Voters Head to Polls for Super Tuesday
BROWN: And as always, the best political team on television will be here today, tonight, tomorrow, for the latest on this very important day. Let's turn things over now to Kyra Phillips and Don Lemon in Atlanta.</s>KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: Campbell, thanks so much. CNN NEWSROOM coverage of Super Tuesday starts right now. I'm Kyra Phillips at CNN world headquarters here in Atlanta.</s>DON LEMON, CO-HOST: And Kyra, I am Don Lemon at a place I'm sure you're very familiar with and a lot of our viewers in the south are familiar with, the Varsity. It is an Atlanta institution. It is lunch time in the east, lunch time in the Midwest, but out west it's breakfast time so we came to a theater here, and we are gauging the pulse of the voters on this Super Tuesday.</s>PHILLIPS: All right. We'll be checking in with you, Don. And you know it from watching: CNN has got the best political team on television. And we've got reporters fanned out from coast to coast on this Super Tuesday. They're at polling stations, campaign headquarters, talking with voters. You're going to stay with us all through the day and through the night on the biggest day yet in the 2008 campaign. That is the reason it's called Super Tuesday. For the Democrats, 1,681 delegates are at stake. For the Republicans, 1,020. To win the nomination, the Democrat needs 2,025 delegates; and for Republicans, the magic number is 1,191. The race for the White House is the talk of the lunch-time crowd at one of Atlanta's landmarks. That's exactly where Don said he was, the Varsity drive-in near the Georgia Tech campus. Don, what are they saying besides you might have indigestion?</s>LEMON: Kyra, you know, and I got something for you. It's going to be a little bit, you know, by the time we get back. Got a little hot dog for you and some fries. I didn't eat all morning. I was rushing to get here. And I also got, you know, something to drink here. Been rushing all morning. But you know, seriously, we have been talking to folks in line here and people sitting down. Did they vote, are they going to vote, what are issues they're talking about? Here in Georgia, they're talking about this new I.D. voting system -- voter I.D. system that just went into effect in September. We're going to tell you all about that, what you're going to need when you get there. You're going to need this. This is an I.D. But you need a government-issued I.D. Also, you're going to need your voter registration card if you don't have a government-issued I.D. And then a photo I.D. And then once you do that, once you get there -- this is my little work station here, along with my lunch -- you're going to need this. They'll give you this, "I am a Georgia voter," right on a peach. It's really heating up here between the Republicans. Who knows what's going to happen? Usually, Georgia goes on the Republican side, but it's really heating up among Democrats, even though Barack Obama, in Georgia, people are saying that he's in the lead, some polls show, by 20 points. But this was what was on my door last night, Kyra, when I got home. I said, "Oh, I got a visit today from Barack Obama." Just on the door. You know, just like in the hotel room when they -- when they tell you disturb or not disturb. Anyway, and it gives you all the information about voting, where you go. So we're going to talk to some of these people. Very big place to eat here. Huge, gimongous [sic]! We're going to talk to some of these people, coming up in the</s>CNN NEWSROOM. PHILLIPS: All right, Don. Sounds good. We'll be checking in. And Hillary Clinton is spending this Super Tuesday on her home turf. Our senior political correspondent, Candy Crowley, covering the Clinton campaign in New York. Candy, there's a lot at stake today for Senator Clinton.</s>CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. There is a lot at stake, frankly, for both of them here. I can tell you that Camp Clinton, at this point, is saying, "Well, we think we'll kind of come out and maybe go into March, even April." They think that it will be even, that New York, where she represents, to Illinois that he represents, they may balance each other out and that, in the swing states, because Democrats give proportional delegates out according to district, that they will probably split it. So this may not be a definitive vote, at least the way Hillary Clinton is adding it up at this point. They do what they always do on these election days. She was out and about early doing the round of morning talk shows. If you remember, almost half of the 50 states are involved today. So the best way to reach them is go out on the national TV shows. Then she went voting with her husband and Chelsea in tow and pronounced herself feeling pretty good about the whole thing.</s>SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I -- I feel very, very good about the campaign. I've got a lot of people working hard for me across the country. The issue now is who will come out to vote. And I think if people ask themselves who they think will be the best president, and Democrats ask who they think would be the best candidate to win in November, I'm very comfortable with the answers to those questions.</s>CROWLEY: Although I have to tell you, Kyra, I have yet to meet a presidential candidate or a candidate of any kind that doesn't say they feel good on election day.</s>PHILLIPS: I know. They have to say that. Right, Candy?</s>CROWLEY: Absolutely. I sort of wait for the one saying, "You know what? I think I'm going to lose this one."</s>PHILLIPS: Yes, exactly. "I'm going to lose. I'm having a very bad day. No one's voting for me. Life is just down in the dumps." All right, Candy. We'll be talking again. Appreciate it.</s>CROWLEY: OK, thanks.</s>PHILLIPS: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are locked in a bruising battle for the biggest prize of all on this Super Tuesday: California. It's a whopping 370 Democratic delegates at stake. CNN's Jessica Yellin joins us now from a polling place in Fullerton, California, with more on the Obama campaign. Hey, Jessica.</s>JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. You know, what's been happening here in California is a microcosm of what we've seen in the Obama campaign nationwide. This state for the longest time was real Clinton country. Even a few weeks ago, Senator Hillary Clinton had a healthy lead here. But Obama has narrowed that lead so significantly that they're locked in a dead heat. And it's incredibly impressive the amount of energy and attention both candidates have been devoting to California. Barack Obama using this terrain to promote his message -- to new voters, to disaffected Democrats, to independents -- that he's the kind of leader they can believe in and that he would pose the starkest contrast to the Republicans. One of the themes we've been hearing a lot recently is that he's the guy who can really make a change in Washington if it's a fight against John McCain or a fight against George Bush's policies. Let's hear what he had to say.</s>SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Listen, I may be skinny, but I'm tough. And I'm from Chicago, and we know how to play politics. But what -- but what I also know is if you know what you stand for, if you know what you believe in, then you can afford to reach out across the aisle.</s>YELLIN: So he's saying he's ready for the fight. One big unknown: how will absentee voters factor into this state? Here in California, as many as 50 percent of all votes might already be in by absentee ballot. Most of them, based on past history, would be women and people who voted right when Hillary Clinton had that surge in New Hampshire. So all of that could help her. We're just going to have to see how it plays out today -- Kyra.</s>PHILLIPS: All right. We'll be watching and talking more. Jessica Yellin, thanks so much. And John McCain is logging some major miles today. Morning in New York, afternoon in California, back home tonight in Arizona. Dana Bash joins us now from Phoenix, where the GOP frontrunner hopes to be celebrating -- Dana.</s>DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He hopes to be celebrating here, but in an indication of the fact that they are a bit concerned, in fat, John McCain himself admitted that he's concerned about the biggest state in tonight's -- in today's voting, that's California. He is making his way to California as we speak for one last day and one last moment of campaigning with voters there, because, you know, as much as they have been focusing on the northeast in the McCain campaign, on New York and New Jersey, those contests that have winner-take-all primaries, they are -- they do realize that California matters big-time. But as you said, John McCain did start his day in New York. And he made pretty clear that that is one of the states he hopes will help him on his way to the nomination.</s>SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thanks to these people behind you. Thanks to a hard campaign. Thanks to the ups and downs, but thanks for our steadfastness and all the friends and supporters we have, we're going to win New York today and we're going to win New York in the general election, and I'm going to carry the state of New York. And we're going to campaign, and we're going to campaign all over this magnificent state. And we're not going to give it up to anybody.</s>BASH: Now what John McCain is trying to do there by saying we're going to win New York in the general election is sort of a subtle message, trying to make the case that he is the kind of Republican who can reach out to independents, perhaps win a state like New York, which has not been won by a Republican in a very long time. That, Kyra, as he is absolutely getting pounded still by his chief rival in this race, Mitt Romney, who says that John McCain simply is not conservative enough to be the GOP nomination.</s>MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You're sitting here, going to have the first voice in the battle of the heart and soul of the Republican Party. And I'm going to ask you some questions here, because you're going to have a choice as to whether you're going to select a conservative, myself, to lead the party, somebody who will stay in the house that Ronald Reagan built. or whether we're going to take a left turn as a party. And I'll just ask you these questions. Do you want to have as your nominee a person who voted against drilling in ANWR? Do you want a person as your nominee, someone who voted against the Bush tax cuts?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>ROMNEY: Do you want to have a person as your nominee, a person who voted against the marriage amendment?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>ROMNEY: Do you want a person as your nominee who voted against federal funding for -- excuse me, voted for federal funding for embryonic stem cell research?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>ROMNEY: Do you want as your nominee a person who authored a bill and fought for a bill that gave amnesty to all illegal aliens?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No!</s>BASH: Now there you hear Mitt Romney absolutely determined not to let tonight be the night that effectively gives John McCain the nomination. John McCain clearly a bit more worried than he has been in the past 24 hours or so, by his words this morning, and also by his actions in going one last time to the state of California. Don't forget, Kyra, there is another Republican in this race. Mike Huckabee also spoke this morning in West Virginia, insisting that he is going to do well in his home turf, in all of these important southern states that are also among the 24 or so that are voting later today.</s>PHILLIPS: All right, Dana Bash live from Phoenix. Dana, thanks. And as Dana said, the first results on this Super Tuesday could come from West Virginia. Republicans there are holding a state convention. They've already had one round of voting, with Mitt Romney leading, but no candidate got a majority. Round two is going on now. We should have a winner this afternoon. John McCain isn't there, but Romney, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul all spoke to conventioneers.</s>MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Other candidates have had bigger budgets. But you know what? I'm almost tied in delegates with those who have spent 10, 15, 20 times what I have. And kind of tells me something: that it may be that it's time for the people to elect a president and not just the national media and the pundits to pick our president for us.</s>PHILLIPS: West Virginia has 18 GOP delegates up for grabs. The winner takes them all. And we're going to bring you those results as soon as we get them. Now you can be the first to know Super Tuesday results. Just sign up for CNN breaking news e-mail alerts. And you'll know when we know right here at CNN, election headquarters. Just sign up now at CNN.com. Well, Atlanta's Varsity always attracts a big crowd on this Super Tuesday. That includes my co-anchor, Don Lemon. He's sampling the moods of the voters, also the food at the world's largest drive-in. Hey, Don.</s>LEMON: The world's largest drive-in, and the food is pretty good. Not always necessarily great for you, but anything in moderation. Hey, listen, a lot of people are taking their lunch hour, as well, to vote. And I'm holding my voter I.D. and also my driver's license here, because this is what people in Georgia are going to need. Several states across the country are doing these new voter I.D. systems. Georgia's one of them. People out -- precinct watchers sort of watching, civil rights workers gauging that, making sure that people are able to vote now and there aren't any problems with people showing their I.D. We talked about how big this drive-in is. Look at all those folks over here. That's one level. There's about two or three levels to this place. I don't know how many square feet it is. I'll have to ask. But it is gigantic. People ordering their lunch. A lot of them have been in the polling places. A guy back there just said, "Hi, mom." Some have been to the polling places; some haven't. These guys work together. They're all from Georgia. I'm going to go over here. Sorry to interrupt your conversation. You work at Georgia Tech, right?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I do.</s>LEMON: Your name is Adam?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.</s>LEMON: Did you vote yet?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I did.</s>LEMON: You did. What do you -- why do you think so many people, they're saying in this race there appears to be less apathy, probably, than any other race in history. Why do you think people are so interested?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First, because it's wide open. I couldn't tell you who's going to win either race. And because of the issues. I mean, things like war and the economy and that kind of stuff is very important to people.</s>LEMON: Yes. How was your experience at the polling place this morning?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was pretty good. It was faster than I thought it was going to be.</s>LEMON: Yes?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I only had about a ten-minute wait or so.</s>LEMON: Really? No problems with showing I.D.? You were fine?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I showed my Georgia Tech I.D., which is interesting, instead of my driver's license, but they took it, because it's a government-issued</s>I.D. LEMON: Are you sure about that?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.</s>LEMON: We may have some issues with that. I'm glad you mentioned the war. You said the war and the economy are important issues, right, for people?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.</s>LEMON: All right. Great. Hey, thank you, guys. Go back to your lunch. I'm going to walk over here real quick. It's kind of a big place. Stay with me, sir. Because I saw some -- some men in uniform back here. And I want to get their opinion about -- this is one part of the restaurant, another part of the restaurant we were telling you about. Hey, guys, sorry to interrupt your lunch. You -- you're not from Georgia. Right? You're from where? Washington state?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's the last place I was stationed, yes.</s>LEMON: What's your name again?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry. Leonard Paville (ph).</s>LEMON: Yes. Why do you think -- why do you think people are so interested? You voted absentee, right?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roger.</s>LEMON: Why did you do that?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's a national election. It's important to do that. Exercise your citizenship.</s>LEMON: Yes. One of the guys over there I spoke to just said, you know, every-day guy said to him the important issues are the economy and the war. You're in uniform. That's why I wanted to ask you guys about that. Important to you guys in uniform, our men and women in uniform, because?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obviously it's our job. The stance of the candidates, I think, during the -- during the elections, of course, what they say is, I think, vastly different than once they take office.</s>LEMON: Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's the responsibility of everybody to vote.</s>LEMON: Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you can make sure</s>LEMON: All right. Great. Hey, thank you guys for what you do, the sacrifice you make for all of us. We appreciate it. And we appreciate you letting us disturb your lunch for a little bit. So enjoy. Glad you voted absentee. So this is what we're doing, gauging the pulse of the people out here. This is every-day life, Georgia. The biggest and busiest place you can eat anywhere, I'm told, Kyra. Is that right?</s>PHILLIPS: I don't know. I still haven't had the guts to go and try one of those big dogs, but maybe can you bring one back. I'll give it a sample.</s>LEMON: I've gotten orders on my BlackBerry already. Let's see. A bunch of people are saying, "Here's what I want." Chili dogs. Some people like onion rings. So I got it all.</s>PHILLIPS: Because we never have time to eat on this shift.</s>LEMON: ... to the</s>NEWSROOM. PHILLIPS: OK. That sounds good. Thanks, Don.</s>LEMON: I've got to go right now. I'll see you later.</s>PHILLIPS: All right. See you in a little bit. All right. We're going to talk a lot about the candidates this afternoon, both Democrat and Republican. But we're also going to talk about the voters and specifically the role that independents play in the delegate chase. Just a little later, we're going to check out buzz on the blogs with some of the bloggers who live for election days. And we're going to check in with our reporters at polling places across the country as our Super Tuesday coverage continues. Much more ahead, including a severe Super Tuesday forecast. Chad Myers in the house, coming up next.