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CNN Live Today

Family of Captured Marine Awaits Word on His Fate; Dispute Over Voting Rolls in Florida; 50 Years After Sam Sheppard Case

Aired July 05, 2004 - 11:00   ET

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


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


DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: It is 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. in the west. From the CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Drew Griffin. Daryn Kagan is off today.
And up first on CNN this hour, the headlines from Iraq. Insurgents set off two roadside bombs in Baghdad today, targeting a convoy of the new Iraqi army and Iraqi police patrol. Neither explosive hit its intended target. Eight civilians, though, were wounded.

Crews trying to put out a massive fire today along a strategic Iraqi oil pipeline. Insurgents bombed it Sunday. The pipeline feeds oil from Iraq's southern fields to refineries in the north.

And Iraqi leaders are delaying a possible amnesty deal with insurgents. It's not clear if it would cover radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Sadr had indicated he wanted to take part in the Iraqi political process, but in his latest comments he calls the new government illegitimate.

It has been a long and agonizing Fourth of July weekend for the family of a Marine captured in Iraq.

CNN's Rusty Dornin now has their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shadows cast by Old Glory at Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun's home in West Jordan, Utah, a reminder that while it may be the holidays celebrating independence, there is little freedom from fear for this family right now.

Conflicting reports of Hassoun's fate brought neighbors and friends to their home this weekend. Kathleen Samuel (ph) doesn't know the family, but brought her own message of support.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Agony, anguish, sadness, a deep loss.

DORNIN: The headlines here describe not only the emotions of a family that remains in seclusion, but of the community as well. The imam at the Hassoun family's mosque visits the family daily.

SHUAIB-UD DIN, ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF SALT LAKE CITY: At the moment, we're just, as you would say, keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for the best. DORNIN: Claims Saturday on two different Web sites that Hassoun was beheaded are being denied by the group claiming to hold him. No one here seems to know what to believe. The conflicting and unconfirmed reports only heighten the anxiety for some, like neighbor Melissa Funk (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People are actually realizing, you know, how sad it is, you know? It's not -- it's your neighbor.

DORNIN (on camera): There are people of different faiths here in Salt Lake City. Many stress, when it comes to the fate of this young man, they are united with one prayer in mind: bring Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun back safely.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Salt Lake City, Utah.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Published reports of prisoner swap are labeled pure fantasy. "The New York Times" says there was a secret deal involving the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Britain. According to that report, U.S. officials returned five terrorist suspects to Saudi Arabia from Guantanamo Bay. In exchange, the Saudis reportedly released five Britons and two other Westerners held in Saudi Arabia.

National Security Council Spokesman Sean McCormick says: "There is no recollection here of any linkage between these two actions." The move was "part of the normal policy of transferring detainees from Guantanamo for prosecution or continued detention."

Florida is trying to clear up yet another controversy before voters go to the polls this November. The state issuing a list of what it says was almost 48,000 felons who could be yanked from the voting list. The problem is that list is riddled with mistakes.

Susan Candiotti has that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DARREN JONES, FLORIDA VOTER: They went ahead and removed me. It's like guilty until proven innocent.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Darren Jones was stunned when he opened a letter last month from the Miami-Dade Elections Office.

JONES: "The court system has notified the Elections Department of your recent felony conviction," which is not true.

CANDIOTTI: True, Jones is a convicted felon, who served six months of house arrest, but that was in 1998.

JONES: So I know this couldn't be right.

CANDIOTTI: Like all Florida felons are required to do, Jones applied for and got his voting rights back in 2003, and says he proudly used his card to cast a vote in last spring's Democratic primary.

Dade elections officials admit they goofed this time, but can't explain it.

(on camera): What happened to Darren Jones is happening to others. CNN successfully sued Florida election officials to get a list -- and this is just a part of it -- of 47,000 suspected felons who could be dumped from voter rolls. And like the case of Darren Jones, we found mistake after mistake.

(voice-over): At 22, Sam Heyward was convicted of buying stolen furniture. In 1986, he won back his voting rights and says he hasn't missed an election, only to discover he's on the new suspected felons list.

SAM HEYWARD, VOTER: To find out that my name was still on the list and that it said, well, it may have some effect on your voting privileges, and I'm, like, well, I don't see how. I've been voting for the last 15 years.

CANDIOTTI: The Miami Herald reports that it documented more than 2,100 errors on the massive list.

Of the 47,000 named, 39 percent reportedly are black Democrats, 20 percent are white Democrats, 16 percent white Republicans.

With only about four months to go before the presidential election, 67 county supervisors now find themselves under orders from the Capitol to confirm the new so-called suspected felons list. Few, if any, are happy about it.

ION SANCHO, LEON CO. ELECTION SUPERVISOR: As an elections official, asking me to conduct criminal background checks, and spend most of my time in the criminal justice system would be analogous to asking doctors to do tax returns. And this simply is not our job.

CANDIOTTI: A spokesman for Governor Jeb Bush says the list is only a tool, and insists election officials will have enough time to check each name before the next election. The NAACP and ACLU settled a lawsuit against Florida two years ago. It called for improving the state's voter database.

HOWARD SIMON, FLORIDA ACLU: If state officials placed an eligible voter on the list of people to be purged, that is negligence on the part of state officials.

CANDIOTTI: For Darren Jones and others, the mix-ups make them wonder what will happen in November.

JONES: It's going to happen again. Trust me, it's going to happen again.

CANDIOTTI: Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Revisiting the case of Sam Sheppard, why this high- profile murder mystery is in the news today.

Staying alive, the newest trend in video games gets your kids off the couch and exercising. Look at that guy go.

Plus, how to travel in style without draining your wallet. A penny-pincher guide to luxury travel all ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: It was called the trial of the century, 50 years ago a housewife bludgeoned to death in Ohio. The man accused and convicted of killing her, her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard. It didn't end there, though. It's a case that captured the nation's imagination then. It still does today.

Chris Lawrence reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Nothing at Bay Village, Ohio, suggests one of the most famous crime scenes of the last century. The home of the infamous murder was torn down in 1993, and the only evidence of what happened is in libraries like this one.

But for hundreds of people a year, the Cleveland State University archives remain popular.

WILLIAM BARROW, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIAN: It seems like people come here on a regular basis thinking they are going to solve the Sam Sheppard murder case.

LAWRENCE: But no one has. After Marilyn Sheppard was found bludgeoned to death in their bedroom in 1954, Sam Sheppard was convicted of murder. He said an intruder killed his pregnant wife, and 10 years later the Supreme Court made a landmark decision when it overturned the verdict, saying excessive media coverage denied the doctor a fair trial.

SAM SHEPPARD, MURDER CONVICTION OVERTURNED: After 10 years in prison for something I didn't do, it was about time.

LAWRENCE: Some legal scholars see similarities between this case and Scott Peterson's trial for the murder of his wife, Laci.

PATRICIA FALK, CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY LAW PROFESSOR: There are lots of murders all the time, but only a few really capture the imagination in a way that these cases do.

LAWRENCE (on camera): The Sheppards' original home doesn't exist anymore, but the case is lived on through constant attention in popular culture.

(voice over): Many still believe it inspired the television character, Richard Kimble, and later a film version of "The Fugitive."

BARROW: Maybe "The Fugitive" wasn't based on the Sheppard trial, but it's very hard to imagine it wasn't a factor playing around in somebody's mind when they were putting it together.

LAWRENCE: A second jury acquitted Dr. Sheppard in 1966, and he died four years later.

His son tried to get him vindicated through DNA evidence, but the murder of Marilyn Sheppard remains open and unsolved.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Bay Village, Ohio.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: So, if not Sam Sheppard, who did kill Marilyn Sheppard? One man thinks he knows. Bernard Conners is former FBI agent who has researched the case. He says an Air Force enlistee may be the real killer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNARD CONNERS, F0RMER FBI AGENT, AUTHOR OF "TAILSPIN": Another major in the Air Force contacted me six years ago, and he had long suspected, a man named George Warburton (ph) contacted me. He long suspected that Major James Ireland Call (ph) had committed this crime. In fact, Major Call (ph) was apprehended for killing a police officer in 1954. And at the time they suspected his involvement in the Sheppard case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Conner says the major was apparently in the area at the time of the killing.

Rising again, what is being done to keep that national treasure from crumbling into the sea?

Plus, climbing some of the world's highest peaks just to ski down them. We'll introduce you to some guys after my own heart when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Wildfires in Arizona are threatening one of the world's most powerful telescopes this morning, the binocular telescope. It is housed at the Graham International Observatory in the southeastern corner in Arizona. Crews are building a protection line around that facility. The fire is expected to meet up with a similar-sized blaze this week, doubling the size to 12,000 acres. Hot and dry in Arizona.

(WEATHER BREAK)

GRIFFIN: The government is spending millions of dollars to spruce up its largest and most isolated coastal fort.

Here is CNN's John Zarrella. He's in Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF (voice over): Standing on scaffolding that hangs from the side of a sheer brick wall, Mike Higginbotham is working to put back together a piece of history that sits surrounded by water in the middle of nowhere.

MIKE HIGGINBOTHAM, PRESERVATION MASON: If you need something, you just don't go to the hardware store and get it. You better hope you brought it out here with you.

ZARRELLA: Higginbotham, a brick mason, and a handful of co- workers are part of phase one of the restoration of one of America's most remote national treasures, Fort Jefferson. The 16 million-brick fort sits in the Gulf of Mexico 70 miles west of Key West on the Dry Tortugas Island. Built in the mid-1800s, it served as a fortress to protect shipping lanes through the Gulf of Mexico.

MIKE RYAN, NATIONAL PARK RANGER: It was designed to be a powerful deterrent. And by building it so powerfully, well, the ultimate goal was that no enemy would dare attack.

ZARRELLA: But for 160 years the fort has been under attack by salt air, humidity and baking sun. Iron embedded around brick canon portals called embrasures is rusting. As it does, it expands and displaces the brick, which collapses into the sea.

Because the fort is so remote and accommodations basically nonexistent, 15 to 20 workers at a time, no more, will spend up to a year on the job.

ROSS HUNT, RESTORATION PROJECT MANAGER: We have to capture all of our own drinking water and bathing water, water for doing the construction work itself.

ZARRELLA (on camera): At its peak in 1864, 2,000 people lived here -- military personnel, their families and prisoners. So, just how big is this fort? Well, you could fit two Roman coliseums inside or Yankee Stadium.

(voice over): At one point, the massive prison wing held 900 men. Its most famous guest lived in this room. Dr. Samuel Mudd, sentenced to hard labor for his role in Lincoln's assassination, spent four years here. It will take six years and 18 million government dollars to restore the fort to the way it was when Mudd paced the floor in shackles and irons.

John Zarrella, CNN, Fort Jefferson, in the Dry Tortugas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: John Kerry's pick for a running mate. Who could? Or maybe it would be better to say, who should be on the short list? Bill Schneider is here with his thoughts when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin at the CNN center in Atlanta. Let's check the headlines at this hour for Monday, July 5.

An amnesty deal for insurgents in Iraq on hold. It was unclear whether it would have included this man, radical cleric Muqtada al- Sadr. He initially embraced the new interim government and wanted to be included in the political process. Now he apparently has changed his mind, calling the government there illegitimate.

Crews working to control a fire on a bomb-damaged Iraqi oil pipeline. The pipeline ferries oil from southern fields to refineries in the north and central parts of Iraq.

Officials are ordering a recount in Indonesia's first direct presidential election. Many voters failed to unfold their ballots before punching a hole next to the candidates' name, resulting in two hole punches. Early indications suggest none of the five candidates will get a majority, and that will prompt a runoff.

An exhibit at the Ronald Reagan library showcasing items from his funeral, 6,000 people lining up for the opening of this display called "Mourning in America." The exhibit features Reagan's riding boots, cards and letters and more than 60 photographs of the funeral.

It's still not clear today if John Kerry's toughest choice will be hamburger or hot dog, or if he still has much bigger fish to fry. As always, "INSIDE POLITICS" anchor Judy Woodruff is keeping tabs on the presidential race -- Judy.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, Drew. Good morning.

Well, Senator Kerry and his wife are holding a barbecue at their farm in Pittsburgh later today for politicians from the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. As that caps Kerry's busy holiday weekend, fellow Democrats are likely going to try to pump him for information about his running mate.

A party official is telling CNN that Kerry has filled the slot, but Kerry campaign communications director Stephanie Cutter (ph), she is denying officially that the decision has been made. Kerry has told consultants and fund-raisers that the choice now is entirely his to make. The moment of truth can't be too far away since sources say an announcement could come as early as tomorrow.

John Kerry's comments to an Iowa newspaper are raising eyebrows among his abortion rights supporters. In yesterday's Dubuque, Iowa, "Telegraph Herald," Kerry repeated his personal opposition to abortion, something he has said before. But then he went on to say -- quote: "I don't like abortion. I believe life does begin at conception."

It is believed to be the first time Kerry has described when he believes life begins.

President Bush is off the campaign trail today. He traveled to the showdown state of West Virginia for the Fourth of July, where he used his speech to defend the war in Iraq. Vice President Dick Cheney has wrapped up a weekend bus tour through Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Cheney repeatedly cast the November election as between -- quote -- "President Bush's hope and optimism and Senator Kerry's pessimism."

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader has accused the Democratic Party of using dirty tricks against him. Nader cited incidents in Arizona and Oregon, where he has been trying to get on the November ballot. A Democratic National Committee spokesman tells CNN that some state committees are vigorously reviewing signatures Nader submitted to get on the ballot. Some Democrats blame Nader for costing Al Gore the election in 2000.

We're going to hear more from Ralph Nader a little later today. He is my guest this afternoon on "INSIDE POLITICS."

Plus, how much of a boost in the polls will John Kerry get from naming a running mate? And how long is that bounce going to last?

All of this and much more when I go "INSIDE POLITICS" at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. I'll see you then, but now right back to Drew in Atlanta.

GRIFFIN: Judy, we look forward to that.

You know, Kerry's pick is being called his first act as a potential president. With some analysis, CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider.

Bill, we've been talking about this for weeks. It seems like the only buzz this campaign can get is who is going to be the VP. Is that why they are trying to string it out and make it last?

BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, of course, he's trying to get attention. You know, Kerry's problem is he has sort of receded in national attention since he effectively won the nomination in early March. July is his month to come back on the stage, first with his vice-presidential choice, and then culminating in a Democratic Convention at the end of the month.

And the record shows that when a nominee pick a vice presidential running mate, it does give him a little bit of a boost. We have the record since at least 1992, when Clinton chose Al Gore he went up 11 points in the polls. In 1996 when Bob Dole chose Jack Kemp he got a 9-point bounce. And in 2000 when both nominees chose running mates they got little bounces. You see the bounces getting smaller over time. Bush chose Cheney, he got 3 points, and Gore chose Joe Lieberman and he got a 5-point bounce.

So, it's gotten a little bit smaller, and it doesn't last that long. But the fact is it does do the nominee some good, and that reintroduces Kerry to a public that hasn't been paying a lot of attention to him.

GRIFFIN: You know, 50 percent of those tickets won, 50 percent lost. Does it really matter in the end, Bill? SCHNEIDER: Well, look, sometimes the vice-presidential choice is widely acclaimed. When Mondale chose the first woman on a ticket, Geraldine Ferraro, people were thrilled, but it didn't do him any good. The same thing happened when Michael Dukakis chose a Texan, Roy Benson. Everyone said that's a shrewd choice. It didn't do him any good.

On the other hand, the first George Bush, the father of the current president, chose a candidate, Dan Quayle, who created a media firestorm. It was widely criticized, was he able to serve as president? But it didn't do him any harm.

So, I think the evidence is people don't vote for vice president.

GRIFFIN: Well, if he was looking for cues from the public, here's what John Kerry would find out, according to the Gallop Poll: Edwards 24 percent, Gephardt 15, Clark 15, and Vilsack, who we've been hearing a lot about, is only getting 3 percent. What do you make of this poll?

SCHNEIDER: What I make is it's largely a measure of name recognition. Edwards and Gephardt are at the top because they ran for president, and a lot of people have heard of them. Edwards might be a shrewd pick because he has a very strong personable image. He's an effective campaigner.

And not only is he a southerner, which would balance the ticket against a New England Democrat, but probably more important he has a populist style. The one thing no one has ever called John Kerry is a populist. In fact, he's sometimes criticized as aloof and elitist in his style. He's not exactly a rollicking personality. John Edwards has a lot of personal appeal, and a lot of people say if he's on the ticket he could add a vigorous and personable campaign style and a populous touch that Kerry just doesn't have.

GRIFFIN: Well, Bill, another day of veep chatter. It doesn't look like we'll get the announcement today, which means we can still talk about it tonight and tomorrow. Thanks for joining us, Bill.

SCHNEIDER: OK.

GRIFFIN: Well, it's going to be years before the Freedom Tower takes its place in the New York skyline, but the groundwork is now being laid. Officials laying that cornerstone yesterday for the tower at the former World Trade Center. The inscription on that 20-ton polished granite block dedicated to those killed in the September 11 attacks. New York Governor George Pataki said the planned tower will remain a large symbol of freedom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: A tower that will honor the heroes we lost on that tragic day and serve as a reminder that not only did thousands of our friends and family die on this sacred ground but that they lived, worked, loved, and dreamed here, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: It will take five years to build the skyscraper up to 1,776 feet. When it's completed, that freedom tower expected to be the world's tallest free standing structure.

Michael Moore's scathing anti-Bush documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" turning up the temperature on the presidential race. Here is entertainment correspondent Sybila Vargas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm stunned by response to this. Absolutely incredible.

SYBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The box office success of "Fahrenheit 9/11" not only shocked the filmmaker himself, it sent ripples across the country from Hollywood to Washington.

MOORE: Members of Congress, this is Michael Moore.

TOM O'NEIL, "IN-TOUCH WEEKLY": People don't like to pay money to see something about politics. And they don't pay money to see documentaries. So the success of this movie is all the more remarkable because of that.

VARGAS: The film's distributor says Michael Moore's scathing documentary about President Bush brought in more money in its opening weekend than any other documentary ever.

From big cities to small towns the film has become a magnet for the anti-Bush crowd. Though some conservatives have been reluctant to address the issue, counter efforts have been waged. Organizations hoping to discredit Moore claim he manipulates facts and stretches artistic license. One group Citizens United has filed a claim with the Federal Election Commission charging the film's TV ads violate campaign laws.

DAVID BOSSIE, CITIZENS UNITED: The movie which I have seen is full, start to finish with lies. It's propaganda.

VARGAS: The filmmaker welcomes the criticism.

MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER: All attempts by Republicans and right wingers to prohibit the American public from seeing this film, they have only helped the movie. And they are all getting a Christmas card from me this year.

VARGAS: Sybila Vargas, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Whether you agree or disagree with Michael Moore's film it's hard not to feel the pain of one of its central figures. Her name is Lila Lipscomb. Her son died in a Blackhawk helicopter crash. CNN's Bill Hemmers spoke with her about her part in the film as well as her thoughts on the war in Iraq and the political climate that surrounds it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LILA LIPSCOMB, "FAHRENHEIT 9/11": I thought that the protesters, in my mind, I thought that the protesters were actually protesting the service people because my mind goes back to Vietnam and how my brothers were treated when they came home from Vietnam. That's what I remember about protesters.

But when my -- when the administration called for war and I went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I got off the expressway and drove past the city hall in Grand Rapids, protesters were everywhere. And I was so appalled because I felt they were protesting my son. But then it came to me and my light finally went on -- they were not protesting my son. They were protesting the act that made the decision to go to war.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Lipscomb says she opposed the war before her son was killed and took part in the movie and actually traveled to the White House to show how it affected her and her family.

Well, on top of the world. What drives one group of men to climb the world's highest mountains and then ski down them? We're going to introduce you to these guys. That's ahead.

Plus, tearing up the field. A surprise win at the World Cup makes one country go wild when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: If you think your kids play too many videos you may want to think again or get some different games. As Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports a new breed of video games has some of those coach potatoes up on their feet and lighter on their toes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Video games, lots of hours on couches, teenage obesity, they all seem to go together. But what about a video game that might also be a weight loss aid.

17-year-old John Polchowski used to spend up to three hours a day playing video games alone in his room. Then he got hooked on a game called "Dance Dance Revolution" or "DDR."

JOHN POLCHOWSKI: As I kept on playing, I got better. I noticed it was getting to be a really good workout. And I tried to use that to become -- to make it a goal and lose a lot of weight from it.

GUPTA: After playing the game for one to two hours every day for a year, he started to lose weight. Along with eating healthier, John eventually lost 70 pounds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was able to do it whenever I want. I don't need to get other people.

GUPTA: John's mother knows that he probably couldn't have done it without "DDR."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's hard to lose weight, I think, without doing exercise also. So -- and this was something he enjoyed.

GUPTA: Dr. Richard Adler is a pediatrician who has been tracking active video games and their success in fighting obesity.

DR. RICHARD ADLER, PEDIATRICIAN: There's never been anything that I have seen that has the potential for increasing physical activity like this. It has a potential for being -- being absolutely tremendous in terms of its impact on children.

GUPTA: There are no official numbers on how many kids have lost weight with these games, but manufacturers are developing more interactive games involving skateboarding, fighting and more dancing. Maybe other kids will see some of John's success.

POLCHOWSKI: I feel a lot better. I always have a lot more energy. I'm more outgoing. I can go out and do stuff and enjoy it a lot more. I'm not really confined to my house like I used to be.

GUPTA: The video games that for too long have kept kids housebound might now help them get up and get out.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: And to get your daily dose of health news online you can log on to our website. You will find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. The address CNN.com/health.

Here's something to help you lose weight, try climbing a very tall mountain and ski down it. That's what the guests in our next segment do regularly. Steve Marlowe (ph), Jim Gile, and Mike Marlowe (ph) are ski mountaineers and Daryn Kagan spoke with them recently about their extreme adventures.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DARYN KAGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Glad to have you with us on relatively flatland. I know that's not where you guys are happiest. You have the trek where have you to go climb all these tall mountains and ski down. Tell us about the latest one that took you to South America.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we put together an expedition. We like to get as high as we can above 6,000 meters with the skis as often as possible. And it was just a small group of us, just the three of us, we're the core for all the trips. We decided we wanted to go down to Bolivia. We had been there in 1996. And Bolivia's a really fun place. And it's pretty close to the United States. And they had a peak down there called Sajama which is about 21,600 feet. It has some good skiing on it and so that's what we chose to go and do.

KAGAN: Now you guys live in Colorado and you've skied all those mountains that people are familiar with. Why do you want to go on these type of mountains. Because a lot of the civilians out there are scratching their head going, hmmm.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I ask myself why all the time. I think it's -- it's kind of a natural progression. And we started out climbing the peaks in our backyard and then the progression moved us to Alaska and South America and ultimately Asia. It's just kind of a natural progression. There are not a lot of people out there doing it and it is kind of thrilling.

KAGAN: That goes without saying. There aren't a lot of people doing it. Jim, why don't you jump in here and tell us about Sajama, and what you experienced on this latest ski?

JIM GILE, MOUNTAINEER: Sajama is a great peak. The nice thing about Bolivia is that you get really good weather and so you can concentrate on the climbing and you don't have to worry about the weather.

This peak is great because it sticks up out in the middle of the Elti Plano (ph) and it's just a beautiful peak and, you know, we got some good conditions and got some good skiing out of it. And it was just a fun trip all around.

KAGAN: And Mike, as you guys were saying there aren't a lot of people who are doing this. So explain to us exactly how it works. You hike up the mountain and then you ski down?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, yes, you show up and usually you have to port your stuff into a base camp. And we were really lucky on Sajama. We were the only people on the peak. And whenever you can get an Indian country highest peak, all to yourself, I mean, that's just a bonus. You get into base camp and from there you just have to kind of sit back and let the mountain dictate, you know, what you can do with it. And I think that as far as Sajama was concerned, like Jimmy said, the weather in Bolivia is typically really good especially this time of year, and it let us get away with a lot. We actually had to hurry up our plan because of some internal problems that the country was having and, you know, one of the reasons for getting down to South America is that you can get a 6,000 plus meter peak, you know, in a relatively short period of time. And so the mountain really cooperated with us and we had a great trip.

KAGAN: OK, so Sajama, Bolivia, Czech. Steve, what is next, the next peak?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we're thinking of going down to Ecuador this fall and skiing another pretty similar peak. And then there's a peak in China called Mustagata which is a classic ski peak above 7,500 meters. And that would be next summer. And after that, the ultimate -- these are all training in the progression that I referred to and the ultimate is going to be (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Mount Everest expedition and that's spring of 2006. KAGAN: And we will be following you along the way. Thanks for keeping us updated on the treks on the mountains and thanks for the pictures, as well.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: A different kind of travel now. Lifestyles of the rich and famous. How to travel like a millionaire with the working man's pocketbook. The penny-pincher guide to luxury travel. That is ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Now you can travel like the rich and famous but on the cheap, so says our next guest. The penny pincher's passport to luxury travel. A handy book filled with secret strategies on first class travel at discount prices. Author Joel Widzer is in Los Angeles this morning and joins us now live.

Good morning, Joel. Everybody wants to make that first class airplane trip without having to pay for it. How do you do it?

JOEL WIDZER, "PENNY PINCHER'S PASSPORT": Good morning, Drew, how are you?

You know, the first thing that you do is you plan ahead. One of the things I talk about in the book is how to look at the different travel sites. One of the things, biggest misconception right now in travel is that you have to shop around for the best fares. And that's simply just not the case. In fact, third party websites and low fare air carriers do not offer the best value.

I'm traveling to Salt Lake City tomorrow and by booking direct on Delta I was able to save $20 over the lowest fare on Southwest as well as I saved $5 over any fare I could find on a third party website and I'm already confirmed at first class. So one of the things you want to do is book direct because not only does that give you simplicity and convenience, but it also gives you the door to upgrades.

GRIFFIN: Now for those of us who do not travel a lot, and aren't, you know, million flyers on some of these airlines. Is there a chance of getting into first class because most of those seats are -- 95 percent are taken up by the frequent flyers who are being rewarded, aren't they?

WIDZER: One of the things I talk about is try to travel when business travelers are not traveling because they are going to be your biggest competition for upgrades. So what you want to do is you want to travel, say, on a late Monday, a Tuesday, Wednesday, early Thursday, or even a Saturday.

And something I'm doing next week, I have an early morning interview. And instead of leaving on Sunday where I have to pay over $1,100 for a coach ticket I'm actually leaving Saturday night and I'll leave at 11:00 p.m. I'll arrive into the city early Sunday morning. I have already arranged with the hotel for them to have me do an early check in. So by doing that I'm saving over $450 and I already have a first class upgrade. Plus, I get to enjoy the city for the whole day.

GRIFFIN: Now let's talk about destinations where we're heading. One of your tips is to not go where everybody goes or go when they are not there.

WIDZER: Yes. Exactly. I like to avoid crowds. And I think I get the best upgrades by doing that. So what I like to advise travelers is to look for destinations where they are going to really want your business. And that doesn't mean going to Phoenix, say in the middle of July just to get a good room rate. What it does mean is look to places where your travel is going to be desirable. For instance this past weekend the holiday weekend travel was at an all- time high, it was record lines at the airports so what I advised travelers to do was to wait and go this weekend instead because not only will they have fewer crowds but you are going to have lower prices, as well.

GRIFFIN: Can you get those lower prices and upgrades at the same time? Can you just simply by asking?

WIDZER: You can. In fact, one of the things that the major airlines have started to do, and this is in response to wanting to compete better with the economy carriers, is they started to offer what is called discounted first class fares. And by offering these fares they also offer what is called double elite qualifying miles.

For example, this past January, I went from Atlanta to Honolulu. I paid $135 above the lowest fare but I was confirmed in first class the whole way and I also earned 21,000 elite qualifying miles which means that those are miles that go toward earning elite status. And as I talk about it in the "Penny Pinchers Passport," once you earn elite status that's really your ticket to upgrades, to nicer hotel rooms as well as to better car rentals, cruises and so forth.

GRIFFIN: Joel Widzer, the "Penny Pincher's Guide to Luxury Travel." Thanks for joining us. There's a picture of his book. Happy travels to you, sir.

Birthday celebrations, the sites and the sounds. The nationwide observances as America turns 228. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: There has been a huge upset in soccer. Greece wins the European championship. That the game-winning goal. Greek fans went into a frenzy as their team beat Portugal 1-0 in the finals yesterday. The Greeks were an 80-1 long shot. They hadn't won a single game in a major competition before the European tournament.

And the sports world also celebrating another big win. Just call him the king of the court. He, Roger Federer, got his crown after winning Wimbledon yesterday. It's his second straight men's title there. Federer defeating Andy Roddick in four sets. Russia's Maria Sharapova won Saturday on the women's side, beating Serena Williams who was seeking her third Wimbledon victory in a row. Check with Rob Marciano who is following the weather details for the nation today -- Rob.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRIFFIN: Rob, in fact, many Americans woke up with a red, white and blue hangover after a grand day of celebrating America's independence. And here's what they saw and heard. We go coast to coast.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today's the day we gather with our friends and family and give thanks to the United States of America. Give thanks to the fact that we are citizens in a free land.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And there's our Lady Liberty who welcomes all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a mighty country, one nation under God. It looks divided sometimes but we must stand strong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Celebrations safely held coast to coast on this Fourth of July weekend. That will do it for the news right now. We turn it over to Betty Nguyen in Atlanta.

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


Aired July 5, 2004 - 11:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: It is 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 8:00 a.m. in the west. From the CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Drew Griffin. Daryn Kagan is off today.
And up first on CNN this hour, the headlines from Iraq. Insurgents set off two roadside bombs in Baghdad today, targeting a convoy of the new Iraqi army and Iraqi police patrol. Neither explosive hit its intended target. Eight civilians, though, were wounded.

Crews trying to put out a massive fire today along a strategic Iraqi oil pipeline. Insurgents bombed it Sunday. The pipeline feeds oil from Iraq's southern fields to refineries in the north.

And Iraqi leaders are delaying a possible amnesty deal with insurgents. It's not clear if it would cover radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Sadr had indicated he wanted to take part in the Iraqi political process, but in his latest comments he calls the new government illegitimate.

It has been a long and agonizing Fourth of July weekend for the family of a Marine captured in Iraq.

CNN's Rusty Dornin now has their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shadows cast by Old Glory at Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun's home in West Jordan, Utah, a reminder that while it may be the holidays celebrating independence, there is little freedom from fear for this family right now.

Conflicting reports of Hassoun's fate brought neighbors and friends to their home this weekend. Kathleen Samuel (ph) doesn't know the family, but brought her own message of support.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Agony, anguish, sadness, a deep loss.

DORNIN: The headlines here describe not only the emotions of a family that remains in seclusion, but of the community as well. The imam at the Hassoun family's mosque visits the family daily.

SHUAIB-UD DIN, ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF SALT LAKE CITY: At the moment, we're just, as you would say, keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for the best. DORNIN: Claims Saturday on two different Web sites that Hassoun was beheaded are being denied by the group claiming to hold him. No one here seems to know what to believe. The conflicting and unconfirmed reports only heighten the anxiety for some, like neighbor Melissa Funk (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People are actually realizing, you know, how sad it is, you know? It's not -- it's your neighbor.

DORNIN (on camera): There are people of different faiths here in Salt Lake City. Many stress, when it comes to the fate of this young man, they are united with one prayer in mind: bring Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun back safely.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Salt Lake City, Utah.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Published reports of prisoner swap are labeled pure fantasy. "The New York Times" says there was a secret deal involving the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Britain. According to that report, U.S. officials returned five terrorist suspects to Saudi Arabia from Guantanamo Bay. In exchange, the Saudis reportedly released five Britons and two other Westerners held in Saudi Arabia.

National Security Council Spokesman Sean McCormick says: "There is no recollection here of any linkage between these two actions." The move was "part of the normal policy of transferring detainees from Guantanamo for prosecution or continued detention."

Florida is trying to clear up yet another controversy before voters go to the polls this November. The state issuing a list of what it says was almost 48,000 felons who could be yanked from the voting list. The problem is that list is riddled with mistakes.

Susan Candiotti has that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DARREN JONES, FLORIDA VOTER: They went ahead and removed me. It's like guilty until proven innocent.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Darren Jones was stunned when he opened a letter last month from the Miami-Dade Elections Office.

JONES: "The court system has notified the Elections Department of your recent felony conviction," which is not true.

CANDIOTTI: True, Jones is a convicted felon, who served six months of house arrest, but that was in 1998.

JONES: So I know this couldn't be right.

CANDIOTTI: Like all Florida felons are required to do, Jones applied for and got his voting rights back in 2003, and says he proudly used his card to cast a vote in last spring's Democratic primary.

Dade elections officials admit they goofed this time, but can't explain it.

(on camera): What happened to Darren Jones is happening to others. CNN successfully sued Florida election officials to get a list -- and this is just a part of it -- of 47,000 suspected felons who could be dumped from voter rolls. And like the case of Darren Jones, we found mistake after mistake.

(voice-over): At 22, Sam Heyward was convicted of buying stolen furniture. In 1986, he won back his voting rights and says he hasn't missed an election, only to discover he's on the new suspected felons list.

SAM HEYWARD, VOTER: To find out that my name was still on the list and that it said, well, it may have some effect on your voting privileges, and I'm, like, well, I don't see how. I've been voting for the last 15 years.

CANDIOTTI: The Miami Herald reports that it documented more than 2,100 errors on the massive list.

Of the 47,000 named, 39 percent reportedly are black Democrats, 20 percent are white Democrats, 16 percent white Republicans.

With only about four months to go before the presidential election, 67 county supervisors now find themselves under orders from the Capitol to confirm the new so-called suspected felons list. Few, if any, are happy about it.

ION SANCHO, LEON CO. ELECTION SUPERVISOR: As an elections official, asking me to conduct criminal background checks, and spend most of my time in the criminal justice system would be analogous to asking doctors to do tax returns. And this simply is not our job.

CANDIOTTI: A spokesman for Governor Jeb Bush says the list is only a tool, and insists election officials will have enough time to check each name before the next election. The NAACP and ACLU settled a lawsuit against Florida two years ago. It called for improving the state's voter database.

HOWARD SIMON, FLORIDA ACLU: If state officials placed an eligible voter on the list of people to be purged, that is negligence on the part of state officials.

CANDIOTTI: For Darren Jones and others, the mix-ups make them wonder what will happen in November.

JONES: It's going to happen again. Trust me, it's going to happen again.

CANDIOTTI: Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Revisiting the case of Sam Sheppard, why this high- profile murder mystery is in the news today.

Staying alive, the newest trend in video games gets your kids off the couch and exercising. Look at that guy go.

Plus, how to travel in style without draining your wallet. A penny-pincher guide to luxury travel all ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: It was called the trial of the century, 50 years ago a housewife bludgeoned to death in Ohio. The man accused and convicted of killing her, her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard. It didn't end there, though. It's a case that captured the nation's imagination then. It still does today.

Chris Lawrence reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Nothing at Bay Village, Ohio, suggests one of the most famous crime scenes of the last century. The home of the infamous murder was torn down in 1993, and the only evidence of what happened is in libraries like this one.

But for hundreds of people a year, the Cleveland State University archives remain popular.

WILLIAM BARROW, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIAN: It seems like people come here on a regular basis thinking they are going to solve the Sam Sheppard murder case.

LAWRENCE: But no one has. After Marilyn Sheppard was found bludgeoned to death in their bedroom in 1954, Sam Sheppard was convicted of murder. He said an intruder killed his pregnant wife, and 10 years later the Supreme Court made a landmark decision when it overturned the verdict, saying excessive media coverage denied the doctor a fair trial.

SAM SHEPPARD, MURDER CONVICTION OVERTURNED: After 10 years in prison for something I didn't do, it was about time.

LAWRENCE: Some legal scholars see similarities between this case and Scott Peterson's trial for the murder of his wife, Laci.

PATRICIA FALK, CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY LAW PROFESSOR: There are lots of murders all the time, but only a few really capture the imagination in a way that these cases do.

LAWRENCE (on camera): The Sheppards' original home doesn't exist anymore, but the case is lived on through constant attention in popular culture.

(voice over): Many still believe it inspired the television character, Richard Kimble, and later a film version of "The Fugitive."

BARROW: Maybe "The Fugitive" wasn't based on the Sheppard trial, but it's very hard to imagine it wasn't a factor playing around in somebody's mind when they were putting it together.

LAWRENCE: A second jury acquitted Dr. Sheppard in 1966, and he died four years later.

His son tried to get him vindicated through DNA evidence, but the murder of Marilyn Sheppard remains open and unsolved.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Bay Village, Ohio.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: So, if not Sam Sheppard, who did kill Marilyn Sheppard? One man thinks he knows. Bernard Conners is former FBI agent who has researched the case. He says an Air Force enlistee may be the real killer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNARD CONNERS, F0RMER FBI AGENT, AUTHOR OF "TAILSPIN": Another major in the Air Force contacted me six years ago, and he had long suspected, a man named George Warburton (ph) contacted me. He long suspected that Major James Ireland Call (ph) had committed this crime. In fact, Major Call (ph) was apprehended for killing a police officer in 1954. And at the time they suspected his involvement in the Sheppard case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Conner says the major was apparently in the area at the time of the killing.

Rising again, what is being done to keep that national treasure from crumbling into the sea?

Plus, climbing some of the world's highest peaks just to ski down them. We'll introduce you to some guys after my own heart when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Wildfires in Arizona are threatening one of the world's most powerful telescopes this morning, the binocular telescope. It is housed at the Graham International Observatory in the southeastern corner in Arizona. Crews are building a protection line around that facility. The fire is expected to meet up with a similar-sized blaze this week, doubling the size to 12,000 acres. Hot and dry in Arizona.

(WEATHER BREAK)

GRIFFIN: The government is spending millions of dollars to spruce up its largest and most isolated coastal fort.

Here is CNN's John Zarrella. He's in Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF (voice over): Standing on scaffolding that hangs from the side of a sheer brick wall, Mike Higginbotham is working to put back together a piece of history that sits surrounded by water in the middle of nowhere.

MIKE HIGGINBOTHAM, PRESERVATION MASON: If you need something, you just don't go to the hardware store and get it. You better hope you brought it out here with you.

ZARRELLA: Higginbotham, a brick mason, and a handful of co- workers are part of phase one of the restoration of one of America's most remote national treasures, Fort Jefferson. The 16 million-brick fort sits in the Gulf of Mexico 70 miles west of Key West on the Dry Tortugas Island. Built in the mid-1800s, it served as a fortress to protect shipping lanes through the Gulf of Mexico.

MIKE RYAN, NATIONAL PARK RANGER: It was designed to be a powerful deterrent. And by building it so powerfully, well, the ultimate goal was that no enemy would dare attack.

ZARRELLA: But for 160 years the fort has been under attack by salt air, humidity and baking sun. Iron embedded around brick canon portals called embrasures is rusting. As it does, it expands and displaces the brick, which collapses into the sea.

Because the fort is so remote and accommodations basically nonexistent, 15 to 20 workers at a time, no more, will spend up to a year on the job.

ROSS HUNT, RESTORATION PROJECT MANAGER: We have to capture all of our own drinking water and bathing water, water for doing the construction work itself.

ZARRELLA (on camera): At its peak in 1864, 2,000 people lived here -- military personnel, their families and prisoners. So, just how big is this fort? Well, you could fit two Roman coliseums inside or Yankee Stadium.

(voice over): At one point, the massive prison wing held 900 men. Its most famous guest lived in this room. Dr. Samuel Mudd, sentenced to hard labor for his role in Lincoln's assassination, spent four years here. It will take six years and 18 million government dollars to restore the fort to the way it was when Mudd paced the floor in shackles and irons.

John Zarrella, CNN, Fort Jefferson, in the Dry Tortugas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: John Kerry's pick for a running mate. Who could? Or maybe it would be better to say, who should be on the short list? Bill Schneider is here with his thoughts when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin at the CNN center in Atlanta. Let's check the headlines at this hour for Monday, July 5.

An amnesty deal for insurgents in Iraq on hold. It was unclear whether it would have included this man, radical cleric Muqtada al- Sadr. He initially embraced the new interim government and wanted to be included in the political process. Now he apparently has changed his mind, calling the government there illegitimate.

Crews working to control a fire on a bomb-damaged Iraqi oil pipeline. The pipeline ferries oil from southern fields to refineries in the north and central parts of Iraq.

Officials are ordering a recount in Indonesia's first direct presidential election. Many voters failed to unfold their ballots before punching a hole next to the candidates' name, resulting in two hole punches. Early indications suggest none of the five candidates will get a majority, and that will prompt a runoff.

An exhibit at the Ronald Reagan library showcasing items from his funeral, 6,000 people lining up for the opening of this display called "Mourning in America." The exhibit features Reagan's riding boots, cards and letters and more than 60 photographs of the funeral.

It's still not clear today if John Kerry's toughest choice will be hamburger or hot dog, or if he still has much bigger fish to fry. As always, "INSIDE POLITICS" anchor Judy Woodruff is keeping tabs on the presidential race -- Judy.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, Drew. Good morning.

Well, Senator Kerry and his wife are holding a barbecue at their farm in Pittsburgh later today for politicians from the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. As that caps Kerry's busy holiday weekend, fellow Democrats are likely going to try to pump him for information about his running mate.

A party official is telling CNN that Kerry has filled the slot, but Kerry campaign communications director Stephanie Cutter (ph), she is denying officially that the decision has been made. Kerry has told consultants and fund-raisers that the choice now is entirely his to make. The moment of truth can't be too far away since sources say an announcement could come as early as tomorrow.

John Kerry's comments to an Iowa newspaper are raising eyebrows among his abortion rights supporters. In yesterday's Dubuque, Iowa, "Telegraph Herald," Kerry repeated his personal opposition to abortion, something he has said before. But then he went on to say -- quote: "I don't like abortion. I believe life does begin at conception."

It is believed to be the first time Kerry has described when he believes life begins.

President Bush is off the campaign trail today. He traveled to the showdown state of West Virginia for the Fourth of July, where he used his speech to defend the war in Iraq. Vice President Dick Cheney has wrapped up a weekend bus tour through Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Cheney repeatedly cast the November election as between -- quote -- "President Bush's hope and optimism and Senator Kerry's pessimism."

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader has accused the Democratic Party of using dirty tricks against him. Nader cited incidents in Arizona and Oregon, where he has been trying to get on the November ballot. A Democratic National Committee spokesman tells CNN that some state committees are vigorously reviewing signatures Nader submitted to get on the ballot. Some Democrats blame Nader for costing Al Gore the election in 2000.

We're going to hear more from Ralph Nader a little later today. He is my guest this afternoon on "INSIDE POLITICS."

Plus, how much of a boost in the polls will John Kerry get from naming a running mate? And how long is that bounce going to last?

All of this and much more when I go "INSIDE POLITICS" at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. I'll see you then, but now right back to Drew in Atlanta.

GRIFFIN: Judy, we look forward to that.

You know, Kerry's pick is being called his first act as a potential president. With some analysis, CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider.

Bill, we've been talking about this for weeks. It seems like the only buzz this campaign can get is who is going to be the VP. Is that why they are trying to string it out and make it last?

BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, of course, he's trying to get attention. You know, Kerry's problem is he has sort of receded in national attention since he effectively won the nomination in early March. July is his month to come back on the stage, first with his vice-presidential choice, and then culminating in a Democratic Convention at the end of the month.

And the record shows that when a nominee pick a vice presidential running mate, it does give him a little bit of a boost. We have the record since at least 1992, when Clinton chose Al Gore he went up 11 points in the polls. In 1996 when Bob Dole chose Jack Kemp he got a 9-point bounce. And in 2000 when both nominees chose running mates they got little bounces. You see the bounces getting smaller over time. Bush chose Cheney, he got 3 points, and Gore chose Joe Lieberman and he got a 5-point bounce.

So, it's gotten a little bit smaller, and it doesn't last that long. But the fact is it does do the nominee some good, and that reintroduces Kerry to a public that hasn't been paying a lot of attention to him.

GRIFFIN: You know, 50 percent of those tickets won, 50 percent lost. Does it really matter in the end, Bill? SCHNEIDER: Well, look, sometimes the vice-presidential choice is widely acclaimed. When Mondale chose the first woman on a ticket, Geraldine Ferraro, people were thrilled, but it didn't do him any good. The same thing happened when Michael Dukakis chose a Texan, Roy Benson. Everyone said that's a shrewd choice. It didn't do him any good.

On the other hand, the first George Bush, the father of the current president, chose a candidate, Dan Quayle, who created a media firestorm. It was widely criticized, was he able to serve as president? But it didn't do him any harm.

So, I think the evidence is people don't vote for vice president.

GRIFFIN: Well, if he was looking for cues from the public, here's what John Kerry would find out, according to the Gallop Poll: Edwards 24 percent, Gephardt 15, Clark 15, and Vilsack, who we've been hearing a lot about, is only getting 3 percent. What do you make of this poll?

SCHNEIDER: What I make is it's largely a measure of name recognition. Edwards and Gephardt are at the top because they ran for president, and a lot of people have heard of them. Edwards might be a shrewd pick because he has a very strong personable image. He's an effective campaigner.

And not only is he a southerner, which would balance the ticket against a New England Democrat, but probably more important he has a populist style. The one thing no one has ever called John Kerry is a populist. In fact, he's sometimes criticized as aloof and elitist in his style. He's not exactly a rollicking personality. John Edwards has a lot of personal appeal, and a lot of people say if he's on the ticket he could add a vigorous and personable campaign style and a populous touch that Kerry just doesn't have.

GRIFFIN: Well, Bill, another day of veep chatter. It doesn't look like we'll get the announcement today, which means we can still talk about it tonight and tomorrow. Thanks for joining us, Bill.

SCHNEIDER: OK.

GRIFFIN: Well, it's going to be years before the Freedom Tower takes its place in the New York skyline, but the groundwork is now being laid. Officials laying that cornerstone yesterday for the tower at the former World Trade Center. The inscription on that 20-ton polished granite block dedicated to those killed in the September 11 attacks. New York Governor George Pataki said the planned tower will remain a large symbol of freedom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: A tower that will honor the heroes we lost on that tragic day and serve as a reminder that not only did thousands of our friends and family die on this sacred ground but that they lived, worked, loved, and dreamed here, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: It will take five years to build the skyscraper up to 1,776 feet. When it's completed, that freedom tower expected to be the world's tallest free standing structure.

Michael Moore's scathing anti-Bush documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" turning up the temperature on the presidential race. Here is entertainment correspondent Sybila Vargas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm stunned by response to this. Absolutely incredible.

SYBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The box office success of "Fahrenheit 9/11" not only shocked the filmmaker himself, it sent ripples across the country from Hollywood to Washington.

MOORE: Members of Congress, this is Michael Moore.

TOM O'NEIL, "IN-TOUCH WEEKLY": People don't like to pay money to see something about politics. And they don't pay money to see documentaries. So the success of this movie is all the more remarkable because of that.

VARGAS: The film's distributor says Michael Moore's scathing documentary about President Bush brought in more money in its opening weekend than any other documentary ever.

From big cities to small towns the film has become a magnet for the anti-Bush crowd. Though some conservatives have been reluctant to address the issue, counter efforts have been waged. Organizations hoping to discredit Moore claim he manipulates facts and stretches artistic license. One group Citizens United has filed a claim with the Federal Election Commission charging the film's TV ads violate campaign laws.

DAVID BOSSIE, CITIZENS UNITED: The movie which I have seen is full, start to finish with lies. It's propaganda.

VARGAS: The filmmaker welcomes the criticism.

MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER: All attempts by Republicans and right wingers to prohibit the American public from seeing this film, they have only helped the movie. And they are all getting a Christmas card from me this year.

VARGAS: Sybila Vargas, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Whether you agree or disagree with Michael Moore's film it's hard not to feel the pain of one of its central figures. Her name is Lila Lipscomb. Her son died in a Blackhawk helicopter crash. CNN's Bill Hemmers spoke with her about her part in the film as well as her thoughts on the war in Iraq and the political climate that surrounds it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LILA LIPSCOMB, "FAHRENHEIT 9/11": I thought that the protesters, in my mind, I thought that the protesters were actually protesting the service people because my mind goes back to Vietnam and how my brothers were treated when they came home from Vietnam. That's what I remember about protesters.

But when my -- when the administration called for war and I went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I got off the expressway and drove past the city hall in Grand Rapids, protesters were everywhere. And I was so appalled because I felt they were protesting my son. But then it came to me and my light finally went on -- they were not protesting my son. They were protesting the act that made the decision to go to war.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Lipscomb says she opposed the war before her son was killed and took part in the movie and actually traveled to the White House to show how it affected her and her family.

Well, on top of the world. What drives one group of men to climb the world's highest mountains and then ski down them? We're going to introduce you to these guys. That's ahead.

Plus, tearing up the field. A surprise win at the World Cup makes one country go wild when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: If you think your kids play too many videos you may want to think again or get some different games. As Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports a new breed of video games has some of those coach potatoes up on their feet and lighter on their toes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Video games, lots of hours on couches, teenage obesity, they all seem to go together. But what about a video game that might also be a weight loss aid.

17-year-old John Polchowski used to spend up to three hours a day playing video games alone in his room. Then he got hooked on a game called "Dance Dance Revolution" or "DDR."

JOHN POLCHOWSKI: As I kept on playing, I got better. I noticed it was getting to be a really good workout. And I tried to use that to become -- to make it a goal and lose a lot of weight from it.

GUPTA: After playing the game for one to two hours every day for a year, he started to lose weight. Along with eating healthier, John eventually lost 70 pounds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was able to do it whenever I want. I don't need to get other people.

GUPTA: John's mother knows that he probably couldn't have done it without "DDR."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's hard to lose weight, I think, without doing exercise also. So -- and this was something he enjoyed.

GUPTA: Dr. Richard Adler is a pediatrician who has been tracking active video games and their success in fighting obesity.

DR. RICHARD ADLER, PEDIATRICIAN: There's never been anything that I have seen that has the potential for increasing physical activity like this. It has a potential for being -- being absolutely tremendous in terms of its impact on children.

GUPTA: There are no official numbers on how many kids have lost weight with these games, but manufacturers are developing more interactive games involving skateboarding, fighting and more dancing. Maybe other kids will see some of John's success.

POLCHOWSKI: I feel a lot better. I always have a lot more energy. I'm more outgoing. I can go out and do stuff and enjoy it a lot more. I'm not really confined to my house like I used to be.

GUPTA: The video games that for too long have kept kids housebound might now help them get up and get out.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: And to get your daily dose of health news online you can log on to our website. You will find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. The address CNN.com/health.

Here's something to help you lose weight, try climbing a very tall mountain and ski down it. That's what the guests in our next segment do regularly. Steve Marlowe (ph), Jim Gile, and Mike Marlowe (ph) are ski mountaineers and Daryn Kagan spoke with them recently about their extreme adventures.

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DARYN KAGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Glad to have you with us on relatively flatland. I know that's not where you guys are happiest. You have the trek where have you to go climb all these tall mountains and ski down. Tell us about the latest one that took you to South America.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we put together an expedition. We like to get as high as we can above 6,000 meters with the skis as often as possible. And it was just a small group of us, just the three of us, we're the core for all the trips. We decided we wanted to go down to Bolivia. We had been there in 1996. And Bolivia's a really fun place. And it's pretty close to the United States. And they had a peak down there called Sajama which is about 21,600 feet. It has some good skiing on it and so that's what we chose to go and do.

KAGAN: Now you guys live in Colorado and you've skied all those mountains that people are familiar with. Why do you want to go on these type of mountains. Because a lot of the civilians out there are scratching their head going, hmmm.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I ask myself why all the time. I think it's -- it's kind of a natural progression. And we started out climbing the peaks in our backyard and then the progression moved us to Alaska and South America and ultimately Asia. It's just kind of a natural progression. There are not a lot of people out there doing it and it is kind of thrilling.

KAGAN: That goes without saying. There aren't a lot of people doing it. Jim, why don't you jump in here and tell us about Sajama, and what you experienced on this latest ski?

JIM GILE, MOUNTAINEER: Sajama is a great peak. The nice thing about Bolivia is that you get really good weather and so you can concentrate on the climbing and you don't have to worry about the weather.

This peak is great because it sticks up out in the middle of the Elti Plano (ph) and it's just a beautiful peak and, you know, we got some good conditions and got some good skiing out of it. And it was just a fun trip all around.

KAGAN: And Mike, as you guys were saying there aren't a lot of people who are doing this. So explain to us exactly how it works. You hike up the mountain and then you ski down?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, yes, you show up and usually you have to port your stuff into a base camp. And we were really lucky on Sajama. We were the only people on the peak. And whenever you can get an Indian country highest peak, all to yourself, I mean, that's just a bonus. You get into base camp and from there you just have to kind of sit back and let the mountain dictate, you know, what you can do with it. And I think that as far as Sajama was concerned, like Jimmy said, the weather in Bolivia is typically really good especially this time of year, and it let us get away with a lot. We actually had to hurry up our plan because of some internal problems that the country was having and, you know, one of the reasons for getting down to South America is that you can get a 6,000 plus meter peak, you know, in a relatively short period of time. And so the mountain really cooperated with us and we had a great trip.

KAGAN: OK, so Sajama, Bolivia, Czech. Steve, what is next, the next peak?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we're thinking of going down to Ecuador this fall and skiing another pretty similar peak. And then there's a peak in China called Mustagata which is a classic ski peak above 7,500 meters. And that would be next summer. And after that, the ultimate -- these are all training in the progression that I referred to and the ultimate is going to be (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Mount Everest expedition and that's spring of 2006. KAGAN: And we will be following you along the way. Thanks for keeping us updated on the treks on the mountains and thanks for the pictures, as well.

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GRIFFIN: A different kind of travel now. Lifestyles of the rich and famous. How to travel like a millionaire with the working man's pocketbook. The penny-pincher guide to luxury travel. That is ahead.

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GRIFFIN: Now you can travel like the rich and famous but on the cheap, so says our next guest. The penny pincher's passport to luxury travel. A handy book filled with secret strategies on first class travel at discount prices. Author Joel Widzer is in Los Angeles this morning and joins us now live.

Good morning, Joel. Everybody wants to make that first class airplane trip without having to pay for it. How do you do it?

JOEL WIDZER, "PENNY PINCHER'S PASSPORT": Good morning, Drew, how are you?

You know, the first thing that you do is you plan ahead. One of the things I talk about in the book is how to look at the different travel sites. One of the things, biggest misconception right now in travel is that you have to shop around for the best fares. And that's simply just not the case. In fact, third party websites and low fare air carriers do not offer the best value.

I'm traveling to Salt Lake City tomorrow and by booking direct on Delta I was able to save $20 over the lowest fare on Southwest as well as I saved $5 over any fare I could find on a third party website and I'm already confirmed at first class. So one of the things you want to do is book direct because not only does that give you simplicity and convenience, but it also gives you the door to upgrades.

GRIFFIN: Now for those of us who do not travel a lot, and aren't, you know, million flyers on some of these airlines. Is there a chance of getting into first class because most of those seats are -- 95 percent are taken up by the frequent flyers who are being rewarded, aren't they?

WIDZER: One of the things I talk about is try to travel when business travelers are not traveling because they are going to be your biggest competition for upgrades. So what you want to do is you want to travel, say, on a late Monday, a Tuesday, Wednesday, early Thursday, or even a Saturday.

And something I'm doing next week, I have an early morning interview. And instead of leaving on Sunday where I have to pay over $1,100 for a coach ticket I'm actually leaving Saturday night and I'll leave at 11:00 p.m. I'll arrive into the city early Sunday morning. I have already arranged with the hotel for them to have me do an early check in. So by doing that I'm saving over $450 and I already have a first class upgrade. Plus, I get to enjoy the city for the whole day.

GRIFFIN: Now let's talk about destinations where we're heading. One of your tips is to not go where everybody goes or go when they are not there.

WIDZER: Yes. Exactly. I like to avoid crowds. And I think I get the best upgrades by doing that. So what I like to advise travelers is to look for destinations where they are going to really want your business. And that doesn't mean going to Phoenix, say in the middle of July just to get a good room rate. What it does mean is look to places where your travel is going to be desirable. For instance this past weekend the holiday weekend travel was at an all- time high, it was record lines at the airports so what I advised travelers to do was to wait and go this weekend instead because not only will they have fewer crowds but you are going to have lower prices, as well.

GRIFFIN: Can you get those lower prices and upgrades at the same time? Can you just simply by asking?

WIDZER: You can. In fact, one of the things that the major airlines have started to do, and this is in response to wanting to compete better with the economy carriers, is they started to offer what is called discounted first class fares. And by offering these fares they also offer what is called double elite qualifying miles.

For example, this past January, I went from Atlanta to Honolulu. I paid $135 above the lowest fare but I was confirmed in first class the whole way and I also earned 21,000 elite qualifying miles which means that those are miles that go toward earning elite status. And as I talk about it in the "Penny Pinchers Passport," once you earn elite status that's really your ticket to upgrades, to nicer hotel rooms as well as to better car rentals, cruises and so forth.

GRIFFIN: Joel Widzer, the "Penny Pincher's Guide to Luxury Travel." Thanks for joining us. There's a picture of his book. Happy travels to you, sir.

Birthday celebrations, the sites and the sounds. The nationwide observances as America turns 228. Stay with us.

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GRIFFIN: There has been a huge upset in soccer. Greece wins the European championship. That the game-winning goal. Greek fans went into a frenzy as their team beat Portugal 1-0 in the finals yesterday. The Greeks were an 80-1 long shot. They hadn't won a single game in a major competition before the European tournament.

And the sports world also celebrating another big win. Just call him the king of the court. He, Roger Federer, got his crown after winning Wimbledon yesterday. It's his second straight men's title there. Federer defeating Andy Roddick in four sets. Russia's Maria Sharapova won Saturday on the women's side, beating Serena Williams who was seeking her third Wimbledon victory in a row. Check with Rob Marciano who is following the weather details for the nation today -- Rob.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRIFFIN: Rob, in fact, many Americans woke up with a red, white and blue hangover after a grand day of celebrating America's independence. And here's what they saw and heard. We go coast to coast.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today's the day we gather with our friends and family and give thanks to the United States of America. Give thanks to the fact that we are citizens in a free land.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And there's our Lady Liberty who welcomes all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a mighty country, one nation under God. It looks divided sometimes but we must stand strong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Celebrations safely held coast to coast on this Fourth of July weekend. That will do it for the news right now. We turn it over to Betty Nguyen in Atlanta.

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