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CNN Live At Daybreak

Presidential Polls; "America's Voice"; "Today's Talker"

Aired October 12, 2004 - 06:30   ET

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

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news -- in Iraq, the U.S. military says it hit two terrorist sites in Fallujah today. One was a meeting center for the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi terrorist network, the other a safe house for terrorists. U.S. warplanes have been making daily bombing runs in Fallujah in recent weeks.

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, police today killed three suspected militants in a shootout. The incident was triggered after police noticed a car filled with suspicious individuals in a neighborhood where many Westerners live.

The Los Angeles School Board votes tonight on whether to save part of the Ambassador Hotel for a school. Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated there while campaigning for president in 1968. The senator's family wants the hotel demolished.

Barack Obama and Alan Keyes debate each other tonight in the Illinois U.S. Senate race. Obama gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. Keyes is a former Republican candidate for president.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Only 21 days until the presidential election. In the polls, it's a horserace. Bush is slipping, oh, a teeny little bit. Kerry is inching up a teeny little bit. So, it's still a dead heat heading into the final stretch.

Let's get more on the new poll numbers out this morning. Joining us, Frank Newport, Gallup Poll's editor-in-chief, live from Princeton, New Jersey.

Good morning.

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Good morning, Carol.

Indeed, it couldn't be much closer than this. Let me show you some fascinating data.

First of all, the basic horserace among likely voters -- again, we're showing you what happened in September. That's when Bush did considerably better in three consecutive polls after the GOP convention. But after that first debate, dead even. That was after the debate in Miami. And then after the second debate in St. Louis over the weekend, it's still dead even: 49 for Kerry, 48 for Bush. So, we've really seen no change over the last week.

Look how even it is when we break all states out into three groups. The so-called Bush states, those are the states that Bush did well in, in 2000. The so-called Gore states right here, these are the ones that Gore did well in. Kerry is winning in those. You can see them in the middle. And look on the right-hand side. Those are the so-called showdown states, those 16 states that are so close, 48-48 among likely voters.

So, you can't get much more competitive than that in this race -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Boy, you are not kidding. So, what are voters saying are the most issues on their minds?

NEWPORT: Well, they're all three of the big issues that we've been tracking continue to be important and not one is dominating the other. The big three, of course, are the economy, terrorism and Iraq, 28, 28 and 25. Health care is the fourth one that we asked people about. It's somewhat less important.

Carol, what's interesting is it depends on how you look at it. Republicans are much more likely to say terrorism is the top issue. Democrats, Kerry supporters, say it's the economy and, to some degree, Iraq.

COSTELLO: So, speaking of the economy, how's it going in the eyes of the public?

NEWPORT: Mediocre. We're just not getting any sign from the public of enthusiasm or optimism.

In fact, this is a simple question, Carol. It's quite interesting. Is the economy getting better or is it getting worse? You know, in July, it was more positive. You see the green line was higher. It came down to the mixed range.

And now in our recent poll, 48 percent of Americans say it's getting worse, just 43 better. So, there's a net negative perception about the direction of the economy out there among the American public.

COSTELLO: And finally, what are the expectations, Frank, for Bush and Kerry heading into tomorrow night's debate?

NEWPORT: Well, is this good or bad? It's kind of -- some debaters think it's bad to be expected to be the winner. You'd rather be the underdog to some degree. Bush was considered to be the winner going into the first debate. And, of course, all of our polling showed he lost it.

Kerry is now significantly ahead of Bush when we asked voters over the weekend: Who do you think will win in Tempe, Arizona on Wednesday night? Fifty-four to 36, Kerry over Bush.

We did remind, Carol, voters in this question that it was domestic policy, and that's been a strength of Kerry's in our polling data. But nevertheless, Bush goes in the underdog, as I just mentioned. That may be good for Bush. He may like to be in that position so he can do nothing but come out stronger than expected.

COSTELLO: We'll see. Thank you, Frank Newport, live from Princeton, New Jersey.

So much to debate this morning, so let's not waste any time.

As is usual on Tuesday, from the right, Libertarian talker Neal Boortz, and from the left, talker Nancy Skinner.

Good morning to you both.

NEAL BOORTZ, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.

NANCY SKINNER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.

COSTELLO: So, let's start with that last set of Gallup numbers about who will do a better job in the debate? Fifty-four percent say Kerry, 36 percent say Bush.

Neal, aren't most Republicans saying Bush won the second debate? Why are the numbers like this for the third?

BOORTZ: I don't know. I'm not hearing that most Republicans say that Bush won the second debate. He certainly did better than the first one. I don't expect him to win the debate on Friday night on domestic issues.

It is so easy to stand up on a stage in front of America and promise to take money away from successful people to give it to those who depend on government. And that's how you win a debate on domestic policy. So, I think this debate belongs to John Kerry.

SKINNER: Oh, that's so tired, Neal!

COSTELLO: Nancy, go on.

SKINNER: That is so tired, Neal.

BOORTZ: Right.

SKINNER: You know, the problem with President Bush has been that he lowered the bar of expectation so low on the first debate that on the second debate everybody said he struck an out when it was really more like a foul ball. He had a hard time even communicating, talking about the Dred Scott decision and the "Internets." It was sad. But because it was better than his worst first performance, people said he won or it was a draw.

BOORTZ: Well, I agree with you, Nancy. It is getting very tired. I am getting tired of the class warfare rhetoric of John Kerry. I am going to -- I love this part where John Kerry looked at that entire audience on Friday night and said the only people in this audience that can possibly be remotely successful in our society are Charles Gibson, me, and George Bush. The rest of you are drudges that will never make any significant money in your life. That's a nice guy.

SKINNER: Really? I didn't hear him say that exactly.

BOORTZ: Well, you should have been watching.

SKINNER: I thought I heard him say that the only people that got the tax cut were those three people, not that the rest of us are drudges. That they were bestowing benefits on those who need it the least and not on the people who are working hard and need it the most. That's what I thought I heard him say.

BOORTZ: Nancy, I'm not at all surprised you missed it.

COSTELLO: I don't even have to interject. You guys are doing great on your own. Let me ask you...

BOORTZ: That's what we do.

COSTELLO: Let me ask you this. And I'm going to switch things around a little bit. Neal, what does John Kerry have to do in the third debate tomorrow night?

BOORTZ: Hold his own. I think that's all he has to do is just hold his own, continue with the class warfare rhetoric, continue with the "I'm going to tax the top 1 percent," and that's all he has to do. That's what the bulk of the American people want to hear. I hate those rich people. I want their money. This guy is going to take it from them and give it to me. Just hold his own and he'll be in good shape.

COSTELLO: OK. Nancy, what does George Bush have to do?

SKINNER: He's got to learn the English language a little better, start to master his concepts and articulate them in a way that most Americans can understand. Now, I know that's impolite to say that, but most people, you know, if you have a choice between two surgeons, you're going to want one with a seemingly higher IQ. And I think he's going to need to do that.

And John Kerry is going to need to overcome the fear factor, because that's what they're going to do now that they're losing. There is going to be a desperation campaign, a fear factor campaign that tells these security moms that if you elect John Kerry, your kids will be killed in schools. That's how low it's going to get, and he needs to overcome that.

COSTELLO: Well...

BOORTZ: Carol, before we go, can we commemorate that nuisance bombing of the USS Cole a couple of years ago on this day?

COSTELLO: I knew somehow you were going to bring up the nuisance issue.

BOORTZ: Oh, what a nuisance that was to the families of those victims on the USS Cole. Horrible nuisance.

SKINNER: And how out of context you've taken that comment...

BOORTZ: Oh, yes.

SKINNER: ... once again.

BOORTZ: Oh, yes.

SKINNER: See, this is an example of how desperate this campaign has gotten that they're going to take things completely out of context. Whatever sticks against that wall, they're hoping to do some damage.

BOORTZ: Yes, right.

COSTELLO: OK. Let me ask you both this question. You've seen the numbers. They really haven't changed very much since the first two debates were over. Do debates even matter, Nancy?

SKINNER: Does the base...

COSTELLO: Do the debates matter?

SKINNER: Oh, debates.

COSTELLO: Yes.

SKINNER: Absolutely. Look at how it changes this race around. Basically it gave Kerry a nine-point bounce from these debates. It's the first time that they don't have the filters of TV commercials to really get their message across. They are asked a question, and they have to answer that. And I think this is where Kerry shines. And the emperor has no clothes. When President Bush gets up there, he's buck- naked.

BOORTZ: Well, except for Nancy's reliance on cliches, like the emperor has no clothes, I will go along with every other thing that she said about the debates.

COSTELLO: All right, Neal Boortz and Nancy Skinner, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

BOORTZ: See you next week.

COSTELLO: Yes, we'll be back.

SKINNER: Thank you.

COSTELLO: We've enjoyed it as usual.

And as you well know, we are one day away from that final presidential debate. Our primetime coverage begins tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. Eastern with Wolf Blitzer, Paula Zahn, Anderson Cooper, Judy Woodruff and our entire CNN election team.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, a kids TV network is really growing up. More on what Nickelodeon has in store in business news.

Then, it's one of the oldest rivalries in baseball. And as the Red Sox and the Yankees prepare for tonight's playoff match-up, we ask you: What keeps those Boston fans plugging along? A new book may explain. I'll talk to one of the authors.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It's time for a little business buzz now.

"SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Dora the Explorer" are getting new friends from Nickelodeon. I can't wait to hear, Carrie Lee.

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Carol.

Well, Nickelodeon is actually expanding beyond these tried-and- true names, expanding into video games, a clothing line, baby videos, even a hotel in Orlando. And all of these things are not tied to Nickelodeon's popular television shows.

Now, look at Nickelodeon as a unit of Viacom. The children's cable network is well-known for "SpongeBob SquarePants," "Dora the Explorer," "Blue's Clues." But the network is increasingly bypassing its tried-and-true method of basing all of its merchandising on proven television programs and movies. They're banking on just the Nickelodeon name.

And there's big money behind this concept. Nickelodeon Enterprises is expected to bring almost $4 billion in retail sales this year. And Viacom's overall revenue for least year, 2003, was just under $27 billion.

So, the stakes are high. Money is pretty big here, Carol. We'll see if the venture is successful.

COSTELLO: I wish I could say I was listening to you, but I was enjoying SpongeBob's antics with Patrick.

LEE: It's hard not to watch, right? A lot of people like it, children as well as adults. But they are trying to expand as all companies need to do to keep the sales and profits coming in.

COSTELLO: That's right. Make more money.

LEE: That's right.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Carrie Lee.

LEE: OK.

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:45 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning. The U.S. military says it destroyed a meeting center at a known terrorist safe house in Fallujah today. A person working for us in Fallujah says the first strike destroyed a restaurant in a nearby building.

The international group, Human Rights Watch, says at least 11 al Qaeda suspects have -- quote -- "disappeared from U.S. custody." But the U.S. government says it's holding them at undisclosed locations, and they've really not disappeared. A CIA spokesman says the agency hasn't seen the report and has no comment.

In money news, oil prices, yes, they are still high. U.S. light crude oil futures are trading up 10 cents at $53.74 a barrel.

In culture, six months after he escaped from his Iraqi captors, former U.S. hostage Thomas Hamill is detailing his experiences in a new book. "Escape from Iraq: The Thomas Hamill Story" hits bookstores today.

In sports, Monday night football, the Tennessee Titans dominated the Green Bay Packers 48-27. The 48 points set a record for the most points ever allowed by an opponent at Green Bay's historic Lambeau Field. Oh, poor Green Bay!

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.

What do Stephen King, Ben Affleck, and John Kerry have in common? It has nothing to do with Washington. Try Boston. Home team pride and the Red Sox fans have it like no other. Coming up, an author shows his undying support for Beantown baseball.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Do you remember where you were on March 7? That was the first spring meeting between the Yankees and the Red Sox.

Now, 162 regular games and one playoff series later, they are ready to meet again. But this time, there is much more on the line. And for Boston fans, the chance to beat the Yankees on their way to the World Series is the way they want it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Last year was an awesome year, but you've got to keep trying.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So is this the year the curse comes to an end?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope so. I think so.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You hope so?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think so. I... UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You think so?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm really optimistic about it. I think this is the year.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Boston is the best, and nobody does it like Boston.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Oh, the curse of the Bambino. But it could be different this time for the Red Sox, because they have attitude.

Johnny Damon versus Derek Jeter, take a look at the pictures. Jeter looks absolutely passionless next to Damon, who called his teammates idiots. Teammate David Ortiz says we're all idiots here. We all have fun. We all hug, kiss, grab whatever. Just like the DAYBREAK team.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.

COSTELLO: Yes. Let's head live to Boston...

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Let's head live to Boston and Stewart O'Nan, an award- winning author of horror novels.

Good morning.

STEWART O'NAN, AUTHOR, FAITHFUL": Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Stewart, oddly you, along with your buddy, author Stephen King, are writing a book about the Boston fan. Why?

O'NAN: Well, we're the wildest, craziest, most dedicated, most passionate fans in the world. And I think every team thinks that their fans are that way. But we really are. This year we've sold out Fenway Park for every single home game.

COSTELLO: It's insane. Is it a coincidence that you both write horror novels and are fans of the Red Sox?

O'NAN: Well, I think, you know, just being novelists, we have sort of an eye for both, you know, detail, intricacy, and tragedy.

MYERS: And fiction.

COSTELLO: And fiction, Chad says. Let's chat a little about the psychology of the Boston fan, because the fans are crazy.

This is what one blogger wrote on his Web site to prove there is a curse: "Boston pitcher Bruce Hurst lost in a World Series appearance back in '86, and if you rearrange the letters in his name" -- and I know we have a graphic on this -- "if you rearrange the letters in his Bruce Hurst's name"... MYERS: Picture in your mind, if you will.

COSTELLO: Picture in you mind, you get "B. Ruth Curse." That's just nutty, Stewart.

O'NAN: Well, here's what happened in 1986: Bruce Hurst won game five of the World Series, giving us a 3-2 lead. He beat Ron Darling on a Friday night, and I was there. It was a great game, a clutch performance. No curse there.

I think, however, the Cubs are a curse. There is a Billy Goat curse. But Babe Ruth never cursed the Red Sox.

COSTELLO: Well, why would Chicago have a curse and Boston not? Now, maybe Babe Ruth didn't have anything to do with it, maybe it's just the karma out there.

O'NAN: Well, it's possible it's the karma. But, I mean, the Cubs really are cursed. The owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, because he wasn't allowed to bring his billy goat into Wrigley Field, did level an actual Greek curse upon the Cubs. And it's worked.

MYERS: That's true.

COSTELLO: Yes, it has. You're not wrong there. So, tell us, this time around, will the Red Sox pull it out? Because they've got a much different team, a much different attitude, and they have Johnny Damon, a manly man.

O'NAN: They've got a much, much better team this year with Curt Shilling as really the horse of the staff to take some of the pressure off of Pedro. Keith Foulke is a legitimate closer. Johnny Damon. We've got Speed (ph) and Dave Roberts and Pokey Reese. We're a very, very good team, and we can do it. Will we do it? I mean, only the baseball gods know.

But we're there, and we've got the second chance a shot at redemption. And we'll take it.

COSTELLO: A lot of people are pulling for the Boston Red Sox. And your book about to come out about the Boston is called "Faithful."

O'NAN: Yes, indeed. "Faithful," because that's what we are, the Fenway Faithful. We're there, you know, rain or shine. When there is no fair weather, there are no fair-weather friends.

COSTELLO: I love that. Stewart O'Nan, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

O'NAN: All right, thanks.

MYERS: And wind gusts at 50 in Boston today. So that's not fair weather.

COSTELLO: Won't they play in New York?

MYERS: Yes. You'll see them, no fair-weather fans.

COSTELLO: Oh, that's true. I get it now. See, that went right over my head.

MYERS: I know.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad, for setting me...

MYERS: I caught it right about back here.

COSTELLO: I guess then we're all idiots here on DAYBREAK, just like Johnny Damon says about Boston.

Your chance to win a DAYBREAK coffee mug in two minutes, but first this is DAYBREAK for a Tuesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, it's time to win a mug, possibly.

MYERS: The DAYBREAK mug, more coveted than the Nextel Cup.

COSTELLO: Sure it is.

MYERS: Or maybe not.

All right, here are your questions for today. You need to answer them both and e-mail them to daybreak@cnn.com.

Who was shot inside the Ambassador Hotel? 1968, that's your clue. And in what year did the Boston Red Sox last play in a World Series? Not when did they win. When did they play in a World Series?

COSTELLO: Bruce Hurst, that's another clue for you.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Of course, we'll name the winner...

MYERS: (INAUDIBLE).

COSTELLO: That's right.

MYERS: The B. Ruth Curse.

COSTELLO: We've been asking viewers all morning long about the curse.

MYERS: The curse.

COSTELLO: And they've sent us some interesting responses. Yours is my favorite, so you read it because it's short and sweet.

MYERS: Of course, the Red Sox have a curse. It's called the New York Yankees.

COSTELLO: That's my favorite one all morning long. Thanks for the e-mails. Daybreak@cnn.com. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

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 12, 2004 - 06:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news -- in Iraq, the U.S. military says it hit two terrorist sites in Fallujah today. One was a meeting center for the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi terrorist network, the other a safe house for terrorists. U.S. warplanes have been making daily bombing runs in Fallujah in recent weeks.

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, police today killed three suspected militants in a shootout. The incident was triggered after police noticed a car filled with suspicious individuals in a neighborhood where many Westerners live.

The Los Angeles School Board votes tonight on whether to save part of the Ambassador Hotel for a school. Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated there while campaigning for president in 1968. The senator's family wants the hotel demolished.

Barack Obama and Alan Keyes debate each other tonight in the Illinois U.S. Senate race. Obama gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. Keyes is a former Republican candidate for president.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Only 21 days until the presidential election. In the polls, it's a horserace. Bush is slipping, oh, a teeny little bit. Kerry is inching up a teeny little bit. So, it's still a dead heat heading into the final stretch.

Let's get more on the new poll numbers out this morning. Joining us, Frank Newport, Gallup Poll's editor-in-chief, live from Princeton, New Jersey.

Good morning.

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Good morning, Carol.

Indeed, it couldn't be much closer than this. Let me show you some fascinating data.

First of all, the basic horserace among likely voters -- again, we're showing you what happened in September. That's when Bush did considerably better in three consecutive polls after the GOP convention. But after that first debate, dead even. That was after the debate in Miami. And then after the second debate in St. Louis over the weekend, it's still dead even: 49 for Kerry, 48 for Bush. So, we've really seen no change over the last week.

Look how even it is when we break all states out into three groups. The so-called Bush states, those are the states that Bush did well in, in 2000. The so-called Gore states right here, these are the ones that Gore did well in. Kerry is winning in those. You can see them in the middle. And look on the right-hand side. Those are the so-called showdown states, those 16 states that are so close, 48-48 among likely voters.

So, you can't get much more competitive than that in this race -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Boy, you are not kidding. So, what are voters saying are the most issues on their minds?

NEWPORT: Well, they're all three of the big issues that we've been tracking continue to be important and not one is dominating the other. The big three, of course, are the economy, terrorism and Iraq, 28, 28 and 25. Health care is the fourth one that we asked people about. It's somewhat less important.

Carol, what's interesting is it depends on how you look at it. Republicans are much more likely to say terrorism is the top issue. Democrats, Kerry supporters, say it's the economy and, to some degree, Iraq.

COSTELLO: So, speaking of the economy, how's it going in the eyes of the public?

NEWPORT: Mediocre. We're just not getting any sign from the public of enthusiasm or optimism.

In fact, this is a simple question, Carol. It's quite interesting. Is the economy getting better or is it getting worse? You know, in July, it was more positive. You see the green line was higher. It came down to the mixed range.

And now in our recent poll, 48 percent of Americans say it's getting worse, just 43 better. So, there's a net negative perception about the direction of the economy out there among the American public.

COSTELLO: And finally, what are the expectations, Frank, for Bush and Kerry heading into tomorrow night's debate?

NEWPORT: Well, is this good or bad? It's kind of -- some debaters think it's bad to be expected to be the winner. You'd rather be the underdog to some degree. Bush was considered to be the winner going into the first debate. And, of course, all of our polling showed he lost it.

Kerry is now significantly ahead of Bush when we asked voters over the weekend: Who do you think will win in Tempe, Arizona on Wednesday night? Fifty-four to 36, Kerry over Bush.

We did remind, Carol, voters in this question that it was domestic policy, and that's been a strength of Kerry's in our polling data. But nevertheless, Bush goes in the underdog, as I just mentioned. That may be good for Bush. He may like to be in that position so he can do nothing but come out stronger than expected.

COSTELLO: We'll see. Thank you, Frank Newport, live from Princeton, New Jersey.

So much to debate this morning, so let's not waste any time.

As is usual on Tuesday, from the right, Libertarian talker Neal Boortz, and from the left, talker Nancy Skinner.

Good morning to you both.

NEAL BOORTZ, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.

NANCY SKINNER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning.

COSTELLO: So, let's start with that last set of Gallup numbers about who will do a better job in the debate? Fifty-four percent say Kerry, 36 percent say Bush.

Neal, aren't most Republicans saying Bush won the second debate? Why are the numbers like this for the third?

BOORTZ: I don't know. I'm not hearing that most Republicans say that Bush won the second debate. He certainly did better than the first one. I don't expect him to win the debate on Friday night on domestic issues.

It is so easy to stand up on a stage in front of America and promise to take money away from successful people to give it to those who depend on government. And that's how you win a debate on domestic policy. So, I think this debate belongs to John Kerry.

SKINNER: Oh, that's so tired, Neal!

COSTELLO: Nancy, go on.

SKINNER: That is so tired, Neal.

BOORTZ: Right.

SKINNER: You know, the problem with President Bush has been that he lowered the bar of expectation so low on the first debate that on the second debate everybody said he struck an out when it was really more like a foul ball. He had a hard time even communicating, talking about the Dred Scott decision and the "Internets." It was sad. But because it was better than his worst first performance, people said he won or it was a draw.

BOORTZ: Well, I agree with you, Nancy. It is getting very tired. I am getting tired of the class warfare rhetoric of John Kerry. I am going to -- I love this part where John Kerry looked at that entire audience on Friday night and said the only people in this audience that can possibly be remotely successful in our society are Charles Gibson, me, and George Bush. The rest of you are drudges that will never make any significant money in your life. That's a nice guy.

SKINNER: Really? I didn't hear him say that exactly.

BOORTZ: Well, you should have been watching.

SKINNER: I thought I heard him say that the only people that got the tax cut were those three people, not that the rest of us are drudges. That they were bestowing benefits on those who need it the least and not on the people who are working hard and need it the most. That's what I thought I heard him say.

BOORTZ: Nancy, I'm not at all surprised you missed it.

COSTELLO: I don't even have to interject. You guys are doing great on your own. Let me ask you...

BOORTZ: That's what we do.

COSTELLO: Let me ask you this. And I'm going to switch things around a little bit. Neal, what does John Kerry have to do in the third debate tomorrow night?

BOORTZ: Hold his own. I think that's all he has to do is just hold his own, continue with the class warfare rhetoric, continue with the "I'm going to tax the top 1 percent," and that's all he has to do. That's what the bulk of the American people want to hear. I hate those rich people. I want their money. This guy is going to take it from them and give it to me. Just hold his own and he'll be in good shape.

COSTELLO: OK. Nancy, what does George Bush have to do?

SKINNER: He's got to learn the English language a little better, start to master his concepts and articulate them in a way that most Americans can understand. Now, I know that's impolite to say that, but most people, you know, if you have a choice between two surgeons, you're going to want one with a seemingly higher IQ. And I think he's going to need to do that.

And John Kerry is going to need to overcome the fear factor, because that's what they're going to do now that they're losing. There is going to be a desperation campaign, a fear factor campaign that tells these security moms that if you elect John Kerry, your kids will be killed in schools. That's how low it's going to get, and he needs to overcome that.

COSTELLO: Well...

BOORTZ: Carol, before we go, can we commemorate that nuisance bombing of the USS Cole a couple of years ago on this day?

COSTELLO: I knew somehow you were going to bring up the nuisance issue.

BOORTZ: Oh, what a nuisance that was to the families of those victims on the USS Cole. Horrible nuisance.

SKINNER: And how out of context you've taken that comment...

BOORTZ: Oh, yes.

SKINNER: ... once again.

BOORTZ: Oh, yes.

SKINNER: See, this is an example of how desperate this campaign has gotten that they're going to take things completely out of context. Whatever sticks against that wall, they're hoping to do some damage.

BOORTZ: Yes, right.

COSTELLO: OK. Let me ask you both this question. You've seen the numbers. They really haven't changed very much since the first two debates were over. Do debates even matter, Nancy?

SKINNER: Does the base...

COSTELLO: Do the debates matter?

SKINNER: Oh, debates.

COSTELLO: Yes.

SKINNER: Absolutely. Look at how it changes this race around. Basically it gave Kerry a nine-point bounce from these debates. It's the first time that they don't have the filters of TV commercials to really get their message across. They are asked a question, and they have to answer that. And I think this is where Kerry shines. And the emperor has no clothes. When President Bush gets up there, he's buck- naked.

BOORTZ: Well, except for Nancy's reliance on cliches, like the emperor has no clothes, I will go along with every other thing that she said about the debates.

COSTELLO: All right, Neal Boortz and Nancy Skinner, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

BOORTZ: See you next week.

COSTELLO: Yes, we'll be back.

SKINNER: Thank you.

COSTELLO: We've enjoyed it as usual.

And as you well know, we are one day away from that final presidential debate. Our primetime coverage begins tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. Eastern with Wolf Blitzer, Paula Zahn, Anderson Cooper, Judy Woodruff and our entire CNN election team.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, a kids TV network is really growing up. More on what Nickelodeon has in store in business news.

Then, it's one of the oldest rivalries in baseball. And as the Red Sox and the Yankees prepare for tonight's playoff match-up, we ask you: What keeps those Boston fans plugging along? A new book may explain. I'll talk to one of the authors.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It's time for a little business buzz now.

"SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Dora the Explorer" are getting new friends from Nickelodeon. I can't wait to hear, Carrie Lee.

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Carol.

Well, Nickelodeon is actually expanding beyond these tried-and- true names, expanding into video games, a clothing line, baby videos, even a hotel in Orlando. And all of these things are not tied to Nickelodeon's popular television shows.

Now, look at Nickelodeon as a unit of Viacom. The children's cable network is well-known for "SpongeBob SquarePants," "Dora the Explorer," "Blue's Clues." But the network is increasingly bypassing its tried-and-true method of basing all of its merchandising on proven television programs and movies. They're banking on just the Nickelodeon name.

And there's big money behind this concept. Nickelodeon Enterprises is expected to bring almost $4 billion in retail sales this year. And Viacom's overall revenue for least year, 2003, was just under $27 billion.

So, the stakes are high. Money is pretty big here, Carol. We'll see if the venture is successful.

COSTELLO: I wish I could say I was listening to you, but I was enjoying SpongeBob's antics with Patrick.

LEE: It's hard not to watch, right? A lot of people like it, children as well as adults. But they are trying to expand as all companies need to do to keep the sales and profits coming in.

COSTELLO: That's right. Make more money.

LEE: That's right.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Carrie Lee.

LEE: OK.

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:45 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning. The U.S. military says it destroyed a meeting center at a known terrorist safe house in Fallujah today. A person working for us in Fallujah says the first strike destroyed a restaurant in a nearby building.

The international group, Human Rights Watch, says at least 11 al Qaeda suspects have -- quote -- "disappeared from U.S. custody." But the U.S. government says it's holding them at undisclosed locations, and they've really not disappeared. A CIA spokesman says the agency hasn't seen the report and has no comment.

In money news, oil prices, yes, they are still high. U.S. light crude oil futures are trading up 10 cents at $53.74 a barrel.

In culture, six months after he escaped from his Iraqi captors, former U.S. hostage Thomas Hamill is detailing his experiences in a new book. "Escape from Iraq: The Thomas Hamill Story" hits bookstores today.

In sports, Monday night football, the Tennessee Titans dominated the Green Bay Packers 48-27. The 48 points set a record for the most points ever allowed by an opponent at Green Bay's historic Lambeau Field. Oh, poor Green Bay!

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.

What do Stephen King, Ben Affleck, and John Kerry have in common? It has nothing to do with Washington. Try Boston. Home team pride and the Red Sox fans have it like no other. Coming up, an author shows his undying support for Beantown baseball.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Do you remember where you were on March 7? That was the first spring meeting between the Yankees and the Red Sox.

Now, 162 regular games and one playoff series later, they are ready to meet again. But this time, there is much more on the line. And for Boston fans, the chance to beat the Yankees on their way to the World Series is the way they want it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Last year was an awesome year, but you've got to keep trying.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So is this the year the curse comes to an end?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope so. I think so.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You hope so?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think so. I... UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You think so?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm really optimistic about it. I think this is the year.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Boston is the best, and nobody does it like Boston.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Oh, the curse of the Bambino. But it could be different this time for the Red Sox, because they have attitude.

Johnny Damon versus Derek Jeter, take a look at the pictures. Jeter looks absolutely passionless next to Damon, who called his teammates idiots. Teammate David Ortiz says we're all idiots here. We all have fun. We all hug, kiss, grab whatever. Just like the DAYBREAK team.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.

COSTELLO: Yes. Let's head live to Boston...

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Let's head live to Boston and Stewart O'Nan, an award- winning author of horror novels.

Good morning.

STEWART O'NAN, AUTHOR, FAITHFUL": Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Stewart, oddly you, along with your buddy, author Stephen King, are writing a book about the Boston fan. Why?

O'NAN: Well, we're the wildest, craziest, most dedicated, most passionate fans in the world. And I think every team thinks that their fans are that way. But we really are. This year we've sold out Fenway Park for every single home game.

COSTELLO: It's insane. Is it a coincidence that you both write horror novels and are fans of the Red Sox?

O'NAN: Well, I think, you know, just being novelists, we have sort of an eye for both, you know, detail, intricacy, and tragedy.

MYERS: And fiction.

COSTELLO: And fiction, Chad says. Let's chat a little about the psychology of the Boston fan, because the fans are crazy.

This is what one blogger wrote on his Web site to prove there is a curse: "Boston pitcher Bruce Hurst lost in a World Series appearance back in '86, and if you rearrange the letters in his name" -- and I know we have a graphic on this -- "if you rearrange the letters in his Bruce Hurst's name"... MYERS: Picture in your mind, if you will.

COSTELLO: Picture in you mind, you get "B. Ruth Curse." That's just nutty, Stewart.

O'NAN: Well, here's what happened in 1986: Bruce Hurst won game five of the World Series, giving us a 3-2 lead. He beat Ron Darling on a Friday night, and I was there. It was a great game, a clutch performance. No curse there.

I think, however, the Cubs are a curse. There is a Billy Goat curse. But Babe Ruth never cursed the Red Sox.

COSTELLO: Well, why would Chicago have a curse and Boston not? Now, maybe Babe Ruth didn't have anything to do with it, maybe it's just the karma out there.

O'NAN: Well, it's possible it's the karma. But, I mean, the Cubs really are cursed. The owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, because he wasn't allowed to bring his billy goat into Wrigley Field, did level an actual Greek curse upon the Cubs. And it's worked.

MYERS: That's true.

COSTELLO: Yes, it has. You're not wrong there. So, tell us, this time around, will the Red Sox pull it out? Because they've got a much different team, a much different attitude, and they have Johnny Damon, a manly man.

O'NAN: They've got a much, much better team this year with Curt Shilling as really the horse of the staff to take some of the pressure off of Pedro. Keith Foulke is a legitimate closer. Johnny Damon. We've got Speed (ph) and Dave Roberts and Pokey Reese. We're a very, very good team, and we can do it. Will we do it? I mean, only the baseball gods know.

But we're there, and we've got the second chance a shot at redemption. And we'll take it.

COSTELLO: A lot of people are pulling for the Boston Red Sox. And your book about to come out about the Boston is called "Faithful."

O'NAN: Yes, indeed. "Faithful," because that's what we are, the Fenway Faithful. We're there, you know, rain or shine. When there is no fair weather, there are no fair-weather friends.

COSTELLO: I love that. Stewart O'Nan, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

O'NAN: All right, thanks.

MYERS: And wind gusts at 50 in Boston today. So that's not fair weather.

COSTELLO: Won't they play in New York?

MYERS: Yes. You'll see them, no fair-weather fans.

COSTELLO: Oh, that's true. I get it now. See, that went right over my head.

MYERS: I know.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad, for setting me...

MYERS: I caught it right about back here.

COSTELLO: I guess then we're all idiots here on DAYBREAK, just like Johnny Damon says about Boston.

Your chance to win a DAYBREAK coffee mug in two minutes, but first this is DAYBREAK for a Tuesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, it's time to win a mug, possibly.

MYERS: The DAYBREAK mug, more coveted than the Nextel Cup.

COSTELLO: Sure it is.

MYERS: Or maybe not.

All right, here are your questions for today. You need to answer them both and e-mail them to daybreak@cnn.com.

Who was shot inside the Ambassador Hotel? 1968, that's your clue. And in what year did the Boston Red Sox last play in a World Series? Not when did they win. When did they play in a World Series?

COSTELLO: Bruce Hurst, that's another clue for you.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Of course, we'll name the winner...

MYERS: (INAUDIBLE).

COSTELLO: That's right.

MYERS: The B. Ruth Curse.

COSTELLO: We've been asking viewers all morning long about the curse.

MYERS: The curse.

COSTELLO: And they've sent us some interesting responses. Yours is my favorite, so you read it because it's short and sweet.

MYERS: Of course, the Red Sox have a curse. It's called the New York Yankees.

COSTELLO: That's my favorite one all morning long. Thanks for the e-mails. Daybreak@cnn.com. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

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