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American Morning

Senate Race in Virginia; President Bush Breaking Bread With Nancy Pelosi; Who is Robert Gates?

Aired November 09, 2006 - 9:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A slam dunk. The Associated Press giving Virginia to James Webb. That gives Democrats control of both the House and the Senate.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is out. The man set to replace him, the former CIA chief, Robert Gates, already has his hands in the Iraq war. Can he make a difference?

M. O'BRIEN: And they're part of the Democratic revolution coming to Congress. We'll talk with two incoming freshmen about their ideas for the country on this AMERICAN MORNING.

Good morning to you, Thursday, November 9th.

I'm Miles O'Brien.

S. O'BRIEN: And I'm Soledad O'Brien.

Thanks for being with us this morning.

M. O'BRIEN: The wins keep on coming for the Democrats. Here's what's new this morning.

The Democrat, James Webb, apparently winning in Virginia. The Democratic Party now controls both the Senate and the House for the first time in 12 years.

At this hour, President Bush sharing breakfast with outgoing Republican leaders of Congress, and then has lunch with the incoming Democratic leaders.

We're monitoring the White House, of course, for that.

The questions this morning about the changing of the guard at the Pentagon, too. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld resigns. The president nominates a former CIA chief from his father's era to take over. Will it make a difference on the ground in Iraq?

We begin with the Virginia Senate race, where the Democrats' midterm election sweep may now be complete.

CNN's Ed Henry live at Jim Webb's campaign headquarters in Arlington.

Good morning, Ed. ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

You know, just a few months ago, Jim Webb was the longest of long shots to win this Senate race. George Allen, the incumbent, was considered really somebody who would breeze through this reelection race and then head on to a Republican presidential run in 2008. But all that has changed so dramatically.

Jim Webb planning a press conference today to officially declare a victory in this Senate race. Aides to Senator Allen are admitting privately they're starting to see the handwriting on the wall.

There had been and has been an ongoing state-mandated review of the vote count. That was expected to last up to a week. But instead, the Allen camp is now admitting it's going much faster than expected. There's no real fraud being found, there are no real changes to the vote count that stands right now with Jim Webb with a lead of about 7,000 votes.

So Allen advisers admit that the mountain is getting steeper and steeper for him to climb. They're saying privately that the senator is going to have to take a hard look at these numbers. Nobody is using the word "concession" just yet. But Democrats are pressuring Allen to get out of this race.

Once this review is finished by the state -- we're expecting it to finish up today, though Allen advisers say they do not expect the senator to, in their words, drag this out. He will want to move on. But this is such a dramatic shift, because obviously, as you noted, Miles, it's not just about one race anymore.

This going into the Democratic column, now means the Democrats will be controlling both chambers of Congress, not just the House. That is going to dramatically reshape the president's final two years in office -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Ed, when we talked yesterday, it seemed like this might drag out to Thanksgiving. It seems like things are going much faster this morning.

HENRY: Absolutely. Well, yesterday morning, you know, the Allen camp was, frankly, surprised that they were behind. They were hoping that this initial review, which, again, was supposed to last up until next Tuesday, would find something that would start changing the numbers. And then as we talked about yesterday, the process is such in the state of Virginia that a recount could not be called until November 27th, and then that would take more time.

So it could have spilled into December. But the bottom line is, A, the Allen camp is not finding any problems that would increase his vote total, any problems for Jim Webb. And secondly, Republicans privately say George Allen is somebody who is still young, he may harbor future political ambitions, and he doesn't want to drag this out. And, in fact, if he's the statesman here and ends up conceding, he could down the road potentially -- and I stress potentially -- rehabilitate himself politically and run for office again -- Miles. M. O'BRIEN: All right. Ed Henry in Arlington.

Thank you -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: It might be bipartisanship on the menu today at the White House. The president will be breaking bread with the Democratic House speaker-in-waiting -- it's kind of a long title -- Nancy Pelosi. The question is, will they break the ice along with the bread?

Let's get right to CNN's Elaine Quijano. She's at the White House for us this morning.

Good morning, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you Soledad.

Well, two days after Republicans received what President Bush himself called a cumulative thumping at the polls, this morning's breakfast here with GOP leaders is a chance for the president and those leaders to take a look back at the campaigns, but also to take a look at what might be ahead. What might be accomplished in the remaining time left for those GOP leaders.

Then later today, for lunch, as you noted, the president will be reaching across the aisle to House Democratic leadership, including the incoming speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Now, there was, of course, some harsh rhetoric during the campaign, harsh words between Nancy Pelosi and President Bush.

And also, focusing about the Republican losses, the president and his top aides say that they are not necessarily dwelling on that, that they are ready to move beyond the elections.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN BARTLETT, COUNSELOR TO PRESIDENT BUSH: We've got a lot of work to do before this year is out. We've got a budget to pass and a lot of other important items. And then we've got to start talking about next year.

So that's where the president's focus is right now. It was a big election, it was a big night for the Democrats. He recognizes they had a big victory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, in between meetings with the lawmakers, President Bush will be sitting down with members of his cabinet, including, of course, the now outgoing secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Secretary Rumsfeld, of course, has been a lightning rod for criticism over the administration's Iraq policy.

The president yesterday moved very quickly to name his choice to replace Secretary Rumsfeld. His nominee will be Bob Gates, former CIA director. Now, as for the timing of the announcement, the president said yesterday that he wanted to wait until after the election because he didn't want to insert such a major decision into the election. At the same time, though, what this did, Soledad, clearly, is that it stole some of the Democrats' thunder at a time when they wanted to focus the spotlight on their gains in Congress. Instead, the headlines today not only focusing on the Democrats and their taking control of Congress, but also on Rumsfeld's resignation -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano at the White House for us this morning.

Thanks, Elaine -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Now to that dramatic move by President Bush the morning after the election, dumping Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, replacing him with CIA chief Robert Gates.

CNN's Barbara Starr has more on the new man slated to be the boss at the Pentagon.

Good morning, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

Well, the president turned to an old familiar face from his father's administration, but a man who is no stranger to controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice over): Bob Gates is new to the Pentagon, but a new secretary of defense does not end the problems in Iraq.

ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY NOMINEE: Because of our long- term strategic interests and our national and homeland security are at risk, because so many of America's sons and daughters in our armed forces are in harm's way, I did not hesitate when the president asked me to return to duty.

STARR: Gates, who served as CIA director and national security adviser for the first President Bush, is regarded as someone who understands both politics and policy.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: He's very well known to Democrats, and I think is seen across the aisle as a non- ideological person who would bring a realist's perspective to this job.

STARR: If confirmed, Gates is expected to have a smoother relationship with his generals than Secretary Rumsfeld had, at least for now.

MCLAUGHLIN: I think they will welcome Bob because he's generally well-known in the military. They'll welcome his style.

STARR: Gates is an old Washington hand from the Reagan-Bush years. He's currently part of the Iraq Study Group co-chaired by former secretary of state James Baker, one of the first President Bush's closest friends. That group is working on options for a new Iraq policy.

GATES: If confirmed by the Senate...

STARR: Gates is not without controversy. In 1991, he was investigated but cleared of any wrongdoing in the Iran Contra scandal. Several political analysts tell CNN they do not expect that to hinder his confirmation.

He has not always agreed with the current administration. In 2004, he co-authored a study on Iran for the Counsel on Foreign Relations which said, in part, "The United States should not defer a political dialogue with Iran until differences over its nuclear programs have been resolved."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: But Miles, the challenge for Bob Gates will be the same one that Don Rumsfeld had, finding a way to stem the violence in Iraq and bring the troops home -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: OK. That's what I call a tough job, taking this job right now.

What really are his options right now, short term, long term to deal with Iraq right off the bat?

STARR: Well, you know, there are some things already on the table that are clearly being discussed here in the Pentagon, with military commanders out in Iraq, and at the White House. And there's sort of, by all accounts, three items on the table right now that people are looking at.

One, pull some of the troops off the front line. Make them a rapid reaction force instead to help the Iraqis when they get into trouble. Make them more firemen, if you will, than policemen.

Another idea on the table, double the size of the U.S. military training teams. That could help speed up the training of Iraqi security forces.

And third, set some specific deadlines or time frames for the turnover to Iraqi security forces in those more peaceful provinces.

But, still, the optics are Baghdad, Miles. Baghdad is the face of Iraq to the world. And as long as the sectarian violence remains so tough on the ground in Baghdad, it is going to be a problem. And nobody yet has any real ideas how to make that look better -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

Thank you.

Well, it's as American as a tell-all memoir and an appearance on "LARRY KING LIVE". Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard going the way of Mark Foley and so many others, into rehab. He's agreed to spiritual restoration. But what is that?

AMERICAN MORNING'S Ali Velshi joins us now, not having had direct experience, but...

(CROSSTALK)

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No. Having read up on restoration, which I thought was about old houses and things like that.

What -- how do you restore a soul? Well, in this case, in Ted Haggard's case, it involves a process that could take, we're told, between three and five years of regular meetings. When I say "regular," it could be six times a month.

He's going to get together with a bunch of people who have agreed to oversee his restoration, a process that is so rigorous, that about 50 percent of people drop out of it because it's too hard to do. But it involves -- what does it involve? Why is it so rigorous?

Well, it involves the things you would expect: counseling, prayer, confession, advice, confrontation. Meaning confronting your evils or whatever you're battling. And the one I like the best that I don't have any explanation for is rebuke from godly men.

But there are godly men involved. Theoretically, that means other -- other religious leaders, other pastors involved. We got this information...

M. O'BRIEN: You weren't asked?

VELSHI: I was not asked to be involved. I'm on thin ice even talking about restoration, things like that.

But one of the godly men, theoretically, asked to be involved was James Dobson of the -- he was the founder of Focus on the Family, also a Colorado-based Christian ministry. He's already backed out.

Apparently, this is so tough, James Dobson says that he backed out because "Emotionally and spiritually, I wanted to be of help, but the reality is, I don't have the time to devote to such a critical responsibility."

I think this is more than just a PR thing. They really -- these guys believe it's going to fix Ted Haggard.

M. O'BRIEN: Well, I think it could be a tremendous reality show.

VELSHI: Can you imagine?

M. O'BRIEN: Have you thought about that?

VELSHI: The restoration.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, the restoration.

All right. So what -- when he's done with this, he's newly ousted as a restored whatever, can he go back to preaching?

VELSHI: Unclear. Unclear what happens. But we have seen examples of others, a preacher in Pennsylvania who had an affair with a woman. I don't know whether it takes longer or shorter, but he was restored after a year, and he's back ministering his flock.

So who knows.

M. O'BRIEN: We should give him a call.

VELSHI: He was -- a smaller flock than -- well, we'll check into it.

M. O'BRIEN: Let's get him on. Let's check into that.

VELSHI: OK.

M. O'BRIEN: All right. Ali Velshi, thank you -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, we'll take a look at some of the new faces in Congress to incoming freshmen. We'll talk about how they're going to get their campaign promises turned into reality.

And then we'll take a look at those low-carb, high-fat diets. Some surprising news about how it affects the female heart.

Sanjay Gupta is going to join us with that straight ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Some of the top stories we're following for you this morning.

The Associated Press is giving Virginia Senate race to James Webb. And that gives Democrats control of the Senate and the House.

And fast track nomination hearings are expected for Robert Gates. He's President Bush's choice for defense secretary. The current Senate Armed Services Committee wants hearings, they say, by the end of the year.

Fifteen minutes past the hour. About to head out the door? Let's first get a check with Chad on the traveler's forecast.

Hey, Chad. Good morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Soledad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

M. O'BRIEN: The president's choice to replace Donald Rumsfeld, now the outgoing secretary of defense, is Robert Gates. He has a long history as a spy, a national security adviser, and formerly a head of the Central Intelligence Agency.

A person whose known him all along the way is John McLaughlin, a former head of the CIA himself, who joins us now from Washington to talk a little bit about him.

John, good to have you back on the program.

MCLAUGHLIN: Good morning, Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Let's talk about Bob Gates. Lots of spy credentials here.

Do you think he's the right man at the right time?

MCLAUGHLIN: Actually, I think he is. He will bring a fresh perspective.

The words that come to mind from my long observations and association with Bob are pragmatic, realist, decisive. I watched him both as a CIA officer, and also during his tenure as the deputy national security adviser, when I would frequently have the opportunity to sit in on meetings.

I was struck by the fact that he is probably better than just about anyone I've ever seen at gathering a bunch of people around a table (VIDEO GAP) making a decision and moving people forward and checking up on implementation. So he's a very good manager. He's probably the right guy for the job at this time.

M. O'BRIEN: Is he -- would you characterize him as an agent of change, and do you think that's what the Pentagon needs right now? Or does it just need a steady hand in the tiller of good manager, as you put it?

MCLAUGHLIN: Well, I think I'd characterize him as both of those things. He's a steady manager in the sense that he's cautious, he's a fact-finder, he's a listener. He likes to know the lay of the land before he makes a decision.

At the same time, he is an agent of change. I saw him do this at the CIA when he was in various positions. And if you look at, for example, something that's commented on a lot in the morning press, that is, his work on the Council on Foreign Relations group on Iran, there he clearly recommends a policy that is somewhat at divergence with what has been the policy up to now -- that is, more engagement with Iran.

And I think his presence, if he's confirmed, will introduce a new dynamic into the cabinet in that he will be, I think, a close ally of Condoleezza Rice in her effort to establish better relations with our more traditional allies. I think he will also, in addition to the things that Barbara Starr talked about, I would expect him on Iraq to seek more engagement with the neighbors in the region, understanding that they all have a deep vital interest in how this turns out. I would expect him to try and draw them into the process.

M. O'BRIEN: You know, I was talking to Ken Adelman earlier -- I don't know if you saw that -- who...

MCLAUGHLIN: I did not.

M. O'BRIEN: Neoconservative, long-time associate of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. And he said the real problem, in his view, was that you had this kind of dream team of national security team in the early days of the Bush White House, and that they never learned how to work together cohesively. And he pointed the finger at the president himself, saying he, as an MBA, should have managed it all better.

What would you say to that?

MCLAUGHLIN: Well, I think there's some truth to that. I don't know who I would point the finger to, but there were definitely camps within the administration, different points of view. The degree to which they clashed and fought over this is somewhat exaggerated, but nonetheless, there were very different emphases between the more pragmatic camp, represented, I guess, by Colin Powell, and what you might call the neocon camp, with the vice president and Secretary Rumsfeld.

So, I think, you know, bringing Bob Gates in is a reach back into a period when, during the first -- the father's administration, another kind of dream team worked with extraordinary collegiality. When Bob Gates ran the -- what was called the deputy's committee -- this is the committee that gather together people who held jobs like I had, the number two jobs in various agencies -- it was known throughout the government as about the most collegial and decisive body in government at that time. So much so, that it actually attracted work from other parts of the government because it was known that things would be fairly considered and quickly decided there.

M. O'BRIEN: John McLaughlin, thank you for your time, sir.

MCLAUGHLIN: You bet.

M. O'BRIEN: Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, the new kids on the block coming into the new Democratically-controlled Congress. We're going to talk to a couple of incoming freshmen about what they'd like to accomplish in office, from Barack, to immigration, and much more.

And Russell Crowe is a star of the new movie "A Good Year," but it's a cell phone that practically steals the show. We'll explain straight ahead.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: Top stories this morning.

The violence not letting up in Iraq. A countrywide state of emergency now extended. Security forces will enforce curfews, make warrantless arrests for another month at least. Young people rocking the vote in this week's election. Ten million people under the age of 30 voted. That's the biggest number in two decades.

Good work, kids.

(BUSINESS REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, it looks as if Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is just one casualty of the 2006 election. We're going to take you live to Capitol Hill for reaction this morning to his resignation.

And low-carb, high-fat diet? Well, what does it do to a woman's heart? Dr. Sanjay Gupta has got that story for us this morning.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Democrats in drivers' seats in Congress, and now most likely in the Senate, too. What exactly is going to top the list of what new Democrats want to get done? We're going to talk to two new members straight ahead this morning.

M. O'BRIEN: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld resigns. Former CIA chief Robert Gates nominated to replace him. But can he make a difference in Iraq?

(NEWSBREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: A new leader coming at the Pentagon, new leadership coming to Congress, the landscape has dramatically shifted in Washington in the last 24 hours.

CNN's congressional correspondent Andrea Koppel has reaction from Capitol Hill this morning where the tectonic plates are shifting.

Good morning, Andrea.

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

I think it's fair to say people are waking up, especially Democrats all over this town, pinching themselves. They can't believe it really happened. And while Nancy Pelosi, the woman set to become the next speaker of the house, and other Democrats have made very clear that they believe that voters on Tuesday gave them a mandate for change in Iraq policy. Among those welcoming the move, Congressman Jack Murtha. He made a name for himself. Let's just he drew headlines last year when he called for all U.S. troops to redeploy out of Iraq. He was interviewed just a short time ago on AMERICAN MORNING.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN MURTHA (D), PENNSYLVANIA: Well, I'm satisfied because the military lost confidence in him, and when I started speaking out over a year ago, the military leaders were telling me he was incompetent and he was doing things that hurt the military. And then he wasn't able to support the requests that the military made for money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOPPEL: Now, the next step will be for the Senate to hold confirmation hearings for the man that President Bush tapped to replace Rumsfeld, Robert Gates. We've already heard from the chairman of the Senate armed services committee, John Warner, yesterday, who basically said, Miles, he was going to put it on the fast track. Presumably that means it would happen before the end of this year -- Miles.

(NEWSBREAK)

GUPTA: In this morning's "House Call," is a low-carb, high-fat diet really a prescription for heart trouble? Well, not necessarily, according to a Harvard health study. Then it must be true, if it's Harvard, right?

Our senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To carb or not to carb has always been the question for Larue Hill. As a diabetic she knows to stay away from carbohydrates, but she suffers from high blood pressure and wants to avoid the fats as well.

LARUE HILL, DIABETIC: Things that taste good, you still have a tendency to go there when you know you shouldn't.

GUPTA: Now a 20-year-long study in "The New England Journal of Medicine" of 82,000 women finds diets low in carbs and high in fats and proteins don't always put women at risk for heart problems. It seems the benefits came from the types of fats they ate.

DR. TOM HALTON, HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: We found there was a 30 percent reduced risk of coronary heart disease among women who most closely followed the vegetable-based, low carbohydrate diet.

GUPTA: Those are fats from sunflower oil, soy, nuts, certain veggies, the good fats, fats found in non-animal products, not the steak and bacon often associated with high-protein diets.

But still, many consumers wonder, what's the best plan?

DR. BARBARA HOWARD, MEDSTAR RESEARCH INST.: Follow the current national nutrition recommendations. They recommend lowering your saturated and transfat, eating a diet that's high in vegetables, and fruits and whole grains. Those are carbohydrates, but they're the good carbohydrates. And watching your weight.

GUPTA: Now, if you do opt for a low-carb diet, it's important to eat the right carbs, whole grains like cereals, breads and pastas made from whole wheat. Cut out the white bread and cookies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go for it. Take it on your own breath.

GUPTA: Factors like exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption and family heart history all play roles in our heart health. Some researchers feel this study based purely on a questionnaire doesn't really address those issues, and that people should stick to a balanced diet.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

M. O'BRIEN: Coming up, meet the freshmen. We'll talk to a couple of incoming freshmen on Capitol Hill. They'll offer their plan to turn campaign promises into reality.

And this one's no fish tale. What you may not know about seafood. A hint, it may not all be from the sea. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

M. O'BRIEN: We know the old expression, there's plenty of fish in the sea. Well, these days, that may be changing. There may be more fish down on the farm. CNN's Alina Cho with more on all that. Good morning, Alina.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there Miles, good morning to you. I think a lot of people assume that when you come to the grocery store and buy your fish, it comes from the ocean. Well, that is not necessarily the case. More and more these days the fish you buy, the fish you eat, comes from a farm.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHO (voice-over): Today's catch comes from the ocean. But tomorrow's may not. A new study in the journal "Science" warns oceans around the world are rapidly running out of fish. The culprit -- overfishing.

DR. BORIS WORM, MARINE BIOLOGIST: Eventually we're going to run out of species quite literally. And this could happen within our lifetime.

CHO: What some people may not know is that half the fish we eat doesn't come from the ocean, but from an actual farm. Fish farms.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, is that a beautiful fish?

CHO: Vern Mancini raises and sells a quarter million trout a year. Fish that make it to grocery stores, restaurants, and your dinner table. This booming business is called aquaculture. VERN MANCINI, MUSKY TROUT FARM: The ocean fish are going down and down and down. And to supplement that, we've got to have farm fish. And this is where everything starts right here.

CHO: There are 44,000 eggs in this tray alone. Once the eggs hatch, they're moved to holding tanks, where in less than two years they become full-grown fish. Ready to be sold.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then I get into the cooler.

CHO: To customers like executive chef Christine Guzzino.

CHRISTINE GUZZINO, EXECUTIVE CHEF: I come out and pick out my fish. And I bring it back. It's alive. And it's just -- it's as fresh as it gets.

CHO: It's also accessible. The price is right, about half the cost of wild fish, and she likes the taste. So do customers.

ARIE VAN WINDERGARDEN, DINER: That looks good. It's controlled. You don't have to worry about pollution. Everything is controlled on the farm. It's inspected. It tastes great.

CHO: But is it good for you? Most species are considered safe, with the exception of salmon. Some studies have shown farm-raised salmon have more potentially cancer-causing chemicals than wild salmon. Still, experts say the benefits of eating fish, farmed or not, far outweigh the risk.

LISA DRAYER, REGISTERED DIETITIAN: Salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have heart-protective benefits.

CHO: That's good news for Vern Mancini and helps his bottom line.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHO: Now, some advice for consumers. Farm fish is generally cheaper, as I mentioned in the piece, and in terms of taste, most people we spoke to said they can't tell the difference. If you're at all concerned about pollutants or toxins in your farm-raised fish, there are some things you can do when you take your fish home. Nutritionists tell us -- remove all visible fat, take the skin off, and bake or broil the fish. That will certainly help. This is information you should know, Miles, because farmed fish is so popular these days, it's likely that you have had it many many times without even knowing it.

M. O'BRIEN: Oh, really? so it's not like the farm fish are going to be wearing little overalls, right? So, it's going to be hard to tell which are which. How do you know?

CHO: Well, a lot of times it's labeled. If you go to a restaurant, the chef we spoke to told us, Miles, that unless on the menu it specifically marked wild salmon or wild fish, it's a safe bet that the fish is going to be from a farm. Now, what if you go to a grocery store? Take a look behind me. Here is the wild salmon. Take a close look at the color there. It's a little bit darker. If you go right here to my left, that is the farm-raised salmon. The color's a bit lighter. That is because it has artificial coloring. Now, in terms of price, this is interesting. The wild salmon or fresh salmon is $16.99 a pound right here. Now cut the price in half. $8.99 a pound. That is what you will pay, Miles for farm-raised fish.

M. O'BRIEN: So, the thing to do would be to get a little bit of both, do a side by side taste test and see how that goes.

CHO: Well, I tasted that farm-raised trout that we saw in the piece. And I thought it was pretty good. Now, I can't tell the difference. But I'm no expert.

M. O'BRIEN: All right. Alina Cho, thank you very much.

"CNN NEWSROOM" just minutes away, Tony Harris is at the CNN center with a look at what's ahead. Hello, Tony

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And, Miles, good morning to you. We've got the stories on the NEWSROOM rundown this morning. Virginia's Democratic Senate candidate plans to declare victory today. If confirmed, that puts both houses of Congress in Democratic hands. Live coverage noon eastern in the NEWSROOM.

After Rumsfeld, we focus on defense secretary nominee Robert Gates, his past ties to Washington and the Bush family and his future at the Pentagon.

And the buzz on talk radio -- liberals are giddy, conservatives, crushed. Carol Lin sitting in for Heidi Collins today. We are in the NEWSROOM at the top of the hour right here on CNN. Miles, back to you.

O'BRIEN: We won't miss a minute. Tony Harris, thank you very much.

Coming up, fresh faces on Capitol Hill. We'll talk to a couple of freshmen Democrats about their goals for the coming term. And if it's Thursday, you know what that means. Right, crew?

UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: Miles cam!

O'BRIEN: You guys, we need to work on the enthusiasm around here. E-mail me now, milescam@CNN.com. You can tune in to pipeline at 10:00 a.m. for any question that's on your mind. Literally, any question. milescam@CNN.com, 10:00 a.m. at pipeline. For the answers, stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: In fact those are two of the new fresh faces about to ride into Washington, D.C., all part of the revolution that's really giving power back to the Democrats for the first time in 12 years. So, let's introduce you this morning to Congressman-Elect Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania. He's in Philadelphia this morning. And Congresswoman-Elect Gabriel Giffords of Arizona. She's in Tucson this morning. Good morning to both of you. Congratulations in order. Patrick, let's start with you. Six months ago, you got married, now you've been elected to Congress. That's kind of a big year. How are you feeling this morning?

CONGRESSMAN-ELECT PATRICK MURPHY (D), PENNSYLVANIA: It's been a great year in 2006 and actually Soleded, last night I had my first lamaze class and that's very exciting.

S. O'BRIEN: Oh wow, I didn't realize things were moving along so quickly, so to speak. OK, Gabriel, let me ask you a question. You're engaged to an astronaut I understand. You're going to have your wedding in the fall. Big year for you, too then, as well. How are you feeling today?

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT GABRIELLE GIFFORDS (D), ARIZONA: I'm so excited. My fiance and I just went to see the Rolling Stones last night to celebrate. So, feeling good.

S. O'BRIEN: Wonderful celebration. And now, we have all the niceties out of the way, let's get to the issues. (INAUDIBLE). You want 12 months and the troops out of Iraq. Realistically, do you think you can fulfill that campaign promise to your constituents?

MURPHY: We absolutely need to change the direction in Iraq. I will fight every single day down in Washington, D.C. to make that happen. It's time for the Iraqis to come out of the sidelines to fight for their country. It's not incumbent on the Americans to stay there forever. We're not an occupying force. We've been there for three and a half years. It's important we set a timeline just like we had a timeline for their elections. Just like we had a timeline for the constitution. It's now time to give them a timeline so they come off the sidelines and fight for their country.

S. O'BRIEN: Gabriel, you also campaigned on Iraq, but immigration was maybe a more relevant issue for you, of course, being in Arizona. You called for a comprehensive plan, a plan that would combine both enforcement and also the integration of some illegal immigrants to this country. What do you think your chances are that you're going to be able to deliver on that campaign promise?

GIFFORDS: Well, certainly a comprehensive plan was exactly what President Bush spoke about in his State of the Union address. And unfortunately the House and Senate were not able to deliver on the solution. We need high-tech security here in southern Arizona. We need a guest worker program. We need to hold employers accountable...

S. O'BRIEN: And I'm going to stop you there because while I understand that for your constituents the question is, how much luck, how much of a chance do you think you're going to have in getting that to go through, to pass all those things you've been campaigning on and have been promising for the last year-plus?

GIFFORDS: Well, I think our chances are excellent. Certainly the Democrats have spoken about real accountability when it comes to immigration reform. The president of the United States spoke about a comprehensive solution. Republicans had gridlocked in the House and Senate on this issue. And I think that we're going to be able to deliver this to the American people.

S. O'BRIEN: Tom DeLay, basically said to me yesterday about the two of you and on all your colleagues who are the new incoming freshmen, don't unpack. Here's what he said. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM DELAY, FORMER MAJORITY LEADER: There's plenty to do over the next two years. Many of these seats that the Democrats won are going to be one-term Congressmen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

S. O'BRIEN: Ouch. Patrick, what do you say to that?

MURPHY: Well, with all due respect to Representative DeLay, I plan to serve the citizens miff district for a long time. And the fact is, if anyone's packing, maybe he should be packing for jail.

S. O'BRIEN: Interesting. Gabriel, what do you think?

GIFFORDS: Well, my district, it's a swing district. President Bush won it twice, but our governor, attorney general, both Democrats also won it. This is a moderate district. It's a district that is used to having an independent thinking person represented. I've worked hard. I'm a third generation southern Arizonan, and I'm going to be serving the district very well.

S. O'BRIEN: An excellent political answer. The question was, when Tom DeLay kind of slams the incoming freshmen, what's your reaction?

GIFFORDS: Well, for me, you know, Representative DeLay can say whatever he wants to say. But, the reality is that change can't wait. The voters of this country have come forward to say they want to have a new direction in Washington. And that is why not just the House, but it's looking like the Senate is now changing control.

S. O'BRIEN: You point out that you're in a swing district. You have also along with your colleagues, the incoming freshmen class, you have a diverse Congressional class -- all the Democrats now in Congress. You look to someone like Nancy Pelosi, who is most likely going to be the leader of this, and you know, she's a liberal with a capital 'L' from San Francisco, where I spent many, many years. Is that going to be a problem? Is she going to well represent your constituents, Gabrielle?

GIFFORDS: We have not yet seen what the entire leadership team is going to look like. In southern Arizona, we just raised the minimum wage here through a statewide initiative. We're focused on Iraq. Immigration is certainly an issue. Fixing Medicare part D, the prescription drug bill that was written by the pharmaceutical industry, these are things certainly that Congresswoman Pelosi has spoken about and her leadership is trying to address. We'll know in a couple of weeks more what our team looks like. But, I'm excited to roll up my sleeves and get to work.

S. O'BRIEN: Gabrielle Giffords and Patrick Murphy, congratulations to both of you -- Patrick, on the incoming baby, and Gabrielle on the pending nuptials. And of course your election success. Thank you for talking with us this morning.

MURPHY: Thank you very much.

GIFFORDS. Thank you.

S. O'BRIEN: As you all know, "ANDERSON COOPER 360" airs weeknights at 10:00 p.m. eastern. So, here's Anderson with a look at what's on his program tonight.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Soledad, tonight on 360 -- the Democrats are in control. Their message is change. But what can they really do about Iraq. Tonight, we'll look at the facts on the ground. The different strategies, could it actually take more troops, not less, to get a solution. 360 tonight, 10:00 p.m. eastern -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: All right Anderson, thank you.

OK, so the midterms are over. Whew! Guess what, let's move on to 2008, shall we? The first candidate formally files paperwork to run today for the presidency. Going to talk about that straight ahead.

And the red-hot housing market is a little bit chillier these days. Gerri Willis will stop by with some tips whether you're a buyer or a seller. Much more on AMERICAN MORNING straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

M. O'BRIEN: We're out of time. Here's CNN NEWSROOM with Tony Harris and Carol Lin today.

HARRIS: And good morning, everyone you are in the CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Tony Harris.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Lin in today for Heidi Collins

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