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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Vaccine Shortage Raises Questions Of America's Preparedness; Kerry's Mention Of Vice President's Daughter Sparks Political Controversy; FDA To Force Warning Labels On Antidepressants

Aired October 15, 2004 - 17:00 ET

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

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

WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now. An extraordinary military investigation unfolding as we speak. Did members of a U.S. army reserve unit fail to obey orders in Iraq to drive their fuel convoy? Were they making a political statement? We'll have a full report.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Fight in Falluja. Assaulting the insurgents in their stronghold. Is it just the beginning?

Quite contrary over Mary.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT: I have a gay daughter. So, it's an issue that our family is very familiar with.

BLITZER: Has it become a new issue in the campaign? I'll talk politics with commentators Al Franken and Bob Barr.

What if it were small pox? Is the flu vaccine shortage a wakeup call for the war on terror?

Health warning. Children, adolescents, and antidepressants, what you need to know.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Friday, October 15, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: We begin with word that U.S. Army Reservists refused to go on a supply mission in Iraq, considering it too dangerous. The army is investigating right now. Let's go straight to our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Wolf. Let's be clear. Right from the top by all indications this is an isolated incident, but very serious, nonetheless. It began Wednesday morning when 19 soldiers from a reserve platoon stationed in Taji failed to report for their morning assignment to drive a fuel truck convoy north to Taji. Of course, these convoys are some of the most dangerous missions in Iraq. But things progressed from there, some showed up. It was believed at the end of it all, five soldiers apparently refused to obey their orders, get in the trucks and drive that convoy north. Now a full blown investigation is under way into this quartermaster company. A number of things are being looked at, but family members, especially wives of these soldiers under investigation are already expressing their concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They don't have bullet proof protection on the vehicles. They just don't go fast at all. It's just not safe to be in a hostile territory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: Investigators are talking to all the soldiers, trying to figure out exactly what happened, why they didn't want to go on this mission. There are several investigations. First, they're talking to those involved, trying to find out exactly what happened. Another inquiry is determining whether there were violations of the uniform code of military justice, but very interestingly, the commanding officer has ordered a safety maintenance standdown, essentially all of the vehicles will be inspected and retraining will be done.

According to U.S. military officials, some of these soldiers expressed, quote, "valid concerns" and the command is addressing them, but there is an indication, they say, that some of the soldiers raised their concerns in a, quote, "inappropriate manner," and it may have led to a breakdown in discipline.

Again, the army emphasizing tonight this is an isolated incident. The rest of this unit has served with distinction in Iraq, but they take this very seriously when orders are not obeyed -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Any indication that there was a political statement that was trying to be made, opposition to the war, for example?

STARR: To be quite clear, Wolf, no. We simply have no indication, one way or the other. The investigation goes on, but it is interesting, again, to note the commanding officer has ordered a safety maintenance standdown of all of the equipment involved in this mission. Perhaps, perhaps an indication that there are some equipment safety concerns in that unit -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Barbara Starr with this important story. Thank you, Barbara, very much.

In Iraq, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has begun, but that hasn't brought a respite from the violence. In Baghdad, there's been a bloody bombing. In Falluja, U.S. forces are impounding insurgent targets. Our senior international correspondent Brent Sadler reports from the Iraqi capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRENT SADLER, CNN SR. INTL. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A strong military push on Falluja aimed at breaking the hold of insurgents in the rebel stronghold. U.S. and Iraqi ground troops encircling the city on the back of an intense assault by American artillery and warplanes.

Still, a powerful car bomb aimed at Iraqi police detonated in southern Baghdad on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, killing at least 10 Iraqi civilians. It is in an attempt to stop such carnage that stepped up military action on Falluja has begun. It is not, say U.S. military officials, the start of a much anticipated full-scale air and ground assault, but it could be the shape of things to come, given warnings from the interim government here that multinational are poised to smash Falluja's deeply entrenched and well-armed insurgents.

It follows weeks of sustained American air strikes targeting the network of top terror suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and failure by Falluja's leaders to cut their ties with Zarqawi and his allies.

Not since April have U.S. forces moved into Falluja when a Marines-led offensive was called off and a tenuous ceasefire installed that later broke down, allowing nationalist insurgents backed by foreign fighters to gain control.

In Baghdad, investigators now say the bomb attacks on the city's top security Green Zone that preceded the Falluja assault were carried out by suicide bombers, according to the U.S. military. Four Americans were killed and 27 other people wounded. The Green Zone has been repeatedly hit by rocket and mortar fire in recent months, but the suicide attacks break new ground, underscoring the vulnerability of even the most heavily protected places in Iraq. Brent Sadler, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: So what lies behind the Falluja assault under way right now, CNN's Brian Todd has been looking into that. He joins us live -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, U.S. military officials say there is no book on this. It's clearly an evolving war plan at this point. But they've hit on something that's been working in some very recent operations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): The push into Falluja. On one front, a powerful display of lethal force, but as U.S.-led forces hit insurgent targets, analysts say a broader strategy is at work, one that began with the offensive in the Sunni Triangle city of Samarra earlier this month.

KEN ROBINSON, CNN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: One of the things they're doing right now is carrot and stick. They'll try to reach out to tribal leaders at local levels, block to block, and they're going to try to use incentives. and those areas where someone is harboring or supporting an insurgent or a jihadist, they're going to bomb those buildings and they're going to chase where those people to and then they're going to bomb that building. TODD: Analysts say local leaders who work with coalition forces and give up insurgent fighters will be given the chance to exchange weapons for money. U.S.-led commanders they say want to send many signals to locals in the most dangerous cities, that U.S. forces and their Iraqi allies want to work with the locals, that they're coming in waves, that they're not going anywhere any time soon and that they have overwhelming power to back it all up. Not a new strategy, according to military experts, but one that has taken on greater urgency as the interim Iraqi government tries to establish credibility ahead of the January elections.

GEN. GEORGE JOULWAN, FMR. NATO SUPREME COMMANDER: I think there's room here for the interim government in time to be able to also get its influence into that area, but you have to get rid of the leadership of these insurgents and Zarqawi is one of the oftennamed and other foreign influence in that city. That has to go.

TODD: Abu Musab Zarqawi is a particular problem right now, a clearly menacing presence with a dangerous band of foreign jihadists, his group just designated a foreign terrorist by the State Department. But a top military official tells CNN coalition commanders are frustrated, believing Zarqawi has been built up in the media as, in his words, a rock star. Terrorism experts agree, some perspective on Zarqawi is desperately needed.

MAGNUS RANSTOHP, UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS: Presidents and government leaders have to pinpoint to someone that -- who they can identify with. It is much more complex than that. There is not just one al Qaeda or Zarqawi. There are many al Qaedas and Zarqawis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: As for this particular Zarqawi, one analyst with close ties to the U.S. military tells me he is not a master terrorist, there will be nothing magical about his demise and in his words, eventually they'll run the guy down -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you very much for that report, Brian Todd.

It's all about the battleground states for the presidential candidates hopscotching and sometimes overlapping their way across the country today, both looking for any edge in this extremely tight race. We're with both campaigns. Let's start with CNN's White House correspondent Dana Bash, traveling with the president.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the post debate world of sifting through what worked and what did not, the president's team put attacking John Kerry's health plan in the "it worked" column.

So he stepped it up in Cedar Rapids.

BUSH: Studies conducted by people who understand small businesses concluded that his plan is an over priced albatross. I have a different view, we'll work to make sure health care is available and affordable.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: God bless you all.

BASH: Bush aides know Kerry's constant reminders that millions lost health insurance, or saw premiums sky rocket on the president's watch resonates with voters. But they say internal research shows labeling Kerry's health plan too costly strikes a nerve with swing voters.

BUSH: My opponent takes the side of more centralized control and more government. There is a word for that attitude, it's called liberalism.

BASH: Plus, attacking the Senator's plan, as one top aide said, is the perfect way to put some meat on the John Kerry is a liberal bone, a bone the president is throwing to his GOP base these final days to make sure they vote.

DAVID GERGEN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: Let's face it. What the Bush campaign is trying to do right now is to get as many voters up and out of their chairs and out of their offices into the polls on election day as they can.

BASH: 2000 election results in Iowa and Wisconsin, the two states on this leg of the final sprint, show how critical that is. The president lost both by the narrowest of margins. The difference in Iowa, 3 tenths of 1 percent, a mere 4,144 votes. In Wisconsin, 2 tenths of one percent just 5,708 votes.

(on camera): Now polls show a statistical dead heat here in Iowa. But some have Wisconsin looking better for Senator Kerry. And that is a traditionally Democratic state, but one the president has put a lot of time and money into recently. But the question for that and other so-called blue states at this juncture, is whether or not it's worth it. Dana Bash, CNN, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Let's go over to the Kerry campaign now. CNN's Ed Henry joining us live from Milwaukee. Ed, what's the latest there?

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Wolf. That's right. The Kerry campaign feels that it has some momentum coming out of the 3 presidential debates. Senior adviser Mike McCurry said today that the Senator will now try to use that traction to deliver a series of closing argument speeches to the American people, focused mostly on the domestic agenda. That's what Kerry wants to zero in on in the final 2 and half weeks now of this campaign.

Today, in Milwaukee, it was all about the economy and jobs. And the message was that the middle class is being squeezed by President Bush's policies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KERRY: The president said he's proud of his record. Proud of his record? Proud of millions of Americans unemployed? Proud of tens of millions of Americans who have no health insurance? Proud of 5 million Americans losing it while he's been president? Proud of American families raising costs and having falling incomes? Let me tell you -- and He's proud -- and he said this on the very day that the federal government announced the largest deficit in American history.

Ladies and gentlemen, if this is what he is proud of, I would hate to see what he is ashamed of.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Well, Senator Kerry hitting the jobs issue particularly hard here in Wisconsin, a state that has lost 67,000 manufacturing jobs in the last four years. He's now on bus tour through the rest of the state. He's already left Milwaukee.

But then he's on to Ohio later tonight. That's where he will have another bus tour tomorrow. Ohio, another state that's been very hard hit by job losses, a state that George Bush carried in 2000, but that John Kerry is hoping to rest away in 2004 -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Ed Henry in Milwaukee. Ed, thank you very much.

We have an important programming note for our viewers. Senator Kerry spoke earlier today with CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley. The entire exclusive interview will air tonight on PAULA ZAHN NOW. That's at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 Pacific, only, only here on CNN.

War of words over comments regarding Vice President Cheney's daughter, Mary, why homosexuality is suddenly a hot button on the campaign trail and why neither side may benefit. I'll speak about that and more.

Two guests coming up, Al Franken and Bob Barr.

The most serious warning mandated by the Food and Drug Administration regarding children who are taking popular antidepressants. Important medical news all of us need to know about right now.

Plus, fears that extend beyond flu season. If the nation isn't prepared for the annual flu bug, how ready is it for a potential bioterror attack? Stand by, we'll have that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We're getting this in from Cleveland. The 727 carrying Senator John Edwards' plane aborted its take off at Burke Lakefront Airport just a few minutes ago. You're looking at a live picture of that plane. The plane was speeding down the runway about ten seconds from taking off when the pilots decided to abort the take off and put on the brakes. The plane came to a safe stop. There was no incident. No one was hurt. The pilots told our Erica Dimler (ph) who was on board, a light indicated one of the plane's 3 generators had failed just before take-off. They made the decision on the spot to abort. The plane is now moved back to the terminal at the airport. That would be in downtown Cleveland.

Maintenance crews are taking a look at the back right engine of the plane. The pilots came back to talk to Senator Edwards before deplanning.

Once again, you're looking at that live picture of the take-off from Cleveland by Senator Edwards' plane, staff, members of the press on board, aborted a takeoff with only about ten seconds left. Everyone is fine. They're taking a look at this plane to make sure there are no other problems.

The plane was heading towards Baltimore Washington International Airport when this occurred. We'll continue to watch this story for you. Get some more information as it becomes available.

Other important news, specifically medical news today, the Food and Drug Administration is ordering drug makers to add tough new warning labels on antidepressants explaining the drugs increase the risk of suicidal behavior in some children and teenagers.

Our medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen is at the CNN center in Atlanta. She's joining us now live with details.

Elizabeth, this is an important story.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It is an important story, Wolf. Because some doctors say that these antidepressants can be wonder drugs for some children, but could be quite dangerous for others.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN: Candice downing was 12 years old when she hanged herself from her bedroom ceiling. Her mother blames the drug Zoloft. She says Candice wasn't suicidal, or even depressed before she started taking Zoloft to help her deal with test anxiety at school. And she believes Candice would be alive today if there had been a warning on the label that antidepressants can increase that a children will become suicidal.

MATHY DOWNING, MOTHER: There was no way on Earth that I would have risked my child's life if they told me the odds were one in a thousand, one in a million. I would have never played Russian roulette with my child's life.

COHEN: Now, there will be a strong warning on antidepressants. The warning will be prominent and describe the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior when children take these drugs. The warning will be on the label as well as on advertisements and on information handed to patients and go on all antidepressants including popular ones such as Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac. Matthew Downing says the FDA should have done this a long time ago, but the FDA says it's been difficult work since the drugs can be dangerous for some kids, but helpful for others.

DR. LESTER CRAWFORD, FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION: The FDA had to focus on a fundamental public health question. How should the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior be balanced against the known benefit of treating depression in children?

COHEN: Pfizer, which makes Zoloft, did not return phone calls. And Pharma, a group representing pharmaceutical companies had no comment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN: Now Wolf, the FDA also told doctors today that they need to closely monitor their teen and child patients who are taking these antidepressants to make sure that they don't have any suicidal thoughts or behavior.

BLITZER: Elizabeth Cohen with important information for our viewers. Thank you, Elizabeth, very much.

The flu season. Shortcomings are possibly signaling a much bigger problem. Why U.S. terrorism officials are now closely watching the nation's current vaccine crisis.

Paying too much attention to Mary? How both campaigns' focus on Vice President Dick Cheney's gay daughter could impact this election.

And, later.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His mother said he was deeply moved and reached out to touch the TV screen with his hand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: An injured United States marine with five times the reason to recover quickly. His wife just gave birth to quintuplets.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: As health authorities struggle to deal with a serious shortage of flu vaccine, terrorism experts worry how the nation would cope with something far worse. Our homeland security correspondent Jean Meserve reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SEC. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A mock news cast with a scary headline.

ANGIE MILES, NCN CORRESPONDENT: On day 12 of the worst public health crisis in America's history demonstrations for more vaccine in hard hit communities disintegrated into riots and looting around the nation...

MESERVE: It was part of a 2001 exercise in which terrorists attacked the U.S. with small pox and vaccine is in short supply. The current flu vaccine shortage though nowhere near as extreme, shows, experts say, that the U.S. is still woefully unprepared for bioterrorism or a naturally occurring pandemic.

TARA O'TOOLE, CENTER FOR BIOSECURITY: The 1918 flu pandemic killed more people in 24 weeks than AIDS has in 24 years. If we have a pandemic now in this age of globalization that virus is going to shoot around the planet at the speed of the jet airliner. We won't have time to get prepared to deal with it once it's upon us.

MESERVE: Experts say it's been clear for years that there must be a collaborative effort by government, academia and industry to modernize and encourage vaccine and drug production.

TOMMY THOMPSON, HHS SECRETARY: I never want to have this happen again.

MESERVE: Since the 2001 anthrax attacks, the federal government has spent more than $14 billion on civilian biodefense, but one of the nation's leading experts in the field says the government effort involving multiple agencies suffers from lack of strategy, goals and leadership.

O'TOOLE: I couldn't tell you who is in charge of biodefense in this country.

MESERVE: Right now, flu vaccine is readily available in some places, not at all in others, pointing up, experts say the flawed and patchwork nature of the public health system.

STEVE FLYNN, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: The public health system we have is broken. It's not able to deal with routine disease and it really gives me pause about dealing with the very scary and real threat of a terrorist attack on our soil that has a biological component.

MESERVE: One expert says the current shortage could be a needed wakeup call, but probably won't be unless a significant number of people die because they could not get the vaccine.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, McLean, Virginia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Debating the issues that could influence the election most with political commentator and radio talk show host Al Franken and the former United States Congressman Bob Barr. They will join me live.

Tight race, but when will it break and which state could trigger the movement? Our Carlos Watson has the inside edge.

And just in time for the winter season, a change to the ban prohibiting snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: From our studios in Washington, once again, Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Why sexual preference has suddenly become a campaign issue. I'll speak live with Al Franken and Bob Barr. They're joining me coming up.

But, first, let's have a quick on some other stories now in the news.

A judge has sentenced U.S. Muslim leader Abdurahman Alamoudi to 23 years in prison for crimes related to an alleged Libyan plot to kill Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. Prosecutors say Alamoudi was not a key player in the plot, but facilitated it by introducing Saudi dissidents to Libyan officials.

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for nine people reported missing near Tampa Bay, Florida. Coast Guard officials say they received a distress call around midnight from passengers on board a catamaran, saying their vessel had capsized and they were boarding a life raft.

A federal judge has struck down a ban on snowmobiles at Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. The judge says the ban, imposed during the Clinton administration, was too -- quote -- "political" and didn't allow enough public input.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

Some have already nicknamed it Mary-gate, the campaign's latest semantic semi-scandal, this one centering around Mary Cheney, the vice president's openly gay daughter. And like previous word wars, this one is the subject of furious spin and counterspin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): It started with the last presidential debate and a direct question to the candidates: Do you believe homosexuality is a choice? President Bush said this.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know. I just don't know.

BLITZER: But it was John Kerry's response that ignited the latest campaign controversy.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: 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. I think if you talk to anybody, it's not choice.

BLITZER: The Cheneys' response.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You saw a man who will say and do anything in order to get elected. And I am not speaking just as a father here, though I am a pretty angry father.

LYNNE CHENEY, WIFE OF VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: I am speaking as a mom and a pretty indignant mom. This is not a good man. What a cheap and tawdry political trick.

BLITZER: The Kerry camp was quick to point out that the vice president himself brought up his daughter's sexuality in an August campaign appearance in Iowa.

CHENEY: The question has come up obviously in the past with respect to the question of gay marriage. Lynne and I have a gay daughter. So, it's an issue that our family is very familiar with.

And there was no indignation when John Edwards broached the topic in the vice presidential debate.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think the vice president and his wife love their daughter. I think they love her very much. And you can't have anything but respect for the fact that they're willing to talk about the fact that they have a gay daughter.

BLITZER: Cheney's response then:

D. CHENEY: Well, Gwen, let me simply thank the senator for the kind words he said about my family and our daughter. I appreciate that very much.

EDWARDS: You're welcome.

GWEN IFILL, MODERATOR: That's it?

D. CHENEY: That's it.

BLITZER: But two weeks later, with polls showing a clean sweep of the debates for John Kerry and the race still too close to call, the Bush team's tone as changed.

MARY MATALIN, BUSH CAMPAIGN ADVISER: It's just below the belt. It's beyond -- it's just despicable.

BLITZER: Elizabeth Edwards only added fuel to the fire in a radio interview.

ELIZABETH EDWARDS, WIFE OF SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS: It makes me really sad that that's Lynne's response. I think that it indicates a certain degree of shame with respect to her daughter's sexual preferences.

BLITZER: Kerry himself issued a statement, saying: "I love my daughters. They love their daughter. I was trying to say something positive about the way strong families deal with this issue." One Bush adviser called that a nonapology. But is there anything to apologize for? The head of the gay GOP group Log Cabin Republicans says neither can claim the moral high ground, but:

PATRICK GUERRIERO, DIRECTOR, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: John Kerry and John Edwards would be smart to make their case for gay and lesbian fairness by not mentioning Mary Cheney.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And late this afternoon, the White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, told reporters President Bush does not believe Kerry's remarks were appropriate. He went on to say -- and I'm quoting now -- "I cannot think of a single instance where a presidential candidate has talked about his opponent's child in such a way."

A legitimate complaint or not?

Joining us now from New York to talk about it, the political commentator, the comedian, the radio talk show host Al Franken, and from the CNN Center in Atlanta, CNN contributor former Republican Congressman Bob Barr of Georgia.

Thanks to both of you for joining us.

I'll start with you, Al Franken. What do you make of this controversy?

AL FRANKEN, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I'm having a hard time sorting through it. I think maybe it has something to do with the difference in the way that the parties or different cultures think about homosexuality.

There is no shame in being gay. And I think that Kerry was building on what Edwards, the Edwards-Cheney exchange, in which Edwards showed enormous respect for the way the Cheneys had been dealing with their daughter's homosexuality. I think there's a little bit of manufactured, fake indignation here, and that kind of in itself is a little ugly.

BLITZER: All right, let's let Bob Barr respond to that.

Go ahead, Congressman.

BOB BARR, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Thank you, Wolf. And it's great to be with you and Al.

I think this whole episode is bizarre. Here we are in the middle of an election, close to Election Day. And you have an incumbent president and a Democrat challenger and we're fighting a war. We're talking about the economy. We're talking about all sorts of important issues, or would like to be, and they're arguing over what it means to be a homosexual. This is really bizarre.

And I think that the sooner and the quicker we can get this whole episode behind us and get these two men, and apparently their wives also, talking about the real issues, the better. I think that people are getting indignant about the indignation about the indignation.

(LAUGHTER)

BARR: And it all is getting kind of silly, to be honest with you.

BLITZER: I think Bob Barr, Al, makes a pretty good point. What do you think?

FRANKEN: I do, too. I'm not indignant about the indignation. I just think it's -- I agree with Bob Barr entirely. We would -- we got the war and the economy and other things to worry about.

BLITZER: All right, so let's talk about really other important, substantive issues. And I'll start once again with you, Al Franken.

Where do you see this campaign focusing right now? Which issue is going to make or break it for either of these candidates?

FRANKEN: I don't know. Events will -- we have 18 days. Events may tell us where we look. We have had a bad day in Iraq yesterday, but we had a bad day in Iraq for the last -- every day for the last several months.

And, economically, this president has not done the job and he has not done the job on health care. It may start to get -- fall to character in the sense that I do feel the Bush team and Bush himself grasping at this point. For example, that ad where they talked about -- where they extracted four words from an 8,000-word article on Kerry's view of the world in "The New York Times" magazine and said that Kerry is just saying that terrorism a nuisance?

And,of course, that's not what he said. And I think your job, Wolf, if I may say so, to add on to what Jon Stewart was saying to Tucker Carlson, is to look at something like that. That was disgraceful. That's a disgraceful ad. And the president at the end of that ad says, I'm George Bush and I approve that message. And they took what he took out of context.

BLITZER: Bob Barr, did the Republicans take those words, when he said he would hope someday that the war on terrorism would be more of a nuisance, sort of like prostitution or illegal gambling, did the Republicans take...

FRANKEN: He didn't say the war on terrorism. He didn't. He said terrorism.

BLITZER: He said terrorism, terrorism, would be a nuisance.

FRANKEN: Yes.

BLITZER: Did the Republicans take that out of context and distort the intent, what John Kerry really meant in that "New York Times" Sunday magazine interview? BARR: I think, actually, he was making a valid point. The words that he chose, similar to his now famous remarks about voting for the funding after he voted against it, or vice versa, his words got kind of bungled up there.

FRANKEN: No.

BARR: But, yes, I think he was making a valid point, just used the wrong words, perhaps.

One thing that I've noticed, Wolf, and I've done a lot traveling lately, far more than my family would like, as I travel across America, particularly in the heartland in the key battleground states, like Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and so forth, I find that people are very concerned about jobs, about immigration and about the economy. And I think these are going to be front and center, really, particularly in those key battleground states.

BLITZER: All right, we're going to pick up those issues and other issues, but we'll take a quick break.

To our viewers, I want you to know we have a Web question of the day. The Web question of the day is this. Do you think sexual preference is a choice? That was the question that Bob Schieffer asked the presidential candidates. You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results for you later in this broadcast.

But, as all of you know, the campaign during these final 18 days clearly heating up. The candidates are going strong. Al Franken, Bob Barr, they're stinking around for another round. We'll get right to them after this break.

And, later, a wounded U.S. Marine gets a major dose of good medicine in the form of five, yes, five new babies.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

We're discussing the race for the White House with the political commentator, the comedian, the radio talk show host Al Franken in New York, and, at the CNN Center in Atlanta, CNN contributor, former Republican Congressman Bob Barr.

I know you're anxious, Al Franken, because we discussed it during the commercial break, to add one nugget, one little point to the discussion on whether or not terror could some day become a nuisance, as opposed to a full-scale war, which is the hope that was expressed by John Kerry in that "New York Times" interview.

FRANKEN: OK, Bob Barr just acknowledged that what Kerry said was legitimate, which was that, hopefully, you can fight terrorism, continually fight it to the point where it is not overriding our lives and is more like a nuisance. And that's what Brent Scowcroft said two years ago. And what the president's -- what the Bush-Cheney campaign did was run an ad that deliberately, deliberately -- and, Bob Barr, you have to admit, this was a deliberate attempt to mischaracterize it. And that's a sign of desperation and that's a sign of being dishonest.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Bob Barr, go ahead.

BARR: Well, I think that both sides are taking, shall we say, extreme liberties with taking words out of context.

But, in substance, I think that what Senator Kerry was saying, and that we hope to and will work toward the day when terrorism is not the overriding issue and fear that we face, but has been reduced to a level more akin to traditional criminal behavior, is a very appropriate one.

BLITZER: From your perspective, Al Franken, what's at stake in a nutshell in this election?

FRANKEN: There is so much at stake, our future, in terms of this incredible, enormous deficit. There's nothing conservative about a $450 billion deficit.

Our environment is at stake. Our standing in the world is at stake. And the well-being of this society is at stake. We are becoming a bifurcated society, where this administration has treated the wealthy and their cronies in one way and treated the rest of the America like the other. Just look at the prescription drug -- the Medicare prescription drug thing.

The president had a choice between allowing reimportation of drugs or giving a windfall to the prescription drug companies. He gave the prescription drug companies a windfall.

BLITZER: All right.

FRANKEN: The same on whether you allow -- they made it illegal to let Medicare deal with prescription -- with the prescription drug problem.

BLITZER: All right, we get the point.

Let's let Bob Barr...

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: What's at stake from your perspective, Congressman?

BARR: Well, what's at stake from my perspective are many of the same issues that Al was talking about, doing something, which neither party now seems really willing to do, to get the tremendous growth in the federal deficit that we worked so hard when I was in the Congress as part of a Republican majority to bring under control, and now it's just mushrooming.

Another issue that was given very short shrift in the debates which is extremely important to me is the state of civil liberties in America. What's at stake is, will we allow the so-called war against terror to completely undercut our Bill of Rights and our right to privacy? People need to sit up, I think, and take notice of this and make sure that that doesn't happen.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: All right, it sounds to me, it sounds to me -- unfortunately, Al Franken and Bob Barr, we're out of time -- but it sounds to me that, on many of these issues, there's not necessarily a huge gap between the two of you. But we'll continue this conversation down the road.

FRANKEN: Bob Barr would totally agree with me that the Bush people have mischaracterized Kerry on the Patriot Act, right, Bob?

BARR: I think we're out of time, Al.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: We'll leave that down the road.

FRANKEN: Right, Bob?

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: Al Franken, Bob Barr, stay tuned. We'll continue this conversation. Thanks very much to both of you.

As the election draws closer, will it be a dead heat down to the end? Our Carlos Watson, he is getting ready. He'll join us with "The Inside Edge" on the race to the White House.

Plus, a family multiplied. This is a touching story of five, yes, five, new gifts waiting for one wounded United States Marine on his return home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Now that the presidential debates are over, it's time to take a look at the big picture.

CNN political analyst Carlos Watson joining us now from Los Angeles with "The Inside Edge."

Carlos, is this election going to be as tight as everyone now thinks it's going to be or is one of these candidates going to break loose a little bit?

CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Wolf, I've got to be the contrarian voice here.

I'm somehow who doesn't think it's going to be as close as it was in 2000, less than 1 percent, or 1968 or 1960, all of which were 1 percent elections. I happen to think this will be a 3, 4, 5 percent race, with people breaking in one direction or another, not just those so-called undecideds, but also persuadable voters, as we get closer. Perhaps we'll know by the Sunday before Tuesday, November the 2nd.

BLITZER: And so you're looking specifically at only a few states, though.

WATSON: I am.

Wolf, right now, one of the interesting things is a couple of new additional battleground states are coming into play given some of John Kerry's success at the debates. So you see states like Arizona that might get a little more attention than they were getting before. On the president's side, he's visiting New Jersey.

But when all is said and done, I think, if John Kerry is able to secure Pennsylvania a week before the election and, therefore, spend more time in Florida, I think you'll start to see him become the clear front-runner. On the other hand, if the president is able to take traditionally Republican Ohio, at least in presidential elections, and really secure his lead there a week out, then I think that will be key.

So, of all the battleground states, as important as Florida is, I would look at Ohio and Pennsylvania. Whoever secures a clear lead there earlier, so that he frees himself up to spend time somewhere else, is the person I see as the front-runner going into final days.

BLITZER: A lot of people believe whoever carries two of those three states, Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio, will be the next president of the United States.

I know you've been looking closely at these undecided voters. Who are they?

WATSON: Well, you know what's interesting about it, Wolf? There are lots of ways we could talk about them. Some people say undecided are ranging anywhere from 5 to 9 percent right now. They're both men and women.

But I think what stands out is that, fundamentally, they're a little bit conflicted, if you will, about the war in Iraq. Clearly, if you think the war in Iraq was a dramatic mistake and a diversion, you're probably pretty clearly on John Kerry's side. If you're not happy with what's going on in Iraq, but you fundamentally see it's something that we had to do, then you're probably clearly with the president. But if you're conflicted, if you don't know what we should have done post-9/11 and you can understand that the president had a difficult slog there, then, when all is said and done, you're one of these people who is still hanging, still waiting to see.

So I think what stands out to me about the undecideds as much as anything is the question of Iraq and how they look at Iraq.

BLITZER: So what's the final analysis right now? WATSON: You know, Wolf, I think that any way you go, this is going to end up becoming one of these elections that we talk about for 20, 30, 40 years.

If President Bush wins, you'll have to say that he's one of the three or four greatest politicians of the last 50 years, meaning that he will have won three dramatic races in a span of 10 years, the first governor's race, winning against a sitting vice president, Al Gore, during economic prosperity, and then winning here, even though his approval numbers are under 50 percent.

On the other hand, if John Kerry wins, this will also be a classic that people talk about. Here's a guy who, on January 1, everyone didn't even think was going to win the Democratic nomination, came back, won that, won it with an unusual strategy, focusing on Iowa, not next-door neighbor New Hampshire.

And then, similarly, if he comes back and wins here, given all the difficulty he had in August, once again, you'll have to call him an incredible closer. So, whoever wins this election, I think we'll certainly call this a classic. And I think certainly either man will take his rightful place as a really intriguing presidential contender.

BLITZER: Carlos Watson with "The Inside Edge."

And to our viewers, I just want to point out, a week from this Sunday night, Carlos will anchor, will host a special entitled "Off Topic." He has got some really off-topic guests. We're going to talk about that a lot in the next several days, a week from this Sunday night, 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

Carlos, thanks again for joining us.

WATSON: Good to see you.

BLITZER: The results of our Web question of the day, that's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here is how you're weighing in on our Web question of the day. Take a look at this. Remember, though, it's not a scientific poll.

A U.S. Marine wounded in Iraq is the father of quintuplets; 28- year-old Sergeant Joshua Horton is recovering from his injuries at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. His wife, Taunacy, gave birth to three girls and two boys in a suburban Chicago hospital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAUNACY HORTON, MOTHER OF QUINTUPLETS: Josh and I do want to tell our story once we're reunited and together.

But, right now, I just want everyone to know that I'm OK and the babies are OK and that Josh will heal and be home with us when he can. When Josh and I found out that our family was going from four to nine, we were shocked and really terrified. But we always knew that somehow things would work out.

Josh is still really hurt, but we're hopeful for his recovery and know that he has the best care possible. Even though circumstances didn't allow Josh to be there at the delivery, my hope is that Josh can be there when we first get to hold these babies. I can't wait until we can be reunited and do this together. That will be very special. My son and daughter at home can't wait to see and hug their dad and update him on everything.

I talked to Josh for the first time about 8:00 this morning. As you can imagine, it was a very emotional and special moment for us. Wednesday, Josh was told of the arrival of the quintuplets and was able to see a video of them. His mother, Lauchlan, said that he was deeply moved and reached out to touch the TV screen with his hand. I wish I could have been there, but I know that he is keeping them in his heart until he can see them in person.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The quintuplets, born at 26 weeks, are in critical but stable condition. Their father was upgraded this week from critical to good condition.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" 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 15, 2004 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now. An extraordinary military investigation unfolding as we speak. Did members of a U.S. army reserve unit fail to obey orders in Iraq to drive their fuel convoy? Were they making a political statement? We'll have a full report.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Fight in Falluja. Assaulting the insurgents in their stronghold. Is it just the beginning?

Quite contrary over Mary.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT: I have a gay daughter. So, it's an issue that our family is very familiar with.

BLITZER: Has it become a new issue in the campaign? I'll talk politics with commentators Al Franken and Bob Barr.

What if it were small pox? Is the flu vaccine shortage a wakeup call for the war on terror?

Health warning. Children, adolescents, and antidepressants, what you need to know.

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Friday, October 15, 2004.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: We begin with word that U.S. Army Reservists refused to go on a supply mission in Iraq, considering it too dangerous. The army is investigating right now. Let's go straight to our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Wolf. Let's be clear. Right from the top by all indications this is an isolated incident, but very serious, nonetheless. It began Wednesday morning when 19 soldiers from a reserve platoon stationed in Taji failed to report for their morning assignment to drive a fuel truck convoy north to Taji. Of course, these convoys are some of the most dangerous missions in Iraq. But things progressed from there, some showed up. It was believed at the end of it all, five soldiers apparently refused to obey their orders, get in the trucks and drive that convoy north. Now a full blown investigation is under way into this quartermaster company. A number of things are being looked at, but family members, especially wives of these soldiers under investigation are already expressing their concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They don't have bullet proof protection on the vehicles. They just don't go fast at all. It's just not safe to be in a hostile territory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: Investigators are talking to all the soldiers, trying to figure out exactly what happened, why they didn't want to go on this mission. There are several investigations. First, they're talking to those involved, trying to find out exactly what happened. Another inquiry is determining whether there were violations of the uniform code of military justice, but very interestingly, the commanding officer has ordered a safety maintenance standdown, essentially all of the vehicles will be inspected and retraining will be done.

According to U.S. military officials, some of these soldiers expressed, quote, "valid concerns" and the command is addressing them, but there is an indication, they say, that some of the soldiers raised their concerns in a, quote, "inappropriate manner," and it may have led to a breakdown in discipline.

Again, the army emphasizing tonight this is an isolated incident. The rest of this unit has served with distinction in Iraq, but they take this very seriously when orders are not obeyed -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Any indication that there was a political statement that was trying to be made, opposition to the war, for example?

STARR: To be quite clear, Wolf, no. We simply have no indication, one way or the other. The investigation goes on, but it is interesting, again, to note the commanding officer has ordered a safety maintenance standdown of all of the equipment involved in this mission. Perhaps, perhaps an indication that there are some equipment safety concerns in that unit -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Barbara Starr with this important story. Thank you, Barbara, very much.

In Iraq, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has begun, but that hasn't brought a respite from the violence. In Baghdad, there's been a bloody bombing. In Falluja, U.S. forces are impounding insurgent targets. Our senior international correspondent Brent Sadler reports from the Iraqi capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRENT SADLER, CNN SR. INTL. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A strong military push on Falluja aimed at breaking the hold of insurgents in the rebel stronghold. U.S. and Iraqi ground troops encircling the city on the back of an intense assault by American artillery and warplanes.

Still, a powerful car bomb aimed at Iraqi police detonated in southern Baghdad on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, killing at least 10 Iraqi civilians. It is in an attempt to stop such carnage that stepped up military action on Falluja has begun. It is not, say U.S. military officials, the start of a much anticipated full-scale air and ground assault, but it could be the shape of things to come, given warnings from the interim government here that multinational are poised to smash Falluja's deeply entrenched and well-armed insurgents.

It follows weeks of sustained American air strikes targeting the network of top terror suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and failure by Falluja's leaders to cut their ties with Zarqawi and his allies.

Not since April have U.S. forces moved into Falluja when a Marines-led offensive was called off and a tenuous ceasefire installed that later broke down, allowing nationalist insurgents backed by foreign fighters to gain control.

In Baghdad, investigators now say the bomb attacks on the city's top security Green Zone that preceded the Falluja assault were carried out by suicide bombers, according to the U.S. military. Four Americans were killed and 27 other people wounded. The Green Zone has been repeatedly hit by rocket and mortar fire in recent months, but the suicide attacks break new ground, underscoring the vulnerability of even the most heavily protected places in Iraq. Brent Sadler, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: So what lies behind the Falluja assault under way right now, CNN's Brian Todd has been looking into that. He joins us live -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, U.S. military officials say there is no book on this. It's clearly an evolving war plan at this point. But they've hit on something that's been working in some very recent operations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): The push into Falluja. On one front, a powerful display of lethal force, but as U.S.-led forces hit insurgent targets, analysts say a broader strategy is at work, one that began with the offensive in the Sunni Triangle city of Samarra earlier this month.

KEN ROBINSON, CNN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: One of the things they're doing right now is carrot and stick. They'll try to reach out to tribal leaders at local levels, block to block, and they're going to try to use incentives. and those areas where someone is harboring or supporting an insurgent or a jihadist, they're going to bomb those buildings and they're going to chase where those people to and then they're going to bomb that building. TODD: Analysts say local leaders who work with coalition forces and give up insurgent fighters will be given the chance to exchange weapons for money. U.S.-led commanders they say want to send many signals to locals in the most dangerous cities, that U.S. forces and their Iraqi allies want to work with the locals, that they're coming in waves, that they're not going anywhere any time soon and that they have overwhelming power to back it all up. Not a new strategy, according to military experts, but one that has taken on greater urgency as the interim Iraqi government tries to establish credibility ahead of the January elections.

GEN. GEORGE JOULWAN, FMR. NATO SUPREME COMMANDER: I think there's room here for the interim government in time to be able to also get its influence into that area, but you have to get rid of the leadership of these insurgents and Zarqawi is one of the oftennamed and other foreign influence in that city. That has to go.

TODD: Abu Musab Zarqawi is a particular problem right now, a clearly menacing presence with a dangerous band of foreign jihadists, his group just designated a foreign terrorist by the State Department. But a top military official tells CNN coalition commanders are frustrated, believing Zarqawi has been built up in the media as, in his words, a rock star. Terrorism experts agree, some perspective on Zarqawi is desperately needed.

MAGNUS RANSTOHP, UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS: Presidents and government leaders have to pinpoint to someone that -- who they can identify with. It is much more complex than that. There is not just one al Qaeda or Zarqawi. There are many al Qaedas and Zarqawis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: As for this particular Zarqawi, one analyst with close ties to the U.S. military tells me he is not a master terrorist, there will be nothing magical about his demise and in his words, eventually they'll run the guy down -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you very much for that report, Brian Todd.

It's all about the battleground states for the presidential candidates hopscotching and sometimes overlapping their way across the country today, both looking for any edge in this extremely tight race. We're with both campaigns. Let's start with CNN's White House correspondent Dana Bash, traveling with the president.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the post debate world of sifting through what worked and what did not, the president's team put attacking John Kerry's health plan in the "it worked" column.

So he stepped it up in Cedar Rapids.

BUSH: Studies conducted by people who understand small businesses concluded that his plan is an over priced albatross. I have a different view, we'll work to make sure health care is available and affordable.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: God bless you all.

BASH: Bush aides know Kerry's constant reminders that millions lost health insurance, or saw premiums sky rocket on the president's watch resonates with voters. But they say internal research shows labeling Kerry's health plan too costly strikes a nerve with swing voters.

BUSH: My opponent takes the side of more centralized control and more government. There is a word for that attitude, it's called liberalism.

BASH: Plus, attacking the Senator's plan, as one top aide said, is the perfect way to put some meat on the John Kerry is a liberal bone, a bone the president is throwing to his GOP base these final days to make sure they vote.

DAVID GERGEN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: Let's face it. What the Bush campaign is trying to do right now is to get as many voters up and out of their chairs and out of their offices into the polls on election day as they can.

BASH: 2000 election results in Iowa and Wisconsin, the two states on this leg of the final sprint, show how critical that is. The president lost both by the narrowest of margins. The difference in Iowa, 3 tenths of 1 percent, a mere 4,144 votes. In Wisconsin, 2 tenths of one percent just 5,708 votes.

(on camera): Now polls show a statistical dead heat here in Iowa. But some have Wisconsin looking better for Senator Kerry. And that is a traditionally Democratic state, but one the president has put a lot of time and money into recently. But the question for that and other so-called blue states at this juncture, is whether or not it's worth it. Dana Bash, CNN, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Let's go over to the Kerry campaign now. CNN's Ed Henry joining us live from Milwaukee. Ed, what's the latest there?

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Wolf. That's right. The Kerry campaign feels that it has some momentum coming out of the 3 presidential debates. Senior adviser Mike McCurry said today that the Senator will now try to use that traction to deliver a series of closing argument speeches to the American people, focused mostly on the domestic agenda. That's what Kerry wants to zero in on in the final 2 and half weeks now of this campaign.

Today, in Milwaukee, it was all about the economy and jobs. And the message was that the middle class is being squeezed by President Bush's policies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KERRY: The president said he's proud of his record. Proud of his record? Proud of millions of Americans unemployed? Proud of tens of millions of Americans who have no health insurance? Proud of 5 million Americans losing it while he's been president? Proud of American families raising costs and having falling incomes? Let me tell you -- and He's proud -- and he said this on the very day that the federal government announced the largest deficit in American history.

Ladies and gentlemen, if this is what he is proud of, I would hate to see what he is ashamed of.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Well, Senator Kerry hitting the jobs issue particularly hard here in Wisconsin, a state that has lost 67,000 manufacturing jobs in the last four years. He's now on bus tour through the rest of the state. He's already left Milwaukee.

But then he's on to Ohio later tonight. That's where he will have another bus tour tomorrow. Ohio, another state that's been very hard hit by job losses, a state that George Bush carried in 2000, but that John Kerry is hoping to rest away in 2004 -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Ed Henry in Milwaukee. Ed, thank you very much.

We have an important programming note for our viewers. Senator Kerry spoke earlier today with CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley. The entire exclusive interview will air tonight on PAULA ZAHN NOW. That's at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 Pacific, only, only here on CNN.

War of words over comments regarding Vice President Cheney's daughter, Mary, why homosexuality is suddenly a hot button on the campaign trail and why neither side may benefit. I'll speak about that and more.

Two guests coming up, Al Franken and Bob Barr.

The most serious warning mandated by the Food and Drug Administration regarding children who are taking popular antidepressants. Important medical news all of us need to know about right now.

Plus, fears that extend beyond flu season. If the nation isn't prepared for the annual flu bug, how ready is it for a potential bioterror attack? Stand by, we'll have that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We're getting this in from Cleveland. The 727 carrying Senator John Edwards' plane aborted its take off at Burke Lakefront Airport just a few minutes ago. You're looking at a live picture of that plane. The plane was speeding down the runway about ten seconds from taking off when the pilots decided to abort the take off and put on the brakes. The plane came to a safe stop. There was no incident. No one was hurt. The pilots told our Erica Dimler (ph) who was on board, a light indicated one of the plane's 3 generators had failed just before take-off. They made the decision on the spot to abort. The plane is now moved back to the terminal at the airport. That would be in downtown Cleveland.

Maintenance crews are taking a look at the back right engine of the plane. The pilots came back to talk to Senator Edwards before deplanning.

Once again, you're looking at that live picture of the take-off from Cleveland by Senator Edwards' plane, staff, members of the press on board, aborted a takeoff with only about ten seconds left. Everyone is fine. They're taking a look at this plane to make sure there are no other problems.

The plane was heading towards Baltimore Washington International Airport when this occurred. We'll continue to watch this story for you. Get some more information as it becomes available.

Other important news, specifically medical news today, the Food and Drug Administration is ordering drug makers to add tough new warning labels on antidepressants explaining the drugs increase the risk of suicidal behavior in some children and teenagers.

Our medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen is at the CNN center in Atlanta. She's joining us now live with details.

Elizabeth, this is an important story.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It is an important story, Wolf. Because some doctors say that these antidepressants can be wonder drugs for some children, but could be quite dangerous for others.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN: Candice downing was 12 years old when she hanged herself from her bedroom ceiling. Her mother blames the drug Zoloft. She says Candice wasn't suicidal, or even depressed before she started taking Zoloft to help her deal with test anxiety at school. And she believes Candice would be alive today if there had been a warning on the label that antidepressants can increase that a children will become suicidal.

MATHY DOWNING, MOTHER: There was no way on Earth that I would have risked my child's life if they told me the odds were one in a thousand, one in a million. I would have never played Russian roulette with my child's life.

COHEN: Now, there will be a strong warning on antidepressants. The warning will be prominent and describe the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior when children take these drugs. The warning will be on the label as well as on advertisements and on information handed to patients and go on all antidepressants including popular ones such as Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac. Matthew Downing says the FDA should have done this a long time ago, but the FDA says it's been difficult work since the drugs can be dangerous for some kids, but helpful for others.

DR. LESTER CRAWFORD, FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION: The FDA had to focus on a fundamental public health question. How should the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior be balanced against the known benefit of treating depression in children?

COHEN: Pfizer, which makes Zoloft, did not return phone calls. And Pharma, a group representing pharmaceutical companies had no comment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN: Now Wolf, the FDA also told doctors today that they need to closely monitor their teen and child patients who are taking these antidepressants to make sure that they don't have any suicidal thoughts or behavior.

BLITZER: Elizabeth Cohen with important information for our viewers. Thank you, Elizabeth, very much.

The flu season. Shortcomings are possibly signaling a much bigger problem. Why U.S. terrorism officials are now closely watching the nation's current vaccine crisis.

Paying too much attention to Mary? How both campaigns' focus on Vice President Dick Cheney's gay daughter could impact this election.

And, later.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His mother said he was deeply moved and reached out to touch the TV screen with his hand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: An injured United States marine with five times the reason to recover quickly. His wife just gave birth to quintuplets.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: As health authorities struggle to deal with a serious shortage of flu vaccine, terrorism experts worry how the nation would cope with something far worse. Our homeland security correspondent Jean Meserve reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SEC. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A mock news cast with a scary headline.

ANGIE MILES, NCN CORRESPONDENT: On day 12 of the worst public health crisis in America's history demonstrations for more vaccine in hard hit communities disintegrated into riots and looting around the nation...

MESERVE: It was part of a 2001 exercise in which terrorists attacked the U.S. with small pox and vaccine is in short supply. The current flu vaccine shortage though nowhere near as extreme, shows, experts say, that the U.S. is still woefully unprepared for bioterrorism or a naturally occurring pandemic.

TARA O'TOOLE, CENTER FOR BIOSECURITY: The 1918 flu pandemic killed more people in 24 weeks than AIDS has in 24 years. If we have a pandemic now in this age of globalization that virus is going to shoot around the planet at the speed of the jet airliner. We won't have time to get prepared to deal with it once it's upon us.

MESERVE: Experts say it's been clear for years that there must be a collaborative effort by government, academia and industry to modernize and encourage vaccine and drug production.

TOMMY THOMPSON, HHS SECRETARY: I never want to have this happen again.

MESERVE: Since the 2001 anthrax attacks, the federal government has spent more than $14 billion on civilian biodefense, but one of the nation's leading experts in the field says the government effort involving multiple agencies suffers from lack of strategy, goals and leadership.

O'TOOLE: I couldn't tell you who is in charge of biodefense in this country.

MESERVE: Right now, flu vaccine is readily available in some places, not at all in others, pointing up, experts say the flawed and patchwork nature of the public health system.

STEVE FLYNN, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: The public health system we have is broken. It's not able to deal with routine disease and it really gives me pause about dealing with the very scary and real threat of a terrorist attack on our soil that has a biological component.

MESERVE: One expert says the current shortage could be a needed wakeup call, but probably won't be unless a significant number of people die because they could not get the vaccine.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, McLean, Virginia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Debating the issues that could influence the election most with political commentator and radio talk show host Al Franken and the former United States Congressman Bob Barr. They will join me live.

Tight race, but when will it break and which state could trigger the movement? Our Carlos Watson has the inside edge.

And just in time for the winter season, a change to the ban prohibiting snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: From our studios in Washington, once again, Wolf Blitzer.

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Why sexual preference has suddenly become a campaign issue. I'll speak live with Al Franken and Bob Barr. They're joining me coming up.

But, first, let's have a quick on some other stories now in the news.

A judge has sentenced U.S. Muslim leader Abdurahman Alamoudi to 23 years in prison for crimes related to an alleged Libyan plot to kill Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. Prosecutors say Alamoudi was not a key player in the plot, but facilitated it by introducing Saudi dissidents to Libyan officials.

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for nine people reported missing near Tampa Bay, Florida. Coast Guard officials say they received a distress call around midnight from passengers on board a catamaran, saying their vessel had capsized and they were boarding a life raft.

A federal judge has struck down a ban on snowmobiles at Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. The judge says the ban, imposed during the Clinton administration, was too -- quote -- "political" and didn't allow enough public input.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

Some have already nicknamed it Mary-gate, the campaign's latest semantic semi-scandal, this one centering around Mary Cheney, the vice president's openly gay daughter. And like previous word wars, this one is the subject of furious spin and counterspin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): It started with the last presidential debate and a direct question to the candidates: Do you believe homosexuality is a choice? President Bush said this.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know. I just don't know.

BLITZER: But it was John Kerry's response that ignited the latest campaign controversy.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: 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. I think if you talk to anybody, it's not choice.

BLITZER: The Cheneys' response.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You saw a man who will say and do anything in order to get elected. And I am not speaking just as a father here, though I am a pretty angry father.

LYNNE CHENEY, WIFE OF VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: I am speaking as a mom and a pretty indignant mom. This is not a good man. What a cheap and tawdry political trick.

BLITZER: The Kerry camp was quick to point out that the vice president himself brought up his daughter's sexuality in an August campaign appearance in Iowa.

CHENEY: The question has come up obviously in the past with respect to the question of gay marriage. Lynne and I have a gay daughter. So, it's an issue that our family is very familiar with.

And there was no indignation when John Edwards broached the topic in the vice presidential debate.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think the vice president and his wife love their daughter. I think they love her very much. And you can't have anything but respect for the fact that they're willing to talk about the fact that they have a gay daughter.

BLITZER: Cheney's response then:

D. CHENEY: Well, Gwen, let me simply thank the senator for the kind words he said about my family and our daughter. I appreciate that very much.

EDWARDS: You're welcome.

GWEN IFILL, MODERATOR: That's it?

D. CHENEY: That's it.

BLITZER: But two weeks later, with polls showing a clean sweep of the debates for John Kerry and the race still too close to call, the Bush team's tone as changed.

MARY MATALIN, BUSH CAMPAIGN ADVISER: It's just below the belt. It's beyond -- it's just despicable.

BLITZER: Elizabeth Edwards only added fuel to the fire in a radio interview.

ELIZABETH EDWARDS, WIFE OF SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS: It makes me really sad that that's Lynne's response. I think that it indicates a certain degree of shame with respect to her daughter's sexual preferences.

BLITZER: Kerry himself issued a statement, saying: "I love my daughters. They love their daughter. I was trying to say something positive about the way strong families deal with this issue." One Bush adviser called that a nonapology. But is there anything to apologize for? The head of the gay GOP group Log Cabin Republicans says neither can claim the moral high ground, but:

PATRICK GUERRIERO, DIRECTOR, LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS: John Kerry and John Edwards would be smart to make their case for gay and lesbian fairness by not mentioning Mary Cheney.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And late this afternoon, the White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, told reporters President Bush does not believe Kerry's remarks were appropriate. He went on to say -- and I'm quoting now -- "I cannot think of a single instance where a presidential candidate has talked about his opponent's child in such a way."

A legitimate complaint or not?

Joining us now from New York to talk about it, the political commentator, the comedian, the radio talk show host Al Franken, and from the CNN Center in Atlanta, CNN contributor former Republican Congressman Bob Barr of Georgia.

Thanks to both of you for joining us.

I'll start with you, Al Franken. What do you make of this controversy?

AL FRANKEN, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I'm having a hard time sorting through it. I think maybe it has something to do with the difference in the way that the parties or different cultures think about homosexuality.

There is no shame in being gay. And I think that Kerry was building on what Edwards, the Edwards-Cheney exchange, in which Edwards showed enormous respect for the way the Cheneys had been dealing with their daughter's homosexuality. I think there's a little bit of manufactured, fake indignation here, and that kind of in itself is a little ugly.

BLITZER: All right, let's let Bob Barr respond to that.

Go ahead, Congressman.

BOB BARR, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Thank you, Wolf. And it's great to be with you and Al.

I think this whole episode is bizarre. Here we are in the middle of an election, close to Election Day. And you have an incumbent president and a Democrat challenger and we're fighting a war. We're talking about the economy. We're talking about all sorts of important issues, or would like to be, and they're arguing over what it means to be a homosexual. This is really bizarre.

And I think that the sooner and the quicker we can get this whole episode behind us and get these two men, and apparently their wives also, talking about the real issues, the better. I think that people are getting indignant about the indignation about the indignation.

(LAUGHTER)

BARR: And it all is getting kind of silly, to be honest with you.

BLITZER: I think Bob Barr, Al, makes a pretty good point. What do you think?

FRANKEN: I do, too. I'm not indignant about the indignation. I just think it's -- I agree with Bob Barr entirely. We would -- we got the war and the economy and other things to worry about.

BLITZER: All right, so let's talk about really other important, substantive issues. And I'll start once again with you, Al Franken.

Where do you see this campaign focusing right now? Which issue is going to make or break it for either of these candidates?

FRANKEN: I don't know. Events will -- we have 18 days. Events may tell us where we look. We have had a bad day in Iraq yesterday, but we had a bad day in Iraq for the last -- every day for the last several months.

And, economically, this president has not done the job and he has not done the job on health care. It may start to get -- fall to character in the sense that I do feel the Bush team and Bush himself grasping at this point. For example, that ad where they talked about -- where they extracted four words from an 8,000-word article on Kerry's view of the world in "The New York Times" magazine and said that Kerry is just saying that terrorism a nuisance?

And,of course, that's not what he said. And I think your job, Wolf, if I may say so, to add on to what Jon Stewart was saying to Tucker Carlson, is to look at something like that. That was disgraceful. That's a disgraceful ad. And the president at the end of that ad says, I'm George Bush and I approve that message. And they took what he took out of context.

BLITZER: Bob Barr, did the Republicans take those words, when he said he would hope someday that the war on terrorism would be more of a nuisance, sort of like prostitution or illegal gambling, did the Republicans take...

FRANKEN: He didn't say the war on terrorism. He didn't. He said terrorism.

BLITZER: He said terrorism, terrorism, would be a nuisance.

FRANKEN: Yes.

BLITZER: Did the Republicans take that out of context and distort the intent, what John Kerry really meant in that "New York Times" Sunday magazine interview? BARR: I think, actually, he was making a valid point. The words that he chose, similar to his now famous remarks about voting for the funding after he voted against it, or vice versa, his words got kind of bungled up there.

FRANKEN: No.

BARR: But, yes, I think he was making a valid point, just used the wrong words, perhaps.

One thing that I've noticed, Wolf, and I've done a lot traveling lately, far more than my family would like, as I travel across America, particularly in the heartland in the key battleground states, like Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and so forth, I find that people are very concerned about jobs, about immigration and about the economy. And I think these are going to be front and center, really, particularly in those key battleground states.

BLITZER: All right, we're going to pick up those issues and other issues, but we'll take a quick break.

To our viewers, I want you to know we have a Web question of the day. The Web question of the day is this. Do you think sexual preference is a choice? That was the question that Bob Schieffer asked the presidential candidates. You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results for you later in this broadcast.

But, as all of you know, the campaign during these final 18 days clearly heating up. The candidates are going strong. Al Franken, Bob Barr, they're stinking around for another round. We'll get right to them after this break.

And, later, a wounded U.S. Marine gets a major dose of good medicine in the form of five, yes, five new babies.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

We're discussing the race for the White House with the political commentator, the comedian, the radio talk show host Al Franken in New York, and, at the CNN Center in Atlanta, CNN contributor, former Republican Congressman Bob Barr.

I know you're anxious, Al Franken, because we discussed it during the commercial break, to add one nugget, one little point to the discussion on whether or not terror could some day become a nuisance, as opposed to a full-scale war, which is the hope that was expressed by John Kerry in that "New York Times" interview.

FRANKEN: OK, Bob Barr just acknowledged that what Kerry said was legitimate, which was that, hopefully, you can fight terrorism, continually fight it to the point where it is not overriding our lives and is more like a nuisance. And that's what Brent Scowcroft said two years ago. And what the president's -- what the Bush-Cheney campaign did was run an ad that deliberately, deliberately -- and, Bob Barr, you have to admit, this was a deliberate attempt to mischaracterize it. And that's a sign of desperation and that's a sign of being dishonest.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Bob Barr, go ahead.

BARR: Well, I think that both sides are taking, shall we say, extreme liberties with taking words out of context.

But, in substance, I think that what Senator Kerry was saying, and that we hope to and will work toward the day when terrorism is not the overriding issue and fear that we face, but has been reduced to a level more akin to traditional criminal behavior, is a very appropriate one.

BLITZER: From your perspective, Al Franken, what's at stake in a nutshell in this election?

FRANKEN: There is so much at stake, our future, in terms of this incredible, enormous deficit. There's nothing conservative about a $450 billion deficit.

Our environment is at stake. Our standing in the world is at stake. And the well-being of this society is at stake. We are becoming a bifurcated society, where this administration has treated the wealthy and their cronies in one way and treated the rest of the America like the other. Just look at the prescription drug -- the Medicare prescription drug thing.

The president had a choice between allowing reimportation of drugs or giving a windfall to the prescription drug companies. He gave the prescription drug companies a windfall.

BLITZER: All right.

FRANKEN: The same on whether you allow -- they made it illegal to let Medicare deal with prescription -- with the prescription drug problem.

BLITZER: All right, we get the point.

Let's let Bob Barr...

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: What's at stake from your perspective, Congressman?

BARR: Well, what's at stake from my perspective are many of the same issues that Al was talking about, doing something, which neither party now seems really willing to do, to get the tremendous growth in the federal deficit that we worked so hard when I was in the Congress as part of a Republican majority to bring under control, and now it's just mushrooming.

Another issue that was given very short shrift in the debates which is extremely important to me is the state of civil liberties in America. What's at stake is, will we allow the so-called war against terror to completely undercut our Bill of Rights and our right to privacy? People need to sit up, I think, and take notice of this and make sure that that doesn't happen.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: All right, it sounds to me, it sounds to me -- unfortunately, Al Franken and Bob Barr, we're out of time -- but it sounds to me that, on many of these issues, there's not necessarily a huge gap between the two of you. But we'll continue this conversation down the road.

FRANKEN: Bob Barr would totally agree with me that the Bush people have mischaracterized Kerry on the Patriot Act, right, Bob?

BARR: I think we're out of time, Al.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: We'll leave that down the road.

FRANKEN: Right, Bob?

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: Al Franken, Bob Barr, stay tuned. We'll continue this conversation. Thanks very much to both of you.

As the election draws closer, will it be a dead heat down to the end? Our Carlos Watson, he is getting ready. He'll join us with "The Inside Edge" on the race to the White House.

Plus, a family multiplied. This is a touching story of five, yes, five, new gifts waiting for one wounded United States Marine on his return home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Now that the presidential debates are over, it's time to take a look at the big picture.

CNN political analyst Carlos Watson joining us now from Los Angeles with "The Inside Edge."

Carlos, is this election going to be as tight as everyone now thinks it's going to be or is one of these candidates going to break loose a little bit?

CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Wolf, I've got to be the contrarian voice here.

I'm somehow who doesn't think it's going to be as close as it was in 2000, less than 1 percent, or 1968 or 1960, all of which were 1 percent elections. I happen to think this will be a 3, 4, 5 percent race, with people breaking in one direction or another, not just those so-called undecideds, but also persuadable voters, as we get closer. Perhaps we'll know by the Sunday before Tuesday, November the 2nd.

BLITZER: And so you're looking specifically at only a few states, though.

WATSON: I am.

Wolf, right now, one of the interesting things is a couple of new additional battleground states are coming into play given some of John Kerry's success at the debates. So you see states like Arizona that might get a little more attention than they were getting before. On the president's side, he's visiting New Jersey.

But when all is said and done, I think, if John Kerry is able to secure Pennsylvania a week before the election and, therefore, spend more time in Florida, I think you'll start to see him become the clear front-runner. On the other hand, if the president is able to take traditionally Republican Ohio, at least in presidential elections, and really secure his lead there a week out, then I think that will be key.

So, of all the battleground states, as important as Florida is, I would look at Ohio and Pennsylvania. Whoever secures a clear lead there earlier, so that he frees himself up to spend time somewhere else, is the person I see as the front-runner going into final days.

BLITZER: A lot of people believe whoever carries two of those three states, Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio, will be the next president of the United States.

I know you've been looking closely at these undecided voters. Who are they?

WATSON: Well, you know what's interesting about it, Wolf? There are lots of ways we could talk about them. Some people say undecided are ranging anywhere from 5 to 9 percent right now. They're both men and women.

But I think what stands out is that, fundamentally, they're a little bit conflicted, if you will, about the war in Iraq. Clearly, if you think the war in Iraq was a dramatic mistake and a diversion, you're probably pretty clearly on John Kerry's side. If you're not happy with what's going on in Iraq, but you fundamentally see it's something that we had to do, then you're probably clearly with the president. But if you're conflicted, if you don't know what we should have done post-9/11 and you can understand that the president had a difficult slog there, then, when all is said and done, you're one of these people who is still hanging, still waiting to see.

So I think what stands out to me about the undecideds as much as anything is the question of Iraq and how they look at Iraq.

BLITZER: So what's the final analysis right now? WATSON: You know, Wolf, I think that any way you go, this is going to end up becoming one of these elections that we talk about for 20, 30, 40 years.

If President Bush wins, you'll have to say that he's one of the three or four greatest politicians of the last 50 years, meaning that he will have won three dramatic races in a span of 10 years, the first governor's race, winning against a sitting vice president, Al Gore, during economic prosperity, and then winning here, even though his approval numbers are under 50 percent.

On the other hand, if John Kerry wins, this will also be a classic that people talk about. Here's a guy who, on January 1, everyone didn't even think was going to win the Democratic nomination, came back, won that, won it with an unusual strategy, focusing on Iowa, not next-door neighbor New Hampshire.

And then, similarly, if he comes back and wins here, given all the difficulty he had in August, once again, you'll have to call him an incredible closer. So, whoever wins this election, I think we'll certainly call this a classic. And I think certainly either man will take his rightful place as a really intriguing presidential contender.

BLITZER: Carlos Watson with "The Inside Edge."

And to our viewers, I just want to point out, a week from this Sunday night, Carlos will anchor, will host a special entitled "Off Topic." He has got some really off-topic guests. We're going to talk about that a lot in the next several days, a week from this Sunday night, 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

Carlos, thanks again for joining us.

WATSON: Good to see you.

BLITZER: The results of our Web question of the day, that's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here is how you're weighing in on our Web question of the day. Take a look at this. Remember, though, it's not a scientific poll.

A U.S. Marine wounded in Iraq is the father of quintuplets; 28- year-old Sergeant Joshua Horton is recovering from his injuries at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. His wife, Taunacy, gave birth to three girls and two boys in a suburban Chicago hospital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAUNACY HORTON, MOTHER OF QUINTUPLETS: Josh and I do want to tell our story once we're reunited and together.

But, right now, I just want everyone to know that I'm OK and the babies are OK and that Josh will heal and be home with us when he can. When Josh and I found out that our family was going from four to nine, we were shocked and really terrified. But we always knew that somehow things would work out.

Josh is still really hurt, but we're hopeful for his recovery and know that he has the best care possible. Even though circumstances didn't allow Josh to be there at the delivery, my hope is that Josh can be there when we first get to hold these babies. I can't wait until we can be reunited and do this together. That will be very special. My son and daughter at home can't wait to see and hug their dad and update him on everything.

I talked to Josh for the first time about 8:00 this morning. As you can imagine, it was a very emotional and special moment for us. Wednesday, Josh was told of the arrival of the quintuplets and was able to see a video of them. His mother, Lauchlan, said that he was deeply moved and reached out to touch the TV screen with his hand. I wish I could have been there, but I know that he is keeping them in his heart until he can see them in person.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The quintuplets, born at 26 weeks, are in critical but stable condition. Their father was upgraded this week from critical to good condition.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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