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American Morning
Kerry Neglecting Campaign?; Wisconsin Missing Student Case; Colorado Wildfire
Aired April 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: But for now, tensions are running high in the Middle East. Israeli police say troops have stormed a disputed holy site in Jerusalem. Soldiers used stun grenades to pacify Palestinians throwing rocks at the Al Aqsa mosque. The Associated Press reports thousands of Muslims have barricaded themselves inside the mosque.
Meanwhile, Palestinian sources say Israeli helicopters and tanks have stormed a refugee camp in Gaza. No injuries have yet been reported.
Two Iraqi police officers were killed overnight in an attack in Baquba (ph), north of Baghdad. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army is promising a quote -- "overwhelming response in Fallujah," following the killings of four Americans civilians. U.S. forces are said to be hunkered down outside the city.
In Maryland, authorities say they may have a possible suspect in a Washington-area serial arson case. The man in custody, 33-year-old Noel Gibson (ph), was in court yesterday and charged with making a false statement to an federal agent. He's accused of impersonating a fire investigator, and is being held as a flight risk. The investigation into 35 arson fires that left one person dead and nearly a dozen injured continues.
A fifth grader in North Carolina has been charged with assault after a fight over a Little Debi snack cake. Nine-year-old Kevin Logan (ph) was knocked unconscious Wednesday after refusing to share his snack cake with a boy on a school bus. Logan (ph) was treated for minor bruises and released. His mom says the incident won't stop him from eating zebra cakes.
The Little Debis or zebra cakes?
And in Massachusetts, residents continue their fight rising floodwaters. The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for much of the state. The National Guard and Red Cross will be monitoring conditions throughout the day. Forecasters say rain totals could rise as high as five inches by this morning.
HEMMER: Nutty buddy.
COLLINS: Is that your favorite?
HEMMER: Oh, yes. I loved it. The Cherry Blossom Festival is getting under way in D.C., a really nice shot here, a live picture from the nation's capital.
(WEATHER BREAK)
HEMMER: Back to politics now. Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign says he has raised more than $40 million in the first quarter of this year and 65 million total since the primary season started. That sets a new Democratic fund-raising record.
Meanwhile, the senator is now recovering from minor shoulder surgery undergone on Wednesday of this week; also took a week-long trip to Idaho last week. And some wondering if all of that time off the campaign trail is a good idea at this point.
CNN political analyst Carlos Watson with us live in D.C. to talk about this.
Good morning -- Carlos. Welcome back.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: Here on our screen three days ago, the polling numbers put it this way: President Bush with about a four-point edge over John Kerry. Some are questioning the strategy right now to get the surgery after the week-long vacation, and there a week vacation prior to that as well. Is it smart or not at this point, Carlos?
WATSON: You're starting to hear only a little bit of complaining. There had been a significant turnaround in the last six weeks in the polling numbers. Remember, Bill, that six to eight weeks, John Kerry was up by 12 points. You just showed that he's down by four, a 16-point swing.
But I'll tell you what, Democrats are excited, almost ecstatic about these new fund-raising numbers. They feel like we're not behind too much. We're down by four, and we've got a lot of money. And, in fact, they're starting to run a new ad just today.
HEMMER: You touched on it, and I want to bring it back, if I could, here. The Democratic leadership, do they want their guy off the stage for this long?
WATSON: They don't. I mean, there are obviously some worries that go back to 1988 when Michael Dukakis ended July with a 17-point lead over the first President Bush, and ultimately went on vacation for much of August and ultimately lost the election by some nine points. So, nobody wants to see that happen. No one wants to see him missing in action. But I think he's going to begin with a pretty vigorous schedule beginning next Monday, and there are 17 key swing states, and you'll probably see him in at least four or five of them beginning next week.
HEMMER: There is an author and political scientist at Tufts University at Medford, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. His name is Jeffrey Berry (ph). He says -- I'm quoting now -- "It would be a serious blow to the candidacy of Senator Kerry if there was a perception that he was ill." There was prostate cancer a year ago, the shoulder surgery now. Is there a perception that is possible in cases like these?
WATSON: I don't think so, not yet. What's interesting, though, is after -- you know, several months ago, there was a revelation that John F. Kennedy was much sicker than people knew, both as a candidate and ultimately as president. And so, there's always a worry that we don't know the full story. And whether it's John Kerry or whether it's President Bush, or whether it's even Vice President Cheney, who obviously has had several heart issues while he's been in office, people are going to be very careful about that, or are going to worry about this.
But, you know, as of now, this former three-sport varsity college athlete seems to be healthy. They expect him to have a pretty vigorous scheduled. But if he's gone for much longer, obviously eyebrows would start to be raised.
HEMMER: Listen, when you are snowboarding at age 60, you're doing something right.
WATSON: Yes. And throwing the football, yes.
HEMMER: And that he does. I'm telling you. Thanks, Carlos. Good to talk to you.
WATSON: Good to see you, Bill. Good morning.
HEMMER: Thank you.
Also, be sure to watch "THE INSIDE EDGE" with Carlos Watson a bit later today. His regular segment comes your way with Wolf every Friday. Today's topic: that volatile election season from serious swings in the polls to the impact of the 9/11 hearings. Again, Condoleezza Rice next Thursday on the Hill. "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS" every day at 5:00 Eastern here on CNN -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Still more questions than answers in the case of the four-day disappearance of a Wisconsin college student. Police have released a sketch of the suspect and are continuing to interview 20- year-old Audrey Seiler.
Jonathan Freed is in Madison, Wisconsin, now with the very latest.
Good morning to you -- Jonathan.
JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Police stopped by this morning to tell us that there has been a development in this case, which they feel warrants them holding a news conference. And they say that that is going to happen later this morning.
Now, we have no details beyond that, but the last time police stepped before the cameras, which was yesterday afternoon, that's when they unveiled the sketch of the suspect.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREED (voice-over): According to Audrey Seiler, this is the face of the man who abducted her at knifepoint. Police released this sketch of the suspect after a day of searching and questioning -- searching for evidence in the marshy area where Seiler was found on Wednesday and questioning the 20-year-old about her ordeal. Police interviewed her for hours, looking for details.
OFFICER LARRY KAMHOLZ, MADISON POLICE: Hopefully, it will help provide some clues as to where to look, where they were, you know, what areas they had been in the city.
FREED: The University of Wisconsin student disappeared from her apartment early Saturday morning. Security video showed her leaving without a coat. The case caught more attention because Seiler says that she was also knocked unconscious in February while out walking late at night, but that she wasn't robbed or seriously hurt. Her story...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very relieved and very impressed with the way, you know, things were handled and the communication.
FREED: ... is meeting with a bit of a mixed reaction in Madison.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I find it odd in that it was two months ago. I mean, how many times do you have bad luck in your life?
FREED: Late Thursday, police responded to the speculation.
ASST. CHIEF NOBLE WRAY, MADISON POLICE: Like in any other major investigation, there may be inconsistencies, but our -- but we are continuing forward with this investigation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FREED: So once, again, we are standing by here in Madison, Wisconsin, for a news conference, which police tell us will be later this morning, to discuss what they say has been a development in this case. That's all we know at this time -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, interesting. Jonathan, thanks so much.
HEMMER: In a moment, you might think a dietary supplement when it's labeled "all natural" is safe for you. Don't take their word for it, though. "Consumer Reports" this morning on the risk involved. We'll get to it right after this.
COLLINS: Plus, residents flee as a wildfire threatens dozens of home in Colorado. We're going to have a live report from this scene. Stay with us right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Word into us just here from CNN out of Madrid, Spain. Apparently, one of the high-speed trains there in Spain from Madrid, the Sivia (ph), there was a bomb threat called in earlier today. No confirmation as to whether or not that threat has panned out, but there is concern right now in Madrid; this, three weeks after those bombs ripped through the morning rush hour. We'll get you more when we get it. Again, the story out of Madrid, Spain, is still developing at this hour.
In this country now, you know, it's been very hot in the West. In fact, last Friday, the state of Colorado set record high temperatures. Denver topped out at 83 degrees on Friday. All of this hot and heat could be an ominous sign about the wildfire season to come. Videotape here from Fort Collins in Colorado.
Greg Neito of KWGN is live in Fort Collins.
Greg -- we know there have been evacuations there. How serious is this blaze now?
GREG NEITO, KWGN REPORTER: Very serious. Bill, good morning.
We're here about 15 miles northwest of Fort Collins in Colorado. Fort Collins is where the University of Colorado State is located. Firefighters are really trying to brace themselves and hold on and hopefully get a big assist from Mother Nature. There are plenty of smoke and flames in the sky here above Fort Collins and in the surrounding area. Smoke can be seen as far south as Denver.
Some 128 residents have been evacuated here due to the Picnic Rock fire. The fire has grown to approximately 3,500 acres and continues to move north, which is where more homes are located. Twenty-three residents are still threatened, and 70 outbuildings are threatened as well. One home and one garage have already been lost. As I mentioned, close to 130 people had that reverse 911 call made to them, telling them to get out. Plenty more still are on standby.
As for containment, firefighters had about 15 percent last night. They are hoping for about 30 percent as soon as the sun rises here this morning. And the hope obviously also is for Mother Nature to lend a big hand in the form of rain and possibly even snow. Weather forecasters locally here are saying that both snow and rain are a strong possibility, not only tonight, but also tomorrow, which would be a big help.
I've got to let you know, Bill, a year ago this time we were digging out of snow. This year at this time, Coloradoans are now trying to put out a fire.
We're live this morning here just northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado. Back to you.
HEMMER: Point well-taken, Greg, too. The burning season, if indeed it's under way, starts extremely early this year. As you mentioned, there's moisture and snow and melting snow from the mountains. Greg Neito, thank you, KWGN there in Fort Collins for us this morning. Appreciate it -- now, Heidi.
COLLINS: Dolphins are dying in the waters off the Florida panhandle, 105 of them so far. And scientists think it's something they ate, but that's where the mystery deepens.
John Zarrella has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Marine biologists say they are reasonably sure the die-off of bottle nose dolphins along the Florida panhandle is about over. They are also confident they know what's been killing the mammals. The evidence is pointing increasingly toward the toxin produced by red tide algae.
Examinations of the dead dolphins are showing high levels of this naturally-occurring toxin. It appears what these dolphins got was a lethal case of food poisoning.
BLAIR MASE, NOAA MARINE BIOLOGIST: We believe that they ingested some of the fish. So, the fish have this poisoning or this toxin in their systems. They harbor it in their guts. The dolphins are ingesting the fish and then becoming toxic themselves and dying.
ZARRELLA: Here's where the real mystery begins. Scientists have not been able to find evidence of an algae bloom in the Gulf of Mexico that would have produced the toxin.
(on camera): So far, there is no evidence of a red tide algae bloom in the satellite images from the days and weeks before the dolphins started dying. And flyovers of the Gulf Coast area have come up empty as well.
(voice-over): But marine scientists say they are not ready to close the book on this case.
MASE: The dolphins are a barometer of ocean health. They tell us what's going on in the oceans. So, if we can figure out what's killing the dolphins, we can figure out the status of what's going on in our oceans as well.
ZARRELLA: Yet, the inability to find the smoking gun means marine scientists may never know with absolute certainty why the dolphins died.
John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The Gulf of Mexico is home to 26 dolphin species. The bottle nose dolphin is the most common -- Bill.
HEMMER: Still to come, the dirty dozen, Heidi. Twelve herbal supplements that may be just too dangerous for you to take. The list of "Consumer Reports" is up next here after this on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: There are new warnings about the dangers of dietary supplements. In its May issue, "Consumer Reports" magazine identifies 12 supplements it views as -- quote -- "too dangerous for the workplace."
Just a bit earlier, I sat down with Consumers Union President Jim Guest. I asked him why many of these supplements are banned in other countries, but not in the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM GUEST, PRESIDENT, CONSUMERS UNION: It's because the feds passed a law, Congress passed a law in 1994 basically saying that unlike drugs that have proven to be safe and effective and approved by the FDA, that's not the case with dietary supplements. You can just sell the things.
COLLINS: Why is that?
GUEST: Well, again, there was strong pressure back in the mid- 1990s from the dietary supplement industry, and they got Congress to pass this law. And I think consumers weren't really that worried. You know, if you use the term "natural," that sounds kind of good, it must be healthy. That's not the case. We know a lot more about it. And some of these substances ought to be banned, and certainly consumers shouldn't use them.
COLLINS: Yes, I mean, any time you hear "natural," you think it's all OK.
GUEST: Yes, yes.
COLLINS: Let's go through some of these, though.
GUEST: Sure.
COLLINS: Because some of the ingredients inside these products are what we're concerned about.
GUEST: Yes.
COLLINS: In fact, there is one that's called aristolochia. Tell us about this one.
GUEST: Yes. Well, that's one that supposedly the claim is that it helps deal with chronic pain and PMS. In fact, it can cause kidney problems, kidney failure. Also, it's a carcinogen, so people should stay away from that. There have been reported deaths.
COLLINS: All right, what about andro?
GUEST: Well, andro, again, you know, that's been in the news. That's now been -- the FDA has issued a warning against using andro. It's supposed to, you know, build up the body and stuff like that. The problem is, again, it increases the risk of cancer and it decreases the good cholesterol, the HDL.
COLLINS: How about kava?
GUEST: Kava is another one. Kava is supposed to sort of be a tension relaxer or whatever. It causes live damage, sometimes irreversible. Again, there have been reported deaths.
COLLINS: And we've got two more here. Bitter orange.
GUEST: Yes, bitter orange is another one. That's like ephedra. You know, you take it because you want to sort of get energy or you think it can help lose weight. But again, the problems there is that it can increase the heart rate. It can, again, lead to heart problems, among other things.
COLLINS: And the last one, yohimbe.
GUEST: Yohimbe. Hey, that's supposed to be a sexual stimulant. But, again, you know, what it can do, it can depress respiratory depression. It can change blood pressure. Again, it can lead to stokes or to heart attacks.
COLLINS: Well, tell me that after all of this...
GUEST: Yes.
COLLINS: ... and going through a list like that, what do the supplement manufacturers say about this? I mean, do they deny that some of these ingredients can be dangerous?
GUEST: Well, they don't really -- you know, I'm not sure exactly what they are saying. But certainly they are making the claim that these are safe and effective. And you can put -- you know, you don't to have put labels with the warning labels or anything else like that. They are making all kinds of outrageous claims. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has issued some warnings to 16 manufacturers, you've to stop using those kinds of false claims.
COLLINS: All right, and speaking of warnings, let's talk a little bit now for people who are really considering using these supplements. How do they minimize their risks? I mean, there has got to be some tips to talk about here.
GUEST: Well, first of all, don't use the dirty dozen stimulants that are in the "Consumer Reports" list that we just published. If you want to get that, by the way, you can go to our Web site, ConsumerReports.org, and get the full information on these.
COLLINS: OK.
GUEST: Also, we suggest let your doctor know if you are thinking of taking stimulants, because with other medications you may be taking, they can hurt the effectiveness or they can actually have dangerous side effects.
By the way, you know, there are some of these dietary supplements that are fine. We've just identified these really dangerous ones, but the safe stuff are things like vitamins and minerals. You can take those. Just don't, you know, take more than the maximum limit that they recommend, because you can overdose. But vitamins and minerals, those are nice and safe.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Jim Guest recommends reporting any adverse side effects from supplements to the FDA. You can do that at FDA.gov. And you can read the full article in the May issue of "Consumer Reports" or online at ConsumerReports.org.
HEMMER: Just into us from CNN, I mentioned it a few moments ago, CNN is now confirming a bomb has been found along a high-speed rail line south of Madrid, about 40 miles south of Madrid on the way to Sivia (ph). The Associated Press is on the story as well. They're going a bit further, saying up to 24 pounds of dynamite were found there. They talk about a detonator connected to a 430-foot cable.
All of these details coming out now. We'll get more when we get it here. Three weeks to the day after 190 were killed east of Madrid and 1,400 were wounded there. So, much more on this. We'll hopefully get you more at the top of the hour here. Stay tuned for that then.
In the meantime, question of the day?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, all right. Tanks, Bill.
The British billionaire, Sir Richard Branson, is going to star in his own reality TV show. We need one more of these. The show on Fox -- this actually isn't a bad idea -- will follow this guy, the CEO of the Virgin Group and the contestants on a six-week tour of the world. He'll eliminate one contestant every week, literally leaving them on the airport tarmac, wherever they are. And then, the rest of them get on the plane and leave. I kind of like that. This comes after the NBC success with Donald Trump's show, "The Apprentice."
HEMMER: Huge success.
CAFFERTY: Huh?
HEMMER: Huge success.
CAFFERTY: Excuse me. This comes after the huge success of Donald Trump's show, "The Apprentice." Thank you. I overlooked that word "huge."
HEMMER: I'm here for you.
CAFFERTY: So, the question is, who should and who shouldn't host a reality show, this morning?
Alan in Fredricton, New Brunswick says: "George Bush should have a reality show. Maybe it would put him in touch with reality."
Go back to bed, Alan. I don't want to hear from you.
Chris: "Anna Nicole Smith should assuredly not have a reality TV show, whole Joe Schmoe working two jobs just to stay just above the poverty line should. Let's see the ratings on a real reality show."
That's not a bad idea. Shawn in Chillicothe, Illinois: "I always said they should follow me around with a camera for a while. I was married with no kids. Now, I'm divorced dating a girl with three kids, and one on the way by me. Now that's reality."
Hey, Shawn!
Ann in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: "Bill Hemmer should have his own reality show. The girl who can survive in his world gets to have him for keeps."
HEMMER: Oh, I'd take that, Ann.
CAFFERTY: And Joy in Iowa writes: "There isn't anyone who couldn't reasonably host a reality show, given the right writers. I think the O'Cafferty Fear Factor' has a nice ring to it. It would be "The Apprentice" meets "Fear Factor" for potential AMERICAN MORNING producers. The losers would go to work for Air America."
HEMMER: Yes, all right.
CAFFERTY: That's not bad.
HEMMER: I like that.
CAFFERTY: Bill, we're going to have the CEO of that guy on the "IN THE MONEY" this week. Air America is that new radio network that started up this week. He's going to be on "IN THE MONEY." And we're also going to look at a study that found that you're more likely to file for personal bankruptcy if you live in a county that has casinos. We'll take a look at betting and bankruptcy on "IN THE MONEY" Saturday at 1:00 and Sunday at 3:00.
HEMMER: Do you know what we call it, Heidi?
COLLINS: What do you call it?
HEMMER: We call it a tidy little business program (UNINTELLIGIBLE) weekend here. Attendance is required..
CAFFERTY: But you don't use the word huge success to describe it like you did with the Donald Trump thing.
HEMMER: I think you are an overwhelming success.
CAFFERTY: It's a moderate success.
COLLINS: Overwhelming. It's bigger than huge.
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: Yes, it's a moderate success.
HEMMER: I'll update you from Spain in a moment here. We're getting details about a bomb found on a high-speed rail south of Madrid. More at the top of the hour right here right after this. COLLINS: Still to come, the president's national security adviser now has a date certain for her meeting with the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. That's just ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
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Aired April 2, 2004 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: But for now, tensions are running high in the Middle East. Israeli police say troops have stormed a disputed holy site in Jerusalem. Soldiers used stun grenades to pacify Palestinians throwing rocks at the Al Aqsa mosque. The Associated Press reports thousands of Muslims have barricaded themselves inside the mosque.
Meanwhile, Palestinian sources say Israeli helicopters and tanks have stormed a refugee camp in Gaza. No injuries have yet been reported.
Two Iraqi police officers were killed overnight in an attack in Baquba (ph), north of Baghdad. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army is promising a quote -- "overwhelming response in Fallujah," following the killings of four Americans civilians. U.S. forces are said to be hunkered down outside the city.
In Maryland, authorities say they may have a possible suspect in a Washington-area serial arson case. The man in custody, 33-year-old Noel Gibson (ph), was in court yesterday and charged with making a false statement to an federal agent. He's accused of impersonating a fire investigator, and is being held as a flight risk. The investigation into 35 arson fires that left one person dead and nearly a dozen injured continues.
A fifth grader in North Carolina has been charged with assault after a fight over a Little Debi snack cake. Nine-year-old Kevin Logan (ph) was knocked unconscious Wednesday after refusing to share his snack cake with a boy on a school bus. Logan (ph) was treated for minor bruises and released. His mom says the incident won't stop him from eating zebra cakes.
The Little Debis or zebra cakes?
And in Massachusetts, residents continue their fight rising floodwaters. The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for much of the state. The National Guard and Red Cross will be monitoring conditions throughout the day. Forecasters say rain totals could rise as high as five inches by this morning.
HEMMER: Nutty buddy.
COLLINS: Is that your favorite?
HEMMER: Oh, yes. I loved it. The Cherry Blossom Festival is getting under way in D.C., a really nice shot here, a live picture from the nation's capital.
(WEATHER BREAK)
HEMMER: Back to politics now. Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign says he has raised more than $40 million in the first quarter of this year and 65 million total since the primary season started. That sets a new Democratic fund-raising record.
Meanwhile, the senator is now recovering from minor shoulder surgery undergone on Wednesday of this week; also took a week-long trip to Idaho last week. And some wondering if all of that time off the campaign trail is a good idea at this point.
CNN political analyst Carlos Watson with us live in D.C. to talk about this.
Good morning -- Carlos. Welcome back.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: Here on our screen three days ago, the polling numbers put it this way: President Bush with about a four-point edge over John Kerry. Some are questioning the strategy right now to get the surgery after the week-long vacation, and there a week vacation prior to that as well. Is it smart or not at this point, Carlos?
WATSON: You're starting to hear only a little bit of complaining. There had been a significant turnaround in the last six weeks in the polling numbers. Remember, Bill, that six to eight weeks, John Kerry was up by 12 points. You just showed that he's down by four, a 16-point swing.
But I'll tell you what, Democrats are excited, almost ecstatic about these new fund-raising numbers. They feel like we're not behind too much. We're down by four, and we've got a lot of money. And, in fact, they're starting to run a new ad just today.
HEMMER: You touched on it, and I want to bring it back, if I could, here. The Democratic leadership, do they want their guy off the stage for this long?
WATSON: They don't. I mean, there are obviously some worries that go back to 1988 when Michael Dukakis ended July with a 17-point lead over the first President Bush, and ultimately went on vacation for much of August and ultimately lost the election by some nine points. So, nobody wants to see that happen. No one wants to see him missing in action. But I think he's going to begin with a pretty vigorous schedule beginning next Monday, and there are 17 key swing states, and you'll probably see him in at least four or five of them beginning next week.
HEMMER: There is an author and political scientist at Tufts University at Medford, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. His name is Jeffrey Berry (ph). He says -- I'm quoting now -- "It would be a serious blow to the candidacy of Senator Kerry if there was a perception that he was ill." There was prostate cancer a year ago, the shoulder surgery now. Is there a perception that is possible in cases like these?
WATSON: I don't think so, not yet. What's interesting, though, is after -- you know, several months ago, there was a revelation that John F. Kennedy was much sicker than people knew, both as a candidate and ultimately as president. And so, there's always a worry that we don't know the full story. And whether it's John Kerry or whether it's President Bush, or whether it's even Vice President Cheney, who obviously has had several heart issues while he's been in office, people are going to be very careful about that, or are going to worry about this.
But, you know, as of now, this former three-sport varsity college athlete seems to be healthy. They expect him to have a pretty vigorous scheduled. But if he's gone for much longer, obviously eyebrows would start to be raised.
HEMMER: Listen, when you are snowboarding at age 60, you're doing something right.
WATSON: Yes. And throwing the football, yes.
HEMMER: And that he does. I'm telling you. Thanks, Carlos. Good to talk to you.
WATSON: Good to see you, Bill. Good morning.
HEMMER: Thank you.
Also, be sure to watch "THE INSIDE EDGE" with Carlos Watson a bit later today. His regular segment comes your way with Wolf every Friday. Today's topic: that volatile election season from serious swings in the polls to the impact of the 9/11 hearings. Again, Condoleezza Rice next Thursday on the Hill. "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS" every day at 5:00 Eastern here on CNN -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Still more questions than answers in the case of the four-day disappearance of a Wisconsin college student. Police have released a sketch of the suspect and are continuing to interview 20- year-old Audrey Seiler.
Jonathan Freed is in Madison, Wisconsin, now with the very latest.
Good morning to you -- Jonathan.
JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Police stopped by this morning to tell us that there has been a development in this case, which they feel warrants them holding a news conference. And they say that that is going to happen later this morning.
Now, we have no details beyond that, but the last time police stepped before the cameras, which was yesterday afternoon, that's when they unveiled the sketch of the suspect.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREED (voice-over): According to Audrey Seiler, this is the face of the man who abducted her at knifepoint. Police released this sketch of the suspect after a day of searching and questioning -- searching for evidence in the marshy area where Seiler was found on Wednesday and questioning the 20-year-old about her ordeal. Police interviewed her for hours, looking for details.
OFFICER LARRY KAMHOLZ, MADISON POLICE: Hopefully, it will help provide some clues as to where to look, where they were, you know, what areas they had been in the city.
FREED: The University of Wisconsin student disappeared from her apartment early Saturday morning. Security video showed her leaving without a coat. The case caught more attention because Seiler says that she was also knocked unconscious in February while out walking late at night, but that she wasn't robbed or seriously hurt. Her story...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very relieved and very impressed with the way, you know, things were handled and the communication.
FREED: ... is meeting with a bit of a mixed reaction in Madison.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I find it odd in that it was two months ago. I mean, how many times do you have bad luck in your life?
FREED: Late Thursday, police responded to the speculation.
ASST. CHIEF NOBLE WRAY, MADISON POLICE: Like in any other major investigation, there may be inconsistencies, but our -- but we are continuing forward with this investigation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FREED: So once, again, we are standing by here in Madison, Wisconsin, for a news conference, which police tell us will be later this morning, to discuss what they say has been a development in this case. That's all we know at this time -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, interesting. Jonathan, thanks so much.
HEMMER: In a moment, you might think a dietary supplement when it's labeled "all natural" is safe for you. Don't take their word for it, though. "Consumer Reports" this morning on the risk involved. We'll get to it right after this.
COLLINS: Plus, residents flee as a wildfire threatens dozens of home in Colorado. We're going to have a live report from this scene. Stay with us right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Word into us just here from CNN out of Madrid, Spain. Apparently, one of the high-speed trains there in Spain from Madrid, the Sivia (ph), there was a bomb threat called in earlier today. No confirmation as to whether or not that threat has panned out, but there is concern right now in Madrid; this, three weeks after those bombs ripped through the morning rush hour. We'll get you more when we get it. Again, the story out of Madrid, Spain, is still developing at this hour.
In this country now, you know, it's been very hot in the West. In fact, last Friday, the state of Colorado set record high temperatures. Denver topped out at 83 degrees on Friday. All of this hot and heat could be an ominous sign about the wildfire season to come. Videotape here from Fort Collins in Colorado.
Greg Neito of KWGN is live in Fort Collins.
Greg -- we know there have been evacuations there. How serious is this blaze now?
GREG NEITO, KWGN REPORTER: Very serious. Bill, good morning.
We're here about 15 miles northwest of Fort Collins in Colorado. Fort Collins is where the University of Colorado State is located. Firefighters are really trying to brace themselves and hold on and hopefully get a big assist from Mother Nature. There are plenty of smoke and flames in the sky here above Fort Collins and in the surrounding area. Smoke can be seen as far south as Denver.
Some 128 residents have been evacuated here due to the Picnic Rock fire. The fire has grown to approximately 3,500 acres and continues to move north, which is where more homes are located. Twenty-three residents are still threatened, and 70 outbuildings are threatened as well. One home and one garage have already been lost. As I mentioned, close to 130 people had that reverse 911 call made to them, telling them to get out. Plenty more still are on standby.
As for containment, firefighters had about 15 percent last night. They are hoping for about 30 percent as soon as the sun rises here this morning. And the hope obviously also is for Mother Nature to lend a big hand in the form of rain and possibly even snow. Weather forecasters locally here are saying that both snow and rain are a strong possibility, not only tonight, but also tomorrow, which would be a big help.
I've got to let you know, Bill, a year ago this time we were digging out of snow. This year at this time, Coloradoans are now trying to put out a fire.
We're live this morning here just northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado. Back to you.
HEMMER: Point well-taken, Greg, too. The burning season, if indeed it's under way, starts extremely early this year. As you mentioned, there's moisture and snow and melting snow from the mountains. Greg Neito, thank you, KWGN there in Fort Collins for us this morning. Appreciate it -- now, Heidi.
COLLINS: Dolphins are dying in the waters off the Florida panhandle, 105 of them so far. And scientists think it's something they ate, but that's where the mystery deepens.
John Zarrella has more.
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JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Marine biologists say they are reasonably sure the die-off of bottle nose dolphins along the Florida panhandle is about over. They are also confident they know what's been killing the mammals. The evidence is pointing increasingly toward the toxin produced by red tide algae.
Examinations of the dead dolphins are showing high levels of this naturally-occurring toxin. It appears what these dolphins got was a lethal case of food poisoning.
BLAIR MASE, NOAA MARINE BIOLOGIST: We believe that they ingested some of the fish. So, the fish have this poisoning or this toxin in their systems. They harbor it in their guts. The dolphins are ingesting the fish and then becoming toxic themselves and dying.
ZARRELLA: Here's where the real mystery begins. Scientists have not been able to find evidence of an algae bloom in the Gulf of Mexico that would have produced the toxin.
(on camera): So far, there is no evidence of a red tide algae bloom in the satellite images from the days and weeks before the dolphins started dying. And flyovers of the Gulf Coast area have come up empty as well.
(voice-over): But marine scientists say they are not ready to close the book on this case.
MASE: The dolphins are a barometer of ocean health. They tell us what's going on in the oceans. So, if we can figure out what's killing the dolphins, we can figure out the status of what's going on in our oceans as well.
ZARRELLA: Yet, the inability to find the smoking gun means marine scientists may never know with absolute certainty why the dolphins died.
John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The Gulf of Mexico is home to 26 dolphin species. The bottle nose dolphin is the most common -- Bill.
HEMMER: Still to come, the dirty dozen, Heidi. Twelve herbal supplements that may be just too dangerous for you to take. The list of "Consumer Reports" is up next here after this on AMERICAN MORNING.
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COLLINS: There are new warnings about the dangers of dietary supplements. In its May issue, "Consumer Reports" magazine identifies 12 supplements it views as -- quote -- "too dangerous for the workplace."
Just a bit earlier, I sat down with Consumers Union President Jim Guest. I asked him why many of these supplements are banned in other countries, but not in the U.S.
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JIM GUEST, PRESIDENT, CONSUMERS UNION: It's because the feds passed a law, Congress passed a law in 1994 basically saying that unlike drugs that have proven to be safe and effective and approved by the FDA, that's not the case with dietary supplements. You can just sell the things.
COLLINS: Why is that?
GUEST: Well, again, there was strong pressure back in the mid- 1990s from the dietary supplement industry, and they got Congress to pass this law. And I think consumers weren't really that worried. You know, if you use the term "natural," that sounds kind of good, it must be healthy. That's not the case. We know a lot more about it. And some of these substances ought to be banned, and certainly consumers shouldn't use them.
COLLINS: Yes, I mean, any time you hear "natural," you think it's all OK.
GUEST: Yes, yes.
COLLINS: Let's go through some of these, though.
GUEST: Sure.
COLLINS: Because some of the ingredients inside these products are what we're concerned about.
GUEST: Yes.
COLLINS: In fact, there is one that's called aristolochia. Tell us about this one.
GUEST: Yes. Well, that's one that supposedly the claim is that it helps deal with chronic pain and PMS. In fact, it can cause kidney problems, kidney failure. Also, it's a carcinogen, so people should stay away from that. There have been reported deaths.
COLLINS: All right, what about andro?
GUEST: Well, andro, again, you know, that's been in the news. That's now been -- the FDA has issued a warning against using andro. It's supposed to, you know, build up the body and stuff like that. The problem is, again, it increases the risk of cancer and it decreases the good cholesterol, the HDL.
COLLINS: How about kava?
GUEST: Kava is another one. Kava is supposed to sort of be a tension relaxer or whatever. It causes live damage, sometimes irreversible. Again, there have been reported deaths.
COLLINS: And we've got two more here. Bitter orange.
GUEST: Yes, bitter orange is another one. That's like ephedra. You know, you take it because you want to sort of get energy or you think it can help lose weight. But again, the problems there is that it can increase the heart rate. It can, again, lead to heart problems, among other things.
COLLINS: And the last one, yohimbe.
GUEST: Yohimbe. Hey, that's supposed to be a sexual stimulant. But, again, you know, what it can do, it can depress respiratory depression. It can change blood pressure. Again, it can lead to stokes or to heart attacks.
COLLINS: Well, tell me that after all of this...
GUEST: Yes.
COLLINS: ... and going through a list like that, what do the supplement manufacturers say about this? I mean, do they deny that some of these ingredients can be dangerous?
GUEST: Well, they don't really -- you know, I'm not sure exactly what they are saying. But certainly they are making the claim that these are safe and effective. And you can put -- you know, you don't to have put labels with the warning labels or anything else like that. They are making all kinds of outrageous claims. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has issued some warnings to 16 manufacturers, you've to stop using those kinds of false claims.
COLLINS: All right, and speaking of warnings, let's talk a little bit now for people who are really considering using these supplements. How do they minimize their risks? I mean, there has got to be some tips to talk about here.
GUEST: Well, first of all, don't use the dirty dozen stimulants that are in the "Consumer Reports" list that we just published. If you want to get that, by the way, you can go to our Web site, ConsumerReports.org, and get the full information on these.
COLLINS: OK.
GUEST: Also, we suggest let your doctor know if you are thinking of taking stimulants, because with other medications you may be taking, they can hurt the effectiveness or they can actually have dangerous side effects.
By the way, you know, there are some of these dietary supplements that are fine. We've just identified these really dangerous ones, but the safe stuff are things like vitamins and minerals. You can take those. Just don't, you know, take more than the maximum limit that they recommend, because you can overdose. But vitamins and minerals, those are nice and safe.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Jim Guest recommends reporting any adverse side effects from supplements to the FDA. You can do that at FDA.gov. And you can read the full article in the May issue of "Consumer Reports" or online at ConsumerReports.org.
HEMMER: Just into us from CNN, I mentioned it a few moments ago, CNN is now confirming a bomb has been found along a high-speed rail line south of Madrid, about 40 miles south of Madrid on the way to Sivia (ph). The Associated Press is on the story as well. They're going a bit further, saying up to 24 pounds of dynamite were found there. They talk about a detonator connected to a 430-foot cable.
All of these details coming out now. We'll get more when we get it here. Three weeks to the day after 190 were killed east of Madrid and 1,400 were wounded there. So, much more on this. We'll hopefully get you more at the top of the hour here. Stay tuned for that then.
In the meantime, question of the day?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, all right. Tanks, Bill.
The British billionaire, Sir Richard Branson, is going to star in his own reality TV show. We need one more of these. The show on Fox -- this actually isn't a bad idea -- will follow this guy, the CEO of the Virgin Group and the contestants on a six-week tour of the world. He'll eliminate one contestant every week, literally leaving them on the airport tarmac, wherever they are. And then, the rest of them get on the plane and leave. I kind of like that. This comes after the NBC success with Donald Trump's show, "The Apprentice."
HEMMER: Huge success.
CAFFERTY: Huh?
HEMMER: Huge success.
CAFFERTY: Excuse me. This comes after the huge success of Donald Trump's show, "The Apprentice." Thank you. I overlooked that word "huge."
HEMMER: I'm here for you.
CAFFERTY: So, the question is, who should and who shouldn't host a reality show, this morning?
Alan in Fredricton, New Brunswick says: "George Bush should have a reality show. Maybe it would put him in touch with reality."
Go back to bed, Alan. I don't want to hear from you.
Chris: "Anna Nicole Smith should assuredly not have a reality TV show, whole Joe Schmoe working two jobs just to stay just above the poverty line should. Let's see the ratings on a real reality show."
That's not a bad idea. Shawn in Chillicothe, Illinois: "I always said they should follow me around with a camera for a while. I was married with no kids. Now, I'm divorced dating a girl with three kids, and one on the way by me. Now that's reality."
Hey, Shawn!
Ann in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: "Bill Hemmer should have his own reality show. The girl who can survive in his world gets to have him for keeps."
HEMMER: Oh, I'd take that, Ann.
CAFFERTY: And Joy in Iowa writes: "There isn't anyone who couldn't reasonably host a reality show, given the right writers. I think the O'Cafferty Fear Factor' has a nice ring to it. It would be "The Apprentice" meets "Fear Factor" for potential AMERICAN MORNING producers. The losers would go to work for Air America."
HEMMER: Yes, all right.
CAFFERTY: That's not bad.
HEMMER: I like that.
CAFFERTY: Bill, we're going to have the CEO of that guy on the "IN THE MONEY" this week. Air America is that new radio network that started up this week. He's going to be on "IN THE MONEY." And we're also going to look at a study that found that you're more likely to file for personal bankruptcy if you live in a county that has casinos. We'll take a look at betting and bankruptcy on "IN THE MONEY" Saturday at 1:00 and Sunday at 3:00.
HEMMER: Do you know what we call it, Heidi?
COLLINS: What do you call it?
HEMMER: We call it a tidy little business program (UNINTELLIGIBLE) weekend here. Attendance is required..
CAFFERTY: But you don't use the word huge success to describe it like you did with the Donald Trump thing.
HEMMER: I think you are an overwhelming success.
CAFFERTY: It's a moderate success.
COLLINS: Overwhelming. It's bigger than huge.
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: Yes, it's a moderate success.
HEMMER: I'll update you from Spain in a moment here. We're getting details about a bomb found on a high-speed rail south of Madrid. More at the top of the hour right here right after this. COLLINS: Still to come, the president's national security adviser now has a date certain for her meeting with the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. That's just ahead here on AMERICAN MORNING.
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