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CNN Live At Daybreak
No More Counting Down the Days; Car Bomb Explodes Near Iraq's Ministry of Education
Aired November 02, 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: No more counting down the days. It's just a matter of hours. We could know who Americans want to be their president for the next four years in a matter of a lot of hours or a couple days. We don't know that yet.
It is Tuesday, November 2.
It is Election Day.
You're watching DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news, in Baghdad, a car bomb explodes near Iraq's Ministry of Education. One report says at least five were killed in the blast. Several more are reported injured.
This morning, we expect to get an update on the health of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. A PLO representative will give a briefing, but it probably won't be until tomorrow before we learn what's made the Palestinian leader so sick.
In Ohio, controversy over Republican Party plans to put 3,600 challengers inside voting precincts. Overnight, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the Republicans. The challengers are concerned about voter fraud. There's already been an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle is in a tight race with Republican John Thune. Early today, a federal judge granted Daschle's request to limit the activities of Republican poll watchers in one county. Daschle has claimed the Republicans intimidated Native American voters.
To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
And, you know, we were joking earlier about this may take days, this may take weeks. And you and I were just talking between -- after the break. And the most important thing is to get it right. If it takes two hours, if it takes three days, if it takes two weeks. That's all the American voter wants is to just get it right, no matter how long it takes. They're not going to be, you know, sworn in for a couple of months anyway, right? So...
COSTELLO: Well, hopefully the weather will be perfect and voters will want to get to the polls.
MYERS: You wonder.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Today, you count. You vote and then you sweat it out waiting for who wins. Most polls across the country are now just opening. Democratic hopeful John Kerry will wake up this morning in the battleground state of Wisconsin. He'll be voting in Boston today. And incumbent George Bush is at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. He'll cast his ballot near there later today.
Ah, but we do have some early results for you this morning. As is traditional, the 57 voters in New Hampshire's Dixville Notch and Hart's Location have cast their votes. They just started voting after midnight. The results are in, Bush 35 votes, John Kerry 21. Ralph Nader got one vote in Hart's Location.
We don't know if the president is up to hear those early results, but he is said to be relaxed and confident.
We want to check in with both campaigns.
Suzanne Malveaux is with the Bush camp and Kelly Wallace is with the Kerry camp.
Let's head first to Crawford, Texas and Suzanne Malveaux -- good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Yes, his aides, his closest aides say that the president is relaxed, that he is at peace with whatever the outcome may be after today. Yesterday, of course, you can imagine he is also rather tired. It was a 19-hour marathon campaigning day for the president, really flying through seven cities and six states. He ended his day at Southern Methodist University. That is the alma mater of the first lady. That's where he really thanked his most loyal supporters, his closest aides, those who've been with him since the very beginning.
And just to let you know what the sense is of the campaign, is the president, of course, projecting a sense of confidence yesterday. But still there is some anxiety behind-the-scenes among their aides because the president is breaking with tradition today and he is going out one last stop in Ohio, Columbus, Ohio. That is certainly where they hope that the get out the vote effort really pays off, because, as you know, there is no Republican that's ever captured the White House who has not captured Ohio -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Suzanne Malveaux reporting live for us this morning. Now let's head to the Kerry camp. They're beginning Election Day in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Kelly Wallace is there -- good morning, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
And Senator Kerry will be making his final appearance on the stump in a battleground state today, this morning, in La Crosse. It'll be a get out the vote event. Wisconsin one of the only states, one of the few states, really, where you can register and vote today.
The senator arriving here in La Crosse about 2:00 in the morning local time. This was the end of an 18-hour, six stop, four state day. He was shaking hands with some supporters there. He spent two stops of his day yesterday in Wisconsin. This is one state the campaign is a bit concerned about. It is a state Al Gore won narrowly in 2000 and it is a state President Bush is working very, very hard to steal away.
The senator, though, also making two stops in the State of Ohio. He is looking to steal that state away from Republican hands. The biggest crowds of all during the day in Cleveland, when Bruce Springsteen made his fourth appearance with Senator Kerry over the past several days and urged people to go out and vote.
Aides describe the senator as feeling very good. He seemed to be quite fired up yesterday. His aides were smiling and laughing at the last event of the night.
Carol, they do believe that this is going to go Senator Kerry's way. They think they have the math on their side. They think they have the numbers of voters already identified who are going to go out and vote for Senator Kerry. Now they just have to turn out those voters.
As you said, the senator heading to Boston later today to vote. He'll also do a tradition on Election Day, go to lunch at a Boston restaurant and then possibly do some interviews, satellite interviews with other battleground states later and then watch and wait -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, pins and needles for both candidates.
Kelly Wallace reporting live from La Crosse, Wisconsin this morning.
Thank you.
George Bush or John Kerry, why should you vote for either of them? They both answer that question with separate editorials in "USA Today."
President Bush says his record speaks for itself. He writes: "For nearly four years, I have acted to promote opportunity and protect the safety of my follow citizens. I ask for your vote to build on the good work we have begun." As for Senator Kerry, he says it's time to move in a new direction. Kerry writes: "We will unite Democrats and Republicans to succeed in Iraq and restore America's leadership in the world. We will once again stand up for middle class and all of those struggling to join it."
In other news across America this morning, the number of flights in and out of Chicago's O'Hare Airport is dropping. American and United Airlines agreed to drop 37 flights to help reduce delays. Also, a new FAA study says the airport can handle only 190 to 200 flights per hour in excellent or marginal weather. As many as 220 flights have been the norm. The changes could drop airport delays by up to 20 percent.
New York's medical examiner says an accidental drug overdose killed former baseball star Ken Caminiti. Toxicology tests confirm Caminiti died of a acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and opiates. He died on October 10 at the age of 41.
In Alabama, a 22 month old baby is in good condition after a 13- hour ordeal in an abandoned well. As many as 100 people were on hand when rescuers pulled the boy from the 14-foot deep well. The boy had fallen through the hidden opening into the well while playing with his brother and sister in a vacant lot.
Coming up later this hour on DAYBREAK, America Online is reportedly poised to take some of its workers offline. We'll have more in our "Business Buzz" at 13 minutes past.
And putting America in the poorhouse -- that's what Osama bin Laden says he wants to do. We'll talk about it at 41 minutes past.
But first, here's a look at the morning's other headlines for you this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Time now for a little "Business Buzz."
It may not be a jolly holiday season for many workers at America Online.
Carrie Lee has that story live from the NASDAQ market site -- good morning, Carrie.
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.
America Online is cutting up to 700 employees, perhaps even more than that, in early December, mostly at the company's northern Virginia headquarters. And this is a cost cutting move tied to the firm's continuing loss of subscribers to faster or cheaper Internet services. Of course, America Online is a Time Warner unit. Time Warner a parent company of CNN. The difficulties really seem to be sliding for -- affected by the slide in subscribers. This company had almost 27 million subscribers in the third quarter of 2002, but since then over three million customers here in the U.S. have been lost. A lot of people are going to faster, cheaper competitors, Carol. So we'll see what Time Warner has to say when they report profits tomorrow.
Meanwhile, stocks looking up for today's session, clearly all about the election. But so far, stocks are looking in pretty good shape for the 9:30 opening bell.
COSTELLO: All right, Carrie Lee reporting live from the Nasdaq.
Thank you very much.
Americans abroad, they've been casting their votes for president.
And as CNN's Louise Schiavone reports, the ballots have been pouring in.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
LOUISE SCHIAVONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Their ballots are flying into U.S. distribution centers from overseas -- U.S. citizens out of country for this election, an estimated four million civilians and about half a million active duty military men and women, about 160,000 of them in the Middle East.
TIM MILLS, USA VOTE 2004: When you're making a commitment to the defense not only of the United States, but in an environment where you are at risk of really paying the ultimate price, there's a great stake in having your voice heard.
SCHIAVONE: A voter drive called USA Vote 2004 has been rounding up the contractor and military vote in Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq since late summer. The effort is non-partisan, but military votes are expected to favor President Bush.
NORMAN ORNSTEIN, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE: What we learned from Florida four years ago is that every vote can count and in this case that means you squeeze as many votes as you can out of the system.
SCHIAVONE: USA Vote 2004 estimates that roughly 15,000 overseas active duty military are from Florida, about 13,000 are from Ohio and approximately 10,000 are from Pennsylvania.
LARRY NOBLE, CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS: If you end up with a race like 2000, or like what happened in Florida, and you end up with that happening in several states, then the ballots from overseas may be very important. They could decide the election.
SCHIAVONE: Hopes are that by 2008, electronic voting will be available to all military personnel, as it is today for military voters from Missouri and North Dakota.
SAMUEL WRIGHT, MILITARY VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT: If electronic means are secure enough for huge financial transactions and for classified military information, then it ought to be possible to come up with a system that is secure, that protects the secret ballot. SCHIAVONE (on camera): This is the first presidential election since 1972 where American forces are engaged in a majority military operation overseas, a fact that resonates not only with voters at home, but with those on the front lines, too.
Louise Schiavone, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
The Israeli Army has destroyed the home of yesterday's Tel Aviv suicide bomber. The 16-year-old Palestinian boy killed three people and wounded more than 30 others.
The amber alert for a missing Georgia teenager has been canceled because the girl is now charged in a home invasion. Sixteen-year-old Jesseca Rene Williamson was charged with armed robbery and burglary. Police believe Williamson and a 16-year-old murder suspect are heading for California.
In money news, Philadelphia is the best city for waiters and waitresses in which to work. A national survey by Zagat says diners in Philly are the top tippers. Average tips, 19.1 percent. Out of the 12 major cities surveyed, Seattle has the most cheapskates.
In culture, could Colin Farrell be the next James Bond? Outgoing 007 Pierce Brosnan says he thinks fellow Irishman Ferrell would be the perfect choice for the 21st Bond film. "X-Men" star Hugh Jackman has also expressed interest in being the next super spy.
In sports, the new NBA season starts tonight with many of the game's major stars in action. Kobe Bryant leads his Lakers against the Denver Nuggets and the defending champion Detroit Pistons face Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets -- Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK, live near a Wal-Mart? How about a Starbucks? Your answers to those questions may tell us something about your choice for president.
This is DAYBREAK for a Tuesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTER UPDEGRAVE, SENIOR EDITOR, "MONEY": The single most important thing you can do is sign up for your plan. Once you've done that, the next most important thing is contribute as much as you can. And, if possible, contribute to the max. If you can't contribute the maximum amount that's allowed by the plan, at least contribute enough to get the match that the employer provides.
For example, many employers will match half of the first 6 percent that you put in. So that's like 3 percent of your salary is free money. You shouldn't walk away from this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a little bit Kerry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I'm a little bit Cheney-Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a little bit eastern liberal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But conservatives lead the W. push.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, go play with your guns.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go burn a flag, you wuss. We'll be voting for W., won't we?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope Kerry will kick his tush.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: You were listening to the Capitol Steps.
MYERS: Yes, right.
COSTELLO: That's a singing group that's been around Washington, D.C. forever.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: And they poke fun at politicians and perform around the Washington area and we thought you should listen to a bit of their fun this morning.
MYERS: I tried to log onto jibjab.com and see if they had anything new this morning, but I'm not on yet so.
COSTELLO: What is jibjab.com?
MYERS: Oh my goodness. Where you have been?
COSTELLO: I'm out of the loop.
MYERS: Do you not know -- you don't know Sponge Bob Square Pants either, do you?
COSTELLO: Yes, I do.
MYERS: Oh, OK. COSTELLO: I know Sponge Bob and Patrick, his best friend.
MYERS: Jibjab. Just log on. You'll see.
COSTELLO: OK, I will after the show.
MYERS: Good time.
COSTELLO: We wanted to read some of your e-mails this morning.
Our question this morning, do you think that your vote will count because of all the challengers that are going to be in polling places, in Ohio, that is and all of the monitors that are going to in be polling places throughout the country and the 30,000 lawyers who are going to fan out? Just there to answer your questions, they say. So do you think your vote will count?
This is from Taylor from Virginia: "No, it won't. My absentee ballot did not arrive in the mail, even though I requested it in time."
MYERS: So obviously it didn't go out in the mail on time.
And from J.W. in Tampa, he says: "I believe that my vote is going to count, but I believe in the tooth fairy, the Great Pumpkin, Santa Claus and professional wrestling."
Good morning, J.W.
COSTELLO: So sad.
Chris from Idaho says: "This is the first time I have ever voted, because I never felt like my vote counted. But since the last presidential election, I came to realize, thanks to my wife, if I don't vote, then I should not talk about politics."
MYERS: Well, anyway, keep your e-mails coming.
COSTELLO: DAYBREAK...
MYERS: Do you think your vote will count today?
COSTELLO: Daybreak@cnn.com.
We have some fun polling information for you this morning.
MYERS: If you are with us, 61 percent of the people that drive pickups will vote for President Bush again.
COSTELLO: But we have other cool tidbits.
MYERS: So now we have other ones.
COSTELLO: Yes.
So, 53 percent of people who drive domestic vehicles will vote for Bush, 42 percent for Kerry. Those who drive foreign vehicles, 43 percent will vote for Bush, 55 percent for Kerry.
On to the next set of numbers now. This is an interesting one. Your choice for president, among people who live near a Wal-Mart, 53 percent will vote for Bush, 41 percent for Kerry, just 1 percent for Ralph Nader.
MYERS: And then drive a pickup.
COSTELLO: On to the next set of numbers.
This is your choice for president among people who live near a Starbucks. Remember, this became an issue during the campaign.
MYERS: Probably urban people.
COSTELLO: Kerry, 53 percent; Bush, 43 percent; Ralph Nader gets, again, 1 percent.
MYERS: Just so you know, the margin of error, plus or minus 6 percent. So everything falls within the margin of error on these little fun polls we have today.
COSTELLO: It is a big margin of error.
Coming up on DAYBREAK, much more coverage of the polls. We've got our reporters stationed in all the major battlegrounds. And a reminder, you can watch CNN's coverage of the election returns starting tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
And here's some more election humor from the Capitol Steps as we take you to a break.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kerry shares our views, 'cause he comes from Massachu', sets where we can get married on the spot. On the spot. And he doesn't have a plan for a constitutional ban, and we think his running mate is really hot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The speeches, the debates, the attacks -- the candidates have had their shot and now it's your turn.
It is Election Day, Tuesday, November 2.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello. Now in the news, voters have already been lining up in New Hampshire. The small communities of Hart's Location and Dixville Notch have cast the first ballots for president and so far George Bush has an early lead, emphasis on early.
The Supreme Court meets in a few hours without its chief justice. William Rehnquist had planned to return this week, but he now says he's still being treated for what's apparently a very serious type of thyroid cancer.
In California, it is the defense's turn today. Scott Peterson's lawyers give their closing arguments in his murder trial. Jurors already have heard from the prosecution and they could get the case tomorrow.
Heavy snow caused some problems in Colorado. Highway closures and power outages were caused by up to a foot of snow in some areas. Denver saw nearly three inches while skiers welcomed as many as eight inches in Vail and Aspen.
Oh, it's too early -- Chad.
MYERS: It's 12 degrees in Aspen right now, two below in Leadville, 18 in Denver, wind chill factor four.
Good morning.
COSTELLO: Happy Election Day.
MYERS: Exactly.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: OK, the wait is over. It is finally decision day. Time to choose who you want to lead this country for the next four years. And voters are lining up at the polls across the country this morning. It has begun.
Our reporters are at polling stations in crucial swing states.
CNN's Gary Tuchman joins us live from West Palm Beach, Florida. Our Adaora Udoji is in Canton, Ohio. And our Jason Carroll is at a polling place in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
Let's begin with you, Gary, in Florida.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning to you.
The polls open here in about 25 minutes and there is already a short line of people at this precinct here in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The fire trucks have been moved out of the firehouse. That's because the firehouse is being used as Precinct #905 here in West Palm Beach, Florida. The magnificent people and their voting machines right behind me. These are the machines that are being used, the five touch screen machines that will be used in this precinct here.
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 November 2, 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: No more counting down the days. It's just a matter of hours. We could know who Americans want to be their president for the next four years in a matter of a lot of hours or a couple days. We don't know that yet.
It is Tuesday, November 2.
It is Election Day.
You're watching DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news, in Baghdad, a car bomb explodes near Iraq's Ministry of Education. One report says at least five were killed in the blast. Several more are reported injured.
This morning, we expect to get an update on the health of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. A PLO representative will give a briefing, but it probably won't be until tomorrow before we learn what's made the Palestinian leader so sick.
In Ohio, controversy over Republican Party plans to put 3,600 challengers inside voting precincts. Overnight, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the Republicans. The challengers are concerned about voter fraud. There's already been an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle is in a tight race with Republican John Thune. Early today, a federal judge granted Daschle's request to limit the activities of Republican poll watchers in one county. Daschle has claimed the Republicans intimidated Native American voters.
To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
And, you know, we were joking earlier about this may take days, this may take weeks. And you and I were just talking between -- after the break. And the most important thing is to get it right. If it takes two hours, if it takes three days, if it takes two weeks. That's all the American voter wants is to just get it right, no matter how long it takes. They're not going to be, you know, sworn in for a couple of months anyway, right? So...
COSTELLO: Well, hopefully the weather will be perfect and voters will want to get to the polls.
MYERS: You wonder.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Today, you count. You vote and then you sweat it out waiting for who wins. Most polls across the country are now just opening. Democratic hopeful John Kerry will wake up this morning in the battleground state of Wisconsin. He'll be voting in Boston today. And incumbent George Bush is at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. He'll cast his ballot near there later today.
Ah, but we do have some early results for you this morning. As is traditional, the 57 voters in New Hampshire's Dixville Notch and Hart's Location have cast their votes. They just started voting after midnight. The results are in, Bush 35 votes, John Kerry 21. Ralph Nader got one vote in Hart's Location.
We don't know if the president is up to hear those early results, but he is said to be relaxed and confident.
We want to check in with both campaigns.
Suzanne Malveaux is with the Bush camp and Kelly Wallace is with the Kerry camp.
Let's head first to Crawford, Texas and Suzanne Malveaux -- good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Yes, his aides, his closest aides say that the president is relaxed, that he is at peace with whatever the outcome may be after today. Yesterday, of course, you can imagine he is also rather tired. It was a 19-hour marathon campaigning day for the president, really flying through seven cities and six states. He ended his day at Southern Methodist University. That is the alma mater of the first lady. That's where he really thanked his most loyal supporters, his closest aides, those who've been with him since the very beginning.
And just to let you know what the sense is of the campaign, is the president, of course, projecting a sense of confidence yesterday. But still there is some anxiety behind-the-scenes among their aides because the president is breaking with tradition today and he is going out one last stop in Ohio, Columbus, Ohio. That is certainly where they hope that the get out the vote effort really pays off, because, as you know, there is no Republican that's ever captured the White House who has not captured Ohio -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Suzanne Malveaux reporting live for us this morning. Now let's head to the Kerry camp. They're beginning Election Day in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Kelly Wallace is there -- good morning, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
And Senator Kerry will be making his final appearance on the stump in a battleground state today, this morning, in La Crosse. It'll be a get out the vote event. Wisconsin one of the only states, one of the few states, really, where you can register and vote today.
The senator arriving here in La Crosse about 2:00 in the morning local time. This was the end of an 18-hour, six stop, four state day. He was shaking hands with some supporters there. He spent two stops of his day yesterday in Wisconsin. This is one state the campaign is a bit concerned about. It is a state Al Gore won narrowly in 2000 and it is a state President Bush is working very, very hard to steal away.
The senator, though, also making two stops in the State of Ohio. He is looking to steal that state away from Republican hands. The biggest crowds of all during the day in Cleveland, when Bruce Springsteen made his fourth appearance with Senator Kerry over the past several days and urged people to go out and vote.
Aides describe the senator as feeling very good. He seemed to be quite fired up yesterday. His aides were smiling and laughing at the last event of the night.
Carol, they do believe that this is going to go Senator Kerry's way. They think they have the math on their side. They think they have the numbers of voters already identified who are going to go out and vote for Senator Kerry. Now they just have to turn out those voters.
As you said, the senator heading to Boston later today to vote. He'll also do a tradition on Election Day, go to lunch at a Boston restaurant and then possibly do some interviews, satellite interviews with other battleground states later and then watch and wait -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, pins and needles for both candidates.
Kelly Wallace reporting live from La Crosse, Wisconsin this morning.
Thank you.
George Bush or John Kerry, why should you vote for either of them? They both answer that question with separate editorials in "USA Today."
President Bush says his record speaks for itself. He writes: "For nearly four years, I have acted to promote opportunity and protect the safety of my follow citizens. I ask for your vote to build on the good work we have begun." As for Senator Kerry, he says it's time to move in a new direction. Kerry writes: "We will unite Democrats and Republicans to succeed in Iraq and restore America's leadership in the world. We will once again stand up for middle class and all of those struggling to join it."
In other news across America this morning, the number of flights in and out of Chicago's O'Hare Airport is dropping. American and United Airlines agreed to drop 37 flights to help reduce delays. Also, a new FAA study says the airport can handle only 190 to 200 flights per hour in excellent or marginal weather. As many as 220 flights have been the norm. The changes could drop airport delays by up to 20 percent.
New York's medical examiner says an accidental drug overdose killed former baseball star Ken Caminiti. Toxicology tests confirm Caminiti died of a acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and opiates. He died on October 10 at the age of 41.
In Alabama, a 22 month old baby is in good condition after a 13- hour ordeal in an abandoned well. As many as 100 people were on hand when rescuers pulled the boy from the 14-foot deep well. The boy had fallen through the hidden opening into the well while playing with his brother and sister in a vacant lot.
Coming up later this hour on DAYBREAK, America Online is reportedly poised to take some of its workers offline. We'll have more in our "Business Buzz" at 13 minutes past.
And putting America in the poorhouse -- that's what Osama bin Laden says he wants to do. We'll talk about it at 41 minutes past.
But first, here's a look at the morning's other headlines for you this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Time now for a little "Business Buzz."
It may not be a jolly holiday season for many workers at America Online.
Carrie Lee has that story live from the NASDAQ market site -- good morning, Carrie.
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.
America Online is cutting up to 700 employees, perhaps even more than that, in early December, mostly at the company's northern Virginia headquarters. And this is a cost cutting move tied to the firm's continuing loss of subscribers to faster or cheaper Internet services. Of course, America Online is a Time Warner unit. Time Warner a parent company of CNN. The difficulties really seem to be sliding for -- affected by the slide in subscribers. This company had almost 27 million subscribers in the third quarter of 2002, but since then over three million customers here in the U.S. have been lost. A lot of people are going to faster, cheaper competitors, Carol. So we'll see what Time Warner has to say when they report profits tomorrow.
Meanwhile, stocks looking up for today's session, clearly all about the election. But so far, stocks are looking in pretty good shape for the 9:30 opening bell.
COSTELLO: All right, Carrie Lee reporting live from the Nasdaq.
Thank you very much.
Americans abroad, they've been casting their votes for president.
And as CNN's Louise Schiavone reports, the ballots have been pouring in.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
LOUISE SCHIAVONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Their ballots are flying into U.S. distribution centers from overseas -- U.S. citizens out of country for this election, an estimated four million civilians and about half a million active duty military men and women, about 160,000 of them in the Middle East.
TIM MILLS, USA VOTE 2004: When you're making a commitment to the defense not only of the United States, but in an environment where you are at risk of really paying the ultimate price, there's a great stake in having your voice heard.
SCHIAVONE: A voter drive called USA Vote 2004 has been rounding up the contractor and military vote in Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq since late summer. The effort is non-partisan, but military votes are expected to favor President Bush.
NORMAN ORNSTEIN, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE: What we learned from Florida four years ago is that every vote can count and in this case that means you squeeze as many votes as you can out of the system.
SCHIAVONE: USA Vote 2004 estimates that roughly 15,000 overseas active duty military are from Florida, about 13,000 are from Ohio and approximately 10,000 are from Pennsylvania.
LARRY NOBLE, CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS: If you end up with a race like 2000, or like what happened in Florida, and you end up with that happening in several states, then the ballots from overseas may be very important. They could decide the election.
SCHIAVONE: Hopes are that by 2008, electronic voting will be available to all military personnel, as it is today for military voters from Missouri and North Dakota.
SAMUEL WRIGHT, MILITARY VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT: If electronic means are secure enough for huge financial transactions and for classified military information, then it ought to be possible to come up with a system that is secure, that protects the secret ballot. SCHIAVONE (on camera): This is the first presidential election since 1972 where American forces are engaged in a majority military operation overseas, a fact that resonates not only with voters at home, but with those on the front lines, too.
Louise Schiavone, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
The Israeli Army has destroyed the home of yesterday's Tel Aviv suicide bomber. The 16-year-old Palestinian boy killed three people and wounded more than 30 others.
The amber alert for a missing Georgia teenager has been canceled because the girl is now charged in a home invasion. Sixteen-year-old Jesseca Rene Williamson was charged with armed robbery and burglary. Police believe Williamson and a 16-year-old murder suspect are heading for California.
In money news, Philadelphia is the best city for waiters and waitresses in which to work. A national survey by Zagat says diners in Philly are the top tippers. Average tips, 19.1 percent. Out of the 12 major cities surveyed, Seattle has the most cheapskates.
In culture, could Colin Farrell be the next James Bond? Outgoing 007 Pierce Brosnan says he thinks fellow Irishman Ferrell would be the perfect choice for the 21st Bond film. "X-Men" star Hugh Jackman has also expressed interest in being the next super spy.
In sports, the new NBA season starts tonight with many of the game's major stars in action. Kobe Bryant leads his Lakers against the Denver Nuggets and the defending champion Detroit Pistons face Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets -- Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK, live near a Wal-Mart? How about a Starbucks? Your answers to those questions may tell us something about your choice for president.
This is DAYBREAK for a Tuesday.
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WALTER UPDEGRAVE, SENIOR EDITOR, "MONEY": The single most important thing you can do is sign up for your plan. Once you've done that, the next most important thing is contribute as much as you can. And, if possible, contribute to the max. If you can't contribute the maximum amount that's allowed by the plan, at least contribute enough to get the match that the employer provides.
For example, many employers will match half of the first 6 percent that you put in. So that's like 3 percent of your salary is free money. You shouldn't walk away from this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a little bit Kerry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I'm a little bit Cheney-Bush.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a little bit eastern liberal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But conservatives lead the W. push.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, go play with your guns.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go burn a flag, you wuss. We'll be voting for W., won't we?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope Kerry will kick his tush.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: You were listening to the Capitol Steps.
MYERS: Yes, right.
COSTELLO: That's a singing group that's been around Washington, D.C. forever.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: And they poke fun at politicians and perform around the Washington area and we thought you should listen to a bit of their fun this morning.
MYERS: I tried to log onto jibjab.com and see if they had anything new this morning, but I'm not on yet so.
COSTELLO: What is jibjab.com?
MYERS: Oh my goodness. Where you have been?
COSTELLO: I'm out of the loop.
MYERS: Do you not know -- you don't know Sponge Bob Square Pants either, do you?
COSTELLO: Yes, I do.
MYERS: Oh, OK. COSTELLO: I know Sponge Bob and Patrick, his best friend.
MYERS: Jibjab. Just log on. You'll see.
COSTELLO: OK, I will after the show.
MYERS: Good time.
COSTELLO: We wanted to read some of your e-mails this morning.
Our question this morning, do you think that your vote will count because of all the challengers that are going to be in polling places, in Ohio, that is and all of the monitors that are going to in be polling places throughout the country and the 30,000 lawyers who are going to fan out? Just there to answer your questions, they say. So do you think your vote will count?
This is from Taylor from Virginia: "No, it won't. My absentee ballot did not arrive in the mail, even though I requested it in time."
MYERS: So obviously it didn't go out in the mail on time.
And from J.W. in Tampa, he says: "I believe that my vote is going to count, but I believe in the tooth fairy, the Great Pumpkin, Santa Claus and professional wrestling."
Good morning, J.W.
COSTELLO: So sad.
Chris from Idaho says: "This is the first time I have ever voted, because I never felt like my vote counted. But since the last presidential election, I came to realize, thanks to my wife, if I don't vote, then I should not talk about politics."
MYERS: Well, anyway, keep your e-mails coming.
COSTELLO: DAYBREAK...
MYERS: Do you think your vote will count today?
COSTELLO: Daybreak@cnn.com.
We have some fun polling information for you this morning.
MYERS: If you are with us, 61 percent of the people that drive pickups will vote for President Bush again.
COSTELLO: But we have other cool tidbits.
MYERS: So now we have other ones.
COSTELLO: Yes.
So, 53 percent of people who drive domestic vehicles will vote for Bush, 42 percent for Kerry. Those who drive foreign vehicles, 43 percent will vote for Bush, 55 percent for Kerry.
On to the next set of numbers now. This is an interesting one. Your choice for president, among people who live near a Wal-Mart, 53 percent will vote for Bush, 41 percent for Kerry, just 1 percent for Ralph Nader.
MYERS: And then drive a pickup.
COSTELLO: On to the next set of numbers.
This is your choice for president among people who live near a Starbucks. Remember, this became an issue during the campaign.
MYERS: Probably urban people.
COSTELLO: Kerry, 53 percent; Bush, 43 percent; Ralph Nader gets, again, 1 percent.
MYERS: Just so you know, the margin of error, plus or minus 6 percent. So everything falls within the margin of error on these little fun polls we have today.
COSTELLO: It is a big margin of error.
Coming up on DAYBREAK, much more coverage of the polls. We've got our reporters stationed in all the major battlegrounds. And a reminder, you can watch CNN's coverage of the election returns starting tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
And here's some more election humor from the Capitol Steps as we take you to a break.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kerry shares our views, 'cause he comes from Massachu', sets where we can get married on the spot. On the spot. And he doesn't have a plan for a constitutional ban, and we think his running mate is really hot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The speeches, the debates, the attacks -- the candidates have had their shot and now it's your turn.
It is Election Day, Tuesday, November 2.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello. Now in the news, voters have already been lining up in New Hampshire. The small communities of Hart's Location and Dixville Notch have cast the first ballots for president and so far George Bush has an early lead, emphasis on early.
The Supreme Court meets in a few hours without its chief justice. William Rehnquist had planned to return this week, but he now says he's still being treated for what's apparently a very serious type of thyroid cancer.
In California, it is the defense's turn today. Scott Peterson's lawyers give their closing arguments in his murder trial. Jurors already have heard from the prosecution and they could get the case tomorrow.
Heavy snow caused some problems in Colorado. Highway closures and power outages were caused by up to a foot of snow in some areas. Denver saw nearly three inches while skiers welcomed as many as eight inches in Vail and Aspen.
Oh, it's too early -- Chad.
MYERS: It's 12 degrees in Aspen right now, two below in Leadville, 18 in Denver, wind chill factor four.
Good morning.
COSTELLO: Happy Election Day.
MYERS: Exactly.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: OK, the wait is over. It is finally decision day. Time to choose who you want to lead this country for the next four years. And voters are lining up at the polls across the country this morning. It has begun.
Our reporters are at polling stations in crucial swing states.
CNN's Gary Tuchman joins us live from West Palm Beach, Florida. Our Adaora Udoji is in Canton, Ohio. And our Jason Carroll is at a polling place in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
Let's begin with you, Gary, in Florida.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning to you.
The polls open here in about 25 minutes and there is already a short line of people at this precinct here in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The fire trucks have been moved out of the firehouse. That's because the firehouse is being used as Precinct #905 here in West Palm Beach, Florida. The magnificent people and their voting machines right behind me. These are the machines that are being used, the five touch screen machines that will be used in this precinct here.
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