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American Morning
VP Debate; Fact or Fiction?; WMD Report
Aired October 06, 2004 - 9:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Some say it was a slug-fest for 90 minutes. Dick Cheney and John Edwards have their only debate. Is there a clear winner the morning after?
After 174 witnesses, the prosecution now resting in the Scott Peterson murder trial. Will Peterson take the stand when the defense takes over?
And some jokes just never get old.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RODNEY DANGERFIELD, COMEDIAN: I get no respect at all. No respect at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Rodney Dangerfield took endless shots at himself and became a legend in the process. Remembering one of the greats on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING. Live from Cleveland, Ohio, here's Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: And good morning. Yet again, the fountain flows again today outside the Cleveland Art Museum here. Good morning. We are back in Cleveland, yet again. The final day for our coverage here in northern Ohio.
Looking back to last night, and some of these key and critical moments in this debate, who helped the ticket more, if anyone did last night? Also, were there any distortions or inaccuracies that slid by either side? Bill Schneider has a fact check in a moment in Washington on that.
Also, we'll get more voter reaction today. Last night I spent the evening with 12 men and 12 women in a focus group in Columbus, mostly undecided voters, registering their opinions and reactions with every word the candidate said last night. We'll check in again to see what they liked and what they did not like.
Also, back to New York, and again, my partner, Heidi Collins, back there in New York City.
Hey, Heidi. Good morning. HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Bill. Good morning to you.
Other stories we're following this morning, too. Are discount stores the dumping grounds for dangerous toys? We're going to look at what really happens to products made for children that are recalled for safety reasons.
Also, big changes coming for Howard Stern and his radio show. Andy Serwer's going to have that coming up in just a few minutes. In the meantime, now, want to get to the morning's news at this time.
A top U.S. commander in Iraq says the city of Samarra is now safe and that life there is returning to normal. The American military launched a major operation there last week to hunt out insurgents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. GEN. JOHN BATISTE, CMDR. 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION: The operation in Samarra has been very successful, and we have now transitioned into final phase to return the city to normalcy and begin reconstruction sponsored by both the Iraqi government and the United States Project Contracting Office.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: More than 100 militants were killed in the fighting there. Some 120 expected insurgents are now in custody.
U.S. health officials are asking healthy adults to forego their annual flu shots. The British Health Department announced yesterday almost 50 million doses of the vaccine were no longer usable. I spoke with Dr. Anthony Fauci earlier today about why such a limited supply exists in the first place.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NATIONAL INSTITUTE ALLERGIES INFECTIONS DISEASES: The entire vaccine manufacturing and producing and development industry is really quite fragile. There isn't very much incentive for companies to get involved in vaccine development for a number of reasons. The profit margin is low, and it's a very high risk endeavor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Health officials will focus on getting shots to those at highest risk.
And he always had the respect he always talked about. Now comedian Rodney Dangerfield died yesterday from complications following a heart surgery one month ago. He was famous for his self- deprecating humor and for his role in the 1980 hit "Caddy Shack." Rodney Dangerfield was 82 years old.
And Bill Hemmer, who could forget him in "Caddy Shack," huh?
HEMMER: I tell you, it's hard to listen to Rodney Dangerfield and not get a smile.
COLLINS: That's for sure.
HEMMER: What a funny man, with such a full life at the age of 82.
Heidi, back here in Cleveland now, the pollsters still working the phones today, but so far there is no clear winner in last night's debate. Dick Cheney came out ahead in one poll by ABC News of registered voters. John Edwards won another poll of CBS News of uncommitted voters. We're going to try and sort through all of this over the next hour.
Kelly Wallace, first. A look at last night and how each man went after one another.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Side by side, they dueled.
RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is, indeed. You suggested somehow...
WALLACE: Vice President Cheney accusing senators Edwards and Kerry of letting primary politics influence their votes on Iraq.
CHENEY: So they, in effect, decided they would cast an anti-war vote, and they voted against the troops. Now, if they couldn't stand up to the pressures that Howard Dean represented, how can we expect them to stand up to al Qaeda?
WALLACE: Edwards going after the vice president's credibility.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Mr. Vice President, there is no connection between the attacks of September 11 and Saddam Hussein. And you have gone around the country suggesting that there is some connection. There is not.
WALLACE: And they battled over experience.
CHENEY: Your home town newspaper has taken to calling you "Senator Gone." You've got one of the worst attendance records in the United States Senate.
EDWARDS: The vice president and president like to talk about their experience on the campaign trail. Millions of people have lost their jobs. Millions have fallen into poverty.
Mr. Vice President, I don't think the country can take four more years of this kind of experience.
WALLACE: It wasn't nasty, but tough. With the exception of one gentle exchange on the subject of outlawing same-sex marriages. The vice president's daughter is openly gay. EDWARDS: And you can't have anything but respect for the fact that they're willing to talk about the fact that they have a gay daughter, the fact that they embrace her.
CHENEY: Let me simply thank the senator for the kind words he said about my family and our daughter. I appreciate that very much.
EDWARDS: You're welcome.
WALLACE: The stakes were certainly high, with Cheney trying to stop the president's decline in the polls and Edwards trying to keep Cheney's sudden momentum going.
(on camera): And the days ahead will reveal which man was more successful.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: All right, now. Let's separate fact from fiction.
Last night, one what candidate calls fact the other often calls fiction. That was evident last evening.
Bill Schneider back in D.C. to help sort us with a fact check this morning. Good morning to you on this Wednesday morning here.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.
HEMMER: First of all, how did you score the debate last night? We saw polling numbers. How did you rate it?
SCHNEIDER: Well, I rated it that when it came to international policy, I thought Dick Cheney did a very good job because he sounded -- and he is, in fact -- experienced. When it switched to domestic policy, I thought the populist touch that John Edwards specialized in -- specializes in really shined through.
HEMMER: All right. One thing that's going to get a lot of play today is whether or not Dick Cheney and John Edwards ever shook hands before last night. Democrats quickly pounced on this comment of Dick Cheney after this debate, saying in February of 2001, they did meet in Washington at a prayer breakfast. We have some tape of that now that we'll play for our viewers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHENEY: Thank you very much. Congressman Wont (ph), Senator Edwards, friends from across America, and distinguished visitors to our country from all over the world...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Also, as the videotape rolls on, we see the two men sitting side by side at a table. Now, the Republican campaign has responded on the screen, a spokesman for the vice president, "They may have been at the same prayer breakfast three years ago, but John Edwards has the worst attendance record in the Senate, second only to John Kerry. The vice president serves as president of the Senate. In that capacity, he has never met or worked with John Edwards."
Where does this issue go, Bill, if anywhere?
SCHNEIDER: Well, the Democrats, of course, are claiming that John -- that Dick Cheney lied. He certainly stretched the truth.
What the vice president said last night specifically was, "The first time I ever met you was when you walked in on this" -- "when you walked on this stage tonight." But in fact, the Cheney campaign is now saying he has never met with or worked -- met or worked with John Edwards.
Worked with? Well, that's a modification.
He appears to be stretching the truth. On two occasions he has met John Edwards. This was supposed to be Dick Cheney's Lloyd Bentsen moment, when he blew the vice presidential candidate away, just as Lloyd Bentsen blew away Dan Quayle back in 1988. It didn't quite work because he was stretching the truth.
HEMMER: Well, now, a fact check on Senator Edwards and the issue of Iraq. He referred to three Republican senators, too. Listen and we'll talk about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDWARDS: There are Republicans leaders, like John McCain, like Richard Lugar, like Chuck Hagel, who've said Iraq is a mess and is getting worse. And when they were asked why, Richard Lugar said because of the incompetence of the administration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Have McCain, Lugar and Hagel all said Iraq's a mess and is getting worse, Bill?
SCHNEIDER: Well, they've said it's getting worse, and they've said it's a mess. But they didn't -- Lugar's quote that it's because of the incompetence of the administration was taken from a different question.
That was when George Stephanopoulos of ABC News asked Senator Lugar about an appropriation of $18 billion that Lugar said only $1 billion had been spent. And when Stephanopoulos said, "Why is that the case," that's when Lugar said, "Because of the incompetence of this administration."
It really wasn't specifically about why Iraq was such a mess. So that quote was clearly taken out of context.
HEMMER: And one more thing if I could get to it quickly. We hear a lot about $200 billion being spent on Iraq. John Kerry and John Edwards bring it up often. Is that the price tag that has been spent on that country?
SCHNEIDER: Well, John Edwards said $200 billion and counting, but the Office of Management and Budget said it's a little less than $120 billion. The $200 billion figure seems to be -- include money that has been allocated but not yet spent for the next year, so that the price tag is a little bit inflated there. And it includes some money that's been earmarked not just for Iraq but also for Afghanistan.
HEMMER: Interesting stuff there, Bill. We have a longer list here. I wish we had more time.
We could talk about the economy and jobs. But we'll the do it next time, all right?
Bill Schneider watching things with a fact check in D.C.
Another reminder, Friday night, President Bush and John Kerry, their second of three meetings in St. Louis. Our coverage starts at 7:00 Eastern Time. That debate begins in St. Louis at 9:00 Eastern Time on Friday evening.
Back to New York again and Heidi with more there -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Bill, thank you.
The latest information from the CIA answers a lot of questions, but isn't likely to clear up some of the political differences between the candidates. The group searching for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is putting out its final report today. David Ensor is live in Washington now with more on it.
David, good morning to you.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Heidi, that thousand-page-plus report to be written by Charles Duelfer, the CIA's top weapons searcher in Iraq, lands with a thunk on the political landscape here today, and is likely to provide ammunition for both sides, although the headlines are clearly in favor of the Democrats. Here are a few of the key findings of that report which we'll hear in greater detail this afternoon.
First of all, no stockpile of illicit weapons has been found in Iraq. None.
Secondly, there are no illicit weapons programs that were -- that appear to have been trying to develop military-scale quantities of weapons of mass destruction.
Now, thirdly, the report says that there's plenty of evidence that Saddam Hussein intended to restart the WMD program if and when the U.N. inspectors left. And it will be interesting today. The report also names companies that defied the U.N. sanctions, and we are going to hear the names of those companies later today, and they include American, French, Russian and Polish companies. So there will be some embarrassing moments, some red faces this afternoon when those come out.
Finally, I should tell you that Saddam has been interviewed by -- by American interrogators, and he says that the reason he tried so hard to keep WMDs, because he believed it stopped the U.S. from marching on Baghdad in 1991, and that it prevented Iran's victory in the Iran-Iraq war.
Now, Duelfer is apparently going to say today that this is a comprehensive report, and it is a huge report, but it's not the final report. There are still some loose ends to tie up. For example, there are more than 900 linguists at one site in Doha, Qatar, who are still going through thousands of pages of documents that were captured in Iraq -- Heidi.
COLLINS: David, you know, we see those other countries that were involved there, other United Nations countries. What will -- if anything, what will it mean for them now that this report has come out?
ENSOR: Well, at a minimum, there's public embarrassment when American companies, French companies, Russian companies -- these are members of the U.N. Security Council -- are exposed publicly for having defied U.N. sanctions. Whether the U.N. wishes to punish these companies or these countries remains to be seen. I doubt the countries are going to accept any kind of punishment, but certainly it is embarrassing, embarrassing for the United States that American companies were defying international law -- Heidi.
COLLINS: And other countries as well. All right. David Ensor live in Washington this morning. David, thank you.
Want to check back on the weather now. Chad Myers at the CNN Center with the very latest forecast.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: A big development for the radio world this morning. Howard Stern announced he is taking his nationally syndicated show from the broadcast air waves to satellite radio.
Stern says he'll join Sirius Satellite Radio starting in January of 2006. And Stern says the fines levied after the Janet Jackson episode at the Super Bowl convinced him it was time to go. The stock of that company jumped on the news. And Andy Serwer is going to have more talking about that in just a few minutes.
For now, though, we go back to Bill Hemmer once again, standing by in Cleveland -- Bill.
HEMMER: That's going to be in just about every one of our cars soon, huh, Heidi?
COLLINS: I think so.
HEMMER: Satellite radio. In a moment here, Heidi, how did undecided voters rate last night's debate? More real-time responses from our own focus group in Columbus, Ohio.
Also, Mount St. Helens gave its biggest performance in more than two decades just yesterday. What can we expect today? We're watching. We'll get you there live.
And could high-dose radiation therapy replace brain surgery some day? Sanjay's back on that as we continue live in Cleveland in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Some scientists are now questioning whether Mount St. Helens will erupt with much power at all. Nonetheless, yesterday, the volcano gave its biggest performance in more than two decades, spewing steam and ash high into the skies.
Ted Rowlands is live now with the very latest.
Ted, any action?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good -- no, not yet this morning, Heidi. But geologists will be keeping a very close eye on the mountain today.
And you mentioned, yesterday's release was the most significant since the 1980 catastrophic eruption. And there was ash content in the release that we haven't seen yet since Mount St. Helens first awoke last week.
So geologists are going to look at what happens today. And as you mentioned, they are hedging a bit as to whether or not there will be a significant volcanic eruption.
They say the signs are still there, there's gases being detected at the crater, there's earthquakes continuing, although not as strong, and the crater has now three vent holes, and the bulge in the crater is growing. All that points to a possible volcanic eruption.
However, thermal -- thermal imaging does not show significant heat at the top of the crater. So they're not quite sure when or if there will be a significant volcanic eruption. We are still under a level 3, however, because they say the signs are there for an eruption to take place -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Ted Rowlands keeping an eye on it for us from Mount St. Helens. Thanks so much, Ted.
The prosecution wrapped its case against Scott Peterson yesterday. An expert hydrologist testified the marina where Scott claimed he went fishing on Christmas Eve of 2002 was the likely dumping place for Laci's body. And former San Mateo County prosecutor Dean Johnson has been closely watching the trial. He joins us now this morning from Redwood City. Dean, good morning to you.
DEAN JOHNSON, FMR. SAN MATEO COUNTY PROSECUTOR: Good morning.
COLLINS: Quite a bit happened as the prosecution wrapped up its case. What do you think the biggest development was at the end of it all?
JOHNSON: Well, certainly, the biggest development in the last two days has been the testimony of Dr. Chang (ph), the hydrologist or tides expert. Dr. Chang (ph), who is an expert on San Francisco Bay tides -- it's his life's work -- has said that he believes there is a very high probability that Conner Peterson, Laci and Scott's unborn child, started his voyage in the San Francisco Bay somewhere at the midpoint between the Brooks Landing, where Scott Peterson says he was fishing, and the Berkeley Marina, where Scott Peterson put in his boat.
That then raises the question, well, what about Laci? Where was she? And the answer has to be, if Conner started his voyage in the middle of the bay, then Laci has to be out there somewhere, too.
COLLINS: What does all this mean, though, for the defense at this point? Do you see where they might be able to begin or take an opening in the prosecution's case?
JOHNSON: Oh, certainly. There are many openings for the defense here.
The defense is going to offer obviously its own experts, and they will say that it's very possible, even given Dr. Chang's (ph) testimony, that Laci Peterson was put into the water somewhere else by somebody else other than Scott Peterson. Possibly drifted around the area of San Francisco Bay, and that Conner only broke away from Laci as her body began to decompose, so that you cannot locate either Laci or Conner and associate them with Scott Peterson's faithful trip to the marina.
COLLINS: Quickly, Dean, any chance that we're going to see Scott Peterson take the stand in this trial?
JOHNSON: No, I would say there's almost a zero chance that Scott Peterson will take the stand. Because this jury knows, from listening to media interviews, from listening to his interviews with the police, from listening to his tapes with Amber Frey, that Scott Peterson is a liar.
He has zero credibility with this jury. He has very little to contribute to the case in terms of evidence. This defense is going to center on arguing to the jury that there is reasonable doubt given the evidence that has been presented.
COLLINS: Former San Mateo County prosecutor Dean Johnson this morning. Dean, thanks, as always.
JOHNSON: Thank you. COLLINS: Want to go back now to Cleveland, Ohio. Once again, Bill Hemmer standing by with more on the VP debates last night -- Bill.
HEMMER: Heidi, no knockout punches last night. But did the debate level the playing field in this race? Carlos Watson back in a moment. Your e-mails, too, after this, as we continue from the Cleveland Museum of Art in northern Ohio.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back to Cleveland. Looking back again to last night's debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards. Listen to some of the exchanges last night between these two men.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHENEY: They, in effect, decided they would cast an anti-war vote, and they voted against the troops. Now, if they couldn't stand up to the pressures that Howard Dean represented, how can we expect them to stand up to al Qaeda?
EDWARDS: We have this mess in Iraq. Mr. Vice President, I don't think the country can take four more years of this kind of experience.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: It was intense for 90 minutes. Jack's away. Carlos Watson here to play yet again with our "Question of the Day."
And good morning to you.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.
HEMMER: To our viewers: Did last night's debate tie the series between the Republicans and Democrats? Virginia writes this: "Vice President Cheney was the clear winner last night. Cheney beat Edwards in every question," she writes, "and had the composure of a leader. Edwards reminded me of a young boy out of his element; Cheney just won the presidency for George Bush."
WATSON: Interesting. Clearly contrasting styles. And for those who like the older, more distinguished, more experienced figure, Cheney clearly offered you that, tried to establish -- but remember, even though Lloyd Bentsen beat Quayle, it didn't necessarily help Dukakis.
HEMMER: In East Quogue, New York, Alexis says, "Vice President Dick Cheney really revealed how out of touch he is with the American people by saying that, even with the information and advice he has now, he would still wage war in Iraq. He also voted to cut the Meals on Wheels program. Edwards was right when he said Bush and Cheney value wealth over work."
WATSON: I think the second half of that may resonate more than the first half. And, in fact, Bill, I predict that you will see -- remember when he said the record, the Meals on Wheels, Nelson Mandela, et cetera? I guarantee you you'll see that in an ad within five or six days.
HEMMER: All right. Now you are on the record.
WATSON: I'm on the record. You heard it here first.
HEMMER: Guy in Atlanta says, "I thought the debate was a tie. But John Edwards did not throw the knockout punch when it was available."
He continues, "He missed it, and so have the media. When Cheney bragged about the tax cuts and reduced the tax (UNINTELLIGIBLE) five million people, the knockout punch was there for the taking."
Did you pick up on that?
WATSON: I'm not sure 100 percent that that was a knockout punch. I thought on the poverty question he really could have taken that home. I also thought there was an opportunity on being a heartbeat away from the presidency.
HEMMER: I wrote down these words when I was watching last night: serious, direct, sharp and critical.
WATSON: Bill, I've got to tell you, I was a big fan of this debate. I know some people are lukewarm on it. I thought this was a really good debate.
HEMMER: Lukewarm? Oh, no way was I lukewarm. I thought this was an excellent exchange last night.
WATSON: And part of it was the moderator. You heard me say before, Gwen Ifill did a first-rate job.
HEMMER: You've got one more hit for us. OK?
WATSON: I'm ready.
HEMMER: See you in 25 minutes.
WATSON: See you then.
HEMMER: Heidi, back to you in New York now.
COLLINS: All right. Bill, Carlos, thanks for that.
Still to come this morning, Michael Jackson may often long for yesterday. Is his control over Beatles songs in jeopardy, though, too?
And he always said he got no respect. But this morning, it is flowing for Rodney Dangerfield. "90-Second Pop" pays its respects ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) 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 6, 2004 - 9:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Some say it was a slug-fest for 90 minutes. Dick Cheney and John Edwards have their only debate. Is there a clear winner the morning after?
After 174 witnesses, the prosecution now resting in the Scott Peterson murder trial. Will Peterson take the stand when the defense takes over?
And some jokes just never get old.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RODNEY DANGERFIELD, COMEDIAN: I get no respect at all. No respect at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Rodney Dangerfield took endless shots at himself and became a legend in the process. Remembering one of the greats on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING. Live from Cleveland, Ohio, here's Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: And good morning. Yet again, the fountain flows again today outside the Cleveland Art Museum here. Good morning. We are back in Cleveland, yet again. The final day for our coverage here in northern Ohio.
Looking back to last night, and some of these key and critical moments in this debate, who helped the ticket more, if anyone did last night? Also, were there any distortions or inaccuracies that slid by either side? Bill Schneider has a fact check in a moment in Washington on that.
Also, we'll get more voter reaction today. Last night I spent the evening with 12 men and 12 women in a focus group in Columbus, mostly undecided voters, registering their opinions and reactions with every word the candidate said last night. We'll check in again to see what they liked and what they did not like.
Also, back to New York, and again, my partner, Heidi Collins, back there in New York City.
Hey, Heidi. Good morning. HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Bill. Good morning to you.
Other stories we're following this morning, too. Are discount stores the dumping grounds for dangerous toys? We're going to look at what really happens to products made for children that are recalled for safety reasons.
Also, big changes coming for Howard Stern and his radio show. Andy Serwer's going to have that coming up in just a few minutes. In the meantime, now, want to get to the morning's news at this time.
A top U.S. commander in Iraq says the city of Samarra is now safe and that life there is returning to normal. The American military launched a major operation there last week to hunt out insurgents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. GEN. JOHN BATISTE, CMDR. 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION: The operation in Samarra has been very successful, and we have now transitioned into final phase to return the city to normalcy and begin reconstruction sponsored by both the Iraqi government and the United States Project Contracting Office.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: More than 100 militants were killed in the fighting there. Some 120 expected insurgents are now in custody.
U.S. health officials are asking healthy adults to forego their annual flu shots. The British Health Department announced yesterday almost 50 million doses of the vaccine were no longer usable. I spoke with Dr. Anthony Fauci earlier today about why such a limited supply exists in the first place.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NATIONAL INSTITUTE ALLERGIES INFECTIONS DISEASES: The entire vaccine manufacturing and producing and development industry is really quite fragile. There isn't very much incentive for companies to get involved in vaccine development for a number of reasons. The profit margin is low, and it's a very high risk endeavor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Health officials will focus on getting shots to those at highest risk.
And he always had the respect he always talked about. Now comedian Rodney Dangerfield died yesterday from complications following a heart surgery one month ago. He was famous for his self- deprecating humor and for his role in the 1980 hit "Caddy Shack." Rodney Dangerfield was 82 years old.
And Bill Hemmer, who could forget him in "Caddy Shack," huh?
HEMMER: I tell you, it's hard to listen to Rodney Dangerfield and not get a smile.
COLLINS: That's for sure.
HEMMER: What a funny man, with such a full life at the age of 82.
Heidi, back here in Cleveland now, the pollsters still working the phones today, but so far there is no clear winner in last night's debate. Dick Cheney came out ahead in one poll by ABC News of registered voters. John Edwards won another poll of CBS News of uncommitted voters. We're going to try and sort through all of this over the next hour.
Kelly Wallace, first. A look at last night and how each man went after one another.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Side by side, they dueled.
RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is, indeed. You suggested somehow...
WALLACE: Vice President Cheney accusing senators Edwards and Kerry of letting primary politics influence their votes on Iraq.
CHENEY: So they, in effect, decided they would cast an anti-war vote, and they voted against the troops. Now, if they couldn't stand up to the pressures that Howard Dean represented, how can we expect them to stand up to al Qaeda?
WALLACE: Edwards going after the vice president's credibility.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Mr. Vice President, there is no connection between the attacks of September 11 and Saddam Hussein. And you have gone around the country suggesting that there is some connection. There is not.
WALLACE: And they battled over experience.
CHENEY: Your home town newspaper has taken to calling you "Senator Gone." You've got one of the worst attendance records in the United States Senate.
EDWARDS: The vice president and president like to talk about their experience on the campaign trail. Millions of people have lost their jobs. Millions have fallen into poverty.
Mr. Vice President, I don't think the country can take four more years of this kind of experience.
WALLACE: It wasn't nasty, but tough. With the exception of one gentle exchange on the subject of outlawing same-sex marriages. The vice president's daughter is openly gay. EDWARDS: And you can't have anything but respect for the fact that they're willing to talk about the fact that they have a gay daughter, the fact that they embrace her.
CHENEY: Let me simply thank the senator for the kind words he said about my family and our daughter. I appreciate that very much.
EDWARDS: You're welcome.
WALLACE: The stakes were certainly high, with Cheney trying to stop the president's decline in the polls and Edwards trying to keep Cheney's sudden momentum going.
(on camera): And the days ahead will reveal which man was more successful.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: All right, now. Let's separate fact from fiction.
Last night, one what candidate calls fact the other often calls fiction. That was evident last evening.
Bill Schneider back in D.C. to help sort us with a fact check this morning. Good morning to you on this Wednesday morning here.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.
HEMMER: First of all, how did you score the debate last night? We saw polling numbers. How did you rate it?
SCHNEIDER: Well, I rated it that when it came to international policy, I thought Dick Cheney did a very good job because he sounded -- and he is, in fact -- experienced. When it switched to domestic policy, I thought the populist touch that John Edwards specialized in -- specializes in really shined through.
HEMMER: All right. One thing that's going to get a lot of play today is whether or not Dick Cheney and John Edwards ever shook hands before last night. Democrats quickly pounced on this comment of Dick Cheney after this debate, saying in February of 2001, they did meet in Washington at a prayer breakfast. We have some tape of that now that we'll play for our viewers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHENEY: Thank you very much. Congressman Wont (ph), Senator Edwards, friends from across America, and distinguished visitors to our country from all over the world...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Also, as the videotape rolls on, we see the two men sitting side by side at a table. Now, the Republican campaign has responded on the screen, a spokesman for the vice president, "They may have been at the same prayer breakfast three years ago, but John Edwards has the worst attendance record in the Senate, second only to John Kerry. The vice president serves as president of the Senate. In that capacity, he has never met or worked with John Edwards."
Where does this issue go, Bill, if anywhere?
SCHNEIDER: Well, the Democrats, of course, are claiming that John -- that Dick Cheney lied. He certainly stretched the truth.
What the vice president said last night specifically was, "The first time I ever met you was when you walked in on this" -- "when you walked on this stage tonight." But in fact, the Cheney campaign is now saying he has never met with or worked -- met or worked with John Edwards.
Worked with? Well, that's a modification.
He appears to be stretching the truth. On two occasions he has met John Edwards. This was supposed to be Dick Cheney's Lloyd Bentsen moment, when he blew the vice presidential candidate away, just as Lloyd Bentsen blew away Dan Quayle back in 1988. It didn't quite work because he was stretching the truth.
HEMMER: Well, now, a fact check on Senator Edwards and the issue of Iraq. He referred to three Republican senators, too. Listen and we'll talk about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDWARDS: There are Republicans leaders, like John McCain, like Richard Lugar, like Chuck Hagel, who've said Iraq is a mess and is getting worse. And when they were asked why, Richard Lugar said because of the incompetence of the administration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Have McCain, Lugar and Hagel all said Iraq's a mess and is getting worse, Bill?
SCHNEIDER: Well, they've said it's getting worse, and they've said it's a mess. But they didn't -- Lugar's quote that it's because of the incompetence of the administration was taken from a different question.
That was when George Stephanopoulos of ABC News asked Senator Lugar about an appropriation of $18 billion that Lugar said only $1 billion had been spent. And when Stephanopoulos said, "Why is that the case," that's when Lugar said, "Because of the incompetence of this administration."
It really wasn't specifically about why Iraq was such a mess. So that quote was clearly taken out of context.
HEMMER: And one more thing if I could get to it quickly. We hear a lot about $200 billion being spent on Iraq. John Kerry and John Edwards bring it up often. Is that the price tag that has been spent on that country?
SCHNEIDER: Well, John Edwards said $200 billion and counting, but the Office of Management and Budget said it's a little less than $120 billion. The $200 billion figure seems to be -- include money that has been allocated but not yet spent for the next year, so that the price tag is a little bit inflated there. And it includes some money that's been earmarked not just for Iraq but also for Afghanistan.
HEMMER: Interesting stuff there, Bill. We have a longer list here. I wish we had more time.
We could talk about the economy and jobs. But we'll the do it next time, all right?
Bill Schneider watching things with a fact check in D.C.
Another reminder, Friday night, President Bush and John Kerry, their second of three meetings in St. Louis. Our coverage starts at 7:00 Eastern Time. That debate begins in St. Louis at 9:00 Eastern Time on Friday evening.
Back to New York again and Heidi with more there -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Bill, thank you.
The latest information from the CIA answers a lot of questions, but isn't likely to clear up some of the political differences between the candidates. The group searching for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is putting out its final report today. David Ensor is live in Washington now with more on it.
David, good morning to you.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Heidi, that thousand-page-plus report to be written by Charles Duelfer, the CIA's top weapons searcher in Iraq, lands with a thunk on the political landscape here today, and is likely to provide ammunition for both sides, although the headlines are clearly in favor of the Democrats. Here are a few of the key findings of that report which we'll hear in greater detail this afternoon.
First of all, no stockpile of illicit weapons has been found in Iraq. None.
Secondly, there are no illicit weapons programs that were -- that appear to have been trying to develop military-scale quantities of weapons of mass destruction.
Now, thirdly, the report says that there's plenty of evidence that Saddam Hussein intended to restart the WMD program if and when the U.N. inspectors left. And it will be interesting today. The report also names companies that defied the U.N. sanctions, and we are going to hear the names of those companies later today, and they include American, French, Russian and Polish companies. So there will be some embarrassing moments, some red faces this afternoon when those come out.
Finally, I should tell you that Saddam has been interviewed by -- by American interrogators, and he says that the reason he tried so hard to keep WMDs, because he believed it stopped the U.S. from marching on Baghdad in 1991, and that it prevented Iran's victory in the Iran-Iraq war.
Now, Duelfer is apparently going to say today that this is a comprehensive report, and it is a huge report, but it's not the final report. There are still some loose ends to tie up. For example, there are more than 900 linguists at one site in Doha, Qatar, who are still going through thousands of pages of documents that were captured in Iraq -- Heidi.
COLLINS: David, you know, we see those other countries that were involved there, other United Nations countries. What will -- if anything, what will it mean for them now that this report has come out?
ENSOR: Well, at a minimum, there's public embarrassment when American companies, French companies, Russian companies -- these are members of the U.N. Security Council -- are exposed publicly for having defied U.N. sanctions. Whether the U.N. wishes to punish these companies or these countries remains to be seen. I doubt the countries are going to accept any kind of punishment, but certainly it is embarrassing, embarrassing for the United States that American companies were defying international law -- Heidi.
COLLINS: And other countries as well. All right. David Ensor live in Washington this morning. David, thank you.
Want to check back on the weather now. Chad Myers at the CNN Center with the very latest forecast.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: A big development for the radio world this morning. Howard Stern announced he is taking his nationally syndicated show from the broadcast air waves to satellite radio.
Stern says he'll join Sirius Satellite Radio starting in January of 2006. And Stern says the fines levied after the Janet Jackson episode at the Super Bowl convinced him it was time to go. The stock of that company jumped on the news. And Andy Serwer is going to have more talking about that in just a few minutes.
For now, though, we go back to Bill Hemmer once again, standing by in Cleveland -- Bill.
HEMMER: That's going to be in just about every one of our cars soon, huh, Heidi?
COLLINS: I think so.
HEMMER: Satellite radio. In a moment here, Heidi, how did undecided voters rate last night's debate? More real-time responses from our own focus group in Columbus, Ohio.
Also, Mount St. Helens gave its biggest performance in more than two decades just yesterday. What can we expect today? We're watching. We'll get you there live.
And could high-dose radiation therapy replace brain surgery some day? Sanjay's back on that as we continue live in Cleveland in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Some scientists are now questioning whether Mount St. Helens will erupt with much power at all. Nonetheless, yesterday, the volcano gave its biggest performance in more than two decades, spewing steam and ash high into the skies.
Ted Rowlands is live now with the very latest.
Ted, any action?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good -- no, not yet this morning, Heidi. But geologists will be keeping a very close eye on the mountain today.
And you mentioned, yesterday's release was the most significant since the 1980 catastrophic eruption. And there was ash content in the release that we haven't seen yet since Mount St. Helens first awoke last week.
So geologists are going to look at what happens today. And as you mentioned, they are hedging a bit as to whether or not there will be a significant volcanic eruption.
They say the signs are still there, there's gases being detected at the crater, there's earthquakes continuing, although not as strong, and the crater has now three vent holes, and the bulge in the crater is growing. All that points to a possible volcanic eruption.
However, thermal -- thermal imaging does not show significant heat at the top of the crater. So they're not quite sure when or if there will be a significant volcanic eruption. We are still under a level 3, however, because they say the signs are there for an eruption to take place -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Ted Rowlands keeping an eye on it for us from Mount St. Helens. Thanks so much, Ted.
The prosecution wrapped its case against Scott Peterson yesterday. An expert hydrologist testified the marina where Scott claimed he went fishing on Christmas Eve of 2002 was the likely dumping place for Laci's body. And former San Mateo County prosecutor Dean Johnson has been closely watching the trial. He joins us now this morning from Redwood City. Dean, good morning to you.
DEAN JOHNSON, FMR. SAN MATEO COUNTY PROSECUTOR: Good morning.
COLLINS: Quite a bit happened as the prosecution wrapped up its case. What do you think the biggest development was at the end of it all?
JOHNSON: Well, certainly, the biggest development in the last two days has been the testimony of Dr. Chang (ph), the hydrologist or tides expert. Dr. Chang (ph), who is an expert on San Francisco Bay tides -- it's his life's work -- has said that he believes there is a very high probability that Conner Peterson, Laci and Scott's unborn child, started his voyage in the San Francisco Bay somewhere at the midpoint between the Brooks Landing, where Scott Peterson says he was fishing, and the Berkeley Marina, where Scott Peterson put in his boat.
That then raises the question, well, what about Laci? Where was she? And the answer has to be, if Conner started his voyage in the middle of the bay, then Laci has to be out there somewhere, too.
COLLINS: What does all this mean, though, for the defense at this point? Do you see where they might be able to begin or take an opening in the prosecution's case?
JOHNSON: Oh, certainly. There are many openings for the defense here.
The defense is going to offer obviously its own experts, and they will say that it's very possible, even given Dr. Chang's (ph) testimony, that Laci Peterson was put into the water somewhere else by somebody else other than Scott Peterson. Possibly drifted around the area of San Francisco Bay, and that Conner only broke away from Laci as her body began to decompose, so that you cannot locate either Laci or Conner and associate them with Scott Peterson's faithful trip to the marina.
COLLINS: Quickly, Dean, any chance that we're going to see Scott Peterson take the stand in this trial?
JOHNSON: No, I would say there's almost a zero chance that Scott Peterson will take the stand. Because this jury knows, from listening to media interviews, from listening to his interviews with the police, from listening to his tapes with Amber Frey, that Scott Peterson is a liar.
He has zero credibility with this jury. He has very little to contribute to the case in terms of evidence. This defense is going to center on arguing to the jury that there is reasonable doubt given the evidence that has been presented.
COLLINS: Former San Mateo County prosecutor Dean Johnson this morning. Dean, thanks, as always.
JOHNSON: Thank you. COLLINS: Want to go back now to Cleveland, Ohio. Once again, Bill Hemmer standing by with more on the VP debates last night -- Bill.
HEMMER: Heidi, no knockout punches last night. But did the debate level the playing field in this race? Carlos Watson back in a moment. Your e-mails, too, after this, as we continue from the Cleveland Museum of Art in northern Ohio.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back to Cleveland. Looking back again to last night's debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards. Listen to some of the exchanges last night between these two men.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHENEY: They, in effect, decided they would cast an anti-war vote, and they voted against the troops. Now, if they couldn't stand up to the pressures that Howard Dean represented, how can we expect them to stand up to al Qaeda?
EDWARDS: We have this mess in Iraq. Mr. Vice President, I don't think the country can take four more years of this kind of experience.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: It was intense for 90 minutes. Jack's away. Carlos Watson here to play yet again with our "Question of the Day."
And good morning to you.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning.
HEMMER: To our viewers: Did last night's debate tie the series between the Republicans and Democrats? Virginia writes this: "Vice President Cheney was the clear winner last night. Cheney beat Edwards in every question," she writes, "and had the composure of a leader. Edwards reminded me of a young boy out of his element; Cheney just won the presidency for George Bush."
WATSON: Interesting. Clearly contrasting styles. And for those who like the older, more distinguished, more experienced figure, Cheney clearly offered you that, tried to establish -- but remember, even though Lloyd Bentsen beat Quayle, it didn't necessarily help Dukakis.
HEMMER: In East Quogue, New York, Alexis says, "Vice President Dick Cheney really revealed how out of touch he is with the American people by saying that, even with the information and advice he has now, he would still wage war in Iraq. He also voted to cut the Meals on Wheels program. Edwards was right when he said Bush and Cheney value wealth over work."
WATSON: I think the second half of that may resonate more than the first half. And, in fact, Bill, I predict that you will see -- remember when he said the record, the Meals on Wheels, Nelson Mandela, et cetera? I guarantee you you'll see that in an ad within five or six days.
HEMMER: All right. Now you are on the record.
WATSON: I'm on the record. You heard it here first.
HEMMER: Guy in Atlanta says, "I thought the debate was a tie. But John Edwards did not throw the knockout punch when it was available."
He continues, "He missed it, and so have the media. When Cheney bragged about the tax cuts and reduced the tax (UNINTELLIGIBLE) five million people, the knockout punch was there for the taking."
Did you pick up on that?
WATSON: I'm not sure 100 percent that that was a knockout punch. I thought on the poverty question he really could have taken that home. I also thought there was an opportunity on being a heartbeat away from the presidency.
HEMMER: I wrote down these words when I was watching last night: serious, direct, sharp and critical.
WATSON: Bill, I've got to tell you, I was a big fan of this debate. I know some people are lukewarm on it. I thought this was a really good debate.
HEMMER: Lukewarm? Oh, no way was I lukewarm. I thought this was an excellent exchange last night.
WATSON: And part of it was the moderator. You heard me say before, Gwen Ifill did a first-rate job.
HEMMER: You've got one more hit for us. OK?
WATSON: I'm ready.
HEMMER: See you in 25 minutes.
WATSON: See you then.
HEMMER: Heidi, back to you in New York now.
COLLINS: All right. Bill, Carlos, thanks for that.
Still to come this morning, Michael Jackson may often long for yesterday. Is his control over Beatles songs in jeopardy, though, too?
And he always said he got no respect. But this morning, it is flowing for Rodney Dangerfield. "90-Second Pop" pays its respects ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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