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'Ballot Bowl '08'

Aired March 04, 2008 - 12:00   ET

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

DANA BASH, HOST: I'm Dana Bash in Dallas, Texas.
Welcome to this special edition of CNN's "Ballot Bowl '08." "Ballot Bowl" is your chance to hear from the candidates on the campaign trail. Sometimes it's live, sometimes it's on tape, but it is always unfiltered. It is as the candidates try to get your vote and as they try to get their party's nomination.

Now, today obviously is a crucial, crucial day in this presidential primary season. It has already been gripping, but today really, really is, because it very much could change the landscape of the presidential race on both sides of the aisle.

There is voting today here where I am in the state of Texas. There's voting in Ohio, in Vermont, and in Rhode Island as well. Those are the four states holding primaries. Voters are at the polls as we speak casting their ballots.

I want to give you a sense of what is at stake on both sides of the aisle, totally in -- when you add up all of those four states.

First of all, for the Democrats, 370 delegates at stake. And for Republicans, 256 delegates at stake.

And as we bring you through the next hour, I want to bring in my co-anchor for the hour, Suzanne Malveaux, who's been covering the Democrats. Suzanne is in Austin, Texas.

Hi, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CO-HOST: Hey, Dana.

We're in Austin, Texas, at a polling station. A lot of excitement today. Obviously, voters already showing up here.

We're going to give you a lot in this hour, jam-packed. We'll give you a sense of our game plan.

As you mentioned before, the polls are now open in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, as well as Vermont. Already people beginning to cast their critical ballots.

We are seeing on the Democratic side, Senators Clinton and Obama here in Texas, last-minute events trying to appeal to those voters. Republicans are also here in the state. Want to give you a sense.

McCain has events in San Antonio, in Houston. We find Mike Huckabee in Dallas. That is also where we find some of the members of the best political team on television, our own Mary Snow with Huckabee in Dallas.

We have Jim Acosta. He is in Cleveland, Ohio. He's going to be looking at the race there.

Our own Bill Schneider in New York, who's going to be crunching lots and lots of numbers. Those polls of polls, he'll be talking about that throughout the hour to see just where these candidates are, how they fare throughout the day.

And Dana, I want to give it back to you to focus in on those Republicans.

BASH: That's right. Obviously, this is a very dramatic day on both sides of the aisle, as we've just been discussing, Suzanne. But for John McCain and his campaign, what they are very much hoping is today is the day that puts him over the top, that gives him the number of delegates that he needs to mathematically clinch the Republican nomination. He's already been campaigning today in the state of Texas, talking about the issues that he hopes will provide a dividing line between himself and his candidacy, and whichever Democrat wins the Democratic nomination.

And we want to take to you a campaign event he held, a town hall that he held last night in Waco, Texas. John McCain is trying to keep what he considers the magic of his primary race. And that is these town halls, having free-flowing conversations, Q&A sessions with voters, voters allowing voters to ask whatever they want.

There was one voter last night, a college student, who asked him a question that many Republicans are asking, which is, they understand that he is somebody who is solid on the issue of national security, but what about the economy?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My question is in terms of like U.S. fiscal policy, U.S. economic policy. What is it that would make you more qualified than someone like Governor Romney or Governor Huckabee, who does have the executive experience? Why would you feel that you would be better handled to fit that role?

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you.

I've been involved in issues of the economy for many, many years. In fact, I was one of those, along with Phil Gramm and Jack Kemp and a number of us who, when we came to power, inflation was at 10 percent, interest rates were at 20 percent, unemployment was at 10 percent, I believe, as I recall.

I mean, the economic conditions when President Reagan came to power were incredible. And we went about with one common goal, and that was to fix our economy, and based on conservative fiscal principles -- less taxes, less regulation, smaller government. What the government can't do, we should be doing. And we should only be doing -- the government should only be doing what we are unable to do ourselves -- smaller government, less regulation, lower taxes, lower interest rates so people can save and keep more money for themselves, including, by the way, a health care system that's not taken over by the federal government but the families make the choices in America.

(APPLAUSE)

And you know what? And you know what we did together? We went about and we cut taxes and we reduced regulation and we restrained spending, and we embarked on one of the strongest and longest economic periods of prosperity in the history of this nation.

I understand those issues. I've been involved with them for many, many, many years. And I am proud of my economic record, including my record of stopping and eliminating wasteful pork barrel spending.

And so I can tell you that I understand the economic challenges this nation faces, because I've been involved in them for years and years and years, and I have the fundamental principles and policies and legislation that proves that. And so I thank you for the question, and I appreciate it, because it is really a vital answer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: And that was John McCain speaking last night in Waco, Texas, trying to explain that he -- from his perspective, he does have a record on the economy, that he does understand the economy. Something that he has got to continue to convince voters of, because the economy is a top, top issue for them this election season.

I want to bring in my colleague, Mary Snow, who like I, has been covering the Republicans, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, all of them when they were in the race.

But for now, Mary, you are covering Mike Huckabee today. Huckabee is still in this race, he is campaigning very hard today. He will not even entertain the idea, as you know, of dropping out if he doesn't win this state or any of the other primaries today.

But you're also in Collin County, Mary, one of the reddest states -- reddest counties in this state. What are you seeing there and what are you hearing from Huckabee about the ability to do well in a place like that?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Dana, one of the things that Mike Huckabee pointed out, he came to this polling station and said, when he was asked about conservative support for John McCain and the fact that there's lacking support for him, he says that he really feels that his supporters, Mike Huckabee's, have a passion, an energy that John McCain doesn't have, and he even suggested that some voters are going to vote for John McCain as a default button on the Republican lever, and he says that getting Republicans energized is going to be a challenge ahead for Senator John McCain.

Now, certainly, as you mentioned, Mike Huckabee is not conceding anything at this point. He is still hoping to win, but, of course, we're asking him what his plans are, since it really seems clear that Senator McCain could easily get the Republican nomination with the number of delegates he needs, and here is what Mike Huckabee had to say just a short time ago here in Dallas, Texas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you've spent years and years and years in the deliberative body, and your primary area of focus has been one of being a member of a large body of people, discussing things, and having the luxury of picking out two or three issues that you get to specialize in, that is a very different platform than when you have actually run a government and you've had to be responsible for all of those agencies, not one or two. You've never had the luxury of specializing in a couple of things, but, for example, as a governor, I ran a microcosm of the federal government.

Every agency that one has at the federal level you have at the state level. And so what you're doing is that you're looking at the total field of play every day. And that same field of play is what you'd be doing as president, those same agencies at the federal level.

QUESTION: Governor, sir, like the great quote from the Alamo, is this your last stand?

HUCKABEE: I certainly hope not. Gee, if those folks had come to his aid, the Alamo might have been a different story.

I'm still waiting on the Texans to come to my aid. I've sent them the letter. You know, I've asked them to come with all dispatch.

We've answered with a cannon shot of our own, and our flag still waves proudly from the wall. We shall never surrender or retreat. So we'll see which part of the letter holds true today.

QUESTION: Governor, if you don't do well tonight, will you support Senator McCain?

HUCKABEE: If he's the nominee, I absolutely will support him, absolutely. And will do it enthusiastically.

I mean, I'm going to support the nominee of our party. There's been never been a doubt in my mind or a question for me. You know, when I've been asked about third party efforts, I've been totally clear. Absolutely not under any circumstances.

I'm a Republican. I want our party to win. But I also want our party to stand tall and firm for things that made me a Republican.

I want our party to have a plank and a platform that consistently says we're for the human life amendment. I want us to be bold in calling for lower taxes, secure borders. The only way I can fight for those things is to stay in the Republican Party and to remain very faithful and be a voice for those things that are critically important to me.

QUESTION: Governor, you're going back to Little Rock tonight. What are your plans for the next few days?

HUCKABEE: I hope to get at least one good night's sleep somewhere along in the next few days. Play with my dogs.

Obviously, after tonight, regardless of the outcome, whether we win or if we don't, we've got to sit down tomorrow, and tomorrow's going to be a day of sort of looking at the landscape, seeing what's ahead, and where do we go from here? And that will be the case regardless of the outcome today. So we've got tomorrow, you know, a big planning day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: And, you know, Dana, his campaign is not saying what will happen exactly tonight, whether or not he will make an announcement. But they are planning, as Mike Huckabee just said, to go back to Little Rock tonight. And he will meet with his staff tomorrow to see where they go from here.

He's been trying to make the case, though, because he had executive experience as a governor, that he is the best candidate in the Republican Party. And, you know, here in Collin County, he did get some pretty warm recessions here at some of the events where he campaigned.

But, you know, I was talking to the GOP chairman of the county who says that early turnouts show that there was a good response among Republicans. But, you know, it has been also pointed out that there have been a high number of Democrats in early voting turning out, and, you know, we can't go into the polling station, but people are coming out saying that the lines on the Democratic side are much longer so far than on the Republican side, which could be telling overall.

BASH: You're exactly right, Mary. And that is, as you know, one of the reasons why the Republicans, the McCain campaign, specifically, is very, very eager to get their general election campaign up and running, because they know they are up against intense enthusiasm on the Democratic side, and you're witnessing it right there in Collin County, here in Texas.

Mary, thank you very much. Appreciate that. I like the idea that Mike Huckabee's getting a good night's sleep. Maybe that means you can, too. That would be a change, wouldn't it?

SNOW: Very nice. I like that idea.

BASH: Mary, thank you very much.

Mary, thank you.

And we're going to go after the break to the Democratic side. This is such an important, crucial day for the Democrats. Hillary Clinton is trying to break her losing streak. Lost the last 11 Democratic contests. She has been campaigning tirelessly, as has Barack Obama, here in Texas and Ohio.

We're going to bring what you they're telling voters, their last- minute pitch on this voting day here in Texas.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Hello and welcome back to CNN's "Ballot Bowl," where you get a chance to see the candidates unfiltered in their own words.

I'm in Austin, Texas, at a polling station, a rather confusing process for some of the voters. That's why they call it the Texas two-step. Two-thirds of the delegates allocated for the primary process, about a third towards the caucus process.

I want to go to Jim Acosta, who's in Cleveland, Ohio.

Jim, obviously Ohio another critical state for Senator Hillary Clinton. All of these candidates looking at those big states, but also the small ones as well.

What are you seeing? Are you seeing voters? Have they started to show up yet?

I know that there is this intricate dance that people have to do here in the state of Texas. They're certainly hoping that the record turnout comes to fruition as many people said, at least seen in those early ballots.

Jim, what are you seeing?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Suzanne, they are anticipating a record turnout here in Ohio. Some 52 percent of the registered voters in the Buckeye State are expected to turn out today. And that is huge. That's some 15 percentage points higher than it typically is.

We've seen a steady stream of people coming into this Catholic church, this polling station in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, and you can look over my shoulder and see some of the activity. People are sort of coming in, in dribs and drabs. And we should be seeing the lunch rush any moment now.

But as you know down in Texas, there is confusion down there. There's some confusion up here as well.

Cuyahoga County has been the epicenter of voting problems in the past. Back in 2004, there were those long lines with those punch cards ballots that really frustrated a lot of voters in this state. They then switched to touch screen machines which cost millions of dollars, and then there were problems with the touch screen machines last November.

So they scrapped those here in Cuyahoga County and they moved to the S.A.T. style optical scan ballots. And election officials in this state are saying that they're confident, they're comfortable that the voting will work this time, and work quite well.

As for the issues, as you know, Suzanne, down in Texas, it depends on where you are, and in Texas it might be immigration. Up here it's definitely the economy definitely. We were at a factory yesterday that is being shut down next month, and voters there say they are fired up about the issue of NAFTA and those trade deals with China, which they say are driving jobs out of the state -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And Jim, it's become quite a controversial issue as well, at least with the Democrats. Senator Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton trading charges back and forth over who has the best plan when it comes to tweaking NAFTA or changing NAFTA, making it more friendly to some of those who've lost their jobs. A lot of people say that NAFTA has cost them dearly, and both of them trying to present these plans that they believe will resonate with the voters.

I want our viewers to take a look and take a listen to Senator Hillary Clinton from earlier today. She is looking at Texas. She's looking at Ohio. And she's really trying to project an optimistic picture here of this day.

She really says that she wants to move forward, and she believes that the voters are going to come out and support her. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I feel really good about today. We have a great campaign going on across Texas.

The voters of Texas are really focused on the two most important issues, national security and the economy. And I think there's going to be a tremendous turnout across Texas today.

And I'm thrilled at, you know, what's happening here in this campaign, what's happening in Ohio. It just feels really good.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

CLINTON: Well, they're very important. I mean, these are two really critical states. Obviously, you don't get to the white House as a Democrat without winning Ohio.

And we're going to put Texas in play. You know, what we're seeing is the outpouring of Texans who want to see the kind of positive, you know, differences and solutions that I'm offering and the kind of change that both Senator Obama and I are talking about. So I feel really good, not only about the primary today, but about what's possible for us here in Texas come the fall.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

CLINTON: Well, you know, never underestimate the intelligence of the vote.

(LAUGHTER)

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

CLINTON: No. You know, I don't pay a lot of attention to that. I pay more attention to what I feel and what people who are on the ground, you know, people like my friends here, who have been involved in Texas politics, know Houston, you know, know what's going on here, tell me, and we just feel really good.

Obviously, we won't know until the polls close, and we're urging people to remember this is a two-step process. Please, go back to your polling place and participate in the precinct conventions.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

CLINTON: You know, I don't think like that. We're working hard. That's why I'm out here at this polling place.

We think we're going to do really well here in Texas and in Ohio. And I'm feeling, you know, very optimistic. But we don't quit working until, you know, the last votes are in, and the last people in Texas, actually, show up at these precinct conventions.

I'm going to go from here to Dallas, do the same to try to make sure people know how important it is to come out and vote. Early voting broke all records, but now it's time for the people who didn't get a chance to vote early to come out.

So I just believe in working on election days. Those of you who have followed me know that I don't really pay a lot of attention to what somebody says is happening. Let's wait and find out what the voters actually have decided. And, you know, I think it's going to turn out well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Senator Hillary Clinton not taking a single vote for granted. Says she's going to be working up until the very last minute. That is exactly what we're seeing.

And Senator Barack Obama certainly putting pressure on her as well. He is campaigning throughout the state of Texas.

And when "Ballot Poll" returns after this quick break, we'll bring you Barack Obama.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Welcome back to CNN's "Ballot Bowl."

I'm Suzanne Malveaux in Austin, Texas.

You'll get a chance to hear from the Democrats and the Republicans, unfiltered, in their own words, as we bring you live and taped from these candidates. Now, Senator Barack Obama certainly campaigning the last minute throughout Texas, putting the pressure on Senator Hillary Clinton. Today he is in Houston, where he is talking with voters, but last night he was in San Antonio. That is where he was rallying support and also answering some questions.

Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We've won two- thirds of the states that -- approximately -- that -- where there have been contests so far. I would think at this point the question is no longer, is it a big enough state or is it a state with too many black people, or is it a state that is in the Midwest, or is it a caucus state? We won states, and we won delegates.

Now, Senator Clinton is running a tenacious campaign. She is a hard-working candidate. She brings to bear enormous resources.

President Clinton has been working hard on her behalf. And so, you know, we know that this has been an extraordinary election, and continues to be. And we're working as hard as we can to try to do well, but this notion that there are particular kinds of states that you have to win just doesn't make too much sense.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

OBAMA: No. And as I said, I mean, just understand the context.

Nobody reached out to the Canadians to try to reassure them of anything. All right? They reached out, unbeknownst to the rest of us, reached out to Mr. Goolsbee, invited him for what he thought would be a fairly casual conversation, and repeated what we have said on the campaign trail, which is that we believe in trade with Canada, we believe in trade with Mexico, we think the terms of NAFTA have to be altered.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Senator Barack Obama making the case and answering the charge that his campaign and his stance with NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, he says has been consistent with those Canadian officials, who campaign officials had spoken to, as well as to the voters and the presentation that he made to those in Ohio.

I want to bring back Dana Bash.

Obviously both of the candidates, Senator Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, putting forward positive messages and putting forward messages they believe that will resonate with the voters of those particular states.

What are you finding with Republicans?

BASH: You know, it's so different, Suzanne. It's really remarkable.

With Republicans, basically John McCain's in a holding pattern. He has been trying to, you know, make sure that people are going to vote today, because there is a bit of concern that they have enough of a message that he's got this locked up, or he hopes that he has it locked up, that people are just not going to turn out to vote for him because Mike Huckabee is still very aggressively campaigning, as we've been discussing, here in the state of Texas.

But, you know, it's more -- it's obviously a sense of inevitability, but it's more of a sense of transition on the Republican side, clearly, because it's a bit dramatic, but not anywhere near what you're seeing on the Democratic side. And for that, just to see where exactly the numbers are and where the polls are, I want to turn to our colleague, senior political analyst Bill Schneider. Bill is in New York at CNN Election Center.

And Bill, you obviously have been crunching the numbers. Let's start where I am in Texas. What are you seeing in terms of where public opinion is on this voting day in Texas?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, on the Democratic side in Texas, you want to see tight? We've got tight.

We averaged the five final polls going into this election. Today is election day. And they are virtually tied.

The average of the five, our poll of polls among likely Democratic primary voters, Clinton 47, Obama 46. That is really neck and neck, just one point separating them. With 7 percent of the voters in Texas, the Democrats still unsure. As they walk to the polls, arrive to the polls, they're still unsure.

So this is going to go right down to the wire -- Dana.

BASH: And what about Ohio, Bill?

SCHNEIDER: Ohio, not quite as close. Hillary Clinton has a small lead in Ohio.

Right now on election day, it's seven points. Clinton 49 percent, Obama 42 percent. It's just to the edge of statistical significance, but still, 9 percent of the voters unsure.

And if they move in one direction or the other, they could make a decease decisive difference. So, in Ohio, you can say that Clinton goes into this with a small lead, but in Texas, it's very, very tight.

BASH: OK.

Now let's turn over to the side of the aisle that I've been covering all these months, and that's the Republicans. Talking about John McCain. And, you know, obviously you've seen he's confident. Does his confident bear out in the numbers, starting with Texas?

SCHNEIDER: Yes, it certainly does. It's not quite as tight. Not tight at all on the Republican side.

Here are the Texas Republican primary voters. McCain, a solid majority, 56 percent. About a third, 32 percent, are voting for Mike Huckabee. That's a 24-point lead for John McCain, which is a pretty solid lead in Texas.

Notice that Huckabee is holding on to about a third of the vote. A lot of the southerners in Texas. He's a southern Baptist minister, he was a governor of a southern state. A lot of his fellow southerners continue to support him.

BASH: You know, and John McCain was reminding voters over and over when he was Ohio last week that nobody has won in the general election since 1964 without winning Ohio. So how is he doing, at least the polls today, among the people he's going to need, and those are Republicans?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He's doing very well with Ohio Republicans. He's got about the same support as he has in Texas. It's 57 percent in Ohio. It's 56 percent in Texas.

Mike Huckabee not doing quite as well in Ohio. Remember, Ohio was not a southern state and so he doesn't usually do so well outside the south, but he's still getting over a quarter of the vote. A lot of conservatives in Ohio holding out for Mike Huckabee, but nowhere near McCain. McCain has a 30-point lead.

And I should point out, Dana, that if McCain does this well, as well as these polls are predicting in Texas and Ohio, 56 percent, 57 percent, it is very likely he will get enough delegates in those two states to clinch the nomination. Particularly if he wins Vermont, which is a winner take all state for the Republicans.

BASH: Well, that is certainly what the McCain camp is banking on. They are hoping that they can begin to formally transition starting tomorrow to becoming the Republican nominee and get the Republican National Committee, even the White House political shop and everything that goes along with it to start to really formulate their general election campaign.

So, Bill, thank you very much for that snapshot of where things stand as voters are going to the poll in all of these states, but particularly the biggies, Texas and Ohio.

And when we come back, we're going to go back to the Democratic side of the aisle and hear a little bit more of what Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are telling voters as they are urging them, as they are urging them in a really intense way to get out to the polls. Each them saying, go vote for me. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Hi. I'm Suzanne Malveaux in Austin, Texas. Welcome back to CNN's BALLOT BOWL. This is Super Tuesday II. This is a chance for you to see the candidates unfiltered, either live or raw on tape. Obviously these candidates pushing forward, trying to reach out to the voters at the very last minute. Critical votes that are being cast today in the primaries of Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Now what's at stake here? The delegates across these four states, 370 delegates up for grabs for the Democrats today, 256 for the Republicans. Senator Hillary Clinton in Houston, in Austin, Texas, rather, talking about her plan when it comes to taxes and how she believes that she has a plan that will be good for the economy for the voters. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe we've got to get a new tax code. It's not working for most Americans. It's working for the wealthy and the well connected. But when an investment manager on Wall Street making $50 million a year gets to pay a lower percentage of his income in taxes than a teacher or a nurse or a truck driver making $50,000 a year here in Texas, that is not American. That is totally unfair.

And we just talking about energy policy. And I believe with all my heart we can have a new energy policy focused on clean, renewable energy that puts millions of people to work and does it across Texas with green collar jobs. In fact, you know, I've learned in the last few week, Texas is leading in the production of wind energy and in energy efficiency. These are jobs that can't be outsourced. These are jobs we're going to do in the valley, and in, you know, north Texas and east Texas and west Texas, and they're going to lead us to energy independence.

And, of course, I believe passionately that health care is a moral right not a privilege and it should be available to every American. And I also believe in equal pay for equal work. That is something that is long overdue in America.

And in honor of our veterans, especially I want to thank Robin Ryan (ph). When young men and women sign up to serve our country, in the United States military, I believe that we, in return, sign up to serve them, with health care and decent pay and the support and the services that they have earned. And finally, for me, I believe every child, no matter who that child is or who that child's parents might be, deserves that chance to reach his or her God-given potential.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And Senator Barack Obama outlaying his own plans when it comes to education, health care and the war in Iraq. He also took some questions in San Antonio, Texas. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The Canadian consulate in Chicago contacted my -- one of my advisers, Austin Goolsby (ph), on their own initiative. Invited him down to meet with them. He went down there as a courtesy. And at some point they started talking about trade and NAFTA and the Canadian embassy has confirmed that he said exactly what I've been saying on the campaign trail, which is that I believe in trade but that it is important for us to have labor standards and environmental standards that are enforceable and that I intend to obtain modifications and amendments to NAFTA that will make them enforceable.

So this notion that Senator Clinton is peddling that somehow there's contradictions or winks and nods has been disputed by all the parties involved. What's not disputed is that Senator Clinton and her husband championed NAFTA, worked on behalf of NAFTA, called it a victory, called it good for America until she started running for president. That's indisputable. That's a fact.

And so, you know, I know that the Clinton campaign has been true to its word in employing a kitchen sink strategy. We've been, you know, catching, what, a three, four things a day. This is one of them. It doesn't, I think, change the facts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: You're listening to Senator Barack Obama answering charges that his campaign has been saying one thing publicly regarding the free trade agreement and the kinds of negotiations that he would put forward with the Canadians to make things better for Americans in terms of jobs, and what some say were private discussions regarding the position. Barack Obama saying that there was no difference between those things.

Dana, obviously, a controversy that has been brewing over the last week or so with Senator Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in these campaigns. Really just kind of erupted over the last 24, 48 hours. We'll see if voters -- if that really make as difference to them when they go to the polls and actually cast their ballots.

Dana.

BASH: It will be interesting, Suzanne. And I can tell you, just in speaking to some of John McCain's advisers this morning, they are watching, as you can imagine, the potential opening from their perspective of Barack Obama on that issue, if he is the nominee. They have a pretty big bank of things that they think that they can run against if it's Hillary Clinton, but Barack Obama is a bit more of an unknown. So that's something that they are watching and reading very, very carefully. I can tell you that already this morning.

And speaking of Republicans, speaking of John McCain and Mike Huckabee, we're going to go back to that side of the aisle and look at what Republicans are saying and doing here in the state of Texas as they appeal for last-minute votes on this election day. On this, as Suzanne called it, second Super Tuesday. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BASH: Welcome back to this special primary day edition of BALLOT BOWL '08. I'm Dana Bash in Dallas, Texas.

Texas is just one of four states holding its primaries today. Voters are already at the polls casting their ballots on both sides of the aisle. And this has already been an absolutely gripping presidential race. But today, I can tell you, you can absolutely feel the tension in the air here in Texas, for example, because today is a day that very well could dramatically change the landscape of the race on both sides of the aisle, for Democrats and Republicans.

We've been bringing you the candidates in their own words, as we do here on BALLOT BOWL, unfiltered. Sometimes live, sometimes on tape. But as they have been trying to make their last-minute appeal today to voters to get their votes, to try to get their party's nomination.

We're going to stick with the Republican side of the aisle right now. And John McCain, as we've mentioned, is hoping that today is the day he mathematically clinches the Republican nomination. He's been out campaigning already here in Texas and we're going to bring you a little bit of what he said this morning in San Antonio, bring you some of what we get to hear covering him, which is as he tries to warm up the crowd with some of his familiar jokes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to ask your sympathy for the families of the state of Arizona, because Barry Goldwater (ph) from Arizona ran for president of the United States. Morris Udall (ph) from Arizona ran for president of the United States. Bruce Babbitt (ph) from Arizona ran for president of the United States. I, from Arizona, ran for president of the United States. You know, Arizona may be the only state in America where mothers don't tell their children that some day they can grow up and be president of the United States. With your help today, I will secure the nomination and go on to reverse that trend in the United States of Arizona and be -- the United States of America and have Arizona produce so that mothers can tell their children in our state.

And I believe that with your help today that we can secure enough delegates to make sure that we can secure the nomination. But we have to win and we have to win big here in the state of Texas. So I'm asking you to vote. I'm asking you to get your friends out to vote and let's show them that we can move on to a victory in November with me carrying the banner of the proud Reagan, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt great Republican Party to victory in November. And I would be grateful for your support.

So let me thank you for being here this morning. And I'd like to mention a couple of things. And since we're sort of close together here, I would take a minute or two after that to respond to any questions or comments that you might have this morning, after I make a couple of comments. And thanks for serving, sir. Thank you for being here.

First of all, I just want to say to you, not only my thanks for turning out this morning, but this city of San Antonio is probably as patriotic and as defense oriented and as great a city in the entire nation, in your support of the men and women who are serving in the military. I thank you for that. I especially want to thank you for your support of the magnificent facility at Brook Army Hospital. I thank you for that. It's an important place. The Center for the Intrepid is a wonderful installation to care for those who have served so much and so hard and given so much. And so I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

The men and women who serve in the military are so proud to be able to live here, to raise their families here, and to be part of this great community. And many of them decide after they've given their service to the country to retire here and to raise their children and their families here. So thank you for your support of the men and women in the military.

And I'd like to especially thank you for your support of the Texas Guard and Reserve, which has gone back and back and back and served with distinction and honor in an incredible fashion. And I know that you're very proud of them. And, my friends, we want to make sure that we continue to give them what they need and deserve.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: That's Republican presidential candidate John McCain speaking this morning in San Antonio, Texas. McCain has had nowhere near the kind of intense campaign schedule as the Democrats because he is feeling pretty confident that he can go over the top today and get the Republican nomination. But still you heard there, they want to make the case that they still do need votes. They need to get those delegates today. That's why you heard Senator McCain making an appeal for people to actually go out and vote for him today.

And another person is very much aggressively making an appeal to Republicans here in Texas today, and that is his rival, Mike Huckabee. And I want to bring in our Mary Snow, who's been covering the Huckabee campaign today.

And, Mary, you know, Mike Huckabee tends to speak in rather colorful terms. And one of the things he's been saying recently is, well, what's the rush? It's not like somebody has a bomb underneath their chair. What's that all about?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. And then again today he used a line saying, don't let all the water out of the bathtub before it's over. So he always has colorful language, you know, to describe it.

But he is certainly, as you just mentioned, you know, Senator McCain has confidence about tonight and Mike Huckabee certainly hoping to rattle that confidence with a strong showing here in Texas. And he is holding out hope that he can do well here. But he did concede that he would be heartbroken if he loses in Texas. He is expecting the conservatives in this state to turn out for him. And he was also asked earlier this morning here at this polling station in Dallas about conservatives and lack of enthusiasm for Senator John McCain. And Mike Huckabee said it's going to be a challenge for him. Here's what he had to say. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE HUCKABEE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think there's enormous energy in our campaign. The people who are with us know why they are. They're not just sort of pushing the default button on the Republican lever. They understand what they're principles are. They're truly dedicated conservatives who believe in controlling borders, changing the tax system, sanctity of life, traditional marriage. Those are people who believe the genuine Republican doctrines that have made us a strong country and made us a strong party.

I don't necessarily see that same level of enthusiasm with those who are sort of jut saying, OK, let's just go with the inevitable. And that's why I don't think it's inevitable yet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: And, Dana, of course, the big question, what happens now if Senator McCain secures the nomination? Mike Huckabee is saying that he plans to return tonight to Little Rock. He's having the press go with him to Little Rock and he's going to meet with his staff tomorrow. He says it's going to be a big planning day where they sit down and take a look at the landscape to see where they go from here, no matter what happens.

Dana.

BASH: Well, it will be very interesting to see what, in fact, he decides to do. Depending on what happens today, as you can imagine, and as you know, Mary, what the McCain campaign is hoping is that if he does end up losing, as the polls project right now, that he does quit the race and formally allow John McCain to be the Republican nominee.

But we have to give Mike Huckabee credit. Remember, we weren't barely even -- we weren't even talking about him. As he likes to say, he was barely an asterisk just a few months ago and not very much money. He's been able to make a name for himself.

So, Mary, thank you very much, covering the Huckabee campaign. We'll get back to you as well.

And I want to turn over to my colleague, Suzanne Malveaux, who is, of course, covering the Democrats in the beautiful Austin, Texas.

Hey, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Hey, Dana.

This is really kind of a bizarre surreal situation. It's a chance for Texas voters to vote twice. Bill Clinton saying it is the only time that that's actually legal. But fondly they call it the Texas two-step here. You participate in the primary and then later in the caucus. It is kind of a confusing situation, but voters seem to be grasping it. We're going to give you all the details about this kind of Texas two-step that they're doing here when BALLOT BOWL continues.

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MALVEAUX: It's a beautiful day here in Austin, Texas. The weather is lovely and voters are being asked to come out, not to vote once, but twice. That is the state of play in Texas. It is fondly called the Texas two-step. Requiring a primary process and a caucus process, when it's all said and done.

I want to bring in our own Bill Schneider out of New York to kind of explain what it is that voters have to do today to make their votes count here and why this bizarre system in this state of Texas.

Bill.

SCHNEIDER: Texas is its own world, Suzanne, and the rule are different there. In Texas you can vote twice. You don't have to, but you can vote twice. You can vote once in the primary and then you can go in the evening to a caucus, which is a separate process. Two- thirds of the voters -- of the delegates are selected by the primary voters and an additional third of the delegates are selected in these precinct caucuses and every precinct across the vast state of Texas tonight, they'll be selecting one-third of the Democratic delegates.

What does that mean? It means that the primary voters really don't have the final say. The primary voters theoretically could vote for one candidate, say Hillary Clinton, and the caucus-goers could vote for a different candidate and select delegates to support a different candidate. So the winner of the primary may not be the winner of the most delegates. And you could end up with an argument tonight over who actually won Texas, the candidate who got more primary votes or the candidate who got more delegates?

MALVEAUX: Confusing situation, but it will be interesting to see how it all sorts itself out.

Dana, I know the Republicans, it's a little bit simpler, huh?

BASH: A lot simpler. They're just going to -- people are going and voting and that's about it for Republicans here in Texas. It's quite different, Suzanne.

And now that is it for this edition of BALLOT BOWL. But for anybody out there who is a political junkie, and it's hard not to be with this kind of presidential race, you don't want to turn off CNN. We have political coverage all day. We're all over this story. All over all four of the states that are voting today.

And you also want to be sure to tune in tonight. Tonight is where you want to watch the results as they come in for all four of these primaries. That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. That's when it starts. And "NEWSROOM" is right after a break.

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