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American Morning
Polls Open in More States; Candidates Vote
Aired November 04, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news. We're two minutes away from 8:00 here on the East Coast. 10 more states are going to be opening their voting precincts in just two minutes. Let's take a look, the doors are open right now in Alabama, Arizona, Iowa, in Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota as well as Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.
Right now, voters are also casting ballots in 36 states and in D.C. and in just half an hour at 8:30 Eastern, Arkansas opens its polls. Moving on at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, polls open in seven more states including Colorado and New Mexico. And by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time, all 48 mainland states will be voting. Alaska, where GOP VP Nominee Sarah Palin will be voting opens at 11:00 Eastern. And in Hawaii, that's where Senator Barack Obama was born, they start voting at noon Eastern.
And new video of voters here in New York heading to the polls in upper Manhattan. Some of them with their pets. Say it wouldn't be New York if they didn't try that. Mayor Mike Bloomberg also cast his ballot. New York is expected to be an easy win for Barack Obama. Despite that, you can see long lines, an indication of the record turnout that we've been talking about all morning.
Police in Toledo, Ohio, are decked out in riot gear today on full alert for any possible disturbances during and after the election. A police memo that was obtained by local affiliate WNWO TV says there is no specific information that suggests disturbances will actually happen.
And the world also watching how you voted this hour. Video this morning from Baghdad where people stopped in a market to read the newspapers about the U.S. election. International polls overwhelmingly show that world citizens want Barack Obama in the White House instead of John McCain.
ROBERTS: All right. Now, millions of people across the country voting for their 44th president. And CNN is all over the electoral map in pivotal states that will decide the winner. Our political correspondent and reporters are in the battleground areas watching the issues that matter to you. One of those battlegrounds -- Virginia. Democrats are hoping to turn it blue for the first time since Lyndon Johnson won it. And officials there are saying, bring your patience. Polling centers are expected to be, quote, swamped.
And CNN's Joe Johns live in Norfolk, Virginia, where it's literally been swamped outside at least, by torrential rain.
Joe, I see that you've had the good sense to go inside.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's for sure, John. I really wasn't ready for what I saw when I pulled up here at this school in Norfolk, Virginia, this morning.
There was no place to park. It was pouring rain. There were hundreds of people standing in line. This was about 5:30 a.m. Eastern time. So the polls hadn't even opened yet. And when they opened, authorities started letting people come in, stand inside in the hallway and wait to vote.
It's been a steady stream all morning long here in the Norfolk area. And other places, of course, around Virginia, the very important battleground state. A lot of people are saying this is the state which can tell you -- give you an early sign this evening as to whether Barack Obama or John McCain is doing great and whether it's going to be a long night.
So we're watching carefully. As you know, there are some sporadic reports around the state of Virginia, of various problems at the polls. Of course, this state has experienced an unprecedented number of Americans actually registering to vote for the first time, including a large number of 18 to 25-year-olds. I talked to a few of those outside. A lot of people talking about the historic nature of this election and their desire to be a part of it -- John.
ROBERTS: All right. Joe Johns for us in Norfolk. And Joe, we were seeing some pictures outside there while you were talking, of another polling place in Richmond, where folks out there with their umbrellas and they are braving the rain.
But, good to see you inside, my friend. Thanks.
CHETRY: Well, another major state up for grabs, the battleground of Florida. Huge 27 electoral votes there and 10 percent of what's needed to win the White House, in a state where yesterday, Barack Obama drew nine times as many supporters at a rally than John McCain did. Polls, though, show that race tightening to within two percentage points.
CNN's John Zarrella is live at a polling station in West Palm Beach, this morning.
Hi, John.
JOHN ZARELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kiran. That's right. A very, very close race expected here in Florida, with Barack Obama holding to about a two-point lead. It had been four or five points, but really narrowed in the last couple of days.
You can probably see behind me, there aren't many people in there at this particular polling place. But at 7:00 Eastern time when the polls opened, there were 25 or so people. They started arriving at about quarter to 7:00 and waited patiently until the poll workers signaled at 7:00 they could start their vote. Now, all of them said they were glad they didn't vote early where the lines were two, three, four hours long. And part of the reason, of course, that we're not seeing the huge lines here today is because 4.2 million Floridians either voted absentee or in early voting and they only had, for instance, in West Palm Beach, 11 places you could vote. Today they've got 450 places open where you can vote. But all the people we talked to after they voted said that they felt today was historic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like to think it's going to be a landslide. But again, no guarantee. So I just made sure I got here to vote. And I really think my vote does matter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In my lifetime I believe it's the biggest day of my lifetime. It really is. Because our economy and everything's in a -- you know, we need some help somehow or another.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZARELLA: Now, I talked to one young man, Rick Garcia, who said he came here to vote in his brother's honor. His brother Jiher Jesus Garcia (ph) died two months ago in Afghanistan.
29 years old, killed by a roadside bomb. Said he's voted in the past, but he specifically came today in his brother's honor. And he said many friends and many family members who had never voted before registered to vote because they felt that it was their duty and that Jiher would want them to -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Oh, wow. It's amazing. John Zarrella for us, this morning.
Thanks.
And tonight, join the best political team on television for Election Night in America. CNN is the place to be as the night unfolds.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS (voice-over): Tracking the youth vote. The teen who launched a virgin voter movement joins us live with first-time voters in Florida.
You're watching the Most News in the Morning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Seven minutes after the hour and some aerial pictures here, from Chicago, this morning, of a long line outside the precinct where Barack Obama will be voting today. People are lined up literally around the block to get in there. Of course, Chicago also will be the scene tonight of that huge celebration in Grant Park, the place where in 1968, there were all those protests outside the Democratic National Convention.
So, a place that saw some of those protests and obviously grieved voters, is now going to be a place where there's a tremendous celebration. There's the line up there, sneaking around that polling place.
So, when is Barack Obama casting his own vote? And what else does the senator have on tap today? Our Suzanne Malveaux is live in Chicago for us, this morning.
What's the senator up to today, Suzanne?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, after just a couple of hours of sleep, he really jut got back to Chicago about five hours ago. He's going to be casting his ballot momentarily at that elementary school. You see that picture where he's expected to cast his vote.
And then he is actually going to take a last minute trip to the neighboring state of Indiana, where he's going to try to rally a get out the vote effort in Indianapolis. It really is kind of an extraordinary thing when you think about it, because it demonstrates the level of confidence that he has at this time to be over in a Republican-leaning state.
He would make history if he was able to actually capture that state. But the latest CNN Poll of Polls showing that there's really just one point difference between he and John McCain. McCain just slightly ahead in that state. And then he's going to take a look at the results as they come in later in the afternoon. He's going to play a pickup game with hoops with some friends. It's a tradition that he does on these kind of big days, these big nights. He'll watch those results.
And then late in the evening we expect after the results come in and there's something that is decisive, he'll be here in Grant Park. It's extraordinary when you look at the setup here. They're expecting 70,000 at least to be in the inside perimeter. There are already more than a dozen flags that are set up behind the podium. Security is extremely tight. You have a whole media park here. But there could be anywhere from a half million to a million folks, John, they expect along the lake, in addition to the folks coming here.
So, it's expected to be a big celebration. They think it's going to be a celebration when all this is said and done -- John.
ROBERTS: Well, Suzanne, I think it's probably clear it will be a celebration at the very least, just for this historic candidacy regardless of the outcome of the election.
Suzanne Malveaux for us, live in Chicago, this morning.
Suzanne, thanks very much. CHETRY: Meanwhile, John McCain saying don't count me out yet. He's making two more campaign stops as America votes in Colorado and in New Mexico. The combined 14 electoral votes now leaning toward Barack Obama. Our Ed Henry is with the McCain campaign back in Phoenix, and he joins us bright and early this morning.
Embracing the underdog status of course, we've heard this from John McCain in the closing days of this campaign. But, what about the true confidence that he can pull off what's really an upset at this point?
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Kiran. You're right. We've heard day after day this week the mac is back. That's been his mantra. He believes he's going to have a comeback victory. He logged a lot of miles yesterday, over 3,700 miles on Straight Talk Air, the plane version of the Straight Talk Express bus. And John McCain hit seven states yesterday.
But as you mentioned, he's going to continue fighting today, just like Barack Obama going to Indiana. John McCain going to Colorado, New Mexico, because they're key parts of one of the paths that he thinks could lead him to victory.
Bottom line, strategy standpoint, the McCain camp thinks they can cobble together 260 electoral votes if they hold most of all of those Republican red states that George Bush had in 2004.
But, to get to the magic number of 270, they either have to win Pennsylvania, or they have to cobble together some of these smaller states as you mention, like New Mexico, Nevada, maybe Iowa, or New Hampshire. And last night late, actually into the wee hours of this morning here in Arizona, John McCain insisted he's fighting until the end.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's been a long journey. It's been a long, long journey to get the nomination. And we got one more day. So I need you to get out the vote, volunteer, do what's necessary so that we not only carry Arizona in a big way, but take all across this country and win the presidency the United States. And I guarantee you, we will bring change to Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Now, both John and Cindy McCain got pretty emotional at that early morning rally here in Arizona. And John McCain, in fact, will be voting about 11:00 a.m. Eastern time at a local church here in Phoenix, before he heads back out on the campaign trail -- Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. Making his stop to vote. Hopefully he won't be stuck in any long lines.
HENRY: That's right.
CHETRY: Thanks, Ed. Well, in the end, did Barack Obama's campaign really transcend race? We're talking to former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, about the racial breakdown at the polls today.
You're watching the Most Politics in the Morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST OF "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": They're saying now that weather could play a huge part in the campaign. Did you realize that? Weather could be a huge factor? For example, in order for McCain to win tomorrow, Hell has to freeze over. I didn't realize that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Well, welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. Polls open right now in 36 states and Washington, D.C. And you are part of the record turnout expected. We know that the history books are going to be rewritten after tonight. But, what else can we expect?
Joining me now, our political panel; Ed Rollins, Leslie Sanchez, Lisa Caputo and Melissa Harris. Good to see you all again, this morning.
Melissa, let's start with you. Let's get predictions for the night. How do you think it's going to go and by what margin?
MELISSA HARRIS-LACEWELL, ASSOCIATE PROF., PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: Well, I mean, I think there's going to be a Barack Obama electoral college landslide. But I think the most important will be, we're going to see the map change. We will see some southern states go blue for the first time, actually breaking the solid south. That we will see western states on the strength of Latino voters, coming to the blue column.
But more importantly, I think it's really time for us to stop thinking of ourselves as a winner or take all society, where people who are not on the winning coalition, are simply losers. The key has to be that everybody has to come together to govern. We are facing real challenges in this country.
ROBERTS: So, you didn't get the memo about the zero sum game, it looks like.
Lisa, what are you expecting tonight?
LISA CAPUTO, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Oh, I expect quite a route actually. I would see Obama getting around 325 in the electoral college.
I think we should all keep our eyes on Ohio, Virginia and Indiana. I think it's incredible that he is going to Indiana today to campaign, which means he's contesting a Republican state. He is playing to win in these Republican states. And if he takes one of those, I think it's over. And then if he then wins in Missouri and Florida, I think you're going to see a clean sweep in the House and the Senate.
ROBERTS: All right. Let's get the flip side of that argument -- Leslie.
LESLIE SANCHEZ, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST; I know I've been talking to some Democrats who are nervous about Missouri, Virginia. They're worried about the suburban areas which are traditional red, Republican areas, if they're going to fully come on the side of Barack Obama.
I think electorally probably 53-47 for Obama. But there are a lot of other factors. You have antiquated electronic -- you know, voting machines. We have a 50/50 split. You have high voter turnout. There's are a lot of things that can make this tighter than people predict. And a very defiant John McCain and defiant Republicans who are going to push to the end.
ROBERTS: Ed, what are your predictions? And how unusual is it for this race to be fought with the exception of Pennsylvania, basically on Republican turf?
ED ROLLINS, REPUBLICAN ANALYST: It's very unusual to be fought on our turf. At least the last several elections we've always fought on their turf. I'm going to do my part. I'm going to vote for John McCain here in New York. And that's not going to make a big difference. But, I think the potential is there --
ROBERTS: Well, you know it's always good to be an army of one.
(LAUGHTER)
ROLLINS: I think Obama has the potential of going near 350, maybe above that even. And I think that 53 is probably the percentage he's going to get and it may even go a little bit higher than that.
ROBERTS: So what happens after all of this, Melissa? Regardless of who wins. I mean, a huge rift in this country. This is one of the most partisan, divisive elections that I have ever witnessed.
Whomever wins, do they have to really go out there and be proactive in trying to unify this country, bring the nation back together?
HARRIS-LACEWELL: I have to disagree on you on this being one of the most partisan and divisive elections.
ROBERTS: Let me show you some of the e-mail I've received over the last five minutes.
HARRIS-LACEWELL: No, no, no, no. Really -- I have to say, I think part of what we've seen here is an emerging consensus around the need to change. Now unquestionably, the left and the right have different opinions how to change. But the recognition that we're in an economic crisis, that our situation in the international contest is unsustainable. Americans want to move forward to a new era. And I actually don't think we're going to be looking sat a period of great anxiety and pain. I think we're looking at a period of --
ROBERTS: Leslie, you want to ring in on that?
SANCHEZ: I've got to say, I completely disagree. Because the turn of the last century had a series of two close to call elections. This has historically been the same, 2000, 2004, 2008. You have a 50/50 polarized environment. But Republicans, let's look at it this way historically. Republicans won seven of the last 10. In the 30 years before that, Democrats won seven of the last nine. I do believe the pendulum is swinging, which is what the disadvantage is for the Republicans.
ROBERTS: Well, what do you think, Lisa? I mean, has this been a nasty campaign? Not just the candidates themselves, but partisans on both sides?
CAPUTO: I don't think it's been gratuitously nasty. But, I will say this. If Obama wins tonight's I think you'll see him move very quickly to have a rapid transition.
You know, everybody knows that the transition teams have already been meeting. And I think he's going to move very swiftly on his economic plan and he will start name his economic team quite quickly because he doesn't have the luxury of time. People are going to hold his feet to the fire and want to see him start to put people in places. I also think you'll see him reach out to Republicans and maybe put a couple of Republicans in his cabinet.
ROBERTS: We'll see if he does that. We have to run, folks. But, thanks very much. We'll see you again tomorrow, right?
Melissa, Lisa, Leslie and Ed. It's always good to see you. Thanks.
40 minutes after the hour now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS (voice-over): The balance of power. Will the Democrats end up controlling both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue? Or, will a McCain administration be forced to deal with a divided Congress?
You're watching the Most News in the Morning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now it's all about who wants it more. Who believes in it more.
MCCAIN: They may not know it, but the mac is back!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most Politics in the Morning, on this election day, an historic day, to say least. Some are asking whether Barack Obama can energize African-American voters without risking alienating some white voters.
It's been a key question for political experts throughout this campaign. Joining us now from San Francisco, the city's former mayor Willie Brown, now a columnist for the "San Francisco Chronicle."
Mr. Mayor, great to see you, this morning. Thanks for being with us.
WILLIE BROWN, FMR. MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO: Thank you very much for having me.
CHETRY: Do you think people are making too much of that, that watching this overwhelming support, interest and excitement from the African-American will in some way make white voters, or at least a segment of white voters leery of Obama?
BROWN: This is one of those very rare times when it is not the candidate or his conduct that's creating the problem, if any, within the minds of the white voters.
I think African-American voters throughout this nation, as evidenced by what occurred in the primary and as evidenced by what will occur today, it is clear that African-Americans are showing race pride similar to Jackie Robinson and Tiger Woods' mutual successes. And it's not turning white people off at all.
CHETRY: What about this notion some are talking about of the reverse Bradley Effect, if you will. The Bradley Effect being that people say they're going to -- white people say they're going to vote for a black candidate. And then in the polling booth they don't. The reverse Bradley Effect being that people will be voting for the black candidate Barack Obama, as a bonus or in some way, a way of proving they're not a racist.
Do you see that happening?
BROWN: Well, no. I don't see that happening. I don't see the reverse Bradley Effect. I do know, however, there is a Bradley Effect. There will be a certain number of people who will go into the voting booth and they just can't bring themselves to vote for an African-American person of color.
On this occasion, however, because of the huge volume of new people and young people, there will be an offset. And that offset will simply eliminate the Bradley factor.
CHETRY: And I want to ask you about this. If we wake up tomorrow and we have Barack Obama as our president elect, what happens to race relations? How does the whole dynamic of race in America change?
BROWN: I don't think that there will be an overnight change in race relations in America. I do think Mr. Obama will stand as a symbol of what is possible if you are well qualified, Harvard trained. You have the right kind of participation in community activities. You've shown an incredible commitment to ethical standards. You've shown a high energy level with reference to relationships with family and friends.
I think he will establish a standard for people to pursue and achieve, particularly African-Americans.
CHETRY: And personally, to you, what does this election mean today?
BROWN: I frankly would not have thought in my lifetime I would be casting a vote for a person of color who actually has a chance of becoming president. There is no way that I could have had an occasion to dream and think at this level. And I've got to tell you, there's nothing I'm going to be more pleased to do then when I leave here, go straight and cast my vote for the next president.
CHETRY: And I want to ask you before we leave, you've seen some of these long lines. People knew to expect some at least some weight because of the historic turnout. They say when all is said and done, some 130 million plus people around our country could cast their vote.
What's the message to people that are waiting and maybe getting a little anxious?
BROWN: Well, I think that the people are going to wait. No one will need to tell them that once you're in line, stay there, no matter how much time it takes. Because they watched Nelson Mandela's first election in South Africa. People waited 10, 12 hours for the purpose of casting that vote and they did so with great pride.
The early voting activities in places like Florida, and Atlanta, have shown the sticktoitiveness of three or four hours of students who stood in line for that purpose. I don't think there will be a problem this day. The pride is there and let me tell you, it's going to be expressed by everybody saying, I voted for Barack Obama.
CHETRY: Well, Willie Brown, great to talk to you as always. Thanks for being with us, this morning.
BROWN: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Breaking news and breaking voting machines right now, as CNN's Dan Lothian reported a short time ago, There are problems at a polling place in Richmond, Virginia. At the Science Center, five of the seven voting machines have broken down. That's not the Science Center location there. Paper ballots are being used and replacements machines are on the way. Virginia law says paper ballots can only be used in an emergency when machines break down. That's why they're bringing them out.
Troubling sight in Florida. Highway workers have found hundreds of thousands of pages full of voter information alongside Interstate 4, in Tampa. The pages containing data like party affiliation and home addresses. Elections officials say, the papers aren't there and suggests that it was probably public information requested for campaign surveys.
And don't forget. CNN wants to help you on election night. If you have concerns about possible voting irregularities in your state, let us know. You can call us toll free, 1-877-GOCNN-08. That's 1- 877-462-6608.
Well, John McCain and Barack Obama made some final campaign promises early this morning, to those voting right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Invest $15 billion a year in renewable sources of energy. Building wind turbines and solar panels, creating the next generation of biofuels. Investing in clean coal technology, making sure that we're building the new generation of fuel efficient cars not in Japan, not in South Korea, but right here in the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: I guarantee you we will bring change to Washington, and we will get this country back on track again and we will restore our economy. We will keep people in their houses and we will clean up the corruption and excess and greed in Washington and Wall Street. You have my word on it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Breaking news and we're coming up on 8:30 in the East Coast. And there is one more state opening its polls in the next few seconds. Take a look here. Arkansas voters getting ready to cast their ballots. That makes 37 states and the District of Columbia, open to voters.
At 9:00 a.m. Eastern, polls open in seven more states, including Colorado and New Mexico. And By 10:00 a.m. Eastern, all lower 48 states will be voting. Alaska, where Sarah Palin will be voting, opens at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. And Hawaii, where Barack Obama was born, starts voting at noon Eastern.
And new video of voters here in New York City heading to the polls in Upper Manhattan. Some of them taking their pets along with them. There, Mike Bloomberg also cast his ballot. New York expected to be an easy win for Barack Obama. Despite that, though, you can see that there are long lines. And there's Mayor Bloomberg standing in one of those long line. An indication of the potential record turnout that we have been talking about all morning here. In the final days of the race the McCain campaign warned supporters that Democrats could win the White House and both chambers of Congress. That is a thought that gave some Republicans the willies. Our Jim Acosta has been looking into that possibility for us, this morning.
What's the likelihood?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The willies, is that a technical term?
ROBERTS: That's a technical term.
ACOSTA: Yes. Well, the Republicans have every reason to be scared. And all they have to do is look at the map. This could be a map-changing election. And we're going to find out tonight, whether or not Barack Obama has coattails.
Let's take a look at the board over here. We want to show you the balance of power right now. In the House, it's 235 for the Democrats, 199 for the Republicans. In the Senate, a slimmer majority; 51 seats on the Democratic side, 49 for the Republicans.
And so, what do the Democrats want to pick up tonight? It's simple. They want more seats and they're in a strong position to do so tonight. Six to nine seats in the senate, that is possible tonight. Nine would give them that magic number of 60 seats that we've talked about.
In the House, 25 to 30 seats. That's why we're talking about this being a map-changing election. And let's look at three of the states right now that we're keenly interested in at this point -- Alaska. Well, this is where republicans normally win and Ted Stevens in any other year would be a shoe-in. But he has a little thing called a felony conviction on his record now. He is a convicted felon. So it's not altogether clear Ted Stevens will win this election tonight. He's also running against the mayor of Anchorage, Mark Begich, who is very popular up in Alaska. So that race may be colored blue by the time the polls close. Actually overnight tonight. We won't find out until the wee hours of tomorrow morning, just how Mark Begich is doing there.
Let's move on down the line to Georgia. Now this is an example of how this could be a map changing election. If down south, in the deep south, Saxby Chambliss could be knocked off by democrat Jim Martin, a veteran of the State House there in Georgia, that is an example right there of just how much trouble the republicans are in. Big-time African-American turnout could be the difference there for Jim Martin as he goes off to take down Saxby Chambliss in Georgia.
Then finally my favorite race, probably everybody's favorite race, Norm Coleman, the incumbent republican there facing Al Franken, the democrat. And, John and Kiran this is the race I've been following, because if a comedian can win a seat in the Senate, there is hope for all of us. But long story short, this is going to be a long night. We're going to be watching these races closely. And it's going to determine just how much of a stamp on Washington, D.C., the democrats are going to have. If Barack Obama wins this election as he's expected to do at this point of course, we could all be wrong about that. And he goes in with bigger majorities in the House and Senate, this is going to be a very different Washington than what we've seen over the last eight years.
ROBERTS: Absolutely.
CHETRY: Well, it's a state where the governor was a former pro wrestler, a very successful one at that.
ACOSTA: That's right.
CHETRY: There you have it. Thanks, Jim.
CNN getting the help of a new generation of reporters covering the country reporting on your town. Our Jim Spellman caught up with a dedicated group of McCain supporters in the key swing state of Colorado.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM: Hello, my name is Tom and I'm a volunteer calling on behalf of McCain-Palin 2008.
JIM SPELLMAN, CNN PRODUCER (voice-over): Their candidate may be behind in the polls here in Colorado but the true believers manning the phones at this McCain volunteer center in Denver remain confident.
DAPHNYE REIFFE, MCCAIN VOLUNTEER: I believe that every one of these phone calls makes a difference. It's the last voice they're going to hear before they go to the poll.
SPELLMAN: They work from lists of republican voters urging anyone who hasn't voted to get to the polls. They're even offering rides. They know in this crucial swing state every vote counts.
PHIL KELLY, MCCAIN VOLUNTEER: This election could come down to 200 or 300 votes, so, please, don't stop. Keep driving. We'll be with you here all the way through, all the way tonight and early tomorrow, so let's go and get it for McCain. Thank you.
CAROL HOBSON, MCCAIN VOLUNTEER: Today what we want to do is walk through these areas and make sure that we're getting out the vote.
SPELLMAN: Out in the neighborhoods, volunteers go door to door for McCain. They say their goal is to get supporters to the polls. The time to convince undecideds is over.
SPELLMAN (on-camera): At this late stage in the campaign, events like this Sarah Palin rally in Colorado Springs, Monday night, aren't designed to sway independent voters but, rather, to get out the vote.
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Can we count on you tomorrow?
SPELLMAN: Voters pumped up for the election day.
JENNIFER KUZIK, MCCAIN SUPPORTER: This race is not over. To get people out there, I've walked door to door with my neighbors. I've called people, volunteered at the office. And it's just super important that people get out there and vote for McCain.
SPELLMAN: The race against the clock for true believers hoping for an upset.
Jim Spellman, CNN, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: They're still fired up there in Colorado.
Well, there's been a lot of talk about the youth vote. It's a large and powerful voting bloc. But just how big could the numbers be? Our expert panelists standing with their take on turnout on the youth vote and how technology has changed the way candidates reach out to voters. It's 34 minuses after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Thirty-seven minutes after the hour. Live pictures just in to CNN. And there is Barack Obama at the Shoesmith Elementary School in Hyde Park. He is there with Michelle and with the kids, Malia and Sasha. He's just registering so he can cast his vote. The school has been preparing for this for some time. A group of second graders put together a welcoming sign and they put that in the front window so that the Senator could see that when he came in to cast his ballot.
And they've also been sort of sprucing up the school a little bit. They replaced all of the light bulbs in the gymnasium which is where the polling place is. They also painted the gym and as well sanded and polished the floor. According to school officials they have not done that since the 1950s. So it's nice to see that when the candidate comes in to cast the ballot there, the school gets a little bit of a bump from it as well.
The school's principal said I" don't want the floor in shoddy, shabby conditions on national television." So, you know Kiran, as we said, it's nice when the school gets a little bit of some goodwill from all of this process as well.
CHETRY: That's right. Probably one of the first and only times there's 100 reporters camped out at the elementary school, camped outside to make sure they get a shot of Barack Obama.
All right. Well, CNN also learned that democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden is just minutes away from voting. He's going to be casting his ballot in Wilmington, Delaware. And after this he heads to Richmond, Virginia still doing some last minute campaigning on election day in that state. He says he's going to join Barack Obama tonight in Chicago. Well, after 21 long months on the trail, could we be in for another long night? The best political team on television joins us now. We have John Avlon, Patricia Murphy, Frank Sesno as well as Jason Bitara and Alexander Agar (ph).
We talked to both of you a lot because you're very, very involved in getting out the youth vote and the youth vote which we talked about a lot could be quite pivotal in this election when it comes to turnout especially.
And Alexander, you're working with the Young Democrats of America, you're a Barack Obama supporter. Explain how they pulled this off in terms of rallying so many young people and actually making sure they either voted early absentee or they are planning to head to the polls today?
ALEXANDER AGAR, BARACK OBAMA SUPPORTER: Well, I think the first and most important thing Barack Obama's campaign did is take young voters seriously. For far too long politicians kind of ignored this segment of the demographic and said they don't vote, I'm not going to pay attention to them. In 2004 we really saw the start of this trend where young people turned out in the highest number since 1972. So Barack Obama really got a perfect storm year. He's such an inspirational candidate to young people.
CHETRY: And we're looking right now, if you can see your screen right now, Barack Obama casting his vote right now at an elementary school right near his Hyde Park home in Chicago. And Jason, I want to ask you about this. Did the Republicans drop the ball when it comes to harnessing technology the way that Barack Obama's campaign was able to do?
JASON BITARA, MCCAIN SUPPORTER: Well, I'm not going to cast dispersions on the G.O.P. just yet because the polls haven't closed and we don't know what the turnout with the young people will be. And the youth vote which I will say that McCain does have challenges, but they're not insurmountable.
If a young person will just stop and thing and not get wrapped up in the gauzy rhetoric, they will see we have a president - someone aspiring to be president who wants to penalize productivity, increase the welfare states and is radical Chicago leftist who has a paper thin resume. So, young people, should pull the lever for McCain.
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: In this 11th hour he's not giving up.
BITARA: Absolutely not.
AGAR: Young people can't get complacent. This election isn't over. They've got to stand in those lines even if they're long in places like Pittsburgh and Columbus. Make sure you stay in line.
CHETRY: Frank, I do want to ask about this because obviously, in many of these local precincts they're doing what they can to move these lines along but they are long. And it will require a several hour commitment today if you weren't able to vote early.
Is there a danger that people will say he's got this wrapped up, I can leave?
SESNO: There's always a danger of that and young people aren't great at getting up early. I spend a lot of time with my university classes and I polled my class yesterday.
CHETRY: I thought you're going to say that you've spent a lot of time being young.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd like to do that too but you know hope springs eternal more than reality. But you know the kids that I talked to in class last night, I polled them. They had all voted or intended to vote. They knew that they were going to stand in lines and they split pretty much down the middle as to what this is going to be close or a runaway but they're very, very, very engaged this year.
CHETRY: All right. And I want to ask you two about this as well. And I'll start with you, Patricia, is - are we going to see a change in 2008 of the way that campaigns reach out to not only young people but to people in general using the internet and using technology?
PATRICIA MURPHY, CITIZENJANEPOLITICS.COM: Yes, well this is the first campaign that we've seen where voters are actually able to pull technology toward them. They can go out and look for information and the Barack Obama campaign has been so smart because they make the information so available especially to these young kids. And this is a huge part of their strategy. Young voters are two of the three groups that they're going after. And David Plouffe did a conference call with reporters over the weekend and said that we know where these young voters are, we know if they have or haven't voted. We are staying on them. They are a huge part of -
CHETRY: Apparently getting text messages as they're standing in line. And this is the other thing I want to ask about John because when usually the first party that somebody comes into politics with they tend to stay with, right? I mean if you've been brought into the fold by democrats that's where you're going to stay?
JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Sure.
CHETRY: Where does that leave independents and where does that leave the challenges of being able to harness the youth vote if your are looking to be an independent candidate?
AVLON: Well, more than 40 percent of young voters are independents but they've also been trending away from the republican party towards the democrats. And I think Barack Obama has tapped into that very significantly. You know, we're so focused on the fact that he's a candidate of racial change, sometimes we underestimate the fact he's also a candidate of generational change. And that's why this election is so significant, because he's mobilized youth in a way, that excited folks in a way that I think it goes back to Bobby Kennedy to find another parallel. SESNO: Kiran, one of the things you said is very, very important. Studies show that people form their party affiliations in their young adulthood. So what these first-time voters are doing this time has huge implications for the democratic party, also for the republican party going forward. How are they going to win them back if they cut in substantial numbers toward the democrats? What are the democrats going to do with them if they've got them?
MURPHY: And it's really important to note, too, that John Kerry won the youth vote by 10 points in 2004. Barack Obama is now winning them 2-1. And it's hard to believe that just back in 2001 Al Gore and George Bush split the youth vote. Who would have -
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: I want to ask you looking ahead to 2012, what will you be giving advice to the republicans when it comes to finding a way to bring more young people into the fold?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Certainly you have to have an established base on college campuses. Barack Obama has spoken at more than 200 campuses, John McCain not even coming close to that. It's interesting that Ronald Reagan captured the youth vote by winning 59 percent in 1984 and that's because he did reach out to young people.
And he brought out their conservatism. If you think about it, young people either have a rebellious nature to them. They don't want a planned economy. They don't want Uncle Sam telling them what to do. And if you will, the two positions and the two philosophical - I know she's laughing right now but it's true. They want differences between someone telling you what to do, how to spend your money and on what and just John McCain and the GOP don't stand for that but they don't translate that to the young people on issues that matter most to them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got your work cut out for you. About a week ago I moderated at a debate between campus republicans and campus democrats and the room was filled with Obama supporters. There were a few McCain supporters there. Certainly those who debated on his behalf were articulate but they didn't have a lot of people listening.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And one of the last lessons to come out of this election is you need to focus on areas that are growing, not preaching to an ever shrinking base but increasing, reaching out to independents, trying to reel on younger voters.
CHETRY: And I promise you're going to get the last word next time, Patricia, because we're out of time. Thank so much, you guys. Very interesting conversation.
MURPHY: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Well, we're continuing to watch the live pictures this morning of Barack Obama at the Shoesmith Elementary School there in his home of Hyde Park in Chicago casting his ballot. He's been there for a long time. Obviously - I don't know if they have an optical ballot that he has to fill out the bubbles but he actually at one point held up the ballot trying to figure out - asking questions like perhaps how do we vote on this particular ballot? You know, what an historic moment this is to see an African-American candidate obviously voting for himself here in this election but casting a ballot for himself for president. As Willie Brown, former mayor of San Francisco, was saying to us a little earlier today, he didn't think that ever in his life would he see this moment. And there is Senator Obama. Michelle Obama there in the polling booth with him and Sasha and Malia, the two daughters there as well.
Of course tonight at Grant Park in Chicago, lakeside area of Chicago, that huge, huge, huge party tonight, which will be a celebration regardless of the outcome of the election because of the historic nature of this candidacy, expecting 70,000 invited people there. But in the spillover area, in the adjacent area, could be as many as a million people. And Kiran, they're fortunate tonight to have just absolutely marvelous weather because you think November 4th in Chicago, the weather could go so far south, it could be horrible standing out there. I remember in 2000 standing out in the rain in Nashville waiting for Al Gore to appear. But sounds like everything is going to be just beautiful for tonight's party there in Grant Park.
CHETRY: Yes. Absolutely, it is going to be nice. It's funny. It's going to be beautiful in Chicago here in November. It's pouring on everybody in Virginia this morning as we saw. We're also looking at pictures to the right of your screen on Wilmington, Delaware. That's where any moment we're going to see Joe Biden. He's in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, as well, going to be casting his vote when comes out there. He's also doing some blitzing through some of the battleground states as well before he made his way back. And then a bit later he's going to be joining Barack Obama in Chicago for tonight.
ROBERTS: You know, one of the things to watch tonight, of course CNN's coverage of the election returns begins tonight at 6:00. The state of Virginia will be one of the first polls to close at 7:00. And there are many people, including republican analysts, who believe that we'll get an early indication from the way the voting goes in Virginia of how things may go across the nation. Now, some people say each state is its own individual microcosm and not necessarily representative of a democratic tide that could sweep across the nation if Barack Obama were to win Virginia. But take a look at what happens in Virginia, because, as we gamed out on the magic wall at the beginning of this hour, there is a real possibility here that if Barack Obama hangs on to all of the states that he has either solidly in his column or leaning in his column, hangs on to Virginia, that's pretty much it. John McCain can win everything else and still fall short. Barack Obama would have 272 electoral votes. John McCain would need to put Virginia in his win column or he would need to turn Pennsylvania and put it in his win column in order to get across the line. It would obviously be a very close finish, not the land slight for Senator Obama that many people are predicting but if he puts Virginia in the win column early on tonight, that is going to make it a very difficult road for John McCain, Kiran, to win the White House.
CHETRY: That's right. And as many pundits like to point out, Virginia a key state for many other reasons but one of them is the fact that it's not gone toward a democrat, not voted for a democrat since Lyndon Johnson had a landslide victory back in 1964. So a tough environment for John McCain to lose in that state that for so long could be counted on to go red. Again, if you're just joining us this morning, what we're looking at right now is Barack Obama. He is casting his ballot with his family this morning near his home in Hyde Park at Shoesmith Elementary School.
Part of his day is just what the average person is doing, despite the fact that he must be facing enormous pressure and excitement about what's coming tonight. But after he casts his vote, he's also playing a game of basketball with some buddies, a tradition he says he likes to do when there's a lot of stress riding on his shoulders.
ROBERTS: Yes. Keep the blood moving as well because he's going to have to stay up late tonight to address that party at Grant Park. You know, there's a possibility that things could end early tonight. There's a possibility that it might not end tonight at all. It all depends on how we start to see the vote breaking across the nation.
On the right-hand side of your screen there by the way, Wilmington, Delaware, where we're expecting vice presidential running mate Joe Biden to come and cast his vote in the next few minutes or so. He's actually running a little bit late. Another state to watch tonight is Pennsylvania. This is one where Barack Obama has been leading by as much as 13 points. The margin there in our latest CNN poll of polls is now at eight. But John McCain's pollster, Bill McInturff thinks that Senator McCain really has a shot at pulling back Pennsylvania.
And the area to watch tonight will be around the - in the counties around the Allentown area, Lehigh county. That's a county that went for John Kerry in 2004 but went for him narrowly. It was three points. And if you look at what happened in the primaries, Senator Obama lost Lehigh County to Senator Clinton by 20 points. So potentially has some weakness there. They're going to be looking in that area. They're going to be looking at the northeastern corner of the state and also in the southwestern corner of the state to see if they can pick up some votes there. But what will really make the difference in Pennsylvania is the margin by which Barack Obama wins in the Philadelphia area. There's no question he's going to win Philadelphia. It would be the margins in which he wins that could determine how that state turns out.
Ten minutes to the top of the hour. We continue to watch this. We'll be right back in the most politics in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Fifty-three minutes after the hour. Breaking news, and there is Senator Obama just put his ballot in the optical scanner.
CHETRY: Just missed it by a few seconds.
ROBERTS: It's so important to get the animation in there. You know, so he just cast his ballot there. Obviously an optical ballot, filled it out. Took him about 10 or 15 minutes to go through the whole process. Saying hello to the election workers. There's his ticket to say that he voted. Again there at the Shoesmith Elementary School, everything looks so beautiful because they spruced the whole place up just in honor of Senator Obama coming in there. They painted the gym. They polished the floor, sanded the floor, changed all the lights as well. Senator Biden coming into the polling place in Wilmington.
CHETRY: Joe Biden, he's accompanied by his mother. I believe she's 91 years old as well as his wife, Jill. They're walking into their polling place. This is Tatnal School in Wilmington, Delaware. He's going to be stopping by the library of that school to cast his vote. And after that, yet another busy day. He's going to be stopping by Richmond, Virginia, as John was talking about the crucial state of Virginia that could go for Barack Obama and Joe Biden today. And if so, it makes a very, very difficult, if not impossible road for John McCain.
After that Joe Biden heads to Chicago to join up with Barack Obama. And they're going to be there at that huge rally tonight in Hyde Park. But as we see right there, Joe Biden's mom and his wife filling out their names and getting ready to cast their ballots today in Wilmington.
ROBERTS: Hey, you know, another crucial state, of course, tonight, is the state of Florida. 27 electoral votes won by George Bush in 2004 and in 2000 as well. Noah Gray, our youth voter, 16- year-old virgin voting guy is in outside a polling place in Coral gables. Let's bring him in, at least the audio. Noah, what are you seeing there - there he is. What are you seeing there in Coral Gables in terms of voting?
NOAH GRAY, VIRGIN VOTING: I'm at the campus of University of Miami at the Bank United Center here where the majority of the people in line here voting are young people. I'd say probably 90 percent of them. And this polling station serves the city or one of the polling - the polling station serves parts of Coral Gables but mainly those students who reside on the campus of University of Miami. So all the University of Miami students who are registered to vote in the state of Florida are voting here.
ROBERTS: You know, you've spent a lot of time looking obviously at youth voting for us in these last couple of weeks, Noah. In 2004, 47 percent of voters 18 to 24 went to the polls compared to 66 percent of voters 25 years of age or over. Do you get a sense that in this election that those percentages will increase and might they increase going forward as well?
GRAY: Yes. Definitely. We've seen an increase in young people's voter registration, obviously. And it looks like they are showing up to the polls. I mean, from at least what I see here. A lot of students here at UM voted early but of course a lot of people waited until the last day as well like some young people tend to do. But I think definitely it's going to be one of those peak years.
ROBERTS: And we're seeing Joe Biden coming out of the voting booth. Didn't take near as long as it did Senator Obama. Different voting system there in Delaware. Noah, it's great to see you. Good luck with the rest of the Virgin voting project. We'll get you back in a little while.
GRAY: Thank you.
CHETRY: Smaller state, smaller ballot apparently. So there's Joe Biden. And he's with his wife, Jill. There's his mom in the other red jacket there to the left of your screen, shaking hands as well. He has a busy day ahead of him as he stops in Richmond and Virginia before heading on to Chicago. I said Hyde Park but it's going to be Grant Park outdoors. Some 70,000 are expected at that rally inside and possibly up to a million people standing by the lakefront as well. So certainly a huge, huge night in Chicago for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
CHETRY: so there it is. The voting is over for at least the democratic ticket. The voting for the republican ticket will take place a little later on this morning because of the time change. Senator McCain will be going to the polls there in Arizona and Senator Palin of course in Alaska, where the polls open, is it 10:00 this morning or is it noon?
CHETRY: In Alaska.
ROBERTS: Alaska, 11:00 this morning.
CHETRY: And, boy, what a long trip back for Governor Sarah Palin as well. As we see Joe Biden leaving. As we said, it did not take him long. Let's show you some video again of Barack Obama. There he is just a few moments ago casting his vote in his Hyde Park neighborhood at the elementary school there. And they certainly tried to spruce things up for the arrival of the historic candidate.
ROBERTS: Yes. Apparently we've got more video of long, long, long lines here. and we were talking about that this morning. We showed lines in Richmond. This is Virginia Beach. This is an area that voted for President Bush in 2004 as well as the Norfolk area, Newport news just across the bay. Voted for Senator Kerry in 2004. But our latest CNN poll of polls, which was out just about a week ago, has shown that Senator Obama has got the strength in that part of the state over Senator McCain. Now, the race has been tightening somewhat since then, so those numbers may have changed. But unusual for a democrat to be leading in the entire southeast area of Virginia. But those are the type of lines that we're seeing all across the nation. Long lines here in New York City as well.
You know, they've got those old punch machines, Kiran. Apparently there weren't enough at some polling places. Some of them haven't been working at others and people have been standing in line here in Manhattan for 45 minutes. Of course, anything do you in Manhattan requires a line.
CHETRY: Yes. They certainly have their challenges and we went back to that shot in Virginia. First of all what a gray day, wet, soggy and people out there in those lines. Virginia, there was a huge demand for people to come out. Virginia one of the 32 states that did allow for some form of early voting. They were certainly overwhelmed with that as well. People that came out early in Virginia also saw themselves waiting in lines upwards of five hours to be able to cast their votes.
ROBERTS: Yes, on Saturday, which was the last day. Basically, it's in-person absentee voting for people who couldn't go to the polls today they were allowed to vote early. Long lines particularly in Fairfax County. We've also got some pictures - where are the next pictures from?
CHETRY: I think we're still looking at Virginia Beach.
ROBERTS: Virginia Beach again. OK.
So, again, the weather not as you said cooperating with folks there. But just about every other place from Chicago all the way across the industrial heartland, all the way up into the northeast. It's supposed to be very nice weather today with temperatures across places like Michigan in the 70s. So it will be very easy for people to come out. Unfortunately, there's this little weather system that's sitting over North Carolina and the southern part of Virginia and it's just been pouring on folks there.
CHETRY: Yes, it sure has. All right. There we're seeing an inside look at one of the polling sites as well. You know 10 percent of Virginians have already cast their ballot with that early voting, the absentee voting that we've talked about. But they've registered 500,000 new people since 2004 in that state alone. That's indicative of what we've been seeing across the country. The heightened excitement and the need to pay attention and to take part in the 2008 election.
ROBERTS: So if you haven't got out to vote yet, go ahead and go do it. Tonight join the best political team on television for "Election Night in America." CNN is the place to be as the night unfolds.
CHETRY: That's right. And thanks so much for joining us on AMERICAN MORNING. We're going to see you back here tomorrow for a special nine-hour edition of AMERICAN MORNING. It starts at 3:00 a.m. Eastern time. We have our coffee and certainly enough excitement to keep us awake.
ROBERTS: All right. We'll see you tomorrow morning.
Right now, here is "CNN NEWSROOM" with Heidi Collins.
