MSNBC - Transcript
MR. TODD: I'm joined here by Senator Claire McCaskill, who is here defending the Obama side of things, the Obama-Biden ticket. You're listed as one of the spinners. Have a go at one of the critiques that a lot of folks on the right have had of the media here, and that is, the media has been tougher on Governor Palin because she's a woman. Is that the case? And how much of this has been a little bit of that and maybe has benefited Governor Palin a little bit?
SEN. MCCASKILL: Well, I think it's been hard because the media hasn't had an opportunity to really ask questions, as someone who potentially could be president of this country. And so it's hard to really judge this particular candidacy in the prism of normal media coverage because it hasn't been normal. There has been none. Very carefully scripted, very controlled. She's not been allowed to get out amongst folks to answer questions. And so I think that kind of skews it.
And by the way, welcome to Missouri.
MR. TODD: Well, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. There you go; you're going to rile up the crowd here. (Referring to the sound of voices screaming.)
For Joe Biden tonight, obviously known for being verbose --
SEN. MCCASKILL: Right.
MR. TODD: -- it seems to me that the way they've organized this debate tonight might actually help him. He's got time limits. What kind of advice have you given? I know he's reached out to all the woman senators --
SEN. MCCASKILL: Right.
MR. TODD: -- and a lot of woman governors to try to say, okay, what do I do tonight not to look like I'm being condescending? What did you tell him?
SEN. MCCASKILL: He's got a very tough job tonight. And keep in mind, I mean, I think Sarah Palin can deliver a punch with a velvet glove and a smile on her face. And I think she will be very effective tonight. I think people are underestimating her as a debater. So he's got to make sure he communicates with the audience about Barack Obama. If he stays focused on Barack Obama's message and does a good job of communicating that, then frankly -- and if he tries to interact, I think, with Sarah Palin too much, I think he can get into trouble.
MR. TODD: So you don't want him debating Sarah Palin.
SEN. MCCASKILL: I think no matter what he does, he's in trouble if he debates her.
MR. TODD: And you don't want him debating John McCain? You just want him presenting the Obama argument?
SEN. MCCASKILL: I think he needs to completely focus on the Obama message of change.
By the way, I agree with Fred Thompson; all that congressional experience has run us into the ground. And that's why, if you look at these two candidates: Barack Obama, someone new, new ideas, stable; John McCain, campaign run by lobbyists, erratic, not stable, in Washington forever. That's the contrast I think Joe Biden needs to draw tonight.
MR. TODD: Let's talk about Missouri here, and "Missoura." First of all, is Barack Obama -- (is ?) winning in Missouri; how's he doing in "Missoura," the red part of the state?
SEN. MCCASKILL: There's one thing you can rely on in the fall every four years: Missouri will be too close to call. It is very close in Missouri, and it will be all the way until we count the votes very late on election night.
MR. TODD: Is it a trailing indicator of the national polls, though? It seems like that that's the evidence we're seeing, McCain still very tight. He might have fallen behind a little bit nationally, but it's still tight here?
SEN. MCCASKILL: I think what really helped Obama in Missouri over the last two weeks is, in fact, how erratic John McCain has been. Missourians want somebody who's stable. They don't want somebody who's all over the map and doing stunts and calling off the campaign one day and going to do this the next day. They want somebody who's calm and competent and steady on the wheel. And I think that contrast has really helped Barack Obama the last two weeks.
MR. TODD: He's going to be in Independence, Missouri -- I guess that's Independence, "Missoura" -- I should get that right -- doing a Harry Truman-style speech. Isn't, though, channeling frustration with the voters -- isn't that the place to go if he wants to send that message?
SEN. MCCASKILL: Well, by the way, he was there yesterday, McCain was.
MR. TODD: Okay.
SEN. MCCASKILL: And the nephew of Harry Truman was quoted after the speech was over. He said, "I know a grave -- I know where there is a grave, about two blocks from here, and I know somebody who's spinning in it." Harry Truman would not be -- would not be -- let me underline, anyone who's studied history -- would not be a fan of John McCain's policies.
MR. TODD: Missouri, does it go red or blue?
SEN. MCCASKILL: It will go blue.
MR. TODD: By how many points?
SEN. MCCASKILL: Half a point. Half a point.
MR. TODD: Senator Claire McCaskill. All right. Half a point! She's used to very close races, I think is what it is.
SEN. MCCASKILL: (Chuckles.)