CBS "Early Show" - Transcript

Interview

CBS "Early Show"

MR. SMITH: On this final day before the North Carolina and Indiana contests, we're talking to both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. We begin with Senator Obama in Evansville, Indiana.

Good morning, Senator.

SEN. OBAMA: Good morning, Harry. How are you?

MR. SMITH: We're doing good here. Tell me how important tomorrow is to you and your campaign?

SEN. OBAMA: Well, you know, every state's been important. Every contest has been important. And obviously Indiana and North Carolina are a couple of big states that I think represent what people are worried about all across the country. They're concerned about rising gas prices. They're concerned about jobs being shipped overseas. They're concerned about loved ones being sent to Iraq. And most importantly, they're concerned about making sure that American dream is available for the next generation.

And so we've had a wonderful time traveling all across these states, listening to people, hearing their stories and hearing about their struggles. And one thing I'm convinced about is that people are ready to change Washington to actually deliver on some of the problems that have been made in the past but have not been fulfilled.

MR. SMITH: Some of your supporters would be concerned, though, if they looked at the front page of the USA Today today, because right now Hillary Clinton actually leads you 51 to 44 percent nationally. Indiana is a toss-up. North Carolina looks to be closing fast. If she wins both of those contests tomorrow, won't she be able to say, "I'm the one with the momentum"? Shouldn't the super-delegates go in her direction?

SEN. OBAMA: Harry, you know, you just cited your own poll showing --

MR. SMITH: You'd both beat John McCain, right.

SEN. OBAMA: -- a number of different results. So, you know, I don't spend too much time worrying about polls. You know, what I spend time doing is listening to what families across Indiana and North Carolina and across the country are telling me.

And what they're telling me is that we've got to be honest with them about how we're going to solve problems, spend a little less time worrying about super-delegates or worrying about who's up and who's down in the polls and offer them some real and honest solutions.

That's what this argument between myself and Senator Clinton has been about on the gas tax, where she is doing what Washington usually does, pretending to do something with a suspension of the gas tax that at best would provide 30 cents of relief for $28 of total savings; more likely would simply fatten the oil companies, who are already making record profits, because they wouldn't pass on the savings to consumers.

What I've said is we need a real meaningful tax stimulus, put more money into people's pockets, and pass permanent tax relief at the same time as we're investing in alternative fuels and renewable energy. That's what people, I think, are looking for -- real, honest solutions that are going to last, as opposed to just gimmicks to get us through the next election.

MR. SMITH: Well, we will let the voters tell the story tomorrow. Senator Obama, thank you very much for your time today; do appreciate it.

SEN. OBAMA: Thank you so much; appreciate it, Harry.

MR. SMITH: You bet.

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