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American Morning
Obama Gives Nominee Speech; Discussing the Speech
Aired August 29, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up now to the top of the hour and coming to you live from Denver, I'm John Roberts with the most politics in the morning.
Barack Obama claiming his spot in history after becoming the first African-American to accept a major party's nomination. His sweeping 45-minute speech not only focused on the pains of the average-working American but also slammed John McCain for being out of touch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: 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's 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 boot straps. 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) ROBERTS: And immediately after that speech, Republicans pounced calling it misleading and just more of the same failed Democratic policies.
Well, we've got more details right now on John McCain's potential vice presidential running mate.
CNN's Dana Bash is working her sources, live this morning in Dayton, Ohio. She's got some new developments.
Dana, just a few moments ago, you told us about a mysterious plane from the state of one possible contender. What are you hearing further on that this morning?
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right, well, that state is the state of Alaska. And what we know is that a plane arrived at 10:07 last night from Anchorage, Alaska.
And Anchorage, Alaska is the home of Governor Sarah Palin. She's a young governor, in fact, she just was elected in 2006. She is a solid -- rock solid Republican -- conservative Republican on social and fiscal issues.
And she had been out there, as talked about as a potential contender, but not very much recently. And this sort of fits in with this idea that we have been -- we have been warned not to -- to look for the dark horse candidate.
But here's some very interesting information. And I want to make clear we're reading tea leaves here. We do not know for sure -- anything that is for certain in terms of who John McCain's running mate is.
But here's very interesting information that comes to us by way of our intrepid producer Evan Glass. He spoke to Rich Bevis, who is at the Middletown Airport, that is a private airport, about 25 miles from here in Dayton.
What he said is that last night, a woman -- a man -- two men, two teenagers got off a plane and they got into a white van and this -- this man at this private airport said, quote, "This is the most secretive flight we've ever had. This is the most secretive flight we've ever had."
So it said it was very mysterious to see a woman who this gentleman didn't recognize, but with two teenagers, I should say that Sarah Palin does have five children, three of whom are teenagers, and one of whom is actually in the army and is apparently headed to Iraq.
So, you know, these are clues that we're looking into. And they're tea leaves that we're reading. But, as we get information, especially interesting mysterious information like this, we want to bring it to you as we get it -- John?
ROBERTS: Dana Bash with the intrigue force this morning, live from Dayton, Ohio. Dana, thanks very much.
Let's bring in CNN's John King and Suzanne Malveaux.
And, John, you're watching this very closely as well. I guess if the women hadn't gotten out of that plane with a fishing rod in her hand, that would have been a dead giveaway, right?
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That would have been a dead giveaway. She's an avid hunter, an avid fisher. She's a lifetime NRA member.
But let's be careful. Let's be careful. It's one of these clues you get. We went through this with the Democrats a week ago and we were off the Joe Biden trail for a while and veered back.
All we know at the moment is that's an interesting clue. I know it's not you, it's not Suzanne and it's not me. And we know it's not Tim Pawlenty, apparently, because he went on the radio and said he won't be going today to Dayton. Draw your own conclusion.
ROBERTS: She's a real rising star and certainly well liked in the state of Alaska. But does she have the depth of experience in politics? First-term governor, she was a mayor of Wasilla, and she was on the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. But other than that --
KING: That's a very interesting question. The Democrats would say, well, how can John McCain say this is a race about who's ready to be president when he picks a 44-year-old maybe attractive politically governor, but they would say not ready.
Now McCain's argument would be, well, I'm ready, I've served in the military, I've been in Congress 26 years, I'm ready. This person is ready to step in as president, but also would learn from me.
The flip side for the Republicans if -- and I'm going to say if, if, if, if -- it is the Alaska governor, she'd have a woman on the ticket. We know there are disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters out there and we know the west is in play in this election.
And so with guns and hunting and women, it's -- you can make the case both ways. But I'm going to say we all need to be very, very careful here.
ROBERTS: Yes, all right. Well, it's interesting to watch this. And we should find -- we're going to find out in the next couple of hours anyway.
So let's look at what happened last night, Suzanne. This is a very effective speech, according to most people who saw it, most analysts who saw it.
And what about this idea that he had to go beyond INVESCO Field last night -- Barack Obama -- and reach out to America? How do you think he did on that part? SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He accomplished a number of things. He really had to address the criticism that he's not tough enough on his opponent, on John McCain that he really had to go after him.
It's one of the things we actually saw. He didn't offer just generalities at this kind of rhetoric, but specifics on the economy, on health care, on education.
In the middle of his speech he said, you know what, I get it. He was addressing those people who were talking about his experience. And he acknowledged that. He also dealt with this whole issue about patriotism. He said -- putting our country first and this whole notion that he is the one who has an economic plan that he can't afford it.
He said I can pay for it. I've got these specific ideas in mind. I think in all of those different aspects, he went after John McCain in the way that he needed to. So most people felt like he did what he needed to do.
ROBERTS: Right. So here we enter the final stretch here, the next eight weeks. Barack Obama off on the trail, now John McCain about to go into the convention. And all eyes will be on him. Let's see what happens.
Suzanne Malveaux, John King, this has gone way beyond an addiction. Keep working it. All right. Thanks, John.
When Joe Biden's son talked about the car accident that killed his mother and his sister, he moved Michelle Obama to tears. And his next stop is Iraq. But first Beau Biden right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
And killer storm Gustav slams Jamaica. We're tracking its path from the CNN hurricane center as it heads for the gulf coast.
You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEAU BIDEN, SON OF SEN. JOE BIDEN: One of my earliest memories was being in that hospital. My dad always at our side. We, my brother and I, not the Senate, were all that he cared about. He decided not to take deals of office. He said then Delaware can get another senator, but my boys can't get another father.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Senator Joe Biden being introduced on Wednesday night by his son Beau, who is also Delaware's attorney general. Very emotional speech and an incredible moment here between father and son.
Beau Biden went on to say that he will not be at his father's side in November, the reason for that is, he's a captain in the National Guard and is scheduled to ship out for Iraq at the very beginning of October.
Beau Biden joins us now this morning.
Good morning to you. It's great to see you.
B. BIDEN: Good morning, John. Thanks for having me.
ROBERTS: Thanks for getting up early because I know it was a late night last night.
You saw everything that happened here in INVESCO Field last evening. What was your impression?
B. BIDEN: Well, I know my dad's sky high, I'm sky high, our whole family is. And I think Barack Obama laid out a vision for this country to deliver the change we need and specifics on how we're going to do that.
And he was a president on that stage last night. It was an amazing, amazing night to be a part of.
ROBERTS: Yes. The McCain campaign seemed to leave him alone during the speech. In fact, John McCain even made an advertisement when he said this is your night, congratulations, for accomplishing what you've accomplished. And it wasn't too long after the speech, though, that they came out with some criticism.
Let's listen to what Tucker Bounds, McCain campaign spokesman, said about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TUCKER BOUNDS, MCCAIN CAMPAIGN SPOKESMAN: This is going to come down to experience. It's going to come down to a choice between, do you believe everything Barack Obama is telling you? Do you believe this laundry list of promises about -- or are you going to go with a proven reformer, somebody that has a record of making change and working in a bipartisan way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: That was Tucker Bounds with our Larry King last night after the speech.
So what's your sense of it? What about these lingering questions regarding his experience? And many people say that it was a really strategic choice for him to pick your father because he has that depth of experience.
B. BIDEN: Yes, well, Barack Obama has an experience of being bipartisan and bringing change to this country, bringing change to Illinois. He's going to deliver on the things that my dad's been fighting for for 36 years. Barack Obama is the vehicle to do that. He's going to be an incredibly, incredibly great president of the United States. And I can't wait to get to work making that happen.
ROBERTS: Yes, we should mention that you are the attorney general of Delaware. You're also a captain in the National Guard.
What are your thoughts here as you're about to deploy to Iraq?
B. BIDEN: Well, as you know, I -- not unlike any other soldier. And -- but the reality is, I've not really talked about that that much. I've deferred any questions about any of the deployment to the Army National Guard.
ROBERTS: You could be away from home and family for a years.
B. BIDEN: Well, it's...
ROBERTS: (INAUDIBLE)
B. BIDEN: It's all the emotions my dad has, with -- I have a 2- year-old and a 4-year-old and a wife and a grandmother and a mom and a dad. And I don't think it's unlike any other soldier in any other war.
ROBERTS: All right. The fact that you're going away, though, raises an interesting possibility here, because if your father becomes the vice president of the United States, at the same time that he wins reelection for his Senate seat, that is going to leave that seat open.
Ruth Ann Minner, the governor of Delaware, will have the opportunity to appoint someone to that seat. Would you like to be considered for that?
B. BIDEN: I'm focused on three things. One, being the best dad I can be, two, being the best attorney general in the greatest state in this country, Delaware, and three, doing everything I can to make sure that Barack Obama becomes president of the United States.
ROBERTS: OK. So I'll ask you the same question that we asked your father. If it were offered to you, would you turn it down?
B. BIDEN: Look. In all seriousness, my life experience is such that any time I get look too far in the future like that, life has something in store for me that I wasn't even thinking about -- being a dad, being attorney general, and making sure Barack Obama becomes president of the United States.
ROBERTS: OK. You just might have a future in politics with answers like that.
Beau, it's great to see you.
B. BIDEN: John.
ROBERTS: Be safe over there in Iraq. B. BIDEN: Thank you, John.
ROBERTS: Our best to you.
B. BIDEN: Honored to be on with you.
ROBERTS: Thanks very much.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY (voice over): Killer in the Caribbean. More than 50 dead as Gustav churns toward the gulf. The latest on the storm's track. You're watching the most news in the morning.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Breaking news, deadly tropical storm Gustav on its way to the gulf coast and on its way to becoming a major hurricane.
Gustav has left nearly 60 people dead in the Caribbean. And this is new video of Kingston, Jamaica just getting pounded by the rain and the winds this morning. Could be a category 3 hurricane by the time it hits the U.S. That set for early Tuesday.
And we're watching the storm very closely this morning. Reynolds Wolf is live at the CNN Weather Center in Atlanta with more on Gustav's track.
Hi, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi there. We're watching Gustav. Currently as you mentioned, tropical storm. The reason why it hasn't strengthen is really twofold.
You've got some verticals sheer that's coming in just to the northern half of the storm. The second reason why it hasn't intensified is because of its close proximity to land namely Jamaica and the high elevations you have in parts of the center of the country especially near Blue Mountain where some of the peaks are in excess of 5,000 to 6,000 feet.
The storm is expected to go westward. It is doing west, northwest right now around eight miles per hour as it moves over the open water, it is expected to intensify. That's exactly what the latest hurricane forecast path is from the National Hurricane Center.
Again, you'll notice the storm going south of Cuba, intensifying to a category 1 storm, then as we go from Saturday into Sunday, it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, a major hurricane with winds of 125 miles per hour by Monday, and then the path -- you follow just this line, it goes just southwest of New Orleans as we get into Tuesday at 2:00 in the morning.
But still, you have to watch the cone of uncertainty, the storm could move a little bit more to the east, perhaps getting drawn more to the west. There's certainly many, many factors that could cause the storm to move and veer in different directions.
So it is something we need to watch hour by hour for you. We're certainly going to do that for you. We're going to be manning, of course, the weather center around the clock. Keeping a sharp eye on this system.
One of two systems that we're going to tell you about throughout the morning. We, of course, have Hannah, which is also a tropical storm farther out to the east in the Atlantic. We'll be talking about that in a short while from now.
Let's send it back to you.
CHETRY: Reynolds, thank you. We'll check back in with you throughout the day.
Meantime, Barack Obama makes history, and John McCain picks a running mate.
Paul Begala joins us live next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY (voice over): In his own words.
OBAMA: I got news for you, John McCain.
CHETRY: Obama's big moment unfiltered.
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.
CHETRY: You're watching the most news in the morning.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT: Because John McCain, a man who has earned our respect on many levels, is now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney White House and promising to actually continue them.
The same policies? Those policies all over again? Hey, I believe in recycling, but that's ridiculous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Former vice president Al Gore warming up the crowd for Barack Obama last night here at INVESCO Field. Obama generated plenty of heat in his acceptance speech confronting John McCain on a host of issues. He may have seized the moment but did he miss any red meat opportunities?
Joining me now is CNN political contributor, Paul Begala.
And you were looking for those red meat opportunities. Were you satisfied?
PAUL BEGALA, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: Oh my god. It was the whole cattle ranch, not just red meat, John. I could not have been happier, because he went right at the most -- two most important questions. Why should we change? And he made the case that Bush and McCain have led us in the wrong direction for eight years. And what will be that change?
So he put some meat on the bone if I can continue our sort of bovine metaphors here, right? He told us what he would do with some real specificity -- on taxes, on energy, on health care.
It was -- I just thought it was a terrific speech. It was as good as these speeches can be.
ROBERTS: And we can say this one that he made some aggressive compare and contrast. There's some aggressive compare and contrast with John McCain, but he also went a little bit past that and really kind of went after him, particularly in this clip.
Let's listen to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: 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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: It was pretty tough stuff. Now you wrote a check to the campaign for $2,300. And you wrote on the check, "for negative campaigning only."
Did you get your money's worth?
BEGALA: You can cash that check now. But it was fact-based. I don't want personal attacks. I really don't. And I was -- I thought it was wonderful how Senator Obama, Senator Biden, Vice President Gore, everyone who spoke, including the Clintons, said McCain's a good man.
He suffered for our country and we owe him our respect. But he's wrong on the issues. For example, that health care, you're on your own?
I saw Dr. Jean Lamber (ph) yesterday. She's one of the country's foremost experts on health care policies, teach at the University of Texas. She must be a genius. She told me -- she's analyzed the McCain plan. She told me 56 million Americans have preexisting conditions and thus would be kicked out under the McCain plan --s 56 million of us.
Everything from asthma to hypertension, to high cholesterol, to people like John McCain who's had cancer four times.
ROBERTS: But there's the problem, though, that some people point out with Senator Obama's plan, and that is because the coverage is not mandated, yet, it is universal, you could have a pretty serious preexisting condition, not get into the health care system until you were very sick, and therefore cost the system a whole lot of money...
BEGALA: Right, I think...
ROBERTS: ... without any penalties that he has illuminated at this point.
BEGALA: I think there are criticisms of the McCain -- I mean the...
ROBERTS: Obama?
BEGALA: Obama plan. I'm sorry, I'm getting confused by my candidates here.
ROBERTS: (INAUDIBLE)
BEGALA: But there are -- but we can debate those out. What Barack Obama has done is continued the Democratic Party's commitment to universal health care. What I think is interesting is he seems to be unusually, frankly, for a politician open to hearing from all sides and to convening people together.
The folks who worked with him in Illinois say that that was his MO there. His relatively brief time in the Senate, that's been his MO in the Senate. So I, frankly, have a lot more hope.
McCain's plan seems to be very ideologically driven. He seems now to have been completely sort of taken over by the most conservative part of his base. And those are good people, too, but they're out of step. And I think that's why Obama was right when he said you're on your own. That's the McCain plan.
ROBERTS: Paul, always great to see you. Thanks for coming in this morning.
BEGALA: Thanks, John. Thanks.
ROBERTS: All right. And we'll -- we'll see a lot more of you, too, during the Republican convention.
BEGALA: Absolutely.
ROBERTS: You'll be one of our panelists in here. Thanks. It's crossing the half hour now. And coming to you live from Denver, Barack Obama laying out his specific plans for change during a speech last night. He explained what he would do if he were elected.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Let me spell out exactly 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: More details right now on John McCain's potential vice presidential pick. Our Dana Bash is live in Dayton, Ohio this morning. She's been working her sources, reading the tea leaves, and picking up some intelligence.
What are you hearing right now, Dana?
BASH: I think the most interesting thing that we have heard so far this morning is some information about a plane, a private plane that arrived last night at 10:07 p.m. from Anchorage, Alaska.
Alaska is the home state of the Governor Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin is somebody who had been rumored to be on John McCain's list. She is very young. She is 44 years old. She's a first-term governor but she is known as a reformer, somebody who goes after corruption.
And she is also somebody who is socially conservative and also, somewhat of an interesting person in that she is an avid hunter.
Now let me give you a little bit of information about what we know by way of our producer Evan Glass. He spoke to somebody at Middletown Airport. That is about 25 miles from here, John. And he said that last night two men, two teenagers, and a woman arrived off a plane and they got into white vans, and the person (INAUDIBLE) Bevis asked the private airport said this is the most secretive flight we've ever had. So, again, tea leave reading here. We don't know if that means anything in terms of whether or not Sarah Palin was on that plane.
They are absolutely radio silent right now inside the McCain campaign. So we are definitely trying to figure out if that means anything. But that is a very interesting tidbit about that plane. Now the other thing that's interesting is the person that we had been talking a lot about, Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota as a very top contender. He, on his radio show this morning, said that he does not plan, does not plan to be here in Dayton. He says he plans to stay in Minnesota for the state fair there. Now he could be being coy. But it sounds like he's trying to give a little bit of a hint that he's not the guy.
One last thing, there was talk, also, of Tom Ridge, the former - the former Homeland Security secretary, somebody who served in the House of Representatives with John McCain. Thoughts perhaps that he would be the guy. He is in suburban Washington right now. One of our producers caught up with him, going to get coffee and going to get a haircut. So perhaps we can affirmatively check him off the list as well. Again, we're looking at everything that's possible here. We're reading the tea leaves. We are obviously working our sources, and we hope to get confirmation on the fact that - on who, in fact, we will see with John McCain at this rally here in Dayton in just a couple of hours, John.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN, ANCHOR: Dana Bash watching the situation very closely for us this morning from Dayton, Ohio. Dana, thanks so much. Send up a flare the second you hear anything. Appreciate that. Kiran.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN, ANCHOR: Well, for four days, the democrats have taken aim at the republicans, but GOP strategists have an answer and they're laying out a game plan for John McCain. CNN's Mary Snow takes a look at the republicans' counter punch. Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Kiran, republicans have been taking note of the democratic convention. They now plan to push back and they're aim to draw a sharp contrast between John McCain and Barack Obama.
(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), FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: 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, FMR. U.S. PRESIDENT: They took us from record surpluses to an exploding debt. From over 22 million new jobs to just five million.
SNOW: Republican strategists 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, 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?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: When it comes to swaying undecided voters, a republican strategist says John McCain will need to make a strong case for his economic plan saying his national security record is already known. John and Kiran.
CHETRY: Mary Snow for us, thanks.
Well, radio talk show hosts join me now to weigh in on McCain's potential pick as a running mate. Stephanie Miller is a liberal talk show host. She's at the INVESCO Field for the democratic convention last night. And Mark Simone, a conservative host. He joins us from New York this morning. Thanks to both of you for being with us.
MARK SIMONE, CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.
CHETRY: Mark, what do you know about this governor of Alaska at this point? The possibility that it could be Sarah Palin?
SIMONE: Well, I'm a perfect guest because I know nothing about her and I'm totally stunned. But the first thought I had was, we know he was looking at a democrat, at a liberal, at Lieberman and obviously he wanted a woman. So I guess we can be sure that at some point he called Hillary Clinton and asked her about it. I mean, clearly it's a brilliant choice, the conservative credentials are great, that'll help him a lot. The fact that it's a female is just stunning. And it's going to be a tough partner for Biden in a debate. CHETRY: Yes, I want to ask Stephanie about this. You know, there's a lot made of these Hillary supporters that still have not crystallized behind Barack Obama the possibility that they could give their vote to John McCain. Does having a woman on the ticket make that more tantalizing, Stephanie?
STEPHANIE MILLER, LIBERAL RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Oh, Kiran, please, this is such a cheap pathetic suck up to women. Are you kidding me? I think that Hillary Clinton made the case as well as she possibly could if you are for anything that Hillary Clinton is for, that she spent her last 35 years working for, you are not going to vote for John McCain. He is not in support of women's rights in any way. His record is not a good one on that. And, you know, I just think this is - this is just so transparent, may I just say? Women are smarter than that, Kiran. You know that.
SIMONE: Hillary Clinton's speech was wonderful. It would be an even better speech if she actually believed what she was saying. You can't believe that she really in her heart wants to see Obama win this.
MILLER: And you know that how?
SIMONE: Well, just remember, she can't run in 2012. Are we really supposed to believe she's just giving up the idea of ever being president?
MILLER: Oh, I see. Do republicans have superpowers to read thought bubbles? Because it seemed pretty sincere to me that speech. I don't think she could have said it any better and it couldn't have come any more from the heart.
SIMONE: It's possible she's accepted the fact she just can never be president, although I still doubt that somehow.
CHETRY: Well, I want to ask you about this, Mark. Is there an opportunity there if it is, indeed, Sarah Palin, the governor out of Alaska, 44 years old, somebody who apparently does have credentials when it comes to being a little bit of a maverick, being pro-reform, being pro-life. Is there a possibility that she would siphon off Hillary Clinton voters who haven't come to grips with Barack Obama being the nominee?
SIMONE: Well, if you watch the convention coverage, there were a number of women, you could see it was so important for them to see a woman on the ticket that obviously it'll take some of them. Stephanie's right about as far as the issues, many of them will stick with the democrats. And let's also remember, this is the first time in history we've had two nominees who are both legislators with no executive experience. This is the first person out of the four with any executive experience and that's got to count for something.
CHETRY: All right. Last word, Stephanie?
MILLER: You know, again, Kiran, I just can't imagine. Like Hillary Clinton said it best when she said this was not about me. Are you in this for me or are you in, you know, everything that I believe in and work for? And I just don't think a lot of women are going to come from Hillary to John McCain. I really don't. I think that's a media story. No offense, Kiran.
CHETRY: No offense taken. It'll be interesting to see as we all try to figure out what the pick will be. But we'll know for sure in a few hours.
SIMONE: Let me just say, I get nervous when Clinton says it's not about me. That's like when people say it's not about the money.
CHETRY: All right. Well, I want to thank both of you for being with us. Stephanie Miller, Mark Simone, thanks for being with us.
MILLER: Thanks.
CHETRY: You know, again, we are following this news and we will find out more. John McCain set to announce his pick, his running mate when they both take the stage together in Dayton, Ohio. But again, we have some of our own reporting from CNN, from Dana Bash, saying that there was some word that a plane arrived from Anchorage, Alaska, to nearby Middleton, very close by to Dayton, Ohio last night. The possibility that the Alaska governor could be on the short list there. Sarah Palin, we'll continue to follow that news. Also the news that Tim Pawlenty announcing on his radio show that he was in the running and would not be making his way to Dayton. So, take what you will from that. We'll continue to follow it here.
And still ahead. What makes a high profile republican back Obama? The granddaughter of beloved republican president Dwight Eisenhower is supporting him and she's here to tell us why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY (voice-over): Sheryl Crow on backing Obama.
SHERYL CROW, MUSICIAN: Well the man walks the walk and talks the talk.
CHETRY: And why she could never support McCain.
CROW: Our best years on the planet are probably behind us.
CHETRY: One on one with the convention headliner. You're watching the most news in the morning.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST "THE TONIGHT SHOW": Have you seen that Mount Olympus style backdrop they had for Barack's speech, with the big columns, a little over the top, you think. Like (inaudible) Barack, son of Zeus. That seems over the top.
ROBERTS (voice-over): A couple of jokes. LENO: Meg Whitman is his running mate. Well, that makes sense. She's an expert at selling Americans really old stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: A couple of jokes there from Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" last night. While quite a night last evening at INVESCO Field, Senator Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech before some 85,000 people. One of the featured speakers on the final night of the democratic convention was the granddaughter of a beloved republican president. Susan Eisenhower is a lifelong republican but has become a staunch supporter of Senator Barack Obama. And she joins me now. What was it like being on stage there before more than 80,000 democrats? You being a republican?
SUSAN EISENHOWER, OBAMA SUPPORTER: It was an amazing experience, period. Just to see all of those faces and to sense the atmosphere. It was an amazing feeling in that stadium.
ROBERTS: But did you feel almost --
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: We're back live from Denver, outside INVESCO field. Hopefully we're going to stay that way. Our apologies for a slight technical glitch we had that made us disappear. We're back again with Susan Eisenhower, lifelong republican who last night was on the stage giving her absolute support to Barack Obama. Now, I don't know how much we got before we lost our signal. But you said you were a lifelong republican up until very recently.
EISENHOWER: Well, I was a lifelong republican and then about ten 10 ago, I changed my registration. I'm a die hard moderate and I will always stay that way. And I feel like the party has left the moderate wing. In any case, I want to be able to vote for democrats or republicans or independents or anybody else who reflects my views.
ROBERTS: The last time you were on a couple of weeks ago, we drew a lot of fire from right wing blogs for drawing comparisons between Ike and Barack Obama. I guess they didn't like the idea that there might be some similarities somewhere along the line. Did you see any similarities between Dwight Eisenhower and Barack Obama in the speech last night?
EISENHOWER: Well, first of all, I thought Senator Obama hit the ball right out of the ballpark or I guess it's a football stadium, it's OK? Well, we'll change that. But I must say, I think he was very, very articulate. But, you know, it's hard to say you can draw direct comparisons between people. Certainly the period of history's very, very different. But I think Barack Obama's a very steady guy, he's very thoughtful. And I alluded to that in my remarks, this wonderful moment when Robert Frost said to Dwight Eisenhower in support of Eisenhower's considered opinion on something. The strong are staying silent until they see.
ROBERTS: If there weren't any obvious similarities on the complimentary side, perhaps there were some on the flip side. Recall a 1960 campaign when your grandfather said, of John Kennedy, something to the effect who is this young genius who thinks he can do so much? And that's exactly what the republican McCain party is saying now about Senator Obama.
EISENHOWER: Well, first of all, it was pretty personal, frankly speaking. In 1960 because the Kennedy administration accused the Eisenhower administration of a missile gap and all of these other issues. So I think Eisenhower was responding, in fact, to that. Because it was an attack on his credibility as commander in chief. I don't - look, Barack Obama is actually older than Bill Clinton was when he ran. And if you look at the other figures on the international stage, Dmitry Medvedev in Russia is 42 years old. Certainly everybody running Europe these days are in their early 50s. So, you know, the torch has been passed.
ROBERTS: Susan Eisenhower, it's great to see you in person.
EISENHOWER: Great to see you.
ROBERTS: Thank you for joining us this morning.
EISENHOWER: It's a real pleasure to be here.
ROBERTS: All right. Take care. Kiran.
CHETRY: John, thanks.
If Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, 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. Here's CNN's Deb Feyerick with a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, Kiran, political insiders say Michelle Obama has evolved during this campaign that she has had to temper her personality so as not to appear too strong, too independent. In other words, to appear less like Hillary Clinton.
FEYERICK (voice-over): Michelle Obama has presided over the democratic convention like the party's hostess. But the potential First Lady in waiting has been forced to share the spotlight.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Suspend the procedural rule.
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.
CHARLTON MCILWAIN, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY: 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, NEW YORK: 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 Mrs. 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 that you support.
FEYERICK: And 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: Michelle Obama has repeatedly said she's not interested in policy. Still, she's considered one of her husband's closest advisers. Publicly she's sticking to so-called safe issues like work-family balance and children's health care. John, Kiran.
ROBERTS: Our Deb Feyerick reporting for us this morning. Deb, thanks so much.
Coming up on nine minutes to the top of the hour. Before Senator Barack Obama talked about change, Sheryl Crow sang about it here in Denver. I spoke to her about supporting the democratic nominee and about why she is not backing independent John McCain.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: How do you feel about being a part of all this tonight?
CROW: You just can't say no to something like this. It's historical, you know, everyone in America is watching this week. And I feel like it's a very hopeful and pivotal moment in our nation's future.
ROBERTS: I've read your blog and you've said that you took a long hard look at all of the candidates.
CROW: It was difficult for me to decide between Senator Clinton and Senator Obama. And I think the reason why I went with Senator Obama was the very thing that draws all of us to him. And those words that resonate like Bobby Kennedy's words about being awake, about being conscious and about everything that springs forward for this nation starts within all of us.
ROBERTS: Was there anything on the republican side for you? McCain professes to be a champion of the environment, wants to curb global warming.
CROW: Yes. You know, it's funny because, in Austin a few years ago, when he was, I think, dancing around with the idea of running for president, I went to a dinner for him. One of the questions that I asked him was why we didn't sign the treaty, why we've been so lackadaisical.
ROBERTS: You mean Kyoto.
CROW: The Kyoto treaty and why we've been so reticent to really step up to where the science has already brought us. And his comment was our best years on the planet are probably behind us. And I was so - I mean, the air just rushed out of my body. I felt very demoralized and I said if you run for president, is that really how you feel? Because that's not an answer that I can certainly live with. Not with a new baby. I can't live with that being the idea. And I think for me, he is a very respectable leader and obviously has an incredible history as far as serving this country. I don't know that's what we need right now in this country.
ROBERTS: Are you concerned at all given the state of the economy? I mean, price of gasoline, global warming, two wars - Iraq, Afghanistan, that Barack Obama is not five, eight, nine points ahead at this point?
CROW: I am. In fact, I'm shocked. Because of the eight years that we've just had, the margin should be so widely in his favor.
ROBERTS: So are you getting anxious like some democrats are?
CROW: I'm anxious. And I want to tell people. One man doesn't run this country. I mean, George Bush did not bring us to this point by himself. And I think that with Senator Obama, I think he'll align himself with people who are interested in walking the walk that he's walking and doing the things that he's interested in doing and he'll surround himself with very, very experienced and intelligent people. And hopefully we'll hit in the direction of what his direction is. Which is what is resonating with all of us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Sheryl Crow talking to us yesterday just before her performance, before some 85,000 people here in INVESCO Field. Let me just clarify something. I mistakenly said independent John McCain when I introduced Sheryl Crow. What I meant to say was why she is not responding to his outreach to independent-minded voters. Certainly John McCain is a republican.
We are still following, by the way, his selection of vice presidential nominee. Apparently he has made up his mind. We are trying to find out who is still on the list and who is off the list. We're working our sources hard for you this morning. We'll have that news for you just the second we get it.
What's a convention without music? Our Jeannie Moos pumps up the volume to show you what you have not been hearing. Hear the music. You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: What's a convention without music? Our Jeannie Moos with another un-conventional moment. You saw the history making event unfold here on CNN. Now here are the soundtrack.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While Obama's words were the main event, maybe you'd like to hear the sound track. It was music there beginning to end. Punctuated with everything from flags. Born in the U.S.A. to fist bumps.
The kind of songs it's hard not to sing along with. The songs served as intermission between speakers, like laid off factory worker Barney Smith.
BARNEY SMITH, LAID OFF FACTORY WORKER: You need a president who puts Barney Smith before Smith, Barney.
MOOS: When Al Gore made his entrance, Mr. Global Warming was serenaded with -- live performers range from Michael McDonald to Stevie Wonder to Sheryl Crow to Will I.Am to John Legend, singing the song that's become an Obama national anthem.
Yes, they did choreograph the climax. With a heavy swirl of flags and posters and hope. One of the Obama daughters played in the confetti as if it were snow flakes. Even the sky cam ended up draped in streamers. Its aerial vision obscured and confetti clung to the head of the vice presidential nominee. The web site wonkette reports seeing a marriage proposal on bended knee and offered photographic proof they weren't the only couple enjoying a moment of their own in front of 80,000 pairs of eyes. With an unconventional moment, I'm Jeannie Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: And that's going to do it for us on behalf of John Roberts out in Denver, me here in New York. Thanks so much for watching us all week. We'll be right back here next week when the republicans kick off their convention.
Right now, here's CNN NEWSROOM with Tony Harris.
