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Some Survive Nigeria's Plane Crash; Firefighters in California Make Some Progress; Iraq War Key Issue in Midterms
Aired October 29, 2006 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A terrible crash, but some remarkable stories of survival. Details from Nigeria's latest deadly air accident.
With little more than a week to go, the candidates are working the campaign trail very hard and so are CNN reporters, giving you the best political coverage on TV.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have distinct recollections of the ball jumping off the bat, did some research and I became more and more convinced that aluminum bats were just inherently dangerous and the sport would be better if kids were required to use wooden bats.
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WHITFIELD: This state lawmaker wants to get metal bats out of here. The tragedy that triggered his campaign.
Hello and welcome to the CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. All that and more after the check of the headlines.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Terrible, beyond any description, terrible, terrible.
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WHITFIELD: A nightmare in Nigeria. An airliner crashes soon after takeoff -- 104 people were on board, seven survived.
The Northeast is in recovery mode today after a storm system knocked out power for Maryland to Maine. And there could be more trouble in the forecast. A live report in a moment.
And firefighters are making some headway against a major blaze in southern California. The Esperanza wildfire is now 70 percent contained. The latest from the scene in five minutes.
And Iraqi insurgents have killed 13 police academy employees in Basra. Some of the victims were working as translators there.
First this hour, that deadly crash in Nigeria. The Boeing 737 took off in a storm and stayed aloft for about two miles. At the crash scene, rescue workers found scores of bodies including that of a top Sunni Muslim leader. But incredibly, they also found survivors. The crash occurred in the Nigerian capital of Abuja. CNN Africa correspondent Jeff Koinange has more on the story from Johannesburg.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT (on phone): That's right, Fredricka, seven, count them, seven people walked away from this fiery crash, the third such crash in Nigeria in the last one year alone.
As you mentioned, there were 104 passengers on board that Boeing 737 that crashed one minute after taking off from the capital Abuja. It crashed into a wooded area. Rescuers arrived on the scene soon after. They found scattered bodies all over the place, and parts of the fuselage. But they did manage to find those seven. They rushed them to the hospital. We understand one of them is in critical condition.
And also, just as you mentioned, the man considered the spiritual head of Nigeria, 70 million Muslims, the sultan of Sokoto. He was also involved in that accident, he is also dead, including his son, who is a senator in Nigeria's national assembly, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So Jeff, an investigation is underway. Are investigators leaning towards weather being a factor?
KOINANGE: It could very well be, Fredricka, but obviously it's too soon to tell. As I mentioned, this is the third such accident in the last year alone. Nigeria's skies are notoriously unfriendly.
Last year there were two accidents in as many months. The president there Olusegun Obasanjo ordered an immediate investigation. He even grounded several airlines until they were recertified. So again, Nigerians will have to go back to the drawing book because a lot of them do use air to travel. And they're going to be thinking twice if they're going to be flying those skies.
WHITFIELD: So Jeff, these three plane accidents in one year's time -- is the common denominator the same airliner?
KOINANGE: No, that is not true although this particular airline, it's the second crash in 10 years. The others were other domestic airlines. But again, old aircrafts bought from Europe by private investors trying to see if they could use them for another 10, 15 years. But without the right maintenance, without properly taking care of them, obviously these planes don't last that long. And they're very notorious.
I have flown these planes so many times when I lived in Nigeria, especially this particular one. And I've had some pretty hairy flights on it, Fredricka. So again, they have to really re-examine how to deal with their airline industry over there.
WHITFIELD: Jeff Koinange, joining us live on the phone from Johannesburg on this plane crash taking place in Abuja, Nigeria, thank you. Now from New England to Maryland, power lines are back online today. They're bringing juice to thousands of homes now left in the dark by a wet and windy storm. High winds uprooted trees in New York, damaging cars and homes on Saturday. Some gusts topped 50 miles-an- hour. The storm also blasted Pennsylvania with rain, wind, and snow, snapping power lines there as well. And in New Hampshire, one man is missing after falling off a cruise ship during the storm. And a kayaker drowned when his boat overturned in a rain-swollen river. Let's check in now with meteorologist Jacqui Jeras. It would be nice to say that the worst is over?
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WHITFIELD: And this just in now out of California. The Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is touring the wildfire damage in southern California. You're looking at new pictures in now.
Favorable weather is finally helping the firefighters there get closer to trying to contain the deadly Esperanza blaze. Earlier today, some of them paused to remember four fallen colleagues.
Joining me now by phone, Robin Prince, public information officer from California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. And so -- Mr. (sic) Prince, I have to imagine this has to be very difficult for so many firefighters to continue to try to contain this blaze while at the same time thinking about their four colleagues who were killed and a fifth still in recovery?
ROBIN PRINCE, PIO, CA. DEPT OF FORESTRY & FIRE PROTEC (on phone): Well, firefighters have a job to do. And they know that protecting, protecting the life and property is their most important goal. And they have made good progress with decreased wind conditions and higher humidity and lower temperatures. They've been able to maintain the fire overnight at 40,458 acres with 70 percent containment. So things are looking a lot better here in the fire. And with these better wind and weather conditions, we're expecting full containment by October 31st at 6:00 p.m.
WHITFIELD: So Ms. Prince, sorry about that earlier. Give me an idea what the continued obstacles seem to be?
PRINCE: Uh, we've really gotten over most of the obstacles. The only thing that might become a problem if we have changes, significant changes in the winds. And they're not predicting any more Santa Ana winds for the near future. So they're looking to be able to contain this fire and get it under control, get people back in their homes as soon as they find it is safe enough to the open evacuated areas.
WHITFIELD: Well talk to me about the coordination. If the number is at 2,900 firefighters from so many jurisdictions all collectively trying to help on this, how do you communicate? How do you make sure that everyone is on the same page while trying to battle what is still a very dangerous blaze?
PRINCE: We have a system in place. Firefighters work in a very, almost military type of process. And they have an incident command where they, where there is one person in charge of the fire and they coordinate all the efforts.
So each team is responsible for containment lines and getting everything working together so they can get a containment line all the way around the fire. So crews have been working 24 hours and we have been having good progress. So things have been working out well even with the loss of the four firefighters.
WHITFIELD: Robin Prince, public information officer for California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, thanks so much for your time.
And now to the midterm elections. With nine days to go, President Bush and the GOP are mounting a desperate push to try to keep from losing both the House and Senate. Television's No. 1 political team is out in force today, tracking the key races. We'll check on them over the next two hours.
Let's get started from the White House, where the war in Iraq has gone from Republican rallying cry to now political liability. Here's, Ed Henry -- Ed?
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fred. In the last two elections, as you know, it was Democrats who were playing defense on national security issues. Not necessarily this time.
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HENRY (voice-over): With violence in Iraq front and center in the midterm elections, Republicans candidates continue to break with the president on conduct of the war. Michael Steele, the Republican contender in the hot Maryland Senate race was asked, does he think Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should resign?
MICHAEL STEELE, MARYLAND SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: Let's put it this way. He wouldn't be my secretary of defense. And ultimately that's going to be a decision that the president of the United States makes.
HENRY: But House Majority Leader John Boehner joined the president in offering a ringing endorsement of Rumsfeld.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), MAJORITY LEADER: I think Donald Rumsfeld is the best thing that happened to the Pentagon in 25 years. This Pentagon, and our military needs a transformation. And I think Donald Rumsfeld is the only man in America who knows where the bodies are buried at the Pentagon, has enough experience to help transform that institution.
HENRY: Fuel for the Democratic mantra of change.
REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: It's true President Bush may not be on the ballot, but people like Boehner and people who support Rumsfeld and Cheney and Bush, they're on the ballot. This is a referendum on the war and the incompetency of the Bush administration.
HENRY: Republicans insist key races will turn on local issues, not Iraq. But just in case they're once again pointing out some Democratic plans to withdraw U.S. troops.
SEN. ELIZABETH DOLE (R), NORTH CAROLINA: We're trying to find a way to -- to -- to complete this war and to get our troops home as soon as possible. The Democrats appear to be content with losing. And by losing, I mean, you know, if you don't complete the mission and you pull out, then there is going to be an eruption in the Middle East.
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HENRY: Republicans are banking on a get out the vote operation that even Democrats admit has been stellar in the last two election cycles. But this time they're facing some conservatives who are disillusioned. Just today former House Majority Leader Dick Armey writing an op/ed piece in the "Washington Post" declaring that he believes the Republican revolution has lost its way so that vaunted, Republican turnout machine is facing its biggest test ever -- Fred?
WHITFIELD: All right, Ed Henry at the White House, thanks so much. Ed Henry is part of the best political team on television. And we'll continue our coverage of some of the closely watched political battles including the Senate race in Maryland, where the jabs are getting personal between Ben Cardin and Michael Steele.
And this has been one of the deadliest months for U.S. troops in Iraq. A look at how one army unit has been hit especially hard.
And the U.S. Marine Corps marathon, two Iraq war widows on the course paying tribute. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
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WHITFIELD: Here are some of the more popular stories on CNN.com. A Michigan jury finds a mother guilty of abusing and killing her adopted son. Lisa Holland and her husband Tim claim that 7-year-old Ricky had run away from home last year. Her husband pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and testified against his wife.
Meet the next person to shell out big money for a ride to the International Space Station. Charles Simonyi is a billionaire software engineer who fled Hungary at the age of 17 when it was a Soviet satellite. Blast off is now set for March next year.
With nine days before crucial midterm elections, the president makes the cover of this week's "Time" magazine. "Time" says, due in large part to the Iraq war, he has fallen out of favor with his own party and is increasingly isolated.
More now on the election: Republicans face the prospect of losing the House and maybe the Senate for the first time in more than a decade. In Maryland, a key Senate race. With that story here is CNN's Gary Nurenberg.
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, this one is far closer than political experts had predicted.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEELE: A lot of talk, no delivery.
NURENBERG: A talk show Sunday...
BEN CARDIN (D), MARYLAND SENATE CANDIDATE: Look on his Web page. Try to find his positions on Iraq -- 168 words. That's all he devotes.
NURENBERG: The campaigning for an open Maryland Senate seat between Republican Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele and Democratic Congressman Ben Cardin has become increasingly personal.
(on camera): Is it a fair reading to say that you guys don't like each other?
CARDIN: It's fair to say that we differ on the issues dramatically.
MICHAEL J. FOX, ACTOR: George Bush and Michael Steele would put limits on the most promising stem cell research.
NURENBERG (voice over): It seemed personal when a Michael J. Fox criticizing Steele for his position on stem cell research was rebutted by Steele's sister who suffers from multiple sclerosis.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Cardin should be ashamed.
NURENBERG: In his television ads...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael Steele has been working for George Bush.
NURENBERG: ... in campaign literature, in every speech...
CARDIN: Well, he was recruited by George Bush.
NURENBERG: ... Cardin tries to link Steele to President Bush.
STEELE: All I have heard for the past year of this campaign is George Bush, anti-George Bush...
NURENBERG: In blue state Maryland, Steele rarely mentions the president, rarely mentions he is a Republican...
STEELE: We've spent a lot of time focused on labels. And when we focus on the labels nothing gets done.
NURENBERG: ... and tries to distance himself from this party.
STEELE: When my party is wrong I'm not standing with it. I'm not voting with it.
NURENBERG: And there is this...
STEELE: You've got an African-American candidate running against a white candidate.
CARDIN: I think the African-American vote is going to be critical.
NURENBERG: Cardin defeated black Democrat Kweisi Mfume in the primary.
NORM ORNSTEIN, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INST.: It was a close contest and the white Democrat won. Now with a black Republican, the Republicans have been hopeful that they can crack through with the minority vote.
NURENBERG: Some disappointed black Democrats may skip voting in the Senate race.
A Sunday "Washington Post" poll gives Cardin an 11-point lead. But political analyst Charles Cook now labels the race a tossup.
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NURENBERG: Nine days to go. As one of the candidates said today, unbelievably we're going to kick it up a notch -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Wow, that is speaking volumes. All right, thank you so much. Gary. A little bit later we'll talk about the midterm elections with our senior political analyst, CNN's Bill Schneider.
And one other quick political note. "The New York Times" endorses Democrat Ned Lamont in his bid to unseat Senate veteran Joe Lieberman. The "Times" cites Lamont's opposition to the war in Iraq and Lieberman's defense of President Bush's strategy in Iraq. Polls show Lieberman leading the race by about 10 points.
Will a verdict of death in Saddam Hussein's trial spark more violence in Iraq? That's what one of his attorneys predicts in this letter. What else does he warn President Bush about?
And 15 deaths in one month. How an American unit in Iraq deals with the tremendous losses.
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WHITFIELD: Time to go global with headlines from around the world. Iran is taking the U.S. to task for holding war games in the Persian Gulf. Today's exercises are focused on surveillance. Tomorrow, ships from the U.S. and five other nations will intercept and search a British vessel playing the role of the suspect ship. Iran's foreign minister calls the exercise inappropriate.
A deadly firefight in southern Afghanistan. NATO and Afghan forces battled more than 100 insurgents for hours. NATO officials say the fight broke out after the insurgents ambushed some troops. One NATO soldier and 70 insurgents were reported killed.
A tense presidential run-off in one of Africa's most war-torn countries. Congo's incumbent president is running against a former rebel warlord now serving in the power sharing government. Forces loyal to both sides have battled each other ahead of the election. But today's voting was largely peaceful.
A typhoon has hit the Philippines and officials say it might be one of the worst the country has ever seen. Driving rain and winds are lashing the northern island of Luzon. Power is out in some areas and schools have been shut down. The country's president is urging residents not to leave their homes.
Next week's elections could shift control of Congress, but referendums, not just candidates will have an impact. We'll have a live interview with our senior political analyst. And with so much at stake in these midterm elections, candidates are hitting the mat, slamming opponents in campaign ads.
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GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Open enrollment season for company benefits is traditionally the entire month of November. So start thinking now about your changes for the coming year. To make the most of your elections, stick with traditional plans like HMOs and PPOs.
According to the most recent study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, people who opted for high deductible plans spent more money out of pocket on health care expenses and were less satisfied with their plan.
Flex spending accounts can be another great benefit. Some medical savings accounts let you put aside pre-tax dollars for over- the-counter drug purchases and doctor co-pays. But remember to use all of the money in your account because you will lose what's left at the end of your benefit year if you don't.
And while considering these changes, re-evaluate your 401K. Contribute enough to get your company's full match and check your portfolio history. If you are not reaching your retirement goals, open enrollment is a great time to get back on track.
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WHITFIELD: Half past the hour right now. Nigeria's president orders an investigation into the nation's third plane crash in the last year. A Boeing 737 crashed after takeoff this morning from the Nigerian capital -- 97 of the 104 people on board are feared dead.
In California, aerial water drops and better weather are helping firefighters put the squeeze on the Esperanza wildfire. Crews say they're making some progress and expect to have the 40,000-acre blaze contained by Tuesday. Four fighters have died and a fifth was critically injured.
Thousands living in the northeast are trying to recover from yesterday's strong storms. In Connecticut, heavy rains spawned flash floods. Further north, high winds knocked out power to thousands from Maryland to New Hampshire.
Nine days until America votes and Republicans are trying to distance themselves from the Mark Foley fiasco.
Today House Majority Leader John Boehner said if he or any other Republican Party leader knew of Foley's salacious e-mails to congressional pages they "would have dragged him out of there by his tie."
Saddam Hussein's trial is only one of the stories our John Roberts is covering from Iraq. It's where we'll begin this half-hour. A war crimes prosecution and expected conviction of the former Iraqi dictator was previously viewed as a way to help the Iraqi people heal after years of Saddam's despotic rule. But Hussein's attorney says that scenario would do the exact opposite. CNNs John Roberts explains.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: With a verdict expected in the trial of Saddam Hussein as soon as next Sunday, his chief defense attorney is warning that the violence in Iraq could worsen in fact spread throughout the region if Saddam Hussein is given the death penalty. In the descriptive prose that is so typical of the Arab world, his attorney writes a verdict like this could spark the flame; it will set the valley on fire and drown the region in the roar of the unknown. Saddam faces a number of charges this particular trial is related to the deaths of 150 Shiites in a town of Dujail after a crackdown on Shiites following the failed assassination attempt against Saddam Hussein.
In the letter which was sent to President Bush through the U.S Embassy in Amman, the attorney warns if Saddam is given the death penalty it could tip the sectarian violence that has engulfed Baghdad and much of Iraq into full out civil war. He appeals to President Bush to release Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants saying that the verdict is time for maximum political impact in the upcoming midterm elections.
Now the White House has not seen the full text of the letter, but we did read parts of it to national Security Council spokesperson, Gordon Jondro. Jondro dismissed the complaints saying that this trial is before an Iraqi court presided over by an Iraqi judge and that if Saddam Hussein has complaints about the process he should address those to the people of Iraq.
In fact. Saddam Hussein did address those complaints to the presiding judge in a letter written on October 2nd from jail, delivered to the judge through this lawyer. He claims many of the same things the attorney does, but adds, that a death penalty conviction would be portrayed by the Bush administration as a victory for its policy in Iraq. Saddam is asking for postponement in the verdict. It is possible though that that could happen anyways because the trial judges may not be prepared, may not be ready enough to deliver that verdict next Sunday.
At the same time the violence continue as cross Baghdad. Many, many more bodies were found this morning. I was at the police station when one came in the back of an Iraqi police pickup truck. Typical of the sectarian killings we have seen around Baghdad. Shot three times in the head, his throat slashed as well. He had been driving in his car. A Shiite in a Sunni neighborhood, just the wrong sect and the wrong place, at the wrong time. And it was a major joint U.S.-Iraqi military operation overnight.
After a convoy, which usually ferries Iraqi prime minister around, came under fire in a southwestern section of Baghdad. The prime minister was not with the convoy at the time. One of his guards was injured though. U.S.-Iraqi army members searched the neighborhood all night. Came up with one detainee and a number of weapons. Not sure if they got the person who fired on the convoy. It's not clear at this point if the prime minister was being targeted or if the convoy happened to roll through that neighborhood and presented a big fat target to the gunmen who were waiting there.
WHITFIELD: That was John Roberts. Before filing that report he was imbedded with one U.S. army brigade. This month alone 98 American troops have died in the Iraq conflict. The seemingly never ending war involving insurgents and battles has some soldiers now wondering if the mission is worth it. Again here is CNNs John Roberts.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS (voice over): It has been a tough year for the 4th Infantry Division 1st Brigade trying to bring peace to the towns and villages north of Baghdad. So far in October alone, they have lost 15 soldiers to insurgent attacks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll continue to come here.
ROBERTS: The commanding officer Col. Jim Pasq2uarette says his unit has grown up quickly.
COL. JIM PASQUARETTE, U.S. ARMY: Everyone is an individual tragedy. I write letters home to parents, spouses talk to some of them on the phone when I get a chance. It's changed me.
ROBERTS: The tragedies deeply wound every one of these soldiers yet they carry on past a threat that has only increased since they took over this area.
PASQUARETTE: I knew this was going to be a challenge. The hardest thing I have ever done as an army officer in 23 years.
ROBERTS: On top of the insurgency. In recent weeks sectarian violence has engulfed this area dividing Sunni's and Shiites. Some villages have been turned into ghost towns. Others completely leveled.
LT. COL. ROCKY KMIECIK, U.S. ARMY: A small Shiite-farming village, with the sectarian violence. The village was literally destroyed. The people driven out or killed.
ROBERTS: But as the violence escalates the militias is gaining influence. Sunnis don't trust the Iraqi police and believe militias are their only source of real protection. When the Americans round up four gunmen in the Sunni town of Kudos, a crowd gathers to protest.
KMIECIK: What the crowds over there will say is that these four are totally innocent. They are here only to protect citizens of the town and they have committed no crimes.
ROBERTS: It is frustrating for these soldiers who are trying to build confidence among people that militias are not the future of Iraq.
PASQUARETTE: It is frustrating as a commander. When you see how they operate. And when they are effective on those days, it takes a lot of talking to your soldiers to explain why we have got to continue to do this. Why it is important in the long run.
ROBERTS: The violence will last far longer than these troops will be in country. The First Brigade is scheduled to rotate home next month. Many of them wondering, if they'll have to come back.
John Roberts, CNN, with the First Brigade Fourth Infantry Division in Tajik.
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WHITFIELD: Now in this country in politics, do or die time. Midterm elections are nine days away. Candidates are campaigning around the clock to win support. Polls show many Democrats in front. That's the case in Pennsylvania where an incumbent Republican faces an uphill battle to retain his Senate seat.
Joining us live from Philadelphia, Bob Franken, part of the best political team on television. Why is it now so contentious?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well the uphill battle it's getting more steep for Republican Senator Rick Santorum. A new poll that came out today that showed that his deficit against the Democrat is increasing. The Philadelphia Enquirer Temple University Poll shows that Santorum now trails by 16 points. Santorum says that his supporters should not give up yet. The White House certainly has not.
Yesterday, Laura Bush, the First Lady came to town to campaign for Santorum at an event in Philadelphia suburbs. She was here for a considerable period of time. Trying to add her luster to his campaign. Santorum presents himself as the defender of conservative values and also a real hope against some of the world leaders in the world who are considered adversaries of the United States. He also is sharply critical of his opponent who is the Democrat Bob Casey.
Bob Casey is somebody who possesses a well-known name. His father was governor of Pennsylvania. Casey is currently the state treasurer. He is running a campaign as a very low-key candidate. His big problem not to let his supporters get lackadaisical with the campaign. Their ideas to get rid of Santorum. Who they consider ultra conservative, so Santorum certainly has his work cut out for him. The key will be whether either side is able to get out the ground vote. Able to on the last days of the campaign turn out their vote. But at the moment, Santorum has the bigger job. Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Bob Franken thank you so much from Philadelphia.
Well while the candidates get most of the attention. In many states controversial referendums will also be on the ballot. Joining us now to talk about that and some of the other more controversial races out there our own political analyst, Bill Schneider. Good to see you, Bill.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So how are the referendums from stem cell research in Missouri to gay marriage initiatives to banning abortion in South Dakota all influencing national races?
SCHNEIDER: Well what's expected is that some people in those states will come out to vote primarily on the referendum, the referendums to allow stem cell research or to band it. Referendums - one in South Dakota to band just about all abortions. There are also referendum on the ballots in some states to increase the minimum wage, something that a lot of people think Congress has been long overdue in increasing and has not done in this Congress. So there are referendums on both sides. Left and right. That may bring out some marginal voters who might not otherwise be interested in voting and that could give a Democrat or a Republican a little push at the very end in races that are close.
WHITFIELD: Let's talk about some of the interest in some of the contentious Senate races like in Tennessee. Now even Virginia. You got James Webb and George Allen. It has the gotten so vicious there. When at first it seemed the turning point was because of some racial remarks associated with Allen. Now it seems sex and books and Webb may be a turning point in this race. Why?
SCHNEIDER: There are charges made by Senator Allen that Jim Webb used inappropriate imagery in his best-selling novels about American soldiers in combat. This is not sex, remember this is fictional sex. Webb wrote a number of books about American forces fighting in Vietnam. The books have become very popular. Some were turned into screenplays. They include scenes of graphic sex. Allen has sent, some of those passages out and saying that it is some how reflects on the character of his Democratic opponent. To have written this kind of material, to put it out there. Webb insists that that is a low blow. That is unfair. That this was fictional and he was re- creating scenes that actually happened in various parts of the world and that he shouldn't be held accountable for his character for what he wrote in fiction.
WHITFIELD: Let's talk about Corporate America; reportedly there are a number of corporations that are starting to move some of their money towards the Democrats with a feeling that the Democrats may indeed control Congress. Is it true? And if so, how does it work and why? SCHNEIDER: It is true. Democrats are getting money from large corporations at this point and from interest groups. Because they look like they're likely to win. They may control some critical committees. Business is business in this country. It is all about business. They want to do business with who ever is in power. If it looks like the Democrats are going to be in power they're happy to do business with them. Large businesses, most businesses in this country are perfectly willing to set ideology aside and deal with who ever is in power. If the Democrats look like they'll win. By gosh we better have a relationship with them.
WHITFIELD: All right and quickly the business of the President, some Republicans distancing themselves from the president. Yet we saw him in South Carolina as well as Indiana, what is the strategy of these certain states being selected or at least rolling out the welcome mat for him?
SCHNEIDER: Well he still has a base in parts of the country. He went to South Carolina, he went to Indiana, and he is hoping to rev up enthusiasm in the base. That's how the Republicans won in 2002, and in 2004. They think they can do it again. But this year there is a big risk. Risk one is that the Democrats may be also stimulated by the view, the site of the president and they may turn out in large numbers. And the other problem is that independents this time seems to be voting heavily Democratic because they're fed up with inadequacies of the Republican Administration and Congress.
WHITFIELD: All right. Bill Schneider part of the best political team on television. Thank you for your time. Also next week, also on the team, Wolf Blitzer and Paula Zahn leading this political team. You can join them as they join each other in the "Situation Room." They'll be bringing you breaking news plus up to the minute political coverage all week from 7:00 to 9:00 Eastern. In the "Situation Room" right here on CNN.
Their husbands fought together and now they're buried together. Two women who were married to service men killed in Iraq talk about getting on with the rest of their lives. One day at a time.
And an all-American baseball game turns dead leap for one family. Why an aluminum bat is now to blame and why the bats could be banned now.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The 2006 Marine Corps Marathon!
WHITFIELD: They're off. More than 32,000 people broke from the starting line in today's 31st running of the Marine Corps Marathon. Reuben Garcia won the marathon for the second year in a row. And in the crowd there -- so many people with so many stories. These two women among them. They tackled the D.C. course as a way of honoring their fallen husband. Both Chris Norton and her friend, Aymber McElroy's husbands were killed by the same roadside bomb in January. Both of them decided to tackle their healing by tackling this marathon race. Good to see both you've ladies. CHRIS NORTON, HUSBAND KILLED IN IRAQ: Thank you.
AYMBER MCELROY, HUSBAND KILLED IN IRAQ: Good to be here.
WHITFIELD: Chris, let me begin with you, why you decided to participate in this marathon? Are you a runner?
NORTON: No, I'm not a runner. The main reason why I decided to participate was because I wanted to show my own two kids that you can rise above the challenge. And meet your expectations. I also wanted to show them that we would survive.
WHITFIELD: So what was it like for you as you tackled this mammoth race and at the same time passing by Arlington Cemetery where your husband is buried?
NORTON: It was tough. It was -- but it was also very therapeutic. Thanks to TAPS, the organization that I ran on behalf of, I had tons of support.
WHITFIELD: Aymber you mostly walked the race, right?
MCELROY: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Tell me what that was like for you?
MCELROY: It was wonderful. I walked with my mother. And that was our plan from the beginning to walk the race. It was so incredible to finish the finish line there. It was amazing.
WHITFIELD: What was it look to see, just the variety of runners out there, whether it be, a veteran marathon runner, military vets, amputees, the gamut?
MCELROY: Inspiring. It really shows us what an incredible country we are. The Marine Corps is the very best of us, the entire military is just amazing.
WHITFIELD: Did preparing for this race or even engage in running in this race brings the kind of healing or closeness with your late husband that you thought it might?
MCELROY: It did. It was amazing to be kind of with one with Brian out there on the road. Knowing that he was just absolutely so proud of me. It was really, actually very emotional.
WHITFIELD: Understandably so. How courageous for you all to take on the U.S. Marathon, to face, you know, the kind of healing that you had to face in order to be on this journey. I know it's still a journey that you are on. Chris Norton and Aymber Mcelroy thanks so much for your time and congratulations on finishing the race.
NORTON: Thank you.
MCELROY: Thank you. WHITFIELD: Well, is it a metal bat more dangerous than a wooden one? Coming up the action that the controversial forced one lawmaker to take.
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WHITFIELD: It is a swing vote of a totally different sort. Nearly three million American kids play little league baseball. Most leagues use aluminum bats instead of wood because they're cheaper. But some tragic accidents have New Jersey lawmakers stepping up to the plate to bring back wood bats.
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WHITFIELD (voice over): It was a line drive. Hit off an aluminum bat that stopped the heart of 12-year-old Steven Demalesky, Demalesky's brain was deprived of oxygen for around 14 minutes sending the young pitcher into a coma. With family and teammates looking on he was rushed to a New Jersey hospital.
The tragic accident prompted New Jersey assemblyman Patrick Diegnan to introduce a controversial bill that would ban all non-wood bats in any organized baseball or softball game in New Jersey where athletes under 17 years of age are involved.
PATRICK DIEGNAN, (D) NEW JERSEY STATE ASSEMBLY: The incident really brought back memories of when I coached my kids when they were little. Distinct recollection of the ball jumping off the bat and I became more and more convinced that aluminum bats were dangerous and the sport would be better if kids were required to use wooden bats.
WHITFIELD: Diegnan cites a Brown University study conducted in 2002 that suggests balls coming off metal bats traveled an average of 7.2 miles an hour faster than balls hit by wooden bats. That difference, Diegnan believes could mean the difference between life and death. But not everyone agrees with him.
DR. DAVID ALTCHECK, NEW YORK METS DOCTOR: Getting struck by a ball that is going 98 miles an hour is as dangerous as getting struck by a ball that is going 106 miles an hour.
WHITFIELD: Opponents of Diegnan's bill say the Brown study is outdated because of new bat performance factors that were implemented for non-wood bats after the study was conducted. While there are no exact figures on the number of kids injured by aluminum bats versus wood. The most recent study by the consumer product safety commission, which looked into the deaths of 17 players from bat and ball injuries, proved inconclusive in determining a significant difference between metal versus wooden bats.
Steven Keener, president and CEO of Little League International believes a ban on metal bats isn't necessary.
STEVEN KEENER, CEO, LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL: We are never going to eliminate all right injuries and we are never going to be able prevent them all from happening we just believe the risk for the catastrophic and even worse injuries by using the non wood bat is so extremely rare in our program.
WHITFIELD: Five months after the accident, the 13-year-old remains in the hospital unable to speak or see. But his family remains optimistic and in full support of Diegnan's bill hoping it may save other parents from the same type of tragedy.
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WHITFIELD: Still much more ahead in the CNN newsroom with nine days left until the midterm elections we've got the biggest races covered.
From a possible congressional shift of power to the controversial ad campaigns we're live across the country as America prepares to vote.
And then, an interesting message from Cuban leader Fidel Castro. That and much more straight ahead in the next hour of the NEWSROOM.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm meteorologist, Jacqui Jeras with today's cold and flu report. As temperatures drop down we'll start to watch the cases of flu go up. States are reporting some activity; see those in green from California to Texas, Iowa, and then a few locations into the Northeast. Most activity we are seeing is just the localized. But we are seeing a little bit more action in Louisiana, also in Hawaii. Everybody who is looking at states with yellow, that means you're in the clear. Hope you stay that way throughout the season.
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