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American Morning
Democratic National Convention Will Re-Introduce Kerry to Undecided Voters
Aired July 26, 2004 - 07:00 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and let the show begin. Months of planning now over. Democrats get set for a giant political blowout here in Boston at the FleetCenter. The party starts today.
The week of political spectacle getting off to an early start. Senator John Kerry makes a short detour to Boston.
And already today, a bit of controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERESA HEINZ KERRY, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN KERRY: You said something I didn't say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Teresa
HEINZ KERRY: surprises reporters with some uncivil words after a lecture on civility.
All ahead this hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING from the Democratic national convention in Boston, here's Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: And good morning and welcome to day one of our coverage, special coverage throughout the entire week of the Democratic national convention. Reporting live from the floor of the FleetCenter here in Boston.
The convention gets started later today, in fact, 4:00 Eastern time is when Terry McAuliffe will call the Democrats to order here in Boston. Some of the party's biggest names scheduled to speak later tonight including Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton among them.
Our guest this hour, convention chair Bill Richardson's here, Senator Hillary Clinton is here, Senator Ted Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy. And the goal throughout the week is to reintroduce Senator Kerry to voters who may have reservations about him.
Senator Kerry last night arriving late in Florida. He'll campaign in Cape Canaveral today and then head off to Norfolk, Virginia and Philadelphia before arriving later in the week back here in Boston. Senator Kerry last night, a surprise appearance, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Yankees-Red Sox game. Perhaps some mixed omens for Senator Kerry. His pitch fell a bit short, but the Red Sox did manage to beat the Yankees 9-6, the final last night at Fenway.
Again, today starts our coverage here on AMERICAN MORNING. I'll be here every morning throughout the week. And we've got a great lineup throughout the week to talk about, even this hour alone. So that's going to kick off our coverage here in Boston.
For the other news, Heidi Collins watching the rest of the world for us back in New York City. Heidi, good morning to you on a Monday.
COLLINS: Good morning to you, Bill on this Monday. Of course, I think that catcher, he was sitting too far back behind the plate, don't you think?
HEMMER: You think that was it?
COLLINS: You know, that might be it.
HEMMER: Check the tape.
COLLINS: All right. We will. We do want to let you know about some other news that's happening this morning, including developments in the case of the missing Utah woman.
A candlelight vigil was held for Lori Hacking last night. And police may be moving closer now to issuing an arrest warrant. We'll talk to a spokesman for the Hacking family just in a few minutes about the latest in the investigation.
For now, though, I want to say good morning to Jack Cafferty.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, nice to see you. Could it be an omen, John Kerry coming up short with the ceremonial first ball, failing to reach home while his wife tells some reporter to shove it. We'll see how the week plays out.
There's a growing number of people suggest that the country could get along quite nicely without these conventions. We'll take a look.
COLLINS: But then we wouldn't get to see Bill all week long there.
CAFFERTY: Well, he'd be right here.
COLLINS: That's true. We would get to see him.
CAFFERTY: Hey I understand -- is it true you bought breakfast for somebody up there in Massachusetts?
COLLINS: Yes.
CAFFERTY: How come you never go to the hip in New York? HEMMER: I bought breakfast for the folks back in New York, as a matter of fact.
CAFFERTY: When was that?
COLLINS: Jack and I are back in New York.
HEMMER: I'll get you guys something a little later in the week, how's that?
CAFFERTY: I didn't get mine, did you?
COLLINS: No.
HEMMER: Whining already on a Monday.
Back here in Boston now, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson says he is positive that the Democratic convention will not become one big Boston Bush-bashing, and positive is just how the party wants to play it this week.
Governor Richardson, our first guest of the week, live here in Boston. Governor, good morning to you and thanks for your time. Nice to see you here.
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), NEW MEXICO: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Easier said than done, staying positive?
RICHARDSON: Well, it won't entirely all be positive, but we're going to have four days. Our objective is show the personal side of Senator Kerry, his character, his Vietnam service, his leadership qualities. Our theme is respected abroad and strong at home.
What do we mean by that? Basically that we want a strong emphasis on affordable health care and education, safer at home, positive themes and respected abroad, a foreign policy with alliances.
HEMMER: Why is it that there is such a sense on reintroducing John Kerry to the country when through the past five months $150 million have already been spent on that effort?
RICHARDSON: Well, the reality is that the American people don't focus on who they are going to vote for entirely until the convention period. And we're exactly where we want to be right now.
A challenger has never been so far ahead in an election than Senator Kerry is. Now he's ahead by about two points. But usually challengers with incumbent presidents are behind about 16 points at this stage.
So what we want to do is send a message that the Democrats and Senator Kerry are positive, that we're going to talk about what we're going to do on the economy, on health care, on foreign policy, on national security and not make this into a big bashing of the president. There will be that, obviously, because you've got a lot of speakers, diverse speakers. You've got all the wings of the party here. But this is a very positive feeling.
HEMMER: So you are confirming then that there will be some bashing throughout the week.
RICHARDSON: Well, there will be a little bit. But the main themes of the main speakers, of Senator Kerry, Senator Edwards, is their positive vision for the country.
HEMMER: On Friday morning, how will you know whether or not this convention is a success?
RICHARDSON: The speech that Senator Kerry will give will be the most important speech in his career and, obviously, the speech that will define this campaign. Overnight polls are not what we look at. What we see is consistent trends.
What is happening, Bill is 10 percent of the electorate is undecided. Right now we figure 45 percent Republican, 45 percent Democrat. That 10 percent that is open-minded that is looking at the candidates, that is independent, that goes both ways in many elections is the target.
HEMMER: Do you think that 10 percent of which you only need 6 percent is paying attention now on the 26th of July?
RICHARDSON: Yes, they'll pay attention for the first time. They'll pay attention to the Republican convention. They'll pay attention to our convention. And what you want to do is draw them in with a message of what we're going to do, not entirely criticizing the administration.
HEMMER: Thank you, governor. Good luck this week.
RICHARDSON: Thank you.
HEMMER: Bill Richardson out of New Mexico. We'll see you later, OK?
Also the Democratic convention officially kicking off at 4:00 Eastern time here in Boston. Terry McAuliffe, the DNC chair, calls the process to order. A number of speakers on tap later tonight, including governor Richardson. He'll be there on the stage also followed by Vice President Al Gore, former president Jimmy Carter.
Then later tonight, the keynote speaker, former president Bill Clinton will give that speech, introduced by his wife Hillary.
You can see it all live on CNN.
President Clinton's speech set for 10:00 tonight followed by special editions of "NEWSNIGHT WITH AARON BROWN" at 11:00 Eastern time.
"LARRY KING LIVE," he's doing double duty, 9:00 Eastern and midnight again, Larry here in Boston. I mentioned Hillary Clinton. In a few moments, we'll be talking with the New York Senator in a moment, here, live on the floor of the FleetCenter. But for now, back to New York again and Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Bill. Thanks so much for that.
Some ominous reports in the case of a missing woman in Salt Lake City. Police are testing a clump of brown hair. It was found at a dumpster near where Mark Hacking bought a mattress the same morning he reported his wife Lori missing.
Police do not know if the hair belongs to the 27-year-old pregnant woman. She has not been seen for a week. And police would not confirm or deny a Desiree Mourning (ph) news report that a bloody knife with strands of hair was taken from the Hacking apartment. An arrest warrant could be issued within days. Hacking's husband has been described as a person of interest in the case.
Scott Dunaway is serving as a spokesman for both sides of the Hacking family. He is joining us now, live from Salt Lake City this morning.
Mr. Dunaway, thanks for your time this morning. We do appreciate it. How is the family dealing with this latest information that we've just described on this case?
SCOTT DUNAWAY, HACKING FAMILY SPOKESMAN: Well, of course, the family is aware of it and they have questions. They've had questions throughout this past week. But -- and they've read the reports. But they really are not sure what is evidence and what isn't. The police have been keeping everything really quite close. They -- to the best.
They are not telling the family really any details about the investigation. The family has full confidence in the police. And they are just hoping that the police will be able to get to the bottom of this, and they'll learn what the truth is. However, for the family, our primary focus is to find Lori. That has always been our main interest. And both families, the Hacking's and the Soares' families are united in that effort and supporting one another.
COLLINS: Of course. But besides the information that we just talk about with the clump of hair and this possible bloody knife, has the family learned anything new over the weekend?
DUNAWAY: No, we really haven't. We just don't know anything, and we have the same questions that we've had all along. The family is continuing to hope for the best. We are -- we have been gratified by the outpouring of support from searchers.
We have had, over this past week, nearly 4,000 people who have been scouring the neighborhoods and foothills and canyons around Salt Lake City. And just yesterday alone we had nearly 1,500 people who were here. So the effort continues to be focused on finding Lori and bringing her home.
COLLINS: Is the community still hopeful that they will be able to do that, sir?
DUNAWAY: Oh, yes. We haven't given up hope. I don't think you have as many people turn out as we saw yesterday. We were literally flooded in this hall with volunteers who gave up their Sunday to come and help to look for Lori.
So we remain hopeful. We're feeling the prayers and faith of the fam -- of the community and of the world and the nation. And so we're looking forward to a hopeful outcome.
COLLINS: OK. We're looking at some pictures right now on our screen of Lori and Mark together. You know, there's a report in the "Salt Lake City Tribune" that Lori's father, Eraldo Soares actually has some misgivings now about Lori's husband Mark and his innocence.
Can you tell us if the rest of the family is starting to have a bit of a change in their attitude toward Mark?
DUNAWAY: Well, from the very beginning, the families have -- both families -- have been open to every possibility in this. They've had many questions, the same questions that the public has had. We really don't know anything more than what you all know.
But the families continue to remain united. They love and support Mark. Both families feel that he is their son. They're concerned for his welfare as well. But it is so important for us that we stay focused on finding Lori, and that's really where all, where the attention is directed now.
COLLINS: All right. Scott Dunaway, the family spokesman for the Hacking's and for the Soares'. Thanks so much for your time this morning. We appreciate it.
DUNAWAY: Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: Bill, back to you in Boston and the FleetCenter now.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. Thanks for that. Twelve minutes past the hour.
Check of the other news now with Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center back after a bit of a vacation last week. Welcome back, Daryn. Great to see you this morning.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much. Bill, you're looking great in Boston.
HEMMER: Thank you.
KAGAN: Let's get started with the headlines. We begin in Iraq where just a short time ago a top interior ministry official was assassinated in a drive-by shooting near his Baghdad home.
Meanwhile a deadline extension from a group holding seven truck drivers hostage. The captors want the drivers' Kuwaiti employer to pay families of Iraqi's killed fighting U.S. troops and to help release Iraqi prisoners from U.S. jails.
Also in the city of Mosul, a suicide truck bomb killed at least three people. Five others were wounded in the blast, including three U.S. soldiers.
Aides say President Bush is planning to act quickly on the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. Sources say the president could begin making changes related to U.S. intelligence that doesn't need congressional approval, within days.
National security adviser Condoleezza Rice is expected to discuss the commissions report with President Bush at his Texas ranch today.
If all goes as planned, NASA will launch what it calls its Messenger spacecraft toward Mercury next week. It's going to be the first craft to orbit Mercury. That's the closest planet to the sun. Messenger is expected to arrive in March 2011 when it will face temperatures up to 700 degrees.
And talk about hot, how about Lance Armstrong. No one is hotter than him. He says he is still not sure if he'll be back in next year's Tour de France. Armstrong counted up his wins on the way to Paris yesterday. His unprecedented sixth straight Tour victory came by a final margin of over six minutes.
After the race Armstrong said he had the motivation of a rookie. Whatever he has, it works.
Time for the first check of our forecast. Rob Marciano in for Chad Myers.
Rob, good morning.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Daryn. Chad taking some well-deserved time off.
(WEATHER BREAK)
MARCIANO: Bill, back to you in Boston.
HEMMER: All right, Rob. Thanks for that.
Very cool, mild up here in Boston. It feels great. A great day yesterday, we'll see what we get today.
Andy is back from vacation. He's "Minding Your Business" in a moment. He will tell us why today is merger Monday.
Also ahead, we'll talk to a young man, a very young man who is not old enough to vote but already leaving a big mark in his own way in the world of politics.
And we'll talk live in a moment -- Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, our guest next here. What does John Kerry's candidacy mean for her own presidential chances one day?
Ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, live from the FleetCenter in Boston.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back at Boston. Last night here in the city, some controversy after a speech given by Senator John Kerry's wife, Teresa
HEINZ KERRY:, talking to delegates about how uncivil and downright vicious American politics has become, in her words. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEINZ-KERRY: We need to turn back some of the creeping, unprecedented and sometimes un-American traits that are coming into some of our politics. I remember a time when people, political parties...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Mrs. Kerry was then asked by a reporter there in Pennsylvania about what she meant by the term un-American.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: You mentioned un-American.
HEINZ KERRY: No, I didn't say that.
QUESTION: What did you say?
HEINZ KERRY: I didn't say that.
QUESTION: I'm just asking you what you said.
HEINZ KERRY: Well, why did you put those words in my mouth?
QUESTION: I think you said something about un-American...
HEINZ KERRY: No, I didn't say that.
QUESTION: ... activity.
HEINZ KERRY: I did not say activity or un-American. Those are your words. You can record...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: After conferring with Democratic advisers, Heinz-Kerry confronted the journalist, as you saw there, an editorial editor of the conservative "Pittsburgh Tribune Review." She was angry that he apparently tried to put words into her mouth. Listen again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEINZ KERRY: Are you with the "Tribune Review"?
QUESTION: Yes, I am.
HEINZ KERRY: Of course.
QUESTION: Come here.
HEINZ KERRY: Understandable.
QUESTION: You said...
HEINZ KERRY: You said something I didn't say, now shove it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Kerry's spokeswoman releasing a statement after that incident last evening regarding that and saying, "This was sheer frustration aimed at a right-wing rag that has consistently and purposely misrepresented the facts in reporting on Mrs. Kerry and her family."
There has been no further response from the paper.
Let's go from that now back in Boston with a view from the convention stage, a familiar one to Hillary Clinton. The New York Senator, former first lady addresses the party faithful later tonight in prime time, just ahead of the former president, her husband.
Senator Clinton, good morning to you and thanks for your time.
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Thank you.
HEMMER: I don't know if you have much of a comment based on what Teresa
HEINZ KERRY: said last night. If you do, I'll give you the platform here.
CLINTON: Well, I know Teresa. And I think she is expressing herself honestly and openly. And, you know, I've been around politics long enough to know that there are lots of people who say things that are not true. So from my perspective, you know, she's just a terrific person.
HEMMER: At what point, if you go back to '91-'92 did you realize that everything you say would be looked at closer than you ever had before?
CLINTON: Well that happens during the campaign. But, you know, you want to be yourself and you also don't want people to say things that aren't true about you and your family. It's a tough line to walk, but she's doing a terrific job and she's going to be a fabulous first lady.
HEMMER: A tough line to walk -- how easy or difficult is it to step over that line, at times, and have your remarks being taken and turning off people, essentially? CLINTON: Well, you know, I don't think that will. I think a lot of American are going to say, good for you. You go, girl. And that certainly is how I feel about it.
I think that what we're living in, in our political, you know, history at this moment is extremely polarized. There is a lot of, you know, strong emotions and that's perfectly appropriate. But then there are people who are, frankly, out to score political points or to put words in people's mouths and that's not appropriate. And they have to be called on it.
HEMMER: There was a suggestion last week that your husband might overshadow John Kerry, and that is perhaps why he's going on the first night. Do you think that's a possibility?
CLINTON: No, no. I think that's the way conventions are planned. I mean, obviously the big event is John Kerry's speech Thursday night, and everything leads up to it.
So I know that Bill is happy to be, you know, kicking off the convention. I'm delighted to be introducing him. We want to do everything we possibly can do to help the American people who have yet to make up their minds -- and there aren't too many left -- that this is a man who could be a great president and really a perfect choice for our country at this point in our history.
HEMMER: You are endorsing a man who, if he wins on November 2nd, may have significant impact on your own possibilities for the White House, maybe even, some suggest, pushing it back to 2012.
You laugh, that's fine. That's fair. When you think about that possibility?
CLINTON: I don't think about that possibility, but I know that a lot of people in your position do, and that's fine.
But I am so excited about replacing this administration. You know, I think that the Bush-Cheney presidency has been bad for America and bad for the world. I can not wait to see them leave the White House -- the sooner the better. I wish we could move the inauguration up a few months.
I am so hopeful that we will get back on the right track. And the only way we can do that is by having new leadership.
HEMMER: Thanks you, Senator.
CLINTON: Thanks, Bill. Good to see you.
HEMMER: Hillary Clinton, thank you. Former president Clinton later tonight at 10:00, again we mentioned that earlier, 10:00 p.m. Eastern time in prime time. You'll see it live here on CNN.
And still ahead this hour, more convention coverage from here in Boston including a conversation with John Kerry's Senate colleague from Massachusetts. We'll talk to Senator Ed Kennedy today and his niece Caroline.
Back in a moment here, live from the FleetCenter as our coverage continues on a Monday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: About 7:25 this morning, and that means it's time for the Cafferty File and the "Question of the Day" from Jack.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Heidi.
It's not your father's Democratic convention going on this week up there in Boston. Time was the conventions were the stuff of high drama. Political bosses meeting late into the night in smoke-filled rooms to forge a platform and actually decide who the candidates would be. But not anymore.
Television and the primaries have combined to reduce these conventions to little more than scripted PR bashes, very long on style, very short on anything of substance. In addition, concerns about terrorism have raised anxiety levels and forced the host cities to part with huge amounts of money for security.
So the question this morning is this: How important are the political conventions?
If you have an opinion, e-mail us at am@CNN.com.
Let's see. Let me just get this right. Teresa Kerry was giving a speech on civility shortly before she told the reporter to shove it, correct?
COLLINS: I think it was something like that.
CAFFERTY: I just wanted to double check. We're going to get back to that, I bet, a little later.
CAFFERTY: I bet we do.
COLLINS: I bet we do
CAFFERTY: I'll just bet we do.
COLLINS: Three more hours -- no two and a half. All right.
Still to come this morning, Bill will be back from Boston with more from the convention floor.
Plus, we've got a Monday morning dose of "90-Second Pop."
The world sees sports history. It's the Tour de Lance, once again.
Plus it was "The Bourne Supremacy" versus "Catwoman" at the box office. Only one could be champ -- weekend winners ahead on "90- Second Pop." (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Back in a moment here in Boston. Nothing has happened yet inside the Democratic convention, but it is hopping outside, in fact, all weekend long -- a look at that ahead here.
Back to Boston in the FleetCenter right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired July 26, 2004 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and let the show begin. Months of planning now over. Democrats get set for a giant political blowout here in Boston at the FleetCenter. The party starts today.
The week of political spectacle getting off to an early start. Senator John Kerry makes a short detour to Boston.
And already today, a bit of controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERESA HEINZ KERRY, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN KERRY: You said something I didn't say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Teresa
HEINZ KERRY: surprises reporters with some uncivil words after a lecture on civility.
All ahead this hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING from the Democratic national convention in Boston, here's Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: And good morning and welcome to day one of our coverage, special coverage throughout the entire week of the Democratic national convention. Reporting live from the floor of the FleetCenter here in Boston.
The convention gets started later today, in fact, 4:00 Eastern time is when Terry McAuliffe will call the Democrats to order here in Boston. Some of the party's biggest names scheduled to speak later tonight including Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton among them.
Our guest this hour, convention chair Bill Richardson's here, Senator Hillary Clinton is here, Senator Ted Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy. And the goal throughout the week is to reintroduce Senator Kerry to voters who may have reservations about him.
Senator Kerry last night arriving late in Florida. He'll campaign in Cape Canaveral today and then head off to Norfolk, Virginia and Philadelphia before arriving later in the week back here in Boston. Senator Kerry last night, a surprise appearance, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Yankees-Red Sox game. Perhaps some mixed omens for Senator Kerry. His pitch fell a bit short, but the Red Sox did manage to beat the Yankees 9-6, the final last night at Fenway.
Again, today starts our coverage here on AMERICAN MORNING. I'll be here every morning throughout the week. And we've got a great lineup throughout the week to talk about, even this hour alone. So that's going to kick off our coverage here in Boston.
For the other news, Heidi Collins watching the rest of the world for us back in New York City. Heidi, good morning to you on a Monday.
COLLINS: Good morning to you, Bill on this Monday. Of course, I think that catcher, he was sitting too far back behind the plate, don't you think?
HEMMER: You think that was it?
COLLINS: You know, that might be it.
HEMMER: Check the tape.
COLLINS: All right. We will. We do want to let you know about some other news that's happening this morning, including developments in the case of the missing Utah woman.
A candlelight vigil was held for Lori Hacking last night. And police may be moving closer now to issuing an arrest warrant. We'll talk to a spokesman for the Hacking family just in a few minutes about the latest in the investigation.
For now, though, I want to say good morning to Jack Cafferty.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, nice to see you. Could it be an omen, John Kerry coming up short with the ceremonial first ball, failing to reach home while his wife tells some reporter to shove it. We'll see how the week plays out.
There's a growing number of people suggest that the country could get along quite nicely without these conventions. We'll take a look.
COLLINS: But then we wouldn't get to see Bill all week long there.
CAFFERTY: Well, he'd be right here.
COLLINS: That's true. We would get to see him.
CAFFERTY: Hey I understand -- is it true you bought breakfast for somebody up there in Massachusetts?
COLLINS: Yes.
CAFFERTY: How come you never go to the hip in New York? HEMMER: I bought breakfast for the folks back in New York, as a matter of fact.
CAFFERTY: When was that?
COLLINS: Jack and I are back in New York.
HEMMER: I'll get you guys something a little later in the week, how's that?
CAFFERTY: I didn't get mine, did you?
COLLINS: No.
HEMMER: Whining already on a Monday.
Back here in Boston now, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson says he is positive that the Democratic convention will not become one big Boston Bush-bashing, and positive is just how the party wants to play it this week.
Governor Richardson, our first guest of the week, live here in Boston. Governor, good morning to you and thanks for your time. Nice to see you here.
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), NEW MEXICO: Thank you, Bill.
HEMMER: Easier said than done, staying positive?
RICHARDSON: Well, it won't entirely all be positive, but we're going to have four days. Our objective is show the personal side of Senator Kerry, his character, his Vietnam service, his leadership qualities. Our theme is respected abroad and strong at home.
What do we mean by that? Basically that we want a strong emphasis on affordable health care and education, safer at home, positive themes and respected abroad, a foreign policy with alliances.
HEMMER: Why is it that there is such a sense on reintroducing John Kerry to the country when through the past five months $150 million have already been spent on that effort?
RICHARDSON: Well, the reality is that the American people don't focus on who they are going to vote for entirely until the convention period. And we're exactly where we want to be right now.
A challenger has never been so far ahead in an election than Senator Kerry is. Now he's ahead by about two points. But usually challengers with incumbent presidents are behind about 16 points at this stage.
So what we want to do is send a message that the Democrats and Senator Kerry are positive, that we're going to talk about what we're going to do on the economy, on health care, on foreign policy, on national security and not make this into a big bashing of the president. There will be that, obviously, because you've got a lot of speakers, diverse speakers. You've got all the wings of the party here. But this is a very positive feeling.
HEMMER: So you are confirming then that there will be some bashing throughout the week.
RICHARDSON: Well, there will be a little bit. But the main themes of the main speakers, of Senator Kerry, Senator Edwards, is their positive vision for the country.
HEMMER: On Friday morning, how will you know whether or not this convention is a success?
RICHARDSON: The speech that Senator Kerry will give will be the most important speech in his career and, obviously, the speech that will define this campaign. Overnight polls are not what we look at. What we see is consistent trends.
What is happening, Bill is 10 percent of the electorate is undecided. Right now we figure 45 percent Republican, 45 percent Democrat. That 10 percent that is open-minded that is looking at the candidates, that is independent, that goes both ways in many elections is the target.
HEMMER: Do you think that 10 percent of which you only need 6 percent is paying attention now on the 26th of July?
RICHARDSON: Yes, they'll pay attention for the first time. They'll pay attention to the Republican convention. They'll pay attention to our convention. And what you want to do is draw them in with a message of what we're going to do, not entirely criticizing the administration.
HEMMER: Thank you, governor. Good luck this week.
RICHARDSON: Thank you.
HEMMER: Bill Richardson out of New Mexico. We'll see you later, OK?
Also the Democratic convention officially kicking off at 4:00 Eastern time here in Boston. Terry McAuliffe, the DNC chair, calls the process to order. A number of speakers on tap later tonight, including governor Richardson. He'll be there on the stage also followed by Vice President Al Gore, former president Jimmy Carter.
Then later tonight, the keynote speaker, former president Bill Clinton will give that speech, introduced by his wife Hillary.
You can see it all live on CNN.
President Clinton's speech set for 10:00 tonight followed by special editions of "NEWSNIGHT WITH AARON BROWN" at 11:00 Eastern time.
"LARRY KING LIVE," he's doing double duty, 9:00 Eastern and midnight again, Larry here in Boston. I mentioned Hillary Clinton. In a few moments, we'll be talking with the New York Senator in a moment, here, live on the floor of the FleetCenter. But for now, back to New York again and Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Bill. Thanks so much for that.
Some ominous reports in the case of a missing woman in Salt Lake City. Police are testing a clump of brown hair. It was found at a dumpster near where Mark Hacking bought a mattress the same morning he reported his wife Lori missing.
Police do not know if the hair belongs to the 27-year-old pregnant woman. She has not been seen for a week. And police would not confirm or deny a Desiree Mourning (ph) news report that a bloody knife with strands of hair was taken from the Hacking apartment. An arrest warrant could be issued within days. Hacking's husband has been described as a person of interest in the case.
Scott Dunaway is serving as a spokesman for both sides of the Hacking family. He is joining us now, live from Salt Lake City this morning.
Mr. Dunaway, thanks for your time this morning. We do appreciate it. How is the family dealing with this latest information that we've just described on this case?
SCOTT DUNAWAY, HACKING FAMILY SPOKESMAN: Well, of course, the family is aware of it and they have questions. They've had questions throughout this past week. But -- and they've read the reports. But they really are not sure what is evidence and what isn't. The police have been keeping everything really quite close. They -- to the best.
They are not telling the family really any details about the investigation. The family has full confidence in the police. And they are just hoping that the police will be able to get to the bottom of this, and they'll learn what the truth is. However, for the family, our primary focus is to find Lori. That has always been our main interest. And both families, the Hacking's and the Soares' families are united in that effort and supporting one another.
COLLINS: Of course. But besides the information that we just talk about with the clump of hair and this possible bloody knife, has the family learned anything new over the weekend?
DUNAWAY: No, we really haven't. We just don't know anything, and we have the same questions that we've had all along. The family is continuing to hope for the best. We are -- we have been gratified by the outpouring of support from searchers.
We have had, over this past week, nearly 4,000 people who have been scouring the neighborhoods and foothills and canyons around Salt Lake City. And just yesterday alone we had nearly 1,500 people who were here. So the effort continues to be focused on finding Lori and bringing her home.
COLLINS: Is the community still hopeful that they will be able to do that, sir?
DUNAWAY: Oh, yes. We haven't given up hope. I don't think you have as many people turn out as we saw yesterday. We were literally flooded in this hall with volunteers who gave up their Sunday to come and help to look for Lori.
So we remain hopeful. We're feeling the prayers and faith of the fam -- of the community and of the world and the nation. And so we're looking forward to a hopeful outcome.
COLLINS: OK. We're looking at some pictures right now on our screen of Lori and Mark together. You know, there's a report in the "Salt Lake City Tribune" that Lori's father, Eraldo Soares actually has some misgivings now about Lori's husband Mark and his innocence.
Can you tell us if the rest of the family is starting to have a bit of a change in their attitude toward Mark?
DUNAWAY: Well, from the very beginning, the families have -- both families -- have been open to every possibility in this. They've had many questions, the same questions that the public has had. We really don't know anything more than what you all know.
But the families continue to remain united. They love and support Mark. Both families feel that he is their son. They're concerned for his welfare as well. But it is so important for us that we stay focused on finding Lori, and that's really where all, where the attention is directed now.
COLLINS: All right. Scott Dunaway, the family spokesman for the Hacking's and for the Soares'. Thanks so much for your time this morning. We appreciate it.
DUNAWAY: Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: Bill, back to you in Boston and the FleetCenter now.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. Thanks for that. Twelve minutes past the hour.
Check of the other news now with Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center back after a bit of a vacation last week. Welcome back, Daryn. Great to see you this morning.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much. Bill, you're looking great in Boston.
HEMMER: Thank you.
KAGAN: Let's get started with the headlines. We begin in Iraq where just a short time ago a top interior ministry official was assassinated in a drive-by shooting near his Baghdad home.
Meanwhile a deadline extension from a group holding seven truck drivers hostage. The captors want the drivers' Kuwaiti employer to pay families of Iraqi's killed fighting U.S. troops and to help release Iraqi prisoners from U.S. jails.
Also in the city of Mosul, a suicide truck bomb killed at least three people. Five others were wounded in the blast, including three U.S. soldiers.
Aides say President Bush is planning to act quickly on the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. Sources say the president could begin making changes related to U.S. intelligence that doesn't need congressional approval, within days.
National security adviser Condoleezza Rice is expected to discuss the commissions report with President Bush at his Texas ranch today.
If all goes as planned, NASA will launch what it calls its Messenger spacecraft toward Mercury next week. It's going to be the first craft to orbit Mercury. That's the closest planet to the sun. Messenger is expected to arrive in March 2011 when it will face temperatures up to 700 degrees.
And talk about hot, how about Lance Armstrong. No one is hotter than him. He says he is still not sure if he'll be back in next year's Tour de France. Armstrong counted up his wins on the way to Paris yesterday. His unprecedented sixth straight Tour victory came by a final margin of over six minutes.
After the race Armstrong said he had the motivation of a rookie. Whatever he has, it works.
Time for the first check of our forecast. Rob Marciano in for Chad Myers.
Rob, good morning.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Daryn. Chad taking some well-deserved time off.
(WEATHER BREAK)
MARCIANO: Bill, back to you in Boston.
HEMMER: All right, Rob. Thanks for that.
Very cool, mild up here in Boston. It feels great. A great day yesterday, we'll see what we get today.
Andy is back from vacation. He's "Minding Your Business" in a moment. He will tell us why today is merger Monday.
Also ahead, we'll talk to a young man, a very young man who is not old enough to vote but already leaving a big mark in his own way in the world of politics.
And we'll talk live in a moment -- Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, our guest next here. What does John Kerry's candidacy mean for her own presidential chances one day?
Ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, live from the FleetCenter in Boston.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back at Boston. Last night here in the city, some controversy after a speech given by Senator John Kerry's wife, Teresa
HEINZ KERRY:, talking to delegates about how uncivil and downright vicious American politics has become, in her words. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEINZ-KERRY: We need to turn back some of the creeping, unprecedented and sometimes un-American traits that are coming into some of our politics. I remember a time when people, political parties...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Mrs. Kerry was then asked by a reporter there in Pennsylvania about what she meant by the term un-American.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: You mentioned un-American.
HEINZ KERRY: No, I didn't say that.
QUESTION: What did you say?
HEINZ KERRY: I didn't say that.
QUESTION: I'm just asking you what you said.
HEINZ KERRY: Well, why did you put those words in my mouth?
QUESTION: I think you said something about un-American...
HEINZ KERRY: No, I didn't say that.
QUESTION: ... activity.
HEINZ KERRY: I did not say activity or un-American. Those are your words. You can record...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: After conferring with Democratic advisers, Heinz-Kerry confronted the journalist, as you saw there, an editorial editor of the conservative "Pittsburgh Tribune Review." She was angry that he apparently tried to put words into her mouth. Listen again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEINZ KERRY: Are you with the "Tribune Review"?
QUESTION: Yes, I am.
HEINZ KERRY: Of course.
QUESTION: Come here.
HEINZ KERRY: Understandable.
QUESTION: You said...
HEINZ KERRY: You said something I didn't say, now shove it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Kerry's spokeswoman releasing a statement after that incident last evening regarding that and saying, "This was sheer frustration aimed at a right-wing rag that has consistently and purposely misrepresented the facts in reporting on Mrs. Kerry and her family."
There has been no further response from the paper.
Let's go from that now back in Boston with a view from the convention stage, a familiar one to Hillary Clinton. The New York Senator, former first lady addresses the party faithful later tonight in prime time, just ahead of the former president, her husband.
Senator Clinton, good morning to you and thanks for your time.
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Thank you.
HEMMER: I don't know if you have much of a comment based on what Teresa
HEINZ KERRY: said last night. If you do, I'll give you the platform here.
CLINTON: Well, I know Teresa. And I think she is expressing herself honestly and openly. And, you know, I've been around politics long enough to know that there are lots of people who say things that are not true. So from my perspective, you know, she's just a terrific person.
HEMMER: At what point, if you go back to '91-'92 did you realize that everything you say would be looked at closer than you ever had before?
CLINTON: Well that happens during the campaign. But, you know, you want to be yourself and you also don't want people to say things that aren't true about you and your family. It's a tough line to walk, but she's doing a terrific job and she's going to be a fabulous first lady.
HEMMER: A tough line to walk -- how easy or difficult is it to step over that line, at times, and have your remarks being taken and turning off people, essentially? CLINTON: Well, you know, I don't think that will. I think a lot of American are going to say, good for you. You go, girl. And that certainly is how I feel about it.
I think that what we're living in, in our political, you know, history at this moment is extremely polarized. There is a lot of, you know, strong emotions and that's perfectly appropriate. But then there are people who are, frankly, out to score political points or to put words in people's mouths and that's not appropriate. And they have to be called on it.
HEMMER: There was a suggestion last week that your husband might overshadow John Kerry, and that is perhaps why he's going on the first night. Do you think that's a possibility?
CLINTON: No, no. I think that's the way conventions are planned. I mean, obviously the big event is John Kerry's speech Thursday night, and everything leads up to it.
So I know that Bill is happy to be, you know, kicking off the convention. I'm delighted to be introducing him. We want to do everything we possibly can do to help the American people who have yet to make up their minds -- and there aren't too many left -- that this is a man who could be a great president and really a perfect choice for our country at this point in our history.
HEMMER: You are endorsing a man who, if he wins on November 2nd, may have significant impact on your own possibilities for the White House, maybe even, some suggest, pushing it back to 2012.
You laugh, that's fine. That's fair. When you think about that possibility?
CLINTON: I don't think about that possibility, but I know that a lot of people in your position do, and that's fine.
But I am so excited about replacing this administration. You know, I think that the Bush-Cheney presidency has been bad for America and bad for the world. I can not wait to see them leave the White House -- the sooner the better. I wish we could move the inauguration up a few months.
I am so hopeful that we will get back on the right track. And the only way we can do that is by having new leadership.
HEMMER: Thanks you, Senator.
CLINTON: Thanks, Bill. Good to see you.
HEMMER: Hillary Clinton, thank you. Former president Clinton later tonight at 10:00, again we mentioned that earlier, 10:00 p.m. Eastern time in prime time. You'll see it live here on CNN.
And still ahead this hour, more convention coverage from here in Boston including a conversation with John Kerry's Senate colleague from Massachusetts. We'll talk to Senator Ed Kennedy today and his niece Caroline.
Back in a moment here, live from the FleetCenter as our coverage continues on a Monday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: About 7:25 this morning, and that means it's time for the Cafferty File and the "Question of the Day" from Jack.
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Heidi.
It's not your father's Democratic convention going on this week up there in Boston. Time was the conventions were the stuff of high drama. Political bosses meeting late into the night in smoke-filled rooms to forge a platform and actually decide who the candidates would be. But not anymore.
Television and the primaries have combined to reduce these conventions to little more than scripted PR bashes, very long on style, very short on anything of substance. In addition, concerns about terrorism have raised anxiety levels and forced the host cities to part with huge amounts of money for security.
So the question this morning is this: How important are the political conventions?
If you have an opinion, e-mail us at am@CNN.com.
Let's see. Let me just get this right. Teresa Kerry was giving a speech on civility shortly before she told the reporter to shove it, correct?
COLLINS: I think it was something like that.
CAFFERTY: I just wanted to double check. We're going to get back to that, I bet, a little later.
CAFFERTY: I bet we do.
COLLINS: I bet we do
CAFFERTY: I'll just bet we do.
COLLINS: Three more hours -- no two and a half. All right.
Still to come this morning, Bill will be back from Boston with more from the convention floor.
Plus, we've got a Monday morning dose of "90-Second Pop."
The world sees sports history. It's the Tour de Lance, once again.
Plus it was "The Bourne Supremacy" versus "Catwoman" at the box office. Only one could be champ -- weekend winners ahead on "90- Second Pop." (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Back in a moment here in Boston. Nothing has happened yet inside the Democratic convention, but it is hopping outside, in fact, all weekend long -- a look at that ahead here.
Back to Boston in the FleetCenter right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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