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Arkansas Anchor Woman Dies After Attack in Home; Jennifer Hudson's Nephew Feared Dead; Meet Another CNN Hero Nominee; Presidential Candidates Deliver Powerhouse Speeches in Final Days Before Election

Aired October 27, 2008 - 14:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM (voice over): A grand old parting of the GOP ticket? Talk of a so-called Palin insurgency. And it's coming from inside the McCain camp. Is she already sprinting ahead to a 2012 run?

Democrats looking forward to a super Tuesday next week. We're looking back to see what happens when Dems dominate Capitol Hill.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are passing school. They are opening businesses. I see the success.

PHILLIPS: A Detroit native, turned village teacher, turned CNN hero. Meet Viola Vaughn.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Hi, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips live in the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

The end is in sight, but that just means the presidential campaign marathon is suddenly a sprint. With a week and a day to go, John McCain is sprinting through Ohio, a state no Republican president has ever lost. And later today he'll turn up in Pennsylvania.

Barack Obama also in Ohio. As you may have seen live here on CNN. The Democrat gave what aides billed as a closing argument. He, too, heads next to Pennsylvania.

And Ohio decided the race in 2004 and it may be a nail biter again. The latest CNN Poll of Polls shows Obama leading McCain by 4 percentage points among likely Ohio voters. Last week's Poll of Polls had Obama up by 5. CNN's Ed Henry is following the McCain campaign. Suzanne Malveaux is following Obama. That's where we start.

Suzanne, the Democrat candidate calls this a defining moment in history.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: They're also calling it the closing statement. Barack Obama really rallying the crowd here. Essentially what he's doing, he's going back to the vision and broad themes that he outlined before, that got so much attention 21 months ago when he first started. And that is, you know, when you heard that familiar, "Yes, we can. Yes, we can."

Well, he's being very specific now, saying in one week, you can --and then it's basically fill in the blank. Vote for policies that would pro mote the middle class, for tax cuts that would promote unity among different types of people. That type of thing. What he is doing is he is really looking at this campaign and he's making the argument that he did, almost two years ago, that it is not just a campaign, but a movement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: One week.

(APPLAUSE)

One week after decades of broken politics in Washington, eight years of failed policy from George Bush, and 21 months of a campaign that has taken us from the rocky coast of Maine to the sunshine of California, and everywhere in between, we are one week away from changing America.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And, Kyra, he's also highlighting that John McCain, he is arguing once again, is the same as George Bush. It has been an argument that seems to be working. A formula that seems to be working among a lot of voters who actually believe they are one in the same when it comes to many of their policies and approaches.

He went on to say that people who are involved in this campaign, who go out and vote for him, would be really looking for a common purpose, even a higher purpose. You can hear the kind of language and really that kind of action that you heard two years ago, essentially. That really motivated and inspired a lot of people. That's what they're hoping to bring into the poll, those new voters. It's all about voter turnout right now. Inspiring those crowds and obviously that is the message that resonated with a lot of voters early on -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Suzanne, thanks so much.

Now let's go to Ed Henry and some last-minute attacks on John McCain's running mate from some pretty unlikely sources.

What's up with this infighting, Ed?

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra as you know over the last couple days it's been leaking out essentially that some McCain advisers feel that Sarah Palin has been sort of going off script, going off message. They've been calling her a diva, privately. Saying that she's sort of not listening to her advice. Whereas Palin advisers are shooting back that they feel that McCain advisers have not sort of helped her through the roll out. That they botched her introduction to the American people.

So, you're seeing this sniping back and forth. Obviously, you can hear Senator McCain behind me. This is the last thing in the world he wants to be talking about, or he wants us to be talking about. He's talking about the economy right now. He's in Ohio because as you've noted, no Republican has ever won the White House without carrying Ohio.

He's behind right now by about 4 points in the latest CNN Poll of Polls. So, he's trying to claw his way back by doing what he's doing right now, behind me now, which is hitting Barack Obama on taxes. Saying if he gets control of the White House, and Democrats increase their seats in the House and Senate, that Democrats will raise taxes, according to John McCain and will make the economy worse. That message seems to be resonating, at least a little bit. Because he's been inching up a little bit in the polls, closing the gap ever so slightly in places like Ohio, other battlegrounds as well.

But then this story pops up. And I think the bottom line for the McCain folks is this is the last thing in the world they want right now, is sniping between the Palin and McCain camps. They need to be focused on Barack Obama , not focused on hitting each other, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Ed, let's go straight behind you then and take a listen to what the senator is saying right now.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... More interested in controlling wealth than creating it; in redistributing money instead of spreading opportunity. I'm going to create wealth for all Americans by creating opportunity for all Americans.

(APPLAUSE)

We'll create opportunity for all Americans.

(APPLAUSE, CHEERING)

I say to you, again, we will create opportunity for all Americans. We've all heard his campaign trail promise. He says he only wants to tax the rich. But these unscripted moments in his record tell a different story. He supported the Democratic budget plan passed just this last year that called for raising taxes on people making just $42,000 a year. And Senator Obama has voted 94 times for tax increases or against tax cuts.

My friends, he may say he's trying to soak the rich, but it's the middle class who are going to get put through the ringer. Even the tax increase he admits to misses the target. To pay for a nearly trillion dollars of new government spending, his tax increase would impact 50 percent of small business income in this country and the jobs of 16 million middle class Americans who work for those small businesses.

Whether it's Joe the Plumber here in Ohio, or the working men and women across this country, we shouldn't be taxing our small businesses more as Senator Obama wants us to do.

(APPLAUSE)

We need to be, we need to be helping them expand their businesses and create jobs. Americans didn't become the greatest nation on earth by giving our money to the government to redistribute. In this country we believe in spreading opportunity for those who need jobs and those who create them.

(APPLAUSE)

And that's exactly what I intend to do as president of the United States. My opponent's massive new tax increase is exactly the wrong approach in an economic slowdown. The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes, but that's exactly what's going to happen when the Democrats have total control in Washington. Can you imagine an Obama /Pelosi/Reid combination?

We can't let that happen. We need pro-growth and pro-jobs economic policies. Not pro-government spending programs paid for with higher taxes. This is the fundamental difference between Senator Obama and me. We both disagree. We both disagree with President Bush on economic policy. The difference is he thinks taxes have been too low. And I think that spending has been too high.

(APPLAUSE)

Senator Obama's priority is not to get spending under control, it is to spend more and if he has to tax you to do it, he's shown in the past that he doesn't have a problem with that. We cannot spend the next four years, as we have spent much of the last eight, spending ourselves into a ditch and hoping that the consequences don't come. We need to get our government under control. And with we need of the get our economy moving again. We have to act. We need a new direction. And we have to fight for it.

(APPLAUSE)

I've been fighting for this country since I was 17 years old, and I have the scars to prove it, my friend. If I'm elected president I'll fight to shake up Washington and take America in a new direction, from my first day in office until my last. I'm not afraid of the fight. I'm ready for it, and so are you.

PHILLIPS: John McCain rallying there in Dayton, Ohio. We also heard from Barack Obama . He's also working the same state. We're going to follow, of course, all the rallies as we get closer to November 4th.

CNN has all the bases covered for election night, eight days from now, November 4, from the first vote to the last, from Capitol Hill to the White House. The best political team on television brings you all the results.

A gruesome discovery in Chicago. Police find the vehicle they were looking for in the Hudson family murder case, inside the body of a young boy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: So, we can't talk politics without talking issue #1, the economy. It's time to start spreading the bailout money. The first $125 billion of the $700-billion package goes out this week to nine big banks. The government will buy bank stocks to get credit flowing again. And new home sales were up slightly in September, but they're still down more than 33 percent from a year ago. And the median price for a new home hit its lowest level in four years, plus there has been a sell-a-thon in the global markets.

Stock markets from Hong Kong, to London to Frankfurt, all taking a beating today. Let's go to Stephanie Elam at the New York Stock Exchange for a look at how U.S. investors are reacting.

What's it look like, Steph?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, are you selling cars? Sell-a-thon. OK, I just want to make sure that is what you said.

PHILLIPS: You know what, I wouldn't be doing it now, because they're having a hard time making money.

ELAM: This would not be the time to sell a car, no.

But unbelievably the markets are up today, Kyra. The markets are doing much better than we expected after what happened over in Asia. We expected some of that weakness to come over here. Did not, though.

The three major indices, however, are still down. 22 to 25 percent each. So far this month the Dow closed at its lowest level in five and a half years on Friday. Let's go ahead and see where the numbers stand now.

The Dow is on the upside by 103 points, so it is at 8482, up a 1.25 percent. It was as high as more than 220 points and as low as 174 points off. So, the volatility still being there. Nasdaq on the upside by half a percent. Similar story for the S&P 500.

Now, the markets are being helped out by that surprise jump in new home sales for September. A lot of that had to do with the fact that prices are lower. But many analysts say we should not expect that to be the same picture - as rosy, it will not be for the rest of the year.

Also, bank stocks, they are doing well today. They are helped out by the news that the government is starting to dole out funds from the bailout bill. So that is helping those stocks. We'll have to see, you know, if we can hold on. Even though we are in triple digit gains right now, Kyra, it may not stay that way.

PHILLIPS: All right, we'll keep checking in with you. Thanks, Steph.

ELAM: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Well the ACORN investigation is growing. One state official now convinced the group broke the law in its drive to register voters. Our Drew Griffin joins us with more on his investigation.

And the liberal landslide: What happens if the Democrats sweep the White House and sweep to overwhelming majorities in Congress? We'll look to the past for some clues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We're going to be talking now about the activist group ACORN breaking in it's zeal to register voters. Did that indeed happen? Well, at least one state official now is convinced that they did and wants to take things to the next level. Drew Griffin from CNN Special Investigations Unit, has been all over the story.

You broke it from the very beginning. And I guess we knew we were going to keep seeing this. It's like a domino effect?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in Indiana, Lake County, Indiana - which is Gary, Indiana, for anybody who doesn't know the area - there was a massive drive by ACORN to register votes. As we pointed out in a report there was large amounts of what appeared to be very fraudulent voter registration cards submitted.

Well, the Indiana secretary of state has not only found now that ACORN submitted hundreds, and hundreds, of fraudulent registration forms, but is now asking for investigations by the U.S. attorney and the local prosecutor for possible felony violations by this group.

As we reported three weeks ago now, the ACORN voter registration drive in northwest Indiana was fraught with problems. You remember, Kyra, more than 2,000 voter registration forms turned in by ACORN, no good. Many handed in with the same handwriting for multiple applications, a few dead people registering. And that famous Jimmy John's sandwich shop, also registering to vote. Well, that was causing incredible amounts of extra work for election officials. And potentially, they said, potentially for possible voter fraud if they didn't catch them all.

Well, now the Indiana secretary of state says his review of the ACORN submissions leads him to the opinion ACORN did indeed break the law.

In a letter, to the U.S. attorney, the FBI and the local Lake County prosecutor, Indiana's Republican Secretary of State Todd Rokita says, "Our preliminary examination of these 1,438 voter registration applications reveals significant credible evidence the organization" ACORN, "its officers, agents and employees, through direction action, conspiracy or inducement violated four Indiana state election laws. Violated Indiana's racketeer and corrupt organizations law, and violated one federal election law."

Now, this is the opinion of the secretary of state. ACORN has defended itself in the past saying it was required by law to turn in all registration forms, fraudulent or not. The secretary of the state in the letter says if ACORN knew they were fraudulent it should have turned them into prosecutors along with evidence as to who committed the fraud. And says, "Simply put, complying with the law to submit legitimate applications does not allow ACORN officials to evade the law against knowingly submitting fraudulent applications."

We have forwarded the secretary of state's letter to ACORN asking for a response. They just called me and said we were working on a response to this, Kyra. We hope to have that for you sometime as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the U.S. attorney in northern Indiana will not make any comments on this. We have yet to hear back from the local prosecutor in Lake County to see if there's going to be any criminal investigation.

PHILLIPS: So, ACORN admits to turning in fraudulent applications?

GRIFFIN: Admit is a strong word for them. What they're saying is they were required by law to turn in the fraudulent registration forms. There is a law that says every registration form has to be turned back in.

PHILLIPS: They didn't make a note saying this one is fraudulent. This one is fraudulent. They didn't --

GRIFFIN: They claim they did. Election officials say we got it for some of that for some of them, some from another. What the Indiana secretary of state says is, look it, they should have flagged it to the prosecutor. Somebody out there is committing fraud on our behalf and we want that person prosecuted.

PHILLIPS: OK, so bottom line, could this impact the outcome of the election?

GRIFFIN: Again, voter registration fraud is a far stretch from voter fraud.

PHILLIPS: OK.

GRIFFIN: OK, it is a big stretch. What we're dealing with from the secretary of state here, is voter registration fraud, which is just gumming up the election system. And he has in the letter, it is reducing the credibility of the election process.

PHILLIPS: Got it. We'll continue to follow it. Thanks, Drew.

We want to hear from you. If you run into any problems at the polls. Call the CNN Voter Hotline. Help us track the problems and we'll report the trouble in real time. Call 1-877-462-6608. We're keeping them honest all the way through the election and beyond.

Counting down to the presidential election; 10 issues in 10 days. We're breaking down the candidates positions on some of today's biggest challenges. That's straight ahead. We're talking energy.

And imitation, is the best form of ratings for "Saturday Nigh Live". What will they do when they don't have these tickets to kick around anymore?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: It's been a while since Democrats held the White House and controlled both houses of Congress, but it's certainly not unheard of. CNN's Frank Sesno looks back, and ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK SESNO, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Liberal landslides have happened before. In 1932 in the shadow of the Depression when FDR and New Deal Democrats swept to power and created government programs like Social Security, unemployment insurance, the FDIC, Fannie Mae. It happened again after Lyndon Johnson and congressional liberals won in '64. The Great Society poured federal dollars into new programs: Medicare, urban renewal, welfare, education. But experience suggests a liberal landslide is about more than numbers. Just ask Jimmy Carter.

STEPHEN HESS, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: In 1977 Democratic president comes in with overwhelming Democratic majority in both houses; 61 Democratic senators. 292 Democratic House members, and within one month, they were shouting at each other.

SESNO: What about 2008?

Certainly Democrats would return to legislation they've pushed and Republicans have stopped. Health care, more coverage for kids, leading to universal coverage. Taxes, increase them for the wealthy and big corporations. They could also face more regulations, especially oil and pharmaceuticals. Unions, the Employee-Free Choice Act is a liberal favorite. It would end secret ballots to unionize, business warns of strong arm tactics that would all but impose unions. Embryonic stem cell research, more federal funding for that. The list goes on. But in a lot of districts, where Republicans could lose, the impact of the newcomers isn't clear.

HESS: Those new Democrats are not going to be bug-eyed Democrats, wild-eyed leftists. They're going to be Democrats who will have to run again for a seat that, let's say, has been electing historically a Republican, so that is a moderating force.

SESNO: Shifting tectonic plates?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The motion is adopted.

SESNO: Maybe.

(on camera): If the Democrats sweep they will aggressively pursue their agenda. It's clear. But the financial crisis, recession, towering deficits will reduce everyone's running room. And experience suggests the perils if Democrats don't play it right. Bill Clinton and his party swept into Washington on inauguration day 1993. Republicans took back Congress in 1994.

Frank Sesno, CNN, Washington. (END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, she's a champion for children. Helping thousands of girls in West Africa. Find out who this CNN Hero looks up to.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: It's 2:29 Eastern time. Here's some of the stories we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM.

So far and up and down day on Wall Street after a sharp fall on Asian markets. Right now Dow industrial is up 33 points.

Big change in the corruption trial of Alaska Republican Senator Ted Stevens. A new juror has replaced the one who left town because of the death of her father. Now the jury must start its deliberations over. A court source says that jurors have passed a note to the judge asking for a, quote, "substantial question." No details.

Makeshift memorials outside the home of a Little Rock, Arkansas, TV anchor woman. Anne Pressley was found beaten in her home on Monday. She died of those injuries on Saturday. Her station, KATV, has set up a reward fund for information leading to an arrest.

In a presidential race getting out the vote means everything, but it all comes to nothing if the voters aren't allowed to cast ballots. States have to keep their voter registration lists up to date. But several states are believed to be purging eligible voters by the thousand.

CNN's Dan Simon is following the controversy in Colorado.

SIMON (voice-over): Colorado election workers are busy processing a record amount of mail-in ballots. But, there's concern thousands of state voters won't get the chance to cast their vote in the election.

JENNIFER FLANAGAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COLORADO COMMON CAUSE: We have heard voters think they're registered and find that they're not on the list.

SIMON: Jenny Flanagan is the executive director of Colorado Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog group. A plaintiff in a lawsuit alleging as many as 30,000 Colorado voters have been illegally purged from registration rules.

FLANAGAN: When in doubt, when we're this close to an election, we've got to err on the side of inclusiveness and give the voter an opportunity to participate.

SIMON: The suit targets Colorado's Republican's Secretary of State, Mike Coffman. It says, he eliminated voters for several reasons not allowed under federal law. Among them, they had undeliverable mail within 20 days of registering.

Coffman is also a candidate for Congress. And those who brought the suit say that's a problem.

PENDA HAIR, ADVANCEMENT PROJECT: Having a partisan person both run the election. It's like being the umpire and playing the game at the same time. It should not happen.

SIMON: Coffman's office denies any wrongdoing. And says he believes Colorado has fully complied with all applicable voter registration laws and voter cancellation procedures.

He has also said recently the number of voters removed is 14,000, less than half of what is alleged. He says the majority had either moved out of the county or state, or were listed as duplicates.

The stakes, of course, are high. Colorado's battleground status has brought added scrutiny to its election procedures.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIMON: So clearly a major difference of opinion here. A judge could look at this case as early as today. Obviously not a lot of time left to go back in there and fix the voter registration rules if in fact there are some mistakes. Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right. Dan Simon, thanks so much.

CNN has all the bases covered for your election night. Just eight days away, November 4th. From the first vote to the last. From Capitol Hill, to the White House. The best political team on television is bringing you all the results.

Well, a terrible twist in the search for the nephew of actress Jennifer Hudson. A body found today is believed to be that of 7-year- old Julian King, who went missing from the home where Hudson's mom and brother were found murdered.

Our Susan Rosegen is live from Chicago with the latest -- Susan.

SUSAN ROSEGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the body of an African- American boy, a child, was taken to the Cook County medical examiner's office just about an hour or so ago. And we do believe that that is very probably Julian King, the 7-year-old nephew of Jennifer Hudson.

And I'm assuming, Kyra, too, that Jennifer Hudson and her sister, Julia, the boy's mother, are probably at the medical examiner's office as well, right now as well making an identification.

We believe that it is the boy because his body was found in the white SUV that was in the amber alert, the stolen SUV. And we also believe this to be true because the FBI has said that they believe the body was that of the 7-year-old -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So, Susan, what do we know about who's responsible for these murders? And how are police going forward investigating all the details behind what has gotten us to this point right now?

ROSEGEN: Well, you know, Kyra, the police are going to have a news conference here in the next few hours here at Chicago police headquarters behind me. We may get some more information then. They've been pretty tight-lipped about this.

We do know that they did not, or have not recovered the weapon, a gun. We do know that they've held one person in custody now, first as a person of interest and now on a parole violation. And that's William Balfour, Julia Hudson's estranged husband and the stepfather of the boy. And yet, he's only a person of interest. He's not a suspect. Which means they don't have the goods to charge him with this crime.

Now, the police have also said, Kyra, that they believe this was somehow domestic related. Which if you think, OK, the man that they're talking to is related to the family, it sort of makes sense. And yet, I think a lot of people are beginning to wonder really whether this was domestic related or not. Perhaps it was something entirely different.

If this person that they've been talking to has not led them to evidence that would lead them to actually charge him, maybe they're barking up the wrong tree. We just don't know yet -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll wait for that news conference. Appreciate the latest details. Susan Roesgen live from Chicago, there.

Well, a college community still on edge after gunfire on campus last night. Two students at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, were killed and another person wounded. A campus police officer actually heard the shots and rushed to the scene. All dorms going on lockdown. Two people questioned overnight. And police have identified two other persons of interest. They're apparently not students. Classes today are canceled but administrators want to get back on track ASAP.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM COURTWAY, INTERIM PRES., UNIV. OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS: In the days and weeks ahead, we're going to review all our procedures and policies related to campus safety. We're going to make sure that our students, faculty and staff have a completely safe environment to learn and work. That's our number one job. And finally, we're going to class tomorrow. We canceled it today because we think it's the right thing to do. But we intend to have class tomorrow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, police haven't talked about a possible motive for the shooting.

Straight ahead, a U.S. Military strike into Syria, the intended target and Syria's response. We've got the latest.

And desperation in Congo. Civilians fleeing the latest fighting, vent their fear and their anger at the U.N. We'll have details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Thanksgiving Day you will have picked our CNN Hero of the Year. But before we get to that big night, we want to introduce you to each of the finalists one more time. And today's hero, a champion for children. Viola Vaughan is helping thousands of girls in Senegal do something they never thought possible; succeed in school and in business.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOICE OF JAMES EARL JONES: This is CNN Heroes.

VIOLA VAUGHAN, CNN HERO NOMINEE: When a girl reaches the age when she can help in the house, the mother starts keeping this girl at home. That girl begins missing school, missing homework, and she starts to fail. It's a downward cycle.

My name is Viola Vaughn. I came to Senegal from Detroit, Michigan. I started a girl's education and self-sufficiency program. We take girls who have already failed in school. They learn how to perfect a skill, to produce products for export. In the sewing workshop they make sheets, they make dolls, they make any kind of household linens.

Half the funds goes back to them. The other remainder goes into the education program.

Come on. Give me a hug. We do this all the time.

They are passing school. They're opening businesses. I see the success. Right now we already have seven girls in university. It's their program. And they run everything. I'm there just to make sure all the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed. Here I am retired and this is the best job I have ever had in my life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, Viola Vaughn now joins me on the phone from Senegal.

Viola, can you hear me OK?

VAUGHAN: Yes, I can hear you.

PHILLIPS: Well, I got to tell you, reading about your story and getting to know all the details of what led to your program, I know out of tragedy comes triumph. And the loss of your daughter Anhel (ph), actually gave you the gift of inheriting five grandchildren. But it definitely changed your life.

Tell us how it happened and how you had to adjust how you were moving forward with your life.

VAUGHAN: Well, it wasn't -- when I inherited the grandchildren. It was a change for my husband and myself. We had to change how we parent, we had to change our approach, we had to change our whole lifestyle. It's something we accepted to do and we decided to do it.

Now, we took them to Senegal, because we knew that at the time we could not afford to give them the international education that we thought would be necessary for them in Michigan. And we knew we could do this in Senegal. And this is why we moved to Kaolack. Because it was a little bit slower, a little bit more moral, not trying to be judgmental. But a little bit freer for the children. And that they can be in a place where they learn multiculturals and multilanguages.

PHILLIPS: Wow. Well, it's so obvious that your daughter's spirit is just moving through you as you carry out your program, Viola. It's amazing.

So now, tell me about the young gal Momgeta (ph). She was a friend of your granddaughter and actually inspired this program, right?

VAUGHAN: That's right. Momgeta used to see my granddaughter working on he her homework. And she used to come and play with her on off times. They were 9 years-old at the time. No, my granddaughter is a year older than she.

And when Momgeta failed in her school report, she came to me and asked me to really to help her to get through the remainder of the school year. And also because if she didn't, she said that she would be eliminated from the school system because she had failed previously.

PHILLIPS: Wow.

And you have an 82 percent pass rate. What is it that you're doing differently with these girls and within these schools?

VAUGHAN: It's very simple. First of all, we let them know that once you reach puberty, I believe that you can't teach a child. The child has to learn. You can teach little kids. But, once they get to adolescence, they have to make it a conscious decision for them to learn.

And so if you get them the tools that is necessary for them to learn and the inspiration I think they will do it. Because what we do is make sure that our girls have all these school supplies and school books necessary for the school year.

We make sure that they have a place to study every single day and the time to study because we found that the biggest deterrence with passing their school exam and passing their subject is the fact they had no time to do the homework and no time to do their lessons. Because they are girls and they are useful in the household, that the parents used them to take care of the children, wash clothes, clean, cook dinner and do all the things and did not give them the time necessary for them to study.

PHILLIPS: Now if every hero has a hero. And I know each one of these girls is a hero to you on so many levels. But, I was reading that Maya Angelou is your hero. Tell me why.

VAUGHAN: Because Maya Angelou said something real, real simple. She said that when you know better, you do better. It's very simple.

So, I do believe that if you know better -- anything, you do better. So you can't be one that's criticize different people because they do not have certain expertise. But with these girls, what I've learned is they know how to do better. And if the parents know how to do better with the children, they do better.

PHILLIPS: Well, Viola, I have a surprise for you. Maya Angelou joins us on the phone now.

Maya, can you hear me?

VAUGHAN: Oh, my goodness.

VOICE OF DR. MAYA ANGELOU, POET: Hello, Ms. Viola Vaughan.

VAUGHAN: How are you!

ANGELOU: Hello, my dear.

VAUGHAN: Oh my goodness!

ANGELOU: Hello, dear.

VAUGHAN: Oh my goodness --

ANGELOU: What a blessing you are.

VAUGHAN: You know, when I first read, "I Know Why a Caged Bird Sings," and I was in Arkansas, because I was born in Arkansas. I thought it was so wonderful and I read it every time I get a bit little non-inspired. I read what you wrote when I was a little girl. And it carries me through still today.

ANGELOU: I am so grateful for that. I'm going to take you (INAUDIBLE) and send you all sorts of books --

VAUGHAN: Oh, thank you! Thank you!

ANGELOU: -- And great to do that.

VAUGHAN: I tell the girls that they have to read your stories. And I've read everything about your life and everything how you do it, how you persevere, how you kept going and you keep trying to know better. So, I tell the girls, you have to be like Maya. I tell them all the time.

PHILLIPS: Maya, tell Viola how her work is so important. And you write about the phenomenal woman. That's one of your -- one of my most favorite pieces.

Why is Viola so phenomenal and why is it important that she continue to live her life this way, doing what she's doing?

ANGELOU: Well, you know, my grandmother who raised me used to say, when you learn, teach and when you get, give. And the truth is that each -- we all live in direct relation to the heroes and sheroes we have. Always and in all ways. And because you have used me, I am increased.

VAUGHAN: Oh, my goodness.

ANGELOU: You have used me and the girls are increased.

VAUGHAN: Oh, my goodness.

ANGELOU: You have used me and you are increased. Each one of us. Just touch one. Each teach. And each one of us touch one.

And when you in Senegal, and my dear, you and your husband -- you are so bright to take the girls there. Take your grands there. And then so thoroughly giving generous, really generous. That you are able to enlarge your reach. You open wider your arm. And so the arm which of the mean-spirited person, or the cowardly person, only opens just to two or three inches.

Your arms are about what? 48 feet wide.

(LAUGHTER)

You've taken -- this is true of all of us enough to have enough to dare, who have enough to care about people who may not look like us. We're able to look through complexion and see community.

VAUGHAN: Uh-huh.

ANGELOU: This is courage. This is generosity. And this really may be love. It's not much, not sentimentality. That that condition in the human spirit's so profound that it encourages us to step out and get up. Get knocked down, get up. Continue to get up. Shame the devil. Get up.

PHILLIPS: I love it. Dr. Maya Angelou and Viola Vaughan.

That is our gift to you, Viola.

VAUGHAN: Thank you so much. I am so honored and so inspired.

ANGELOU: I'm going to try to be at that ceremony in November.

VAUGHAN: And I will keep you and your grandmother in my prayers.

ANGELOU: And thank you, my dear. I appreciate it. And you and your efforts and your family -- direct and indirect family. I put you on my prayer wheel.

VAUGHAN: Thank you so much.

ANGELOU: Thank you. God bless you. PHILLIPS: Thank you, Viola

VAUGHAN: And God bless you, too.

God has blessed me already today just for having you talking to me. And I will use this. And I will use your words with the girls again and again.

ANGELOU: Thank you so much. God bless you.

PHILLIPS: Thank you, Maya and thank you, Viola.

VAUGHAN: OK.

PHILLIPS: Well, you can vote for Viola, or any of your favorite CNN Heroes. You just go to CNN.com/heroes and Anderson Cooper will announce the winner at an all-star tribute right here on CNN, Thanksgiving night.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, countdown to the election. Ten issues, 10 days. We've already looked at the economy and where the presidential candidates stand on your taxes. Today, we turn the page to energy. Let's take a look at Barack Obama and John McCain's energy plans, and at some of their top sticking points.

Obama supports a windfall profits tax on oil companies, McCain opposes it. But both want to close loopholes that allow oil companies to save billions of dollars in taxes. Now, Obama says that he's willing to consider allowing limited expansion of offshore oil drilling. McCain wants to lift the ban on offshore drilling all together.

Obama would demand the U.S. cut its carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. McCain says by mid-century he would cut carbon emissions more than 60 percent.

Ten issues in 10 days. We'll keep breaking it down for you as we countdown to Election Day. Tomorrow we're talking about health care.

And hear what the presidential candidates have to say and what they'll do to make the health care system work better for you. The problems and the plans -- 10 issues in 10 days, only on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, "Saturday Night Live" has reached into its alumni directory to fill a void. They now have an imitation Michelle to complete their fake Barack. And together, well they are the pseduobamas. Here is Alina Cho.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kiran. You know by now "SNL" has parodied everyone from Barack Obama to John McCain to Joe Biden, everyone except for Michelle Obama. Well, that all changed on Saturday night. A familiar face was back to play the wife of the Democratic candidate.

(voice-over): Former "SNL" cast member, Maya Rudolph, is back.

MAYA RUDOLPH, ACTRESS, PLAYING MICHELLE OBAMA, "SATURDAY NIGHT LOVE": Shake things up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With the Barack Obama variety half hour. It's time to have some fun.

CHO: The fake Obamas, and the real ones, are leading in the polls.

RUDOLPH (singing): Now it's solid, solid as Barack. That's what this lead is --

CHO: The whole Democratic gang is here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our house is a very, very, very fine house.

CHO: Obama's shadow, Bill Clinton.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Don't you forget about me. Don't, don't, don't, don't --

CHO: Let's not forget Joe Biden.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Remember this -- if Barack Obama is elected we will have a crisis.

Live from New York, it's Saturday night!

CHO: "SNL"'s ratings are through the roof.

AMY POEHLER, ACTRESS, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": All the rappers in the house, put your hands up --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She dressed up like Tina for Halloween, I heard. Which I think she's still doing.

CHO: Will Ferrell reprieved his role as George W. Bush.

WILL FERRELL, ACTOR, PLAYING GEORGE W. BUSH, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": When you're in the voting booth, before you vote --

CHO: "SNL" once again spoofed CNN.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's get to the mega map.

CHO: This time, John King's magic wall.

FRED ARMISEN, ACTOR, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": Check out Michigan. I can make it bounce. JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I can make Michigan bounce, too. We all know that if necessary.

CHO: Everyone is watching. The stakes in this election, and at "SNL" couldn't be higher.

DARRELL HAMMOND, SNL CAST MEMBER: I'm not choking tonight. I'm not going to choke.

ARMISEN: I am not going to trip on that word.

HAMMOND: I am not going to trip on that word the cost is just too high.

RUDOLPH (singing): Solid -- yes it is -- solid as a rock. That's what this show is, that's what we got got got got got got got got.

CHO (on camera): And Fred Armisen who plays Barack Obama was also the guy doing the magic wall last week, or the mega map as "SNL" likes to call it. You know, he said it wasn't easy learning that wall. But now that he has that down, and Barack Obama down, he told me he's hoping to someday do an impression, Kyra, of our very own Fareed Zakaria. We'll have to see if that happens.

Kyra, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: All right, Alina Cho, thanks so much.

Rick Sanchez takes it from here. I'll see you back tomorrow.