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8 Days Left; Hard Work, Long Hours, Little Sleep for the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division in Iraq; Sex Predator Ads
Aired October 30, 2006 - 10:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: You're with CNN. You're informed.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins.
Developments keep coming into the NEWSROOM on this Monday, October 30th. So here is what is on the rundown now.
On the campaign trail, the war in Iraq and the battle for your votes, will it be the top issue?
HARRIS: Also on the ballot, fear. Taking a tough stand on sex predators is all the rage in TV ads.
COLLINS: And controversy. Stem cell finally is the focus as Michael J. Fox takes the stage this hour. You can see it live right here in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: President Bush ending the campaign trail in Georgia and Texas today, with just eight days left until the midterm elections.
Our Kathleen is with the president in Georgia.
Kathleen, good morning.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.
Yes, we're here in Statesboro, Georgia, where the president is -- is going to be speaking at Georgia Southern University, trying to rally support for Republican candidates throughout the state, get out the vote. But in particular for congressman -- former congressman, I should say, Max Burns. Right now he's facing an Election Day rematch with the Democrat who ousted him by a very narrow margin in 2004, John Barrow.
Now, in a speech to a crowd of roughly 5,000 today, the president is expected to push for continuation of his tax cuts, also talk about the war on terror and Iraq. And the president, of course, is very aware, Republicans aware that for voters Iraqi is the top issue in the midterm elections that are approaching next week.
President Bush over the weekend held a 50-minute video conference with the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki. That in an effort to soothe tensions over that U.S. plan for benchmarks for progress in Iraq. White House Press Secretary Tony Snow insisting that "On the overall strategy for proceeding, the two countries are entirely aligned." And to make sure that that spirit of understanding continues, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley is in Baghdad today. He's meeting right now -- or today, I should say, with the Iraqi prime minister, the ministers of defense and the interior, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, General George Casey, and also the U.S. ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad.
Now, the focus there is going to be the training of Iraqi troops and the transfer of security in the region.
And Tony, as you mentioned, of course, President Bush heads from here to Texas, for another big get-out-the-vote rally. Some 7,000 expected to be in attendance there.
And White House spokesperson Dana Perino telling us that in this final week, the White House is really trying to hit the area where the very most competitive races are, where the president can do the most good, turn out the vote, because they believe turnout will be key in many of these places.
Back to you.
HARRIS: Yes. Kathleen Koch traveling with the president in Statesboro, Georgia.
Kathleen, thank you.
COLLINS: New developments this morning in the fight for Iraq. President Bush's national security adviser makes an unannounced visit to Baghdad. Stephen Hadley meeting with his Iraqi counterpart first, then Iraq's prime minister.
The focus, cooperation on military and political issues. It has been an increasing source of friction between the two countries.
The visit comes as the U.S. military reports a grim milestone with its 100th death in October. That makes this month the fourth deadliest since the war began in March of 2003. The Pentagon says the spike was fueled in part by the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
And across Baghdad, six bombs rock the capital . The deadliest in the crowded Shiite slum of Sadr City. At least 26 people are dead there and another 60 wounded.
Hard work, long hours, little sleep, and you're always a target. All part of the job for the Army's 1st brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
CNN's John Roberts rode with some of the soldiers as they patrolled dangerous territory north of Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN SR. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It has been a tough year for the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade, trying to bring peace to the towns and villages north of Baghdad. So far, in October alone, they've lost 15 soldiers to insurgent attacks.
The commanding officer, Colonel Jim Pasquarette, says his unit has grown up quickly.
COL. JIM PASQUARETTE, U.S. ARMY: And every one is an individual tragedy. I write letters home to parents and 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 against a threat Pasquarette says has only increased since they took over this area.
PASQUARETTE: I knew this was going to be a challenge. Counter-
insurgency is the most difficult thing you ever want to do. It's the most -- it's the hardest thing I ever have done as an Army officer in 23 years.
ROBERTS: On top of the insurgency, in recent weeks, sectarian violence has engulfed this area, dividing Sunnis and Shiites. Some villages have been turned into ghost towns, others completely leveled.
LT. COL. ROCKY KMIECIK, U.S. ARMY: It was a small Shia farming village and with the sectarian violence in the area, the village was literally destroyed and the people driven out or killed.
ROBERTS: But as the violence escalates, the militias are 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 Kudas (ph), a crowd gathers to protest.
KMIECIK: And what the crowds over there will say is that these four are totally innocent. They are here only to protect the citizens of the town and they have committed no crimes.
ROBERTS: It's frustrating for these soldiers, who are trying to build confidence among people, that militias are not the future of Iraq.
PASQUARETTE: Well, it is frustrating as a commander when you see how they operate and they -- and when they are effective on those days, it takes a lot of talking to your soldiers to explain why we've got to continue to do this, why it's important in the long run.
ROBERTS: The violence will last far longer than these troops will be in country. The 1st Brigade is scheduled to rotate home next month, many of them wondering if they'll have to come back.
John Roberts, CNN, with the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division in Taji.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HARRIS: And the search continues for a U.S. soldier missing in Iraq, but new information is being reported about him. "The New York Times" says the Iraqi-American translator apparently married a Baghdad woman, which is a violation of military rules. The newspaper says the soldier was visiting her when Shiite militiamen came to her home and dragged him into their car. The soldier, who has not been identified, disappeared a week ago today.
Also missing in Iraq, thousands of weapons bought with U.S. tax dollars. According to a new report to Congress, the Pentagon can't account for nearly one of every 25 weapons the military bought for Iraqi security forces. That adds up to more than 14,000 assault rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers and other weapons.
It's not clear where the weapons are. Even more U.S.-provided firepower is out of commission because parts or technical manuals aren't available.
COLLINS: Quickly, we take you straight to Statesboro, Georgia, where President Bush has stepped up to the podium. He is here for the second time in Georgia in the past couple of weeks. Actually, the third time now -- I'm sorry, second time in three months he's been campaigning for Max Burns, who is trying to regain his seat after losing it back in 2004.
It's a very tight race, so he is looking to the president for some backup. And we will continue to monitor this. Actually, we're going to go ahead and listen in for just a moment.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you all very much. Thank you for the welcome. It is great to be back in the state of Georgia.
(APPLAUSE)
It is even better to be here with the next congressman from this district, Max Burns.
(APPLAUSE)
Max knows what it takes to be a United States congressman because he's done it before. And when you turn out on November 7, he's going to do it again.
(APPLAUSE)
He understands Georgia values because he was born and raised in this district and he still lives on a family farm outside Sylvania.
(APPLAUSE)
I've been in Washington long enough to know that it makes sense to have people who live on a family farm in the halls of the United States Congress.
(APPLAUSE)
I appreciate the fact that Max was a teacher. As a matter of fact, he taught right here at Georgia Southern. (APPLAUSE)
I hope he gave a few of his students As.
(LAUGHTER)
And for those of you who did get an A, you might as well vote for him.
(LAUGHTER)
I appreciate the fact that when he was a member of the United States Congress, that he passed key legislation that helped farmers, that helped seniors file their taxes and helped our public schools recruit more math and science teachers.
In other words, he has a record to run on. He's got something to say when he's out on the campaign stump. And he's also got a record to point to.
There's no doubt in my mind that Max Burns is the right man to be the United States congressman.
(APPLAUSE)
You know who else agrees with that is Laura.
(APPLAUSE)
She knows Max and Laura. She likes the Burnses. She likes a man of integrity like Max Burns. She says, like I'm saying, "Work hard, turn out the vote and send this good man back to the United States Congress."
(APPLAUSE)
And by the way, when you're out there voting for Max, make sure you send a man who's done a fabulous job as your governor back to the statehouse, and that's Sonny Perdue.
(APPLAUSE)
Sonny's got him a pair of boots he can be pretty proud of.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
And by the way, it makes me feel comfortable to be in a state where your governor wears cowboy boots.
(APPLAUSE)
And I know it makes you feel comfortable to live in a state where you got you a governor who's accomplished and can get the job done.
(APPLAUSE)
I'm really pleased that Congressman Charlie Norwood has come over from his United States congressional district to help his friend Max Burns run.
Welcome, Charlie Norwood.
(APPLAUSE)
I want to thank the mayor.
Mr. Mayor -- Mr. Mayor, Bill Hatcher, thank you for welcoming us. Thank you for being here.
(APPLAUSE)
I appreciate Perry McGuire, who's the candidate for attorney general, joining us. I know you'll support Perry if you want good law enforcement in your state.
(APPLAUSE)
And I want to thank Eric Johnson, who's the Senate president pro- tem.
Mr. Senator, thanks for coming. It's good to see you again.
(APPLAUSE)
I appreciate Jesse Tyler (ph), president of Georgia Southern University College Republicans, for helping organize this event.
I do what to thank the president of Georgia Southern for letting us come as well.
COLLINS: This is the Georgia 2006 rally, and it's being held at Georgia Southern University there in Statesboro, Georgia.
President Bush, this is his second time now to Georgia in just less than a couple of weeks. He is now campaigning, as you saw there, for Max Burns, who lost his seat back in 2004. But the reason this is interesting, he's going to be back again tomorrow to Georgia to help campaign for another congressional seat, that of Matt Collins.
There are two seats here in Georgia that have become vitally important to the GOP, trying to gain back two more, as we said, congressional seats currently held by Democrats. So we will watch all of those happenings eight days away, folks. It's coming up fast.
HARRIS: Finally, finally, finally good news. Some breathing room for weary firefighters in southern California. Their fierce battle against a deadly wildfire near Palm Springs could soon be ending. The blaze is now 85 percent contained. Full containment expected some time tonight.
Four firefighters lost their lives in the battle four days ago. The flames have scorched more than 40,000 acres. Dozens of homes and other buildings destroyed. The fire is believed to have been deliberately set. The search for the suspected arsonist is under way.
COLLINS: And also, as we continue to watch everything develop, midterm elections eight days away, remember you can always go to CNN's Pipeline to kind of keep up and everything as it develops throughout the day, because things are changing fast, I think, too.
HARRIS: That's true.
COLLINS: So we are watching it. The new look on Capitol Hill, or familiar faces once again? Former presidential adviser David Gergen is going to be talking with us in the NEWSROOM to handicap that midterm election.
HARRIS: One issue candidates of both parties can agree on, cracking down on sexual predators. Ads get big play on the campaign trail.
That story straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: And critical warnings ignored. Investigators check the weather and the pilot's decision to fly in that deadly crash of a Nigerian airliner.
Stay with us here, CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: New information now this morning on Sunday's deadly plane crash in Nigeria. Ninety-six people died. There were nine survivors, believe that.
Now a Nigerian government official says the pilot ignored weather warnings from the control tower. The plane crashed shortly after taking off in strong winds and lightning. The government has grounded all of Nigerian Airlines' ADCs planes and suspended the company's flying license. Investigators have recovered one of the plane's flight data recorders.
A 20-year-old is now in custody accused in the brutal beating death of a former heavyweight boxing champ, Trevor Berbick. Berbick's body was found over the weekend in a church courtyard near his home in Jamaica. Residents of the town say he may have been killed over a land dispute. Berbick is best known for beating Muhammad Ali in Ali's final fight.
COLLINS: Talking tough on sexual predators. Candidates from both parties target parental voters in dozens of races.
CNN's Ted Rowlands with that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How many more of these criminals walk our streets now? TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Across the country, candidates are trying to get votes by claiming that they're tough on Internet sex predators.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have three daughters and I want to protect them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As attorney general, I'll create special training programs and task forces so police can find Internet predators.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we'll track them for life. There'll be no place to hide.
ROWLANDS: So far this year, more than $38 million has been spent in 91 different races on ads that deal with sex predators.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now it's your turn to help protect our children. Vote Juan Vargas, Democrat for Congress.
ROWLANDS: It doesn't always work. This man lost his primary, but experts say it's an issue the candidates from both sides love because nobody's against protecting children. And the subject resonates with parents.
EVAN TRACEY, TNS MEDIA INTELLIGENCE CMAG: Parents vote. After senior citizens, parents are the most reliable voting bloc. That's really the connection candidates are going for. There's nobody out there that can say they've got a mile-long track record on this issue.
ROWLANDS: Except possibly Patty Wetterling, who's running for the open House seat in Minnesota's 6th District. Seventeen years ago, her son Jacob was abducted and was never found. She's been a child safety advocate ever since.
While her son's disappearance was long before the Internet, Wetterling is using child safety as an issue in her campaign ads, including a controversial TV spot that aired after the Mark Foley scandal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It shocks the conscience. Congressional leaders have admitted covering up the predatory behavior of a congressman who used the Internet to molest children.
ROWLANDS (on camera): What's striking about most of these ads is that candidates can't really attack their opponents on this issue. Still, experts say they use it because it's an excellent way to connect with voters.
TRACEY: It's absolutely fair. You know, the goal of political advertising, of all advertising, really, is to make an emotional connection with the viewers. In this case, fear is the connection that candidates go for.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One of the most important things I do is to help our police protect our kids. ROWLANDS (voice over): Whether or not those connections turn into votes is unclear. But expect to see more ads like this up until the election.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With the Internet, you never really know.
ROWLANDS: Ted Rowlands, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Well, you've got eight days until Election Day. So, do you know where your campaign contributions go? Well, Anderson Cooper is keeping them honest and following that money trail. You can catch it tonight, 10:00 Eastern.
HARRIS: Let's see the video of the fries again.
COLLINS: Let's.
HARRIS: Getting the fat out. Talk in the Big Apple this morning about making eating in the city's almost 25,000 restaurants healthier. Details served up in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Plus, talk about a ride to remember. Some bus riders in Florida had (INAUDIBLE) when they saw the driver.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I look into his face and it's the face of what I initially thought was a 12 or 13-year-old kid.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: I think he was right.
HARRIS: Right.
COLLINS: Police say a teen takes the big wheel, and now he's in some big trouble. Keep it here for the story in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Cuban leader Fidel Castro has a message for the world: I'm still alive. In a new video broadcast on Cuban television over the weekend, Castro said -- quoting here now -- "Our enemies prematurely have declared me dead."
The 80-year-old Cuban leader was forced to hand over power to his brother, Raul over the summer after undergoing what the state said was intestinal surgery. This is his first taped message since the surgery. And Cuban officials insist he is recovering and will reassume the presidency.
HARRIS: A healthier New York? Well, the city's health department says, you know, it's possible. But to do that, the city's almost 25,000 restaurants must stop using artificial trans fatty acids.
French fries, out. Pizza, out. Cookies, out.
A public hearing on prohibiting trans fat going on right now. The KFC Corporation -- you know, the people with the buckets of fried chicken -- announced this morning it's going to stop using the artery- clogging fats. KFC has 5,500 restaurants across the U.S.
Harvard researchers say trans fat contributes to 30,000 deaths a year.
And to get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, log on to our Web site. You will find the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness.
The address, cnn.com/health.
COLLINS: So how safe is your city? These are the cities at the top of the list.
In a new survey, Brick, New Jersey, number one. About 78,000 people live there. And just 70 miles from New York City.
Amherst, New York, and Mission Viejo, California, also in the top three. You see them there.
But bad news for both World Series participants now. St. Louis tops the list of the most dangerous cities, followed by Detroit.
The cities are ranked by crime rate. They give a little bit more weight to the more violent crimes, of course.
Camden, New Jersey, topped this list the past two years.
HARRIS: On the front lines in Iraq and the bottom line on the war's losses, the U.S. military faces a grim milestone in the war. Details in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: And a new look on Capitol Hill, or familiar faces? Former presidential adviser David Gergen joining us in the NEWSROOM to handicap the midterm elections.
HARRIS: And standing by her man. Lynne Cheney defends the vice president's comments on interrogation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN PIPELINE ANCHOR: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and CNN.com is your source for breast cancer information. While there are many risk factors for breast cancer that we can't control such as age, genes, and environment, did you know there are some things can you do now to reduce your risks?
According to the Mayo Clinic, eating healthy foods and exercising regularly are the easiest ways to decrease your risk. The clinic also says you should avoid pesticide exposure and unnecessary antibiotics. Also check out the gallery of the faces of breast cancer. It includes stories from high-profile women such as Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, actress Suzanne Somers and singer Sheryl Crow on how they fought the cancer battle.
And you can send us your own stories about breast cancer and how you are fighting the battle on CNN Exchange.
For more information, including breast cancer warning signs and treatments, check out cnn.com/breastcancer.
For the .com/Desk, I'm Veronica de la Cruz.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins and Tony Harris.
HARRIS: New developments this morning in the fight for Iraq. President Bush's national security adviser makes an unannounced visit to Baghdad. Stephen Hadley meeting with his Iraqi counterpart first, then Iraq's prime minister. The focus -- cooperation on military and political issues, an increasing source of friction between the two countries. This as the U.S. military reports a grim milestone with its 100th death in October. That makes this the month, the fourth deadliest since the war began in March of 2003. The Pentagon says the spike was fueled by the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and on increased patrols in hostile areas. And across Baghdad at least six bombs rocked the capital, the deadliest in the crowded Shiite slum of Sadr City. At least 26 people are dead there and another 60 wounded.
COLLINS: Will the landscape change on Capitol Hill? We are eight days from the midterm elections. Here's how Congress looks right now. The Republicans hold a 230-201 edge in the House. All seats up for grabs. And, in the Senate, the GOP holds an 11-seat advantage. Former presidential adviser, David Gergen joining us now from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government with a look inside his crystal ball which we are so glad that you have, David. And, I want to talk to you a little bit about what we saw happen over the weekend now that we are as we say, a little bit more than a week away from this election. "Time Magazine," the cover of "Time Magazine" shows Bush walking off out of the frame there all by himself, calling him the Lone Ranger. "The New York Times," I have it here in my hand, has started a new photo essay here that shows some of the funerals -- every day they're going to be doing this, of our servicemen over in Iraq. And then we've got Lynne Cheney who came on our television program with Wolf Blitzer. How do you see this going? We know that the Democrats need six in the Senate and 15 in the House. What do you see today?
DAVID GERGEN, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: Well, the environment clearly continues to be sour for Republicans. If you contrast this with the 2002 -- the first midterm elections for President Bush. He was extremely popular then. He was sought out by Republican candidates all across the country. He made tons of campaign stops there in the last couple of weeks, really went all out. This time around, if you look at President Bush and advertisements, Democrats have President Bush in more of their ads, their campaign ads than do Republicans. Republicans are to some degree distancing themselves from the president, especially in those parts of the country where the war is unpopular. He continues to be popular in some parts. So, there is -- it's very, very different. But I -- please remember that in the past, this White House has continually beaten the expectations game. They're very good at that.
COLLINS: Yes, and one of those reasons, I think, if we look to the past and the track record of Karl Rove, that might be the secret weapon. I want to go ahead and put a quote up now for you. This was said by the White House Chief of Staff, Joshua Bolten. He says this, "Karl Rove, somewhere inside that massive brain of his has figured out the political landscape more clearly than the entire collection of conventional wisdom pundits and posters in the entire city of Washington." Is Karl Rove the key to the Republicans winning the midterm?
GERGEN: Well, he's been the mastermind behind their last three elections and they have won every one of those elections, so you have to give him alot of credit. Whether he can pull it off this time, we're uncertain. But, there was a fascinating piece over the weekend in the Los Angeles Times about his three-pronged strategy for pulling it out this time. And two parts of it are very familiar -- energize the base and get the vote out, turnout out. One part of it was new and that is to use the resources of the federal government to help various Republican candidates. It pointed out that he went -- Tom Reynolds, Republican in trouble, in New York, upper state around Buffalo, a big leader in the party. Karl Rove wanted not only to campaign for him, but he talked to Federal Emergency Management Officials, FEMA, famous FEMA from Katrina, and after a snowstorm in Buffalo, magically, FEMA came up with millions of dollars that Mr. Reynolds was able to announce, just hours after had he been into an Ethics Committee hearing. You know, that kind of use of power is very raw, is very important.
COLLINS: Does it resonate with voters, David?
GERGEN: Oh, yes. Let's put it this way, Tom Reynolds was behind in that race. He's now ahead. And if he were to -- if his seat were saved, that's a critical victory for Karl Rove. So this is a highly politicized White House, one in which every person is almost being used. Karl Rove himself, quite striking. "Baron's" reported a week ago that he personally has been out to fundraisers and has raised some like $14 million dollars for the Republican party. That's never happened before, that a White House aide has been that effective out on the trail. So, he's a formidable figure. I think well regarded as the best strategist in the Republican Party. Matched perhaps by Bill Clinton in the Democratic Party and by a few others. We'll have to see, we'll have to see if his reputation survives this. This is the toughest race he's faced. He's always beaten the expectations game in the past.
COLLINS: Yes, and you know, Iraq -- it has become, obviously, certainly an issue that could be driving many voters, anyway, to the polls. GERGEN: Sure.
COLLINS: When we look at that, kind of interesting, I think, that both sides are looking to the veteran vote.
GERGEN: Right, and the Democrats this time have shrewdly gone out and recruited about, you know, some ten or so Iraq veterans to run for office as Democrats, which not only gives them a little more muscularity, but I think, appeals to this very, this very vote. I think the what the problem for the president, I think the reason Mr. Hadley is over there right now, is this thing has cracked apart so quickly in Iraq, that you know, that we may have seen the tipping point in Iraq here in the last few weeks. And, with the government over in Iraq now clearly chafing under the kind of pressure it's facing from the Bush Administration to take steps to contain the Shiite militia, you know, I think Mr. Hadley is over there to try to make sure there's peace between now and the elections, that we don't have a rebellion on the part of the Iraqi government, Mr. Maliki in effect coming out and deepening the rift with the U.S. government just on the eve of the elections.
COLLINS: Yes. What about this announcement that we are expecting to hear? It will be 2:00 Eastern today from Duncan Hunter. Might be running for president? That's a little weird.
GERGEN: For most of us, that's the last person we expected to get in the race, but hey, it's a free country. You know and he's got a right to run. He is a veteran Congressman. It does suggest...
COLLINS: What about the timing, though, David?
GERGEN: It does suggest that perhaps he believes that the Republicans will not hold on to the House. He will not keep his chairmanship -- important chairmanship in the House. And he doesn't want to be in the minority. He'd rather go roll the dice for the presidency and see. And there will be room in this presidential sweepstakes within the Republican party. The conservatives still have not found their alternative to John McCain. John McCain is the leader. I think if the election were held today, national election were held today, he would win.
COLLINS: Really?
GERGEN: But, conservatives are looking for an alternative. Mitt Romney has emerged as probably the leading alternative among conservatives. Duncan Hunter may figure he has the chance to be the non-McCain and if he gets there, if he were to get there, which it would be a long mountain to climb, but if he were to get there, that's a pretty good place to be in American politics right now.
COLLINS: Yes, alright we'll be watching that, 2:00 for that announcement. Former Presidential adviser David Gergen, thank you, as always.
GERGEN: Thank you. Take care, Heidi. HARRIS: Key battle in the Keystone State. Senator Rick Santorum trailing in the polls to his Democratic challenger but getting reinforcements from the White House.
CNN's Bob Franken reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. RICK SANTORUM, (R) PENNSYLVANIA: Don't let anybody tell you those polls are right. We're going to win this thing on November 7th.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The latest poll shows Senator Rick Santorum from just under 10 to 16 points behind. But he's the number three ranking Republican in the Senate and important enough that the White House this weekend sent the more popular Bush to campaign for him.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: And, of course, I'm so proud to stand here with Senator Rick Santorum.
FRANKEN: Santorum presents himself as the bulwark against terrorism and hostile world leaders, the rampart protecting conservative values, combative, but bipartisan, of course.
SANTORUM: Too often this is what it seems like in Washington. But to get things done, you've got to work together.
BOB CASEY, (D) SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: You're going to see a lot of wild, desperate ads from my opponent.
FRANKEN: State Treasurer, Bob Casey, the Democratic challenger, wrestles with the problems of being a favorite, keeping the enthusiasm up, particularly since he too is anti-abortion, much to the consternation of many in his party. For the most part, he's on message, though much lower key than Santorum.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, CASEY CAMPAIGN AD: What happened in Washington? Millions of jobs lost. The largest deficit ever. An arrogant government out of touch.
CASEY: Pennsylvania deserves a senator in step with Pennsylvania.
FRANKEN: And as in so many campaigns at this stage, the candidates have their themes down pat.
CASEY: I'm Bob Casey and I approved this message.
SANTORUM: I'm Rick Santorum and I approved this message.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And just days before the crucial midterm election, THE SITUATION ROOM expands to two hours. Wolf Blitzer is joined by Paula Zahn, live in New York, beginning tonight at 7:00 Eastern. COLLINS: A community comes together in celebration after a controversy, at the nation's most prominent school for the deaf. What's it all about? We'll tell you right here in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" coming up at the top of the hour. Jim Clancy standing by now with a preview.
Good morning, Jim.
JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Heidi and Tony.
You know, Chad is talking about the weather. We got a bit of a weather report and a financial report coming out of London this day. Al Gore is being hired by the British to help cool things down on what front? Global warming, where they say that the situation is so bad, that it's going to cost the global economy billions and billions of dollars.
Now, also, the conflict in Iraq sees more violence even as the violent month of October draws to a close. We get a report from Baghdad on that. And then, another famous world leader, Fidel Castro, many people thought that he was dying. Fidel comes before the cameras to face all his critics to say he's in ship-shape and ready for anything. We'll have a report on that as well. Heidi and Tony, that's what's coming up at the top of the hour on "YOUR WORLD TODAY."
HARRIS: OK, Jim, thank you.
CLANCY: Thanks, Jim.
HARRIS: A student celebration. That's the mood at Gallaudet University, the country's prestigious school for the deaf. And after a month of protests, the board of trustees voted Sunday to withdraw the employment of Jane Fernandes as the president of the school. The students who opposed Fernandes says she wasn't effect knife her job as provost, and that she's not the right person to deal with the school's problems. Fernandes says she has deep regret about the decision to withdraw her appointment. She was born deaf, but didn't learn American sign language until she was in her 20s. Fernandes has said some people don't consider her, quote, "deaf enough" to be president of the school.
HARRIS: So are you planning to hit the ATM today? Boy, think about it first, and then stick around and hear our story on it. It's a story that actually could save you some money, straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
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COLLINS: We want to take you directly to this video. You see there on the left-hand side of your screen, Michael J. Fox, he is in Ohio, joining Representative Sherrod Brown (ph), Columbus, Ohio exactly. This is where the sitcom, remember, "Family Ties" took place.
HARRIS: Oh, yes, in Columbus right.
COLLINS: And he's there helping to campaign, expand the funding for embryonic stem cell research.
So coming up later on, CNN afternoon NEWSROOM show, we have Kyra Phillips with us, because this is going to be a topic that we are going to talk about.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Perfect timing . That wa perfect timing showing that video. That's exactly what we're going to talk about, among a number of other things obviously. Stem cell research, it's a hot topic ihn next week's elections, thanks in large part to Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson's Disease. But what's living with disease really like? Especially when you're in the public eye. Well, former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno joins me live in the 3:00 p.m. hour to talk about how she found out she had Parkinson's and how it affects her.
And celebrations after protests and hunger strikes by deaf students on the campus of Gallaudet University. Do you know why they're protesting? How you and I understand what it means to be deaf is at the core of the controversy? We'll talk with one of the students who is leading the protest in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Join Don Lemon and me in the CNN NEWSROOM starting at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.
HARRIS: Beautiful.
COLLINS: Excellent. We'll be watching. All right, Kyra. Thank you.
HARRIS: Need to stop at an ATM before you head to lunch today?
COLLINS: No, I don't trust them.
HARRIS: I'll give you money for lunch, as I normally do.
Listen up, everyone, if the ATM isn't with your bank, you're paying more than ever in fees and surcharges. Bankrate.com keeps track of this kind of thing. In a survey just released, it found the average charge for using another bank's atm is $1.64. That is up a dime from a year ago. Bouncing a check is also costing more. The average bounced check fee, hit a record high, $27.40.
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COLLINS: So talk about a ride to remember. Some bus riders in Florida had to look twice when they saw their driver.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I look into his face, and it's the face of what I initially thought was a 12 or 13-year-old kid. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Yes, and he wasn't far off either. Police say a teen takes the big wheel, and now he's in some big trouble. Keep it here for the story, in the NEWSROOM.
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HARRIS: They say he has enthusiasm and energy. What he doesn't have, a driver's license? Still, police say, that didn't stop one determined young man from taking the big wheel.
Kimberly Houk of our affiliate WKMG has the story.
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KIMBERLY HOUK, WKMG REPORTER (voice-over): Ritchie Davis is not your typical kid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I would have been a blind person, I probably would have never even known.
LT. DENNIS LEMMA, SEMINOLE CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Some of the passengers that were picked up had absolutely no idea that there was anything wrong.
HOUK: What's wrong with instead of sleeping in on a Saturday morning, getting up early and getting dressed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The kids were in real baggy shorts, baggy shirt.
HOUK: He headed out. He needed a bus. He knew where to get one.
MATTHEW FRIEDMAN, LYNX: This is not something that anybody ever thought could possibly happen.
HOUK (on camera): This is where police say the boy came to get the bus in the early-morning hours. It's called the bus graveyard. It's where Lynx rings their old busses that their no longer using. It's out here at the Orange County Fairgrounds. But what police are most surprised about is that the boy was able to get up inside one of these buses. He knew how to start the engine. And then without even being stopped, he just drove off.
(voice-over): Off he went, out of the lot and onto a bus route, picking up riders like Jeffrey Johnson along the way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I looked at his face and it was initially what I thought was a 12-or 13-year-old kid.
HOUK: No. This one's 15, but with the driving skills of a pro.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was not weaving. You know, he wasn't coming close to cars. He was using his turn signals. You know, he knew how to operate the bus.
FRIEDMAN: He wasn't speeding.
HOUK: But the charade couldn't last forever -- he looked too young, the bus was too old, and riders with cell phones did him in.
LEMMA: The driver of the bus opened the door for the deputy, and then turned the bus off.
HOUK: His ride was over.
No, Ritchie Davis is not your typical kid, just ask his father.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He go around picking up people. That really blows me away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: That was dad's reaction. As for the police? Mr. Davis, Richie has been charged with grand theft bus -- grand theft auto and driving without a license.
COLLINS: I bet he won't be doing that again.
Anyway, CNN NEWSROOM continues just one hour from now.
HARRIS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" is next, with news happening across the globe and here at home.
I'm Tony Harris.
COLLINS: And I'm Heidi Collins.
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