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American Morning
An Interview with Barack Obama; Both Campaigns Focusing on Hotly Contested Florida
Aired October 19, 2004 - 07:00 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The president hitting national security, John Kerry hammering the economy, two messages, only 14 days to deliver.
The candidate in Illinois.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA (D), U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: People don't want to hear politicians who are attacking each other. They want to hear politicians who are attacking problems.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: This morning we hear from Barack Obama, leading in the polls here by 40 to 50 points. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger breaks with his party to back $3 billion in stem cell research.
And winning in the last at-bat. The Astros and the Red Sox take their fans on a thrill ride. Great baseball, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From Water Tower Park, next to the campus of Loyola University in Chicago, this is AMERICAN MORNING on the road, with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
And good morning, everybody. And welcome from Chicago this morning. It's a little windy out here today in the Windy City.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Is that it?
O'BRIEN: That's it. That's all I got for you.
HEMMER: I think it's Hurricane Frances. Yesterday we came to you from the Chicago River. Today our team moved to the Magnificent Mile, Loyola University's Water Tower campus, a great location here, too, and so much tradition and history, right here, smack dab in the middle of Chicago, Illinois. We continue again today.
O'BRIEN: We'll of course talk a little bit more about the water tower this morning. That's the building that's directly behind us. I mean, it looks like a castle. All the other water towers I have seen are sort of big, tall ugly structures.
HEMMER: The significant structure that survived the fire of 1871, which still plays so prominently in Chicago's history even today. So a beautiful building, especially at night.
O'BRIEN: All right. This morning, we are talking politics again. I'm talking to Barack Obama. We're going to hear from Alan Keyes, coming up in the next hour. Of course they're involved in this Senate race here in the state of Illinois. Also, if anybody is voting in Florida, everybody is watching. Early voting started there yesterday. We're going to talk with one Orange County supervisor about whether there are any problems that could put any of the votes in doubt.
HEMMER: And a difference of opinion, too, about yesterday. So we'll try and sort it through.
Also, two of the most influential voices in film are here in Chicago, Roger Ebert, Richard Roper. We'll talk to them about the great films shot in the city. Toure had a chance to do that. So we'll hear from them this hour as well.
O'BRIEN: And, Mr. Cafferty, good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How're you doing? What, they wouldn't let us into Phoenix? This is great, isn't it? I want the name of the guy who thought this up, because when we get back to New York I'm going to find you and kill you.
O'BRIEN: If you start blowing away, I'll grab you, not to worry.
CAFFERTY: The saying is that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Well, what happens in Chicago is going to get blabbed all over America on this cable TV show we're doing this morning. Coming up later in the "Cafferty File," we've come across some interesting Chicago trivia. For example, it's estimated that 1,050 mobsters have been rubbed out in the city over the years. Guess how many of those murder cases have been prosecuted? You'll have to wait for the answer.
HEMMER: I like it.
CAFFERTY: Now I'm going to go back to the nice, warm diner I was in yesterday.
HEMMER: You know, jack, your hair is getting plenty of lift today.
CAFFERTY: I'm at an advantage today. The wind can't bother my hair, because there isn't any.
O'BRIEN: Hey, you know what, at least it's blowing the right way is all I'll say.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Let's go right to Heidi Collins. She's got a look at some of the top stories this morning.
Good morning, Heidi. HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Blowing the right way? I don't know what it's doing, but it's cold, that's for sure.
I do want to get to the stories now in the news this morning. The U.S. military in Iraq is looking into the death of an American soldier. The body was found in the soldier's Baghdad quarters overnight. Officials say he died of a noncombat injury.
And in Fallujah, U.S. warplanes are striking down suspected facilities used by terrorist Abu Musab Al Zarqawi. The military says recent airstrikes have killed senior leaders in the group.
California Governor Schwarzenegger broke with the state Republican on Monday. He endorsed proposition 71, a $3 billion bond measure that would fund human embryonic stem cell research. If proposition 71 is passed, it would give California researchers nearly $300 million annually for 10 years.
Some severe weather in northwest Alabama. Meteorologists trying to figure out if a tornado is to blame for damage that injured at least three people. Earlier in the day tornadoes ripped through Arkansas, injuring almost a dozen people and leaving thousands without power.
To baseball now, Jeff Kent hits the game winning three-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give the Houston Astros a 3-0 win over St. Louis. The Astros lead the series 3-2, heading into Wednesday's game six back in St. Louis.
And the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 5-4 in game five of the American League Championship Series. Game six tonight in New York. The game lasted five hours, 49 minutes, making it the longest game in postseason history.
It was a good one, too, wasn't it?
HEMMER: The first pitch at 5:00, and they wrapped it up at 11:00 last night.
COLLINS: Yes, I mean, they were stuck at 4-4 forever. So finally, one more run, huh?
HEMMER: Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: You bet.
HEMMER: We're going to start this morning with politics. Only 14 days from today until election 2004, both campaigns focusing on hotly contested Florida, where early voting is already started there, officially yesterday. President Bush has three rallies today in Florida, including a stop in St. Petersburg.
And Suzanne Malveaux today is on the campaign trail this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With two weeks until election day, President Bush's primary message comes down to this.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In all the progress we hope to make, depends on the security of our nation.
MALVEAUX: And U.S. security, Mr. Bush says, depends on Iraq.
BUSH: Victory in the war on terror requires victory in Iraq.
MALVEAUX: The president chose New Jersey to unleash a new series of attacks on Senator John Kerry, continuing to make the case he's inconsistent on Iraq and weak on terror.
BUSH: Having gone back and forth so many times, the senator from Massachusetts has now flip-flopped his way to a dangerous position. My opponent finally has settled on a strategy, a strategy of retreat.
MALVEAUX: The Bush campaign hopes that message will resonate where fighting terrorism is the voters No. 1 issue. Nearly 700 residents from New Jersey were killed at the World Trade Centers on September 11th.
And despite New Jersey's standing as a Democratic presidential stronghold with Al Gore winning by a 16-point margin four years ago, national security has catapulted Mr. Bush to pull neck and neck with his opponent.
And on this day, the president stood shoulder to shoulder with the man who served as New York City's police commissioner during the September 11th tragedy. Mr. Bush touted a $33 billion budget for homeland security signed into law as proof of his commitment to making the country more secure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After September 11th, our world changed.
MALVEAUX: At the same time, the Bush campaign leased a new ad, portraying Kerry as the risky alternative. It's a message Mr. Bush is delivering to election 2000 ground zero, the state of Florida.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Suzanne, thanks for that.
Now Senator John Kerry wrapping up a two-day swing also in the state of Florida. Yesterday Kerry touting his health care plan at a speech in Tampa, and once again blasting the president over the handling of the war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will fight a smatter, more effective, tougher war on terror. We will hunt down and capture and kill the terrorists, no matter where they are. But we will conduct the critical diplomacy that this administration has failed to do; we will bring allies to our side, because that's how you make America and the world strongest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Senator Kerry campaigning in Pennsylvania and Ohio today, spending the night later in Iowa.
In our next hour we'll get a report from Kelly Wallace on the Kerry campaign trail. Stay tuned for that -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Here in the land of Lincoln, Barack Obama is one of the Democratic party's young gun. You're going to recall that he delivered the keynote address at the national convention this summer. He's running for a U.S. Senate seat against Republican Alan Keyes, but it's a race in name only really. The latest polls have Obama leading by 45 points.
While we're here in Chicago, I spoke to him about politics, and a little bit about celebrity as well.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (on camera): You have gone from being an underdog candidate for the Senate to being a rising star in the Democratic Party, to being the future of the Democratic Party, to being some people say maybe one day the president of the United States. How does that feel? Pretty good I have to imagine.
OBAMA: Well, you know, I think it's a little over the top.
O'BRIEN: The president part?
OBAMA: You know, all of it I think. You enjoy the hype, but I tend to be suspicious of hype partly because I know how hard it is to actually get stuff done in politics.
You know, I served in the state legislature for eight years, toiled in obscurity in the minority party for six years and then in the majority for two years. And, you know, there's a part of politics that is about making speeches and helping to frame the debate, and that's important, but there's also just the blocking and tackling of getting a piece of legislation drafted and getting enough votes for it.
And, you know, it's that latter part that I think has the most lasting effect and that's the part that I'm most interested in getting involved with.
O'BRIEN: You say you toiled in obscurity -- I mean, jokingly obviously. I read somewhere that your first press conference when you announced that you were going to be running for Senate, two print organizations showed up (inaudible).
OBAMA: Yes. I mean, it wasn't... O'BRIEN: Well attended.
OBAMA: ... that well attended and...
O'BRIEN: Do you feel vindicated now?
Because you know people would be pushing and shoving to kind of get in there now, right?
OBAMA: Well, you know, there's no doubt that we started off as an underdog.
I mean, I think the general estimation in Illinois was -- among those insiders who knew state politics -- was that I'd be a very good U.S. senator, that I'd shown myself to be a good legislator, but I had no money, I had no organization and nobody could pronounce my name.
And I think...
O'BRIEN: Three strikes against.
OBAMA: Yes, exactly.
Where I felt vindicated I think was to see on Election Day us not just winning the black vote or the city vote, but winning the white vote, winning the suburban vote, winning in downstate communities that people never would have imagined us doing well. That felt good and showed me that my faith in the voters in Illinois was justified.
O'BRIEN: Polls show you at some times with a 50-point lead over your opponent. What's the strategy to deal with your opponent, who has offended a lot of folks? Has certainly made some curious statements.
OBAMA: You know, I don't spend too much time worrying about what my opponents say. I've always said, and this was true when I was an underdog, as well as when -- now that I'm...
O'BRIEN: Top dog.
OBAMA: ... now that I'm in the lead, is that people don't want to hear politicians who are attacking each other; they want to hear politicians who are attacking problems.
And so, I have always taken a posture I'm running against complacency, I'm running against bad policy, but I'm running for a broader vision of the country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: After the interview, a guy came up to us on a mountain bike, started to chat with Mr. Obama. Our producers were trying desperately to shoo him out of the way. Turns out, in fact, it was the actor John Cusack, who was talking to him, a huge supporter of Barack Obama, and they were discussing actually a little strategy. Obviously, Chicago a big city, but also a small town. HEMMER: And perfect for a day like today; we're going to hear about movies in Chicago a bit later this hour, and so many, too. Ferris Bueller's Day Off," one of the many, so we'll get to that.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Our home base today is one of the world's most famous boulevard, Chicago's Magnificent Mile, rather.
O'BRIEN: It's a bit pricey. There's Armani right over there, all the nice stores.
But it certainly is a must-see just the same, and part of downtown Chicago that tourists are certain not to miss when they come.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): Location, location, location. They don't call it the Magnificent Mile for nothing. This stretch of North Michigan Avenue is retail heaven, a shopper's paradise. The idea was first conceived nearly a hundred years ago, when local developers thought to transform an Indian trading post into a major commercial center, similar to the Shambezay (ph) in Paris. Loyola University's campus is just a stone's throw from such city landmarks as the water tower and the John Hancock Center, which when built in 1970 was the world's tallest building. The school is ranked among the top 25 national universities by "U.S. News and World Report," for offering a best value education. Two noteworthy alums, CNN's Susan Candiotti and actor/comedian Bob Newhart.
Chicago's water tower is one of the few buildings to survive the great Chicago Fire in 1871. Today it stands as a symbol of the second city, which to many Chicagoans is second to none.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Well, you know, I spent a little time on the magnificent mile yesterday.
HEMMER: Shocker!
O'BRIEN: I ate lunch right over there. I had an ice cream Sunday right over there, and then I did a little shopping in town. We're going to show you some pictures of that a little bit later.
We're here all week of course. Tomorrow, we're going to be at union Station. On Thursday, we go right to the Field Museum, and then Friday, we close the week -- out the week rather at the Adler Planetarium. So I'm going to get a little museum going in as well.
HEMMER: Did you schedule your massage yet?
O'BRIEN: I actually did, my first massage. I'm hoping to get several while I'm in town, that's right.
HEMMER: In a moment here, the Hollywood of the heartland. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROGER EBERT, FILM CRITIC: Chicago I think represents a kind of Midwestern reality, more down to earth. People have less edge. They are likely to be nicer, frankly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Toure catches up with Windy City movie critics Ebert and Roper today. Find out which films get their thumbs up as the best Chicago movies ever. Good list.
O'BRIEN: Also ahead this morning, Florida gets a headstart on Election Day, but it also gets a jump on voting problems. We'll explain.
HEMMER: Also defense expert casting doubt on a key piece of evidence for prosecutors in Scott Peterson's trial. The latest on that case, when AMERICAN MORNING continues, live in Chicago, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
O'BRIEN: We've got this story just in to CNN this morning. If You Care International Charity has been telling us its head of operations in Iraq has been kidnapped in Baghdad. A spokeswoman say that Margaret Hassan (ph) was been working for that charity in Iraq for more than a decade, was kidnapped Tuesday morning. No further details. Hassan is a joint Iraqi-British citizen. If You Care, of course, is one of the largest relief organizations in the world -- Bill.
HEMMER: About 19 minutes now past the hour, Soledad.
To other news now this country, defense testimony resumes today in Scott Peterson's case. Peterson's attorney started their case yesterday by trying to make the double-murder charges simply go away.
Here's Rusty Dornin in California today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The defense came out on their first day fighting for a dismissal of the case on the grounds of insufficient evidence. The motion, as expected, was denied. Next came the defense expert on concrete. Prosecutors had claimed Peterson made an anchor for his boat out of concrete. Only one anchor was found, but they maintained he made more from the same bag of concrete. They charge he used them to weigh down his wife's body when he threw her into the water.
As expected, the defense witness told the court he believed the concrete was used to make one anchor, and the rest was used in Peterson's driveway. A discrepancy, say legal observers , that could make or break the chain of evidence in the prosecution's circumstantial case.
CHUCK SMITH, LEGAL ANALYST: If the defense has started their case going directly right after a significant piece of circumstantial evidence to show that this piece of evidence in terms of the prosecution theory is flawed, this breaks the chain.
DORNIN: Outside the courtroom, the buzz was all about the big question, will he or won't he? Only the defense knows for sure whether Scott Peterson will take the stand. But the team did bring in local defense attorney Michael Cardoza to practice cross-examining Peterson.
MICHAEL CARDOZA, DEFENSE CONSULTANT: I didn't say put him on, don't put him on. I didn't say he answered that question incorrectly. I gave them no advice at all.
DORNIN (on camera): Late in the day, a financial expert told the court he believed there was no financial motive for Scott Peterson to kill his wife Laci. In fact, because of an expected inheritance, Scott Peterson would have been better off financially if his wife had lived.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: All right, Rusty, thanks for that. That trial continues today.
Behind us, we want to welcome the students who are up far too early in the morning for us from Loyola University, one of three campuses throughout the Chicago area. What a great place to go to school huh, right along Michigan Avenue.
O'BRIEN: This is the first year that they have a journalism program here. It is the introductory year. They're giving a journalism major.
HEMMER: We are going to take some time out yesterday to spend with them and share our thoughts (INAUDIBLE).
O'BRIEN: Looking forward to chatting with them.
HEMMER: Let's get a break. In a moment, is your car a target for thieves. If so, Andy Serwer's back "Minding Your Business" in a moment. We'll talk with Drew this morning.
O'BRIEN: But first, we are going to take another stab at Chicago fun facts. You ready? All right, 1893 World's Fair was held in Chicago. It introduced the world to what popular snack food? Do you know the answer?
HEMMER: Not yet.
O'BRIEN: Well, after a short break, we're going to give it to you. Stay with us everybody. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: That really is a beautiful shot.
All right, before the break we asked you what popular snack food was introduced at the 1893 world's fair held here in Chicago. Need a hint?
HEMMER: No clue.
O'BRIEN: Give a guess. You might eat it at a ballgame, this is a hint that I'm giving.
HEMMER: Peanut, Crackerjacks.
O'BRIEN: Yes, there you go. The answer is Crackerjacks, yummy and low-cal.
HEMMER: Nothing gets by me when I can read it on the prompter.
O'BRIEN: And there it is right there on the screen.
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. We are on the campus of Loyola University, right along Michigan Avenue, Magnificent Mile here in Chicago.
O'BRIEN: Joined by students behind us.
Hi, guys. Good morning to you.
HEMMER: We want to check with our friends Andy and Jack now, also back at Carton's restaurant, back inside again today. The smarter the better.
Hey guys, good morning.
CAFFERTY: It is so not windy here.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Wind-free here, right?
CAFFERTY: There's no wind here.
SERWER: It's windless.
CAFFERTY: We're at the corner of Wabash and Chestnut, at Carton's Restaurant, which is actually only about four blocks from the Loyola Chicago campus.
Andy Serwer is here "Minding Your Business." We've got the list of the most stolen cars, comes out every year, right.
SERWER: That's right. It does, Jack.
If you drive one of those hot Cadillac Escalades, you better watch out, because the thieves might be on your tail. This is done by an independent outfit that tracks how many cars are stolen, and Cadillac got two out of the five spots, those hot Escalades.
Also kind of a surprise, the Nissan Maxima. That's because they've got those the hot icy blue xenon lights.
Now Cadillac Escalade is a favorite of Mike Ditka, also Jamal Crawford, who took his Cadillac Escalade and drove it east to New York, because he played for the Chicago Bulls, just got traded to the New York Knicks this season.
Now let's take a look, Jack, at cars that aren't stolen, the least stolen cars.
CAFFERTY: Usually crummy cars nobody wants.
SERWER: Three out of five are Buicks. Now if you're Buick, I don't think you exactly want to advertise this fact.
CAFFERTY: This is not a list you want to be on.
SERWER: No, you don't want to be on this list.
In fact, going back to the Cadillac, the Escalade spokesman was kind of proud of the fact, saying, you know, it's a popular car, and the thieves kind of like these things, so.
CAFFERTY: What about the futures, quickly?
SERWER: Futures are up pretty nicely this morning, because IBM had a pretty positive report. We'll talk about that at 7:45.
CAFFERTY: All right. Thanks, Andy.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, you know those signs, but what happens on AMERICAN MORNING in Chicago will be blabbed all over the country between now and 10:00, and since we only use first names on this program, you're absolutely safe. What we're looking for here is the tawdry, the embarrassing, the incriminating, the uncouth, you get the picture. So share.
Here's the question. What are your best Chicago secrets? am@CNN.com, and we'll read a little e-mail from the folks as we move through the morning.
Back to Soledad and Hemmer, Bill Hemmer.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thanks.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
In a moment, from "The Blues Brothers" to "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," two great films, Ebert and Roper tell us why the Windy City is such a popular movie setting. We'll get to that this morning.
O'BRIEN: Plus, Election Day only two weeks away, but already the Sunshine State appears to have some voting glitches. We'll take a look at that, just ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues right after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 19, 2004 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The president hitting national security, John Kerry hammering the economy, two messages, only 14 days to deliver.
The candidate in Illinois.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA (D), U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: People don't want to hear politicians who are attacking each other. They want to hear politicians who are attacking problems.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: This morning we hear from Barack Obama, leading in the polls here by 40 to 50 points. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger breaks with his party to back $3 billion in stem cell research.
And winning in the last at-bat. The Astros and the Red Sox take their fans on a thrill ride. Great baseball, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From Water Tower Park, next to the campus of Loyola University in Chicago, this is AMERICAN MORNING on the road, with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
And good morning, everybody. And welcome from Chicago this morning. It's a little windy out here today in the Windy City.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Is that it?
O'BRIEN: That's it. That's all I got for you.
HEMMER: I think it's Hurricane Frances. Yesterday we came to you from the Chicago River. Today our team moved to the Magnificent Mile, Loyola University's Water Tower campus, a great location here, too, and so much tradition and history, right here, smack dab in the middle of Chicago, Illinois. We continue again today.
O'BRIEN: We'll of course talk a little bit more about the water tower this morning. That's the building that's directly behind us. I mean, it looks like a castle. All the other water towers I have seen are sort of big, tall ugly structures.
HEMMER: The significant structure that survived the fire of 1871, which still plays so prominently in Chicago's history even today. So a beautiful building, especially at night.
O'BRIEN: All right. This morning, we are talking politics again. I'm talking to Barack Obama. We're going to hear from Alan Keyes, coming up in the next hour. Of course they're involved in this Senate race here in the state of Illinois. Also, if anybody is voting in Florida, everybody is watching. Early voting started there yesterday. We're going to talk with one Orange County supervisor about whether there are any problems that could put any of the votes in doubt.
HEMMER: And a difference of opinion, too, about yesterday. So we'll try and sort it through.
Also, two of the most influential voices in film are here in Chicago, Roger Ebert, Richard Roper. We'll talk to them about the great films shot in the city. Toure had a chance to do that. So we'll hear from them this hour as well.
O'BRIEN: And, Mr. Cafferty, good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How're you doing? What, they wouldn't let us into Phoenix? This is great, isn't it? I want the name of the guy who thought this up, because when we get back to New York I'm going to find you and kill you.
O'BRIEN: If you start blowing away, I'll grab you, not to worry.
CAFFERTY: The saying is that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Well, what happens in Chicago is going to get blabbed all over America on this cable TV show we're doing this morning. Coming up later in the "Cafferty File," we've come across some interesting Chicago trivia. For example, it's estimated that 1,050 mobsters have been rubbed out in the city over the years. Guess how many of those murder cases have been prosecuted? You'll have to wait for the answer.
HEMMER: I like it.
CAFFERTY: Now I'm going to go back to the nice, warm diner I was in yesterday.
HEMMER: You know, jack, your hair is getting plenty of lift today.
CAFFERTY: I'm at an advantage today. The wind can't bother my hair, because there isn't any.
O'BRIEN: Hey, you know what, at least it's blowing the right way is all I'll say.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
O'BRIEN: Let's go right to Heidi Collins. She's got a look at some of the top stories this morning.
Good morning, Heidi. HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Blowing the right way? I don't know what it's doing, but it's cold, that's for sure.
I do want to get to the stories now in the news this morning. The U.S. military in Iraq is looking into the death of an American soldier. The body was found in the soldier's Baghdad quarters overnight. Officials say he died of a noncombat injury.
And in Fallujah, U.S. warplanes are striking down suspected facilities used by terrorist Abu Musab Al Zarqawi. The military says recent airstrikes have killed senior leaders in the group.
California Governor Schwarzenegger broke with the state Republican on Monday. He endorsed proposition 71, a $3 billion bond measure that would fund human embryonic stem cell research. If proposition 71 is passed, it would give California researchers nearly $300 million annually for 10 years.
Some severe weather in northwest Alabama. Meteorologists trying to figure out if a tornado is to blame for damage that injured at least three people. Earlier in the day tornadoes ripped through Arkansas, injuring almost a dozen people and leaving thousands without power.
To baseball now, Jeff Kent hits the game winning three-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give the Houston Astros a 3-0 win over St. Louis. The Astros lead the series 3-2, heading into Wednesday's game six back in St. Louis.
And the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 5-4 in game five of the American League Championship Series. Game six tonight in New York. The game lasted five hours, 49 minutes, making it the longest game in postseason history.
It was a good one, too, wasn't it?
HEMMER: The first pitch at 5:00, and they wrapped it up at 11:00 last night.
COLLINS: Yes, I mean, they were stuck at 4-4 forever. So finally, one more run, huh?
HEMMER: Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: You bet.
HEMMER: We're going to start this morning with politics. Only 14 days from today until election 2004, both campaigns focusing on hotly contested Florida, where early voting is already started there, officially yesterday. President Bush has three rallies today in Florida, including a stop in St. Petersburg.
And Suzanne Malveaux today is on the campaign trail this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With two weeks until election day, President Bush's primary message comes down to this.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In all the progress we hope to make, depends on the security of our nation.
MALVEAUX: And U.S. security, Mr. Bush says, depends on Iraq.
BUSH: Victory in the war on terror requires victory in Iraq.
MALVEAUX: The president chose New Jersey to unleash a new series of attacks on Senator John Kerry, continuing to make the case he's inconsistent on Iraq and weak on terror.
BUSH: Having gone back and forth so many times, the senator from Massachusetts has now flip-flopped his way to a dangerous position. My opponent finally has settled on a strategy, a strategy of retreat.
MALVEAUX: The Bush campaign hopes that message will resonate where fighting terrorism is the voters No. 1 issue. Nearly 700 residents from New Jersey were killed at the World Trade Centers on September 11th.
And despite New Jersey's standing as a Democratic presidential stronghold with Al Gore winning by a 16-point margin four years ago, national security has catapulted Mr. Bush to pull neck and neck with his opponent.
And on this day, the president stood shoulder to shoulder with the man who served as New York City's police commissioner during the September 11th tragedy. Mr. Bush touted a $33 billion budget for homeland security signed into law as proof of his commitment to making the country more secure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After September 11th, our world changed.
MALVEAUX: At the same time, the Bush campaign leased a new ad, portraying Kerry as the risky alternative. It's a message Mr. Bush is delivering to election 2000 ground zero, the state of Florida.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Suzanne, thanks for that.
Now Senator John Kerry wrapping up a two-day swing also in the state of Florida. Yesterday Kerry touting his health care plan at a speech in Tampa, and once again blasting the president over the handling of the war on terror.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will fight a smatter, more effective, tougher war on terror. We will hunt down and capture and kill the terrorists, no matter where they are. But we will conduct the critical diplomacy that this administration has failed to do; we will bring allies to our side, because that's how you make America and the world strongest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Senator Kerry campaigning in Pennsylvania and Ohio today, spending the night later in Iowa.
In our next hour we'll get a report from Kelly Wallace on the Kerry campaign trail. Stay tuned for that -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Here in the land of Lincoln, Barack Obama is one of the Democratic party's young gun. You're going to recall that he delivered the keynote address at the national convention this summer. He's running for a U.S. Senate seat against Republican Alan Keyes, but it's a race in name only really. The latest polls have Obama leading by 45 points.
While we're here in Chicago, I spoke to him about politics, and a little bit about celebrity as well.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (on camera): You have gone from being an underdog candidate for the Senate to being a rising star in the Democratic Party, to being the future of the Democratic Party, to being some people say maybe one day the president of the United States. How does that feel? Pretty good I have to imagine.
OBAMA: Well, you know, I think it's a little over the top.
O'BRIEN: The president part?
OBAMA: You know, all of it I think. You enjoy the hype, but I tend to be suspicious of hype partly because I know how hard it is to actually get stuff done in politics.
You know, I served in the state legislature for eight years, toiled in obscurity in the minority party for six years and then in the majority for two years. And, you know, there's a part of politics that is about making speeches and helping to frame the debate, and that's important, but there's also just the blocking and tackling of getting a piece of legislation drafted and getting enough votes for it.
And, you know, it's that latter part that I think has the most lasting effect and that's the part that I'm most interested in getting involved with.
O'BRIEN: You say you toiled in obscurity -- I mean, jokingly obviously. I read somewhere that your first press conference when you announced that you were going to be running for Senate, two print organizations showed up (inaudible).
OBAMA: Yes. I mean, it wasn't... O'BRIEN: Well attended.
OBAMA: ... that well attended and...
O'BRIEN: Do you feel vindicated now?
Because you know people would be pushing and shoving to kind of get in there now, right?
OBAMA: Well, you know, there's no doubt that we started off as an underdog.
I mean, I think the general estimation in Illinois was -- among those insiders who knew state politics -- was that I'd be a very good U.S. senator, that I'd shown myself to be a good legislator, but I had no money, I had no organization and nobody could pronounce my name.
And I think...
O'BRIEN: Three strikes against.
OBAMA: Yes, exactly.
Where I felt vindicated I think was to see on Election Day us not just winning the black vote or the city vote, but winning the white vote, winning the suburban vote, winning in downstate communities that people never would have imagined us doing well. That felt good and showed me that my faith in the voters in Illinois was justified.
O'BRIEN: Polls show you at some times with a 50-point lead over your opponent. What's the strategy to deal with your opponent, who has offended a lot of folks? Has certainly made some curious statements.
OBAMA: You know, I don't spend too much time worrying about what my opponents say. I've always said, and this was true when I was an underdog, as well as when -- now that I'm...
O'BRIEN: Top dog.
OBAMA: ... now that I'm in the lead, is that people don't want to hear politicians who are attacking each other; they want to hear politicians who are attacking problems.
And so, I have always taken a posture I'm running against complacency, I'm running against bad policy, but I'm running for a broader vision of the country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: After the interview, a guy came up to us on a mountain bike, started to chat with Mr. Obama. Our producers were trying desperately to shoo him out of the way. Turns out, in fact, it was the actor John Cusack, who was talking to him, a huge supporter of Barack Obama, and they were discussing actually a little strategy. Obviously, Chicago a big city, but also a small town. HEMMER: And perfect for a day like today; we're going to hear about movies in Chicago a bit later this hour, and so many, too. Ferris Bueller's Day Off," one of the many, so we'll get to that.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Our home base today is one of the world's most famous boulevard, Chicago's Magnificent Mile, rather.
O'BRIEN: It's a bit pricey. There's Armani right over there, all the nice stores.
But it certainly is a must-see just the same, and part of downtown Chicago that tourists are certain not to miss when they come.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): Location, location, location. They don't call it the Magnificent Mile for nothing. This stretch of North Michigan Avenue is retail heaven, a shopper's paradise. The idea was first conceived nearly a hundred years ago, when local developers thought to transform an Indian trading post into a major commercial center, similar to the Shambezay (ph) in Paris. Loyola University's campus is just a stone's throw from such city landmarks as the water tower and the John Hancock Center, which when built in 1970 was the world's tallest building. The school is ranked among the top 25 national universities by "U.S. News and World Report," for offering a best value education. Two noteworthy alums, CNN's Susan Candiotti and actor/comedian Bob Newhart.
Chicago's water tower is one of the few buildings to survive the great Chicago Fire in 1871. Today it stands as a symbol of the second city, which to many Chicagoans is second to none.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Well, you know, I spent a little time on the magnificent mile yesterday.
HEMMER: Shocker!
O'BRIEN: I ate lunch right over there. I had an ice cream Sunday right over there, and then I did a little shopping in town. We're going to show you some pictures of that a little bit later.
We're here all week of course. Tomorrow, we're going to be at union Station. On Thursday, we go right to the Field Museum, and then Friday, we close the week -- out the week rather at the Adler Planetarium. So I'm going to get a little museum going in as well.
HEMMER: Did you schedule your massage yet?
O'BRIEN: I actually did, my first massage. I'm hoping to get several while I'm in town, that's right.
HEMMER: In a moment here, the Hollywood of the heartland. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROGER EBERT, FILM CRITIC: Chicago I think represents a kind of Midwestern reality, more down to earth. People have less edge. They are likely to be nicer, frankly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Toure catches up with Windy City movie critics Ebert and Roper today. Find out which films get their thumbs up as the best Chicago movies ever. Good list.
O'BRIEN: Also ahead this morning, Florida gets a headstart on Election Day, but it also gets a jump on voting problems. We'll explain.
HEMMER: Also defense expert casting doubt on a key piece of evidence for prosecutors in Scott Peterson's trial. The latest on that case, when AMERICAN MORNING continues, live in Chicago, on this AMERICAN MORNING.
O'BRIEN: We've got this story just in to CNN this morning. If You Care International Charity has been telling us its head of operations in Iraq has been kidnapped in Baghdad. A spokeswoman say that Margaret Hassan (ph) was been working for that charity in Iraq for more than a decade, was kidnapped Tuesday morning. No further details. Hassan is a joint Iraqi-British citizen. If You Care, of course, is one of the largest relief organizations in the world -- Bill.
HEMMER: About 19 minutes now past the hour, Soledad.
To other news now this country, defense testimony resumes today in Scott Peterson's case. Peterson's attorney started their case yesterday by trying to make the double-murder charges simply go away.
Here's Rusty Dornin in California today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The defense came out on their first day fighting for a dismissal of the case on the grounds of insufficient evidence. The motion, as expected, was denied. Next came the defense expert on concrete. Prosecutors had claimed Peterson made an anchor for his boat out of concrete. Only one anchor was found, but they maintained he made more from the same bag of concrete. They charge he used them to weigh down his wife's body when he threw her into the water.
As expected, the defense witness told the court he believed the concrete was used to make one anchor, and the rest was used in Peterson's driveway. A discrepancy, say legal observers , that could make or break the chain of evidence in the prosecution's circumstantial case.
CHUCK SMITH, LEGAL ANALYST: If the defense has started their case going directly right after a significant piece of circumstantial evidence to show that this piece of evidence in terms of the prosecution theory is flawed, this breaks the chain.
DORNIN: Outside the courtroom, the buzz was all about the big question, will he or won't he? Only the defense knows for sure whether Scott Peterson will take the stand. But the team did bring in local defense attorney Michael Cardoza to practice cross-examining Peterson.
MICHAEL CARDOZA, DEFENSE CONSULTANT: I didn't say put him on, don't put him on. I didn't say he answered that question incorrectly. I gave them no advice at all.
DORNIN (on camera): Late in the day, a financial expert told the court he believed there was no financial motive for Scott Peterson to kill his wife Laci. In fact, because of an expected inheritance, Scott Peterson would have been better off financially if his wife had lived.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: All right, Rusty, thanks for that. That trial continues today.
Behind us, we want to welcome the students who are up far too early in the morning for us from Loyola University, one of three campuses throughout the Chicago area. What a great place to go to school huh, right along Michigan Avenue.
O'BRIEN: This is the first year that they have a journalism program here. It is the introductory year. They're giving a journalism major.
HEMMER: We are going to take some time out yesterday to spend with them and share our thoughts (INAUDIBLE).
O'BRIEN: Looking forward to chatting with them.
HEMMER: Let's get a break. In a moment, is your car a target for thieves. If so, Andy Serwer's back "Minding Your Business" in a moment. We'll talk with Drew this morning.
O'BRIEN: But first, we are going to take another stab at Chicago fun facts. You ready? All right, 1893 World's Fair was held in Chicago. It introduced the world to what popular snack food? Do you know the answer?
HEMMER: Not yet.
O'BRIEN: Well, after a short break, we're going to give it to you. Stay with us everybody. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: That really is a beautiful shot.
All right, before the break we asked you what popular snack food was introduced at the 1893 world's fair held here in Chicago. Need a hint?
HEMMER: No clue.
O'BRIEN: Give a guess. You might eat it at a ballgame, this is a hint that I'm giving.
HEMMER: Peanut, Crackerjacks.
O'BRIEN: Yes, there you go. The answer is Crackerjacks, yummy and low-cal.
HEMMER: Nothing gets by me when I can read it on the prompter.
O'BRIEN: And there it is right there on the screen.
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. We are on the campus of Loyola University, right along Michigan Avenue, Magnificent Mile here in Chicago.
O'BRIEN: Joined by students behind us.
Hi, guys. Good morning to you.
HEMMER: We want to check with our friends Andy and Jack now, also back at Carton's restaurant, back inside again today. The smarter the better.
Hey guys, good morning.
CAFFERTY: It is so not windy here.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Wind-free here, right?
CAFFERTY: There's no wind here.
SERWER: It's windless.
CAFFERTY: We're at the corner of Wabash and Chestnut, at Carton's Restaurant, which is actually only about four blocks from the Loyola Chicago campus.
Andy Serwer is here "Minding Your Business." We've got the list of the most stolen cars, comes out every year, right.
SERWER: That's right. It does, Jack.
If you drive one of those hot Cadillac Escalades, you better watch out, because the thieves might be on your tail. This is done by an independent outfit that tracks how many cars are stolen, and Cadillac got two out of the five spots, those hot Escalades.
Also kind of a surprise, the Nissan Maxima. That's because they've got those the hot icy blue xenon lights.
Now Cadillac Escalade is a favorite of Mike Ditka, also Jamal Crawford, who took his Cadillac Escalade and drove it east to New York, because he played for the Chicago Bulls, just got traded to the New York Knicks this season.
Now let's take a look, Jack, at cars that aren't stolen, the least stolen cars.
CAFFERTY: Usually crummy cars nobody wants.
SERWER: Three out of five are Buicks. Now if you're Buick, I don't think you exactly want to advertise this fact.
CAFFERTY: This is not a list you want to be on.
SERWER: No, you don't want to be on this list.
In fact, going back to the Cadillac, the Escalade spokesman was kind of proud of the fact, saying, you know, it's a popular car, and the thieves kind of like these things, so.
CAFFERTY: What about the futures, quickly?
SERWER: Futures are up pretty nicely this morning, because IBM had a pretty positive report. We'll talk about that at 7:45.
CAFFERTY: All right. Thanks, Andy.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, you know those signs, but what happens on AMERICAN MORNING in Chicago will be blabbed all over the country between now and 10:00, and since we only use first names on this program, you're absolutely safe. What we're looking for here is the tawdry, the embarrassing, the incriminating, the uncouth, you get the picture. So share.
Here's the question. What are your best Chicago secrets? am@CNN.com, and we'll read a little e-mail from the folks as we move through the morning.
Back to Soledad and Hemmer, Bill Hemmer.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thanks.
HEMMER: Thank you, Jack.
In a moment, from "The Blues Brothers" to "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," two great films, Ebert and Roper tell us why the Windy City is such a popular movie setting. We'll get to that this morning.
O'BRIEN: Plus, Election Day only two weeks away, but already the Sunshine State appears to have some voting glitches. We'll take a look at that, just ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues right after this short break.
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