Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Obama's Five-Point Lead Over McCain; Interview With Tommy Thompson; After Gustav: Assessing the Damage

Aired September 02, 2008 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. You're taking a look at some live pictures. That's Joe Lieberman there. He's going to be addressing the convention, the GOP convention this evening.
Of course, it was only eight years ago that he was the vice presidential pick on the Democratic ticket. So many people will be looking and watching his speech tonight to hear the message that he has for that large number of undecided voters.

Hello again from the CNN Election Center in New York. Soledad O'Brien with continuing coverage of the 2008 Republican convention.

Inside the hall tonight, the official agenda is to introduce John McCain to the American voter. Unofficial work though might have more to do with his choice of running mate, the Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin. Senator McCain defended his pick today and his vetting process, but the stories keep coming.

There is that, plus some new polling to tell you about, and much more.

To make more sense of all of it, let's get right to CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider.

Bill, as always, nice to see you.

Let's start with some of these new poll numbers. If we pop them up on the screen you can see a bump. Is it the bump that they wanted?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, it's a five- point lead for Obama over McCain. And I believe it's a very slight bump. I don't have the previous figures, but it's a very slight bounce for Obama over McCain.

I think before the convention he was leading by four points, now it's five. Not a big bounce. Certainly not by historical standards. And in that sense, a little bit of a disappointment.

But remember, there were two big stories last week. One was the successful Democratic convention that reconciled a party that had been badly divided and rallied Democrats around their nominee, Barack Obama. But there was a second story where John McCain made a surprise announcement of his running mate, Sarah Palin. And that seems to have rallied Republicans to McCain's cause. So we're seeing two competing bounces: Independents rallying to Obama and Republicans coming out in larger numbers to support John McCain. And they really cancel each other out.

O'BRIEN: Interesting. Minnesota, what kind of impact do you think holding the convention in St. Paul is going to have potentially on how Minnesota goes during the election?

SCHNEIDER: Well, of course, the Republicans here are hopeful that this state can finally be carried by Republicans. It hasn't voted for a Republican in so many decades. I think you have to go all the way back to 1964, because they voted for -- no, they didn't vote for -- '72, I guess.

But they did vote for Walter Mondale in 1984. He was a native son. They did not vote for George McGovern in 1972.

Well, this is a state that votes Democratic in presidential elections, but it's often close. And there is a large Republican vote here.

And they are hopeful, the Republicans are hopeful by holding the convention here, that they will be able to make a strong statement to rally Minnesota Republicans and carry this real battleground state. Everyone is treating Minnesota as a battleground state this time. And that's one reason why the Republican convention is here.

O'BRIEN: What do you think the potential upside for having Governor Palin, talking electoral map-wise, is going to be for McCain? Where does she help him pick up votes?

SCHNEIDER: Well, it's an all-western ticket. How about that?

You've got -- leading the presidential candidate from Arizona. His running mate is from Alaska. They know and understand the issues in the West.

The West used not to be a battleground. It was pretty solid Republican. At least the interior West, if you got away from the Pacific Coast. But now there are several western states that are very competitive: Nevada, New Hampshire, and the big prize, Colorado.

Well, the Republicans are calculating with an all-western ticket, Arizona and Alaska, that they will have a real fighting chance to retain Republican majorities in those three crucial states. What's moving in the other direction, of course, is a growing number of Latino voters in those states who have been trending very heavily Democratic.

O'BRIEN: Interesting to watch. All right.

Bill Schneider for us.

Thanks, Bill. Always nice to see you. Thanks for being with us.

SCHNEIDER: OK. O'BRIEN: Up next, was the Palin pick a surprise for the Republicans? We're going to check with Tommy Thompson, former Bush cabinet member and one of the early candidates, too. He's going to join us right after this short break.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOMMY THOMPSON (R), FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We've got to make sure that we really are conservatives. If we're going to spend money foolishly and as stupidly as the Democrats, the voters are going to vote for the professional spender, the Democrat. Not the amateur spender, the Republican.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: That's former Wisconsin governor and Bush cabinet member Tommy Thompson on the stump, though it turned out to be a very challenging presidential campaign for Republicans with the last name of Thompson. Fred Thompson will speak tonight, along with Joe Lieberman and President Bush.

Tommy Thompson, however, joins us from St. Paul. He is attending the convention as well.

Nice to see you, sir. Thanks for being with us.

THOMPSON: Thank you, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: It's been certainly a lot of ups and downs. What do you think has been the most surprising thing since you dropped out of the presidential race a year ago?

THOMPSON: I think the greatest thing that's happened is the fact that the Republican Party, after the announcement of Governor Palin, has become energized and united behind John McCain. I have been coming to National Republican Conventions going back to when Ronald Reagan was the nominee against at that time President Gerald Ford. And it was that kind of enthusiasm for Ronald Reagan in 1976 that really catapulted the Republicans to victory in 1980.

And it's that same kind of enthusiasm that has developed around Governor Palin and John McCain at this convention. Whether it was the hurricane, whether it was the announcement, it's all coming together. And I find an enthusiasm and excitement like I haven't seen in the Republican base for quite some time.

O'BRIEN: Not that long ago you called Senator Obama's plan for health care heavy, and you called Senator McCain's plan for health care light. What do you think of them now?

THOMPSON: That's right. Well, I think that's very true. But I also know that Senator McCain is looking out to find ways to strengthen his health care package to make it more competitive, more consumer-oriented, and I'm absolutely confident.

I spoke this morning for the senator on health care, and the audience really loved it, really reacted and responded very favorably. And I am confident that he is going to develop a health care package that is going to have the consumer front and central.

It's going to have choice and it's going to give the American voters an opportunity to see the difference, whether it's going to be consumer-based or government-based. And that is the big difference. And I think the voters are going to decide very much on the consumer side of health care.

O'BRIEN: You said that the party faithful where you are now are energized, but of course, I think the bigger picture is all the other people who are undecided. And the race is kind of close, neck and neck at this point.

THOMPSON: It really is.

O'BRIEN: So are you concerned that the hurricane and choice of Governor Palin, someone who a lot of people -- in fact, more people than know something about her don't know anything about her, say that they have no idea -- really much about her. Are you concerned that that'' going to be problematic for getting your message out? And not just to the party faithful who obviously are rallying behind her, but to everybody else who could make you win or lose this election?

THOMPSON: Soledad, you know that the press is going to have everything about Governor Palin and Senator McCain front and center between now and the next 60 days. Everybody in America will know everything they can about Obama, about McCain, about Biden and Palin. And I am confident that the choices are so complete, they are so different between Obama and McCain, that the voters are going to have no difficulty whatsoever of making up their mind where they're going to go. This election is going to be transformational not only for the country, but for party politics all across this great country.

O'BRIEN: With all due respect, a lot of what people are talking about today when they talk about Sarah Palin as governor, does she have the experience necessary to be that, you know, "one heartbeat away from the presidency?" Is that problematic, that the conversations are not necessarily all flattering of her abilities?

THOMPSON: I would tell you, Soledad, that I would bet that Governor Palin has made many more executive decisions in two years as governor than Senator Obama has done in his whole legislative career. If you look back at the legislative career of Senator Obama, he voted "present" instead of taking a position, I think, 100 times. You will never find that in Sarah Palin.

She is there. She is counted. She will listen, but she will act. A big difference between Senator Obama and his congressional legislative career, versus an executive like Governor Palin. I have all the confidence, and I am confident that once the voters and the people of America get a chance to meet Sarah Palin, they're going to fall in love with her and say, she is outstanding, she is a great leader, and she can do the job.

O'BRIEN: They will have the opportunity on Wednesday, when she addresses that convention where you are.

Tommy Thompson.

Thank you very much for being with us, sir. We certainly appreciate it, Governor.

THOMPSON: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Going to have much more convention coverage coming to you in just about 15 minutes, and of course throughout the day.

Coming to you from New York, Soledad O'Brien at the CNN Election Center.

We'll send it back to Atlanta and CNN NEWSROOM right after this short break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: We want to fill you in now on the very latest on a bad storm that could have been much, much worse, on this day after Gustav's landfall. Damage assessment is in full swing right here in Louisiana.

The storm caused seriously flooding along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and left hundreds of thousands of people in Louisiana and Mississippi without power. New Orleans' levees appears to have past a major test in all of this, but we are getting word of a possible new breach in Plaquemines Parish. That is just south of the city of New Orleans. Well, if it's bad, it could wash out a main road leading to oil and gas companies on that route.

Right now, oil prices, well, they are way down today since damage to the rigs and to the refineries seems to have been much, much less than they had feared here.

We've got reporters stationed all across the storm region here today. Brian Todd is in Houma, Louisiana; our Ed Lavandera is in Lafayette; and meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is in the CNN severe weather center. She is tracking what is left of Gustav, as well as some tropical systems that are happening out in the water right now.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: OK. Now we want to go to Houma, Louisiana, where they received a whole lot of damage. It was expected that New Orleans would get more, but Houma didn't fare very well in all of this.

Our Brian Todd joins us with the very latest.

What are you seeing there, Brian?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, this is where the eye wall of Hurricane Gustav touched down. This, and the tiny fishing village of Cocodrie, just south of here.

This town is faring pretty badly today. Damage to several structures, as you mentioned. There are power lines down all over the place and fallen trees blocking several streets.

People here are just trying to kind of shovel out and try to get their lives back together. We are told by the sheriff here that about 95 percent of this parish left before Hurricane Gustav hit land. And so that's a good thing. There were no deaths or injuries reported in this town. And this is really where the eye wall pretty first touched down on Monday.

But we are told by the sheriff that this town is pretty much cut off from civilization as far as power and water. People here are really not going to be able to function for a long time. He says power here may not be restored for about a month.

LEMON: All right. CNN's Brian Todd joining us from Houma, Louisiana, which received a lot of power -- he said you may not get power for a month. Hundreds of thousands of people, really almost a million people or more in this area, still don't have power. I should say a million homes and businesses.

In the meantime, we want to get to Lafayette, Louisiana, for some damage assessment there. Our Ed Lavandera has been following the latest.

Ed, I saw some of your reports this morning, and I saw people carting clothes out to their car. I imagine they're picking up the pieces from there.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. And we're at that same home, and this is the home where 27-year-old Keith Duhon (ph) was killed yesterday as he was asleep inside his home and this tree which is massive uprooted in the back yard. The root structure that came out of the ground here, Don, it's hard to see from this vantage point because it's directly behind the house, but it is about 15 to 20 feet wide that came falling out of the ground, pulled out of the ground, and essentially collapsed on the house.

And Mr. Duhon was in here sleeping, we're told by city officials. And it's cut out here because firefighters had to cut their way through this tree here yesterday to reach his body. But it was already too late.

But this is by far the worst scene that have seen here in Lafayette, based on the damage that Hurricane Gustav caused here. And it's really to remarkable to think we are just up the road, up Highway U.S. 90 from where Brian Todd was reporting from, and that eye wall, that center of that storm, came roaring kind of pretty much in this same direction.

So it's really amazing to think just how much the storm weakened by the time it got here, some 80, 90 miles up the road. Really made quite a bit of difference, because this is the worst that they have seen in this area. And as you get further away, closer between where Brian Todd was and where we are here in Lafayette, you really see a difference in just how much damage there is.

There are a lot of downed trees, splintered trees and that sort of thing. But you don't see the intense amount of structural damage. This is as bad as we've seen here.

And one city councilman told us this morning this is the worst story they had to report here this morning. So even though it is terrible and tragic here at this particular location, many communities up in this area are feeling a little bit better about their situation, having the feeling that they've been able to weather and withstand the worst of what hurricane Gustav had to offer -- Don.

LEMON: All right. Ed Lavandera in Lafayette. And of course our hearts go out to the gentleman, his family, that man who died.

We are here in St. Bernard Parish, just where they were bagging up, trying to shore up that levee yesterday. Just saw the U.S. Coast Guard come in to do some damage assessment. We're going to talk to them and get a report about this levee here and bring it to you in the CNN NEWSROOM.

In the meantime, if you would like to help those affected by Hurricane Gustav, please go to our "Impact Your World" page, where you'll find links to organizations offering aid here. That is at CNN.com/impact. Go there to help these people out.

In the aftermath of Gustav, an unexpected plunge. Oil prices head south today as hurricane fears ease.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BUSINESS REPORT)

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Want to head to Washington now, where the Justice Department is criticizing former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for his mishandling of highly-classified documents.

We're going to head over to our justice correspondent, Kelli Arena. She is there with the latest.

And Kelli, he is gone, but still not forgotten.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: You got it, T.J.

You know, this is one of those stories that is really baffling. It seems that the former attorney general didn't know how to handle classified documents.

According to an inspector general's report, he stored these very classified notes about a counterterrorism program in the wrong place and then even took them home. The report goes on to say that he stored them in his briefcase because he didn't know the combination to the safe at his house.

Now, these notes were about the NSA's wireless surveillance program. As you know, a top-secret program. Gonzales took those notes while he was White House counsel.

Now, for some reason, he decided to bring them with him to the Department of Justice, but the report says that he never asked permission to do so. No one at the White House knew that he had those notes. And then Gonzales himself said that he considered those notes to be a presidential record.

The report also says that Gonzales didn't properly handle documents concerning the interrogation of terror detainees. Now, Gonzales' lawyers reiterate what investigators found, that there was no evidence that this information was viewed by or exposed to anyone who wasn't authorized to see it. They say that Gonzales basically made a mistake.

The Department of Justice says that there was an internal review and prosecutors at the national security division declined to bring charges, but it is likely though that Gonzales will lose any security clearances that he may still have -- T.J.

HOLMES: So he may still have some, and he is going to lose them because they don't think they can trust him with highly-classified documents right now?

ARENA: That does seem to be the case.

HOLMES: All right. Well, we hope he has learned the combination to that safe at his house.

ARENA: You'd hope so.

HOLMES: Our Kelli Arena for us in Washington.

Kelli, thank you so much.

ARENA: You're welcome.

HOLMES: Well, as you know, Hurricane Gustav really did a number on the Gulf Coast, but also had an effect on something going on as far north as St. Paul, Minnesota. That's the Republican National Convention we are talking about. Well, today is day two of it now, and it's supposed to be getting back on track.

Live coverage from St. Paul. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: And good afternoon. Welcome back, everybody.

You're looking at a wide shot from St. Paul, Minnesota, of the Xcel Center. Coming to you from the CNN Election Center in New York, Soledad O'Brien here, as we continue our coverage of the 2008 Republican convention.

Kind of a drizzly day in the twin cities. But a busy night is expected for the delegates ahead. Renegade Democrat Joe Lieberman just wrapped up a few minutes ago, a walk-through of the hall. He's going to be speaking tonight. So will former candidate Fred Thompson. And President Bush, by satellite, coming to everybody live from the White House. That's a little bit of a change of plans. The president had in fact, been slated to speak in person last night, then came hurricane Gustav. He put those plans on hold.

So now, of course, the big question is will Sarah Palin turn out to be a breath of fresh air for Republicans, or could it be a political ill-wind, as they say?

The latest on all that, let's get to CNN's senior political analyst Gloria Borger.

Gloria, first and foremost, there have been -- how much of a problem is the distraction of the questions surrounding Sarah Palin? Or is it good news that this is you know, -- people want to find out more about her?

GLORIA BORGER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think the distraction is never really good news. And I think you know -- I've been talking to a lot of Republicans, both ones here and ones in Washington. And the real question is, what does the choice of Sarah Palin tell you about John McCain?

Does it tell you that this is somebody who made a considered choice, who decided he needed to consolidate his base? That he wanted to appeal to women? That, in fact, he chose someone who's a reformer, who is just like himself? Or, does it tell you that, in fact, he may have made a more last-minute decision, changing his mind? Some say he would have preferred to have the speaker we're going to see this evening, Joe Lieberman.

So, I think that's the question people are asking. And when this convention is over, we may know what the take away is. We don't really know now. We don't know how she's going to perform. We don't know how she's going to perform on the campaign trail. And we don't know whether there's going to be more information that we are going to learn about her.

O'BRIEN: How about the storm itself as a distraction?

I know that there was an efforts to sort of spin the energies towards service and helping and certainly helping the people who are in need from the storm. A million people are without power.

Has that worked? Has that gotten out, do you think?

BORGER: Well, I think that the folks running this convention have done exactly what they needed to do. Obviously, they had to change the tone. You can't have a big party, celebration with funny hats here -- and with this storm going on in the Gulf Coast.

So, yes, it's been a distraction. But obviously, since they did the right thing here and they're raising money, they are using this like a telethon, you know, there are lots of folk whose say that this portrays the Republican Party as compassionate, as caring. It gives the president a chance for a little bit of a do-over. And it looks like this time there were lessons learned. And so, I think in a sense, people here are saying, look, you know, Republicans did the right thing and now they'll move on.

O'BRIEN: Joe Lieberman, President Bush. Both will be speaking tonight. How much of a dance has to be done in the president speaking and sort of whatever embrace is done by Senator McCain, who's tried to distance himself and his folks tried to distance themselves from the president a fair amount? And then on top of that, Joe Lieberman who a lot of conservatives really, I can tell you why they didn't want to pick him at VP and you can tell me back because clearly that would have been a really controversial choice.

BORGER: Yes. It probably would have blown up the convention. Because you know, lots of conservatives I talk to say, no way would they have approved Joe Lieberman. Of course his name was floated.

Look. George W. Bush is very popular with the people in this convention hall. Very popular. He's not going to be here in person this evening. He's going to give a short address. It may be a bit of a valedictory. We may hear a little bit more about the Gulf Coast. But, it's not going to be a long call to arms for the Republican Party. They understand that.

Joe Lieberman is going to be on the stage tonight, not to Criticize Barack Obama because he said to CNN and others, that that's not his intention. He's going to talk about who John McCain is and why he's so loyal to John McCain. And in fact, Soledad, out on the campaign trail, you see these guys together. They're really good friends. They're soul mates. They've each been mavericks in their own party. They like each other. Particularly on Iraq, on that issue. It's sort of been their bond. And I think that's what you're going to hear Joe Lieberman talk about tonight.

He's going to talk a lot about John McCain being unafraid to make the tough decisions. Most notably the war in Iraq. But, he's not going to be out there attacking the Democrats. They're going to kind of ratchet up the attacking probably. And that may be one reason they put off Rudy Giuliani until later in the week.

O'BRIEN: We'll wait to see what he has to say when he does in fact, deliver his speech.

Gloria Borger, for us this afternoon. Thanks, Gloria. Appreciate the update.

Coming up next, we'll dig a little bit deeper on Governor Palin and Senator Biden. Take a look at how the two VP picks compare politically and otherwise. That's right after this. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

Please go out that door back there. SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: (INAUDIBLE) The process was completely thorough and I am grateful for the results.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: That's John McCain defending his vice presidential choice and how he arrived at it. For more on the Palin pick and the Democratic side, the ticket known as Joe-Bama, we are joined by CNN contributors Hilary Rosen and Leslie Sanchez.

Leslie is a GOP strategist.

Hilary is the political director of the liberal "Huffington Post."

Nice to see you both.

Hilary, let's start with you. The governor has, as we've talked about before, little foreign policy experience outside of her home state, certainly. But conservatives would say, listen, that's the president's job. He doesn't need to bring in a VP pick who makes him stronger on that front. Do you think foreign policy experience does matter for the VP pick or not?

HILARY ROSEN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, foreign policy clearly matters for both of them. And I think that the reason why Democrats are being so tough on Sarah Palin on the foreign policy front is because John McCain, let's face it, is 72-years-old. He has hinted occasionally that he may only have a single term. This puts her out in front. And he has been particularly tough on Barack Obama and his foreign policy experience.

Having said that, you know, I think it's mostly about Barack Obama versus John McCain. But Joe Biden is clearly somebody who, the worst thing happens, could be president right away with that kind of experience and judgment that you are looking for. All the Republicans have to say in response to the Sarah Palin thing is, well, that's not going to happen; she is not going to be president right away.

I don't think that is a great answer.

O'BRIEN: And that's not all that they have had to say, in all fairness.

Let's talk, Leslie, about the role of Governor Palin versus Joe Biden. Do you think that they sort of have different roles here?

LESLIE SANCHEZ, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Absolutely. I mean, if you look at -- what this pick was designed to do is -- it shows a lot about Senator McCain's judgment. It talks about (INAUDIBLE) a candidate who very much reflects his ideas moving forward. And it's interesting because we are at a crossroads in the Republican Party. We are looking at what is the future of the Republican Party going to look like? What do we fundamentally stand for?

And it's coming back to these principles of reform, the conservative nature, it speaks to both social and economic conservatives. She is very strong and she is very tough in those areas. And that is appeal that she will has. She's going to have the good judgment and surround herself with the right team.

It is a very good contrast. I think this is exactly where Senator McCain wants to be when he talks about an Obama-Biden ticket.

O'BRIEN: Is it really though, when you are fielding questions and sort of defending your choice? That doesn't feel, to me, like somebody who is exactly where they want to be. And the word is that they have only meant once before in person. People who cover the campaigns, and have for a long time, will say it's really important for him that he is comfortable and close with the people he works with.

Doesn't that sort of work against those things?

SANCHEZ: I think that's what the Democratic challenge is right now. They have launched all these attacks on both her being a woman, and a lot of sexist remarks about her experience. I think some of that is to be expected because she was a surprise choice. But the more people know about her and her experience, her gravitas, her judgment, I think the more people are feeling very comfortable about her. And particularly, a the lot of the swing voters.

If you look at the fact -- his choice moved this from a generational election where -- there's 25 years between these two folks and you had that big hoopla on Thursday with that masterful speech of Barack Obama, pulling it right back into the middle class. This is somebody who can be talking about issues that matter to real people. She looks like one of them. I think it changes the tone of the debate, which is why the attacks from the Democrats are so visceral.

O'BRIEN: Hilary, do you think it's going to be a -- it sounds like it's going to be a debate when you do the VP debate, the debate between the real people, finally real people, talking about -- but, you know, Joe Biden who has marketed himself as I'm one of you, I understand, when I'm riding Amtrak, I can read people's minds, blah, blah, blah, to the governor of Alaska who is married to a guy, who is one of these real people and I've got the same real problems that we all have.

ROSEN: These are both sort of solidly middle class Americans who have lived real middle class lives. Neither one of them have had much money. Neither one of them have come from -- both of them came from pretty humble beginnings. There is not going to be any air between them on those things.

The air is really going to be whether Joe Biden helps Barack Obama lead the country in a new direction, versus Sarah Palin has the ability -- whether she has the ability to help John McCain lead the country or whether John McCain is pretty much teaching Sarah Palin as they go along.

O'BRIEN: Let me ask you a question. Here is a woman who has been the governor, so when you say teaching, I know, I can see Leslie, I can read Leslie's mind. She is saying, that is sexist. As someone who was upset when you thought Hillary Clinton was having sexist remarks lobbed at her, is that a sexist remark?

ROSEN: Hillary Clinton was having sexist remarks lobbed at her based on exterior functions. No one was saying that Hillary Clinton wasn't qualified to be president. So just because Sarah Palin is a woman doesn't mean that the sexist charge will hold if you are challenging her on the basis of qualifications.

Look, the issue is clear -- Sarah Palin is going to be in those meetings, of the national security briefings and things, and learning. Joe Biden is not. You can't dispute that. The issue here, though, is does Barack Obama bring more to the ticket in terms of judgment and wisdom and good choices than John McCain? Ultimately, that's what it's going to be. But I don't think there is any question that the Biden-Palin matchup leads on foreign policy experience one way.

(CROSSTALK)

SANCHEZ: Soledad --

O'BRIEN: We are out of time. But --

SANCHEZ: You can't be.

O'BRIEN: I know. You got to start, she gets to finish, and we try to flip it every time to make it fair.

When we come back, though, we'll continue this conversation. Because obviously, Leslie, at least, has a lot more to talk about.

Much more convention coverage, of course, in about 15 minutes and throughout the day. Coming to you from New York, Soledad O'Brien at the CNN Election Center. We'll send it back to Atlanta and the CNN NEWSROOM right after this short break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. It's about 2:50 on the East coast, 1:50 here in the New Orleans area, where the mayor is urging hurricane evacuees to hold tight. About half the city is without power still and the sewer system -- well it just isn't working. Mayor Ray Nagin says it may be Thursday before it's safe enough to come back home.

South of the city, though, officials are checking out a possible breach at a levee in Plaquemines Parish. We'll keep you posted on all those developments. At least seven deaths along the Gulf Coast are blamed on this storm, including a man in Lafayette whose house was crushed by a tree.

We have reporters stationed all over the area. And the person who is following this from the severe weather center is our weather expert, Jacqui Jeras.

She joins us now with the very latest on Gustav and also potential hurricanes that are out in the water now -- Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. We've got a lot going on. They are just lined up, all the way from the African coast right up here into the U.S. where we are still dealing with Gustav right now. It's a tropical depression and it's very near Shreveport. We are dealing with some issues still with the storm today in terms of flooding and rainfall. St. Tammany Parish, along the Bogue Falaya River and also the Tchefuncte River -- some evacuations have been taking place there due to the rising river levels. And we also have the threat of some tornadoes here on the eastern quadrant of the storm.

Now, the CNN team has been doing an incredible job, I think, of bringing in some great pictures, but so have you at home, our i- Reporters

And CNN's Reynolds Wolf has a few of those to share -- Reynolds.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Jacqui.

There have been so many ways we've been telling this story over the last couple of days about Gustav. From our anchors in the studio, our reporters out in the field, our team of meteorologists, and of course, with our i-Reports.

Take a look at some of these contributions that were sent in. This i-Report was sent in by George Halloran (ph). This is not far from I-10. This is one of the casino parking lots we have. Of course the parkway to see here -- this is an area that was actually affected by Katrina. This is the second time around with Gustav.

Let's shrink this one up.

We've got some video also from George, right along parts of I-10. We're going to expand this out a little bit. Make sure this is getting put into motion. And there you go. Notice the power lines swaying back a little bit, cars racing by, the windows being -- rather, the trees being pushed by the strong winds. We are going to shrink this one up and show you a couple of other ones we have.

This was sent in from David Webb of Mobile, Alabama. What's funny is everything on the porch is fine. It's what's off the porch that's interesting. You see the trees swaying in the distance, the rain coming in, sand coming (INAUDIBLE). This is far away from the center of the storm. Certainly a huge mess in parts of Alabama.

We're going to finish things up right back over towards the I-10 corridor. This is again in Mississippi. Take a look at this. You're going to see a little bit of that storm surge coming in. But not only that, you're also going to notice some buildings. There appear to be buildings in the water. That is actually leftovers from a building that once stood there, a factory that was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. And now Gustav is having its turn at what is left.

Again, big time contributions and we are so happy we are able to share them with all of you at home, sent in by our great i-Reporters in the field.

And if you have an opportunity to get some great shots and you want to send them in and share them with everyone, send them to ireport.com. But whatever you do, be careful.

Jacqui, back to you.

JERAS: Great stuff. Thanks so much, Reynolds.

We are also keeping our eye on Hanna. It is a powerful tropical storm. Could be making landfall in the U.S. before the week is done. We'll have more on the tropics coming up in just a little bit.

LEMON: All right. We've got some good news for your wallet. Gustav is contributing to a big drop in oil prices. CNNMoney.com's Poppy Harlow joins us now with our "Energy Fix" from New York.

Poppy, I'm sure you are warm and dry there -- or cool and dry. It's very hot out here and it --

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Oh, I do not feel bad for you. No, you are in the middle of it all. That's what reporters want, right? You are in the middle of it all.

LEMON: Absolutely, absolutely.

HARLOW: But seriously, a lot of destruction where you are, but some good news for Americans when it comes to gas prices, oil prices. What we are seeing now, oil down nearly $6 today. Much lower than we saw on Friday. Right now, oil settling below $110 a barrel. What we saw was oil production come to a halt as major rigs in the Gulf were evacuated.

But some energy companies say they could start restacking those rigs as soon as today or tomorrow. That along, with the fact, Don, that about 75 percent of U.S. crude oil is produced outside of the Gulf, Don -- so we have to keep that in mind. So it's not all coming from where you are.

LEMON: OK. So, Poppy, is Gustav the only reason, though, for this big drop?

HARLOW: Yes, that's what a lot of people are asking.

It's not the only reason, it's a big factor. What is also at play here, a weak economy, not just in the U.S., but in Europe and Japan. That is expected to keep worldwide demand for oil in check. Another factor playing in here today, a strengthening U.S. dollar.

Hey, there's some good news.

Simply put, a strong dollar buys more oil on the open market. And back on July 22nd when we saw that record high for oil, guess what? The dollar was weak. Since then, we have a stronger dollar. Oil prices, Don, as you know, have come way down -- Don.

LEMON: All right. Poppy Harlow in New York with our "Energy Fix."

Thank you, Poppy. Talk to you soon.

Well this time around the National Guard troops were in place and ready to help those in need when Gustav hit. What it's like to patrol the streets not long after the hurricane roared through here. I'll take you on a National Guard patrol for a first hand look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Just hours after Gustav came ashore, National Guard troops were out in force in greater New Orleans and I rode along with the guard unit in Jefferson Parish. Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Why did you guys stay?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just stayed, we always stay, you know? Ain't no reason to leave. Protect our stuff and stuff, you know? That's about it.

LEMON: We are going to walk over here, but we have to be really careful because of -- this is a problem that happened after a storm.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. It seems like most of these power lines are still alive. Yes -- the resident right here said they had electricity running and the street lights are still running.

LEMON: Look at that pole right there that's cracked.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's cracked at the very base. And again, if any of these lines pop, it's going to go right on top of the building.

It's good that the traffic lights are up, because whenever the traffic starts picking up like this moving truck, and that's -- the "Times-Picayune" truck -- we are going to start seeing more traffic coming back for residents in the local shelters. They're going to come check on their houses soon. It's important that all of this stuff is working.

LEMON: Yes, what is really interesting, though, it could fall right on their house and then what do they do?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Closest thing they could do -- they have tons of sheriff's office patrolling around, and us and the National Guard here. So they know all they have to do is give as wave and we'll stop and assist in any way we can.

LEMON: I'm really surprised, though, Lieutenant, that those people stayed behind. I don't think I would (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are right. Given all the warnings that were going out in the news and over the radio, I would have absolutely gotten out also. The base, it looked like it snapped in four different places. You can see all the joints right there. And then it cracked right down at the root, so it could have definitely done some more damage to the house.

LEMON: And that's the problem. This becomes shrapnel when you have high winds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir. Speaking of shrapnel, right here they have a downed tree which could have absolutely come from somewhere's else and just injured more people or anything -- anything to the house also.

LEMON: What do you think when you are out here patrolling?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every time I come out on patrol and we go to a house, I just hope that no one is injured. And if someone is, that we get them out as soon as possible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: We appreciate the work that all our armed services members and the police officers are doing here and all the volunteers, as well.

Meantime on this day after Gustav, the Republican National Convention gets back on track. We'll have more live coverage of the big event in St. Paul, Minnesota. That is straight ahead, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)