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American Morning
Holy Day Explosions in Iraq; Super Tuesday Showdown
Aired March 02, 2004 - 07:30 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Top stories again here at the half- hour, Soledad.
U.S. officials are calling claims that former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced to leave the country in coup d'etat by the U.S. as -- quote -- "nonsense."
Meanwhile, violence and looting continues in Port-au-Prince despite the presence of multinational forces. Rebels have kept their weapons despite promises earlier to lay down their arms. A U.S. Marine colonel says his troops are not a police force and will not disarm them.
In this country, Mississippi authorities say they believe they have found the bodies of a family missing since Valentine's Day. Earnest Lee Hargon, a relative, has been charged with three counts of capital murder. Officials say a dispute over inheritance property may have contributed to the murders. Autopsies are being done to positively identify the bodies.
Battle lines are being drawn in California. The State Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a Catholic charity must provide workers with birth control coverage despite the church's moral opposition to contraception. The court challenged Catholic Charities of Sacramento is not a religious employer, because it offers secular services and has workers of different religions.
A new computer virus has been landing now in e-mail boxes throughout the world. The worm known as "net sky d" arrives with an attached program. Experts say they don't think the new virus is as big as the earlier mydoom worm, because less people use PIF files. They warn computer users to not open any attachments from unknown users. Hope you got that one.
Sports note. Barry Bonds and two other baseball stars are allegedly among a handful of athletes who use steroids; this, according to a report today on the Web site of the "San Francisco Chronicle." Bonds' personal trainer gave the players the drugs, according to the information given to the government and shared with the paper.
The other players mentioned, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield, denied steroid use. All three declined comment from yesterday. This is a story happening in Florida and Arizona with spring training that is getting an awful lot of attention in the sports world.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, no question about that. Weather now.
(WEATHER BREAK)
O'BRIEN: The number of dead from a series of explosions in Iraq is climbing as the day wears on. There were nine blasts in Karbala. Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslim pilgrims were gathered in that holy city for one of the holiest days of the year. More explosions killed many more people at about the same time 50 miles north in Baghdad.
Our bureau chief, Jane Arraf, is live in Baghdad for us this morning.
Jane -- good morning.
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Soledad.
This day is meant to mark a tragedy 14 centuries ago, the defining moment really in the faith for Shia Muslims. It turned into further tragedy when four explosions rocked one of the holiest sites for Shia Muslims, the Kazania (ph) mosque in downtown Baghdad.
Now, these explosions, according to a senior U.S. military official, were either homemade bombs or grenades. And indeed, when we went into the mosque, the courtyard covered in blood, the marble tiles with the remains of people who had been blown apart, just a horrific scene. There were fragments of grenades that some people showed us.
Now, American soldiers who had been at the perimeter of the area moved in to try to restore calm and control. They moved in with Iraqi soldiers and Iraqi security. But the crowd was so angry, they started throwing stones, and the American soldiers withdrew after firing shots in the air. People are obviously very tense and very angry -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: There was also a U.S. soldier who was killed, and I'm curious to know if the death of that soldier was linked to these explosions.
ARRAF: It was not. This was the death of a soldier, one soldier killed and another one wounded after a homemade bomb was thrown at their vehicle. They were apparently in an armored vehicle, a Humvee, when this homemade bomb was thrown at them in Baghdad. Now, these were soldiers from the 1st Armored Division due to rotate out very shortly. They've been here almost a year.
But there are soldiers across this country facing continuing attacks. This one, though, unrelated to those horrific explosions on this holiest of days for Shia Muslims -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, Jane, I've got to tell you, we're watching the pictures right now -- really dramatic and very disturbing to see, especially as you watch many of the people pelting obviously the Humvees, U.S. soldiers as they are in their Humvees. Thanks for that update for us, Jane. We'll check back in with you a little bit later this morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: About 25 minutes before the hour.
To politics and the biggest primary day of them all goes down today. Ten states head to the polls, and the Democratic nomination could be in the balance by the end of the day.
Bob Franken live in Annapolis, Maryland, with more on the Super Tuesday showdown.
Bob -- good morning there.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Bill.
And this is Super Tuesday, but this is a story that we've heard repeated time and again, favorites, non-favorites, perhaps surprising finishes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): He's the front-runner, the favorite once again, so pity John Kerry.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I need your help.
FRANKEN: Kerry needs all the help he can get if he wants to avoid another night of winning, but not winning big enough.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I plan to be in this (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
FRANKEN: John Edwards still gets to play by the better-than- expected rules. In fact, he's already released a schedule for visiting Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas -- the southern states that hold their elections the week after Super Tuesday. Of course, reality might intrude sooner or later.
EDWARDS: Of course. Of course. At some point, I've to start getting more delegates or I'm not going to be the nominee.
FRANKEN: Super Tuesday accounts for 1,151 delegates. Kerry already has a wide lead, and he's campaigning as if he is the nominee (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on the general election opposition.
KERRY: If he came here, I think he could straighten out his fuzzy math, because the numbers don't add up. He's not multiplying the jobs. He's trying to divide America. And so, I think our solution, we ought to subtract George Bush from the political equation of the United States.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: Well, if we continue to torture the accounting metaphor, John Kerry is going to have to crush John Edwards; otherwise, he won't be able to subtract him, and Edwards will continue to nip at his heels.
But this is Super Tuesday. It could be decisive or it could just be another Tuesday -- Bill.
HEMMER: Bob, thanks. Bob Franken there in Maryland.
Win or lose today, Senator John Edwards says he is in the race to stay. You heard that in Bob's report there.
Maryland Congressman Albert Wynn is an Edwards supporter; in fact, the only member of the congressional delegation in his home state who supports Senator Edwards. He's with us in D.C.
Nice to see you. Good morning to you.
REP. ALBERT WYNN (D), MARYLAND: Good morning. How are you?
HEMMER: I'm doing just fine.
What does Senator Edwards need today to stay in this race past tomorrow?
WYNN: Well, we obviously need to win some primaries, but we also need to win some delegates, and we will. John Edwards has tremendous appeal. The more people see him, the more they like him. He connects with people about working-class issues, education, health care, sending young people to college. And so, John Edwards is definitely in the race, and he's doing very well.
HEMMER: Polling in Maryland shows John Edwards trailing by 12 points. We can show our viewers that poll from your home state. In the other nine states that vote today, he's anywhere from 8 points and upwards of 35 points behind Senator Kerry. Where do you think his best chance is today?
WYNN: Well, it's hard to speculate. I think we're going to do better than expected here in Maryland. I think Ohio and Georgia presents opportunities.
I think the real point is this: This is a contest, not a coronation. We've said that. It's good for the Democratic Party to have a contest, to have people, two or more people talking about what's wrong with the Bush administration. It energizes a party.
If this continues on past Super Tuesday, and I believe it will, it will be good for the party in other parts of the country to hear this message that Democrats are talking about. We'll have plenty of time to unify, but let's not put the horse before the cart -- or the cart before the horse. Let's go ahead hear what people have to say. I think people, when they hear it, will like John Edwards a great deal.
HEMMER: Let me take you back to Sunday morning, that debate. Reverend Al Sharpton said, quite pointedly, why is Senator Edwards getting so much attention? He finished first one time in South Carolina, and he's placed fourth seven different times. What would you say to Reverend Sharpton?
WYNN: Well, we've also done very well in Oklahoma. I considered a first. It was a virtual tie.
I would say this: John Edwards is collecting delegates. He's also delivering a message about working-class, middle-class America, because that's the key issue in this election. The Bush administration is eroding the middle class in America, and we have to stop that. John Edwards has a tremendous appeal, and so he should get attention. He is a very legitimate, a very serious contender, and he's fighting very hard.
HEMMER: In a word or two, some say this would be a political miracle if he won today. Do you agree?
WYNN: Well, I wouldn't quite call it a miracle. I think it would be a major upset, and upsets do happen. That's what makes it very interesting.
But the bottom line is it's good for the party to have John Edwards here. He appeals to people. He appeals to Independents. He appeals to many Republicans. That's good for the party at the end of the day.
So, I think we need to continue this process. I think people will be surprised at how well John Edwards does today. And I think we'll see what happens after that.
HEMMER: Nice to talk to you. Albert Wynn, congressman from Maryland.
WYNN: My pleasure.
HEMMER: Pleasure.
Stay tuned to CNN for complete coverage later tonight on Super Tuesday. Wolf kicks off our primetime coverage, 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 in California to take you through the night. A lot to talk about later this evening here on primetime on CNN -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: And still to come in our next hour of AMERICAN MORNING, a decision in the Kobe Bryant case on what may be asked about the accuser's sexual history. We're going to take you live to Eagle, Colorado, in just a moment.
And six years after she was told that her infant daughter died in a house fire, a mother makes a startling discovery. The girl is alive. We're going to talk to the mother coming up.
HEMMER: Also, a huge announcement expected today from NASA, so they say, about what they have found on Mars.
Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HEMMER: NASA is planning to make what it calls a significant announcement today regarding its mission on Mars. Some speculate NASA is set to reveal that the Red Planet once capable of sustaining microscopic life forms.
Here to talk about that possibility, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History here in New York.
Nice to see you again.
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON, DIRECTOR, HAYDEN PLANETARIUM: Yes, it's good to be back.
HEMMER: Thanks for making time for us.
What is the announcement today?
TYSON: Well, first of all, I don't know. It remains sort of embargoed until the press conference. But short of some creature crawling up behind the rover, it's surely to be an announcement regarding the discovery of water in some form or another.
HEMMER: So, it's not a creature then?
TYSON: Well, short of that possibility, I think the much more realistic option here is that the whole point of the mission was to search for water or rocks that were formed in the presence of water. So -- and water is just some random thing to look for. Water on Earth, any place we found it, is teaming with life. And so, much of our dreams of space travel flow through the search for life. And if you're going to find life, youve got to find the water -- life as we know it, of course.
HEMMER: So, if there is an announcement today that says H20 has been found in some form, be it today or a billion years ago, how significant is that to you?
TYSON: Well, that's significant on many counts. If we confirm that there was water, to put together with all of the circumstantial evidence that has been collected over the years -- the meandering river beds, the flood plains, all dried up -- to know that there is water today, we could speculate that maybe there are some sort of liquefied pockets -- they're surely frozen if there is water there at all -- if there are some liquefied pockets deep below.
And if so, there could be some sort of frozen bacteria, some -- well, in the liquefied pockets, some active bacteria, perhaps in frozen water some sort of frozen bacteria. We can freeze bacteria on Earth, thaw it out, and it can move along just like nothing had happened.
HEMMER: Let me stop you there. Back up. You said circumstantial evidence. Is that the case right now? Or how hard is the evidence knowing that you essentially have two rovers plowing I guess the soil or the rocks of Mars today? TYSON: No. Up until these rovers, all of the evidence for water has been sort of the smoking gun that water was once there, but we still had no firm evidence. And now, we've got some -- two rovers that are basically field geologists on a mission to search for water. In particular, rock that's have formed in the presence of water.
One kind of rock, one kind of deposition might be salt. Salt comes about because you have salty water that evaporated, and it leaves behind this salty residue.
HEMMER: Let me ask you this.
TYSON: Yes.
HEMMER: Let me pose it to you. You can't have life without water, true?
TYSON: Not life as we know it.
HEMMER: OK. But can you have water without life?
TYSON: Well, I don't see any reason why not, except that we just have no example of that -- not on Earth, at least. Well, sure, if you boil water in your kitchen, sterilize it, yes, you have taken all the life out. But life in the universe, we don't know if wherever you find liquid water you would find life. That remains to be tested.
HEMMER: At 2:00 today. Looking forward to it.
TYSON: OK.
HEMMER: I'm sure (UNINTELLIGIBLE) .
TYSON: Thanks.
HEMMER: All right, here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, a key decision in the Kobe Bryant case about whether the accuser's sexual history can be introduced. That's just ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues. We'll be back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: A highly-anticipated court appearance by the woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape has been delayed. The woman was to have been questioned about her sexual history by Bryant's defense attorneys today, but that was before the judge decided to reconsider a request by prosecutors.
National correspondent Gary Tuchman has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): About 12 hours after he played in a basketball game in New Jersey, Kobe Bryant arrived at court in Colorado to begin a two-day pretrial hearing, where he had expected to face his accuser in court for the first time.
The woman, allegedly sexually assaulted at a Colorado hotel, had been scheduled to testify Tuesday about defense allegations she had -- quote -- "multiple acts of sex in the days prior to being with Bryant, and more sex within 15 hours afterwards."
But the judge has delayed the testimony until later this month, saying he needs more time to decide what kind of questioning will be allowed.
CRAIG SILVERMAN, COLORADO ATTORNEY: The most damaging evidence against Kobe Bryant is this entry to the young lady's posterior quarshet (ph). The prosecution is claiming Kobe Bryant caused that injury. Team Kobe is arguing, no, that was caused by somebody else prior or aggravated by somebody subsequent.
TUCHMAN: Judge Terry Ruckriegle will rule sometime following the woman's closed-door testimony if details of her sexual history are relevant.
CYNTHIA STONE, COLORADO COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT: Just because a judge lets it be in the courtroom and makes it admissible in the courtroom also does not mean it is true.
TUCHMAN: On Monday, Bryant's attorney resumed his effort to get a secret police recording with the Laker guard thrown out, because he wasn't read his Miranda rights. Prosecutors say the procedure was unnecessary, because Bryant wasn't arrested or in custody. Bryant's attorneys say he felt like he was in custody. The judge could issue that decision any time.
(on camera): The alleged victim is from here in Eagle, but we've through court testimony she has temporarily moved out of state, and that Kobe Bryant's attorneys are paying to fly her back home to testify.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Eagle, Colorado.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The hearing at which Bryant's accuser could now testify is scheduled to begin three weeks from tomorrow.
HEMMER: From California, when it comes to same-sex marriage, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he would support the people's decision if they want to change the laws of the state. He was asked about the issue on NBC's "Tonight Show With Jay Leno."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, NBC HOST: Would you have any trouble -- problems if they changed the law?
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: No, I'd have no problem. And let the court decide. Let the people decide. The people have voted just in the last election, you know, on Proposition 22. They voted very clearly that a marriage is only between a man and a woman, and that's the law. So, we have to abide by the law. If the people change their minds and they want to overrule that, that's fine with me. But right now that's the law, and I think that every mayor and everybody should abide by the law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: The Republican governor has ordered the state's attorney general to stop San Francisco from allowing same-sex marriages, but he has done nothing to enforce that directive to date.
Schwarzenegger also had a bit of a surprise on the show. He was joined on stage by the man he replaced, Gray Davis. The two hatched the idea at a recent dinner. They say they are now good friends, both calling California voters to pass economic propositions that are on the ballot today -- interesting pairing there.
O'BRIEN: Jack, do you think they are still good friends? Do you think they've become good friends since the election?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, I'm sure they are. Oh, yes. I'm sure they are.
O'BRIEN: Question of the day?
CAFFERTY: More about gay marriages, Soledad. The mayor of New Paltz, New York, married 25 gay couples on Friday. He says he's going to keep doing it. Just like California, the governor of New York asked the state's attorney general to stop the weddings, because the governor feels they are illegal. And just like in California, the attorney general has done nothing to stop the marriages.
Yesterday, the mayor of Ithaca in New York says she's going to start accepting marriage license applications from gay couples, after 3,000 gay marriages performed in the city of San Francisco. So, it's an issue obviously that's not going anywhere.
The answer -- the question, rather, is what's the answer to the gay marriage dilemma?
Here is some of what you've written.
Karen rights this: "The answer to rogue mayors in gay marriage is the wonderful federal dollar. They don't get do see one until they start obeying the law."
John in Ontario, California: "Why don't we compromise, give the gays what they want without using the marriage word that seems so offensive? We could call it a relationship agreement. Both sides will have peace of mind. Congress does that all the time."
Alessandra, a heterosexual mother, she writes from Lakeland, Florida: "What to do? Find a better issue to worry about, like child abuse, spousal abuse, the heterosexual divorce rate, the economy, or getting our soldiers, gay and straight who keep us safe and free by the way, home safely. Do nothing and move on. Get outraged before something that matters."
Matthew in Durham, North Carolina: "The ultimate answer to the gay marriage dilemma is the extraction of government from the wedding business. All arguments from both sides lead to the same conclusion: government doesnt belong."
And John in Madison, Wisconsin, says: "Jack, why shouldn't the solution to the controversy of gay marriages be the same as real marriages: gay divorce?"
HEMMER: AM@CNN..com.
CAFFERTY: That would be the address.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
In a moment here, John Kerry cannot wrap up the nomination today, but he can make it almost inevitable. We'll talk to a senator from California. The biggest prize on this Super Tuesday. And at the end of the day, how is this election shaped then? Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Good morning. A bloodbath today in Iraq. More than 100 Shiite worshipers cut down when simultaneous explosions ripped through two separate cities.
No bigger day for the Democrats. Almost as many delegates at stake on this Super Tuesday as have been won so far in the contest.
And a baby believed killed by fire alive all along, spotted because of her dimple. We'll meet the mother this hour on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody.
Other stories that we're following this morning, a look at a remarkable campaign in Illinois, a candidate for the state house who was found -- who was, rather, on death row until he was pardoned by the governor. He says he's qualified because he understands the need for justice. We'll see if the voters buy that.
HEMMER: Also this hour, Sanjay is back with us, talking about two favorite exercise programs coming together: weight training plus yoga. It's called iron yoga. We'll look at what it can do for your physique and your health in a moment here. Sanjay has taken the class, and so we'll see how he does in a moment.
O'BRIEN: Jack does that each and every day.
HEMMER: Yes, that's right.
O'BRIEN: Hey...
CAFFERTY: Yes, iron and yoga. What ever happened to just eating a regular diet, do a few sit-ups, (UNINTELLIGIBLE). This is just...
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: This will be a way to sell 1,000 more books and open some new health clubs...
O'BRIEN: Yes, there you go.
CAFFERTY: ... and take money from people.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: And look for the author on AMERICAN MORNING.
CAFFERTY: And we're going to help in a few minutes.
Coming up on the "Cafferty File," if you could come up with an 11th commandment, what might it be? And if you're on the Atkins diet and feeling a little moody, you're probably not the only one. And no, Soledad, I'm not on the Atkins diet.
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Aired March 2, 2004 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Top stories again here at the half- hour, Soledad.
U.S. officials are calling claims that former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced to leave the country in coup d'etat by the U.S. as -- quote -- "nonsense."
Meanwhile, violence and looting continues in Port-au-Prince despite the presence of multinational forces. Rebels have kept their weapons despite promises earlier to lay down their arms. A U.S. Marine colonel says his troops are not a police force and will not disarm them.
In this country, Mississippi authorities say they believe they have found the bodies of a family missing since Valentine's Day. Earnest Lee Hargon, a relative, has been charged with three counts of capital murder. Officials say a dispute over inheritance property may have contributed to the murders. Autopsies are being done to positively identify the bodies.
Battle lines are being drawn in California. The State Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a Catholic charity must provide workers with birth control coverage despite the church's moral opposition to contraception. The court challenged Catholic Charities of Sacramento is not a religious employer, because it offers secular services and has workers of different religions.
A new computer virus has been landing now in e-mail boxes throughout the world. The worm known as "net sky d" arrives with an attached program. Experts say they don't think the new virus is as big as the earlier mydoom worm, because less people use PIF files. They warn computer users to not open any attachments from unknown users. Hope you got that one.
Sports note. Barry Bonds and two other baseball stars are allegedly among a handful of athletes who use steroids; this, according to a report today on the Web site of the "San Francisco Chronicle." Bonds' personal trainer gave the players the drugs, according to the information given to the government and shared with the paper.
The other players mentioned, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield, denied steroid use. All three declined comment from yesterday. This is a story happening in Florida and Arizona with spring training that is getting an awful lot of attention in the sports world.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, no question about that. Weather now.
(WEATHER BREAK)
O'BRIEN: The number of dead from a series of explosions in Iraq is climbing as the day wears on. There were nine blasts in Karbala. Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslim pilgrims were gathered in that holy city for one of the holiest days of the year. More explosions killed many more people at about the same time 50 miles north in Baghdad.
Our bureau chief, Jane Arraf, is live in Baghdad for us this morning.
Jane -- good morning.
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Soledad.
This day is meant to mark a tragedy 14 centuries ago, the defining moment really in the faith for Shia Muslims. It turned into further tragedy when four explosions rocked one of the holiest sites for Shia Muslims, the Kazania (ph) mosque in downtown Baghdad.
Now, these explosions, according to a senior U.S. military official, were either homemade bombs or grenades. And indeed, when we went into the mosque, the courtyard covered in blood, the marble tiles with the remains of people who had been blown apart, just a horrific scene. There were fragments of grenades that some people showed us.
Now, American soldiers who had been at the perimeter of the area moved in to try to restore calm and control. They moved in with Iraqi soldiers and Iraqi security. But the crowd was so angry, they started throwing stones, and the American soldiers withdrew after firing shots in the air. People are obviously very tense and very angry -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: There was also a U.S. soldier who was killed, and I'm curious to know if the death of that soldier was linked to these explosions.
ARRAF: It was not. This was the death of a soldier, one soldier killed and another one wounded after a homemade bomb was thrown at their vehicle. They were apparently in an armored vehicle, a Humvee, when this homemade bomb was thrown at them in Baghdad. Now, these were soldiers from the 1st Armored Division due to rotate out very shortly. They've been here almost a year.
But there are soldiers across this country facing continuing attacks. This one, though, unrelated to those horrific explosions on this holiest of days for Shia Muslims -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, Jane, I've got to tell you, we're watching the pictures right now -- really dramatic and very disturbing to see, especially as you watch many of the people pelting obviously the Humvees, U.S. soldiers as they are in their Humvees. Thanks for that update for us, Jane. We'll check back in with you a little bit later this morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: About 25 minutes before the hour.
To politics and the biggest primary day of them all goes down today. Ten states head to the polls, and the Democratic nomination could be in the balance by the end of the day.
Bob Franken live in Annapolis, Maryland, with more on the Super Tuesday showdown.
Bob -- good morning there.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Bill.
And this is Super Tuesday, but this is a story that we've heard repeated time and again, favorites, non-favorites, perhaps surprising finishes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): He's the front-runner, the favorite once again, so pity John Kerry.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I need your help.
FRANKEN: Kerry needs all the help he can get if he wants to avoid another night of winning, but not winning big enough.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I plan to be in this (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
FRANKEN: John Edwards still gets to play by the better-than- expected rules. In fact, he's already released a schedule for visiting Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas -- the southern states that hold their elections the week after Super Tuesday. Of course, reality might intrude sooner or later.
EDWARDS: Of course. Of course. At some point, I've to start getting more delegates or I'm not going to be the nominee.
FRANKEN: Super Tuesday accounts for 1,151 delegates. Kerry already has a wide lead, and he's campaigning as if he is the nominee (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on the general election opposition.
KERRY: If he came here, I think he could straighten out his fuzzy math, because the numbers don't add up. He's not multiplying the jobs. He's trying to divide America. And so, I think our solution, we ought to subtract George Bush from the political equation of the United States.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: Well, if we continue to torture the accounting metaphor, John Kerry is going to have to crush John Edwards; otherwise, he won't be able to subtract him, and Edwards will continue to nip at his heels.
But this is Super Tuesday. It could be decisive or it could just be another Tuesday -- Bill.
HEMMER: Bob, thanks. Bob Franken there in Maryland.
Win or lose today, Senator John Edwards says he is in the race to stay. You heard that in Bob's report there.
Maryland Congressman Albert Wynn is an Edwards supporter; in fact, the only member of the congressional delegation in his home state who supports Senator Edwards. He's with us in D.C.
Nice to see you. Good morning to you.
REP. ALBERT WYNN (D), MARYLAND: Good morning. How are you?
HEMMER: I'm doing just fine.
What does Senator Edwards need today to stay in this race past tomorrow?
WYNN: Well, we obviously need to win some primaries, but we also need to win some delegates, and we will. John Edwards has tremendous appeal. The more people see him, the more they like him. He connects with people about working-class issues, education, health care, sending young people to college. And so, John Edwards is definitely in the race, and he's doing very well.
HEMMER: Polling in Maryland shows John Edwards trailing by 12 points. We can show our viewers that poll from your home state. In the other nine states that vote today, he's anywhere from 8 points and upwards of 35 points behind Senator Kerry. Where do you think his best chance is today?
WYNN: Well, it's hard to speculate. I think we're going to do better than expected here in Maryland. I think Ohio and Georgia presents opportunities.
I think the real point is this: This is a contest, not a coronation. We've said that. It's good for the Democratic Party to have a contest, to have people, two or more people talking about what's wrong with the Bush administration. It energizes a party.
If this continues on past Super Tuesday, and I believe it will, it will be good for the party in other parts of the country to hear this message that Democrats are talking about. We'll have plenty of time to unify, but let's not put the horse before the cart -- or the cart before the horse. Let's go ahead hear what people have to say. I think people, when they hear it, will like John Edwards a great deal.
HEMMER: Let me take you back to Sunday morning, that debate. Reverend Al Sharpton said, quite pointedly, why is Senator Edwards getting so much attention? He finished first one time in South Carolina, and he's placed fourth seven different times. What would you say to Reverend Sharpton?
WYNN: Well, we've also done very well in Oklahoma. I considered a first. It was a virtual tie.
I would say this: John Edwards is collecting delegates. He's also delivering a message about working-class, middle-class America, because that's the key issue in this election. The Bush administration is eroding the middle class in America, and we have to stop that. John Edwards has a tremendous appeal, and so he should get attention. He is a very legitimate, a very serious contender, and he's fighting very hard.
HEMMER: In a word or two, some say this would be a political miracle if he won today. Do you agree?
WYNN: Well, I wouldn't quite call it a miracle. I think it would be a major upset, and upsets do happen. That's what makes it very interesting.
But the bottom line is it's good for the party to have John Edwards here. He appeals to people. He appeals to Independents. He appeals to many Republicans. That's good for the party at the end of the day.
So, I think we need to continue this process. I think people will be surprised at how well John Edwards does today. And I think we'll see what happens after that.
HEMMER: Nice to talk to you. Albert Wynn, congressman from Maryland.
WYNN: My pleasure.
HEMMER: Pleasure.
Stay tuned to CNN for complete coverage later tonight on Super Tuesday. Wolf kicks off our primetime coverage, 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 in California to take you through the night. A lot to talk about later this evening here on primetime on CNN -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: And still to come in our next hour of AMERICAN MORNING, a decision in the Kobe Bryant case on what may be asked about the accuser's sexual history. We're going to take you live to Eagle, Colorado, in just a moment.
And six years after she was told that her infant daughter died in a house fire, a mother makes a startling discovery. The girl is alive. We're going to talk to the mother coming up.
HEMMER: Also, a huge announcement expected today from NASA, so they say, about what they have found on Mars.
Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HEMMER: NASA is planning to make what it calls a significant announcement today regarding its mission on Mars. Some speculate NASA is set to reveal that the Red Planet once capable of sustaining microscopic life forms.
Here to talk about that possibility, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History here in New York.
Nice to see you again.
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON, DIRECTOR, HAYDEN PLANETARIUM: Yes, it's good to be back.
HEMMER: Thanks for making time for us.
What is the announcement today?
TYSON: Well, first of all, I don't know. It remains sort of embargoed until the press conference. But short of some creature crawling up behind the rover, it's surely to be an announcement regarding the discovery of water in some form or another.
HEMMER: So, it's not a creature then?
TYSON: Well, short of that possibility, I think the much more realistic option here is that the whole point of the mission was to search for water or rocks that were formed in the presence of water. So -- and water is just some random thing to look for. Water on Earth, any place we found it, is teaming with life. And so, much of our dreams of space travel flow through the search for life. And if you're going to find life, youve got to find the water -- life as we know it, of course.
HEMMER: So, if there is an announcement today that says H20 has been found in some form, be it today or a billion years ago, how significant is that to you?
TYSON: Well, that's significant on many counts. If we confirm that there was water, to put together with all of the circumstantial evidence that has been collected over the years -- the meandering river beds, the flood plains, all dried up -- to know that there is water today, we could speculate that maybe there are some sort of liquefied pockets -- they're surely frozen if there is water there at all -- if there are some liquefied pockets deep below.
And if so, there could be some sort of frozen bacteria, some -- well, in the liquefied pockets, some active bacteria, perhaps in frozen water some sort of frozen bacteria. We can freeze bacteria on Earth, thaw it out, and it can move along just like nothing had happened.
HEMMER: Let me stop you there. Back up. You said circumstantial evidence. Is that the case right now? Or how hard is the evidence knowing that you essentially have two rovers plowing I guess the soil or the rocks of Mars today? TYSON: No. Up until these rovers, all of the evidence for water has been sort of the smoking gun that water was once there, but we still had no firm evidence. And now, we've got some -- two rovers that are basically field geologists on a mission to search for water. In particular, rock that's have formed in the presence of water.
One kind of rock, one kind of deposition might be salt. Salt comes about because you have salty water that evaporated, and it leaves behind this salty residue.
HEMMER: Let me ask you this.
TYSON: Yes.
HEMMER: Let me pose it to you. You can't have life without water, true?
TYSON: Not life as we know it.
HEMMER: OK. But can you have water without life?
TYSON: Well, I don't see any reason why not, except that we just have no example of that -- not on Earth, at least. Well, sure, if you boil water in your kitchen, sterilize it, yes, you have taken all the life out. But life in the universe, we don't know if wherever you find liquid water you would find life. That remains to be tested.
HEMMER: At 2:00 today. Looking forward to it.
TYSON: OK.
HEMMER: I'm sure (UNINTELLIGIBLE) .
TYSON: Thanks.
HEMMER: All right, here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, a key decision in the Kobe Bryant case about whether the accuser's sexual history can be introduced. That's just ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues. We'll be back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: A highly-anticipated court appearance by the woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape has been delayed. The woman was to have been questioned about her sexual history by Bryant's defense attorneys today, but that was before the judge decided to reconsider a request by prosecutors.
National correspondent Gary Tuchman has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): About 12 hours after he played in a basketball game in New Jersey, Kobe Bryant arrived at court in Colorado to begin a two-day pretrial hearing, where he had expected to face his accuser in court for the first time.
The woman, allegedly sexually assaulted at a Colorado hotel, had been scheduled to testify Tuesday about defense allegations she had -- quote -- "multiple acts of sex in the days prior to being with Bryant, and more sex within 15 hours afterwards."
But the judge has delayed the testimony until later this month, saying he needs more time to decide what kind of questioning will be allowed.
CRAIG SILVERMAN, COLORADO ATTORNEY: The most damaging evidence against Kobe Bryant is this entry to the young lady's posterior quarshet (ph). The prosecution is claiming Kobe Bryant caused that injury. Team Kobe is arguing, no, that was caused by somebody else prior or aggravated by somebody subsequent.
TUCHMAN: Judge Terry Ruckriegle will rule sometime following the woman's closed-door testimony if details of her sexual history are relevant.
CYNTHIA STONE, COLORADO COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT: Just because a judge lets it be in the courtroom and makes it admissible in the courtroom also does not mean it is true.
TUCHMAN: On Monday, Bryant's attorney resumed his effort to get a secret police recording with the Laker guard thrown out, because he wasn't read his Miranda rights. Prosecutors say the procedure was unnecessary, because Bryant wasn't arrested or in custody. Bryant's attorneys say he felt like he was in custody. The judge could issue that decision any time.
(on camera): The alleged victim is from here in Eagle, but we've through court testimony she has temporarily moved out of state, and that Kobe Bryant's attorneys are paying to fly her back home to testify.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Eagle, Colorado.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The hearing at which Bryant's accuser could now testify is scheduled to begin three weeks from tomorrow.
HEMMER: From California, when it comes to same-sex marriage, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he would support the people's decision if they want to change the laws of the state. He was asked about the issue on NBC's "Tonight Show With Jay Leno."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, NBC HOST: Would you have any trouble -- problems if they changed the law?
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: No, I'd have no problem. And let the court decide. Let the people decide. The people have voted just in the last election, you know, on Proposition 22. They voted very clearly that a marriage is only between a man and a woman, and that's the law. So, we have to abide by the law. If the people change their minds and they want to overrule that, that's fine with me. But right now that's the law, and I think that every mayor and everybody should abide by the law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: The Republican governor has ordered the state's attorney general to stop San Francisco from allowing same-sex marriages, but he has done nothing to enforce that directive to date.
Schwarzenegger also had a bit of a surprise on the show. He was joined on stage by the man he replaced, Gray Davis. The two hatched the idea at a recent dinner. They say they are now good friends, both calling California voters to pass economic propositions that are on the ballot today -- interesting pairing there.
O'BRIEN: Jack, do you think they are still good friends? Do you think they've become good friends since the election?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, I'm sure they are. Oh, yes. I'm sure they are.
O'BRIEN: Question of the day?
CAFFERTY: More about gay marriages, Soledad. The mayor of New Paltz, New York, married 25 gay couples on Friday. He says he's going to keep doing it. Just like California, the governor of New York asked the state's attorney general to stop the weddings, because the governor feels they are illegal. And just like in California, the attorney general has done nothing to stop the marriages.
Yesterday, the mayor of Ithaca in New York says she's going to start accepting marriage license applications from gay couples, after 3,000 gay marriages performed in the city of San Francisco. So, it's an issue obviously that's not going anywhere.
The answer -- the question, rather, is what's the answer to the gay marriage dilemma?
Here is some of what you've written.
Karen rights this: "The answer to rogue mayors in gay marriage is the wonderful federal dollar. They don't get do see one until they start obeying the law."
John in Ontario, California: "Why don't we compromise, give the gays what they want without using the marriage word that seems so offensive? We could call it a relationship agreement. Both sides will have peace of mind. Congress does that all the time."
Alessandra, a heterosexual mother, she writes from Lakeland, Florida: "What to do? Find a better issue to worry about, like child abuse, spousal abuse, the heterosexual divorce rate, the economy, or getting our soldiers, gay and straight who keep us safe and free by the way, home safely. Do nothing and move on. Get outraged before something that matters."
Matthew in Durham, North Carolina: "The ultimate answer to the gay marriage dilemma is the extraction of government from the wedding business. All arguments from both sides lead to the same conclusion: government doesnt belong."
And John in Madison, Wisconsin, says: "Jack, why shouldn't the solution to the controversy of gay marriages be the same as real marriages: gay divorce?"
HEMMER: AM@CNN..com.
CAFFERTY: That would be the address.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
In a moment here, John Kerry cannot wrap up the nomination today, but he can make it almost inevitable. We'll talk to a senator from California. The biggest prize on this Super Tuesday. And at the end of the day, how is this election shaped then? Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Good morning. A bloodbath today in Iraq. More than 100 Shiite worshipers cut down when simultaneous explosions ripped through two separate cities.
No bigger day for the Democrats. Almost as many delegates at stake on this Super Tuesday as have been won so far in the contest.
And a baby believed killed by fire alive all along, spotted because of her dimple. We'll meet the mother this hour on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody.
Other stories that we're following this morning, a look at a remarkable campaign in Illinois, a candidate for the state house who was found -- who was, rather, on death row until he was pardoned by the governor. He says he's qualified because he understands the need for justice. We'll see if the voters buy that.
HEMMER: Also this hour, Sanjay is back with us, talking about two favorite exercise programs coming together: weight training plus yoga. It's called iron yoga. We'll look at what it can do for your physique and your health in a moment here. Sanjay has taken the class, and so we'll see how he does in a moment.
O'BRIEN: Jack does that each and every day.
HEMMER: Yes, that's right.
O'BRIEN: Hey...
CAFFERTY: Yes, iron and yoga. What ever happened to just eating a regular diet, do a few sit-ups, (UNINTELLIGIBLE). This is just...
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: This will be a way to sell 1,000 more books and open some new health clubs...
O'BRIEN: Yes, there you go.
CAFFERTY: ... and take money from people.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: And look for the author on AMERICAN MORNING.
CAFFERTY: And we're going to help in a few minutes.
Coming up on the "Cafferty File," if you could come up with an 11th commandment, what might it be? And if you're on the Atkins diet and feeling a little moody, you're probably not the only one. And no, Soledad, I'm not on the Atkins diet.
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