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Campbell Brown
Obama's Transition to Power; Sarah Palin's Plans?
Aired November 05, 2008 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAMPBELL BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, everybody.
For Barack Obama, today was just so ordinary, after such an extraordinary night. How did he spend it? Well, he had breakfast with his daughters. He went to the gym. He made thank-you calls. But this was not just another day.
We also know the transition of power is well under way. And we're going to have all the details on that front for you tonight.
First, though, take a look at this, because we hardly ever see a moment like this -- hopefully, we will see that moment -- when the whole country comes together, a moment when people everywhere join together to celebrate.
This is Chicago, 200,000 people, 200,000 people at the very moment that Obama was projected as the winner of the 2008 election. It's as if a lightning bolt of both joy and relief flashed around the world, people rushing out into the streets.
It happened from coast to coast last night. Let's take a look. This is New York City in Times Square. And then let's look at Washington in front of the White House. Secret Service officers were overheard saying they had never seen anything like this, though the scene also appeared to be about ushering out the current occupant.
It happened from the East Coast to the furthest points west in Hawaii and beyond. At this one shining moment, much of the world very much one on the streets of Asia. I think we have a picture of Japan we can show you and of Barack Obama's boyhood school in Indonesia and in his father's homeland of Kenya.
Outside our own windows here in New York, we heard cheering. We saw people standing together, laughing all over the world last night, people watching a moment that made history.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: This is our moment.
This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BROWN: In a speech delivered at midnight Eastern time, the next president of the United States claimed his victory. He also told us about one of his supporters -- 106-year-old Ann Nixon Cooper of Atlanta was born when life in the South was so much different. Now she lives to see and vote for America's first African-American president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.
Yes we can.
AUDIENCE: Yes, we can!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Yes, we can obviously a constant Obama campaign slogan, like a caption in many ways for his story. It also fits for Ann Nixon Cooper, and, as of that one moment last night, America's story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: First tonight, though, we begin, as always, with cutting through the bull.
Campaigning is one thing. Actually running the country is quite another. And here on our show, we have tried during this campaign to do just what we promise, cut through the bull, give you an honest assessment of where the candidates stand, call them out when we think they're not being entirely truthful or not living up to their promises.
With the campaign now over, our mission has not changed. We will be trying to hold president-elect Obama accountable, in the very same way we tried to hold candidate Obama and candidate McCain accountable.
During the campaign, president-elect Obama laid out a pretty aggressive agenda. He promised middle-class tax cuts, an all- inclusive approach to energy independence, near universal health care coverage, a responsible end to the war in Iraq, and no more partisan politics.
We wish him the very best of luck with his agenda and with all the challenges that lie ahead. But we will also be keeping track of his campaign promises and how well he follows through, during this transition to power, during the first 100 days and beyond, no bias, no bull. Of course, tomorrow, Barack Obama is expected to receive his first top secret intelligence briefing, very similar to the ones provided now to President Bush. It will be a sobering reminder of what Obama is in for now that the campaign is over.
And Candy Crowley is in Chicago. She has been awake for I don't know how many hours now keeping her eyes on the president-elect.
And, Candy, walk us through it. How did he spend his first day? And walk us through his week, his coming week.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, low-key is the best way to describe today. I mean, after that huge crowd and that whole history-making night, today was very much behind the scenes.
He began very low-key, breakfast with his family. He went to the gym, as he always does. Then he spent about five hours behind closed doors, we believe with Joe Biden, who was still in the town at the time, really doing the transition. This man has 76 days to put together a government and plan an inauguration.
So, he's got to put the people in place that can begin to make those decisions while he oversees the whole thing. So, this is a very, very difficult task. So, what they want to do is they want to do it pretty quickly. They want to get out in particular because of the economy and because of the two wars. They want those national security names out there. They want the treasury secretary, that sort of thing, just as a form of reassurance.
And they have been looking at other transitions and believing that what they really need to do is begin to put those in place fairly quickly.
BROWN: And, Candy, do you have names, or am I getting ahead of the game a little bit here? Who are some of the top candidates for the Cabinet?
(CROSSTALK)
CROWLEY: There's so many names out here. The problem here is that inside the Obama campaign, they're not talking. So -- but we don't lack for names out there.
We have seen names like Larry Summers, who is an old Clinton appointee, for the treasury secretary. We sometimes hear the name of Dick Lugar, Republican senator from Indiana, for perhaps secretary of state. Susan Rice, who has been at Barack Obama's side on foreign policy, perhaps she would be national security adviser. We're told that Obama's in particular looking at governors who don't have that much time left to serve.
Kathleen Sebelius out of Kansas might perhaps be given a Cabinet post. Janet Napolitano in Arizona only has two years left in her governorship. She's a possibility. We also hear the name Tom Vilsack, former governor of Iowa, who may be agriculture secretary. But, again, these are names sort of tossed out into the atmosphere and really at this point they are not talking behind these closed doors.
BROWN: All right, Candy Crowley for us tonight from Chicago -- Candy, as always, thanks.
As president-elect Obama preps for his new job. Washington obviously also getting ready for him. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unusual appearance at today's State Department briefing to promise full cooperation during Obama's transition to power. She also made what she called a personal note. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: As an African- American, I'm especially proud, because this is a country that's been through a long journey, in terms of overcoming wounds and making race not the factor in our lives. That work is not done, but yesterday was obviously an extraordinary step forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Secretary Rice hardly alone in noting this historic moment. President Bush did as well while making his own pledge of a very smooth transition today.
And our White House correspondent, Ed Henry, is here with me in New York tonight to talk about that.
And, Ed, he did have some nice words to say to his successor.
Let's listen to a little bit of President Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It will be a stirring sight to watch President Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their beautiful girls step through the doors of the White House. I know millions of Americans will be overcome with pride at this inspiring moment that so many have waited so long.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Very gracious words.
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely.
BROWN: But, at the same time, look at these pictures. OK, this is -- I think we have got them here. This is the crowd that was gathered outside of the White House last night, spontaneous gathering, a crowd that's out there celebrating Bush getting the heck out of the there. That had to have been a little bit strange for him in a way.
HENRY: It was. But I talked to the House aides today who say, look, the president could not actually hear the singing and chanting in the White House residence. It was just a little far, even though it was in Lafayette Park.
BROWN: Right.
HENRY: But as White House staffers and guests who were watching the returns went downstairs for smoking breaks or whatever, when you're on the North Lawn, you could hear it.
And they say that it was phenomenal. And I talk to White House aides who say, look, even though our guy lost last night, seeing the sight of those people celebrating, we get the history of this moment.
And that is what is significant. This president has been president for about eight years now. His father was president. He understands the significance of this. And he also gets the fact that he only has one more chance here to have a good, you know, exit and to show the American people he can be gracious on the way out.
BROWN: One of the most crucial parts of the whole transition process has to do with national security. It's getting the new president up to speed on the things that frankly most of us don't even want to know about.
HENRY: Absolutely.
BROWN: Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff today underlined the importance of this and promised things would be going smoothly. Walk us through how that's going to happen.
HENRY: Well, look, there have been terror attacks in Glasgow and Madrid in election seasons and during transfers of power. So, what I'm told by White House aides is President Bush has said in private, look, this is like handing off a baton.
BROWN: Right.
HENRY: I don't want anything dropping the baton and I don't want anyone breaking stride. We need to make sure that we finish strong here in the final days and hand this off right.
So, he signed an executive order a couple of months ago making sure actually that then Senator Obama and Senator McCain were getting briefings a couple of months ago. And some of their incoming aides are actually going to get sort of quick FBI clearance, so that they can get and hit the ground running, get information.
They want to make sure that there's no problem here and there's no politics.
BROWN: All right.
Ed Henry for us tonight. Ed, good luck down there in Washington with a new administration.
HENRY: Thanks.
BROWN: John McCain stayed off camera, out of sight today, but a little over an hour ago, Sarah Palin's jet took off from Phoenix heading back north, back home to Alaska.
And that brings us to tonight's quick vote question. We want to hear from you on this. Did Governor Palin get a bum rap? Let us know with a quick vote. You can call 1-866-979-VOTE. You can also text yes or no at 94553. We're going to have the results a little bit later in the hour.
Now, before Palin headed home, our own Dana Bash asked her the question on everybody's mind. What about the next race, 2012?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Don't know what the heck is going to happen in 2012. Again, just very anxious to get back to work there in Anchorage and in Juneau, making sure that the people of Alaska are well-served.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: We're going to have a little more of Dana's interview there, including Palin's response to critics who called her a diva. You're going to want to hear that.
But coming up next: how Obama won this thing, John King standing by with his magic map tonight to walk us through it.
And you may remember this video by some Atlanta schoolkids. It went viral on the web. Coming up, with a new president-elect, we wondered what they're thinking now. We're going to have it for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: President-elect Obama there speaking to the 47 percent of voters who wanted John McCain to be the next president.
What's fascinating tonight about Obama's historic victory is that all the pieces had to fit together in order to make this happen, some surprising, others expected, in this very compelling new chapter in American politics.
John King over at the magic board tonight to show us how Obama won.
And, John, we saw a lot of red states go blue last night. Walk us through it. How did Obama do it?
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We sure did, Campbell.
This is a promise Barack Obama kept, to stretch the map and to change the map. And let me show you what I mean by that. He won with 53 percent of the vote, a seven-point lead over John McCain, still a few votes to be counted. But look at this.
Remember, he said he was going to do something, turn red states blue. Well, here's one place he said he would do it, Florida. Here's another, Virginia and North Carolina.
The audacity of the strategy, Ohio and Indiana, and out here the, with the growing Latino population, Barack Obama said he was going to put the Mountain West in play. Let me step across the camera. Excuse me for that. This is last night. The blue is Barack Obama's victory. Let's go back in time.
Look at that. Look inside the circles, George W. Bush, George W. Bush, George W. Bush again, Barack Obama this time. And how did he do it? Let's go inside some of these places to see just how he did it.
In New Mexico, this is Barack Obama last night. Look at all this blue, back in time four years, much less blue, a lot of red in there. Why? A huge influx of Latino votes for Barack Obama.
Let's come over here to the state of Florida. This is four years ago. George W. Bush wins across the central strip, which is the most important part of the state of Florida in competitive races. Reaching across again to bring us up to last night, look at blue for Barack Obama, a huge turnaround in the state of Florida. Barack Obama wins with 51 percent.
One more example, Campbell, and this one hurts the Republicans, look at this blue circle down here. This is Hamilton County, Ohio. This is Cincinnati, the Republican city in the southwest corner. It was critical to Barack Obama last night. Hamilton County is the reason George W. Bush was reelected four years ago. Winning this county made the difference in the state of Ohio. So, Barack Obama kept that promise. He turned a great number of red states blue.
Now the challenge is to govern in a way that can keep them there.
BROWN: John, you touched on this when you mentioned Latino voters out West. There were certain groups of voters, demographics here, that made this victory possible, how he connected with them in far greater numbers than John Kerry in 2004. Walk us through the demographics a little bit.
KING: I'm going to walk this way as we do that, Campbell.
And, again, just like turning those states, the reason you turn those states is because you turn some key demographics. And this is a lesson for the Democrats and a painful lesson for the Republicans right now. Let's look first at African-American voters, perhaps no surprise here, but 95 percent for Barack Obama, just 4 percent for John McCain. You remember George W. Bush, how disappointed he was he only got 9 percent and 10 percent in his two runs. The first African-American candidate for president, not a surprise, but that helped Barack Obama in a number of big battleground states.
Now let's move on. Let's look at the Latino vote. This is what has Republican strategists most worried, Barack Obama winning by more than 2-1, 67 percent to 31 percent among the Latino vote, the fastest- growing segment of the population, critical, Campbell, out in those Mountain West states.
And let's also look at this. And this is the one that everyone will study after this election, the white vote. Yes, John McCain won the white vote with 55 percent. But Obama's 43 percent is stronger than John Kerry four years ago, stronger than Al Gore eight years ago.
So, Barack Obama, the first African-American candidate, won in many of those rural blue-collar areas, where many were skeptical after the Democratic primaries. Again, Campbell, this is a Democratic map, if you look at it. The challenge for Barack Obama is to govern in a way that can keep it that way four years from now.
BROWN: Absolutely.
John King for us tonight -- John, as always, thanks.
And let's go right to our political panel now.
Here tonight, senior political analyst Gloria Borger, CNN political analyst and radio talk show host Roland Martin, an Obama supporter, and Republican consultant Alex Castellanos, who had supported John McCain.
So, Gloria, he talked about this idea during the campaign over and over again, moving beyond the idea of red states, blue states. And, looking at that map, he did it.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, he did it. He did it in fact beyond the expectations of a lot of pollsters, carrying states like Florida, carrying states like Indiana.
And in the Mountain West, he carried those states which we expected him to carry. He also, I think, Campbell, created a whole new electorate out there, younger, more diverse. And he also understood the importance of early voting, just like their campaign understood the importance of the caucuses during the primaries.
When everything is counted, we may see that approaching one-third of all voters in this country voted early. And Barack Obama got them to the polls.
(CROSSTALK)
BROWN: They did. They emphasized that.
BORGER: Absolutely. And it was very important for them. BROWN: Alex, 53 percent was his number in terms of the popular vote. But you have still got 46 percent of Americans who supported John McCain. Is it really a mandate? How do you govern given that split?
ALEX CASTELLANOS, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: I think the Republicans can take refuge in a lot of arguments that say, hey, we hung in there a lot. McCain did better than expected. All of that would be true, and all of that would mislead us and serve us very poorly.
The Republican Party is exhausted. We have exhausted ourselves with our message. We don't know who we are. If we still believe in our principles -- and I think most Republicans do -- and that is freedom, individual liberty, that people govern best when they govern themselves, if we still believe in those things, then, A, litmus test, how do you talk about those things in a way that appeals to younger voters, to women, to a communications age electorate, a more diverse America than we have had before?
How do you do those things in a way that talks about the future? Some elections are small. Some elections are about 100,000 cops, that kind of thing. This election was about America.
(CROSSTALK)
CASTELLANOS: Are we a nation on the decline or are we a nation that can soar? These new global frontier, is that going to be a future that we -- belongs to us? Barack Obama embodied hope and vision for that. We didn't. So, Republicans have a job to do.
BROWN: And it was about the diversity of this country in terms of the coalition that was formed here. How much did race play a role in all of this? Gosh knows we talked about it a lot going into it, Roland, whether or not it was going to play a role. How much did it?
(CROSSTALK)
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, of course race played a role, because, first of all, let's start from the beginning, all right?
African-Americans largely behind Hillary Clinton. They said, look, we don't think the guy actually has a shot at winning. You go to Iowa, 95 percent white. They vote for Barack Obama. All of a sudden, literally overnight, African-Americans say, wow, whites folks may actually vote for the black guy.
All of a sudden, that changes. He runs a race where he does not -- where he -- where race is not front and center, but it is still the unspoken word there. He rides black support in the critical primaries and then picks up critical support in other areas as well.
And then, of course, he begins to develop that message, then broadens it from there. But they also targeted Latino votes in those critical states, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado. You saw how they were able to use that. They put together a very -- a 21st century coalition.
Now, you asked the question about a mandate. Well, look, George W. Bush, 53.4 percent in 1988. Bill Clinton never got that.
(CROSSTALK)
BORGER: You just have to act like you have a mandate, by the way.
MARTIN: Right.
But the whole notion of a mandate, look, you're not going to see a Ronald Reagan blowout these days. The nation is very split. But, based upon the last four elections, yes, he got what could be considered a mandate, even with that percentage voting against him, because, again, we don't see elections where it's 55, 60 percent. You don't see it.
BROWN: And, Alex, you could argue that George W. Bush even in 2000 governed in those early days as if he had a mandate, and he certainly didn't.
(CROSSTALK)
CASTELLANOS: All presidents do.
And Barack Obama's mandate, it is for change. It's for Barack Obama. It's a personality-based mandate. But more than that, it's a mandate, move this country forward. This country's stuck. Move us forward.
(CROSSTALK)
CASTELLANOS: And, so, he's going to have a lot of support from both sides to move forward.
Last night, remember the tone last night, how quickly we just moved like that from politics to something more serious. Everybody's looking, we all hope this guy does well, Republican or Democrat. That's a mandate.
(CROSSTALK)
BORGER: It wasn't a rock concert last night. And it wasn't a political rally. Suddenly, he came on the stage, and he was the president-elect.
MARTIN: He was the president-elect.
BROWN: He was the post-partisan.
(CROSSTALK)
BORGER: Yes, absolutely.
BROWN: We will see how long it lasts. (CROSSTALK)
BORGER: He's going to have more fights with his own party at first than he will with Republicans.
MARTIN: Which is not a bad thing.
BORGER: Not a bad thing for him.
(CROSSTALK)
BROWN: Hang tight, guys. Gloria, Roland, Alex, we have got a lot more to talk about when he come back.
We are also going to talk about -- or, regardless, rather, of how you voted, is there anyone who is not sort of caught up in this raw emotion that Gloria and Alex were just talking about last night? It did wash over the nation in many ways and around the world when it was announced that Obama had won this election.
Also, when we come back, those talented kids everybody has been talking about, we found them again today to see how they feel about the president-elect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just made history, yo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Plus, Senator Ted Stevens, he must have nine political lives. Despite his recent felony conviction, seven counts, no less, some may be surprised about how close he is to winning reelection.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: More dramatic images of celebration last night, as Barack Obama and the country he will lead made history.
You are looking at scenes from Chicago, where Obama spoke from Seattle, from New York, from outside the White House in Washington, D.C., many happy faces last night when Obama went over the top and more than a few tears.
Whether you were on the left or the right, you had to marvel at how far our country has come.
And Tom Foreman is here now with a look back at the emotions of election night -- Tom.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Campbell, for all of the analysis, I think this really is the story of this election. Presidential elections are usually all about a few powerful people in very powerful places. And, last night, this came down to millions of ordinary people in ordinary places erupting with joy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God! This is the best day of my life! We have waited so long for this day! God bless America! God bless them. God bless America!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is amazing to me. This is amazing to me.
FOREMAN (voice-over): From the middle of the country outward to the coasts and over the oceans beyond, the celebration flowed.
AUDIENCE: Yes, we can. Yes, we can. Yes, we can.
FOREMAN: In front of the White House in Washington, D.C.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a new world. It's a new possibility. It's the beginning of something. It's the beginning of something great. And we're really excited about it.
FOREMAN: In a Harlem school.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel like I might want to run for president, even though that sounds kind of crazy, because I feel like I could. I could. I could, because (INAUDIBLE) change can happen. And I think I could. I can change people's lives.
FOREMAN: In a California restaurant.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: King would say, my dream has come true.
FOREMAN: And back in Chicago, where it all began.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm very excited. I feel like our country is going to move towards something greater and bigger and brighter than we ever thought possible.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel so elated. I can't believe that he won. He spoke at my high school graduation. I'm so excited.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He spoke at your high school graduation?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, yes, in Hyde Park. I grew up in that neighborhood. I'm so -- oh, my God. I'm thanking God right now.
FOREMAN: Barack Obama ran on a promise of change. And although great challenges lie ahead, because of this one night, for many, he has already delivered.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN: That's why I think this really is the story of this election, Campbell, because the simple truth is, I went to Times Square last night, and I walked among so many people who were so excited, I think many people who didn't even support Barack Obama, because the color of his skin mattered, but not enough to keep him from winning. And that made a big difference to a lot of people.
BROWN: And you saw it in -- and I saw it in my neighborhood when I got home. And everybody was telling stories anecdotally about people just spontaneously coming outside to have this sort of communal experience. It was a pretty amazing night.
FOREMAN: We will still have all our political differences. We will have that. But this was a moment that said one of our differences has changed this much.
(CROSSTALK)
BROWN: Tom Foreman for us -- thanks for doing that, Tom. Appreciate it.
Still ahead, a lot more to talk about, a lot of people wondering about Sarah Palin's plans for 2012. So, we asked her. And what does she say to her critics who called her a diva? One-on-one with Dana Bash, that is coming up.
And, then, later, the Atlanta schoolchildren that everybody was talking about, they made one of the most memorable videos of the campaign. Now they tell us what they think of the election results. Here's a quick preview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just so excited that this is the first black president. It's just great to me. I love it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Also coming up tonight, tonight's bullseye, 106 years in the making.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: So check this out. You saw it, of course, from coast to coast. Headlines tell the story.
The newspapers themselves are already collectors' items. For the first time in years, you have to really hunt to find a New York City newspaper today. People actually lined up to buy them, and they sold out quick.
I overslept this morning. Well, there's always eBay.
Still ahead, did voters send a charter member of our "Rogues Gallery" back to Capitol Hill yesterday? Well, sort of. Actually, it's complicated. We're going to explain that when we come back.
But first, Randi Kaye joins us with "The Briefing."
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There is other news today, believe it or not besides the presidential election, Campbell. California voters dealt a devastating blow to backers of same-sex marriage. Proposition 8 was approved 52 to 48 percent, meaning up to 18,000 same-sex couples who thought they were legally married are now in limbo. Same-sex marriage bans also passed in Arizona and Florida.
Author Michael Crichton has died of cancer. He was best known for writing "Jurassic Park" and "The Andromeda Strain." He also created the long-running TV drama "E.R." Michael Crichton was 66.
And Wall Street plunged today on some gloomy economic news. The Dow Jones industrial dropped 486 points. That's more than five percent. The Nasdaq fell 98 points. It was the 12th largest one-day loss in history.
BROWN: All right. Randi Kaye for us tonight. Randi, thanks. Appreciate it.
So what do you have to do to be thrown out of office when you're from Alaska? Well, ask Senator Ted Stevens, a convicted felon, on the verge of being reelected.
And remember these kids?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON CLARK ACADEMY STUDENTS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Obama on the left, McCain on right. We can talk politics all night and you can vote however you like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Wait until you hear what they had to say about this election.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: You're looking right now at the Empire State building here in New York City. It is lit up in blue in honor of president- elect Barack Obama.
Obama was not the only winner tonight or last night. Democrats also expanded their majority on Capitol Hill. Here's a snapshot of the new balance of power.
In the House of Representatives, Democrats picked up 19 seats. They'll hold 254 seats in the new Congress to the Republicans' 173. Eight races still undecided.
Senate Democrats did not pull off that super majority they were hoping for. But they did pick up five seats. The Senate balance now, 56 Dems to 40 Republicans.
Four seats still up in the air at this hour including one now occupied by a charter member of our "Rogues Gallery." Yes. You guessed it. Ted Stevens of Alaska. He's a convicted felon. But he's actually got a razor-thin lead in his Senate race, which would make him the first convicted felon to win re-election to the Senate if that happens. Wow. Welcome to Alaska, everybody.
Gary Tuchman is in Anchorage to help us make a little sense of this. So he's corrupt and they love him anyway, Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, here's the deal, Campbell. Ted Stevens faces the possibility of 35 years in prison after being found guilty last week of seven felonies, but he believes he faces the possibility of six more years in the U.S. Senate.
Despite the fact that John McCain and Sarah Palin told him not to run for re-election, suggested it, it appears he might have won. Big celebratory party in downtown Anchorage last night, Ted Stevens was there.
He's in front of his Democratic challenger, the mayor of Anchorage, Mark Begich, by 3,300 votes. But there are still about 50,000 absentee and early ballots to count. It could take a couple weeks, but it looks like Stevens could win. However, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, many of them say they plan to expel him if he comes in. Takes a two-thirds vote, 67 of 100 senators.
There will be at least 56 Democrats in the new Senate. Like I said, Republicans support that effort too. So he could be expelled. And if he is expelled, then there will be a special election in 60 to 90 days here in Alaska to fill his seat.
But Stevens says he's innocent, says he hopes the judge overturns the verdict. He plans to appeal. Either way the sentencing right now is scheduled for February, and here's what Stevens had to say last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED STEVENS (R), ALASKA: I appreciate your enthusiasm, your support and your being here. It means a great deal to Catherine, to me and our family. And we're delighted with the results so far.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're the man!
STEVENS: I just pray to God it will still be that way on November 21st. The last votes will be counted on November 21st.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: Now, Campbell, one thing we should point out. You may be wondering why so many Alaskans would vote for a man who is convicted of seven felony counts. Some of the Republicans told me though they were practical about that. They think maybe he is a felon. However, they don't want a Democrat in that seat. They figured if they vote for him and he's expelled, then there will be another election and then they'll get another chance to vote for a Republican. BROWN: OK. Let me just throw out one crazy possibility here. Might Sarah Palin who has enjoyed her time on the national stage and may be looking for another way back onto the national stage, might she run in a special election to replace Stevens if he were, in fact, expelled?
TUCHMAN: Not such a crazy possibility. She's the most talked about name. And here's the interesting thing.
She could have control of her own destiny if she wants to do that because in the 60 to 90-day period there has to be a temporary senator named. And Sarah Palin, the governor, would name that temporary senator. And she could, if she wants to, name herself.
BROWN: All right. I hope we're not like over our brains or like a lack of sleep going a little too crazy with this. But it would be a fun story.
Gary Tuchman for us tonight. Gary, as always, thanks.
Coming up, our Dana Bash actually asked Sarah Palin about the charges that she has been facing from the McCain campaign that she hurt John McCain's chances.
And you heard about this woman. In Obama's victory speech last night, meet the 106-year-old voter whose story hits our "Bull's-Eye."
And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON CLARK ACADEMY STUDENTS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Obama on the left, McCain on the right. We can talk politics all night and you can vote however you like. I said you can vote however you like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: The very latest from the Atlanta kids whose election song took the country by storm.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: After 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes, we can.
AUDIENCE: Yes, we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: President-elect Obama was talking about Ann Nixon Cooper, and for us she hits the "Bull's-Eye" tonight. 106 years old, but young enough to get out and vote. Today her life was a lot busier than usual. She told reporters, yes, she knew that Obama would be talking about her last night. That, in fact, she enjoyed watching and she would be very proud if she could just meet him and shake his hand.
And she may get the chance. When a reporter asked Ms. Cooper if she'd like to go to the inauguration she replied, "I could go. Maybe we'd go." Not necessarily looking forward to it, though.
Coming up next, Sarah Palin talks to CNN about her political future, reacts to criticism that she acted like a diva on the campaign trail.
We'll also going to hear from the school kids whose music video about the election went viral on the Internet. What do they think now that the votes are in?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON CLARK ACADEMY STUDENTS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Obama on the left, McCain on the right. We can talk politics all night, and you can vote however you like. I say you can vote however --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president, is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: In his concession speech last night, John McCain took the blame for his campaign's failure. But if you ask some conservatives, his running mate may be the one who is more at fault here.
After the initial post-convention honeymoon faded, Governor Sarah Palin's approval ratings plummeted. Did she drag McCain down with her? Was he being punished for his judgment in choosing her?
Dana Bash asked Palin about that today, and she is live in Phoenix with more on that.
And, Dana, you ran into her in the lobby of the hotel this morning. You asked her whether she cost McCain. She believes she costs McCain support among key swing state voters. Let's listen to what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), ALASKA: I don't think anybody should give Sarah Palin that much credit that I would trump an economic woeful time in this nation that occurred about two months ago. That my presence on the ticket would trump the economic crisis that America found itself in a couple of months ago and attribute John McCain's loss to me. But now having said that, if I cost John McCain even one vote, I am sorry about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: And, Dana, you know, she spent so many weeks ducking reporters on the campaign trail. But it seemed like she really wanted to talk to you.
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: She was. She really did seem to be eager to do so. By the time I got to the hotel lobby, she had already been talking to some people and she was starting to leave. Secret Service was trying to block me, Campbell. And I called out her name thinking that she was going to blow me off but she came right over. She definitely seemed eager to kind of get her final comments out before getting on that plane back to Alaska.
BROWN: And, Dana, I know you asked her about the tension within the McCain campaign between she and some of the McCain aides. There's been a lot of back and forth. What did she say about that?
BASH: That's right, tension that we've been reporting on specifically. This basically started with some people telling us that they thought she was acting like a "diva." She denied it. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), ALASKA: It is absolutely false that there's been any tension, certainly from my part or my family's part. In fact, my family was surrounding me here.
They know me. They know my values, what I stand for. They know my work ethic. They know that certainly there is absolutely no diva in me.
In fact, we laugh about that criticism. And if only people, you know, come on and travel with us to Alaska and see this diva lifestyle that I supposedly live or would demand because it's just false.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now she denied there was tension. But we have new evidence tonight that there absolutely was. A weekend report that Randy Scheunemann, who is one of John McCain's long-time aides, who was a senior foreign policy adviser, Campbell, he was fired last week because I'm told that he was "trashing" some of the staff that had worked on Palin's roll out. And that was just some evidence of how it went all the way up to John McCain, this tension. And this is pretty major to have to fire somebody who was high up in the campaign with less than one week out.
BROWN: Blame game well under way now.
Dana Bash for us there with Palin. Dana, appreciate it.
When we come back, our political panel on Palin's future and the Republican Party's future.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), ALASKA: God bless Barack Obama and his beautiful family and the new administration coming in. It is time that we all pull together and work together, and America is going to reach her destiny.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Governor Sarah Palin. Warm wishes to the next president. Before -- that was before she flew home to Alaska. She leaves behind a Republican Party in peril, you could say right now, as the GOP picks up the pieces.
Let's go back to our political panel now: Gloria Borger, Roland Martin and Alex Castellanos.
Alex, you heard Dana Bash a minute ago, blame game in full swing now. They are going after one another, pointing fingers at Sarah Palin, a lot of McCain aides.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: I'm sure.
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Appalling.
BROWN: But I mean, they picked her, they vetted her. They went up there after one or two meetings and then made the case to the American people she was qualified, she was ready. Are they scapegoating her here?
ALEX CASTELLANOS, REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT: Yes.
BROWN: In a word?
CASTELLANOS: The answer is yes. Look, for example, your first time on the national stage, you've just been picked governor of any state and this is your first time on the national stage, they put you for two hours in an interview with Katie Couric. Now, how long an interview do you usually get with a political candidate?
BROWN: Fifteen minutes tops.
CASTELLANOS: First time out, they put you on --
BORGER: After they -- after they hid her, by the way, for weeks.
CASTELLANOS: Right, right, right.
BROWN: So that the anticipation, the expectations were --
BORGER: Absolutely.
CASTELLANOS: Look, campaigns that lose, a lot of finger pointing. It always happens, you know. If the lights go out in the McCain campaign those last few days dived for the floor, there were gunshots, we know that. Now the Republican Party looks forward. Who are our new leaders? You know, who are on the outside who can take this party forward?
In Washington, a lot of people are talking about --
BROWN: The party's so divided, right?
MARTIN: Can we just do this for about 30 seconds? Steve Schmidt, Mark Salter...
BROWN: No. Fifteen seconds.
MARTIN: ... you are embarrassing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, stop.
(CROSSTALK)
MARTIN: No, no, no, no. Let me say -- let me finish.
BROWN: You know what, it's over. Let's not jump up and down on the bodies here. I mean --
MARTIN: No, no. No, no. Let me finish my point. Let me finish my point.
You are the top two people in the campaign. She has been dogged for a couple of weeks. You would think you would come out and say, guys, look. This is ridiculous. She did her job. She was a candidate.
I believe when somebody's being trashed, the leaders step up and come out and make the comment. That's my point.
I'm not saying that I'm not sitting here saying take her to the woodshed, but you assume responsibility. You don't allow that news week story to just trash people like that because it's wrong. It was your candidate. You go down together. That's my point.
BROWN: Go ahead.
BORGER: You know, look, just because they handled her badly, which they did, doesn't mean she was a great candidate because she wasn't.
MARTIN: Right.
BROWN: But nobody's arguing that. But they chose her. They were the ones who vetted her. BORGER: They did vet her. And that's, you know, that's really their issue. And as for whether she's going to become, you know, the future of the Republican Party, I doubt it. I doubt it.
BROWN: Do you think so, Alex?
BORGER: I doubt it.
CASTELLANOS: For a few days.
BORGER: For a few days she will?
CASTELLANOS: For a few days she gave the McCain campaign something they couldn't find anywhere else.
BORGER: You're right. You're right. You're right. But the base isn't enough to win. Honest thought. So --
CASTELLANOS: While she gave -- wait a minute, though. She gave them more than a base for a while.
BORGER: Enthusiasm.
CASTELLANOS: No, no, no. For a while she was the populist that John McCain should have been. It took a vice presidential pick, a woman from Alaska, to give John McCain the outsider message, which speaks of the weakness of the campaign itself.
MARTIN: She has a -- look, there's no leadership in this party. She had a shot to come out of this, create her pack. Look, she could still do it, do those speeches across the country. Look, she has an opportunity there. OK?
BORGER: She's got a good job. She's got two more years.
MARTIN: She's got it. She can do it. She could step up and actually do something in the party.
CASTELLANOS: One thing, though. Yes, the McCain campaign could have done better.
You know what? Losing campaigns, there's plenty of blame to go around.
BROWN: I know.
CASTELLANOS: But let's remember...
MARTIN: We're not trashing the woman.
CASTELLANOS: ... what doomed John McCain was the Republican Party he had to run with. There are very few Republican campaigns that could have succeed in that. Now, who is responsible for that? That's the bigger question.
The McCain campaign, they fought hard. (CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So it backlash.
CASTELLANOS: They did a pretty good job with what they had.
BORGER: I think the Republican Party is kind of on the couch having an identity crisis and with really good reason. Because right now, it looks like a monochromatic party and it looks like an old party of guys.
MARTIN: I think this is where moderates in the party need to step up and say, look, we have an opportunity here. This is a time for leadership and somebody can fill the space here. There's an opportunity. Somebody should do it.
BROWN: Roland's advice to the Republican Party, Alex. Well taken.
MARTIN: Well, excuse me, excuse me. I voted for George W. Bush and his dad, so I can say it.
BROWN: OK. OK. Go ahead, you get the last one.
CASTELLANOS: We're poised for the future. We're ready for the comeback now.
Look, there's a tremendous new opportunities worldwide here to grow this economy. Both parties are talking about bottom up. Republicans say it's individual responsibility. Obama says it differently.
MARTIN: You should be chairing the party.
BROWN: All right. OK, guys. We got to end it there.
To Gloria, to Roland, and to Alex, appreciate it. Thanks so much.
In the spirit of too much of a good thing is wonderful. These talented kids steal our hearts just before the election. They're going to do it once again tonight. Stay with us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON CLARK ACADEMY STUDENTS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA: We can talk politics all night, and you can vote however you like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: In an election full of celebrity endorsements, one rose above them all. Oprah, queen of all media. When she came out for Barack Obama a few months back, it was real news. Well, listen to what she had to say on her show today. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, FROM HARPO PRODUCTIONS)
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": I kept my mouth shut and supported Barack Obama as a private citizen. And today, though, the election is over. And I'm unleashed!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Oprah, a happy woman today. And you remember those kids from the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta? They're the ones who took the country by storm. They were rapping about the election? Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON CLARK ACADEMY STUDENTS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Obama on the left, McCain on the right. We can talk politics all night, and you can vote however you like. I said you can vote however you like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Well, we checked back in on them to find out what they think of America's new president-elect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, RON CLARK ACADEMY STUDENT, ATLANTA GEORGIA: It feels so amazing that we have a voice and people -- that people are listening to us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, RON CLARK ACADEMY STUDENT, ATLANTA, GEORGIA: I'm so excited about this election because it's just a unique election that will go down in history.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, RON CLARK ACADEMY STUDENT, ATLANTA, GEORGIA: I'm just so excited that this is the first black president. It's just great to me. I love it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, RON CLARK ACADEMY STUDENT, ATLANTA, GEORGIA: You can't let anybody tell you that you can't do this and that because if Barack -- if Barack Obama can become the first African-American president, that means I can do it.
STUDENTS, RON CLARK ACADEMY: I said you can vote however you like.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, RON CLARK ACADEMY STUDENT, ATLANTA, GEORGIA: This is just a history making moment. I hope now we can see beyond race and see beyond the color of someone's skin and we could see what's on the inside, what's in their heart. And we won't judge people. And I think that the American people did a great job of that now because as you can see, Barack Obama is our new president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: That is it for us. We will see you tomorrow night.
Larry King right now.
