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CNN Live At Daybreak

Dual Explosions Mark This Monday Morning in Baghdad; Previewing Vice Presidential Debate

Aired October 04, 2004 - 06:00   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: Dual explosions mark this Monday morning in Baghdad.
This is DAYBREAK for October 4.

Well, good morning.

From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in for Carol Costello this morning.

Now in the news, about three hours ago, a pair of car bombs ripped through central Baghdad, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 85 others. Some reports have the death toll as high as 20. The first blast happened outside a heavily fortified green zone, the second near a hotel. We'll take you to Baghdad for a live report in just a couple of minutes.

In Gaza this morning, Israeli forces are not letting up. They're pushing ahead with a sixth day of raids against suspected militants. Palestinian security sources say the latest raid left two Palestinians dead. Seven were killed on Sunday.

Back here at home, President Bush campaigns today in Iowa, where he is expected to sign into law bills extending some tax cuts on business taxes and business tax incentives. The tax breaks would have expired at the end of this year.

And John Kerry holds a rally in Hampton, New Hampshire about three and a half hours from now. Then he'll meet privately with clergy members in Philadelphia. Later, he'll visit Iowa.

And check it out, Space Ship One is set to launch from California about four hours from now. The ship flew into space last week. Now it's trying to become the first privately made manned rocket to reach space twice within 14 days. Our Miles O'Brien will join us from the Mojave Desert in California 45 minutes from now.

Time, though, to check in with Chad Myers and a look at the forecast.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: We want to get more now on today's deadly car bombings in central Baghdad.

And for that, our Brent Sadler joins us live from the Iraqi capital -- good morning, Brent.

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty.

Two powerful bomb explosions several hours ago here in the Iraqi capital. The first detonation was close to a U.S. military checkpoint on the southern entrance to the green zone. That's the heavily fortified area, home to the U.S. and British embassies. No reports of casualties among national forces, but the bombers appeared in that incident to be targeting an Iraqi Army recruitment center just outside the green zone. And that's where we saw the heaviest casualties this day.

The latest reports say 15 killed and as many as 75 wounded from that first blast.

The bombers, as we have seen in many, many months, targeting recruitment centers, trying to sap the morale of Iraqis serving in the police and army units and trying to dissuade more Iraqis from signing up to those emerging security forces.

Now, in the second blast about an hour later, a huge explosion in a commercial district about 500 meters from our hotel. It really shook our building here. And, in fact, some of the shrapnel landing close to our work space. This blast apparently aimed at a convoy of armored vehicles of the type used by Western security personnel and contractors. Reports of casualties there less, one killed and 13 wounded.

Now, soon after we saw a plume of black smoke rising from the blast site, we heard gunfire echoing across the city, reportedly Iraqi police, security forces, engaging suspect insurgents, creating a lot of panic amid the bloodshed here in Baghdad today -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Very violent there.

Brent Sadler, thank you so much for that report.

Iraq was the big topic of debate when the presidential candidates met for the first time. And it apparently gave John Kerry a bump in the polls. A new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll shows President Bush and Senator Kerry running in a dead heat. Kerry's 49 percent is a 5 point jump from the last pre-debate poll. And looking ahead to the second debate, 48 percent think Senator Kerry will do a better job, while 41 percent think the president is right on track.

But it's the vice presidential candidates who will be on the big stage next. Their debate is tomorrow night at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

CNN senior political analyst William Schneider takes a look at what we can expect. (BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Here's the classic vice presidential debate question...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who am I? Why am I here?

SCHNEIDER: The fact is, Americans don't vote for vice president. Want proof? At the 1988 vice presidential debate, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen blew Republican Dan Quayle away with this remark.

LLOYD BENTSEN (D), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.

SCHNEIDER: But guess who got elected vice president? It wasn't Lloyd Bentsen.

Vice presidential candidates are supposed to do the dirty work of the campaign: slashing, bitter partisan attacks. But the 2000 vice presidential debate between Democrat Joe Lieberman and Republican Dick Cheney was a surprise. It was a polite, amiable, low key affair. Even the disagreements were pretty agreeable.

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can see my wife and I think she's thinking, gee, I wish he would go out into the private sector.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I'm going to try to help you do that, Joe.

LIEBERMAN: No.

(LAUGHTER)

LIEBERMAN: No, I think you've done so well there, I want to keep you there.

SCHNEIDER: Although there were hints of bigger debates to come.

CHENEY: I don't think you can afford to have a man like Saddam Hussein with nuclear weapons, say, in the Middle East. BERNARD SHAW, MODERATOR: Senator?

LIEBERMAN: Bernie, it would, of course, be a very serious situation if we had evidence, credible evidence that Saddam Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction.

SCHNEIDER: This year's vice presidential debate should be particularly interesting: the most powerful vice president in American history versus a great trial lawyer.

STEPHEN HESS, BROOKINGS INSTITUTE: We have a person who has power and experience against a person who has not had power and experience in politics but comes to the question of debating with great skill.

SCHNEIDER: The contenders have very different public images. Dick Cheney is less favorably regarded than President Bush, while John Edwards is the most popular of all. Edwards can do something John Kerry can't do -- he can play the populist card. SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Because let me tell you the last thing we need in the South is somebody like you coming down and telling us what we need to do.

SCHNEIDER: What card can Cheney play to compete with that? One word: experience.

CHENEY: I'm proud of my service in Washington for 25 years.

SCHNEIDER (on camera): There's also a difference in ambition between the two candidates. No one expects Dick Cheney to run for president. Everyone expects John Edwards to run, again.

Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.

END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And CNN will bring you live coverage of the vice presidential debate Tuesday, starting at 7:00 p.m. And the same goes for Friday, when President Bush and Senator Kerry square off once again. So be sure to tune into CNN for debate coverage both nights.

A close watch is being kept on Mount Saint Helens. But a significant eruption may not come for days, or even months. Spectators crowded visitor centers for a look at the volcano, hoping to catch a glimpse of geologic history. Scientists say that if an eruption occurs, it would not be nearly as big as the massive explosion 24 years ago. But they still fear that a large ash plume could come from the mountain.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIE STEWART, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: At the request of the U.S. Forest Service, we've asked the FAA to close the air space, creating a no fly zone through what's known as a temporary flight restriction over the crater of Mount Saint Helens. This is a relatively small air space closure. It does not affect any commercial traffic or any airline routes going to and from Portland or Seattle International.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Now, the closure is needed to provide safe space for the scientist and environmental teams that are monitoring the mountain.

Here's a look at some other stories that we're watching this week.

Just about 30 minutes ago, a pair of Americans won the Nobel Peace Prize for medicine. Richard Axel and Linda Buck were recognized for their work on the human sense of smell. The Nobel Peace Prize winner will be named on Friday and we'll keep up with the rest of the prizes, as well.

On Tuesday, Michael Moore's controversial "Fahrenheit 911" comes out on DVD and video. Moore said he wanted the movie released before next month's election. "Fahrenheit 911" made more than $100 million at the box office.

And on Friday, Martha Stewart is scheduled to arrive in West Virginia. She'll begin serving her five month sentence for lying to federal investigators. The facility in Alderson, West Virginia has had other high profile prisoners, such as Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and Billie Holiday.

That is all coming up later this week.

But up next, a car company many people considered a joke a decade ago is setting itself up for a big deal. We'll tell you what can make Hyundai a bigger player in the auto market.

Plus, Mount Saint Helens is up to big things, as well. The volcano is still rumbling, but so far no big eruption. Is it just a matter of time?

And the vice presidential candidates get just one chance to hog the podium. We'll look at which one has more to lose in their debate.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

NGUYEN: Your news, money, weather and sports.

The time right now is 6:13 Eastern.

Here's what's new this morning.

Central Baghdad was rocked by a pair of car bomb explosions. Some reports say at least 16 people were killed, while other reports list the death toll at 20. As many as 85 others were injured. The first blast occurred just outside the heavily guarded green zone. The other was at a hotel.

Prosecutors in the Scott Peterson trial are expected to wrap up their case by Friday. The trial is entering its 19th week. Peterson's defense may last another two to three months.

And in money, they're pumping more oil in Russia. Oil production there reached a post-Soviet high of nearly nine and a half million barrels for September.

In culture, a parade of married couples took to the streets in the Philippines to promote marriage, of course. The Catholic Church organized the parade of couples who had been married more than 50 years. The government is considering whether to make divorce legal in the Philippines.

In sports now, the Houston Astros won the National League wild card on the last day of the regular season. They'll play the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the playoffs. The Astros have lost to the Braves in three of their last four post-season appearances.

But, Chad, I think things are going to turn around this year.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, I hope so, at least for the folks there. I hope we win some games here in Atlanta, as well, though, of course.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, we have been watching the price of oil climb.

Carrie Lee joins us now with the rising cost of a barrel.

She's at the Nasdaq market site in Times Square.

Now, things have risen so far. Has it made history just yet?

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has, Betty.

NGUYEN: OK.

LEE: In fact, oil closing out, settling out above $50 a barrel for the first time ever on Friday, hitting $50.12. Of course, we're talking about light crude for November. The company, the oil prices, rather, jumped $0.48...

(AUDIO GAP)

NGUYEN: All right, obviously we are having some audio problems with Carrie Lee.

We'll try to get you another check of business news a little bit later in the show.

Will she blow her top? All eyes are on Mount Saint Helens, geologists' and tourists' alike. We'll get a live report on the latest volcano activity.

And, to the ends of the earth for 10 million bucks. One team's special journey in flight takes off for the second time this morning. We'll check in with our Miles O'Brien, who is there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, volcano watchers, they went home disappointed, but scientists are still pretty sure Mount Saint Helens is going to blow any time now.

CNN's Eric Philips is live on the scene in Washington State and joins us now very early in the morning with the latest -- good morning to you, Eric.

ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, good morning to you.

It is a game of wait and see here at Mount Saint Helens. Geologists say that weekend volcanic activity was just a precursor to a larger eruption that could happen today.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

PHILIPS (voice-over): A small volcanic tremor shook Mount Saint Helens Sunday. Scientists say it lasted about 25 minutes. This followed volcanic activity on both Friday and Saturday. The volcano had what geologists called a hiccup on Friday, spewing a harmless plume of steam and ash into the air. A small steam eruption on Saturday lasted about an hour. All that prompted scientists to raise the volcanic alert level to three, indicating an imminent eruption.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We feel pretty confident now that fresh magma is being intruded into the system.

PHILIPS: Researchers believe the violence of the eruption will be nothing close to the one in 1980 that killed 57 people, left piles of ash hundreds of miles away and blew away more than 1,000 feet from the top of the mountain. But, they warn this eruption will be an awe inspiring natural event, as Mount Saint Helens simmers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in a period of heightened concern. And, you know, the usual steam emission, ash cloud, perhaps something a bit more energetic, we're at that time, though, where we think that the probability of such an event is, you know, is high.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

PHILIPS: The greatest concern right now is an ash plume and the spread of ask itself that could result from an eruption. And that's because volcanic ash is a mixture of pulverized rock and natural glass -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Eric, there's been a lot of talk when Mount Saint Helens is finally going to blow after all these rumblings. Now it's looking like weeks, maybe even months?

PHILIPS: Well, it could be days, it could be weeks, it could be months.

NGUYEN: Who knows?

PHILIPS: Scientists really aren't sure. They told us now that they're expecting something to happen within the next 24 hours. But that something could be another plume of smoke. It could be a little bit of ash. Or it could be the big something that they've been expecting now for a couple of days.

But, again, even the big something, they're saying, will be nothing compared to what happened in 1980.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. Fifty-seven people died then. We don't want to see another one of those.

PHILIPS: Right.

NGUYEN: Thank you, Eric Philips, this morning for us. Well, as Mount Saint Helens rumbles on the ground, it could wreak havoc on the air above.

CNN meteorologist Chad Myers joins us now to explain how this happens -- good morning, Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Betty.

It all depends on how far the plume goes up. If it's a small eruption like it really was, or a semi-eruption, on Friday -- we all watched it on TV -- it doesn't go up very high. That was only about 18,000 feet. If it blows its top like it did, or even close to what it did back in 1980, the tops there went up to 80,000 feet. And that ash stayed in the atmosphere for literally weeks. And some spots there, some thinking that some of that very small ash may still be up there 24 years later.

Here's what it looks like, though. I want to fly you into what this whole thing, this whole scenario is like -- Washington, Oregon, Idaho, obviously you can see it here.

Now, we'll fly into Portland. We always talk about this as being Washington. But this is an awful lot closer to Portland, Oregon than it is to Seattle, Washington. So as we get you a little bit closer to the center of this thing itself, this is what Mount Saint Helens looks like right now.

What it looked like in 1980, to get a little bit of a circle there, this thing actually went up another thousand feet. The whole top of that mountain was blown away. And that's where all of that activity came from. That's where all of the explosiveness came from. And that top has obviously not been rebuilt. There is a dome and scientists thinking if it continues to build the way it has been in the '80s and even in the early '90s, it would still take 200 years to rebuild Mount Saint Helens to where it was back before the top was blown off.

You can see right through here the entire area blown off. Here's the original crater itself. The top was way up here and way back down. Obviously, all of that energy, all of that mountain, all of that ash and rock completely gone.

The dome building right through here. It's building at -- what they're saying now, overnight, tens of meters coming up, which is pretty good, quite a bit of building there of the lava dome itself. And there is where the observatory is. And when the light comes up, that's what Eric will be looking at. Eric Philips obviously out there, plenty of miles away, though, from where it is. So we're not giving him any danger assignment out there.

Obviously, there was an area, a viewing area up closer to the volcano, and obviously the USGS backed everybody up from that. They said hey, out of here. Especially...

NGUYEN: Yes, you're evacuated from that area. MYERS: Especially after that 25 minute eruption or almost shaking going on. There were some quick shakes over the weekend and before that. They weren't so concerned about that. But when it shook for 25 minutes and continued to shake, that's when they knew that the magma was actually getting a little bit farther and closer to the surface -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Chad Myers, our resident geologist this morning for us.

Thank you.

MYERS: Yes. Covers it all.

NGUYEN: Absolutely.

You need a pay raise for that.

Well, how much of a bump did each candidate get after the presidential debate? The incumbent versus the senator -- a look at the latest Gallup polls.

Then, I'll talk to a man who has a formula to figure out which man will win the White House. He claims it works every time.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, good morning.

From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in for Carol Costello. Some reports list the death toll as 16, while others say it could be as high as 20.

Spanish officials are calling the arrest historic. After a series of raids, Spanish police have captured the suspected leader of a Basque militant group. The group's been blamed in a string of terror attacks.

The death penalty, free speech and prison sentences -- those are just some of the issues facing the Supreme Court, which opens a new term this morning.

And it's back to school today for children in six Florida counties ravaged by hurricanes. Some of the damaged schools have held no classes for a month. Schools in two counties, Escambia and Santa Rosa, will remain closed for another week.

But, Chad, you know, this weekend was the first weekend in a long time that we haven't been consumed by hurricanes in Florida.

MYERS: Are you telling me?

NGUYEN: I'm feeling it, too.

MYERS: I actually watched some football this weekend for a change.

NGUYEN: Yes, you weren't out in the rain and the stormy weather.

MYERS: Oh, my. Yes, really. I got a chance to dry out.

Good morning.

Good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Just in case you're keeping track, 29 days and counting until the presidential election. And if you have not registered to vote as yet, the deadline is today in these states. There are a lot of them. Washington, D.C. is also included.

President Bush campaigns today in Iowa. While in Des Moines, he will sign into law bills extending some tax cuts that would have expired at this year's end.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired October 4, 2004 - 06:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Dual explosions mark this Monday morning in Baghdad.
This is DAYBREAK for October 4.

Well, good morning.

From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in for Carol Costello this morning.

Now in the news, about three hours ago, a pair of car bombs ripped through central Baghdad, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 85 others. Some reports have the death toll as high as 20. The first blast happened outside a heavily fortified green zone, the second near a hotel. We'll take you to Baghdad for a live report in just a couple of minutes.

In Gaza this morning, Israeli forces are not letting up. They're pushing ahead with a sixth day of raids against suspected militants. Palestinian security sources say the latest raid left two Palestinians dead. Seven were killed on Sunday.

Back here at home, President Bush campaigns today in Iowa, where he is expected to sign into law bills extending some tax cuts on business taxes and business tax incentives. The tax breaks would have expired at the end of this year.

And John Kerry holds a rally in Hampton, New Hampshire about three and a half hours from now. Then he'll meet privately with clergy members in Philadelphia. Later, he'll visit Iowa.

And check it out, Space Ship One is set to launch from California about four hours from now. The ship flew into space last week. Now it's trying to become the first privately made manned rocket to reach space twice within 14 days. Our Miles O'Brien will join us from the Mojave Desert in California 45 minutes from now.

Time, though, to check in with Chad Myers and a look at the forecast.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: We want to get more now on today's deadly car bombings in central Baghdad.

And for that, our Brent Sadler joins us live from the Iraqi capital -- good morning, Brent.

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty.

Two powerful bomb explosions several hours ago here in the Iraqi capital. The first detonation was close to a U.S. military checkpoint on the southern entrance to the green zone. That's the heavily fortified area, home to the U.S. and British embassies. No reports of casualties among national forces, but the bombers appeared in that incident to be targeting an Iraqi Army recruitment center just outside the green zone. And that's where we saw the heaviest casualties this day.

The latest reports say 15 killed and as many as 75 wounded from that first blast.

The bombers, as we have seen in many, many months, targeting recruitment centers, trying to sap the morale of Iraqis serving in the police and army units and trying to dissuade more Iraqis from signing up to those emerging security forces.

Now, in the second blast about an hour later, a huge explosion in a commercial district about 500 meters from our hotel. It really shook our building here. And, in fact, some of the shrapnel landing close to our work space. This blast apparently aimed at a convoy of armored vehicles of the type used by Western security personnel and contractors. Reports of casualties there less, one killed and 13 wounded.

Now, soon after we saw a plume of black smoke rising from the blast site, we heard gunfire echoing across the city, reportedly Iraqi police, security forces, engaging suspect insurgents, creating a lot of panic amid the bloodshed here in Baghdad today -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Very violent there.

Brent Sadler, thank you so much for that report.

Iraq was the big topic of debate when the presidential candidates met for the first time. And it apparently gave John Kerry a bump in the polls. A new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll shows President Bush and Senator Kerry running in a dead heat. Kerry's 49 percent is a 5 point jump from the last pre-debate poll. And looking ahead to the second debate, 48 percent think Senator Kerry will do a better job, while 41 percent think the president is right on track.

But it's the vice presidential candidates who will be on the big stage next. Their debate is tomorrow night at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

CNN senior political analyst William Schneider takes a look at what we can expect. (BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Here's the classic vice presidential debate question...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who am I? Why am I here?

SCHNEIDER: The fact is, Americans don't vote for vice president. Want proof? At the 1988 vice presidential debate, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen blew Republican Dan Quayle away with this remark.

LLOYD BENTSEN (D), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.

SCHNEIDER: But guess who got elected vice president? It wasn't Lloyd Bentsen.

Vice presidential candidates are supposed to do the dirty work of the campaign: slashing, bitter partisan attacks. But the 2000 vice presidential debate between Democrat Joe Lieberman and Republican Dick Cheney was a surprise. It was a polite, amiable, low key affair. Even the disagreements were pretty agreeable.

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can see my wife and I think she's thinking, gee, I wish he would go out into the private sector.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I'm going to try to help you do that, Joe.

LIEBERMAN: No.

(LAUGHTER)

LIEBERMAN: No, I think you've done so well there, I want to keep you there.

SCHNEIDER: Although there were hints of bigger debates to come.

CHENEY: I don't think you can afford to have a man like Saddam Hussein with nuclear weapons, say, in the Middle East. BERNARD SHAW, MODERATOR: Senator?

LIEBERMAN: Bernie, it would, of course, be a very serious situation if we had evidence, credible evidence that Saddam Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction.

SCHNEIDER: This year's vice presidential debate should be particularly interesting: the most powerful vice president in American history versus a great trial lawyer.

STEPHEN HESS, BROOKINGS INSTITUTE: We have a person who has power and experience against a person who has not had power and experience in politics but comes to the question of debating with great skill.

SCHNEIDER: The contenders have very different public images. Dick Cheney is less favorably regarded than President Bush, while John Edwards is the most popular of all. Edwards can do something John Kerry can't do -- he can play the populist card. SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Because let me tell you the last thing we need in the South is somebody like you coming down and telling us what we need to do.

SCHNEIDER: What card can Cheney play to compete with that? One word: experience.

CHENEY: I'm proud of my service in Washington for 25 years.

SCHNEIDER (on camera): There's also a difference in ambition between the two candidates. No one expects Dick Cheney to run for president. Everyone expects John Edwards to run, again.

Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.

END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And CNN will bring you live coverage of the vice presidential debate Tuesday, starting at 7:00 p.m. And the same goes for Friday, when President Bush and Senator Kerry square off once again. So be sure to tune into CNN for debate coverage both nights.

A close watch is being kept on Mount Saint Helens. But a significant eruption may not come for days, or even months. Spectators crowded visitor centers for a look at the volcano, hoping to catch a glimpse of geologic history. Scientists say that if an eruption occurs, it would not be nearly as big as the massive explosion 24 years ago. But they still fear that a large ash plume could come from the mountain.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIE STEWART, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: At the request of the U.S. Forest Service, we've asked the FAA to close the air space, creating a no fly zone through what's known as a temporary flight restriction over the crater of Mount Saint Helens. This is a relatively small air space closure. It does not affect any commercial traffic or any airline routes going to and from Portland or Seattle International.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Now, the closure is needed to provide safe space for the scientist and environmental teams that are monitoring the mountain.

Here's a look at some other stories that we're watching this week.

Just about 30 minutes ago, a pair of Americans won the Nobel Peace Prize for medicine. Richard Axel and Linda Buck were recognized for their work on the human sense of smell. The Nobel Peace Prize winner will be named on Friday and we'll keep up with the rest of the prizes, as well.

On Tuesday, Michael Moore's controversial "Fahrenheit 911" comes out on DVD and video. Moore said he wanted the movie released before next month's election. "Fahrenheit 911" made more than $100 million at the box office.

And on Friday, Martha Stewart is scheduled to arrive in West Virginia. She'll begin serving her five month sentence for lying to federal investigators. The facility in Alderson, West Virginia has had other high profile prisoners, such as Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and Billie Holiday.

That is all coming up later this week.

But up next, a car company many people considered a joke a decade ago is setting itself up for a big deal. We'll tell you what can make Hyundai a bigger player in the auto market.

Plus, Mount Saint Helens is up to big things, as well. The volcano is still rumbling, but so far no big eruption. Is it just a matter of time?

And the vice presidential candidates get just one chance to hog the podium. We'll look at which one has more to lose in their debate.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

NGUYEN: Your news, money, weather and sports.

The time right now is 6:13 Eastern.

Here's what's new this morning.

Central Baghdad was rocked by a pair of car bomb explosions. Some reports say at least 16 people were killed, while other reports list the death toll at 20. As many as 85 others were injured. The first blast occurred just outside the heavily guarded green zone. The other was at a hotel.

Prosecutors in the Scott Peterson trial are expected to wrap up their case by Friday. The trial is entering its 19th week. Peterson's defense may last another two to three months.

And in money, they're pumping more oil in Russia. Oil production there reached a post-Soviet high of nearly nine and a half million barrels for September.

In culture, a parade of married couples took to the streets in the Philippines to promote marriage, of course. The Catholic Church organized the parade of couples who had been married more than 50 years. The government is considering whether to make divorce legal in the Philippines.

In sports now, the Houston Astros won the National League wild card on the last day of the regular season. They'll play the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the playoffs. The Astros have lost to the Braves in three of their last four post-season appearances.

But, Chad, I think things are going to turn around this year.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, I hope so, at least for the folks there. I hope we win some games here in Atlanta, as well, though, of course.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, we have been watching the price of oil climb.

Carrie Lee joins us now with the rising cost of a barrel.

She's at the Nasdaq market site in Times Square.

Now, things have risen so far. Has it made history just yet?

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has, Betty.

NGUYEN: OK.

LEE: In fact, oil closing out, settling out above $50 a barrel for the first time ever on Friday, hitting $50.12. Of course, we're talking about light crude for November. The company, the oil prices, rather, jumped $0.48...

(AUDIO GAP)

NGUYEN: All right, obviously we are having some audio problems with Carrie Lee.

We'll try to get you another check of business news a little bit later in the show.

Will she blow her top? All eyes are on Mount Saint Helens, geologists' and tourists' alike. We'll get a live report on the latest volcano activity.

And, to the ends of the earth for 10 million bucks. One team's special journey in flight takes off for the second time this morning. We'll check in with our Miles O'Brien, who is there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, volcano watchers, they went home disappointed, but scientists are still pretty sure Mount Saint Helens is going to blow any time now.

CNN's Eric Philips is live on the scene in Washington State and joins us now very early in the morning with the latest -- good morning to you, Eric.

ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, good morning to you.

It is a game of wait and see here at Mount Saint Helens. Geologists say that weekend volcanic activity was just a precursor to a larger eruption that could happen today.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

PHILIPS (voice-over): A small volcanic tremor shook Mount Saint Helens Sunday. Scientists say it lasted about 25 minutes. This followed volcanic activity on both Friday and Saturday. The volcano had what geologists called a hiccup on Friday, spewing a harmless plume of steam and ash into the air. A small steam eruption on Saturday lasted about an hour. All that prompted scientists to raise the volcanic alert level to three, indicating an imminent eruption.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We feel pretty confident now that fresh magma is being intruded into the system.

PHILIPS: Researchers believe the violence of the eruption will be nothing close to the one in 1980 that killed 57 people, left piles of ash hundreds of miles away and blew away more than 1,000 feet from the top of the mountain. But, they warn this eruption will be an awe inspiring natural event, as Mount Saint Helens simmers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in a period of heightened concern. And, you know, the usual steam emission, ash cloud, perhaps something a bit more energetic, we're at that time, though, where we think that the probability of such an event is, you know, is high.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

PHILIPS: The greatest concern right now is an ash plume and the spread of ask itself that could result from an eruption. And that's because volcanic ash is a mixture of pulverized rock and natural glass -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Eric, there's been a lot of talk when Mount Saint Helens is finally going to blow after all these rumblings. Now it's looking like weeks, maybe even months?

PHILIPS: Well, it could be days, it could be weeks, it could be months.

NGUYEN: Who knows?

PHILIPS: Scientists really aren't sure. They told us now that they're expecting something to happen within the next 24 hours. But that something could be another plume of smoke. It could be a little bit of ash. Or it could be the big something that they've been expecting now for a couple of days.

But, again, even the big something, they're saying, will be nothing compared to what happened in 1980.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. Fifty-seven people died then. We don't want to see another one of those.

PHILIPS: Right.

NGUYEN: Thank you, Eric Philips, this morning for us. Well, as Mount Saint Helens rumbles on the ground, it could wreak havoc on the air above.

CNN meteorologist Chad Myers joins us now to explain how this happens -- good morning, Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Betty.

It all depends on how far the plume goes up. If it's a small eruption like it really was, or a semi-eruption, on Friday -- we all watched it on TV -- it doesn't go up very high. That was only about 18,000 feet. If it blows its top like it did, or even close to what it did back in 1980, the tops there went up to 80,000 feet. And that ash stayed in the atmosphere for literally weeks. And some spots there, some thinking that some of that very small ash may still be up there 24 years later.

Here's what it looks like, though. I want to fly you into what this whole thing, this whole scenario is like -- Washington, Oregon, Idaho, obviously you can see it here.

Now, we'll fly into Portland. We always talk about this as being Washington. But this is an awful lot closer to Portland, Oregon than it is to Seattle, Washington. So as we get you a little bit closer to the center of this thing itself, this is what Mount Saint Helens looks like right now.

What it looked like in 1980, to get a little bit of a circle there, this thing actually went up another thousand feet. The whole top of that mountain was blown away. And that's where all of that activity came from. That's where all of the explosiveness came from. And that top has obviously not been rebuilt. There is a dome and scientists thinking if it continues to build the way it has been in the '80s and even in the early '90s, it would still take 200 years to rebuild Mount Saint Helens to where it was back before the top was blown off.

You can see right through here the entire area blown off. Here's the original crater itself. The top was way up here and way back down. Obviously, all of that energy, all of that mountain, all of that ash and rock completely gone.

The dome building right through here. It's building at -- what they're saying now, overnight, tens of meters coming up, which is pretty good, quite a bit of building there of the lava dome itself. And there is where the observatory is. And when the light comes up, that's what Eric will be looking at. Eric Philips obviously out there, plenty of miles away, though, from where it is. So we're not giving him any danger assignment out there.

Obviously, there was an area, a viewing area up closer to the volcano, and obviously the USGS backed everybody up from that. They said hey, out of here. Especially...

NGUYEN: Yes, you're evacuated from that area. MYERS: Especially after that 25 minute eruption or almost shaking going on. There were some quick shakes over the weekend and before that. They weren't so concerned about that. But when it shook for 25 minutes and continued to shake, that's when they knew that the magma was actually getting a little bit farther and closer to the surface -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Chad Myers, our resident geologist this morning for us.

Thank you.

MYERS: Yes. Covers it all.

NGUYEN: Absolutely.

You need a pay raise for that.

Well, how much of a bump did each candidate get after the presidential debate? The incumbent versus the senator -- a look at the latest Gallup polls.

Then, I'll talk to a man who has a formula to figure out which man will win the White House. He claims it works every time.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, good morning.

From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in for Carol Costello. Some reports list the death toll as 16, while others say it could be as high as 20.

Spanish officials are calling the arrest historic. After a series of raids, Spanish police have captured the suspected leader of a Basque militant group. The group's been blamed in a string of terror attacks.

The death penalty, free speech and prison sentences -- those are just some of the issues facing the Supreme Court, which opens a new term this morning.

And it's back to school today for children in six Florida counties ravaged by hurricanes. Some of the damaged schools have held no classes for a month. Schools in two counties, Escambia and Santa Rosa, will remain closed for another week.

But, Chad, you know, this weekend was the first weekend in a long time that we haven't been consumed by hurricanes in Florida.

MYERS: Are you telling me?

NGUYEN: I'm feeling it, too.

MYERS: I actually watched some football this weekend for a change.

NGUYEN: Yes, you weren't out in the rain and the stormy weather.

MYERS: Oh, my. Yes, really. I got a chance to dry out.

Good morning.

Good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Just in case you're keeping track, 29 days and counting until the presidential election. And if you have not registered to vote as yet, the deadline is today in these states. There are a lot of them. Washington, D.C. is also included.

President Bush campaigns today in Iowa. While in Des Moines, he will sign into law bills extending some tax cuts that would have expired at this year's end.

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