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American Morning
Polls Show Tighter Presidential Race; Interview with Asa Hutchinson; New Home Allergy Test
Aired September 23, 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.
HEIDI COLLINS: CNN ANCHOR: Just about half past the 8:00 hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
So, is the presidential race tightening up? Bill Schneider is going to be with us in just a few minutes to look at some new poll numbers that show the candidates getting closer together.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also, what's up with Cat Stevens, whose changed name is Yusuf Islam, appearing on a terror watch list? We'll talk to Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson about why this happened and how it happened.
And also, this disturbing report today -- CNN has it; front page of "USA Today" also -- about a year ago, a number of explosives and firearms sneaked past security officers at 15 airports across the country. Why did it happen, and what's happening 12 months later to correct it? So, we'll get to that, also.
COLLINS: Yes, we will indeed. Right now, though, we want to check on the stories now in the news, once again with Kelly Wallace this morning. Good morning to you, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, again. And good morning, everyone.
We begin in Iraq. Fighting raging between U.S. forces and insurgents in Baghdad. Witnesses say gunfire and explosions could be heard overnight and spilling into the morning. The violence comes as a top U.S. general is raising prospects that more troops may be needed to secure Iraq before the scheduled elections at the end of January.
A registered sex offender accused of taking a 12-year-old Florida girl to Georgia is expected in federal court today. Raymond Lewis and Briana Schultheis were found in Atlanta yesterday. Schultheis was missing since Sunday. It appeared she left with Lewis willingly. She is now back with her family.
A roadblock for illegal immigrants driving in California. The state's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, yesterday vetoed a bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to get California driver's licenses. Schwarzenegger says it is a security issue, but supporters say the bill would help assure that drivers are insured and know the rules of the road.
And a pop singer nicknamed the Mexican Madonna is planning a comeback now that she's out of prison. Gloria Trevi was cleared of charges of rape, kidnapping, and corruption of minors on Tuesday. She had served nearly five years in prison. Trevi now plans to release a new record.
Quick check of he headlines. Back to Bill and Heidi.
COLLINS: Wow. All right, Kelly Wallace, thanks so much. Check in a little bit later on.
The latest national presidential poll shows Bush leading Kerry 50 to 46 percent among likely voters and 48 to 45 among all voters. Well, senior political analyst Bill Schneider is running those numbers for us. He's in Washington this morning.
Those numbers do look a little bit tighter, at least on the national poll, Bill. What do you make of it?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: They certainly do, and there are a couple of national polls. A couple of other ones that show the race tightening up: one from the American Research Group; another from "Investor's Business Daily."
You know what they say about a bounce: what goes up must come down. And it appears from these various polls that Bush's convention bounce at the beginning of the month may be receding and, once again, we may be getting a very tight race.
COLLINS: And you know, this other poll, too, the NBC News poll showing some interesting numbers among women voters. John Kerry up 48 to 45 percent there. But you know, it seems a little bit low, Bill, for Democrats. Usually -- historically, I should say, Democrats get larger numbers with women.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, they do. Al Gore in 2000 carried the women's vote by 11 percent. Interestingly, George Bush carried men by 11 percent. You had two competing landslides. There are a few more women than men in the electorate, so Gore outpolled Bush in the popular vote. But 11 percent is a solid margin. That's not what Kerry is getting right now.
What we've seen is the race in various polls tightening up among women voters, particularly married women. Why is this happening? Well, it looks like married women are very security conscious. Many of them are what we call "security moms" concerned about protecting their kids. And they see President Bush as a strong and protective figure.
And particularly since the tragedy in Russia at a elementary school, a lot of women have been very worried that something horrifying like that could happen in the United States, and they see Bush as a protective figure.
COLLINS: Boy, that story did resonate with mothers, I can guarantee that.
Interesting, also, Bill, we heard from Tad Devine a little bit earlier -- of the Kerry campaign, of course -- saying that women will actually respond quite a bit later than possibly men. Any truth to that?
SCHNEIDER: I'm not sure. I have never seen it happen that way. It's a good argument, but I think a lot of voters are waiting to see the debates.
You know, most voters who think they know how they are going to vote will try to be fair and say, "Look, I'm going to watch the debates and then I'll make up my mind, because it's the only chance in this entire campaign to see the two candidates side by side on equal footing."
COLLINS: Right.
All right. I want to turn to some of the state polls quickly, Bill. Two new ones from CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup. Walk me through these numbers now for Nevada and West Virginia. Some surprises here?
SCHNEIDER: Well, not really. These two states voted for Bush, and he's doing pretty well in those states. As you can see, among all registered voters, a slight lead in Nevada for Bush. Among likely voters, he's got a more solid nine-point lead. That state is doing very well economically.
Look at West Virginia. West Virginia's a bit of a surprise because of the economy. Registered voters, a nine-point lead for Bush, but actually this is one of the few states where among those most likely to vote, Bush is not doing quite as well. He's only got a six-point lead. West Virginia is a state where the economy is not very good.
COLLINS: Yes, very interesting, because that state actually leaning toward Bush, as you say. The number there, 72 percent saying that the economy is a problem.
SCHNEIDER: Which means that it's not the economy, stupid, in West Virginia, because Bush is carrying that state. It's likely to be guns. It's likely to be issues of moral and religious values. But it's not the economy that they are voting on.
COLLINS: All right. Bill Schneider, thanks so much for all of that this morning. Sure do appreciate your insight.
Bill, back over to you.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. Now to the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens. Yusuf Islam is back home in Britain today after being removed from a plane Tuesday that was bound for Washington, D.C. He was on a terrorism watch list, and this morning he says he's tired and shocked and, as he puts it, slightly amused.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YUSUF ISLAM, SINGER: You know, the whole thing is totally ridiculous. Everybody knows who I am. You know, I'm no secret figure. Everybody knows my campaigning for charity, for peace, and there's going to be a whole lot of explanations. Hopefully there'll be that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Asa Hutchinson is the Undersecretary in the Department of Homeland Security -- talking with him earlier today in Washington about the Stevens incident, but also the story that CNN is confirming regarding the current status of airline security.
In a moment here, you'll hear that interview. We apologize for that. A little bit of technical snafu -- that's the official language we use in this business. We'll get to Asa Hutchinson in a moment. Back to Heidi now for the weather.
COLLINS: Oh, I hate those technical snafus.
HEMMER: Tell me about it, especially when you're on camera.
COLLINS: That's right. You handled it very well.
Want to check with the weather, now. Chad Myers, who never has technical snafus, any of those maps or anything. Right, Chad?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right. Hey, Bill, just always toss it to me. I'm here for you, bud, all the time.
HEMMER: My safety net -- thanks, Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, everybody.
Looking at the remnants of what was Ivan. I know Ivan moved up through Pensacola and made all that rainfall and flooding in Pennsylvania, and then came back around in Florida. A little piece of it still hung together. And it came across Florida, and now it's right here, just to the southwest of New Orleans, flaring up in the overnight hours. And there's a tropical storm now out there.
And it's called Ivan, again. It's going to come onshore rather quickly. Not going to get a chance to develop, but obviously making some rainfall. And every time we get a tropical system, it will bring in moisture with it. So, flooding's going to be more of a problem than wind.
Wind a problem with Jeanne. The same storm that made all that devastation in Haiti made a loop in the Atlantic -- another loop -- and then this thing now heading back toward Florida. And many of these areas here are going to look at a Category 2 hurricane, possibly even Category 3 by landfall.
This is the official line -- and obviously, here's South Carolina and Florida -- rushing Florida around Cape Hatteras (sic). Remember, that line always moves back and forth. As the storm gets closer, we'll have a better idea.
There's Ivan. There's some rain showers with that. Warm weather in the east today. Bill, for you, a high, sunshine, 83.
HEMMER: Thank you, Chad, my safety net.
Back to Asa Hutchinson now on the terror watch list and also what's happening with Cat Stevens and the front page story that CNN has confirmed on USA Today.
Here's Hutchinson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
How did that plane take off in the first place if his name was on the list?
ASA HUTCHINSON, UNDERSECRETARY FOR BORDER AND TRANSPORTATION SECURITY DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Well, that's a good question.
He was not supposed to be able to take off when you're on that list. That's a responsibility in our present system of the airlines. In this case, United Airlines did not make the connection. He was put on the flight. When we at Homeland Security discovered that, we diverted the plane. We want to change the system so the government manages that rather than putting that burden on the airlines to make the connection.
HEMMER: How can you change that? I mean, after all, if the system was working the way it should have worked -- and it's my understanding a customs officer caught the mistake here in the U.S. and radioed the plane.
HUTCHINSON: Well, first of all, we're trying to change the system with the new system called Secure Flight, where the government would take over the management of checking the watch list with the passenger manifest. That way you have a law enforcement professional making the comparison.
Right now, the system is that we send that list to the airlines, which is a security issue for us, and secondly, places the airline in an uncomfortable position of making sure the right comparison and check is made.
In this case, the right check was not made. This passenger was allowed on board. We then did our check, determined there was a risk and set the plane on a different course.
HEMMER: Do you consider him to be a threat?
HUTCHINSON: The intelligence...
HEMMER: I mean, this is Cat Stevens.
HUTCHINSON: Well, that was not the name that we were operating under.
But, yes, the intelligence community assessed him to be a threat and that's the reason he is placed on the watch list.
HEMMER: Let's get to another topic.
Front page of the USA Today, there is a report turned in about a year ago, late 2003, there were explosives and weapons sneaked past security officials. How did this happen?
HUTCHINSON: Well, this is the inspector general testing the system. This was over a year ago when the system was tested. They made recommendations on how to improve it. There were some deficiencies in it. We increased training. We responded to this. We've changed our protocols. And I believe the system is much more improved as a result of the changes that were made.
HEMMER: This is about 12 months later though, and for the flying public watching this story today, how can you assure them that the system is better than it was 12 months ago?
HUTCHINSON: I think they can sense that themselves as they go through there. There's more attention paid to the screening personnel in terms of if they go into secondary. We are actually having to do patdowns to resolve some of the alarms, and so we're being tight in our controls.
And we're also implementing more training. So the public should be able to see a difference, but what they don't see is the additional training, the new equipment that we're trying to put into place. We're continually trying to improve our security and respond to any gaps that's pointed out to us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Again, Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Still to come now, expensive, painful, and time- consuming: That describes allergy tests. But there may be a partial remedy. We're "Paging Dr. Gupta."
Also ahead, it turns out those free cars on the Oprah Winfrey show weren't so free after all. Andy Serwer's "Minding Your Business," ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We're "Paging Dr. Gupta" this morning about a new test for allergies that works in a fraction of the time. A lot of people are going to be happy about this.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta joining us now from the CNN Center with details. So many people from suffer from allergies out there.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: So many people do. And you know, a lot of times, you're sort of at home, you're not sure whether or not you're allergic to something, whether or not you should go see an allergist.
Well, there's a new test. It's not available in the United States yet, but it's called the FastCheckPoc. And it's a home test. It's supposed to be a faster, simpler, cheaper way for you to decide whether or not you need to take the next step in going and seeing your doctor. Especially helpful possibly for children, Heidi, who are concerned about -- parents are concerned about their allergies.
Basically, you saw some of the images there. All you do is you take a couple drops of blood. You actually put it in this plastic panel that has all these different allergens inside of it. And you see if it reacts. It's designed as a screening test. Essentially, you get a positive sign if you do have an allergy to something and a negative sign if you don't.
There's about 24 different allergens in there, Heidi.
COLLINS: Sounds like a pregnancy test.
GUPTA: It is, times 24. Yes, kind of like that.
COLLINS: OK. Well, is this actually designed, though, Sanjay, to replace the normal allergy test that we have been talking about that allergists -- you know, all that pricking and everything?
GUPTA: No, you know, it's really not, and that's an important point. It's really -- this is designed to sort of drive people to their doctors, to their allergists.
But you know, there's a lot of people at home who say, you know, "Gosh, I'm wonder if I'm allergic to that. Am I allergic to birch? Is it ragweed?" All those sorts of things.
This is sort of a screening test that you can do at home. There are some significant differences between this and a traditional what they call the RAST Blood Test.
Some of the differences. First of all, the one -- this one, the FastCheckPoc, you do on the spot; the traditional test, you actually have to send stuff to the lab.
Another point, this is more of a screening test, whereas the other traditional test is going to be more accurate. So, an important point. The final definitive thing is going to come from the doctor's office.
Also, it's not available yet in the United States, as I mentioned. The other one, obviously, already approved in the United States, Heidi.
COLLINS: OK. Well, what about how much it tests for? You talk about the accuracy of the traditional test, but the new one, does it test for everything?
GUPTA: Well, you know, you know what is sort of interesting about this, as we were reading about it, this was actually designed in Europe. So, the allergens they focus on in this FastCheckPoc right now are sort of more European allergies. And people do have different allergies in different parts of the world, even in different parts of the country.
So, ultimately, it probably will test for a lot of different things specific to the area where you live, although the experts we spoke with says it probably not going to be very good for food allergies. Be good for things like trees and ragweed and things like that, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Maybe some work still needs to be done on this one. Sanjay Gupta...
GUPTA: We'll keep you posted.
COLLINS: OK, very good. Thanks so much, Sanjay.
Well, some people might like to say that they're actually allergic to alligators, but we want to give you this update now.
After a week on the lam, Chucky -- remember him -- the thousand- pound alligator, he was captured in Alabama. Chucky had been missing since Hurricane Ivan destroyed the Gulf Shores Zoo.
It took dozens -- yes, dozens -- of state troopers and alligator rescuers three hours to haul the 14-foot gator out of a drainage ditch. Two of the rescuers actually swam across the ditch to get Chucky to show himself. Ouch. He's now living in a lion's den until his pond at the zoo can be repaired. Clearly the lions are not there.
HEMMER: That zoo was wiped out, by the way.
COLLINS: I know.
HEMMER: A lot of people pitching in down there to take those animals in and...
COLLINS: You remember the Bengal tiger? The little -- the little one that you had.
HEMMER: But Chucky raised a few eyebrows down there, Heidi, let me tell you, including two right here. Where is he?
A break here -- in a moment, if you're worried about bad breath, check your cell phone. Jack's back with "The File" after this, on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Alrighty. Welcome back.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the old expression is there's no free lunch, and I guess that's true, even if Oprah Winfrey is in the kitchen doing the cooking.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, you remember last week, Jack, Oprah Winfrey gave away 276 Pontiac G6's. Actually, she didn't give them away, of course, because GM paid for them, but that's a little detail here maybe. You get a car! You get a car! OK, and then GM also said it would pay the sales tax, would also pay various fees. But what GM nor Oprah is paying for is the income tax on these Pontiacs, a $28,000 car. If you have an income about $58,000, that means $7,000 in taxes. Now, I think Oprah should pay the tax. What do you think, Jack? I think Oprah should pay the tax, $276 times 7,000, 1.9 million.
CAFFERTY: I could have sworn you asked we what I think.
SERWER: I did. Go ahead.
CAFFERTY: Well, let me tell you.
SERWER: Go ahead.
CAFFERTY: You get a $28,000 car and you owe $7,000 taxes. Sell the car, pay the taxes, you put the 20 grand in your pocket just for walking into "The Oprah Winfrey Show." I think that's a win-win, if you don't want the car and you don't want the tax liability, then hand her the keys back.
SERWER: But then you don't get the car.
CAFFERTY: Well, you didn't have the car before you walked in there.
SERWER: Yes, but I've got a car now. I've got to either pay the tax or sell the car.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
SERWER: I want to have the car and not pay the tax. Here's another thing, a viewer wrote in and said, here's what Oprah could do. She could have bought each car from GM for a dollar and then given the car, and then they wouldn't have had a tax liability.
CAFFERTY: You sound like these guys on the subway grates -- you hand them a $5 bill, and they say, what's the matter, you don't have a $10?
SERWER: Well, don't you? You've got $10 in there, come on.
COLLINS: Isn't the bigger question, how could the Oprah Winfrey team not have known that there would be a gift tax on this type of, you know, purchase?
SERWER: I don't care about that -- $1.9 million, Oprah, that's all have you to do. That will be all the taxes for 276 people, times 7,000, 1.9. She's a billionaire. She can afford it.
COLLINS: Tell them to take the cars and drive them off the end of a pier. You try to do a good thing and people are jumping ugly with you. I'm on your side Oprah.
I'm an Oprah Winfrey supporter.
SERWER: You are. All right, we're going to remember that. CAFFERTY: Yes, what else do you have? Do you have anything else?
SERWER: Markets. They are down yesterday, and here we go. Oil problems...
CAFFERTY: Oh, boy, were they.
SERWER: Yes, they really were. And this morning, futures were up earlier, and they're now down. Jobless numbers came in not so good, And We'll be watching that as we move forward.
CAFFERTY: All right, thanks, Andy.
Time for the file. The old adage, money can't buy happiness. Well, the guys at the Associated Press must have had a slow day, because they went out and studied this for the 450,000 time. They did this poll, and guess what, they found out that people that make more than $75,000 a year are happier than people who make less than 25. Duh! 56 percent of the higher-income group said they were very satisfied with their lives. Only 24 percent of the lower-income group said that they were satisfied with their lives? The question is, what will the people at Associated Press choose to undertake in the way of tackling these difficult issues next?
If you're arrested in Bluffton, Indiana, you'll be arrested by one of the finest-dressed cops in all the land. Bluffton's 20-member police force has been named the nation's best dressed small law enforcement department by a uniform manufacturer's group. Judges looked at neatness, projection of authority, also functionality, as Bluffton's sporty (INAUDIBLE) uniform.
SERWER: Is that "Buffton?"
CAFFERTY: Bluffton.
SERWER: Buffton.
CAFFERTY: They even have special outfit for the canine unit. The best dressed big city cops? Well, that would be the NYPD, boys and girls, and the stuff on the inside of those uniforms is pretty good, too.
And finally a German cell phone company is developing a phone that will tell you if you have bad breath. Seamen's (ph) Mobile says their prototype uses a tiny chip measuring less than a millimeter to detect unpleasant odors. The phone will also tell you if you have been drinking too much or, if quote, "atmospheric gas levels," unquote, are abnormally high.
COLLINS: I have been waiting for us to talk about that very subject on this show.
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: So if walk down the streets, wondering about your atmospheric gasses...
SERWER: Atmospheric gasses, huh?
HEMMER: Do you need one by the way?
SERWER: He doesn't have a cell phone, it doesn't matter.
CAFFERTY: Have the taxes been paid on this mint? I mean, what are you trying to do to me?
SERWER: Oh yes, you're going to have to report it.
HEMMER: All right, in a moment here, we're going to get back to Ivan. Ivan is back, going to make landfall. The storm, not a hurricane, but still making a strong impression yet again, a boomerang of sorts. Back in a moment here, on AMERICAN MORNING, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired September 23, 2004 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS: CNN ANCHOR: Just about half past the 8:00 hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
So, is the presidential race tightening up? Bill Schneider is going to be with us in just a few minutes to look at some new poll numbers that show the candidates getting closer together.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also, what's up with Cat Stevens, whose changed name is Yusuf Islam, appearing on a terror watch list? We'll talk to Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson about why this happened and how it happened.
And also, this disturbing report today -- CNN has it; front page of "USA Today" also -- about a year ago, a number of explosives and firearms sneaked past security officers at 15 airports across the country. Why did it happen, and what's happening 12 months later to correct it? So, we'll get to that, also.
COLLINS: Yes, we will indeed. Right now, though, we want to check on the stories now in the news, once again with Kelly Wallace this morning. Good morning to you, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, again. And good morning, everyone.
We begin in Iraq. Fighting raging between U.S. forces and insurgents in Baghdad. Witnesses say gunfire and explosions could be heard overnight and spilling into the morning. The violence comes as a top U.S. general is raising prospects that more troops may be needed to secure Iraq before the scheduled elections at the end of January.
A registered sex offender accused of taking a 12-year-old Florida girl to Georgia is expected in federal court today. Raymond Lewis and Briana Schultheis were found in Atlanta yesterday. Schultheis was missing since Sunday. It appeared she left with Lewis willingly. She is now back with her family.
A roadblock for illegal immigrants driving in California. The state's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, yesterday vetoed a bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to get California driver's licenses. Schwarzenegger says it is a security issue, but supporters say the bill would help assure that drivers are insured and know the rules of the road.
And a pop singer nicknamed the Mexican Madonna is planning a comeback now that she's out of prison. Gloria Trevi was cleared of charges of rape, kidnapping, and corruption of minors on Tuesday. She had served nearly five years in prison. Trevi now plans to release a new record.
Quick check of he headlines. Back to Bill and Heidi.
COLLINS: Wow. All right, Kelly Wallace, thanks so much. Check in a little bit later on.
The latest national presidential poll shows Bush leading Kerry 50 to 46 percent among likely voters and 48 to 45 among all voters. Well, senior political analyst Bill Schneider is running those numbers for us. He's in Washington this morning.
Those numbers do look a little bit tighter, at least on the national poll, Bill. What do you make of it?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: They certainly do, and there are a couple of national polls. A couple of other ones that show the race tightening up: one from the American Research Group; another from "Investor's Business Daily."
You know what they say about a bounce: what goes up must come down. And it appears from these various polls that Bush's convention bounce at the beginning of the month may be receding and, once again, we may be getting a very tight race.
COLLINS: And you know, this other poll, too, the NBC News poll showing some interesting numbers among women voters. John Kerry up 48 to 45 percent there. But you know, it seems a little bit low, Bill, for Democrats. Usually -- historically, I should say, Democrats get larger numbers with women.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, they do. Al Gore in 2000 carried the women's vote by 11 percent. Interestingly, George Bush carried men by 11 percent. You had two competing landslides. There are a few more women than men in the electorate, so Gore outpolled Bush in the popular vote. But 11 percent is a solid margin. That's not what Kerry is getting right now.
What we've seen is the race in various polls tightening up among women voters, particularly married women. Why is this happening? Well, it looks like married women are very security conscious. Many of them are what we call "security moms" concerned about protecting their kids. And they see President Bush as a strong and protective figure.
And particularly since the tragedy in Russia at a elementary school, a lot of women have been very worried that something horrifying like that could happen in the United States, and they see Bush as a protective figure.
COLLINS: Boy, that story did resonate with mothers, I can guarantee that.
Interesting, also, Bill, we heard from Tad Devine a little bit earlier -- of the Kerry campaign, of course -- saying that women will actually respond quite a bit later than possibly men. Any truth to that?
SCHNEIDER: I'm not sure. I have never seen it happen that way. It's a good argument, but I think a lot of voters are waiting to see the debates.
You know, most voters who think they know how they are going to vote will try to be fair and say, "Look, I'm going to watch the debates and then I'll make up my mind, because it's the only chance in this entire campaign to see the two candidates side by side on equal footing."
COLLINS: Right.
All right. I want to turn to some of the state polls quickly, Bill. Two new ones from CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup. Walk me through these numbers now for Nevada and West Virginia. Some surprises here?
SCHNEIDER: Well, not really. These two states voted for Bush, and he's doing pretty well in those states. As you can see, among all registered voters, a slight lead in Nevada for Bush. Among likely voters, he's got a more solid nine-point lead. That state is doing very well economically.
Look at West Virginia. West Virginia's a bit of a surprise because of the economy. Registered voters, a nine-point lead for Bush, but actually this is one of the few states where among those most likely to vote, Bush is not doing quite as well. He's only got a six-point lead. West Virginia is a state where the economy is not very good.
COLLINS: Yes, very interesting, because that state actually leaning toward Bush, as you say. The number there, 72 percent saying that the economy is a problem.
SCHNEIDER: Which means that it's not the economy, stupid, in West Virginia, because Bush is carrying that state. It's likely to be guns. It's likely to be issues of moral and religious values. But it's not the economy that they are voting on.
COLLINS: All right. Bill Schneider, thanks so much for all of that this morning. Sure do appreciate your insight.
Bill, back over to you.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. Now to the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens. Yusuf Islam is back home in Britain today after being removed from a plane Tuesday that was bound for Washington, D.C. He was on a terrorism watch list, and this morning he says he's tired and shocked and, as he puts it, slightly amused.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YUSUF ISLAM, SINGER: You know, the whole thing is totally ridiculous. Everybody knows who I am. You know, I'm no secret figure. Everybody knows my campaigning for charity, for peace, and there's going to be a whole lot of explanations. Hopefully there'll be that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Asa Hutchinson is the Undersecretary in the Department of Homeland Security -- talking with him earlier today in Washington about the Stevens incident, but also the story that CNN is confirming regarding the current status of airline security.
In a moment here, you'll hear that interview. We apologize for that. A little bit of technical snafu -- that's the official language we use in this business. We'll get to Asa Hutchinson in a moment. Back to Heidi now for the weather.
COLLINS: Oh, I hate those technical snafus.
HEMMER: Tell me about it, especially when you're on camera.
COLLINS: That's right. You handled it very well.
Want to check with the weather, now. Chad Myers, who never has technical snafus, any of those maps or anything. Right, Chad?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right. Hey, Bill, just always toss it to me. I'm here for you, bud, all the time.
HEMMER: My safety net -- thanks, Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, everybody.
Looking at the remnants of what was Ivan. I know Ivan moved up through Pensacola and made all that rainfall and flooding in Pennsylvania, and then came back around in Florida. A little piece of it still hung together. And it came across Florida, and now it's right here, just to the southwest of New Orleans, flaring up in the overnight hours. And there's a tropical storm now out there.
And it's called Ivan, again. It's going to come onshore rather quickly. Not going to get a chance to develop, but obviously making some rainfall. And every time we get a tropical system, it will bring in moisture with it. So, flooding's going to be more of a problem than wind.
Wind a problem with Jeanne. The same storm that made all that devastation in Haiti made a loop in the Atlantic -- another loop -- and then this thing now heading back toward Florida. And many of these areas here are going to look at a Category 2 hurricane, possibly even Category 3 by landfall.
This is the official line -- and obviously, here's South Carolina and Florida -- rushing Florida around Cape Hatteras (sic). Remember, that line always moves back and forth. As the storm gets closer, we'll have a better idea.
There's Ivan. There's some rain showers with that. Warm weather in the east today. Bill, for you, a high, sunshine, 83.
HEMMER: Thank you, Chad, my safety net.
Back to Asa Hutchinson now on the terror watch list and also what's happening with Cat Stevens and the front page story that CNN has confirmed on USA Today.
Here's Hutchinson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
How did that plane take off in the first place if his name was on the list?
ASA HUTCHINSON, UNDERSECRETARY FOR BORDER AND TRANSPORTATION SECURITY DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Well, that's a good question.
He was not supposed to be able to take off when you're on that list. That's a responsibility in our present system of the airlines. In this case, United Airlines did not make the connection. He was put on the flight. When we at Homeland Security discovered that, we diverted the plane. We want to change the system so the government manages that rather than putting that burden on the airlines to make the connection.
HEMMER: How can you change that? I mean, after all, if the system was working the way it should have worked -- and it's my understanding a customs officer caught the mistake here in the U.S. and radioed the plane.
HUTCHINSON: Well, first of all, we're trying to change the system with the new system called Secure Flight, where the government would take over the management of checking the watch list with the passenger manifest. That way you have a law enforcement professional making the comparison.
Right now, the system is that we send that list to the airlines, which is a security issue for us, and secondly, places the airline in an uncomfortable position of making sure the right comparison and check is made.
In this case, the right check was not made. This passenger was allowed on board. We then did our check, determined there was a risk and set the plane on a different course.
HEMMER: Do you consider him to be a threat?
HUTCHINSON: The intelligence...
HEMMER: I mean, this is Cat Stevens.
HUTCHINSON: Well, that was not the name that we were operating under.
But, yes, the intelligence community assessed him to be a threat and that's the reason he is placed on the watch list.
HEMMER: Let's get to another topic.
Front page of the USA Today, there is a report turned in about a year ago, late 2003, there were explosives and weapons sneaked past security officials. How did this happen?
HUTCHINSON: Well, this is the inspector general testing the system. This was over a year ago when the system was tested. They made recommendations on how to improve it. There were some deficiencies in it. We increased training. We responded to this. We've changed our protocols. And I believe the system is much more improved as a result of the changes that were made.
HEMMER: This is about 12 months later though, and for the flying public watching this story today, how can you assure them that the system is better than it was 12 months ago?
HUTCHINSON: I think they can sense that themselves as they go through there. There's more attention paid to the screening personnel in terms of if they go into secondary. We are actually having to do patdowns to resolve some of the alarms, and so we're being tight in our controls.
And we're also implementing more training. So the public should be able to see a difference, but what they don't see is the additional training, the new equipment that we're trying to put into place. We're continually trying to improve our security and respond to any gaps that's pointed out to us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Again, Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Still to come now, expensive, painful, and time- consuming: That describes allergy tests. But there may be a partial remedy. We're "Paging Dr. Gupta."
Also ahead, it turns out those free cars on the Oprah Winfrey show weren't so free after all. Andy Serwer's "Minding Your Business," ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We're "Paging Dr. Gupta" this morning about a new test for allergies that works in a fraction of the time. A lot of people are going to be happy about this.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta joining us now from the CNN Center with details. So many people from suffer from allergies out there.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: So many people do. And you know, a lot of times, you're sort of at home, you're not sure whether or not you're allergic to something, whether or not you should go see an allergist.
Well, there's a new test. It's not available in the United States yet, but it's called the FastCheckPoc. And it's a home test. It's supposed to be a faster, simpler, cheaper way for you to decide whether or not you need to take the next step in going and seeing your doctor. Especially helpful possibly for children, Heidi, who are concerned about -- parents are concerned about their allergies.
Basically, you saw some of the images there. All you do is you take a couple drops of blood. You actually put it in this plastic panel that has all these different allergens inside of it. And you see if it reacts. It's designed as a screening test. Essentially, you get a positive sign if you do have an allergy to something and a negative sign if you don't.
There's about 24 different allergens in there, Heidi.
COLLINS: Sounds like a pregnancy test.
GUPTA: It is, times 24. Yes, kind of like that.
COLLINS: OK. Well, is this actually designed, though, Sanjay, to replace the normal allergy test that we have been talking about that allergists -- you know, all that pricking and everything?
GUPTA: No, you know, it's really not, and that's an important point. It's really -- this is designed to sort of drive people to their doctors, to their allergists.
But you know, there's a lot of people at home who say, you know, "Gosh, I'm wonder if I'm allergic to that. Am I allergic to birch? Is it ragweed?" All those sorts of things.
This is sort of a screening test that you can do at home. There are some significant differences between this and a traditional what they call the RAST Blood Test.
Some of the differences. First of all, the one -- this one, the FastCheckPoc, you do on the spot; the traditional test, you actually have to send stuff to the lab.
Another point, this is more of a screening test, whereas the other traditional test is going to be more accurate. So, an important point. The final definitive thing is going to come from the doctor's office.
Also, it's not available yet in the United States, as I mentioned. The other one, obviously, already approved in the United States, Heidi.
COLLINS: OK. Well, what about how much it tests for? You talk about the accuracy of the traditional test, but the new one, does it test for everything?
GUPTA: Well, you know, you know what is sort of interesting about this, as we were reading about it, this was actually designed in Europe. So, the allergens they focus on in this FastCheckPoc right now are sort of more European allergies. And people do have different allergies in different parts of the world, even in different parts of the country.
So, ultimately, it probably will test for a lot of different things specific to the area where you live, although the experts we spoke with says it probably not going to be very good for food allergies. Be good for things like trees and ragweed and things like that, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Maybe some work still needs to be done on this one. Sanjay Gupta...
GUPTA: We'll keep you posted.
COLLINS: OK, very good. Thanks so much, Sanjay.
Well, some people might like to say that they're actually allergic to alligators, but we want to give you this update now.
After a week on the lam, Chucky -- remember him -- the thousand- pound alligator, he was captured in Alabama. Chucky had been missing since Hurricane Ivan destroyed the Gulf Shores Zoo.
It took dozens -- yes, dozens -- of state troopers and alligator rescuers three hours to haul the 14-foot gator out of a drainage ditch. Two of the rescuers actually swam across the ditch to get Chucky to show himself. Ouch. He's now living in a lion's den until his pond at the zoo can be repaired. Clearly the lions are not there.
HEMMER: That zoo was wiped out, by the way.
COLLINS: I know.
HEMMER: A lot of people pitching in down there to take those animals in and...
COLLINS: You remember the Bengal tiger? The little -- the little one that you had.
HEMMER: But Chucky raised a few eyebrows down there, Heidi, let me tell you, including two right here. Where is he?
A break here -- in a moment, if you're worried about bad breath, check your cell phone. Jack's back with "The File" after this, on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Alrighty. Welcome back.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the old expression is there's no free lunch, and I guess that's true, even if Oprah Winfrey is in the kitchen doing the cooking.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes, you remember last week, Jack, Oprah Winfrey gave away 276 Pontiac G6's. Actually, she didn't give them away, of course, because GM paid for them, but that's a little detail here maybe. You get a car! You get a car! OK, and then GM also said it would pay the sales tax, would also pay various fees. But what GM nor Oprah is paying for is the income tax on these Pontiacs, a $28,000 car. If you have an income about $58,000, that means $7,000 in taxes. Now, I think Oprah should pay the tax. What do you think, Jack? I think Oprah should pay the tax, $276 times 7,000, 1.9 million.
CAFFERTY: I could have sworn you asked we what I think.
SERWER: I did. Go ahead.
CAFFERTY: Well, let me tell you.
SERWER: Go ahead.
CAFFERTY: You get a $28,000 car and you owe $7,000 taxes. Sell the car, pay the taxes, you put the 20 grand in your pocket just for walking into "The Oprah Winfrey Show." I think that's a win-win, if you don't want the car and you don't want the tax liability, then hand her the keys back.
SERWER: But then you don't get the car.
CAFFERTY: Well, you didn't have the car before you walked in there.
SERWER: Yes, but I've got a car now. I've got to either pay the tax or sell the car.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
SERWER: I want to have the car and not pay the tax. Here's another thing, a viewer wrote in and said, here's what Oprah could do. She could have bought each car from GM for a dollar and then given the car, and then they wouldn't have had a tax liability.
CAFFERTY: You sound like these guys on the subway grates -- you hand them a $5 bill, and they say, what's the matter, you don't have a $10?
SERWER: Well, don't you? You've got $10 in there, come on.
COLLINS: Isn't the bigger question, how could the Oprah Winfrey team not have known that there would be a gift tax on this type of, you know, purchase?
SERWER: I don't care about that -- $1.9 million, Oprah, that's all have you to do. That will be all the taxes for 276 people, times 7,000, 1.9. She's a billionaire. She can afford it.
COLLINS: Tell them to take the cars and drive them off the end of a pier. You try to do a good thing and people are jumping ugly with you. I'm on your side Oprah.
I'm an Oprah Winfrey supporter.
SERWER: You are. All right, we're going to remember that. CAFFERTY: Yes, what else do you have? Do you have anything else?
SERWER: Markets. They are down yesterday, and here we go. Oil problems...
CAFFERTY: Oh, boy, were they.
SERWER: Yes, they really were. And this morning, futures were up earlier, and they're now down. Jobless numbers came in not so good, And We'll be watching that as we move forward.
CAFFERTY: All right, thanks, Andy.
Time for the file. The old adage, money can't buy happiness. Well, the guys at the Associated Press must have had a slow day, because they went out and studied this for the 450,000 time. They did this poll, and guess what, they found out that people that make more than $75,000 a year are happier than people who make less than 25. Duh! 56 percent of the higher-income group said they were very satisfied with their lives. Only 24 percent of the lower-income group said that they were satisfied with their lives? The question is, what will the people at Associated Press choose to undertake in the way of tackling these difficult issues next?
If you're arrested in Bluffton, Indiana, you'll be arrested by one of the finest-dressed cops in all the land. Bluffton's 20-member police force has been named the nation's best dressed small law enforcement department by a uniform manufacturer's group. Judges looked at neatness, projection of authority, also functionality, as Bluffton's sporty (INAUDIBLE) uniform.
SERWER: Is that "Buffton?"
CAFFERTY: Bluffton.
SERWER: Buffton.
CAFFERTY: They even have special outfit for the canine unit. The best dressed big city cops? Well, that would be the NYPD, boys and girls, and the stuff on the inside of those uniforms is pretty good, too.
And finally a German cell phone company is developing a phone that will tell you if you have bad breath. Seamen's (ph) Mobile says their prototype uses a tiny chip measuring less than a millimeter to detect unpleasant odors. The phone will also tell you if you have been drinking too much or, if quote, "atmospheric gas levels," unquote, are abnormally high.
COLLINS: I have been waiting for us to talk about that very subject on this show.
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: So if walk down the streets, wondering about your atmospheric gasses...
SERWER: Atmospheric gasses, huh?
HEMMER: Do you need one by the way?
SERWER: He doesn't have a cell phone, it doesn't matter.
CAFFERTY: Have the taxes been paid on this mint? I mean, what are you trying to do to me?
SERWER: Oh yes, you're going to have to report it.
HEMMER: All right, in a moment here, we're going to get back to Ivan. Ivan is back, going to make landfall. The storm, not a hurricane, but still making a strong impression yet again, a boomerang of sorts. Back in a moment here, on AMERICAN MORNING, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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