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CNN Live At Daybreak
Latest Developments in 2004 Presidential Election; Look at Damage Done to Martha Stewart's Businesses by Her Conviction
Aired October 07, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, ANCHOR: And good morning from the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta.
I'm Carol Lin sitting in this morning for Carol Costello.
Right now in the news, another American soldier is killed in Iraq and officials say the soldier died after an explosion hit a military convoy near Fallujah. Two other Americans were wounded, one of them seriously.
And a car bombing in Pakistan has killed at least 39 people and wounded dozens more. It happened at a gathering of Sunni Muslims and comes just six days after a suicide bomber killed 31 people at a Shiite mosque.
Two Palestinian teenagers were killed today in an Israeli attack in Gaza. The Israeli military says the two were trying to launch a rocket at an Israeli settlement.
And in the States, Mount Saint Helens may not erupt after all. Government scientists now say seismic activity has dropped and they've lowered the volcano alert. But the scientists warn the danger could return.
All right, no danger in the weather so far -- good morning, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, good morning, Carol.
Actually, we have the Mount Saint Helens camera up here on all the time. But you can't really see anything, obviously, it's nighttime. But they have a little bit of infrared going on there and every once in a while you see a cloud go over the top and you think oh, is it blowing off? No, it's just a cloud.
LIN: Is this it? Yes.
MYERS: Oh, no, just a cloud. Yes. So it has actually been settled down now for quite a few days now, or at least quite a few hours ago.
LIN: What happened to that imminent eruption I was talking about all weekend, huh?
MYERS: And there's the little router. You can -- and you can, every once in a while you can see a little white cloud kind of go puffing by and you wonder whether that's actually a steam eruption or not. But typically these clouds have been rolling on by most of the night.
The imminent eruption was all part of the seismic activity that was down about a half a mile down below the surface of this cloud cover, or the dome itself. And when it got that close to the surface, they thought that the magma was actually coming up, and, in fact, it was, because the dome, the lava dome was actually coming up, as well. It was pushing that dome up there.
There's the crater and that one side that's blown out. Then there's a little dome, kind of like a little head sticking out. And then the head kept coming up and up and up meters at a time, and, in fact, like 50 feet in one day. So they knew that the magma was pushing this little cinder cone back on up and obviously it didn't happen yet, but it's like you said, it's still not too late for that to happen, so we have to keep watching it.
Otherwise, we're just watching the winds to see if -- where that ash is going to go, because it doesn't look like, obviously it would never -- we never thought it was going to be the same size eruption that happened in 1980, because the top of that mountain is already gone -- Carol, back to you.
LIN: All right, smart guy, Chad, this morning.
MYERS: Ah, you know, I just fake it.
LIN: It's so early.
All right, see you in just a bit.
MYERS: All right.
LIN: It is getting down to the wire, less than four weeks, just 26 more days until the presidential election. And the candidates are stepping up attacks against each other as George Bush and John Kerry prepare for a second debate tomorrow. We're going to have the latest from both camps.
Our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, is on the campaign trail with President Bush and Dan Lothian is covering the Kerry-Edwards campaign.
But right now, let's begin with Suzanne's report.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MALE: ... of the United States.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush, in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, is pursuing an aggressive strategy to portray John Kerry as unfit to lead in the war on terror.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Too bad the senator would have America bend over backwards to satisfy a handful of governments with agendas different from our own. This is my opponent's alliance building strategy -- brush off your best friends, fawn over your critics. And that is no way to gain the respect of the world.
MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush further chided Kerry for his 1991 vote against the Persian Gulf War.
BUSH: If that coalition didn't pass his global test, clearly nothing will.
MALVEAUX: At a town hall meeting in Tallahassee, Florida, Vice President Dick Cheney echoed Mr. Bush's serious doubts about Kerry's fitness to be commander in chief.
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There isn't anything in John Kerry's background since, well, for the last 30 years, that gives you any reason to believe that he would, in fact, be tough in terms of prosecuting the war on terror.
MALVEAUX: The tough talk from both men comes on the same day the administration's own investigative body, the Iraq Survey Group, concluded there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq at the time of the U.S. invasion, the administration's principal rationale for going to war.
(on camera): Friday's debate is largely expected to focus on domestic issues. And in a preview, President Bush blasted Kerry as a tax and spend liberal. At the same time, he attempted to make light at what many saw as his downfall in the last debate, those grimaces and scowls. President Bush joking today if you heard such inaccurate statements, you'd understand how he could make such a face.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): I'm Dan Lothian with the Kerry campaign at this golf resort in Englewood, Colorado, where the senator is working on his debate swing, top aides and advisers, using role playing to prepare him for the town hall style match up in St. Louis.
MIKE McCURRY, KERRY ADVISER: That the stakes are higher now. The expectations are higher. This is an important debate. It's one that's a different format because real Americans are involved, not just reporters.
LOTHIAN: And the campaign is reminding those real people of Kerry's first debate performance last week with this new ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM KERRY CAMPAIGN AD)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've seen the debate where John Kerry was strong and clear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: Even as the campaign is focusing on domestic issues, senior adviser Mike McCurry keeps Iraq on the front burner, weighing in on the final WMD report, which concludes Saddam Hussein had no stockpiles of illicit weapons in Iraq when the U.S. invaded and had not begun any programs to produce them.
McCURRY: This president did not level with the American people about the reasons for going to war. This is a damning report. It's one that will probably dominate a lot of the discussion on foreign policy.
LOTHIAN: Since congratulating his running mate in this highly choreographed post-debate photo-op --
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The country tonight got a chance to feel the confidence that I have in you.
LOTHIAN: ... Kerry has stayed out of sight, leaving Senator Edwards to do the ticket's tough talk. In Florida, Edwards attacked the president's latest blistering speech as misleading and desperate.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You've got the same, old, tired ideas, the same old false attacks, the same old tired rhetoric. There are no new ideas. There are no new plans. This president is completely out of touch with reality and it showed again in his speech today.
LOTHIAN (on-camera): Even as the Bush campaign calls those attacks inaccurate, Kerry advisers promise a lively, aggressive posture with less than one month to go, aiming to show especially those undecided voters a clearer picture of Senator Kerry as commander in chief.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Englewood, Colorado.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LIN: Undecided voters will get a chance to weigh in on the election when Paula Zahn hosts a town hall meeting tonight in Racine, Wisconsin. That's at 8:00 Eastern.
And it's also your chance to ask the Kerry and Bush camps a question. Just send your e-mails to cnn.com/ontheroad.
And be sure to join CNN for live coverage of the second presidential debate Friday night from St. Louis. Our prime time coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern.
So, are you registered to vote? Well, if not, it may not be too late. Many state deadlines for registering haven't passed. But voter registration is becoming a sore spot for several states. For example, in Florida, hundreds of people are now being excluded because of faulty forms. And in Maryland, the possibility of fraud has officials taking notice.
CNN's Lisa Sylvester has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It may be easy to sign up a new voter. It's not easy to verify they are actually eligible to vote. In states like Maryland, people who register to vote as part of a voter registration drive do not have to show identification when they sign up or on election day. And there are no requirements to prove citizenship or age.
LINDA LAMONE, MARYLAND BOARD OF ELECTIONS: Voter registration in the United States has historically been the honor code, at least in Maryland it has. Until the help America Vote Act was enacted, there was no legal requirement in Maryland whatsoever that the voter provide any kind of identification.
SYLVESTER: The help America Vote Act was passed after the Florida debacle. But in Maryland, it only requires mail-in registrants prove they are who they say they are, with anything from a utility bill to a paycheck. Voter registrants have to check a box and sign a form under penalty of perjury that they are a U.S. citizen, of voting age and not an ex-felon. But the system is ripe for fraud, says Maryland delegate Don Dwyer.
DON DWYER, MARYLAND HOUSE OF DELEGATES: The requirement of being a citizen in order to vote is as American as apple pie is. And unfortunately in this country, that is being eroded.
SYLVESTER: Dwyer introduced a bill in Maryland that would require new voters show a birth certificate or proof they are a naturalized citizen. And it's not just a problem in Maryland. While the rules vary by state and county, other jurisdictions, like California, also do not have to prove citizenship. But get out the vote groups are concerned asking people for more information could disenfranchise legitimate voters on election day.
HANS RIEMER, ROCK THE VOTE: There could be millions of people who won't be able to vote on November 2, 2004, literally millions of people who get turned away from the polls on election day. And the problems are stemming from sometimes election officials are uninformed. Sometimes they're malicious. Sometimes people purge voter lists improperly.
SYLVESTER (on camera): State election offices check voter rolls against death records and court records for felonies, but there is no national citizenship registry. So officials say it's impossible to audit their lists to make sure everyone is a U.S. citizen.
Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LIN: That lead us to this morning's e-mail question. Do you think your vote will be secure? Send us your thoughts at daybreak@cnn.com. We're going to read some of your responses later in the program. All right, so when is Mount Saint Helens going to erupt? Well, scientists now say an eruption is not imminent, but that it could still happen some time in the coming weeks or even the coming months. And they've dropped the alert level. There is still plenty of action, though, on the mountain.
CNN's Miguel Marquez has an exclusive look at the volcano's power and the men who are recording it all.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The dome of the volcano -- it is the plug holding back another Mount Saint Helens eruption. Studying it gives hints of what's happening below.
LARRY MASTIN, VOLCANOLOGIST: Under the best circumstances, it can tell us the approximate rate at which magma is rising toward the surface.
MARQUEZ: Bruce and Larry Bergman run an aerial mapping business in Portland, Oregon. They've photographed the dome from overhead. The pictures are so detailed, every crack can be measured.
BRUCE BERGMAN, BERGMAN PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES: You can really see how there have been a lot of pressure pushing up in this area, breaking the ice.
MARQUEZ: Their photos gives geologists a three dimensional look at the dome. When Mount Saint Helens erupted last Friday, the Bergmans were overhead.
LARRY BERGMAN, BERGMAN PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES: And there was geysers of rocks and boulders shooting straight up in the air for about a two minute period.
MARQUEZ: The pictures they captured that day illustrate the power of millions of pounds of pressure blasting through rock.
L. BERGMAN: We always have to remember that there's, as I mentioned, kind of a time bomb down there.
MARQUEZ: Their office, a twin engine Cessna, offers spectacular views. The rim of the crater razor sharp. So far, they've witnessed the dome grow, seen a lake spring up as heat from below melts a slice of the glacier surrounding the dome. And they've seen vents break open.
L. BERGMAN: It's majestic. It's a show of nature's power.
MARQUEZ (on camera): The show of nature's power so far has been a warm-up act. Based on the dome's growth, the main event is expected to be explosive.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, near Mount Saint Helens, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE) LIN: News across America now.
Nevada police are searching for a former pro football player in connection with that drive by shooting at Siegfried & Roy's house. No one was injured in the September 21 shooting. Cole Ford, a place kicker for the Oakland Raiders in the mid-'90s, is wanted for assault. Police have not revealed the possible motive for the shooting.
And the investigation of Rush Limbaugh can proceed. That's because a Florida court ruled that Limbaugh's medical records were seized lawfully. The talk show or talk radio show host is being investigated for illegally receiving prescription painkillers. But the prosecution was stalled while waiting for the judge's decision on the medical records. Limbaugh has not been charged with any crime.
Kobe Bryant's accuser will no longer be anonymous when her civil suit against the NBA star begins. A federal judge ruled that the public's interests outweighed her desire to remain unnamed. Attorneys for the woman who accused Bryant of rape cited death threats as a reason to protect her privacy.
Well, it's October 7 and therefore it's incarceration eve for one Martha Stewart. Allan Chernoff takes a look at the odds on Stewart's vast empire making a rebound. That's five minutes away.
Also, will the flu bug come knocking on your door this season? In 21 minutes, Brian Todd on who gets a flu shot this year and who does not.
And, honest to goodness copycats at this year's New York Cat Show. Jeanne Moos has that in 42 minutes.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
LIN: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is now 16 past, 5:00 a.m. here on the East Coast.
And here's what's happening this morning.
It's up to the U.S. now. The Senate overwhelming approved an intelligence bill which calls for a national intelligence chief and a national counter-terrorism center. The House is expected to vote on its version of the bill as early as today.
And the House Ethics Committee admonished Majority Leader Tom DeLay for the second time in two weeks. The Republican congressman was cited for perceived conflicts of interest. The action by the House carries no actual penalty.
In money, another day, another record price for oil. One day after topping the $51 mark, the price for a barrel of oil hit $52.02.
And in culture, students can now get footloose in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Cornerstone University lifted its 63-year ban on dancing. But the Christian conservative school says it still won't allow indecent, erotic or violent dancing. What a relief.
In sports, the Boston Red Sox are rolling. The Sox took a 2-1 lead in the division series with an 8-3 victory over the Anaheim Angels. Game three of the best of seven series is Friday in Boston.
MYERS: Yes.
LIN: I wonder if they're dancing in those streets, Chad.
MYERS: They probably were considering those were two away games for Boston and they won. And now they come back to the green monster and look out Anaheim, I'm afraid.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LIN: All right, nice weather in Virginia for Martha Stewart's first day at prison?
MYERS: Lots of sunshine.
LIN: Excellent.
Thanks, Chad.
Martha has one more day of freedom before she heads off to prison in West Virginia. And some say her new home really isn't a prison at all. But that's not the impression given by at least one of the residents there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll tell you one thing, this ain't no damn Camp Cupcake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Camp Cupcake.
Guards say staff cuts may make it impossible for Stewart to be protected from other inmates. But while Stewart watches her back in the big house, will anyone be watching the store?
CNN's Allan Chernoff reports.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Martha Stewart can look forward to getting out of prison in five months. For her business, though, there is no timetable for recovery.
SHARON PATRICK, MARTHA STEWART LIVING OMNIMEDIA: Psychologically, obviously this has been very traumatic for the company.
CHERNOFF: Ms. Stewart's legal trouble has punished Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, transforming it into a money losing operation. Advertisers ran from "Martha Stewart Living" magazine after criminal charges were filed and Stewart's conviction accelerated the exodus. There has been collateral damage, as well. Sales of Martha Stewart Everyday products at Kmart have fallen. Her syndicated television show is on hiatus. The company is shutting its direct mail Catalog for Living. And this year it has been cutting one of every five jobs.
Veteran media analyst Dennis McAlpine says Martha Stewart is damaged goods.
DENNIS MCALPINE, MEDIA ANALYST: I don't think there's a prayer in the world that she's going to totally improve her image. She may make it better, but, you know, can a leopard change its spots? In the mind of the advertisers, they don't need this. They'd rather be with Oprah. And Martha Stewart is not Oprah.
CHERNOFF: A comeback is dependent upon luring back advertisers. That's the purpose of trade publication ads urging them to take a look at "Living," which now has Martha Stewart's name in small type.
PATRICK: The advertisers are looking for a resolution and we have every reason to believe that that will happen. It won't be tomorrow.
CHERNOFF: Some ad executives are willing to bet on Martha Stewart.
STEVE FEULING, STARCOM WORLDWIDE: I think we'll be recommending to our clients to reconsider that magazine and put it back into their schedules for next year.
CHERNOFF (on camera): Some investors also are betting on a comeback. They've been driving the stock up over the past few weeks. But chief executive Sharon Patrick has warned only after Martha Stewart has finished her jail time and after the company is no longer the subject of what she calls "chronic negative attention" will advertisers come back.
Allan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LIN: Well, First Lady Laura Bush hit the late night circuit and the facts are in. Or are they? Why Dick Cheney was the butt of jokes for "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart."
And it's no laughing matter for this local library. Coming up, why this mural has city officials seeing red.
Also, tell us what you think. Our e-mail Question of the Day is do you think your vote will be secure? E-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com.
You're watching DAYBREAK for Thursday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: This is my favorite time of the morning.
MYERS: Why is that?
LIN: Because you get to join me.
MYERS: Because I can bring you coffee?
LIN: And I get to join you. Yes. Love that coffee at 5:26 in the morning.
We're talking a little bit about politics today. And, you know, a lot more people are getting their political news from the late night comedy shows.
MYERS: Yes, they are.
LIN: You know? That's one way to be informed.
MYERS: I love "The Daily Show." I think Jon Stewart is great.
LIN: Especially after the debates.
MYERS: Yes.
LIN: And Jon Stewart really took on Dick Cheney in this particular show. He was basically joking about, you know, how he was flubbing his facts and scowling at John Edwards and -- I don't know, do we have some sound from that? You want to take a look at that?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, COURTESY COMEDY CENTRAL)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The reason they keep mentioning Halliburton is because they're trying to throw up a smokescreen. They know the charges are false. They know that if you go, for example, to factcheck.com, an independent Web site sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania, you can get the specific details with respect to Halliburton.
JON STEWART, HOST: Actually, a funny story, if you go to factcheck.com, you'll be rerouted and learn that George Bush is endangering our safety and must not be reelected in a message from billionaire investor George Sorros. So there's actually a slight factual error. Cheney actually had a factual error on his fact check reference. What Cheney meant to say was factcheck.org, which is a non-partisan clearinghouse of politicians' statements, which leads today with an item about, yes, how Cheney got their Web address wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Laura Bush made it onto the Jay Leno show.
MYERS: Yes.
LIN: You know, you wouldn't think that a former librarian would be known for her legs, but she's very popular.
MYERS: She is a very, very popular first lady. And obviously Jay Leno, I love the new set, though, with all the little construction things going on in there.
LIN: Yes?
MYERS: He's retiring in five years, why put a new set up?
LIN: I don't know. You know, making an investment there. But there's the first lady.
Also, John Edwards is waking up in New York with a raft of TV appearances.
MYERS: Right.
LIN: He's going to start off on "Live With Regis & Kelly," you know, the traditional point of view when you want to get your points across on domestic policy.
MYERS: All right.
LIN: And then he's going to be with the ladies on "The View" coming up.
MYERS: He's making his rounds.
LIN: You bet.
MYERS: And John Kerry has been a little absent the past couple of days, letting Mr. Edwards do some of the dirty work.
LIN: Yes, catch some of the bullets for him.
MYERS: That's right.
LIN: In the meantime, we've got some DAYBREAK "Eye Openers."
Chad, this is a very tall newborn.
MYERS: Oh, my.
LIN: You wouldn't expect a newborn to be already six feet tall, but there it is, the newest attraction at the Los Angeles Zoo. This baby giraffe has already become quite popular and quite a camera hog, Chad. Baby G., that's his name. He could grow up to 19 feet.
MYERS: It's great how animals can like get up and walk in like an hour.
LIN: I know.
MYERS: You know? I mean how long...
LIN: And you'll soon find out it's going to take about, oh, a year and a half for your little one to be up and running.
MYERS: Exactly. Right.
LIN: At the same time, here is one of the smallest self-defense weapons around.
MYERS: Yes, this scares me a little.
LIN: It's a gun. It's a pistol. It's about the size of a credit card. It only fires BBs but, you know, it can be still pretty dangerous.
MYERS: Yes. You can put an eye out with that.
LIN: Yes. The gun maker says it's pretty effective at close range, but otherwise useless. Gee, thanks.
MYERS: Right.
LIN: All right, and art appreciation is usually pretty subjective. But in this case, this is a mural that's in front of the California library. It's got a few problems there.
MYERS: That's spelled wrong.
LIN: Yes, spelling. Spelling.
MYERS: That's Eistein.
LIN: Instead of Einstein. That's right. Einstein and Shakespeare are wrong and the library wants these mistakes fixed. The artist is mad because the artist says, well, the mistakes were caught earlier. Well, get a dictionary.
MYERS: Well, maybe he's using artistic license in his spelling.
LIN: Maybe so. Eistein.
MYERS: Eistein. Get some bagels.
LIN: Which is how some of the younger patrons of the library might say it.
MYERS: That could be.
LIN: All right, here's what's all new in the next half hour.
We're going to be talking about rationing flu shots as people around the country scramble to get the vaccine. Will this health care situation reach a crisis level? We're going to go live to London -- yes, London -- to get to the heart of the matter, because that's where the vaccine comes from.
But first, we're going to look at one of the morning's editorials and what it's saying about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): In the world we live in today, it's hard to imagine not being able to communicate. But that's the reality for some people with severe disabilities, especially those who lose muscle movement over time.
MELODY MOORE, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY: These are people who are prisoners in their own bodies. They cannot speak. They cannot move.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Melody Moore, an assistant professor at Georgia State University, is developing technology that would interpret brain signals, allowing patients to directly control a computer or device.
MOORE: So it's called a direct brain interface. And we record brain signals from a special cap called an electric cap. And we do signal processing on the brain signals.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then they're sent to a computer with programs that convert the signals, helping the patients accomplish different tasks, such as communicating with others or controlling the television and turning on and off the lights. Most research also involves studying brain signals to see what they control and then training patients on how to use them.
In the future, Moore hopes to develop new imaging technology that's more accurate and less invasive.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired October 7, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, ANCHOR: And good morning from the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta.
I'm Carol Lin sitting in this morning for Carol Costello.
Right now in the news, another American soldier is killed in Iraq and officials say the soldier died after an explosion hit a military convoy near Fallujah. Two other Americans were wounded, one of them seriously.
And a car bombing in Pakistan has killed at least 39 people and wounded dozens more. It happened at a gathering of Sunni Muslims and comes just six days after a suicide bomber killed 31 people at a Shiite mosque.
Two Palestinian teenagers were killed today in an Israeli attack in Gaza. The Israeli military says the two were trying to launch a rocket at an Israeli settlement.
And in the States, Mount Saint Helens may not erupt after all. Government scientists now say seismic activity has dropped and they've lowered the volcano alert. But the scientists warn the danger could return.
All right, no danger in the weather so far -- good morning, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, good morning, Carol.
Actually, we have the Mount Saint Helens camera up here on all the time. But you can't really see anything, obviously, it's nighttime. But they have a little bit of infrared going on there and every once in a while you see a cloud go over the top and you think oh, is it blowing off? No, it's just a cloud.
LIN: Is this it? Yes.
MYERS: Oh, no, just a cloud. Yes. So it has actually been settled down now for quite a few days now, or at least quite a few hours ago.
LIN: What happened to that imminent eruption I was talking about all weekend, huh?
MYERS: And there's the little router. You can -- and you can, every once in a while you can see a little white cloud kind of go puffing by and you wonder whether that's actually a steam eruption or not. But typically these clouds have been rolling on by most of the night.
The imminent eruption was all part of the seismic activity that was down about a half a mile down below the surface of this cloud cover, or the dome itself. And when it got that close to the surface, they thought that the magma was actually coming up, and, in fact, it was, because the dome, the lava dome was actually coming up, as well. It was pushing that dome up there.
There's the crater and that one side that's blown out. Then there's a little dome, kind of like a little head sticking out. And then the head kept coming up and up and up meters at a time, and, in fact, like 50 feet in one day. So they knew that the magma was pushing this little cinder cone back on up and obviously it didn't happen yet, but it's like you said, it's still not too late for that to happen, so we have to keep watching it.
Otherwise, we're just watching the winds to see if -- where that ash is going to go, because it doesn't look like, obviously it would never -- we never thought it was going to be the same size eruption that happened in 1980, because the top of that mountain is already gone -- Carol, back to you.
LIN: All right, smart guy, Chad, this morning.
MYERS: Ah, you know, I just fake it.
LIN: It's so early.
All right, see you in just a bit.
MYERS: All right.
LIN: It is getting down to the wire, less than four weeks, just 26 more days until the presidential election. And the candidates are stepping up attacks against each other as George Bush and John Kerry prepare for a second debate tomorrow. We're going to have the latest from both camps.
Our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, is on the campaign trail with President Bush and Dan Lothian is covering the Kerry-Edwards campaign.
But right now, let's begin with Suzanne's report.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MALE: ... of the United States.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush, in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, is pursuing an aggressive strategy to portray John Kerry as unfit to lead in the war on terror.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Too bad the senator would have America bend over backwards to satisfy a handful of governments with agendas different from our own. This is my opponent's alliance building strategy -- brush off your best friends, fawn over your critics. And that is no way to gain the respect of the world.
MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush further chided Kerry for his 1991 vote against the Persian Gulf War.
BUSH: If that coalition didn't pass his global test, clearly nothing will.
MALVEAUX: At a town hall meeting in Tallahassee, Florida, Vice President Dick Cheney echoed Mr. Bush's serious doubts about Kerry's fitness to be commander in chief.
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There isn't anything in John Kerry's background since, well, for the last 30 years, that gives you any reason to believe that he would, in fact, be tough in terms of prosecuting the war on terror.
MALVEAUX: The tough talk from both men comes on the same day the administration's own investigative body, the Iraq Survey Group, concluded there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq at the time of the U.S. invasion, the administration's principal rationale for going to war.
(on camera): Friday's debate is largely expected to focus on domestic issues. And in a preview, President Bush blasted Kerry as a tax and spend liberal. At the same time, he attempted to make light at what many saw as his downfall in the last debate, those grimaces and scowls. President Bush joking today if you heard such inaccurate statements, you'd understand how he could make such a face.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): I'm Dan Lothian with the Kerry campaign at this golf resort in Englewood, Colorado, where the senator is working on his debate swing, top aides and advisers, using role playing to prepare him for the town hall style match up in St. Louis.
MIKE McCURRY, KERRY ADVISER: That the stakes are higher now. The expectations are higher. This is an important debate. It's one that's a different format because real Americans are involved, not just reporters.
LOTHIAN: And the campaign is reminding those real people of Kerry's first debate performance last week with this new ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM KERRY CAMPAIGN AD)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've seen the debate where John Kerry was strong and clear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: Even as the campaign is focusing on domestic issues, senior adviser Mike McCurry keeps Iraq on the front burner, weighing in on the final WMD report, which concludes Saddam Hussein had no stockpiles of illicit weapons in Iraq when the U.S. invaded and had not begun any programs to produce them.
McCURRY: This president did not level with the American people about the reasons for going to war. This is a damning report. It's one that will probably dominate a lot of the discussion on foreign policy.
LOTHIAN: Since congratulating his running mate in this highly choreographed post-debate photo-op --
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The country tonight got a chance to feel the confidence that I have in you.
LOTHIAN: ... Kerry has stayed out of sight, leaving Senator Edwards to do the ticket's tough talk. In Florida, Edwards attacked the president's latest blistering speech as misleading and desperate.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You've got the same, old, tired ideas, the same old false attacks, the same old tired rhetoric. There are no new ideas. There are no new plans. This president is completely out of touch with reality and it showed again in his speech today.
LOTHIAN (on-camera): Even as the Bush campaign calls those attacks inaccurate, Kerry advisers promise a lively, aggressive posture with less than one month to go, aiming to show especially those undecided voters a clearer picture of Senator Kerry as commander in chief.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Englewood, Colorado.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LIN: Undecided voters will get a chance to weigh in on the election when Paula Zahn hosts a town hall meeting tonight in Racine, Wisconsin. That's at 8:00 Eastern.
And it's also your chance to ask the Kerry and Bush camps a question. Just send your e-mails to cnn.com/ontheroad.
And be sure to join CNN for live coverage of the second presidential debate Friday night from St. Louis. Our prime time coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern.
So, are you registered to vote? Well, if not, it may not be too late. Many state deadlines for registering haven't passed. But voter registration is becoming a sore spot for several states. For example, in Florida, hundreds of people are now being excluded because of faulty forms. And in Maryland, the possibility of fraud has officials taking notice.
CNN's Lisa Sylvester has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It may be easy to sign up a new voter. It's not easy to verify they are actually eligible to vote. In states like Maryland, people who register to vote as part of a voter registration drive do not have to show identification when they sign up or on election day. And there are no requirements to prove citizenship or age.
LINDA LAMONE, MARYLAND BOARD OF ELECTIONS: Voter registration in the United States has historically been the honor code, at least in Maryland it has. Until the help America Vote Act was enacted, there was no legal requirement in Maryland whatsoever that the voter provide any kind of identification.
SYLVESTER: The help America Vote Act was passed after the Florida debacle. But in Maryland, it only requires mail-in registrants prove they are who they say they are, with anything from a utility bill to a paycheck. Voter registrants have to check a box and sign a form under penalty of perjury that they are a U.S. citizen, of voting age and not an ex-felon. But the system is ripe for fraud, says Maryland delegate Don Dwyer.
DON DWYER, MARYLAND HOUSE OF DELEGATES: The requirement of being a citizen in order to vote is as American as apple pie is. And unfortunately in this country, that is being eroded.
SYLVESTER: Dwyer introduced a bill in Maryland that would require new voters show a birth certificate or proof they are a naturalized citizen. And it's not just a problem in Maryland. While the rules vary by state and county, other jurisdictions, like California, also do not have to prove citizenship. But get out the vote groups are concerned asking people for more information could disenfranchise legitimate voters on election day.
HANS RIEMER, ROCK THE VOTE: There could be millions of people who won't be able to vote on November 2, 2004, literally millions of people who get turned away from the polls on election day. And the problems are stemming from sometimes election officials are uninformed. Sometimes they're malicious. Sometimes people purge voter lists improperly.
SYLVESTER (on camera): State election offices check voter rolls against death records and court records for felonies, but there is no national citizenship registry. So officials say it's impossible to audit their lists to make sure everyone is a U.S. citizen.
Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LIN: That lead us to this morning's e-mail question. Do you think your vote will be secure? Send us your thoughts at daybreak@cnn.com. We're going to read some of your responses later in the program. All right, so when is Mount Saint Helens going to erupt? Well, scientists now say an eruption is not imminent, but that it could still happen some time in the coming weeks or even the coming months. And they've dropped the alert level. There is still plenty of action, though, on the mountain.
CNN's Miguel Marquez has an exclusive look at the volcano's power and the men who are recording it all.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The dome of the volcano -- it is the plug holding back another Mount Saint Helens eruption. Studying it gives hints of what's happening below.
LARRY MASTIN, VOLCANOLOGIST: Under the best circumstances, it can tell us the approximate rate at which magma is rising toward the surface.
MARQUEZ: Bruce and Larry Bergman run an aerial mapping business in Portland, Oregon. They've photographed the dome from overhead. The pictures are so detailed, every crack can be measured.
BRUCE BERGMAN, BERGMAN PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES: You can really see how there have been a lot of pressure pushing up in this area, breaking the ice.
MARQUEZ: Their photos gives geologists a three dimensional look at the dome. When Mount Saint Helens erupted last Friday, the Bergmans were overhead.
LARRY BERGMAN, BERGMAN PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES: And there was geysers of rocks and boulders shooting straight up in the air for about a two minute period.
MARQUEZ: The pictures they captured that day illustrate the power of millions of pounds of pressure blasting through rock.
L. BERGMAN: We always have to remember that there's, as I mentioned, kind of a time bomb down there.
MARQUEZ: Their office, a twin engine Cessna, offers spectacular views. The rim of the crater razor sharp. So far, they've witnessed the dome grow, seen a lake spring up as heat from below melts a slice of the glacier surrounding the dome. And they've seen vents break open.
L. BERGMAN: It's majestic. It's a show of nature's power.
MARQUEZ (on camera): The show of nature's power so far has been a warm-up act. Based on the dome's growth, the main event is expected to be explosive.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, near Mount Saint Helens, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE) LIN: News across America now.
Nevada police are searching for a former pro football player in connection with that drive by shooting at Siegfried & Roy's house. No one was injured in the September 21 shooting. Cole Ford, a place kicker for the Oakland Raiders in the mid-'90s, is wanted for assault. Police have not revealed the possible motive for the shooting.
And the investigation of Rush Limbaugh can proceed. That's because a Florida court ruled that Limbaugh's medical records were seized lawfully. The talk show or talk radio show host is being investigated for illegally receiving prescription painkillers. But the prosecution was stalled while waiting for the judge's decision on the medical records. Limbaugh has not been charged with any crime.
Kobe Bryant's accuser will no longer be anonymous when her civil suit against the NBA star begins. A federal judge ruled that the public's interests outweighed her desire to remain unnamed. Attorneys for the woman who accused Bryant of rape cited death threats as a reason to protect her privacy.
Well, it's October 7 and therefore it's incarceration eve for one Martha Stewart. Allan Chernoff takes a look at the odds on Stewart's vast empire making a rebound. That's five minutes away.
Also, will the flu bug come knocking on your door this season? In 21 minutes, Brian Todd on who gets a flu shot this year and who does not.
And, honest to goodness copycats at this year's New York Cat Show. Jeanne Moos has that in 42 minutes.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
LIN: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is now 16 past, 5:00 a.m. here on the East Coast.
And here's what's happening this morning.
It's up to the U.S. now. The Senate overwhelming approved an intelligence bill which calls for a national intelligence chief and a national counter-terrorism center. The House is expected to vote on its version of the bill as early as today.
And the House Ethics Committee admonished Majority Leader Tom DeLay for the second time in two weeks. The Republican congressman was cited for perceived conflicts of interest. The action by the House carries no actual penalty.
In money, another day, another record price for oil. One day after topping the $51 mark, the price for a barrel of oil hit $52.02.
And in culture, students can now get footloose in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Cornerstone University lifted its 63-year ban on dancing. But the Christian conservative school says it still won't allow indecent, erotic or violent dancing. What a relief.
In sports, the Boston Red Sox are rolling. The Sox took a 2-1 lead in the division series with an 8-3 victory over the Anaheim Angels. Game three of the best of seven series is Friday in Boston.
MYERS: Yes.
LIN: I wonder if they're dancing in those streets, Chad.
MYERS: They probably were considering those were two away games for Boston and they won. And now they come back to the green monster and look out Anaheim, I'm afraid.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LIN: All right, nice weather in Virginia for Martha Stewart's first day at prison?
MYERS: Lots of sunshine.
LIN: Excellent.
Thanks, Chad.
Martha has one more day of freedom before she heads off to prison in West Virginia. And some say her new home really isn't a prison at all. But that's not the impression given by at least one of the residents there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll tell you one thing, this ain't no damn Camp Cupcake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Camp Cupcake.
Guards say staff cuts may make it impossible for Stewart to be protected from other inmates. But while Stewart watches her back in the big house, will anyone be watching the store?
CNN's Allan Chernoff reports.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Martha Stewart can look forward to getting out of prison in five months. For her business, though, there is no timetable for recovery.
SHARON PATRICK, MARTHA STEWART LIVING OMNIMEDIA: Psychologically, obviously this has been very traumatic for the company.
CHERNOFF: Ms. Stewart's legal trouble has punished Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, transforming it into a money losing operation. Advertisers ran from "Martha Stewart Living" magazine after criminal charges were filed and Stewart's conviction accelerated the exodus. There has been collateral damage, as well. Sales of Martha Stewart Everyday products at Kmart have fallen. Her syndicated television show is on hiatus. The company is shutting its direct mail Catalog for Living. And this year it has been cutting one of every five jobs.
Veteran media analyst Dennis McAlpine says Martha Stewart is damaged goods.
DENNIS MCALPINE, MEDIA ANALYST: I don't think there's a prayer in the world that she's going to totally improve her image. She may make it better, but, you know, can a leopard change its spots? In the mind of the advertisers, they don't need this. They'd rather be with Oprah. And Martha Stewart is not Oprah.
CHERNOFF: A comeback is dependent upon luring back advertisers. That's the purpose of trade publication ads urging them to take a look at "Living," which now has Martha Stewart's name in small type.
PATRICK: The advertisers are looking for a resolution and we have every reason to believe that that will happen. It won't be tomorrow.
CHERNOFF: Some ad executives are willing to bet on Martha Stewart.
STEVE FEULING, STARCOM WORLDWIDE: I think we'll be recommending to our clients to reconsider that magazine and put it back into their schedules for next year.
CHERNOFF (on camera): Some investors also are betting on a comeback. They've been driving the stock up over the past few weeks. But chief executive Sharon Patrick has warned only after Martha Stewart has finished her jail time and after the company is no longer the subject of what she calls "chronic negative attention" will advertisers come back.
Allan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LIN: Well, First Lady Laura Bush hit the late night circuit and the facts are in. Or are they? Why Dick Cheney was the butt of jokes for "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart."
And it's no laughing matter for this local library. Coming up, why this mural has city officials seeing red.
Also, tell us what you think. Our e-mail Question of the Day is do you think your vote will be secure? E-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com.
You're watching DAYBREAK for Thursday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: This is my favorite time of the morning.
MYERS: Why is that?
LIN: Because you get to join me.
MYERS: Because I can bring you coffee?
LIN: And I get to join you. Yes. Love that coffee at 5:26 in the morning.
We're talking a little bit about politics today. And, you know, a lot more people are getting their political news from the late night comedy shows.
MYERS: Yes, they are.
LIN: You know? That's one way to be informed.
MYERS: I love "The Daily Show." I think Jon Stewart is great.
LIN: Especially after the debates.
MYERS: Yes.
LIN: And Jon Stewart really took on Dick Cheney in this particular show. He was basically joking about, you know, how he was flubbing his facts and scowling at John Edwards and -- I don't know, do we have some sound from that? You want to take a look at that?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, COURTESY COMEDY CENTRAL)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The reason they keep mentioning Halliburton is because they're trying to throw up a smokescreen. They know the charges are false. They know that if you go, for example, to factcheck.com, an independent Web site sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania, you can get the specific details with respect to Halliburton.
JON STEWART, HOST: Actually, a funny story, if you go to factcheck.com, you'll be rerouted and learn that George Bush is endangering our safety and must not be reelected in a message from billionaire investor George Sorros. So there's actually a slight factual error. Cheney actually had a factual error on his fact check reference. What Cheney meant to say was factcheck.org, which is a non-partisan clearinghouse of politicians' statements, which leads today with an item about, yes, how Cheney got their Web address wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Laura Bush made it onto the Jay Leno show.
MYERS: Yes.
LIN: You know, you wouldn't think that a former librarian would be known for her legs, but she's very popular.
MYERS: She is a very, very popular first lady. And obviously Jay Leno, I love the new set, though, with all the little construction things going on in there.
LIN: Yes?
MYERS: He's retiring in five years, why put a new set up?
LIN: I don't know. You know, making an investment there. But there's the first lady.
Also, John Edwards is waking up in New York with a raft of TV appearances.
MYERS: Right.
LIN: He's going to start off on "Live With Regis & Kelly," you know, the traditional point of view when you want to get your points across on domestic policy.
MYERS: All right.
LIN: And then he's going to be with the ladies on "The View" coming up.
MYERS: He's making his rounds.
LIN: You bet.
MYERS: And John Kerry has been a little absent the past couple of days, letting Mr. Edwards do some of the dirty work.
LIN: Yes, catch some of the bullets for him.
MYERS: That's right.
LIN: In the meantime, we've got some DAYBREAK "Eye Openers."
Chad, this is a very tall newborn.
MYERS: Oh, my.
LIN: You wouldn't expect a newborn to be already six feet tall, but there it is, the newest attraction at the Los Angeles Zoo. This baby giraffe has already become quite popular and quite a camera hog, Chad. Baby G., that's his name. He could grow up to 19 feet.
MYERS: It's great how animals can like get up and walk in like an hour.
LIN: I know.
MYERS: You know? I mean how long...
LIN: And you'll soon find out it's going to take about, oh, a year and a half for your little one to be up and running.
MYERS: Exactly. Right.
LIN: At the same time, here is one of the smallest self-defense weapons around.
MYERS: Yes, this scares me a little.
LIN: It's a gun. It's a pistol. It's about the size of a credit card. It only fires BBs but, you know, it can be still pretty dangerous.
MYERS: Yes. You can put an eye out with that.
LIN: Yes. The gun maker says it's pretty effective at close range, but otherwise useless. Gee, thanks.
MYERS: Right.
LIN: All right, and art appreciation is usually pretty subjective. But in this case, this is a mural that's in front of the California library. It's got a few problems there.
MYERS: That's spelled wrong.
LIN: Yes, spelling. Spelling.
MYERS: That's Eistein.
LIN: Instead of Einstein. That's right. Einstein and Shakespeare are wrong and the library wants these mistakes fixed. The artist is mad because the artist says, well, the mistakes were caught earlier. Well, get a dictionary.
MYERS: Well, maybe he's using artistic license in his spelling.
LIN: Maybe so. Eistein.
MYERS: Eistein. Get some bagels.
LIN: Which is how some of the younger patrons of the library might say it.
MYERS: That could be.
LIN: All right, here's what's all new in the next half hour.
We're going to be talking about rationing flu shots as people around the country scramble to get the vaccine. Will this health care situation reach a crisis level? We're going to go live to London -- yes, London -- to get to the heart of the matter, because that's where the vaccine comes from.
But first, we're going to look at one of the morning's editorials and what it's saying about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): In the world we live in today, it's hard to imagine not being able to communicate. But that's the reality for some people with severe disabilities, especially those who lose muscle movement over time.
MELODY MOORE, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY: These are people who are prisoners in their own bodies. They cannot speak. They cannot move.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Melody Moore, an assistant professor at Georgia State University, is developing technology that would interpret brain signals, allowing patients to directly control a computer or device.
MOORE: So it's called a direct brain interface. And we record brain signals from a special cap called an electric cap. And we do signal processing on the brain signals.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then they're sent to a computer with programs that convert the signals, helping the patients accomplish different tasks, such as communicating with others or controlling the television and turning on and off the lights. Most research also involves studying brain signals to see what they control and then training patients on how to use them.
In the future, Moore hopes to develop new imaging technology that's more accurate and less invasive.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
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