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ACORN Fighting Back with TV Ad; Convenient Early Voting in Nevada; McCain Speaks in Miami This Morning; Sarah Palin on Energy in Toledo, Ohio

Aired October 29, 2008 - 10:00   ET

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

GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And in the worst cases, some of the world's most oil-rich nations, they're also the most oppressive societies. And whether we like it or not, the money that we pay, U.S. dollars going to pay for their oil, only makes them more powerful and more oppressive. Oil wealth allows undemocratic governments to crush dissent and to subjugate women to oppress the people who live in these countries. Other regimes too. They use it to finance terrorists, finance terrorists around the world and the criminal syndicates in our own hemisphere.
By relying upon oil from the Middle East, we not only provide wealth to the sponsors of terror, but we provide high-value targets to the terrorists themselves across the world. These pipelines, refineries, transit routes and terminals for the oil that we rely on. And Al Qaeda terrorists, they know where those are. And if all of that wasn't bad enough, there's also, of course, the damage that our dependence on foreign oil inflicts on our economy.

Over the years, trillions of U.S. dollars have flowed out of our country often to nations or regimes hostile to our country. Through this massive transfer of wealth we lose hundreds of billions of dollars a year that would be much better invested here in American enterprises to create American jobs. And all of this explains why, as Senator McCain has said, energy security is not just one more issue on the candidate questionnaire. It's much more important than that. Energy security is the sum total of so many problems that confront our nation. It demands of us that we shake off the old ways. No more embracing status quo on this issue. We must negotiate new hazards and make hard choices that have long been deferred. And three decades of partisan paralysis on energy security, that is enough. I do not want to hand this problem on to my children or your children. I want to take care of it. Confront it, fix the problem. We can do this.

It is time that we meet this challenge in a way consistent with the character of this great nation, and that starts with producing more of our own energy. And in a McCain administration -

(APPLAUSE)

In our administration we'll authorize and support new exploration and production of America's own oil and gas reserves because we cannot outsource the solution to America's energy problem. We can't outsource that. We've got to take care of this ourselves. Again, we can do this. Every year we, sending hundreds of billions of dollars out of the country for oil imports, much of it from OPEC, while America's own oil and gas reserves in America are warehoused underground. They're going unused. And take it from a gal who knows the north slope of Alaska. We've got lots of both, oil, gas. We've got a lot of coal, also. And as a matter of fairness, we must assure affordable fuel for America by producing more of the trillions of dollars' worth of our oil and gas. Our land and offshore, we've got to drill here. We've got to drill now.

That is one thing that as we travel around this nation in this campaign and we're in these rallies, you say that and it resonates because people understand then, and they start chanting drill, baby, drill. They understand that we must drill here, drill now because we can do it, and because of the geology of so many of the areas that they live. They understand that warehouse underground are those resources.

Another essential means to energy independence is a dramatic expansion in the use of nuclear energy. We've got to tap into that. And in our administration, we'll set this nation on a course to build 45 new nuclear reactors by the year 2030. That's a lofty goal, I know. And we'll set that goal, though, of 100 new plants to power the homes and factories and cities of America. This has to be tapped into also. There's got to be part of the solution. The task will be as difficult as it is necessary. We'll need to recover all the knowledge and the skills that have been lost over three stagnant decades in a highly technical field like nuclear. We need to solve complex problems of moving and storing materials that will always need that safeguarding, and we'll need to do all these things and do them right, and we have done -- as we have done other great things before, we have to tap into American ingenuity and make sure that our young people are growing up understanding the benefits of nuclear and our colleges are teaching that science, also.

One of the efforts that will assist in securing our overall energy future is the development of clean coal technology, also. Here we have another big disagreement with our opponents. It was just about a month ago that Joe Biden told a voter in a rope line, but media caught him on tape. He told the voter that we're not supporting clean coal. He says that clean coal, it's a good idea for China, but sorry, Ohio, he says, Joe Biden says it's not for you. And that is just nonsense.

And there's plenty of more of that nonsense when you look at Senator Biden's record. He's against drilling off our coast. He says it's for environmental reasons that he's opposed. But he says that offshore drilling holds real promise for the island nation of Cyprus as if the environmental safeguards there are more rigorous than our own. So far as he and Senator Obama are concerned, nuclear power is OK, too, but only for France and other European nations. Our opponents seem to have all sorts of solutions and ideas to meet the energy needs of other nations. Now if they would only focus on more of what America needs. And it is worth asking why Senators Obama and Biden are opposed to the very same production methods in America that they advocate for other nations. Nobody seems to be asking them that.

Usually the answer that we hear, we got to assume based on their record and some of their comments, is that they fear environmental harm from domestic production, especially in the case of offshore drilling. But there's a big problem here. Even if we take their argument on its own terms, technology has made production far cleaner than once ever thought possible. Tiny footprints is all that is necessary now, by use of such methods as horizontal drilling and carbon capture and storage and enhanced recovery. Technology has come such a long way. Again, they don't get it. They need to understand the science behind all of this today, and those cleaner, safer technologies are far likelier to be used in the U.S. and in Canada than in China or India or other developing nations. It's here. Well they will be produced in environmentally friendly manners and protecting the workers. Much more likely here than in these developing countries.

So policies that forego domestic production don't protect our environment. They simply accelerate and reward dirtier and more dangerous methods of production elsewhere in countries that apply few, if any, environmental or workplace safeguards. While our opponents like to posture as defenders of the environment in practice, their refusal to support more domestic production does nothing more than harm. It ultimately harms our environment. It doesn't do any good. And as for our coal resources - let me get back to coal. America has more coal than the oil riches in all of Saudi Arabia. I don't know if a lot of people have realized that.

Burning coal cleanly is a challenge though. It's a challenge of practical problem-solving and human ingenuity though. We have no shortage of those in America either. So in a McCain administration we will commit $2 billion each year until 2024 to clean coal research and development and deployment. We won't just be talking about it. We'll be doing something about it to find the solution that we need, to reach clean coal technology that -- that the technique can be deployed, and we can live with this. We will refine the techniques and equipment and will deliver not only electricity but jobs to some of the hardest hit areas, hardest hit by these economic times.

And in the end, with or without the green light from Joe the six-term senator, we'll make clean coal a reality. And it is for the sake of our nation's security and our prosperity that we need these energy resources from America. And they can be brought to you by American ingenuity. And they've got to be produced by American workers. And it is to meet America's great energy challenge that John and I will adopt that all-of-the-above approach that's needed. In our administration that will mean harnessing alternative sources like wind and solar. The great job you're doing here with solar. Geothermal. We have many, many alternative sources that have not yet been tapped into and allowed to become economic and reliable. That's the key, of course, is the reliability of these alternative sources.

We've got to end subsidies and tariffs that drive prices up, though, and provide tax credits is what we'll do indexed to low automobile carbon emissions. And we've got to encourage Americans to be part of the solution, too, by taking steps in their everyday lives to conserve more and use less. You don't hear a lot of talk about that, also, the need for all of us to conserve these energy sources, especially, obviously, the nonrenewable sources of energy. We'll control greenhouse gas emissions by giving American businesses new incentives and new rewards to seek instead of just giving them new taxes to pay and new orders that they must follow, so says government.

Our energy policy - our opponents are always talking about things that we cannot do. This is what you hear from our opponents, things that you cannot do, because our own government won't let us. When you look over the energy plans of Barack Obama and Joe Biden and the allies that they have there in Congress, it is just a long labored agenda of inaction. And we cannot afford this, not a day longer. And it's the same agenda of inaction that we could expect under a one-party rule of Obama and Pelosi and Reid. And I say that again based on their record of inaction.

(APPLAUSE)

They're always talking about things that we cannot do in America. Stifling the entrepreneurial spirit with more government control saying to the American public why we can't do something, why we can't produce and why refineries can't build and why we can't approve more plants and coal - why we cannot use that and why we cannot master new technologies. As John McCain has observed, for a guy whose slogan is "Yes, we can," Barack Obama's energy plan sure has a whole lot of "No, we can't." And again and again -

(APPLAUSE)

Again and again, our opponents say that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems, as if we all didn't know that already. But the fact that drilling won't solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all. No. We cannot drill our way out of the problem entirely, but this is America, and it's the most resourceful country on earth, and we can drill and refine and mine and enrich and reprocess and invent and build and conserve and grow. We can use every available means to regain our independence. But we first have to say "Yes, we can do it."

(APPLAUSE)

And the mission of energy security will demand great things of our country. It will require commitment and resolve and political courage. It will require that bipartisan approach that John McCain is known for. He is the maverick of the Senate because he's been able to have the courage, the guts, to manifest his commitment to working across the aisle to fix the problems that America has and face the challenges. He's known as the maverick, and he's got the scars to prove it because he takes shots from his own party and from the other party, also. But it's going to take that kind of courageous, wise, experienced approach to meet America's energy challenges. That's what John McCain is all about.

John McCain is a man who knows something about hard missions and about overcoming dangers and keeping faith in his country. He has always put his country first. And the stakes are so high. And complete success, it's not going to come quickly on this front. But I can promise you this: that unless we begin this mission now, today, the only change we're going to see is a change for the worse. And when we do succeed in the hard work ahead our children will live a more prosperous life in a more prosperous country. And they're going to live in a safer world. That's what energy independence will bring us.

(APPLAUSE)

So I thank you for being here today. I'm excited about the possibilities that we have in putting together the pieces in this puzzle, putting it all together, the big picture for America, the possibilities that we have, the potential in America to finally getting our nation firmly on that path towards energy independence. In this arena, also, I promise you that John McCain and I, we will not let you down. Thank you and god bless you. Thank you.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Governor Sarah Palin there. As you see Toledo, Ohio, talking energy today. Also we are waiting and expecting to hear from Senator John McCain. That will be happening any minute now. He is in Miami, Florida, today. Our Ed Henry is there. We're going to be checking in with him in just a moment.

Their plans for your kids. How the candidates want to change education. Talking about that shortly right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

COLLINS: Count down to the election, 10 issues in 10 days. That's where we've started. In fact, we've already looked at where the presidential candidates stand on the economy, taxes, energy and health care. Today we want to talk about education. Let's go ahead and look at both candidates' plans for teaching your children. Senator Barack Obama would increase early childhood education funding. Senator John McCain emphasizes virtual schools and on-line education.

Regarding no child left behind, Obama says the goal is on target but the program has significant flaws. McCain voted for it in the senate and says it's just the beginning of education reform. Barack Obama wants to expand mentoring programs and give scholarships to teachers. John McCain favors bonuses for teachers who boost student performance. He also wants extra funding for states that recruit teachers near the top of their graduating class. Obama favors a $4,000 tuition tax credit. He also wants to expand Pell grants and lower interest rates on college loans. McCain wants to simplify tax benefits and consolidate the government's financial aid program.

Obama says math and science should be a national priority. His service scholarships would be for four years of undergraduate or two years of graduate teacher education. In return teachers would spend at least four years in a high-need location or field. McCain favors charter schools and home schooling, and he would give up to $4,000 to low-income students for on-line classes or ACT S.A.T. prep courses.

We were talking about education and the candidates' plan a little bit earlier with former Colorado Governor Roy Romer. He has stuck around for us throughout Governor Sarah Palin's speech there. We sure do appreciate that, Governor Romer. You're also a former L.A. school superintendent, now chairman of the group Strong American Schools.

Let's get back to what we were talking about here. We've just run through the candidates' plans, Governor Romer. And I would be curious to know what you would advise, if you would get a phone call and they would say, hey Governor Romer, we want to know what you would like you to tell us what to do. What would you first tell Senator John McCain and then what would you tell Senator Barack Obama?

FMR. GOV. ROY ROMER, COLORADO: I say this as a nonpartisan head of this organization. First, I'd say keep education as a priority. The next president is going to be really pushed with the economy and the war. But I tell you, you cannot eventually succeed in either one of those unless we make education a priority. We're drifting behind the rest of the world, and we need to catch up. That's the first thing.

Secondly I would say find a way to get uniform educational standards in this country. We have 50 different states setting educational standards. I believe there's a way to do that without having Congress dictate it.

COLLINS: Tell us exactly what you mean by that. I'm really interested in that one. Are we talking test scores? Are we talking enrollment? What exactly do you mean by uniform standards there?

ROMER: Here, look, I used to train people to fly airplanes. There's a standard of what you have to know and be able to do to fly an airplane -

COLLINS: Right.

ROMER: In order to get an license, In education, the K-12, we ought to come to more common agreement upon how good is good enough. What do you need to know and be able to do at the 12th grade and then back that down to each of the grades so the states can in a more uniform way say this is our goal. Now, let me tell you, they ought to benchmark those to the ten best nations of the world. Because on math we're 25th from the top of 30 nations. We're far behind. We need to find a more productive educational workforce in this country if we're going to save our economy and save our democracy.

COLLINS: All right. Let's talk about the economy for a little bit because obviously, as you already mentioned, the economy and the war, certainly issues that people are talking about and really concerned about as far as this particular election goes. Education has certainly, as you mentioned, you know sort of gone by the wayside a little bit. Let's look at the statistic that we found. A survey conducted in October, 500 private colleges actually showed that 46 percent now are reporting that some students are halting studies or switching to part-time status for financial reasons. We're talking about tuition hikes, 529 accounts dropping, smaller grants. What's the solution for people who are talking about sending their kids to college?

ROMER: This is a real problem. One, we've got to make college less costly and more efficient. There's still some wasted time and wasted expense in our college education. I think it's gotten too high, too expensive. That's one thing, is to reduce the cost. Secondly, we've got to find a way to assist students through loans and grants, to have the opportunity to become more productive because it pays off. Private companies will do that. They know that in their long-term interest they have to invest in their workforce. We need to invest in ours across America.

COLLINS: Do you think the candidates will get back to the issue of education? I mean, to be fair, we've only got six days left. What can they do at this point?

ROMER: You know, to be frank about it, the media and the events in the last days of the campaign probably will not permit a great deal of discussion of education. But after November 4th, I tell you the next president has got to have education as one of the top issues. We've got to improve teaching. We've got to arrive at more uniform expectations and higher expectations. We've got to keep it as a priority. It's slipped in our minds, not just as government, but as parents.

COLLINS: Are you going to work in either one of those administrations?

ROMER: Look, you know, you never speculate. I'm doing my work. I'll just continue to do my work.

COLLINS: Governor Roy Romer. We sure do appreciate your time here today. Thank you.

Declining home prices, rising foreclosure rates. Tomorrow we are going to home-in, if you will, on the housing crisis as we keep breaking down the issues that matter to you most. The problems and the plans. Ten issues in ten days only right here on CNN.

So you need to pick up a few things for dinner? Well in one state you can add voting to your grocery shopping list.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: I want to let you know we are waiting to hear from Senator John McCain. He is in Miami, Florida. You see Governor Charlie Crist there at the microphone. So we believe that he will be coming, bringing Senator McCain to the podium shortly after. And we will bring that to you shortly. We will also hear from Senator Barack Obama - oh it looks like he's about to come to the podium. We'll get back to that as soon as he begins addressing the crowd there.

Meanwhile, you've heard of frost on the pumpkin. What about snow, sleet and ice? An October surprise, extreme weather extremely early. A wintry storm slammed into the northeast. Thousands of people actually woke up without electricity this morning after winds and snow knocked down power lines. Several inches of snow on the ground now. Sections of some major highways still closed. And weather advisories still in effect as far north as Vermont. Well, the good thing is you can ski in Vermont, right, Rob? ROB MARCIANO, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: You can. I wouldn't take the new skis out.

COLLINS: Not yet. A little rocky.

MARCIANO: You want to take the rock skis out for sure. But certainly cold enough for natural snow at the higher elevations and cold enough to make snow as well. Because we've got a lot of cold air pulling behind it.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: ACORN fighting back this morning. The nationwide voter rights group releasing a 30-second TV commercial aimed at John McCain. The group is accusing the McCain campaign of trying to suppress the vote. They are also unveiling lawsuits over what they call voter suppression activities. ACORN is the subject of federal and state investigations looking at voter registration fraud.

Virginia facing a lawsuit over election day. The NAACP claims there aren't enough polling places to handle the expected heavy turnout. They point to long lines in the 2004 presidential election saying, the state is adequately prepared. Virginia Governor Tim Caine says he's confident the state can handle the lines. Virginia has no in-person early voting.

Thousands of disputed voters in Georgia, can now cast ballot. A three-judge panel ruled in favor of about 4,500 voters who were flagged over citizenship questions. The state can still challenge the votes after the election. The ruling could also help another 50,000 voters flagged for other reasons under the state's new voter identification rules. The panel said the state should have sought approval from the U.S. Justice Department before implementing new rules.

As we said, long lines for early voters in Georgia. Some people waited as long as five hours to cast ballots. More than a million Georgians voted already. They are still three early voting days left in the state. Meanwhile, early voting has ended in Louisiana. That state says almost 10 percent of registered voters cast ballots during the one-week early voting period.

No long lines though for early voting in Nevada. Many voters casting their ballots while shopping.

CNN's Gary Tuchman has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Wander through a shopping mall in the state of Nevada, pass the stores and kiosks, and there's a good chance you'll be able to vote for leader of the free world. No state makes it easier to vote early than Nevada.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I voted for McCain.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm voting for Obama.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This just made it very easy. There's polls open every day in your neighborhood and every mall is pretty is much is open every day.

TUCHMAN: November 4th may be election day. But, in 31 states where you can vote early without giving a reason, it's one of many election days.

In some states like Indiana, North Carolina and Florida, the lines are often long. You can wait for hours. But in Nevada, there are so many voting machines in so many places, long waits are uncommon.

(on camera): County elections officials here in Nevada, worked to come up with creative, convenient locations for early voting. Casinos, bars and brothels, this being Nevada, are not considered. But, there are plenty of other options.

(voice-over): Besides malls, outlet centers, health clubs and grocery stores are just a few of those options. Clark County, home to Las Vegas, election officials declare --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: More people vote before election day than on election day.

TUCHMAN: Nevada generally votes Republican. The Democrats are voting early by a more than 3-2 margin.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We thank you for voting early. And the Republican Party thanks you for all your votes.

TUCHMAN: This McCain/Palin phone center in Las Vegas, GOP officials say they're not concerned about that. Mingling with the volunteers, John McCain's daughter Meghan. And Linda Ramone, wife of late punk- rock legend, Johnny Ramone. .

(on camera): How important do you think early voting us, to get get your father elected president?

MEGHAN MCCAIN, JOHN MCCAIN'S DAUGHTER: I think early voting is important. But I don't think it's vital. I think it's important, but, I think just going out and voting in general, is important.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Sarah Palin's brother was also there.

CHUCK HEATH, SARAH PALIN'S BROTHER: More evidence is coming in every day. And I believe strongly as it comes in people are going -- the undecided are going to sway McCain/Palin's way.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, tell us where those are and we'll go there.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This way.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

TUCHMAN: As they canvas neighborhoods, Democrats say -- UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will you be voting for Obama?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I haven't made up my mind yet.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You haven't?

TUCHMAN: They will win Nevada for the first time since 1996.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, we can count on you for an Obama vote?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Oh, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And are you going to early vote?

TUCHMAN: Across the nation up to 1/3 of voters are expected to cast early ballots.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You want to vote for Obama? Well, you can do that to your (INAUDIBLE).

TUCHMAN: Democracy may be hard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love it. It's easy.

TUCHMAN: But voting doesn't have to be.

Gary Tuchman, CNN, Las Vegas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: If you stood in long lines to cast your vote early, you probably have some thoughts to share. We'd love to hear them. Just send them to ireport.com.

CNN is keeping them honest. If you have trouble at the polls, call the CNN Voter Hotline. You can help us track the problems and then we'll report the trouble in real time. Just call 1-877-462-6608. We're keeping them honest all the way through the election and beyond.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Want to take you directly to Miami, Florida, now. Senator John McCain is at the podium.

Let's go head and listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... and our great governor Charlie Crist who has done such a great job as well. Senator Mel Martinez, the classic example. Who you all know came to this country at age 15, with nothing but the shirt on his back. This is the American Dream. This is what we all dream of. And I'm so proud to serve with him. And of course, my dear and beloved friend who had the courage to come across the aisle and support my candidacy, Joe Lieberman. Joe Lieberman. (APPLAUSE)

You know, they say a lot of times you can judge a person by who he associates with. I couldn't be more proud to be associated with Governor Tom Ridge, former governor of the state of Pennsylvania, head of the Department of Homeland Security, former member of Congress.

My friends, you hear a lot of things. It's not an accident that the United States of America has not been attacked since 9/11. I do believe that the president of the United States deserves some credit for that. Don't you?

(APPLAUSE)

And I'd like to mention, also, the senator from the state of South Carolina, who's the only member of the United States Senate who still serves in our Military in the Air Force Reserves, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

(APPLAUSE)

So it's great to be back here in Florida. I'm proud to be with my friends here and I'm proud to be with you. And we need to win Florida. On November the 4th , we've got to win the state of Florida, my friends. And we're going to win here and we're going to bring real change to Washington, and you can do it for me. We've got to bring Florida home in our victory column. And you need to do it between now and November the 4th and get our vote out. That's what it's going to come to, my friends.

(APPLAUSE)

Obviously, we need a new direction and we have to fight for it. And I'm so proud to have a partner in that fight in Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska.

(APPLAUSE)

I've had the opportunity of introducing her at a number of rallies. I can hardly wait to introduce her to Washington and the Old Boy network. She's going to clean it up.

(APPLAUSE)

So, my friends, I've been fighting for this country since I was 17 years old and I have the scars to prove it. If I'm elected president, I will fight to shake up Washington and take America in a new direction from my first day in my office until my last. I'm not afraid of the fight. I'm ready for it, and so are you.

(APPLAUSE)

I have a plan to hold the line on taxes and cut them to make America more competitive and create jobs here at home. We're going to double the child deduction for working families. We'll cut the capital gains tax. We'll cut business taxes to help create jobs and keep American businesses in America.

(APPLAUSE)

I think there's something that Senator Obama and Senator Biden ought to understand. It's pretty simple. Raising taxes makes a bad economy much worse. Keeping taxes low, creates jobs. Keeps money in your hands and strengthens our economy. That's a fundamental.

If I'm elected president, I won't spend nearly a trillion dollars more of your money. Senator Obama will. And he can't do that without raising your taxes or digging us further into debt. I'm going to make government live on a budget just like you do, just like Nancy does.

(APPLAUSE)

We'll freeze government spending on all but the most important government programs like defense, veterans care, NASA, Social Security and health care until we scrub every single government program and get rid of the ones that aren't working for the American people.

(APPLAUSE)

And my friends, here's the message to Washington: I will veto every single pork barrel bill that comes across my desk. You will know their names and I'll make them famous.

(APPLAUSE)

We're not going to spend $750 billion of your money just bailing out the Wall Street bankers and brokers that got us into this mess. Senator Obama will. I'm going to make sure we take care of the working people who were devastated by the excesses, greed and corruption of Wall Street and Washington.

Now, my friends, now here this business is up. Why? Because the catastrophe in the home building business. We all know it was the housing crisis that started this cataclysm that we're facing. I have a plan to fix our housing market so that your home value doesn't go down when your neighbor defaults. And so that people in danger of defaulting have a path to pay off their loan.

My friends, that means keeping Americans in their home with a mortgage they can afford and realize the American Dream. That's what it's all about.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, If I'm elected president, we'll stop sending $700 billion overseas to buy oil from countries that don't like us very much.

(APPLAUSE)

Including Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. By the that way, I heard that Fidel Castro wrote some sentiments about me the other day. And he really hurt my feelings.

(LAUGHTER)

And I want to tell you that I'll sit down and talk with one of the Castro brothers. I'll sit down with them right after they empty the political prison, right after they have free elections, right after the human rights organizations are functioning. You saw the other day about what the Castro brothers are about. When Cuba was hit with a natural disaster and they refused American humanitarian aid. That's what they're all about, my friends. And have no illusions.

By the way, in case you missed it the other night in the debate, I gave ample testimony to Senator Obama's eloquence. But, I also pointed out, you've got to pay attention to the words. The words, you know. Like offshore drilling, he said, we'll quote, consider it. Consider it.

My friends, with more money and more revenues to the state of Florida, we will drill offshore and we will drill now with the agreement of the state of Florida.

(APPLAUSE)

My friends, I've already talked to this great governor. If we're going to drill off the shore of Florida, then you deserve more of those revenues. They shouldn't be sent to Washington. They should be sent to Tallahassee.

Now, my friends, let me just say a word about nuclear power. You know, Senator Obama again said that he's for it, but, you know, you got to find a place to store it, you got to -- my friends, we know where to store it, and we know the reprocessing works of our spent nuclear fuel.

My friends, the French reprocess spent nuclear fuel. We always want to imitate the French. The fact is, we can reprocess spent nuclear fuel. We can build 45 new nuclear power plants and create 700,000 jobs in America.

(APPLAUSE)

So, we'll invest in all energy alternative. Nuclear, wind, solar and tide. We'll encourage the manufacturer of hybrid, flex-fuel and electric automobiles. We will invest in clean coal technology. America sits on the world's largest reserves of coal. We can do it with clean coal technology. We'll lower the cost of energy within months and we'll create millions of new jobs.

(APPLAUSE)

My friends, we've learned more about Senator Obama's real goals for our country over the last two weeks than we've learned over the past two years. And that's only because Joe the Plumber asked him a question in Ohio.

(APPLAUSE)

We're all Joe's. There's Dr. Dan. There's Jose the Air Conditioning man, there's Joe the Engineer. You know what it means? My friends, that when Senator Obama revealed that he wants to quote, spread the wealth around, he's talking about you. He's talking about your wealth.

(BOOING)

Now, Joe didn't ask for Senator Obama to come to his house, and he didn't ask to be famous. He certainly didn't ask for the political attacks on him from the Obama campaign.

(BOOING)

Joe's dream is this dream. Joe's dream is to own a small business that will create jobs. And the attacks on him are an attack on small businesses all over this country. These are people like Gus the Home Builder and Peter the Exterminator, right here in Miami. Small businesses employ 84 percent of Americans and we need to support these small businesses, not tax them.

(APPLAUSE)

`After months of campaign trail eloquence, we finally learned what Senator Obama's economic goal is. To spread the wealth. To take money from one group of Americans and give it to another. In a radio interview revealed this week, he said the same thing, that quote, one of the quote, tragedies of the Civil Rights movement is that it didn't bring about redescriptive change.

You see, Senator Obama believes in redistributing wealth, not in policies that grow our economy and create jobs. He said that even though lower taxes on investment help our economy, he favors higher taxes on investment for, quote, fairness. There's nothing fair about driving our economy into the ground. We all suffer when that happens.

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And that's the problem with Senator Obama's approach to our economy. He's more interested in controlling wealth than in creating it. In redistributing money, instead of spreading opportunity. I'm going to create wealth for all Americans by creating opportunities for all Americans.

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Senator Obama is running to be redistributionist in chief. I'm running to be commander in chief.

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Senator Obama is running to spread the wealth. I'm running to create more wealth.

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Senator Obama is running to punish the successful. I'm running to make everyone successful. (APPLAUSE)

You know, you got to pay attention to the words, my friends. First Senator Obama made a lot of promises. First he said, people making less than $250,000 would benefit from his plan. And then this weekend he announced in an ad, that if you're a family making less than $200,000 you'll benefit. But, this week Senator Biden said tax relief should only go to middle class people, people making under $150,000 a year.

You know, with liberals like these, it's interesting how their definition of rich has a way of creeping down. At this rate it won't be long before Senator Obama is right back to his vote in the United States Senate that Americans making just $42,000 a year should get a tax increase. We can't let that happen.

The Democratic Congress is planning all sorts of new taxes. This week we're hearing they want to tax your 401(k) contributions. You know, this is a time when we need to be encouraging more investing, not taxing it. We can't let them get away with making a bad economy even worse. Now's the time to grow our economy and that's what I'm going to do.

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My friends, my opponent's massive new tax increase is exactly the wrong approach in an economic slowdown. The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes. But that's exactly what's going to happen when the Democrats have control of Washington. We can't let that happen. We need pro growth and pro job economic policies. Not pro government spending programs paid for with higher taxes. This is the fundamental difference between Senator Obama and me. He thinks taxes are too low and I think that spending is too high.

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If we're going to change Washington, we need a president who has actually fought for change and made it happen. The next president won't have time to get used to the office. We face many challenges here at home and many enemies abroad in this dangerous world. Now, Senator Obama incredibly -- excuse me -- Senator Biden incredibly warned that Senator Obama would be tested with an international crisis within the first six months of an Obama administration. I've been tested, my friends. I've been tested.

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Senator Obama hasn't. Senator Obama hasn't.

CROWD (chanting): John McCain! John McCain! John McCain!

MCCAIN: Senator Biden incredibly -- think of if Sarah Palin or I had said this -- referred to how Jack Kennedy was tested in the Cuban Missile Crisis. I have a little personal experience in that. I was on board the U.S.S. Enterprise and I sat in the cockpit of an airplane on the flight deck, sometimes waiting to take off. We had a target. I know how close we came to a nuclear war and I will not be a president that needs to be tested.

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We know that Senator Obama won't have the right response to that test because we've seen the wrong response from him over and over during this campaign.

He opposed the surge strategy, refuses to acknowledge that it succeeded. It's bringing us victory in Iraq and will bring us victory in Afghanistan. My friends, I will bring our troops home in victory and in honor and not in defeat.

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Senator Obama said he would sit down unconditionally with the world's worst dictators. Hugo Chavez, the Castro brother, Ahmadinejad. When Russia invaded Georgia, Senator Obama said, the invaded country should show restraint. He's been wrong on all of these. And we're going to win in Iraq, win in Afghanistan, and we're going to bring our troops home with honor. And that's what it's all about.

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Let me end up, my friends, by telling you the state of the race today. You know there's less than a week to go. We're a few points down. The pundits have written us off, OK? Just like they've done several times before. They were wrong before, and they're wrong now.

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My opponent is working out the details with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid.

(BOOING)

Of their plans to raise your taxes, increase spending and concede defeat in Iraq. He's measuring the drapes and he's planned his first address to the nation, an infomercial. By the way, I will never delay the start of the World Series for an infomercial.

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I guess I'm old-fashioned about these things. I prefer to let the voters weigh in before presuming the outcome. What America needs now is someone --

CROWD (chanting): McCain all the way! McCain all the way! McCain all the way!

MCCAIN: What America needs now is someone who will finish the race before starting the victory lap. Someone who will fight until the end and not for himself, but for his country.

I have fought for you most of my life, and in places where defeat meant more than returning to the Senate. There are other ways to love this country, but I've never been the kind to back down when the stakes are high.

Now my friends, I know you're worried. I know we're worried right here. America's a great country. But we're at a moment of national crisis that will determine our future. And let me ask you this -- will we continue to lead the world's economies or will we be overtaken? Will the world become safer or more dangerous? Will our Military remain the strongest in the world? Will our children and grandchildren's future be brighter than ours?

My answer to you is yes. Yes, we will lead. Yes, we will prosper. Yes, we will be safer. Yes, we will pass on to our children a stronger, better country. But we must be prepared. We must be prepared to act swiftly, boldly, with courage and wisdom.

I'm an American and I choose to fight. Don't give up hope. Be strong, have courage and fight. Fight for a new direction for our country. Fight for what's right for America. Fight to clean up the massive corruption, in-fighting and selfishness in Washington. Fight to get our economy out of the ditch and back in the lead. Fight for the ideals and character of a free people. Fight for our children's future. Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up, stand up to defend our country from its enemies. Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. America is worth fighting for. Nothing is inevitable here. We never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history, we make history.

Now, let's go out and win this election and get this country moving again. Thank you. God bless you and God bless America. Thank you.

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COLLINS: Just earlier we heard from his running mate Governor Sarah Palin. We'll be hearing from Senator Barack Obama, a little bit later in the day coming up in Jupiter, Florida -- pardon me, Raleigh, North Carolina today.

I'm Heidi Collins. You can join me again tomorrow morning, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. For now, CNN NEWSROOM continues with Tony Harris.