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American Morning
Preview of Day Three of the Republican Convention; Analyzing Day Two Speeches
Aired September 03, 2008 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LENNY MCALLISTER, "HIP HOP REPUBLICAN: And mavericks sometimes hit bumps in the road but those type of leaders are strong and they're able to get through it. It would have been an easier sell.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: So you think she was presented wrong initially?
MCALLISTER: I think that there was -- there could have been a different way of presenting her. I think it was a good presentation but with all these other things in the background, there was a different way to approach it in my opinion.
ROBERTS: Lenny McAllister, thanks for being with us this morning.
MCALLISTER: Thank you, John.
ROBERTS: Enjoy the rest of the convention.
MCALLISTER: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Kiran?
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: So the Republicans finally taking to the convention floor to rally behind John McCain and his vice presidential pick, Governor Sarah Palin. She takes center stage tonight and her speech is likely to be one of the most dramatic moments of this convention.
The fastest rising star in the Republican Party certainly has a job to do, that's define herself to the American public, as we've been talking about this morning, and also prove that she has the knowledge and judgment to sit down the hall from a 72-year-old president.
Last night it was about McCain, though. President Bush, Fred Thompson, independent Senator Joe Lieberman all selling the Republican nominee as a genuine political maverick while ripping into Barack Obama's record.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: John is an independent man who thinks for himself. He's not afraid to tell you when he disagrees. Believe me, I know.
FRED THOMPSON (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The Democrats present a history-making nominee for president. History making in that he's the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for president.
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (I), CONNECTICUT: Senator Barack Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who I think can do great things for our country in the years ahead. But, my friends, eloquence is no substitute for a record. Not in these tough times for America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Strong charges from the Republicans and Barack Obama's team was quick to respond. Obama spokeman Robert Gibbs, actually his adviser, Robert Gibbs, appearing on Larry King last night, accused Democrat turned independent Joe Lieberman of misleading the American public.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GIBBS, SENIOR ADVISER, OBAMA CAMPAIGN: I think I know why most people are cynical about politics is because they hear people, they come on their television, people like Joe Lieberman. And I hate to say this, it's a tough word, but they flat-out lie about Barack Obama.
The Joe Lieberman you heard tonight wasn't the same Joe Lieberman that called Barack Obama in 2006 and asked him desperately to come to Connecticut and campaign for him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Joining me now with more on all of this is CNN's Jessica Yellin. And it appears that there's been lots of red meat thrown around and that the partisan tone has returned here.
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At last. This is what they wanted to happen from the beginning. They are finally going after Barack Obama on this experience question which a lot of people thought would go away after Sarah Palin was added to the ticket. Absolutely not. And also on the question of has he worked across the aisle? Is he really a new nonpartisan kind of guy? They are trying to break down this image of Obama as a different kind of politics.
ROBERTS: So how do they make the case that the experience issue is still on the table? You know, I interviewed Senator Sam Brownback yesterday who said that he thought that the pick of Sarah Palin as the vice presidential running mate took that issue off the table.
YELLIN: They're saying that it's -- you have to look at the top of the ticket. It's John McCain versus Barack Obama not Sarah Palin versus Barack Obama. That's how they'll make the case.
And tonight, we're going to hear from Mike Huckabee, from Mitt Romney, and from Rudy Giuliani who are all going to reinforce this message, adding another element, which is that they'll argue Barack Obama and Joe Biden form the most liberal ticket we've seen in years.
ROBERTS: And, of course, a big night for her, too, because she gets her acceptance speech. Where has she been for the past couple of days? YELLIN: Right. Seems she's been in a bit of hiding. They wouldn't say that, but she is definitely been in prep. They have brought on a number of Bush administration experts on foreign policy and speech writing to brief her, to groom her, to get her ready. And she has met with Joe Lieberman to talk about what it's like to be a VP candidate. And she'll be working on her speech all day today. Another big debut tonight.
ROBERTS: Yes. A month from now she has to sit down across the table from Joe Biden for that vice presidential debate on October 3rd. So, going to be a crash course here, I would think.
YELLIN: She's got to get ready fast. Also, a tricky one for Joe Biden. So both sides will be prepping from here till then.
ROBERTS: But never underestimate your opponent. Remember what happened to Al Gore in that first debate against George Bush in 2000.
YELLIN: You're right.
ROBERTS: Oops.
YELLIN: We'll all be watching.
ROBERTS: Jessica, thanks -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Thanks guys.
Well, John McCain still has work to do this week. The latest poll of polls showing that Barack Obama has extended his lead over McCain to six points, 49 percent to 43 percent with eight percent remaining undecided. That's a CNN poll of polls.
And some tense moments last night outside of the Xcel Center as angry protesters clashed with police. It started as a largely peaceful march against poverty. It quickly spiraled out of control. As the crowd tried to rush through security fences, police in riot gear fought back with tear gas or some similar substance. Authorities say at least three people were arrested.
Meanwhile, inside the convention hall, Sarah Palin is about to deliver the speech of her life tonight as she accepts the Republican nomination for the vice president. And everyone it seems is talking about her teenage daughter's pregnancy. That news has drawn attention to Palin's position on abstinence and sex education. It's a position that she shares with John McCain.
CNN's Jason Carroll is looking at that and he joins us now. Hi, Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you.
Here's what it comes down to. It comes down to funding of sex education programs. Both Palin and McCain say if the government is paying for it, abstinence is the best and only policy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL (voice-over): Sarah Palin's announcement her teenage daughter is pregnant has thrust the 17-year-old into the national spotlight. It's also drawn attention to Palin's record on sex education.
LARRY SABATO, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: You can argue forever about whether the privacy rights of a young lady were -- were violated. But you can't really argue that the policy itself is not worth discussing.
CARROLL: Both Palin and Senator John McCain support the Bush administration's policy of promoting abstinence and not funding sex education that includes other methods of preventing teen pregnancies. In a 2006 gubernatorial questionnaire, Palin wrote, "Explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support." In 2005 and in 2006, McCain voted against funding sex education programs that promoted teaching alternatives to abstinence only.
CECILE RICHARDS, PLANNED PARENTHOOD: When you take a position as extreme as Governor Palin or Senator McCain are taking, it means you leave millions of kids whose parents do want them to have information completely out in the dark.
CARROLL: The head of Planned Parenthood points to recent statistics showing the United States leads all industrialized nations in teen pregnancies. Abstinence only, Cecile Richards claims, doesn't work.
RICHARDS: Honestly, they don't get it.
CARROLL: But Lisa Schiffren says McCain and Palin do get it.
LISA SCHIFFREN, NATIONAL REVIEW: I think the government should be in charge of a bunch of big things. And this is something that the government should not actually be trusted to do.
CARROLL: Schiffren authored a controversial speech regarding women's issues in 1992, for then Vice President Dan Quayle.
DAN QUAYLE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: "Murphy Brown," a character who supposedly epitomizes today's intelligent, highly paid professional woman mocking the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone.
CARROLL: The comments sparked a debate about single motherhood. Schiffren says McCain and Palin's position speaks to mothers like her.
SCHIFFREN: As a mother of daughters, I don't want public schools telling my children how to have sex.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: And another example of how committed Palin is to this. Alaska will submit its application for the federally funded state abstinence education grant program, which will promote abstinence to all at-risk teens until the end of 2013. That is commitment.
CHETRY: Jason Carroll, good to see you. Thanks. CARROLL: All right.
CHETRY: Well, ready or not, Sarah Palin goes prime time. We're in Anchorage to learn more about the Alaska governor and also what made her stand out to the McCain campaign.
ROBERTS: Rudy on running mates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have the ticket in the right order.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: The former mayor of eight million talks about the former mayor of a few thousand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We've got the most experienced candidate on the top. We've got the younger candidate on the bottom of the ticket.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Ten minutes after the hour. Just in to CNN. As questions about foreign policy experience swirl in this presidential campaign, a potentially troubling foreign policy issue has popped up on the global radar screen.
According to Japanese news agencies NHKEN's (ph) Kyodo News, North Korea has begun putting back together its nuclear facility at Yongbyon. You remember back in June, when Christiane Amanpour reported exclusively for us on this, they destroyed that water cooling tower. Not clear whether or not they're trying to put a new water cooling tower in place, or they are just halting dismantlement activities at the Yongbyon nuclear facility as part of an agreement reached with the United States, which would take North Korea off of the list of state sponsors of terror. They were supposed to decommission and disable, dismantle that nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.
According to two Japanese news agencies this morning, though, they have halted that dismantlement work and apparently are putting it back together again. The reason, according to these Japanese news agencies, North Korean officials unhappy with the pace at which the United States is moving to remove North Korea from the terror sponsor list.
We'll keep watching this. We'll check in with our correspondents around the world, Christiane Amanpour as well, and get you more on this just as soon as we can. Meantime, back to the business here at Saint Paul and the Republican National Convention. Sarah Palin's speech this evening should be one of the most dramatic moments of this convention.
Palin met privately yesterday with Cindy McCain and First Lady Laura Bush. There have been a lot of questions about her surprise selection, but Republicans are rallying behind her.
We sent CNN's Kyra Phillips to Anchorage, Alaska, to find out more about the state's governor.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Kiran, no matter what your politics are, Governor Sarah Palin is a fascinating person. Very dynamic, well rounded in ways that we haven't seen in the past. She's sort of this renaissance woman who operates in a man's world on so many levels.
But if something were to happen to the commander in chief, could she lead the free world? We've been digging into her background.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Governor Sarah Palin of the great state --
PHILLIPS (voice-over): She's been Alaska's governor for just 21 months, and she's hardly a household name. So who is Sarah Heath Palin and is she ready to lead?
FRED DYSON (R), ALASKA STATE SENATE: She's a very capable person and very bright and tough without being abrasive. And I don't know whether she can do it or not. Time will tell.
PHILLIPS: Most of her government experience is local. Two terms on the city council and two terms as mayor of Wasilla, a town near Anchorage, population 7,000. She earned a reputation as a tax-cutting conservative who limits spending, cleans up government, and challenges the establishment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She didn't settle for the status quo, and she took on the establishment whether it was in her own party or out of her party.
PHILLIPS: In her first state-wide position, as chairman of Alaska's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Palin even went after the head of her own state party in 2003 for alleged ethics violations. As governor, she signed an ethics bill and opened up the process for oil and gas bidding.
Her record as mayor of Wasilla gives ammunition to supporters and detractors alike. She did cut property taxes in Wasilla. And while it's not exactly the Pentagon budget, reduced spending on the town museum while opposing a bigger library. She was also mayor when the local sales tax was increased to build a popular sports complex.
And then there's the controversial bridge to nowhere. A favorite target of Senator John McCain because of the enormous cost of building a bridge to a remote Alaskan community.
MCCAIN: The next vice president --
PHILLIPS: When John McCain introduced Palin to America last week --
SARAH PALIN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I told Congress thanks, but no thanks on that bridge to nowhere.
PHILLIPS: While running for governor, Palin supported the bridge saying it was essential for local prosperity. But in office she spiked it citing rising costs and the needs of other projects. A long-time opponent of Palin accuses her of a flip-flop.
ANDREW HALCRO (R), FMR. GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: It was a bridge to somewhere. And then when she got elected and the political winds had changed, it became a bridge to nowhere.
PHILLIPS: Now the governor's biggest problem -- an investigation by the Alaska legislature into why she fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. Did she abuse her power because Monegan wouldn't terminate her former brother-in-law, a state trooper who was involved in a nasty divorce with her sister?
Monegan says the governor never raised the issue with him directly. Now investigators are expected to rule before election.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And tonight is Governor Palin's big night. She's giving her speech at the RNC. A lot of people here in Alaska will be tuning in, and we'll be with them giving you reaction right after it takes place -- John, Kiran.
CHETRY: Kyra, thanks.
And Governor Palin has been in the national spotlight for less than a week. But as we've just been talking about, the anticipation for her speech tonight has the makings for one huge night on television. What's really at stake? We're going to see what strategists from both sides say.
Also, split down family lines. A mother and daughter once both Hillary supporters are now backing different candidates. We'll ask them why.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRED THOMPSON (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now, our opponents tell us not to worry about their tax increases. They tell you they're not going to tax your family. No, they're just going to tax businesses.
So, unless you buy something from a business like groceries, clothes or gasoline, or unless you get a paycheck from a business, a big business or a small business, don't worry. It's not going to affect you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: That was Fred Thompson from last night, but you're looking at a live picture right now at the Xcel Center there in Saint Paul. And there's Sarah Palin, the presumptive vice presidential pick, doing a walk-through it appears, standing up there at the podium, probably getting some direction on exactly where she's going to be standing, where she's going to be looking, and maybe a practice or two of the speech.
Ed Rollins, you've been around for many of these. What is it she's doing there?
VOICE OF: ED ROLLINS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, you want to have the presence. I mean, that's Rick Davis, the campaign manager, who's showing her around.
You know, it's a big auditorium. She has never probably spoken in a big auditorium and you sort of show what the steps are, how it works, and you know, where the teleprompters are going to be. It's more just a walk-through. It's going to be an overwhelming thing for her to be walking into something like this.
CHETRY: And Lisa Caputo is here as well. You know, we were going to talk about some other things but let's talk about this since we see her out there. What does she need to say tonight, Lisa, you know, from the opposition?
VOICE OF: LISA CAPUTO, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, one of the things she needs to do is get trained on how to speak in an auditorium like that. It's like speaking into a wind tunnel. As Ed will tell you, you always want to train these people to project but not overdo it to the point that they're yelling.
You know, Ed and I were talking about this earlier. I think she has to come across as somebody who has experience even though we, Democrats, think she doesn't. Somebody who brings something to the ticket despite all of the controversy that she's had in the past couple of days over her daughter's pregnancy and all of the issues surrounding her, what I would call, flip-flopping on issues.
I would hope for the Republicans' sake they talk about the economy. There was not one word about the economy last night, which was amazing to me.
A wise man once said, "It's the economy, stupid." You know, foreclosures are up. Gas prices are up. The deficit is up. Unemployment is up. And to not hear a word from the Republican Party about the economy is crazy to me.
CHETRY: Well, Ed, we did when we first came into this segment, we heard a little bit from Fred Thompson. And he sort of had the line of the night in that, talking about tax, increases in taxes, and how it does trickle down and affect every aspect of your life when it relates to businesses. Is that enough of how powerful (INAUDIBLE). (CROSSTALK)
ROLLINS: First of all, it was a very powerful speech from Fred. It was a speech everybody was hoping he would give somewhere in the course of the campaign when he went from 30 percent to one percent. But at the end of the day, it was a good red meat speech. It certainly served well for the Republicans and the Republican audience there last night.
I think Romney's job tonight is to sort of lay out the economic agenda he and Huckabee and Giuliani are all on the program tonight. But I think Romney will have that mission.
CHETRY: It is very interesting because it's going to be that. We're going to hear from them and we're going to hear -- yet there's a lot of talk about this reigniting, if you will, of the culture wars because of the pick of Sarah Palin. Is that the road, is that a winning strategy for the Republicans?
ROLLINS: It's not a winning strategy in the last two campaigns, whether there's enough Republicans and enough conservatives out there and the ability to draw enough independents to do that against the new numbers of Democrats that had been mobilized in this campaign. It's something we'll have to see.
CHETRY: Just to put Democrats at a disadvantage once again talking about things like abortion rights and teaching evolution in public schools, rallying the GOP base, if you will.
CAPUTO: No, I don't. Because Barack Obama has run the most effective ground campaign we've seen in modern day political history. He has energized young people. He's energized women. He's energized, you know, the base of the Democratic Party. And he's bringing new voters in.
Don't forget, he is appealing to those swing voters and to the independents. And I just think, you know, he's got a message that's resonating. It's the message of change, and I think that clearly overwhelms a rallying of the conservatives.
CHETRY: All right. I want to talk once again about what we're seeing here, which is the VP pick for the GOP, Sarah Palin, going through a run-through, if you will, of figuring out.
It's very interesting because people who are going to be standing behind her on that stage presumably tonight, or at least with her, include, it's being reported, the father of her daughter's baby. This is Levi Johnson, the 18-year-old. What do you make of that? And is he going to be used as a stage prop essentially by the GOP?
ROLLINS: You know, I think to a certain extent it's an introduction to the family life they're going to have if they're successful, which is he's a hockey player so they're in a hockey arena so maybe he'll feel thrilled about that.
But you know, the bottom line is, is all of this is so overwhelming for a family that's never been in the game before. And I think she has to perform at a level that very few people have been challenged to do. Her story is compelling. We've had compelling stories for two weeks. Democrats obviously had them.
Last night was about the courageousness of John McCain. Tonight has to be about here's my story, here's how I got here, and here's what I've done. In addition to the background, here's what I've done as governor. Here's how I made my state a better state. And I think that's the speech she needs to give.
CHETRY: This is a make or break night for her?
CAPUTO: Oh, I think in a lot of ways it will set the tone for certainly the fall campaign. I mean, this is about her introduction to the nation despite what we've seen in the press since her announcement. This is her opportunity to go direct to voters. And I think it's absolutely pivotal for her as she enters into the general election run.
CHETRY: You know, the other thing that's interesting is there's been a lot of controversy around this selection. It's really been the talk. I mean, has it taken Democrats off of their game in terms of what they're talking about? And has it done the same for the GOP?
ROLLINS: I think she has been the issue since she was named on Saturday. We've not heard about Barack's speech. We've not heard about anything other than the polls. So, obviously, a lot of pressure has been put on her.
I think she's a very charming person and I think she's going to get to reintroduce herself, or introduce herself to the country, and it's in her own words. And I think people either walk away saying, gee, this is an extraordinary person. And if that happens, then obviously the ticket moves forward and the judgment as well. If for some reason she stumbles, which I don't anticipate her doing, then I think all the other stuff becomes --
CAPUTO: I will say it's certainly, you know, impressive that she's up at this hour of the morning in Minneapolis/Saint Paul, getting up and doing a walk-through. I can see that that is a testament to her clear diligence and her desire to get this speech right. But --
CHETRY: She has a 4-month-old. She's probably not sleeping anyway.
CAPUTO: Well, she's got a clean shot at, you know, the voters tonight with no filter of the media. And that's a huge opportunity for her and we'll see how she does.
CHETRY: Let's bring in our John Roberts. He's there, of course, in person and getting a chance to look at this walk-through that's going on right now with Sarah Palin as well.
Hey, John.
ROBERTS: Hey, Kiran. It's really a testament to her fortitude here because she's probably still to some degree on Alaska time, which means for her it's really more like 3:30 in the morning rather than 7:30. But she's just getting an idea of the blocking there on stage, the sidelines, where she needs to look in terms of who she wants to play to in the audience.
That panel that you see just obscuring that gentleman's head there, that's one of the teleprompter mirrors. There are two of them, one on either side of the podium. The teleprompters are buried in the stage. They shine the words of the speech up on to those two-way mirrors there.
She can look around the crowd. There are two there and then there's one directly in front of her on the other side of the arena. And that podium as well is on a lift and it can go up and down.
You know, you've seen people who come up to speak at a hotel or something and they grab the microphone and they pull the microphone down to the podium, stays at the same height. This is a podium that goes up and down, so they're just making sure that they get adjusted for the proper height there so that she's completely comfortable with it.
Remember the picture of the queen during one of her visits to the United States where the podium almost completely obscured her and all you saw was a hat, the very famous talking hat photo. Well, they don't want that to happen here at the Republican National Convention. So, making sure that they get all of this done so it has maximum visual impact.
And that beautiful graphic of the waving flag behind her as well, as we have seen over these hours here last night during the presentations. And it's really kind of up there all day. It's just a stunning backdrop for anyone who comes up to speak there.
But she does have a lot of work to do tonight. There are many questions swirling particularly around her experience, and how she came to be John McCain's running mate. So she will have to, according to a lot of Republicans who I've talked to and some independents like Joe Lieberman who I spoke with yesterday, have to do a very good job tonight of articulating who she is, what she wants to do, defining herself, and how she would help John McCain not only win the election, Kiran, but also help to define his presidency should he win the White House.
ROLLINS: The other thing, John, in which the flags and everything in the background are great visuals, but sometimes they're distracting to a speaker and I think to a certain extent that's part of what she's going through. They've got the flag running there. A combination of teleprompters, 20,000 people in an arena, standing up before a television audience of millions. It's a lot for a young woman on her first time on the big stage.
CHETRY: Yes. And, Lisa, weigh in on that, too. We're reading her body language. We're seeing her right now. She certainly looks composed. But as he said, that enormous audience and especially your first time really on that type of national stage. CAPUTO: Absolutely. And there's a lot going on in your mind when you're up there at that podium. And don't forget, you've got your speech operating on a teleprompter and God forbid, there's a malfunction with the teleprompter, I've been on those situations.
CHETRY: She's holding the hard copy, too.
CAPUTO: Yes. You know, you can have a malfunction there and anything can distract you in the slightest. And it's just important that you have that written text in front of you in case anything goes wrong. And, as I said earlier, it's very important to just sort of speak in a normal tone of voice and not try to overcompensate into that microphone because you're in such a large convention hall.
CHETRY: That night certainly can be a challenge. And, Ed, the other thing I wanted to ask you about is, you know, your job ultimately, if you're supporting her, is to help her stay comfortable. How -- I guess, how much are people around her in her ear tweaking at this time or how much are they sort of hands on?
ROLLINS: I'll never forget the first time I did an -- it was on the David Brinkley show. My leg was shaking. This was 30 years ago. And he grabbed and he said, "Don't worry about it. There's only eight million people out there." And I started shaking more and he said, "But you're smarter than all of them."
What you have to basically tell her is that you've done this before. It's a bigger audience. You know how to make a speech. You've done it over and over again.
She's an attractive woman. I think she'll have great appeal.
CAPUTO: Yes. I'm sure they'll tell her to have a conversation with the American public and with the people in the hall. And don't forget, you know, what she wears tonight will be important. They're going to want to pick, you know, the right color suit to project.
CHETRY: Is this what she's wearing?
CAPUTO: I don't think so. They'll, I'm sure, come in with a couple of different suits, different colors to see how it will lay up against that backdrop of the flag and that will be important because they're going to want to make sure that her complexion pops on television.
CHETRY: That's right. And it's a double -- I mean, you're doing two things. You're talking in the convention hall, which is a totally different animal than talking to the people that are watching it at home on the television.
CAPUTO: Exactly.
ROLLINS: The convention hall loves her. They love anything that's Republican and they'll love her. The outside audience is curious. They want to know who she is, and that's the audience (INAUDIBLE).
CHETRY: And we'll be watching it and we'll see you guys back here tomorrow.
Ed Rollins, Lisa Caputo, it's great to have you. Thanks.
CAPUTO: Nice to see you.
ROLLINS: Thank you.
CHETRY: John?
ROBERTS: And as Lisa will well remember when she was talking about the teleprompter and the importance of having your script in front of you. Bill Clinton, his first state of the union address, or second, I believe, they had the wrong script up in the teleprompter. And he looked at it and knew he was in trouble. But he had the script in front of him. He also had the script memorized and went on the first couple minutes just absolutely dead on until they finally got the teleprompter up and rolling.
But, interesting to see Governor Palin out there this morning with the RNC's program director David Nash, along the Nicolle Wallace and Rick Davis, the head of the McCain campaign, as she prepares to walk through. Which by any measure will be the speech of her life tonight.
It's just a little past 30 minutes after the hour. We're counting down this morning to Sarah Palin's speech. After becoming the first woman to be picked to run at vice president on the Republican ticket. And as questions about Palin continue, last night Republicans came to her defense while launching an assault against Barack Obama.
Here's CNN's Ed Henry with that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John, Kiran -- after holding back on political attacks for one day because of the hurricane, Republicans and one Independent Democrat, let loose on Barack Obama.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's not afraid to tell you when he disagree. Believe me, I know.
HENRY (voice-over): The Bushs' passed the GOP torch to the McCains on day two of the Republican National Convention. As the current president, speaking by video feed from the White House, gave his blessing to a one-time bitter rival by playing the familiar terror card.
BUSH: To protect America we must stay on the offense. Stop attacks before they happen. And not wait to be hit again. The man we need is John McCain.
HENRY: A rare occasion where the president and first lady are merely warmup acts to a former Hollywood actor who uses theatrical skills to speak movingly about McCain's time as a prisoner of war. Using it to take a swipe at Barack Obama.
FRED THOMPSON (R). FORMER U.S. SENATOR: John McCain's bones may have been broken. But his spirit never was. Wisdom, duty, honor. It's pretty clear they're two questions we'll never have to ask ourselves. Who is this man and can we trust this man with the presidency.
HENRY: Former Senator Fred Thompson touted McCain's early and unpopular support of the military surge in Iraq, as an example of character. And mocked the hype about Obama's candidacy.
THOMPSON: History-making in that he's the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for president.
HENRY: Then Independent Democrat Joe Lieberman made a little history of his own. Appearing at his first Republican convention and angering Democrats by ripping Obama.
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (I), CONNECTICUT: Eloquence is no substitute for a record. Not in these tough times for America.
HENRY: Lieberman charged, unlike McCain, Obama has not reached across the aisle to solve problems. And he urged Independent voters not to buy the claim that electing McCain would be a third Bush term.
LIEBERMAN: Trust me, God only made one John McCain and he is his own man.
HENRY (on camera): The Obama camp fired back that all of the speakers left out any substantive talk about fixing the economy. Nevertheless, the attacks on Obama will continue Wednesday, with Rudy Giuliani in prime time followed by VP nominee Sarah Palin, for her first big moment in the sun -- John, Kiran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Rudy on running mates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR: We have the ticket in the right order.
ROBERTS: The former mayor of 8 million talks about the former mayor of a few thousand.
GIULIANI: We've got the most experienced candidate on the top. We've got the younger candidate on the bottom of the ticket.
ROBERTS: You're watching the most news in the morning.
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ROBERTS: Pictures taken just a short time ago on the stage here at the Xcel center for the Republican National Convention. And there is the vice presidential running mate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, during a run-through. She'll give her acceptance speech later on tonight. Also tonight in a primetime speech, strong anti-abortion advocate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin gets a chance to introduce herself. Some Obama critics say she has more experience than the Democratic nominee.
Joining me now is one of those people. Former presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.
Good morning, it's good to see you.
RUDY GIULIANI, FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Good morning, John. How are you?
ROBERTS: Good. We had an interview back on July the 1st, in which you told me that you thought that you were the best candidate on national security credentials, John McCain was No. 2.
What do you think of her credentials?
GIULIANI: That's when I was running?
ROBERTS: Yes. What do you think of her national security credentials?
GIULIANI: I think -- I said in September of last year that if I wasn't running, I'd be supporting John McCain. And I that think, first of all, what I respect about her is her executive experience, having been a mayor, I think I understand how important it is to be in a situation where you have to make decisions.
ROBERTS: Now, when you talk about her executive experience, you're talking about as governor, as a mayor itself?
GIULIANI: Both.
ROBERTS: You were the mayor of a city of 8 million people.
GIULIANI: And she was governor of a very important state.
ROBERTS: But she was also the mayor of a city of slightly fewer than 8,000 people.
Is that the same experience?
GIULIANI: Of course not. It's not exactly the same experience. But it's a decision making experience. And of course, she's been governor, which I think the media wants to overlook. She's been governor of a state. And she's one of the most successful governors in the country.
She has a record of significant change already. She's lowered the budget, she's lowered taxes, she's taken on the oil companies, she's taken on corrupt Republicans, got them thrown out of office. How many Republican governors or Democratic governors get the people in their own party thrown out of office?
ROBERTS: But she also was a fan of earmarks during her time as the mayor of Wasilla. Some almost $27 million worth of Federal earmarks float her way.
GIULIANI: So was I. I mean, when I was mayor of New York, I tried to get everything I could for my city.
ROBERTS: Right. But, how do you go from being a proponent of earmarks to an opponent of earmarks?
GIULIANI: When you're seeing the national picture you can get a very different perspective of it. Look, when you're mayor of a town you're going to fight for everything you can get for the town. That's your job. That's what you're supposed to do. I would be surprised if she didn't fight for things for her town.
ROBERTS: Now, she has conservative social views. You're a moderate.
Are you comfortable with her pick on that front?
GIULIANI: Sure. Look, my part is a broad party. I understand that I'm part of a party that doesn't agree with me on everything. But, I agree on the main principles. I consider the main principles to be economic policy, national security, lowering taxes, trying to keep the economy progressive and a growth economy. I see vast differences between Obama and Biden on the one hand and McCain and Palin on the other, with regard to all of those.
ROBERTS: Right. And she recently gave a speech at the Assembly of God Church in Wasilla, in which she talked about Iraq. And she appeared to talk about the deployment of U.S. forces in terms of carrying out almost a message from God.
Let's take a listen to how she put it.
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GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure we're praying for. That there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan. So, bless them with your prayers.
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ROBERTS: Mr. Mayor, what do you think of that statement, that she seems to suggest the deployment of troops is somehow related to a task from God?
GIULIANI: No. I think what she's saying is, we have to hope that this is God's plan. And I think our whole life we have to hope is God's plan. And we try to make the right decisions about it. I think if you take what she's saying literally, it's pretty darn traditional Christian doctrine. I mean, --
ROBERTS: But, as we know, there are a lot of sensitivities particularly in the Middle East, to that sort of talk. Remember when President George Bush talked about a crusade and got us in trouble.
GIULIANI: Well, she didn't use that word. She said, we have to hope this is God's plan. We have to hope that we've made decisions that are in accord with what God wants. I mean, that's what prayer is all about. That's what you pray for. To ask for God's guidance and to make sure you're on the right track.
ROBERTS: Mr. Mayor, we look forward to your speech tonight.
GIULIANI: Thank you, John.
ROBERTS: Thanks for being with us this morning. And time is short this morning.
And we'll be right back after this.
ROBERTS: Lined up. Three storms headed our way. Why the hurricane season just got serious. The latest on Hanna, Ike, and Josephine. You're watching the most news in the morning.
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CHETRY: Both Barack Obama and John McCain have their sights set on swing voters. Particularly those who backed Hillary Clinton in the primaries and now are still deciding which way they're going to go.
I'm joined now by a mother and daughter in Ohio, both of them former Clinton supporters. Judith France now supporting John McCain. She joins us from her home in Thorneville. And her daughter, Holly France-Kremin, backing Barack Obama. She's in Columbus.
Thanks to both of you for being with us this morning.
Good morning.
I'm sure you guys have lively discussions around the family dinner table as you're trying to figure out who you're going to vote for this election. And you've decided, Judith, even though you're a registered Democrat and a swing voter, that you want to go for John McCain.
Tell us why you made that decision.
JUDITH FRANCE, REGISTERED DEMOCRAT: Yes. You want me to tell you my decision? Yes, I have definitely decided to go for John McCain. Actually, I made up my mind as soon as Hillary was not the Democratic candidate. That was -- you know, that was when I decided he was the best candidate for our country.
CHETRY: And, Holly, you also were a Clinton supporter earlier in the race and you voted for John McCain in 2000, which is even more interesting. Now you're deciding that you're backing Barack Obama.
FRANCE: No.
CHETRY: No, I'm talking to your daughter now. I'm asking Holly about it.
FRANCE: All right. Go for it. HOLLY FRANCE-KREMIN, REGISTERED DEMOCRAT: I -- yes, I did vote for John McCain in the Republican primary in 2000, because I felt that he was the better choice than President George Bush.
However, I was on the fence once Hillary was not the Democratic nominee and I was really waiting to see what John McCain's pick would be for VP. And once he picked Sarah Palin, I knew based on what my values are that I would then definitely support Barack Obama.
CHETRY: And that's the interesting thing I want to ask you about, Judith. I guess you were, you know, deciding between how strongly you felt about wanting Hillary Clinton to be president.
Is the fact that Sarah Palin's a woman, even though you may not exactly agree with her on some of the social issues. Is that enough that's bringing you over to the McCain side? Just explain that a little bit for us.
FRANCE: I like her. But no, that isn't why I'm on the McCain side.
As I said before, I was on the McCain side the moment Hillary was not the Democratic candidate. I've always liked McCain. However, in the 2000 race, I went Democrat. I strongly believed -- wanted a Democrat in the White House. I didn't get that.
Had we had Hillary for this race as the candidate, I would have voted for her. We don't. McCain could have picked anyone for his running mate and I would have still voted for him because I believe in the man.
CHETRY: I got you.
And Holly, I want to ask you, it sounds like your mom and there were some people who were very strong Hillary voters who felt as though Barack Obama's camp did not reach out to them.
Do you feel satisfied that with the big speaking roles as the convention for both Hillary and Bill, that he's done more to deal people like you who were supporting Hillary, into the fold?
FRANCE-KREMIN: The reason I chose to support Barack at this point is due to John McCain's pick. I still feel that the Democratic Party did exhibit sexism towards Hillary Clinton. I don't feel that Barack Obama has reached out enough still to former Hillary supporters. But based on John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin, who's anti-choice, who's pro-gun, I just cannot align with those values. So that's why I'm going with the Barack/Biden ticket.
CHETRY: All right. Well, I want to thank both of you for sharing your points of view. Very interesting to say the least. Judith France, as well as Holly France-Kremin, thanks. Mother and daughter voting different ways this election, thank you.
FRANCE-KREMIN: Thank you.
FRANCE: Thank you. CHETRY: Well, we have breaking news now from North Korea. The country reportedly putting a nuclear reactor back together again. This is after just two months ago, the big show of blowing up that cooling tower at their nuclear facility. So, why the reversal? We're bringing in our own Christiane Amanpour who was there to witness the blowing up of that tower. She's going to be joining us next on the most news in the morning.
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CHETRY: Some developing news this morning. There were reports that North Korea is putting a nuclear facility back together again. Now, you remember these pictures from back at the end of June, where the North blew up a cooling tower at Yongbyon facility, paving the way for the U.S. to lift sanctions.
CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour was there to witness it. And she joins us now for more on this new development. We are careful to say this is a report, but what do you make of what you're hearing?
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a report from a Japanese news agency. It has not been confirmed by the Japanese Foreign Ministry or by any other officials.
But, what seems to be clear is that the North Koreans, which, under agreement with the United States, were to have set a strict verification mechanism in place, apparently have been slow to do that. And in August, North Korea then said, you, the United States, have not removed us from the list of states that sponsor terrorism as you promised. And therefore, we may start reassembling the Yongbyon plant. We don't know whether they have. This is a Japanese news agency report.
CHETRY: So, this is a long process. Obviously it doesn't happen overnight, both on their side and the U.S. side. What does the U.S. do now if it indeed this is confirmed?
AMANPOUR: Well, just to get to this point in June, where there was a very interestingly choreographed series of actions, the U.S. took North Korea off of it -- said it would within 45 days, take North Korea off its list of state-sponsored terrorists, plus lift so-called trading with the enemy sanctions, a certain raft of sanctions, in return for which North Korea blew up the cooling tower as you saw there and we witnessed.
And that is going to make it very difficult, actually, to reactivate that plant. Whether they start to put a few bits and bobs back together again, it will make it extremely difficult to reactivate the plant now that that cooling tower has been exploded.
But, it takes very careful and patient diplomacy. Some believe that North Korea may be trying to wait out this administration. Although it seems strange that it would do that because it has gotten a good deal from the Bush administration.
CHETRY: So, where are we, just quickly, in that window of the 45 days? Has it expired?
AMANPOUR: Well, this was early -- sorry, late June. So, it's nearly expiring, exactly.
But obviously, Chris Hill, the U.S. ambassador on North Korea, is going to have to go back with his other partners, the group of six nations that are talking to North Korea, and try and keep this on track.
CHETRY: All right. Christiane Amanpour, following the latest developments for us, on this. thank you.
ROBERTS: Sex ed.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't want public schools telling my children how to have sex.
ROBERTS: Her teenage daughter pregnant. So where does Governor Palin stand on the issue of sex education? Jason Carroll is checking the facts. You're watching the most news in the morning.
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ROBERTS: 56 minutes after the hour. Welcome back to the most news in the morning. A picture of Sarah Palin there, doing a walk-through of the RNC stage a short time ago. Ahead of her big speech tonight.
But, it was her speech on Friday, that caught our eye. And John McCain's, too. Apparently even the most innocent of glances can get a politician accused of eying the opposite sex a little too much.
CNN's Jeanne Moos has a most unconventional moment for us.
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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Watch John McCain's eye, two times. No, three times. No, ten times in the first minute of introducing his running mate, his eyes wandered downward and that led to us. A YouTube hit that made it seem like Senator McCain was passing a backslide glance of his (INAUDIBLE) new running mate.
This reminds us of a time John McCain was accused of sleeping during the State of the Union. It turned out McCain and others were just reading a speech in their laps. John Kerry got similar treatment when he was snapped with down cast eyes. In McCain's case, we're convinced he was just copping look at whatever was on the podium.
The moral of the story, don't look down.
With an unconventional moment, I'm Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE) ROBERTS: Ladies night.
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LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm proud that America's first female vice president will be a Republican woman.
ROBERTS: Governor Sarah Palin addressing millions. And trying to keep her family life private.
PALIN: I was just your average hockey mom in Alaska.
ROBERTS: It's the most politics, live at the RNC.
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ROBERTS: Coming up now to the top of the hour and we are back, live this morning from the Xcel center in St. Paul, Minnesota, home of the Republican National Convention.
Coming up in just few minutes time, we're going to speak with Obama supporter and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.
And then later on this hour we are going to talk with former Tennessee Senator and former presidential candidate Fred Thompson. Thompson spoke about John McCain's character last night at the convention.
