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Expected Isaac Landfall Hours Away; New Orleans Flood Gate Closed; RNC Fully Underway; Chris Christie Makes Keynote Address; Chris Christie Makes Keynote Address At RNC; Expected Isaac Landfall Hours Away; Paul Supporters Challenge RNC Rules; Grand Isle: Directly In The Path; Obama Aide Gibbs At GOP Convention

Aired August 28, 2012 - 13:59   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Brooke Baldwin, coming at you live from the CNN Grill here in Tampa, Florida.

Huge show for you today. We're talking about three major events happening at this moment.

First up, just in, the National Weather Service releasing an update on Hurricane Isaac as the gulf begins now to really start feeling that storm. We will take you straight to the coastline live.

Plus, right now, I'm sitting here in Tampa, the Republican National Convention. Republicans are officially kicking of day number-one of the convention here at the forum, just in the building adjacent to where I'm sitting at the CNN Grill. This, as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Ann Romney get ready to speak tonight. Two huge speeches we'll be watching out for, of course, in primetime.

Also, raining on that parade is President Obama, who is expected to speak at any minute from Iowa, from Iowa State University. We're monitoring all of that. We'll bring part of it live, as we understand he will be mentioning Isaac.

But first, the weather.

Here we go. Hurricane Isaac officially a hurricane on the move, while parts of Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi have brought themselves to a near standstill just waiting for the storm. You're looking at pictures. This is just off Canal Boulevard in New Orleans. Look at those waves. They're wrapping up against the streets here. We're talking about schools and airports, even casinos closed.

Whoever has yet to evacuate now, they are hunkering down as this storm is really building up speed. It reached hurricane strength right around 12:30 Eastern Time today. And this government video shows the swirl there. The swirl of the storm path. And you can see where Isaac is aiming. The land Hurricane Katrina devastated seven years ago tomorrow. How about the timing here. Isaac is supposed to hit at some point tonight as a category one hurricane.

And I want to go straight to this. National Weather Service just gave its very latest update. Jennifer Delgado has that. Jennifer, tell me where Isaac is and what you know right now.

JENNIFER DELGADO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Right now it is located roughly about 100 miles to the south, southeast of New Orleans, as I show you on the graphic here. The wind's at 75 miles per hour. Again, we are dealing with a category one. The National Hurricane Center did issue an immediate advisory a couple of hours ago to update everyone what the strengthening out of the system.

And I want to point out to you, if you start to notice on the satellite imagery, some of those outer bands starting to work into the mouth of the Mississippi. So weather conditions are going to deteriorate. We are experiencing tropical storm conditions right now in the mouth of the Mississippi. And, of course, that's going to be spreading up towards the northwest. As we go through really the next 24 hours, it's going to be a rough one.

As we track this for you, we want to put this into motion. Tuesday, 8:00, notice that we could potentially see making landfall within about the next six hours. And then heading towards New Orleans in the overnight hours, we're talking late tonight into tomorrow as a category one. The real threat is going to be storm surge, as well as the heavy rainfall. We're talking, in some of these locations, we're expecting anywhere between four to 14 inches of rainfall.

Very quickly on the radar, have to point out to you, we do have a tornado watch in place. Anywhere you're seeing in the red box, that's from Louisiana all the way over towards Florida. And right now we are seeing those storms starting to develop more. In fact, very quickly, over toward South Carolina, this moisture from Isaac is causing an incredible amount of rainfall.

As I take you -- we go back over to our radar very quickly and we zoom in to Charleston. Look at the area here being pounded. This is moisture from Isaac that's been branched off over the last couple days. This is going to be a problem spot. Brooke, we're talking some of these locations have picked up three and a half inches of rainfall in less than three hours.

BALDWIN: Yes, you have to think first about this outer band to effect them in the next couple of hours, and then the hurricane.

DELGADO: Right.

BALDWIN: And as you mentioned, a tornado watch. All the folks on the Gulf Coast, we are thinking about them.

And I want to go straight there, actually. Jennifer Delgado, thank you.

You know, the winds here from this hurricane may be going right around 75 miles per hour, but it's the water -- it's the water that could bring really the prime concern. Isaac could trigger as much as 20 inches of rain in some places and create, as Jennifer was mentioning, a storm surge as high as 12 feet. To handle the extraordinary excess, the Army Corps of Engineer has done something it has never done before in New Orleans. They have closed the flood gate to the largest pumping station in the world built, of course, in response to Katrina's devastation. And CNN's Brian Todd is live for us in New Orleans on that.

And, Brian, why? Why close the gate? What does that do?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, when you close that gate, it enables them to pump -- to start to pump water out when the flood levels get to certain trigger points. And that is the process that is starting right now.

Just got an update from the Army Corps of Engineers on that particular gate. You mentioned it is the world's largest pumping station. It's called the Western Closure Complex. It can pump out 20,000 cubic feet of water per second.

But we've just now talked to the Army Corps of Engineers. They had an update for us on that. They've not closed those gates yet. They plan on closing them when they get to their trigger points. And again, they're thinking maybe that could be tomorrow when the storm really is at its peak. So the Western Closure Complex is bracing to close those gates. They may have to do it in the coming hours. They haven't done it just yet. But it is a very impressive piece of engineers with those massive gates and the ability to pump out 20,000 cubic feet of water per second.

Brooke, showing you kind of the conditions here. We just got another rain band from tropical -- well now Hurricane Isaac. I know it's just increased in strength. It's kind of sweeping in over the Mississippi River here. That's the Crescent City Connection Bridge. They have no plans to close that bridge yet, but they have closed the port area down and no barge or tanker traffic is allowed up here unless the captain of the port needs to order a vessel secured then they'll bring one up here. But operations in this very, very busy important area, Brooke, also shut down for now.

BALDWIN: OK. Yes, it doesn't look too terribly windy where you are, at least as of yet. Obviously we know that will change in a couple of hours.

I know, Brian, Mayor Mitch Landrieu says it's too late to evacuate if you live in this city center. And I know people just have to really stay put and ride it out. Why not call for mandatory evacuations?

TODD: They just feel, Brooke, that this storm will not be of the strength to really trigger that kind of an evacuation. Mayor Landrieu was talking about this a moment ago. He is telling people in lower lying areas of the city that are outside the levee protected areas that you should leave if you can do that. He doesn't want, you know, a mass exodus, a panicked exodus. But if you can leave, if you're in those areas that are not protected by the levees, you still have a little bit of time to get out. They did say for anybody who wanted to leave, yesterday was probably the better time to do it. But no mandatory evacuation for New Orleans. Number one, they don't believe the storm will be strong enough to be able to trigger that kind of thing and, number two, they are very, very confident that the levees' walls and flood gates are going to hold.

BALDWIN: Brian Todd live for us in New Orleans. Brian, we'll check back in with you.

And while this hurricane is expected to make landfall tonight, as we've been talking about these outer bands, they are sending ugly, downright uncomfortable weather to some parts of Louisiana right now. And as you saw here, you know, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi all getting hit. You can see the white caps churning out. This is Pensacola, Florida.

And more images for you. You're going to see pictures from Bay St. Louis, this is Mississippi, courtesy of hurricanetrack.com, a storm tracking service, founded by Mark Sudduth. And Mark is on the phone with me now from Gulfport.

Mark, as we're looking at your pictures here, I know this is -- you're just down the road from Bay St. Louis. Talk to me about what it looks like, what it sounds like where you are right now.

MARK SUDDUTH, FOUNDER, HURRICANETRACK.COM (via telephone): Well, we are actually on the move. Got a lot to do today. We finished up our work in Mississippi for the time being and heading to New Orleans to put up another one of those cameras.

Not any rain yet. Definitely some gusty winds. And the thing that is really astonishing to me is to see all the people that are out checking everything out. It's not a quote "scary hurricane" I guess to them and so they're staying behind. And so there's a lot of onlookers this time. Quite the contrast from seven years ago.

BALDWIN: Why do you think that is? I don't know where you're from, Mark, but why are these folks just sort of watching and waiting? Why not take shelter just yet?

SUDDUTH: I think that a lot of people are fixated on wind speed and category and they don't fully understand the true nature of tropical storms and hurricanes and all the effects that they can bring. They look at the category. We saw that with Ike. Only a category two, yet it brought 20 plus feet of water into the (INAUDIBLE) peninsula, nearly wiping it clean.

These tropical storms have more than just wind. They have torrential rain. They can cause life threatening flooding days after they make landfall. The storm surge. The wind is a big problem too. But I think that people are too fixated on the number. And the higher the numbers in our society, the cooler something is, the better it is, I guess. You know, it's a 10. Oh, goodness, you know, or a five star rating or whatever. You get the point. And if it's only a category one, why bother with it.

BALDWIN: Yes. Yes. Mark, I'm glad you're giving us a reality check because it's a hurricane. Whatever the category number, here it is.

SUDDUTH: That's correct. BALDWIN: And you mention sort of what happens, even in a cat one or a cat two. But also I know a lot of the trouble happens after the storm hits. What should they be looking for?

SUDDUTH: Oh, wow, this is going to dump a lot of rain across the Mississippi Valley, southeast Louisiana and people need to be mindful that 15 to 20 inches of rain is nothing to mess around with. That that could be leading to fresh water flooding on top of all the surge coming in. And then hopefully, for some brought relief, Isaac will finally get its rear end moving and get up into the upper Midwest and turn the corner and bring some rain up into the Ohio Valley. But we just don't want to much at one time.

BALDWIN: Mark Sudduth, a storm tracker with hurricanetrack.com, safe travels as you head to New Orleans to place that camera there. We'll keep an eye on your pictures for sure, Mark. Thank you.

And also this storm, this hurricane, on the mind, of course, of the president of the United States. He is expected to speak live any minute now. Speak about the storm. We just got that -- we just got that recently. And, oh, yes, let's also remember he's campaigning here just as the Republican National Convention getting underway here in Tampa. These two things happening in the same week. More on that. Stay right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Want to take you live to the president speaking at Iowa State University right now. But just a quick note for you, we're going to put up some live pictures. There's going to be pictures from New Orleans. And he just said, his thoughts and prayers with the folks on the Gulf. Take a listen.

(BEGIN LIVE COVERAGE OF PRESSER - JOINED IN PROGRESS)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I didn't hear as many cheers. Come on. Cyclone football kicks off at home this Saturday. I won't pretend I can give a speech like Coach Rhoads can, but I'm going to try, because just over two months from now, for the first time in most of your lives, you will get a chance to pick a president.

And the truth is, you've got more at stake in this election than just about anybody. When you step into that voting booth, the choice you make in that one instant is going to shape your country and your world for decades to come. And I know that's a pretty heavy idea to lay on you on a Tuesday, but it's true. The decisions we make as a country on big issues like the economy and jobs and taxes and education and energy and war and climate change, all these decisions will directly affect your life in very personal ways.

I got say, this -- I'm acutely aware of when I make these decisions because they're decisions that are going to affect Malia and Sasha, my daughters, as well. It's the way it's always been. And one generation makes decisions on behalf of the next. But here is the thing, Cyclones, your generation chooses which path we take as a country. Your vote decides where we go from here.

Well, we make sure that more good jobs and opportunity take root, not in China or India or Germany, but right here in Iowa and all across America so you don't have to leave home to get those good paying jobs. Are we going to reward an honest day's work with the chance to buy a home of your own, with health care that's there for you when you get sick, with the ability to put a little away for your retirement. Are we going to make it easier for you to afford your degree and pay of your student loan debt? Are we going to build more good schools and hire more good teachers so that our kids are prepared to attend colleges like Iowa State and prepared for the 21st century work force? Will this be a country that keeps moving away from foreign oil and toward renewable sources of energy, like wind and solar and biofuels?

(END LIVE COVERAGE OF PRESSER)

BALDWIN: Certainly no coincidence that the president is speaking, flanked by youngsters in our country. He is at Iowa State University. And next he heads to Colorado, speaks at Colorado State. And then the University of Virginia. Here he goes, trying to reinvigorate the youth vote, which he so totally had in 2008. Can he do it? We'll talk to an Obama aide, Robert Gibbs, and also talk about how Mitt Romney's trying to capitalize on some of the higher tuition cost and also the lower unemployment rate when it comes to young people. More on those a little later here live from the CNN Grill in Tampa, Florida.

As the president campaigns in Iowa, here in Tampa the Republican National Convention officially underway. And some Ron Paul delegates -- this is what we're watching for this hour -- they are making sure their candidate is not forgotten here in Tampa. We're going to show you what just happened moments ago after Paul showed up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: We're live here at the CNN Grill, just on the outside of the Republican National Convention Center here in Tampa. And just moments ago, got into full swing. Just next door to me. National political correspondent Jim Acosta is standing by on the floor there at the convention center.

And, Jim, talk to me about what's happening. And I also hear Congressman Ron Paul showed up with an orchid lei.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

BALDWIN: And I know a number of his delegates pretty fired up about this.

ACOSTA: They are very fired up. That's right, Brooke, they are making some noise down here on the floor. Not just the music that just started playing here at the convention.

Yes, I was just down on the floor with Ron Paul basically over by the main delegation, which is clear on the other side behind me. And Ron Paul walked out onto the floor and instantly the crowd here -- well, the crowd of Ron Paul supporters that were around him, starting chanting his name. Obviously they were very fired up here.

And, Brooke, a lot of this has to do with these new delegate rules that, frankly (ph), that the Romney forces would like to put in place here at the convention. And this would basically bind delegates in future primaries and caucuses to the winner of those primaries and caucuses. And as you know, there have been -- there has been some wrangling on the part of the Ron Paul forces in recent months to try to get a delegate here, get a delegate there, to strengthen their candidates presence here in Tampa.

And I had a chance to catch up with Ron Paul just as he was making his way through here. You could tell that he really didn't want to get into this. But he did tell me at one point that he thought that his supporters were, quote, "expressing themselves rather well." So Ron Paul having some fun down here.

In the end, Mitt Romney and his supporters have so much support here. They are going to win this debate. They are going to win this fight. But, nevertheless, that does not deter the Ron Paul forces out there. And they were making their voices heard here, Brooke.

BALDWIN: So with regard to the delegates, and I know a lot of these Ron Paul delegates say, you know, what the RNC did in terms of rewriting some of these rules was really a slap in the face. Where does it stand? Is it, as I think I read in one newspaper, warm and fuzzy there on the floor, or is there still sort of that possibility that there could be some disruption a little later on?

ACOSTA: Well, I got to tell you, you know, I think the energy level is pretty good here right now. I mean you can just look across this floor. I can see Haley Barbour standing by the Guam delegation. I mean you can see party insiders are starting to make their way down here. There are guys over here in the West Virginia delegation wearing coal miner hats. So, you know, you can sense the excitement that is starting to build with this convention really getting started in earnest.

But my sense of it is, Brooke, when I was over there by the main delegation, yes, the Ron Paul folks were very fired up. And, yes, we talked to some. They are upset about what's happening here. But in the end, democracy rules. They don't have the votes. They don't have the support. Mitt Romney does. And so, in the end -- at the end of the day, they're not going to win this battle. But that doesn't stop Ron Paul. It hasn't stopped him before.

BALDWIN: Jim Acosta for us. Jim, thank you so much. We'll be dipping in and out, of course, as this convention is officially underway. This first full day there at the convention center.

Now, another man certainly getting plenty of attention at the RNC is Chris Christie. Keynote speaker tonight. New Jersey governor. He's going to be sharing the spotlight with the hopeful first lady, Ann Romney. And more on that.

We're also, of course, watching Isaac. Now officially a category one hurricane. Rain, high winds. Take a look here at the radar. They are reaching the coastlines of Louisiana and Mississippi. Live from the CNN Grill. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Live pictures here inside the CNN Grill in Tampa, Florida. By the way, this place used to be a parking garage. But in the six weeks it took to build, it is now officially a CNN Grill. And guess how long it will take to tear this thing down. Four days. Four days here.

Now, as of basically 10:00 Eastern tonight, the nation will be hearing from the person who knows Mitt Romney best, his wife. And Governor Romney will address the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Ann Romney will this evening. She's expected to talk, of course, about her husband. Speaking about how he's a gracious husband, father, grandfather. The two were high school sweethearts. They have been married for more than 40 years. On the flight here down to Tampa, she took questions from reporters about her speech tonight. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it finished? Do you have any more last minute changes? Is there a line you think you need to tweak?

ANN ROMNEY, WIFE OF MITT ROMNEY: Um, yes. Well, there's not a line I need to tweak, but we are refining it up there. So --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) that you took out (INAUDIBLE).

ROMNEY: You know, I think my -- you will see that my speech is heartfelt. And I think a lot of you have been covering me long enough and you know that I've never gone off of a written text. So this is a unique experience for me to actually have something written.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Ann Romney playing really a key role here in her husband's presidential campaign. But she has faced, as we've been covering, some pretty tough, personal health challenges. She is a breast cancer survivor. She also has multiple sclerosis. The Romney campaign is hoping Ann Romney's speech tonight will appeal to women voters.

Also taking the stage primetime in Tampa tonight, talk about the plumiest of plum speaking roles here, the Republican National Convention's keynote speaker is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. You know the man, known for his big personality and really his straight talk. Governor Christie will aim to rally the base, emphasis party unity, try to grab some of those undecided voters across the country. It's a tall order for what is, as of now, the most important speech of his political career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN (voice-over): For New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, even a late summer walk on the shore quickly becomes an event. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, governor. How are you, buddy (ph)?

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: Hello, man (ph). How are you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sticking (ph) up for the working man?

CHRISTIE: Trying the best we can.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Thank you very much.

BALDWIN: Christie has become a Republican rock star who is about to play the concert of his life.

CHRISTIE: Nice to meet you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nice to meet you. You're the best thing that ever happened to New Jersey.

CHRISTIE: Thank you.

I (INAUDIBLE) because of the job I'm doing here.

BALDWIN: Just a week before Christie was to deliver his GOP convention keynote speech, he talked of building a middle America economy that looked a little more Jersey shore.

CHRISTIE: I've said right from the State of the City Address forward, that the New Jersey comeback has begun. Not that the New Jersey comeback has arrived. Not that the New Jersey comeback has peaked.

BALDWIN: Better, bolder, brasher governance. It's a dish Republican keynoters like to serve hot.

SUSAN MOLINARI, 1996 RNC KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Americans know that Bill Clinton's promises have the life span of a Big Mac on Air Force One.

BALDWIN: And the Democrats like to dish back.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, 2004 DNC KEYNOTE SPEAKER: There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America, an Asian America, there's the United States of America.

BALDWIN: But while the Democrats never miss a keynote speech, the Republicans had none in two of the last three conventions.

PROF. COSTAS PANAGOPOULOS, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY: They have to try to avoid the risk of someone saying something they're not supposed to say or it could be risky to say.

BALDWIN: Chris Christie is different. He's popular because he's combative. He controls his story line.

CHRISTIE: Did I stay on topic or are you stupid? On topic? Next question.

BALDWIN: Sixteen former keynoters have run for president. Christie says he's happy as New Jersey's governor brisling at suggestions his Jersey comeback story didn't make for a good keynote speech after the state unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent over the last three months.

CHRISTIE: The unemployment rate is a survey, a poll of 1,200 people in the state. It's not like they are out there specifically counting heads and jobs. It's not what it is.

BALDWIN: By the end of last week his Jersey comeback scene has gone away.

CHRISTIE: There are three words that are not in my speech or Tuesday night, the Jersey comeback.

BALDWIN: He says he's saving his new story line for the party faithful.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Here is some fun trivia for your dinnertime conversation tonight. As we mentioned in the piece 16 keynote speakers went onto run for president. Two actually won the party's nomination, President Obama, 2008 and Warren G. Harding in 1920.

All eyes on Hurricane Isaac, winds now right around 75 miles per hour, those outer bands reaching the gulf coast. Look at these pictures. You can see the white caps. Thanks for our affiliate, WWL out of New Orleans. It is now officially closing in. We're going to take you there live, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: In just a couple of hours, Hurricane Isaac will make landfall along the gulf coast. But for coastal cities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, the effects of Isaac are already very much so there.

Take a look at some live pictures we have. This is just up Canal Boulevard in New Orleans. You can see the waves really crashing. We have Mayor Mitch Landrieu, he is asking people to remain calm, be vigilant here as they await the storm.

The first part of Louisiana to feel be brunt of Isaac is Grand Isle. We're going to check in with Ed Lavandera. He is with the crew there. They are really going to feel the first affects.

As we look here at this radar, Jennifer Delgado, let me bring you in. When should this gulf region, when should New Orleans start to feel just the outer bands before it makes landfall?

DELGADO: Yes, you know, Brooke, we are going to expect to see hurricane conditions arriving into the southern part of Louisiana as we go later into the evening. But we are already feeling as tropical storm conditions.

Now as I take you back over to our graphic here, I want to point out to you. Notice what is heading into there. As I said some of those bands working in some very heavy rainfall and that south eastern part of Louisiana as well into that southern part of Mississippi.

Yes, weather is going to continue to go downhill. We're seeing some of those wind gusts already up to about 60. Right now, they are sustained as I said at 75 so we are at Category 1, but we will track this for you.

The big problem is it's going to be moving slowly. When it moves slowly, of course, we talk about more the potential for flooding because of the excessive rainfall. Some of the areas could see anywhere about 14 inches of rainfall.

Now as we go through Tuesday at 8:00, the winds 80 miles per hour, very close to the mouth of Mississippi. It looks like it's going to get close to areas including New Orleans as we go into the overnight hours.

And then notice Wednesday 8:00 a.m. 75 miles per hour and with it moving slow all that rainfall will be going up towards the north affecting parts of the Midwest. It will bring beneficial rainfall to that region. That's another part of the story.

But I also want to point out to you about the storm surge. Some of these locations, look at the surge, 7 to 11 feet for parts of Louisiana including New Orleans. That's why they close that flood gate because they want to protect the region especially with the storm surge.

Look at Gulfport, Mississippi, 8 to 12. The area right here right along the coastline, it's a bit more shallow so that provides a even stronger storm surge. So that's why we're staying there anywhere between 8 and 12 feet.

So again, we show you on the radar. We are dealing with a tornado watch. Notice some of those bands moving through a lot of lightning tracking with the storms.

We're starting to see more of those developments that usually mean we're seeing the storm system get stronger so we could see more strengthening out of Hurricane Isaac -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK, so in just a couple of hours, we're going to really do watching what exactly happens there along the gulf coast. Jennifer, thank you.

We really rely on you. We are grateful for our I- Reporters. We have crews throughout the gulf coast region, but if you are in a safe place, let me say that again, if you're in a safe place and you have a camera, we would love for you to share your photo, video, and your experiences here. Just go to cnnireport.com.

Coming up next, moments ago on the convention floor here in Tampa, Florida. Our own Dana Bash, she spoke with a delegate from Maine who is very, very angry about these RNC rules regarding Ron Paul. We're going to take you there, talk to this delegate coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Here we go, live pictures. Yes, the action has begun. This is the first full day of the Republican National Convention. These are live pictures. You're looking at different delegations. You can see the states Michigan, Puerto Rico, Maryland, New Mexico.

So as we pull out from those pictures, I do just want to go to Dana Bash. Dana is somewhere in there in there in this convention center. Dana Bash, just fill us in because I know you're talking to a Ron Paul.

Because as we spoke earlier today, they are very irked about these new rules when it comes to selecting delegates to represent these different candidates. Tell me about this.

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Brooke. Ron Paul delegates from various states, but particularly states where he did well like Maine are very unhappy for a number of reasons. I want to bring in one of those delegates. This is Bryan Daughtry from the state of Maine. You were protesting earlier here on the floor.

BRYAN DAUGHTRY, RON PAUL SUPPORTER: Yes, absolutely. I really feel that RNC has not followed the rules. They have thrown out our duly elected delegates up here in the stand.

There were 10 delegates that were replaced by nine-state committee that didn't include any input from Maine voters. You know, Maine people came out to our caucus, in our conventions, 2,500 plus and you know, they elected us to represent Ron Paul.

BASH: And one of your Main Committee women is in the Rules Committee right now trying to fight this, right --

DAUGHTRY: Well, she's in the Rules Committee to try to fight two of the rules that they are trying to pose along. The Credentialing Committee met last week and they decided which delegates would or would not be seated.

You know, we were really hoping they would follow their own rules, which states -- rule 17 states that if they were to, if it's within 10 days of the convention that it would go back to the duly elected delegates.

BASH: There's another rule that you all are very upset about. Even Sarah Palin weighed in earlier today about changing the rules for future conventions making it hard for someone like you to be here, right? DAUGHTRY: Well, it basically gives them a rubber stamp to change the rules any which way they want. We our delegates elected across the nation to represent the body of the Republican Party.

And you know, our input is that is needed because it's our party. Unfortunately, now they can change the rules at will without -- with three quarters the Executive Committee.

BASH: Let's talk more broadly about Congressman Ron Paul. You were protesting earlier, you're one of the several because he's not speaking. He was offered a speaking slot.

DAUGHTRY: He was offered a speaking spot, but under two conditions. One, they would have to vet all his remarks and two that he would have to fully endorse Mitt Romney.

Now for a man that's put 30 years into, you know, fighting for American people, unfortunately, they are going to stick a two- minute video that they have clipped and put just to support Mitt Romney's positions.

It says nothing about auditing or the National Defense Authorization Act. It says nothing against the erosion of our liberties and everything that Dr. Paul stood for and you know, it's disheartening.

BASH: It does have something on auditing the fed though --

DAUGHTRY: It does have something on auditing the fed, yes.

BASH: Now they are having Ron Paul's son, Senator Rand Paul speak. Is that a consolation for you?

DAUGHTRY: He's another great senator from Kentucky who is fighting for liberty and fighting for the Republican --

BASH: One last question before I let you go, you're clearly not happy and you're not the only one here. How are you going to show that, illustrate that as the days go on here?

DAUGHTRY: Well, we would like to amend that credentialing report when it's brought to the floor and if that's possible, we would like to get our duly elected delegates back on the floor.

As far as my own personal result, if they're not willing to sit seven out of eight who were veterans, a priest, a pastor, a Native American and countless women back on this floor.

And allow the RNC Nine-State committee who picked these other delegates as they continue to sit here, I don't want to participate after that. I will walk of the floor. Yes.

BASH: OK, we'll be keeping in touch with you to see how you're feeling about how things go.

DAUGHTRY: Thank you very much. BASH: Thank you very much. You know, Brooke, I spent a considerable amount of time during the primary season covering Dr. Paul, covering his rallies, covering him during the primaries.

This is a prime example of the passion that you see for him and specifically for the causes that he espouses. You know, they are just relentless when it comes to compromising and throwing their support behind the guy who the rest of the party is doing.

Not everybody is behind him. So you see that's illustrated pretty well right here.

BALDWIN: He said he would walk off the floor. I mean, Dana Bash, my question is when the last thing is the Republican Party want is a floor fight among delegates, delegates walking off the floor. Is this the first time you've heard of something like this happening?

I mean, I know there is a little of hollering in the past certainly on the floor, but this kind of disagreement. Is this the first?

BASH: It's not a first. Of course, historically, this is the forum for the real fight for the nomination. Now that's not done anymore. It's more of a show. There have been variations of protests in the past.

For example, I remember when Congressman Jim Colby who is openly gay spoke several years, I believe, it's 2000 or 2004, some members of one of the delegations bowed their head in prayer.

There are symbolic protests, but it sounds like the Paul contingency is getting ready for more than symbolic protest. We'll see how it goes.

BALDWIN: Sounds like it. We will be watching very closely right along with you and our team there on the floor of the convention center. Dana, thank you for that.

Just one note to pass along, we are now hearing about a former long time U.S. senator, Senator Arlen Speckter is said to be now battling for his life.

A source close to his office tells CNN that Senator Speckter has a serious form of cancer. The 82-year-old has overcome a number of serious illnesses over the past two decades including a brain tumor and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Back here in Tampa, as Republicans gather to officially nominate Mitt Romney for president and for him to accept that in a speech this coming Thursday night.

The man who holds that office is breaking a little tradition here in campaigning today and tomorrow. Just ahead, we're going to talk to President Obama's senior adviser, Robert Gibbs, live here in the Grill about why the heck he's here in Tampa in the first place.

This is a caricature wall in the CNN Grill. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: All right, all eyes here on Isaac. No longer a tropical storm officially here a hurricane and now the first part of Louisiana to feel the brunt of Isaac is Grand Isle much further out than the levees and New Orleans.

You can see here the pictures as Isaac is churning, churning, churning across the gulf here. The Grand Isle about to get smacked. A closer look at Louisiana's only inhabited Barrier Island. You can see it just from the location.

Look at this. Way out there. Why it will be taking the brunt of that storm. Today there are mandatory evacuations for the 1,500 people who live in Grand Isle.

We have Ed Lavandera. He is braving the storm with our crew. I can see it's quite windy where you are. Tell me about the conditions right now.

Ed Lavandera, this is Brooke. Can you hear me?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just lost audio in my ear. I'm having problems with the ear piece. There you go. Now I can hear you. Hear in Grand Isle we're definitely starting to see the strongest wind so far that we've experienced today.

It's leading to some of the technical difficulties we have to work with. We'll continue to do that. Hurricane Isaac is now about 55 miles away from the mouth of the Mississippi, not too far away from where we are here in Grand Isle.

So that means with the storm moving at about 10 miles per hour and over the course of the next five to six hours, we will begin to see the strongest effects here on the southern shore of Louisiana. We're about 60 miles or so south of New Orleans.

This is essentially the end of the road, Brooke, here as you get to the Gulf of Mexico. The gulf is over these homes over my right shoulder over here. We will continue to monitor that. What they are really concerned about is the storm surge.

Back in 2008 during Hurricane Gustav, my colleague, Ali Velshi rode out the storm here from this very home that we're in today. There's about three feet of water surrounding the home.

We'll continue to watch out for that. But very much now we're seeing the strongest winds we've seen all day now -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Ed Lavandera, with those winds. It's no surprise we had a tough time hearing at first. We'll check back in. We appreciate you. I remember Ali Velshi riding out that storm. It is the end of the road. Ed, thank you.

Back here in Tampa, a Democrat, dare I say, a Democrat here at the Republican National Convention, Robert Gibbs sitting next to me. We're going to talk about the campaign and if President Obama is playing nice campaigning this week. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Welcome back to the 2012 Republican National Convention. With me now, a guy from the other side, Robert Gibbs, of course, we recognize you. You used to stand behind that fancy, fancy podium at the White House giving us reporter-types briefings.

Welcome. Nice to have you here.

ROBERT GIBBS, SENIOR ADVISER, OBAMA CAMPAIGN: Thank you. Thanks for having me.

BALDWIN: I know you left the White House in February of '11. What's your role with the campaign right now?

GIBBS: I'm a senior advisor for the president's re-election. I spend a lot of time doing a little TV and trying to spread the good word.

BALDWIN: Here in Tampa, on your way to Charlotte I suppose.

GIBBS: Yes.

BALDWIN: You're a sports guy.

GIBBS: I am.

BALDWIN: So let's talk fair play. You're a guy, President Obama, three states, two days, talking to a lot of students along the way. Some people say that's not fair.

This is the Republican's week to really shine. Why is President Obama out campaigning? Doesn't that violate tradition? Is this very sportsman like behavior for the president?

GIBBS: Well, look, to use the analogy, I think it's well within the bounds of what we do in political campaigns.

BALDWIN: Skirting the bounds a little?

GIBBS: No, I don't think so. I mean, look, I have no doubt that the Republicans will be doing the same thing while we're in Charlotte next week. Conventions are extremely late this year.

There isn't that much time left in the conventions. I think it's important time for the president to be out. He's obviously, as you mentioned, on three college campuses over the next two days talking to students as they get back and in their college routines about what's really important in this election.

BALDWIN: Either conclusions, number one, or the fact he is out campaigning and the first lady is on late night TV and the vice president was supposed to be here. Either perhaps the president is worried or something, Team Romney has done something right? I'm assuming you're going to tell me I'm wrong.

GIBBS: Well, I would just say I think the president understands what's at stake. He's a really hard worker. I don't think he does down time real well. I think he feels like there are a lot of huge and important issues in this campaign.

For him to spend every minute of every day both as president and trying to run a re-election campaign to get him re- elected because those issues are so important, I don't think you can keep him down.

BALDWIN: We've talked a lot about money and the re-election campaign has blown through a lot of it. We're in the home stretch. Did someone screw up?

GIBBS: No, not at all. Look, we've been building organizations here in Florida in the battleground states of places like Iowa, Colorado and Virginia where the president is for the next couple of days because you can't build these things in late August or early September of an Election Year.

We've been having conversations with voters where they live about the issues that concern them not just for the last few weeks and the last few months, but since last year.

BALDWIN: Where is the money?

GIBBS: Two things. It takes a lot of money to build an organization. It's a remarkably good investment especially in a close election. We feel great about our organization.

Make no mistake. We're going to be out spending this race. Not just by Mitt Romney, but by a lot of big money interests. You don't know where the money is coming from. They're happy to be involved in this campaign and spend literally tens of millions of dollars.

BALDWIN: The conversation so clear where the president is, Iowa, Colorado, Virginia, the conversation turning to education. We saw the huge crowds and the enthusiasm in 2008 especially among the young people in our country.

And he's obviously trying to get that here in the home stretch come November 6th. How worried are you that they won't show up?

GIBBS: Well, look, I think their numbers are about equal in terms of level of support --

BALDWIN: Not numbers, how worried?

GIBBS: Right.

No, we have got to get them enthusiastic. And I think that's one of the jobs the president and the whole team have over the next 70- some days is really to put in front of everybody in this election what are the issues, what's at stake and just how important it is, talking to college students about affording college, the economic opportunities...

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Tuition prices have gone up. Unemployment for youngsters has gone up. Mitt Romney took out a full ad in the college newspaper in Ames today.

GIBBS: Well, that's probably the first time he's talked about making college more affordable.

And, look, Mitt Romney's plan for making college more affordable was, as we have in an ad, look for someplace cheaper to go. That's not an economic development plan. We know what the unemployment rate is nationally. And we know it's about half that if you have a college education.

We need to make sure that if you work hard in this country and can go to college, that cost isn't and should never be a barrier to getting a college education so you can get a good-paying job when you get out of college.

BALDWIN: I think, no matter which guy you like, I agree that college is incredibly, incredibly important.

Thank you, sir.

GIBBS: Thanks for having me.

BALDWIN: Nice to have you on.