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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Schwarzenneger to fund his own campaign for governor of California; U.S. teams in overseas airports beefing up security against shoulder-fired missiles

Aired August 07, 2003 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: "The Terminator" strikes back, California politics never dull. They're sizzling right now with Arnold Schwarzenegger running to become governor.
We're standing by to hear whether the California Supreme Court will consider the entire recall issue. That's expected momentarily. We'll have complete coverage on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Fighting terror in the skies, there are hundreds of thousands of shoulder-fired missiles in the world and all it takes is one.

A catalog of concealed weapons, how hijackers can shop for the tools of their trade.

Bloody day in Baghdad, Saddam's supporters find a new target.

GEN. RICARDO SANCHEZ, U.S. ARMY: I think what this shows is that in fact we've got some terrorists that are operating here. It shows that we're still in a conflict zone.

BLITZER: It was the worst terror attack since September 11, now it's judgment day for the Bali nightclub bomber.

Different strokes for different folks, there's someone for everyone in the California governor's race.

Taking sides in the Kobe Bryant case, do Black and White America see it differently?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts now.

BLITZER: It's Thursday, August 07, 2003. Hello, from Washington, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting.

A day of major and rapid developments in the California recall election, the state Supreme Court is announcing this hour whether it will consider challenges to the recall. That's on top of some high profile changes in the lineup of candidates.

CNN's Judy Woodruff is tracking all of these developments. She's joining us now live from Los Angeles. Judy, it takes almost my breath away to see what's going on out there.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well, and you practically need a calculator, Wolf, to keep up with who's in and out of this race. First off, the top story you mentioned, that is we are waiting any moment now to hear from the state Supreme Court as to whether they will rule or not on the bid by allies of Governor Gray Davis to postpone this recall election, to move it from October to next March.

That is something that Davis very much would like to see because he figures many more Democrats would be voting. That would stand him in much better stead, so we're waiting for that.

Meantime, it has been a day of news. Arnold Schwarzenegger, you just showed the picture, did show up at the Los Angeles County Registrar's Office to poll the papers. That's what they call it out here. You take the papers. You got out. You get 60 signatures. You pay $3,500 and then you are in and it's a very fast 60-day contest. He's already knocked out one Republican, Congressman Darryl Issa who bankrolled this recall. He has just announced in the last few hours he won't be running.

Now, Schwarzenegger is taking the papers out. He'll be returning them before Saturday. That's the deadline. After he came out of the courthouse he talked to reporters and the people who were there.

He said when they asked him about this budget, the state's $38 billion enormous budget deficit, he said I'm not going to talk specifics now. I'll give you that later but he hammered away at this theme of reform, reform.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: It is part of my agenda to reform Sacramento, to reform the whole system because we have to always have public interest first and self interest is on the end and what we have right now in Sacramento is self interest first, self interest of the politicians, self interest of special interest groups, and we have to reverse all that. It's public interest first and that's what I want to fight for, so this is why I'm running for governor of California.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: And, Wolf, Arnold turned some heads, I think you have to say, when he said at one point, he said I've always achieved my goals and he said right now I'm passionate about helping the state of California, the people who need help, in other words suggesting nothing can stop him. He intends to win and then he intends to fix things in the state of California.

He also talked about how much money he's made as an actor, not sure how well that theme is going to go over but he is making it a point that he's not going to be raising money for this campaign. He doesn't want to be beholding to anybody. He's going to spend his own money. In other words, Wolf, he has turned the politics in the state of California upside down in the span of less than one day.

BLITZER: And the California Supreme Court, Judy, they could turn politics once again upside down depending on what they decide in the coming moments. This is going to be a decision whether to take up the challenges but we're not going to hear any decisions per se.

WOODRUFF: That's my understanding. Now, this is a challenge that the allies of Gray Davis have put forward. It's in Governor Davis' interest to postpone this recall election.

As it stands right now, the ballot is set for October the 7th. He is doing very poorly in the public opinion polls. Right now a majority of Californians say they would vote to recall him.

So, much of his argument right now hinges on this Supreme Court decision and if they decide to take up the case, now this is a Republican-appointed court. Frankly, there's not as much expectation out here that the court will rule in Davis' favor but, of course, you never know. It's a court. We don't know what the decision will be, but of course we're going to be following that along with all the other incredible developments in this California recall.

BLITZER: And we're going to ask Judy Woodruff to stand by and bring us the latest developments including any decision from the California Supreme Court as soon as we get that, Judy, thanks very much.

And, as Judy reported, a day of dramatic changes in this unprecedented recall, it's part political showdown, part three-ring circus.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHWARZENEGGER: I can promise you that when I go to Sacramento I will pump up Sacramento.

BLITZER (voice-over): Arnold Schwarzenegger is in. Don't care for Austrian? How about Greek?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: It's going to be the battle of the accents. I very much look forward to debating him.

BLITZER: In addition to Arianna Huffington and big Arnold there's also little Arnold.

GARY COLEMAN: I'm tired of being called short stuff and half pint.

BLITZER: Former child star Gary Coleman, who played Arnold Drummond (ph) in "Different Strokes" is running but only in protest of the recall. He now says he's voting for Schwarzenegger.

Then, there's "Hustler" publisher Larry Flynt, the self-described smut peddler who cares.

LARRY FLYNT (D), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: Just because of public pornography does not mean that I am not concerned about the social ills that all of us are.

BLITZER: Meanwhile, state Democrats have broken ranks, shattering what had been the united front against the recall. Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante is running despite earlier saying he did not intend to and Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi is taking out papers to run according to his press secretary.

In all, hundreds of people have taken that first step toward running for governor, some seriously, many less so, and with the deadline for filing this Saturday the list still is growing.

DEAN MURPHY, "NEW YORK TIMES": There's a lot of thinking that anything can go right now and everyone can create his own card right now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The field may be growing but Schwarzenegger's candidacy is the talk of California today. Here's what some people are saying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He has no political experience and you know this thing is becoming a circus basically.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't ever recall voting for a Republican before but I think I would consider Arnold.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "The Terminator" being the president, "The Terminator" being the governor, I think it's great. I mean he really does have the heart for the people. I know he's involved in a lot of charity. He really loves children and that's what we need. We need some really big backbone. If "The Terminator" can do it, terminate "Terminator" go for it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he should stay with Hollywood. That's his thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Joining me now with an insider's perspective on the recall, the San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. He's a former assembly speaker, a long time fixture in California politics, always outspoken.

Mr. Mayor, thanks for joining us. Have you ever seen anything like this before?

MAYOR WILLIE BROWN, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Nothing in my imagination could have conjured up this. You wouldn't write this as part of "West Wing" or any other form of - you wouldn't even do it with "Bullworth." This just can't be happening.

BLITZER: All right, so put on your political and analytic hat for us. Is Schwarzenegger the next governor of California?

BROWN: If Arnold Schwarzenegger can be kept under wraps and the absence of knowledge, the absence of information, if he can get away with the homilies that he has given us so far, he could be a formidable candidate.

BLITZER: Is he another Ronald Reagan who went from Hollywood to become governor of California and, of course, later becoming president of the United States?

BROWN: I don't think so. Reagan had some training. As you'll recall, Reagan became the person who was kind of the spokesperson for Mr. Goldwater. He gave the great speech for Mr. Goldwater.

He had managed the movie industry's union organization. He had, in fact, developed some leadership skills on the management of people. Arnold doesn't have that but, then again, he may not need it.

BLITZER: When you say he may not need it, why?

BROWN: Well, because the people in California, as in many other places, are pretty sick of people like Willie Brown. They're pretty sick of politicians, smooth operators, people who claim they're going to do something and they don't do it. This is a Jesse Ventura mentality. This is a reincarnation of Jesse Ventura not Ronald Reagan.

BLITZER: It's one thing for people in Minnesota necessarily to buy Jesse Ventura but you honestly believe that Arnold Schwarzenegger can emerge as the next governor of California?

BROWN: I think we, as Democrats, are going to have a very difficult time defeating Arnold. I think for two or three reasons. One, the Republican Party and the White House is literally orchestrating now this whole thing. They understand that 2004 they need to destabilize California.

After all, Bush lost by more than a million votes in California, both houses of the legislature controlled by Democrats, the congressional delegation largely Democratic. They know. They want California in play in the democratic operation.

They don't think they'll win it but with Arnold at the helm they're in a position to do incredible damage. This is an opportunity for them not unlike what they were attempting to do in Texas, not unlike what they did in Florida when they first got the presidency. So, don't misread this. Darryl Issa got out because the White House moved him out.

BLITZER: All right, well Darryl Issa, the Congressman, who has orchestrated the entire recall effort. As we speak, Mr. Mayor, we're just getting word the California Supreme Court will make its announcement at the top of the hour in about 50 minutes or so from now on whether to hear the challenges that are going forward.

Knowing what you know about that California Supreme Court, this is a very important decision whether to go forward with the election October 7th, delay it until March. There are other issues being challenged as well. What do you believe it will do?

BROWN: I think this court will make a court decision, a judicial decision. I don't think this court will be terribly plagued by politics. There are really good people on the court, although many of them put there by Pete Wilson, they still are a respectable body.

I don't think they will involve themselves and immerse themselves in the circus. They care too much about California, about the image of the court, and so you won't find a decision being made consistent with anybody's political desires but, rather, based upon scholarship from legal minds.

BLITZER: Well, that's a nice vote of confidence from you on the California Supreme Court. If, in fact, the election is held on October 7th, is it a foregone conclusion, at least the public opinion polls suggest it is, that the people of California will vote to recall Governor Davis?

BROWN: We are in trouble on the Democratic side with Governor Davis. We're going to do everything we can, however, to defeat the recall. The effort should continue to be focused on a no vote on the recall, after all Davis won it fair and square in a regular election.

This should only be decided in a regular election. It should not be decided using the recall as a tool. There is no statement of charges against Governor Davis. A recall ought to be the people's version of impeachment and you know you have to have a bill of particulars for impeachment.

In addition thereto, in a recall, the reason you have a lieutenant governor is that if there's a vacancy created by a recall the lieutenant governor ought to move up. If that was, in fact the case in California already, Mr. Issa never would have spent the money and we would not be facing this unprecedented action and chaos being created by virtue of this. We would not be in a position where people see us as being totally and completely unstable.

BLITZER: It looks like the Democratic Party is pretty chaotic too with the Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante deciding today he's going to run for governor even though we thought earlier all the serious Democrats, like Dianne Feinstein and others, were going to stay out in order to show their support for Gray Davis.

BROWN: And that is the way it should still be now; however, if Mr. Davis makes up his mind that, in fact, things aren't as good and not possible to achieve a no vote then maybe he should call Dianne Feinstein and say, Ms. Feinstein come back in. Overnight, Arnold's star would be eclipsed.

BLITZER: Except the deadline is Saturday. There's not a whole lot of time for that to happen and there's no indication Gray Davis is about to do anything like that.

BROWN: I guarantee you he will not do anything like that but you and I are speculating and in this business in California we are pretty much left to speculating. This is so unprecedented. This is so - there's never in the history been anything comparable to this.

And, you're right, not only is Cruz Bustamante breaking ranks, so to speak, John Garamendi, the Insurance Commissioner, is talking about breaking ranks and my guess is that there will be another one or two other persons that will consider in the same direction. On the other hand, Republicans are getting out. They have a better way of control than Democrats.

BLITZER: And one other question, Mr. Mayor, Arianna Huffington running as an Independent, Larry Flynt the publisher of "Hustler" magazine, there are so many other wild candidates out there, what does it say about your state, this opportunity to become a candidate with only a few people signing some sort of referendum, some sort of ballot petition and, at the same time, $3,500 or something like that.

BROWN: If I had to put it in one word as a college professor, this is the ultimate democracy.

BLITZER: Well, that's a kind way of putting it. Mayor Willie Davis thanks so much for joining us.

BROWN: Willie Brown not Willie Davis.

BLITZER: Excuse me, my apologies, Willie Brown the mayor of San Francisco speaking out openly, candidly as he's always done. Willie Brown joining us, thanks very much Mr. Mayor.

Here's your turn to weigh in on this story. Our web question of the day is this. "Would you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger if he were running for governor of your state?" We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

Vote now at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, I'd love to hear directly from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

The threat to U.S. passenger planes overseas, what has homeland security officials so worried that they're sending security teams to check out major airports around the world, that story just ahead?

Plus, home at last, members of the 3rd Infantry Division reuniting with their families any minute now after a long tour at war. We'll take you there live.

And, Kobe Bryant's endorsement career, can the troubled basketball player keep his star from fading? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. It's been a day which drives home the toll taken by terrorism. At least ten people were killed and dozens hurt when a powerful car bomb exploded outside the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, hurling vehicles into the air and leaving bodies strewn on the ground.

That attack came five years to the day after twin truck bombings at the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, bombings that killed more than 200 people and wounded thousands. They were the first major attacks blamed on al Qaeda directly.

And just days after a bloody hotel bombing in Jakarta, an Indonesian court handed down its first verdict in last year's Bali nightclub bombing. The defendant smiled when the death sentence was passed. More than 200 people died in the nightclub attacks blamed on a militant Islamic group linked to al Qaeda. We'll have more on all of that coming up.

But, let's move on now to a new effort to prevent terror in the skies. An attack in Africa last year using a very portable and very lethal weapon is triggering urgent efforts to counter a new threat.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us live with that - Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, homeland security officials say there is no recent intelligence that al Qaeda is planning or ready to execute an attack on airliners using shoulder- fired missiles but, because the weapons are cheap, available, and easy to use, the U.S. Government is moving on several fronts to try to reduce the threat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE (voice-over): November, 2002, terrorists fire a shoulder-fired missile at an Israeli airliner over Mombassa, Kenya. The missile misses but it lets U.S. officials know this threat to commercial aviation is real.

After looking at the vulnerability of the largest U.S. airports to the missiles, American teams are now evaluating a dozen airports overseas where U.S. carriers frequently fly or where the U.S. has strategic interests. Among the airports being looked at, Baghdad, Basra, Manila, Athens, and Istanbul, among the security recommendations surveillance, fencing, and increased patrols. Experts say these perimeter measures are of limited use given the capability of the missiles.

DAVID OCHMANEK, RAND CORPORATION: These things are effective up to several thousand feel in altitude and you know the angles at which airplanes approach runways is pretty shallow so they would be within effective range of these things for several miles before touchdown or for several miles after takeoff.

MESERVE: Several miles during which aircraft often pass over densely populated areas in which a shoulder-fired missile could easily be hidden. In recognition of this, the Department of Homeland Security is asking eight government contractors to develop detailed plans for anti-missile technologies reliable enough, effective enough, and inexpensive enough to put on commercial airliners.

ANDREW KOCH, JANE'S DEFENSE: The question is how much money do you have to spend because to defend against all threats all the time the military type systems is very expensive.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: The administration is also trying to extend the proliferation of shoulder-fired missiles, encouraging other nations to better control their inventories and instituting buy back programs in some high risk countries but there are an estimated 750,000 shoulder- fired missiles already in circulation and officials acknowledge some are already in the hands of terrorists - Wolf.

BLITZER: Pretty scary stuff, Jeanne Meserve thanks very much for that report.

The Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, is concerned about another threat that recently warned airlines about ordinary items such as cameras being turned into weapons by al Qaeda operatives. U.S. officials found such makeshift items in al Qaeda safe houses around the world but many concealed weapons are readily available to ordinary Americans.

For that let's turn to our CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena - Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, you would not believe what is commercially available, items that don't raise suspicion but which are potentially deadly.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over): Does this key chain look dangerous? How about this hairbrush? Well, neither seems threatening but, in fact, they are both deadly. The key chain is plastic but contains a hidden metal knife blade. The handle of the hairbrush pulls from the head uncovering a potentially lethal weapon.

BILLIE VINCENT, FMR. FAA SECURITY OFFICIAL: The more mundane and the more routine the item is, obviously the more difficult it is to detect those because you're dealing with a great number of those items that are indeed exactly what they seem to be.

ARENA: These items and other like them were collected and catalogued by the FBI to help make airport screeners, security guards, and law enforcement more aware. All of the weapons are available commercially in stores or over the Internet and most cost 20 bucks or less.

Some are all plastic, which means they will not set off a metal detector, and according to the FBI each is "designed to cut and is fully functional in that respect."

WILLIAM DALY, FMR. FBI INVESTIGATOR: There are veins and arteries on people's bodies which are very close to the surface so it doesn't take much of a blade in order to cause some major damage.

ARENA: Weapons like these have been available long before the September 11th attacks but, like most security threats, are garnering new attention.

DALY: The box cutters that were used on 9/11 are an example of a low tech tool. These aircraft were brought down by items that can be bought in hardware stores right off the shelf. So, I believe that this is an attempt, and I think it's a very positive move forward, to think outside of our traditional ways of dealing with security.

ARENA: FBI officials say the manual was not meant for public consumption and refused to be interviewed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: But security specialists say that the more air travelers know the better their chances will be at helping to stop a potential disaster - Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Kelli Arena with that important story thanks Kelli very much.

The long road home finally ends for some soldiers. Coming up, after serving months in the desert troops are finally coming home to waiting family members. We'll have a live report. That's coming up.

Also, Saddam Hussein in disguise, what U.S. commanders are saying about how the former dictator may be trying to elude U.S. forces.

And later, the big change is coming to one of the most famous mountains in the world, the Matterhorn. You'll want to see this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world. Here now is Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: U.S. troops were once again under fire and taking casualties in Iraq and at least ten non-Americans died today in a bloody Baghdad bombing.

CNN's Harris Whitbeck reports from the Iraqi capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another bomb in the Iraqi capital, this one against a non-U.S. target. The Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad was hit by a car bomb early Thursday morning, among the dead Iraqis passing by and the Iraqi policemen assigned to guard the embassy compound.

"There was dust and smoke" says this eyewitness. "I saw burned and wounded men and women coming out of the rubble. They were Iraqis not Jordanian." U.S. military police quickly cordoned off the area as investigators swept in.

(on camera): The U.S. is particularly interested in finding out who is behind the attack. It says that there are already foreign fighters operating in the country who are willing to carry out acts of terrorism.

(voice-over): The question is why the Jordanian Embassy?

SANCHEZ: Well, I think what this shows is that, in fact we've got some terrorists that are operating here. It shows that we're still in a conflict zone.

WHITBECK: Jordan is perceived as being supportive of the U.S. occupation of Iraq and many eyebrows were raised when Saddam Hussein's daughters were granted asylum by Jordan's King Abdullah.

Meanwhile, after four days of relative quiet, U.S. forces once again came under attack. Two U.S. soldiers were killed Wednesday evening during a firefight in Baghdad's al-Rashid district.

Assailants launched a rocket-propelled grenade against a U.S. Humvee as it drove through the Baghdad neighborhood of (unintelligible). Several civilians and a U.S. soldier were wounded in the firefight that followed.

Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: U.S. officials say Saddam Hussein is on the run and moving all the time and they also say he may have undergone a startling change of appearance.

Let's go live to our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr for that - Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Pentagon officials saying again today that there are continuing credible reports that Saddam Hussein has grown a beard, has long hair, and it's all turned gray and that he's moving about in very plain unassuming clothing.

They also say, however, they are aware that he may be continuing to change his appearance. So they are very cautious and in Iraq, top military officials for the first time in several days talking about some specifics about how often they think Saddam is on the move.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO, U.S. ARMY: I think he's on the run. He's moving every three to four hours. I think he is -- it's impossible for him to command and control. So what I'm after is the ones commanding and controlling what's going on against our forces and trying to subvert what we're trying to do in building up Iraq. That's really our focus.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: And, Wolf, perhaps the success of U.S. raids now having an unintended effect. Military officials in Iraq and here at the Pentagon saying they have intelligence that tells them guerrilla fighters are now offering as much as $5,000 for someone to stage an attack against American forces. That's up significantly from their previous estimates.

BLITZER: That's a whole lot of money in that part of the world. Thanks very much for that report, Barbara.

As if the Kobe Bryant case needed more drama, a new poll shows Americans racially divided over this highly charged story. We'll have the details. That's coming up.

Also, homecoming, finally, for the 3rd Infantry. We'll go live to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where some very eager families are waiting right now to receive their loved ones.

And the face of war. A little boy who captured the world's attention gets a new lease on life.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Let's take a quick look at some other news making headlines right now.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: New developments in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case.

CNN national correspondent Gary Tuchman is in Eagle, Colorado, with the latest just one day after Kobe Bryant's closely watched appearance in court.

Gary, tell us what's going on on this day after.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the day after, here's the news we've learned.

The district attorney's office is telling us that Kobe Bryant will be obligated to personally appear at the preliminary hearing, the next step, a very important step in this case. And that will be October 9. He also appeared yesterday at a less important step, the initial hearing. And at that hearing, the judge announced that he would appoint a special investigator to investigate the possibility of leaks from law enforcement officials here to members of the news media. He says the prosecution and defense have both agreed.

The judge telling us that the initial thought was to hold a hearing over these leaks. But he was afraid more leaks would come out. So he decided to have the special investigator from a nearby county check out the situation instead.

Kobe Bryant was in court for a grand total of seven minutes. He was in Colorado for less than an hour -- flew in at 3:35 p.m. and left to go back to California at 4:35 p.m.. Now the preliminary hearing -- here's why it's so important. October 9, the prosecution for the first time in an open courtroom, will have to reveal some of its evidence. Enough evidence for the judge to say there is probable cause for this case to go to trial. Probable cause, a much lower standard than proof beyond a reasonable doubt, which a jury eventually would have to decide if there's a trial. Probably cause is basically a judge has to say, Well, there's a probability he did it and then it will go to trial.

Now Kobe Bryant -- it was a lot different scenario here when he was on television all over the world. And a couple of hours later, he appeared on television twice yesterday. The other time was on the Teen Choice Awards, a show taped over the weekend and Kobe Bryant spoke to his fans in the audience.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOBE BRYANT, NBA PLAYER: You know, we're flying through some dark clouds right now, but through god's will, the sun will rise and shine again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: He had a lot of supporters there, and he also had a lot of supporters here. About 150 people were outside on the courthouse lawn. Most of them cheered when Kobe Bryant came in and when Kobe Bryant went out.

One final thing, Wolf. You know the cameras were in the court yesterday because worldwide people watched. That doesn't necessarily mean the cameras will be in the court for the more important preliminary hearing. The judge will have to decide on that again. He tells us today he'll make his decision most likely, the first week of September -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. A lot of people will be interested in that. Gary Tuchman, thanks very much for that report.

The allegations against Kobe Bryant have already cost him one endorsement deal with the Italian company that makes Nutella. Will other companies also sever ties?

Rick Horrow is a sports analyst -- business analyst and visiting expert at Harvard Law School. He's joins us now live from West Palm Beach down in Florida.

Thanks, Rick, very much for joining us.

Is it just the beginning? Is he going to lose all those endorsements?

RICK HORROW, SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Well, that's the tip of a sweet iceberg. That's a hazelnut spread that's costing him 500 grand. But it is a little more serious than that.

You know, when he signed on with the underdog Sprite as a fledgling brand in '96, he's now put $11 million bucks in his pocket. Upper Deck, Sprite, Spalding -- and Nike has a $45 million contract. They have to figure out whether there's disrepute and moral problems that will cause him to get out just because he admitted infidelity. It's a highly charged incident. There's some lightning around here, but it's highly charged for him as well.

BLITZER: We can hear that lightning, that thunder as well. Just be careful over there.

What about the whole opportunity that these companies have to dump him? Do they have to pay off or can they just dump him and stop paying him?

HORROW: Well, they could just dump him and stop paying him. Latrell Sprewell when he choked Coach Carlisimo, Converse got out of a $32 million deal.

The question is whether they're going to do it or not. You know, Nike has lost $2.4 billion over the last few years and had to cut back 1600 workers, even though it's a $40 million -- billion industry, they may want to say, let's stick with him at least through our justice system, which is predisposed to innocent until proven guilty. We'll just have to see that one.

BLITZER: If he's innocent, if he's not convicted, can he come back and have the same kind of endorsement deals that he's had until now?

HORROW: Look, we understand that athletes move product. You know, Allen Iverson's sales of Reebok sneakers spiked 37 percent after his lifetime deal. If this infidelity issue is coupled with some graphic, sexual testimony at the trial it may affect his McDonald's type of endorsements.

The real key is the NBA. You know, Michael Jordan's $13 billion worth. Who is going to take the torch? Was it Yao Ming and his $3 impression? Was it LeBron James and his $90 million from Nike before he laced up his shoes? We don't know. But it ain't going to be Kobe, no matter what.

BLITZER: The whole notion of -- that some are suggesting, this could also help them with certain companies, with certain businesses, what he's going through right now, might make him an even more attractive pitchman, if you will. Is that really possible?

HORROW: I think the only thing that says, Wolf is that there are too many people that don't have a life and they are speculating about a whole lot of different things. That's called street cred. I guess and they're saying that a tarnished image is pretty good. And you point to guys Ray Lewis and Rae Carruth that came back after major incidents that happened to them.

The bottom line is that corporations aren't going to tolerate that that anymore. And O.J. Simpson, by the way, was the darling of the media until '94 when Hertz dropped him. I think, in the future we're not going to see that. We're going to see endorsements shorter, more carefully targeted, smaller in duration as well, and more easy to terminate because of this immoral behavior. You can't guarantee statesmanship and civic duty, and that's one of the problems with corporate endorsers today.

BLITZER: Rick Horrow down in West Palm Beach, Florida, thanks very much for helping us understand this crazy business.

HORROW: Absolutely, you may have a news story here in a minute, pal.

BLITZER: Well, just be careful over there.

Race plays a factor in whether people believe the charges against Kobe Bryant or not. That according to a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Look at this. It finds 40 percent of whites think the charges are true compared to 24 percent of African-Americans. And 51 percent of whites think the allegations are not true compared to 68 percent of African Americans. The poll has a sampling error of 7.5 percent.

An emotional reunion of U.S. soldiers and their families. That's expected to start any minute now. We'll go there live to Ft. Stewart in Georgia for the final steps home. It's been a long road indeed.

Also the locust invasion in China. The enormous destruction caused by the voracious insects.

And later, the special help coming up for Ali Abbas, the little boy in Iraq who lost both arms in the war from a bombing. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Plenty of tears, hugs and flowers are expected today at Ft. Stewart, Georgia. Roughly 150 soldiers with the 3rd infantry division fresh from Iraq are finally coming home. CNN's Brian Cabell is joining us now live from Ft. Stewart. A lot of happy people over there, Brian.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of happy, expectant people out here, as a matter of fact. We think the troops may be arriving right now. We're not absolutely certain. We were told about 30 minutes. They have been waiting almost 11 months. With us right now, one of the expectant families, namely Bambi Williams and her three children. Bambi, 11 months -- you can hear it behind me right now.

BAMBI WILLIAMS, WIFE OF RETURNING SOLDIER: They are showing up.

CABELL: What are you going to do when you first see him?

WILLIAMS: Oh, wow! I'm going to just scream, yell, go hug him. Give him a kiss. Tell him I love him and I'm proud of him.

CABELL: We've been hearing that some of these guys may have some pressure on them coming back trying to adjust to this life after being at war. Are you concerned about that? WILLIAMS: I'm not concerned. I think he's a pretty resilient person. He's a positive person. So, he'll be okay. It may take a few weeks to get back into the luxuries of life but he'll be all right.

CABELL: What about the three kids. How have they dealt over the last 11 months with his absence?

WILLIAMS: Schoolwork was a little bit hard without dad there to kind of prod them along, but they did pretty good. We were pretty fortunate to have e-mail and to be able to do things like that. So it was a little better than wars past.

CABELL: What do you suppose he'll want to do here the next couple of days.

WILLIAMS: Sleep in a bed and not on a cot. That's what he's has said. And get a steak. I think that he really wants a steak.

CABELL: Is that what he's missed most of all, the food?

WILLIAM: No, probably missed us the most. Yes, definitely. It's just going to be really, really nice. But it's been a long time coming. But I'm really proud of him.

CABELL: We heard about morale problems within this unit. Do you know anything about that?

WILLIAM: Well, my husband is a career counselor. He has to keep people in the army. So, and like I said, he's really positive, and when they didn't know and it was really everything was taken back, that was kind of hard, but they gathered up again and they are okay.

CABELL: Thank you very much.

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

CABELL: Again, Bambi Williams. They have been waiting for 11 months. They probably will only have to wait maybe another half hour or so. It's been a tough time for them. They were in some of the toughest fighting on the way to Baghdad, in Baghdad, in Fallujah afterwards. Finally, it looks as though the wait is just about over with -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Good for them. Congratulations to all those happy people. Brian Cabell, thanks very much for that report.

A young Iraqi boy who became one of the most famous victims of the war, that's coming up. A look at the next stage in the recovery for Ali Abbas.

But first, let's take a look at some other news making headlines from around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: Jailed for 20 years, the leader of a splinter guerrilla group responsible for Northern Ireland's deadliest bomb attack begins his sentence today. Michael McIvit (ph) leader of the so-called Real I.R.A. was convicted in Dublin of directing terrorism. That charge was created after 1998's bombing in Oman, Northern Ireland that killed 29 people.

Pestilence of biblical proportions. Millions of locusts have consumed more than 27 million acres of grassland in China's inner Mongolia. Fields and plantations in northern China are devastated by the ravenous insects.

Melting Alps. A blistering heat wave in Europe is being felt even on the snowy caps of the Swiss Alps. Glaciers are melting and the mountains are crumbling. Dozens of people have died in accidents, many of them from rockfalls. Dozens more were evacuated recently on the Matterhorn in one of the largest rescues the mountain has ever seen.

Mickey's money problems. Mickey Mouse doesn't seem to have the clout overseas that he does in the United States. Because of the slump in visitors at Euro Disney in Paris, the theme park is in danger of defaulting on millions of dollars in debt.

Sharif's sentence. Egyptian film start Omar Sharif received a one-month suspended prison term for headbutting a police officer in Paris. It happened during an argument at a casino. The star of "Dr. Zivago" was also fined 1500 Euros.

And sneak a peek at the next Harry Potter movie due out in June. Warner Bros. has released stills of the next installment in the tale of the young wizard in training. Gary Oldman portrays the mysterious, serious Black. Sir Michael Gambo now plays Dumbledore, replacing the late Richard Harris.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You are looking live at pictures from Fort Stewart, Georgia, where family members, loved ones are awaiting the return of soldiers from the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division. They've been gone for 11 months, but momentarily, they'll be home home. We'll have coverage of that. Stay with CNN.

He lost his entire family and his arms during the bombing of Baghdad and the entire world was drawn to his plight. Ali Abbas, been battling back and is making a stop on his courageous journey.

Jim Boulden reports from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: 13-year-old Ali Abbas has been recovering, four months after the battle for Baghdad took 10 members of his family and his arms. The next Ali Abbas on his journey is here, Queen Mary's Hospital in southwest London. The chairman of the charity bringing Ali here, an amputee here said Ali was in good spirits when they met recently in Kuwait.

ZAFAR KAHN, THE LIMBLESS ASSOCIATION: He was asking me all kinds of questions after learning I also had a prosthetic limb. He was asking, can I run? I said, no, sorry, I can't run. And he asked me to stand on my right leg, my prosthesis, if I can balance. So he was very alert, very cheerful.

BOULDEN: The Limbless Association has raised money for his care. The Kuwaiti government has promised to pay for the treatment as well. So, the chairman of the association says Ali's plight might lead to similar rehabilitation centers being created in Iraq.

KAHN: To try and help others who are in Iraq, many hundreds, thousands, by building and by providing facilities to existing rehabilitation centers.

BOULDEN: Kahn, has shown three different types of arms to Ali. Doctors here have to decide which is best for him. Ali has said all along that he wanted hands again and then a major goal is to drive a car one day.

Jim Boulden, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: What a heart-wrenching amazing story that is.

Our hot "Web Question of the Day" is this, would you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger if he were running for governor of your state? You can vote at cnn.com/wolf. We will have the results immediately when we come back.

First, though, today's news quiz.

What Guinness World Record does Arnold Schwarzenegger hold? Longest time between Mr. Olympia titles, highest salary per film, most movies by a bodybuilder, all of the above?

The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Earlier we asked, what Guinness World Record does Arnold Schwarzenegger hold? The answer -- all of the above.

He came out of retirement in 1980 to win his sixth Mr. Olympia title, five years after his last win. He made a record-setting $30 million for his role in "Terminator 3," and he easily wins the title for the most films by a body builder, with 29 movies under his belt.

And here's how you are weighing in on our web question of the day. It's this. Would you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger if he were running for governor of your state? Look at this, 37 percent of you say, yes, 63 percent of you say, no.

As always, we'd like to remind you, this is not a scientific poll. But you can still continue to vote. Simply go to our Web site, cnn.com/wolf.

Let's read some of your e-mail.

Rocco writes this, "Was it not the founding fathers' intention that government in America would be run by proven, successful businessman who would serve only one or two terms, not hereditary aristocrats or career politicians? Is not Arnold Schwarzenegger the successful dream of every immigrant who came to America to succeed?"

Bowman sends us this, "With due respect for their artistic integrity and ability to fill movie theaters, the inclusion of Schwarzenegger, Coleman and other like candidates makes a mockery of the process. Surely we can determine a more appropriate entry standard to get on the ballot."

Bernie ask this question, "Does it not occur to anyone that two American soldiers were killed last night and the Jordanian Embassy in Iraq was bombed causing multiple deaths, but all anyone is taking about is a basketball player's sexual assault trail and an actor's run for governor? Is it any wonder that our nation is in crisis?"

I just want to remind you, Bernie, we did report all the other news as well. And a reminder to our views, to catches every night 5:00 p.m. Eastern as well as noon Eastern, Monday through Friday. Until then thank you very much for joining us.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





California; U.S. teams in overseas airports beefing up security against shoulder-fired missiles>


Aired August 7, 2003 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: "The Terminator" strikes back, California politics never dull. They're sizzling right now with Arnold Schwarzenegger running to become governor.
We're standing by to hear whether the California Supreme Court will consider the entire recall issue. That's expected momentarily. We'll have complete coverage on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Fighting terror in the skies, there are hundreds of thousands of shoulder-fired missiles in the world and all it takes is one.

A catalog of concealed weapons, how hijackers can shop for the tools of their trade.

Bloody day in Baghdad, Saddam's supporters find a new target.

GEN. RICARDO SANCHEZ, U.S. ARMY: I think what this shows is that in fact we've got some terrorists that are operating here. It shows that we're still in a conflict zone.

BLITZER: It was the worst terror attack since September 11, now it's judgment day for the Bali nightclub bomber.

Different strokes for different folks, there's someone for everyone in the California governor's race.

Taking sides in the Kobe Bryant case, do Black and White America see it differently?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts now.

BLITZER: It's Thursday, August 07, 2003. Hello, from Washington, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting.

A day of major and rapid developments in the California recall election, the state Supreme Court is announcing this hour whether it will consider challenges to the recall. That's on top of some high profile changes in the lineup of candidates.

CNN's Judy Woodruff is tracking all of these developments. She's joining us now live from Los Angeles. Judy, it takes almost my breath away to see what's going on out there.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well, and you practically need a calculator, Wolf, to keep up with who's in and out of this race. First off, the top story you mentioned, that is we are waiting any moment now to hear from the state Supreme Court as to whether they will rule or not on the bid by allies of Governor Gray Davis to postpone this recall election, to move it from October to next March.

That is something that Davis very much would like to see because he figures many more Democrats would be voting. That would stand him in much better stead, so we're waiting for that.

Meantime, it has been a day of news. Arnold Schwarzenegger, you just showed the picture, did show up at the Los Angeles County Registrar's Office to poll the papers. That's what they call it out here. You take the papers. You got out. You get 60 signatures. You pay $3,500 and then you are in and it's a very fast 60-day contest. He's already knocked out one Republican, Congressman Darryl Issa who bankrolled this recall. He has just announced in the last few hours he won't be running.

Now, Schwarzenegger is taking the papers out. He'll be returning them before Saturday. That's the deadline. After he came out of the courthouse he talked to reporters and the people who were there.

He said when they asked him about this budget, the state's $38 billion enormous budget deficit, he said I'm not going to talk specifics now. I'll give you that later but he hammered away at this theme of reform, reform.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: It is part of my agenda to reform Sacramento, to reform the whole system because we have to always have public interest first and self interest is on the end and what we have right now in Sacramento is self interest first, self interest of the politicians, self interest of special interest groups, and we have to reverse all that. It's public interest first and that's what I want to fight for, so this is why I'm running for governor of California.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOODRUFF: And, Wolf, Arnold turned some heads, I think you have to say, when he said at one point, he said I've always achieved my goals and he said right now I'm passionate about helping the state of California, the people who need help, in other words suggesting nothing can stop him. He intends to win and then he intends to fix things in the state of California.

He also talked about how much money he's made as an actor, not sure how well that theme is going to go over but he is making it a point that he's not going to be raising money for this campaign. He doesn't want to be beholding to anybody. He's going to spend his own money. In other words, Wolf, he has turned the politics in the state of California upside down in the span of less than one day.

BLITZER: And the California Supreme Court, Judy, they could turn politics once again upside down depending on what they decide in the coming moments. This is going to be a decision whether to take up the challenges but we're not going to hear any decisions per se.

WOODRUFF: That's my understanding. Now, this is a challenge that the allies of Gray Davis have put forward. It's in Governor Davis' interest to postpone this recall election.

As it stands right now, the ballot is set for October the 7th. He is doing very poorly in the public opinion polls. Right now a majority of Californians say they would vote to recall him.

So, much of his argument right now hinges on this Supreme Court decision and if they decide to take up the case, now this is a Republican-appointed court. Frankly, there's not as much expectation out here that the court will rule in Davis' favor but, of course, you never know. It's a court. We don't know what the decision will be, but of course we're going to be following that along with all the other incredible developments in this California recall.

BLITZER: And we're going to ask Judy Woodruff to stand by and bring us the latest developments including any decision from the California Supreme Court as soon as we get that, Judy, thanks very much.

And, as Judy reported, a day of dramatic changes in this unprecedented recall, it's part political showdown, part three-ring circus.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHWARZENEGGER: I can promise you that when I go to Sacramento I will pump up Sacramento.

BLITZER (voice-over): Arnold Schwarzenegger is in. Don't care for Austrian? How about Greek?

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (I), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: It's going to be the battle of the accents. I very much look forward to debating him.

BLITZER: In addition to Arianna Huffington and big Arnold there's also little Arnold.

GARY COLEMAN: I'm tired of being called short stuff and half pint.

BLITZER: Former child star Gary Coleman, who played Arnold Drummond (ph) in "Different Strokes" is running but only in protest of the recall. He now says he's voting for Schwarzenegger.

Then, there's "Hustler" publisher Larry Flynt, the self-described smut peddler who cares.

LARRY FLYNT (D), CALIF. GOV. CANDIDATE: Just because of public pornography does not mean that I am not concerned about the social ills that all of us are.

BLITZER: Meanwhile, state Democrats have broken ranks, shattering what had been the united front against the recall. Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante is running despite earlier saying he did not intend to and Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi is taking out papers to run according to his press secretary.

In all, hundreds of people have taken that first step toward running for governor, some seriously, many less so, and with the deadline for filing this Saturday the list still is growing.

DEAN MURPHY, "NEW YORK TIMES": There's a lot of thinking that anything can go right now and everyone can create his own card right now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: The field may be growing but Schwarzenegger's candidacy is the talk of California today. Here's what some people are saying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He has no political experience and you know this thing is becoming a circus basically.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't ever recall voting for a Republican before but I think I would consider Arnold.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "The Terminator" being the president, "The Terminator" being the governor, I think it's great. I mean he really does have the heart for the people. I know he's involved in a lot of charity. He really loves children and that's what we need. We need some really big backbone. If "The Terminator" can do it, terminate "Terminator" go for it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he should stay with Hollywood. That's his thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Joining me now with an insider's perspective on the recall, the San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. He's a former assembly speaker, a long time fixture in California politics, always outspoken.

Mr. Mayor, thanks for joining us. Have you ever seen anything like this before?

MAYOR WILLIE BROWN, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Nothing in my imagination could have conjured up this. You wouldn't write this as part of "West Wing" or any other form of - you wouldn't even do it with "Bullworth." This just can't be happening.

BLITZER: All right, so put on your political and analytic hat for us. Is Schwarzenegger the next governor of California?

BROWN: If Arnold Schwarzenegger can be kept under wraps and the absence of knowledge, the absence of information, if he can get away with the homilies that he has given us so far, he could be a formidable candidate.

BLITZER: Is he another Ronald Reagan who went from Hollywood to become governor of California and, of course, later becoming president of the United States?

BROWN: I don't think so. Reagan had some training. As you'll recall, Reagan became the person who was kind of the spokesperson for Mr. Goldwater. He gave the great speech for Mr. Goldwater.

He had managed the movie industry's union organization. He had, in fact, developed some leadership skills on the management of people. Arnold doesn't have that but, then again, he may not need it.

BLITZER: When you say he may not need it, why?

BROWN: Well, because the people in California, as in many other places, are pretty sick of people like Willie Brown. They're pretty sick of politicians, smooth operators, people who claim they're going to do something and they don't do it. This is a Jesse Ventura mentality. This is a reincarnation of Jesse Ventura not Ronald Reagan.

BLITZER: It's one thing for people in Minnesota necessarily to buy Jesse Ventura but you honestly believe that Arnold Schwarzenegger can emerge as the next governor of California?

BROWN: I think we, as Democrats, are going to have a very difficult time defeating Arnold. I think for two or three reasons. One, the Republican Party and the White House is literally orchestrating now this whole thing. They understand that 2004 they need to destabilize California.

After all, Bush lost by more than a million votes in California, both houses of the legislature controlled by Democrats, the congressional delegation largely Democratic. They know. They want California in play in the democratic operation.

They don't think they'll win it but with Arnold at the helm they're in a position to do incredible damage. This is an opportunity for them not unlike what they were attempting to do in Texas, not unlike what they did in Florida when they first got the presidency. So, don't misread this. Darryl Issa got out because the White House moved him out.

BLITZER: All right, well Darryl Issa, the Congressman, who has orchestrated the entire recall effort. As we speak, Mr. Mayor, we're just getting word the California Supreme Court will make its announcement at the top of the hour in about 50 minutes or so from now on whether to hear the challenges that are going forward.

Knowing what you know about that California Supreme Court, this is a very important decision whether to go forward with the election October 7th, delay it until March. There are other issues being challenged as well. What do you believe it will do?

BROWN: I think this court will make a court decision, a judicial decision. I don't think this court will be terribly plagued by politics. There are really good people on the court, although many of them put there by Pete Wilson, they still are a respectable body.

I don't think they will involve themselves and immerse themselves in the circus. They care too much about California, about the image of the court, and so you won't find a decision being made consistent with anybody's political desires but, rather, based upon scholarship from legal minds.

BLITZER: Well, that's a nice vote of confidence from you on the California Supreme Court. If, in fact, the election is held on October 7th, is it a foregone conclusion, at least the public opinion polls suggest it is, that the people of California will vote to recall Governor Davis?

BROWN: We are in trouble on the Democratic side with Governor Davis. We're going to do everything we can, however, to defeat the recall. The effort should continue to be focused on a no vote on the recall, after all Davis won it fair and square in a regular election.

This should only be decided in a regular election. It should not be decided using the recall as a tool. There is no statement of charges against Governor Davis. A recall ought to be the people's version of impeachment and you know you have to have a bill of particulars for impeachment.

In addition thereto, in a recall, the reason you have a lieutenant governor is that if there's a vacancy created by a recall the lieutenant governor ought to move up. If that was, in fact the case in California already, Mr. Issa never would have spent the money and we would not be facing this unprecedented action and chaos being created by virtue of this. We would not be in a position where people see us as being totally and completely unstable.

BLITZER: It looks like the Democratic Party is pretty chaotic too with the Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante deciding today he's going to run for governor even though we thought earlier all the serious Democrats, like Dianne Feinstein and others, were going to stay out in order to show their support for Gray Davis.

BROWN: And that is the way it should still be now; however, if Mr. Davis makes up his mind that, in fact, things aren't as good and not possible to achieve a no vote then maybe he should call Dianne Feinstein and say, Ms. Feinstein come back in. Overnight, Arnold's star would be eclipsed.

BLITZER: Except the deadline is Saturday. There's not a whole lot of time for that to happen and there's no indication Gray Davis is about to do anything like that.

BROWN: I guarantee you he will not do anything like that but you and I are speculating and in this business in California we are pretty much left to speculating. This is so unprecedented. This is so - there's never in the history been anything comparable to this.

And, you're right, not only is Cruz Bustamante breaking ranks, so to speak, John Garamendi, the Insurance Commissioner, is talking about breaking ranks and my guess is that there will be another one or two other persons that will consider in the same direction. On the other hand, Republicans are getting out. They have a better way of control than Democrats.

BLITZER: And one other question, Mr. Mayor, Arianna Huffington running as an Independent, Larry Flynt the publisher of "Hustler" magazine, there are so many other wild candidates out there, what does it say about your state, this opportunity to become a candidate with only a few people signing some sort of referendum, some sort of ballot petition and, at the same time, $3,500 or something like that.

BROWN: If I had to put it in one word as a college professor, this is the ultimate democracy.

BLITZER: Well, that's a kind way of putting it. Mayor Willie Davis thanks so much for joining us.

BROWN: Willie Brown not Willie Davis.

BLITZER: Excuse me, my apologies, Willie Brown the mayor of San Francisco speaking out openly, candidly as he's always done. Willie Brown joining us, thanks very much Mr. Mayor.

Here's your turn to weigh in on this story. Our web question of the day is this. "Would you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger if he were running for governor of your state?" We'll have the results later in this broadcast.

Vote now at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, I'd love to hear directly from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

The threat to U.S. passenger planes overseas, what has homeland security officials so worried that they're sending security teams to check out major airports around the world, that story just ahead?

Plus, home at last, members of the 3rd Infantry Division reuniting with their families any minute now after a long tour at war. We'll take you there live.

And, Kobe Bryant's endorsement career, can the troubled basketball player keep his star from fading? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. It's been a day which drives home the toll taken by terrorism. At least ten people were killed and dozens hurt when a powerful car bomb exploded outside the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, hurling vehicles into the air and leaving bodies strewn on the ground.

That attack came five years to the day after twin truck bombings at the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, bombings that killed more than 200 people and wounded thousands. They were the first major attacks blamed on al Qaeda directly.

And just days after a bloody hotel bombing in Jakarta, an Indonesian court handed down its first verdict in last year's Bali nightclub bombing. The defendant smiled when the death sentence was passed. More than 200 people died in the nightclub attacks blamed on a militant Islamic group linked to al Qaeda. We'll have more on all of that coming up.

But, let's move on now to a new effort to prevent terror in the skies. An attack in Africa last year using a very portable and very lethal weapon is triggering urgent efforts to counter a new threat.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us live with that - Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, homeland security officials say there is no recent intelligence that al Qaeda is planning or ready to execute an attack on airliners using shoulder- fired missiles but, because the weapons are cheap, available, and easy to use, the U.S. Government is moving on several fronts to try to reduce the threat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE (voice-over): November, 2002, terrorists fire a shoulder-fired missile at an Israeli airliner over Mombassa, Kenya. The missile misses but it lets U.S. officials know this threat to commercial aviation is real.

After looking at the vulnerability of the largest U.S. airports to the missiles, American teams are now evaluating a dozen airports overseas where U.S. carriers frequently fly or where the U.S. has strategic interests. Among the airports being looked at, Baghdad, Basra, Manila, Athens, and Istanbul, among the security recommendations surveillance, fencing, and increased patrols. Experts say these perimeter measures are of limited use given the capability of the missiles.

DAVID OCHMANEK, RAND CORPORATION: These things are effective up to several thousand feel in altitude and you know the angles at which airplanes approach runways is pretty shallow so they would be within effective range of these things for several miles before touchdown or for several miles after takeoff.

MESERVE: Several miles during which aircraft often pass over densely populated areas in which a shoulder-fired missile could easily be hidden. In recognition of this, the Department of Homeland Security is asking eight government contractors to develop detailed plans for anti-missile technologies reliable enough, effective enough, and inexpensive enough to put on commercial airliners.

ANDREW KOCH, JANE'S DEFENSE: The question is how much money do you have to spend because to defend against all threats all the time the military type systems is very expensive.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: The administration is also trying to extend the proliferation of shoulder-fired missiles, encouraging other nations to better control their inventories and instituting buy back programs in some high risk countries but there are an estimated 750,000 shoulder- fired missiles already in circulation and officials acknowledge some are already in the hands of terrorists - Wolf.

BLITZER: Pretty scary stuff, Jeanne Meserve thanks very much for that report.

The Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, is concerned about another threat that recently warned airlines about ordinary items such as cameras being turned into weapons by al Qaeda operatives. U.S. officials found such makeshift items in al Qaeda safe houses around the world but many concealed weapons are readily available to ordinary Americans.

For that let's turn to our CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena - Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, you would not believe what is commercially available, items that don't raise suspicion but which are potentially deadly.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA (voice-over): Does this key chain look dangerous? How about this hairbrush? Well, neither seems threatening but, in fact, they are both deadly. The key chain is plastic but contains a hidden metal knife blade. The handle of the hairbrush pulls from the head uncovering a potentially lethal weapon.

BILLIE VINCENT, FMR. FAA SECURITY OFFICIAL: The more mundane and the more routine the item is, obviously the more difficult it is to detect those because you're dealing with a great number of those items that are indeed exactly what they seem to be.

ARENA: These items and other like them were collected and catalogued by the FBI to help make airport screeners, security guards, and law enforcement more aware. All of the weapons are available commercially in stores or over the Internet and most cost 20 bucks or less.

Some are all plastic, which means they will not set off a metal detector, and according to the FBI each is "designed to cut and is fully functional in that respect."

WILLIAM DALY, FMR. FBI INVESTIGATOR: There are veins and arteries on people's bodies which are very close to the surface so it doesn't take much of a blade in order to cause some major damage.

ARENA: Weapons like these have been available long before the September 11th attacks but, like most security threats, are garnering new attention.

DALY: The box cutters that were used on 9/11 are an example of a low tech tool. These aircraft were brought down by items that can be bought in hardware stores right off the shelf. So, I believe that this is an attempt, and I think it's a very positive move forward, to think outside of our traditional ways of dealing with security.

ARENA: FBI officials say the manual was not meant for public consumption and refused to be interviewed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: But security specialists say that the more air travelers know the better their chances will be at helping to stop a potential disaster - Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Kelli Arena with that important story thanks Kelli very much.

The long road home finally ends for some soldiers. Coming up, after serving months in the desert troops are finally coming home to waiting family members. We'll have a live report. That's coming up.

Also, Saddam Hussein in disguise, what U.S. commanders are saying about how the former dictator may be trying to elude U.S. forces.

And later, the big change is coming to one of the most famous mountains in the world, the Matterhorn. You'll want to see this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world. Here now is Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: U.S. troops were once again under fire and taking casualties in Iraq and at least ten non-Americans died today in a bloody Baghdad bombing.

CNN's Harris Whitbeck reports from the Iraqi capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another bomb in the Iraqi capital, this one against a non-U.S. target. The Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad was hit by a car bomb early Thursday morning, among the dead Iraqis passing by and the Iraqi policemen assigned to guard the embassy compound.

"There was dust and smoke" says this eyewitness. "I saw burned and wounded men and women coming out of the rubble. They were Iraqis not Jordanian." U.S. military police quickly cordoned off the area as investigators swept in.

(on camera): The U.S. is particularly interested in finding out who is behind the attack. It says that there are already foreign fighters operating in the country who are willing to carry out acts of terrorism.

(voice-over): The question is why the Jordanian Embassy?

SANCHEZ: Well, I think what this shows is that, in fact we've got some terrorists that are operating here. It shows that we're still in a conflict zone.

WHITBECK: Jordan is perceived as being supportive of the U.S. occupation of Iraq and many eyebrows were raised when Saddam Hussein's daughters were granted asylum by Jordan's King Abdullah.

Meanwhile, after four days of relative quiet, U.S. forces once again came under attack. Two U.S. soldiers were killed Wednesday evening during a firefight in Baghdad's al-Rashid district.

Assailants launched a rocket-propelled grenade against a U.S. Humvee as it drove through the Baghdad neighborhood of (unintelligible). Several civilians and a U.S. soldier were wounded in the firefight that followed.

Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: U.S. officials say Saddam Hussein is on the run and moving all the time and they also say he may have undergone a startling change of appearance.

Let's go live to our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr for that - Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Pentagon officials saying again today that there are continuing credible reports that Saddam Hussein has grown a beard, has long hair, and it's all turned gray and that he's moving about in very plain unassuming clothing.

They also say, however, they are aware that he may be continuing to change his appearance. So they are very cautious and in Iraq, top military officials for the first time in several days talking about some specifics about how often they think Saddam is on the move.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO, U.S. ARMY: I think he's on the run. He's moving every three to four hours. I think he is -- it's impossible for him to command and control. So what I'm after is the ones commanding and controlling what's going on against our forces and trying to subvert what we're trying to do in building up Iraq. That's really our focus.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: And, Wolf, perhaps the success of U.S. raids now having an unintended effect. Military officials in Iraq and here at the Pentagon saying they have intelligence that tells them guerrilla fighters are now offering as much as $5,000 for someone to stage an attack against American forces. That's up significantly from their previous estimates.

BLITZER: That's a whole lot of money in that part of the world. Thanks very much for that report, Barbara.

As if the Kobe Bryant case needed more drama, a new poll shows Americans racially divided over this highly charged story. We'll have the details. That's coming up.

Also, homecoming, finally, for the 3rd Infantry. We'll go live to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where some very eager families are waiting right now to receive their loved ones.

And the face of war. A little boy who captured the world's attention gets a new lease on life.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Let's take a quick look at some other news making headlines right now.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: New developments in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case.

CNN national correspondent Gary Tuchman is in Eagle, Colorado, with the latest just one day after Kobe Bryant's closely watched appearance in court.

Gary, tell us what's going on on this day after.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the day after, here's the news we've learned.

The district attorney's office is telling us that Kobe Bryant will be obligated to personally appear at the preliminary hearing, the next step, a very important step in this case. And that will be October 9. He also appeared yesterday at a less important step, the initial hearing. And at that hearing, the judge announced that he would appoint a special investigator to investigate the possibility of leaks from law enforcement officials here to members of the news media. He says the prosecution and defense have both agreed.

The judge telling us that the initial thought was to hold a hearing over these leaks. But he was afraid more leaks would come out. So he decided to have the special investigator from a nearby county check out the situation instead.

Kobe Bryant was in court for a grand total of seven minutes. He was in Colorado for less than an hour -- flew in at 3:35 p.m. and left to go back to California at 4:35 p.m.. Now the preliminary hearing -- here's why it's so important. October 9, the prosecution for the first time in an open courtroom, will have to reveal some of its evidence. Enough evidence for the judge to say there is probable cause for this case to go to trial. Probable cause, a much lower standard than proof beyond a reasonable doubt, which a jury eventually would have to decide if there's a trial. Probably cause is basically a judge has to say, Well, there's a probability he did it and then it will go to trial.

Now Kobe Bryant -- it was a lot different scenario here when he was on television all over the world. And a couple of hours later, he appeared on television twice yesterday. The other time was on the Teen Choice Awards, a show taped over the weekend and Kobe Bryant spoke to his fans in the audience.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOBE BRYANT, NBA PLAYER: You know, we're flying through some dark clouds right now, but through god's will, the sun will rise and shine again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: He had a lot of supporters there, and he also had a lot of supporters here. About 150 people were outside on the courthouse lawn. Most of them cheered when Kobe Bryant came in and when Kobe Bryant went out.

One final thing, Wolf. You know the cameras were in the court yesterday because worldwide people watched. That doesn't necessarily mean the cameras will be in the court for the more important preliminary hearing. The judge will have to decide on that again. He tells us today he'll make his decision most likely, the first week of September -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. A lot of people will be interested in that. Gary Tuchman, thanks very much for that report.

The allegations against Kobe Bryant have already cost him one endorsement deal with the Italian company that makes Nutella. Will other companies also sever ties?

Rick Horrow is a sports analyst -- business analyst and visiting expert at Harvard Law School. He's joins us now live from West Palm Beach down in Florida.

Thanks, Rick, very much for joining us.

Is it just the beginning? Is he going to lose all those endorsements?

RICK HORROW, SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Well, that's the tip of a sweet iceberg. That's a hazelnut spread that's costing him 500 grand. But it is a little more serious than that.

You know, when he signed on with the underdog Sprite as a fledgling brand in '96, he's now put $11 million bucks in his pocket. Upper Deck, Sprite, Spalding -- and Nike has a $45 million contract. They have to figure out whether there's disrepute and moral problems that will cause him to get out just because he admitted infidelity. It's a highly charged incident. There's some lightning around here, but it's highly charged for him as well.

BLITZER: We can hear that lightning, that thunder as well. Just be careful over there.

What about the whole opportunity that these companies have to dump him? Do they have to pay off or can they just dump him and stop paying him?

HORROW: Well, they could just dump him and stop paying him. Latrell Sprewell when he choked Coach Carlisimo, Converse got out of a $32 million deal.

The question is whether they're going to do it or not. You know, Nike has lost $2.4 billion over the last few years and had to cut back 1600 workers, even though it's a $40 million -- billion industry, they may want to say, let's stick with him at least through our justice system, which is predisposed to innocent until proven guilty. We'll just have to see that one.

BLITZER: If he's innocent, if he's not convicted, can he come back and have the same kind of endorsement deals that he's had until now?

HORROW: Look, we understand that athletes move product. You know, Allen Iverson's sales of Reebok sneakers spiked 37 percent after his lifetime deal. If this infidelity issue is coupled with some graphic, sexual testimony at the trial it may affect his McDonald's type of endorsements.

The real key is the NBA. You know, Michael Jordan's $13 billion worth. Who is going to take the torch? Was it Yao Ming and his $3 impression? Was it LeBron James and his $90 million from Nike before he laced up his shoes? We don't know. But it ain't going to be Kobe, no matter what.

BLITZER: The whole notion of -- that some are suggesting, this could also help them with certain companies, with certain businesses, what he's going through right now, might make him an even more attractive pitchman, if you will. Is that really possible?

HORROW: I think the only thing that says, Wolf is that there are too many people that don't have a life and they are speculating about a whole lot of different things. That's called street cred. I guess and they're saying that a tarnished image is pretty good. And you point to guys Ray Lewis and Rae Carruth that came back after major incidents that happened to them.

The bottom line is that corporations aren't going to tolerate that that anymore. And O.J. Simpson, by the way, was the darling of the media until '94 when Hertz dropped him. I think, in the future we're not going to see that. We're going to see endorsements shorter, more carefully targeted, smaller in duration as well, and more easy to terminate because of this immoral behavior. You can't guarantee statesmanship and civic duty, and that's one of the problems with corporate endorsers today.

BLITZER: Rick Horrow down in West Palm Beach, Florida, thanks very much for helping us understand this crazy business.

HORROW: Absolutely, you may have a news story here in a minute, pal.

BLITZER: Well, just be careful over there.

Race plays a factor in whether people believe the charges against Kobe Bryant or not. That according to a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Look at this. It finds 40 percent of whites think the charges are true compared to 24 percent of African-Americans. And 51 percent of whites think the allegations are not true compared to 68 percent of African Americans. The poll has a sampling error of 7.5 percent.

An emotional reunion of U.S. soldiers and their families. That's expected to start any minute now. We'll go there live to Ft. Stewart in Georgia for the final steps home. It's been a long road indeed.

Also the locust invasion in China. The enormous destruction caused by the voracious insects.

And later, the special help coming up for Ali Abbas, the little boy in Iraq who lost both arms in the war from a bombing. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Plenty of tears, hugs and flowers are expected today at Ft. Stewart, Georgia. Roughly 150 soldiers with the 3rd infantry division fresh from Iraq are finally coming home. CNN's Brian Cabell is joining us now live from Ft. Stewart. A lot of happy people over there, Brian.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of happy, expectant people out here, as a matter of fact. We think the troops may be arriving right now. We're not absolutely certain. We were told about 30 minutes. They have been waiting almost 11 months. With us right now, one of the expectant families, namely Bambi Williams and her three children. Bambi, 11 months -- you can hear it behind me right now.

BAMBI WILLIAMS, WIFE OF RETURNING SOLDIER: They are showing up.

CABELL: What are you going to do when you first see him?

WILLIAMS: Oh, wow! I'm going to just scream, yell, go hug him. Give him a kiss. Tell him I love him and I'm proud of him.

CABELL: We've been hearing that some of these guys may have some pressure on them coming back trying to adjust to this life after being at war. Are you concerned about that? WILLIAMS: I'm not concerned. I think he's a pretty resilient person. He's a positive person. So, he'll be okay. It may take a few weeks to get back into the luxuries of life but he'll be all right.

CABELL: What about the three kids. How have they dealt over the last 11 months with his absence?

WILLIAMS: Schoolwork was a little bit hard without dad there to kind of prod them along, but they did pretty good. We were pretty fortunate to have e-mail and to be able to do things like that. So it was a little better than wars past.

CABELL: What do you suppose he'll want to do here the next couple of days.

WILLIAMS: Sleep in a bed and not on a cot. That's what he's has said. And get a steak. I think that he really wants a steak.

CABELL: Is that what he's missed most of all, the food?

WILLIAM: No, probably missed us the most. Yes, definitely. It's just going to be really, really nice. But it's been a long time coming. But I'm really proud of him.

CABELL: We heard about morale problems within this unit. Do you know anything about that?

WILLIAM: Well, my husband is a career counselor. He has to keep people in the army. So, and like I said, he's really positive, and when they didn't know and it was really everything was taken back, that was kind of hard, but they gathered up again and they are okay.

CABELL: Thank you very much.

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

CABELL: Again, Bambi Williams. They have been waiting for 11 months. They probably will only have to wait maybe another half hour or so. It's been a tough time for them. They were in some of the toughest fighting on the way to Baghdad, in Baghdad, in Fallujah afterwards. Finally, it looks as though the wait is just about over with -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Good for them. Congratulations to all those happy people. Brian Cabell, thanks very much for that report.

A young Iraqi boy who became one of the most famous victims of the war, that's coming up. A look at the next stage in the recovery for Ali Abbas.

But first, let's take a look at some other news making headlines from around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: Jailed for 20 years, the leader of a splinter guerrilla group responsible for Northern Ireland's deadliest bomb attack begins his sentence today. Michael McIvit (ph) leader of the so-called Real I.R.A. was convicted in Dublin of directing terrorism. That charge was created after 1998's bombing in Oman, Northern Ireland that killed 29 people.

Pestilence of biblical proportions. Millions of locusts have consumed more than 27 million acres of grassland in China's inner Mongolia. Fields and plantations in northern China are devastated by the ravenous insects.

Melting Alps. A blistering heat wave in Europe is being felt even on the snowy caps of the Swiss Alps. Glaciers are melting and the mountains are crumbling. Dozens of people have died in accidents, many of them from rockfalls. Dozens more were evacuated recently on the Matterhorn in one of the largest rescues the mountain has ever seen.

Mickey's money problems. Mickey Mouse doesn't seem to have the clout overseas that he does in the United States. Because of the slump in visitors at Euro Disney in Paris, the theme park is in danger of defaulting on millions of dollars in debt.

Sharif's sentence. Egyptian film start Omar Sharif received a one-month suspended prison term for headbutting a police officer in Paris. It happened during an argument at a casino. The star of "Dr. Zivago" was also fined 1500 Euros.

And sneak a peek at the next Harry Potter movie due out in June. Warner Bros. has released stills of the next installment in the tale of the young wizard in training. Gary Oldman portrays the mysterious, serious Black. Sir Michael Gambo now plays Dumbledore, replacing the late Richard Harris.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You are looking live at pictures from Fort Stewart, Georgia, where family members, loved ones are awaiting the return of soldiers from the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division. They've been gone for 11 months, but momentarily, they'll be home home. We'll have coverage of that. Stay with CNN.

He lost his entire family and his arms during the bombing of Baghdad and the entire world was drawn to his plight. Ali Abbas, been battling back and is making a stop on his courageous journey.

Jim Boulden reports from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: 13-year-old Ali Abbas has been recovering, four months after the battle for Baghdad took 10 members of his family and his arms. The next Ali Abbas on his journey is here, Queen Mary's Hospital in southwest London. The chairman of the charity bringing Ali here, an amputee here said Ali was in good spirits when they met recently in Kuwait.

ZAFAR KAHN, THE LIMBLESS ASSOCIATION: He was asking me all kinds of questions after learning I also had a prosthetic limb. He was asking, can I run? I said, no, sorry, I can't run. And he asked me to stand on my right leg, my prosthesis, if I can balance. So he was very alert, very cheerful.

BOULDEN: The Limbless Association has raised money for his care. The Kuwaiti government has promised to pay for the treatment as well. So, the chairman of the association says Ali's plight might lead to similar rehabilitation centers being created in Iraq.

KAHN: To try and help others who are in Iraq, many hundreds, thousands, by building and by providing facilities to existing rehabilitation centers.

BOULDEN: Kahn, has shown three different types of arms to Ali. Doctors here have to decide which is best for him. Ali has said all along that he wanted hands again and then a major goal is to drive a car one day.

Jim Boulden, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: What a heart-wrenching amazing story that is.

Our hot "Web Question of the Day" is this, would you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger if he were running for governor of your state? You can vote at cnn.com/wolf. We will have the results immediately when we come back.

First, though, today's news quiz.

What Guinness World Record does Arnold Schwarzenegger hold? Longest time between Mr. Olympia titles, highest salary per film, most movies by a bodybuilder, all of the above?

The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Earlier we asked, what Guinness World Record does Arnold Schwarzenegger hold? The answer -- all of the above.

He came out of retirement in 1980 to win his sixth Mr. Olympia title, five years after his last win. He made a record-setting $30 million for his role in "Terminator 3," and he easily wins the title for the most films by a body builder, with 29 movies under his belt.

And here's how you are weighing in on our web question of the day. It's this. Would you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger if he were running for governor of your state? Look at this, 37 percent of you say, yes, 63 percent of you say, no.

As always, we'd like to remind you, this is not a scientific poll. But you can still continue to vote. Simply go to our Web site, cnn.com/wolf.

Let's read some of your e-mail.

Rocco writes this, "Was it not the founding fathers' intention that government in America would be run by proven, successful businessman who would serve only one or two terms, not hereditary aristocrats or career politicians? Is not Arnold Schwarzenegger the successful dream of every immigrant who came to America to succeed?"

Bowman sends us this, "With due respect for their artistic integrity and ability to fill movie theaters, the inclusion of Schwarzenegger, Coleman and other like candidates makes a mockery of the process. Surely we can determine a more appropriate entry standard to get on the ballot."

Bernie ask this question, "Does it not occur to anyone that two American soldiers were killed last night and the Jordanian Embassy in Iraq was bombed causing multiple deaths, but all anyone is taking about is a basketball player's sexual assault trail and an actor's run for governor? Is it any wonder that our nation is in crisis?"

I just want to remind you, Bernie, we did report all the other news as well. And a reminder to our views, to catches every night 5:00 p.m. Eastern as well as noon Eastern, Monday through Friday. Until then thank you very much for joining us.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





California; U.S. teams in overseas airports beefing up security against shoulder-fired missiles>