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Barack Obama Clinches Democratic Presidential Nomination; United Airlines to Cut Down on Jobs and Planes; Hillary Clinton to Decide on Next Move; Zimbabwe Police Detained Presidential Contender Morgan Tsvangirai; Extreme Danger in China's Earthquake Zone; Prince William Now Part of the Royal Navy; U.N. Call to Action at the World Food Summit in Rome
Aired June 05, 2007 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
See events come into the NEWSROOM live this Wednesday, June 4th.
Here's what's on the rundown.
He's over the top. Barack Obama clinches the Democratic presidential nomination. The history-making candidate speaking live this hour.
HARRIS: She's still on stage. Hillary Clinton doesn't quit the race. Is she shopping for the VP slot? We hear from Clinton live, too.
COLLINS: United Airlines parking dozens of fuel-guzzling planes, cutting hundreds of jobs. The oil surge bites, in the NEWSROOM.
A grueling presidential primary season ends. One candidate making history, another making decisions.
We are watching all the players in the presidential race this morning, of course.
Barack Obama speaking in just a few minutes to an Israel lobbying group in Washington. Obama claimed the Democratic nomination last night, as I'm sure you've heard, after winning more than the required number of delegates. He's set to become the first African-American candidate to lead a major party ticket.
Hillary Clinton still not conceding. She said she'll huddle with her advisers to decide her next move. Many top Clinton supporters are pushing for her to be Obama's running mate.
Republican John McCain taking aim at Obama in a speech last night. McCain said Obama represents the wrong kind of change.
HARRIS: Barack Obama basking in the glow of his big moment in history. Jason Carroll looks at what Obama's achievement means and the challenges he still faces.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In a place like Harlem, the names and faces of those who've earned their place in history make for street signs and hot-selling TV shirts.
Now another face of another man who's made his mark.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I see it as history being made, of course.
CARROLL: This man says he never thought he'd see someone like Senator Obama get this far in his lifetime, neither did Edgar and Linda Ridley.
EDGAR RIDLEY, OBAMA SUPPORTER: I was hoping but I never really thought I would see it.
LINDA RIDLEY, OBAMA SUPPORTER: Even up until now, many of us have had our hears in our mouths hoping things would turn out OK. So we're very excited about it.
CARROLL: These high school girls say they've always believed the United States is ready to accept a man of color in the White House.
UNIDENTIFIED STUDENT: He has the education, and he's speaking -- he's saying good things. He's promoting good things in his campaign, so why couldn't he get this far?
UNIDENTIFIED STUDENT: I feel like the country is stepping up a lot.
CARROLL: The Ridleys understand the optimism of the younger generation but still question the willingness of some to get behind Obama in a general election.
JON RIEDER, SOCIOLOGIST AND AUTHOR: You think about the nastiness of the last couple months in the Democratic primary. We've had the resurgence of this image of a nation divided, so wounded women against wounded African-Americans.
So we've got this incredible spectacle of kind of wounded identities and warring groups.
CARROLL: One key group the senator will need, white women. On New York's upper west side, those we spoke to say they were hoping Senator Clinton would be the one making history. But most say they'll now support Obama.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it would have been just as historic if we had a first woman president. However, I think it will be terrific.
CARROLL (on camera): The next question -- once the glow of this historic moment wears off and reality sets in, how will Senator Obama fare in the match-up against Senator John McCain?
Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Well, many Democrats consider it a dream ticket -- Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Some Clinton supporters are actively lobbying now for her to be Obama's vice presidential pick. Among them, billionaire businessman and Clinton adviser Bob Johnson. He's written a letter urging the congressional black caucus to endorse Clinton for the number two spot.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB JOHNSON, FOUNDER, BET: I believe Barack Obama can beat John McCain by -- with another vice president. But I think if he wants a unified Democratic Party and this absolute certainty that these two dynamic leaders bring to the Democratic Party, we have the best chance of winning with Senator Obama at the top of the ticket, Senator Clinton as his vice president.
My letter was not a pressure letter. My letter was an urge and an encouragement. As I said before, Senator Obama will make the decision based on what he thinks is in the best interests of the person who can help him win the election and most important the person who can help him best govern when he is elected president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Johnson says Clinton knows about his campaign, but didn't direct him to do it.
HARRIS: Barack Obama is still not officially the Democratic nominee. Some details now on Obama's status. He is considered the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party. Obama has won more than 2,118 delegates needed to secure the nomination. He will be officially nominated at the party's national convention. That's in August.
Republican John McCain taking aim at Barack Obama's theme of change. McCain speaks later this morning, and we will bring that to you live. In a speech last night, he said the choice is between the right change and the wrong change, which he says Obama represents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Americans have seen me put aside partisan and personal interest to move this country forward. They haven't seen Senator Obama do the same.
For all his fine words and all his promise, he has never taken the hard but right course of risking his own interests for yours, of standing up against the partisan rancor on his side to stand up for our country.
(APPLAUSE) MCCAIN: He's an impressive man who makes a great first impression. But he -- but he hasn't been willing to make the tough calls, to challenge his party, to risk criticism from his supporters, to bring real change to Washington.
I have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: McCain also says Obama lacks the experience to be a wartime commander in chief.
COLLINS: Some pretty big news coming out of United Airlines, talking about cutting jobs and changing their fleet plan. Quite a few planes going to be retired, apparently.
Want to get over to CNN.com's money. And Poppy Harlow is standing by to give us the very latest on here.
Boy, what are we talking about here, Poppy?
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Hi, Heidi.
Well, with gas approaching $4 a gallon, the airlines are doing anything. United -- that's the second largest carrier in the world right behind American -- making a major move announcing just in the last few minutes they're going to cut their fleet by 100 planes by 2009.
They're going to cut between 1,400 and 1,600 jobs. This is all in an effort to sort of stave off the mass of losses, hundreds of millions of dollars in losses over the past year. So -- but keep in mind with those job cuts, Heidi, 500 of those have already been announced.
Now what's really key here is the kind of planes that United is cutting. They're cutting 94 Boeing 737s and six Boeing 747s. Those are -- as everyone knows out there, that they're huge planes. So we could likely be dealing with international routes being cut down, long -- talk about L.A. to New York, some big, big routes, not just small, local airports.
The fleet -- the airlines said that these jets are, quote, "the oldest and least fuel efficient." That's why they're cutting them out of their fleet. They also have a deal with who they're leasing these planes from. But this is what they're planning at this time.
They're going to cut their domestic capacity in the fourth quarter by 14 percent year over year. That means during the 2008-2009 period capacity will be reduced by 17 or 18 percent. That's what united said this morning -- Heidi?
COLLINS: Yes, well, you know, to me, Poppy, that seems to be the big news other than the job cuts when we're talking about people, of course, losing their jobs. Ninety-four 737s, I mean, that's a whole lot of planes versus these six -- 747s that they... HARLOW: Right.
COLLINS: ... seem to -- you know, usually ground when they have a crises like this. But boy, that's an awful lot.
HARLOW: Yes.
COLLINS: They're not making money domestically.
HARLOW: No. It's not -- I mean they're not making money, period, but what they're trying to do is put those planes on the ground where they are just bleeding money. You know, there's new planes coming out of Airbus, Boeing, that are reportedly much more fuel efficient. So we'll see if they add those to their fleet.
But, Heidi, you know, a lot of people out there are probably wondering what does this need for them.
COLLINS: Right.
HARLOW: We'll certainly expect fuller planes. You know, if you're already getting bumped off your flight, expect that to happen some more. Also cutting the routes. So let's say you had 10 options in a day from L.A. to New York. That could mean seven or six options so people really are going to have to be careful.
Of course, that's also going to mean higher fuel prices. Gas gets more expensive in the summer, higher ticket prices. So a lot of things out there that could happen from this, but this is the latest word where 100 less plane soon for United and some job cuts there as well.
COLLINS: Yes, it always seems to happen in the summertime. So much for that wonderful summertime travel, I guess.
HARLOW: I know.
COLLINS: All right.
HARLOW: Stay home.
COLLINS: Yes.
CNNmoney.com's Poppy Harlow for us this morning.
Thank you, Poppy.
Battered, bruised, and bracing for more. The Midwest gearing up for another round of wicked weather. Winds, hail, and heavy rains leave destruction from Kansas to Ohio. Streets flooded and thousands of customers lost power. Funnel clouds also reported all over. At least three tornadoes hit Indiana. Six people were hurt. And another casualty -- a 122-year-old covered bridge in southwest, Indiana -- it was listed on the national register of historic places.
HARRIS: And we want to show you another view of the tornado that caused so much destruction in Parkersburg, Iowa, last month. Surveillance video taken from the ATM machine of a bank across the street from this house.
Pretty incredible stuff you're about to see here. The storm closes in, and in seconds, boy, it is slamming the house with debris, ripping the roof right off, trying to tell the story and watch the pictures at the same time.
The city is now looking to rebuild after that storm flattened about half of the town. It left seven people dead.
COLLINS: Yes, unbelievable video. We saw some of that yesterday...
HARRIS: Yes.
COLLINS: ... coming from the bank, as well, inside the bank. It was unbelievable.
Jacqui Jeras actually on the air when that tornado hit.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
COLLINS: And Jacqui, when you see that video, it really does help to sort of explain what people are seeing and feeling when they're right there, isn't it?
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: And you're right. They could sit down and watch CNN.
JERAS: Absolutely.
COLLINS: I think that's a really good idea.
JERAS: Who would not want to watch Heidi Collins and Tony Harris?
COLLINS: Oh. And Jacqui Jeras. All you.
HARRIS: Wow. All right, Jacqui, thank you.
COLLINS: We'll be back. And Jacqui, thanks so much. We'll check in with you a little bit later on.
Also want to let you know something that we're watching for today. Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party, will be speaking live at the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee. They always hold their annual policy conference, so he will be speaking there shortly. We're going to keep our eye on that for you.
And the delegate map does add up now for Barack Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Tonight, I can stand here and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The epic duel over? What happens to his rival? Talk about here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And good morning again, everyone. Welcome to back to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
Cancer cost a student credit. She is making them up this summer. Can she graduate?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're all like nope, nope, nope. Absolutely not.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If she could just, you know, bend the rules a little bit and give me a second chance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Plea to the principal in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN, the most trusted name in news. Now back to the CNN NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Back to Washington now and Senate majority leader Harry Reid speaking before the assembled audience there. The American- Israel Public Affairs Committee holding its annual policy conference, the AIPAC conference.
We're waiting for Barack Obama on his first full day as presumptive Democratic nominee to make his remarks to AIPAC. And Senator Hillary Clinton scheduled to speak a little later this morning. We will bring both of those remarks to you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
The AIPAC conference drawing a host of political leaders. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was there yesterday. She spent most of her time talking about the threats from Iran. A similar message from John McCain Monday and from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who said Iran must be stopped by all possible means.
Olmert meets with President Bush at the White House today.
So what is AIPAC? It stands for the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, boasting at least 100,000 members nationwide. Its Web site describes the organization as America's leading pro-Israel lobby, bringing both Republicans and Democrats together on public policy.
COLLINS: Reaction from around the world after Barack Obama clinches the Democratic nomination for president of the United States.
Let's check in first with CNN's Morgan Neill in Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MORGAN NEILL, CNN BAGHDAD CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Morgan Neill in Baghdad. Now that we know the presidential race will be a head-to-head between John McCain and Barack Obama, we know that we're dealing with two very different approaches as to how do to deal with Iraq.
Obama didn't vote to support the initial invasion. McCain did. Obama says he'd like to start withdrawing troops as soon as possible. McCain says they'll stay as long as it takes. And on the critical issue of how to deal with Iran's overwhelming influence in Iraq, Obama says he supports starting talks with Iran. McCain doesn't.
How all this rhetoric translate into action? We'll find out next year.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN NAIROBI CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm David McKenzie in Kibera in Nairobi. Now many people woke up in slums like this with a bit of a hangover this morning because they were supporting Barack Obama. People this morning weren't too worried about Hillary Clinton's open-ended speeches and whether she will continue or stop because American politics in Kenya is Obama politics.
UNIDENTIFIED KIBERA RESIDENT: I'm excited because of Obama because he's a half Kenyan. He's a half Kenyan.
UNIDENTIFIED KIBERA RESIDENT: We wanted a black man to rule America so that you can see the changes that our Obama had promised their people to see the change.
MCKENZIE: People say because he has a grandmother here that he is one of their own. He's even transcended tribal politics. Kisiis, Kambas, Kikuyus -- they're all supporting Obama. They're saying that a man with African heritage might be the next president and they are proud of that.
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Alphonso Van Marsh in London and we're ready -- Paddy Power, a betting house where people usually put money on sports like football and soccer. But this is England, and you can put your money on virtually anything, including the U.S. presidential elections.
Now this is the window where you would have put your money down a few months ago. If you wanted to see if Hillary Clinton would secure the Democratic presidential nomination, considered such a sure thing that if you put $5 down you only would have gotten $1 in return.
But, oh, how things have changed. Political traders saying that there's such a huge interest and such fascination in this country with the U.S. presidential elections that they're saying that the elections -- it could be the second largest political betting market that they've ever hosted, second only to elections here in the United Kingdom.
So what are the chances that Obama will pick Hillary Clinton as his running mate? Well, if you take a closer look, at Paddy Power says 6-4, meaning if you put $4 down today, you could get up to $6 in return if she is the vice president running mate. But, of course, in politics, there's no such thing as a sure bet.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: The next step. If the Democratic race is truly over, where does Hillary Clinton go from here?
CNN's Carol Costello takes a look at the options.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Rumors are running rampant about Hillary Clinton's plan B. Some are pretty out there driven by passionate supporters like Harriet Christian.
HARRIET CHRISTIAN, CLINTON SUPPORTER: Equality for all of us.
COSTELLO: Her pro-woman, pro-Hillary rant has become a YouTube sensation.
CHRISTIAN: I'm no second-class citizen. (EXPLETIVE DELETED) the Democrats.
COSTELLO: Some angry voters wonder if Clinton ought to dump the Democrats and run as an independent. After all, she got more than 17 million votes in the primary.
Analysts say not a snowball's chance in Hades.
JEANNE CUMMINGS, POLITICO.COM: If she runs as an independent, then she becomes the Ralph Nader of the 2008 campaign and look at where Ralph Nader is today.
COSTELLO: There is word New York Democrats would love for Clinton to run for governor in 2010, but insiders say a primary fight would pit her against incumbent David Patterson, an African-American man.
Been there, done that.
Others say Clinton ought to aim for Harry Reid's powerful position as Senate majority leader.
To do that, Clinton would have to pass the guys next in line, the feisty Senator Charles Schumer, then Senator Dick Durbin, and, oh, yes, Harry Reid would have to resign.
What about a Supreme Court appointment? Clinton insiders tell me she's into that one. Court watchers say not so fast. Clinton would be in her early 60s if the offer came and if President Obama would likely do what other presidents have done -- name a younger justice like John Roberts, so his legacy can last a long time.
Another rumor, a President Obama would carve out a place for Clinton in his Cabinet. He seems to be dropping hints.
OBAMA: Lincoln basically pulled in all the people who had been running against him into his Cabinet because whatever, you know, personal feelings there were, the issue was how can we get this country through this time of crisis?
COSTELLO: So maybe Clinton as health and human services secretary? Some analysts say this would enable her to push her health care reform plan.
(On camera): But most analysts say the best option for Hillary Clinton is to return to the U.S. Senate where she can establish a powerful influential voice much like Senator Ted Kennedy's, especially now.
This campaign has enabled her to step outside of her husband's shadow. It's proved she can stand on her own.
Carol Costello, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: A bold robbery during the day. Four robbers clean out a jewelry store commando style.
ANNOUNCER: CNN NEWSROOM brought to you by...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The mortgage mess gripping the nation and not sparing celebrities. TV announcer Ed McMahon among the latest victims.
Johnny Carson's former sidekick reportedly $644,000 in arrears on an almost $5 million loan for his Beverly Hills home. McMahon's spokesman tells CNN the star is in discussions with his lender trying to work it out.
More than 156,000 families have lost their homes to bank repossessions so far this year.
HARRIS: History in the unmaking. Storms smash a piece of the past. Things could actually heat up again today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Tony Harris and Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
COLLINS: Hi there, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
Breaking news affecting your travel plans this morning. Rising fuel prices forcing airlines to cut jobs and ground planes.
United Airlines announcing a short time ago it is now slashing as many as 1,600 jobs. Five hundred of those cuts were previously announced. United also pulling 100 of its fuel-guzzling planes from service. Ninety-four 737s and six 747s jumbo jets. United says those planes are its oldest and least fuel efficient.
HARRIS: Let's get you to the New York Stock Exchange as the bell sounds and we get the business day started. Well, look, another difficult day yesterday for the Dow dropping, what, over 100 points. We begin the day at 12,402. The NASDAQ and S&P futures all indicating a negative start to the open and the trading day.
We are following the markets with Susan Liscovicz, throughout the morning, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Barack Obama standing tall this morning. The Democrats Presumptive presidential nominee. Last night, Obama collected enough delegates to become the first African-American to lead a major party's presidential ticket.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Hillary Clinton also a big part of the historic campaign trying to be the first woman at the top of a major party ticket. Clinton has not conceded the contest. And officials with both campaigns tell CNN, Clinton and Obama have not discussed the vice presidency.
HARRIS: A forced leave of absence for the Reverend Michael Pfleger. Remember this?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL PFLEGER, CATHOLIC PRIEST: And then out of nowhere came him, Barack Obama. And she said, oh, damn, where did you come from? I'm white. I'm entitled. There's a black man stealing my show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Well, Pfleger made those comments as a guest speaker, guest preacher at Trinity United Church of Christ. Shortly after Barack Obama announced he was leaving the church. Pfleger apologized, but Chicago's cardinal has asked him to take some time off to reflect on his comments. Barack Obama claims the Democratic nomination. Find out what's being said as well as the rest of the today's news about the presidential candidates at CNNpolitics.com, your source for everything political.
COLLINS: We are watching the weather closely today. Have been for several days now. Jacqui Jeras is in the weather center. More storms in Midwest, Jacqui.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Some news just in from Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe police have detained the presidential contender and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai just weeks, literally, just weeks before the June 27th election against President Robert Mugabe.
Needless to say it's difficult to run your campaign if you're being detained by the authorities. A spokesman for Tsvangirai's party says police picked up Tsvangirai because he was going to attend an unauthorized meeting in Southern Zimbabwe.
We will continue to follow these developments and bring you an update as we get more information right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Extreme danger in China's earthquake zone. Rising water is now nearing the top of a dam created by the quake. We've been talking about this for a while now. If all goes according to plan, the water and the so-called quake lake will drain through a spillway spilled by engineers who avoid a flood.
But China's chief engineer warns heavy rain and major aftershocks could cause the water to overflow the dam. Authorities have already evacuated some 200,000 people from downstream. More than a million more could be threatened if the dam breaks. The official death toll from the quake has risen to 69,122. About 18,000 people are still missing.
You can help. At CNN.com, we have a special page on the devastation in China and Myanmar. Plus links to aid agencies that are organizing help for the region.
HARRIS: The calls were unanimous.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: This historic night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Truly a history-making night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Profound historic importance of tonight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama has just made history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Barack Obama enters the history books. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: OK. You already know to catch us weekday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until noon right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. But did you know you can take us with you anywhere on your iPod? It is the CNN NEWSROOM daily podcast. And it is available to you 24/7 right on your iPod.
COLLINS: No doubt about it. Barack Obama made history last night, becoming the first African-American to head the presidential ticket of a major U.S. political party. Just how big a milestone is it? Our Jeanne Moos counts the ways.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Take a good long look, the face of Barack Obama after announcing he will be the nominee.
Absorbing all that applause as the first black presumptive nominee goes down in history.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Historical is the word and we can't use that enough.
MOSS: No, they couldn't.
BLITZER: This historic night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Truly a history making night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Profound historic importance of tonight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obama has just made history.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were here when history was made.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is a historic moment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: History unfolding.
MOSS: For once, history unfolded at a faster pace than even that other favorite election night phrase.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Best Political Team on Television.
MOSS: Or BPTOT. The media blogs like to call it. But in this case, every political team agrees.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And American history has met the 2008 presidential campaign.
MOSS: Even the history maker himself repeated it.
OBAMA: Senator Hillary Clinton has made history in this campaign. MOSS: One of her supporters held up "Newsweek" with Hillary on the cover, while one of his supporters held up "Newsweek" with Obama on the cover. May the best cover candidate win.
BLITZER: CNN can now project that Senator Barack Obama has enough delegates to secure the Democratic presidential nomination.
MOSS: No, even that didn't deter Hillary's campaign chairman from this introduction.
TERRY MCAULIFFE, CLINTON CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN: Are you ready for the next president of the United States of America?
MOSS: As for Hillary's next move --
COLLINS: What does Hillary want? What does she want?
JOE MADISON, KM RADIO: If she becomes the running mate, he better hire a food taster.
MOSS: From his actual mate, Senator Obama got a fist bump and gave a pat even had his head rubbed by enthusiastic supporters. As the head to head competition with Senator McCain begins in earnest --
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The American people didn't get to know me yesterday as they're just getting to know Senator Obama.
MOSS: That odd smile and delivery got canned.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was awful.
MOSS: From primary to general elections, some things never change.
OBAMA: That's the change we need in America.
MCCAIN: That's not change we can believe in.
MOSS: You can believe this about Hillary.
DAVID GERGEN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: She's going to have to figure out what do I do with the rest of my life?
SONG PLAYING: What are you doing the rest of your life?
MOSS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: A new post for the prince. William on the water, now part of the Royal Navy. Could he be in line for a dangerous deployment?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HARRIS: Just a little more information on the situation in Zimbabwe now. As you know, there was a runoff, the election campaign under way right now. Morgan Tsvangirai is the opposition party leader and he is running against Robert Mugabe, the sitting president.
Word now that he and a party of about 14 officials detained at a police station in one of the cities in Zimbabwe. Apparently, Morgan Tsvangirai had been campaigning in that particular area when his convoy was stopped at a roadblock. And no charges have been filed at this point.
Certainly, again, it makes it difficult to run your campaign if you're being detained. There is a word that he was arrested because he was going to attend an unauthorized meeting in Southern Zimbabwe. Still waiting for more information. Certainly, a statement from the Zimbabwe police. When we get additional information, of course we will update this story for you.
COLLINS: Also, I want to let you know something else we are expecting to happen right now. You see at the podium House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the AIPAC. This is the Annual Policy Conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee happening in Washington, D.C. It's America's leading just to give you some background here quickly.
Pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC works with both Democratic and Republican political leaders to enact public policy that will, of course, strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. We are expecting Barack Obama to come and address those same people, as well as Hillary Clinton a little bit later on in the day. We will bring you both of those when they happen.
HARRIS: Prince William is on a new assignment, taking Iran with the Royal Navy. ITN's Rumaline Weekes (ph) tags along on his first day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUMALINE WEEKES, ITN REPORTER (voice-over): It wasn't exactly a warship, but they did let William take the controls on the first day of his attachment with the Navy.
PRINCE WILLIAM: We have starboard then we'll go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. We'll do this.
PRINCE WILLIAM: Yes, we'll do that.
WEEKES: A bit of instruction and he was let loose on the River Dart. This is the latest stage of his training that's seen him start out in Army camouflage, get his wings with the RAF, and try on the navy's uniform for size. Sub-Lieutenant Wales as he'll now be known went spend all his time in the classroom.
In a few weeks, he'll join "HMS Iron Duke" hunting drug runners in the Caribbean. William, we're told, will play an active role tracking down on boarding boats suspected of trafficking cocaine.
It's not quite as front line as Harry's role in Afghanistan, such is the downside of being the eldest son, but it's designed to give his brother the future head of the Armed Forces a taste of all three services.
Today that included learning how to maneuver a boat in front of a key full of media, who are waiting for the prince to put a dent in something. But there was nothing but praise for the rookie sailor.
CMDR. PAUL HALTON, BRITANNIA ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE: Some of the maneuvers that he was doing, I would expect the young officer to be doing after many weeks of training and he's cracked it in a day. That's really well done.
WEEKES: With the RAF, William got in to hot water for landing his helicopter in his girlfriend's garden. Fortunately for his instructors in the Navy, there's nowhere to drop anchor in the Middleton home.
Rumaline Weekes, ITV News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: A teenage cancer patient denied her chance to walk across the stage at her high school graduation. The story now from Dave Marquis. He's with affiliate KXTV in Woodland, California.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the gown that I would have worn.
DAVE MARQUIS, KXTV REPORTER (voice-over): After two surgeries and weeks of radiation therapy, Leanna Elizalde is well aware she's struggled to keep up with her spring class load at Woodland High School.
LEANNA ELIZALDE, CANCER PATIENT: I was falling behind in some classes, but I tried my best to catch up.
MARQUIS: She still has at least one class she needs to finish over the summer, but she and her mother had hoped she could still cross the stage with her fellow students for graduation.
LUPER RAMIREZ, LEANNA'S MOTHER: I spoke with the principal and even the school district and they're all, like -- nope, nope, nope, absolutely not.
EVELIA GENERA, WOODLAND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: I don't have any comments.
MARQUIS: Woodland High School principal Evelia Genera literally turned her back on any questions we tried to ask her.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A courageous battle, a heroic battle against cancer. MARQUIS: Leanna's mom's boss, Yolo County Recorder Freddie Oakley has asked the school to consider even a brief graduation statement recognizing Leanna for her battle against cancer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And she's short a bunch of units and she can't graduate with us, but we want her to know that she will always be part of the class of 2008 as far as we're concerned.
MARQUIS: Is that not something you can work with her and at least maybe have a statement saying honoring her for her hard work or for her courage fighting cancer?
Leanna's doctor has urged the school to recognize her for what she has accomplished during intensive cancer treatment. Saying in a letter, quote, I strongly believe that she should be allowed to participate in her graduation ceremony. And I think that refusal to do so would be construed as a punitive action unbefitting a pediatric cancer patient."
(on camera): But with just five days until graduation on Saturday morning, it is looking increasingly as if Leanna is going to be sitting with the audience instead of crossing the stage with her classmates.
GENERA: You're not her parent. I'm not at liberty to discuss students with anyone but the parent.
RAMIREZ: It would really mean a lot to me if they could just be sympathetic and let her just walk.
MARQUIS: Leanna says she is grateful for those who are trying to help.
ELIZALDE: It shows how much they really care about me.
MARQUIS: And hoping she might still make that walk.
ELIZALDE: If she could just, you know, bend the rules a little bit and give me a second chance to walk that ceremony.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Leanna's mother says the school told her they wouldn't break the rules which right now means no graduation day.
HARRIS: Standoff started over a FEMA trailer. Ten hours later, a man is shot dead by police.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A Georgia jewelry store cleaned out. A violent smash- and-grab caught on tape. More now from Kevin Rowson, of affiliate WXIA.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KEVIN ROWSON, WXIA REPORTER (voice-over): The four suspects, wearing military style fatigues, and with their faces covered, entered the Crown Jewelry store like it was a commando raid. One suspect leapt over counters, another carried a long barrel gun and pointed it at the store owner. Another climbed over the counter and grabbed the store owner by the neck, pointing a handgun into his face.
Then it's a smash and grab. Display cases were smashed using fists and weapons. And within minutes, those cases were cleaned out of the first things they can grab.
The video shows a few seconds from different camera angles. Cobb County police said the four suspects were in the store for less than a couple of minutes. They ran out through the mall with their loot and into the parking lot at the north end of the mall. A getaway vehicle was standing at the curb, motor running, a fifth suspect in the driver seat.
Police are still trying to locate that white 2003 to 2005 four door Pontiac Bonneville. The video is very telling -- telling police they need to get these guys off the street as soon as possible.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HARRIS: Police are still trying to figure out exactly what was stolen and how much all that jewelry is worth.
COLLINS: Happening right now, Washington, D.C., the AIPAC Summit or conference, I should say. Every year, the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee holds their policy conference. And we are watching House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at that podium right now.
As we've been telling you all morning long, we are expecting Barack Obama as well as Hillary Clinton to also take the podium. We will bring that to you when it happens.
HARRIS: A call to action at the World Food Summit in Rome this morning. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says $15 billion to $20 billion is needed every year to boost production. Plus, he's calling for guidelines on biofuels. Critics say they used crops needed to feed the hungry.
The U.N.'s World Food Programme announced it has given more than a billion dollars to ease the crisis. CNN's Alessio Vinci has more.
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ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The world food crisis is hurting millions, and as CNN found in a recent visit to Ethiopia, it is the poor and the vulnerable who are suffering most. Hunger is turning to anger.
Such as the level of desperation, people who can't afford the rising price of food have take on to the streets. U.N. officials say the time for talk is over and they're calling on world leaders to act.
BAN KI-MOON, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: Nothing is more degrading than hunger, especially when it is man-made. It breeds anger, social disintegration, ill health and economic decline. In the name of the development falls, we all set at the millennium the right to food and our common humanity. I urge all of you to act together now. The world needs to produce more food. Food production needs to rise by 50 percent by the year 2030 to meet the rising demand.
VINCI: Improving access to food, expanding food aid, boosting production and minimizing tariffs and trade barriers are some of the short-term solutions being discussed in Rome. In the long term, experts say one of the best answers to the problem is greater investment in agriculture.
The presence of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe sparked outrage, but he shifted the blame of food shortages in his country towards the U.S. and Britain.
PRES. ROBERT MUGABE, ZIMBABWE: They have cut off all development assistance, disabled lines of credit, prevented the Bretton Woods Institutions from providing financial assistance, and ordered private companies across the world, especially the United States, not to do business with Zimbabwe.
VINCI: The U.S. says it has actually spent $170 million on food assistance to Zimbabwe last year.
ED SHAFER, U.S. AGRICULTURE SECRETARY: You know, it really doesn't do much good to have him here making political statements while people at home don't have food on the grocery store shelves.
VINCI: The Iranian president also didn't draw much applause when he criticized the U.N. and blamed the food crisis on the west.
PRES. MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, IRAN (through translator): You know that the devaluation of dollar and the increase in energy prices are two sides of the same coin, which are mentioned as being partly responsible for the recent troubles.
VINCI: But U.N. officials blame food crisis on factors like the high cost of fuel and an increase in food demand.
(on camera): The current food crisis is clearly pushing the agenda of world hunger to the very top and that is certainly a welcomed outcome. However, world leaders must now prove that it can translate their promises into action and that has not always been the case in the past. This is the third such summit since 1996.
Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. You will stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown.
Barack Obama claims the Democratic Party nomination and a piece of history. This hour, the challenges ahead.
COLLINS: Hillary Clinton doesn't throw in towel. Supporters want to see her make history as vice president. She talks live this hour.
HARRIS: The oil surge fueling cuts at United, the airlines rounding planes and slashing jobs today, Wednesday, June 4th, you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
