Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Hillary Clinton Forms Presidential Exploratory Committee; Winter Storm Pounds Plains; President Bush Talks War Strategy With Top Aides; U.S. Helicopter Down in Baghdad; Presidential Candidate Field Is Crowded; New Orleans Saints
Aired January 20, 2007 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICK WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: CNN Center in Atlanta, here's what's happening right now.
A U.S. helicopter is down in Baghdad. The military says all 13 people on board are dead. Their identities are being held until families are notified.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton says she's in and ready to win. She's forming an exploratory committee for the Democratic presidential nomination, that announcement made this morning on her Web site.
And Republican Senator Sam Brownback is expected to join the already crowded presidential race this afternoon, our political team in Topeka, Kansas for that. Live coverage of these rapidly developing political events begins in one minute.
Another weekend, another winter storm. Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico are facing another round of frigid weather. More than 100,000 customers are still without power from last week.
And President Bush talks war strategy with two top aides. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates fill the president in on their recent trips to the combat region. Gates says the next step in Iraq is littered with obstacles.
A U.S. Marine and two soldiers in Iraq have died. One soldier died during combat operations in Tikrit. The other was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. The military says the Marine died Friday following enemy action in Anbar province.
She says she's in to win. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton makes it official, taking the first formal step to run for president.
Already frozen over, parts of the Plains and the southwest getting another dose of wintry weather. We're tracking the storm from our Severe Weather Center.
Plus, the war within. Radicals spouting hate, transforming young Muslims into extremists. Christiane Amanpour discovers terror's new breeding ground.
The news unfolding live this Saturday, the 20th of January. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. You're in the NEWSROOM. A long anticipated announcement from Hillary Rodham Clinton kicks off a big political weekend. Her Web site shouts "I'm in." Clinton announces an exploratory committee, the first move in a possible presidential bid for the White House in 2008. Our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley is following the developments from Topeka, Kansas, where Republican Senator Sam Brownback is expected to jump into the race today.
Candy, you may be in Kansas, but we know that everyone is talking about Hillary.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's amazing, isn't it, Fredricka, that something so expected could generate excitement and a little bit of surprise. But nonetheless, there you have it.
Hillary Clinton beginning that first step, the exploratory committee, she'll file papers on Monday. Sort of the new age approach to campaigns now, she did this on her Web site, with first a statement and then later with a video stream. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: I announce today that I'm forming a presidential exploratory committee. I'm not just starting a campaign, though, I'm beginning a conversation with you, with America, because we all need to be part of the discussion if we're all going to be part of the solution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CROWLEY: So Hillary Clinton officially in the race. We are told by some that she decided to get in at this point because she wanted to untie her hands. She was in that limbo, Fredricka, of between everyone believing she was a candidate and yet every time she went up to the cameras, she would get asked the question. So, getting in now unties her hands, it also gives Barack Obama a little run for his money when it comes to marquee names in the race. So we are off and running -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: So, Candy, here you are in Topeka, there to follow Senator Brownback's proposal to run. This has to be frustrating for him because here we are talking about Hillary.
CROWLEY: Right. Absolutely, and I talked to him a little bit about it in an interview just a while back and asked him about Hillary Clinton, and he said, look, you know, she's got this marquee name, she's well-known. But he said, look, it's very, very early. He said, Jimmy Carter wasn't known at this point in the race. Bill Clinton wasn't known at this point in the race. And they went on to the presidency. So he says, absolutely, that this is a household name, Clinton, but he notes that we have a long time to go.
The elections aren't till a year from November. So he believes that's plenty of time to get some name recognition for himself. He says this is, in the end, a battle of ideas. I asked him what about a Clinton-Brownback race, and he said, "I would love it because we could really have set A of ideas and set B." So, takes it in stride. Politicians generally do.
WHITFIELD: So, Candy, name recognition is one thing, but we also know that having the money to back your campaign is another. We're talking about presidential campaigns that are requiring somewhere between 100 and $200 million. Does Senator Brownback think that he can get that kind of money knowing that Senator Clinton already has millions? The most out of all the potential candidates.
CROWLEY: Right. I mean, aye, there's the rub. Obviously, Senator Brownback and Senator Clinton are drawing from two separate pools of money, but you're right, resource, limited. And when you get this many people in the race, you are talking about what we call the money race, and that's what this part of the campaign is about, lining up your donors, getting the money, lining up your staff. There's tough competition for it. Another reason to get into this race early, to sort of set up your campaign structure and try to bring in some of the big talent names in the campaign.
So, you're right. It really has a lot to do with money, not so much names. But I have to tell you, on has to do with the other, if your name is Clinton, it's a lot easier to raise money than if your name is Brownback.
WHITFIELD: Candy Crowley, thank you so much from Topeka, Kansas.
CROWLEY: Thanks Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Part of the best political team in television.
Well, last time -- or when should say, last week, at this time Senator Clinton was in the war zone meeting with military and government leaders. She came away with her own plan for dealing with Iraq. Our Brian Todd has details on that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just back from the combat zone, the likely Democratic frontrunner for the White House counterattacks the president's new plan for Iraq.
CLINTON: The president's team is pursuing a failed strategy in Iraq.
TODD: Senator Hillary Clinton is introducing new legislation on Iraq clearly signaling her belief that the 21,000 more troops the president wants to deploy won't secure the peace. Her plan?
CLINTON: It will cap the number of troops in Iraq at the levels they existed on January 1 and will require the administration to seek congressional authorization for any additional troops.
TODD: Is capping the troops at the current level of about 135,000 a strategy worthy of a possible president? Not according to the current occupants of the White House. TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It binds the hands of the commander in chief and also the generals, and frankly, also, the troops on the ground.
TODD: A retired U.S. Army general who once had his troop levels capped in a combat zone tells CNN he agrees, saying a prudent president would understand that conditions on the ground are always changing, and limiting troops means limiting flexibility.
Senator Clinton also wants to get tougher on the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki, essentially threatening to cut off funding for his armed forces if he doesn't do more to crack down on violence, if he doesn't root out sectarian sympathizers in his army, and if he doesn't make political accommodations with his Sunni rivals.
That gets higher marks from military analysts to say it is presidential to set tough benchmarks for a government that's dragging its feet. But political analysts say Mrs. Clinton is walking a tightrope for the intention presidential cycle.
KEN RUDIN, NPR POLITICAL DIRECTOR: If Hillary Clinton tried to have a moderate plan to appeal to centrists in November 2008, that does makes sense. But there's a nomination to be won first.
TODD (on camera): That means she may not have the support of core Democrats, who want troop levels reduced sooner, a view shared by some of Hillary Clinton's likely rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton returned from Iraq without much confidence in Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki. Our John Roberts spoke with her about that in an extensive interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Nouri al Maliki, the prime minister, do you have any faith that he is the guy who can bring Iraq back to a state of security?
CLINTON: I don't have any faith.
ROBERTS: No faith in al Maliki?
CLINTON: Whether there's a gap between his intentions and his will and capacity is the real problem, or whether he's doing what he intends to do to sort of mark time and further the, you know, the dominance of his sectarian supporters. It's hard to tell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And you can watch John Roberts' entire interview with Senator Clinton at 7:00 Eastern and again Sunday afternoon at 1:00 Eastern on THIS WEEK AT WAR.
Well, more than two years until the primaries and the field of candidates is already packed with wannabes. Later this hour, our senior political analyst Bill Schneider will look at how it might all shake out. Stick around for that.
And this programming note, the first presidential debate will be in April right here on CNN. The best political team in television is teaming up with New Hampshire's leading news organizations to host the first presidential debate of the campaign season. The back-to-back debates are sponsored by CNN. The New Hampshire Union Leader, and WMUR television. And you can see them right here on CNN, your election 2008 campaign headquarters. That's in April.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN "Breaking News."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Meantime right now, we're following a development out of Baghdad, where a U.S. helicopter has gone down. All 13 people onboard are dead, their identities are being withheld. Also, unclear, the cause of the crash. We don't know if it was shot down or if there were some other problem as to why that helicopter went down. But it did earlier today, and of course, we continue to gather information on that story. When we get it, we'll bring it to you.
Well, you know she's in, but what do you know about her? Hillary Rodham Clinton's resume before she was a presidential candidate, a senator, or even a first lady.
Round two, another winter wallop for the southwest and the Plains. The question is how much this time?
And this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One day you will conquer Rome. One day you will conquer the White House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The public face of Islamic extremism in Britain. CNN's Christiane Amanpour investigates "The War Within" straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, in case you're just joining us, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is taking the first big step for a possible run for the White House. The announcement came today on her Web site, where she declares, "I'm in." the Democrat from New York is setting up an exploratory committee to run for president in 2008. Here are some facts about Mrs. Clinton that perhaps you don't know. She is the first lady to be elected to public office. Senator Clinton was born into a middle class family in Chicago in 1947. She's a graduate of the all women's Wellesley College and Yale Law School. She met Bill Clinton in the Yale Law Library. And as a teenager, she worked for Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.
Before becoming the nation's first lady, Mrs. Clinton was a practicing attorney and a professor at the University of Arkansas law school.
Senator Clinton is just one in a crowded field of presidential hopefuls. Why are so many running? And who's got the best shot at winning? Our senior political analyst Bill Schneider joins us to help sort it all out. He's coming up this hour, right here in the NEWSROOM.
Well, if you hear a collective cry of "uncle," it's from folks in the snow and ice-battered southwest and the Plains. But old man winter is not easing up just yet. Up to six inches of new snow is expected for Oklahoma City. More than 100,000 homes and businesses in Oklahoma and Missouri are still without power because of earlier storms.
The severe weather is being blamed for at least 74 deaths. This is a dangerous system. And Bonnie Schneider is in the Severe Weather Center keeping a close eye on all of this.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: So who is who in the presidential race? The list is very long. And it's getting even longer by the second, it seems. Why is everyone jumping in so early? And who really has a chance?
ROBERTS: I'm John Roberts in Scottsdale, Arizona. It's action in the battle for Baghdad. Now the CNN Hummer Warrior One is on the auction block for charity. We'll take you through a tour when CNN comes back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN "Breaking News."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: This story we continue to follow. A U.S. helicopter is down in Baghdad. All 13 people onboard are dead. It's unclear exactly what brought down this helicopter, and no identities of the people onboard are being yet revealed. Our Arwa Damon is on the ground there and she's continuing to dig for details. We'll get to her when we can.
Warrior One on the auction block. The CNN Hummer has been on the front lines of the war in Iraq. It is now ready to roll your way and all for a good cause. Our John Roberts joins us live from Scottsdale, Arizona, with how you can own your own piece of war history -- John.
ROBERTS: Good day to you, Fred. Well, I got to tell you, up front, it's going to take a lot of money to own this piece of war history. CNN is expecting this is going to go for big dollars today because it's all going to a very good cause, Fisher House, which provides a combination for service members or their families if they are requiring medical treatment at either a military base or at one of the V.A. hospitals.
There are 36, by the end of this year, there will be 36 Fisher Houses in the United States, two of those in Europe. And it really is a godsend for these families of military people who are injured or have to undergo some sort of medical treatment because it gives them an extremely low or no cost at all place to stay.
Fisher House takes the donations, they build these homes, they then turn them over to the military, which administers them. So, this is going to be going on the auction block a little bit later on today, probably about 7:00 Eastern Time, 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time, which is 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time, which is where we are in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This is a 1993 Hummer, was a civilian Hummer, saw action in the Iraq war, in the invasion of March of 2003. The "overhauling" crew from TLC took this over in the summer of last year and really just kind of overdid it from the ground up. You can take a look inside here, this doesn't look like your civilian version of the Hummer. It's got six flat panel LCD screens, stereo's pumping out 7,500 watts of power, beautiful leather seats.
And these are typically diesel powered. Let's show you what the folks from "overhauling," led by the team of Chip Foose, who's a very well-known hotrod designer did. They took out the diesel engine; they put this 454 Chevrolet crate engine in, producing 450 horsepower, so this is a real go machine, as well.
Obviously, it's going to take a lot of gas, so not only will it take a lot of money to buy this, but probably a little money to keep it going as well. So, it's probably sort of the thing that somebody would keep in their garage.
Coming around to the back here, two 250-pound subwoofers, four LCD flat panel screens in the back. This thing is kicking out a lot of power, both in the front and in the back. It's really a one of a kind. You can see that on the side here, as well, we've got airbrushed paintings of some of the scenes from Iraq. On the tailgate here, we've got the four folks who rode in this all the way to Baghdad, including cameraman Scott McWoody (ph) who's here and is going to drive this up on stage.
This is going to be going on the auction block a little later on today, here at the Barrett Jackson Auction Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. It'll be live on the Speed Channel, by the way, if you want to check it out. Hoping to get good money for this, all for a good cause, Fisher House. WHITFIELD: Oh, an incredible cause, and I'm -- that is some kind of ride. I would say that's what you'd call your weekend ride. So what is the starting bid? Do you know?
ROBERTS: You know, I don't know if there's a reserve bid on it, but I expect that by this afternoon there probably will be. There have been some high rollers that have come around in the last 48 hours to take a look at it, and it's certainly garnering a tremendous amount of interest from people who come here to see it.
I was talking with a sheriff's deputy who was a veteran of the Iraq war, who came up to us and said, "Thanks so much for doing this. It's really great to see you paying so much tribute to the troops" not only in the style of the car itself, but the fact it's being auctioned off for Fisher House, which does so much good work for men and women of the military.
WHITFIELD: And already at that auction house, so many people -- I can see that there are other vehicles back there people are eyeballing, too. But I imagine just all day people coming in and out. This is highly anticipated, the auctioning that will take place involving Warrior One.
ROBERTS: Oh, absolutely. You know, it's been going around to military bases for the last six months. It's been to Ft. Bragg, it's been tot the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda. A lot of people have seen this, there's a lot of people here today. It's very crowded, acres and acres and acres of cars.
Quickly take a look at this. This is the Elvis Mobile.
WHITFIELD: Oh my god.
ROBERTS: This is the Elvis Mobile, which is expected -- they were billing it as the first $1 million custom car, they think it will go for somewhere between $600,000 and $800,000. This is an incredible ride, as well. But as you can see, I mean, these are the real showcase vehicles here, this Elvis car and Warrior One, so we're at the very center of attention here at the Barrett Jackson Auction Center, today.
WHITFIELD: Oh my god. Some beautiful rides. Well, I love cars, so I'm enjoying seeing this thing. So something tells me we're talking...
ROBERTS: You should be here.
WHITFIELD: I know I should be there. I'm going to have to work on that. It's a little too late now to catch a flight. All right well, John, thanks so much.
Well, you can find more information on Hummer One at CNN.com. Just go to CNN.com/warriorone.
All right, back to our top political story. Hillary Rodham Clinton says she is in it to win it, but can she? A big announcement today from the junior New York senator. We're bringing you all the details. Who's running for president in '08? The shorter list actually could be who's not? We'll sort out through who is in and who some of those choices might be for the long haul.
And THE WAR WITHIN, young people brainwashed into jihad and the battle within Islam to stop them. You're in the NEWSROOM.
But first, everybody knows raising your kids is not easy. Now there's help on the way for parents in need of some, let's say, extra training. Carol Costello explains in this week's "Modern Living."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHARON PETERS, PARENT COACH: Lilly, please go upstairs and get ready. What are you standing around for? I've already told you twice. That's enough.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It may seem like a typical morning for Sharon Peters.
PETERS: Girls, the sooner you're done dressing, the sooner you can watch television.
COSTELLO: But this isn't her family. Sharon is a parent coach.
PETERS: She's the sleeper.
COSTELLO: Hired by Monica and Al, who preferred we only use their first names. They're hoping she'll help them with their three young children.
PETERS: That means you're going to have to sleep in your big girl bed.
COSTELLO: More and more parents are turning to professionals for guidance, whether it's a sleeping issue.
AL: The sleeping arrangement has never been better. We actually sleep -- I haven't slept in my bed in three years. I didn't know what it was like.
COSTELLO: Or bad manners.
SHARON: What do you say? You're welcome.
PETERS: Children are born in this world innocent little human beings. If a child is taught that you can interrupt while mommy's on the phone, that's what they believe, is normal behavior, and that's what they're going to constantly do. But when your child is very young, you need to train them.
COSTELLO: I'm Carol Costello, and that's this week's "Modern Living."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Half past the hour right now, here's what's happening in the news. A U.S. helicopter is down near Baghdad. The military says all 13 people on board are dead. Their identifies are being held until families are notified.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is taking the first step for a White House run in 2008. The New York Democrat says on her Web page that she's forming an exploratory committee to run for president.
On the Republican side, Kansas Senator Sam Brownback is expected to throw his hat into the presidential ring at the top of the hour. Brownback is a fierce opponent of abortion, stem cell research, and same sex marriage.
Oklahoma and other parts of the Southwest and Plains states are getting more of what they don't want: snow and ice. At least six inches of snow is predicted for Oklahoma City. Severe winter weather is being blamed for at least 74 deaths.
Back to politics. She's in. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announces plans to form an exploratory committee to seek the presidency in 2008. She kicked in just a few hours ago on her Web site with this message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: Let's start a dialogue about your ideas and mine because the conversation in Washington has been just a little one- sided lately, don't you think? And we can all see how well that works.
And while I can't visit everyone's living room, I can try. And with a little help from modern technology, I'll be holding live online video chats this week starting Monday. So let the conversation begin. I have a feeling it's going to be very interesting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: To say the least. Clinton's announcement comes just days after Illinois Senator Barack Obama indicated he'll mount a challenge for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Our Bob Franken reports the field is already very crowded.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), ILLINOIS: I'll be filing papers today to create a presidential exploratory committee.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He may be considered inexperienced, but Barack Obama has already learned how to milk publicity.
OBAMA: On February 10th at the end of these discussions and in my home state of Illinois, I'll share my plans with my friends, neighbors, and fellow Americans.
FRANKEN: The nation waits. In the meantime, Republican Sam Brownback will be diving in from the right. His campaign slogan, I'm not John McCain. Take the addition of more troops to Iraq. Not the answer, says Brownback. The answer, argues McCain.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I believe it's necessary, and I hope we can move forward.
FRANKEN: McCain hasn't officially moved forward with his presidential candidacy, but there are few surer things in this life. That's probably true on the Democratic side of Hillary Rodham Clinton's plans. Clinton aides are complaining that John Edwards has been throwing some hardballs at her, departing from his we're all in this together mantra.
JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to have to do, all of us together.
FRANKEN: The presidential candidate landscape is already cluttered. Among Democrats, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Senator Christopher Dodd, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, who at least doesn't have to travel far.
Among the big name Republicans in the hunt, there's Giuliani and Romney. Small names include Duncan Hunter and now GOP Congressman Tom Tancredo, who's hoping his restrictive immigration leadership produces a groundswell on this side of the border.
And in both parties there are literally dozens threatening to run.
RHODES COOK, POLITICAL ANALYST: This is a time to realize the American dream, you know. If you're brought up to believe that anybody can be president, this is the type of election cycle to realize that.
FRANKEN (on camera): We don't need a scorecard, we probably need an inventory. If you're wondering if somebody is running, the answer is probably yes.
Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: So do all the politicians throwing their hats into the ring really think they have a great chance of winning, or are some of them just making a statement? And who does have the best chance of ending up in the Oval Office?
CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider joins us from Washington.
Good to see you.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi, Fred. WHITFIELD: Boy, talk about a field. I mean, we're losing count. So perhaps to narrow the field, maybe people want to know that candidate for one, and want to know their policy.
Perhaps for Senator Clinton, people feel like they know her. And now she's inviting people on her Web site to say, let's have dialogue. Let's talk. Does this bode well in her favor for people who are saying, maybe I don't really know who you are?
SCHNEIDER: Well, certainly people have a long experience with Senator Clinton as first lady, the healthcare plan back in the early 1990s, her various troubles, her husband's experiences. She's a very well-known quantity, which is an advantage in many ways because she can raise a lot of money. She has raised a lot of money in her Senate campaign.
She has two big things going for her: her ability to raise money -- remember, she's the senator from New York, which is a big center for political money, and she also has the best political adviser that money can't buy, her husband.
WHITFIELD: Ah, interesting. And, you know, let's talk about money because these days, as we saw, you know, in the last presidential election, it is about money. If you've got $100 million -- and now I'm hearing it may take about $200 million to run in a presidential race. She can probably get that kind of money that perhaps a lot of other candidates can't get. That's going to weed out a lot of potential candidates, isn't it?
SCHNEIDER: Yes, it will. There are only a handful of candidates who probably can raise that kind of money. And a lot depends on how they do in the polls, what kind of buzz they can create, which is why they're all rushing into the race this early.
By the way, you said inventory. I can offer you one. By our count, there are a potential list of 14 Republicans running for president and 12 Democrats. That's 26 candidates, my God.
WHITFIELD: Has there ever been a field that huge before?
SCHNEIDER: I've been around a while, and I can't remember one that big. But remember, this is the most wide open presidential race in over 50 years because the vice president of the United States is not running to succeed the president. The president can't run for a third term. So that means it's totally wide open, and all kinds of candidates are saying, hey, if I'm going to make a move, this is the year to do it.
WHITFIELD: So I wonder what's it all about really? I mean, we're talking about 12 Democrats, 14 Republicans. All of them can't be in it because they think they can win. Is there some other statement that some of these other potential candidates are trying to make? Hey, notice me for what?
SCHNEIDER: Well, first of all, you'd be surprised how many of them really do believe. Look, in this crowded a field, if I have a good issue -- Tancredo is talking about immigration. Wes Clark has a lot of international experience. He was the former allied commander. Of course, he hasn't declared his running yet. He's thinking about it.
Brownback, of course, a social conservative. They think, look, anybody has a chance in this kind of race. Maybe I can catch fire. And once they catch fire, you'd be surprised. The money starts pouring in.
WHITFIELD: And maybe just stirring the pot and getting people to talk about certain issues is a contribution in and of itself even if you don't win the nomination, period.
SCHNEIDER: Well, look, there are going to be debates. CNN along with stations -- local stations in New Hampshire and a newspaper, the "Union Leader," are sponsoring a debate in April, the first debate.
A lot of these candidates are going to be there for that debate. A lot of people are going to be watching it, particularly partisans. They're going to take a look at some of these people for the first time. So if they're included in the debate, anything can happen.
WHITFIELD: Well, it's going to be a fun two years where anything can happen. All right, Bill, thanks so much.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
WHITFIELD: Well, how about the fight for young minds?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One day you will conquer Rome.
GROUP: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One day you will conquer the White House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: It's an emotional battle to stop home-grown terror and why a surprising number of Western youths think violent jihad is justified.
And it may just seem like the tonic the city of New Orleans needs, but is football success giving the rest of the country the wrong impression?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The war within, a struggle for control of the voice of Islam in Britain. This weekend, CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour takes a look at the radicals spouting hate and the teachers and imams struggling to make the voice of moderate Islam heard.
Here's a preview of her report, which will air tonight at 8:00 Eastern.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One day you will conquer Rome.
GROUP: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One day you will conquer the White House.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Anjam Chowdary is the public face of Islamic extremism in Britain. His group, Amwa Jurun (ph), disbanded before the British government could outlaw it under its new anti-terrorism rules. But that hasn't shut Chowdary off.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) deserves capital punishment.
AMANPOUR: That was Chowdary's inflammatory rhetoric just days after Pope Benedict's controversial speech about Islam.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pope Benedict, you will pay.
GROUP: Pope Benedict, you will pay.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Mujahadeen are on their way.
GROUP: The Mujahadeen are on their way.
AMANPOUR: Outside Westminster Cathedral, British Catholics looked on in disbelief.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They could stand outside our church and abuse us and abuse our religion and abuse people that we hold dear with absolute impunity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The simple question to the Christians is do you condemn what the pope says? Do you condemn the pope?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What he says...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes or no. Do you condemn the pope?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If any of us was to amble up to that mosque at Regents Park and say anything in regards to Allah or Mohammed or what have you, best case scenario, we'd be taken away by the police for inciting racial hatred. Worst case scenario, we're attacked by a bunch of thugs wearing tea towels on their heads.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Democracy, hypocrisy.
GROUP: Democracy, hypocrisy.
AMANPOUR: Even away from the bully pulpit, Chowdary, who is a lawyer, not a cleric, continues to advocate extremist views, like calling for Sharia, Islamic law, for Britain. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of the world belong to Allah, and we will live according to the Sharia law. This is the fundamental belief of Muslims. If I was going to go to the jungle tomorrow, I'm not going to live like the animals.
AMANPOUR (on camera): Anjam, basically, a lot of what you're saying is it's my way or the highway. How does that kind of logic fit into a Democratic state like the one we live in now? Like the one you live in? You live here by choice. Do you not believe in democracy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I don't at all. We believe people must live according to the Sharia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: "THE WAR WITHIN," a CNN special investigations unit report premieres tonight at 8:00 Eastern only on CNN.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
WHITFIELD: A U.S. helicopter down near Baghdad. The military says all 13 people on board are dead. Their identities are being held until families are notified. More information when we get it.
The two faces of New Orleans. There you go. CNN's Sean Callebs has a tale of two cities straight ahead. You are in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: For New Orleans Saints fans, it's the best of times with Super Bowl dreams on the line this weekend in Chicago. But for many in New Orleans, it's the worst of times, with most of the city still a ghost town.
CNN's Sean Callebs has this tale of two cities.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One step from the Super Bowl, there is no question the New Orleans Saints are energizing this city. Cheering, smiling, celebrations -- images of the city flashed around the country. But lest anyone forget, this, locals say, is a much more accurate picture.
CHUCK BACIGALUPI, NEW ORLEANS RESIDENT: There are so many people around here that are, you know, living in tents, inside, you know, gutted houses because they just don't have the means.
CALLEBS: The lower Ninth Ward, Lakeview. These are current pictures, not something from months ago.
BACIGALUPI: This neighbor over here hasn't done anything. Her refrigerator is still in there. It, you know, stinks. There's rats. You know, there's more holes where there used to be houses than there are houses now. CALLEBS: So, come on, you say, it can't be that bad. We've seen Bourbon Street. After all, Brad and Angelina are moving to the city, right? Business leaders say tourism is slowly coming back, but still...
EARL BERNHARDT, BOURBON STREET ALLIANCE: In normal times, these businesses, all of them on the street, would be doing better than they are. But times are tough and the strong survive and the weak don't.
CALLEBS: And even though the French Quarter was spared when 80 percent of the city was flooded, there is no question it still suffers.
BERNHARDT: New Orleans is tourism. Without tourism, we're nothing.
CALLEBS: So few residents have been able to return to areas decimated after the levees gave way. They wonder where are city, state and federal government leaders? Where is the money for rebuilding? But people here are resilient. And they will take the black and gold until the city starts seeing the green.
BACIGALUPI: You know, hopefully it will come. And this is helping. If the Saints win, you know, people are smiling.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And big political news this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: After six years of George Bush, it is time to renew the promise of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Hillary Rodham Clinton is throwing her hat into the ring. We're bringing you all the details here in the NEWSROOM.
And bracing for another winter blast in the Plains and the Southwest. You're in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Just moments from now, conservative Republican Senator Sam Brownback is about to join the field of 14 other Republicans by announcing plans to run for president in 2008.
It follows Democratic Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's announcement on her Web site earlier today that she is also entering the race.
Joining us with her take on all of this, our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley.
Hi, Candy. Just minutes away. CROWLEY: Hey, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Or seconds maybe.
CROWLEY: Yes, exactly. Seconds away. You know, it's interesting, I talked to Senator Brownback just before this, to talk to him about Hillary Clinton overshadowing his day, and he said, look, right now the marquee names obviously get a lot of attention, but there's a long way to go in this race. He thinks it's a race of ideas.
He noted that nobody knew Jimmy Carter at this time and the cycle of that race when Jimmy Carter became president, or Bill Clinton for that matter. So he just seemed to sort of shrug off the fact that he was kind of being overshadowed here. He said, look, you compare it to a wedding day. You know, you have anticipated it for a long time, but you've still got a little bit of the jitters.
WHITFIELD: Well, Candy, that must be kind of tough. You know, when you've made a decision that you want to join the race, and then you're being pounded by questions, which are legitimate questions of but do you really think you can win? Can you really take notice when the field is just so big?
CROWLEY: Well, absolutely. And one of the things, talking to locals around here and indeed talking to the senator, they said, look, he's been in some races where we have totally written him off, and the fact of the matter is he's come back, including 1996, when he ran for Bob Dole's seat.
So he's seen uphill battles before. He sees this as just another one. He's a conservative. He says he believes most of the country is. He thinks this will be a competition of ideas. We all like to think that when we're starting out. So nonetheless, he is on the road. And believes he's got a shot at it.
WHITFIELD: And he acknowledges that, you know, it's going to be expensive, and in order to win, that means we also have to win a lot of fundraising dollars. So how realistic is his approach to all of that?
CROWLEY: Exactly. Well, I mean, again, he's perfectly right. Howard Dean, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton -- you can come up with a lot of names where we would have said the same thing starting out. He believes that, when the ideas get out there, the money will follow.
But there's no doubt about it, and he said, look, I'm a long shot. I get that. Nonetheless, you never start out thinking you can't win. And he's just another in a long line of people that were seen as long shots, some of whom have some success, most of whom who don't.
WHITFIELD: Candy Crowley, thanks so much from Topeka, Kansas, where Senator Sam Brownback just moments away will be making it legitimate, entering the race for 2008. That's not him right there, but he's going to be taking to the podium at the top of the hour. We'll continue to follow that. Thanks so much, Candy.
Meantime, parts of the country just keep getting pounded by very severe and very dangerous and lethal weather. Bonnie Schneider in the Severe Weather Center.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: A look at the top stories in a moment. "IN THE MONEY" is next and here's Ali Velshi.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks.
Coming up on "IN THE MONEY," blowing hot and cold. Check out the economic impact of this winter's extreme weather.
Plus, maybe it's no accident that surge rhymes with splurge. We'll look at the price of President Bush's plan for Iraq.
And how to pick a winner. We'll get one Wall Street expert's take on the year's most promising sectors. All that and more after a quick check of the headlines.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com
