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America's Choice 2012; Long Lines to Vote; Barack Obama Encourages Staffers; Obama Visits Campaign Workers; Utah Hot Congressional Race; Ballot Initiatives in Several States; How Each Candidate Can Win.
Aired November 06, 2012 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, ANCHOR, "CNN NEWSROOM": In Arizona, Gabby Giffords is making her voice heard at the voting booth. The former congresswoman was with her former assistant, Ron Barber, when she dropped off her ballot yesterday.
Barber won a special election in June to replace Giffords in Congress. Giffords is still recovering from being shot in the head outside a Tucson supermarket almost two years ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, the final frantic race for president as Americans head to the polls and have their say.
Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, ending a long and close campaign ...
MITT ROMNEY, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Do you want more of the same or do you want change?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... fighting for every vote until the bitter end.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: We know what change looks like and what he's offering ain't it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're live across the country with the candidates and in the battleground states that hold the keys to the White House.
PAUL RYAN, REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: together we can get this done.
VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: There's only one direction -- forward!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN's coverage of election day in America, the fight for the presidency, the battle for Congress and the issues dividing the nation.
OBAMA: I still believe in you and, if you still believe in me, I'm asking for your vote.
ROMNEY: I need you to go out there and find people that will come join our cause. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's your vote, your future, your country, your choice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: I'm Suzanne Malveaux. It's election day and most of the polls are now open. Hawaii is the last state waiting to get in on the action. Their polls open next hour.
As we know, every vote counts, very important, especially with a dead heat in the presidential race. There's just one point difference in our last national Poll of Polls.
Mitt Romney casting his ballot a couple hours ago in Belmont, Massachusetts. The voting is just the first stop for the Republican challenger. He's still got campaign events to get to.
Romney going to be in Cleveland a little later this hour, and then it's a short hop to the last stop. That is in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh.
President Obama, technically not on the road, he's home in Chicago, but he did venture out just this last hour to visit one of his campaign field offices. He offered some words of thanks to the volunteers and workers there and, as you can see, jumped into action on the phone bank.
Now this new video, the president casting his ballot. Well, remember, he voted 12 days ago. The president took advantage of early voting in Illinois to get a jump on things. Early voting was a big part of the Obama campaign message, so he led by example.
Battlegrounds, key today, we've got them all covered. Here is where we've got our correspondents all set up. We're going to hear from two. Ashleigh Banfield, she in Florida. Randy Kaye in Virginia.
Want to start off with the situation in Florida. Ashleigh, people waiting in line six hours for early voting last week so they didn't have to avoid the long lines today. You're in Miami-Dade County, 32 percent voted early. How are the lines looking?
ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, I'm glad you asked. So let me just show you the end of the line. It's right here and let me take you on a little tour, Suzanne. You ready? Buckle up because this is going to be long. Here you go.
We go down the line. Let me just step out of the way so that our photographer can keep you going down the line and around the horn and back here.
There are 6,000 precincts, roughly, in Florida and this is just one of them and there are only about 26 polling booths inside the precinct where I'm about to take you, but not before you get to see all of the people.
First, hold on with that thought. How long have you been waiting? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Almost two hours now.
BANFIELD: So, you're at the two-hour mark. Keep coming, Suzanne. We've got a long way to go, my dear, before I tell you a couple other things about this spot. Are you a patient woman?
Listen, it's been pretty good here. I have to admit. These are really patient people and we haven't had any problems here but for one argument this morning where someone was saving a spot.
A couple reports of irregularities in Florida, some missing ballots, some optical scanners jamming. In fact, one of them jammed here, but it was fixed right away, according to one of the voters.
You're still with me, right? You're still seeing this line, right?
MALVEAUX: I'm with you. I'm with you. Ashleigh, I'm following you.
BANFIELD: OK. Suzanne, I'm glad because this is a marathon, I'm telling you.
A lot of people have brought their chairs, their iPads, their books and stuff because they know. You see the signs here, Suzanne. That's 100 feet from the polling station. That's where you're allowed to campaign.
And you see that white line, that white rope? That's the radius that was measured out when we got here just after 4:00 this morning by the elections officials. Nobody like me or those campaigners can go any closer than that radius, so keep coming, keep coming. We're nowhere near the front yet.
How long have you been waiting?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About three hours.
BANFIELD: You're three hours?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
BANFIELD: We're at the three-hour mark. Keep coming.
MALVEAUX: OK.
BANFIELD: And I just talked to a woman, actually, who left a couple of hours ago. I was talking to her in line. She told me, all told, from start to finish ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three hours.
BANFIELD: You're three hours?
Three hours, 45, for the woman who just exited. We're getting to the front of the line and it's the payoff time, Malveaux, because this is what you get to see when you get to the front of the line, the fire station that has its two main bay doors open with all of those individual voting, private booths and then the optical scanners and then out you come.
Happy that you went through the process in sunny Florida. We're expecting some rain showers possibly later today. I doubt that will dampen any of the enthusiasm here, but really some very patient and friendly people.
MALVEAUX: Yeah, those are some patient people. That's a long investment in time, but, you know, once you get in that line it's worth it to just get through it and to be able to vote.
Ashleigh, thanks very much.
BANFIELD: Do you know what's worth it, Suzanne? It's worth it to absentee vote which I did several weeks ago because I don't want to be in that line.
MALVEAUX: I hear you. I did early voting myself.
Thank you, Ashleigh. Good to see you.
Want to move on to Florida. This is another southern battleground state, Virginia. It's probably going to be the first of critical swing states that we're actually going to see results tonight, so we're going to keep a close eye on that.
The polls actually close at 7:00 Eastern. It's really one of the earliest of these battleground states. That's where we find Randi Kaye in Woodbridge, Virginia.
So, for folks who don't know the area, this is about 30 miles or so from Washington. What are people saying? Do they feel optimistic? Do they feel positive here?
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They feel excited to vote. I can tell that you. There are some long lines here, but the folks are inside. We're actually kept outside to broadcast this morning.
But folks were lining up here, Suzanne, before dawn, about 2,600 registered voters here. They don't have early voting in Virginia. They have what's called absentee/in-person voting, so you need a pretty good excuse not to be here today.
This is also the first time they have the new voter i.d. law. Before you could just sign an affidavit saying that you are who you are. That doesn't work anymore.
But I've been talking to folks and they say they've been waiting about two hours. They only have four machines inside. Most of them, though, they feel it's their duty. They don't care about the long waits.
Here's what some of them told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: What made you bring out the whole family today? Is this a lesson in election politics?
ANDREW VAN KLEEK, VOTER: I think it was -- it's good for the kids to see mom and dad vote. I think it's even more important to stand in line so there's a bit of a sacrifice to go and vote to show how important it is for the younger generation to know that it's not only their responsibility, but their duty to their country to vote.
KAYE: And what is the most important issue to your family?
VAN KLEEK: Freedom, the ability to -- the health care bill is very important to me. Once they -- when that bill was passed, they can now compel commerce by force, so I now have to buy a good or service against my will or the government will punish me. So freedom for me is the biggest issue.
KAYE: What kind of line did you find inside?
DENITRI RANDOLPH, VOTER: Oh, extremely long. It was the longest I've ever seen.
KAYE: Is that frustrating?
RANDOLPH: It was about a two-hour wait. No, it wasn't frustrating because it's an important issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: So it really is very important to a lot of these folks. You see a lot of kids here, in fact. They all brought their families to vote and show them how important it is, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right, thank you, Randi.
Want you to weigh in on the race for the White House. CNN has partnered now with Facebook to create a new app. It is called "I'm Voting." Just go to my Facebook page, Facebook com/SuzanneCNN. Click on the "I'm Voting" app.
So, today's question, when do you think we're going to know who won? Let us know what you think. We're going to share some of your responses later in the hour.
Here's what we've got going on this hour, a look at a key congressional race. Will the GOP's rising star, Mia Love, beat out her opponent? That is Utah's six-term congressman, Jim Matheson. We're going to talk to both of them afterwards.
And, plus, get some election (INAUDIBLE) ...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Long lines at the polls, right now on this election day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every vote counts.
MALVEAUX: A look at the candidates still in a dead heat. OBAMA: When we talk about change, we know what real change looks like because we fought for it. We've got the scars to prove it.
ROMNEY: President Obama promised change, but he couldn't deliver it. I promise change and I have a record of achieving it. I built a business.
MALVEAUX: Is their enthusiasm drawing people to the polls? It's America's choice and it's now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: The presidential campaign seemed to go on forever. Billions of dollars were spent. At times, the rhetoric was bitter and personal. But now the voters are deciding on who's going to sit in the White House for the next four years.
The president made his final pitch to voters yesterday in Iowa where it all began for him nearly five years ago. Romney making last-minute campaign stops today in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Joining us to talk about their take on the possible outcomes, CNN contributor and conservative "New York Times" columnist Ross Douthat and Democratic strategist and CNN contributor Van Jones.
I want you guys to know we might have to cut you off because the president did speak earlier today at a campaign field office in Chicago. As soon as we turn that tape, we're going to actually it here.
But I want to start off with you, Ross. Why do you believe that it is so close at this point?
ROSS DOUTHAT, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I mean, it's an election in a year when the economy is in a very slow, grinding recovery, so it's sort betwixt and between, right? It's neither the kind of booming recovery that would have given President Obama an easy win nor the kind of really ugly jobs picture that we had a year ago.
So, it isn't that surprising that in a country that's very polarized and very divided that we're sort of reverting back towards at least national polling numbers that look a lot like 2000 and 2004.
We are, to some extent, a 50/50 nation absent extraordinary circumstances and that's pretty much back where we are today.
MALVEAUX: Van, how does the president keep together a coalition that is so diverse? Because he has many different groups to answer to, unlike the Republican party.
He is trying to unify this group. You've got Latinos. You have women. You have young voters. You have gay voters. You have women. How does he manage to keep that coalition together?
VAN JONES, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, you know, it's extraordinary, the leadership he's shown in being able to do just that. There's been a lot of talk about where he's not doing as well as he did before.
Look at where he is doing as well and even better. He's doing a much better job even with the Latino community. I think that what you're going to see now is it comes down to the young people.
What you've not seen yet is whether the generation that really carried him over the top is going to show up today. They came out for him 67 percent last time. Polls now say that he may be down to 58 percent with the young people.
If the young people stay with this president, he will be re-elected and the Obama coalition will be the governing coalition in America for a long time, but it comes down to will the young people vote today. That's the big question.
MALVEAUX: Ross, in your op-ed piece on Saturday, you wrote that an Obama victory would risk -- and you say -- "four more years of drift, stagnation, and decline."
Is there a way this president, if he does win, can work with Republicans who are willing to compromise?
DOUTHAT: I think that there is some -- there are some things that can be done on the deficit picture. I think the president will actually have a fairly strong hand to play in negotiations because of the expiration of the Bush tax cuts, so I would expect something modest to get done with the deficit problem.
MALVEAUX: All right. I'm going to have to cut you short here just for a moment. The president speaking. Let's listen just in.
(BEGIN LIVE FEED)
OBAMA: Hey!
All right, let's get busy. We've got to line up some votes. We've got to round up some votes. How are we doing?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're doing well.
OBAMA: You're doing good? OK.
Well, thank you so much, everybody. You know, you can feel free to take a picture, but I'm just going to start making some calls. I don't want to distract you. I don't want to distract you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).
OBAMA: They gave you a phone?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).
OBAMA: (INAUDIBLE). Thank you so much for all this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Great stuff. We all believe in you.
OBAMA: This is America, democracy. This is what it's all about, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right.
OBAMA: Hi, is this Haddie (ph)? Hi, this is Barack Obama. How are you?
I'm doing -- you know -- I don't think she knows it's me, right now.
My name was Barack Obama. You know, the President of the United States?
Yeah, how are you? Yeah, the -- yeah, but, you know, can I just say you were really polite to me when you didn't know who I was? Which is, you know, that's so nice.
Well, listen, I just wanted to call and say thank you. I know you guys are working so hard at the Brown Deer Road office and we just got to make sure everybody gets out to vote in Wisconsin, so -- all right.
How are you feeling about that? Well, listen -- well, we're so proud of you and I'm so grateful for everything you're doing. So just keep it up. All right?
Hopefully, we'll have a good day.
That means a lot to me. OK, Haddie (ph), go out there and keep working hard all the way through.
All right. Bye-bye. Bye-bye.
She was very nice to me, but she didn't initially know who I was.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You surprised her.
OBAMA: She said, I don't know who this -- I couldn't hear your name, but if you can hold on one second?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you like another call?
OBAMA: Oh, yeah, I'm all set. You know, don't worry about me. I'm an old pro. I used to do this when I was -- let's see, who's age here? I don't see anybody young enough to ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE). All right, thank you so much for ...
(END LIVE FEED)
MALVEAUX : What you're watching there is the president actually at a field office. This is in Hyde Park, Chicago, and he's making unannounced phone calls, congratulating supporters who don't really know that the president is calling them.
We just heard -- listened in to one of the calls he made to a woman named Haddie (ph). These are supporters who are actually in Wisconsin and it was quite amusing to actually hear the phone call. She didn't realize that it was the president, didn't believe him.
He thanked her for being polite and then went on to talk about how important it was to continue the work that they're doing out of Wisconsin, as you know, a very important battleground state.
But the president there in his hometown of Chicago making those calls. It's an impromptu visit.
As soon as we get the remarks that the president has made to the cameras, we're going to bring that to you, as well.
Well, she is the GOP's rising star and she is known for her blunt talk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR MIA LOVE (R), UTAH CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Mr. President, I'm here to tell you the American people are awake and we're not buying what you're selling in 2012.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Her thoughts on the election and her race for Congress, Mia Love is joining us, up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: We're taking a look at some live pictures just coming in here. This is Cleveland, Ohio. This is actually Mitt Romney's plane and he is going to be holding an election day rally out of Cleveland at the top of the hour.
We're waiting for him to come off the plane, but it shows just how important Ohio is, the fact that his plane has touched down and that he is going to be working the crowds here.
It is really the most critical, crucial battleground state in this election. What happens in Ohio very much determines -- well, it could determine who becomes president.
Stay with us for this live event. We'll bring it to you as soon as it begins.
Now, if she wins in her congressional race in Utah, Mia Love's going to make history. She'll become the first black female Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives. Mia Love is not only one of a small percentage of black Republicans. She is also a Mormon.
Mia Love is joining us from Salt Lake City. Good to see you.
First of all, in interviews, you generally downplay the fact that you could make history if you're elected to Congress, but if you do win, you'd be a first. You'd be breaking a barrier here.
Does that resonate? Do you feel some sort of kinship, even, with President Obama? LOVE: You know, I'm just worried about getting our country back on track. You know, I go around and I talk to the people of the fourth district. I talk to everyone that is struggling and people that believe that our nation is not going in the right direction and really what they're looking for, Suzanne, is leadership.
They want someone who is going to come to the table with some solutions and work together to fix our problems. And, so, if I can do that and if I can make sure that we get our country back on track, then that's the history I'm interested in making.
MALVEAUX: All right. And you are a rising star, clearly, in the Republican party. We saw you at the GOP convention. You got quite a reception there.
The Republican Party, explain to us why it is you think that it does not have more appeal for African-Americans. How does your party reach out to the black community because, according to the Frederick Douglass Foundation, only about 4 percent of blacks identify with the Republican Party.
LOVE: You know, to me, I think that we need to get away from all of that. I mean, we've had so many people that have sacrificed to make sure that we're all considered equal.
You know, I want to be able to look at our president and know that he sees me as an individual. We want a president that sees us all equally as Americans and, the problems that we face today, they're not black/white issues. They're American issues and, so, we need to concentrate on those.
MALVEAUX: It doesn't concern you that there's -- that your party itself does not attract a more diverse group of people, that you don't -- that it is so homogenous that you're really one of the few?
LOVE: You know, no. I mean, I think that people are coming along and people are starting to hear about the different platforms and we have two clear directions where we can go in this country where we've got something that starts -- a president that believes that everything should start and end at a centralized government and somebody who believes in individual freedom and liberties and being able to get on your feet, no matter what.
What we stand for in this country is that you can come to this country with very little or you can be here and start with very little and end up doing something incredibly big.
And I think that that message is starting to resonate not just to one demographic, but to all Americans and I think that, if we continue to talk about the issues, that's going to attract more Americans, regardless of race, gender or any of the other things that people would like to divide us by.
MALVEAUX: And, Mia, during the primaries there was a lot of concern about whether or not Mitt Romney's Mormon faith would work against him, but you have now Christian evangelicals who are rallying around him. His faith really has not been that much of an issue during this campaign.
Do you think in some ways that you benefit from that, that you are going to have people out there who are voting for Mitt Romney in Utah and will help you, as well, as a Mormon?
LOVE: I think that, you know, people will realize and they have realized Mitt Romney has supported us and supported me because of the policies that I put in my city and that's why they're going to be able to see that I'm the one that's going to be able to help him get our country back on track.
I've always been very clear about where I stood in my support for Mitt Romney and believe that he's the best presidential candidate that can get us to where we need to be and get our country back on track, and I think that that's the reason why people are going to help tie the two of us together.
MALVEAUX: If Mitt Romney wins, what would you say to him? How would you actually counsel him to work with Democrats? How does he get through?
He talks about bipartisanship. How does he actually manage to make something like that happen in such a broken government, in a broken system today?
LOVE: Well, I can tell you I certainly hope that he does win and what I want to tell him is that, you know, as a mayor, we don't walk around with Rs and Ds on our foreheads. We run nonpartisan and, you know, I don't look over to my other council member and say, "Tell me what your party affiliation is," before I find out if he has a really good idea.
What we need is we need people who are going to come to the table and work together and I think that, anybody who comes here with an idea, he's going to listen to them and that that's how we're going to get things done.
MALVEAUX: All right, Mayor Mia Love, good to have you on. We really appreciate it.
We're going to get back, President Obama speaking earlier today. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: All the debates and all the electioneering. It comes down to this, you know, one day and these incredible folks who are working so hard, making phone calls, making sure that people go out to vote.
And so I just want to say thank you to the American people. It's a source of great optimism for me whenever I come to election day because I end up having so much confidence in the decency and goodness and wisdom of ordinary folks who are working so hard, trying to move their own small piece of this country forward..
And I also want to say to Governor Romney, congratulations on a spirited campaign. I know that his supporters are just as engaged and just as enthusiastic and working just as hard today.
We feel confident we've got the votes to win, but it's going to depend ultimately on whether those votes turn out. And so I would encourage everybody on all sides just to make sure that you exercise this precious right we have and that people fought so hard for us to have.
And I'm looking forward to the results, and I expect that we'll have a good night. But no matter what happens, I just want to say how much I appreciate everybody who supported me, everybody who has worked so hard on my behalf. And, again, I want to congratulate Governor Romney and his team for a hard-fought race as well. OK?
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: All right. President Obama there making last-minute stop there in Chicago, congratulating, thanking Mitt Romney for a hard fight ahead, saying that he is confident that he has the support and he has the votes today. So we will see how that all shakes out.
We are also waiting, as well -- Mitt Romney's just arriving in Cleveland, Ohio. That is where he's going to be campaigning. He is still campaigning, still on the road trying to win over some votes.
We're going to have more after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: We're getting new tape in here. TV personality and host, Ryan Seacrest, interviewed the president yesterday. He's now airing this on his radio show this morning. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Well, there's -- look, I think anybody who is running for office would be lying if they say that there's not some butterflies before the polls come in because anything can happen. That's the magic of democracy -- is that it's up to the people to decide.
But at a certain point you get calm because, you know, if you've done everything you can do, then the process is working the way it's supposed to, which is power now resides with individual voters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: President Obama speaking out. That was just yesterday, that tape airing today.
Now, forget fancy graphics, virtual reality. When it comes to voting, the people of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, they have this thing down. They do it the right way. 10 people, just 10, cast their ballots in one of the traditional first votes of the presidential election, one by one making their choices. In the end, it was no decision. It was a tie, five to five. Hart, it is the other New Hampshire town that is getting in on the early action. There, President Obama scored 23 of the votes, Mitt Romney got nine, Gary Johnson got one.
CNN is covering the election all day. Be sure to watch our special coverage beginning at 6:00 p.m. eastern.
The presidential race isn't the only one to watch. In Utah, voters could make history. If elected to Congress, Mia Love would be first African-American Mormon female Republican in the House. This man, of course, he is standing in her way. He's six-term Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson, and he will join us up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Earlier, we talked with a Utah congressional candidate who could make history if she wins, but one man stands in the way of Mia Love becoming the first black Republican woman in Congress. That's Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson, who is Love's opponent in the fourth congressional district race in Utah. He joins us from Salt Lake City.
Congressman, very good to see you here.
Obviously, your opponent has gotten a lot of attention because she could make history here. Do you think your campaign has been overshadowed by that possibility?
REP. JIM MATHESON, (D), UTAH: Listen, I think that ultimately all the national attention doesn't really matter about here in Utah. This is where the election gets decided. In Utah, people know me real well. I have a pretty long family history in this state and people know me well. And ultimately, I think they care about the issues we talk about. That's what's going on on the ground here.
MALVEAUX: Congressman, you were the lone Democrat in the Utah delegation. How do you think you've been able to actually --
(LAUGHTER)
-- survive in such a conservative environment?
MATHESON: Well, at the end of the day, what people appreciate about me is that I'm really not about party. I'm about just trying to do the right thing. I think most people in Utah are tired of all the partisanship and the bickering that dominates our politics today. What they know about me is that's not who I am. They know I'm a guy that works with anybody regardless of where they come from. I put good ideas above party, politics, personal ambition. That's what they're looking for. So the approach that I have followed for all my time in office, I think in the year 2012, it matters that much more.
MALVEAUX: It is a very pragmatic approach, as a member of a blue dog coalition, fiscally conservative Democrat, but you are really a rare breed. There are not a lot of moderates and Democrats and Republicans that are coming together in Congress in this sense. How do you change that? How do you actually work across the aisle, because you've got this so-called fiscal cliff that is going to happen, potentially happen with all the spending cuts and tax increases within weeks.
MATHESON: Look, first of all, the extreme elements of both parties are a problem. There's no question about it. There are too many people on the extremes of both sides. If we're ever going to get something done, you have to draw some common ground, be constructive. That's what America wants. That's why most people in America are registering as Independents. They're leaving both political parties. So that gives me confidence. And frankly, there's a core group in Congress of Democrats and Republicans that have the same attitude about trying to get something done. Oh, I know it's better to be an extremist, better to be on the cable channels if you scream from an extreme standpoint. That maybe helps. But for the more pragmatic approach, that might not be as exciting on TV, but that's how you make good policy.
MALVEAUX: We prefer to talk to moderates as well.
(LAUGHTER)
We don't need all that screaming here.
But are there enough of you? Honestly, are there enough of you to come together and make a difference here, because we have not seen that. We have not seen that the Independent moderate elements of either party survive.
MATHESON: Sure.
MALVEAUX: Particularly the Republicans who have left essentially, when you talk about Maine and Olympia Snowe, and all these others who -- they put their hands in the air and say forget it.
MATHESON: Yes. You are absolutely right. The number of moderate Republicans and Democrats has decreased over the last three elections. We have to turn that around. That's what America wants. Ultimately, I think the political system will respond to that. We need more people who want to be constructive to get something done. Frankly, that's why I'm confident about this election. We do not need another person in the Utah delegation that will go back and just walk the party line. That's not how you get things done.
MALVEAUX: Finally, do you think that with Mitt Romney being a Mormon on the ticket in Utah, do you think that's going to be an advantage to your opponent or does it really matter?
MATHESON: Oh, I think it's going to create a certain level of excitement. But let me tell you something. When you run as a Democrat in Utah, the Republican presidential candidate always runs up a big percentage.
(LAUGHTER)
I'm used to that, I have dealt with this before. And what I appreciate about Utah voters is they really do have an independent streak where they take a look at each race on its own merits, with the candidates in that part of the ballot, and we will cross over and vote for me. I wouldn't be a member of Congress but for that fact. That's what gives me confident today.
MALVEAUX: Congressman Matheson, thank you so much. Appreciate your time.
MATHESON: OK, thank you.
MALVEAUX: And we'll be checking back in to see how you do. Thanks, again.
MATHESON: Thanks.
MALVEAUX: If Mitt Romney wins the battle for the White House, he will become the first Mormon president of the United States. It's just one of the many possible firsts in this election. Hawaii voters could send the first Asian woman to the U.S. Senate. That could be Democratic Congresswoman Mazie Hirono. For the first time, voters in three states could give gay Americans could be given the right to marry. It's on the ballot in Washington, Maryland and Maine. Same- sex marriage has been legalized in six states and the District of Columbia, but always by legislative action or court order.
You're looking at your local ballot, you're seeing some state initiatives from health care to medical marijuana. Do these issues have you going to the polls?
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MALVEAUX: Voters are casting ballots for who they want to lead and they're weighing in on big issues as well. Marijuana use is on the ballot in six states. Voters in Arkansas, Massachusetts and Montana are going to decide whether to legalize marijuana for medical use. 17 states already allow it. Now, in Oregon, Washington and Colorado, voters will decide whether to legalize recreational use of marijuana.
Four states, Alabama, Florida, Wyoming and Montana, they're going to vote on a key requirement of the president's health care law. That is the individual mandate. Very controversial. It requires people to purchase health insurance. The Republican-backed ballot measures would violate the Affordable Care Act and would likely end up in court if they're actually passed.
CNN is covering the election all day long. But be sure to watch our special coverage. That begins at 6:00 p.m. eastern.
And, of course, the magic number tonight, 270. That's the number needed to win the electoral vote. Your vote counts.
One Colorado man says it is all about the economy.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a great middle class community, and that's what's been hurting the most. And we need to get back to community again. We need to bring people together on both sides of the party, people that will work together. That's what this country is about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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MALVEAUX: Live picture of the White House. The road to the White House, a long one. And last week, we have seen the candidates crisscrossing the nation, paying close attention to the battleground states, such as Ohio and Florida. Those states hold a lot of electoral votes.
Our chief national correspondent, John King, shows us what it's going to take to get the magic number, 270.
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JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne, we let the people vote on Election Day. But here's one thing we do know -- the math will not look like this. President Obama will not win a convincing victory as he did four years ago because it's a close race. Some states he turned from red to blue last time will, likely to go to Governor Romney this time.
So the big question is, who can get to 270? Who has the easiest path? 270, meaning the 270 Electoral College votes it takes to win.
The president starts date with 237 strong or leaning Obama. Those are blue states. Governor Romney, 206, those are the red states and the pink states are leaning his way. The president has an easier path, Suzanne, and he can get there if he does this. If the president can win the last three stops, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio, just those three, puts the president over the top.
Let's take Ohio back, though, for the sake of argument. The Romney campaign says it's a close one. The one battleground state the Obama team is most confident about is Nevada. They don't get much pushback from the Romney campaign. Nevada seems to be leaning Democratic. If the president got that, Iowa and Wisconsin, it would put him at 259.
Now we get into the dicey area. The Obama campaign says it's confident it might win them all. Let's say, for the sake of argument, and the Obama campaign says if he have a weak link, it's Florida. The Romney campaign says it can win Florida. Let's give that to the governor.
Virginia is another one to watch closely. The suburbs are key. Let's, for the sake of argument, say Romney can eke out a narrow victor victory. What's that get us? 259, 248.
What's left on the map? Colorado. This one, the Obama campaign says early voting leaves them confident. The Romney campaign says it will get this one out in the west. For the sake of argument, give that to Governor Romney. That would get you to 259, 257.
And then, tiny New Hampshire and battleground Ohio would decide the election. It wouldn't matter who won this one. It won't matter who won this one because whoever won the state of New Hampshire in this scenario, you would need Ohio and its 18 electoral votes to get over the top.
So, Suzanne, on this election day and night, we'll be watching the bellwether state of Ohio. It's been right since 1964. Whoever gets that one tends to win the White House.
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MALVEAUX: CNN is covering the election all day long. Watch our special coverage beginning at 6:00 p.m. eastern.
The clock is ticking. Time to vote. We have teamed up with Facebook to ask when you think we will know who won tonight, tomorrow. Check out my page to vote, facebook.com/suzannemalveaux. We'll share some of what you're sharing up next.
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MALVEAUX: In New York and New Jersey, dozens of polling stations are closed after the states were hammered by Superstorm Sandy. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an order allowing anyone in a disaster area to vote at other polling stations. There's been confusion, however. That's because people may not be able to vote for their local candidates when they go to the precincts outside their area. And then, of course, the long lines.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just a very long line. Probably try around 12:30 or 1:00.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: might be slower then?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. If it's not we'll wait for it then.
CHO: How long did you wait before you gave up?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About a minute. It's just a very long line.
(LAUGHTER)
And I've got time in the afternoon. So right now, I don't. But I'll be back to make the wait.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's inspiring. You see so many people up and out to vote, and there doesn't seem to be much confusion. I guess people were afraid, after Sandy, people wouldn't have a priority of coming out to vote. But they're here.
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MALVEAUX: New Jersey also finding ways to get ballots to people displaced by the storm.
So earlier we asked you, when do you think you'll know who won the presidency. CNN partnered with Facebook with a new app, "I'm Voting." What do you say? The majority 52 percent say before bedtime Tuesday. 36 percent say by Wednesday morning. 13 percent of you said after that.
(LAUGHTER)
Well, a lot of you optimistic there. It's not meant to be a reflection of everybody's feelings there, but just how you stack up against other CNN and Facebook users.
Here's what some of you had to say about it.
David Pettit writes, "Because of Sandy, the final result may be delayed several days."
Gabby says, "I can bet, if President Obama is not declared winner by 8:00 eastern, we should start bracing up for re-run of Florida 2000."
That's my take.
Thanks for clicking on the "I'm Voting" app. You can actually -- having you vote yet, but please do. Head to the polls.
CNN NEWSROOM continues now with Brooke Baldwin and Joe Johns.
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ANNOUNCER: Right now, voters at polls and America at a crossroads.
MITT ROMNEY, (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is a big election.
OBAMA: I know we've been through tough times.
ANNOUNCER: Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have been working toward this moment for months.
OBAMA: If you can't seem to remember the policies on your own web site, then you might have Romnesia.
ANNOUNCER: Sparring every step of the way.
ROMNEY: They've been reduced to petty attacks and silly word games.
ANNOUNCER: We're live across the country, covering the candidates and the final appeals to swing state voters.
REP. PAUL RYAN, (R), WISCONSIN & VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We can't afford to wait four more years.
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The American people are bringing their country back.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN's coverage of "Election Day in America," the fight for the Presidency and the battle for Congress and the issues dividing the nation. (END VIDEO CLIP)
