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Ballot Bowl 2008

Candidates Make Appearances, Speeches

Aired October 11, 2008 - 15:00   ET

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

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Welcome to CNN'S BALLOT BOWL. I'm Suzanne Malveaux in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Only 24 days left until voting day and this is your opportunity to get a sense of the candidates, sometimes live, sometimes on tape, but always unfiltered in their own words. Joining me for this hour, my co-anchor, Dana Bash in Davenport, Iowa, Dana covering the Republican side. What are you looking at? What's the game plan for this hour, Dana?

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're obviously we're going to listen for anything that comes from all of these candidates and we're going to play these candidates who have been on the stump in an aggressive way. I am in Davenport, Iowa. John McCain was here not long ago. You could probably see here behind me they're already breaking down this event here but he wasn't the only one on his ticket out today and the other person was of course Sarah Palin.

She was in the State of Pennsylvania and what she talked about was something that we haven't heard her do in a very aggressive way or a very explicit way at all yet and that is to talk about the issue of abortion.

She obviously was picked as somebody who is very, very socially conservative and very staunchly antiabortion. People know that. People know her record and particularly the social conservatives who she is appealing to, again, they know her stance on issues and so she hasn't talked a lot about it on the stump until today.

Listen to what she said not only about the issue but specifically about Barack Obama on the issue of abortion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SARAH PALIN, (R) VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Something else we haven't talked a lot about yet in the campaign but I think it's important. As governor, what I've been able to do is kind of manifest my commitment to life, in the same spirit, in the same spirit as defenders of the culture of life, John McCain and I, we believe in the goodness and the potential of every human life.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, of that innocent life. I believe the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are least able to defend and to speak for themselves. And who is more vulnerable or more innocent than a child? (APPLAUSE)

Now, when I learned that my son Trig would have special needs, to be honest I had to pray that my heart would be prepared for the challenges to come. It was a shock. I wasn't ready for this. I had to ask for that strength. And at first I was very scared. And Todd, we did have to ask for that strength and understanding but let me tell you a few things that I've learned already.

Yes, every innocent life does matter and everyone belongs in the circle of protection. And every child has something to contribute to our world if we give them that chance.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, there are the world standards of perfection and then there are God's standards and these are the final measure.

(APPLAUSE)

And every child is beautiful before God, and dear to him for their own sake and as for our beautiful baby boy, for Todd and for me, he is only more precious because he is vulnerable and in some ways, you know, I think that we stand to learn more from him than he does from us.

(APPLAUSE)

So when we hold Trig and we care for him, we don't feel scared anymore. We feel blessed. It's hard to think of many issues that could possibly be more important than who is protected in law and who isn't. Who is granted life and who is denied it?

So when our opponent speaks about questions of life, I listen very carefully and I love that sound and please let that baby keep on crying. We love that sound.

(APPLAUSE)

Not crying. Just giggling.

So I listened when our opponent defended his unconditional support for unlimited abortions and he said ...

(BOOING)

And he said that a woman shouldn't have to be, quote, punished with a baby.

(BOOING)

Ladies and gentlemen, he said that right here in Johnstown, punished with a baby. It's about time that we called him on it.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: That is Sarah Palin earlier today in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, talking about the issue of abortion. Again, something we have not heard her or John McCain very often, they do talk about it, but not very often and certainly not in the length with which we just heard Palin talk about it there. But she is talking about it in an area in Pennsylvania that John McCain and Sarah Palin need to win by pulling over some independent and socially conservative Democrats to their side.

And by talking about the issue of abortion that is certainly one way that the McCain campaign clearly thinks they can do it. And Suzanne, you know, you and I both covered George Bush in 2004. We heard that pretty much every single rally, the issue of abortion.

Again, we don't hear it to that extent, at least we haven't from these Republicans, but clearly these last 24 days that issue is coming up and perhaps we'll hear it a lot more, particularly in those battleground areas of battleground states like Pennsylvania, those rural areas where they need to pull over those social conservatives.

MALVEAUX: So really, Dana, we really haven't had that focus on some of the cultural issues, Barack Obama not doing as well among some of the voters, the white, blue collar voters you had spoken of, John McCain doing much better when it comes to that group in Pennsylvania but Barack Obama is reaching out not only to that group but also his base in Philadelphia, to their urban areas, they're trying to get out the vote. He has four different stops today.

On his second stop he essentially was accusing John McCain of coopting his message of change saying that do not buy it, do not be bamboozled in his words about this slogan, what he says is a slogan from McCain that he's really going to be able to bring about change in Washington. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) IL: That's what I mean when I'm talking about change. You know, John McCain has been stealing my signs. Suddenly they're all about change. He says, I'm for change, too. You know, change isn't just a sign. It's not just a slogan. It's what's in your heart.

It's what you're willing to fight for, who you stand up for. You know, change means rebuilding this economy. I know that it is time to create good paying jobs right here in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is hurting. Look at this guy's got a sign right there. He says hire Obama for the job so I can keep mine.

(APPLAUSE)

You know, thousands of jobs have been lost this year. Wages and incomes have gone down. While your costs for everything from gas to food to health care. Everything's gone up.

But it doesn't have to be that way. That's why we're going to stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas. We're going to give those tax breaks to companies that are investing right here in the United States of America. To create a middle class.

I'm going to be a president who puts Pennsylvania first and puts workers first. I believe in the American people and what they can do when they're given a chance. That's why we're going to give 95 percent of working families a tax cut.

(APPLAUSE)

John McCain wants to give tax cuts to Fortune 500 CEOs. He wants to give $200 billion to corporations. I want to give that tax cut to you. So don't believe -- when you see these ads that say I want to raise your taxes, let me tell you. If you make less than $250,000 a year, how many people make less than a quarter million a year? Even (inaudible) makes less than a quarter million dollars a year.

You will not see your taxes go up one dime. Not your payroll tax, not your income tax, no taxes. We're going to cut your taxes and we're going to give small businesses a tax cut on capital gains and give them a 50 percent tax credit so they can start providing health insurance to their workers because everybody needs some health insurance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

And that was Barack Obama earlier today in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and as Obama was starting his rally, John McCain was wrapping up his here in Davenport, Iowa. He, like Obama, like anybody who wants to get anywhere right now in politics is of course talking about the economy. But there was an interesting moment while John McCain was trying to talk about that and other issues where, you know, we've heard a lot about anger from McCain supporters and his crowd. Today we saw something not from a support but from an Obama supporter. You know, the McCain aides I've talked to have said wait a minute. Obviously we've had some rage from people who believe in John McCain at his rallies over the past week but we've also seen some people who have supported Barack Obama who have expressed that at our events.

Well, we did see that today so listen to what happened not too long ago here in Davenport.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MCCAIN: In short, who's ready to lead?

CROWD: You!

MCCAIN: In a time of trouble and danger for our country, who will put our country first?

CROWD: You!

MCCAIN: In 21 months, my friends, during hundreds of speeches, town halls, and debates, in traveling all over this great state of Iowa and across America, I have kept my promise to level with you about my plans to reform Washington and get this country moving again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible)

CROWD: John McCain! John McCain! John McCain!

John McCain! John McCain! John McCain.

MCCAIN: You know.

(BOOING)

MCCAIN: You know.

CROWD: We want John! We want John! We want John! We want John! We want John! We want John! We want John!

MCCAIN: You know -- you know, my friends, there's a perfect example of some people that just don't get it. You know, as people are trying to stay in their homes, keep their jobs and afford health care, is what they want for us to yell at each other?

CROWD: No!

MCCAIN: No. They want us to sit down together, Republican and Democrat, and work together in this terrible time of crisis, the largest financial crisis in our history. By the way, my friends, as you know, I've had hundreds of town hall meetings. I always give people a chance to talk. I don't always enjoy it but I give them a chance to talk. And that's what it's all about.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: That was John McCain reacting earlier where I am in Davenport, Iowa, to a supporter of Barack Obama interrupting his rally and, you know, Suzanne, it's interesting. We have been talking all week long not about supporters of Obama at McCain's rallies but his own supporters and the fact that we have seen really more and more anger at his rallies and certainly this was a little bit of a different kind of interruption and protest and you saw John McCain try to have a little fun there with it.

MALVEAUX: Dana, we're also hearing from both the candidates, John McCain, Barack Obama, talking about the mortgage crisis. Obviously a lot of people with concerns and questions about that so they're going to be talking about the financial mess that we are all in after this very quick break. Stay with us. You're watching CNN's BALLOT BOWL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Welcome back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL. I'm Suzanne Malveaux. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania we're following both of the candidates very closely. Barack Obama just yesterday in Chillicothe, Ohio, that is where he was accusing John McCain of turning the page from economics to a negative message. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) OBAMA: Even as you were worried about keeping your job or paying your bills or staying in your home my opponent's campaign announced last week that they plan to, quote, turn the page on the discussion about our economy so they can spend the final weeks of the election attacking me.

Senator McCain's campaign actually said, and I quote, "If we keep talking about the economy, we're going to lose."

So in the last couple of days we've seen a barrage of nasty insinuations and attacks and I'm sure we'll see more of that in the next 25 days. We know what's coming. We know what they're going to do.

But here's the thing, Ohio. They can try to turn the page on the economy, they can try to deny the record of the last eight years. They can run misleading ads. They can pursue the politics of anything goes. It will not work. Not this time. I think that folks are looking for something different this time.

(APPLAUSE)

He can rile up a crowd, nothing is easier than riling up a crowd by stoking anger and division but that's not what we need right now in the United States. The times are too serious. The challenges are too great. The American people aren't looking for someone who can divide this country. They're looking for somebody who will lead this country.

Now, more than ever, it is time to put country ahead of politics. Now more than ever, it is time to bring change to Washington so that it works for the people of this country that we love. I know my opponent is worried about his campaign but that's not what I'm worried about. I'm thinking about the Americans who are losing jobs and homes and their life savings.

(APPLAUSE)

We cannot afford another four years of the failed economic theories that say we should give more and more to millionaires and billionaires and hope the prosperity trickles down on everybody else.

We can't afford four more years of less regulation that no one in Washington is watching what's happening on Wall Street. We've seen where that leads us and we are not going back.

It is time to turn the page on eight years of economic policies that put Wall Street before Main Street but ended up hurting both.

We need policies that grow our economy from the bottom up so that every American, everywhere, has the chance to get ahead, not just the corporate CEOs but their secretaries, too.

Not just the factory owner but the men and women on the factory floor. Because if we've learned anything from this economic crisis, it's that we're all connected, all of us, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, young, old, rich, poor, management, labor, it doesn't matter. We are all together and we will rise or fall as one nation, as one people. That's why I'm running for president of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Our next play on CNN's BALLOT BOWL, Barack Obama on the offense. He is talking about John McCain, accusing him of being in his words erratic when it comes to his behavior over the economy and how he would fix it. Also we're going to have today's top stories, other stories including President Bush weighing in on this global financial crisis. Stay with us. You're watching CNN's BALLOT BOWL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NAAMUA DELANEY, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Naamua Delaney. We're live at CNN headquarters. More BALLOT BOWL in a moment but first a quick news update. The United States dropped North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. A U.S. State Department spokesman says it comes after North Korea agreed to a number of U.S. nuclear inspection demands. Some republicans including GOP presidential nominee John McCain are criticizing the Bush administration for the move.

Meanwhile, with just 100 more days in office, President Bush is trying to stem the growing tide of global financial insecurity. Today Mr. Bush met with leaders from fellow economic powers of the G-7 promising a coordinated response and solution to a global money meltdown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. PRESIDENT: In my country it is important for our citizens to have understood that which affects Wall Street affects Main Street as well. And all of us recognize that this is a serious global crisis and therefore requires a serious global response for the good of our people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DELANEY: GM and Chrysler are teaming up. A merger of some other type of deal may be in the works. "The Wall Street Journal" and the "New York Times" both reporting today that the giant auto makers have been talking but "The Wall Street Journal" reports talks have stalled due to recent turmoil in the financial market. Hurricane Norbert is now ashore in Mexico battering the Baja, California peninsula. The Category 2 storm is expected to make a second landfall this afternoon on Mexico's mainland.

I'm Naamua Delaney. We'll have much more on these stories coming up in the cnn newsroom in about 30 minutes. BALLOT BOWL returns after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Welcome back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL. I'm Suzanne Malveaux in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We've been hearing from both candidates about the economy. Earlier this week we heard from Barack Obama in Cincinnati, Ohio, essentially saying that he believes that John McCain is behaving in an erratic way when it comes to dealing with this economic crisis. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: The next president is going to have to manage this recovery and the question is -- the question is, will that president, will that president be looking out for you?

Senator McCain and I had a chance to talk about this the other night in Nashville, Tennessee. Some of you may have seen it. In that debate, John McCain was mostly offering more of the same. Same tax policy as George Bush, same healthcare policy as George Bush, same Iraq policy as George Bush. But, then because I think he was realizing that the same old same old isn't going over so well, here in Ohio, because people are kind of fed up with doing the same old thing, he decided he would offer what he said was a new idea to help deal with the financial crisis and that was to have the government buy up bad mortgages throughout America.

Now, first of all, this idea wasn't particularly new. For the last several weeks I've been talking about the need to help home owners prevent foreclosure. The secretary of Treasury already received the authority to buy up those bad mortgages in the rescue package. I proposed it myself because if it's properly done and limited in scope then it can help innocent homeowners stay in their homes but still be a good deal for taxpayers, because what I also said at the time was that it shouldn't be used as a way to reward banks and lending institutions who made careless loans. We shouldn't be a bailout for the high rolling real estate speculators.

Taxpayers shouldn't be asked to pick up the tab for the very folks who helped create this crisis. But, that's exactly what senator McCain's campaign does. When we woke up Wednesday we found out he wants actually for the government to pay the full face value of mortgages that are on the books, even though they're not worth that much anymore. So, let's say you had a mortgage for $100,000, but your house now was only worth $75,000. You know what, McCain would do is we would buy that mortgage for $100,000 and guess what? That means taxpayers lose $25,000 right off the bat.

The plan that would guarantee American taxpayers lose because we'd be handing over, according to John McCain $300 billion to underwrite the kind of greed and irresponsibility that, on Wall Street that got us into this mess in the first place. Now, it would be one thing if this was just one example of him lurching all over the place. But, this is just the latest in a series of shifting positions that Senator McCain has taken on this issue. His first response to this crisis in March is that homeowners shouldn't get any help at all. That's what he said in March. Then a few weeks ago he put out a plan that basically ignored homeowners.

Now, in the course of 12 hours, he's ended up with a plan that punishes taxpayers, rewards banks, and won't solve our housing crisis. You know what? Here's my point, Cincinnati. You can't afford that kind of erratic, uncertain leadership in these uncertain times. We need a steady hand in the White House.

(APPLAUSE)

We need a president we can trust in times of crisis and that's the kind of president I intend to be. That's why I'm running for president of the United States of America.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Barack Obama making the case that he is the one exhibiting leadership when it comes to the economic financial crisis. Dana, we have seen the strategy where they believe they can make some inroads here, that voters are responding to at least talking about the economy coming up with various ideas and also painting his opponent, John McCain, as someone who's kind of all over the place when it comes to dealing with this issue -- Dana.

BASH: You know Suzanne, I actually want to ask you a question about that because obviously we have different perspectives covering these different campaigns. When I talk to McCain aides they say listen to what we just heard from Barack Obama calling John McCain erratic, uncertain, that he's lurching all over the place. Didn't say it there, but in some of his ads it's not so subtle what they say, that John McCain has old ideas, worn ideas, that, you know, Barack Obama is crying about or decrying negativity from the McCain campaign, but meanwhile he is clearly trying to paint a caricature of John McCain of somebody who is, forgive me is an angry old man who's unable and not able to be president. What does the Obama campaign say about that, about the fact that the negativity is very much also coming from their campaign?

MALVEAUX: It's interesting because, Dana, on the one hand Barack Obama really kind of staying away from a lot of the negativity, but you see on some of the ads very critical of John McCain in a much more direct way, but I have to say in covering Obama for the last couple of years now, here, the tone is very, very different in these type of rallies now, it is much more serious, and he is going after McCain more on character issues like honesty and judgment and even truth -- you know, whether or not he's being truthful on whether he can help the American people, because he says things now like: don't let him bamboozle you when he talks about change. Don't go or fall for the old okey-doke, is what he says. He is really accusing John McCain of not being forthcoming, not being honest when it comes to talking about the economy and what he is able to do for the American people.

That is very different than the kind of rallies we've seen before, the tone and the language a lot more positive when he talks about hope and change, that kind of thing. Barack Obama much more serious talking about his own economic prescription, but also going after John McCain over these kind of issues trying to paint him as someone who doesn't have the kind of character...

BASH: And, Suzanne, I think we lost her signal there, but she was saying Barack Obama is painting McCain as somebody who doesn't have the character to be president. It won't surprise anybody out there, especially with 24 days before Election Day that that is precisely the kind of theme that we're also hearing from the McCain campaign and from senator McCain himself. He stepped it up big time this week on that very topic, telling voters, warning voters, Barack Obama, you think you know him, you really don't. He is not somebody you can trust. Listen to what he is saying on the trail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MCCAIN: You know, what Senator Obama says today and what he has done in the past are very often two different things. Rather than to answer his critics, Senator Obama will try to distract you from noticing that he never answers the serious and legitimate questions he's been asked. He's even questioned my truthfulness. And let me reply in the plainest terms I know. I don't need lessons about telling the truth to American people and were I ever to need any improvement in that regard, I probably wouldn't seek advice from a Chicago politician.

(APPLAUSE)

What was my opponent's actual record in the years before the great economic crisis of our lifetimes? This crisis started, as you know, in our housing market in the form of subprime loans that were pushed on people who couldn't afford them. Bad mortgages were being backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and it was only a matter of time before a contagion of unsustainable debt began to spread. This corruption was encouraged by Democrats in Congress and abated -- abetted by Senator Obama.

I was the one -- I was the one who called at the time for tighter restrictions on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that could have helped prevent this crisis, could have helped prevent it from happening in the first place and senator Obama was silent on the regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and his Democratic allies in Congress opposed every effort to reign them in.

As recently as September of last year, he said that subprime loans had been, "a good idea." Well, Senator Obama, that good idea has now plunged this country into the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. To hear him talk now you'd think he'd always opposed the dangerous practices at these institutions, but there is absolutely nothing in his record to suggest he did.

He was surely familiar with the people who were creating this problem, the executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have advised him and he's taken their money for his campaign. In fact, he's received more money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac than any other senator in history with the exception of the chairman of the committee overseeing them.

Did he ever talk to the executives at Fannie and Freddie about these reckless loans? Did he ever discuss with them the stronger oversight I proposed? If Senator Obama is such a champion of financial regulation, why didn't he support these regulations that could have prevented this crisis in the first place?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: And that is John McCain speaking earlier this week in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with some pretty tough words against Barack Obama. Now, what we do here on BALLOT BOWL is bring you those words from the candidates on both sides from the stump, but the other thing that obviously goes on during the campaign is the campaign goes on, the attacks go on basically on our BlackBerries and we get statements from various sides. And one thing, as we've been presenting you with BALLOT BOWL that has been going on, is basically something that has erupted between a civil rights legend, now Congressman John Lewis and the McCain campaign.

Suzanne, I want to bring you in to tell us a little more about this which started with a statement that Congressman John Lewis put out today with regard to McCain and Palin which was pretty tough.

MALVEAUX: Oh Dana, the congressman is weighing in on this because he believes the tone, the harsh tone that has been taken on, that he believes, in the McCain camp is really quite dangerous and risky. I want to read you part of this statement from the congressman.

He says, "What I'm seeing reminds me too much of another destructive period in American history. Senator McCain and Governor Palin are sowing the seeds of hatred and division and there is no need for this hostility in our political discourse."

He goes on to say that George Wallace, he is referring to the segregationist and former Alabama governor who was a Republican presidential candidate, says, "he never threw a bomb, he never fired a gun, but created the climate and conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans who were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights. Because of this atmosphere of hate four little girls were killed on a Sunday morning when a church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama."

The congressman, Dana, as you know, referring, I guess, some of the remarks that have been made by people who have been attending the McCain rallies just in the last couple of days, some of them sounding rather harsh, perhaps even suggesting violence or this kind of thing, so the congressman weighing in here saying that he believes that the McCain camp has crossed the line here, Dana.

BASH: Well, you know, and as we know, as we've been looking at our BlackBerries, you know, pretty much a matter of minutes after Congressman Lewis released that statement we got a response not from the senator's campaign but from Senator John McCain, himself. And I'll read you most of his statement, because basically what the gist of his statement says is, wait a minute you're accusing us of something without giving specifics.

Here's what he says, "Congressman John Lewis's comments represent a character attack against Governor Sarah Palin and me that is shocking and beyond the pale. The notion that legitimate criticism of Senator Obama's record and positions could be compared to Governor George Wallace, his segregationist policies and the violence he provoked is unacceptable and has no place in this campaign," and this goes on to say, "I am saddened that John Lewis, a man I've always admired, would make such a brazen and baseless attack on my character and the character of the thousands of hardworking Americans who come to our events and cheer for the kind of reform that will put America on the right track."

And Susanne, he also goes on to say that he wants Senator Obama to immediately and personally repudiate what he calls these outrageous and divisive comments and he specifically says that John Lewis is trying to shut down debate 24 days before this election. So, this is obviously something that is highly emotional, highly controversial, but something that we, Suzanne, have heard and have seen kind of bubbling beneath the surface and particularly from the perspective of the McCain campaign and what McCain is pretty much saying here is, wait a minute, you're not giving us specifics and you maybe even, at the beheft of Senator Obama, are trying to use the issue of race as a tactic to shut down what they believe, inside the McCain campaign, are some legitimate questions about Barack Obama and his policies -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And Dana, it's interesting to note that it was just yesterday, as you know, John McCain had tried to encourage some people in the audience to kind of tone down the rhetoric a little bit and Barack Obama earlier today said that he appreciated John McCain doing that, so this is kind of a continuous back and forth between these two campaigns and obviously what we're going to do is hear from their running mates who are going to weigh in on all of the issues, that after a very quick break when BALLOT BOWL continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Welcome back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL. I'm Suzanne Malveaux in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Now, politics is not all seriousness. There is some fun, some light moments, as well. Barack Obama first making this joke, he's made it many times since then, but first making this joke in Portsmouth, Ohio, earlier this week when he was talking about a little bit of pie, enjoying some pie, then basically met the owner of this pie shop, a diehard Republican, and they had this exchange. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: We were just in Georgetown. Is that right, Governor? We stopped by a diner, got some pie. It was very good pie. We had coconut cream. Wait, you had lemon -- lemon meringue pie. And it was tasty pie and I talked to the owner of this diner. And I had taken pictures with the employees and they said, you got to take a picture with us, because the owner, he's a dyed in the wool Republican. So, we're going to take a picture with him and then we're going to show it to him and just get him all riled up. So, the owner comes out, and I say, "how you doing?" He says, "how you doing?" I said, "looks like great pie, I'm looking forward to eating it." I said, "your employees here tell me you're a die-hard Republican."

He said, "that's true, sir." I said, "how's business?"

(APPLAUSE) He said -- he said, "business isn't so good." He said, "my customers, they can't afford to eat out right now." I said, "sir, who's been in charge of the White House for the last eight years? Who's been in charge of Congress six out of the last eight?" He said, "well, that's the Republicans." I said, "well, let me ask you something. Doesn't it hurt to hitting your head against the wall like that over and over again?" He said, "you got a point." He said, "I know you've never voted Democratic, but you might just want to try it one time because we can't do any worse than we're doing right now." I said, "give us a chance for four years, see how it works out. You might get more customers." I think he's thinking about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Also today, hearing from Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell making a joke that he would give Barack Obama some Philly cheese steaks if he became president for every single day that he's in office, trying to fatten him up, obviously a familiar theme when it comes to food and Barack Obama. We're going to have a final word from both these candidates after this very quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BASH: And welcome back to BALLOT BOWL. I'm Dana Bash in davenport accident Iowa. John McCain was here a couple hours ago, and you heard several bits of his stump speech from here, as well as from Barack Obama and both their running mates, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. All of them are obviously getting a lot more intense as we get a lot closer to Election Day, but also more intense as we get closer to the final debate.

And that debate will be this coming week on Wednesday night, and you don't want to see it anyplace else except CNN. This is the place to watch all night long. We will have debate coverage and of course the debate in its entirety.

And, Suzanne we talked about, the running mates and I think we should tell our viewers that where you are right now, Philadelphia, that is actually where Sarah Palin is heading, right now. She's not going to have a campaign rally, per se, but what she's going to do, and I'm sure you know this, maybe you're even going to hook up with her, there, she's going to be dropping the puck -- the hockey mom is going to be dropping the puck for the Philadelphia Flyers game there, tonight. So, we're going to be able to bring you some of that, some of the action there, tomorrow during BALLOT BOWL and that of course is 4:00 Eastern, tomorrow.

MALVEAUX: Well, I guess that's appropriate, Dana. Looking forward to that, and obviously debate. Barack Obama is on his way to Chicago now, then he will be campaigning in Ohio. Should also let you know tomorrow for BALLOT BOWL, which starts at 4:00, we're going to take a look at where the running mate is, Joe Biden, he is going to be joined with Hillary and Bill Clinton, all of them in Scranton, Pennsylvania. They've got some roots down there, they certainly hope it works to their advantage. That again, tomorrow, 4:00, BALLOT BOWL, CNN's BALLOT BOWL tomorrow. Now CNN's NEWSROOM is up next. Thanks for joining us.