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Sarah Palin Florida Remarks; Canmpaigns Grind Toward Endgame

Aired November 01, 2008 - 11:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everybody. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Unfolding live today, a lot of news to tell you about. This of course is the first day of November. Thanks for joining us. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: Hello to you all, I'm T.J. Holmes. We have three days but who is counting?

NGUYEN: We are.

HOLMES: Who will get to reside in those two spots there, the new occupants I should say? One is going to be living there, the other is just going to be working. We're going to be looking into that. We are all over the campaign trail today. Also, this.

NGUYEN: Not hearing much debate on immigration, you say. Well maybe you are not speaking the right language. We will have more on that.

HOLMES: Also, the vice president, Dick Cheney, you remember him, don't you? We haven't seen either one of these two really on the campaign trail. The vice president is finally hitting the campaign trail today in the CNN Newsroom.

NGUYEN: Three days to go. Let's see where the candidates are today. John McCain starts off in Virginia before heading to Pennsylvania. His running mate Governor Sarah Palin is in Florida and then travels to North Carolina and Virginia. Barack Obama he begins his day in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson, and from there it's off to Colorado and Missouri. His running mate, Joe Biden, is in Indiana and Ohio.

HOLMES: We got word today that one of Barack Obama's relatives may actually be living in the U.S. illegally. This coming to us from the "Associated Press" reporting that a Kenyan aunt that Obama speaks about in his memoirs has been in fact living in the U.S. illegally for years. The A.P. says she remains in government housing in Boston, even though an immigration judge denied her request for asylum some four years ago. The Times of London reporting the story, also has photos of her on their website. The refusal to leave the country is considered an administrative matter, when you talk about illegal immigration, not necessarily a criminal matter. CNN has not been able to independently verify the aunt's immigration status. We have also asked the Obama campaign to comment. We have yet to get a comment back from them. We also did talk to the immigration and customs enforcement who said they are prohibited from comments on any one specific person's immigration status. Obama is scheduled for a campaign stop next hour in Henderson, Nevada. Our Suzanne Malveaux is there. Suzanne, three days left and your vacation begins. You have been on this campaign trail as --

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Three days, T.J., three days.

HOLMES: Three days. However, you did get to cover Obama when he went to Hawaii a couple of times. I don't know if that counts, all right.

MALVEAUX: It comes with the territory. What can I say.

HOLMES: So tell us, what is he up to out there in Nevada? We're going to hear from him, I guess, in the next hour or so?

MALVEAUX: Absolutely right, T.J. He is going to be all over the place today and the next couple of days, trying to really clinch this one. They are fairly confident. They're not trying to be cocky about it, but his campaign manager yesterday saying that the dye has been cast in some of these critical swing states, one of these states that we're in of course is Nevada. I want to give you a sense of what the lay of the land is here. They believe that about 60 percent of those who are going to vote have already voted in their early voting process, about 600,000 folks. What they are trying to do simply is get the rest of those folks out here to vote for Barack Obama. Here, in the county in which Las Vegas is located, there are some good indications, some good signs that favor Barack Obama. When you look at the numbers, the numbers of democrats, 51 percent of those who voted early are democrats, as opposed to republican. That is 32 percent. So they are looking at those numbers feeling pretty good but it is still very much a toss-up here. What could happen in Nevada. It went the last two times to George Bush.

Now, one of the main things that, obviously, people are talking about and focusing on is the economy. Nevada has the highest foreclosure rate in the whole country. Our own Wolf Blitzer sat down with Barack Obama yesterday in Iowa to talk about his economic plan and how it would impact the middle class. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Will the middle class family be exempted from that increase in capital gains tax?

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well what I have said is small businesses are going to be exempted and anybody who's making less than $250,000 a year, I've said they're not going to get their capital gains tax increased.

BLITZER: So they will be exempted?

OBAMA: They will be ex tempted from that as well as any income tax increase, any payroll tax increase. My attitude is that middle class families need a tax cut and 95 percent of American families and workers are going to get reduced taxes. In fact, there was an article today in "The New York Times" that laid out in very stark terms the fact that I give much more tax relief to middle class families than John McCain.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: T.J., you know that has been one of the main issues. A lot of people trying to take a look at their 401(k) plans, a look at their situation at home when it comes to gas prices, when it comes to groceries, those type of things, figuring out and comparing and contrasting John McCain's economic plan with Barack Obama's. Barack Obama has felt pretty confident over the last four or five weeks or so that if they continued to talk about the economy's economic plan, that they will win voters over to their side. There's a sense that he has kind of a steady calm hand when it comes to dealing with this matter. That is what they are banking on here. That is what they are hoping, that people are listening and paying attention to that economic plan. T.J.?

HOLMES: It's not much of a question there. We certainly saw as soon as the economic crisis hit, that's when Barack Obama's numbers certainly went up in the polls. We will be checking in with you again. Suzanne Malveaux, out there in Nevada. We will see you again soon, thanks.

NGUYEN: John McCain campaigns in battleground states, Virginia and Pennsylvania today. And our Brian Todd is in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where McCain holds a rally in about four hours. All right Brian, you know this is the last weekend before the big election. What's the strategy today?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Betty, John McCain and his team are taking the fight to many battleground states as you mentioned. This is a key one here in Pennsylvania, we're going to get to Pennsylvania in just a second. As you mentioned, Virginia, one of those states in play for the McCain team. They are trying to keep it from turning blue on Tuesday. John McCain spoke to a rally in a very key voting district in Virginia that he is trying to hold on to in Newport News. Here is Senator McCain a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My country never had to prove anything to me. I have always had faith in it. If I'm elected president as I said, we'll fight to shake up Washington, we'll take America in a new direction from my first day in office until my last. I'm not afraid of the fight. I'm ready for the fight.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: The McCain team is going to take that fight right here to Perkasie, Pennsylvania later today in about four hours. He's going to speak to a rally here. The McCain campaign feels they have an opening here in Pennsylvania. 21 electoral votes at stake here. A traditionally democratic state. Obama leads by double digits in many polls. So why do they feel they have a chance here? A couple of reasons Betty. Barack Obama lost to Hillary Clinton decisively in the primaries here. The McCain team feels that they can exploit those conservative democrats, they can go after them, target them and get them over to their side. They think they have had some success there so far. Also, we are told by political science experts here in Pennsylvania, all over the state we've been talking to them, they say that in 2004 and in 2000, Al Gore and John Kerry did much better in the pre- election polls herein Pennsylvania than they actually did on Election Day. So the pre-election polls can be deceiving. The McCain team feels that this state is much tighter than the pre-election polls are suggesting. They have got a shot here and they need this state to turn red, because they need to compensate for some other states that may be traditionally republican states that McCain may have a tough time holding on to.

NGUYEN: All right, Brian Todd joining us live. Thank you Brian.

You know McCain makes one more stop in Virginia. We will take you live to Springfield when it happens next hour right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

HOLMES: We have been talking a lot about early voting. We've been seeing a lot of those lines for early voting and a lot of people worried about what the voting will look like on Election Day, since we're seeing already these huge lines. Our Sean Callebs has been up on this for us in Plantation, Florida, where people have been early voting this morning. It started around 10 o'clock, even though people were lining up Sean around 6:00. That was an awesome shot you showed me earlier, I hope you can show it to us again. Just how long that line is. Is it getting longer?

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I will let you gauge that. But first let's start out by showing folks that haven't seen the entrance at the library, the voting precinct is down there. It opened up as you mentioned about a little more than a hour ago. Then it extends down here, down this side of the library, then it keeps going out. The good news is, these clouds are keeping the Florida sun off all these folks. But look, it just keeps going and going across this lagoon, water area. Then a little bit shorter, perhaps, perhaps T.J. But still, you know come on, look at this, amazing the number of people. One reason early voting has attracted this much attention is because there aren't that many polling precincts open early. For example in Broward County, there are a small handful. There will be 300 of these precincts open Tuesday, November 4th. Today, really all for early voting, only 17. So only 5 percent. Right now, about 2 million people in Florida have voted early. Some of those through absentee voting. I want to bring in a couple of folks here who have been waiting very patiently. Ed and daughter Callie. Now how has Callie been waiting. You've been in line what, close to an hour and a half?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About an hour and a half. We got in line at about 9:30. We thought we'd be early you know with everyone else. She thinks it's an adventure. She woke me up early to come vote for the president.

CALLEBS: So she has an idea of just how important this whole thing is?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh yes, very much so. She is very interested in being part of the voting process.

CALLEBS: What brought you out today? What were some of the key issues?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well I work during the week. Oh you mean to actually vote? You know the main thing is whether or not, you know they're going to make any change in the economy. That's pretty much the number one thing.

CALLEBS: Are you surprised when you look out here, you look down the road and you see so many people out here in Florida?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think this is the most amazing turnout I've ever seen. I've never seen anything like it.

CALLEBS: People across the country when they hear Florida voting, people tend to roll their eyes, oh here we go again. What do you say to people? Are they getting it right or is this about as good as they can do with so many people?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have never seen a turnout like this. I have never had to do the early voting before, because I work during the week so I wanted to make sure I voted. But they are doing as good a job as they possibly can do. The turnout is amazing, so we're getting representation of the state.

CALLEBS: Callie, are you proud of your dad being out here today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

CALLEBS: You have a whole mouthful there, but we'll let you get on with that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

CALLEBS: Some good people waited for him, they're going to hold his place in line, right? We have talked a great deal about the money Obama has spent in TV advertising. John McCain has been doing a lot of mailings, these have been coming out. Look at this most recent one here T.J. This one he actually uses Hillary Clinton in the ad saying with intensity and hard work, she left 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling. Real quickly, I want to open it up. And then on the inside, he talks about his three daughters and what Hillary Clinton has meant to him and his family. So really kind of interesting, he wants to tap into that popularity Hillary Clinton had and hope that maybe those people who were turned off in the Democratic Party during that campaign will come over to him. This, a key state, 27 electoral votes up for grabs.

HOLMES: That is an interesting ad there. They look like running mates almost on the cover of that thing there. Sean, keep an eye on things, we appreciate you this morning, enjoyed all those live shots and taking us into what you are seeing out there, that long line. Thanks so much Sean.

NGUYEN: In California, aside from choosing the next president, same-sex marriage will be the top issue on Tuesday's ballot. There have been thousands of same-sex weddings since California's highest court cleared the way for them this year. But voters could turn back the clock when they vote on proposition 8. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The divisive debate has included death threats against Fresno's mayor who supports prop 8.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF JERRY DYER, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA POLICE: It was specific information, not necessarily as to how that was going to occur or when that was going to occur. But it did state as to why that threat was made. It stemmed around proposition 8.

MAYOR ALAN AUTRY, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA: Most of the opponents of prop 8 and the vast, vast, vast majority of the gay community would condemn this type of thing.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: The race between those for and against the measure has tightened over the last six weeks and the vote is expected to be close. We will be watching that. We also want to hear from you if you run into problems at the polls. Here is what we want you to do, call the CNN voter hotline. Help us track the problems and we'll report the trouble in real time. Here is a number for you, it's there at the bottom of the screen, 1-877-462-6608. We are keeping them honest all the way through the election and beyond.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: You probably haven't heard a lot about it on the campaign trail. This is it. Immigration. That's what we are talking about right now.

HOLMES: A hot button issue for a whole lot of voters, but do you know where the candidates actually stand? We're taking a look at that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Three days to go now. We have been counting down and laying out the candidate's presidential plans. We have been doing it, it is something we call 10 days, 10 issues, or 10 issues, 10 days if you prefer. So far this week, we have looked at their stands on the economy, taxes, energy, health care, education, housing, homeland security. Today, we have foreign policy. Seven members of Mexico's military crossed the border into the U.S. yesterday actually. They told border agents near Yuma, Arizona, they became disoriented while on patrol. They were returned to Mexico. U.S. officials say the incident remains under investigation. One issue that hasn't gotten a whole lot of attention on the campaign trail has been in fact immigration.

NGUYEN: John McCain and Barack Obama have had a lot to say on that subject. It has gotten pretty ugly at times.

HOLMES: Jeanne Meserve tells us now, you have to know Spanish to know what they are saying.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Illegal immigrants flooding into the country, rounded up at the workplace. Among the most divisive issues of the decade. But the presidential candidates rarely raise immigration, except in Spanish. [Speaking in Spanish ]

RUBEN NAVARRETTE, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: The advent of Spanish language radio and television and the popularity there has allowed these candidates to conduct sort of a stealth campaign where they are having this fist fight in Spanish that nobody else is privy too.

MESERVE: In their Spanish language ads McCain and Obama vie to portray themselves as the champion of immigration reform.

ANGELA KELLEY, IMMIGRATION POLICY CENTER: The candidates are trying to outperform each other and they're trying to be the most attractive that they can be to the Latino voter.

MESERVE: But it has gotten nasty. Mexicans are stupid and unqualified, a quote from conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh, which this Obama ad ties to McCain. But McCain doesn't agree with Limbaugh and immigration that Limbaugh's comments are out of context.

McCain, who twice sponsored immigration reform legislation, blames Obama and the democrats for its defeat in one of his ads. Though many analysts say both parties bear responsibility. In fact, McCain and Obama both support a path to legalization for illegal immigrants. But conservative republicans do not, which may explain why McCain does not highlight the issue with English-speaking audiences.

STUART ROTHENBERG, THE ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT: He's in an awkward position. How can you be the nominee of your party when the grassroots, not merely disagrees with you on an issue, but it's an emotional issue.

MESERVE: The hazard for Obama, if he voices support for a guest worker program in English, he risks alienating organized labor.

(On camera): Both campaigns are courting Latino voters by addressing other issues that concern them, the economy, education, health care. But conveniently, for the candidates, when it comes to immigration, they can talk to those who speak Spanish without being heard by those who don't. Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Tonight is your last chance to get insight on those unanswered questions about the candidates before casting your vote. We go in-depth like never before. So you don't want to miss, Revealed, John McCain at 7:00 eastern and then Revealed, Barack Obama, at 8:30 eastern, only on CNN, your home for politics.

HOLMES: Of course a lot of talk about Obama and McCain on Election Day and rightly so, but that's not the only big election story we'll be watching. There are a lot of critical congressional races to keep an eye on as well.

NGUYEN: Including a tight senate race in Minnesota between the republican incumbent and a controversial comedian.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: The White House and Capitol Hill, a lot of new faces will be occupying both coming in January. You are going to be putting them there with your vote. Now of course we talk about who is going to be occupying that spot on the left in the presidential race. But stakes are pretty high in congress as well, CNN's Kate Bolduan takes a look at the Minnesota senate race between the republican incumbent and a "Saturday Night Live" alum.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Minnesota republican, Senator Norm Coleman, days from the election, Coleman is fighting for his job, neck and neck with a man better known on stage than on the campaign trail.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello, I'm Stuart Smalley.

BOLDUAN: "Saturday Night Live" alum and activist, turned democratic challenger, Al Franken has overcome a double digit deficit in the polls. Franken spared no one in his former career.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am not to do jokes about any aspect of the president's personal life, except his eating habits. Evidently, sir, you eat a lot.

BOLDUAN: But that hasn't stopped Bill Clinton from stumping for him.

BILL CLINTON: You have to elect Barack Obama and Al Franken to the United States Senate.

BOLDUAN: The race in the national spotlight as senate democrats try for a 60-seat filibuster proof majority.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The outcome of this election will decide how the scales are tipped.

BOLDUAN: Like other republican incumbents this election, Senator Coleman is struggling against the economy and an unpopular president. Franken highlights Coleman's ties to the Bush administration at every stop. Coleman is campaigning on experience, something he says Franken lacks.

SEN. NORM COLEMAN, (R) MINNESOTA: I have a record of actually crossing the partisan divide and solving the problem. I run against somebody who has nothing in his life experience to give any confidence that he could do that.

AL FRANKEN, (D) MINNESOTA SENATE CANDIDATE: He has a record. His record is not a good record. His record is supporting George Bush 90 percent of the time. I have a record of standing up for middle class folks.

BOLDUAN: The match-up has been marked by a flurry of negative ads, a feud fueled by the millions of dollars pouring into the race from outside political groups.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Al Franken, degrading to women, to us all. Al Franken, frankly unfit for office.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Norm Coleman, he voted for billions to rebuild Iraq, for huge tax breaks to oil companies.

BOLDUAN: Now, voters will decide which candidate has the last laugh.

(On camera): There is a wild card here. Minnesota is a state where the third party matters. And independent candidate Dean Barkley is polling in the high teens. Analysts say in a tight race like this one, he could snag key votes from both sides. Kate Bolduan, CNN, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: You can check out our political ticker for all the latest campaign news. Logon to cnnpolitics.com that is your source for all things political.

NGUYEN: A look at likely voters. A tough group to nail down thanks to a new set of election ex factors.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now across the world, food and water arrive today at an overcrowded Congolese refugee camp. A shaky cease-fire between government and rebel forces is holding. An estimated 1 million people have been displaced.

Police confirm they have found the gun used in the killings of actress Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and her young nephew. It was found in a vacant lot near where the boy's body was found on Chicago's west side. Nobody has been charged in the killings.

The government is warning nearly 400 passport applicants that a security breach may have left them open to identity theft. Most of the applicants live in the Washington, D.C. area.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: A busy weekend in the battleground state of Virginia. Both John McCain and Sarah Palin making campaign stops there. That means that Dan Lothian had to make a campaign stop there as well. He's in Newport News for us. Hello to you sir and I bet a couple of years ago, maybe a year ago, we didn't think your travel plans this close to the election would include a stop in Virginia, usually reliably red.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, not at all.

HOLMES: Not the case this time.

LOTHIAN: That's right, this would not have been on that map of battleground states but it is a battleground state this time around and that's why you saw Senator John McCain here. He was at a rally a couple of hours ago. He was touching on some of the usual themes such as the economy, energy and also taking swipes at Barack Obama. But he is in this region because this is a region where he wants to win and perhaps needs to win.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOTHIAN (voice-over): Hampton Roads is not really a roadway but it's one path to victory in Virginia. A region with about a half dozen big cities, a diverse population and a river, a bay, and an ocean. It is also home to the Atlantic fleet.

PROF. JOSHUA BEHR, OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY: It's critical to do well in two parts of the state, one is northern Virginia and here in Hampton Road. McCain/Palin, 2008.

LOTHIAN: In this swing region of Virginia, John McCain and Barack Obama are in high gear trying to snag every last voter still sitting on the fence. For McCain supporters, wooing this areas heavy military and veteran population is part of the game plan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he does well there because of his clear legacy as a naval aviator, a veteran, prisoner of war, truly American hero.

LOTHIAN: George Bush won twice here, but voters helped reelect Bill Clinton in 1996. This one solidly republican corner of the state has been moving to the left. Governor Tim Kaine and Senator Jim Webb, both democrats, carried Hampton Roads. Old Dominion political science professor Joshua Behr says this became a swing area when the population started changing, as new industry attracted new people.

BEHR: You have an increasing number of white collar professionals which tend to be leaning towards the democratic ticket. In addition, there is an increased percentage of African-American community.

LOTHIAN: Obama seems to have a slight edge. While his campaign says they are not prioritizing one region of the state over another, they do admit, this is a rich target.

MITCH STEWART, VIRGINIA DIRECTOR OBAMA CAMPAIGN: We think basically the coalition that we're trying to build here to be successful is representative in Hampton Roads.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

LOTHIAN: Obama who is currently leading the polls here in Virginia has also visited the Hampton Roads area. He had two campaign stops here this week as he battles to try and turn this long-time red state blue. T.J.?

HOLMES: Dan Lothian there for us in Newport News, Virginia, good to see you this morning, sir, thank you.

NGUYEN: Barack Obama sat down with CNN's Wolf Blitzer yesterday on the trail in Des Moines, Iowa. Here is what he said when Wolf asked about his policy toward Iran and it's nuclear ambitions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Senator McCain says that if he is elected president, Iran will not become a nuclear power. Can you make that same commitment?

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I've said I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. I think it would be a game-changer. It would not be acceptable. It would be a threat to our strongest ally in the region, Israel. But it would also potentially trigger a nuclear arms race in the region. We have to both apply much tougher diplomacy and sanctions potentially if they do not move in a better direction. We have to give them some inducements to walk away from their nuclear program. We should never take a military option off the table.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: While Senator Obama is scheduled to speak in Henderson, Nevada in the next hour. Of course, we are going to bring that to you live. But we do want to bring this to you right now. An update on a story that we have been telling you about this morning. The "Associated Press" reporting that an aunt of Barack Obama is living in this country illegally. Now just a short time ago, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux got this comment from the Obama campaign. Quote, "Senator Obama has no knowledge of her status but obviously believes that any and all appropriate laws be followed." We'll keep you updated on this story throughout the day..

Meanwhile, John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as running mate has been a hot topic in this election. CNN's Larry King asked the candidate himself about her readiness to serve.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING: You are president of the United States. You are flying over the pacific, between nowhere and nowhere. There is an attack on the United States. How much confidence do you have in Vice President Palin?

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Total. She has instinct. She shares my world view. She has -- I would remind you that there was an obscure governor from Arkansas that not too many years ago gained the presidency and he had no national security experience. He would never match up, as much as I love Bush one, with him on national security. We had just won the Gulf War. Sarah Palin understands these issues, she understands them very well. Frankly, with a lot of conversations that I have had with her, she is an incredibly quick study.

KING: So, there would be no question in your mind that she could take over.

MCCAIN: She would not only take over, she would inspire Americans. That's what I think she would do. She would unite the country in a time of crisis.

KING: And you like her?

MCCAIN: By the way, I don't like this comment about me dying.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Good point there.

John McCain is scheduled to speak in Springfield, Virginia at the top of the hour. We will bring that to you live right here on CNN. As you know though, tonight is your last chance to get insight on those unanswered questions about the candidates before casting your vote. Here is what we are going to do. We are going to go in-depth like never before, so you don't want to miss Revealed, John McCain at 7:00 eastern. And then, Revealed, Barack Obama at 8:30 eastern. It's only on CNN, which is your home for politics.

HOLMES: Just because they say they will, will they really vote? The large number of newly registered voters in this election really has pollsters pulling out their hair.

NGUYEN: CNN's Joe Johns takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Like other national pollsters, Michael Dimmock of the Pew Research Center is pouring over spreadsheets and trim lines and grappling with a big problem. If you don't know who will vote, you can't do an accurate poll.

MICHAEL DIMMOCK, PEW RESEARCH CENTER: Gauging turnout effectively in a poll is a very tricky thing to do. Not everyone we talked to in a survey is actually going to end up voting on Election Day.

JOHNS: Accurately defining a likely voter is a huge deal. Using its traditional likely voter model, Gallup has Obama up just three points. But when Gallup expanded the definition of likely voter in anticipation of record turnout, Obama's edge jumps to 7. What makes identifying likely voters so hard this time are the X factors. X factor one, new voters. If a voter has no history of voting, do they really mean it when they say, they are pumped up, determined to vote.

DIMMOCK: It may well be that even though they're telling us they have every intention of voting, and they're telling us that they're very excited and engaged in this campaign, which they are, that they may actually not turn out at the rate we might expect them to.

JOHNS: X factor two, cell phones. For the first time ever, major national polling organizations are calling not just land lines but mobile phones as well.

DIMMOCK: People who are cell only, maybe not surprisingly, favor Obama by a wider margin than the rest of the country. Mostly because they are so much younger. We are in untested waters here.

JOHNS; It's possible that younger, less-rooted voters won't in fact turn out at the same rate as older land liners. Then, there are the fence-sitters. Five to 10 percent of the electorate who say they are likely voters, but are still undecided. Most pollsters expect them to get off the fence any day now but, guess what, they may not.

DIMMOCK: Experience has shown in the past that a lot of these folks really don't end up voting. They are so conflicted. At the end of the day, they don't have a clear enough preference for them to be motivated enough to get out there and show up.

JOHNS: Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: We would like to hear from you if you have any issues out there at the polls. It looks like he is having a problem finding his I.D. maybe. This is a live look actually down in Florida where there has been some early voting going on there today. Our Sean Callebs has been keeping an eye on the scene. That's a really long line. You can see there. It really snakes around.

NGUYEN: It started what, at 6:00 A.M. this morning, eastern?

HOLMES: 6:00 a.m. they were lining up, but at 10:00 a.m. they actually could start voting and the voting continues right now. If you are having any issues you can call 1-877-462-6608. We're trying to keep them honest all the way through the election and beyond. Some of those folks might be on their cell phones right now calling that hotline.

(WEATHER REPORT)

REYNOLDS WOLF: Hey, just a reminder, remember, as we make our way into tonight and tomorrow, make sure you set your clocks back an hour. Daylight saving time will begin. Not that anyone on our staff needs any remembering, needs a little bit of a hint because I'm sure T.J. will remember quite well, won't you, T.J.?

HOLMES: I need that hour. I will remember that well.

NGUYEN: We have been waiting for this all year.

HOLMES: We have Reynolds.

NGUYEN: When you wake up at 4:00 in the morning, that extra hour matters. WOLF: So what you are saying is when you have say, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, for you, T.J., this is the day.

NGUYEN: This is it.

HOLMES: This is the holiday. I have a tree up at the house and everything to celebrate.

WOLF: The daylight saving tree.

HOLMES: Thanks buddy.

NGUYEN: Welcome to our world folks.

HOLMES: Let's talk about a particular voting group that you were looking into. A group that is growing in importance as well as influence.

NGUYEN: Yeah, Asian-American voters hoping to have an impact on this election.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Let's take a live look right now, this is Polk City, Florida right here. We are waiting for Sarah Palin to take to the mike. You see the governor right there. We have got hands clapping and them hugging. I bet she is going to be speaking momentarily. Here she goes. Let's take a quick listen.

GOV. SARAH PALIN, (R) VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you so much. Thank you, Lakeland. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you, Florida. Thank you so much, Florida. Thank you and to your wonderful governor, I thank him for that warm introduction. It is so nice to be here with you in Lakeland, Florida. Great to be back in the sunshine state! Someone I would like you to meet also is my husband, Alaska's first dude, Todd Palin. Todd is a commercial fisherman in Alaska's waters. He is an iron dog winner, the four-time world champion of that longest race in the world. He is a production operator also up in Alaska's oil field.

NGUYEN: We have been listening to Governor Sarah Palin. We're going to try to get this synched up right, so the audio matches her lips there. But if you want to continue to watching it, obviously we're streaming it on cnn.com. We will go back to it momentarily. T.J.?

HOLMES: In a world slight on time, our Sanjay Gupta found a way you can fit in a movie and a work out. I have to see this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Is it a movie theater or is it a gym? Actually, it's a movie theater in a gym?

JAMIE SMITH, GENERAL MANAGER: It's a cardio cinema, it's a cool, darkroom, it's designed to be like you are at the movies. Instead of sitting in your typical seat, you're on a treadmill, you're on a bike watching a movie.

GUPTA: The theater here at the Gold's Gym in Charleston, South Carolina is one of about 50 located in Gold's Gyms across America. And the clients hear say it's a blockbuster.

MARVIN WHITSON, GOLD'S GYM MEMBER: I think this is one of the best parts of the gym. It takes your mind off of all the work you're doing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It keeps your mind off running in place.

GUPTA: Taking your mind off the work at hand is only one benefit. General Manager, Jamie Smith, says, it helps many of her newer clients take that first step.

SMITH: It's less intimidating. It just makes them feel more comfortable. Nobody is watching them. They don't feel like they are on display.

GUPTA: That's critical because in a recent survey by the American Council on Exercise, more than 20 percent of non gym-goers said intimidation keeps them from doing regular exercise. In the case of this Gold's Gym though, it's the movies that keeps the clients coming back.

BONNIE MARGIOTTA, GOLD'S GYM MEMBER: Twenty minutes have gone by already and I didn't realize it. But I could stay for the whole movie but that's what, an hour and a half. So I might pass on that.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: That's kind of a cool idea.

HOLMES: I don't know, I kind of like to sit back with the buttery popcorn and work on the heart attack while I'm watching the movie.

NGUYEN: You can do that on the treadmill, although, it kind of defeats the purpose.

HOLMES: We have a group that's making their mark this election season. The growing voice of Asian-American voters.

NGUYEN: Yes, I went out to Los Angeles to get the pulse of the country's largest Asian-American population where I saw an interesting trend. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. A live look, both sides, two live events going on. On the left Governor Sarah Palin at a rally in Polk City, Florida. But also, look at that, the Vice President Dick Cheney out on the campaign trail and in his home state of Wyoming at a victory rally at Laramie High School. Let's take a listen. He is telling the crowd to vote McCain.

DICK CHENEY: Having Liz today, is a special treat. Lynn and the girls started campaigning with me back in 1978 when I first ran for congress. Liz was 12 years old. She's a little older now and the mother of five of my grandchildren. Time after time over the years the family set aside other activities in order to join me on the road. They handed out Cheney for congress buttons, went on bus tours, helped me plan national campaign strategy and reminded me for years to smile for the cameras. The girls have also made me a grandfather six times. I've had a long career in politics though today looking back it seems to have passed in the blink of an eye, but at every stage I've been lucky to have the love and support of my wonderful wife and daughters. We come home this weekend to stand proudly and strongly beside Wyoming's republican ticket. We know them well, we know their excellent record of service to our state, our senior Senator Mike Enzie has earned one of the finest reputations in Washington since we first sent him here in 1996. Mike and I, of course, have many things in common. We both run businesses. We've both been elected statewide in Wyoming. We both have the same dynamic, charismatic personalities and there's not a senator in Washington who is better liked or more respected than Mike Enzi. He's effective, he works in the spirit of bipartisanship and he never forgets where he came from. Let's give this good man another term in the U.S. Senate.

I'm also very proud of Mike's colleague John Barrasa. John came into the office after the unfortunate passing of our dear friend Senator Craig Thomas whom we miss very much. Coming into the senate in mid-session John had to get up to speed right away and that's exactly what he did. He's worked hard, stayed in close touch with the folks back home. He's earned the respect and the admiration of members of both parties in the senate.

HOLMES: Listening in there to vice president Dick Cheney back home in Laramie, Wyoming, there as he said he is back to support the republican ticket and, yes, the congressional tickets as well there in the state of Wyoming. We will turn back to Governor Sarah Palin here in just a moment. We're going to take a quick break. She's at a rally going in Florida right now and we'll listen into her after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin is stumping in the battleground state of Florida. In fact, she is in Polk City right now. Let's take a listen.

PALIN: -- the problem, not the solution. See instead, there is an option here. John and I we have the opposite commitments in all of this. Instead of taking more from you and from our small businesses, instead of taking more and spreading that wealth to other people according to a politician's priorities, we're going to spread opportunity so that you can create new wealth. Yes. Create new wealth, hire more people, get these jobs online. That's how the economy gets rolling. Now also, John and I, we're going to keep our defining commitments to senior citizens and Obama here, he goes around promising this new kind of politics, but then he comes here to Florida and he tries to exploit the fears and worries of our retirees about social security and Medicare and that is the oldest and cheapest kind of politics there is. That's not a new kind of politics. John McCain and I, we are committed to protecting and preserving social security and we will not cut a single Medicare benefit and we are committed to controlling healthcare costs.

Now Barack Obama wants to have government take over healthcare and if anyone seriously believes that that will make things cheaper -- that won't make anything cheaper. John McCain, I'll tell you, he has always kept faith with America. Kept faith with our senior citizens. He has always put his country first. He has always fought for you.

It's because he puts his faith in you, not in bureaucracy, not in bigger government.