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CNN Live At Daybreak

Health Condition of Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat; Fans Awaiting Arrival of Red Sox

Aired October 28, 2004 - 06:00   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.

We'll have more on Boston's World Series win in just a minute.

But first, now in the news, how sick is Yasser Arafat? The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat, tells us Arafat was able to get out of bed for prayers this morning. This comes one day after he was described as too weak to walk and unable to keep food down.

A mine explosion in Siberia has killed 13 coal miners. A Russian official says the methane buildup caused the blast.

The Delta Airlines pilots' union says it's reached a tentative agreement on concessions. No word yet on if the package grants the billion dollars in pilot givebacks that Delta says it needs to avoid bankruptcy.

And did you see this? Did you get up and see it? The Earth's shadow moved across the moon, giving stargazers an unusually long view of a total lunar eclipse. It will not happen again for another two and a half years. What a sight -- good morning, Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning.

That's very cool stuff and we missed it, but the beauty of television and the Internet, we can check it out...

COSTELLO: We didn't miss it.

MARCIANO: We didn't miss it. Exactly.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: In international news this morning, Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, is said to be a little better this morning. He's still at his Ramallah compound right now, but the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat, tells us Arafat was able to leave his bed and take part in morning prayers, and that is amazing since he reportedly lapsed into unconsciousness last night.

Let's head live to Ramallah now and John Vause for an update -- good morning, John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. It's still not known just how serious Yasser Arafat's health condition really is. But earlier this morning he did meet with the Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qureia. And when Mr. Qureia left that meeting, he told reporters who had gathered here outside the Ramallah compound that the Palestinian leader is, in fact, in a good condition.

But there is, of course, a lot of speculation about what the problem may be, especially in the Israeli media. There are reports of everything from colon cancer to a possible stroke, maybe even some kind of blood disease.

Officially, Arafat's doctors say he is suffering from some kind of serious bout of stomach flu. But he has grown weak over the last 10 or 11 days. He's been unable to keep food down. Last night he collapsed, reportedly slipping in and out of consciousness at one stage. But this morning, we're told, he managed to pray. He also had breakfast. He's managing to keep that down. And it appears that his situation, his health, has stabilized and his condition may have slightly improved somewhat -- Carol.

COSTELLO: John, we did have word that the Palestinian prime minister called on the Palestinian -- or the Israeli prime minister and asked if Yasser Arafat could get medical treatment outside of Ramallah.

What else transpired in that phone call?

VAUSE: My understanding from sources within the Israeli government is that it was a fairly brief conversation between Ahmed Qureia and Ariel Sharon. Ahmed Qureia asking for medical treatment for Yasser Arafat, asking permission, if he could possibly move to -- be moved to another country for treatment, maybe even possibly being moved to a hospital within Israel to receive some kind of medical treatment. That's yet to be confirmed.

We are being told that the Israeli government says that it will make every effort to ensure that it can do whatever it can to assist with this situation. And they say this is a humanitarian crisis. They will help Arafat unconditionally.

Now, what the means we're not too sure. Whether that means they will treat Arafat and then allow him to return to his compound, where he's been holed up here for more than two and a half years, is still not known. Of course, in the past, Israel has said that if Arafat leaves his West Bank compound to travel outside this area, they won't allow him back. So whether or not Israel will let him leave the country and return, which is the crux of the matter, is still unclear at this stage -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes. And later on we're going to be talking to an aide to Ariel Sharon and we will pose that question to him.

John Vause outside of the Ramallah compound this morning.

Thank you. Back in this country, the only curses this morning are coming from St. Louis Cardinals' fans. The Boston Red Sox officially banished the curse legend last night, winning their first World Series since 1918. And it was a sweep. The front page of the "Boston Herald" sums up what a lot of fans are feeling -- "Amen!"

Last night's game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis was a 3-0 shutout. Manny Ramirez, with a 17 game hitting streak and a 4-12 average in the series, was named most valuable player.

He talked with reporters, as did Red Sox manager Terry Francona who was asked about the so-called curse of the Bambino.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY FRANCONA, RED SOX MANAGER: I didn't believe in it. I wasn't around then. Being the world champions is by far the best. We don't -- I didn't do this for any other reason, just, you know, you can't reverse what was a long time ago. We're just -- I mean there's -- I'm sure there's a lot of people in New England that are dancing in the states right now.

MANNY RAMIREZ, 2004 WORLD SERIES MVP: We just a bunch of idiots that we go out there, we go have fun and we don't think, we ain't really thinking. We just go out, play the game and have fun and pick each other up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Terry Francona was right about the dancing in the street part. Fans gathered outside of Fenway Park. In fact, they're still there this morning. They were setting off fireworks. They were throwing a few bottles. Police did arrest 35 people and 14 others were treated for minor injuries. But by and large, things are calm in Boston as fans await the Boston Red Sox's return. They're due to arrive at Fenway Park between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Eastern.

And CNN's Keith Oppenheim watched game four in Boston last night with the fans. We'll get a live report from him in Beantown. That's coming up in just a few minutes.

Five days and counting until we vote for president, as well as state and local candidates and issues. Five days, that is, unless you took advantage of early voting. It's certainly getting down to the wire and the candidates are pulling out all the stops and wracking up the frequent flier miles trying to stir up the undecided.

Let's check in on today's campaign trail.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO (voice-over): George Bush broke his two day silence over the controversy on missing explosives in Iraq. He says he is not to blame for the weapons that have apparently gone missing. He also made an appeal for Democratic voters to join his side. GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you're a Democrat and you want America to be strong and confident in our ideals, I would be honored to have your vote.

COSTELLO: But throughout the day, John Kerry again hammered Bush on Iraq, pushing to turn the nearly 400 tons of missing explosives into a scandal.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I want to be able to go to that Oval Office every single day, look you in the eye and tell you I've got your back.

COSTELLO: With less than a week to go, Bush and Kerry are hitting the battleground states hard. Bush is barnstorming through the Midwest. He starts the day in Saginaw, Michigan. Then it's off to two stops in Ohio before a rally in Pennsylvania.

In the meantime, Kerry makes a stop in Ohio. Then it's off for a rally with "The Boss" -- Bruce Springsteen joins the Kerry tour in Madison, Wisconsin this afternoon. And then it's back to Ohio for a rally in Columbus.

Later today, the Justice Department will outline its plan to put 1,000 election observers in key polling places across the nation on November 2. Officials say most of the observers will be in locations where claims of discrimination have happened in the past.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: And be sure to join our own Paula Zahn Monday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. She's hosting a town hall meeting with undecided voters in Florida. That's live with our prime time politics.

In other news across America this morning, a Sarasota, Florida man will be in court today to answer charges that he tried to run down Republican Representative Katherine Harris with his car. You remember her? Harris was actually on the sidewalk with some reelection supporters when the car came speeding toward her. Barry Seltzer says he was just exercising his political expression when he swerved toward Harris. If convicted, Seltzer faces up to 30 years in prison for aggravated assault.

Hundreds of mourners showed up for a candlelight vigil at the headquarters of Hendrick Motor Sports in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ten people were killed when the race team's plane crashed on Sunday. The cause of the crash still under investigation.

And the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui could start early next year. Federal prosecutors asked a judge to set jury selection for late April. They want opening statements to take place the day after Memorial Day. Moussaoui is the only person publicly charged in the United States for the 9/11 attacks.

Going, going, the curse is gone. Boston wins the World Series and has left fans overjoyed and slightly confused. Some are asking what do we do now? What do we talk about? We have winners in Boston. Let's head live there now and check in with Keith Oppenheim, because I know fans around Fenway Park are waiting for the team bus to pull up.

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are, indeed, Carol. And those fans are out here on a chilly morning and they are not only waiting for the stars of the team to show up, but they are also dealing with a whole new identity. They're winners for the first time in 86 years. And for many New Englanders, as well as Red Sox fans elsewhere, this is a day they've been waiting for, though not necessarily expecting, for a long time.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

OPPENHEIM (voice-over): In this Boston pub, one thing was clear -- a curse is a hard thing to lift.

JOHN NASH, RED SOX FAN: We're still holding out hope that it's going to get done.

OPPENHEIM: Despite a whop-ping three game advantage, Red Sox fans, all too aware of the lunar eclipse and their own shadowy history, still feared the curse of the Bambino.

JASON FERRITER, RED SOX FAN: I have been antsy the whole day. I haven't been able to relax.

OPPENHEIM: Down the street in a Boston University dorm, college students descended from generations of dedication and disappointment believed the moment was upon them.

ALEXANDRA OATES, BOSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENT: I'm afraid my dad's just going to die in his sleep tonight. Happy. Everything in life accomplished. Pass away with this big grin on his face, you know?

OPPENHEIM: Fans flocked to Fenway Park, all waiting for the last out. But not long after the moment of victory arrived, police in riot gear worked to get thousands of people out of the streets. It was a rowdy scene, with a few injuries and arrests.

It wasn't tough to find older folks who, even in victory, carried the die hard superstitions of Red Sox nation. BEVERLY ORLOVE, RED SOX FAN: You think however in the night inning I thought, well, we're going to lose it again. But it's a wonderful thing. Clearly a wonderful thing, a wonderful thing.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

OPPENHEIM: We're back live now, Carol. And you can see all those fans lining up just outside Fenway Park, hoping to see some of the players showing up probably on one of the team buses here in about an hour or so.

Now, in the middle of the mayhem last night, I made a proud purchase, one that really goes with my old identity. I don't know about my new one. But that is as a Red Sox fan, this is a world champion T-shirt and, you know, I'm a Massachusetts native...

COSTELLO: Oh, come on, open your jacket.

OPPENHEIM: I've got to tell you, I...

COSTELLO: Open your jacket so we can see that.

OPPENHEIM: All right. All right. This is what you call a cold weather strip show. There you go. It's nice. It's a nice red pattern here and I've just got to tell you, as a local from these parts, I just never really expected this day myself. And it's been emotional for a lot of people around here.

COSTELLO: And I know your world is reeling right now because now that they're winners, what do you talk about in Boston?

OPPENHEIM: You know, that's a good question because I think part of the identity was being miserable. So I guess you'll have to think about being successful.

COSTELLO: Darn. You'll have to be happy now.

OPPENHEIM: Yes.

COSTELLO: Keith Oppenheim, thanks for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, he's been a major player in the Mideast for longer than most. Now with Yasser Arafat's health in danger, what will Israel do? I'll talk with one of Ariel Sharon's top aides. That comes your way at 6:15 Eastern.

Then, changes to the way your checks are processed. How to avoid a bounce at 6:20 Eastern.

And later, one airline's troubles turn into new opportunities for others. Find out how you could benefit. That's at 40 minutes past the hour.

And we'll get back to that Red Sox victory celebration and one fan's emotional reason to celebrate at 6:50.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It appears that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is a bit better today. Palestinian cabinet member Hanan Ashwari told me last hour that he got up briefly, took part in early morning prayers and had milk and cereal for breakfast. But he's been very sick and there are questions as to whether he needs to leave the Ramallah compound to get medical treatment.

Let's head live to Jerusalem and Ra'anan Gissin, the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's senior adviser. Good morning.

RA'ANAN GISSIN, SENIOR ISRAELI ADVISER: Good morning to you there in Atlanta.

COSTELLO: We understand there was a telephone call between Palestinian Prime Minister Qureia and Ariel Sharon.

What was said?

GISSIN: Well, first of all, I want to make it very clear that prior to that phone call, we have already granted medical aid and assistance because we have been following the situation and his health condition, Arafat's health condition. And so a group of Tunisian doctors have already been checking Mr. Arafat and were allowed to go into the Moqata.

Last night, the prime minister, Ahmed Qureia, Abu Allah, called Prime Minister Sharon and asked him, you know, if Israel would grant free access and extend all the help that it can in order to facilitate medical treatment to Mr. Arafat.

Prime Minister Sharon responded immediately, saying that this is viewed by him and by the Israeli government as a humanitarian medical issue and therefore any assistance that will be needed will be provided. And so the security forces were instructed to do so. And as a result of that, of course, two teams of doctors are on their way from Egypt, from Jordan. His wife, Suha Arafat, has got permission to visit him and she is expected, too. Medical equipment that is necessary to be brought in can be brought in. And above all, if there is a need to take him for medical treatment, hospitalization, whatever the doctors recommend, anyplace in the world, we will facilitate and expedite that, as well.

COSTELLO: Yes, but there is a concern...

GISSIN: We are not putting any conditions...

COSTELLO: There is a concern...

GISSIN: ... on this treatment.

COSTELLO: Oh, that was what I was going to ask, any conditions? Because there is a concern that the Palestinians have that once Yasser Arafat leaves the country, he won't be able to come back to his compound in Ramallah.

GISSIN: Well, let me assure you, this is not a political issue. This is a humanitarian issue and this is the way we're dealing with it. First, let's see what happens with the condition of Mr. Arafat. I think that's the most paramount important thing on everybody's mind, that, at least, is what Abu Allah conveyed to the prime minister. The prime minister agreed. And the rest of what will lie ahead in the future and how we will treat that depends on circumstances that will be dealt with separately. COSTELLO: But, sir, when you say no conditions are placed, can you definitively say that if Yasser Arafat has to leave the country for medical treatment, that Israel will allow him to come back?

GISSIN: As long as he is under medical treatment, as I said, we are not going to put any limitation or any hindrance on his transportation or on his movement or access to and from medical facilities.

COSTELLO: So he will be able to come back to Ramallah if he has to leave the country for medical treatment?

GISSIN: Well, if he -- that depends on many, many conditions, some of which neither you nor I are controlling. And that is the health condition of Mr. Arafat. And as the recent reports are coming in, the picture doesn't look very good and it seems that he is in a serious condition, although I don't think that we have any reports on a clear diagnosis of what he's suffering from.

COSTELLO: Right. I guess I'm searching for a yes or no answer to the question.

GISSIN: I told you, we deal with this as a humanitarian issue. As long as there is a medical condition that requires medical treatment, there will be no hindrance and no conditions on his travel or on the treatment that he may get, either in Ramallah or in any other country in the world where the doctors would recommend he needs to get that medical treatment.

COSTELLO: Ra'anan Gissin, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

GISSIN: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Don't have a pay day until next week? Then think twice before you write that check today. Coming up, we'll tell you about some changes in the banking world that will affect you check floaters out there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

COSTELLO: Hold on there bucko before you go writing that questionable check. A new federal law takes effect today. It's the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, or, thank goodness, simply Check 21. The law allows banks to replace original paper checks with digital images called substitute checks. It's intended to save banks some time and money, yes, save the banks time and money. Unfortunately, Check 21 does not speed up deposits, only withdrawals. Isn't that always the case?

The bottom line -- don't write the check unless you've got the money in the bank.

Rick Applegate has a handle on the new law. He's a certified financial planner and host of "Money Talk" on KDKA Radio.

He joins us live from Pittsburgh.

Good morning.

RICK APPLEGATE, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: So this sounds like it's great for the banks, but not so great for you and me.

APPLEGATE: Well, it's going to be a slow process to get it started. I don't think a lot of people are necessarily going to have to worry about it, because it's going to take some time for this act to get into full gear. The first thing that people should be thinking to do, though, is call their banks to find out if they're going to be able to electronically process their checks starting today.

There's going to be a big difference in the way they do their banking.

COSTELLO: Yes, explain this to us. So we write a check and we give it to whatever retailer we're at. So what happens then and how soon will that check be processed?

APPLEGATE: Well, normally it depends on whether it's a local check or out of town check, Carol. And typically when those checks were written locally, they cleared pretty quickly, one day, maybe two days. It's the out of town checks that used to take five days to clear. So you would play what they called the float. You would write that check, send it to the out of town payment, knowing that it's not going to clear right away, until you got your paycheck in the bank to cover it.

Well, not anymore. Those checks that used to take five days will now be electronically cleared within 24 hours. So you could write a large check thinking it's covered and find that you have now suddenly a check that's bouncing.

COSTELLO: Bouncing. And I'm sure the fees at the banks are going up for that, too.

APPLEGATE: They're expecting those fees to go up big time. As a matter of fact, I've seen projections that in the course of the next year, there could be as much as $170 million or more raised in these bad check fees.

COSTELLO: Man. What was the idea behind this?

APPLEGATE: Well, it was simply instituted following 9/11 with the attack, and there was a tremendous disruption to the processing of paper checks in that time frame. So what they did was introduced this Act so that electronic images are now going to be used in substituting for the paper or original check. The key word that you mentioned in the intro for people to remember is the word substitute check. That will be the only way that people will, in the future, be able to prove that the check they wrote was the correct amount so that in the event there is any discrepancy between what's cashed and how much is cashed, etc., the only way you're going to be able to prove it in the future is with a substitute check.

So remember that important word, that if you have to go to the bank and prove that you wrote the check for what amount, that's what you have to ask for.

COSTELLO: Interesting.

Rick Applegate from KDKA Radio.

You're the host of "Money Talk."

Thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

APPLEGATE: "Money Talk."

My pleasure, Carol.

COSTELLO: Early voting, the electoral college, undecided voters -- there's plenty about this election year you might consider confusing. Coming up, Ron Brownstein will sort through the factors that could decide the race.

And later, the airline industry takes another hit. But one company's losses are another one's gains.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired October 28, 2004 - 06:00   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.

We'll have more on Boston's World Series win in just a minute.

But first, now in the news, how sick is Yasser Arafat? The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat, tells us Arafat was able to get out of bed for prayers this morning. This comes one day after he was described as too weak to walk and unable to keep food down.

A mine explosion in Siberia has killed 13 coal miners. A Russian official says the methane buildup caused the blast.

The Delta Airlines pilots' union says it's reached a tentative agreement on concessions. No word yet on if the package grants the billion dollars in pilot givebacks that Delta says it needs to avoid bankruptcy.

And did you see this? Did you get up and see it? The Earth's shadow moved across the moon, giving stargazers an unusually long view of a total lunar eclipse. It will not happen again for another two and a half years. What a sight -- good morning, Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning.

That's very cool stuff and we missed it, but the beauty of television and the Internet, we can check it out...

COSTELLO: We didn't miss it.

MARCIANO: We didn't miss it. Exactly.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: In international news this morning, Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, is said to be a little better this morning. He's still at his Ramallah compound right now, but the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat, tells us Arafat was able to leave his bed and take part in morning prayers, and that is amazing since he reportedly lapsed into unconsciousness last night.

Let's head live to Ramallah now and John Vause for an update -- good morning, John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. It's still not known just how serious Yasser Arafat's health condition really is. But earlier this morning he did meet with the Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qureia. And when Mr. Qureia left that meeting, he told reporters who had gathered here outside the Ramallah compound that the Palestinian leader is, in fact, in a good condition.

But there is, of course, a lot of speculation about what the problem may be, especially in the Israeli media. There are reports of everything from colon cancer to a possible stroke, maybe even some kind of blood disease.

Officially, Arafat's doctors say he is suffering from some kind of serious bout of stomach flu. But he has grown weak over the last 10 or 11 days. He's been unable to keep food down. Last night he collapsed, reportedly slipping in and out of consciousness at one stage. But this morning, we're told, he managed to pray. He also had breakfast. He's managing to keep that down. And it appears that his situation, his health, has stabilized and his condition may have slightly improved somewhat -- Carol.

COSTELLO: John, we did have word that the Palestinian prime minister called on the Palestinian -- or the Israeli prime minister and asked if Yasser Arafat could get medical treatment outside of Ramallah.

What else transpired in that phone call?

VAUSE: My understanding from sources within the Israeli government is that it was a fairly brief conversation between Ahmed Qureia and Ariel Sharon. Ahmed Qureia asking for medical treatment for Yasser Arafat, asking permission, if he could possibly move to -- be moved to another country for treatment, maybe even possibly being moved to a hospital within Israel to receive some kind of medical treatment. That's yet to be confirmed.

We are being told that the Israeli government says that it will make every effort to ensure that it can do whatever it can to assist with this situation. And they say this is a humanitarian crisis. They will help Arafat unconditionally.

Now, what the means we're not too sure. Whether that means they will treat Arafat and then allow him to return to his compound, where he's been holed up here for more than two and a half years, is still not known. Of course, in the past, Israel has said that if Arafat leaves his West Bank compound to travel outside this area, they won't allow him back. So whether or not Israel will let him leave the country and return, which is the crux of the matter, is still unclear at this stage -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes. And later on we're going to be talking to an aide to Ariel Sharon and we will pose that question to him.

John Vause outside of the Ramallah compound this morning.

Thank you. Back in this country, the only curses this morning are coming from St. Louis Cardinals' fans. The Boston Red Sox officially banished the curse legend last night, winning their first World Series since 1918. And it was a sweep. The front page of the "Boston Herald" sums up what a lot of fans are feeling -- "Amen!"

Last night's game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis was a 3-0 shutout. Manny Ramirez, with a 17 game hitting streak and a 4-12 average in the series, was named most valuable player.

He talked with reporters, as did Red Sox manager Terry Francona who was asked about the so-called curse of the Bambino.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY FRANCONA, RED SOX MANAGER: I didn't believe in it. I wasn't around then. Being the world champions is by far the best. We don't -- I didn't do this for any other reason, just, you know, you can't reverse what was a long time ago. We're just -- I mean there's -- I'm sure there's a lot of people in New England that are dancing in the states right now.

MANNY RAMIREZ, 2004 WORLD SERIES MVP: We just a bunch of idiots that we go out there, we go have fun and we don't think, we ain't really thinking. We just go out, play the game and have fun and pick each other up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Terry Francona was right about the dancing in the street part. Fans gathered outside of Fenway Park. In fact, they're still there this morning. They were setting off fireworks. They were throwing a few bottles. Police did arrest 35 people and 14 others were treated for minor injuries. But by and large, things are calm in Boston as fans await the Boston Red Sox's return. They're due to arrive at Fenway Park between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Eastern.

And CNN's Keith Oppenheim watched game four in Boston last night with the fans. We'll get a live report from him in Beantown. That's coming up in just a few minutes.

Five days and counting until we vote for president, as well as state and local candidates and issues. Five days, that is, unless you took advantage of early voting. It's certainly getting down to the wire and the candidates are pulling out all the stops and wracking up the frequent flier miles trying to stir up the undecided.

Let's check in on today's campaign trail.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO (voice-over): George Bush broke his two day silence over the controversy on missing explosives in Iraq. He says he is not to blame for the weapons that have apparently gone missing. He also made an appeal for Democratic voters to join his side. GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you're a Democrat and you want America to be strong and confident in our ideals, I would be honored to have your vote.

COSTELLO: But throughout the day, John Kerry again hammered Bush on Iraq, pushing to turn the nearly 400 tons of missing explosives into a scandal.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I want to be able to go to that Oval Office every single day, look you in the eye and tell you I've got your back.

COSTELLO: With less than a week to go, Bush and Kerry are hitting the battleground states hard. Bush is barnstorming through the Midwest. He starts the day in Saginaw, Michigan. Then it's off to two stops in Ohio before a rally in Pennsylvania.

In the meantime, Kerry makes a stop in Ohio. Then it's off for a rally with "The Boss" -- Bruce Springsteen joins the Kerry tour in Madison, Wisconsin this afternoon. And then it's back to Ohio for a rally in Columbus.

Later today, the Justice Department will outline its plan to put 1,000 election observers in key polling places across the nation on November 2. Officials say most of the observers will be in locations where claims of discrimination have happened in the past.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: And be sure to join our own Paula Zahn Monday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. She's hosting a town hall meeting with undecided voters in Florida. That's live with our prime time politics.

In other news across America this morning, a Sarasota, Florida man will be in court today to answer charges that he tried to run down Republican Representative Katherine Harris with his car. You remember her? Harris was actually on the sidewalk with some reelection supporters when the car came speeding toward her. Barry Seltzer says he was just exercising his political expression when he swerved toward Harris. If convicted, Seltzer faces up to 30 years in prison for aggravated assault.

Hundreds of mourners showed up for a candlelight vigil at the headquarters of Hendrick Motor Sports in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ten people were killed when the race team's plane crashed on Sunday. The cause of the crash still under investigation.

And the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui could start early next year. Federal prosecutors asked a judge to set jury selection for late April. They want opening statements to take place the day after Memorial Day. Moussaoui is the only person publicly charged in the United States for the 9/11 attacks.

Going, going, the curse is gone. Boston wins the World Series and has left fans overjoyed and slightly confused. Some are asking what do we do now? What do we talk about? We have winners in Boston. Let's head live there now and check in with Keith Oppenheim, because I know fans around Fenway Park are waiting for the team bus to pull up.

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are, indeed, Carol. And those fans are out here on a chilly morning and they are not only waiting for the stars of the team to show up, but they are also dealing with a whole new identity. They're winners for the first time in 86 years. And for many New Englanders, as well as Red Sox fans elsewhere, this is a day they've been waiting for, though not necessarily expecting, for a long time.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

OPPENHEIM (voice-over): In this Boston pub, one thing was clear -- a curse is a hard thing to lift.

JOHN NASH, RED SOX FAN: We're still holding out hope that it's going to get done.

OPPENHEIM: Despite a whop-ping three game advantage, Red Sox fans, all too aware of the lunar eclipse and their own shadowy history, still feared the curse of the Bambino.

JASON FERRITER, RED SOX FAN: I have been antsy the whole day. I haven't been able to relax.

OPPENHEIM: Down the street in a Boston University dorm, college students descended from generations of dedication and disappointment believed the moment was upon them.

ALEXANDRA OATES, BOSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENT: I'm afraid my dad's just going to die in his sleep tonight. Happy. Everything in life accomplished. Pass away with this big grin on his face, you know?

OPPENHEIM: Fans flocked to Fenway Park, all waiting for the last out. But not long after the moment of victory arrived, police in riot gear worked to get thousands of people out of the streets. It was a rowdy scene, with a few injuries and arrests.

It wasn't tough to find older folks who, even in victory, carried the die hard superstitions of Red Sox nation. BEVERLY ORLOVE, RED SOX FAN: You think however in the night inning I thought, well, we're going to lose it again. But it's a wonderful thing. Clearly a wonderful thing, a wonderful thing.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

OPPENHEIM: We're back live now, Carol. And you can see all those fans lining up just outside Fenway Park, hoping to see some of the players showing up probably on one of the team buses here in about an hour or so.

Now, in the middle of the mayhem last night, I made a proud purchase, one that really goes with my old identity. I don't know about my new one. But that is as a Red Sox fan, this is a world champion T-shirt and, you know, I'm a Massachusetts native...

COSTELLO: Oh, come on, open your jacket.

OPPENHEIM: I've got to tell you, I...

COSTELLO: Open your jacket so we can see that.

OPPENHEIM: All right. All right. This is what you call a cold weather strip show. There you go. It's nice. It's a nice red pattern here and I've just got to tell you, as a local from these parts, I just never really expected this day myself. And it's been emotional for a lot of people around here.

COSTELLO: And I know your world is reeling right now because now that they're winners, what do you talk about in Boston?

OPPENHEIM: You know, that's a good question because I think part of the identity was being miserable. So I guess you'll have to think about being successful.

COSTELLO: Darn. You'll have to be happy now.

OPPENHEIM: Yes.

COSTELLO: Keith Oppenheim, thanks for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, he's been a major player in the Mideast for longer than most. Now with Yasser Arafat's health in danger, what will Israel do? I'll talk with one of Ariel Sharon's top aides. That comes your way at 6:15 Eastern.

Then, changes to the way your checks are processed. How to avoid a bounce at 6:20 Eastern.

And later, one airline's troubles turn into new opportunities for others. Find out how you could benefit. That's at 40 minutes past the hour.

And we'll get back to that Red Sox victory celebration and one fan's emotional reason to celebrate at 6:50.

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

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COSTELLO: It appears that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is a bit better today. Palestinian cabinet member Hanan Ashwari told me last hour that he got up briefly, took part in early morning prayers and had milk and cereal for breakfast. But he's been very sick and there are questions as to whether he needs to leave the Ramallah compound to get medical treatment.

Let's head live to Jerusalem and Ra'anan Gissin, the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's senior adviser. Good morning.

RA'ANAN GISSIN, SENIOR ISRAELI ADVISER: Good morning to you there in Atlanta.

COSTELLO: We understand there was a telephone call between Palestinian Prime Minister Qureia and Ariel Sharon.

What was said?

GISSIN: Well, first of all, I want to make it very clear that prior to that phone call, we have already granted medical aid and assistance because we have been following the situation and his health condition, Arafat's health condition. And so a group of Tunisian doctors have already been checking Mr. Arafat and were allowed to go into the Moqata.

Last night, the prime minister, Ahmed Qureia, Abu Allah, called Prime Minister Sharon and asked him, you know, if Israel would grant free access and extend all the help that it can in order to facilitate medical treatment to Mr. Arafat.

Prime Minister Sharon responded immediately, saying that this is viewed by him and by the Israeli government as a humanitarian medical issue and therefore any assistance that will be needed will be provided. And so the security forces were instructed to do so. And as a result of that, of course, two teams of doctors are on their way from Egypt, from Jordan. His wife, Suha Arafat, has got permission to visit him and she is expected, too. Medical equipment that is necessary to be brought in can be brought in. And above all, if there is a need to take him for medical treatment, hospitalization, whatever the doctors recommend, anyplace in the world, we will facilitate and expedite that, as well.

COSTELLO: Yes, but there is a concern...

GISSIN: We are not putting any conditions...

COSTELLO: There is a concern...

GISSIN: ... on this treatment.

COSTELLO: Oh, that was what I was going to ask, any conditions? Because there is a concern that the Palestinians have that once Yasser Arafat leaves the country, he won't be able to come back to his compound in Ramallah.

GISSIN: Well, let me assure you, this is not a political issue. This is a humanitarian issue and this is the way we're dealing with it. First, let's see what happens with the condition of Mr. Arafat. I think that's the most paramount important thing on everybody's mind, that, at least, is what Abu Allah conveyed to the prime minister. The prime minister agreed. And the rest of what will lie ahead in the future and how we will treat that depends on circumstances that will be dealt with separately. COSTELLO: But, sir, when you say no conditions are placed, can you definitively say that if Yasser Arafat has to leave the country for medical treatment, that Israel will allow him to come back?

GISSIN: As long as he is under medical treatment, as I said, we are not going to put any limitation or any hindrance on his transportation or on his movement or access to and from medical facilities.

COSTELLO: So he will be able to come back to Ramallah if he has to leave the country for medical treatment?

GISSIN: Well, if he -- that depends on many, many conditions, some of which neither you nor I are controlling. And that is the health condition of Mr. Arafat. And as the recent reports are coming in, the picture doesn't look very good and it seems that he is in a serious condition, although I don't think that we have any reports on a clear diagnosis of what he's suffering from.

COSTELLO: Right. I guess I'm searching for a yes or no answer to the question.

GISSIN: I told you, we deal with this as a humanitarian issue. As long as there is a medical condition that requires medical treatment, there will be no hindrance and no conditions on his travel or on the treatment that he may get, either in Ramallah or in any other country in the world where the doctors would recommend he needs to get that medical treatment.

COSTELLO: Ra'anan Gissin, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

GISSIN: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Don't have a pay day until next week? Then think twice before you write that check today. Coming up, we'll tell you about some changes in the banking world that will affect you check floaters out there.

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COSTELLO: Hold on there bucko before you go writing that questionable check. A new federal law takes effect today. It's the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, or, thank goodness, simply Check 21. The law allows banks to replace original paper checks with digital images called substitute checks. It's intended to save banks some time and money, yes, save the banks time and money. Unfortunately, Check 21 does not speed up deposits, only withdrawals. Isn't that always the case?

The bottom line -- don't write the check unless you've got the money in the bank.

Rick Applegate has a handle on the new law. He's a certified financial planner and host of "Money Talk" on KDKA Radio.

He joins us live from Pittsburgh.

Good morning.

RICK APPLEGATE, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: So this sounds like it's great for the banks, but not so great for you and me.

APPLEGATE: Well, it's going to be a slow process to get it started. I don't think a lot of people are necessarily going to have to worry about it, because it's going to take some time for this act to get into full gear. The first thing that people should be thinking to do, though, is call their banks to find out if they're going to be able to electronically process their checks starting today.

There's going to be a big difference in the way they do their banking.

COSTELLO: Yes, explain this to us. So we write a check and we give it to whatever retailer we're at. So what happens then and how soon will that check be processed?

APPLEGATE: Well, normally it depends on whether it's a local check or out of town check, Carol. And typically when those checks were written locally, they cleared pretty quickly, one day, maybe two days. It's the out of town checks that used to take five days to clear. So you would play what they called the float. You would write that check, send it to the out of town payment, knowing that it's not going to clear right away, until you got your paycheck in the bank to cover it.

Well, not anymore. Those checks that used to take five days will now be electronically cleared within 24 hours. So you could write a large check thinking it's covered and find that you have now suddenly a check that's bouncing.

COSTELLO: Bouncing. And I'm sure the fees at the banks are going up for that, too.

APPLEGATE: They're expecting those fees to go up big time. As a matter of fact, I've seen projections that in the course of the next year, there could be as much as $170 million or more raised in these bad check fees.

COSTELLO: Man. What was the idea behind this?

APPLEGATE: Well, it was simply instituted following 9/11 with the attack, and there was a tremendous disruption to the processing of paper checks in that time frame. So what they did was introduced this Act so that electronic images are now going to be used in substituting for the paper or original check. The key word that you mentioned in the intro for people to remember is the word substitute check. That will be the only way that people will, in the future, be able to prove that the check they wrote was the correct amount so that in the event there is any discrepancy between what's cashed and how much is cashed, etc., the only way you're going to be able to prove it in the future is with a substitute check.

So remember that important word, that if you have to go to the bank and prove that you wrote the check for what amount, that's what you have to ask for.

COSTELLO: Interesting.

Rick Applegate from KDKA Radio.

You're the host of "Money Talk."

Thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

APPLEGATE: "Money Talk."

My pleasure, Carol.

COSTELLO: Early voting, the electoral college, undecided voters -- there's plenty about this election year you might consider confusing. Coming up, Ron Brownstein will sort through the factors that could decide the race.

And later, the airline industry takes another hit. But one company's losses are another one's gains.

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