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American Morning
Political Conventions Begin to Beef up Security; Battleground States Come Into Focus for Election Season
Aired July 08, 2004 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. 8:30 here in New York. Good morning. Heidi working for Soledad throughout the week here. Having fun.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm having a blast. Are you having fun?
HEMMER: Jack is keeping us on our toes.
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: More politics in a moment here. The presidential candidates crisscrossing the country, much of their focus on the battleground states -- about 17 of them that could decide this race.
That's where our focus is as well in the next 30 minutes talking with political analyst Stu Rothenberg about who holds the advantage in a number of those key battleground areas.
COLLINS: Also, how serious is the terror threat for Americans during this summer's political conventions? We are going to be looking at intense security preparations now under way and a top level meeting suddenly called in Congress to discuss safety there.
HEMMER: All right. Let's start with politics again here at the half hour.
Politics -- the Democratic team of Senators Kerry and Edwards on the move again today. They'll have a rally in Florida about 11 a.m. Eastern time. And then later tonight they're here in New York City as they continue their tour, four day, six-state tour.
A new pool -- a new poll, rather, conducted by Princeton Survey Research finds the Kerry-Edwards ticket has support of 49 percent of those who were asked in that survey; Bush-Cheney team at 41; Ralph Nader at 4 percent. Also a bigger gap in a two-way race in that same polling: 54 to 43 percent in favor of Kerry-Edwards.
Political analyst Stu Rothenberg, the author of the "Rothenberg Political Report" with us here now. How are you, Stu? Good morning to you.
STUART ROTHENBERG, "ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT": Good. Thanks, Bill.
HEMMER: Four years later we're back at it together. Listen, you have said -- and I think you've argued this fact in the past few days -- that this election is overkill. In what way, on July 8th?
ROTHENBERG: Well, Bill we seem to have been doing that for many, many months. So much is made of little decisions, big decisions. But there's just so much coverage, it's hard to know how the voters are able to handle all of the flow of information.
Yes, I've been arguing there are too many reporters chasing too few stories. I think the coverage of the vice presidential pick over the last couple of weeks is a classic example. You know, at the end of the day all that speculation now doesn't much matter, does it? Now we have a pick.
HEMMER: Yes indeed, you're right. You wonder if it's an over saturation for views and for voters out there or if they are really hungry to find out every tidbit on this race because, as many people say, this one is critical.
ROTHENBERG: Well, I think voters are, of course, interested in this choice. We're at an interesting time, an important, a dangerous time. I think people do care. But we have to remember that a lot of the discussion that goes on is reporters talking to reporters. It's kind of very insider stuff. You have to remember that.
Even the polling data -- look, I love to talk about polling data. I know you like to talk about it. And I think there are voters who are interested.
But for some people, they say, wait a minute. What do I care what other people think? I know what I think about George Bush or John Kerry and a poll isn't going to change my mind.
HEMMER: Go back three and a half years. On the screen we'll put a map of the Southeast. They are all in red. That means Republicans won those states in the Southeastern portion of the United States.
Does Edwards help now to tip the balance toward Kerry in any of these states?
ROTHENBERG: I don't really think so, Bill. Florida, we know it was in play last time. We expect it to be in play this time. The only question is really whether he could carry North Carolina.
Think back to 1980 with a Georgian on the ticket as the president, the incumbent president running for re-election. Jimmy Carter carried just one Southern state, Georgia. And that was almost 25 years ago. The region has realigned further to the Republican Party since then.
So does John Edwards have a chance to carry North Carolina? Will the Democratic put -- Democratic ticket -- put resources there? Yes. There was polling done before Edwards was selected that showed, you know, that he could make it a race.
But I really think that this race is going to be determined -- if the Democrats are going to win, they're going to win it in places like Ohio and New Hampshire. They're not really going to win it in the Southeast.
HEMMER: For you, what's the bigger issue? Is it all about Iraq all the time or is it the economy? Or do you split them down the middle?
ROTHENBERG: No, I don't. I mean, I think those are the two big issues, but I think it's pretty clear that the number one issue is Iraq, terrorism, national security, defense.
If you want to say those are two or three separate issues, feel free. I see them as kind of one general military/defense/national security issue.
The economy is quite good now, but the president is not getting a bounce because we're all still depressed about terrorism and national security. And the president -- you know, the war hasn't gone as well. I think it's a war turned up, that is if there was some improvement, an improved outlook in Iraq, the president would get a benefit on the economy that he is not now receiving.
HEMMER: We're off and running. We'll talk many times.
ROTHENBERG: Sure.
HEMMER: Stuart Rothenberg, thanks. Good to see you.
Coming up later tonight, primetime, CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE," Senator John Kerry, his wife Teresa -- their first sit-down interview since John Edwards was named to the ticket Tuesday morning.
Tonight 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 on the West Coast with Larry -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Security for this summer's political conventions has always been a top priority for law officials in Boston and in New York. Now efforts to address possible convention threats are ramping up in Washington.
Congressional correspondent Ed Henry on Capitol Hill now with details on this.
Good morning, Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi?
Federal officials are very concerned that the national political conventions this summer in Boston and New York will be very tempting target for terrorists. And in fact, these will be the first national political conventions post-9/11.
So what we've seen over the last couple of days is a bit of a flurry of activity. Three very high-level meetings. The third one, in fact, will be in about a half hour here in the Senate when all 100 senators go into a secure room in the Capitol to hear from the FBI director and CIA director about what kind of planning, what kind of intense planning and preparation is going on. To give you an idea of the sensitive nature of these discussions, the first meeting of those three came on Tuesday night at the White House. It was actually held in the situation room with Vice President Cheney and a slew of other federal officials. They called in all of the senior congressional leaders on Tuesday, said keep this meeting off your schedule. They were trying to keep it quiet.
They don't want to alarm anyone. But Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist who was at that White House meeting and will be at the Senate meeting this morning, of course, told me that it's just a matter of concern. Officials are saying that they believe that not only will the conventions be a tempting target but, in fact, in the fall, leading up to the election there's a worry terrorists will try to do what they did in Spain earlier this year on the eve of those elections.
And yesterday there was a meeting in the House of Representatives where all House members also heard from a lot of federal officials, again sensitive discussions about national security, what kind of threats -- a threat assessment, what's out there.
But again, I can tell you that everyone is trying to keep everyone calm. And in fact, Congressman Chris Cox came out of that House meeting and said that he thinks that based on all this planning, based on all this preparedness, he thinks that they actually -- officials -- can head off an attack. And he has a confident feeling heading into the summer.
This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS COX (D), CALIFORNIA: Al Qaeda or not, 10 feet tall -- they're limited in number. They have certain capabilities. We are getting better at learning their intentions. And if we stay ahead of it, I thin we can defeat them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: And the bottom line is that the government also wants to put its money where its mouth is. There had been $50 million allocated for Boston and New York for security. In just the last couple of weeks, Senator Edward Kennedy got another $50 million added, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Ed Henry, thanks so much for that this morning.
HEMMER: Let's get a break here in a moment.
One sight some legal experts thought they would never see -- Ken Lay in handcuffs heading into court. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business", his take on this picture from today in a moment.
COLLINS: Also ahead, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He'll tell us how some hospitals are actually turning cancer screenings into a party. HEMMER: Also, just because it's practice doesn't mean no one gets hurt. A look at that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Twenty minutes before the hour now. Time for medical news. And the focus today is on colonoscopies. Some are throwing parties to help fight it and find it.
Sanjay Gupta explains in L.A. this morning. Good morning in Los Angeles, Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Yes, I've never been invited to party like this complete with hats, and balloons and bagels, the whole sort of thing. But the premise of this sort of party is very important and even more importantly, it's quite possibly saving lives.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA (voice-over): Here's an unlikely party invitation. Meet me at the oncology ward of the hospital 8:00 a.m. sharp. You're invited to a colonoscopy party?
Audrey Thompson, an oncology nurse at Plano Medical Center in Texas extends those seemingly strange invitations to co-workers regularly.
AUDREY THOMPSON, ONCOLOGY NURSE: Everybody just starts laughing. I mean -- that's the beginning of the party is just hysteria almost.
GUPTA: Some of those laughs are drenched in nervousness. But at this colonoscopy party, the nerves and fear melt against the backdrop of balloons, food, taking pictures.
LARRY MAGER, COLONOSCOPY PATIENT: It's a party. Everybody should be a party pooper.
GUPTA: Audrey says she started these parties to poke fun at a very important procedure while urging people to get it.
BARBARA ARVESON, COLONOSCOPY PATIENT: I wasn't, frankly, very thrilled about somebody poking.
GUPTA: But Barbara Arveson's family has a history of colon cancer, so she got tested anyway.
THOMPSON: We've all seen your colon now, so -
GUPTA: They found five polyps. Three were pre-cancerous.
ARVESON: I think it's really important to do this.
THOMPSON: We're seeing such a young population. It used to be 70's, 80's. It's now 40's and 50's consistently.
GUPTA: The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 106,000 new cases of colon cancer and about 40,000 new cases of rectal cancer in the U.S. this year causing about 57,000 deaths.
Audrey is doing her part to fight those deaths. She's hosted her unorthodox parties for almost two years. Seventy-nine people participated. Twenty -- that's one in four -- found pre-cancerous polyps. That may be twenty lives saved.
Folks at this party are just happy to have support to get through the procedure.
MAGER: I'd be much more anxious if I didn't know all the people around me.
I have a polyp.
THOMPSON: The energy is all about doing something good and lessening the intimidation of something that's potentially very scary for people. We are saving lives.
GUPTA: Saving lives and having a party at the same time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm so grateful I had this done. It's wonderful.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: About 57,000 deaths -- you heard there, Bill. But colon cancer is one of the better stories in cancer, in the sense that we have come down in terms of number of lives lost due to colon cancer over the last 15 years.
If you are 50 or older or if you have a history of colon cancer in your family, you should definitely get tested. Early testing is critical to a longer life -- Bill?
HEMMER: Sanjay, in a simple way, how do these polyps form?
GUPTA: Well, a lot can be genetic. So, if your parents had polyps, you should definitely get tested earlier because there's a good chance you might have it.
A lot of it may be related to diet, Bill. In the West, people have a higher rate of colon cancer than other parts of the world. Why? Probably because of a diet high in unsaturated fats. That's probably going to cause colon cancer. Fruits, vegetables, high fiber diets ward it off, even protective against colon cancer.
HEMMER: Sanjay, another thing. As this pertains to men, it's long been said that you should get annual checkups after the age of 40 and now the advice is after 50. What changed there?
GUPTA: Well, you know 40 was -- they didn't recommend colonoscopies necessarily, which is a more invasive procedure. But the colonoscopies at the age of 50 has been a longstanding recommendation of the American Cancer Society. The numbers do change, though -- good point -- from time to time depending on the latest data and the latest stats, Bill.
HEMMER: All right. Good to know and good clarification, too. Sanjay, thanks. Enjoy L.A.
GUPTA: Thank you.
HEMMER: In a moment here, there's breaking news out of Iraq. We'll get to that.
Also, John Kerry has made his V.P. choice. Should George Bush reconsider his? One Republican says that should be the case.
Back in a moment. Top stories and more after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Forty-six minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Daryn Kagan.
Daryn, good morning again.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Heidi, good morning.
Let's begin in Iraq where at least four American soldiers have been killed in a mortar attack there. The national guard headquarters in Samarra just north of Baghdad was the target. One Iraqi guard was also killed in the attack. One other U.S. soldier is unaccounted for.
The Department of Defense is taking steps to determine whether any detainees at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba are being held there illegally. Pentagon officials announcing yesterday that the department is creating review panels for prisoners at the Naval base. Last month the Supreme Court ruled that suspected terrorists can challenge their detentions in American courts. It's not clear if the panels will satisfy the court order.
U.S. air defense taking the spotlight on Capitol Hill today. At issue is a plane that was used by Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher. A miscommunication by the governor's routine flight last month caused the Capitol building to be evacuated. Officials say there are still shortcomings in the air defense system. The House Transportation Committee looks into that incident today.
And in Rhode Island a police officer is in good condition after a horse rolled over on him. Check out the video -- perhaps the best pictures of day. The New Hampshire officer was taking part in training exercises yesterday, preparing for the Democratic National Convention in Boston later this month. Dover police saying the officer has no broken bones and is asking when he can get back in the saddle. Clearly, the horse is doing OK as well.
In sports, swimmer Michael Phelps sets a world record in the first event of the swim trials ahead of the Olympics. The 19-year-old broke his own mark in the 400 meter individual medley finishing in just over four minutes last night. He is hoping to surpass Mark Spitz' record of seven gold medals in Athens.
Bill, a lot of pressure on -- I think it's back to Bill.
COLLINS: It's me. It's Heidi. We look a lot alike. It's just fine.
KAGAN: There you go. I was told Bill.
Anyhow, it's a lot of pressure on this young man, especially when you compare. Mark Spitz back in 1972, three of his gold medals came in the relays. Back in the day, that was a gimme for the U.S. It will not be like that this time in Athens.
COLLINS: I got to admit, I had a huge crush on Mark Spitz way back then. I had a poster of him and the whole deal.
KAGAN: So did I.
COLLINS: See. See.
All right, Daryn. Thanks so much. We'll check back a little later on. In the meantime we will check in now with Jack Cafferty, the "Question of the Day."
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Did you have a crush on Mark Spitz?
(LAUGHTER)
CAFFERTY: Yes.
SERWER: Is that what you wanted to say?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
President Bush did not hesitate yesterday when he said to reporters, Dick Cheney can be the president.
But not everybody agrees with him. One former Republican New York Senator, Alfonse D'Amato, said on NY1 Tuesday that President Bush should consider replacing Cheney on the ticket. He suggested Colin Powell or Senator John McCain.
Our question this morning is, should President Bush consider replacing Dick Cheney?
Maurice in Trenton, New Jersey: "Yes. Cheney should step down for medical reasons and be replaced by Rudolph Giuliani. His national appeal since September 11th would guarantee a Bush win, and then Rudy would be in a position to run for president in 2008."
John in Madison, Wisconsin: "Jack, everyone is replaceable. While the Democrats selecting a vice presidential candidate way smile a mile wide and leadership experience an inch deep, the Republicans should create as much contrast to the V.P. position as possible."
Karen in Malden Bridge, New York: "Just let Cheney keep doing his thing. He's a wonderful man who thinks only about the American people and what is best for them. He's also hard to beat when it comes to charm, humanitarian sensibilities and sex appeal. Besides he is dearly loved worldwide."
And Susa in Chatsworth, Georgia: "Should Bush replace Cheney? Yes, but only if Big Bird is willing."
HEMMER: When you listen to the president talk, it's not going to happen.
CAFFERTY: Well, it probably isn't. But, I mean, I've got to come up with something. It's a three-hour show. You know, I got to get...
COLLINS: Well, you don't want to talk about Mark Spitz. That was clear.
CAFFERTY: No that's -- you're absolutely right.
(LAUGHTER)
CAFFERTY: Or the colonoscopy party. Those are the two things...
HEMMER: Come on, Jack. Balloons and bagels.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
SERWER: Bring them on.
HEMMER: All right. We'll get a break. In a moment we're going to talk to Andy Serwer. Ken Lay turning himself in today -- the significance that Andy sees in a moment.
Also, that "Got Milk" campaign sours a bit on some big stars. We'll explain that in a moment here in this remarkable reunion story. The life of a young woman named Sparkle now coming full circle.
Back in a moment after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Breaking news at 11:00 on CNN confirming now that U.S. Marine who turned up missing on the 20th June, Wassef Hassoun is safe, is in Lebanon. He has family in the town of Tripoli, in the northern part of that country. We do not have much more information at this point. Much like the military has been saying and much like the U.S. embassy in Beirut.
But we do know this -- CNN confirming, Corporal Wassef Hassoun who turned up missing almost three weeks ago is safe and is now in the country of Lebanon. More when we get. Shift our focus now to Andy Serwer. Much more on Ken Lay. We watched these pictures about 90 minutes ago. Andy is "Minding Your Business" back with us now. How significant when you're watching that?
SERWER: Well, it's obviously a big signal to American business that no one is above the law. You can see here, Ken Lay, surrendering this morning, Bill, in handcuffs at the now very familiar FBI offices in Houston. We have seen quite a number of people being taken in there.
An indictment yesterday -- it will be unsealed shortly, probably within the next couple hours. Ken Lay saying that he will speak to reporters after the indictment is unsealed. That should be very interesting to hear.
Obviously, this is the culmination of two and a half years of work by the Enron task force on a day that many investors and former Enron employees have been looking forward to, I think it's safe to say.
Let's talk a little bit about the markets, shall we?
HEMMER: Sure. Do you think it has much of an affect today on the markets?
SERWER: I don't think so really, at all. I mean, this was -- we saw this coming kind of a mile away.
Yesterday, we had a bit of an up day which is a break from three down days in a row -- not a whole lot of action. This morning we are weaker, though, because Yahoo reported numbers after the bell that were slightly disappointing.
Actually, a positive jobs report just crossed the tape, though. Jobless claims down to 310,000. That's the lowest since October of 2000.
And I want to shift gears here a little and talk about that "Got Milk" story, Bill, you mentioned. You all know, of course, the "Got Milk" campaign. Back in May, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were featured in this campaign, "Got Milk." But guess what?
Because of some recent medical problems involving Mary Kate, the Milk Council has pulled the ad.
HEMMER: Hmm.
SERWER: They haven't said that they're going to get rid of it completely, but probably just waiting until Mary Kate heals.
HEMMER: The reports are?
SERWER: Eating disorder.
HEMMER: Yes. SERWER: And other rumors, but eating disorder is what we understand.
HEMMER: Well, I hope they get better.
Thank you, Andy.
CAFFERTY: You know, Ken Lay's going to claim he didn't know any of that stuff was going on, right?
SERWER: Right.
CAFFERTY: He should go to prison for that. He was in charge of the company.
SERWER: Well, that's the Richard Nixon problem. Either you did it or didn't know about, and either way you're guilty, I think.
CAFFERTY: Exactly.
HEMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) CEO say, I'm at the top of the ladder here. And all this stuff was going on and I had no knowledge of it.
SERWER: Well, interesting you can't do that anymore since Sarbanes-Oxley. Now you have to sign and say, I am responsible for everything that goes on in this company.
CAFFERTY: Love the picture of Kenny Boy in the bracelets though.
SERWER: Like that.
CAFFERTY: Great stuff.
SERWER: Right.
HEMMER: Yes.
COLLINS: All right, guys.
Next hour on this AMERICAN MORNING -- just a mention of the state is enough to give some Democrats the jitters. The Kerry-Edwards campaign hits Florida. We'll talk to someone familiar with the politics of the Sunshine State and hear about one big worry there.
Stay with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired July 8, 2004 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. 8:30 here in New York. Good morning. Heidi working for Soledad throughout the week here. Having fun.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm having a blast. Are you having fun?
HEMMER: Jack is keeping us on our toes.
COLLINS: Yes.
HEMMER: More politics in a moment here. The presidential candidates crisscrossing the country, much of their focus on the battleground states -- about 17 of them that could decide this race.
That's where our focus is as well in the next 30 minutes talking with political analyst Stu Rothenberg about who holds the advantage in a number of those key battleground areas.
COLLINS: Also, how serious is the terror threat for Americans during this summer's political conventions? We are going to be looking at intense security preparations now under way and a top level meeting suddenly called in Congress to discuss safety there.
HEMMER: All right. Let's start with politics again here at the half hour.
Politics -- the Democratic team of Senators Kerry and Edwards on the move again today. They'll have a rally in Florida about 11 a.m. Eastern time. And then later tonight they're here in New York City as they continue their tour, four day, six-state tour.
A new pool -- a new poll, rather, conducted by Princeton Survey Research finds the Kerry-Edwards ticket has support of 49 percent of those who were asked in that survey; Bush-Cheney team at 41; Ralph Nader at 4 percent. Also a bigger gap in a two-way race in that same polling: 54 to 43 percent in favor of Kerry-Edwards.
Political analyst Stu Rothenberg, the author of the "Rothenberg Political Report" with us here now. How are you, Stu? Good morning to you.
STUART ROTHENBERG, "ROTHENBERG POLITICAL REPORT": Good. Thanks, Bill.
HEMMER: Four years later we're back at it together. Listen, you have said -- and I think you've argued this fact in the past few days -- that this election is overkill. In what way, on July 8th?
ROTHENBERG: Well, Bill we seem to have been doing that for many, many months. So much is made of little decisions, big decisions. But there's just so much coverage, it's hard to know how the voters are able to handle all of the flow of information.
Yes, I've been arguing there are too many reporters chasing too few stories. I think the coverage of the vice presidential pick over the last couple of weeks is a classic example. You know, at the end of the day all that speculation now doesn't much matter, does it? Now we have a pick.
HEMMER: Yes indeed, you're right. You wonder if it's an over saturation for views and for voters out there or if they are really hungry to find out every tidbit on this race because, as many people say, this one is critical.
ROTHENBERG: Well, I think voters are, of course, interested in this choice. We're at an interesting time, an important, a dangerous time. I think people do care. But we have to remember that a lot of the discussion that goes on is reporters talking to reporters. It's kind of very insider stuff. You have to remember that.
Even the polling data -- look, I love to talk about polling data. I know you like to talk about it. And I think there are voters who are interested.
But for some people, they say, wait a minute. What do I care what other people think? I know what I think about George Bush or John Kerry and a poll isn't going to change my mind.
HEMMER: Go back three and a half years. On the screen we'll put a map of the Southeast. They are all in red. That means Republicans won those states in the Southeastern portion of the United States.
Does Edwards help now to tip the balance toward Kerry in any of these states?
ROTHENBERG: I don't really think so, Bill. Florida, we know it was in play last time. We expect it to be in play this time. The only question is really whether he could carry North Carolina.
Think back to 1980 with a Georgian on the ticket as the president, the incumbent president running for re-election. Jimmy Carter carried just one Southern state, Georgia. And that was almost 25 years ago. The region has realigned further to the Republican Party since then.
So does John Edwards have a chance to carry North Carolina? Will the Democratic put -- Democratic ticket -- put resources there? Yes. There was polling done before Edwards was selected that showed, you know, that he could make it a race.
But I really think that this race is going to be determined -- if the Democrats are going to win, they're going to win it in places like Ohio and New Hampshire. They're not really going to win it in the Southeast.
HEMMER: For you, what's the bigger issue? Is it all about Iraq all the time or is it the economy? Or do you split them down the middle?
ROTHENBERG: No, I don't. I mean, I think those are the two big issues, but I think it's pretty clear that the number one issue is Iraq, terrorism, national security, defense.
If you want to say those are two or three separate issues, feel free. I see them as kind of one general military/defense/national security issue.
The economy is quite good now, but the president is not getting a bounce because we're all still depressed about terrorism and national security. And the president -- you know, the war hasn't gone as well. I think it's a war turned up, that is if there was some improvement, an improved outlook in Iraq, the president would get a benefit on the economy that he is not now receiving.
HEMMER: We're off and running. We'll talk many times.
ROTHENBERG: Sure.
HEMMER: Stuart Rothenberg, thanks. Good to see you.
Coming up later tonight, primetime, CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE," Senator John Kerry, his wife Teresa -- their first sit-down interview since John Edwards was named to the ticket Tuesday morning.
Tonight 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 on the West Coast with Larry -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Security for this summer's political conventions has always been a top priority for law officials in Boston and in New York. Now efforts to address possible convention threats are ramping up in Washington.
Congressional correspondent Ed Henry on Capitol Hill now with details on this.
Good morning, Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi?
Federal officials are very concerned that the national political conventions this summer in Boston and New York will be very tempting target for terrorists. And in fact, these will be the first national political conventions post-9/11.
So what we've seen over the last couple of days is a bit of a flurry of activity. Three very high-level meetings. The third one, in fact, will be in about a half hour here in the Senate when all 100 senators go into a secure room in the Capitol to hear from the FBI director and CIA director about what kind of planning, what kind of intense planning and preparation is going on. To give you an idea of the sensitive nature of these discussions, the first meeting of those three came on Tuesday night at the White House. It was actually held in the situation room with Vice President Cheney and a slew of other federal officials. They called in all of the senior congressional leaders on Tuesday, said keep this meeting off your schedule. They were trying to keep it quiet.
They don't want to alarm anyone. But Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist who was at that White House meeting and will be at the Senate meeting this morning, of course, told me that it's just a matter of concern. Officials are saying that they believe that not only will the conventions be a tempting target but, in fact, in the fall, leading up to the election there's a worry terrorists will try to do what they did in Spain earlier this year on the eve of those elections.
And yesterday there was a meeting in the House of Representatives where all House members also heard from a lot of federal officials, again sensitive discussions about national security, what kind of threats -- a threat assessment, what's out there.
But again, I can tell you that everyone is trying to keep everyone calm. And in fact, Congressman Chris Cox came out of that House meeting and said that he thinks that based on all this planning, based on all this preparedness, he thinks that they actually -- officials -- can head off an attack. And he has a confident feeling heading into the summer.
This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS COX (D), CALIFORNIA: Al Qaeda or not, 10 feet tall -- they're limited in number. They have certain capabilities. We are getting better at learning their intentions. And if we stay ahead of it, I thin we can defeat them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: And the bottom line is that the government also wants to put its money where its mouth is. There had been $50 million allocated for Boston and New York for security. In just the last couple of weeks, Senator Edward Kennedy got another $50 million added, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Ed Henry, thanks so much for that this morning.
HEMMER: Let's get a break here in a moment.
One sight some legal experts thought they would never see -- Ken Lay in handcuffs heading into court. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business", his take on this picture from today in a moment.
COLLINS: Also ahead, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He'll tell us how some hospitals are actually turning cancer screenings into a party. HEMMER: Also, just because it's practice doesn't mean no one gets hurt. A look at that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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HEMMER: Twenty minutes before the hour now. Time for medical news. And the focus today is on colonoscopies. Some are throwing parties to help fight it and find it.
Sanjay Gupta explains in L.A. this morning. Good morning in Los Angeles, Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Yes, I've never been invited to party like this complete with hats, and balloons and bagels, the whole sort of thing. But the premise of this sort of party is very important and even more importantly, it's quite possibly saving lives.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA (voice-over): Here's an unlikely party invitation. Meet me at the oncology ward of the hospital 8:00 a.m. sharp. You're invited to a colonoscopy party?
Audrey Thompson, an oncology nurse at Plano Medical Center in Texas extends those seemingly strange invitations to co-workers regularly.
AUDREY THOMPSON, ONCOLOGY NURSE: Everybody just starts laughing. I mean -- that's the beginning of the party is just hysteria almost.
GUPTA: Some of those laughs are drenched in nervousness. But at this colonoscopy party, the nerves and fear melt against the backdrop of balloons, food, taking pictures.
LARRY MAGER, COLONOSCOPY PATIENT: It's a party. Everybody should be a party pooper.
GUPTA: Audrey says she started these parties to poke fun at a very important procedure while urging people to get it.
BARBARA ARVESON, COLONOSCOPY PATIENT: I wasn't, frankly, very thrilled about somebody poking.
GUPTA: But Barbara Arveson's family has a history of colon cancer, so she got tested anyway.
THOMPSON: We've all seen your colon now, so -
GUPTA: They found five polyps. Three were pre-cancerous.
ARVESON: I think it's really important to do this.
THOMPSON: We're seeing such a young population. It used to be 70's, 80's. It's now 40's and 50's consistently.
GUPTA: The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 106,000 new cases of colon cancer and about 40,000 new cases of rectal cancer in the U.S. this year causing about 57,000 deaths.
Audrey is doing her part to fight those deaths. She's hosted her unorthodox parties for almost two years. Seventy-nine people participated. Twenty -- that's one in four -- found pre-cancerous polyps. That may be twenty lives saved.
Folks at this party are just happy to have support to get through the procedure.
MAGER: I'd be much more anxious if I didn't know all the people around me.
I have a polyp.
THOMPSON: The energy is all about doing something good and lessening the intimidation of something that's potentially very scary for people. We are saving lives.
GUPTA: Saving lives and having a party at the same time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm so grateful I had this done. It's wonderful.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: About 57,000 deaths -- you heard there, Bill. But colon cancer is one of the better stories in cancer, in the sense that we have come down in terms of number of lives lost due to colon cancer over the last 15 years.
If you are 50 or older or if you have a history of colon cancer in your family, you should definitely get tested. Early testing is critical to a longer life -- Bill?
HEMMER: Sanjay, in a simple way, how do these polyps form?
GUPTA: Well, a lot can be genetic. So, if your parents had polyps, you should definitely get tested earlier because there's a good chance you might have it.
A lot of it may be related to diet, Bill. In the West, people have a higher rate of colon cancer than other parts of the world. Why? Probably because of a diet high in unsaturated fats. That's probably going to cause colon cancer. Fruits, vegetables, high fiber diets ward it off, even protective against colon cancer.
HEMMER: Sanjay, another thing. As this pertains to men, it's long been said that you should get annual checkups after the age of 40 and now the advice is after 50. What changed there?
GUPTA: Well, you know 40 was -- they didn't recommend colonoscopies necessarily, which is a more invasive procedure. But the colonoscopies at the age of 50 has been a longstanding recommendation of the American Cancer Society. The numbers do change, though -- good point -- from time to time depending on the latest data and the latest stats, Bill.
HEMMER: All right. Good to know and good clarification, too. Sanjay, thanks. Enjoy L.A.
GUPTA: Thank you.
HEMMER: In a moment here, there's breaking news out of Iraq. We'll get to that.
Also, John Kerry has made his V.P. choice. Should George Bush reconsider his? One Republican says that should be the case.
Back in a moment. Top stories and more after this.
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COLLINS: Forty-six minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Daryn Kagan.
Daryn, good morning again.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Heidi, good morning.
Let's begin in Iraq where at least four American soldiers have been killed in a mortar attack there. The national guard headquarters in Samarra just north of Baghdad was the target. One Iraqi guard was also killed in the attack. One other U.S. soldier is unaccounted for.
The Department of Defense is taking steps to determine whether any detainees at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba are being held there illegally. Pentagon officials announcing yesterday that the department is creating review panels for prisoners at the Naval base. Last month the Supreme Court ruled that suspected terrorists can challenge their detentions in American courts. It's not clear if the panels will satisfy the court order.
U.S. air defense taking the spotlight on Capitol Hill today. At issue is a plane that was used by Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher. A miscommunication by the governor's routine flight last month caused the Capitol building to be evacuated. Officials say there are still shortcomings in the air defense system. The House Transportation Committee looks into that incident today.
And in Rhode Island a police officer is in good condition after a horse rolled over on him. Check out the video -- perhaps the best pictures of day. The New Hampshire officer was taking part in training exercises yesterday, preparing for the Democratic National Convention in Boston later this month. Dover police saying the officer has no broken bones and is asking when he can get back in the saddle. Clearly, the horse is doing OK as well.
In sports, swimmer Michael Phelps sets a world record in the first event of the swim trials ahead of the Olympics. The 19-year-old broke his own mark in the 400 meter individual medley finishing in just over four minutes last night. He is hoping to surpass Mark Spitz' record of seven gold medals in Athens.
Bill, a lot of pressure on -- I think it's back to Bill.
COLLINS: It's me. It's Heidi. We look a lot alike. It's just fine.
KAGAN: There you go. I was told Bill.
Anyhow, it's a lot of pressure on this young man, especially when you compare. Mark Spitz back in 1972, three of his gold medals came in the relays. Back in the day, that was a gimme for the U.S. It will not be like that this time in Athens.
COLLINS: I got to admit, I had a huge crush on Mark Spitz way back then. I had a poster of him and the whole deal.
KAGAN: So did I.
COLLINS: See. See.
All right, Daryn. Thanks so much. We'll check back a little later on. In the meantime we will check in now with Jack Cafferty, the "Question of the Day."
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Did you have a crush on Mark Spitz?
(LAUGHTER)
CAFFERTY: Yes.
SERWER: Is that what you wanted to say?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
President Bush did not hesitate yesterday when he said to reporters, Dick Cheney can be the president.
But not everybody agrees with him. One former Republican New York Senator, Alfonse D'Amato, said on NY1 Tuesday that President Bush should consider replacing Cheney on the ticket. He suggested Colin Powell or Senator John McCain.
Our question this morning is, should President Bush consider replacing Dick Cheney?
Maurice in Trenton, New Jersey: "Yes. Cheney should step down for medical reasons and be replaced by Rudolph Giuliani. His national appeal since September 11th would guarantee a Bush win, and then Rudy would be in a position to run for president in 2008."
John in Madison, Wisconsin: "Jack, everyone is replaceable. While the Democrats selecting a vice presidential candidate way smile a mile wide and leadership experience an inch deep, the Republicans should create as much contrast to the V.P. position as possible."
Karen in Malden Bridge, New York: "Just let Cheney keep doing his thing. He's a wonderful man who thinks only about the American people and what is best for them. He's also hard to beat when it comes to charm, humanitarian sensibilities and sex appeal. Besides he is dearly loved worldwide."
And Susa in Chatsworth, Georgia: "Should Bush replace Cheney? Yes, but only if Big Bird is willing."
HEMMER: When you listen to the president talk, it's not going to happen.
CAFFERTY: Well, it probably isn't. But, I mean, I've got to come up with something. It's a three-hour show. You know, I got to get...
COLLINS: Well, you don't want to talk about Mark Spitz. That was clear.
CAFFERTY: No that's -- you're absolutely right.
(LAUGHTER)
CAFFERTY: Or the colonoscopy party. Those are the two things...
HEMMER: Come on, Jack. Balloons and bagels.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
SERWER: Bring them on.
HEMMER: All right. We'll get a break. In a moment we're going to talk to Andy Serwer. Ken Lay turning himself in today -- the significance that Andy sees in a moment.
Also, that "Got Milk" campaign sours a bit on some big stars. We'll explain that in a moment here in this remarkable reunion story. The life of a young woman named Sparkle now coming full circle.
Back in a moment after this.
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HEMMER: Breaking news at 11:00 on CNN confirming now that U.S. Marine who turned up missing on the 20th June, Wassef Hassoun is safe, is in Lebanon. He has family in the town of Tripoli, in the northern part of that country. We do not have much more information at this point. Much like the military has been saying and much like the U.S. embassy in Beirut.
But we do know this -- CNN confirming, Corporal Wassef Hassoun who turned up missing almost three weeks ago is safe and is now in the country of Lebanon. More when we get. Shift our focus now to Andy Serwer. Much more on Ken Lay. We watched these pictures about 90 minutes ago. Andy is "Minding Your Business" back with us now. How significant when you're watching that?
SERWER: Well, it's obviously a big signal to American business that no one is above the law. You can see here, Ken Lay, surrendering this morning, Bill, in handcuffs at the now very familiar FBI offices in Houston. We have seen quite a number of people being taken in there.
An indictment yesterday -- it will be unsealed shortly, probably within the next couple hours. Ken Lay saying that he will speak to reporters after the indictment is unsealed. That should be very interesting to hear.
Obviously, this is the culmination of two and a half years of work by the Enron task force on a day that many investors and former Enron employees have been looking forward to, I think it's safe to say.
Let's talk a little bit about the markets, shall we?
HEMMER: Sure. Do you think it has much of an affect today on the markets?
SERWER: I don't think so really, at all. I mean, this was -- we saw this coming kind of a mile away.
Yesterday, we had a bit of an up day which is a break from three down days in a row -- not a whole lot of action. This morning we are weaker, though, because Yahoo reported numbers after the bell that were slightly disappointing.
Actually, a positive jobs report just crossed the tape, though. Jobless claims down to 310,000. That's the lowest since October of 2000.
And I want to shift gears here a little and talk about that "Got Milk" story, Bill, you mentioned. You all know, of course, the "Got Milk" campaign. Back in May, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were featured in this campaign, "Got Milk." But guess what?
Because of some recent medical problems involving Mary Kate, the Milk Council has pulled the ad.
HEMMER: Hmm.
SERWER: They haven't said that they're going to get rid of it completely, but probably just waiting until Mary Kate heals.
HEMMER: The reports are?
SERWER: Eating disorder.
HEMMER: Yes. SERWER: And other rumors, but eating disorder is what we understand.
HEMMER: Well, I hope they get better.
Thank you, Andy.
CAFFERTY: You know, Ken Lay's going to claim he didn't know any of that stuff was going on, right?
SERWER: Right.
CAFFERTY: He should go to prison for that. He was in charge of the company.
SERWER: Well, that's the Richard Nixon problem. Either you did it or didn't know about, and either way you're guilty, I think.
CAFFERTY: Exactly.
HEMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) CEO say, I'm at the top of the ladder here. And all this stuff was going on and I had no knowledge of it.
SERWER: Well, interesting you can't do that anymore since Sarbanes-Oxley. Now you have to sign and say, I am responsible for everything that goes on in this company.
CAFFERTY: Love the picture of Kenny Boy in the bracelets though.
SERWER: Like that.
CAFFERTY: Great stuff.
SERWER: Right.
HEMMER: Yes.
COLLINS: All right, guys.
Next hour on this AMERICAN MORNING -- just a mention of the state is enough to give some Democrats the jitters. The Kerry-Edwards campaign hits Florida. We'll talk to someone familiar with the politics of the Sunshine State and hear about one big worry there.
Stay with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
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