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Florida 2004; Divided Nation

Aired November 02, 2004 - 13:30   ET

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

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


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Taking a look at stories now in the news. At least 10 people have been killed in a pair of car bombings in Iraq. Six people killed in this attack in Baghdad. Four others died in a blast in Mosul.
French doctors confirm that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is improving. Doctors say they've ruled out leukemia, but they're waiting results of tests before commenting further on his illness.

Problems at the polls already. Poll workers in -- you guessed it -- Florida are recounting 13,000 ballots that were cast early. Seems a memory card in an optical-scan voting machine in Volusia (ph) County failed yesterday.

Florida learned a lot from the hard way -- or learned a lot the hard way, rather, after that 2000 fiasco. How can we forget that? Are those lessons paying off today? We're going to check in with CNN national correspondent Gary Tuchman. He's there at, you know, that infamous spot where the recount took place four years ago, West Palm Beach.

Gary, how are things going so far today?

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Reporter: Well, so far, here in Palm Beach County, Florida, and the rest of the state, relatively smoothly, we must can tell you.

We are right now in a West Palm Beach, firehouse number 33. They've moved the fire trucks out so people can vote, and this election in the state of Florida may end up being very close, just as close as 2000 perhaps, but there will be no hanging, pregnant, or dimpled chads, because the people here are using touchscreen machines. That was one of the outcomes of what happened here in 2000. They have banned punch-card ballots from the state of Florida. And you can see five touchscreen machines here. Only two people at them right now. We've had some lines occasionally here. But right now, there's no line whatsoever. Three machines are there for your asking. It's anticipated it will get very crowded as the polls get closer to closing about five hours and 25 minutes from now.

But they've had about a 25 percent turnout at this particular precinct (INAUDIBLE). This is a fire station, as we've said. So that's a fire call. These trucks have been going back and forth, and we've had to get out of their way as they put on their equipment to get on the fire trucks. So if you hear more noises, that's what it is. But that gives you an idea, about 25 percent turnout, which they consider a very good turnout. They're anticipating more than 50 percent at this precinct by the time the day's over. Republican and Democratic operatives throughout the state saying very busy at polls throughout the state.

Now we want to show you what's been going on at this precinct with these touchscreen ballots. What happens is if there are any problems when you come in, if your registration is not their on the list, you sit at that table, that's the problem table, and they try to figure out what's wrong. If they can't find your registrations, you fill out a provisional ballot. That ballot will be counted later, if and when they find out that your registration is valid.

As you can see, that young man sitting there, wondering what the heck is going on with his registration. He's having a problem right now.

Now over here on this side, when you're doing your touchscreen voting, you have a computer card, you take your computer card, and you give it to that man who's sitting right there with the American flag. He takes the computer card, and ultimately the cards are brought to a drop-off point tonight, and that's how the vote in Florida is counted.

Now there are some people concerned about these touchscreen machines, that they don't give you receipts. Only Nevada you get a receipt; you don't keep it, but you see your vote on a receipt paper. Here you don't.

With us right now is a woman by the name of Suzanne Goldstein, who voted during the early-voting process at one of the touchscreen machines, and you tell me that you wanted to vote for John Kerry for president. Tell me what happened.

SUZANNNE GOLDSTEIN, VOTER: That's correct. Well, I went in on Wednesday, supervisor of elections, and I started the voting process. I checked John Kerry, Betty Castor (ph) and the Democratic slate.

When I came to the last page, which was the review screen, I was horrified when I saw that every choice I made had come up incorrect and just the opposite.

TUCHMAN: So you're saying that you voted for Kerry for president, but on the review screen, which is the last thing you see before you tabulate your vote, it said George W. Bush?

GOLDSTEIN: It did.

TUCHMAN: What did you do?

GOLDSTEIN: So what I did was my husband was nearby, and we called poll workers, clerks. They came over. And at that point, they wanted to try to review, and I didn't want them to touch it. They first were telling that I probably made a mistake, maybe I didn't know what I was doing. So finally, I asked for an attorney from outside. So someone did come in. And at that point, we went back, and I saw, sure enough, I had voted correctly.

TUCHMAN: What happened to the machine?

GOLDSTEIN: They didn't know. They really didn't know.

TUCHMAN: Did you get to vote?

GOLDSTEIN: I did get to vote. But I stopped the voting process on that machine; I requested for it to be taken away, and I voted on the next machine.

TUCHMAN: Suzanne, thanks for joining us. We should tell you that operatives at the elections office in Tallahassee say there are some problems occasionally, but there are millions of votes on these machines, and they believe these machines are performing very reliably.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right, Gary Tuchman, thanks so much -- Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, let's fast forward to tomorrow morning, or whenever the dust settles. After an election that saw the nation bitterly divided, what's it going to be like for the person trying to lead the country for the next four years? Let's talk about this with syndicated columnist and radio talk show host Armstrong Williams in Washington. And Mark Riley, host of Air America from New York.

Good to have you both with us.

MARK RILEY, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: All right, Armstrong, let's start with you. Let's just game it out for me -- John Kerry wins -- your worst nightmare -- John Kerry wins and he's got a Republican legislature, and a bitterly divided nation, razor-thin margins. What does he do to try to govern this country?

ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: You know, I hate to sound like a pessimist here; I don't think it really matters whether it's the president or the challenger that wins. I think this country's divided. I think it's ideologically polarized. It's not only polarized in terms of Republicans and Democrats, and how they see how we're fighting this war in Iraq, where the nation should be, I think it's polarized regionally, with different states around the country.

If you look a state like my home state of South Carolina and a state like the challenger's state of Massachusetts, you would think they were two different foreign countries. I don't know if we can go back. You already have reports this morning that 30 tires were slashed in some precincts around the country, making sure that people could not get out and vote, and they had to send buses. I mean, I think the animus is so strong. I think it's something America just has to work for. It's something that we've never seen before. We've seen pictures like this...

O'BRIEN: Wait, Armstrong, we had an election in the middle of the Civil War, for gosh sakes. When you say that, that's a big statement, isn't it?

WILLIAMS: I got to tell you, Miles, it's more polarized than when Bill Clinton was in the White House. I've got to tell you, it's going to take a lot of work. And I don't know, I think as long as this war's being fought, I think this happens, like you said, in times of war and conflict. The Civil War, Vietnam, now this war against terrorism, I just don't see any ending in sight. I think you could see violence and people going to blows with each other as a result of this election.

O'BRIEN: Mark, I hope you don't agree with this assessment. Violence? I mean, and by all means, let's not encourage that.

RILEY: Well, no, certainly no one wants to encourage violence. I don't think there's going to be a great deal of violence. It seems so far today, since the polls have opened, there have been a marked absence of that kind of physical confrontation. However...

O'BRIEN: We have had some skirmishes as far as how the voting is going, right? And it seems to me we're going to be looking at this election like no election has been scrutinized, and inevitably, we're going to see problems everywhere, right?

RILEY: Well, we're going to see problem, there's no doubt about that. But I think in terms of the nation, the nation is divided, Armstrong's absolutely right, but the nation was divided four years ago, and George W. Bush decided to pursue his agenda with a great deal of single-mindedness, and I -- he would argue he's managed to make that agenda work, despite the divisions that existed in the country four years ago. I don't know, regardless of who wins, if the margin is still thin, if the nation is still divided, if the president has a clear agenda, I think that president is going to pursue the agenda.

O'BRIEN: And so you guys, both of you, kind of agree, and that's a statement right there, you agree on the notion that there's such division that the outcome, in a sense, doesn't matter because that division will be there regardless.

WILLIAMS: Miles...

O'BRIEN: Go ahead, Armstrong.

WILLIAMS: Being on the road for some time, and just talking to people in the administration and people on the Democratic side, we all share the same story. You may not want to talk about it, but there's a lot of hostility out there. I have never seen anything like this.

O'BRIEN: Well, go ahead, talk about it. What do you mean, like, what are you talking about? WILLIAMS: I will give you an example. Even for me, people assume that I want Bush to win, and they're right, I do. But still, they confront me as if I don't have a right to support the president, that I'm wrong, and they try to convince me, they'll get in your face, and if you're not mature enough to diffuse that and you use intelligence to say, well, you know what, you may have a point here, but that's not my point, I respect your right to vote, let's have a dialogue about it -- but if you don't have the sophistication to do that, it could turn into blows into a very serious conversation, it can.

O'BRIEN: Well, you know, it's interesting, somehow, somewhere along the way here, and I guess it's because there are people dying, you know, overseas right now, that the stakes are raised. But it became more vituperative, more personal, didn't it, Mark? And just the kinds of e-mails, you must get the same sorts of e-mails I get. It's just incredible the things that people will say in this environment, isn't it?

RILEY: Well, look, in terms of people being hostile toward people that are on the radio or on television or whatever, that's kind of a constant. It's certainly been a constant in my 30 years in broadcasting.

O'BRIEN: But isn't it more now? Has it escalated, or do you think it's the same?

RILEY: To be honest with you, it's not -- certainly, some of the stuff is more vituperative, but it is not greater in volume than it's been along a number of other issues.

O'BRIEN: Really?

WILLIAMS: Yeah, and a number of other races.

O'BRIEN: You know, because I feel like I'm getting a lot more e- mail from people who are upset. Every little statement you make gets scrutinized, put in there, blogged, and you get slammed. And the kinds of things they say to you are so personal.

RILEY: Look, I've had people threaten to follow me home and murder me.

O'BRIEN: Well, there you go. I'd say that...

RILEY: Yeah, but that was 20 years ago. So, on that level, you know, this has not risen to that level. The bottom line is, yes, the country is divided. But this republic is going to stand through this. Let's be very clear about this. There's not going to be riots in the street.

WILLIAMS: But look, there's a reason why Mark can make that statement. It's not the Republicans going out here, supporters tearing down signs and attacking young people and cutting tires and getting in your face. It's these Democratic extremists.

RILEY: Oh, no, no, no. Wait a minute, wait...

WILLIAMS: Yes, it is.

RILEY: Let's be clear about something...

WILLIAMS: That's why you're not upset, because you don't get what people on the other side get.

RILEY: No, no, no. But look, on that level, I've had a Kerry/Edwards sign torn off my front lawn -- my own home front lawn.

O'BRIEN: All right, I'll tell you what...

RILEY: I'm not talking about that.

O'BRIEN: Mark, as we talk here, we're going to bring you some tape. This has happened a little while ago. We didn't have a live signal inside the precinct there, at the State House, Beacon Hill, there's Senator John Kerry taking his ballot and voting. And there you have it. It's a bit of an anticlimax, of course, but -- his daughter beside him. Voting for himself.

All right, now I hate to take the wind out of your sails there, but this whole notion of whether it has escalated or not -- what concerns me is in this environment, it's so divided, the stakes seem so high, and there are just armies of lawyer, all around this country, ready to undermine and question either side in the process.

It does go to some very fundamental issues about how people have confidence in our republic, in our system. How much concern do you have about that, Armstrong?

WILLIAMS: You know, I think there is so much manipulation. I think even the media, to a certain extent, has been very irresponsible and reporting facts that were fiction. I think that we know that there are blatant lies that are being told by both camps. And yet, instead of us saying this is an outright lie, we just play it out until we get to the point where we want to tell the real story to show the facts over fiction.

I think that both parties have contributed to it. I just think the genie is out of the bottle, and there's just no way you can put it back. Look, there is hope. I don't want to sound totally pessimistic here. I do think that whomever wins this election tonight, they have a responsibility on both sides to bring their people back to the point that we're all Americans. We want the same things.

We cannot be divided. We have to unite like what we have -- what happens on Inauguration Day when we change power. If that's the case, it's one of the most peaceful examples of why America is the greatest democracy that has ever existed. But we must do it in the media. We must do it in our homes. We must do it on our jobs. It's not enough for the challenger and the president to do it. We have a responsibility as citizens of this great nation to do it ourselves.

O'BRIEN: All right, Armstrong. Good words there. And I hope everybody's listening to that. Personal responsibility here.

Mark, final thoughts.

RILEY: OK, the bottom line here is this, when you said earlier that lawyers with their questioning and undermining, there's a difference between questioning something and undermining it. The bottom line is those lawyers should be there. If people are having trouble voting, they should be able to consult lawyers to make sure that their vote is at least recorded and counted.

And in terms of, you know, the Democrats doing certain thing, getting up in people's faces, well if the Democrats have to admit to that, then the Republicans should certainly admit to attempts at voter suppression.

So, it's a wash as far as that's concerned, from what I've seen.

O'BRIEN: Undermine is not the best word. That's a bit pejorative, as a lawyer might say. And I'll take it back before you send me those e-mails. Mark Riley, Armstrong Williams, always a pleasure, and we appreciate you sharing your viewpoints. And let's hope for some unity no matter what happens today.

Thank you for your time. Appreciate it.

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

RILEY: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Kyra?

PHILLIPS: OK, Miles. You got your election trivia ready to go?

O'BRIEN: I do. I've got the book out here. Are you ready?

PHILLIPS: Well, here we go. We're going to give the question to sort of whet their whistle, but don't give it away.

O'BRIEN: Of course, I can kind of cheat here, can't I?

PHILLIPS: Well, we've been well produced, haven't we? Here's the question: Two elections have been decided by a House of Representatives vote. Can you name the candidates?

Miles has the little book. Are we going to give it -- should we give it -- no, let's no give it away.

O'BRIEN: No, no, no, no. We're not going to do it now.

PHILLIPS: All right.

O'BRIEN: It's in the book.

PHILLIPS: It's in the book...

O'BRIEN: And... PHILLIPS: ... CNN election coverage...

O'BRIEN: And I don't believe it's on Amazon, but we will share.

PHILLIPS: But we'll sell it on eBay, won't we?

O'BRIEN: Careful, going to get in trouble.

PHILLIPS: OK, I'll keep my mouth shut.

Bill Clinton, his wife Hillary, their daughter Chelsea -- they were voting. We've showed you everybody else voting. Now we're tracking ex-presidents as they vote, too.

Actually, not live pictures, but it didn't happen too long ago in their hometown of Chappaqua, New York. They were all together in a huddle, Hillary and Bill and Chelsea, chit chatting. We were wondering if they were deciding at the last minute who they were going to vote for.

We'll be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: He's voted, he's smiling, he's addressing supporters. Let's hear what John Kerry had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: First of all, let me just say that it is spectacular to be home. It's a great feeling. And it's a great welcome home.

Like millions of Americans, I just cast my ballot. My daughters cast theirs. It's the great gift of our democracy.

This campaign has been an amazing journey, a wonderful journey. The American people have opened their homes, their hearts, to us, all of us. They brought us in, shared their struggles. And now the campaign comes to an end and the American people are going to decide.

I'm very confident that we've made the case for change, the case for trust in new leadership, a new direction, a fresh start.

But what's really important is that both the president and I love this country. It's really important that people go out and vote and express their love for our country no matter who they vote for. We want people to participate.

And finally, let me just say that, whatever the outcome tonight, I know one thing that is already an outcome: Our country will be stronger, our country will be united and we will move forward no matter what, because that's who we are as Americans and that's what we need to do.

And I want to thank each and every one of you for your, sort of, part of this journey.

KERRY: It's really been a great experience. And I appreciate your sharing it with us. Thank you.

Be happy to answer a couple of questions.

QUESTION: Senator, who's going to be with you tonight?

KERRY: My family.

QUESTION: And anybody else?

KERRY: No. Just my immediate family.

QUESTION: Senator, you seemed a little bit nostalgic today on the plane. What was going through your head?

KERRY: Well, it's quite a journey.

I mean, as I expressed, when you go state to state, and people -- so many thousands of them...

(APPLAUSE)

... invest their hopes in you, and people tell you their life stories, they share their troubles, they share their dreams, if you're not moved by that, you're missing something. And I'm deeply moved by it. I'm moved by the beauty of our country, I'm moved by the courage of Americans and the numbers of people who believe we can do better in this country.

And it's an uplifting experience. No matter what happens, I find it a great statement to the world about the power of democracy, the power of good argument.

America is a strong country, and I think we can be stronger, but that's up to the American people what road we go.

QUESTION: Senator, if you are elected, what will be the first steps you take?

KERRY: Let's get to tonight. I'm working -- I'm going from here -- quick lunch, and then I'm going to be talking to people in America who haven't heard it yet.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) not to attack Fallujah?

KERRY: I'm not going to anything beyond working until 8 o'clock tonight. I'm still asking Americans for their votes.

KERRY: I never leave any stone unturned. People know me know I focus. This is the strong close and that's what I'm doing.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) if the outcome is close?

KERRY: I don't expect -- I hope there won't be challenges. I hope America will vote according to the law today. That's what I want. I'm confident that's what the president wants.

QUESTION: Senator, what does large turnout mean to you today? It sounds like you're pleased with turnout in New York, elsewhere around the country?

KERRY: Well, I don't know. I've heard different predictions but, you know, it's up to the American people. They're going to define the large turnout. And I've got a number in my head and I'll share it with you after the election.

Thank you all very, very much.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: John Kerry, just shortly after voting there, in his hometown, Boston, Massachusetts, saying he's moved by the process of Democracy. I'm moved by those beautiful trees there behind him. It' a sign of fall.

O'BRIEN: There is no finer place to be than New England in the autumn.

PHILLIPS: Now he says he's going on for a quick lunch. You don't have a quick lunch at the Union Oyster House, I'm sorry.

O'BRIEN: Well, you can, if you wolf done a few little necks (ph) and have a little chowder there, maybe some oysters on the half shell there.

And of course, I should point out that I had the occasion to cover his Senate race in 1990 when I was a reporter in Boston, and we all gathered there to get pictures him eating his chowder and wolfing down his oysters, and he looked up at us with the cameras on his face, and said, you're not going to take the picture while I'm eating, are you? And he made us turn off the cameras. So don't expect to see him chowing on the chowder.

PHILLIPS: And John Kerry hasn't spoken to Miles O'Brien since then.

O'BRIEN: That was pretty much the end. I said, what do you think we're here for? We want of picture of you. Have some soup, will you? And that was the end of that. All right.

PHILLIPS: As we monitor John Kerry, of course we're also monitoring the president. We've been following him all throughout the day. We followed him even to the -- where he voted actually, at a small little ranch house in Crawford, Texas. Now Air Force One arriving there, Andrews Air Force Base, the president soon to step out of that door, finally coming home, back to the White House, after a very long day. The past week, cramming in, boy, countless number of spots throughout this country, rallying for votes.

We're going to take quick break. More LIVE FROM right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The president safely landing at Air Force base -- Andrews Air Force Base rather. Now, just moments ago, this is tape turnaround of the president and the first lady, they have now stepped on to Marine One, will be heading back to the White House after a pretty busy schedule. We'll continue to monitor him and of course John Kerry as the clock ticks, until voting wraps up.

O'BRIEN: All right. He did not speak to reporters there. Could happen when he arrives at the White House in just a few moments. When Marine One lands, we'll of course bring that to you.

Now, before the break, Kyra asked a tough trivia question. Here it is: Two presidential elections have been decided by a vote of the House of Representatives. This, after no clear winner emerged from the Electoral College vote. Can you name the candidates? Can you?

PHILLIPS: I already know. I'm not allowed to say.

O'BRIEN: Oh, that's right. 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr split the Electoral College. The House voted Jefferson in, after persuasive talk from federalist Alexander Hamilton. You'll remember that Hamilton was shot in a Duel with Vice President Burr in 1804. They played for keeps back then. The runner-up became the vice president. That's how it worked then.

And in 1824, John Quincy Adams, son of the former president, won the House vote after there was no clear winner in his race against Andrew Jackson.

I asked you one other question earlier, Kyra, and I know you've mulling this one over. If Bush wins, he would become the 14th incumbent president to win re-election, but he would be the 15th president to be re-elected. Do you know how that little quirk of fate happens to be?

PHILLIPS: I had to memorize the (INAUDIBLE), so it's no fair.

O'BRIEN: I do know. The answer is Glover Cleveland was elected to two nonconsecutive terms, and thus, he was not an incumbent when he was elected the second time. But he was actually, nevertheless, elected twice as president, and actually has two numbers assigned to him as president.

All of this, by the way, folks, comes from our bible here, "The Presidential Election Research and Editorial Guide," which is by our crack political team, and will be our guide throughout the evening tonight, which of course you will be a part of, to the bitter end.

PHILLIPS: And probably until the end of the week.

Stay with us.

O'BRIEN: Yes, and then onward and onward. All right, back with more in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired November 2, 2004 - 13:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Taking a look at stories now in the news. At least 10 people have been killed in a pair of car bombings in Iraq. Six people killed in this attack in Baghdad. Four others died in a blast in Mosul.
French doctors confirm that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is improving. Doctors say they've ruled out leukemia, but they're waiting results of tests before commenting further on his illness.

Problems at the polls already. Poll workers in -- you guessed it -- Florida are recounting 13,000 ballots that were cast early. Seems a memory card in an optical-scan voting machine in Volusia (ph) County failed yesterday.

Florida learned a lot from the hard way -- or learned a lot the hard way, rather, after that 2000 fiasco. How can we forget that? Are those lessons paying off today? We're going to check in with CNN national correspondent Gary Tuchman. He's there at, you know, that infamous spot where the recount took place four years ago, West Palm Beach.

Gary, how are things going so far today?

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Reporter: Well, so far, here in Palm Beach County, Florida, and the rest of the state, relatively smoothly, we must can tell you.

We are right now in a West Palm Beach, firehouse number 33. They've moved the fire trucks out so people can vote, and this election in the state of Florida may end up being very close, just as close as 2000 perhaps, but there will be no hanging, pregnant, or dimpled chads, because the people here are using touchscreen machines. That was one of the outcomes of what happened here in 2000. They have banned punch-card ballots from the state of Florida. And you can see five touchscreen machines here. Only two people at them right now. We've had some lines occasionally here. But right now, there's no line whatsoever. Three machines are there for your asking. It's anticipated it will get very crowded as the polls get closer to closing about five hours and 25 minutes from now.

But they've had about a 25 percent turnout at this particular precinct (INAUDIBLE). This is a fire station, as we've said. So that's a fire call. These trucks have been going back and forth, and we've had to get out of their way as they put on their equipment to get on the fire trucks. So if you hear more noises, that's what it is. But that gives you an idea, about 25 percent turnout, which they consider a very good turnout. They're anticipating more than 50 percent at this precinct by the time the day's over. Republican and Democratic operatives throughout the state saying very busy at polls throughout the state.

Now we want to show you what's been going on at this precinct with these touchscreen ballots. What happens is if there are any problems when you come in, if your registration is not their on the list, you sit at that table, that's the problem table, and they try to figure out what's wrong. If they can't find your registrations, you fill out a provisional ballot. That ballot will be counted later, if and when they find out that your registration is valid.

As you can see, that young man sitting there, wondering what the heck is going on with his registration. He's having a problem right now.

Now over here on this side, when you're doing your touchscreen voting, you have a computer card, you take your computer card, and you give it to that man who's sitting right there with the American flag. He takes the computer card, and ultimately the cards are brought to a drop-off point tonight, and that's how the vote in Florida is counted.

Now there are some people concerned about these touchscreen machines, that they don't give you receipts. Only Nevada you get a receipt; you don't keep it, but you see your vote on a receipt paper. Here you don't.

With us right now is a woman by the name of Suzanne Goldstein, who voted during the early-voting process at one of the touchscreen machines, and you tell me that you wanted to vote for John Kerry for president. Tell me what happened.

SUZANNNE GOLDSTEIN, VOTER: That's correct. Well, I went in on Wednesday, supervisor of elections, and I started the voting process. I checked John Kerry, Betty Castor (ph) and the Democratic slate.

When I came to the last page, which was the review screen, I was horrified when I saw that every choice I made had come up incorrect and just the opposite.

TUCHMAN: So you're saying that you voted for Kerry for president, but on the review screen, which is the last thing you see before you tabulate your vote, it said George W. Bush?

GOLDSTEIN: It did.

TUCHMAN: What did you do?

GOLDSTEIN: So what I did was my husband was nearby, and we called poll workers, clerks. They came over. And at that point, they wanted to try to review, and I didn't want them to touch it. They first were telling that I probably made a mistake, maybe I didn't know what I was doing. So finally, I asked for an attorney from outside. So someone did come in. And at that point, we went back, and I saw, sure enough, I had voted correctly.

TUCHMAN: What happened to the machine?

GOLDSTEIN: They didn't know. They really didn't know.

TUCHMAN: Did you get to vote?

GOLDSTEIN: I did get to vote. But I stopped the voting process on that machine; I requested for it to be taken away, and I voted on the next machine.

TUCHMAN: Suzanne, thanks for joining us. We should tell you that operatives at the elections office in Tallahassee say there are some problems occasionally, but there are millions of votes on these machines, and they believe these machines are performing very reliably.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right, Gary Tuchman, thanks so much -- Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, let's fast forward to tomorrow morning, or whenever the dust settles. After an election that saw the nation bitterly divided, what's it going to be like for the person trying to lead the country for the next four years? Let's talk about this with syndicated columnist and radio talk show host Armstrong Williams in Washington. And Mark Riley, host of Air America from New York.

Good to have you both with us.

MARK RILEY, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: All right, Armstrong, let's start with you. Let's just game it out for me -- John Kerry wins -- your worst nightmare -- John Kerry wins and he's got a Republican legislature, and a bitterly divided nation, razor-thin margins. What does he do to try to govern this country?

ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: You know, I hate to sound like a pessimist here; I don't think it really matters whether it's the president or the challenger that wins. I think this country's divided. I think it's ideologically polarized. It's not only polarized in terms of Republicans and Democrats, and how they see how we're fighting this war in Iraq, where the nation should be, I think it's polarized regionally, with different states around the country.

If you look a state like my home state of South Carolina and a state like the challenger's state of Massachusetts, you would think they were two different foreign countries. I don't know if we can go back. You already have reports this morning that 30 tires were slashed in some precincts around the country, making sure that people could not get out and vote, and they had to send buses. I mean, I think the animus is so strong. I think it's something America just has to work for. It's something that we've never seen before. We've seen pictures like this...

O'BRIEN: Wait, Armstrong, we had an election in the middle of the Civil War, for gosh sakes. When you say that, that's a big statement, isn't it?

WILLIAMS: I got to tell you, Miles, it's more polarized than when Bill Clinton was in the White House. I've got to tell you, it's going to take a lot of work. And I don't know, I think as long as this war's being fought, I think this happens, like you said, in times of war and conflict. The Civil War, Vietnam, now this war against terrorism, I just don't see any ending in sight. I think you could see violence and people going to blows with each other as a result of this election.

O'BRIEN: Mark, I hope you don't agree with this assessment. Violence? I mean, and by all means, let's not encourage that.

RILEY: Well, no, certainly no one wants to encourage violence. I don't think there's going to be a great deal of violence. It seems so far today, since the polls have opened, there have been a marked absence of that kind of physical confrontation. However...

O'BRIEN: We have had some skirmishes as far as how the voting is going, right? And it seems to me we're going to be looking at this election like no election has been scrutinized, and inevitably, we're going to see problems everywhere, right?

RILEY: Well, we're going to see problem, there's no doubt about that. But I think in terms of the nation, the nation is divided, Armstrong's absolutely right, but the nation was divided four years ago, and George W. Bush decided to pursue his agenda with a great deal of single-mindedness, and I -- he would argue he's managed to make that agenda work, despite the divisions that existed in the country four years ago. I don't know, regardless of who wins, if the margin is still thin, if the nation is still divided, if the president has a clear agenda, I think that president is going to pursue the agenda.

O'BRIEN: And so you guys, both of you, kind of agree, and that's a statement right there, you agree on the notion that there's such division that the outcome, in a sense, doesn't matter because that division will be there regardless.

WILLIAMS: Miles...

O'BRIEN: Go ahead, Armstrong.

WILLIAMS: Being on the road for some time, and just talking to people in the administration and people on the Democratic side, we all share the same story. You may not want to talk about it, but there's a lot of hostility out there. I have never seen anything like this.

O'BRIEN: Well, go ahead, talk about it. What do you mean, like, what are you talking about? WILLIAMS: I will give you an example. Even for me, people assume that I want Bush to win, and they're right, I do. But still, they confront me as if I don't have a right to support the president, that I'm wrong, and they try to convince me, they'll get in your face, and if you're not mature enough to diffuse that and you use intelligence to say, well, you know what, you may have a point here, but that's not my point, I respect your right to vote, let's have a dialogue about it -- but if you don't have the sophistication to do that, it could turn into blows into a very serious conversation, it can.

O'BRIEN: Well, you know, it's interesting, somehow, somewhere along the way here, and I guess it's because there are people dying, you know, overseas right now, that the stakes are raised. But it became more vituperative, more personal, didn't it, Mark? And just the kinds of e-mails, you must get the same sorts of e-mails I get. It's just incredible the things that people will say in this environment, isn't it?

RILEY: Well, look, in terms of people being hostile toward people that are on the radio or on television or whatever, that's kind of a constant. It's certainly been a constant in my 30 years in broadcasting.

O'BRIEN: But isn't it more now? Has it escalated, or do you think it's the same?

RILEY: To be honest with you, it's not -- certainly, some of the stuff is more vituperative, but it is not greater in volume than it's been along a number of other issues.

O'BRIEN: Really?

WILLIAMS: Yeah, and a number of other races.

O'BRIEN: You know, because I feel like I'm getting a lot more e- mail from people who are upset. Every little statement you make gets scrutinized, put in there, blogged, and you get slammed. And the kinds of things they say to you are so personal.

RILEY: Look, I've had people threaten to follow me home and murder me.

O'BRIEN: Well, there you go. I'd say that...

RILEY: Yeah, but that was 20 years ago. So, on that level, you know, this has not risen to that level. The bottom line is, yes, the country is divided. But this republic is going to stand through this. Let's be very clear about this. There's not going to be riots in the street.

WILLIAMS: But look, there's a reason why Mark can make that statement. It's not the Republicans going out here, supporters tearing down signs and attacking young people and cutting tires and getting in your face. It's these Democratic extremists.

RILEY: Oh, no, no, no. Wait a minute, wait...

WILLIAMS: Yes, it is.

RILEY: Let's be clear about something...

WILLIAMS: That's why you're not upset, because you don't get what people on the other side get.

RILEY: No, no, no. But look, on that level, I've had a Kerry/Edwards sign torn off my front lawn -- my own home front lawn.

O'BRIEN: All right, I'll tell you what...

RILEY: I'm not talking about that.

O'BRIEN: Mark, as we talk here, we're going to bring you some tape. This has happened a little while ago. We didn't have a live signal inside the precinct there, at the State House, Beacon Hill, there's Senator John Kerry taking his ballot and voting. And there you have it. It's a bit of an anticlimax, of course, but -- his daughter beside him. Voting for himself.

All right, now I hate to take the wind out of your sails there, but this whole notion of whether it has escalated or not -- what concerns me is in this environment, it's so divided, the stakes seem so high, and there are just armies of lawyer, all around this country, ready to undermine and question either side in the process.

It does go to some very fundamental issues about how people have confidence in our republic, in our system. How much concern do you have about that, Armstrong?

WILLIAMS: You know, I think there is so much manipulation. I think even the media, to a certain extent, has been very irresponsible and reporting facts that were fiction. I think that we know that there are blatant lies that are being told by both camps. And yet, instead of us saying this is an outright lie, we just play it out until we get to the point where we want to tell the real story to show the facts over fiction.

I think that both parties have contributed to it. I just think the genie is out of the bottle, and there's just no way you can put it back. Look, there is hope. I don't want to sound totally pessimistic here. I do think that whomever wins this election tonight, they have a responsibility on both sides to bring their people back to the point that we're all Americans. We want the same things.

We cannot be divided. We have to unite like what we have -- what happens on Inauguration Day when we change power. If that's the case, it's one of the most peaceful examples of why America is the greatest democracy that has ever existed. But we must do it in the media. We must do it in our homes. We must do it on our jobs. It's not enough for the challenger and the president to do it. We have a responsibility as citizens of this great nation to do it ourselves.

O'BRIEN: All right, Armstrong. Good words there. And I hope everybody's listening to that. Personal responsibility here.

Mark, final thoughts.

RILEY: OK, the bottom line here is this, when you said earlier that lawyers with their questioning and undermining, there's a difference between questioning something and undermining it. The bottom line is those lawyers should be there. If people are having trouble voting, they should be able to consult lawyers to make sure that their vote is at least recorded and counted.

And in terms of, you know, the Democrats doing certain thing, getting up in people's faces, well if the Democrats have to admit to that, then the Republicans should certainly admit to attempts at voter suppression.

So, it's a wash as far as that's concerned, from what I've seen.

O'BRIEN: Undermine is not the best word. That's a bit pejorative, as a lawyer might say. And I'll take it back before you send me those e-mails. Mark Riley, Armstrong Williams, always a pleasure, and we appreciate you sharing your viewpoints. And let's hope for some unity no matter what happens today.

Thank you for your time. Appreciate it.

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

RILEY: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Kyra?

PHILLIPS: OK, Miles. You got your election trivia ready to go?

O'BRIEN: I do. I've got the book out here. Are you ready?

PHILLIPS: Well, here we go. We're going to give the question to sort of whet their whistle, but don't give it away.

O'BRIEN: Of course, I can kind of cheat here, can't I?

PHILLIPS: Well, we've been well produced, haven't we? Here's the question: Two elections have been decided by a House of Representatives vote. Can you name the candidates?

Miles has the little book. Are we going to give it -- should we give it -- no, let's no give it away.

O'BRIEN: No, no, no, no. We're not going to do it now.

PHILLIPS: All right.

O'BRIEN: It's in the book.

PHILLIPS: It's in the book...

O'BRIEN: And... PHILLIPS: ... CNN election coverage...

O'BRIEN: And I don't believe it's on Amazon, but we will share.

PHILLIPS: But we'll sell it on eBay, won't we?

O'BRIEN: Careful, going to get in trouble.

PHILLIPS: OK, I'll keep my mouth shut.

Bill Clinton, his wife Hillary, their daughter Chelsea -- they were voting. We've showed you everybody else voting. Now we're tracking ex-presidents as they vote, too.

Actually, not live pictures, but it didn't happen too long ago in their hometown of Chappaqua, New York. They were all together in a huddle, Hillary and Bill and Chelsea, chit chatting. We were wondering if they were deciding at the last minute who they were going to vote for.

We'll be back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: He's voted, he's smiling, he's addressing supporters. Let's hear what John Kerry had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: First of all, let me just say that it is spectacular to be home. It's a great feeling. And it's a great welcome home.

Like millions of Americans, I just cast my ballot. My daughters cast theirs. It's the great gift of our democracy.

This campaign has been an amazing journey, a wonderful journey. The American people have opened their homes, their hearts, to us, all of us. They brought us in, shared their struggles. And now the campaign comes to an end and the American people are going to decide.

I'm very confident that we've made the case for change, the case for trust in new leadership, a new direction, a fresh start.

But what's really important is that both the president and I love this country. It's really important that people go out and vote and express their love for our country no matter who they vote for. We want people to participate.

And finally, let me just say that, whatever the outcome tonight, I know one thing that is already an outcome: Our country will be stronger, our country will be united and we will move forward no matter what, because that's who we are as Americans and that's what we need to do.

And I want to thank each and every one of you for your, sort of, part of this journey.

KERRY: It's really been a great experience. And I appreciate your sharing it with us. Thank you.

Be happy to answer a couple of questions.

QUESTION: Senator, who's going to be with you tonight?

KERRY: My family.

QUESTION: And anybody else?

KERRY: No. Just my immediate family.

QUESTION: Senator, you seemed a little bit nostalgic today on the plane. What was going through your head?

KERRY: Well, it's quite a journey.

I mean, as I expressed, when you go state to state, and people -- so many thousands of them...

(APPLAUSE)

... invest their hopes in you, and people tell you their life stories, they share their troubles, they share their dreams, if you're not moved by that, you're missing something. And I'm deeply moved by it. I'm moved by the beauty of our country, I'm moved by the courage of Americans and the numbers of people who believe we can do better in this country.

And it's an uplifting experience. No matter what happens, I find it a great statement to the world about the power of democracy, the power of good argument.

America is a strong country, and I think we can be stronger, but that's up to the American people what road we go.

QUESTION: Senator, if you are elected, what will be the first steps you take?

KERRY: Let's get to tonight. I'm working -- I'm going from here -- quick lunch, and then I'm going to be talking to people in America who haven't heard it yet.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) not to attack Fallujah?

KERRY: I'm not going to anything beyond working until 8 o'clock tonight. I'm still asking Americans for their votes.

KERRY: I never leave any stone unturned. People know me know I focus. This is the strong close and that's what I'm doing.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) if the outcome is close?

KERRY: I don't expect -- I hope there won't be challenges. I hope America will vote according to the law today. That's what I want. I'm confident that's what the president wants.

QUESTION: Senator, what does large turnout mean to you today? It sounds like you're pleased with turnout in New York, elsewhere around the country?

KERRY: Well, I don't know. I've heard different predictions but, you know, it's up to the American people. They're going to define the large turnout. And I've got a number in my head and I'll share it with you after the election.

Thank you all very, very much.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: John Kerry, just shortly after voting there, in his hometown, Boston, Massachusetts, saying he's moved by the process of Democracy. I'm moved by those beautiful trees there behind him. It' a sign of fall.

O'BRIEN: There is no finer place to be than New England in the autumn.

PHILLIPS: Now he says he's going on for a quick lunch. You don't have a quick lunch at the Union Oyster House, I'm sorry.

O'BRIEN: Well, you can, if you wolf done a few little necks (ph) and have a little chowder there, maybe some oysters on the half shell there.

And of course, I should point out that I had the occasion to cover his Senate race in 1990 when I was a reporter in Boston, and we all gathered there to get pictures him eating his chowder and wolfing down his oysters, and he looked up at us with the cameras on his face, and said, you're not going to take the picture while I'm eating, are you? And he made us turn off the cameras. So don't expect to see him chowing on the chowder.

PHILLIPS: And John Kerry hasn't spoken to Miles O'Brien since then.

O'BRIEN: That was pretty much the end. I said, what do you think we're here for? We want of picture of you. Have some soup, will you? And that was the end of that. All right.

PHILLIPS: As we monitor John Kerry, of course we're also monitoring the president. We've been following him all throughout the day. We followed him even to the -- where he voted actually, at a small little ranch house in Crawford, Texas. Now Air Force One arriving there, Andrews Air Force Base, the president soon to step out of that door, finally coming home, back to the White House, after a very long day. The past week, cramming in, boy, countless number of spots throughout this country, rallying for votes.

We're going to take quick break. More LIVE FROM right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The president safely landing at Air Force base -- Andrews Air Force Base rather. Now, just moments ago, this is tape turnaround of the president and the first lady, they have now stepped on to Marine One, will be heading back to the White House after a pretty busy schedule. We'll continue to monitor him and of course John Kerry as the clock ticks, until voting wraps up.

O'BRIEN: All right. He did not speak to reporters there. Could happen when he arrives at the White House in just a few moments. When Marine One lands, we'll of course bring that to you.

Now, before the break, Kyra asked a tough trivia question. Here it is: Two presidential elections have been decided by a vote of the House of Representatives. This, after no clear winner emerged from the Electoral College vote. Can you name the candidates? Can you?

PHILLIPS: I already know. I'm not allowed to say.

O'BRIEN: Oh, that's right. 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr split the Electoral College. The House voted Jefferson in, after persuasive talk from federalist Alexander Hamilton. You'll remember that Hamilton was shot in a Duel with Vice President Burr in 1804. They played for keeps back then. The runner-up became the vice president. That's how it worked then.

And in 1824, John Quincy Adams, son of the former president, won the House vote after there was no clear winner in his race against Andrew Jackson.

I asked you one other question earlier, Kyra, and I know you've mulling this one over. If Bush wins, he would become the 14th incumbent president to win re-election, but he would be the 15th president to be re-elected. Do you know how that little quirk of fate happens to be?

PHILLIPS: I had to memorize the (INAUDIBLE), so it's no fair.

O'BRIEN: I do know. The answer is Glover Cleveland was elected to two nonconsecutive terms, and thus, he was not an incumbent when he was elected the second time. But he was actually, nevertheless, elected twice as president, and actually has two numbers assigned to him as president.

All of this, by the way, folks, comes from our bible here, "The Presidential Election Research and Editorial Guide," which is by our crack political team, and will be our guide throughout the evening tonight, which of course you will be a part of, to the bitter end.

PHILLIPS: And probably until the end of the week.

Stay with us.

O'BRIEN: Yes, and then onward and onward. All right, back with more in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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