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American Morning

Kerry in Tennessee Today; Implantable Lenses; Interview with the U.S. Women's Soccer Team

Aired September 01, 2004 - 08:30   ET

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


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


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Right about 8:30 here in New York City. Empire State Building in the distance there now framing up Madison Square Garden. We are inside there. Welcome back everyone; it is Day Three for the Republicans.
Over my shoulder and across the way, Madison Square Garden there's been a different theme throughout the week. This is the theme for later tonight. "A Land Of Opportunity," and just seconds before we came back from the commercial, they just finished putting the sign up just across the way here at Madison Square Garden.

Last night, the theme was "People of Compassion." There is one of those signs still left at this point, but throughout the course of the morning, they will all be transferred for tonight's theme, and Dick Cheney will take the stage. He is the main speaker, along with the keynote speech coming from the Democratic Senator Zell Miller.

That's tonight. Today, though, some Democrats, though, talking already this half hour. Senator John Kerry has a speech later around noon Eastern time in Tennessee. He'll address the American Legion, the same place where the president was yesterday.

More on that today and the talk about reports of some influential Democrats are becoming unsatisfied with the way the Kerry campaign is functioning now. We'll get to that.

Kamber and May back with us today in a few moments comparing the speakers at this summer's Democratic Convention in Boston first and now in New York with Republicans and find out what they have found so far on Day Three.

Also Heidi Collins with us across town. Heidi, good morning again to you.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you once again. That's right, we are going to be talking with Kamber and May, and we'll do a little smack down. We're going to compare some Democrats with some Republicans here. It should be interesting.

Also, take a look around me. Sixty-five degrees and sunny. On the plaza of the TIME-Life building, an absolutely gorgeous day. Trying to enjoy it here in New York when you can.

Want to go ahead and get a check of the stories now in the news. Unfortunately, a terrifying first day of school for hundreds in southern Russia. Armed attackers reportedly wearing suicide bomb belts have seized the school in the region bordering Chechnya. According to Russian news media reports more than 100 people are being held there including children.

More on what's being done to free them in about a half hour with Ryan Chilcote standing by in Moscow.

Also in Russia, people are mourning the loss of the nine people killed in a suicide bombing outside a subway station. More than 50 people were injured during the powerful blast. Police say the bomb was packed with bolts and pieces of metal. The attack comes just days after an apparent terrorist attack killed nearly 90 people in two airplane crashes.

At The Hague now, former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic is on the defense at a war crimes trial against him. Milosevic finished his opening statement just hours ago. The former dictator's trial has been repeatedly delayed due to health problems.

And an American accused of desertion says he will turn himself over to the U.S. military. Charles Jenkins is accused of abandoning his Army unit almost 40 years ago and defecting to Communist North Korea. Jenkins is now in a hospital in Japan recovering from surgery. He gave no timeline for his surrender.

Back now to Bill at Madison Square Garden.

HEMMER: All right. Heidi, want to pick up on the story now on the Kerry campaign then. During political conventions, the other candidate normally keeps a low profile. The tradition has been broken in the past, and today Democratic hopeful John Kerry goes against the norm a bit.

The president was in Nashville yesterday. He goes today. And that's where we find Joe Johns live this morning there. Joe, good morning in Tennessee.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. The president did speak here yesterday. John Kerry will step to the podium before what is expected to be a conservative audience. The campaign says they do expect him to be well-received.

He will in all likelihood talk about veteran's issues among other things.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS (voice-over): After losing ground in August, John Kerry tried to get an early start on September with an airport rally in Nashville overnight.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We can, we must, and we will win the war on terror.

JOHNS: Kerry's main purpose in coming to Tennessee, a speech before a conservative audience at the American Legion convention, but the source of his recent trouble also showed up, another ad by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth airing on local TV and in Florida.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How can the man who renounced his country's symbols now be trusted?

JOHNS: Democratic strategists say the Kerry campaign moved too slowly to try to discredit earlier ads. The response this time was quick. Kerry's former Senate colleague Max Cleland said in a statement, quote, "Let's take this garbage off the air. All George Bush has to offer is fear and smear."

The Kerry-Edwards team will soon be hitting the airways with ads of it's own, announcing a $45 million 20 state ad blitz for the fall showdown.

And there have been other changes. Former Clinton press secretary Joe Lockhart, now a senior adviser to the campaign, flew to Nashville with the candidate Tuesday. Lockhart says other staff may join shortly, something he calls normal in the home stretch, but no changes in top staffers are contemplated. Lockhart added that Kerry is in, quote, a historically strong position for a challenger.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: And it's not all speeches for Senator Kerry today. He is also expected to do some listening. He'll be getting his national security briefing from the acting CIA director. Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: All right, Joe Johns, thanks, live in Nashville and also later today, as Joe pointed out, on stage later. CNN will be watching for that speech later in Nashville. It hits right about 11:40 a.m. Eastern time, which follows about three hours from now so we'll have that for you.

In the meantime, here's Heidi yet again outside our studios -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Bill, thanks. And here now a look at the latest from the presidential campaigns and how the Republican convention stacks up with the Democrats.

From the left this morning, Democratic strategist Victor Kamber. He's live with us from Washington. Vic, hello to you.

VICTOR KAMBER, DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANT: Hello to you.

COLLINS: I'm great. And from the right, former RNC communications director Cliff May right here in New York City. Cliff good morning to you as well.

CLIFF MAY, FDN. FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES: Good morning.

COLLINS: Vic, I want to start with you. We're hearing a lot about this potential shake up or at least changes within the Kerry campaign. Names that we're hearing -- Mary Beth Cahill, Stephanie Cutter. What's going on? Any truth to this? KAMBER: From what I understand, they're adding some talent, which is not unexpected. I don't think there's any major changes. I think what Mary Beth and Stephanie have done is incredible at this point.

The fact that Joe Lockhart and John Sasso and several others may be joining in more visible areas is all just a credit to John Kerry bringing aboard talent in these last 45-50 days. I see nothing wrong with that, and I expect 30 days out we'll even see some more talent added.

I think that's just the normal situation in a campaign.

COLLINS: Cliff, is this normal operating procedure?

MAY: When you bring in more cooks, it means there's something wrong with the broth. I think at this stage what you're seeing is Kerry is somewhat concerned about his messaging.

The Democratic Convention was to some extent a missed opportunity for Senator Kerry. He talked almost exclusively about his time in Vietnam and almost not at all about what he wanted to do with the country, how he wanted to take the country, how he was going to win the war on terrorism, and I think he's realizing that he needs to have an adjustment and that's what this is about.

And it's probably a good idea for him.

COLLINS: All right guys, let's get to this smack down if you will between some of the different Democrats and rookies. First -- I'm sorry -- Democrats and Republicans. My bad.

KAMBER: I like the idea of rookies. I like that.

COLLINS: I knew you would. Rookie politicians. Who did better for their party? Barak Obama or Arnold Schwarzenegger? Vic why don't we start with you?

KAMBER: Well, I think they both did terrific. You know, I'm obviously a Democrat, and I'm going to say Barak Obama. He was wonderful, he was -- he talked about immigrants. His grandfather lived in a hut in Kenya. I mean, here's a man, a self-made man.

I thought Schwarzenegger was terrific. The difference, I thought, was that Barak Obama was the face of the Democratic Party. He spoke about what the Democrats represent. Schwarzenegger could have been a Democrat for all -- I mean; I saw the 93-page platform that the Republicans put out. Schwarzenegger doesn't represent that.

Schwarzenegger in no way -- neither Giuliani nor McCain -- they represented a moderate face. They're hiding who they really are.

COLLINS: Yes...

KAMBER: The first conservative we're going to see is Cheney tonight. COLLINS: But Cliff what did you think of that speech last night by Schwarzenegger?

MAY: Oh, I thought Schwarzenegger did a great job last night. I do think Barak Obama did a good job, but I think he was the one and only standout at the Democratic Convention. He was the only voice of the future. People like Al Sharpton -- that's not a serious politician in America today or in the future.

Ted Kennedy -- he was at the 1968 convention, if I recall. He was the voice of the past. I think Schwarzenegger absolutely represents an important part of the Republican Party as of course Giuliani and McCain. This is party, the Republican Party, is a very wide spectrum of use and you saw the reaction they had to Schwarzenegger and Giuliani and McCain. That was real.

COLLINS: OK there -- let's keep rolling through, guys. What about the battle of the wives? Teresa Heinz Kerry or Laura Bush? Vic?

KAMBER: Laura Bush showed the love, the affection, the care she has. Teresa Heinz Kerry, who I've been a fan of for over 30 years, I thought was incredible.

The difference -- I was in the hall when she spoke in Boston. I mean, the brains, the heart, the -- everything that was there. I'm not going to take anything away from Laura Bush, but I thought Teresa Heinz Kerry was incredible.

COLLINS: Cliff?

MAY: Basically, I think Laura Bush is an elegant woman, and I think people around the country can relate to her very easily and very well. I think it's going to be harder for them to relate to somebody like Teresa Heinz Kerry who talked about herself, her opinions, who she is and as if she were running for office herself and if she wants to she can but she's not.

COLLINS: All right quickly, just for fun, guys, what do you think about the battle between the daughters. We've got the Bush twins who we heard last night and the Kerry daughters. Vic?

KAMBER: I think George Bush is fortunate that he has two daughters, and its fortunate that you don't vote for the daughters when you vote for president. They were nice, they were cute, they were charming. Whoever wrote their skit, their act, should be fired.

They weren't...

COLLINS: That's pretty harsh.

KAMBER: They weren't particularly good. Well, they weren't particularly good. They're nice girls. I mean, I have nothing wrong with them. And again, we don't vote for the children, we vote for the parent, and in this case the man running for president.

COLLINS: That's right.

KAMBER: I think the Kerry -- Heinz-Kerry children and the Kerry children were incredible; they're older, they're more mature. They had better scriptwriters.

COLLINS: Cliff, you're not supposed to be a comedian, though, are you?

MAY: You're right. Look, I think they're all sweet girls, nice people. I didn't see any visible tattoos or nose piercing. I think on that basis both fathers should be congratulated.

COLLINS: Good point. Victor Kamber and Cliff May as always guys thanks so much for your input on all of this so far.

MAY: Thanks, Heidi. Morning, Vic.

COLLINS: CNN convention coverage of course begins tonight at 7:00.

For now, though, we want to check on the weather once again -- an awful lot going on. Chad Myers watching it all for us.

Good morning, once again, Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: Indeed you're right about that, Chad. Could be a very busy weekend, too. Thanks.

Hey, guess where I am, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I can't tell. In front of the bus.

HEMMER: I'm in John King's location, which is just stage left of the main podium here -- right smack dab in the middle of Madison Square Garden.

You ever wonder what these reporters do while they're waiting for the big speeches, see what comes down? Here's a record of accomplishment put out by the Republican Party.

Five hundred nine pages in length it is, all the policy speeches of the president going back to when he took over office in January of 2001.

This is where the main reporters hang out. CNN is here; NBC next to us here; CBS there and on down the line. And they're all waiting again tonight when Dick Cheney takes the stage.

In a moment here, back to Madison Square Garden. It is night three; we'll continue to shake down what we expect later tonight.

Also in a moment here, Dr. Sanjay Gupta checks in. Ever want to get rid of those glasses? An amazing new procedure that Sanjay talks about that may provide promise and hope for some.

Also, the Golden Girls of Athens. Back in the U.S. you will meet three of them from the women's soccer team. They were gold yet again this year. Back in a moment live yet again right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: That's Grand Central Station you're looking at this morning. Once again, third day of the Republican National Convention and we are stationed all over the place at this city enjoying ourselves this morning right here outside the Time-Life Building on 6th Avenue and a gorgeous day it is.

For now, though, we want to head over to Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He is in Atlanta this morning talking about a new type of corrective eye surgery -- implantable lenses would allow severely nearsighted people to see more clearly. FDA actually expected to give them the green light on this right Sanjay?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, that's what people are expecting. Listen, a lot of people have heard about LASIK eye surgery. It's become very popular, very common, to try and correct vision.

Problem is, if you try to get this procedure done and your vision is particularly bad, you may have been told that you're not a candidate. And that's where these implantable lenses may come into the picture here. When we talk about bad vision, bad nearsightedness, get a sense of how blurry things might be.

People -- one doctor describes it as anything beyond six inches. You can take a look at the images there. Just seem very blurry to you. Your glasses that you wear may be as thick as Coke bottles. You know the sort of vision that we're talking about.

Now ophthalmologists and all doctors really excited about potential FDA approval for these new lenses. Again, called implantable lenses. They are implanted surgically. This is the operation actually being done. Slightly more complicated than LASIK eye surgery. Takes about 20 minutes as with LASIK eye surgery; you can actually see well by the time you get into the recovery room.

Two slightly different lenses. The one that you're looking at there, Heidi, Verisyse, as in precise, actually goes behind the cornea but in front of the iris. This operation requires a little incision. Again takes about 20 minutes to complete. You can see the lens actually goes behind the cornea there as opposed to a contact lens, which sits on the cornea and in front of the iris.

There's another type of lens as well called the Vision ICL. These names not that important, the names may change when it gets approved here. But I don't know if you noticed that redline is actually behind the iris now. That's another operation that actually takes a little bit of a shorter amount of time. But again, both of these implantable lenses expected to be safe and effective according to a new article that's just published in the Journal of Ophthalmology so FDA approval may be soon, Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, very exciting. Dr. Sanjay Gupta thanks so much for that.

GUPTA: Thank you.

COLLINS: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING -- they helped kick off a golden era of women's sports, and golden is definitely the key word. Three members of the gold-medal winning Olympic U.S. women's soccer team. They're sitting right here next to us. We're going to be talking to them right here on the plaza in just a few moments on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back everyone. Back to the diner and Jack and Andy over there. Good morning guys.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Thank you, Bill.

The day of the pre-campaign button and campaign T-shirts all over now. The times have changed. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" -- he's here to explain. What up with that?

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, well, it costs money. When I was a kid, Jack, my brother and I used to collect those campaign buttons. We had boxes of them.

"Nixon is the One." "McGovern." And all that stuff. But now they are a thing of the past. The candidates are spending all their money on TV; they're complaining about McCain-Feingold and also the election has been so close early that a lot of people have already gone through all those campaign buttons, those lawn signs.

And also the bumper stickers. Now you have to go to the candidate's Web sites to get this stuff. And they're also selling a lot of fun weird stuff and we went on line to check some of this stuff out. Let's go.

First of all, we're starting with the Bush football jersey. Number 43, get it?

CAFFERTY: Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

SERWER: Are you ready for some football? How about also for the NASCAR set -- the Bush racing cap, again, number 43 there, OK. This I like -- now those were -- by the way, georgewbushstore.com you can get them.

Now let's move on to John Kerry. This is at Kerry Gear. You can get Kerry confetti. This presumably if you want some sort of, you know, celebration.

CAFFERTY: Can you buy like Kerry purple hearts there? SERWER: Oh, very good. This is my favorite, though, coming up here. This is my absolute favorite. Kerry gear. The John Kerry- Edwards seven day pill case.

(LAUGHTER)

I kid you not. We're not making this up.

CAFFERTY: And if you've got a big time pill habit, you can buy two or three then you can carry two or three weeks ahead.

SERWER: Oh yes. Boy this whole things giving me a headache. I, you know. Anyway, let's talk about the markets quickly.

Yesterday we were up a little bit. Nice little day on the Street. Very quiet trading. Let's see.

Fractionally higher for the month of August. September is a cruel month, be careful. Futures are looking flat right now. This even with Arnold Schwarzenegger warning all of us here in New York not to be economic "girlie-men."

You think we'd listen and stock futures would be higher, but they're not.

CAFFERTY: I am so tired of hearing him use that expression.

SERWER: Yes, I know, all right. We'll ban it. We've got plenty of buttons here, by the way.

CAFFERTY: They're a dollar apiece and we only take cash.

SERWER: And we get 50 percent.

CAFFERTY: All right. Wednesday. Things people say if you're interested beginning with something that Alice Cooper uttered.

"If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you are a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons." Alice Cooper gets it.

I've never seen a white man run that fast. It was a blazing race. Man that kid is good." This is Grenada's 400-meter runner Alleyne Francique on the U.S. 400-meter winner, Jeremy Wariner who got the gold medal and just blew the rest of them right off the track. I think the U.S. finished one-two-three in that race.

SERWER: That's right, they did.

CAFFERTY: And finally this: "If you ever wonder if 'The Simpson's' will be around for another season, just look at how many of its executives have to pay alimony." That's Nancy Cartwright, who does the voice of Bart Simpson.

SERWER: Nice.

CAFFERTY: Yes. Heidi, back to you.

COLLINS: All right, Jack thanks a whole lot for that. You know it's been five years since the World Cup victory took women's soccer from relative obscurity to national prominence.

Now the U.S. women have realized yet another dream, Olympic gold. Their overtime win against Brazil in Athens was a fitting end for the team's fab five veterans playing their final game together. And look there you are screaming the National Anthem.

Three of the Golden Girls are now with us. Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly and Joy Fawcett. Ladies, thanks so much. First of, an obvious congratulations. Beautiful medal around your neck.

What's the homecoming been like so far, Julie?

JULIE FOUDY, U.S. SOCCER GOLD MEDALIST: Well, when you hear these two talk, you'll hear how it's been.

COLLINS: Lots of screaming?

FOUDY: Yes, it's been fun. It's been great. I mean, we -- we've spent a couple of days here in New York and the fans have -- you know, everywhere we went people -- we've been going, people have been hollering and yelling so it's been really fun.

COLLINS: Kristine, this is the last time that you all play together. These two gals on the end are going to be retiring. Mia Hamm also. Brandy. But you're going to keep playing until your legs fall off, I hear?

KRISTINE LILLY, U.S. SOCCER GOLD MEDALIST: Brandy and I are kind of holding on a little bit.

COLLINS: Brandy's a hold out too?

LILLY: Yes. You know I love playing with these guys and it's going to be hard to step on the field without them but I'm still enjoying it. We have such a great young group of girls on our team right now that its so much fun to keep playing.

COLLINS: Joy, what about that medal around your neck? A second one. What's different about this one?

JOY FAWCETT, U.S. SOCCER GOLD MEDALIST: This one's an awesome team. You know just everyone on this team was great and we got along and there was so much teamwork involved in order to win this medal and it took everything and it took everyone to beat the Brazilians.

COLLINS: I know you're a mother of three. What do your kiddos think about it?

FAWCETT: What?

COLLINS: I know you're a mother of three. What do your kids think about the medal? FAWCETT: Oh, they love it. They think its shiny and they love to carry it around.

COLLINS: What's next for this team? You guys as we mentioned in the introduction really brought women's soccer to the forefront. I mean, you were a definite part of that history. What's next?

FOUDY: Next actually in the short term is we're going to play ten games in the fall so we're not done.

LILLY: There's no rest.

FOUDY: Yes, there's no rest. We're starting in Rochester, New York on September 25th and we're going to play all around the country which is a wonderful you know farewell for some of us that are retiring to be able to play in front of the homeland a few more times so we're looking forward to that.

COLLINS: And many, many young girls across this country look to you as their idols. It must be an amazing feeling. Once again ladies congratulations to you. Thanks for being here. Appreciate it so much.

Julie, Kristine and Joy. Thank you.

Bill back to you.

HEMMER: Indeed, history in so many ways Heidi. So well done, too. Thanks.

In a moment here, a live update out of Moscow that ongoing hostage crisis at the school with the latest now at least 100 being held. Many of them said to be young children. We'll have it for you top of the hour here as AMERICAN MORNING continues after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired September 1, 2004 - 08:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Right about 8:30 here in New York City. Empire State Building in the distance there now framing up Madison Square Garden. We are inside there. Welcome back everyone; it is Day Three for the Republicans.
Over my shoulder and across the way, Madison Square Garden there's been a different theme throughout the week. This is the theme for later tonight. "A Land Of Opportunity," and just seconds before we came back from the commercial, they just finished putting the sign up just across the way here at Madison Square Garden.

Last night, the theme was "People of Compassion." There is one of those signs still left at this point, but throughout the course of the morning, they will all be transferred for tonight's theme, and Dick Cheney will take the stage. He is the main speaker, along with the keynote speech coming from the Democratic Senator Zell Miller.

That's tonight. Today, though, some Democrats, though, talking already this half hour. Senator John Kerry has a speech later around noon Eastern time in Tennessee. He'll address the American Legion, the same place where the president was yesterday.

More on that today and the talk about reports of some influential Democrats are becoming unsatisfied with the way the Kerry campaign is functioning now. We'll get to that.

Kamber and May back with us today in a few moments comparing the speakers at this summer's Democratic Convention in Boston first and now in New York with Republicans and find out what they have found so far on Day Three.

Also Heidi Collins with us across town. Heidi, good morning again to you.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you once again. That's right, we are going to be talking with Kamber and May, and we'll do a little smack down. We're going to compare some Democrats with some Republicans here. It should be interesting.

Also, take a look around me. Sixty-five degrees and sunny. On the plaza of the TIME-Life building, an absolutely gorgeous day. Trying to enjoy it here in New York when you can.

Want to go ahead and get a check of the stories now in the news. Unfortunately, a terrifying first day of school for hundreds in southern Russia. Armed attackers reportedly wearing suicide bomb belts have seized the school in the region bordering Chechnya. According to Russian news media reports more than 100 people are being held there including children.

More on what's being done to free them in about a half hour with Ryan Chilcote standing by in Moscow.

Also in Russia, people are mourning the loss of the nine people killed in a suicide bombing outside a subway station. More than 50 people were injured during the powerful blast. Police say the bomb was packed with bolts and pieces of metal. The attack comes just days after an apparent terrorist attack killed nearly 90 people in two airplane crashes.

At The Hague now, former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic is on the defense at a war crimes trial against him. Milosevic finished his opening statement just hours ago. The former dictator's trial has been repeatedly delayed due to health problems.

And an American accused of desertion says he will turn himself over to the U.S. military. Charles Jenkins is accused of abandoning his Army unit almost 40 years ago and defecting to Communist North Korea. Jenkins is now in a hospital in Japan recovering from surgery. He gave no timeline for his surrender.

Back now to Bill at Madison Square Garden.

HEMMER: All right. Heidi, want to pick up on the story now on the Kerry campaign then. During political conventions, the other candidate normally keeps a low profile. The tradition has been broken in the past, and today Democratic hopeful John Kerry goes against the norm a bit.

The president was in Nashville yesterday. He goes today. And that's where we find Joe Johns live this morning there. Joe, good morning in Tennessee.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. The president did speak here yesterday. John Kerry will step to the podium before what is expected to be a conservative audience. The campaign says they do expect him to be well-received.

He will in all likelihood talk about veteran's issues among other things.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS (voice-over): After losing ground in August, John Kerry tried to get an early start on September with an airport rally in Nashville overnight.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We can, we must, and we will win the war on terror.

JOHNS: Kerry's main purpose in coming to Tennessee, a speech before a conservative audience at the American Legion convention, but the source of his recent trouble also showed up, another ad by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth airing on local TV and in Florida.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How can the man who renounced his country's symbols now be trusted?

JOHNS: Democratic strategists say the Kerry campaign moved too slowly to try to discredit earlier ads. The response this time was quick. Kerry's former Senate colleague Max Cleland said in a statement, quote, "Let's take this garbage off the air. All George Bush has to offer is fear and smear."

The Kerry-Edwards team will soon be hitting the airways with ads of it's own, announcing a $45 million 20 state ad blitz for the fall showdown.

And there have been other changes. Former Clinton press secretary Joe Lockhart, now a senior adviser to the campaign, flew to Nashville with the candidate Tuesday. Lockhart says other staff may join shortly, something he calls normal in the home stretch, but no changes in top staffers are contemplated. Lockhart added that Kerry is in, quote, a historically strong position for a challenger.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: And it's not all speeches for Senator Kerry today. He is also expected to do some listening. He'll be getting his national security briefing from the acting CIA director. Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: All right, Joe Johns, thanks, live in Nashville and also later today, as Joe pointed out, on stage later. CNN will be watching for that speech later in Nashville. It hits right about 11:40 a.m. Eastern time, which follows about three hours from now so we'll have that for you.

In the meantime, here's Heidi yet again outside our studios -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Bill, thanks. And here now a look at the latest from the presidential campaigns and how the Republican convention stacks up with the Democrats.

From the left this morning, Democratic strategist Victor Kamber. He's live with us from Washington. Vic, hello to you.

VICTOR KAMBER, DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANT: Hello to you.

COLLINS: I'm great. And from the right, former RNC communications director Cliff May right here in New York City. Cliff good morning to you as well.

CLIFF MAY, FDN. FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES: Good morning.

COLLINS: Vic, I want to start with you. We're hearing a lot about this potential shake up or at least changes within the Kerry campaign. Names that we're hearing -- Mary Beth Cahill, Stephanie Cutter. What's going on? Any truth to this? KAMBER: From what I understand, they're adding some talent, which is not unexpected. I don't think there's any major changes. I think what Mary Beth and Stephanie have done is incredible at this point.

The fact that Joe Lockhart and John Sasso and several others may be joining in more visible areas is all just a credit to John Kerry bringing aboard talent in these last 45-50 days. I see nothing wrong with that, and I expect 30 days out we'll even see some more talent added.

I think that's just the normal situation in a campaign.

COLLINS: Cliff, is this normal operating procedure?

MAY: When you bring in more cooks, it means there's something wrong with the broth. I think at this stage what you're seeing is Kerry is somewhat concerned about his messaging.

The Democratic Convention was to some extent a missed opportunity for Senator Kerry. He talked almost exclusively about his time in Vietnam and almost not at all about what he wanted to do with the country, how he wanted to take the country, how he was going to win the war on terrorism, and I think he's realizing that he needs to have an adjustment and that's what this is about.

And it's probably a good idea for him.

COLLINS: All right guys, let's get to this smack down if you will between some of the different Democrats and rookies. First -- I'm sorry -- Democrats and Republicans. My bad.

KAMBER: I like the idea of rookies. I like that.

COLLINS: I knew you would. Rookie politicians. Who did better for their party? Barak Obama or Arnold Schwarzenegger? Vic why don't we start with you?

KAMBER: Well, I think they both did terrific. You know, I'm obviously a Democrat, and I'm going to say Barak Obama. He was wonderful, he was -- he talked about immigrants. His grandfather lived in a hut in Kenya. I mean, here's a man, a self-made man.

I thought Schwarzenegger was terrific. The difference, I thought, was that Barak Obama was the face of the Democratic Party. He spoke about what the Democrats represent. Schwarzenegger could have been a Democrat for all -- I mean; I saw the 93-page platform that the Republicans put out. Schwarzenegger doesn't represent that.

Schwarzenegger in no way -- neither Giuliani nor McCain -- they represented a moderate face. They're hiding who they really are.

COLLINS: Yes...

KAMBER: The first conservative we're going to see is Cheney tonight. COLLINS: But Cliff what did you think of that speech last night by Schwarzenegger?

MAY: Oh, I thought Schwarzenegger did a great job last night. I do think Barak Obama did a good job, but I think he was the one and only standout at the Democratic Convention. He was the only voice of the future. People like Al Sharpton -- that's not a serious politician in America today or in the future.

Ted Kennedy -- he was at the 1968 convention, if I recall. He was the voice of the past. I think Schwarzenegger absolutely represents an important part of the Republican Party as of course Giuliani and McCain. This is party, the Republican Party, is a very wide spectrum of use and you saw the reaction they had to Schwarzenegger and Giuliani and McCain. That was real.

COLLINS: OK there -- let's keep rolling through, guys. What about the battle of the wives? Teresa Heinz Kerry or Laura Bush? Vic?

KAMBER: Laura Bush showed the love, the affection, the care she has. Teresa Heinz Kerry, who I've been a fan of for over 30 years, I thought was incredible.

The difference -- I was in the hall when she spoke in Boston. I mean, the brains, the heart, the -- everything that was there. I'm not going to take anything away from Laura Bush, but I thought Teresa Heinz Kerry was incredible.

COLLINS: Cliff?

MAY: Basically, I think Laura Bush is an elegant woman, and I think people around the country can relate to her very easily and very well. I think it's going to be harder for them to relate to somebody like Teresa Heinz Kerry who talked about herself, her opinions, who she is and as if she were running for office herself and if she wants to she can but she's not.

COLLINS: All right quickly, just for fun, guys, what do you think about the battle between the daughters. We've got the Bush twins who we heard last night and the Kerry daughters. Vic?

KAMBER: I think George Bush is fortunate that he has two daughters, and its fortunate that you don't vote for the daughters when you vote for president. They were nice, they were cute, they were charming. Whoever wrote their skit, their act, should be fired.

They weren't...

COLLINS: That's pretty harsh.

KAMBER: They weren't particularly good. Well, they weren't particularly good. They're nice girls. I mean, I have nothing wrong with them. And again, we don't vote for the children, we vote for the parent, and in this case the man running for president.

COLLINS: That's right.

KAMBER: I think the Kerry -- Heinz-Kerry children and the Kerry children were incredible; they're older, they're more mature. They had better scriptwriters.

COLLINS: Cliff, you're not supposed to be a comedian, though, are you?

MAY: You're right. Look, I think they're all sweet girls, nice people. I didn't see any visible tattoos or nose piercing. I think on that basis both fathers should be congratulated.

COLLINS: Good point. Victor Kamber and Cliff May as always guys thanks so much for your input on all of this so far.

MAY: Thanks, Heidi. Morning, Vic.

COLLINS: CNN convention coverage of course begins tonight at 7:00.

For now, though, we want to check on the weather once again -- an awful lot going on. Chad Myers watching it all for us.

Good morning, once again, Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: Indeed you're right about that, Chad. Could be a very busy weekend, too. Thanks.

Hey, guess where I am, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I can't tell. In front of the bus.

HEMMER: I'm in John King's location, which is just stage left of the main podium here -- right smack dab in the middle of Madison Square Garden.

You ever wonder what these reporters do while they're waiting for the big speeches, see what comes down? Here's a record of accomplishment put out by the Republican Party.

Five hundred nine pages in length it is, all the policy speeches of the president going back to when he took over office in January of 2001.

This is where the main reporters hang out. CNN is here; NBC next to us here; CBS there and on down the line. And they're all waiting again tonight when Dick Cheney takes the stage.

In a moment here, back to Madison Square Garden. It is night three; we'll continue to shake down what we expect later tonight.

Also in a moment here, Dr. Sanjay Gupta checks in. Ever want to get rid of those glasses? An amazing new procedure that Sanjay talks about that may provide promise and hope for some.

Also, the Golden Girls of Athens. Back in the U.S. you will meet three of them from the women's soccer team. They were gold yet again this year. Back in a moment live yet again right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: That's Grand Central Station you're looking at this morning. Once again, third day of the Republican National Convention and we are stationed all over the place at this city enjoying ourselves this morning right here outside the Time-Life Building on 6th Avenue and a gorgeous day it is.

For now, though, we want to head over to Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He is in Atlanta this morning talking about a new type of corrective eye surgery -- implantable lenses would allow severely nearsighted people to see more clearly. FDA actually expected to give them the green light on this right Sanjay?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, that's what people are expecting. Listen, a lot of people have heard about LASIK eye surgery. It's become very popular, very common, to try and correct vision.

Problem is, if you try to get this procedure done and your vision is particularly bad, you may have been told that you're not a candidate. And that's where these implantable lenses may come into the picture here. When we talk about bad vision, bad nearsightedness, get a sense of how blurry things might be.

People -- one doctor describes it as anything beyond six inches. You can take a look at the images there. Just seem very blurry to you. Your glasses that you wear may be as thick as Coke bottles. You know the sort of vision that we're talking about.

Now ophthalmologists and all doctors really excited about potential FDA approval for these new lenses. Again, called implantable lenses. They are implanted surgically. This is the operation actually being done. Slightly more complicated than LASIK eye surgery. Takes about 20 minutes as with LASIK eye surgery; you can actually see well by the time you get into the recovery room.

Two slightly different lenses. The one that you're looking at there, Heidi, Verisyse, as in precise, actually goes behind the cornea but in front of the iris. This operation requires a little incision. Again takes about 20 minutes to complete. You can see the lens actually goes behind the cornea there as opposed to a contact lens, which sits on the cornea and in front of the iris.

There's another type of lens as well called the Vision ICL. These names not that important, the names may change when it gets approved here. But I don't know if you noticed that redline is actually behind the iris now. That's another operation that actually takes a little bit of a shorter amount of time. But again, both of these implantable lenses expected to be safe and effective according to a new article that's just published in the Journal of Ophthalmology so FDA approval may be soon, Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, very exciting. Dr. Sanjay Gupta thanks so much for that.

GUPTA: Thank you.

COLLINS: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING -- they helped kick off a golden era of women's sports, and golden is definitely the key word. Three members of the gold-medal winning Olympic U.S. women's soccer team. They're sitting right here next to us. We're going to be talking to them right here on the plaza in just a few moments on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Welcome back everyone. Back to the diner and Jack and Andy over there. Good morning guys.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Thank you, Bill.

The day of the pre-campaign button and campaign T-shirts all over now. The times have changed. Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" -- he's here to explain. What up with that?

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, well, it costs money. When I was a kid, Jack, my brother and I used to collect those campaign buttons. We had boxes of them.

"Nixon is the One." "McGovern." And all that stuff. But now they are a thing of the past. The candidates are spending all their money on TV; they're complaining about McCain-Feingold and also the election has been so close early that a lot of people have already gone through all those campaign buttons, those lawn signs.

And also the bumper stickers. Now you have to go to the candidate's Web sites to get this stuff. And they're also selling a lot of fun weird stuff and we went on line to check some of this stuff out. Let's go.

First of all, we're starting with the Bush football jersey. Number 43, get it?

CAFFERTY: Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

SERWER: Are you ready for some football? How about also for the NASCAR set -- the Bush racing cap, again, number 43 there, OK. This I like -- now those were -- by the way, georgewbushstore.com you can get them.

Now let's move on to John Kerry. This is at Kerry Gear. You can get Kerry confetti. This presumably if you want some sort of, you know, celebration.

CAFFERTY: Can you buy like Kerry purple hearts there? SERWER: Oh, very good. This is my favorite, though, coming up here. This is my absolute favorite. Kerry gear. The John Kerry- Edwards seven day pill case.

(LAUGHTER)

I kid you not. We're not making this up.

CAFFERTY: And if you've got a big time pill habit, you can buy two or three then you can carry two or three weeks ahead.

SERWER: Oh yes. Boy this whole things giving me a headache. I, you know. Anyway, let's talk about the markets quickly.

Yesterday we were up a little bit. Nice little day on the Street. Very quiet trading. Let's see.

Fractionally higher for the month of August. September is a cruel month, be careful. Futures are looking flat right now. This even with Arnold Schwarzenegger warning all of us here in New York not to be economic "girlie-men."

You think we'd listen and stock futures would be higher, but they're not.

CAFFERTY: I am so tired of hearing him use that expression.

SERWER: Yes, I know, all right. We'll ban it. We've got plenty of buttons here, by the way.

CAFFERTY: They're a dollar apiece and we only take cash.

SERWER: And we get 50 percent.

CAFFERTY: All right. Wednesday. Things people say if you're interested beginning with something that Alice Cooper uttered.

"If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you are a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons." Alice Cooper gets it.

I've never seen a white man run that fast. It was a blazing race. Man that kid is good." This is Grenada's 400-meter runner Alleyne Francique on the U.S. 400-meter winner, Jeremy Wariner who got the gold medal and just blew the rest of them right off the track. I think the U.S. finished one-two-three in that race.

SERWER: That's right, they did.

CAFFERTY: And finally this: "If you ever wonder if 'The Simpson's' will be around for another season, just look at how many of its executives have to pay alimony." That's Nancy Cartwright, who does the voice of Bart Simpson.

SERWER: Nice.

CAFFERTY: Yes. Heidi, back to you.

COLLINS: All right, Jack thanks a whole lot for that. You know it's been five years since the World Cup victory took women's soccer from relative obscurity to national prominence.

Now the U.S. women have realized yet another dream, Olympic gold. Their overtime win against Brazil in Athens was a fitting end for the team's fab five veterans playing their final game together. And look there you are screaming the National Anthem.

Three of the Golden Girls are now with us. Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly and Joy Fawcett. Ladies, thanks so much. First of, an obvious congratulations. Beautiful medal around your neck.

What's the homecoming been like so far, Julie?

JULIE FOUDY, U.S. SOCCER GOLD MEDALIST: Well, when you hear these two talk, you'll hear how it's been.

COLLINS: Lots of screaming?

FOUDY: Yes, it's been fun. It's been great. I mean, we -- we've spent a couple of days here in New York and the fans have -- you know, everywhere we went people -- we've been going, people have been hollering and yelling so it's been really fun.

COLLINS: Kristine, this is the last time that you all play together. These two gals on the end are going to be retiring. Mia Hamm also. Brandy. But you're going to keep playing until your legs fall off, I hear?

KRISTINE LILLY, U.S. SOCCER GOLD MEDALIST: Brandy and I are kind of holding on a little bit.

COLLINS: Brandy's a hold out too?

LILLY: Yes. You know I love playing with these guys and it's going to be hard to step on the field without them but I'm still enjoying it. We have such a great young group of girls on our team right now that its so much fun to keep playing.

COLLINS: Joy, what about that medal around your neck? A second one. What's different about this one?

JOY FAWCETT, U.S. SOCCER GOLD MEDALIST: This one's an awesome team. You know just everyone on this team was great and we got along and there was so much teamwork involved in order to win this medal and it took everything and it took everyone to beat the Brazilians.

COLLINS: I know you're a mother of three. What do your kiddos think about it?

FAWCETT: What?

COLLINS: I know you're a mother of three. What do your kids think about the medal? FAWCETT: Oh, they love it. They think its shiny and they love to carry it around.

COLLINS: What's next for this team? You guys as we mentioned in the introduction really brought women's soccer to the forefront. I mean, you were a definite part of that history. What's next?

FOUDY: Next actually in the short term is we're going to play ten games in the fall so we're not done.

LILLY: There's no rest.

FOUDY: Yes, there's no rest. We're starting in Rochester, New York on September 25th and we're going to play all around the country which is a wonderful you know farewell for some of us that are retiring to be able to play in front of the homeland a few more times so we're looking forward to that.

COLLINS: And many, many young girls across this country look to you as their idols. It must be an amazing feeling. Once again ladies congratulations to you. Thanks for being here. Appreciate it so much.

Julie, Kristine and Joy. Thank you.

Bill back to you.

HEMMER: Indeed, history in so many ways Heidi. So well done, too. Thanks.

In a moment here, a live update out of Moscow that ongoing hostage crisis at the school with the latest now at least 100 being held. Many of them said to be young children. We'll have it for you top of the hour here as AMERICAN MORNING continues after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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