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CNN Live At Daybreak

Are the Republicans Fear Mongering?; Bull Gets Loose on Texas Interstate

Aired September 20, 2004 - 05:00   ET

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


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


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning.
From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in for Carol Costello this morning.

Here's a look at what's new in the news.

There is word this morning that President Bush and John Kerry are moving closer to a face to face showdown. There are reports the two campaigns have tentatively agreed to a series of debates. No final deal just yet. The details are still being worked out.

President Bush could soon lift the remaining sanctions against Libya and that may mean big money for the relatives of people killed in the bombing of PanAm Flight 103. The move would clear the way for the release of more than a billion dollars.

The first criminal trial against Enron's former executives kicks off today. The case involves a business deal that happened before the energy company's collapse, but it could shed light on how prosecutors will pursue cases against Enron's higher-ups.

And Haiti is still reeling from tropical storm Jeanne, which hit last week. A U.N. official says the storm killed more than 50 people and left more than 150 missing.

Now for the latest on Jeanne, we want to go to Chad Myers.

Boy, we have been slammed with hurricanes, now tropical storms. Haiti is not doing too good today.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No, actually that storm has moved well away from hit, although obviously they had rains on top of rains. Some spots there across the spine of Haiti, over a foot of rain, and obviously mud slides after that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, it won't be long now. Forty-three days until the presidential election and here is the latest campaign news.

More on reports of a tentative deal between the Bush and Kerry campaigns on presidential debates. The opening debate would be on September 30 in Coral Gables, Florida on foreign policy. Now, on October 8, Bush and Kerry would take questions from undecided voters in St. Louis. And the final session, October 13, in Tempe, Arizona. That would center on domestic issues.

But none of this is set in stone, at least not yet.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert is the latest Republican leader to suggest that terrorists would prefer John Kerry as U.S. president. Are the Republicans fear mongering, as the Democrats charge, or just calling it as they see it?

CNN's Elaine Quijano reports now from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the battle to convince voters who would make a stronger leader, House Speaker Dennis Hastert fired another salvo against John Kerry.

Hastert said what many, including officials in the Bush administration, have said before, that he believes al Qaeda could try to influence the election. But then said of the terrorists...

REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I would think that they would be more apt to go -- somebody who would file a, you know, a lawsuit with the World Court or something rather than respond with troops.

QUIJANO: Earlier a reporter asked him directly whether he believed al Qaeda could operate with a little more comfort with John Kerry as president rather than George Bush. Hastert's answer...

HASTERT: That's my opinion, yes.

QUIJANO: That provoked a sharp response from Senator Kerry's running mate, John Edwards, campaigning in Pennsylvania. He accused Hastert of joining the "fear-mongering choir."

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let me just say this in the simplest possible terms. When John Kerry is president of the United States, we will find al Qaeda where they are and crush them before they can do damage to the American people.

QUIJANO: Democrats point out Hastert's comments come on the heels of recent remarks by Vice President Dick Cheney, calling on voters to, in his words, make the right choice on election day.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's absolutely essential that eight weeks from today, on November 2, we make the right choice. Because if we make the wrong choice, then the danger is that -- that we'll get hit again.

QUIJANO: The vice president has since clarified his remarks, saying he meant President Bush will pursue a more effective anti- terrorism policy.

Still, Democrats say the latest comments by Hastert are outrageous.

TERRY MCAULIFFE, DNC CHAIRMAN: It is disgraceful. There should have no room for this in our political discourse.

QUIJANO: One Republican lawmaker also took aim at the idea.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think terrorists in the world sit around a fire camp gauging who's the easier president to deal with.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM KERRY CAMPAIGN AD)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Two hundred billion dollars. That's what we're spending in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: With just over six weeks until election day, the Kerry campaign is ratcheting up its rhetoric on Iraq, launching a new TV ad in battleground states.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM KERRY CAMPAIGN AD)

KERRY: As president, I'll stop at nothing to get the terrorists before they get us. But I'll also fight to build a stronger middle class.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Their message? That President Bush has made wrong and costly choices on Iraq without properly funding domestic programs, including education and health care.

(on camera): The Bush campaign accuses the Kerry camp of flailing about, attacking, they say, because their candidate hasn't voiced clear positions on the issues, especially Iraq. They continue to try to drive home the image of Kerry as a flip-flopper who voted for the use of force but against funding the troops.

The Kerry camp, meantime, maintains the senator's position has not changed, that his first vote reflected a desire to do something about Saddam Hussein and his second vote his displeasure at the way President Bush went about it.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And that leads us to our e-mail Question of the Day. Would an al Qaeda attack affect the election? Would it sway it in any way?

All you have to do is e-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com and we'll read your responses throughout the morning.

John Kerry's campaign starts airing a new ad today slamming President Bush's policies in Iraq and at home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM KERRY CAMPAIGN AD) SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: $200 billion, that's what we're spending in Iraq because George Bush chose to go it alone. Now the president tells us we don't have the resources to take care of health care and education here at home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Kerry says he would make the American middle class stronger while still waging war on terror. Meantime, Kerry has a major address about Iraq this morning in New York City. CNN will have live coverage at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

President Bush will fire back at John Kerry today. The president is flying from Washington to New Hampshire, where he plans to step up his criticism of Kerry's Iraq policy. He'll then fly to New York City ahead of his speech to the U.N. General Assembly. And CNN will have live coverage of the president's speech. That is at 10:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow.

Well, we may hear more from CBS about its controversial report on President Bush's military service. The "Washington Post" says the network plans to put out a statement saying it was "misled" about some purported National Guard memos cited in the report. CBS had said the memos allege Bush got special treatment in the Guard. Now, since then doubts have surfaced about whether the documents are authentic.

Still no word on the fate of three Western hostages in Iraq this morning. Insurgents threatened to kill the two Americans and one British citizen unless female inmates are freed from two U.S. run prisons. But a U.S. military spokesman says no women are being held in the jails.

Meantime, relatives of American Jack Hensley are pleading for his release.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TY HENSLEY, BROTHER OF HOSTAGE: Well, I really believe that when the people that are responsible for my brother's life, when they hear the type of person -- and everyone in the world knows who these people are that are in charge of my, responsible for my brother's life -- that I believe that when they understand what kind of person he is and what his job was over there, they will certainly see that he was no threat and he is not someone that can help further their cause at all.

PATTY HENSLEY, WIFE OF HOSTAGE: Jack is a simple, generous man who loves the Iraqi people and has made many friends while in Iraq. Since Jack has been a guest in your country, he has been treated with honor and dignity. We ask for your mercy in freeing Jack and his coworkers so that they can continue to return home to their loving families. And it is your decision whether this happens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Now, there are other hostages being held in Iraq. Militants are threatening to kill 10 hostages working for an American- Turkish company. They want the company to leave the country. Also, a previously unknown Islamic group claims to have captured 15 members of the Iraqi National Guard. They're threatening to kill the captives unless a jailed aide of a radical cleric is released.

Now, the Iraqi government has not confirmed any of its Guard members are missing and an Islamic Web site posted a video it says shows the beheading of three members of the Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party.

News across America now.

Ivan is still causing trouble in the East. New Jersey and Pennsylvania remain under flood warnings and thousands of people are still waiting to get back into their homes. Disaster areas have been declared in eight states so far.

One man died and two other people were injured when a carnival ride came apart at a church fair in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. All three were residents of a state center for the mentally challenged. Witnesses say they saw one of the victims fly out of the ride. An investigation is under way into the cause of that accident.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's brother-in-law is running for office in California. Fifty-year-old Bobby Shriver, son of Eunice and Sergeant Shriver, is one of 12 candidates running for an open spot on the Los Angeles City Council. His sister Maria Shriver joined her brother to kick off his campaign.

Prosecutors may wrap up their case against Scott Peterson as early as this week. Find out what brought the accused murderer to tears and what's ahead in his trial. That's coming up in about five minutes from now.

Plus, little Iraqi children forced to beg for a living. We'll take you to the back roads of Baghdad for this heartbreaking story at 37 minutes after the hour.

And later, we'll lighten the mood with some Emmy action. Oh, yes, there's lots of firsts. Find out the big winner at 55 minutes after.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Monday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Taking a look at the financial markets today, futures, well, they don't look too good this morning.

The Dow is down about 16 points.

The Nasdaq down 3 1/2 points.

And the S&P down about 2 points.

They're all down. The international markets are also starting the week off in negative territory.

Tokyo's Nikkei just closed down nearly 57 points.

The London market is trading down around 11 points.

And in Paris, the market is also down, around 17 1/2 points.

Your news, money, weather and sports.

The time right now is 5:14 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

At least 54 people were killed when tropical storm Jeanne slammed into Haiti. Most of those were killed during severe flooding along the northern coast. Another 150 people are still missing.

Early results in Indonesia may spell the end for the country's current president. Security became the main issue for voters in Indonesia's first direct presidential election. Final results are expected in early October.

Now to money. US Airways might go to court to force union workers to make contract concessions. The "Wall Street Journal" reports the airline is still hoping to reach an agreement on other cost cutting measures with the unions. US Airways filed for bankruptcy for the second time last week.

In culture, HBO and "Angels" were the big winners at last night's prime time Emmy Awards. The network won a total of 32 awards. "The Sopranos" won four Emmys, while a record 11 statues went to the HBO miniseries "Angels In America."

In sports, golf, to be exact, the United States suffered its worst defeat ever in Ryder Cup history. The team of 12 Europeans thrashed the Americans, winning 18 1/2 to just 9 1/2. Europe has won four of the last Ryder Cup tournaments.

And in weather, we want to talk to Chad Myers this morning.

Are you a big golf fan? What is up with this U.S. team? I mean it seems like they've been a dream team as of late, but that doesn't spell any wins?

MYERS: You know, I really -- I'm not sure. I watched racing and football this weekend and golf took a major league back burner to me, I'm afraid.

NGUYEN: Well, we see why. They didn't do so well.

MYERS: They really didn't.

(WEATHER REPORT) NGUYEN: Well, the Scott Peterson trial enters its 16th week today. Some disturbing images are still fresh on jurors' minds. The court viewed graphic photos while listening to testimony on the autopsies of Laci Peterson and her unborn child. At one point, Scott Peterson dropped his head into his hands and began to cry. An expert testified that the baby was not born before Laci's death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN JOHNSON, LEGAL EXPERT: Conner ultimately came out of the top of the uterus once Laci's body began to decompose. That certainly negates any idea of devil cults, abductors holding onto the baby after they disposed of the baby's body, anything like that. All we have to do is raise a doubt as to whether Scott Peterson did it. And if these bodies were not put in the water on December the 24th, and if the evidence is consistent with that, that raises a doubt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: The trial is scheduled to resume today at 12:00 Eastern. And we will have more on the Peterson trial. That's coming up in our next hour. Legal expert Kendall Coffey will be along to explain some of the details in this case.

What's hot on the Web straight ahead.

And the Material Girl goes on a spiritual journey. Coming up, Jewish mysticism and Madonna?

Also, keep those e-mails coming. Our Question of the Day -- would an al Qaeda attack affect the election? Would it sway it anyway. The address is daybreak@cnn.com.

You're watching DAYBREAK for Monday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: It's that time of the morning.

Time now to check our Web clicks. What stories are getting your attention on the Web site?

Let's go now to cnn.com to check them out. Of course, House Speaker Dennis Hastert raising a lot of eyebrows. Over the weekend, he made some comments saying that al Qaeda leaders would be more comfortable with Senator John Kerry as president rather than Bush. So, we'll see some more fallout from that today. We're going to be talking about that in the 6:00 hour this morning.

Also, a lot of talk about this one -- Chad, Britney Spears, I know you're upset about this.

MYERS: I am. She got married again.

NGUYEN: She is married, yes. It happened on Saturday. And it happened at the tailor for her now husband, at his home in Los Angeles. She wore a white strapless dress with a long veil and a tiara. But I think the most exciting and interesting thing, I guess interesting is more the word, they dined on chicken fingers and barbecue ribs at the reception.

MYERS: I'm wondering if they're those new McDonald things.

NGUYEN: Yes, exactly.

MYERS: Those new McDonald's (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

NGUYEN: They're a little bit healthier these days, I hear.

MYERS: Yes, only 22 grams of fat or so per piece.

NGUYEN: Like she needs to worry about that.

MYERS: I guess so.

NGUYEN: And Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Eddie Adams died in New York, in Manhattan, at the age of 71. You may remember this picture. It's one of the most famous pictures that he took. It, of course, came during the war in Vietnam. This Viet Cong is being shot here by a South Vietnamese army sergeant. So, one of those pictures that kind of remains in the memory.

MYERS: I think he was -- was he 71?

NGUYEN: Yes, 71 years old.

MYERS: Seventy-one years old.

NGUYEN: He died in Manhattan.

MYERS: He probably saw more than we all could probably imagine.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And I think the people in Haiti have seen a lot more than they want to see lately.

MYERS: Yes, you know, that's -- the good news is that Jeanne turned a -- made a big right-hand turn away from the Bahamas, as well. But, man, it did a number on Haiti. It just made an awful lot of rainfall out there yesterday and the day before yesterday. And now the thing has moved up through the Bahamas and made a big right-hand turn across and it might even be heading toward Bermuda. And this whole thing, like they could use that, too. Bermuda has truly been spared a couple of storms this year.

But this is what it looks like now, the video out of Haiti yesterday, obviously killing 54. But still 150 are missing in floods and mudslides there, some spots of the spine along Haiti. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are together. The Dominican Republic got hit hard, as well. But Haiti, as the right front quadrant of that thing, picked up an awful lot of rain. In some spots 18 inches of rain. And obviously it just -- it runs off and that's what happens. So there you go.

NGUYEN: Now let's look at it for the folks -- this has been a busy season.

Why has it been so busy this year?

MYERS: You know, it has, although I'd say pretty much closer to normal.

NGUYEN: Really?

MYERS: We have just had more landfalling hurricanes this year. This isn't unusual, to be all the way up to Karl, at this point in time. But what we usually see is they all spin out in the Atlantic Ocean and miss us. Though this year we've had one, two, three, four, five...

NGUYEN: They just keep coming.

MYERS: Right.

NGUYEN: Well, if this is normal, I think we'd rather be abnormal. Not a good thing to be normal.

MYERS: Well, I think we been below normal for the past couple of years and have been spoiled, for sure.

NGUYEN: Yes, exactly.

All right, thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

NGUYEN: Well, here is a story that caught our eye. A bull on a rampage caused quite a commotion along the congested freeway in Dallas.

Reporter Bert Lozano of our Dallas affiliate WFAA grabbed this one by the horns.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

BERT LOZANO, WFAA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The traffic came to a curious crawl on the westbound lanes of I-20. And the cause? A runaway cow. Or make that a bull judging by the size of his horns; the brave bovine, running alongside 18 wheelers and not backing down.

The lost bull took up several lanes on the interstate, running for more than two miles, stubbornly ignoring drivers trying to veer him off the road. At one point, the driver of a big rig tried to corral the bull off to the access road, as another truck attempted to block the lanes. The bull kept running but finally exited off the interstate at Bonnyville Road (ph).

He trotted down the street and looked worn out. But just as you figured he'd given up, something caught his eye. A man wearing a red shirt got in the wrong path of this raging bull.

DONALD MORGAN, PEDESTRIAN: I saw he had a rope tied to him. I thought maybe I could draw his attention off into the grass over here and get a hold of him, get him tied up. About that time he charged me.

LOZANO (on camera): What did you think when he was staring you down?

MORGAN: Get the hell out of his way.

LOZANO (voice-over): And so did our photographer.

MORGAN: Basically he just, he hit me with his head, knocked me down, then stepped off. He never stepped on me.

LOZANO: The bull jumped back on the interstate, this time followed by Hutchins police.

CPL. GARY MCCLAIN, HUTCHINS, TEXAS POLICE: Yes, he charged the car, hit it with the horn and kicked the mirror off the side of the car.

LOZANO: The horn left a dent in the patrol car, but officers and Dallas County sheriff deputies did finally manage to steer him off into this field, where he walked toward a patch of trees just as a trailer full of curious cows passed by.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

NGUYEN: There's...

MYERS: Hey, good way of going.

NGUYEN: Yes, exactly.

There's no word on exactly what happened to that bull. But I think the funniest part of all of this is the fact that that woman stepped outside of the 18 wheeler and was like, "Shoo! Shoo!"

MYERS: Right. Right. I liked the guy in the red shirt, though.

NGUYEN: Does that really work?

MYERS: And you've got to think, Texas, the University of Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech are all either partly orange or party red.

NGUYEN: Or red, yes.

MYERS: So you can't get anywhere in Texas without shooing a bull.

NGUYEN: Yes. Just try not to wear red around a bull. That's never a good idea.

MYERS: Exactly.

NGUYEN: All right, here's what's all new in the next half hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MERYL STREEP, ACTRESS: There are some days when I myself think I'm overrated. But not today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Exactly.

Glitz and glamour prevailed as television's best took center stage in Tinseltown. We'll show you who's hot and who's not at the Emmy Awards.

This is DAYBREAK for Monday.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roger Federer is serving up firsts. After capturing the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open championships this year, the top seed became the first man since 1988 to win three grand slams in one year. With his Wimbledon crown last year, Federer also became the first Swiss man to earn a grand slam singles title. His path to success was launched by casting a wide net.

ROGER FEDERER, CHAMPION TENNIS PLAYER: It's important to do as many sports. You know, that's what I did when I was younger. It gave me a lot of coordination for the ball. But eventually you've got to pick your sport which is the closest to your heart. You will have your ups and downs, but you always have to, you have to believe in yourself.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired September 20, 2004 - 05:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning.
From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in for Carol Costello this morning.

Here's a look at what's new in the news.

There is word this morning that President Bush and John Kerry are moving closer to a face to face showdown. There are reports the two campaigns have tentatively agreed to a series of debates. No final deal just yet. The details are still being worked out.

President Bush could soon lift the remaining sanctions against Libya and that may mean big money for the relatives of people killed in the bombing of PanAm Flight 103. The move would clear the way for the release of more than a billion dollars.

The first criminal trial against Enron's former executives kicks off today. The case involves a business deal that happened before the energy company's collapse, but it could shed light on how prosecutors will pursue cases against Enron's higher-ups.

And Haiti is still reeling from tropical storm Jeanne, which hit last week. A U.N. official says the storm killed more than 50 people and left more than 150 missing.

Now for the latest on Jeanne, we want to go to Chad Myers.

Boy, we have been slammed with hurricanes, now tropical storms. Haiti is not doing too good today.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No, actually that storm has moved well away from hit, although obviously they had rains on top of rains. Some spots there across the spine of Haiti, over a foot of rain, and obviously mud slides after that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, it won't be long now. Forty-three days until the presidential election and here is the latest campaign news.

More on reports of a tentative deal between the Bush and Kerry campaigns on presidential debates. The opening debate would be on September 30 in Coral Gables, Florida on foreign policy. Now, on October 8, Bush and Kerry would take questions from undecided voters in St. Louis. And the final session, October 13, in Tempe, Arizona. That would center on domestic issues.

But none of this is set in stone, at least not yet.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert is the latest Republican leader to suggest that terrorists would prefer John Kerry as U.S. president. Are the Republicans fear mongering, as the Democrats charge, or just calling it as they see it?

CNN's Elaine Quijano reports now from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the battle to convince voters who would make a stronger leader, House Speaker Dennis Hastert fired another salvo against John Kerry.

Hastert said what many, including officials in the Bush administration, have said before, that he believes al Qaeda could try to influence the election. But then said of the terrorists...

REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I would think that they would be more apt to go -- somebody who would file a, you know, a lawsuit with the World Court or something rather than respond with troops.

QUIJANO: Earlier a reporter asked him directly whether he believed al Qaeda could operate with a little more comfort with John Kerry as president rather than George Bush. Hastert's answer...

HASTERT: That's my opinion, yes.

QUIJANO: That provoked a sharp response from Senator Kerry's running mate, John Edwards, campaigning in Pennsylvania. He accused Hastert of joining the "fear-mongering choir."

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let me just say this in the simplest possible terms. When John Kerry is president of the United States, we will find al Qaeda where they are and crush them before they can do damage to the American people.

QUIJANO: Democrats point out Hastert's comments come on the heels of recent remarks by Vice President Dick Cheney, calling on voters to, in his words, make the right choice on election day.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's absolutely essential that eight weeks from today, on November 2, we make the right choice. Because if we make the wrong choice, then the danger is that -- that we'll get hit again.

QUIJANO: The vice president has since clarified his remarks, saying he meant President Bush will pursue a more effective anti- terrorism policy.

Still, Democrats say the latest comments by Hastert are outrageous.

TERRY MCAULIFFE, DNC CHAIRMAN: It is disgraceful. There should have no room for this in our political discourse.

QUIJANO: One Republican lawmaker also took aim at the idea.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think terrorists in the world sit around a fire camp gauging who's the easier president to deal with.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM KERRY CAMPAIGN AD)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Two hundred billion dollars. That's what we're spending in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: With just over six weeks until election day, the Kerry campaign is ratcheting up its rhetoric on Iraq, launching a new TV ad in battleground states.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM KERRY CAMPAIGN AD)

KERRY: As president, I'll stop at nothing to get the terrorists before they get us. But I'll also fight to build a stronger middle class.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Their message? That President Bush has made wrong and costly choices on Iraq without properly funding domestic programs, including education and health care.

(on camera): The Bush campaign accuses the Kerry camp of flailing about, attacking, they say, because their candidate hasn't voiced clear positions on the issues, especially Iraq. They continue to try to drive home the image of Kerry as a flip-flopper who voted for the use of force but against funding the troops.

The Kerry camp, meantime, maintains the senator's position has not changed, that his first vote reflected a desire to do something about Saddam Hussein and his second vote his displeasure at the way President Bush went about it.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And that leads us to our e-mail Question of the Day. Would an al Qaeda attack affect the election? Would it sway it in any way?

All you have to do is e-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com and we'll read your responses throughout the morning.

John Kerry's campaign starts airing a new ad today slamming President Bush's policies in Iraq and at home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM KERRY CAMPAIGN AD) SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: $200 billion, that's what we're spending in Iraq because George Bush chose to go it alone. Now the president tells us we don't have the resources to take care of health care and education here at home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Kerry says he would make the American middle class stronger while still waging war on terror. Meantime, Kerry has a major address about Iraq this morning in New York City. CNN will have live coverage at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

President Bush will fire back at John Kerry today. The president is flying from Washington to New Hampshire, where he plans to step up his criticism of Kerry's Iraq policy. He'll then fly to New York City ahead of his speech to the U.N. General Assembly. And CNN will have live coverage of the president's speech. That is at 10:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow.

Well, we may hear more from CBS about its controversial report on President Bush's military service. The "Washington Post" says the network plans to put out a statement saying it was "misled" about some purported National Guard memos cited in the report. CBS had said the memos allege Bush got special treatment in the Guard. Now, since then doubts have surfaced about whether the documents are authentic.

Still no word on the fate of three Western hostages in Iraq this morning. Insurgents threatened to kill the two Americans and one British citizen unless female inmates are freed from two U.S. run prisons. But a U.S. military spokesman says no women are being held in the jails.

Meantime, relatives of American Jack Hensley are pleading for his release.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TY HENSLEY, BROTHER OF HOSTAGE: Well, I really believe that when the people that are responsible for my brother's life, when they hear the type of person -- and everyone in the world knows who these people are that are in charge of my, responsible for my brother's life -- that I believe that when they understand what kind of person he is and what his job was over there, they will certainly see that he was no threat and he is not someone that can help further their cause at all.

PATTY HENSLEY, WIFE OF HOSTAGE: Jack is a simple, generous man who loves the Iraqi people and has made many friends while in Iraq. Since Jack has been a guest in your country, he has been treated with honor and dignity. We ask for your mercy in freeing Jack and his coworkers so that they can continue to return home to their loving families. And it is your decision whether this happens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Now, there are other hostages being held in Iraq. Militants are threatening to kill 10 hostages working for an American- Turkish company. They want the company to leave the country. Also, a previously unknown Islamic group claims to have captured 15 members of the Iraqi National Guard. They're threatening to kill the captives unless a jailed aide of a radical cleric is released.

Now, the Iraqi government has not confirmed any of its Guard members are missing and an Islamic Web site posted a video it says shows the beheading of three members of the Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party.

News across America now.

Ivan is still causing trouble in the East. New Jersey and Pennsylvania remain under flood warnings and thousands of people are still waiting to get back into their homes. Disaster areas have been declared in eight states so far.

One man died and two other people were injured when a carnival ride came apart at a church fair in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. All three were residents of a state center for the mentally challenged. Witnesses say they saw one of the victims fly out of the ride. An investigation is under way into the cause of that accident.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's brother-in-law is running for office in California. Fifty-year-old Bobby Shriver, son of Eunice and Sergeant Shriver, is one of 12 candidates running for an open spot on the Los Angeles City Council. His sister Maria Shriver joined her brother to kick off his campaign.

Prosecutors may wrap up their case against Scott Peterson as early as this week. Find out what brought the accused murderer to tears and what's ahead in his trial. That's coming up in about five minutes from now.

Plus, little Iraqi children forced to beg for a living. We'll take you to the back roads of Baghdad for this heartbreaking story at 37 minutes after the hour.

And later, we'll lighten the mood with some Emmy action. Oh, yes, there's lots of firsts. Find out the big winner at 55 minutes after.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Monday morning.

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NGUYEN: Taking a look at the financial markets today, futures, well, they don't look too good this morning.

The Dow is down about 16 points.

The Nasdaq down 3 1/2 points.

And the S&P down about 2 points.

They're all down. The international markets are also starting the week off in negative territory.

Tokyo's Nikkei just closed down nearly 57 points.

The London market is trading down around 11 points.

And in Paris, the market is also down, around 17 1/2 points.

Your news, money, weather and sports.

The time right now is 5:14 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

At least 54 people were killed when tropical storm Jeanne slammed into Haiti. Most of those were killed during severe flooding along the northern coast. Another 150 people are still missing.

Early results in Indonesia may spell the end for the country's current president. Security became the main issue for voters in Indonesia's first direct presidential election. Final results are expected in early October.

Now to money. US Airways might go to court to force union workers to make contract concessions. The "Wall Street Journal" reports the airline is still hoping to reach an agreement on other cost cutting measures with the unions. US Airways filed for bankruptcy for the second time last week.

In culture, HBO and "Angels" were the big winners at last night's prime time Emmy Awards. The network won a total of 32 awards. "The Sopranos" won four Emmys, while a record 11 statues went to the HBO miniseries "Angels In America."

In sports, golf, to be exact, the United States suffered its worst defeat ever in Ryder Cup history. The team of 12 Europeans thrashed the Americans, winning 18 1/2 to just 9 1/2. Europe has won four of the last Ryder Cup tournaments.

And in weather, we want to talk to Chad Myers this morning.

Are you a big golf fan? What is up with this U.S. team? I mean it seems like they've been a dream team as of late, but that doesn't spell any wins?

MYERS: You know, I really -- I'm not sure. I watched racing and football this weekend and golf took a major league back burner to me, I'm afraid.

NGUYEN: Well, we see why. They didn't do so well.

MYERS: They really didn't.

(WEATHER REPORT) NGUYEN: Well, the Scott Peterson trial enters its 16th week today. Some disturbing images are still fresh on jurors' minds. The court viewed graphic photos while listening to testimony on the autopsies of Laci Peterson and her unborn child. At one point, Scott Peterson dropped his head into his hands and began to cry. An expert testified that the baby was not born before Laci's death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN JOHNSON, LEGAL EXPERT: Conner ultimately came out of the top of the uterus once Laci's body began to decompose. That certainly negates any idea of devil cults, abductors holding onto the baby after they disposed of the baby's body, anything like that. All we have to do is raise a doubt as to whether Scott Peterson did it. And if these bodies were not put in the water on December the 24th, and if the evidence is consistent with that, that raises a doubt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: The trial is scheduled to resume today at 12:00 Eastern. And we will have more on the Peterson trial. That's coming up in our next hour. Legal expert Kendall Coffey will be along to explain some of the details in this case.

What's hot on the Web straight ahead.

And the Material Girl goes on a spiritual journey. Coming up, Jewish mysticism and Madonna?

Also, keep those e-mails coming. Our Question of the Day -- would an al Qaeda attack affect the election? Would it sway it anyway. The address is daybreak@cnn.com.

You're watching DAYBREAK for Monday.

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NGUYEN: It's that time of the morning.

Time now to check our Web clicks. What stories are getting your attention on the Web site?

Let's go now to cnn.com to check them out. Of course, House Speaker Dennis Hastert raising a lot of eyebrows. Over the weekend, he made some comments saying that al Qaeda leaders would be more comfortable with Senator John Kerry as president rather than Bush. So, we'll see some more fallout from that today. We're going to be talking about that in the 6:00 hour this morning.

Also, a lot of talk about this one -- Chad, Britney Spears, I know you're upset about this.

MYERS: I am. She got married again.

NGUYEN: She is married, yes. It happened on Saturday. And it happened at the tailor for her now husband, at his home in Los Angeles. She wore a white strapless dress with a long veil and a tiara. But I think the most exciting and interesting thing, I guess interesting is more the word, they dined on chicken fingers and barbecue ribs at the reception.

MYERS: I'm wondering if they're those new McDonald things.

NGUYEN: Yes, exactly.

MYERS: Those new McDonald's (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

NGUYEN: They're a little bit healthier these days, I hear.

MYERS: Yes, only 22 grams of fat or so per piece.

NGUYEN: Like she needs to worry about that.

MYERS: I guess so.

NGUYEN: And Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Eddie Adams died in New York, in Manhattan, at the age of 71. You may remember this picture. It's one of the most famous pictures that he took. It, of course, came during the war in Vietnam. This Viet Cong is being shot here by a South Vietnamese army sergeant. So, one of those pictures that kind of remains in the memory.

MYERS: I think he was -- was he 71?

NGUYEN: Yes, 71 years old.

MYERS: Seventy-one years old.

NGUYEN: He died in Manhattan.

MYERS: He probably saw more than we all could probably imagine.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And I think the people in Haiti have seen a lot more than they want to see lately.

MYERS: Yes, you know, that's -- the good news is that Jeanne turned a -- made a big right-hand turn away from the Bahamas, as well. But, man, it did a number on Haiti. It just made an awful lot of rainfall out there yesterday and the day before yesterday. And now the thing has moved up through the Bahamas and made a big right-hand turn across and it might even be heading toward Bermuda. And this whole thing, like they could use that, too. Bermuda has truly been spared a couple of storms this year.

But this is what it looks like now, the video out of Haiti yesterday, obviously killing 54. But still 150 are missing in floods and mudslides there, some spots of the spine along Haiti. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are together. The Dominican Republic got hit hard, as well. But Haiti, as the right front quadrant of that thing, picked up an awful lot of rain. In some spots 18 inches of rain. And obviously it just -- it runs off and that's what happens. So there you go.

NGUYEN: Now let's look at it for the folks -- this has been a busy season.

Why has it been so busy this year?

MYERS: You know, it has, although I'd say pretty much closer to normal.

NGUYEN: Really?

MYERS: We have just had more landfalling hurricanes this year. This isn't unusual, to be all the way up to Karl, at this point in time. But what we usually see is they all spin out in the Atlantic Ocean and miss us. Though this year we've had one, two, three, four, five...

NGUYEN: They just keep coming.

MYERS: Right.

NGUYEN: Well, if this is normal, I think we'd rather be abnormal. Not a good thing to be normal.

MYERS: Well, I think we been below normal for the past couple of years and have been spoiled, for sure.

NGUYEN: Yes, exactly.

All right, thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

NGUYEN: Well, here is a story that caught our eye. A bull on a rampage caused quite a commotion along the congested freeway in Dallas.

Reporter Bert Lozano of our Dallas affiliate WFAA grabbed this one by the horns.

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BERT LOZANO, WFAA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The traffic came to a curious crawl on the westbound lanes of I-20. And the cause? A runaway cow. Or make that a bull judging by the size of his horns; the brave bovine, running alongside 18 wheelers and not backing down.

The lost bull took up several lanes on the interstate, running for more than two miles, stubbornly ignoring drivers trying to veer him off the road. At one point, the driver of a big rig tried to corral the bull off to the access road, as another truck attempted to block the lanes. The bull kept running but finally exited off the interstate at Bonnyville Road (ph).

He trotted down the street and looked worn out. But just as you figured he'd given up, something caught his eye. A man wearing a red shirt got in the wrong path of this raging bull.

DONALD MORGAN, PEDESTRIAN: I saw he had a rope tied to him. I thought maybe I could draw his attention off into the grass over here and get a hold of him, get him tied up. About that time he charged me.

LOZANO (on camera): What did you think when he was staring you down?

MORGAN: Get the hell out of his way.

LOZANO (voice-over): And so did our photographer.

MORGAN: Basically he just, he hit me with his head, knocked me down, then stepped off. He never stepped on me.

LOZANO: The bull jumped back on the interstate, this time followed by Hutchins police.

CPL. GARY MCCLAIN, HUTCHINS, TEXAS POLICE: Yes, he charged the car, hit it with the horn and kicked the mirror off the side of the car.

LOZANO: The horn left a dent in the patrol car, but officers and Dallas County sheriff deputies did finally manage to steer him off into this field, where he walked toward a patch of trees just as a trailer full of curious cows passed by.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

NGUYEN: There's...

MYERS: Hey, good way of going.

NGUYEN: Yes, exactly.

There's no word on exactly what happened to that bull. But I think the funniest part of all of this is the fact that that woman stepped outside of the 18 wheeler and was like, "Shoo! Shoo!"

MYERS: Right. Right. I liked the guy in the red shirt, though.

NGUYEN: Does that really work?

MYERS: And you've got to think, Texas, the University of Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech are all either partly orange or party red.

NGUYEN: Or red, yes.

MYERS: So you can't get anywhere in Texas without shooing a bull.

NGUYEN: Yes. Just try not to wear red around a bull. That's never a good idea.

MYERS: Exactly.

NGUYEN: All right, here's what's all new in the next half hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MERYL STREEP, ACTRESS: There are some days when I myself think I'm overrated. But not today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Exactly.

Glitz and glamour prevailed as television's best took center stage in Tinseltown. We'll show you who's hot and who's not at the Emmy Awards.

This is DAYBREAK for Monday.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roger Federer is serving up firsts. After capturing the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open championships this year, the top seed became the first man since 1988 to win three grand slams in one year. With his Wimbledon crown last year, Federer also became the first Swiss man to earn a grand slam singles title. His path to success was launched by casting a wide net.

ROGER FEDERER, CHAMPION TENNIS PLAYER: It's important to do as many sports. You know, that's what I did when I was younger. It gave me a lot of coordination for the ball. But eventually you've got to pick your sport which is the closest to your heart. You will have your ups and downs, but you always have to, you have to believe in yourself.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

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