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Early Voting: Still Under Way in Several States; Anti-Obama Rhetoric; Obama Buys Half-Hour TV Infomercial

Aired October 29, 2008 - 11:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: It is Wednesday, October 29th, only six days until Election Day.
Our top story, protection at the polls. You may get sick of standing in long lines, but at least you won't catch the flu.

The Fed set to slash interest rates. Will it help ease turbulence rocking Wall Street, and more importantly, your street?

And up close with the super spy, 007's Daniel Craig. Hey now, on his new movie and the impact of being Bond, James Bond.

I'm Tony Harris. And you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We begin with the millions of people around the country casting their ballot before next Tuesday. Early voters are breaking records everywhere. In Louisiana, state officials say more than a quarter million people had cast early ballots by yesterday's deadline.

Talk about determined voters, take a look at these pictures. Many were still in line three hours after polls closed at precincts in New Orleans. According to the state, the seven-day early vote total doubled the amount cast in both the 2004 presidential race and the 2007 governor's race.

A state of voting emergency in place now in Florida. It is due to an unprecedented number of pre-Election Day voters. The governor is declaring an emergency to extend early voting to 12 hours a day Saturday and Sunday.

Early voters are lining up in massive numbers across the nation, but not so much in one state.

Here is Gary Tuchman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Wander through a shopping mall in the state of Nevada, past 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: It's made very easy. The polls open every day in your neighborhood and every mall, it pretty much is open every day.

TUCHMAN: November 4 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 work 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. In Clark County, home to Las Vegas, election officials declare...

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

TUCHMAN: Nevada generally votes Republican. Democrats are voting early by a more than three-to-two margin.

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

TUCHMAN: At 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, the wife of late punk rock legend Johnny Ramone.

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

MEGHAN MCCAIN, DAUGHTER OF JOHN MCCAIN: 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.

HEATH: More evidence is coming in every day, and I believe strongly as it comes in, people are, you know, the undecideds are going to sway McCain/Palin's way.

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

TUCHMAN: As they canvass 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: Can we count on you for an Obama vote?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes. Oh, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And are you going to early vote?

TUCHMAN: Across the nation, up to one-third of voters are expected to cast early ballots.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You want to vote for Obama? You can do that today!

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)

HARRIS: And how about this? CNN iReporters are among the throngs of early voters lining up and capturing the moment.

Jason Dinant photographed this early voting sign as he accompanied his friend in Las Vegas. He says the lines were steady, but not too long. Dinant says he is uncommitted but leaning heavily toward Barack Obama.

We want to hear from you if you run into problems at the polls. Just call the CNN voter hotline, help us track the problems, and we will report the trouble in real time.

There's the number at the bottom of the screen there: 1-877-462-6608. And we are keeping them honest all the way through the election and beyond.

Swaying voters with fear. Religious extremists warning a possible doomsday event if Barack Obama is elected.

CNN's Deb Feyerick takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To hear some religious extremists tell it, elect Barack Obama and it's the end of the world as we know it, to borrow part of a line. Evangelical Christians from Focus on the Family Action warn that children will be awash in pornography, terrorists will strike four U.S. cities, marriage will be turned inside out.

Other Evangelical Christians warn an Obama victory will herald the apocalypse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY CHRISTIANADC.ORG)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just a broad road to destruction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And this e-mail sent to 75,000 Jewish voters equates an Obama presidency to Nazi Germany.

LARRY SABATO, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: This stuff is beyond the pale. It's the most negative, vicious stuff I've seen in quite some time.

FEYERICK: Political experts say the extreme attacks underscore the concern far right groups have with Obama. The evangelical group focus on the family action defended its what-if letter as based on its analysis of Obama's record.

CARRIE GORDON EARL, FOCUS ON THE FAMILY ACTION: To look with a critical eye at recent events and how they may play out in the future, that's not needless alarm. I think that's prudent.

FEYERICK: Political analyst Larry Sabato calls it tragic.

SABATO: Many of these conclusions are extreme and illogical. No president would ever attempt these things. No president who wanted to be reelected would even think these things.

FEYERICK: The Pennsylvania supreme court judge who signed the e- mail to Jewish voters warning of a holocaust if Senator John McCain loses, a apologized. And the Anti-Defamation League condemned the e- mail as divisive. While the attacks may rally religious group, other voters are put off by the negativity.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I find it abysmal for people who call themselves Christians decide if someone is different other than what they consider to be Christian that now they think that it's going to ruin the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And let's take you quickly now to Jupiter, Florida, and set the scene for you. Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden scheduled to appear there in Jupiter in just a couple of minutes at a campaign event.

When it gets under way we will take you there live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Hey, let's take you to Raleigh, North Carolina, right now. Barack Obama has an event there scheduled for next hour. Of course we'll bring it to you live right here in the NEWSROOM, but take a look at this scene.

WTVD is our affiliate there in the Raleigh, Durham area. And take a look at the scene of the people amassed for this rally and still arriving for the rally. Again, it is scheduled for next hour. We will of course bring it to you right here live in the CNN NEWSROOM. OK. And you just saw John McCain's event in Florida. That was last hour. The McCain campaign making stops in North Carolina, Florida.

Suzanne Malveaux has the latest on the Obama campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Barack Obama often says on the campaign trail -- he tells parents to be better parents, turn off the TV sets. But obviously he did not mean that until after the election.

He is going blitzing the airwaves tonight, this 30-minute infomercial, $1 million per network. Obviously a multimillion-dollar effort to get his message across.

We are told that he's going to be sitting at a kitchen table talking to four different families. They're going to be talking about their own economic struggles, their hard times. He is going to be offering some solutions, what his kind of administration would look like, how he would handle their problems, their issues.

He is also going to be addressing the American people directly, looking into the camera, talking about how he and Michelle, what they've learned over the last 20 months on the campaign trail about the American people, and what they're looking for in the next administration. And he's going to tell a personal story about his own mother, how she died of breast cancer, and how she struggled to deal with insurance companies, getting the kind of coverage in her final days. It's a story that he often tells on the campaign trail, but some voters obviously not aware of it. And a way really for him to link -- to be intimate with the American people without the filter of the media and the pundits.

This is their intention. They certainly hope that he's going to be able to get across his message, but to do it in a much more intimate way. That is going to be happening this evening, prime time. He's also going to cut in a live event from Florida to talk directly to the American people.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: So you've heard the candidates vying for Florida's Hispanic vote, the Jewish vote, the senior vote. But the oyster vote? I bet that's a new one for you. Barack Obama hopes it could be his pearl in the critical battleground state.

Our John Zarrella reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 39 degrees at daybreak on the bay. The oystermen are fighting it -- the chop, the wind -- just trying to eke out a living. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's getting hard to feed the family.

ZARRELLA: But now presidential politics has stirred up the water like a north wind in this Florida panhandle community.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If he can get Georgia to give us some water, I'll vote for him.

ZARRELLA: The "him" is Barack Obama. When he announced that he would work to protect Apalachicola Bay, Obama jumped into a three-state water war.

The fishermen say the bay is dying because it's not getting enough fresh river water. Some of that water is big held back for the big cities to the north. Obama's stand on such a localized issue shows the importance of every single vote in Florida.

But this is conservative Republican country. And some oystermen question his motives.

TERRY PROCTOR, OYSTERMAN: Out of all the other people, why all of the sudden take an interest in us? He knows -- is our vote going to be the ones they're worried about?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, to us they're just politicians. And that's basically it to us.

ZARRELLA: But Obama, siding with the oystermen, could help him chop away a few votes from John McCain, who has not publicly taken a position.

One of those votes from Dallas Barrack.

DALLAS BARRACK, OYSTERMAN: Well, it would make my decision more easier, but yes, it's one of the reasons. It sure is.

ZARRELLA: For the oystermen it's a tough decision. All of them say they like what Obama is saying, but voting for a Democrat would be a cultural change. Of the past five presidential elections, the only Democrat to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

(on camera): With the battle for Florida simply too close to call, the outcome could very well be determined by an oyster.

John Zarrella, CNN, on Apalachicola Bay.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And later this afternoon, you know we're looking for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. So what does that mean to you? Our Personal finance Editor Gerri Willis joins us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden is spending a second day in the battleground state of Florida. Let's join the Obama campaign in Jupiter.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D-DE), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... or what the hours are. You can go to voteforchange.com and you'll get the exact detail of where you can walk in and vote.

And if you want even to get more involved than in voting, you can go up on stage here after I finish, literally, literally after I -- well, you can come before if you want. But after I finish, because, look, all kidding aside, we're asking all of you who are willing to be part of a training effort to, in the last six days, to help us get out the vote, and not just vote.

So we're looking for -- we're going to have some of our key volunteers here and the folks who put our organization together. And so we invite those of you after this is over to come on up here and join us in this effort at getting out the vote. Look, so I'd like to ask you to stick around if you're able to.

You know, as my mother said, it's not about just -- you know, I used to have a grandpop, and I'd leave the house and he would say, "Joey, keep the faith." And my grandmother and now my mother would say, "No, spread it."

Well, we need some help spreading the faith, folks, in the last six days here. And so that's what we're looking for.

Look, the question in this election is not what has been stated so many times. It's not, are you better off today than you were four years ago? We all, Republicans, as well as Democrats and Independents, know the answer to that. We know we're not better off.

The real question -- the real question and what Barack and I are focusing on like a laser beam is, who is going to make us better off four years from now than we are today? That's the question.

(APPLAUSE)

And folks, I'm mildly prejudice, but I think that choice is clear. It's Barack Obama.

(APPLAUSE)

Look, you may have seen the debate, the last debate, where John McCain felt obliged to tell the American people that he was not George Bush. And as recently -- and just recently, last week, John McCain actually went so far as to compare Barack Obama to George W. Bush. And then John, right after that, started attacking George Bush's budget and fiscal policies.

Now, look, folks, I know Halloween is coming. But John McCain dressed as an agent of change is a costume that just won't sell to the American people.

(APPLAUSE)

Especially when you realize that John McCain is the one for the better part of the last year who has been saying under the Bush economic policies we've made great economic progress. That's what he said.

Well, folks, as recently as last Sunday on "Meet the Press," John McCain was asked about his views and Bush's views, and he said, "President Bush and I share a common philosophy."

Well, folks, I've got a 10-year-old granddaughter -- I've actually got four beautiful granddaughters and one grandson. But my 10-year-old, her name is Finnegan Biden. And old Finnegan, she would say in response to that idea that, "I share a common philosophy with George Bush," as stated by John McCain, she'd say, "Hello?" Like, tell me something I don't know, John.

Of course you share a common philosophy. Folks, that's the bottom line here. I mean, it really is true.

Look, I know we're not running against President Bush. But we are running against the very economic policies that John McCain is pledging to continue, Bush economic policies, policies that call for more tax cuts for companies that send jobs overseas. Policies that call for providing no relief for 100 million middle class families. Policies that call for taxing your health care benefits if you get them through your employer, taxing them as if they are income.

I'm not making this stuff up, folks. I'm not making this stuff up. Part of the McCain health care plan -- part of the McCain health care plan would actually require to make substantial cuts in Medicare.

Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, people are hanging on, just barely hanging on in lots of places. A policy of this -- of George Bush that is extended and added to by John McCain calling for $4 billion per year in new tax cuts for the ExxonMobils of the world. As if they need it. As if they need it.

Folks, I love it when I watch on television on the bus, or when I get back to the hotel late at night, I turn on and there's John and Sarah Palin, and they're up there saying -- no, no, no, no. They're good folks. They're good folks.

But here is the part I love. Hey, maverick. I'm a maverick. You're a maverick. We're the maverick team, right?

You know, Brett and Bart maverick. I mean, they're the mavericks, right?

Well, you know what? To paraphrase a friend of Bill Nelson and mine, our colleague from Pennsylvania, a brilliant young senator named Bob Casey, Bobby Casey, o paraphrase him, he said, you know, you can't call yourself a maverick if all you've been the last eight years is a sidekick.

(APPLAUSE)

Well, folks, it's George W. Bush and the sidekicks. That's what we're taking about. They're not mavericks.

Folks, if you give Barack Obama and me the honor of serving as your next president and vice president, let me tell you what we're going to do. Straightforward, straight up, it's really, ,quite frankly, all kidding aside, a simple but yet profound idea. And that is we're going to do two things every waking hour. And I mean this sincerely.

The first objective we have is to restore the middle class in America. They have been battered. They have been battered.

And the second objective, and equally important to our children and our grandchildren, is we must reclaim America's respect in the world.

(APPLAUSE)

And Ladies and Gentlemen, the first and most profound step in reclaiming our respect in the world is to end this war in Iraq.

(APPLAUSE)

And folks, we will end this war. We will end it responsibly by laying out a timeline to draw down American forces and transfer responsibility to the over 400,000 Iraqi security forces we have trained over the last six years.

Ladies and Gentlemen, that's exactly what is happening right now. Even President Bush finally, after six years, is negotiating with Prime Minister Maliki, the leader of the Iraqis. To do what? Set a timeline to get all American troops out of the cities by the middle of next year and get them all home by 2011.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the only person who continues to call this rational plan that Barack laid out over a year and a half ago surrender is John McCain and Sarah Palin. The Bush administration has embraced this.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's long past time. You know, I've worked -- in terms of our foreign policy, I've worked with every -- literally -- every prime minister.

I got elected when I was 29 years old to the Senate, and I've worked with every prime minister of Israel, from Golda Meir, right through to the present prime minister.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to tell you something. That's why Barack and I know -- we know what the Israelis know and all our friends know. That is, the greater the respect for America, the stronger America is in the world, the more secure Israel and the rest of our friends are in the world.

So folks, this is a direct connection. It's about establishing once again America's respect in the world and people being willing around the world to follow us.

And when it comes to restoring the middle class, folks, it's really quite simple. And again, as profound as it's simple, we have to recognize what everyone has always recognized until recently in this administration. When the middle class does well, the wealthy do very well and the poor do better.

When the middle class does poorly, even the wealthy get hurt. You see it happening now. Seventy percent of our economy is driven by a consumer economy, with the middle class out there having the money to spend to provide for their needs.

And Ladies and Gentlemen, to rebuild the middle class, it's clear what we need to do. The first thing we have to do is cut taxes for working people.

(APPLAUSE)

Cut taxes for small businesses. End our dependence on foreign oil. Invest in rebuilding America's roads and bridges and water systems, creating 120,000 new jobs right here in Florida alone.

Make health care available and affordable to all Americans.

(APPLAUSE)

And important as everything else, this is equally as important. And that is, make a commitment to our young people. If you serve our country, not just in the military, like my son and Sarah Palin's and John's, if you serve our country in underserved communities, hospitals, schools, senior centers, we will get you to college.

Serve your country! We will serve you!

(APPLAUSE)

But folks, ultimately, ultimately it's about jobs. But in a sense it's even more than about a paycheck. It's about dignity. It's about respect. It's about what so many of our fellow Americans are going through right now.

You know, when you lose a job or you lose a house through foreclosure, it's an economic loss, but it is emotionally devastating. Emotionally devastating.

It's about having to make that very long walk up a very short flight of stairs to your child's bedroom and say, I'm sorry, honey. I'm so sorry, but you're not going to be able to go to this school next month. I'm so sorry we lost our job, or we're losing the house, baby. But it will be better. I don't know where we're going to go, but it will be OK.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 400,000 Floridians have had to make that very long walk to their child's bedroom. And Ladies and Gentlemen, there are hundreds of thousands of Floridians who are now upside down on their mortgages, where they owe more to the bank than their house is worth. If we can help Wall Street, we can help the Military Trail and all those streets, right here in this community stay in their homes.

(APPLAUSE) That's why -- that's why Barack and I believe we can't wait till, God willing, we're sworn in on January 20th.

(APPLAUSE)

We have to go back with our fellow members of Congress, and my colleague, Bill Nelson, we've got to go back in November, when we go back in,. and we've got to impose a three-month moratorium on all home foreclosures right now.

(APPLAUSE)

That's why we believe that we should reform the bankruptcy laws, give bankruptcy judges the authority to reduce the amount of principle owed, give them the authority to reset the terms of a mortgage so people can stay in their homes, give people a fighting chance. A lot of people, folks, a lot of people are in trouble.

It's about dignity and respect. And it also means insuring retirement for those of you who have put everything of your lifetime into working hard and playing by the rules. And now look at your 401(k)s, now look at where your investments are? People are finding themselves in trouble. Can you imagine? Can you imagine if, in fact, Social Security had been in the stock market?

Can you imagine now the last couple months if Bush and McCain had succeed in privatizing Social Security? Folks, here is what Barack and I believe. We believe there should be no privatization of Social Security.

(APPLAUSE)

No raising of the retirement age. And we believe -- we believe there should be no income taxes for seniors who have an income of less than $50,000 a year, zero, zero income tax. In fact, we believe and we'll propose that they shouldn't even have to file a tax return, literally. Folks, it's about dignity. It's about respect. It's about rewarding people who played by the rules, done everything they're supposed to do. But folks, look, at the end of the day we want to strengthen the middle class.

If we want to regain the respect of the world, we have to do one more thing. And it's something that isn't a legislative initiative. It's not a piece of legislation. It's not an idea that you can put into firm shape. What it is, is we have to unite this country. Barack Obama and I, when we were running separately for the nomination, and since we've been running together, have been two of the people you heard constantly say we cannot sustain ourselves as red and blue. We cannot. We cannot stay and remain a divided country, ladies and gentlemen.

Look, folks, look, here is what it means, though. Here is what it means. Some of the scurrilous attacks that are going on against our ticket now, when this is over, we have to reach out. We have to reach to the very people who were going after us. We've got to reach out to Republicans and Democrats. We've got to reach out, and begin to heal this country. This cycle, this cycle of negativity, this cycle of division has to stop. So, folks, we mean it. I warn those of you who are very strongly for us, we mean it. We mean it when we say we have to reach out.

Because, folks, new ideas, new leaders, are often met with new attacks, negative attacks built on lies, lies that are the last resort of those who have nothing new to offer. That tactic is being used now against Barack Obama. It's an attempt to do two things, further divide the country because that's the other team thinks that's the only way they can win, keep the country divided, it's their only chance of winning. The second thing is to try to distract the American people from the things that actually affect their everyday lives. Well, folks, I know Barack Obama. I know him well. Barack Obama has steel in his spine. He can take six more days of these personal attacks. But America cannot sustain four more years of these politics and four more years of this economic policy. It's got to end.

Look, folks, my dad -- my dad always told me, he'd say champ when you get knocked down, there's only one thing. Just get up. Just get up. Simple. Just get up. Folks, I've never seen a time when so many Americans have been knocked down with so little help in getting up. It's time now, it's time for us together, together to get up and bring change that we need to the country we love. It's time now!

(APPLAUSE, CHEERS)

And folks, I assure you having traveled the country in this campaign, America is ready. You're ready. I am ready. Barack Obama is ready. It's our time. It's America's time. So get up, get up, Florida, and take back this country we love so dearly!

(APPLAUSE)

So get up, folks. May God bless you all and may God protect our troops. Thank you all so much. Get up, Florida. Get up.

(END LIVE FEED, IN PROGRESS)

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: All right. There you have Joe Biden in Jupiter, Florida, rallying the crowd there as you can see for the Obama campaign. I want to show you a live picture, if we've got it. Maybe we do. Maybe we don't. We showed it to you a couple moments ago of the event that is coming up at the top of the hour, the Barack Obama event scheduled for Raleigh, North Carolina at the Halifax Mall, at a government mall there actually. There was a huge green space that is connecting a number of the government buildings there. The campaign's objective is to get as many people into that green space as possible. We'll show you how they did at the top of the hour right here in the NEWSROOM.

The election six days away, you're being encouraged to vote from all corners. Kyra Phillips featured these young people from the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta yesterday during her show. They can't vote. But they want to make sure that you do.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CHOIR SINGING: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) You can vote however you like I said, you can vote however you like. Yeah, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOEL VETSCH, I-REPORTER, NEW HAVEN, CT. (On camera): What are your thoughts on casting your first vote in a presidential election?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're friends. Surprisingly I'm voting for McCain. She's voting for Obama. We go to Quinnipiac (ph). I'm very nervous. It is my first election.

It's a big process, but I'm very excited.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm excited to vote because I've never really paid attention to politics before because I didn't really have any say. But now I kind of have to pay attention.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The debates on TV are pretty intense, but I'm excited to make a difference and put my vote out there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Telling her to hurry up -- and wait. That's what our I- Reporters are doing when they go to vote early. Let's take a trip. Let's get it cranking here, CNN.com I-Report desk. Roll that thing. Let's check in with one of the guys. You know Tyson helping us run things down there at dot.com. Tyson's Wheatley from Tyson's Corner.

But here's the thing Tyson. Good to see you. You know the folks -- our I-Reporters who are standing in line waiting to vote, they're making themselves useful by sending us I-Reports.

TYSON WHEATLEY, PRODUCER, CNN.COM: That's right, Tony. So much excitement being generated right now; of course, 31 states still doing early voting. And what I want to show you right now is some really, really long lines. And actually not the best voting experience for this following guy. Check out these pictures from Suwannee, Georgia. This comes from David Carroll.

David is a very concerned early voter at this time, Tony. He took these pictures yesterday where there was a four and a half hour wait. That wasn't good for him. So he drove to Lawrenceville where there was a three-hour wait at another polling station.

He -- David and his wife, they're both hoping to vote early because they think election day in their words is going to be a disaster. They're trying to do the right thing. They've having a hard time. They've got small children and are having a tough time balancing the time with the wait. Neither have voted yet. We certainly hope it works out for David. Maybe a lot of people in this situation right now, trying to decide.

HARRIS: And maybe I'll do a little rant on it. I don't know, it just seems a little crazy. We've got these long lines. We knew the vote was coming. We're certainly aware that folks are registering in big numbers here. It just seems to me that better provisions could have been provided for folks to vote early. What do I know? I sit in a cushy little job here in Atlanta. Sorry, Tyson, couldn't resist.

WHEATLEY: No, that's all right. I have some other long lines I'm going to show you.

HARRIS: Oh, thanks.

WHEATLEY: These come to us from Florida. Check this out. This is from a historical black college in Daytona Beach, Florida. This is Bethune Cookman University. They did something really interesting. On Monday they canceled classes. The student body went and voted collectively. These photos come from us from Ayesha Tuscant (ph). She took these photos as hundreds of students, and faculty, were waiting in these long lines. They stretched, you can see they stretch across bridges and sidewalks.

"The Orlando Sentinel" article estimated more than a 1,000 students and faculty. Bethune Cookman is a historical black college. There are similar registration and voting drives happening at many HBCUs and those might actually play a big role in this election.

HARRIS: Yes. Tyson, very quickly. I know you have an assignment for everyone today. What is it?

WHEATLEY: Well, today's assignment is all about Sarah Palin. There's a really interesting article, right now, on CNN.com about how GOP leaders are looking toward the future, no matter what the outcome is next week. They're sort of looking at the future of their party. Some people figure Sarah Palin will play a big role in that future. We want to know what you think. We're inviting people today to go to IReport.com/desk. I pulled up the assignment on mine desk here.

HARRIS: Very good.

WHEATLEY: We want to know what you think. So, put your thoughts Is Sarah Palin, is she the future of the GOP? Let us know. Put your thoughts on video. We'd love to see what you think.

HARRIS: Can't wait. Tyson, good to see you. See you tomorrow, sir.

WHEATLEY: Take care, Tony.

HARRIS: All right, move over Obama and McCain, country music fans are singing a different tune when it comes to the White House. George Strait and Reba McIntyre -- Country Music Television did a sort of tongue in cheek poll asking what country artist is most qualified to be president of the United States. Take a look at the results here. George Strait, 23 percent of the vote, Reba McIntyre 22 percent. Seems, McCain supporters really like Strait and Obama supporters wanted to vote into office that fiery read-head.

Check out our political ticker for all of the latest campaign news. Just logon to cnnpolitics.com. Your source for all things political.

Let's bring in Rob Marciano for a moment.

Rob, take a look at some of these pictures here.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: OK.

HARRIS: Looking a lot like winter in the Northeast right now. We're talking about snowplows out in Plattsburgh?

That's Plattsburgh, New York, yesterday. As you can imagine, the driving was pretty treacherous there. Forecasters say there's more on the way, Rob, several inches of snow near Philadelphia. We're trying to get in a ballgame there to wrap up the World Series, maybe. If the Phillies can finish off that game five. Schools closed in the Philly area and in northeastern Pennsylvania. Power out to about 33,000 customers. Traffic accidents, as you can imagine.

What's the forecast, Rob, for the Northeast?

Hi, Rob. Did we lose you?

MARCIANO: Say that again. I was changing my battery in my ear piece.

HARRIS: OK, all right.

MARCIANO: I don't know if you were stalling for me or what. I saw this video.

HARRIS: Trying to do what I can.

MARCIANO: Couldn't hear a thing. Pretty snowflakes working down there - just outside Philadelphia, they didn't see it in Philly. But the game for tonight? Definitely going to be chilly. I think most of the moisture will be gone.

HARRIS: Are you raising the specter here of baseball players in wool caps?

MARCIANO: Did you talk about that? Because you and I were chit- chatting.

HARRIS: We were trying to find a video. We haven't been able to find it yet, but we're still working on it. Come on.

MARCIANO: If not, MLB has these new caps that have like little earmuffs attached to it.

HARRIS: Come on you guys.

MARCIANO: I'm thinking you guys can't suck it up for a couple of days in the end of October. You're in the World Series.

HARRIS: In the World Series. Let's play the game.

MARCIANO: Not like you're using your head to hit the ball. Anyway, you get the idea.

HARRIS: Yeah.

MARCIANO: It's cute. Some of them pull it off.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

HARRIS: The Fed expected to cut interest rates again today, the ninth consecutive time. What does that mean for you and me? Gerri Willis is in New York.

Gerri, good to see you. If the Fed cuts rates, maybe sort of bottom line this for us? What does it mean?

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Look, if you're in the market for a loan today, this particular rate cut will not mean very much to you. That's because the problem for most of us consumers isn't the rate on our loan, it's whether our banker is willing to make the loan in the first place.

The rate cut will bring down the prime rate. That's a rate the banks charge their best customers, prime, it is 4.5 percent right now, is the basis for interest rates you pay on credit cards, home equity, auto loans, personal loan rates. But it is not expected to give much relief this time because all of these bankers are trying to preserve profits. Look, the good news, is that the rate cut won't necessarily hurt savers. If you are a CD buyer, a certificate of deposit buyer, those rates have been pretty stable since the Fed started cutting rates.

HARRIS: So, Gerri, what's your best advice for folks in the market for a mortgage right now?

WILLIS: As we said, it's not the rates, it is whether you can get the loan in the first place. Look, just because you get told no on one side of town doesn't mean another lender on another side of town might not say yes. The reality is that the credit crunch we've been talking about so much is impacting different institutions differently. Some are eager to lend. Others are not. Check out small banks, credit unions, if you're having problems getting a loan from a bigger bank.

Keep in mind you're going to have to have three things to get a loan in this environment. One, you need a good credit score, 720, 750, 780 to get the very best terms. Number two, you have to be able to prove you have your income. There are no more liars loans anymore. Prove it or lose it. The final thing, and probably the hardest, is the down payment. You need 10 percent to 20 percent of the home's price ready to put down when you buy. And look, if it's a car you're looking to buy, check out the manufacturers, they have great offers right now. You still need a good credit score. But the reality is there are deals to be had.

HARRIS: OK, homes, cars. What about the bottom line for credit cards?

WILLIS: Watch out for a couple things here, Tony. Look, if you have a variable rate credit card, you're probably not going to see much of a benefit. But look out for credit card companies switching you to a fixed rate card, which is bad news when rates are falling. If this happens you usually get some notice, 15 days, you can opt out.

Look out, too, for floors. This is credit card speak for the lowest rate your credit card issuer is willing to offer no matter how low market rates go. What they do is they set this floor so they don't have to take them to the bottom, right?

HARRIS: I've got you.

WILLIS: Those credit card floors can be 10 to 12 percent. If you have a variable, a federal loan or private student loan, chances are this rate cut won't affect you either. In fact, Sallie Mae raised its interest rate on some private loans by 2 percent.

And, Tony, I have to tell you, as we gear up for the election we want to hear your questions on the candidates, on the economy. Send those e-mails to toptips@CNN.com. We love to hear from you.

HARRIS: And everyone she answers back. All right, Gerri, good to see you. Thank you.

WILLIS: My pleasure, Tony.

HARRIS: As the most serious credit crisis in decades, rocks your finances, CNNMoney.com has advice and answers. Check out our special report, "America's Money Crisis". That's at CNNMoney.com.

A movie premier that is getting worldwide attention. We take you live to the red carpet.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: The world premiere of the latest 007 flick happening today in London.

CNN's Adrian Finnegan is on the red carpet looking --Wow! Sharp, Adrian, we don't get an opportunity often to talk about movie premieres in the NEWSROOM but this is no ordinary premiere.

ADRIAN FINNEGAN, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely not, Tony. Hollywood has nothing on us today. This is going to be the royal gala, world premiere. Because not only do we have the stars of the film, "Quantum of Solace." I knew that would get me in trouble, the name of this film.

We have Princes' William and Harry turning up later.

Let' me show you Lester Square. I bet you have never seen it looking like this before.

HARRIS: I have not.

FINNEGAN: That, over there, well, look at - that over there is the movie theater where the film will be shown. We have the world's media here. Crowds of people have been here since very early this morning. Some of them camped out overnight. A pretty cold night in London. We have Bond's Astin Martin up on a stage here. Later all the stars, are going to be wandering through here.

Tony, let me talk to some of the folks --

HARRIS: Terrific.

FINNEGAN: Folks who have been waiting for this premiere.

Guys, how are you? Tell me, what time did you get here today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Five.

FINNEGAN: Five in the morning?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

FINNEGAN: You've waited, what, 12 hours, nearly, for this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty much.

FINNEGAN: Is it going to be worth it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think so.

FINNEGAN: OK. Who did you come to see?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Daniel Craig.

FINNEGAN: Of course.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Judi Dench.

FINNEGAN: What about the princes? William and Harry? Anybody?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nah.

FINNEGAN: Yeah, OK.

(LAUGHTER)

Great excitement here, Tony. We're in for a great evening.

HARRIS: All right. There he is. We can't wait to the see Daniel Craig, I know the ladies love him. He's a pretty dynamic Bond. And, boy, all right. We'll wait to see what we get from you and maybe watch the feeds as well. All right.

Yes, Adrian?

FINNEGAN: All right.

HARRIS: Thank you.

FINNEGAN: I was going to say I saw the film this morning, Tony, London time. IT was fantastic. You won't be disappointed.

HARRIS: It's being promoted as a nonstop thrill ride. Can't wait to see it. Adrian Finnegan for us in London.

FINNEGAN: Gut wrenching.

HARRIS: We're back in a moment. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: It is Wednesday, October 29. Six days until the election.

Hello again, everyone. I'm Tony Harris.

Just how low will they go? The Federal Reserve prepares to take action on interest rates. What does it mean for your wallet? Both presidential candidates say they're big on business, but whose plan will help kids the most? It's 10 issues in 10 days and we're on issue No. 5. And if you're watching TV tonight you'll have a hard time seeing anything but Barack Obama. His 30-minute paid commercials hit the networks, but not CNN. You're in the NEWSROOM.