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CNN Live At Daybreak
Bush Heading to Upper Midwest This Morning; No Word on Why Insurgents Took Margaret Hassan
Aired October 20, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you.
From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news, word in this morning at least eight people are dead after a commuter plane crashed in northeastern Missouri last night. Fifteen people were on board that plane. Two managed to survive. The other five remain missing this morning. No word on what caused this crash.
In Iraq, the rebel held city of Falluja is still taking a pounding from U.S. warplanes, which have been targeting suspected terrorist sites. Residents say the only building hit this morning was an empty house.
Martha Stewart's attorneys are filing a new appeal today. They plan to say Stewart's rights were violated when the defense wasn't allowed to question her former stockbroker in court.
And in New York last night, oh my gosh, what a game. Extra players on the field, fans throwing stuff onto the field after a disputed call. The riot police had to come out. Bottom line, the Red Sox won. Can you believe it? The A.L. Championship Series is now tied at three games each. The final game will be tonight.
That was one crazy game.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
COSTELLO: A-Rod's the one that got into trouble, allegedly, as he ran to first base.
MYERS: Allegedly. Correct.
COSTELLO: Did you see the riot police coming out? It's crazy.
MYERS: I guess you can knock down the catcher and try to knock the ball out of the catcher, but you can't do that if you're running to first base.
COSTELLO: No, because the pitcher was coming over to tag him out, right? And supposedly he tried to knock the ball out of the pitcher's glove.
MYERS: But you can...
COSTELLO: I think that's how it went.
MYERS: But you can do it sliding into home. You can knock the guy down.
COSTELLO: You can't hit a guy's arm, though.
MYERS: I don't know. We will see.
COSTELLO: But there is no conclusive evidence that he really tried to do that. We're going to have much more on this later.
MYERS: Chris Cotter is in the house.
COSTELLO: Yes.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
It is going to be a long night again tonight, I'm afraid, in New York City and Boston.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thirteen days to go until the national elections and both George Bush and John Kerry are hoping that'll be a lucky number as they hit the road again.
Bush is heading to the upper Midwest this morning. Topping his agenda -- economic issues. His first stop after leaving Washington, a rally in Mason City, Iowa. After that, he heads to Rochester, Minnesota and then it's on to Au Claire, Wisconsin. Bush spent Tuesday in a key battleground state, too, trying to show that the best offense is a good defense.
Our senior White House correspondent John King is with the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Campaigning in must- win Florida for the president today spent largely on defense, answering attacks Mr. Bush calls "cynical fear mongering."
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On November the 2nd, the people of America will reject the politics of fear and vote for an agenda of hope and opportunity and security.
KING: At The Villages, the voter rich retirement community northwest of Orlando, rebutting Senator Kerry's claim that a second Bush term might bankrupt Social Security and bring a restoration of the draft.
BUSH: We will keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors and there will be no draft as long as I'm the president.
KING: The shortage of flu vaccines is both a health problem and a campaign issue. Senator Kerry blames the president, who calls that charge ludicrous, but nonetheless took time in St. Petersburg to make sure it did not go unanswered.
BUSH: We have millions of vaccine doses on hand for the most vulnerable Americans and millions more will be shipped in the coming weeks.
KING: The Bush campaign prides itself on knocking the other guy off stride and Tuesday brought a new line on Senator Kerry's evolving views on the Iraq War.
BUSH: In a time of great challenge in the world the commander- in-chief must stand on principle, not on the shifting sands of political convenience.
KING: So the uncharacteristically defensive tone on Social Security, the draft and the flu was all the more striking, but the rebuttals necessary, Bush aides say, because the race here and nationally is so tight with just two weeks left.
BUSH: My opponent will say anything he thinks will benefit him politically at the time.
KING: Early voting is already underway in Florida. This polling place less than a mile from the president's afternoon event. The Kerry campaign is working the state hard. And the man who owes his presidency to winning Florida by 537 votes last time knows better than most the urgency of turning out the vote.
BUSH: I think you've got to get out amongst the people and say I want your vote.
KING (on camera): The elderly vote is critical, as always, both nationally and here in Florida. And the trend line not so favorable for the president. Just six weeks ago, Mr. Bush led by seven points among voters aged 65 and older. Now, it's a dead heat.
John King, CNN, The Villages, Florida.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: John Kerry starts his day with a speech about the war on terror. He will deliver that in Waterloo, Iowa later this morning. And then he'll head to two battleground states that have seen some heavy presidential campaigning -- yes, you guessed it, Pennsylvania and Ohio. In the meantime, Kerry is not letting up on his criticism of George Bush. He's trying to sway those critical undecided voters.
Our senior political correspondent, Candy Crowley, is following the Kerry campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eyeing the shrinking pool of undecideds, John Kerry stalks a center now, as he pushes the president to the right.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The president and his friends keep feeding the people at the top, keep walking on by and crossing over to the other side of the street and ignoring those who need the help in America. I am going to be a champion for the middle class, for the working folks.
CROWLEY: Kerry promises better and higher paying jobs, more available cheaper health care and Social Security as is.
KERRY: I will not privatize Social Security. I will not cut the benefits. I will not raise the retirement age.
CROWLEY: In the battleground of Pennsylvania, where 28 percent of voters in 2000 were 60 and older, Kerry enjoys an edge but not a lot. He has been here 19 times this election season and this time pushing hard against the president's plan to let younger workers invest a portion of their Social Security taxes.
KERRY: He wants to be the first president in history to put the greatest retirement program in history at risk.
CROWLEY: In the time left, Kerry's task is twofold -- convince fence sitters that he is non-scary, non-threatening, non-liberal presidential material, and keep his base wound up by defining the election in the starkest of terms.
KERRY: A choice between one candidate who will save Social Security and another who will undermine it.
CROWLEY (on camera): Kerry aides shrug off recent polls showing the president with a slight but perceptible lead. "We're comfortable where we are," said one strategist adding, "It is a difficult task to unseat an incumbent president."
Candy Crowley CNN, Dayton, Ohio.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: A former president is coming to help the Kerry campaign. President Bill Clinton will hit the trail for an event early next week in Philadelphia. It will be the president's first appearance since his heart surgery last month. The Kerry campaign also hopeful that President Clinton will join others who are making appearances in some of the key battleground states.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERRY: We're doing very well right now. We've got a great operation. Bob Casey is out there campaigning hard. Governor Rendell is out there campaigning hard. We've got a lot of people. You know, I think it's possible in the next days former President Clinton may be here working. I mean we're all working. And I'm not going to leave any vote unasked for. So we're going to work hard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That television documentary criticizing Kerry, you know the one Sinclair Broadcasting plans to run? Well, Sinclair now says it will not run the whole thing. The film, part of it shown here, bashes Kerry's Vietnam era peace activism. Sinclair says reports that it had ordered its 62 TV stations to run the whole 45 minute film are just plain wrong. Instead, Sinclair says it'll show parts of the film as part of a broader news program.
More questions than answers this morning, that's what's surrounding the kidnapping of a long time top aide worker in Iraq. No word on why insurgents took Margaret Hassan, who heads Iraqi relief operations for CARE International.
Let's head live to Baghdad where CNN's Karl Penhaul has the latest for you -- hello, Karl.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
There's no further word yet on the fate of Margaret Hassan. As we know, she was kidnapped more than 24 hours ago now. The only proof of life that we've so far seen is a brief portion of video broadcast by the Arabic language broadcaster Al Jazeera. There we saw Margaret Hassan in an enclosed room. We also saw shots of her identification papers.
She is a dual Iraqi-British citizen and today her husband, an Iraqi national, has been talking and telling a little about how that kidnapping occurred.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAHSEEN ALI HASSAN, HUSBAND (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): The kidnapping happened when my wife arrived at her work. Two cars intercepted her from front and back. They attacked her car and pulled out the driver and a companion. Then they took the car and drove away to an unknown location. This is according to what I heard from the people working in her organization. She was near her workplace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PENHAUL: In response to this, CARE International has said that it's temporarily suspending all of its humanitarian aid operations here in Iraq. That really is something very out of character with CARE, because they've had a long history of help here in Iraq and even during the invasion last year they didn't suspend their operations. So very much they feel the circumstances aren't given that they can continue at this time.
Now, another situation that we're also keeping our eyes on today in Baghdad, the court martial of Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick. He's the most senior military policeman so far to face trial in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. His lawyers have told us that he's come to some kind of plea bargain with the military tribunal, that he's expected to plead guilty to four counts, which broadly cover sexual humiliation and gratuitous beating of prisoners held there.
Now, this could net him a total of up to about 11 years in prison. But perhaps one of the questions we'll be keeping our eyes on today, not only the length of Frederick's sentence, but also really whether more evidence emerges that this pattern of abuse of prisoners was ordered by senior military officers much higher up the chain -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Let's go back to the kidnapping for just a bit. This is a woman who's lived in Iraq for 30 years. She's done a lot of good for the Iraqi people. She's married to an Iraqi man. They have children. You know, you know, you search for reasons why this woman was kidnapped.
Is there an outcry among the Iraqi citizenry because of this?
PENHAUL: Certainly Margaret Hassan was very well known, both in the international community here, but also in the Iraqi community. As you say, she's dedicated more than half her life to aid work in Iraq, and certainly a part of that as the country director for CARE International. So a very well known figure.
And behind-the-scenes, we do know that a lot of people are starting to mobilize, to work for her release. Her husband, in fact, said that he believed she may be being held by some kind of religious group. That may indicate that behind this kidnapping, there could be a series of political demands rather than just a straightforward kidnap for ransom -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Karl Penhaul live in Baghdad this morning.
Thank you.
One of President Bush's biggest supporters says he was ignored when he warned of impeding problems in Iraq. Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson says he told President Bush to prepare the American people for the likelihood of casualties. Bush, though, told Robertson there would be no American casualties.
Robertson recalled that conversation in an interview with CNN's Paula Zahn.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAT ROBERTSON: He was the most self-assured man I ever met in my whole life. You remember Mark Twain said he looks like a contented Christian with four aces. I mean he was just sitting there like I'm on top of the world. And I warned him about this war. I had deep misgivings about this war, deep misgivings. And I was trying to say, Mr. President, you'd better prepare the American people for casualties. Oh, no, we're not going to have any casualties. But I said yes, it's the way it's going to be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: There have been more than 1,100 American troops killed in Iraq since the first days of the war; 846 of those died in hostile action. The president announced an end to the hostilities on May 1 of last year. Nine hundred sixty-five service members have died since that declaration was made.
Add to that more than 8,000 service members who have been wounded since the action began in Iraq in March of 2003.
In News Across America this morning, Scott Peterson was not in financial trouble. That's the testimony of a defense expert in the Peterson trial. The prosecution claims Peterson may have killed his wife because he needed money to save his business.
Tower Two of the World Trade Center collapsed first because the fire inside was more concentrated. That's the hypothesis being discussed by government investigators looking into the 9/11 tragedy. A draft of their report will be released later this year. The report is intended to help make buildings safer.
A transplant operation will go on today in Denver after doctors had originally expressed ethical concerns. The questions arose because the kidney donation was arranged over the Internet. Doctors agreed to operate after both parties promised there was no financial incentive involved. It's the first transplant to be arranged through a Web site matching organ donors and patients.
It may not be a traditional October surprise, but a flu vaccine crisis is putting your health front and center in the presidential campaign. At 33 minutes past the hour, Aaron Brown gives us a checkup on where the candidates stand on health care issues.
And staying healthy in Iraq is about more than just dodging bullets and mortars. At 38 minutes past the hour, we'll look at how U.S. troops are working to build confidence and emotional health in Iraq.
At 53 minutes past, we'll go on the hunt for one of those elusive flu vaccines with some people who really need it.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 5:18 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A commuter plane with 15 people aboard crashed while landing in northern Missouri. There are at least eight dead. Two survivors were taken to a hospital. Five people remain missing. The plane was operated by Corporate Airlines, an affiliate of American Airlines.
In money news, college is getting harder to afford. A report from the College Board says tuition is rising faster than inflation or incomes. The increase has led more students to apply for financial aid.
In culture, major league baseball on the radio. A deal is in place with X.M. Satellite Radio that would put almost all of the games on satellite service. The 11 year deal is slated to begin next season.
In sports, this time the Red Sox didn't have to come back, they just had to hold on. The Sox took an early lead and beat the Yankees 4-2. And, boy, was it a dramatic game. The series now even at three apiece, heading into tonight's game seven decision.
MYERS: And they're heading back to St. Louis today, as well, Carol, for game six.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Chad, you have to stick around.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Because we're going from weather to traffic, or more specifically, to cars. But, Chad...
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: Not just any cars.
MYERS: I know.
COSTELLO: We're talking about the top TV cars of all time. Some became more famous than the shows themselves, like the Mach 5 or the General Lee.
Remember the Mach 5, Chad?
MYERS: You know, I'm not sure I do, no.
COSTELLO: Speed Racer.
MYERS: I remember Kitt -- oh, OK, Speed...
COSTELLO: Oh, that's Kitt. We're seeing Kitt now.
MYERS: That's Kitt. There's the Dukes. There's General Lee.
COSTELLO: Oh my gosh.
MYERS: Duke, duke, duke, duke, duke.
COSTELLO: The TV Land Network has decided to list the top 10 TV cars for an upcoming special. And Kitt, Chad...
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: ... may be among them. Also on the list of possible contenders, the Flint Mobile from "The Flintstones." MYERS: Oh, yes. Of course.
COSTELLO: It had no engine, no brakes and no doors, but, hey, it still got Fred, Wilma, Barney and Betty to the drive-in.
MYERS: And it tipped over when they put that big old rib on the side of it.
COSTELLO: I know. Which one is your favorite? That's what we're wondering this morning, because we wanted to have some fun since it's Wednesday and why not? It's Wednesday. What better day to have fun?
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Send us an e-mail at daybreak@cnn.com. We want to know what your favorite TV show car is. I can't believe you don't remember the Mach 5 from "Speed Racing."
MYERS: No. I was speed buggy. I wasn't a "Speed Racer" guy. I loved the Monkees mobile, though. I thought that was a great thing.
COSTELLO: I don't even remember the Monkees having a car.
MYERS: Oh, yes, it was big and long and they all got in and they all played their guitars in there.
COSTELLO: Oh. Oh...
MYERS: Hey, hey, we're the Monkees.
COSTELLO: OK, I think we'll stop now.
MYERS: That's enough.
COSTELLO: Daybreak@cnn.com. Send us an e-mail this morning.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Coming up in the second hour of DAYBREAK, I'll talk with Tom O'Neil of "In Touch Weekly," who is also the producer of this top 10 TV car show. And maybe he'll tell us why the Partridge family's bus didn't make the cut.
What's hot on the Web straight ahead.
Also, are you looking for a cool hot spot? Coming up, we'll take you to a place where everyone is on ice, literally.
You are watching DAYBREAK for a Wednesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Why didn't I watch that? Why?
MYERS: Because. COSTELLO: You know, we're talking about watching the Sox-Yankees game.
MYERS: It was too late.
COSTELLO: I know. My husband, of course, lives in Connecticut. I live in Atlanta. But he called me and he said I want you to go to sleep tonight, I don't want you to watch that game.
MYERS: Good.
COSTELLO: Because I was so tired yesterday.
MYERS: I know.
COSTELLO: So I go to sleep and missed one of the greatest games to hit television in some time.
MYERS: But watching would -- if you watched, you would not have changed the outcome. So that's why I went to bed.
COSTELLO: But I wouldn't have missed that A-Rod thing and the riot police coming down on the field and...
MYERS: We'll see it in a few minutes.
COSTELLO: Yes, we will. We're going to do a story on it. My husband left me nine phone messages updating me on the game at work so he wouldn't wake me up. We're a crazy couple.
Anyway, we're checking out our Web clicks this morning. And guess what's in the top 10, clicked onto cnn.com.
MYERS: Tommy Lee joins the Nebraska band.
COSTELLO: Of course, we told people about this weeks ago, it seems.
MYERS: There he is.
COSTELLO: He's doing this reality show at the University of Nebraska. He's there for, what, six weeks taking classes, hanging out with the students. Pamela Lee is not with him, by the way.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: But he did march in the marching band at the Baylor game.
MYERS: He did. And you know what? The drummer said he kept pretty good time.
COSTELLO: Well, he's a professional drummer.
MYERS: Which you would expect, right?
COSTELLO: That would be so embarrassing.
MYERS: It would have been embarrassing if he didn't make the cut. I'm sorry, Tommy, you just can't march with the drum line.
COSTELLO: He said...
MYERS: But he did. He's having a good time.
COSTELLO: Yes, he says he's having a kicking good time, kicking.
MYERS: And it will be on NBC this summer.
COSTELLO: Hey, what about this story on cnn.com? Microscopic diamond found in Montana. Who'd have thunk it?
MYERS: Well, that's what I got my wife.
COSTELLO: The microscopic diamond from Montana? Oh.
MYERS: I had it mounted on the ring and now she, you know, whatever.
COSTELLO: Now you need a microscope to see it, but she loves it.
MYERS: Right next to that big C.Z. I got her.
COSTELLO: Yes. But this is interesting, because they could do diamond mining now in Montana.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Let me just read a little paragraph here. "What makes this latest discovery unique, it's believed to be the first diamond ever found in Montana that was created here rather than dropped into the state by a retreating glacier or other means." And accessibility makes the property so appealing, officials say, because a lot of people could make a lot of money.
MYERS: We're not talking about diamonds you're actually going to mount on your finger. We're talking about industrial diamonds. There's a lot of flaws in the diamonds up there. But you can make diamond tipped drills. You can make all kinds of things with the diamond dust and so on and so on. And so they're excited about that potential.
COSTELLO: That's right, because still you can make money, even on industrial diamonds.
MYERS: Of course you can.
COSTELLO: Yes.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Health care in America -- nearly 40 million Americans have no insurance. So what do the candidates plan to do about it? We'll hear their positions in their own words straight ahead.
This is DAYBREAK for a Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DONNA ROSATO, WRITER, "MONEY": Smart skiers know if you want to go skiing in the Rocky Mountains, the best time of year to go is early January; after the holidays, when most of the skiers -- when most people want to go skiing and before everyone tries to escape for mid- winter. Because so few people can get away in January after the holidays, ski and lift packages are usually about 30 percent less, because there are just fewer crowds.
If you want to really save money on skiing, head to Canada. With the exchange rate being so favorable. Skiing conditions are usually good, but January is usually the coldest month to ski. If you really want to ski this winter and you don't want to pay top dollar, look for those quiet times.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired October 20, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you.
From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news, word in this morning at least eight people are dead after a commuter plane crashed in northeastern Missouri last night. Fifteen people were on board that plane. Two managed to survive. The other five remain missing this morning. No word on what caused this crash.
In Iraq, the rebel held city of Falluja is still taking a pounding from U.S. warplanes, which have been targeting suspected terrorist sites. Residents say the only building hit this morning was an empty house.
Martha Stewart's attorneys are filing a new appeal today. They plan to say Stewart's rights were violated when the defense wasn't allowed to question her former stockbroker in court.
And in New York last night, oh my gosh, what a game. Extra players on the field, fans throwing stuff onto the field after a disputed call. The riot police had to come out. Bottom line, the Red Sox won. Can you believe it? The A.L. Championship Series is now tied at three games each. The final game will be tonight.
That was one crazy game.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
COSTELLO: A-Rod's the one that got into trouble, allegedly, as he ran to first base.
MYERS: Allegedly. Correct.
COSTELLO: Did you see the riot police coming out? It's crazy.
MYERS: I guess you can knock down the catcher and try to knock the ball out of the catcher, but you can't do that if you're running to first base.
COSTELLO: No, because the pitcher was coming over to tag him out, right? And supposedly he tried to knock the ball out of the pitcher's glove.
MYERS: But you can...
COSTELLO: I think that's how it went.
MYERS: But you can do it sliding into home. You can knock the guy down.
COSTELLO: You can't hit a guy's arm, though.
MYERS: I don't know. We will see.
COSTELLO: But there is no conclusive evidence that he really tried to do that. We're going to have much more on this later.
MYERS: Chris Cotter is in the house.
COSTELLO: Yes.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
It is going to be a long night again tonight, I'm afraid, in New York City and Boston.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thirteen days to go until the national elections and both George Bush and John Kerry are hoping that'll be a lucky number as they hit the road again.
Bush is heading to the upper Midwest this morning. Topping his agenda -- economic issues. His first stop after leaving Washington, a rally in Mason City, Iowa. After that, he heads to Rochester, Minnesota and then it's on to Au Claire, Wisconsin. Bush spent Tuesday in a key battleground state, too, trying to show that the best offense is a good defense.
Our senior White House correspondent John King is with the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Campaigning in must- win Florida for the president today spent largely on defense, answering attacks Mr. Bush calls "cynical fear mongering."
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On November the 2nd, the people of America will reject the politics of fear and vote for an agenda of hope and opportunity and security.
KING: At The Villages, the voter rich retirement community northwest of Orlando, rebutting Senator Kerry's claim that a second Bush term might bankrupt Social Security and bring a restoration of the draft.
BUSH: We will keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors and there will be no draft as long as I'm the president.
KING: The shortage of flu vaccines is both a health problem and a campaign issue. Senator Kerry blames the president, who calls that charge ludicrous, but nonetheless took time in St. Petersburg to make sure it did not go unanswered.
BUSH: We have millions of vaccine doses on hand for the most vulnerable Americans and millions more will be shipped in the coming weeks.
KING: The Bush campaign prides itself on knocking the other guy off stride and Tuesday brought a new line on Senator Kerry's evolving views on the Iraq War.
BUSH: In a time of great challenge in the world the commander- in-chief must stand on principle, not on the shifting sands of political convenience.
KING: So the uncharacteristically defensive tone on Social Security, the draft and the flu was all the more striking, but the rebuttals necessary, Bush aides say, because the race here and nationally is so tight with just two weeks left.
BUSH: My opponent will say anything he thinks will benefit him politically at the time.
KING: Early voting is already underway in Florida. This polling place less than a mile from the president's afternoon event. The Kerry campaign is working the state hard. And the man who owes his presidency to winning Florida by 537 votes last time knows better than most the urgency of turning out the vote.
BUSH: I think you've got to get out amongst the people and say I want your vote.
KING (on camera): The elderly vote is critical, as always, both nationally and here in Florida. And the trend line not so favorable for the president. Just six weeks ago, Mr. Bush led by seven points among voters aged 65 and older. Now, it's a dead heat.
John King, CNN, The Villages, Florida.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: John Kerry starts his day with a speech about the war on terror. He will deliver that in Waterloo, Iowa later this morning. And then he'll head to two battleground states that have seen some heavy presidential campaigning -- yes, you guessed it, Pennsylvania and Ohio. In the meantime, Kerry is not letting up on his criticism of George Bush. He's trying to sway those critical undecided voters.
Our senior political correspondent, Candy Crowley, is following the Kerry campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eyeing the shrinking pool of undecideds, John Kerry stalks a center now, as he pushes the president to the right.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The president and his friends keep feeding the people at the top, keep walking on by and crossing over to the other side of the street and ignoring those who need the help in America. I am going to be a champion for the middle class, for the working folks.
CROWLEY: Kerry promises better and higher paying jobs, more available cheaper health care and Social Security as is.
KERRY: I will not privatize Social Security. I will not cut the benefits. I will not raise the retirement age.
CROWLEY: In the battleground of Pennsylvania, where 28 percent of voters in 2000 were 60 and older, Kerry enjoys an edge but not a lot. He has been here 19 times this election season and this time pushing hard against the president's plan to let younger workers invest a portion of their Social Security taxes.
KERRY: He wants to be the first president in history to put the greatest retirement program in history at risk.
CROWLEY: In the time left, Kerry's task is twofold -- convince fence sitters that he is non-scary, non-threatening, non-liberal presidential material, and keep his base wound up by defining the election in the starkest of terms.
KERRY: A choice between one candidate who will save Social Security and another who will undermine it.
CROWLEY (on camera): Kerry aides shrug off recent polls showing the president with a slight but perceptible lead. "We're comfortable where we are," said one strategist adding, "It is a difficult task to unseat an incumbent president."
Candy Crowley CNN, Dayton, Ohio.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: A former president is coming to help the Kerry campaign. President Bill Clinton will hit the trail for an event early next week in Philadelphia. It will be the president's first appearance since his heart surgery last month. The Kerry campaign also hopeful that President Clinton will join others who are making appearances in some of the key battleground states.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERRY: We're doing very well right now. We've got a great operation. Bob Casey is out there campaigning hard. Governor Rendell is out there campaigning hard. We've got a lot of people. You know, I think it's possible in the next days former President Clinton may be here working. I mean we're all working. And I'm not going to leave any vote unasked for. So we're going to work hard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That television documentary criticizing Kerry, you know the one Sinclair Broadcasting plans to run? Well, Sinclair now says it will not run the whole thing. The film, part of it shown here, bashes Kerry's Vietnam era peace activism. Sinclair says reports that it had ordered its 62 TV stations to run the whole 45 minute film are just plain wrong. Instead, Sinclair says it'll show parts of the film as part of a broader news program.
More questions than answers this morning, that's what's surrounding the kidnapping of a long time top aide worker in Iraq. No word on why insurgents took Margaret Hassan, who heads Iraqi relief operations for CARE International.
Let's head live to Baghdad where CNN's Karl Penhaul has the latest for you -- hello, Karl.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
There's no further word yet on the fate of Margaret Hassan. As we know, she was kidnapped more than 24 hours ago now. The only proof of life that we've so far seen is a brief portion of video broadcast by the Arabic language broadcaster Al Jazeera. There we saw Margaret Hassan in an enclosed room. We also saw shots of her identification papers.
She is a dual Iraqi-British citizen and today her husband, an Iraqi national, has been talking and telling a little about how that kidnapping occurred.
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TAHSEEN ALI HASSAN, HUSBAND (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): The kidnapping happened when my wife arrived at her work. Two cars intercepted her from front and back. They attacked her car and pulled out the driver and a companion. Then they took the car and drove away to an unknown location. This is according to what I heard from the people working in her organization. She was near her workplace.
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PENHAUL: In response to this, CARE International has said that it's temporarily suspending all of its humanitarian aid operations here in Iraq. That really is something very out of character with CARE, because they've had a long history of help here in Iraq and even during the invasion last year they didn't suspend their operations. So very much they feel the circumstances aren't given that they can continue at this time.
Now, another situation that we're also keeping our eyes on today in Baghdad, the court martial of Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick. He's the most senior military policeman so far to face trial in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. His lawyers have told us that he's come to some kind of plea bargain with the military tribunal, that he's expected to plead guilty to four counts, which broadly cover sexual humiliation and gratuitous beating of prisoners held there.
Now, this could net him a total of up to about 11 years in prison. But perhaps one of the questions we'll be keeping our eyes on today, not only the length of Frederick's sentence, but also really whether more evidence emerges that this pattern of abuse of prisoners was ordered by senior military officers much higher up the chain -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Let's go back to the kidnapping for just a bit. This is a woman who's lived in Iraq for 30 years. She's done a lot of good for the Iraqi people. She's married to an Iraqi man. They have children. You know, you know, you search for reasons why this woman was kidnapped.
Is there an outcry among the Iraqi citizenry because of this?
PENHAUL: Certainly Margaret Hassan was very well known, both in the international community here, but also in the Iraqi community. As you say, she's dedicated more than half her life to aid work in Iraq, and certainly a part of that as the country director for CARE International. So a very well known figure.
And behind-the-scenes, we do know that a lot of people are starting to mobilize, to work for her release. Her husband, in fact, said that he believed she may be being held by some kind of religious group. That may indicate that behind this kidnapping, there could be a series of political demands rather than just a straightforward kidnap for ransom -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Karl Penhaul live in Baghdad this morning.
Thank you.
One of President Bush's biggest supporters says he was ignored when he warned of impeding problems in Iraq. Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson says he told President Bush to prepare the American people for the likelihood of casualties. Bush, though, told Robertson there would be no American casualties.
Robertson recalled that conversation in an interview with CNN's Paula Zahn.
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PAT ROBERTSON: He was the most self-assured man I ever met in my whole life. You remember Mark Twain said he looks like a contented Christian with four aces. I mean he was just sitting there like I'm on top of the world. And I warned him about this war. I had deep misgivings about this war, deep misgivings. And I was trying to say, Mr. President, you'd better prepare the American people for casualties. Oh, no, we're not going to have any casualties. But I said yes, it's the way it's going to be.
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COSTELLO: There have been more than 1,100 American troops killed in Iraq since the first days of the war; 846 of those died in hostile action. The president announced an end to the hostilities on May 1 of last year. Nine hundred sixty-five service members have died since that declaration was made.
Add to that more than 8,000 service members who have been wounded since the action began in Iraq in March of 2003.
In News Across America this morning, Scott Peterson was not in financial trouble. That's the testimony of a defense expert in the Peterson trial. The prosecution claims Peterson may have killed his wife because he needed money to save his business.
Tower Two of the World Trade Center collapsed first because the fire inside was more concentrated. That's the hypothesis being discussed by government investigators looking into the 9/11 tragedy. A draft of their report will be released later this year. The report is intended to help make buildings safer.
A transplant operation will go on today in Denver after doctors had originally expressed ethical concerns. The questions arose because the kidney donation was arranged over the Internet. Doctors agreed to operate after both parties promised there was no financial incentive involved. It's the first transplant to be arranged through a Web site matching organ donors and patients.
It may not be a traditional October surprise, but a flu vaccine crisis is putting your health front and center in the presidential campaign. At 33 minutes past the hour, Aaron Brown gives us a checkup on where the candidates stand on health care issues.
And staying healthy in Iraq is about more than just dodging bullets and mortars. At 38 minutes past the hour, we'll look at how U.S. troops are working to build confidence and emotional health in Iraq.
At 53 minutes past, we'll go on the hunt for one of those elusive flu vaccines with some people who really need it.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.
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COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 5:18 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A commuter plane with 15 people aboard crashed while landing in northern Missouri. There are at least eight dead. Two survivors were taken to a hospital. Five people remain missing. The plane was operated by Corporate Airlines, an affiliate of American Airlines.
In money news, college is getting harder to afford. A report from the College Board says tuition is rising faster than inflation or incomes. The increase has led more students to apply for financial aid.
In culture, major league baseball on the radio. A deal is in place with X.M. Satellite Radio that would put almost all of the games on satellite service. The 11 year deal is slated to begin next season.
In sports, this time the Red Sox didn't have to come back, they just had to hold on. The Sox took an early lead and beat the Yankees 4-2. And, boy, was it a dramatic game. The series now even at three apiece, heading into tonight's game seven decision.
MYERS: And they're heading back to St. Louis today, as well, Carol, for game six.
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COSTELLO: Chad, you have to stick around.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Because we're going from weather to traffic, or more specifically, to cars. But, Chad...
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: Not just any cars.
MYERS: I know.
COSTELLO: We're talking about the top TV cars of all time. Some became more famous than the shows themselves, like the Mach 5 or the General Lee.
Remember the Mach 5, Chad?
MYERS: You know, I'm not sure I do, no.
COSTELLO: Speed Racer.
MYERS: I remember Kitt -- oh, OK, Speed...
COSTELLO: Oh, that's Kitt. We're seeing Kitt now.
MYERS: That's Kitt. There's the Dukes. There's General Lee.
COSTELLO: Oh my gosh.
MYERS: Duke, duke, duke, duke, duke.
COSTELLO: The TV Land Network has decided to list the top 10 TV cars for an upcoming special. And Kitt, Chad...
MYERS: Yes?
COSTELLO: ... may be among them. Also on the list of possible contenders, the Flint Mobile from "The Flintstones." MYERS: Oh, yes. Of course.
COSTELLO: It had no engine, no brakes and no doors, but, hey, it still got Fred, Wilma, Barney and Betty to the drive-in.
MYERS: And it tipped over when they put that big old rib on the side of it.
COSTELLO: I know. Which one is your favorite? That's what we're wondering this morning, because we wanted to have some fun since it's Wednesday and why not? It's Wednesday. What better day to have fun?
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Send us an e-mail at daybreak@cnn.com. We want to know what your favorite TV show car is. I can't believe you don't remember the Mach 5 from "Speed Racing."
MYERS: No. I was speed buggy. I wasn't a "Speed Racer" guy. I loved the Monkees mobile, though. I thought that was a great thing.
COSTELLO: I don't even remember the Monkees having a car.
MYERS: Oh, yes, it was big and long and they all got in and they all played their guitars in there.
COSTELLO: Oh. Oh...
MYERS: Hey, hey, we're the Monkees.
COSTELLO: OK, I think we'll stop now.
MYERS: That's enough.
COSTELLO: Daybreak@cnn.com. Send us an e-mail this morning.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Coming up in the second hour of DAYBREAK, I'll talk with Tom O'Neil of "In Touch Weekly," who is also the producer of this top 10 TV car show. And maybe he'll tell us why the Partridge family's bus didn't make the cut.
What's hot on the Web straight ahead.
Also, are you looking for a cool hot spot? Coming up, we'll take you to a place where everyone is on ice, literally.
You are watching DAYBREAK for a Wednesday.
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COSTELLO: Why didn't I watch that? Why?
MYERS: Because. COSTELLO: You know, we're talking about watching the Sox-Yankees game.
MYERS: It was too late.
COSTELLO: I know. My husband, of course, lives in Connecticut. I live in Atlanta. But he called me and he said I want you to go to sleep tonight, I don't want you to watch that game.
MYERS: Good.
COSTELLO: Because I was so tired yesterday.
MYERS: I know.
COSTELLO: So I go to sleep and missed one of the greatest games to hit television in some time.
MYERS: But watching would -- if you watched, you would not have changed the outcome. So that's why I went to bed.
COSTELLO: But I wouldn't have missed that A-Rod thing and the riot police coming down on the field and...
MYERS: We'll see it in a few minutes.
COSTELLO: Yes, we will. We're going to do a story on it. My husband left me nine phone messages updating me on the game at work so he wouldn't wake me up. We're a crazy couple.
Anyway, we're checking out our Web clicks this morning. And guess what's in the top 10, clicked onto cnn.com.
MYERS: Tommy Lee joins the Nebraska band.
COSTELLO: Of course, we told people about this weeks ago, it seems.
MYERS: There he is.
COSTELLO: He's doing this reality show at the University of Nebraska. He's there for, what, six weeks taking classes, hanging out with the students. Pamela Lee is not with him, by the way.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: But he did march in the marching band at the Baylor game.
MYERS: He did. And you know what? The drummer said he kept pretty good time.
COSTELLO: Well, he's a professional drummer.
MYERS: Which you would expect, right?
COSTELLO: That would be so embarrassing.
MYERS: It would have been embarrassing if he didn't make the cut. I'm sorry, Tommy, you just can't march with the drum line.
COSTELLO: He said...
MYERS: But he did. He's having a good time.
COSTELLO: Yes, he says he's having a kicking good time, kicking.
MYERS: And it will be on NBC this summer.
COSTELLO: Hey, what about this story on cnn.com? Microscopic diamond found in Montana. Who'd have thunk it?
MYERS: Well, that's what I got my wife.
COSTELLO: The microscopic diamond from Montana? Oh.
MYERS: I had it mounted on the ring and now she, you know, whatever.
COSTELLO: Now you need a microscope to see it, but she loves it.
MYERS: Right next to that big C.Z. I got her.
COSTELLO: Yes. But this is interesting, because they could do diamond mining now in Montana.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Let me just read a little paragraph here. "What makes this latest discovery unique, it's believed to be the first diamond ever found in Montana that was created here rather than dropped into the state by a retreating glacier or other means." And accessibility makes the property so appealing, officials say, because a lot of people could make a lot of money.
MYERS: We're not talking about diamonds you're actually going to mount on your finger. We're talking about industrial diamonds. There's a lot of flaws in the diamonds up there. But you can make diamond tipped drills. You can make all kinds of things with the diamond dust and so on and so on. And so they're excited about that potential.
COSTELLO: That's right, because still you can make money, even on industrial diamonds.
MYERS: Of course you can.
COSTELLO: Yes.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Health care in America -- nearly 40 million Americans have no insurance. So what do the candidates plan to do about it? We'll hear their positions in their own words straight ahead.
This is DAYBREAK for a Wednesday.
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DONNA ROSATO, WRITER, "MONEY": Smart skiers know if you want to go skiing in the Rocky Mountains, the best time of year to go is early January; after the holidays, when most of the skiers -- when most people want to go skiing and before everyone tries to escape for mid- winter. Because so few people can get away in January after the holidays, ski and lift packages are usually about 30 percent less, because there are just fewer crowds.
If you want to really save money on skiing, head to Canada. With the exchange rate being so favorable. Skiing conditions are usually good, but January is usually the coldest month to ski. If you really want to ski this winter and you don't want to pay top dollar, look for those quiet times.
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