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American Morning
How Obama Won; Race in the Race; Reaction Around the World
Aired November 05, 2008 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's a new day in American politics. Barack Obama has made history. The rookie senator from Illinois, elected the first black president of the United States.
A lot of celebrations overnight. You can hear the cheers. That was Grant Park in Chicago, where close to 250,000 people gathered to witness history and to celebrate Barack Obama's victory.
And there you have a look at the 2,000 some people who packed inside Reverend Martin Luther King Jr,'s Church. Ebenezer Baptist in Atlanta, two of King's surving children, Martin and Bernese were there.
And in New York's Time Square, thousands stood shoulder to shoulder watching history unfold. Upon hearing the news, the exuberant crowd reminiscent of New Year's Eve erupted into applause. There was a lot of hugging and a lot of tears of joy.
And this morning, the celebrations do continue. The transition is also already in motion. The best political team is bringing you this historic moment, as well as reaction from all across the country. And we begin with Suzanne Malveaux. She is in Chicago, really, Barack Obama's power base.
A beautiful day there this morning, it looks like, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It is, Kiran.
Yes, Barack Obama is wasting no time in really looking forward to the transition to the presidency. He's meeting with his top advisers this morning and this afternoon to actually talk about one of those key positions, a chief of staff.
A lot of buzz around Illinois representative Rom Emmanuel, as a real possibility. That there are at least some informal talks that are going on recording that position. But, this really is Barack Obama and his campaign letting voters know, letting his supporters know that he is now moving to the next phase, that is 2 1/2 months from now, the presidency.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): Barack Obama making history as the first African-American U.S. president-elect. From his home state of Illinois, to his father's homeland in Kenya, on Main Street to Wall Street, and outside the gates of the White House -- elation and celebration. Obama's simple call for change answered, and his defeated opponent, John McCain, humbled.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is a historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African- Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.
MALVEAUX: Tears from the last African-American to seek the office.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody sing.
MALVEAUX: And a realization from other activists, the world has changed.
SPIKE LEE, FILMMAKER/ACTIVIST: What Barack said tonight is true. This is the only place in the world where this could happen, America.
MALVEAUX: While it was clearly a moment of celebration for Obama's supporters, the president-elect delivered a sobering message.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: Most of all I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And Kiran, we expect in this week or so Barack Obama will remain here in Chicago. He'll be working with his transition team to look to those positions that he'll be filling shortly.
Also, he'll probably hold a press conference in the next couple of days, get a chance to actually answer some questions from reporters. And he -- on a personal note, a private note, you know his grandmother died a few days ago, just a day before the election, so obviously there might be a trip to Hawaii with his sister Maya for burial and for funeral services later some time in the week -- Kiran.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Certainly a bittersweet week for him with the personal loss and, of course, the public victory with the election.
Suzanne Malveaux, thanks so much.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Barack Obama, 21 months of grueling travel and relentless campaigning. Now the hard work begins.
We've assembled a panel to look at that transition of power. We begin with Angela Burt-Murray, editor-in-chief of "Essence" magazine; Joe Klein, columnist for "TIME" magazine; as well as Robert Zimmerman, Democratic strategist; and Republican media consultant Alex Castellanos.
So this morning we wake up and something seems to have changed. Yet, we still are mired in two wars, we still have a debt of $10.1 trillion. The economy is still in the tank.
You wrote a column about this, Joe. How has America changed this morning?
JOE KLEIN, COLUMNIST, "TIME": Well, you're right, substantively it's still a mess. But our sense of ourselves changed. The national mythology changed.
You know, the Reagan-era mythology was a small town, homogenous America. The new mythology is a vast multiracial crowd like the one that you saw last night. This is an America, we now know, when people go behind the curtain, they vote for the black guy. Our sense of ourselves has changed.
ROBERTS: You know, I grew up in Canada, and the difference between multiculturalism in Canada and the United States was, America was the great melting pot. Canada liked to think of itself as the great cultural mosaic.
Are we becoming more of that, Angela?
ANGELA BURT-MURRAY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "ESSENCE": I think we are. Just as Joe said, people went behind the curtain and they pulled the lever, not just for the black guy, they pulled the lever for who they felt was the right guy. And finally this morning we're waking up, and the promise that's woven into the fabric of this country that all men are created equal has finally been realized. That cannot be underestimated in any way.
ROBERTS: So we talk about the transition now. And he's got about nine or 10 weeks to do it, which is a short period of time in anyone's estimation. It has been going on for some months though, the planning behind the scenes.
What are the key issues, Robert Zimmerman, that he to focus on immediately?
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: First and foremost, is America regaining confidence in its economy and, for that matter, confidence its governmental institutions? We're seeing both the Congress at record low levels of approval rating, and, of course, we're seeing 80-percent-plus the country is moving in the wrong direction.
His appointments have got to show a bipartisanship. That's where you hear a lot of talk perhaps at the Department of Defense. And it's got to show a recognition of the fact that as a nation, we're coming together to rebuild our economic -- and infrastructure is the first way to lead with that.
ROBERTS: And Alex, how do you expect that Obama governance will be different than George Bush's? Because so many presidents come to Washington with all these intentions to change things and they go, whoa, what can you do here?
ALEX CASTELLANOS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, in some things there will be a lot of continuity. For example, he said he may keep Defense Secretary Gates, General Petraeus. And so I think on a lot of things you're going to see some continuity. But I think the big difference and what's different about America, it's not just a racial transformation, it's a generational transformation. There's a whole new generation of challenges in this world. And is Barack Obama the old industrial age top-down liberal? I think Republicans made a mistake in running against him because he is different than that. He's a new generation of Democrat who is very bottom-up.
ROBERTS: What's your sense of that, Joe? Because you've spent an awful lot of time on the road with him.
KLEIN: Crisis brings opportunity. We're in financial crisis now. We're probably in a recession as well. And that gives Obama the opportunity to do things that presidents in the recent past haven't been able to do because people were really scared. And if he reaches out, if he makes this bipartisan, if he creates a team of rivals government like Abraham Lincoln did -- and he has said he wants to do this -- then he has an opportunity to do some big things.
ROBERTS: What was it they said in the early days of the Roosevelt administration? Bold experimentation?
KLEIN: Right.
CASTELLANOS: And one area he could do that in would be energy. There he would find Republican support, there he would mobilize his youth base of support.
And if you go someplace like health care, where Republicans and Democrats are trained to go to opposite corners, you'll start I think on the wrong foot. But if you go someplace new, like energy, where people aren't accustomed to going at each other, maybe an opportunity.
ROBERTS: Yes.
Real quick, Robert. We've got to go.
ZIMMERMAN: It's not even bold experimentation. It's the issue of bold steps to unify our country. And I think when he talked in his acceptance speech about reaching out to the Republican Congress, just having Democratic support for his legislative agenda is not going to be enough.
ROBERTS: Yes. Experimenting was certainly acceptable during the Depression, but I don't necessarily think it would be now.
KLEIN: Exactly. And the way he reaches out is by building in accountability with these new programs. One of the best ideas was this infrastructure bank which would create a nonpartisan board to pass on these big infrastructure projects that, you know, McCain derided as pork barrel.
ROBERTS: A lot to watch for in the next nine or 10 weeks, and then after that.
Thanks very much, folks. Appreciate it. We want you to be a part of our special coverage this morning. We've got a "Quick Vote" question for you this hour.
Can Barack Obama bring the country together? Call our toll-free number at 866-979-VOTE, 866-979-8683, or you can text your answer to us on your Smart Phone at 94553.
Well, she's used to being the star of the show, but last night Oprah was just a member of the audience. A fan of the man on stage. What she said about this historic election, that's coming up.
Plus, how big a role did race play in the race for the White House? A legend in California politics weighs in this morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: CNN is ready to make another projection. This in the state of Indiana, a state that has been solidly Republican since 1964.
We are now projecting that Barack Obama is the winner of Indiana, 50 percent to 49 percent, a very, very close race, which is why it's taken this long for a projection -- 23,347 votes ahead. So Barack Obama putting another 11 electoral votes in the win column.
What's really significant about this turnaround in fortune for the Democratic Party is that in 2004, George Bush won this state by 21 points, 60-39 percent over John Kerry. So again, Indiana another one in the Obama win column, a total of 11 electoral votes, 23,347 votes the margin of victory there -- Kiran.
CHETRY: John, thanks.
Well, some are asking this morning how much of a role did race, if any, play in Barack Obama's win.
Joining us to talk about that is former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.
Great to have you with us this morning, Mr. Mayor.
I know I talked to you on Election Day morning and asked what it would mean to you if Barack Obama won. And today you're able to talk more about it because it's happened.
So what are your thoughts as you watched last night?
WILLIE BROWN, OBAMA SUPPORTER: Well, I've got to tell you that it was clearly a sea change for all of us in America, because for the very first time at the national level you had a person of color, Barack Obama, being looked at first as a qualified candidate. And then, secondly, as a person of color, maybe even thirdly as a person of color. It was history.
CHETRY: You know, you even, in fact, said on our air -- you said -- we asked about a reverse Bradley effect. You said, "I don't know that there is a Bradley effect. A certain number of people will go into the booth and they just can't bring themselves to vote for an African- American or a person of color. On this occasion, however, because of the huge volume of new people and young people, there could be an offset."
But we found that white voters chose Barack Obama in larger numbers than we've seen for Democrats in at least a decade or more. So it didn't come to fruition that way. It seemed as though people left racism behind.
BROWN: Well, as a matter of fact, people deliberately left racism behind. Barack Obama set out at the outset of his campaign to have people look at him as a qualified candidate before they saw his color.
He has succeeded handsomely in doing that. And frankly, it's a compliment to America that Americans can rise up and do that.
They've done it in Massachusetts when Mr. Patrick, when they did what they did to make him the governor of that state. They've done it in city after city where they've elected African-Americans as mayor. So, yes, America is capable of doing it, but they've never, ever done it on a national level. This is the very first time, and I hope it represents an opportunity now for African-American with talent to present themselves regardless of the constituency.
CHETRY: It's also really interesting when you just take a look at history and you just take a look at the landscape. It seems like we've moved ahead light years. You talk about how your own grandfather was a slave in Georgia. So your own grandfather, and then you lived to see the first African-American elected president.
I mean, put that into context for us.
BROWN: Well, it's just frankly -- there's no way to describe it. I would never have assumed in my lifetime that I would witness the occasion of an African-American on January 20th in the odd number year taking an oath of office that gave him the power of the presidency. We are all going to see that on the 20th of January.
And let me tell you, the demonstrations that you saw in Chicago and in New York and in other places were not demonstrations as if it was a civil rights movement. It was demonstrations as if it was a revelation for all America. As Reagan had said, and as Obama sometimes quotes, it is morning in America, and it's a new day.
CHETRY: It's also interesting because there's a lot of pressure on Barack Obama. And I'm sure he's going to be hearing from so many different sides and so many people who want their causes looked at and sort of paid attention to first.
So how does he balance that, thread the needle, if you will, to remain inclusive, but still fulfill a lot of the campaign promises?
BROWN: I think if he keeps absolutely the mode and the model that he used to win the presidency, if he makes that the model that he uses to run the White House and to run this nation, I think he will be keeping faith with the people that helped elect him. And in particular, I was very impressed with the fact that last night he said, "I want to be the president for those who elected me, as well as those who voted against me."
That's a new day and a new time. If he keeps that mode, he'll be OK.
CHETRY: I want to ask you one quick questions about one of the propositions that was on your state ballot. Because while California went to Barack Obama and you had a lot more people coming out to vote for Barack Obama, we also saw in your state the proposition to ban gay marriage pass.
BROWN: That is not yet totally decided. I think ultimately it will be decided in the manner in which you've described. But all the votes have not yet been counted.
There are three million absentee ballots and provisional ballots yet to be counted. It will be several days.
But be clear, the state of California was organized extremely well by the people who wanted to ban same-sex marriages, much better than the people who were trying to save same-sex marriage. And the results are clear, they out-organized them.
They did what Barack Obama did to Hillary Clinton. They very carefully went to the neighborhoods where no one was campaigning and convinced people there to vote in their direction. And it proves campaigning can be productive.
CHETRY: Well, Willie Brown, always great to talk to you, former San Francisco mayor.
Thanks for being with us this morning.
BROWN: Thank you, Kiran.
CHETRY: Barack Obama's historic victory being celebrated around the world. In fact, in Kenya, where Barack Obama's father was born, they've declared it a national holiday in honor of the U.S. president- elect. We're also going to have more global reaction ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Nineteen minutes after the hour.
This morning, Barack Obama's historic victory being celebrated here at home, and as well abroad. From the Middle East to Asia to Africa, Obama's family watched him become the first black president-elect from their home in Kenya.
CNN's Zain Verjee shares something with Barack Obama, a common heritage in the nation of Kenya. And she's looking at global reaction for us this morning.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, it really wasn't just a great historic moment for the United States. The world wanted to share in that moment. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE (voice-over): From a hotel in Australia, to a Japanese village that shares his name, and his old school in Indonesia, the world celebrates the election of a president they hope will bring them change.
OBAMA: And a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear the world down, we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security, we support you.
VERJEE: Newspaper headlines, "A New World Dawns," "One Giant Leap for Mankind," "Mr. President." A reminder though of the complex world that awaits a new president.
With ordinary Russians going about their business, their government congratulated Obama on his victory, while in a speech to Russian lawmakers, President Dmitri Medvedev complained about U.S. policy ranging from Georgia to the economy to missile defense.
In France, champagne for the people and a statement from the president hoping America will lead the way once again.
In England, more of the same.
GORDON BROWN, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: This is a moment that will live in history as long as history books are written.
VERJEE: China's leaders hoping to have even more constructive ties. Israel's government hopes for a bright future with the Obama administration.
In Kenya, Obama's grandmother danced in delight. The family slaughters a cow for a feast, as Kenya stretches its celebration into a national holiday.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: And we got just a moment ago some reaction from Iran, where the foreign minister told the news agency there that, "We hope that the new government will heed the demands of the country's people that's distancing itself from the wrong approaches of current politicians."
ROBERTS: You know, Zain, we talk about this amazing thing which is American democracy and the peaceful transition to power. And you, yourself, have been a victim of political violence in your home country.
VERJEE: Right, exactly. I mean, so many countries, so many people around the world can't vote freely. They get killed because they want to vote. They get thrown into jail for years, tortured, their families hurt, their homes burned.
And for many around the world, they're looking at this moment in the United States as a shining example of democracy. And they're just going, wow. You know, there was a campaign, somebody lost, and they bowed out gracefully.
ROBERTS: Zain Verjee, thanks so much for that. It's great to see all that.
His ties to President Bush, his pick of Sarah Palin, and his own gaffes. We look at some of the things that may have cost John McCain the election.
Twenty-two minutes now after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Hot off the presses this morning and hitting the newsstands tomorrow, "TIME" magazine's special edition featuring President-Elect Barack Obama. Take a look. The special issue is titled "Change Has Come to America."
Well, what's the significance of Barack Obama's victory? And what will it mean in terms of change and the issue of race in America, for that matter?
We're joined now by Larry Elder, a self-proclaimed Republitarian. He's also host of "The Larry Elder Show" on KNBC 790 AM in Los Angeles.
Larry, it's' good to see you this morning. A little saner hour for you today. It's 8:30 there in Los Angeles.
You know, we've talked to so many prominent African-Americans in the last few weeks. On the Democratic side, they were all anxious as to whether or not this was actually going to happen. Now that it has, the question everybody has is, what next?
LARRY ELDER, HOST, "THE LARRY ELDER SHOW": Well, good morning, John, to you.
You know, when I first saw Barack Obama have an extensive interview early on in the campaign -- I believe it was with Steve Kroft of "60 Minutes" -- and Kroft asked him, "Senator, if you lose this election, will it be because of your race?" And Obama said, "No, it will be because I failed to articulate a vision that America could embrace."
I did not vote for him. I'm a Libertarian who's a Republican who holds his nose generally and votes for Republicans. The last one I voted enthusiastically for was Ronald Reagan.
But I said to myself after watching that interview, he gets it. He gets that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. And if you work hard, stay focused, irrespective of your color, you can make something. And last night one of the first things he said in his victory speech was, "If anybody doubts that you can achieve something in America, this is your answer."
So, to that extent, John, I think this is a good thing. I hope it will motivate people, especially young people and young people of color. This 50 percent dropout rate has to stop. The idea that somebody is waiting to strike you down and not let you live up to your potential has got to go.
ROBERTS: You know, Larry...
ELDER: So Obama, I think, will make that message.
ROBERTS: You know, Larry, some people have said that the reason why Barack Obama prevailed where other African-American candidates have failed is because previous African-American candidates were playing on this idea of white guilt, whereas Barack Obama didn't. He had a message of unity for which white Americans were thankful and therefore were willing to come out to the polls and support him.
Do you agree with that?
ELDER: I do to some extent. Doug Wilder, the former governor of Virginia, ran for president, and he didn't run on a campaign of white guilt. No, it was a combination of things, John.
Clearly, this is an extraordinary candidate, magnetic, charismatic, a killer smile. The anxious mood of the country because of the economy, and the meltdown about six weeks ago -- the money he was able to raise, twice as much money as John McCain, and more money than any presidential candidate in history, and the media. The media actually loves this guy and fawned over him. And in my opinion, John, did not give him the kind of scrutiny that he would have had and should have had had he been anybody else.
ROBERTS: We also talk about expectations, Larry. And does Barack Obama have expectations that are much higher than other president- elects would be? And does he really have to come to the table here? Does he really have to have a game when he takes office on January 20th?
ELDER: The expectations are enormous. And I noticed that his campaign began to talk back from some of those things. And Obama, too, has talked back some of the things.
He now says he may defer the tax hikes. He now says he may defer the spending. He now says NAFTA may be not be that bad. I'm not going to sit down with enemies like Ahmadinejad without preconditions.
So he's got to tamp down expectations, and he's got to understand that despite this huge electoral victory, John, he's only about six points ahead of John McCain in the popular vote. That is not a referendum to take this country far, far left. He's got to tamp down the expectations and restrain people like Nancy Pelosi and some of the other lefties in his party.
ROBERTS: All right. And just on the point on Ahmajinedad, he didn't say he would not sit down without precondition. He said he wouldn't sit down without preparation, and he also said that he probably wouldn't be sitting down with Ahmajinedad.
ELDER: Well, that was an amendment. He first said in a debate -- "Would you sit down with these people without preconditions?" -- to which he said yes. Later on he backpedaled and said some of the same things that you just now said, John.
ROBERTS: Larry Elder, it's always great to see you. Thanks for joining us this morning.
ELDER: You too. All right.
ROBERTS: Next time we'll make it 4:30 in the morning for you.
ELDER: I'll get you for that.
ROBERTS: All right. Thanks, Larry.
CHETRY: Yes, our guests are going to get used to sleeping in. They're not used to seeing us at this hour.
Well, it's a new day in American politics. Barack Obama has made history, elected the first black president of the United States. And the families of Barack Obama and Joe Biden soaked in this achievement at Chicago's Grant Park. And standing before that crowd, Obama spoke of his hope for a bright future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve, to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Well, the economy is the issue at the top of voter's minds. Of course, it helped put Barack Obama over the top. Our Soledad O'Brien is taking a look at the exit polling. Breaking it down. We spoke a lot about race before the election as well, but in the end, how much of an impact did it have on voters?
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: If someone tells you that race was not a factor, that's just not the case. The question is was race a barrier? The answer clearly, from the results last night, is no. Let's take a look at a really important voting block, which was - pull up Barack Obama, here - white people, voting for Barack Obama. We have -- where are my white voters, right here. White voters, take a look. You see he won 43 percent of the white vote. That is critical. People have looked at the Latino vote and the African-American vote. You can't win without white voters as well, 43 percent.
Let's take a look over at this graph to see how that compares to past Democratic candidates. 1996 and 1992, that is Bill Clinton, that's comparable numbers in '96, 43 percent. 2000 is Al Gore, 2004 is John Kerry, 41 percent, 42 percent. So he bested them. Jimmy Carter back in 1976, I think, had 47 percent of the white vote. So that's the high point there.
You can see that white voters supported Barack Obama in the same and better than even some other white candidates. You could argue race was not a barrier, but was race a factor? There's no question in our polling that some people voted because of race. Some of those people voted for Barack Obama because of race. Some people voted for John McCain because of race. I think it's very fair and clear to say that race does matter, it's just not a barrier to election - Kiran.
CHETRY: Very interesting. Wow, as you said, the worries about white voters and then seeing how they came out en masse for Barack Obama, really amazing. Soledad, thanks.
John.
ROBERTS: Obama is celebrating a historic victory this morning. Meanwhile, John McCain is heading for the cabin in Sedona to cook some ribs and probably wonder what might have been. Our Frank Sesno join us now with a look at what might have cost McCain the election.
What did you come up with?
FRANK SESNO, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, several things, John. I think really it involves around four key areas that go all the way back to the spring.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SESNO (voice over): John McCain, the maverick, was overshadowed by John McCain the erratic, even on matters that were supposed to be his strong suit, foreign policy, when he made this joke.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Bomb Iran? Bomb, bomb, bomb -anyway.
SENSO: McCain's main dilemma was the Bush White House.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's going to be the president who will bring determination to defeat an enemy.
SESNO: An endorsement that became a curse.
MCCCAIN: I intend to have as much possible campaigning events, together as in keeping with the president's heavy schedule.
SESNO: President Bush never once campaigned alongside his party standard bearer. McCain tried desperately to argue he wasn't Bush, even as if he argued for many of the same policies, such as the surge in Iraq.
MCCAIN: We have succeed and we will win the war in Iraq. And we are winning.
SESNO: It wasn't just the past tense, but the future, too, that haunted McCain, as markets tumbled and the economy heaved, the focus changed, and he asserted --
MCCAIN: The fundamentals of our economy are strong, but these are very, very difficult times. SESNO: McCain tried to control the damage, but his critics wouldn't let him forget it. As Congress agonized over a $700 billion bailout bill, he took another sharp turn.
MCCAIN: Tomorrow morning I'll suspend my campaign.
SESNO: McCain came back to Washington to do the deal, take the lead, except it didn't look that way. Instead it fed Obama's story line that McCain was erratic and out of the loop. And, of course, there was this.
MCCAIN: The next vice president of the United States, Governor Sarah Palin of the great state of Alaska.
SESNO: Sarah Palin was supposed to energize the Republican base, which had been suspicious of McCain all along, and maybe even attract some socially conservative Hillary Clinton voters. Palin did light up the base. But she also became a lightning rod for late night laughs.
TINA FEY, COMEDIAN, PALIN IMPERSONATOR: I'm here, you know, helping the -- it's got to be all about job creation.
GOV. SARAH PALIN, (R-AK) FMR. VP CANDIDATE: It's got to be all about job creation.
SESNO: And in the mainstream media, from interviews to wardrobe, McCain's running mate prompted endless questions about his central premise, experience and his judgment.
MCCAIN: We're Americans and we never give up.
SESNO: It was a candidacy that was always an uphill climb, part personality, part politics, a climb that proved insurmountable.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: I'm sorry. We've got to interrupt you there. We want to go right to the State Department, breaking news. Condoleezza Rice weighing in on this historic election. And - well, OK. So, we missed that.
So Frank, you were about to say?
SESNO: About history? We can always look back. That's easy.
Now, John McCain's situation is utterly fascinating. Because he really wanted to run as the maverick and agent of change, that's what he got overtaken and beaten by. He wasn't the agent of change. He was the agent of looking back. All those references to Ronald Reagan; all those references to, you know, the Bush policies that the country clearly wanted to change.
Ed Rollins was saying this morning, the worst thing in the world is the morning you wake up having lost. The phone calls stop. You're not part of the story anymore. John McCain will have a long time to reflect on what went wrong. ROBERTS: Frank Sesno, thanks very much. We just want to tell you that we did record Condoleezza Rice. So, we'll be able to play what she said for you in just a couple of minutes.
Kiran.
CHETRY: All right, well, we have more on Barack Obama's two keys to victory. There were two essential voting blocks, the youth vote, as well as the African-American vote. Joining us now in the studio, Jason Mattera. He is the spokesman for the conservative group, Young Americans Foundation and Alexandra Acker, the national executive director of the Young Democrats of America. We also are joined once again by John McWhorter, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and journalist and author, CNN contributor, Carl Bernstein.
Thanks to all of you for being with us. Let's talk about the youth vote because what we ended up seeing is that 18 to 29 year olds, in the exit polling, 66 percent for Barack Obama, 32 percent for John McCain.
Alexandra, was that a shock to you even, that large spread?
ALEXANDRA ACKER, NAT'L. EXEC. DIR., YOUNG DEMOCRATS: It was. It was higher than any of the polls we had seen. Barack Obama had a 27-point lead for most of the summer. And it started to go up. Every couple of weeks it would go up another point or two; 34 points, it's quadrupling the Kerry margin. It's just astounding.
CHETRY: I want to ask you this, Jason, because less than five years ago perhaps didn't know who Barack Obama was, now he's the president- elect of the United States. Where are the young conservatives, young Republicans that perhaps have a bright future down the road if you have to name some?
Bobby Jindal, definitely, of young conservatives I talk to on the college campuses. Even Sarah Palin, there was a huge spike in McCain's likability factor and wanted to go campaign for him, I know on mine, and the hundreds of college students I talked to, because Sarah Palin was a true conservative. She was able to articulate conservative ideas and she had that clear, down to earth, likability factor.
But Alexandra is right, there was a remarkable spread. This should be awake-up call for the GOP. You have to have established bases on college campuses. We need young, attractive, fresh candidates who can clearly articulate conservative ideas and energize young people, reach out to them. You know, kudos to Barack Obama for doing that.
CHETRY: And, Carl, I want to ask you about that. Because is it Barack Obama, or are we seeing a fundamental change in how Democrats and Republicans get youth voters to come to their side?
CARL BERNSTEIN, JOURNALIST: I'm learning from listening to them, that I think what we saw -- we saw the beginning of the possibility of post hard-edge partisanship in this election. That has been Barack Obama's call. Interestingly enough, until this election, in reality it's been John McCain's call, that we need a -- we cannot go forward with the kind of hard-edge partisanship that particularly has been seen from the Republican right.
But also we've been in a cultural war in this country for a generation. These are the people who are going to end a cultural warfare if they're able to move to some kind of consensus that says you're not awful in your views, let's find some common ground.
CHETRY: John, can that be applied to race as well?
JOHN MCWHORTER, MANHATTAN INST.: Yeah, it can. One thing we have to remember is that we can't talk about Barack Obama as just some guy. There's a certain magic charisma about him that might create what you're talking about, Carl. A lot of that is because of the color of his skin. I don't think we need to be afraid to admit that. This has been an election where it helped him to be black. That's a historical thing.
BERNSTEIN: Also, he's a huge celebrity.
(CROSS TALK)
BERNSTEIN: There was all this stuff about celebrity and it being hung around, a bad thing and hung around his neck like an albatross. McCain is a celebrity, Obama is a celebrity.
MCWHORTER: More of a celebrity.
BERNSTEIN: And, in fact, there is this charismatic factor that is huge here. Just as Jack Kennedy. So I think that's another factor we haven't talked about and we need to look at and gives great possibility to this new presidency.
MATTERA: I think it would be a mistake to give up on cultural issues with younger voters. ACKER: Oh, Jason.
MATTERA: No, we've seen trends for the last decade where more young people consider themselves pro life, more young people oppose racial preferences, and more young people respect the Second Amendment than they did ten years ago. We need a candidate to articulate that. We -
ACKER: Unfortunately, those are not the issues that young people are voting on.
(CROSS TALK)
ACKER: They don't agree on every issue.
CHETRY: These two have been at odds from the start, they still don't agree on much but do appear together with us weekly. And we appreciate it. Thanks to all of you for being on the panel today.
While Barack Obama makes history, others measure the journey. Jesse Jackson, the face of a generation that made this historic moment possible. He'll be joining us on AMERICAN MORNING . (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Well, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held a briefing at the State Department. Zain Verjee joins us now with more. She may be a Republican, but a personal moment for her.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT: A really rare moment for Secretary Rice. I mean, she rarely shows emotion. But this day she felt it necessary to come out and speak personally about what happened yesterday, in this historic moment in the U.S., as well as also weighed in on her professional thoughts. Here is what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: I just want to close on a personal note, as an African-American, I'm especially proud because this is a country that has been through a long journey in terms of overcoming wrongs and making race not the factor in our lives. That work is not done, but yesterday was obviously an extraordinary step forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: She also said that Senator McCain was very gracious. She said Obama was inspirational. She went on, Kiran, to say she's going to do everything she can, personally, as well as get the whole State Department on board to make sure the transition is absolutely smooth and that there are no problems.
She's always been aware of race because she's always spoken out about it very strongly. She said in the past there have been too few African-Americans at the State Department. That America really does struggle in dealing with race in this country. And what she terms a birth defect. So it's an extraordinary moment for her.
CHETRY: You're right. A moment of candor. She's usually not like that expressing her personal opinions on things, so really remarkable. Zain, great to see you. Thank you.
VERJEE: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Coming up now on 45 minutes after the hour. Barack Obama, history unfolds and disbelief melts away. One image captures so many emotions, Reverend Jesse Jackson among more than 200,000 people amassed in Chicago's Grant Park, all celebrating Obama's landmark victory. Reverend Jackson joins us this morning from Chicago.
Reverend Jackson, we look at that picture, tears streaming down your face. What was going through your mind at that moment?
REV. JESSE JACKSON, FOUNDER, PUSH RAINBOW COALITION: I think two things. There he stood so majestically, talking to the world, the villages of Kenya and Haiti and the palaces of Europe and China. The world looking to hear what he had to say about the hope, about the economy, about war and peace. And that touched me, for his amazing accomplishment. On the other hand, I thought about those who paid such a huge price to make last night possible. Those soldiers who came from World War II, who had fewer rights than the Nazis had that they had fought against. The '54 Supreme Court decision, the price that that Supreme Court paid and Thurgood Marshall, Dr. King, (UNINTELLIGBLE), two Jews and a black, killed, Fanny Lou Hamer and her suffering. The suffering servants who laid the groundwork, we rejoice in their suffering and his victory is redemption for their investment.
ROBERTS: Obviously, Reverend Jackson, it was a long road to get to what happened last night. But I spoke with Larry Elders (ph) about this. People have talked about why Barack Obama prevailed when others who have gone before him failed to achieve that level in politics. Some people say it is because rather than talking about the injustice of race, he would talk about the hope for a better future, and how far this nation has come. Effectively, he would take race out of the equation. Would you agree with that analysis?
JACKSON: Not really. Because race is a factor except because of our socialization process, it became a source of hope as opposed to a negative. We had to bring down the walls to build the bridges. We couldn't hope to end segregation. It required a legal decision in '54. We couldn't hope to end segregation in Montgomery without the boycott. We couldn't hope for public accommodations, we had to march and take the risk. We couldn't hope for the right to vote. We had to march and sacrifice.
But once the walls came down, then we could then build a bridge. It's another stage of the same struggle. But the good news is America is a better nation because we have struggled. I think of August 20th, 1955, Emmitt Teal Lynch (ph), what a dark day. August 28, '63, Dr. King speaking about a dream. August 28th, President Barack Obama, President Barack Obama, becoming the party's nominee. We see America as a work in progress. But these fights involve real struggle and real sacrifice. And because of those sacrifices and those martyrs, there we stand celebrating.
ROBERTS: That fire truck going by sounds like it.
Of course, Reverend Jackson, we have talked to you over the course of this campaign about things you said about Barack Obama. You accused him once of acting white, you accused him once of talking down to black people. You even said you'd like to cut off a part of his anatomy. I mean, he's made it now to the pinnacle. He is the president-elect of the United States. So, how do you reconcile what you were saying about him?
JACKSON: Well, we've never stopped supporting President Barack Obama. As a matter of fact, I voted for him six times, two times as state senator, two times as U.S. senator, two times for the presidency. Those words, whenever they were said they were hurtful, we express great remorse, but I struggled to campaign for him, to talk on radios, talk in churches. We never stopped. He represents the best that our struggle has to offer and the best America has to offer. And for that today, we're all under one big tent and I can celebrate, and go forth by our hope and not backers (ph) by our fears. ROBERTS: Well, Reverend Jackson, looking at your face last night, certainly the emotion and the moment couldn't be missed by everyone in America. Thanks for being with us this morning. Appreciate it, sir.
JACKSON: Thank you.
CHETRY: Well, from a new first puppy to pleas for an invite to Barack Obama's inauguration, it's the lighter side on the race for the White House.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm here in Obama, Japan, where this town is cheering on its name sake, the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States. They even came up with a theme song.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama is number one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, I'm Christian Purefoy (ph) in Lagos, Nigeria. The most populous black nation in the world. There's about 150 million Nigerians. And the news today that a black man is president of America has left people here overwhelmed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, very good, very proud. You don't even know how happy. I was crying about that, seeing that a black man to be a president in America.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) In America, our own brother is going to be the president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Cal Perry (ph) in Beirut where people woke up a bit surprised and also a bit in awe of the U.S. political system. This headline reads: The Black Kennedy in the White House: a bit of appreciation from the Lebanese that the U.S. could elect its first African-American president. All of this because Lebanon is surrounded by countries that don't see change that often. Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Libya, just to name four of the countries that have seen the same man, or the same family in power for decades. All of which is only going to be more self-reflection for the Lebanese, who themselves go to the polls nationwide just next spring.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, you know, you have to stop and think, 21 to 22 long months, it's hard to believe it's over. But Jeanne Moos takes a look at the lighter side of this history-making election.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Heralded by honking.
(CAR HORNS)
MOOS: Complete with countdown. CROWD: Three, two, one.
MOOS: It may have seemed like New Year's, but it was more a rejection of past years.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eight years of Bush. Oh, my God!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Remember, remember, the 5th of November, the day we celebrate the people's avenger.
MOOS: President-Elect Obama was rolled up, his favorite slogan, lit up the night.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: Yes, we can.
MOOS: On this occasion, even goats were for Obama. And speaking of animals, the president elect promised to make good on a campaign promise to his daughters.
OBAMA: You have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House.
MOOS: And guess who would like to come to the inauguration?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (singing): Because I've got a crush on Obama.
MOOS: The Obama girl says she'd like an invite. Amber Lee Ettinger said she cried over Obama's victory, but no one seemed more moved than Jesse Jackson. To think that just a few months earlier he was caught on tape saying he'd like to dismember part of Senator Obama, but old wounds were apparently healed by this.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And CNN can now project.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Barack Obama is projected to be --.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- president elect of the United States of America.
MOOS: When President-Elect Obama took the stage, there was plenty of kissing and group hugging and mouthing, I love you, but the Obamas weren't the night's only stars.
BLITZER: You've never seen anything like this on television. We beamed you in here into the CNN Election Center.
MOOS: Correspondent Jessica Yellin was actually at the Obama rally in Chicago.
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are 35 high-definition cameras ringing me.
MOOS: CNN has a name for this.
BLITZER: You're a terrific hologram.
MOOS: So was the creator of the "Yes, we can" video, Will I. Am.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's see if we can beam him in now.
MOOS: It's sort of a cross between "Star Trek" and Princess Leia in "Star Wars".
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi Wan Kanobi (ph), you're my only hope.
MOOS: Did she say hope? Beam him into the White House. Jeannie Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: And a good friend of mine, Mark Knowler, who works for CBS Radio at the White House said if we beamed Candy Crowley in, it would have been a candy gram. There you go!
And time to check the results of our "Quickvote!" question. We asked, can Barack Obama unite the country? A whopping 93 percent of you said yes, just 7 percent said no. Over 3,000 of you voted. Thanks so much for doing that.
CHETRY: What are we going to talk about tomorrow?
ROBERTS: I'll tell you what we'll talk about. We'll talk about the transition and the inauguration and the first 100 days. This pony can be ridden till April at least. Come on.
CHETRY: I'm might be all talked out after nine hours.
ROBERTS: No way.
CHETRY: All right, we'll back up and do it again tomorrow. Thanks so much for joining us on this special extended edition of AMERICAN MORNING.
ROBERTS: We'll see you back here again tomorrow. Coming up our election coverage continues with Wolf Blitzer and Campbell Brown. Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
