yes, I got a few e-mails from Republicans yesterday morning when we were talking about this set here. You know, the Greek columns and all of that. Saying it reinforces the notion of Barack Obama wanting to be, quote, "president of the world".
BRODY: Right. This is the danger. Let's face it. There are those e-mails out there that if you don't follow politics on a day-to-day basis, but you get an e-mail and you know about the lapel pin, and you know about him not putting his hand over his heart for the Pledge of Allegiance, this is what people know about Barack Obama, up until this point last night. That's why it was important for him to address it straight out. He did a great job.
ROBERTS: Another issue he took on full force was this issue of responsibility. Let's listen to what he said on that front.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We must also admit that programs alone can't replace parents. That government can't turn off the television and make a child do her home work; that fathers must take more responsibility to provide love and guidance to their children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Family values and morals, almost seems like an outreach to evangelicals and born-again Christians there.
BRODY: I like to call it the Excedrin moment for the John McCain camp, because he needs to look at that and take a few Excedrin, because they've got to figure out what to do with this exactly. He's not going from the progressive-liberal playbook of the past.
Yes, there is a lot of that liberal policy in there, but when you talk about values, and you talk about fatherhood, and you talk about parental responsibility, that's something we didn't hear from John Kerry, really, that much in 2004. For a Democratic candidate to bring up the issue of abortion and say leaving it on the table and saying, look, there is a need to reduce abortions in this country, that plays in Peoria, so to speak. That is something the McCain camp is going to have to get their hands around a little bit here.
ROBERTS: Interesting hybrid, we'll see how they respond to it.
BRODY: I know.
ROBERTS: David Brody, it's good to see you this morning. Thanks for joining us.
BRODY: Thanks a lot.
ROBERTS: Kiran.
CHETRY: This morning they're tearing down the stage at INVESCO Field as all eyes turn to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. It's the site of next week's Republican convention. CNN is packing up the Election Express and heading north some 900 miles to the Twin Cities.
Right now they're putting the finishing touches on the stage inside of the Excel Energy Center. It's home of Minnesota; it's where John McCain will accept his party's nomination. Monday we'll kick things off with the best political team on TV. Our special guests include First Lady Laura Bush, as well as Independent Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, former candidate, Senator Fred Thompson and Hollywood conservative Jon Voight.
Flash back:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Last time I prepared to leave for three days. It took two years to get back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: New Orleans on edge. A potential disaster headed its way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not saying we'll be able to keep up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Chris Lawrence on real concerns that the city isn't ready.
You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Tropical Storm Gustav is on the move, gaining strength. It's battering Jamaica with heavy rains and high winds. Forecasters say Gustav could be a dangerous hurricane in a few days and that it is on track to hit the Louisiana coast. Now, New Orleans has made a preemptive emergency declaration, mandatory evacuations could follow. In fact, Ray Nagin, the mayor of New Orleans says it is very probable he will call a mandatory evacuation for New Orleans, not likely any sooner than Saturday morning, though, as they wait to find out more about the storm's strength and speed.
Gustav blamed for more than 50 deaths in the Caribbean. So, exactly three years after Katrina hit, New Orleans is bracing for a storm that could be even more powerful. And a main concern for people there is whether the city's rebuilt levees will hold.
CNN's Chris Lawrence is live in New Orleans, for us now, with more on the preparations and whether or not they can gauge just how effective those levees and newly rebuilt systems will be.
Hi, there, Chris.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kiran.
Yes, some of the evacuations of certain prisons, perhaps some of the low-lying coastal areas could begin as soon as today. As far as those levees are concerned, officials say, in some spots they're ten feet lower than the engineers need them to be. That means bottom line, right now they're not designed to withstand a storm, even one slightly weaker than Katrina.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE (voice-over): Three years to the day Katrina nearly destroyed New Orleans, another big storm is bearing down.
FRANKIE GARDNER, NEW ORLEANS RESIDENT: When we left last time, for Hurricane Katrina, my neighbor was sitting on the porch that Saturday evening reading the newspaper. He said, "Oh, no. We going to be fine. I'm not leaving." He's dead.
LAWRENCE: Frankie Gardner lives in the Lower Ninth Ward and plans to leave for Atlanta. She's got her truck gassed up and bags of supplies ready to go.
GARDNER: Last time I prepared to leave for three days. It took two years to get back.
LAWRENCE: Mayor Ray Nagin declared a state of emergency two days before Katrina hit. This time both New Orleans and Louisiana applied for federal aid six days before Gustav is expected to make landfall. There is no shelter of last resort like the Superdome, but if the city orders an evacuation, New Orleans now has more than a dozen pick-up points able to evacuate up to 30,000 people. Aid workers have stashed 4 million meals, ready to eat, across the Gulf Coast and more than 2 million liters of water But ultimately, what matters most is the $2 billion spent on the levees.
MAJOR MARK JERNIGAN, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS: The levee system here in New Orleans is stronger than it's ever been.
LAWRENCE: Yet it still has barriers only built to with stand medium-strength storms and won't be completed until 2011.
JERNIGAN: We still got a ways to go. We're not saying we'll be able to keep up. A lot depends on the type of storm.
LAWRENCE: Frankie Gardner's flooded home has been restored; her faith in the levees has not.
(on camera): They say they have fixed the levees, that they will hold.
GARDNER: I don't believe it. I just don't believe it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: Now, the Corps has made some significant progress over the past couple of years. They have repaired, replaced and raised more than 200 miles of floodwalls. But the pumps that are designed to push that water out have had a lot of problems. Some of them were defective when they were installed and their overall viability is still under investigation -- Kiran. CHETRY: It's very interesting. That's why they have tons of the sandbags and all of these other things in case the levees do not hold. They say they want to be able to get in there and try to at least do something to stop the water as soon as possible.
Chris Lawrence, thanks so much.
We have an "AM EXTRA" for you now, with a look at where the greater New Orleans area stands now. According to a study by the Brookings Institution, 87 percent of the population has now returned to the area. And 86 percent of people who lost their jobs after Katrina are now working, and 76 percent of all public and private students are back in class.
On the flip side, though, public transportation still off 50 percent. The average rent up nearly 50 percent. And a third of the pre-Katrina hospitals are still out of business -- John.
ROBERTS: More breaking news this morning, too, Kiran. Waiting for John McCain's running mate to come out. He has made the pick and signs are pointing to two big player this is morning. We're going to go live to the site of his rally in Dayton, Ohio.
CHETRY: Two of a kind
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CHARLTON MCILWAIN, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY: Hillary Rodham Clinton and Michelle Obama really share a lot in common.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Both Chicago-bred, ivy-league educated lawyers, but don't expect to hear about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA BURNS, QUINNIPIAC: Hillary Clinton has come to define what we don't want first ladies to be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the most news in the morning. It's the morning after Barack Obama's big speech accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for president. You're taking a look at what it looked like there at INVESCO Field last night, just an absolutely spectacular scene. Our contributor Leslie Sanchez described it as being inside a giant Barack Obama snow globe.
Doesn't look like that this morning. They began tearing down the set immediately after they got off the stage and got people ushered out of the stadium. They've got to take down the stage, fold up all the seats, get the cover off the field in time for a game on Sunday. The University of Colorado Buffalos playing the Colorado State Rams in a nice college game. Should be interesting. Go Buffs -- Kiran.
CHETRY: John, thank you.
You know, if Michelle Obama goes on to become first lady, she may have a lot more in common with former first lady and now Senator Hillary Clinton than many may think. CNN's Deb Feyerick joins me now with a bit of a comparison between the two.
Hi, there.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Kiran.
Well, you know, political insiders say that Michelle Obama has evolved during this campaign and she's had to temper her personality so as not to appear too strong, too independent. In other words to appear less like Hillary Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK: Michelle Obama has presided over the Democratic Convention like the party's hostess. But the potential first lady in waiting as been forced to share the spotlight ...
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Suspend the procedural rules...
FEYERICK: ...with the party's other prominent woman, former First Lady Hillary Clinton. Political watchers say whatever issues may divide the two, they are, in fact, very much alike.
MCILWAIN: I think Hillary Rodham Clinton and Michelle Obama really share a lot in common. They have a common pedigree, common education, common passion for public service.
FEYERICK: Both grew up in Chicago. Both attended prestigious universities and ivy-league law schools. Both have raised daughters while holding influential jobs. Obama most recently in health care, a Clinton passion. Yet, team Obama has down played similarities.
MICHELLE OBAMA, WIFE OF SEN. BARACK OBAMA: I don't see myself taking on a significant policy role.
LISA BURNS, QUINNIPIAC: Hillary Clinton has come to define what we don't want first ladies to be. Particularly we don't want them involved in policy.
FEYERICK: Political observers say Obama has had to position herself in the middle, somewhere between the more traditional Cindy McCain and Hillary Clinton. The first, first lady to have an office in the West Wing.
BURNS: Michelle Obama is actually taking a page out of Laura Bush's playbook. And that is, try to not be controversial, be very safe in terms of the causes you support. FEYERICK: Reporter: even if she does strike the right balance, Mrs. Obama will remain under a very powerful microscope.
MCILWAIN: Any move that she makes, any decisions, any initiatives that she takes on, any failures that come are likely to be tied also to her race, to the fact that she is an African-American woman.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK: Now, Michelle Obama has repeatedly said she's not interested in policy. Still she's considered one of her husband's closest advisers. Right now publicly she's sticking to so-called safe issues like work/family balance and children's health care.
CHETRY: Is it fair to say because of Hillary Clinton being first lady it is almost perceived as a steppingstone.
FEYERICK: Absolutely. She changed the dynamics, used her experience to run for Senate and the White House. So she's definitely changed what people perceive as the first lady role.
CHETRY: All right. Deb Feyerick, good to see you . Thanks.
Breaking news: John McCain appears with his running mate for the first time this morning. So who's in and who may be out?
And, full circle --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORE: We must seize this opportunity to elect Barack Obama president of the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: When it comes to experience, Oscar-winner Al Gore says Obama isn't green.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORE: Barack Obama has the experience and wisdom to oppose a popular war based on faulty premises.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: A look at the former veep's eight-year transformation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the most politics in the morning.
We're following breaking news this morning. John McCain has chosen a running mate and is set to announce it a little later this morning. Joining me now is CNN political contributor Bill Bennett, who is also national radio host of "Morning in America". Bill, great to have you with us this morning. Thanks for getting up with us.
BILL BENNETT, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: Thanks, Kiran
CHETRY: Who do you think McCain's going to pick?
BENNETT: My guess is Pawlenty. But I don't know, don't have any information. I think it would be a very good choice, too.
CHETRY: So you're talking about Tim Pawlenty; he's the governor of Minnesota.
BENNETT: Tim Pawlenty.
CHETRY: He quickly flew from the convention back home to Minnesota. Is there anything that can be teased out from that?
BENNETT: Well, no. Because I think other people are flying there, too. That's what I've heard.
Let me tell you something about Tim Pawlenty, though, that hasn't been mentioned yet, Kiran. If he is the guy, Republicans will put in play an issue they have not had in play for a long time, and that is education. That's pretty much an issue Democrats have owned. Tim Pawlenty has done more interesting things as governor than anyone I can think of. He's got merit pay plans, he's got choice plans, all sorts of interesting programs. That would be a great agenda item for Republicans with Tim Pawlenty.
CHETRY: Education, of course, important to very many people. But when you talk about what those defining issues are that you're trying to get out of the vice presidency, we saw the Biden pick. We saw the fact that he's strong -- viewed as strong on foreign policy. How would a Tim Pawlenty match up head to head with Joe Biden who has 35 years in the Senate?
BENNETT: Because Joe's used to talking to himself and to his colleagues in the Senate. Tim Pawlenty the used to talking to citizens. Tim Pawlenty is one smart dude, very bright guy. I think he will conduct himself just fine. So I think that would be a great choice.
Again, I'd love to see that issue in play. Because Republicans have a lot to offer. Barack Obama last night did the standard Democrat thing. He said we're going to higher more teachers, we're going to pay them a lot more, and we'll hope we'll get -- we'll ask for -- hope we'll get some accountability in return. That's the standard Democrat line. Pay more money and hope for better results. Doesn't work that way, as Tim Pawlenty can explain it to you.
CHETRY: Also John McCain is holding his cards very close to his vest. But our Dana Bash, who's been covering his campaign, says there still is this possibility of a dark horse. Who could that possibly be?
BENNETT: Well, you know, that's why it's a dark horse. We don't know. Could be anybody. People are talking about the Meg Whitman, who is the president of eBay. They're talking about Fred Smith. I've heard other names come up. John McCain is, you know, one independent cuss. He sees the world his own way and might just surprise everybody. We'll wait and see.
I'm glad he waited till today. Let Barack Obama have his night there in the Greek temple and all the thunder bolts and all. Now it turns to McCain.
By the way, I thought he gave a great speech. He's a great orator, but I thought there was nothing in that speech that John McCain can't respond to.
CHETRY: All right, well, we'll hear how he counters that a little bit later. You're right, he did give him a day to have it be Barack Obama's night.
Bill Bennett, great to see you as always. Thanks.
BENNETT: Thank you. Thanks so much.
ROBERTS: It's coming up now on a couple of minutes to the top of the hour. Coming to you live from Denver, Colorado, in the INVESCO Field at Mile High.
Good morning. I'm John Roberts with the most politics in the morning.
Ahead this hour, we have a ticket. Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination and could become the first African-American president of these United States. We're going to get context and perspective on his speech this morning.
Also ahead, the vice presidential buzz surrounding John McCain. We're going to know in a few short hours or maybe few short minutes who that person will be. Those stories and more straight ahead.
First, let's take a look at what happened here at INVESCO Field: 84,000 people witnessed a defining moment in our country's history last evening. But Barack Obama did not take much time to soak it all in. He challenged Senator John McCain and laid out the issues that will decide this election two months from now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans. I just think he doesn't know. Why else would he define middle class as someone making under $5 million a year? How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies, but not one penny of tax relief to more than 100 million Americans?
How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people's benefits or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement? It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it. For over two decades, for over two decades he subscribed to that old discredited Republican philosophy. Give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else.
In Washington they call this the "ownership society". But what it really means is that you're on your own. Out of work? Tough luck. You're on your own. No health care? The market will fix it. You're on your own. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. Even if you don't have boots, you are on your own.
Well, it's time for them to own their failure. It's time for us to change America. And that's why I'm running for president of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
