Washington Wrap

Dotty Lynch, Beth Lester, Allison Davis, Alexandra Cosgrove and Allen Alter from the CBS News Political and Campaign '04 Units have the latest political news from Washington and from the trail.

Tuesday's Headlines

* Poll Watch: Election Day Is (Finally) Here

* Senate Watch: South Dakota

* And On The Last Day, They Voted, All Except John Edwards Who Voted Early

* Trail Bytes From The Kerry, Bush, Edwards And Cheney Campaigns

* Quote Of The Day

Poll Watch: Election Day Is (Finally) Here

National Polls
CBS News
Likely Voters
Bush-Cheney 49%
Kerry-Edwards 47
Nader-Camejo 1
Undecided 3
Poll conducted October 29 through November 1 among 1,125 likely voters, margin of error plus or minus 3 percent.

ABC/Washington Post
Bush-Cheney 49%
Kerry-Edwards 48
Nader-Camejo 1
Undecided 1
Poll conducted October 29 through 31 among 2,904 likely voters, margin of error plus or minus 2 percent.

Marist
Bush-Cheney 49%
Kerry-Edwards 50
Nader-Camejo Undecided Poll conducted November 1 among 1,026 likely voters, margin of error plus or minus 3 percent.

State Polls
Colorado
Zogby
Bush-Cheney 49%
Kerry-Edwards 43

Florida
Fox News/Opinion Dynamics
Bush-Cheney 44%
Kerry-Edwards 49
Nader 1
Not Sure 6
Poll conducted October 30 through 31 among approximately 700 likely voters, margin of error plus or minus 3.7 percent.

Zogby
Bush-Cheney 48%
Kerry-Edwards 48

Iowa
Fox News/Opinion Dynamics
Bush-Cheney 48%
Kerry-Edwards 44
Nader 1
Not Sure 7
Poll conducted October 30 through 31 among approximately 700 likely voters, margin of error plus or minus 3.7 percent.

Zogby
Bush-Cheney 45%
Kerry-Edwards 50

Michigan
Zogby
Bush-Cheney 46%
Kerry-Edwards 52

Minnesota
Zogby
Bush-Cheney 45%
Kerry-Edwards 51

New Mexico
Zogby
Bush-Cheney 48%
Kerry-Edwards 51

Nevada
Zogby
Bush-Cheney 50%
Kerry-Edwards 45

Ohio
Fox News/Opinion Dynamicsb
Bush-Cheney 50%
Kerry-Edwards 47
Nader not on ballot
Not Sure 3
Poll conducted October 30 through 31 among approximately 700 likely voters, margin of error plus or minus 3.7 percent.

Zogby
Bush-Cheney 49%
Kerry-Edwards 53

Pennsylvania
Zogby
Bush-Cheney 46%
Kerry-Edwards 50

Wisconsin
Fox News/Opinion Dynamics
Bush-Cheney 48%
Kerry-Edwards 45
Nader 1
Not Sure 6
Poll conducted October 30 through 31 among approximately 700 likely voters, margin of error plus or minus 3.7 percent.

Zogby
Bush-Cheney 45%
Kerry-Edwards 51

Senate Watch – South Dakota: A district court judge ruled in favor of Sen. Tom Daschle on Tuesday morning. Judge Lawrence Piersol ruled that Republican poll workers in South Dakota were intimidating Native American voters. The Argus Leader reports, "Republicans may not write down license plate numbers or follow Native Americans from polling places during today's election, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol ruled in a temporary restraining order."

Daschle, the Senate minority leader, is in a tight race for re-election against former Congressman John Thune. Native American votes are an important demographic for Daschle, especially in a small state where only 322,159 people voted in 2000. Daschle sued his opponent and the Republican party, "to stop what Democrats say was intimidation of voters," reports the Argus Leader.

The article quotes Thune's campaign manager, Dick Wadhams, as saying, "It's a total joke. What you've got is a situation where there is no credible evidence presented and the judge bent over backward for his long-time political pal."

This race is as tight and hard fought as the national race for the presidency. A recent Zogby poll has Thune leading Daschle 49 percent to 46 percent. The poll was conducted October 25 through 26 with 800 likely voters and a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 points. Both candidates and down to the wire fighting for each and every single vote of the 502,261 registered South Dakotans.

And On The Last Day, They Voted, All Except John Edwards Who Voted Early: President Bush, John Kerry and Dick Cheney all started the day in their hometowns and went to vote. John Edwards, who voted last Friday in Raleigh, started the day in Florida and then flies to Boston. Cheney will stop in Wisconsin on the way back to D.C. where he and Mr. Bush will wait for the returns. Both Kerry and Edwards will be in Boston. Here are the reports from our CBS News reporters with the campaigns:

CBS News' Steve Chaggaris is with the Kerry campaign:

Kerry Trail Byte: Election Day arrived and Kerry was still working the crowds as the clock struck midnight, rallying his supporters in a Toledo, Ohio airport hangar.

"George Bush is back home in bed in Crawford but I'm here fighting for every single vote that we can get," Kerry told the crowd of several hundred at 12:20 a.m. ET, 16 hours after he began his final push in Orlando on Monday morning.

While Kerry says he's fighting for votes, his campaign staff spent Monday hinting at a positive outcome for their candidate. One aide said in Toledo that he felt "very confident" that Kerry would do well, adding that things "are looking good" for Kerry in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and even in Wisconsin and Michigan, where recent polls show Mr. Bush performing stronger than expected.

Another example of the campaign's confidence was the credentials they handed to the press upon arrival in La Crosse, Wisc. that featured a picture of the White House and read: "The Road to the White House Begins Here... John Kerry's Last Stop to Victory."

The confidence also permeated to spokesman Mike McCurry, who was spotted dancing wildly in the pouring rain on the Toledo tarmac as Bruce Springsteen's "No Surrender" played at the end of Kerry's rally.

After arriving in La Crosse at 2:15 a.m., Kerry caught a few hours of sleep, then woke up for a "get out the vote" event. He's expected in Boston around midday where he'll vote, go to lunch at Boston's Union Oyster House -- a Kerry tradition on Election Day -- then head home and, later, conduct TV interviews via satellite from a room in the Westin Copley Place.

The evening forecast in Boston calls for rain and temperatures in the mid-40s, which could make things a bit messy for his outdoor election night event at Copley Square. Singers Carole King and James Taylor -- who are performing before Kerry either concedes, claims victory or neither -- as well as the Kerry and Edwards families will all have to bundle up for the festivities.

As for what Kerry's going to say at the rally, one campaign aide said that Kerry has spent the "last couple of days" working on his speech and he's only worked on one version of it: a victory speech.

Meantime, more about Kerry's post-election plans. Win or lose, Kerry will stay in Boston at least till Friday, said McCurry, which has an interesting residual effect. Word has it that representatives for singer Phil Collins have checked out Kerry's campaign plane, but the future of the 757 is on hold until the election results are in.

CBS News' Mark Knoller is out with the Bush campaign:

Knoller Nugget: It was a short night for President Bush as he left his ranch at about 7:20 a.m. (local time) to drive the 7 miles to the Crawford, Texas firehouse where he cast his ballot.

Arriving with the first lady and daughters Barbara and Jenna, Mr. Bush said he was feeling great.

It only took a few minutes for the Bush family to vote, and the president then told reporters: "This election is in the hands of the people -- and I feel very comfortable about that.

"The people know where I stand. I've enjoyed this campaign. It's been a fantastic experience traveling our country, talking about what I believe and where I'm gonna lead this country for four more years.

"You know, there's just something refreshing about giving it your all. And then saying the people will make the right decision. And I believe I'm gonna win."

The president said he's not nervous. He said he feels calm.

Aside from hoping he emerges victorious, he also hopes there's no repeat of the disputes of four years ago that didn't settle the election till December.

"My hope of course is this election ends tonight. I think it's very important for it to end tonight. The world watches our great democracy function -- and -- there'd be nothing better for our system -- for the election (to) be conclusively over tonight."

The president then headed back to Washington -- but by way of Ohio.

A spokesman says Mr. Bush was making one last visit to that battleground state to give his grass roots activists a boost as they spend the day getting out the vote on his behalf.

The president will await the returns at the White House with members of his family -- including his dad and mom, the former president and first lady. The first President Bush failed to win a second term and hopes his son avoids that same fate.

Based on his statements and body language, Mr. Bush seems optimistic of victory. If his supporters get out the vote, he's confident he'll win.

And spokesman Scott McClellan stayed on message, saying, "I'm confident we're headed toward a strong victory."

Of course, he's paid to say things like that.

The Longest Day

It was a 19-hour day of campaigning yesterday as Pres Bush did seven rallies in six states.

In Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, New Mexico and his home state of Texas, he delivered his closing arguments.

At each stop he declared himself "optimistic about this country and our future." He said he sees "a brighter day and more hopeful America for every citizen."

But he framed the election this way:

"Ultimately though, this election comes down to who do you trust? Who do you trust to make the tough decisions? Who do you trust to lead this country to a better tomorrow?"

By doing all he can to raise doubts about John Kerry's trustworthiness, Mr. Bush thinks he's the answer to those questions.

What Did It Take?

By itself, the Bush Campaign raised upwards of a quarter billion dollars in its effort to re-elect the president.

The campaign received another $75 million from the government to pay for its post-convention operations. Ironically, neither the president nor first lady checked-off the $3.00 the contribution to the election fund.

But altogether, the Bush campaign took in over $325 million.

Yet nearly all of the rallies Mr. Bush attended since Labor Day have been staged and paid for by the Republican National Committee.

That allowed the campaign to concentrate the use of its money for ads and get out the vote operations.

As the incumbent, the president enjoyed the use of the presidential fleet of airplanes and helicopters -- even on political trips.

But neither the White House nor the Bush Campaign would show CBS News how much the government was reimbursed by the campaign for those costs. It's known to be a small fraction of the actual expense incurred by the government. But each incumbent enjoys that advantage, much to the resentment of the opposition party.

CBS News' Bonney Kapp reports from the Edwards campaign:

Edwards Trail Byte: In what can't exactly be described as a "marathon" of an Election Day, John Edwards will make stops at two polling places in Florida on Tuesday morning. But then he'll be speaking to millions in ten battleground states by doing up to 50 interviews with local TV stations nationwide. And later in Boston, Edwards will reunite with his running mate for the first time since their joint appearance in Des Moines last month.

On his last full day of campaigning Monday, Edwards plowed through four battleground states. After delivering a 15-minute speech in St. Paul, Minn., the candidate flew to Des Moines for a pep talk at the Kerry/Edwards headquarters there where one sign read "It's GO Time!"

"We need you to work one more day, through tomorrow," Edwards told the devoted volunteers and campaign workers. "Because if you will work for us through tomorrow, we're going to work for you for the next four years," he said as the crowded room erupted into applause.

"John and I spent an enormous amount of time in Iowa," he said in what was in essence his farewell campaign talk in the state where he worked tirelessly prior to the January caucuses. "Everything across the waterfront we learned from the people of Iowa and you guys have an enormous affect on us, on John, on myself and as a result, you're going to have affect on this country because one thing that I am sure of — these are my last words to you today — tomorrow Iowa is going to send John Kerry into the White House," he said, concluding his two-minute talk.

Although it may have clocked in as his shortest campaign event to date, it was enough to satisfy the dozens of local reporters there.

Edwards continued his effort to supply local news stations with retail politicking video when he ventured into red territory — Cincinnati, Ohio. The senator dropped by the Kerry/Edwards headquarters to thank volunteers and he promptly called a couple of voters, too. After speaking to an Ohioan named Lynne, who apparently promised to vote for the Democratic ticket, Edwards commented to the press surrounding him, "I hope they're all that easy."

The senator made two more calls (he left a message for an Andrea and told a third voter, "We're counting on you.") before he dropped by a Cincinnati landmark, Skyline Chili, which the campaign was quick to point out was on the corner of Victory Parkway. Edwards greeted patrons and ordered two of their famous cheese coneys to go and finished his final Ohio photo-op.

From one Republican stronghold to another, Edwards held a nighttime rally on the tarmac of the Pensacola, Fla. airport. As he was wrapping up his 17-minute speech, protestors for Mr. Bush distracted the crowd into chanting, "One more day!" Edwards paused and said, "We really ought to give them their moment, 'cause they got one day left." He then resumed his stump and declared, "The truth is that at the end of the day, tomorrow, hope is going to arrive in America."

The last day culminated with the senator's final solo rally as candidate for vice president in Pompano Beach, Fla. Going out with a bang, Edwards' opening act was singer Jimmy Buffet, who noted he doesn't usually do warm ups. "But this is pretty cool tonight," he said to the crowd of 1,500.

Buffet sang four songs laced with political punches at Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and his president brother and encouraged the crowd to vote. "Keep the passion going," he said while strumming his guitar. "Make sure other people vote, big turn out -- it's a done deal. Then I'll see you all in Margaritaville when John Kerry and John Edwards run America," he said as he launched into his hit song with the same name.

Edwards took the stage to deliver his last stump speech of this national campaign, and began, "You tell me -- are we going to win Florida tomorrow?" If the partisan crowd was right, Kerry and Edwards would win handily.

CBS News' Josh Gross is with the Cheney campaign:

Cheney Trail Byte: He's addressed thousands of screaming supporters and answered hundreds of town hall questions, shaken an unknowable number of hands and downed countless cups of coffee. But on Nov. 2, when all was said and done, the vice president did the only thing that could personally and directly affect the outcome of the election: He voted.

Accompanied by his family, Cheney entered a firehouse near his home in Jackson, Wyo. minutes after it opened and filled out his ballot. He was not first in line, as several people were waiting outside before the doors opened at 7 a.m. But the Vice President waited in line like everyone and at one point stood awkwardly as he paused for a booth to open up. He fed the paper ballot into a recording machine, but was mum about who he voted for in the local hospital district race.

Beforehand, Cheney may have asked himself if the last few days were a dream. Only hours earlier, he was among Hawaiian hula dancers, rainbow balloons, delicious pineapple and ten thousand people cheering his praises. And don't forget the large man blowing a conch and the flaming batons.

Yet when the vice president stepped off Air Force 2 in Colorado Springs from Hawaii on Monday, it was below freezing and the landscape was dusted with snow following early morning blizzard conditions. Things were so bad that the whole trip to Colorado was almost scratched at one point. It would have been the first setback on the 39-hour, nine-stop campaign sprint before Nov. 2. Fortunately for those waiting at the local equestrian center, the vice president was able to land and he didn't disappoint.

Monday ended with the vice president's family joining him at his home in Wyoming. Upon landing. He was greeted by several hundred local supporters at the airport. The speech was off-the-cuff and lacked the strong attacks against the Democrats the vice president has developed over the last few months.

He thanked the group, and in reality the entire nation, for participating in the election process. He recounted some of his favorite stories from the campaign trail and had a witty back and forth with his wife who helped set up some of his best jokes.

In the end, it was a sentimental but not maudlin finish to the vice president's final campaign. He shook a few hands and retired home, leaving his fate in the hands of the American people.

Quote Of The Day: "You know, that latest bin Laden tape actually worked. He's up three points in the latest Zogby poll." David Letterman ("Late Show").