[Fredricka Whitfield, Cnn Anchor:] Batteries, generators, bottled water. Floridians know the drill. They stock up and batten down as tropical storm Fay heads their way.Precious memories of golden times. Olympians of yesteryear reunite for the Beijing games. And faith, religion and politics. The presidential candidates are quizzed by one of the nation's most prominent pastors. Hello, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield and are you in the CNN NEWSROOM. Winds are picking up and that means it is time to tie things down in south Florida key west and the rest of the state are preparing for tropical storm Fay. It is already a killer storm. Not a hurricane yet. But both forecasters and residents are expecting that it will be. Florida's governor has already declared a state of emergency.
[Voice Of Gov. Charlie Crist, Florida:] It's important that as people start to migrate north and out of the Florida keys, that they stay calm, that they stay relaxed. But be vigilant and listen to the local officials, which is another important thing I think for all Floridians, as the storm continues to approach us, pay attention to your local news. Make sure you have a battery-operated radio. Make sure that you have three days of water and again, go to floridadisaster.org and get all the tips and information that you might need.
[Whitfield:] So, right now let's look at the storm's location. Cuba. Knocking on Havana's door is what Fay is doing. Likely tracking northward towards the Florida keys. CNN is your hurricane headquarters. Before, during and after the storm, meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is on top of all of it in the severe weather center. Again it is tropical storm right now but it threatens to build that kind of hurricane strength. Right?
[Jacqui Jeras, Cnn Meteorologist:] Yes, it does. I don't think it is going to happen until it makes its way across Cuba though. It is offshore. The center of circulation is somewhere down here, real tough to pick it out on satellite because it is really kind of sort of disorganized, believe it or not. It is not a real symmetrical storm. You know, a lot of times tropical storms will see that perfectly kind of round structure with all the intensity right in middle. We're starting to see more of that center building a little bit so we may get some strengthening here, but I don't think there is necessarily enough time before it crosses over the island of Cuba. It is probably in these real warm bath waters in the mid to upper 80s where we'll start to see more of that intensification and see this become a hurricane. In the meantime, check out these pictures that we got out of Cuba where some of the heaviest rain has fallen. This is Santa Cruz Del Sur, not too far away from the center of the storm. Right now, just torrential downpours. There you can see the wind there whipping the water, whipping the trees as well. Those maximum winds around 50 miles per hour but we're getting some pretty hefty gusts now up to 65 miles per hour. So you don'want to see these people out and about. Hopefully everybody is inside in a safe location at this time. Now, where is the storm going? I'll tell you, that is the money question, isn't it? We are feeling the impacts already across the Florida keys. We could have impact here. We're especially looking at the western keys, over towards the [] for a potential landfall but we just can't tell because when things move over land, there's so much uncertainty and so many different things really that count for interactions. Here is some of the stronger storms moving into the northern and central keys. We have a quick shot out of Key Largo where we see some ominous looking clouds in the distance. There you see the flags flapping in the wind. We've had wind gusts around 20 miles per hour or so. Probably not going to see a direct impact here but tropical storm force wind gusts could be affecting you as early as midday tomorrow. So, Fredricka, really everybody in the south Florida area, along the western coast, including the panhandle, needs to be watching Fay. We'll have a much better handle I think on where the storm will be hitting Florida exactly once we get off the coast of Cuba. We think that will happen some time tomorrow morning.
[Whitfield:] Yes because anything can happen. I guess that water is only about 90 miles between Cuba and South Florida, the tip of South Florida there. So that is kind of warm water. It's kind of where everything converges so it can redirect where this storm goes. Right?
[Jeras:] We'll be watching. Yes, we got a little system that could come in that we think is going to help drive it north, and that's going to be coming in from the U.S. actually. And I think that's what's going to drive it more northerly rather than west-northwesterly like it is right now.
[Whitfield:] OK, Jacqui. Thanks so much. All right. Take a look right now what it looks like in the Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo. Yes, a lot of water there. Tropical storm Fay roared ashore yesterday. We have reports of at least four people now dying in the floodwaters. All that water just having no place to go. Well, when the weather becomes the news remember to send us your i- reports. Just go to i-report.com, or type i-report@cnn.com into your cell phone. But remember we want you to stay safe. Well, those in the crosshairs of Fay are doing one of two things right now, preparing to ride out the storm, or getting out of town. Let's take a look at U.S. 1, well, behind our John Zarrella there in South Florida, Monroe County, a lot of the visitors are being asked or I guess told to leave, aren't they?
[John Zarrella, Cnn Correspondent:] Yes, that's exactly right, Fredricka. A mandatory evacuation for nonresidents of the Florida keys. This is U.S. 1. Of course, it is the only road in and out of the keys. Can you see the heavy line of traffic streaming north here. And you know, we just a little while ago talked to a couple of guys who had made their way up from key west. We are literally at mile marker 100. So, 100 miles from here to key west. It took them four hours to get here. 100 miles. Now further up the road as you leave Key Largo and head towards the mainland, another 20 miles of absolutely bumper-to-bumper traffic. It is backed up as people are trying to make their way, the none residents, out of the keys. Hotels are closing down. People are being told to evacuate, leave the keys if you don't live there. They're also opening up four shelters in the Florida keys for people who are living in low-lying areas, in mobile homes, people who live on boats that are not safe. So they're telling them to go to these shelters, if they can. There are also school closings, of course government buildings closed, everybody closed here tomorrow and Tuesday. And the gas stations, of course, as you might expect filled with cars, lots of traffic coming in and out of here as people try to gas up to finish their trek northward out of the Florida keys. If power goes out, of course, we will likely see some of these stations won't be able to pump the gasoline. Now, because this is a south-to-north moving storm when it moves across and heads toward Florida, people all over the state are preparing. In West Palm Beach, about 100 miles north of here, people were crowding the grocery stores, flocking there, picking up their water, their batteries, their bread, their last-minute supplies, an even across into Orlando. All across the state, people making preparations for what is now tropical storm Fay, but, Fredricka, could become hurricane Fay by the time it gets here. Fredricka.
[Whitfield:] It's best to be prepared and a lot of folks there have a lot of practice about that. John Zarrella, you included, be safe and keep us posted. Appreciate it.
[Zarrella:] Will do. Will do.
[Whitfield:] All right. Let's talk presidential politics now. The campaign went to church last night. One of the nation's best known pastors hosted John McCain and Barack Obama. The result a revealing view at what makes the candidates tick and how faith might guide them in the White House. Here now is CNN's senior political analyst, Bill Schneider.
[Bill Schneider, Cnn Senior Political Analyst:] In a sometimes uncivil campaign, the civil forum brought us this moment.
[Rev. Rick Warren, Saddleback Church:] Thank you, guys.
[Schneider:] Their first appearance together lasted just seconds. In the middle of the forum that lived up to its name. Same questions, different styles and substance.
[Warren:] What does it mean to you to trust in Christ?
[Schneider:] Some questions, of course, centered on religion.
[Sen. Barack Obama , Presidential Candidate:] As a starting point, it means I believe in that Jesus Christ died for my sins.
[Sen. John Mccain , Presidential Candidate:] It means I'm saved and forgiven.
[Schneider:] Others, more politically pointed.
[Warren:] At what point is a baby entitled to human rights?
[Mccain:] At the moment of conception.
[Obama:] If you believe that life begins at conception, then and you are consistent in that belief, then I can't argue with you on that. What I can do is say, are there ways that we can work together to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies?
[Schneider:] Obama tried to convince religious voters he's not a threat, even when they disagree. McCain reached out to social conservatives trying to answer lingering doubts for some. The unique questions from Warren brought answers not always heard on the trail. Obama on which Supreme Court justice he wouldn't have appointed.
[Obama:] I would not have nominated Clarence Thomas. I don't think that he was a strong enough jurist or legal thinker.
[Schneider:] McCain surprised the room with his answer on this biggest moral failing.
[Mccain:] My greatest moral failing and I have been a very imperfect person is the failure of my first marriage.
[Schneider:] McCain's lasting impression on the audience sharing personal stories to highlight the sacrifices he's made.
[Mccain:] In a prison camp in North Vietnam, my father was a high- ranking admiral. The Vietnamese came and said that I could leave prison early. But I said, no. And I'll never forget sitting my last answer and the high-ranking officer who offered it, slammed the door and the interrogator said, go back to your cell. It's going to very tough on you now.
[Schneider:] For Obama, thoughtfulness may have been his theme with his answers often more complex.
[Obama:] Solving big problems, like for example, energy, is not going to be easy. If we pretend like everything free, and there's no sacrifice involved, then we are betraying the tradition of America.
[Schneider:] No ties for the candidates this Saturday night. The next time they meet in the fall debates, the questions and the setting will be a little more formal.
[Obama:] Go get them.
[Schneider:] Bill Schneider, CNN.
[Whitfield:] And if you missed it, we'll replay the forum in its entirety tonight at 8:00 Eastern. Pastor Rick Warren will visit with Rick Sanchez this evening as well. That's at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. He is Larry King's guest tomorrow night on "Larry King Live." We're talking about Rick Warren, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 Pacific right here on CNN. Overseas, cease-fire or no? Russian troops still not rushing to leave Georgia. And smiling through their years. Thousands gather to mourn and celebrate comedian Bernie Mac.