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American Morning
Poll Gives Kerry Nod in Third Debate; 28 U.S. Army Soldiers Named in Afghan Homicide Investigation
Aired October 14, 2004 - 09:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's a mainstream in American politics and you sit right on the far left bank.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Being lectured by the president on fiscal responsibility is a little bit like Tony Soprano talking to me about law and order in this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: They took their shots, they made their case. Both candidates now leave the third debate with a lot of work to do.
The vice president's wife leaves the debate very angry at John Kerry for one remark. She says he's quote, "not a good man."
The flu vaccine, terribly scarce and suddenly very expensive. Officials call it gouging.
And sexual harassment allegations against Bill O'Reilly with lawsuits filed from both sides, all ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Good Thursday morning to you everybody. I'm Heidi Collins in for Soledad. Bill Hemmer is in Columbus, Ohio, this morning, getting ready to talk more for us about the final debate. That was it, huh, Bill?
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, that was it, Heidi. Indeed you're right. We came here to listen to the undecided voice again. The undecided voter yet again watching this debate last night. Very interesting, every time we do this, their reaction to what they hear and also what they see through the course of 90 minutes. We'll get reaction from them today. Also Carlos Watson and Jeff Greenfield. Was there a clear winner last night? And does one candidate leave here with an advantage over the other? We talked about the home stretch now, 19 days and counting. A lot to talk about. We will when our coverage continues in a moment here in central Ohio. The battleground of battleground states so far, Heidi, back to you now.
COLLINS: Boy, you got that right. All right, Bill, thank you. Also this morning, a miraculous rescue on the high seas. A man who fell off a cargo ship and drifted in the Atlantic for an incredible 12 hours. We're going to talk to the man who spotted this true survivor and actually saved his life. Incredible story. Going to get to it a little bit later on. The first part, though, we will get to Jack Cafferty.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How do you fall off a cargo ship?
COLLINS: We're going to hear the story.
CAFFERTY: It's not like being in some little canoe, you know. These are big -- the debates are over, and I'm really happy about that. Because they were about the most tedious thing I've ever seen. But what we want to know is now that they've had these three debates, did it have any impact, cumulatively on how you're going to cast your vote? What's your reaction to these things and did it change your mind? Am@cnn.com is where the e-mails should be addressed and we'll read some later.
COLLINS: Great, can you tell you something?
CAFFERTY: Tell me.
COLLINS: Your lighting is fabulous today.
CAFFERTY: Well, that's because I'm sitting in somebody else's chair. Because Bill is not here we all shift down the lunch counter one position. So turn them up as far as they'll go. All right, now wait.
(LAUGHTER)
COLLINS: I can get shot of the lights.
CAFFERTY: Now take my -- see? Got these...
(LAUGHTER)
COLLINS: Halloween is coming.
CAFFERTY: Now turn them off. OK. And these are called "vanity lights" I'm told. Of course, I don't have any over where I sit because it would just be a waste of time. It's like putting whipped cream on whatchamacallit. But anyway...
(LAUGHTER)
COLLINS: Why did I say anything?
CAFFERTY: You brought this up. We're trying to -- you know.
COLLINS: All right. Maybe we should carry on. We'll talk to you again.
CAFFERTY: Whatever you want to do.
COLLINS: All right.
CAFFERTY: I'll be right here. COLLINS: Let's get to the news now this morning. In fact, quite a serious subject to tell you about. Explosions in Baghdad. U.S. military sources now say two American civilians are among the eight killed in the blast. The two powerful explosions ripped through the Green Zone. Of course that is the area that houses the U.S. and British embassies. Happened just a few hours ago. CNN reporter Brent Sadler was in Baghdad during the blast. He's going to join us a little bit later in the show and tell us what happened there.
A major announcement expected later today about a criminal probe into the deaths of two Afghan detainees. As CNN has learned, some 28 U.S. soldiers will be named at a criminal report in connection with the deaths. In a half an hour, Barbara Starr, our Pentagon correspondent, will tell us what this means for the soldiers.
The potential medical use of an implantable microchip has raised concerns about patient privacy. The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved a computer chip the size of a rice grain that is injected into the arm. Doctors can scan it to access the database of a patient's medical history. But critics say it could actually compromise the confidentiality of medical records.
And a quick update on baseball playoffs. The Cardinals rally in the sixth inning to beat the Astros 10-7. The teams meet up tonight in St. Louis for game two. And the Yankees took an early lead to win against the Red Sox with a score of 3-1. Players get today off, though, before game three comes up in Boston once again tomorrow. I like how we very conveniently just left out the Minnesota Twins, and all of that much less painful for me personally. Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: You know, for the Red Sox fans, you're only 14 years away from going 100 years since 1918. So we're getting closer to that mark.
COLLINS: It's huge.
HEMMER: Yes, huge indeed. But wait until they get to Fenway. I don't know, shortened series now, Heidi. We will see then, all right.
COLLINS: This is true, we will see.
HEMMER: Stay tuned. Nineteen days to go, now the home stretch as we call it. Both candidates ready to carry their message forward after the debate last night here -- rather, in Arizona. We were here in Columbus, Ohio, though, listening to the undecided voice. Domestic issues on the agenda like \Social Security and health care, and abortion among the many topics in this wide-ranging 90-minute debate. Who did better? A CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, snap poll taken right after that debate say John Kerry did by a margin of 52-39 percent. If that holds, Senator Kerry gets a third straight debate victory.
And how all this factors in November 2nd is something we all wait to find out later. Despite the early polling, both sides claiming victory as they always do in these matters. Want to get to Kelly Wallace in Tempe, Arizona, this morning there.
And Kelly, good morning to you.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Yes, they are each, of course, claiming victory on this day. What we saw last night, though, two very different strategies as each candidate tried to seize the lead. The president trying to energize core Republican voters. Senator Kerry trying to appeal to the middle-class and women voters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (voice over): There was a lot riding on this night and it showed from the opening handshake. Senator John Kerry hammering away at President Bush's record on jobs and the economy.
KERRY: Being lectured by the president on fiscal responsibility is a little bit like Tony Soprano talking to me about law and order in this country.
WALLACE: The president, for his part, trying to paint the senator as a tax-and-spend liberal. You know, there's a mainstream in American politics and you sit right on the far left bank. As a matter of fact, your record is such that Ted Kennedy, your colleague, is the conservative senator from Massachusetts.
WALLACE: It was a 90-minute duel mainly on domestic issue. Senator Kerry zeroing in on the middle class.
KERRY: I have a plan to cover all Americans. We're going to make it affordable and accessible.
WALLACE: The president targeting his Republican base.
BUSH: It will be the largest increase in government health care ever.
WALLACE: It was the most personal of the three debates, especially on social issues like abortion, gay marriage, and religion. The president, asked the role his faith plays in his policies.
BUSH: My faith is a -- it's very personal. I pray for strength. I pray for wisdom. I pray for our troops in harm's way. I pray for my family. I pray for my little girls. But I am mindful in a free society that people can worship if they want to or not.
WALLACE: And at the end of the debate, both men showing their softer side when asked about their wives.
BUSH: Not only did she interest me, I guess you could say it was love at first sight.
KERRY: Well, I guess the president and you and I are three examples of lucky people who married up. And some would say maybe me more so than others.
(LAUGHTER) KERRY: But I can take it.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And both men seemed to chuckle at that one, a sign of how this debate, not as testy as the other two. Both men trying to stay as positive as possible. Very much aware that this was the last time they would be going before such a large television audience before the election -- Bill.
HEMMER: Kelly, thanks for that. Back here in Columbus, Ohio, with our group of 12 men and 12 women. We noticed a change last night from the first two presidential debates. The women this time seemed to favor Senator Kerry, whereas the men seemed to favor President Bush. That's a reverse from what we've seen on the genders in the past two debates. Back to Tempe and Carlos Watson analyzing things today.
And Carlos, good morning and welcome back here.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYSIS: Good morning.
HEMMER: About 24 hours ago we had you do a bit of a report card for us. Want to take the president first. You said he needed to articulate and be clear. You score him an "A minus" in this category, how did he do?
WATSON: I thought the president did well there. In some of the other debates he grimaced. He paused and hesitated when he spoke. But not today - or rather, not last night. He was very clear, was very comfortable weaving statistics into his arguments.
HEMMER: However, outlining a second term, not nearly as good here. You give him a "C." What happened here, Carlos?
WATSON: You know, I thought he missed an opportunity, particularly on the issue of jobs, which has been central here in the debate, to really say how he would generate new jobs in a second term. I thought he missed the boat on that. Although he did better in talking about what he would do in education and Social Security in a second term.
HEMMER: Well, the other grade that ranks as a "C" is the must- win category. Why just average here, Carlos?
WATSON: You know, the president certainly did well enough. It wasn't as though John Kerry blew him away in this debate. But ultimately, although the president did better than John Kerry, say, in the first half our or so, John Kerry came on, gave meatier answers and ultimately prevailed and hence the president gets a "C" in that final category.
HEMMER: All right. Overall then you grade the president with a "B minus." That's the ultimate grade you give him. For Senator Kerry, though, let's shift our focus a little bit, you were saying the senator could not fumble. And in this category you scored him with an "A minus." How so based on last night?
WATSON: Right, remember he came in with two wins. And so the last thing he wanted to do was have either stylistic or substantive gaffes, something like what Gerald Ford did in 1976 which was a substantive gaffe or what the first President Bush did in 1992, looking at his watch. He did none of that. And so fundamentally receives an "A minus."
HEMMER: You give a "B minus" when you come to the category of offering a tangible plan. What did he not accomplish in this area last night?
WATSON: You know, again he talked about a wide range of issues. There were about 20 questions. But you rarely saw him personalize the issues, whether it was jobs or Social Security or even immigration. Instead, he often spoke about these topics as though they were pieces of legislation on the Senate floor. So I think he missed an opportunity to personalize these things, particularly using anecdotes.
Well, here's your lowest grade for Senator Kerry. You give him a "D" when it comes to asking the rhetorical question. I take it you did not hear this last night, did you?
WATSON: I didn't. Remember in 1980, Ronald Reagan framed the entire final leg of that campaign by saying, "are you better off now than you were four years ago?" And I thought that John Kerry could have done that at the end of the debate. He didn't quite do that. Having said all that, though, ultimately I judged him the winner, receiving a "B" overall. Another solid performance, a third win in a row.
HEMMER: So you edge John Kerry with a "B" and President Bush with a "B minus" which, as you point out, gives Senator Kerry, in your estimation, the lead in this debate over last night. What do you expect that we can see or look forward to, Carlos, in the remaining 19 days now?
WATSON: There are several things I would look for. Clearly you should expect a more aggressive, a more personal, more intense campaign in the final days. Number two, obviously you want to see if there are going to be any outside events that may surprise us. Number three, I would look to see who has the best surrogates out there. Because now you can't just visit one state a day. The candidates themselves will be visiting two, three, even four states a day. But you need your surrogates doing work. And then last but not least I would see if anyone has television advertisements that don't only appeal to your head but appeal to your heart. Are there very emotional, very effective ads that either run? Probably testimonial ads in particular.
HEMMER: It's going to be a mad dash to the finish. Not a whole lot of sleep for either campaign going now into the second of November. Carlos, thanks. See you soon, live in Tempe, Arizona, again with us today. WATSON: Good to see you.
HEMMER: Once again last night the issue of gay marriage and gay rights came up in this debate. And now new controversy after Senator Kerry mentioned Vice President Cheney's lesbian daughter Mary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERRY: We're all God's children, Bob, and I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was. She's being who she was born as.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Now, a quick and angry response from the vice president's wife, Lynne, who is on the trail in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Listen to her reaction now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LYNNE CHENEY, WIFE OF DICK CHENEY: I did have a chance to a chance to assess John Kerry once more. And, you know, the only thing I could conclude is this is not a good man. This is not a good man. And, of course, I am speaking as a mom, and a pretty indignant mom. This is not a good man. What a cheap, and tawdry political trick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Those comments coming about 90 minutes after the conclusion of last night's debate. You might remember when the vice presidents got together, John Edwards and Dick Cheney, Edwards again mentioned Cheney's daughter during that debate. The vice president at the time thanked Edwards for his quote-unquote "kind words."
More on the debate in a moment here. We're going to bring Jeff Greenfield in for his take on what happened last night. But for now, from Columbus, Ohio, back to New York City again and Heidi there -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Bill. Quickly this morning we want to get you back to this story. CNN has learned the U.S. Army later today will announce the results of a nearly two-year criminal probe into the deaths of two Afghan detainees in military custody. Barbara Starr is live at the Pentagon now with the very latest on this.
Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Heidi. This story still unfolding here at the Pentagon this morning. Indeed, 28 U.S. Army soldiers are now named in an Army criminal investigation into the homicide deaths of two Afghan detainees in custody -- in U.S. military custody in Afghanistan nearly two years ago. The Army is expected to make a very brief announcement about all of this later today.
But we know a good deal more about what is going on behind the scenes. The names of these 28 soldiers will not be made public. But we are told investigators have found enough evidence to proceed with possible charges, including involuntary manslaughter, assault and battery, maiming and maltreatment.
Now according to officials, this is the largest criminal probe into detainee abuse in Afghanistan certainly, and possibly in Iraq. Very interestingly, some of the soldiers that are involved in this Afghanistan situation are members of the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, which, of course, then later served at Abu Ghraib in Iraq.
Some of those that are named are reservists who have been demobilized. The Army now will have to go find them out in the civilian sector and bring them back on active duty to proceed with charges against them.
The deaths of these two Afghan detainees were ruled homicides by U.S. military coroners, who conducted autopsies. The finding was that both men died in U.S. custody of something called blunt force trauma -- Heidi.
COLLINS: They knew that quite some time ago. But Barbara, quickly, two years. Why did the investigation take so long?
STARR: Well, officials say they had trouble finding the right people to talk to, gathering evidence. It was war time. They had a lot to look into. But not a very good answer, a very clear answer yet about why it has taken two years for this criminal probe to be finished. We should add the next step will be that this criminal investigator's report, done now today, will be turned over to commanders for further action for possible charges to be brought or possible administrative action. Sources tell us, Heidi, 28 people named, as many as 10 are expected to face the most serious criminal charges -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Barbara Starr watching the story for us from the Pentagon this morning. Barbara, thank you.
Still to come now, one big happy family with an emphasis on big. A set of triplets, then a set of quads. Part four of "Crowded House," looks at how one family copes with seven teenagers under one roof.
Plus graphic allegations of sexual harassment against Bill O'Reilly. But the talk show host is fighting back, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: A cargo worker is alive and well this morning after an amazing rescue at sea. 28-year-old Gurjit Singh spent more than 12 hours floating in the Atlantic after falling overboard from his ship. A local fisherman, Mike Genoun, found him yesterday, six miles off the coast of Florida, and pulled him from the water. Captain Mike joining us now from the deck of his boat, "The Big Red," in Lighthouse Point, Florida.
Captain, good morning. Thanks for being here. MIKE GENOUN, RESCUED MAN AT SEA: Good morning.
COLLINS: I know that you were out fishing for mahi-mahi yesterday. You are a sports fisherman. But you realized that the Coast Guard was searching for something in the water. You didn't know what it was until you say you came upon something that you thought maybe was a log at first.
GENOUN: We did. We headed out early in the morning, and we did know the Coast Guard was looking for someone or something. There was a Coast Guard helicopter searching the area, low to the water. And at around 10:00 we stumbled across what we initially thought was a log, which started waving its arms. So we knew for sure that it was someone in the water.
COLLINS: What kind of shape was he in? How did you assess his condition as you came upon him?
GENOUN: He was really -- I'll tell you, Heidi, he was really in poor shape. He was hypothermic. He was definitely in shock. He was freezing. He was barely moving at all. As soon as we saw him we immediately contacted the Coast Guard, we maneuvered into position, safely brought him aboard. We immediately administered some initial First Aid, provided him some water, tried to keep him warm. But he was barely moving at all. He couldn't speak, couldn't say a sound, couldn't move any of his extremities.
And I'm sure he was thrilled that he was on a boat and out of the water. But he was definitely in shock, and I don't know if he was in the water for a few more hours, who knows what might have happened.
COLLINS: Right. And great that you were able to provide him with that basic care there, First Aid care. And I think we just saw a little bit of video of the life jacket that he was wearing. Do you have that this morning? What -- it was covered with tar?
GENOUN: It is. He was very, very difficult to spot. He was a petite guy with dark hair, and he had a dark complexion, dark shirt and he was wearing a life jacket, as you can see, is completely covered in tar which made it even more difficult to spot him in the water. Had he been wearing a bright orange jacket or maybe even this jacket on the opposite side, I think that it would have been much easier for someone to pinpoint him.
We were probably only 30 or 40 feet away from him and we could barely see him. The water was a little choppy. And again he was submerged. So it was difficult to spot.
COLLINS: Well, I know that you sped in your boat because the Coast Guard thought maybe he wasn't in very good condition to move him onto their boat to the shore. Quickly, what are you hearing about his condition today?
GENOUN: Well, what I heard yesterday afternoon is that he was doing better. And that's really all I heard. He didn't look too good when we initially brought him on board. The Coast Guard did administer some -- you know, again, continued to administer First Aid. We took him back to shore, where initial rescue guys, or I should say additional rescue guys helped him out and eventually got him off the boat. He was kind of in and out of consciousness then. But I did hear late yesterday afternoon that he was doing better. So I'm happy to hear that.
COLLINS: All right. Well, maybe you will meet him one day. Captain Mike Genoun...
GENOUN: I hope so. I hope so.
COLLINS: ... certainly appreciate your time this morning and your story. Good job out there on the seas. And now back to Bill in Columbus, Ohio, once again this morning.
HEMMER: That picture in Florida looks really inviting. Let Chad know, Heidi, that fall rolled through here about 15 minutes ago. It got really cold in central Ohio. The debates are over, cooling down last night. But did they really have much impact on the vote? A look at that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING live in Columbus, Ohio, the battleground state of 2004.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Jack's back. That means "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: "Question of the Day," mercifully, Heidi, the debates are over. We've been taking people's temperatures this morning. Did the debates affect the way you're going to vote? Just a couple of quick e-mails here. Jonsey in San Antonio, Texas: "Last Night's debate reminded me of the movie 'Groundhog Day.' Both candidates just kept repeating the same thing they said during the first two debates."
Carol writes from Chipachet (ph), Rhode Island: "The debates made one thing clear to me, I'm embarrassed for my generation. Is this the best we can do?"
They have some fun around here at my expense. The fact that I tend to be, how should we say, technologically challenged, which I am. Earlier this week Andy Serwer had a thing on about enhancing your iPod. To me, that's like reading a Chinese menu that's written in Chinese. And then again this morning he was talking something about iPods, and I said, wow, some day maybe I'll get one of those. Just a few minutes ago in an American Express box I received this.
COLLINS: Wow.
CAFFERTY: There we go.
COLLINS: This is the Mini iPod.
CAFFERTY: And a note...
COLLINS: A note?
CAFFERTY: Which says, she's nuts this lady: "Dear Jack, a man like you should never be in the dark." Signed, Whoopi Goldberg. She's an old friend of mine. As a matter of fact, I think I might have done the first TV interviews that Whoopi ever did in New York years ago when she came in here to do a one-woman show on Broadway. Mike Nichols brought her in from a nightclub out in California. I was doing a local newscast across the street at Channel 4 and they looked Whoopi on the show and we had a couple or three interviews with her. She's just terrific. She really is.
Whoop, thank you for this. Dragging a dinosaur into the 21st Century, no easy job. And it looks like you're up to the task. And I'll give this to somebody.
COLLINS: I remember when she first came in, my whole family saw her when she was basically, as you say, an unknown at the time.
CAFFERTY: Doing a stand-up act out in Sausalito, I think.
COLLINS: And now she's sending iPods to people.
CAFFERTY: Yes, well, she's just a nice lady. Anyway, thanks, Whoopi.
COLLINS: And again, if you need some help with that or anything.
CAFFERTY: Don't even reach for it, I'll break your arm.
(LAUGHTER)
COLLINS: Bill, back to you!
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Aired October 14, 2004 - 09:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's a mainstream in American politics and you sit right on the far left bank.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Being lectured by the president on fiscal responsibility is a little bit like Tony Soprano talking to me about law and order in this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: They took their shots, they made their case. Both candidates now leave the third debate with a lot of work to do.
The vice president's wife leaves the debate very angry at John Kerry for one remark. She says he's quote, "not a good man."
The flu vaccine, terribly scarce and suddenly very expensive. Officials call it gouging.
And sexual harassment allegations against Bill O'Reilly with lawsuits filed from both sides, all ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Good Thursday morning to you everybody. I'm Heidi Collins in for Soledad. Bill Hemmer is in Columbus, Ohio, this morning, getting ready to talk more for us about the final debate. That was it, huh, Bill?
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, that was it, Heidi. Indeed you're right. We came here to listen to the undecided voice again. The undecided voter yet again watching this debate last night. Very interesting, every time we do this, their reaction to what they hear and also what they see through the course of 90 minutes. We'll get reaction from them today. Also Carlos Watson and Jeff Greenfield. Was there a clear winner last night? And does one candidate leave here with an advantage over the other? We talked about the home stretch now, 19 days and counting. A lot to talk about. We will when our coverage continues in a moment here in central Ohio. The battleground of battleground states so far, Heidi, back to you now.
COLLINS: Boy, you got that right. All right, Bill, thank you. Also this morning, a miraculous rescue on the high seas. A man who fell off a cargo ship and drifted in the Atlantic for an incredible 12 hours. We're going to talk to the man who spotted this true survivor and actually saved his life. Incredible story. Going to get to it a little bit later on. The first part, though, we will get to Jack Cafferty.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How do you fall off a cargo ship?
COLLINS: We're going to hear the story.
CAFFERTY: It's not like being in some little canoe, you know. These are big -- the debates are over, and I'm really happy about that. Because they were about the most tedious thing I've ever seen. But what we want to know is now that they've had these three debates, did it have any impact, cumulatively on how you're going to cast your vote? What's your reaction to these things and did it change your mind? Am@cnn.com is where the e-mails should be addressed and we'll read some later.
COLLINS: Great, can you tell you something?
CAFFERTY: Tell me.
COLLINS: Your lighting is fabulous today.
CAFFERTY: Well, that's because I'm sitting in somebody else's chair. Because Bill is not here we all shift down the lunch counter one position. So turn them up as far as they'll go. All right, now wait.
(LAUGHTER)
COLLINS: I can get shot of the lights.
CAFFERTY: Now take my -- see? Got these...
(LAUGHTER)
COLLINS: Halloween is coming.
CAFFERTY: Now turn them off. OK. And these are called "vanity lights" I'm told. Of course, I don't have any over where I sit because it would just be a waste of time. It's like putting whipped cream on whatchamacallit. But anyway...
(LAUGHTER)
COLLINS: Why did I say anything?
CAFFERTY: You brought this up. We're trying to -- you know.
COLLINS: All right. Maybe we should carry on. We'll talk to you again.
CAFFERTY: Whatever you want to do.
COLLINS: All right.
CAFFERTY: I'll be right here. COLLINS: Let's get to the news now this morning. In fact, quite a serious subject to tell you about. Explosions in Baghdad. U.S. military sources now say two American civilians are among the eight killed in the blast. The two powerful explosions ripped through the Green Zone. Of course that is the area that houses the U.S. and British embassies. Happened just a few hours ago. CNN reporter Brent Sadler was in Baghdad during the blast. He's going to join us a little bit later in the show and tell us what happened there.
A major announcement expected later today about a criminal probe into the deaths of two Afghan detainees. As CNN has learned, some 28 U.S. soldiers will be named at a criminal report in connection with the deaths. In a half an hour, Barbara Starr, our Pentagon correspondent, will tell us what this means for the soldiers.
The potential medical use of an implantable microchip has raised concerns about patient privacy. The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved a computer chip the size of a rice grain that is injected into the arm. Doctors can scan it to access the database of a patient's medical history. But critics say it could actually compromise the confidentiality of medical records.
And a quick update on baseball playoffs. The Cardinals rally in the sixth inning to beat the Astros 10-7. The teams meet up tonight in St. Louis for game two. And the Yankees took an early lead to win against the Red Sox with a score of 3-1. Players get today off, though, before game three comes up in Boston once again tomorrow. I like how we very conveniently just left out the Minnesota Twins, and all of that much less painful for me personally. Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: You know, for the Red Sox fans, you're only 14 years away from going 100 years since 1918. So we're getting closer to that mark.
COLLINS: It's huge.
HEMMER: Yes, huge indeed. But wait until they get to Fenway. I don't know, shortened series now, Heidi. We will see then, all right.
COLLINS: This is true, we will see.
HEMMER: Stay tuned. Nineteen days to go, now the home stretch as we call it. Both candidates ready to carry their message forward after the debate last night here -- rather, in Arizona. We were here in Columbus, Ohio, though, listening to the undecided voice. Domestic issues on the agenda like \Social Security and health care, and abortion among the many topics in this wide-ranging 90-minute debate. Who did better? A CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, snap poll taken right after that debate say John Kerry did by a margin of 52-39 percent. If that holds, Senator Kerry gets a third straight debate victory.
And how all this factors in November 2nd is something we all wait to find out later. Despite the early polling, both sides claiming victory as they always do in these matters. Want to get to Kelly Wallace in Tempe, Arizona, this morning there.
And Kelly, good morning to you.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Yes, they are each, of course, claiming victory on this day. What we saw last night, though, two very different strategies as each candidate tried to seize the lead. The president trying to energize core Republican voters. Senator Kerry trying to appeal to the middle-class and women voters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE (voice over): There was a lot riding on this night and it showed from the opening handshake. Senator John Kerry hammering away at President Bush's record on jobs and the economy.
KERRY: Being lectured by the president on fiscal responsibility is a little bit like Tony Soprano talking to me about law and order in this country.
WALLACE: The president, for his part, trying to paint the senator as a tax-and-spend liberal. You know, there's a mainstream in American politics and you sit right on the far left bank. As a matter of fact, your record is such that Ted Kennedy, your colleague, is the conservative senator from Massachusetts.
WALLACE: It was a 90-minute duel mainly on domestic issue. Senator Kerry zeroing in on the middle class.
KERRY: I have a plan to cover all Americans. We're going to make it affordable and accessible.
WALLACE: The president targeting his Republican base.
BUSH: It will be the largest increase in government health care ever.
WALLACE: It was the most personal of the three debates, especially on social issues like abortion, gay marriage, and religion. The president, asked the role his faith plays in his policies.
BUSH: My faith is a -- it's very personal. I pray for strength. I pray for wisdom. I pray for our troops in harm's way. I pray for my family. I pray for my little girls. But I am mindful in a free society that people can worship if they want to or not.
WALLACE: And at the end of the debate, both men showing their softer side when asked about their wives.
BUSH: Not only did she interest me, I guess you could say it was love at first sight.
KERRY: Well, I guess the president and you and I are three examples of lucky people who married up. And some would say maybe me more so than others.
(LAUGHTER) KERRY: But I can take it.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: And both men seemed to chuckle at that one, a sign of how this debate, not as testy as the other two. Both men trying to stay as positive as possible. Very much aware that this was the last time they would be going before such a large television audience before the election -- Bill.
HEMMER: Kelly, thanks for that. Back here in Columbus, Ohio, with our group of 12 men and 12 women. We noticed a change last night from the first two presidential debates. The women this time seemed to favor Senator Kerry, whereas the men seemed to favor President Bush. That's a reverse from what we've seen on the genders in the past two debates. Back to Tempe and Carlos Watson analyzing things today.
And Carlos, good morning and welcome back here.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYSIS: Good morning.
HEMMER: About 24 hours ago we had you do a bit of a report card for us. Want to take the president first. You said he needed to articulate and be clear. You score him an "A minus" in this category, how did he do?
WATSON: I thought the president did well there. In some of the other debates he grimaced. He paused and hesitated when he spoke. But not today - or rather, not last night. He was very clear, was very comfortable weaving statistics into his arguments.
HEMMER: However, outlining a second term, not nearly as good here. You give him a "C." What happened here, Carlos?
WATSON: You know, I thought he missed an opportunity, particularly on the issue of jobs, which has been central here in the debate, to really say how he would generate new jobs in a second term. I thought he missed the boat on that. Although he did better in talking about what he would do in education and Social Security in a second term.
HEMMER: Well, the other grade that ranks as a "C" is the must- win category. Why just average here, Carlos?
WATSON: You know, the president certainly did well enough. It wasn't as though John Kerry blew him away in this debate. But ultimately, although the president did better than John Kerry, say, in the first half our or so, John Kerry came on, gave meatier answers and ultimately prevailed and hence the president gets a "C" in that final category.
HEMMER: All right. Overall then you grade the president with a "B minus." That's the ultimate grade you give him. For Senator Kerry, though, let's shift our focus a little bit, you were saying the senator could not fumble. And in this category you scored him with an "A minus." How so based on last night?
WATSON: Right, remember he came in with two wins. And so the last thing he wanted to do was have either stylistic or substantive gaffes, something like what Gerald Ford did in 1976 which was a substantive gaffe or what the first President Bush did in 1992, looking at his watch. He did none of that. And so fundamentally receives an "A minus."
HEMMER: You give a "B minus" when you come to the category of offering a tangible plan. What did he not accomplish in this area last night?
WATSON: You know, again he talked about a wide range of issues. There were about 20 questions. But you rarely saw him personalize the issues, whether it was jobs or Social Security or even immigration. Instead, he often spoke about these topics as though they were pieces of legislation on the Senate floor. So I think he missed an opportunity to personalize these things, particularly using anecdotes.
Well, here's your lowest grade for Senator Kerry. You give him a "D" when it comes to asking the rhetorical question. I take it you did not hear this last night, did you?
WATSON: I didn't. Remember in 1980, Ronald Reagan framed the entire final leg of that campaign by saying, "are you better off now than you were four years ago?" And I thought that John Kerry could have done that at the end of the debate. He didn't quite do that. Having said all that, though, ultimately I judged him the winner, receiving a "B" overall. Another solid performance, a third win in a row.
HEMMER: So you edge John Kerry with a "B" and President Bush with a "B minus" which, as you point out, gives Senator Kerry, in your estimation, the lead in this debate over last night. What do you expect that we can see or look forward to, Carlos, in the remaining 19 days now?
WATSON: There are several things I would look for. Clearly you should expect a more aggressive, a more personal, more intense campaign in the final days. Number two, obviously you want to see if there are going to be any outside events that may surprise us. Number three, I would look to see who has the best surrogates out there. Because now you can't just visit one state a day. The candidates themselves will be visiting two, three, even four states a day. But you need your surrogates doing work. And then last but not least I would see if anyone has television advertisements that don't only appeal to your head but appeal to your heart. Are there very emotional, very effective ads that either run? Probably testimonial ads in particular.
HEMMER: It's going to be a mad dash to the finish. Not a whole lot of sleep for either campaign going now into the second of November. Carlos, thanks. See you soon, live in Tempe, Arizona, again with us today. WATSON: Good to see you.
HEMMER: Once again last night the issue of gay marriage and gay rights came up in this debate. And now new controversy after Senator Kerry mentioned Vice President Cheney's lesbian daughter Mary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERRY: We're all God's children, Bob, and I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was. She's being who she was born as.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Now, a quick and angry response from the vice president's wife, Lynne, who is on the trail in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Listen to her reaction now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LYNNE CHENEY, WIFE OF DICK CHENEY: I did have a chance to a chance to assess John Kerry once more. And, you know, the only thing I could conclude is this is not a good man. This is not a good man. And, of course, I am speaking as a mom, and a pretty indignant mom. This is not a good man. What a cheap, and tawdry political trick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Those comments coming about 90 minutes after the conclusion of last night's debate. You might remember when the vice presidents got together, John Edwards and Dick Cheney, Edwards again mentioned Cheney's daughter during that debate. The vice president at the time thanked Edwards for his quote-unquote "kind words."
More on the debate in a moment here. We're going to bring Jeff Greenfield in for his take on what happened last night. But for now, from Columbus, Ohio, back to New York City again and Heidi there -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Bill. Quickly this morning we want to get you back to this story. CNN has learned the U.S. Army later today will announce the results of a nearly two-year criminal probe into the deaths of two Afghan detainees in military custody. Barbara Starr is live at the Pentagon now with the very latest on this.
Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Heidi. This story still unfolding here at the Pentagon this morning. Indeed, 28 U.S. Army soldiers are now named in an Army criminal investigation into the homicide deaths of two Afghan detainees in custody -- in U.S. military custody in Afghanistan nearly two years ago. The Army is expected to make a very brief announcement about all of this later today.
But we know a good deal more about what is going on behind the scenes. The names of these 28 soldiers will not be made public. But we are told investigators have found enough evidence to proceed with possible charges, including involuntary manslaughter, assault and battery, maiming and maltreatment.
Now according to officials, this is the largest criminal probe into detainee abuse in Afghanistan certainly, and possibly in Iraq. Very interestingly, some of the soldiers that are involved in this Afghanistan situation are members of the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, which, of course, then later served at Abu Ghraib in Iraq.
Some of those that are named are reservists who have been demobilized. The Army now will have to go find them out in the civilian sector and bring them back on active duty to proceed with charges against them.
The deaths of these two Afghan detainees were ruled homicides by U.S. military coroners, who conducted autopsies. The finding was that both men died in U.S. custody of something called blunt force trauma -- Heidi.
COLLINS: They knew that quite some time ago. But Barbara, quickly, two years. Why did the investigation take so long?
STARR: Well, officials say they had trouble finding the right people to talk to, gathering evidence. It was war time. They had a lot to look into. But not a very good answer, a very clear answer yet about why it has taken two years for this criminal probe to be finished. We should add the next step will be that this criminal investigator's report, done now today, will be turned over to commanders for further action for possible charges to be brought or possible administrative action. Sources tell us, Heidi, 28 people named, as many as 10 are expected to face the most serious criminal charges -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Barbara Starr watching the story for us from the Pentagon this morning. Barbara, thank you.
Still to come now, one big happy family with an emphasis on big. A set of triplets, then a set of quads. Part four of "Crowded House," looks at how one family copes with seven teenagers under one roof.
Plus graphic allegations of sexual harassment against Bill O'Reilly. But the talk show host is fighting back, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: A cargo worker is alive and well this morning after an amazing rescue at sea. 28-year-old Gurjit Singh spent more than 12 hours floating in the Atlantic after falling overboard from his ship. A local fisherman, Mike Genoun, found him yesterday, six miles off the coast of Florida, and pulled him from the water. Captain Mike joining us now from the deck of his boat, "The Big Red," in Lighthouse Point, Florida.
Captain, good morning. Thanks for being here. MIKE GENOUN, RESCUED MAN AT SEA: Good morning.
COLLINS: I know that you were out fishing for mahi-mahi yesterday. You are a sports fisherman. But you realized that the Coast Guard was searching for something in the water. You didn't know what it was until you say you came upon something that you thought maybe was a log at first.
GENOUN: We did. We headed out early in the morning, and we did know the Coast Guard was looking for someone or something. There was a Coast Guard helicopter searching the area, low to the water. And at around 10:00 we stumbled across what we initially thought was a log, which started waving its arms. So we knew for sure that it was someone in the water.
COLLINS: What kind of shape was he in? How did you assess his condition as you came upon him?
GENOUN: He was really -- I'll tell you, Heidi, he was really in poor shape. He was hypothermic. He was definitely in shock. He was freezing. He was barely moving at all. As soon as we saw him we immediately contacted the Coast Guard, we maneuvered into position, safely brought him aboard. We immediately administered some initial First Aid, provided him some water, tried to keep him warm. But he was barely moving at all. He couldn't speak, couldn't say a sound, couldn't move any of his extremities.
And I'm sure he was thrilled that he was on a boat and out of the water. But he was definitely in shock, and I don't know if he was in the water for a few more hours, who knows what might have happened.
COLLINS: Right. And great that you were able to provide him with that basic care there, First Aid care. And I think we just saw a little bit of video of the life jacket that he was wearing. Do you have that this morning? What -- it was covered with tar?
GENOUN: It is. He was very, very difficult to spot. He was a petite guy with dark hair, and he had a dark complexion, dark shirt and he was wearing a life jacket, as you can see, is completely covered in tar which made it even more difficult to spot him in the water. Had he been wearing a bright orange jacket or maybe even this jacket on the opposite side, I think that it would have been much easier for someone to pinpoint him.
We were probably only 30 or 40 feet away from him and we could barely see him. The water was a little choppy. And again he was submerged. So it was difficult to spot.
COLLINS: Well, I know that you sped in your boat because the Coast Guard thought maybe he wasn't in very good condition to move him onto their boat to the shore. Quickly, what are you hearing about his condition today?
GENOUN: Well, what I heard yesterday afternoon is that he was doing better. And that's really all I heard. He didn't look too good when we initially brought him on board. The Coast Guard did administer some -- you know, again, continued to administer First Aid. We took him back to shore, where initial rescue guys, or I should say additional rescue guys helped him out and eventually got him off the boat. He was kind of in and out of consciousness then. But I did hear late yesterday afternoon that he was doing better. So I'm happy to hear that.
COLLINS: All right. Well, maybe you will meet him one day. Captain Mike Genoun...
GENOUN: I hope so. I hope so.
COLLINS: ... certainly appreciate your time this morning and your story. Good job out there on the seas. And now back to Bill in Columbus, Ohio, once again this morning.
HEMMER: That picture in Florida looks really inviting. Let Chad know, Heidi, that fall rolled through here about 15 minutes ago. It got really cold in central Ohio. The debates are over, cooling down last night. But did they really have much impact on the vote? A look at that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING live in Columbus, Ohio, the battleground state of 2004.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Jack's back. That means "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: "Question of the Day," mercifully, Heidi, the debates are over. We've been taking people's temperatures this morning. Did the debates affect the way you're going to vote? Just a couple of quick e-mails here. Jonsey in San Antonio, Texas: "Last Night's debate reminded me of the movie 'Groundhog Day.' Both candidates just kept repeating the same thing they said during the first two debates."
Carol writes from Chipachet (ph), Rhode Island: "The debates made one thing clear to me, I'm embarrassed for my generation. Is this the best we can do?"
They have some fun around here at my expense. The fact that I tend to be, how should we say, technologically challenged, which I am. Earlier this week Andy Serwer had a thing on about enhancing your iPod. To me, that's like reading a Chinese menu that's written in Chinese. And then again this morning he was talking something about iPods, and I said, wow, some day maybe I'll get one of those. Just a few minutes ago in an American Express box I received this.
COLLINS: Wow.
CAFFERTY: There we go.
COLLINS: This is the Mini iPod.
CAFFERTY: And a note...
COLLINS: A note?
CAFFERTY: Which says, she's nuts this lady: "Dear Jack, a man like you should never be in the dark." Signed, Whoopi Goldberg. She's an old friend of mine. As a matter of fact, I think I might have done the first TV interviews that Whoopi ever did in New York years ago when she came in here to do a one-woman show on Broadway. Mike Nichols brought her in from a nightclub out in California. I was doing a local newscast across the street at Channel 4 and they looked Whoopi on the show and we had a couple or three interviews with her. She's just terrific. She really is.
Whoop, thank you for this. Dragging a dinosaur into the 21st Century, no easy job. And it looks like you're up to the task. And I'll give this to somebody.
COLLINS: I remember when she first came in, my whole family saw her when she was basically, as you say, an unknown at the time.
CAFFERTY: Doing a stand-up act out in Sausalito, I think.
COLLINS: And now she's sending iPods to people.
CAFFERTY: Yes, well, she's just a nice lady. Anyway, thanks, Whoopi.
COLLINS: And again, if you need some help with that or anything.
CAFFERTY: Don't even reach for it, I'll break your arm.
(LAUGHTER)
COLLINS: Bill, back to you!
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