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CNN Live At Daybreak
Has Kerry Defined Democratic Mission?
Aired July 30, 2004 - 06:30 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Both the president and the man seeking his job prepare for whirlwind campaign events across the country.
It is Friday, July 30th. This is DAYBREAK.
And good Friday morning to you from the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news.
A Senate committee opens the first congressional hearing on the 9/11 commission report five hours from now. Among other things, senators plan to focus on the commission's recommendation to create a new, national counter terrorism center.
President Bush's handling of the economy will loom large today. The White House will release a report expected to show a record federal deficit that could approach $450 billion this year.
The U.N. Security Council votes today on a revised U.S. draft resolution on Sudan. It threatens measures if the government doesn't stop the killings of Arab militias of black Africans in the Darfar region.
In Texas, the Dallas suburb of Lancaster has been declared a local disaster area after more than a foot of rain. The weather is blamed for at least two deaths. We'll have a live report for you from the lone star state in just a few minutes.
Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.
Good morning, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: You've got the clicker blues this morning.
MARCIANO: It's beyond that. I think we've got to reboot that sucker.
COSTELLO: All right. You go do that. Thank you, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right. OK. COSTELLO: After accepting his party's nomination, John Kerry and his running mate John Edwards are heading out this morning on a coast- to-coast campaign swing through 21 states. But last night belonged to Kerry at the Democratic convention.
Let's get more now from CNN's Skip Loescher. He's live in Washington for us this morning. Good morning.
SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
To use some baseball terms here, if Senator Kerry didn't hit a home run last night, than most political observers say he sure did deliver a stand-up triple.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SENATOR JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty.
LOESCHER (voice-over): It was the most important speech of his political life, and John Kerry couldn't have had a more receptive audience.
KERRY: I will restore trust and credibility to the White House.
LOESCHER: Kerry promised to make America safer, to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 commission and to make the military stronger.
KERRY: And we will end the back door draft of the national guard and reservists.
LOESCHER: Kerry pledged to end the flood of U.S. jobs going overseas, to improve funding for schools and programs like head start, to provide the elderly with affordable prescription drugs and not to cut Social Security.
KERRY: America can do better and help is on the way.
LOESCHER: Kerry admitted he doesn't wear his religion on his sleeve, but he asked support from faith-based people.
KERRY: I don't want to claim that God is on our side. As Abraham Lincoln told us, I want to pray humbly that we are on God's side.
LOESCHER: This morning Kerry and running mate John Edwards begin a coast-to-coast campaign blitz, starting off with stops in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOESCHER: Likewise, President Bush hits the campaign trail today. He'll stop in Missouri, Michigan and Ohio, all battleground states -- Carol?
COSTELLO: Thank you. Skip Loescher reporting live for us from Washington D.C., this morning.
Well Kerry's speech was to be the speech of his political life, so did he deliver?
Alan Abramowitz is a professor of political science at Emory University here in Atlanta. He joins us live this morning.
Good morning.
ALAN ABRAMOWITZ, PROFESSOR, EMORY UNIVERSITY: Good morning.
COSTELLO: Well, let's start at the beginning. John Kerry comes through the crowd -- you know, kind of like a king -- he goes up to a huge podium that was specially built for him and then he salutes. Effective?
ABRAMOWITZ: I think it was effective. I think that clearly they were trying to play on his background as a war hero and then to use that to lead into the substance of the speech, and I think they did a good job that.
COSTELLO: I want to rewind now and play a couple of sound bytes from Kerry to get your reaction. Listen to this one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERRY: I want to address these next words directly to President George W. Bush. In the weeks ahead, in the weeks ahead, let's be optimists, not just opponents. Let's build unity in the American family, not angry division. Let's honor this nation's diversity. Let's respect one another. And let's never misuse for political purposes the most precious document in American history, the constitution of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Of course that last part probably referred to the gay marriage amendment that is proposed for the constitution.
ABRAMOWITZ: Right.
COSTELLO: But the positive part of his message is difficult to believe because he really wasn't very positive during his speech, so is that an effective tool?
ABRAMOWITZ: Well, I think what he's trying to do are two things at once in the speech. I think on the one hand he's trying to motivate the Democratic base and appeal to them. And certainly attacking President Bush is the best way to do that.
At the same time, I think he's trying to reach out to swing voters. And I think the positive part of the speech is more of an effort to reach out to swing voters and portray himself as a strong commander in chief and someone who will address the nation's economic problems. COSTELLO: It has a positive message, but this campaign is going to be anything but positive. It's going to be pretty negative, isn't it?
ABRAMOWITZ: I think it is. And Kerry used that comment last night to try to sort of launch a preemptive strike against the expected negative ads that we're going to see attacking him -- that we've already seen attacking him -- and claim that he is going to be running a positive campaign, which is a little disingenuous because, in fact, he is relying to a great extent on independent groups to run negative ads attacking President Bush that don't have his name directly attached to them.
COSTELLO: And President Bush will probably use that same tactic.
ABRAMOWITZ: He will to some extent, but Republicans aren't relying as much on these so-called 527 groups. They're relying more on their own ads that do have the president's name attached to them because he has to give that little sign off that says I approved this message.
COSTELLO: Kerry talked a little about Iraq saying he could do better, but he didn't exactly say how. Let's listen to another sound byte from last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERRY: As president, I will ask the hard questions and demand hard evidence. I will immediately reform the intelligence system so policy is guided by facts and facts are never distorted by politics.
And as president, as president I will bring back this nation's time-honored tradition, the United States of America never goes to war because we want to, we only go to war because we have to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So is this a message that resonates? And if it does, how does President Bush combat it?
ABRAMOWITZ: Well, Kerry is clearly trying to criticize the president's conduct of the war without being very specific about what he would do differently except in terms of saying that he would try to bring in more allies to share the burden, which is what President Bush is, himself, trying to do.
So, the substance of what he's offering isn't really that different, but the criticism of the president's conduct of the war, of leading us into the war is something that I think does resonate with Democrats and many Independents who have concerns about the way the war is going.
COSTELLO: And of course the way that President Bush will probably combat that is by continuing to talk about John Kerry's vote against that $87 billion package. ABRAMOWITZ: That's right. The Republicans definitely will keep pointing out that Kerry did vote at first to endorse the president's ability to go to war, and then voted against the funding of the war.
COSTELLO: OK. So, in a nutshell, in your opinion, did John Kerry do what he had to last night?
ABRAMOWITZ: I think he did what he had to for the moment. I think it was a good speech. It was well delivered. It showed some emotion. It showed a more human side of John Kerry, so I think that was good.
I think that we've still got a long way to go, however. I don't think that was necessarily the defining moment of the campaign. I think we're going to see, the debates for example, are going to be extremely important this year.
COSTELLO: Definitely so, and quite interesting, I'm sure.
ABRAMOWITZ: Right.
COSTELLO: I did like that story from Kerry's daughter about resuscitating the hamster.
ABRAMOWITZ: Right.
COSTELLO: Alan Abramowitz from Emory, thanks for joining us here on DAYBREAK.
ABRAMOWITZ: Glad to be here.
COSTELLO: Covering a national, political convention can be a career high point for any reporter. But imagine if you're a child taking on this big journalism assignment.
Joining me are two young people who did just that. Avery Stone and Lily Wasserman covered the Democratic convention for "Time For Kids" magazine.
Good morning.
AVERY STONE, "TIME FOR KIDS" REPORTER: Good morning
LILY WASSERMAN, "TIME FOR KIDS" REPORTER: Good morning
COSTELLO: Avery, let's start for you. Was this a great experience or what?
STONE: This was so amazing. I mean the whole convention was just such a spectacle. I'm going to remember this experience for such a long time.
COSTELLO: How about you, Lily?
WASSERMAN: Well, it was so exciting because, I mean, we were one of the only kids there and just to get to report on it, and we got to meet so many new people and learned so much. And I thought it was so cool how everyone was there and everyone was just sharing the excitement and enthusiasm.
COSTELLO: Do you have your press credentials Avery? Are you going to frame them?
STONE: I'm going to keep them. I don't know about framing them, but I've been keeping all my credentials from the year, just for memories of my year at "Time For Kids."
COSTELLO: OK, Lily, I know that you guys interviewed Iliana Wexler. She's part of the "Kids For Kerry" campaign.
We're going to play a sound byte for our audience to remind them what she said at the convention.
Well, as you can see, we're having technical difficulties.
But Lily, in a nutshell what she said, she was sort of chastising Vice President Dick Cheney for uttering a really bad word. You interviewed her. What did she say about that?
WASSERMAN: Well, she didn't refer to that too much, but -- she didn't talk about that very much.
COSTELLO: She didn't?
WASSERMAN: But I did hear the line, and I thought it was it was a really, really good line.
COSTELLO: It got laughs, didn't it?
WASSERMAN: Definitely.
STONE: Yes.
COSTELLO: Avery, what did she say about the "Kids For Kerry" campaign and why it was so important?
STONE: Well, she really -- she was very articulate speaker, first of all, and she gave us great answers. But she talked about her beliefs in getting kids involved in politics and making them feel important about it, and getting them involved in the campaign, what they can do.
She explained everything about "Kids For Kerry" why she started it. It was just an, it was an amazing thing to hear about it because it's just so different from my perspective.
COSTELLO: Tell us more about that. I mean, why are you guys doing this? I mean, certainly there are more fun things you could be doing.
STONE: You know what? This was such a fun thing. I mean a lot of people my age think politics aren't fun. This was a blast. I mean really. COSTELLO: So Lily, did you get to speak to John Kerry or John Edwards?
WASSERMAN: No, we didn't get to speak to them directly, but we spoke to a lot of other people.
COSTELLO: Well, I think you should start a letter writing campaign and force them to give you an interview.
Avery Stone and Lily Wasserman, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.
STONE: Thank you.
WASSERMAN: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, how intense storms are leaving the lone star state with a wet mess. We'll have a live report for you just ahead.
And later, we'll rate the leading role of director Ron Howard's daughter in the new movie "The Village"."
This is DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Live to New York now to check in with Bill and Heidi, who is in for Soledad, to see what's coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
And Bill, you made it back from Boston before the crowds. Or are you still there?
BILL HEMMER, CNN "AMERICAN MORNING" ANCHOR: Actually Carol, one more day here.
COSTELLO: Sorry.
HEMMER: Yes, we're right along the harbor, the inner Harbor in Boston. We're about 45 minutes away from a live event. John Kerry will speak this morning before he takes off on this very extensive tour across the country -- 3,500 miles, Carol.
We're going to talk to some speech writers today who have worked for President Bush, some speech writers who have worked for Senator Kerry. We'll talk about the speech last night. What did he do effectively? What was left out? We'll talk about all that this morning.
Also, back in New York, Heidi Collins, again there.
Heidi, good morning to you. How are you on a Friday?
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN "AMERICAN MORNING" ANCHOR: Good morning to you. I am great on this Friday. Did you stay up late last night?
HEMMER: Yes, I did, unfortunately.
COLLINS: I bet you did.
HEMMER: And I'm feeling it today. You?
COLLINS: We look forward to the breakdown of that speech last night by John Kerry.
Of course we are also going to be talking about the 9/11 hearing. The Senate is taking a very close look now at the recommendations in that book, in that report. But should we expect any quick action? That's something that we've been talking about for quite a while now, so we are going to have a live update on that.
Plus, Catherine Zeta Jones allegedly stalked. Now the actress is revealing some frightening details about that ordeal, so we are going to speak with celebrity publicist Lizzie Grubman about that and find out more.
That and more all ahead on this Friday AMERICAN MORNING, right, Bill?
HEMMER: That's right. Friday. Say it again.
COLLINS: Friday.
HEMMER: Listen, it's been a long week, but it's been great up here in Boston. I think overall it's gone very well in terms of how the city's responded.
I know Democrats are very pleased based on the reaction we got last night at the FleetCenter, based on John Kerry's speech that. So we'll talk about that.
And then, Carol, we go to the Republican response as we build toward New York in about a month's time, at the end of August.
Back to you. At the top of the hour will see you.
COSTELLO: We'll see how cheery you are when you go to Logan with those 35,000 delegates trying to get home.
Thank you Bill and Heidi. We'll catch you both in 10 minutes.
Your news, money, weather and sports. Its 6:46 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Just how bad was the money management for the coalition in Iraq? A federal audit found multiple instances of overcharging, gambling and other mismanagement involving millions of dollars. The audit also found $200,000 spent for police trucks, but auditors couldn't confirm if they were ever delivered.
Is the Olympic games process unethical? The international Olympic committee is launching an investigation in to the race for the 2012 summer games. The move comes on the heels of a BBC documentary focusing on supposed ethics violations. New York is among five cities bidding for the games.
In money news, Krispy Kreme doughnuts may have some holes in the balance sheets. The company says the SEC is investigating some franchise purchases and recent earnings statements. The news sent Krispy Kreme shares down 15 percent.
In culture, Brandy has some brand-new blings. The singer is now engaged to NBA star Quentin Richardson, and he reportedly has given her an 11.5 carat diamond rain worth $1 million.
In sports, a timeout for the Yankees Alex Rodriguez and Jason Varitek of the Red Sox. The two were each suspended four games for their part in last weekend's bench clearing brawl. Six others were either fined or suspended -- Rob?
MARCIANO: Go to your room, boys. Behave.
They're going to meet, I think, six more times before even the postseason, so more tension between Red Sox and the Yankees.
(WEATHER BREAK)
MARCIANO: Carol, we'll see you in a few minutes.
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Rob. Those are the latest headlines for you.
It is another cleanup day in parts of north Texas after more than a foot of rain fell causing major flooding. We're getting word now that a third death is blamed on the fudding -- on the flooding rather.
WFAA reporter Cynthia Vega joins us live from Texas now. Good morning.
CYNTIA VEGA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning to you -- clear skies this morning, but a very grim follow-up to yesterday's stormy weather.
Later this morning when the sun comes up, rescue crews here are expected to begin combing the area in and around Red Oak Creek here in Ovilla searching for a man believed to be missing.
They will be focusing their efforts back behind me where a bridge collapsed yesterday just beyond that yellow tape over to your right. That is where they will be searching for 62-year-old Weldon Watson, a longtime resident from this community, reported missing yesterday morning when it's believed his truck plummeted into the raging waters of Red Oak Creek after the bridge beneath him gave way, buckling under the heavy pressure of yesterday's stormy weather, his truck and the bridge washing down the creek.
Search crews from the Ellis county sheriff's department and the department of public safety did find the body of another man later confirmed to be Michael Sawyer and. They found his body covered in debris beneath another bridge farther down the creek near Hampton Road. He, too, is believed to have been in his truck when the Ovilla bridge collapsed.
And again this morning this search will begin again for the missing man from Ovilla. Again, this morning the impact of yesterday's storm, some of the worst flash flooding this community has seen in years, with more than 12 inches of rain falling overnight, is now being felt very dearly with the loss of life.
Live in Ovilla, I'm Cynthia Vega, back to you.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Cynthia.
A 1962 political thriller gets a 21st century makeover. Coming up next, a closer look at Denzel Washington as "The Manchurian Candidate."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Hey guys grab you chicks and let's go to the flicks.
Let's get a look at what's new at the movies for the weekend.
Tom O'Neill of "In Touch Weekly" joins us live from New York. Good morning.
TOM O'NEILL, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: I saw you one "ET" last night.
O'NEILL: How'd I do?
COSTELLO: You did great. You're becoming ever more famous.
O'NEILL: I'm on again tonight, too.
COSTELLO: Just remember we gave you your start.
O'NEILL: OK. I'm on again tonight, too, giving a wrap up on the drama side of the enemy awards.
COSTELLO: I'll be watching.
O'NEILL: OK.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about movies, though, and start with "The Manchurian Candidate."
O'NEILL: I love this movie. You have to see this movie, Carol.
COSTELLO: Get out.
O'NEILL: It is so good. Meryl Streep is the ultimate movie monster. Denzel is great in the role of the former military guy who's trying to stop this plot of an evil force, brainwashing a candidate for the vice presidency. And what's so brilliant about this movie is that they had a challenge taking it from the cold war to translating it to contemporary times, which they do very well. But Meryl Streep steals this movie, Carol. That's what's so great.
She has one scene. Of course she plays this monstrous B-I-T-C-H. She has one scene where she just cracks an ice cube between here her teeth. The audience goes nuts it's so great.
COSTELLO: I can't wait to see it. That's awesome. It sounds so -- oh, boy -- you did a good selling job there.
O'NEILL: I loved it. You have to see it. It's really a good movie.
COSTELLO: "Thunderbirds" is that a chick flick?
O'NEILL: No, it's a little boy's flick, and a bad one. You know, just like it was a terrible idea to take a cartoon like "Popeye" or the "Flintstones" and make it into a real, live film.
This is a classic 1960s British puppet detective show that they've tried to reinterpret now, and it just is a misfire. It's about a bunch of kids of the billionaire astronaut who are off to save the world. Boo, hiss.
COSTELLO: You're kidding? Well, the effects look kind of cool.
O'NEILL: The effects looked really cool, yes. But you've got a standard villain here in Ben Kingsley and a standard storyline. It's really -- it's a shame.
COSTELLO: Well, a kids movie -- I mean, they all have standard villains, don't they?
O'NEILL: Oh, I know, I know. But this just doesn't work. I guess -- you know why I'm so extraordinarily disappointed is I'm one of those people who do remember the 1960s series.
COSTELLO: Oh.
O'NEILL: And what made it so great was it was so creepy because these characters were real puppets. And if you bought into the fantasy of it, that's what made such a cult classic.
COSTELLO: Oh.
O'NEILL: And they've missed that in this movie.
COSTELLO: Got you. OK. Enough said on that.
"The Village," a movie I really want to see.
O'NEILL: It's so good, too. It's just what we need at the movies now, a good, scary movie. And there's nobody better to give us that than the director of "Signs" and "The Sixth Sense." This is a group of people who live in this remote town in Pennsylvania, in the 1800s. There is a dark threatening force in the woods beyond the town. They're not allowed to venture beyond the town to see what it is. Of course Joaquin Phoenix isn't going to listen to that. Out he goes. It is a really a spine tingling sound.
COSTELLO: I hear that Ron Howard's daughter is quite good in this movie.
O'NEILL: Yes, this is her film debut. She plays a blind girl who is the only one in the town who is permitted to go out beyond the town. And she's extraordinary.
COSTELLO: All right. Tom O'Neill from "In Touch Weekly" magazine. Thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.
O'NEILL: Thank you, Carol.
COSTELLO: And I'll catch you on "ET" tonight.
O'NEILL: Thanks.
COSTELLO: Were going to take a quick break, but first the latest headlines for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAKS)
COSTELLO: Just a reminder for you, Senate hearings on the 9/11 commission's report begins at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. CNN will carry those live so that you can come to your own conclusions about them.
And from the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello along with Rob Marciano. And Chad's going to be back on Monday.
MARCIANO: He'll be back on Monday.
COSTELLO: Nobody's happier than Rob.
MARCIANO: Well, that's not true. I enjoyed my time here. Thanks for having me.
COSTELLO: Thanks for having -- I mean, thanks for being here.
MARCIANO: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: That's what I meant to say.
AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
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Aired July 30, 2004 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Both the president and the man seeking his job prepare for whirlwind campaign events across the country.
It is Friday, July 30th. This is DAYBREAK.
And good Friday morning to you from the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news.
A Senate committee opens the first congressional hearing on the 9/11 commission report five hours from now. Among other things, senators plan to focus on the commission's recommendation to create a new, national counter terrorism center.
President Bush's handling of the economy will loom large today. The White House will release a report expected to show a record federal deficit that could approach $450 billion this year.
The U.N. Security Council votes today on a revised U.S. draft resolution on Sudan. It threatens measures if the government doesn't stop the killings of Arab militias of black Africans in the Darfar region.
In Texas, the Dallas suburb of Lancaster has been declared a local disaster area after more than a foot of rain. The weather is blamed for at least two deaths. We'll have a live report for you from the lone star state in just a few minutes.
Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.
Good morning, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: You've got the clicker blues this morning.
MARCIANO: It's beyond that. I think we've got to reboot that sucker.
COSTELLO: All right. You go do that. Thank you, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right. OK. COSTELLO: After accepting his party's nomination, John Kerry and his running mate John Edwards are heading out this morning on a coast- to-coast campaign swing through 21 states. But last night belonged to Kerry at the Democratic convention.
Let's get more now from CNN's Skip Loescher. He's live in Washington for us this morning. Good morning.
SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
To use some baseball terms here, if Senator Kerry didn't hit a home run last night, than most political observers say he sure did deliver a stand-up triple.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SENATOR JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty.
LOESCHER (voice-over): It was the most important speech of his political life, and John Kerry couldn't have had a more receptive audience.
KERRY: I will restore trust and credibility to the White House.
LOESCHER: Kerry promised to make America safer, to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 commission and to make the military stronger.
KERRY: And we will end the back door draft of the national guard and reservists.
LOESCHER: Kerry pledged to end the flood of U.S. jobs going overseas, to improve funding for schools and programs like head start, to provide the elderly with affordable prescription drugs and not to cut Social Security.
KERRY: America can do better and help is on the way.
LOESCHER: Kerry admitted he doesn't wear his religion on his sleeve, but he asked support from faith-based people.
KERRY: I don't want to claim that God is on our side. As Abraham Lincoln told us, I want to pray humbly that we are on God's side.
LOESCHER: This morning Kerry and running mate John Edwards begin a coast-to-coast campaign blitz, starting off with stops in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOESCHER: Likewise, President Bush hits the campaign trail today. He'll stop in Missouri, Michigan and Ohio, all battleground states -- Carol?
COSTELLO: Thank you. Skip Loescher reporting live for us from Washington D.C., this morning.
Well Kerry's speech was to be the speech of his political life, so did he deliver?
Alan Abramowitz is a professor of political science at Emory University here in Atlanta. He joins us live this morning.
Good morning.
ALAN ABRAMOWITZ, PROFESSOR, EMORY UNIVERSITY: Good morning.
COSTELLO: Well, let's start at the beginning. John Kerry comes through the crowd -- you know, kind of like a king -- he goes up to a huge podium that was specially built for him and then he salutes. Effective?
ABRAMOWITZ: I think it was effective. I think that clearly they were trying to play on his background as a war hero and then to use that to lead into the substance of the speech, and I think they did a good job that.
COSTELLO: I want to rewind now and play a couple of sound bytes from Kerry to get your reaction. Listen to this one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERRY: I want to address these next words directly to President George W. Bush. In the weeks ahead, in the weeks ahead, let's be optimists, not just opponents. Let's build unity in the American family, not angry division. Let's honor this nation's diversity. Let's respect one another. And let's never misuse for political purposes the most precious document in American history, the constitution of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Of course that last part probably referred to the gay marriage amendment that is proposed for the constitution.
ABRAMOWITZ: Right.
COSTELLO: But the positive part of his message is difficult to believe because he really wasn't very positive during his speech, so is that an effective tool?
ABRAMOWITZ: Well, I think what he's trying to do are two things at once in the speech. I think on the one hand he's trying to motivate the Democratic base and appeal to them. And certainly attacking President Bush is the best way to do that.
At the same time, I think he's trying to reach out to swing voters. And I think the positive part of the speech is more of an effort to reach out to swing voters and portray himself as a strong commander in chief and someone who will address the nation's economic problems. COSTELLO: It has a positive message, but this campaign is going to be anything but positive. It's going to be pretty negative, isn't it?
ABRAMOWITZ: I think it is. And Kerry used that comment last night to try to sort of launch a preemptive strike against the expected negative ads that we're going to see attacking him -- that we've already seen attacking him -- and claim that he is going to be running a positive campaign, which is a little disingenuous because, in fact, he is relying to a great extent on independent groups to run negative ads attacking President Bush that don't have his name directly attached to them.
COSTELLO: And President Bush will probably use that same tactic.
ABRAMOWITZ: He will to some extent, but Republicans aren't relying as much on these so-called 527 groups. They're relying more on their own ads that do have the president's name attached to them because he has to give that little sign off that says I approved this message.
COSTELLO: Kerry talked a little about Iraq saying he could do better, but he didn't exactly say how. Let's listen to another sound byte from last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERRY: As president, I will ask the hard questions and demand hard evidence. I will immediately reform the intelligence system so policy is guided by facts and facts are never distorted by politics.
And as president, as president I will bring back this nation's time-honored tradition, the United States of America never goes to war because we want to, we only go to war because we have to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So is this a message that resonates? And if it does, how does President Bush combat it?
ABRAMOWITZ: Well, Kerry is clearly trying to criticize the president's conduct of the war without being very specific about what he would do differently except in terms of saying that he would try to bring in more allies to share the burden, which is what President Bush is, himself, trying to do.
So, the substance of what he's offering isn't really that different, but the criticism of the president's conduct of the war, of leading us into the war is something that I think does resonate with Democrats and many Independents who have concerns about the way the war is going.
COSTELLO: And of course the way that President Bush will probably combat that is by continuing to talk about John Kerry's vote against that $87 billion package. ABRAMOWITZ: That's right. The Republicans definitely will keep pointing out that Kerry did vote at first to endorse the president's ability to go to war, and then voted against the funding of the war.
COSTELLO: OK. So, in a nutshell, in your opinion, did John Kerry do what he had to last night?
ABRAMOWITZ: I think he did what he had to for the moment. I think it was a good speech. It was well delivered. It showed some emotion. It showed a more human side of John Kerry, so I think that was good.
I think that we've still got a long way to go, however. I don't think that was necessarily the defining moment of the campaign. I think we're going to see, the debates for example, are going to be extremely important this year.
COSTELLO: Definitely so, and quite interesting, I'm sure.
ABRAMOWITZ: Right.
COSTELLO: I did like that story from Kerry's daughter about resuscitating the hamster.
ABRAMOWITZ: Right.
COSTELLO: Alan Abramowitz from Emory, thanks for joining us here on DAYBREAK.
ABRAMOWITZ: Glad to be here.
COSTELLO: Covering a national, political convention can be a career high point for any reporter. But imagine if you're a child taking on this big journalism assignment.
Joining me are two young people who did just that. Avery Stone and Lily Wasserman covered the Democratic convention for "Time For Kids" magazine.
Good morning.
AVERY STONE, "TIME FOR KIDS" REPORTER: Good morning
LILY WASSERMAN, "TIME FOR KIDS" REPORTER: Good morning
COSTELLO: Avery, let's start for you. Was this a great experience or what?
STONE: This was so amazing. I mean the whole convention was just such a spectacle. I'm going to remember this experience for such a long time.
COSTELLO: How about you, Lily?
WASSERMAN: Well, it was so exciting because, I mean, we were one of the only kids there and just to get to report on it, and we got to meet so many new people and learned so much. And I thought it was so cool how everyone was there and everyone was just sharing the excitement and enthusiasm.
COSTELLO: Do you have your press credentials Avery? Are you going to frame them?
STONE: I'm going to keep them. I don't know about framing them, but I've been keeping all my credentials from the year, just for memories of my year at "Time For Kids."
COSTELLO: OK, Lily, I know that you guys interviewed Iliana Wexler. She's part of the "Kids For Kerry" campaign.
We're going to play a sound byte for our audience to remind them what she said at the convention.
Well, as you can see, we're having technical difficulties.
But Lily, in a nutshell what she said, she was sort of chastising Vice President Dick Cheney for uttering a really bad word. You interviewed her. What did she say about that?
WASSERMAN: Well, she didn't refer to that too much, but -- she didn't talk about that very much.
COSTELLO: She didn't?
WASSERMAN: But I did hear the line, and I thought it was it was a really, really good line.
COSTELLO: It got laughs, didn't it?
WASSERMAN: Definitely.
STONE: Yes.
COSTELLO: Avery, what did she say about the "Kids For Kerry" campaign and why it was so important?
STONE: Well, she really -- she was very articulate speaker, first of all, and she gave us great answers. But she talked about her beliefs in getting kids involved in politics and making them feel important about it, and getting them involved in the campaign, what they can do.
She explained everything about "Kids For Kerry" why she started it. It was just an, it was an amazing thing to hear about it because it's just so different from my perspective.
COSTELLO: Tell us more about that. I mean, why are you guys doing this? I mean, certainly there are more fun things you could be doing.
STONE: You know what? This was such a fun thing. I mean a lot of people my age think politics aren't fun. This was a blast. I mean really. COSTELLO: So Lily, did you get to speak to John Kerry or John Edwards?
WASSERMAN: No, we didn't get to speak to them directly, but we spoke to a lot of other people.
COSTELLO: Well, I think you should start a letter writing campaign and force them to give you an interview.
Avery Stone and Lily Wasserman, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.
STONE: Thank you.
WASSERMAN: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, how intense storms are leaving the lone star state with a wet mess. We'll have a live report for you just ahead.
And later, we'll rate the leading role of director Ron Howard's daughter in the new movie "The Village"."
This is DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Live to New York now to check in with Bill and Heidi, who is in for Soledad, to see what's coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
And Bill, you made it back from Boston before the crowds. Or are you still there?
BILL HEMMER, CNN "AMERICAN MORNING" ANCHOR: Actually Carol, one more day here.
COSTELLO: Sorry.
HEMMER: Yes, we're right along the harbor, the inner Harbor in Boston. We're about 45 minutes away from a live event. John Kerry will speak this morning before he takes off on this very extensive tour across the country -- 3,500 miles, Carol.
We're going to talk to some speech writers today who have worked for President Bush, some speech writers who have worked for Senator Kerry. We'll talk about the speech last night. What did he do effectively? What was left out? We'll talk about all that this morning.
Also, back in New York, Heidi Collins, again there.
Heidi, good morning to you. How are you on a Friday?
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN "AMERICAN MORNING" ANCHOR: Good morning to you. I am great on this Friday. Did you stay up late last night?
HEMMER: Yes, I did, unfortunately.
COLLINS: I bet you did.
HEMMER: And I'm feeling it today. You?
COLLINS: We look forward to the breakdown of that speech last night by John Kerry.
Of course we are also going to be talking about the 9/11 hearing. The Senate is taking a very close look now at the recommendations in that book, in that report. But should we expect any quick action? That's something that we've been talking about for quite a while now, so we are going to have a live update on that.
Plus, Catherine Zeta Jones allegedly stalked. Now the actress is revealing some frightening details about that ordeal, so we are going to speak with celebrity publicist Lizzie Grubman about that and find out more.
That and more all ahead on this Friday AMERICAN MORNING, right, Bill?
HEMMER: That's right. Friday. Say it again.
COLLINS: Friday.
HEMMER: Listen, it's been a long week, but it's been great up here in Boston. I think overall it's gone very well in terms of how the city's responded.
I know Democrats are very pleased based on the reaction we got last night at the FleetCenter, based on John Kerry's speech that. So we'll talk about that.
And then, Carol, we go to the Republican response as we build toward New York in about a month's time, at the end of August.
Back to you. At the top of the hour will see you.
COSTELLO: We'll see how cheery you are when you go to Logan with those 35,000 delegates trying to get home.
Thank you Bill and Heidi. We'll catch you both in 10 minutes.
Your news, money, weather and sports. Its 6:46 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Just how bad was the money management for the coalition in Iraq? A federal audit found multiple instances of overcharging, gambling and other mismanagement involving millions of dollars. The audit also found $200,000 spent for police trucks, but auditors couldn't confirm if they were ever delivered.
Is the Olympic games process unethical? The international Olympic committee is launching an investigation in to the race for the 2012 summer games. The move comes on the heels of a BBC documentary focusing on supposed ethics violations. New York is among five cities bidding for the games.
In money news, Krispy Kreme doughnuts may have some holes in the balance sheets. The company says the SEC is investigating some franchise purchases and recent earnings statements. The news sent Krispy Kreme shares down 15 percent.
In culture, Brandy has some brand-new blings. The singer is now engaged to NBA star Quentin Richardson, and he reportedly has given her an 11.5 carat diamond rain worth $1 million.
In sports, a timeout for the Yankees Alex Rodriguez and Jason Varitek of the Red Sox. The two were each suspended four games for their part in last weekend's bench clearing brawl. Six others were either fined or suspended -- Rob?
MARCIANO: Go to your room, boys. Behave.
They're going to meet, I think, six more times before even the postseason, so more tension between Red Sox and the Yankees.
(WEATHER BREAK)
MARCIANO: Carol, we'll see you in a few minutes.
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Rob. Those are the latest headlines for you.
It is another cleanup day in parts of north Texas after more than a foot of rain fell causing major flooding. We're getting word now that a third death is blamed on the fudding -- on the flooding rather.
WFAA reporter Cynthia Vega joins us live from Texas now. Good morning.
CYNTIA VEGA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning to you -- clear skies this morning, but a very grim follow-up to yesterday's stormy weather.
Later this morning when the sun comes up, rescue crews here are expected to begin combing the area in and around Red Oak Creek here in Ovilla searching for a man believed to be missing.
They will be focusing their efforts back behind me where a bridge collapsed yesterday just beyond that yellow tape over to your right. That is where they will be searching for 62-year-old Weldon Watson, a longtime resident from this community, reported missing yesterday morning when it's believed his truck plummeted into the raging waters of Red Oak Creek after the bridge beneath him gave way, buckling under the heavy pressure of yesterday's stormy weather, his truck and the bridge washing down the creek.
Search crews from the Ellis county sheriff's department and the department of public safety did find the body of another man later confirmed to be Michael Sawyer and. They found his body covered in debris beneath another bridge farther down the creek near Hampton Road. He, too, is believed to have been in his truck when the Ovilla bridge collapsed.
And again this morning this search will begin again for the missing man from Ovilla. Again, this morning the impact of yesterday's storm, some of the worst flash flooding this community has seen in years, with more than 12 inches of rain falling overnight, is now being felt very dearly with the loss of life.
Live in Ovilla, I'm Cynthia Vega, back to you.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Cynthia.
A 1962 political thriller gets a 21st century makeover. Coming up next, a closer look at Denzel Washington as "The Manchurian Candidate."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Hey guys grab you chicks and let's go to the flicks.
Let's get a look at what's new at the movies for the weekend.
Tom O'Neill of "In Touch Weekly" joins us live from New York. Good morning.
TOM O'NEILL, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: I saw you one "ET" last night.
O'NEILL: How'd I do?
COSTELLO: You did great. You're becoming ever more famous.
O'NEILL: I'm on again tonight, too.
COSTELLO: Just remember we gave you your start.
O'NEILL: OK. I'm on again tonight, too, giving a wrap up on the drama side of the enemy awards.
COSTELLO: I'll be watching.
O'NEILL: OK.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about movies, though, and start with "The Manchurian Candidate."
O'NEILL: I love this movie. You have to see this movie, Carol.
COSTELLO: Get out.
O'NEILL: It is so good. Meryl Streep is the ultimate movie monster. Denzel is great in the role of the former military guy who's trying to stop this plot of an evil force, brainwashing a candidate for the vice presidency. And what's so brilliant about this movie is that they had a challenge taking it from the cold war to translating it to contemporary times, which they do very well. But Meryl Streep steals this movie, Carol. That's what's so great.
She has one scene. Of course she plays this monstrous B-I-T-C-H. She has one scene where she just cracks an ice cube between here her teeth. The audience goes nuts it's so great.
COSTELLO: I can't wait to see it. That's awesome. It sounds so -- oh, boy -- you did a good selling job there.
O'NEILL: I loved it. You have to see it. It's really a good movie.
COSTELLO: "Thunderbirds" is that a chick flick?
O'NEILL: No, it's a little boy's flick, and a bad one. You know, just like it was a terrible idea to take a cartoon like "Popeye" or the "Flintstones" and make it into a real, live film.
This is a classic 1960s British puppet detective show that they've tried to reinterpret now, and it just is a misfire. It's about a bunch of kids of the billionaire astronaut who are off to save the world. Boo, hiss.
COSTELLO: You're kidding? Well, the effects look kind of cool.
O'NEILL: The effects looked really cool, yes. But you've got a standard villain here in Ben Kingsley and a standard storyline. It's really -- it's a shame.
COSTELLO: Well, a kids movie -- I mean, they all have standard villains, don't they?
O'NEILL: Oh, I know, I know. But this just doesn't work. I guess -- you know why I'm so extraordinarily disappointed is I'm one of those people who do remember the 1960s series.
COSTELLO: Oh.
O'NEILL: And what made it so great was it was so creepy because these characters were real puppets. And if you bought into the fantasy of it, that's what made such a cult classic.
COSTELLO: Oh.
O'NEILL: And they've missed that in this movie.
COSTELLO: Got you. OK. Enough said on that.
"The Village," a movie I really want to see.
O'NEILL: It's so good, too. It's just what we need at the movies now, a good, scary movie. And there's nobody better to give us that than the director of "Signs" and "The Sixth Sense." This is a group of people who live in this remote town in Pennsylvania, in the 1800s. There is a dark threatening force in the woods beyond the town. They're not allowed to venture beyond the town to see what it is. Of course Joaquin Phoenix isn't going to listen to that. Out he goes. It is a really a spine tingling sound.
COSTELLO: I hear that Ron Howard's daughter is quite good in this movie.
O'NEILL: Yes, this is her film debut. She plays a blind girl who is the only one in the town who is permitted to go out beyond the town. And she's extraordinary.
COSTELLO: All right. Tom O'Neill from "In Touch Weekly" magazine. Thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.
O'NEILL: Thank you, Carol.
COSTELLO: And I'll catch you on "ET" tonight.
O'NEILL: Thanks.
COSTELLO: Were going to take a quick break, but first the latest headlines for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAKS)
COSTELLO: Just a reminder for you, Senate hearings on the 9/11 commission's report begins at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. CNN will carry those live so that you can come to your own conclusions about them.
And from the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello along with Rob Marciano. And Chad's going to be back on Monday.
MARCIANO: He'll be back on Monday.
COSTELLO: Nobody's happier than Rob.
MARCIANO: Well, that's not true. I enjoyed my time here. Thanks for having me.
COSTELLO: Thanks for having -- I mean, thanks for being here.
MARCIANO: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: That's what I meant to say.
AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
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