Record Number Expected to Vote in Pennsylvania
CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most Politics in the Morning. Barack Obama's aggressive ground organization in North Carolina could actually turn this red state blue. Our latest CNN Poll of Polls shows the state nearly tied. Barack Obama with a one-point advantage over John McCain. It's 49-48 percent. Three percent still saying they're unsure. And joining us now is Pam Stone, the host of WLNK's "The Pam Stone Show." She's a liberal talk radio host with plenty of conservative listeners. And of course you're supporting Barack Obama. I want to ask you about this early voting effort in your state. More than double the number of people that came out in 2004. So far, 2.5 million and counting. Why has there been such enthusiasm for early voting?</s>PAM STONE, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Well, I think -- and by the way, good morning, Kiran. I've been</s>CHETRY: Why is it so close right now? Why is it 48-49 in your state?</s>STONE: Well, I mean, I'm just so thrilled that this state is in play at all. It's like Indiana. You know, it's like, "Hello Ripley's?" Who would have thought? I think because we have a candidate who has inspired not only the African-American vote, the youth vote, and, you know, people like me, average people. I have friends that are cradle conservatives, cradle conservatives -- executives, middle age white guys, that are voting Obama, first time in their life.</s>CHETRY: And I want to ask you about that as well, because you also have a really tight Senate race going on in your state that could affect the balance of power, meaning that if Democrats have a veto- proof majority, it could make a huge difference for what gets done in Washington. Elizabeth Dole's having a tough re-election fight. What's going on with that in your state? What are your listeners talking about?</s>STONE: Well, Elizabeth Dole made a huge, huge mistake with this last ad she did with -- the godless ad with Kay Hagan, because Kay Hagan of course has now launched a lawsuit for defamation of character. It's been proven that this was not a benefit fund-raiser for The Godless Group. And what it has done is it has just made Liddy Dole, who -- you know, there's two types of southern women, Kiran. You know, there's the southern women that are "Bless your heart," you know, and they're sweet and kind. And then there's southern women that are like, "Well, hey. I will cut you." And that's how Liddy Dole is now coming across, as not genuine, doing anything to win. And people are so turned off with negative campaigning. It's been said across the country people are sick of it, and that's exactly what's happened. I mean, she has, I think, shot herself in the foot with that ad. She has done herself no favors whatsoever.</s>CHETRY: All right. Pam Stone talking about what's going on with your listeners. Host of WLNK's "The Pam Stone Show." Thanks so much for joining us this morning.</s>STONE: You're so welcome.</s>CHETRY: And stop with the Krispy Kremes. No more Krispy Kremes until the election is over.</s>STONE: I can't help myself. It's a law. It's a law.</s>CHETRY: Thanks, Pam.</s>STONE: You bet.</s>ROBERTS: That sugar high, it's a terrible thing. Thirty-three minutes after the hour. It's after 5:00 a.m. here in the East Coast, and polls already open in the state of Vermont. Three electoral votes up for grabs there. In just about a half an hour, polls open in nine more states here in the East, including the battleground states of Indiana and Virginia. And it wasn't just the tops of the tickets hitting the trail late last night. Both Joe Biden and Sarah Palin were out making one last push with voters. Joe Biden was in Philadelphia, in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Sarah Palin was in Elko, Nevada.</s>SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D-DE), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now's the time we have to act. Barack Obama and I believe when the Congress goes back in November, we have to put a three-month moratorium on all housing foreclosures. We've got to stop it now. And folks, I promise you one thing -- and South Philly and Philly understands this, and Barack Obama is all about it -- and that is, we'll embrace the single most enduring American belief that every generation before us has understood, and that is, we don't have to accept things the way they are. We can bend history to our own making!</s>GOV. SARAH PALIN (R-AK), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So just hours away, Elko, the time for choosing, it is so near. Nevada, are you ready to help us carry your state to victory?</s>ROBERTS: And our Brian Todd joins us live from Philadelphia this morning, where a record turnout is expected, and the Obama camp is behind a huge get-out-the-vote effort trying to win the blue collar vote in that battleground state. And Brian, I guess it could be said that John McCain's fortunes in Pennsylvania really ride on the margins that Barack Obama can rack up there in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.</s>BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, John. A relentless voter registration drive by Barack Obama. We're going to talk about that in a second. That's going to help him in this area. We're here at the Overbrook Library, where long lines are expected like so many other places in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. We're going to show you through the window here they have eight electronic voting machines ready to go. They're under those canvas bags there. In about an hour and a half, this polling station is going to open up. Officials here are going to get here pretty soon to throw open those canvas bags and get those machines going. You know, the machines are going to be watched very, very closely in the state for a couple of reasons. Record turnout is one. In the primaries, 35 of the city's 3,400 voting machines here in Philadelphia went down. So they're going to be watching these very closely. State and federal officials are even jumping into the fray here to try to mitigate some of the problems. State officials are telling people here, look, don't come and vote during the prime voting hours. That means between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m., and maybe after 3:00 p.m. They're urging people, you know, just be patient, try to get here in those midday hours. You'll probably have a shorter line. But if you're in a long line, hang in there and wait it out. Also, a federal judge has told polling stations like this you have to paper ballots ready in case maybe half or more than half of a given precinct's voting machines go down. So they're going to have those ready. But yes, voter registration was key here. Obama had a really relentless voter registration drive. We were at a place on Saturday, a phone bank, where his volunteers were getting out the vote. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state by about a million, so Barack Obama very strong here in Philadelphia, and in Pittsburgh. We're going to be watching this vote very closely.</s>ROBERTS: All right. Polls open at 7:00 this morning. Brian Todd for us this morning in Philadelphia. Brian, thanks so much.</s>CHETRY: And we are watching out for your vote all day on this Election Day. If you see any problems at the polls, give us a call: 8770-GOCNN-08. It's our voter hotline. Again, 877-462-6608.</s>ROBERTS: Will one party control two branches of the government? We're going to look at the balance of power and the Republican push to stop Democratic dominance. You're watching the most politics in the morning on this Tuesday, November 4th, Election Day.