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McCain's Fight in Florida; Obama Camp's Comfort Zone; Same-Sex Marriage Battle; Virginia Bracing for a Flood of Voters on Election Day; More Iraqi Responsibility; Foreign Markets Up, Dow Futures Down; Pakistan Earthquake; Campaigns Grind On; Attacks Continue from All Sides
Aired October 29, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we're coming up on two minutes before 8:00, here in New York -- a look at the top stories right now. The Iraqi government is now in control of 13 of its 18 provinces. Coalition troops just handed over control a few hours ago to local security forces. And this latest handover comes amid a big drop in violence in Iraq.
And a mixed message on the economy today. Overseas markets climbed while you were sleeping, just hours ago Tokyo's Nikkei ended up more than seven percent.
Also, London's FTSE trading up right now as well. Dow futures, though, slightly down. Investors were hoping for another rally today after yesterday's huge jump. The Dow up nearly 900 points and also looking ahead today to the possibility of a fed rate cut.
But your retirement account could take another big hit soon. More companies are expected to suspend matching employee contributions. Last week General Motors became the last company to halt matching funds as a way to preserve cash during the economic crisis. Some good news, though, Goodyear is going to match again next year for the first time since 2003.
And the economic squeeze doesn't seem to be hurting celebrities in the great beyond. "Forbes" magazine releasing its annual list of top earnings deceased celebrities. Elvis Presley still topping the list for the second year in a row, raking in $52 million last year. Also Peanut creator, Charles Schulz, cartoonist second with $33 million. And Heath Ledger also earning $22 million. Thanks to the success of this summer's blockbuster "The Dark Knight" where he played the Joker. Ledger died of an overdose in January.
To the "Most Politics in the Morning." And just six days left until the election. And a new sense of urgency out on the campaign trail. We want to let you hear from all four candidates as they try to seal the deal. Here's what they're saying about your money.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He supported 4 out of the 5 of the Bush budgets that have taken us from surplus under the Clinton years to the largest deficit in history. John McCain has ridden shotgun as George Bush has driven our economy toward the cliff, and now he wants to take the wheel and step on the gas.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My opponent's massive new tax increase is exactly the wrong approach in an economic slowdown. The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes, but that's exactly what's going to happen when the Democrats have total control of Washington. We can't let that happen. Can you imagine? Obama, Pelosi, Reid.
SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Don't wait. Do not wait. In this state, you don't need to be told that every, single, solitary vote counts.
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This election is going to be close, too. It's going to come right down to the wire. And that's why we're taking our cause for reform to every voter of every region, every background in America, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, an independent, maybe no party at all. Pennsylvania, we're asking for your vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Battleground states are key right now and John McCain is fighting for his political life in Florida and Ohio today. A look now at CNN's latest Poll of Polls in Ohio shows Barack Obama with a six- point lead over John McCain.
In Florida, Obama has a four-point lead right now, 49 percent to McCain's 45 percent. And CNN's Ed Henry is in Florida this morning following the McCain camp.
And, Ed, the target is Florida today and McCain now has some big GOP names. Mitt Romney as well as Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty saying things don't look so great. So, how is McCain planning on pulling out a win?
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, you talk to senior McCain aides, Kiran, and they basically have sort of a three-tiered strategy to try and get the math, the magic number of 270 electoral votes.
First of all, they've got to hold Republican strongholds, states George W. Bush carried in 2004, including Virginia and North Carolina. That's why John McCain was in North Carolina yesterday. They think that will get him to about 260 electoral votes, ten short. So then, part two of the strategy, win Pennsylvania. That's where he was yesterday. As you noted, he's talking up the economy. They've been hard hit there because of the financial crisis. 21 electoral votes. That would obviously put him over the top.
But the problem as you've been noting, a lot of these CNN Poll of Polls have him down, including down by ten points in Pennsylvania right now. So, then you'd have to go to the third tier which is come up with a sort of basket of smaller states -- Nevada, New Hampshire, Iowa. Some sort of combination of that to get the final ten electoral votes. But, again, you look at those three states that I just mentioned, John McCain down right now anywhere from 7 to 12 points in those three smaller states. So, he's going to have to hope that these polls are wrong. That he's much closer than that, or he's going to have to hope that there's a dramatic comeback in these last six days as he pushes that economic tax message, Kiran, because otherwise the math is very difficult at this point.
CHETRY: He's also taking on reports of infighting between Sarah Palin and his own campaign. Let's listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: By the way, when two mavericks join up, we don't agree on everything. But that's a lot of fun.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: So, he was sort of trying to put a punctuation mark on the end of that story and move on.
HENRY: Clearly. I mean, look, you remember Sarah Palin's nickname was Sarah the Barracuda, when she played basketball. If you keep throwing shots her way, sooner or later, she's going to bite back. And I think that's the last thing the McCain camp wanted in these final few days.
And John McCain obviously trying to diffuse any lingering tension, but also, let's face it, six days to go. The McCain camp knows it's behind. They have got to come together here and focus on Barack Obama instead of sniping at each other; otherwise, they're not going to have any chance at all, Kiran.
CHETRY: Ed Henry for us in Coral Gables, Florida, this morning. Thanks.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: John McCain, by the way, is going to be a guest on "LARRY KING LIVE" tonight at 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN. And mark then your calendars because Barack Obama will be Wolf Blitzer's guest, Friday night at 6:00 Eastern in "THE SITUATION ROOM." And you can be a part of the discussion. You can submit questions to ireport.com/obama. They just might become a part of the interview.
Barack Obama in North Carolina and Florida today, getting ready to air his paid message tonight at 8:00 p.m. on the major networks. And as CNN's Candy Crowley tells us, his campaign is in cruise control just hoping to avoid any final missteps in this final week.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kiran and John. What you do with your campaign if you're leading in all the national polls and most of the battleground polls? You play it very carefully.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CROWLEY (voice-over): Harrisonburg, deep into Republican territory in Virginia, Barack Obama flanked by the Democratic governor and the former governor, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.
It is a money picture about a place the Democrats badly want to win, in a campaign now about place and pictures, and, occasionally, a new take on the most enduring theme of his campaign, John McCain as a Bush acolyte.
OBAMA: John McCain has ridden shotgun as George Bush has driven our economy toward the cliff, and now he wants to take the wheel and step on the gas.
CROWLEY: At Chicago headquarters, the daily blasts of e-mails continues, focusing on a statement by a McCain official that, under McCain's health care plan, young, healthy workers would probably stick with company-provided insurance because it would be -- quote -- "way better" than any plan they could buy with McCain's $5,000 health care credit.
OBAMA: We were offered a stunning bit of straight talk, an October surprise.
CROWLEY: Still, mostly, this is a campaign on cruise control. As one Obama aide said: "Why would we change things now? It is working."
Inside camp Obama, they are determined to let the weather here at a stop in Pennsylvania be the unpredictable element.
OBAMA: This is an unbelievable crowd for this kind of weather.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: Thank you so much. If we see this kind of dedication on Election Day, there is no way that we are not going to bring change to America.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
CROWLEY: On the ground and at the podium, it is about making no mistakes, while driving voters to the polls. There is a reason they call them rallies.
OBAMA: If you will reach deep down and fight with me, we won't just win Virginia. We're going to win this election.
CROWLEY: Wednesday, an Obama show of deep pockets, he has purchased 30 minutes of airtime across several networks, including the highest- rated Spanish network, Univision.
Then there's the freebie appearance on "The Daily" Show," and then a Florida power play, the party's popular past and its hope for the future on stage in Orlando. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama campaign together in the final days, for the first time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CROWLEY: From here in Virginia today, Obama heads for North Carolina and then Florida. All three states have one thing in common -- George Bush won them in 2004. Barack Obama thinks he can win them in 2008.
Kiran and John?
ROBERTS: Candy Crowley for us this morning in the battleground state of Virginia. In this election, there is only one equation that you need to remember, CNN equals politics. Not just on television, but online as well. Come on over here, we'll take you -- I'll show you through this. This is great. This is our new cnnpolitics.com Web site. It's got all kinds of really interesting features. Maybe you can't have your very own Magic Wall because they are $50,000, but you can have the next best thing. And here it is.
This is our CNN Electoral Map calculator. You can do the same sort of things that John King and I do. You can assign states. You can take a look at how it changes the electoral map. Also look at past results if you want, going back to elections that were fought in -- in years past. Elections past. And also, when you come back here to our main election center. I got to get back here. It's kind of took me out of it for a second.
When you come back to our main election center Web site here, there's also some other really interesting maps that you can play with the election tracker. It's an awful lot of fun. Because you can take a look at what the polls are and all of the various states. And there's one particular function here that's just great.
Whether you're an election junkie and you want to look at this at home, you want to look at it work, or perhaps your teacher has given you an assignment like my daughter has received where you have to talk about this year's election, you can compare things here on this map like the latest polls against ad spending. So, you can come down here roll over Florida where Barack Obama is ahead. And you can see that he's spent an awful lot of money there. Up here in Pennsylvania, $50 million that's been spent in ads. $50 million. Here in the State of Virginia, $24 million as well. So, cnnpolitics.com, it's your own little magic wall on your desktop. Have a lot of fun with it. It's great. It's really interesting to play with.
CHETRY: Yes, it's neat. And you can also, if you have a certain races that you want to know the outcome, too, you can put those to the side, and no matter where you surf on cnn.com, those races will always be up in the corner.
ROBERTS: That function not up and running just yet, though. I plugged in some of my favorite races and it will be under Roberts' races. So, if you want to take a look at what I'm looking at, go ahead, online and look at it.
CHETRY: Cool. All right, well, as we said just six days left. Tuesday, November 4th, join the Best Political Team on Television for election night in America. CNN, the place to be as the night unfolds.
And the great political divide. In California, it's not just the presidential election. A big fight over same-sex marriage as well. We'll show you what's at stake this election day at nine minutes after the hour. ROBERTS: Hitting the jackpot at the voting booth.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just made very easy. The poll's open every day in your neighborhood, in every mall, it's pretty much is open every day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: With early voting already voting underway, why Nevada leads the way in creative and convenient ways to vote. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONAN O'BRIEN, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN": Barack Obama is now encouraging his supporters to take Election Day off so they can help him get out the vote, yes. And a lot of Americans said they were already planning to take that day off because they don't have a job. That works out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Black humor on the election here.
Christine Romans "Minding Your Business" this morning at 13 minutes after the hour. She joins us now.
And we had a great day yesterday in the markets and maybe another one today.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: We sure did. We sure did. And yes --
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: Yes, futures are up. Yesterday was the first two-day advance for the Dow in a month, so every time we had an advance and a come back, that was a big advance. I mean, it was the biggest bounce we have seen in some time. The second biggest point gain ever. And the sixth biggest point gain for the Dow Jones Industrials ever.
I mean, it was percentage-wise really big rally. 11 percent overall. I mean, yesterday was the bounce that so many people have been looking for. The question is, can we put it back together again today? And so far futures are up 20 some points. So we're recovering from some earlier losses. We have a fed meeting today as well, so this is something that could send a signal to the markets and later in the afternoon.
The fed is expected to cut interest rates again. It's been cutting rates really all year trying to get ahead of a weakness in the economy. Trying to blunt weakness in the economy and trying to not be concerned about inflation. The fed funds rate right now stands at 1.5 percent. The prime rate, 4.5 percent. Looking for another decline. 2:15 Eastern Time, we're going to get that. In the meantime, we'll be watching to see if stocks can build on to yesterday, John and Kiran. I believe it was a big, big rally.
ROBERTS: I don't mean to be the skunk at the garden party here. But didn't we have the bounce that everybody was looking for, a few days ago?
ROMANS: We had a bounce -- we didn't have a bounce like this.
ROBERTS: 900 points behind.
ROMANS: That was one -- was that, how many days ago? Last week?
ROBERTS: Not long ago.
ROMANS: I know. I can't remember. Every morning, it's like, this is the second --
CHETRY: The reason we can't is because one day it's up and the next day it's back down again. And you losses as much as you gain. And so people aren't exactly sure what I should be happy about.
ROMANS: I know.
CHETRY: You know -- I mean, if you look at it and you go, should I be happy today or wait until tomorrow when it all falls out again?
ROBERTS: Just generally be happy.
ROMANS: John Roberts, it says right there on his business card, "skunk at the garden party." That's what it says.
ROBERTS: Thanks.
CHETRY: Well, the same-sex marriage battle is raging right now in California. And it's expected to be a major issue at the polls on Tuesday. Proposition 8 seeks to eliminate gay marriage in California. As Ted Rowlands shows us there are strong convictions brewing on both sides of the argument.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rose Greene and Marvin Perkins are equally passionate about their opposing views on gay marriage. Rose a financial planner recently married Helena Ruffin, her partner of 16 years. She believes marriage is a right for every human being.
ROSE GREENE, VOTING NO ON PROPOSITION 8: This was not a gift. This is our constitution, and what our constitution says is that we are to be treated equally, all people.
ROWLANDS: Marvin, a sales executive is married and has three children. He thinks gay couples have rights but shouldn't be allowed to marry.
MARVIN PERKINS, VOTING YES ON PROPOSITION 8: If every state could have civil unions, then I would fight for same-sex couples in every state nationally to have their civil unions, because I want them to have those same rights. I just don't want marriage redefine.
ROWLANDS: Both Marvin and Rose are convinced they have the moral edge in this argument. Marvin, who is Mormon, helps organize rallies supporting Proposition 8. It would eliminate gay marriage in California. Marvin says his biggest concern is having gay marriage possibly taught in public schools, a recurring theme in television ads supporting Prop 8.
GREENE: It is deceptive and an attempt to brainwash, manipulate people to vote against what's fundamentally a fair, constitutional right that we now have.
PERKINS: Just as I don't teach and want other kids taught my religious beliefs at school, I don't want homosexuality taught to my kids at school. I will teach my kids about homosexuality.
ROWLANDS: Polls predict that close vote on Election Day millions of people from both sides with the same moral conviction as Marvin and Rose will be watching to see what California decide.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No on 8!
ROWLANDS: Ted Rowlands, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: 17 minutes now after the hour. The chief strategist for the losing Kerry-Edwards campaign is here to tell us what trap Obama could still walk into in these six remaining days, and see what big mistake he said McCain made that could cost Republicans the election.
Election suit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We always get the end of the stick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Why the NAACP wants the federal government to step in and run Virginia's election.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're very concerned that blacks will not get their constitutional rights.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: We are everywhere where this election could be decided. CNN has got reporters covering battleground states from coast to coast, traveling with the candidates and covering the issues that matter to you. And in battleground Virginia, one group says the potential voter gridlock could cause headaches on Tuesday. CNN's Dan Lothian is live in Norfolk, Virginia, for us this morning.
Dan, who is this group and how far are they going here to make sure that everyone gets a vote?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN BOSTON BUREAU CHIEF: Well, John, the group is the NAACP, and they really think that there could be a lot of problems on Election Day. So, they decided to file a lawsuit to make sure that everyone who is registered to vote, especially those living in minority communities, will be able to vote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN (voice-over): Virginia is bracing for a flood of voters on Election Day. The expected turnout? 90 percent. But the NAACP says the state is not ready.
KING SALIM KHALFANI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VIRGINIA NAACP: Yes, they are ill-prepared with the great increase of registrants for this year's election. We're very concerned that blacks will not get their constitutional rights.
LOTHIAN: So, the Virginia chapter of the NAACP is suing Governor Tim Kaine and board of elections officials. The group argues there aren't enough voting machines, especially in cities like Richmond, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach, where a large number of African-Americans live. And they fear that could discourage or prevent voters from casting their ballots.
KHALFANI: And that's not acceptable.
LOTHIAN: Milton Reid, a civil rights leader who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said African-American communities always seem to have the least amount of resources and have the most problems on Election Day.
MILTON REID, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: That has been the history in Virginia. The poor and black, you always get the end of the stick.
LOTHIAN: And with so many black voters registered this year, the NAACP wants the federal government to step in and take charge. The group is also asking for voting machines to be shuffled to areas of concern. This lawsuit raises troubling charges that the board of elections says just aren't true.
JEAN CUNNINGHAM, CHAIRMAN, VIRIGINIA STATES BOARD OF ELECTIONS: I think we are prepared. We are as prepared as anyone, any state, could be.
LOTHIAN: She points out that compared to 2004, they've increased the number of voting machines by 77 percent. 300 new polling places have been added and they've increased staffing at polling places by 50 percent.
CUNNINGHAM: That doesn't mean that there won't be waits in line. I think that that's almost something that is unavoidable, but we're hoping that the waits will not be long.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOTHIAN: Elections officials will be meeting with the attorney general here in the state to figure out how they will respond to the lawsuit. Meanwhile, the NAACP says, yes, there is less than a week to go before Election Day, but they think that there's still a lot of time to fix the situation, John.
ROBERTS: All right, we'll keep watching that. Dan, looks like New York City behind you there. All that scaffolding all over that carrier. Looks like --
(CROSSTALK)
LOTHIAN: Yes, they're doing some work back there on it.
ROBERTS: It looks like a typical Manhattan street. Dan Lothian for us in Norfolk, Virginia this morning. Dan, thanks so much.
If you've got concerns about possible voting irregularities in your state, we want to know about it. You can call us toll-free, 1-877- GOCNN-08. That's 1-877-462-6608.
Kiran?
CHETRY: Wonders on the campaign trail. The chief strategist for the losing Kerry-Edwards campaign said, it's the end of the Reagan era but are Democrats counting on a victory too early? It's 23 minutes after the hour.
Checking up on the media.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Reporters by in large are generally more sympathetic with the world view that Barack Obama has campaigned on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: A new study that takes a critical look at campaign coverage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The tone of coverage did tend to be more negative towards John McCain.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: You're watching the "Most News in the Morning." (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Could Tuesday be decimating for the Republican Party?
Tuesday could easily be decimating. This could go back to a Watergate year or be the equivalent that Democrats had in 1980 with Reagan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, a little bit of a grim assessment of the GOP's chances on Election Day from Republican strategist Ed Rollins. John spoke to him a little earlier on AMERICAN MORNING.
Our next guest says John McCain's biggest mistake may have been, as he calls it, recycling the Reagan strategy, painting your opponent as a tax-and-spend liberal. Democratic strategist Bob Shrum just wrote an op-ed for "The Week" magazine. And he was the chief strategist for the 2004 Kerry-Edwards campaign. Bob Shrum, joins us now. Thanks for being with us.
ROBERT SHRUM, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Glad to be here.
CHETRY: So, you say, we heard from Ed Rollins about how difficult and decimating this could possibly be for the Republicans. And you say in your article that the country has entered a, quote, "Post-Reagan America. Republicans should rethink and then renew their purpose, asking hard questions about the meaning of conservative principles in a different economy and a changing world."
Is this the reason that you think McCain could lose this race?
SHRUM: I think it's a big part of the reason. Look, Democrats had to do this in the '70s and '80s. The Reagan doctrine had a very long shelf life. The whole Reagan dominance of American politics. And for a long time, Republicans thought all they had to say was Democrats are big spenders. They are liberals. Now voters say, what does that mean? Tell me what's going on. And Obama's done a very, very smart job of pounding into the American psyche two ideas.
$250,000, your taxes don't go up. 95 percent, you get a tax cut. And having done that, I think all of this talk about socialism, creating wealth versus sharing wealth, it's all going over people's heads. They want to know what's really going to happen.
CHETRY: I want to ask you about this because someone who has a totally different take on this is the CEO and chairman of "Forbes" magazine, Steve Forbes. He also wrote an op-ed, for the first time he appeared on the cover of "Forbes" magazine, and he writes about the Reagan era. And he said, "Between the early 1980s and 2007, we lived in an economic golden age with the economic reforms of Ronald Reagan, particularly his enormous income tax cuts. We burst from the economic stagnation of the 70s into a dynamic, innovative, high-tech-oriented economy." Now, he's arguing that letting these tax cuts expire on the higher incomes as you said, $250,000 and above and the businesses making $250,000 and above will make things worse in terms of job creation and growth.
SHRUM: Well, I think Ed thinks that if there's a tax cut for him, it's going to help the economy. In the Clinton years, we had higher tax rates on people at the top. And those higher tax rates at the top went along with a very, very, very robust economy. I think that's what's going to happen again.
Look, all Obama's talking about is taking the top tax rate back to where it was under Bill Clinton. And if you do that, you're going to go a long way towards putting this economy back on the right track. He's also talking about finally getting to national health reform. And the other thing that's happened is the old Reagan doctrine of wholesale deregulation coupled with redistribution of wealth upwards to my friend Steve Forbes, has lost his credibility with the American people.
CHETRY: All right, I want to ask you about just how close it still is between McCain and Barack Obama, when you look at how much is stacked against John McCain right now. He's running on the Republican ticket where Republican president has some of the lowest approval ratings, in fact, the lowest approval ratings in history right now. What more can he do?
SHRUM: Well, look, what has to happen here is, well, what can McCain do? McCain can decide to lose with honor or he can decide to keep throwing these charges? I don't believe he can win. Now, I say that not with overconfidence. And, by the way, my friends from Chicago I think wish I wouldn't say it at all, because they want to make sure that everybody votes. But when I look at all the numbers, when I look at the state polls, I have to agree with Ed, that he would have to draw -- McCain would have to draw an inside straight to win this election. That's not going to happen.
On the other hand we want everybody to go out and vote. The only --
CHETRY: And what lessons did you learn from 2004 when it comes to that?
SHRUM: Well, I mean, we had a massive turnout in 2004. The Republicans had a more massive turnout in 2004. If you told me that many people are going to vote, I would have said that John Kerry is going to be president. But we want people to go to the polls in California. You just ran a report on proposition 8, we don't want this election settled in people's minds before people go vote on that. By the way, that report was a little incomplete. The superintendent of public instruction in California said they are not going to teach marriage in public schools, gay marriage or straight marriage or any kind of marriage.
CHETRY: Right. All right. Well, great to have you on with us. We didn't know we'd get all of out of you. But as always, you're welcome anytime, Robert Shrum, Democratic strategist of the 2004 Kerry presidential campaign. Thanks.
SHRUM: Thank you.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN, ANCHOR: You always get more than you expect
SHRUM: I'm sorry. I didn't know how you guys on the cameras, you're supposed to go from you to him.
CHETRY: Oh, no. You know, they'll follow you. Don't worry about that.
ROBERTS: We'll have you back and teach you all of that. Bob, good to see you.
SHRUM: Good to see you.
ROBERTS: 31 minutes after the hour and here are this morning's top stories. Less than an hour ago Pakistan was rocked by a 6.2 magnitude aftershock following a major earthquake overnight. At least 150 people are dead and hundreds more have been injured. The quake struck along the Afghan border. One official says 15,000 people are now homeless.
The Secret Service says the mannequin depicting a hanging of Sarah Palin at a California home is not a threat. It calls the display harmless though unusual. West Hollywood's mayor is urging the owner Chad Morris to take down the display. And because of the noose one official wants to open a hate crime investigation.
Barack Obama could be speaking to a crowd of a million people during an election night rally in Chicago. That's according to Mayor Richard Daley. He told the "Chicago Tribune" that a lot of people will "want to come down and celebrate." Daley said he's not concerned about security but is worried about how the crowds will get around.
Well, more on the most politics in the morning. We are inside of a week, if you can believe it, just six days now until this election. It seemed like only three years ago we started this, right? And the contenders making one last push for your vote there, moving through the critical battleground states at a break neck pace, and we want to let you hear from them, all four candidates, as they try to seal the deal with voters. Here's what they're saying -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have to act. We need a new direction, and we have to fight for it. And I've been fighting for this country since I was 17 years old. And I have the scars to prove it, my friends.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I just want all of you to know that if we are - if we see this kind of dedication on election day, there is no way that we're not going to bring change to America.
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our opponent is not being candid with you about his tax plans. And it is not mean spirited and it's not negative campaigning to call someone out on their record and their plans and their associations. It is in fairness to you!
SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You give Barack Obama and me the honor of serving as your next president and vice president. Here's what we're going to do. It's straightforward and simple. We're going to devote every waking hour, day and night, to two objectives. One, first, restore the middle-class. Give them a fighting chance. And, two, and equally important, reclaim America's respect in the world so we can lead the world again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Well, the McCain campaign has been critical, shall we say, of some election coverage by the media. McCain's critics say that he is just working the refs. But as the Republicans fell in the polls was he right to complain about us jerks, as he likes to call us, in the media. Jason Carroll has his hands on a new study for us this morning that shed some light on all of that.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jerks is a little strong.
ROBERTS: He's been calling me a jerk forever.
CARROLL: That's true. Well, let's get to it. A new study has found that media coverage has not so much cast Barack Obama in a favorable light as it has portrayed Senator John McCain in a negative one.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John McCain drew barely 1,000 people.
JOH KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It makes a bad campaign even worse.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: McCain has some ground he needs to make up.
CARROLL (voice-over): On TV and in print, some Republicans say Senator John McCain isn't always treated fairly by the media.
STEPHEN HAYES, "THE WEEKLY STANDARD": Reporters by and large are generally more sympathetic with the world view that Barack Obama has campaigned on in the campaign and less sympathetic than with that of John McCain.
CARROLL: A new report by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in journalism says, he may be right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Over the past month or so of press coverage since mid-September to last week, that the tone of coverage did tend to be more negative towards John McCain.
CARROLL: The nonpartisan report says since the convention, there have been almost twice as many negative news stories about Senator McCain as compared to Senator Barack Obama. But one liberal media watchdog group says, the coverage reflects McCain's weakened standings in national polls.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, conservatives are going to scream bias. But that's like saying that the sports pages are biased against the Rays because they are saying that the Phillies are up in the World Series.
CARROLL: So, are the polls resulting in the negative reporting, or is it the other way around?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a little chicken and egg at that point. While polls don't define media coverage, they do set the tone.
CARROLL: But political observers say it's not just polls driving McCain's negative media coverage.
MARK HALPERIN, "TIME MAGAZINE": Some of the negative press that John McCain has gotten, his own fault, the fault of his campaign. There have been loose lips and backbiting and things said that have been errors.
CARROLL: But some conservatives say the negative coverage has little to do what McCain is doing wrong.
HAYES: You have, in Barack Obama, you do have a historical figure and a first. And I think there are some reporters, who try as they might try to remain objective about that, are in a sense subconsciously rooting for him to make this history, for the country to make this history.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: And Republican analysts say the media needs to be more objective when it comes to McCain. And while McCain can't do anything about how the media covers his position in the polls, those same analysts say McCain has to do more to stop all that sniping and infighting inside his campaign from leaking out.
ROBERTS: When there's so much name-calling inside the campaign, it's difficult to stop it from leaking out, isn't it? All right. Jason, thanks so much.
CARROLL: All right.
CHETRY: Well, Barack Obama's been on the campaign trail saying that John McCain's tax plan would give back $200 billion to big corporations and $4 billion to oil companies. It's a hefty charge, but is it true? Our truth squad is on the case.
And, you can do it all at the mall. You can do it at the health club. The state with the most unusual early voting places. Pick up some milk, some eggs and maybe even a president. How easy can it get?
27 minutes after the hour.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is it with you people? Do you think not getting caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. It's simple economics.
JACK NICHOLSON, ACTOR: You want answers -
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: I think I'm entitled.
NICHOLSON: You want answers.
CRUISE: I want the truth!
NICHOLSON: You can't handle the truth!
JIM CARREY, ACTOR: I want the truth! The truth shall set you free!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, it's another edition of the truth squad. Will John McCain's tax plan give billions of dollars to big corporations and oil companies? Well, Barack Obama said it on the campaign trail this week. But what does the truth squad say? Alina Cho's here. She got to the bottom of things. Hey, Alina.
ALINA CHO, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kiran. Never forget the truth shall set you free. Good morning again. Good morning, everybody. You know, it's a common theme on the campaign trail, Barack Obama says John McCain wants to give billions of dollars in tax breaks to big corporations instead of the average Joe or Joe the plumber. The numbers Obama cites are staggering. The big question is, is it fuzzy math?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OBAMA: It's not change when he wants to give $200 billion to the biggest corporations or $4 billion to the oil companies.
CHO (voice-over): To get to the bottom of this one, we had to figure out where the Obama campaign got its numbers. Let's start with his first charge.
OBAMA: When he wants to give $200 billion to the biggest corporations.
CHO: The Obama campaign says that number came from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, which projected the effects of McCain's proposed corporate tax cut. The center confirms to CNN that the $200 billion figure is an accurate calculation of its findings.
MCCAIN: We should be cutting corporate tax for every business in America.
CHO: But what about that $4 billion that Obama claims McCain wants to give to oil companies? The campaign got that number from the liberal center for American Progress Action Fund. It concluded that under McCain's plan, the five largest American oil companies would see a projected tax cut of about $3.8 billion a year. The Obama campaign says if you factor in higher earnings next year, $4 billion is a safe estimate.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: All right. So the question again, Barack Obama says John McCain's tax plan would give back $200 billion to the biggest corporations and $4 billion to oil companies. So, is he right? The truth squad verdict on this one, True. McCain's argument is that lowering the corporate tax rate will enhance business development and create jobs. He also cited lower tax rates than other countries as being a key reason, Kiran, that American companies move jobs overseas. It's something you hear a lot on the campaign trail.
CHETRY: All right, Alina, thanks.
CHO: You bet.
ROBERTS: What is gambling doing on so many state ballots this year? A big bet on election day, the states rolling the dice on gambling. Is it a hidden tax on the poor or will it be a big boon for the economy? We'll tell you. 42 minutes after the hour.
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CHETRY: Welcome back to the most news in the morning. 44 minutes after the hour now, time to fast-forward to see what stories will be making news later today. The Federal Reserve expected to cut interest rates again. Some are expecting perhaps a drop of a half of a percentage point. The announcement is expected at 2:15 Eastern.
Game five of the World Series could finally end tonight, well, the whole series could finally end tonight. Game five definitely could end tonight. It was suspended due to rain Monday, then postponed again because it was still raining in Philadelphia last night. So now the Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays hope to continue the game tonight 8:30 Eastern. It's now tied 2-2 in the sixth inning with the Phillies needing only one more win to take their first World Series title since 1980 and that's a look at what we're following right now.
ROBERTS: To the most politics in the morning now and one key to victory in this election is Nevada. According to the latest CNN poll of polls in the silver state, Barack Obama leads John McCain 50 percent to 43 percent. And of all the states that allow early voting, Nevada may be one of the easiest places to cast your ballot before election day. CNN's Gary Tuchman explains why.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Kiran, 31 states have this kind of early voting. But in some states there are not a lot of locations, so the lines have been very long. Three, four, and five hours. But here in the state of Nevada, like many things in the state, the voting is easy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) TUCHMAN (voice-over): Wander through a shopping mall in the state of Nevada, past the stores and kiosks, and there's a good chance you'll be able to vote for the leader of the free world. No state makes it easier to vote early than Nevada.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's made very easy. The polls are open every day in your neighborhood and at every mall it's pretty much is open every day.
TUCHMAN: November 4th may be election day, but in 31 states where you can vote early without giving a reason, it's one of many election days. In some states like Indiana, North Carolina and Florida. The lines are often long, you can wait for hours. But at Nevada, there are so many voting machines in so many places, long waits are uncommon.
County election officials here in Nevada work to come up with creative convenient locations for early voting. Casinos, bars and brothels this being Nevada are not considered. But there are plenty of other options.
Besides malls, outlet centers, health clubs and grocery stores are just a few of those options. Nevada generally votes Republican. But Democrats are voting early by a more than 3-2 margin.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We thank you for voting early.
TUCHMAN: This McCain-Palin phone center in Las Vegas, GOP officials say they're not concerned about that. Mainly with the volunteers, John McCain's daughter Meghan and Linda Ramone, the wife of late punk rock legend Johnny Ramone.
MEGHAN MCCAIN, SEN. JOHN MCCAIN'S DAUGHTER: I think early voting is important, but I don't think it's vital. I think it's important, but getting out in general is important.
TUCHMAN: As they canvass neighborhoods, Democrats say -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will you be voting for Obama?
TUCHMAN: They will win Nevada for the first time since 1996.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can we count on you for an Obama vote?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And are you going to early vote?
TUCHMAN: Across the nation up to one-third of voters are expected to cast early ballots. Democracy may be hard.
CHUCK HEATH, GOV. SARAH PALIN'S BROTHER: I love it. It's easy.
TUCHMAN: But voting doesn't have to be.
(END VIDEOTAPE) TUCHMAN: The prevalence of early voting is only likely to increase as the years go on, people really like it. I talked to a woman a short time ago. She's 19 years old and it's her first presidential election and this may not sound dignified, but she told me it's as easy as voting for "American Idol." John and Kiran?
CHETRY: Gary Tuchman for us, thanks. Well, CNN NEWSROOM just minutes away now. Heidi Collins at the CNN Center with a look at what's ahead. Good morning, Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Kiran. That's right. Here's what we're working on for the NEWSROOM now. Six days to go. We've got the candidate live on the campaign trail. Plus, their plans for your children's education.
One day wonder or start of a trend? We're following Wall Street after nearly 900-point leap in the markets yesterday. That was pretty incredible.
And a $10 million cat to turn a sleepy town into a tourist Mecca. We get started at the top of the hour, right here on CNN. Kiran.
CHETRY: All right, Heidi. We look forward to it. Thanks.
COLLINS: All right.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS (voice-over): Casino Royale.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's almost like an arms race among the states for gambling money. It's a way for states to generate revenue without raising taxes.
COLLINS: Betting on gambling initiatives. More states are rolling the dice on the November 4th ballot. You're watching the most news in the morning.
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CHETRY: You know, this election a number of states are taking a chance and betting that if they offer you more ways to try your luck, the payoff will cover growing budget shortfalls. CNN's Carol Costello's live in Washington. So, you know, more and more states are looking to either add gambling, expand it in one way, shape, or form to try to cover their budget shortfalls.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And sometimes it works. I mean, do you realize this? In 1988, there were just two states with casinos. Today there are 38. And come November 4th, there could be two more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO (voice-over): Hey, governors, got budget problems? Roll the dice. State-sanctioned gambling is so common it's hard to remember when gambling was a sin. Remember "Guys and Dolls"?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You who gamble with cards and dices and horse racing, let us help you not to lose your hard-earned money in gambling dens and bookie joints.
COSTELLO: Today every state has some form of legalized gambling, horses, slots, lotteries, except Utah and Hawaii.
PAMELA PRAH, STATELINE.ORG: It's almost like an arms race among the states for gambling money. It's a way for states to generate revenue without raising taxes.
COSTELLO: And with state budgets running dry, five states are asking voters on November 4th to check "yes" to expand gambling. Ohio wants to build a casino. Arkansas, long opposed to a lottery, now wants one. And Maryland, where they've been betting on horses for almost a century is pinning for racinos where you can also play the slots.
ANNOUNCER: We can bring the dollars home by passing slots.
COSTELLO: The state actually wants to install 15,000 slot machines statewide, hoping its gamble will offset a $700 million state deficit. Opponents are crying foul with TV commercials.
ANNOUNCER: Don't let Annapolis fool you again. Slots won't fix our economy.
COSTELLO: And they say slots will prey on lower-income people hoping for a big payday. But Maryland and other states say they can no longer afford to lose gambling revenues to their neighbors.
PRAH: Maryland estimates that about $650 million spent among its residents in other states. So, that's money that Maryland would like to have in its coffers.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And oddly enough, Kiran, revenue from gambling is actually down. Atlantic City temporarily rescinded its smoking ban for fear it would drive off gamblers. Revenues dropped in Atlantic City 15 percent in September. But that's because of our lousy economy and because people no longer have to travel to gamble. They can do it right at home.
CHETRY: That's right. You know, it is interesting when you talk about how many are on these ballots. I'm from Maryland and I was looking through, wow, they're voting on a gambling initiative this time around. They do make the argument that it's just very easy to drive to New Jersey.
COSTELLO: That's right or Pennsylvania, Delaware. So they want slots right in Maryland and city or state officials say they can raise what $650 million just Doing that.
CHETRY: At least keep it in the state, for sure. All right, we'll see how it turns out on election day. Carol, thanks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY (voice-over): Cuddly candidates.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I buy it and bring it home, my mother will kill me.
CHETRY: From dolls to drapes. Jeanne Moos has a rather most unusual look at life on the campaign trail.
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Did you actually measure the drapes?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I did.
CHETRY: You're watching the most news in the morning.
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ROBERTS: 57 minutes after the hour. We got some new polling information to tell you about here. A new CNN poll of polls, this is for the state of Ohio. Take a look at this. Barack Obama now up eight points over John McCain, 50 percent to 42 percent. With eight percent of people saying that they are still undecided. By the way, we have a whole slew of CNN opinion research corporation polls coming out this afternoon. Wolf Blitzer will have those for us on "the Situation Room" today.
By now, everyone has heard the John McCain claim that Obama is measuring the drapes in the White House, but do new presidents actually have the drapes changed? Our Jeanne Moos with that answer, plus some other unusual campaign moments that you might have missed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): Cuddly candidates.
There he is.
Cold candidates. In jacket and jeans, Senator Obama addressed supporters in a monsoon that left Obama fans shivering.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want change!
MOOS: Change of temperature. Change of drapes?
MCCAIN: Senator Obama's measuring the drapes.
PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: ... measuring the drapes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not measuring any drapes.
MCCAIN: He's measuring the drapes.
MOOS: Did you actually measure the drapes?
VOICE OF KAKI HOCKERSMITH, CLINTON INTERIOR DESIGNER: Yes, I did, on January 2nd.
MOOS: Interior designer Becky Hockersmith changed the drapes to gold after Bill Clinton was elected. Changed them from the blue drapes favored by George Bush Sr. Do they have to change the drapes for every president?
HOCKERSMITH: Most presidents do change the oval office.
MOOS: Currently the drapes are gold again. Even "Saturday Night Live" may have to change its drapes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thumbs-up, everybody.
MOOS: Just imagine the drapes Paris Hilton would install.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Paris for President!
PARIS HILTON, Your commander in bikini.
MOOS: This her new Paris for President video. Other political videos are capitalizing on the false story told by that McCain supporter who claimed an Obama supporter carved a "b" in her cheek. Here come the parodies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to be a John McCain supporter.
MOOS: On "the Daily Show," fake business correspondent Samantha Bee claimed Alan Greenspan disfigured her.
JON STEWART, HOST "THE DAILY SHOW": The "G" on your cheek is backwards.
SAMANTHA BEE: I know, he must have done it from inside my mouth somehow.
MOOS: And speaking of initials, there's the "n" word controversy that wasn't. Someone screamed something about Barack Obama at a Sarah Palin rally.
PALIN: And -
MOOS: Left-wing blogs thought the "n" word has been hurled. Soon right-wing blogs were analyzing the sound bite.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And -- and --
MOOS: Most listeners concluded the woman yelled "he's a redistributor" referring to redistribution of wealth. The mike was even slowed down for analysis. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And -- and --
MOOS (on-camera): With all this hostility, maybe it's time for a hug. Let's get them in the right order here. Cabbage Patch candidates, Obama and Biden, McCain and Palin.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I buy that and bring it home, my mother will kill me.
MOOS: Actually these are one of a kind to be auctioned off on eBay to mark the 25th anniversary of the Cabbage Patch Kids with proceeds going to charity. At least no one's asking her where the outfit's from. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: I don't know about you but I just can't get enough of that Paris Hilton.
CHETRY: Well, that's incentive to work out, huh? Go, Paris.
ROBERTS: Put that on.
CHETRY: Nice bikini.
ROBERTS: More.
CHETRY: Well, thanks so much for joining us on this AMERICAN MORNING. We'll see you back here bright and early tomorrow.
ROBERTS: Right now, here's CNN NEWSROOM with Heidi Collins.
