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America Votes 2010; Al Qaeda "Dry Run?"; Hikers Get Phone Call; Chilean Miner to Run Marathon; Ryan Seacrest Interviews Obama

Aired November 02, 2010 - 08:00   ET

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


JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and thanks so much for joining us on this Tuesday, November 2nd. It is Election Day, midterms, 2010.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. And in many states the polls have been open either for an hour or two hours. Many voters heading out to the polls. Let's take a look.

We want to let you know that we have a lot going on for you in this hour. We have our correspondents spanned across the country. We want to get right to it because today is the day. After all of the campaigning, some of the nasty and extremely expensive campaigns that have been out there, it all comes down to who gets out to the polls today. And not only has it been nasty at times, it's been quite expensive. $3.5 billion. It's the most expensive midterm campaign ever.

And at this hour, 10 more states are now casting their polls. Polls open in Alabama, in Arizona, in Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. There's a look at the map right now of the polls that are open.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We have, indeed. Really.

Of all the things you're going to watch today, this is the thing that you have to pay attention to all day long, this and our other wall over here. You pay attention to nothing else, watch this and you'll get the story of this election.

Because what we've done here, Kiran, is we picked out the 100 races in the House that are most on the knife edge. These are races where you think there's a real chance that they could change for a whole variety of reasons, polling and exactly what the nature of it was before.

For example, if you look in Colorado here, here's a Democrat who won in the 4th district, Betsy Markey. She won pretty substantially back in '08. But Colorado is one of those states that can really go Democratic or Republican. So, you can say this very well -- could be connected to the whole wave of Barack Obama.

So, the question is: how much will that hold up now that his approval rating -- more importantly, the disapproval rating, is so high? So, over in this wall, we're going to look at each class, 2008. These are the Congress members who came in back then. 2006, these are the ones who came in when the Democrats really took control. And then we go further back to some in for a long, long time.

Watch these 100 all day long and these will tell you what's happening on the House side of the equation. It's very important, Kiran.

CHETRY: And we're also tracking the Senate races. As you mentioned Colorado, that's another nail-biter for Senate there.

FOREMAN: Absolutely. The Senate races are over here on the other wall. And this is going to be the one that everybody's going to wonder about because there's very much a sense on the House side, there may be a change happening. The Senate -- not so sure.

Over there, 39 changes have to happen for the Republicans to take charge. Over here, 10 of the states that are blue have to have a change and they pick up a red for them to take. So, 39 and 10.

Some of the races over here watching very closely -- Pennsylvania has been a big stirring point. This is important for the presidential election because it's so important there what happens. So, the question will be whether or not Pat Toomey somehow pulls it out against Joe Sestak.

And then we look over here in Colorado, which we mentioned before. This is interesting. The district we mentioned before is all up in here. That's an area that can easily end up going the other way.

You can see that right now, if you look in the Senate race now, this is one where you got Michael Bennet and Ken Buck running neck and neck out there. Ken Buck's had Tea Party support. We're going to see what happens with that.

But the last one that I keep talking about, and a lot of us are, is over here in Nevada, important state symbolically because here you got that bitter, bitter fight between Sharron Angle and Harry Reid. You were talking about it earlier on.

Look, if Harry Reid gets knocked off here, this is the majority leader on the Senate side. Boy, does that symbolize something for the Democrats? It's a very important tough thing for them.

So, I keep saying, it all comes down to this: 39, 10, Nevada -- 39, 10, Nevada. Watch those three and that will tell you the story of this race today.

CHETRY: It is going to -- we might know by the end of today.

(CROSSTALK)

FOREMAN: We'll find out.

CHETRY: -- in some cases. It will be interesting to see Alaska, as well, where there was a write-in candidate.

FOREMAN: Oh, my gosh. Yes.

CHETRY: If Lisa Murkowski pulls that out, that will be the first time since Strom Thurmond did it in 1934.

FOREMAN: Huge, huge change there. But that's it -- 39, 10, Nevada. That's a good starting point.

CHETRY: I got it.

(LAUGHTER)

CHETRY: Tom Foreman, cool technology, by the way. It does really help illustrate it, though, to be able to see it -- to be able to see it here and to be able to go back in the dates to 2004 and beyond -- very interesting stuff.

FOREMAN: Oh, my gosh. Yes.

And always look at this -- if you switch over here, we go back to this and you can look at the population centers that really matter. Look at that -- Las Vegas, 68 percent of the vote. If you're running a statewide race here, you better do well in Las Vegas.

CHETRY: Absolutely.

FOREMAN: And because of the unions and things like this, you got pretty strong, pretty strong power there for the Democrats. But we'll see.

CHETRY: All right. Tom Foreman, thanks so much -- John.

ROBERTS: Republicans, Kiran, are hoping that in 24 hours' time, the House will be their house -- and that means Ohio Republican John Boehner would likely replace Nancy Pelosi as speaker.

CNN's chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley, joins us this morning.

So, how likely is it, as we go into today, now, people are just beginning to vote. But sort of according to the polls, how likely is it that Nancy Pelosi may lose a job?

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's certainly quite likely. But let me tell you the number of people I have heard from since 9:00 p.m. last night, Democrats: seven. You all are underestimating the get-out-the-vote operation.

OK. And that may be. I mean, this is sort of a last refuge here. If the turnout machine is not good, Democrats don't have much of a chance. But they insist they've got in these key races real turnout machines and they think it will make a difference. They say some of the things you look and they're very close.

Well, we know that if you eve got a turnout operation, you can tip the vote two, three, four points. So, that's what they're clinging to at this point. But if you look -- if you're looking at that polling there, some races that are beyond their reach.

It's going to be a Republican night. We've known that since when? January?

ROBERTS: Yes.

CROWLEY: We just don't know how big of a Republican night.

ROBERTS: So, is this -- could this really be considered a referendum on the president? Is it an anti-incumbent mood across the country? How would it be viewed?

CROWLEY: Listen -- is there some anti-incumbency? There is. There is a sort of throw-out-the-bums sort of feel, but there will be more bums returned than thrown out, I can assure you. Because, you know, by and large, 100 races maybe in the House, and we're talking about a third of the Senate. And many of those are already assured.

So, you're not looking at that many races that are up. So more incumbents than not will return to Capitol Hill.

And every single election is about the party in power. So, yes, it's a referendum on the Obama administration and the economy, quite frankly.

ROBERTS: I mean, no question, a large slice of the electorate is very upset at this administration. But even some members of the president's own party are, as well. They don't think that he's lived up to his promise of performance.

Will there be pressure on the administration to sort of remake the hierarchy, the structure of the White House to hope for a better couple of years before 2012?

CROWLEY: Yes. And there already is the short answer.

But I think the most pressure is about pivoting -- and it's not just change, you know, move the deck chairs here. It's about: you need to take a different direction. And how do you do that symbolically? You change the folks around you.

So, you know, but it takes presidents a while. He's a president who likes the people who are around him. That's where the comfort zone is.

ROBERTS: Yes.

CROWLEY: All presidents are like this. So, I don't expect he's going to come out -- get out tomorrow and say, OK, the following eight people are coming in. It doesn't tap in that easily.

Somebody pointed out the other day that when Bill Clinton -- President Bill Clinton got clocked in the midterms, he had to come out say, I'm still relevant, I'm, you know -- but it's kind of took him a year to begin that kind of triangulation.

ROBERTS: Yes. I remember when he was asked that question: are you still relevant?

CROWLEY: Right, exactly. Yes, I'm relevant.

ROBERTS: He turned several shades of red, too, before he answered the question.

Candy, thanks so much.

CROWLEY: Thanks.

ROBERTS: After you vote today, turn on CNN, "The Best Political Team in Television" brings you up-to-the-minute results and analysis from this critical midterm election. Our live coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

And then you can stay up all night with CNN. AMERICAN MORNING picks up the post-election coverage bright and early -- really early -- 3:00 a.m. Eastern Wednesday morning.

Just keep on CNN for most comprehensive election coverage on television and online -- Kiran.

CHETRY: John, thanks.

Well, it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day to head out to the polls in many parts of the country. Rob Marciano is in the extreme weather center for us.

Not -- not much extreme weather today, though, right?

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Just a couple of spots but you're right. The majority of the U.S. is going to deal with some tranquil fall weather if you're heading to the polls -- and you better be. With the exception of southeast Texas and parts of Louisiana where it's raining for a good 12 hours in many spots and it continues to come down hard.

The good news is that this is a huge drought relief. Southeast Texas, Houston notably, received less than an inch of rain all of October and they've already received that in the last 12 hours, an inch and a half of rain so far across southwest Louisiana, and in the last 24 hours and obviously more coming.

It is moving very, very slowly so it will push over towards Baton Rouge and New Orleans as the day goes long and eventually into the rest of the Southeast. Maybe a sprinkle in Atlanta, that's about it. The real rains will come tomorrow, 62. But down right dry and nippy this morning especially from D.C. up to New York City. Temperatures will struggle to 50 degrees.

Meanwhile, out in Los Angeles, 91 degrees, a year without a summer. Followed up by a very warm fall, including San Francisco, where they're celebrating, 75 degrees expected there and some showers across Portland.

But, you know, good 80 percent of the U.S. will enjoy some dry weather. So, get out there and do your civic duty.

Kiran, back up to you.

CHETRY: No excuses. Can't blame the weatherman today.

Rob Marciano for us this morning -- thanks so much.

MARCIANO: All right. You bet.

CHETRY: John?

ROBERTS: Thanks, Kiran. No rain in the forecast in the state of Kentucky, site of one of the most closely watched races in the country. Democrat Jack Conway and Tea Party favorite Rand Paul are both vying to become the state's new U.S. senator.

And Rand Paul has opened up a commanding lead. We're going to talk to him live next about what's ahead for the Tea Party and how he intends to downsize government.

Plus, the waiting is over. Giants have brought their first World Series title to the Bay, and we'll show you the celebrations in the streets of San Francisco -- coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: It's coming up now on 13 minutes after the hour.

The polls are open in Kentucky this morning, where a Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul is up against Democrat Jack Conway. Paul, of course, is a Tea Party favorite, with some libertarian views, who beat the GOP establishment candidate back in the primary. And he joins us now live from Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Rand Paul, good to see you this morning. Thanks for being with us.

DR. RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY SENATE CANDIDATE: Good to be with you, John.

ROBERTS: Well, when you look at the public opinion polls going into today, you stand a pretty good chance of becoming the next senator from Kentucky. And the question I have: Should you prevail today, should you win, when you get to Washington, are you going to work to try to change the Republican establishment leadership?

PAUL: Well, what I'm going to work to try to change is the whole government. I think government's broken from top to bottom. And I think both sides, not just Republicans, not just Democrats, they both shown themselves to be untrustworthy.

What we really need to do is balance the budget and I don't think they'll ever step up and do it unless we force to do -- force them to do it by law. You know, they tried pay-as-you-go, but both sides evaded immediately. So, I think need a constitutional amendment that says they have to balance the budget and I think then they would step up and be legislators and decide the priorities of where we would spend the money.

ROBERTS: He opposed you in the Republican primary, but you've become close to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who is as establishment as they get.

When you get to Washington, what's that relationship going to be like with Mitch McConnell? Are you going to walk in lockstep with him?

PAUL: I think that we will challenge him from day-to-day. But I think there are also many areas in which we agree. The thing is, is that I think most Republicans feel like we're spending too much, the deficit's too high, but sometimes that when we've gotten in power, we've gone along and not really stayed the course.

I will be one who say to the Republicans in my party: we need to stay the course and we need to go ahead and balance our budget.

Really, this isn't about individuals. It's not about one personality. It's not about me. It's about changing the law. And the law has to be reformed to make them balance the budget.

And, really, we need to do a lot of structural things. For example, we have bureaucrats now writing laws. I think we should sunset all regulations unless they're approved by Congress. And that doesn't mean we won't have regulations, it just means that Congress should be approving the regulations and you shouldn't have unelected bureaucrats making regulations. So, I see these as big governmental reform issues and not just who is going to be in charge of this or that. I think, really, government's broken and that's why it's out of control.

ROBERTS: You know, on the subject of getting things done, if you look at the projections that a lot of the political analysis has come up with, Republicans may, indeed, take control of Congress in today's election which would most likely put John Boehner in as the Speaker of the House under a Republican medal.

He has vowed should Republicans take the House to dismantle President Obama's agenda and that may leave many people wondering, is anything going to get done or is this just a recipe for gridlock in the next two years?

PAUL: I think what I'm most concerned with and what we need to do in Congress is I'm concerned that we have 10 percent unemployment. We have a significant recession, probably the worst recession since the great depression, and my fear is it's just not that President Obama's policies, Obamacare and the new banking regulations, I don't care who proposed them, but I think they're a disaster for our economy.

And I'm fearful that this recession we have may make a second dip because of all the new regulations. So, really that's my point. I don't care whether President Obama proposed these programs or who did, but we need to repeal the things that are preventing us from getting out of this recession.

ROBERTS: Understood, but if one side works to undo what the other side has done for two years, is that going to be a recipe for cooperation or a recipe for gridlock?

PAUL: Well, I think there'll have to be some cooperation, but I think the American people want a debate over this, and I think we do debate it and we decide how do we get out of the recession. And the thing is people primarily want results. The results would be jobs being formed, get out of this recession. I think you do it by believing in the people, individual entrepreneurs, business men and women, but I don't think you get there by adding more regulation on business.

You know, the banking regulation bill has not been talked about enough. Everybody talks about Obamacare --

ROBERTS: Yes.

PAUL: But my biggest fear for getting out of the recession is that all these new regulations are heaped on community banks. What our small businesses in Kentucky are telling us is that it's difficult to get a loan even when you have a good track record, a good credit record because of all these new regulations.

ROBERTS: Yes, certainly not just in Kentucky either. You ran on a platform of dramatically downsizing government. Should you get to Washington, what's the first thing you cut?

PAUL: Well, I think the first thing you do is you have to have a rule, and that would be a balanced budget amendment. Then, what you have to do is you have to have a compromise. The compromise between Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals has to be that conservatives have always said we'll cut domestic spending, but we won't touch military spending. Some liberals who believe the deficit is a problem have said we'll cut military spending, but we won't cut domestic spending.

The real compromise has to be you have to look at the whole length and breadth and width of the budget and say, you know what, there's waste everywhere. Now, I do believe national defense is the most important thing the federal government does, but I do think there is waste in the military budget.

And I will be one of those who will reach across the aisle to the Democrats and say, we will tackle waste throughout the length and breadth of the budget, but I think that's the only compromise that would find enough money to ever balance the budget.

ROBERTS: Rand Paul, it's good to see you this morning, and we'll be watching the results later on today. There in the important state of Kentucky. Thanks very much.

PAUL: Thanks, John.

ROBERTS: Kiran.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: John, thanks. Well, Americans are heading to the polls this morning. In 10 minutes, we got the best political team on television with us. We're exploring the GOP's next move, how Democrats regroup if they lose the House, and also looking ahead to 2012 when the White House will be up for grabs.

Also ahead, he was stuck underground as we know for 69 days in a Chilean mine with 32 of his fellow miners. He ran every day. Down in the mine shaft. He says to keep his mind sharp and his body fit. Well, this morning, rumors are swirling that Chilean, Edison Pena -- wasn't he the Elvis fan, by the way? I think he was, will accept an invitation to the New York City marathon this weekend. We're going to talk about that coming up. Nineteen minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: Welcome back. Twenty-two minutes past the hour. We have some new information this morning on the Yemen mail bomb plot. Now, an official says that the U.S. intercepted a shipment of packages headed for Chicago a few weeks ago and that that, indeed, may have been a dry run for al Qaeda to test this plot. There were no explosives, but the official said that terrorists may have been trying to learn something about how the shipping system worked.

ROBERTS: They say they can't wait to hear their sons' voices again. Iran is allowing two jailed American hikers to speak to their parents on the telephone. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal have been held for 15 months now. Iran claims they wandered over the border into Northern Iran from Iraq and are spies. A third hiker, Sarah Shourd, was released in September. Iran just postponed the trial of the two men which was set to begin on Saturday.

CHETRY: Well, the Chilean miner who earned the nickname "The Runner" is set to run again, but this time, in the New York City marathon. CNN's confirming that Edison Pena will be traveling to New York as a special guest of honor for Sunday's race. Pena is the one who reportedly listened to Elvis on his iPod. Well, he listened to Elvis, and he requested Elvis music to be sent down there.

But he also listened to it on his iPod running three to six miles every day to keep fit and to clear his mind. Remember, they had a very active workout regimen. A doctor, you know, above ground was trying to advise them to keep in the best shape as possible.

ROBERTS: Can you imagine running three to six miles in a mine every day?

CHETRY: No.

ROBERTS: My gosh.

And San Francisco Giants' fans have been up all night celebrating the bay area. And who could blame them? Their team is on top of the baseball world. The Giants defeated the Texas Rangers last night to take the World Series in five games. It's the team's first World Series title in 56 years.

CHETRY: All right. Congratulations.

And Americans are voting right now in three different -- in several states across the country. In three minutes, we're going to have the best political team on television bringing you insight, analysis that you come to expect from CNN. We'll be exploring what the next step is for Democrats if they lose the House, and also, key races to watch today that could swing the balance of power in this country. We're going to take a quick break. It's 24 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: Well, the only way the two parties are coming together today is to get out to the polls and try to get their voters out there voting today. Twenty-seven minutes past the hour. We have the Senate, the House, 37 governor jobs, all in play this morning as Americans head to the polls. And we have the best political team on television with us right now bringing you the kind of insight and analysis that you've come to expect from CNN.

We have with us former White House Chief of Staff for George Bush, Andy Card as well as Democratic strategist, Kiki McLean, DailyBeast.com columnist, and independent analyst John Avlon. Cord Jefferson joins us. He's from TheRoot.com, The Washington reporter, and we have "New York Times" national correspondent, Kate Zernike, as well as Michael Scherer, the White House correspondent for "Time."

Great to see all of you with us this morning. The GOP is next, and this is interesting because it's almost be careful what you wish for in some ways. If you do get control of the House, what do you next?

ANDY CARD, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Well, I think first of all, this election is a redundant frustration reaction from the American voters. And the Republicans and the tea party activists are going to be the people that bring that frustration to Washington and try to address it. I think they understand that they have a responsibility to transfer from being frustrated to being constructive. And they've got to be part of the solution, but it can't be a one-way street.

It's not just about the Republicans and the tea party crowd. This is also about the president. The president has got to demonstrate that he gets the message, that he's heard the phone call, and that he will change, and be ready to work with the other side. If he doesn't do it, I think we are in for gridlock.

KIKI MCLEAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I got to say. This is 8:00 in the morning, not 8:00 at night. So, this vote is not done yet, OK? So, we may be a little ahead of ourselves about what the Republicans' plan is for leadership. There's a lot of room for people to go vote this morning, and well they should. But regardless of who wins at 8:00 tonight when races start getting called, there is a measurement of ending hyper partisanship that must happen. Two more years of stall it, to set up for a presidential campaign or to assume a larger majority is complete and utter failure regardless of who's in charge.

JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: That's right. And if candidates think they're just to be content demagoguing the deficit and the debt, now, they need to deal with the deficit and the debt and that requires both parties working together. So, if anyone is going to play just plain politics and keep kicking the can down over the next election, that's where America gets in serious, long-term problem.

CORD JEFFERSON, WASHINGTON REPORTER, THEROOT.COM: Actually, I think the Republicans right now are of two minds. I mean, one hand, you have sort of Mitch McConnell mindset who says that we want Barack Obama to be a one-term president. That's a huge goal of his. On the other hand, you have Eric Cantor who's looking to become a very powerful force in the Republican Party saying that this weekend in "The Wall Street Journal" that he really wants bipartisanship.

And that he understands the mistakes of the Republicans in the past. I think it's sort of aligning those two and making them work together is going to be a difficult next move.

KATE ZERNIKE, AUTHOR, "BOILING MAD INSIDE TEA PARTY AMERICA": Well, I think the question is can people agree on what those consensus issues are? And you know, we're going to cut the budget, where are we going to cut the budget? You know, is it complete repeal of the Obamacare as tea party people like to call it or is it something short of that? So, I think the tea party people certainly would not agree with even many Republicans about what the agenda is.

MICHAEL SCHERER, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, "TIME": I just don't see harmony breaking out in Washington. The fighting fact right now --

MCLEAN: No singing?

SCHERER: Of the political scene is that everybody is underwater, meaning, their unfavorables are greater than their favorables. The president, the Republican Party's worse off than the president. The tea party is as bad as the Republican Party, and as soon as this election is over, there's going to be a fight to try and convince the American people that they're the one you should choose.

CHETRY: Yes, I heard one voter refer to it as whoever I vote for, they're still on probation with me, but the interesting thing is we talked about -- are they going to be playing politics or they going to stick to the issues? There's different opinions. And we heard Tim Caine saying, the DNC chair saying people should be out here touting the stimulus and the fact that Wall Street was saved from the brink, and these are the very issues that made the Tea Party movement rise.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, but here's this. I spent my career as a press secretary and my best work as the story nobody ever saw, right? The reporters at the end of the day, blink twice at me for that.

There's a little bit of that going on for president Obama and the Democrats. Some of the great stuff is the work that we didn't see. The depression didn't happen because frankly in the beginning Republicans and Democrats worked together. Nobody was happy about the votes they made but they agreed it was the right vote to make.

The same is true with what has to happen today on Election Day. To move cooperation, people have to stand up and use their voice. That's why you have to stand up today and vote. You have to hold people accountable once they're in office.

And that's the difference between -- excuse me. That's the one thing consistent between an election and governing is people. It's not on the backs of the people we elect. It's those of us who actually go in and vote and elect them have some responsibility in this.

CARD: This is the most exciting day of our democracy, Election Day.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is awesome.

CARD: The people that answered the invitation to run for office are significant. The people that answer the invitation to vote for those who run for office is pretty exciting. We really should be celebrating that.

But ultimately after the votes are cast, the government has to work. And it's up to the president to demonstrate that he wants it to work, because so far he hasn't been doing that during the course of the campaign.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, and too often we forget that it's a preamble to governing. And today's the day for everyone to stand up and don't accept word it's over until it's over, but then tomorrow begin to apply pressure to actually see solutions coming out of Washington, not just more of this, you know, play to the base point.

CHETRY: But when there's not any type of consensus on what the solution is, I think everyone agrees on we need more jobs, right? We need to make hiring work again in a way, shape or form. But after that, a major difference of opinion that we haven't seen in recent years of what the solutions are.

CORD JEFFERSON, WASHINGTON REPORTER, THEROOT.COM: Absolutely. And I think that, again, as I said earlier, I think that it's going to be up to the Republicans to sort of show those solutions.

I think that the Democrats have tried to show the solutions and we have seen major obstructionism. I think the Senate has been at a standstill for the past 20 months. And I think that's it's going to be incumbent upon the Republicans who have been demanding give us the ball, let us run with it, it is up to them to show it.

I know Mr. Card keeps saying it's going to be up to Obama, but I think it really lies in the Republicans.

ANDY CARD: No one will control the Senate. Someone may control the agenda of the Senate, but they won't control the votes. So it takes the president to provide the leadership for congress, the House and Senate to get things done.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have a role in this. The reality is, when Lyndon Johnson and Everett Dirkson, the famous Republican senator of Illinois, looked at civil rights, they didn't look we're in complete agreement. They had to go to the table and work through it.

And they had to have voters who didn't threaten them at the beginning of the process, but who said, you know what, go in there and don't come out until we see it. They did it at great political cost to each of their individual careers, by the way. They spent their own political capital to make that happen.

So when I look up and say voters haves to own this thing. Tim Caine's right. The DNC did a ton of work to get the vote out and I'll sure Republicans will demonstrate what they have done to get it out. But at the end of the day we have to say when Lindsey Graham and John Kerry try to figure out climate change, stay in the room. Don't walk out. Work through it.

SCHERER: I think what you will see after the election is the White House pivoting to the theatrics of the Republican Party. You'll see the president meeting with the Republican caucus, meeting with Congress, saying we want to work together.

And the question is, on the big things they're not going to agree. And it's not just going to happen. The question is, on smaller things, like can you have a piecemeal energy bill, which is something the White House is thinking of and a lot of Republicans could support if you take out a carbon tax.

Could you support some sort of a stimulus, even if it's a tax heavy stimulus, to get the economy going, and that's where the rubber meet it is road.

CHETRY: All right, I want to thank all of you for your insight this morning. Let's go over to John.

ROBERTS: Thanks very much.

One of the big races that we are watching is in the state of Alaska. The polls open in about two and a half hours' time. People will be choosing a new senator. Joe Miller, the Tea Party backed Republican up against incumbent Republican Lisa Murkowski, who lost in the primary and has launched a write-in campaign. And Scott McAdams is the Democrat in the race.

CNN's Drew Griffin is live for us in Anchorage. And I don't know if you're up early or late, but it's certainly looking wintry there. A lot of people have their eye on Alaska this time around.

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And it's interesting coming off that conversation that Kiran was just having because, really, John, in this state right now, it looks to be a battle between the Republican Party itself.

A lot of conflicting polls over the weekend and just yesterday, too. But it looks like if you look at all these different polls, it's coming down to a difference between the Tea Party candidate Joe Miller backed by Sarah Palin and on the ballot versus Lisa Murkowski, the sitting Republican senator who's trying to stage this write-in campaign. It's a rematch of their primary battle which Lisa Murkowski lost.

A lot of it, of course, will come down to turnout. The turnout I can tell you has already been high here in the state of Alaska, more than 17,000 people casting their votes early. That's twice as many as who voted early in 2006, the last time that there was a non- presidential election here.

So, it is a tight, tight race between these two candidates, Scott McAdams, the Democrat. He has told me over the weekend he's surging in his own polls, but only his own polls showing that. It does look like, John, a showdown between the old Republican guard and the Tea Party candidate here in Alaska.

ROBERTS: Lisa Murkowski in recent days has been defending the fact she is a Republican. Why does she feel the need to do that?

GRIFFIN: Based on an interview she gave CNN, she gave me over the weekend. I asked her, Senator Murkowski, should you go back to Washington? Should you go back to the Senate? Are you going to go back as a Republican?

Her answer was, "I feel very liberated not running as a Republican in this race. And I'm going to go back representing the people of Alaska."

Well, that was jumped upon by her opponent Joe Miller, who said that, you know, that just shows you she might vote with the Democrats. So she's had to come out and say, no, no, no. I'm still a conservative, I'm still a Republican. So that was an interesting turn.

ROBERTS: It is going to be an interesting race there in a long, long day in Alaska and maybe some days to come. Drew, didn't mom ever tell you to wear a hat out in a snowstorm?

GRIFFIN: Not on TV, John. Come on. I can't wear a hat. I have beautiful hair.

(LAUGHTER)

ROBERTS: Drew Griffin for us this morning in Anchorage, thanks so much.

What is the most important issue facing the country? We asked, you answered. It's the economy. So which political party can best tackle it? Christine Romans breaks down the tough questions with a fascinating 3D demonstration here in the Election Center.

Plus, "American Idol" known for drawing lots of votes. Perhaps that's why President Obama is doing an interview with "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest that's airing this morning. We have a live report from the White House coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: It's 40 minutes past the hour right now. Far and away the economy is issue number one in today's election. You've seen it in poll after poll. It's no surprise with unemployment at 9.6 percent. Christine Romans joining us with more. Good morning, Christine.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: A long time ago it's been in the four or five percent, wasn't it. It's gone up and it's 9.6 percent, is why you're seeing the economy at the top issue here for this election.

We asked people, what are the top issues facing you? And 52 percent said it's the economy. If you guys look at this visual representation, you can see nothing else comes close. Health care at eight percent, which is interesting, because you are hearing about that on the campaign trail and something firing up the Tea Party candidates, but it's eight percent of the number one problem for people that we polled, the economy overall still number one here.

Now, we also asked people how things have been going. How well are things going in the economy? They told us, 25 percent of them said things are going well. That's a low number overall.

Compare this to other midterm election years and you can see how that pans out. You have best comparison back to 1982 when 40 percent said things were going well. That is 1982, a time when we had 10.4 percent unemployment and Reagan's party in power, the Republicans lost 26 seats in that midterm election.

CHETRY: It's interesting, at least many historians said the difference is there hadn't been as much dissatisfaction with the party out of power, as well. In some cases a race for who's most unpopular.

ROMANS: That's right. And a lot of people telling me it's a vote against the economy, not a vote for or against a candidate is what you're seeing in the polling place.

And then one last one here -- how well they can handle the economy, the different parties. Take a look at this. It looks as though 57 percent are confident in Republican Party's ability to handle the economy, 45 percent are confident of Democrats' ability to handle the economy.

So that's where their thinking is coming in here. Using these gadgets, so awesome. Kiran, we'll use this all day today, Ali Velshi using it today and tonight. I'll use it in the wee hours of the morning back for "AMERICAN MORNING" to see what people did, not necessarily just what they were saying in the months and weeks ahead of election. It will be fascinating.

CHETRY: It certainly will. Places where unemployment's in more than double digits like the state of Nevada.

ROMANS: You look at Nevada, 14.4 percent. I mean, that is a big issue for anybody. Somebody there knows somebody who's lost a job and what they're concerned about.

CHETRY: Christine Romans for us, thanks so much.

ROMANS: Meanwhile, most of the country will be dry for Election Day. Not so, though, for parts of the south, especially parts of Texas. We're getting the latest from Rob Marciano who's tracking stormy weather for us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK))

ROBERTS: Ah, yes, the waiting is always the hardest part and we can't wait until the election results start to come in. Are we getting ahead of ourselves or what?

It's cloudy, 39 degrees in the nation's capital; partly cloudy, 55. We have got a whole day of voting ahead of us before we get to the results.

CHETRY: That's right.

ROBERTS: And that's what it's all about.

CHETRY: Absolutely. And the balance of power could change in that beautiful building we just took a look at. It's a perfect day weather-wise for most of the country at least to get out there and vote on this Election Day.

Rob Marciano joins us right now from -- from Atlanta. So some parts of the south, Texas, they are going to get rained on throughout the day but free and clear in most other places.

MARCIANO: Yes at some of the largest cities, north especially, Chicago 37 degrees right now, 37 degrees in New York. So we're starting to warm things up but it's definitely a chilly start to the day. No rain expected for the most part across the Northeastern -- well, pretty much across the entire Northeastern third.

Southeastern third, not so much. New Orleans back through Houston, some heavy rain falling here. Houston under an extreme drought as well as parts of Louisiana; this is helping certainly. Slowly moving out of the Houston area and through Beaumont, like Charles -- getting it now -- Lafayette, (INAUDIBLE), Jennings, Louisiana, and through the Red Stick, as well, this will be coming down heavy at times.

Already an inch and a half of rain across Lake Charles with more on the way. So here you go. A very slow mover right here. But everywhere else with the exception of the northwest, it's just a couple of showers, we should be ok. Warm, in some cases record-breaking warmth across parts of southern California. It'll be at least 86. I think some parts inland will easily get into the 90s. 53 degrees expected in New York City.

I want to give you an update of what's going with tropical storm Tomas, 50-mile an hour winds right now. Gaining some strength as it heads towards the west and the forecast is still to turn it north as a hurricane as we get closer to the weekend. Eastern Cuba, Jamaica and the island of Hispaniola including Haiti could be under the gun, at least feeling the effects of this.

And rainfall -- heavy rain is really all they need to make things even worse as that island -- as that nation continues to recover.

Today, by the way, is the tenth anniversary of the International Space Station. Ten years ago today the residents started arriving there and flies at like 17,000 miles an hour, 220 miles up. Yes. And space shuttle guys are going to launch tomorrow at 3:50 in the afternoon. Right now, it's about 70 percent chance that we're going to be a go for this thing as far as the weather is concerned.

A beautiful shot there of the space shuttle set to launch tomorrow afternoon. John and Kiran, back up to you.

CHETRY: Is that it, that's the final ride?

MARCIANO: No. I think there's one, maybe two more.

CHETRY: For -- for "Discovery"?

MARCIANO: Oh for "Discovery", yes. For "Discovery" this is it. We're going to retire that puppy and use it for spare parts. At least for just a couple of months.

ROBERTS: Spare parts -- spare parts for what?

MARCIANO: In the next couple of months.

ROBERTS: Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: See you, guys.

ROBERTS: Voters may hear President Obama on the radio today as they drive to the polls. Mr. Obama sat down with "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest and several other radio personalities in unconventional Election Day media blitz. We've got a live report from the White House just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: Eight minutes now to the top of the hour.

He's anchored election coverage before. Who could forget the incredibly close Rubin Studdard-Clay Aikin decision? Well now Ryan Seacrest is interviewing President Obama. The president continuing his last-minute bid to reach out to younger voters this morning, part of an all out radio blitz, hitting very targeted audiences.

Dan Lothian live at the White House this morning, and this is a move that we haven't seen before from a sitting president but shows just how important the Democratic Party thinks it is to try to get those young voters who aren't so motivated right now out to the polls.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And you know Robert Gibbs last week was asked about this. Is there any place the president wouldn't go to really push for votes? And he said that, you know, the traditional ways that most presidents have reached out to Americans no longer hold true because the marketplace is so fractured.

Most people aren't sitting around watching the nightly newscast like they did in the past. Some people get their news from online and younger voters, of course are -- are splintered all over the place. So the president really trying to reach out to those young voters who helped him get into power in 2008 and helped Democrats also get into power.

And as you pointed out on the morning show with Ryan Seacrest, of course, the host of "American Idol". He was also on "The Tom Joyner Morning Show" this morning. That was taped yesterday. This is an urban, a very friendly audience but the president was imploring the listeners to get out and vote. If they've voted already, to encourage their family members, their friends and their co-workers to also get out and vote.

And the president laid out in very clear terms what's at stake here.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: the fact of the matter is even though my name is not on the ballot, you know, my ability, work on behalf of middle class families is going to be hampered if I don't have people in congress who won't want to cooperate. And frankly, the other side, what they have said is their whole agenda is to spend the next two years trying to defeat me as opposed to trying to move the country forward.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

LOTHIAN: Tom Joyner said that his listeners really supported the president. The president said the biggest thanks anyone can give me is to go to the polls. Now, in addition to the shows that the president taped yesterday, he's also doing live radio today in key states like California, Nevada, Florida and Illinois -- John.

ROBERTS: Dan, is the president also using these interviews to clarify certain language that he used in describing the loyal opposition?

LOTHIAN: that's right. Well, He did that yesterday where he referred to Republicans last week in a radio interview with Univision Radio, he referred to Republicans as enemies. The context of this is that the president was talking about Latino voters who some of them may be thinking about staying away from the polls because they're not happy with the progress the administration or lack thereof on immigration reform. So the president was saying that the way to punish, quote, punish our enemies is to actually go and vote.

Well, yesterday the president was walking that back saying it was the wrong word choice, saying that instead of using the word "enemies" he should have referred to Republicans as "opponents" but, of course, Republicans jumped on this right away.

John Boehner saying that those people the president was referring to as enemies are quote, "patriots who care about America" -- John.

ROBERTS: Right word, wrong word.

LOTHIAN: That's right.

ROBERTS: I guess he chose the wrong one. Dan Lothian this morning. Dan, thanks so much.

And it's is now -- oh, about four minutes to the top of the hour. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: All right. Well, the polls have been open now in Florida for nearly two hours. Voters are choosing a new senator in what's been a controversial the three-way race. The front-runner, Tea Party-backed Marco Rubio, he just cast his vote in west Miami. There's a look at him at the voting -- at the polling station shaking hands. Giving a thumb's up. Heading out. He's up against Governor Charlie Crist, a Republican turned Independent, as well as Democrat, Kendrick Meek.

ROBERTS: We are covering the midterm elections like no other network possibly can. After you vote, turn on CNN as "The Best Political Team on Television" brings you up to the minute results and analysis from this critical midterm elections with all these incredible technical bells and whistles that we have to really illustrate the results for you.

Our live coverage beginning 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

CHETRY: Also AMERICAN MORNING picks up the post election coverage bright and early, 3:00 in the morning Eastern, Wednesday morning. So keep it on CNN for comprehensive election coverage on television as well as online.

ROBERTS: So have you figured out how to do it? Are you going to go to bed and then get up or are you going to just stay up or --

CHETRY: No. I'm definitely not going to stay up. We're going to enough of that tomorrow morning. You have to try to catch your z's when you can. You'll want to figure that one out and if it works I'll tell you. Meanwhile, that's going to do it for us. So, we're going to do some studying and do some napping.

ROBERTS: Yes. See you bright and early tomorrow morning.

The news continues on CNN with Kyra Phillips in the "CNN NEWSROOM." Good morning, Kyra.