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Earthquake Strikes Chile; Decision Imminent in O.J. Simpson Trial; Alzheimer's: Love and Loss
Aired November 14, 2007 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Uniting with United? Reports are flying about a possible merger between the nation's second biggest airline and number three, Delta. Our Ali Velshi has his eyes on the skies and on the sky-high cost of jet fuel.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: It was strong, long and deep. And the deep part may have kept today's 7.7-magnitude earthquake from doing even more damage in Chile. We're learning more by the minute on this.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Let's kick off the hour talking with our Ali Velshi. He's been following this news coming from the Associated Press about Delta and Unites Airline possibly merging.
I don't know, Ali. I have a little skepticism here.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
I mean, first of all, airline mergers are hard to make happen in this country. There's a lot of regulatory reasons why they can't. Here's the news. AP is reporting that there are advanced talks between United and Delta about a possible merger of those two airlines.
Now, CNN has been making calls on this. We have fairly good information that this is not true, but we are not able to confirm where we are in the talks. There does seem to be some reality to the fact that there are discussions, including a letter from an investment company to Delta to suggest that this merger needs to happen.
However, we are not able to confirm this, and we do have some sources telling us that it's not true. We are going to keep working on this. We have -- the report from AP actually has fairly good detail about what would happen if these two airlines were talking about a merger.
And if you're sort of familiar with the root structure of both of these airlines and their hubs, there's probably less overlap than more between these two airlines. So, if one were to logically thing about the fact that airlines needed to merge, Kyra, one might come up with this combination. There are very good logistical reasons why it wouldn't work, including the fact that they are both founding partners of separate worldwide alliances. So, that complicates things. But, at the moment, you know, given the environment that we're in, with, as you mentioned, jet fuel costs, labor costs, things like that, it's an ongoing discussion about airline mergers.
So, I'm on the story. We're going to stay on it. We're working on it. And we will get you an answer one way or the other. At the moment, we're not able to confirm the Associated Press' reports that Delta and United are in advanced conversations to merge.
PHILLIPS: All right. Keep looping us in. Thanks, Ali.
VELSHI: Yes. Will do.
LEMON: While Ali works on that, we're going to talk about this. It's D-day for O.J. Simpson, live pictures from a Las Vegas courtroom where a judge is expected to rule in about four hours whether Simpson will stand trial over that bungled confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers.
If so, Simpson faces charges that could put him in prison for the rest of his life.
For the rest of his life, Thelma Gutierrez, long time, could be.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, absolutely.
I tell you, Don, that right before going on recess, both sides summarized their cases, the defense arguing that no crime even took place, that O.J. went into the room to retrieve items that belonged to him.
And the prosecution meanwhile saying, nonsense, the crime actually took place, several crimes took place.
To help us get through this, we're talking now to Chief Judge Douglas Smith with Las Vegas Justice Court.
Could you please tell us, how much does this judge have to mull over right now? We're talking about multiple charges.
CHIEF JUDGE DOUGLAS SMITH, CLARK COUNTY COURT: Well, Judge Bonaventure has to look at all of the evidence that was presented. He has to look at all of the arguments that were just made. And the real problem is, with those arguments, he has to coincide that to his notes that he took during the hearing.
GUTIERREZ: But there's a different standard of proof in a preliminary hearing vs. a trial with a jury.
SMITH: Yes. At the preliminary hearing, it is proof not beyond a reasonable doubt. It is a scintilla of proof that has...
GUTIERREZ: You would say the threshold is extremely? SMITH: Extremely low. You have to prove a crime was committed, and, two, that this person probably committed the crime. It's very low.
But also, as a judge, you don't want to bind over something that has absolutely no evidence, so that you mess up the district court trial calendar, so you do look at it and you contemplate whether that there is some proof value to this.
GUTIERREZ: Could Judge Bonaventure actually throw out some of the charges, for example, the kidnapping charge, which the defense has argued never took place, that neither of the alleged victims were ever restrained?
SMITH: Judge Bonaventure could throw out any cases -- or any counts that he doesn't believe evidence was shown that a crime was committed or these people committed the crime.
GUTIERREZ: All right. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you for joining us.
And right now, Don, what we're looking at possibly is, if the judge decides to bind them over for trial, then we're looking at an initial arraignment date of November 28. That's what we're hearing out here -- back to you.
LEMON: OK. Decision 7:00 p.m. Eastern, correct, by the judge?
GUTIERREZ: That's right.
LEMON: All right.
GUTIERREZ: That's right.
LEMON: Thelma Gutierrez, thank you very much for that.
GUTIERREZ: You bet.
PHILLIPS: Poker rooms, mob ties, high stakes, breaking news out of the New Jersey. We're waiting to hear any minute now from the state attorney general about a huge sports gambling bust.
CNN's Deb Feyerick has the latest now out of New York.
Hey, Deb.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Kyra
What we can tell you is that some of the poker dealers who are involved in this alleged mob-run sports gambling ring actually are seen on surveillance tapes both accepting and paying out bets.
Now, New Jersey's attorney general and the state police say of the 18 people arrested today, four are reputed mob guys with links to a Philadelphia crime family. Six are actually casino employees, including one supervisor from the Borgata Casino and Hotel, and one supervisor from the Tropicana Hotel.
Now, all worked in the poker room. And there they took bets on both professional and college basketball and football, then paying out whoever won and taking a percentage of all the bets placed, some $22 million over a two-year period.
Now, the Borgata did issue a statement earlier today. They said -- quote -- "At no time was the integrity of the casino's operations ever compromised."
Employees from both hotels working with the state police to try to make sure that these guys were taken off the poker floor, at least to monitor exactly what it was they were doing. They think that a total of 23 people were involved in all, but right now they think they have everyone who was taking part in this -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Deb Feyerick, thanks for bringing us up to date.
LEMON: Drew Peterson knows you think he's a bad guy. He just happens to disagree with you.
A suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Peterson appeared on this morning's NBC "Today Show." He again insisted Stacy Peterson ran off with another man and addressed both her mental state and that of his late ex-wife Kathleen Savio.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE TODAY SHOW")
DREW PETERSON, HUSBAND OF MISSING WOMAN: She came from an abusive home life growing up, with abusive stepparents. At first, it was very romantic, and again after she had children, the hormones kicked in, and again on an emotional roller coaster with her.
MATT LAUER, CO-HOST, "THE TODAY SHOW": You describe both of these women, Kathy and Stacy, as having emotional problems?
PETERSON: Yes, both of them.
LAUER: Both troubled?
PETERSON: Both came from troubled homes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Yesterday, Savio's body was exhumed as part of a new investigation into her mysterious death. She was found dead in a dry bathtub with a gash on her head. At the time, the coroner called it an accident.
PHILLIPS: At least two strong aftershocks have followed today's major earthquake in Chile. That quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 damaged buildings and roads. It toppled power lines and sent 20 people to the hospital. No reports of serious injuries or deaths, though, but the quake did hit deep underground and was felt as far away as neighboring Peru and Bolivia. Bonnie Schneider has been following it for us all afternoon -- Bonnie.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we now have reports of five aftershocks from this original earthquake, not at all as intense as the first tone.
But take a look at Google Earth. I want to show you where we have the reports. What we have managed to do is, on top of Google Earth, show you through the USGS site where the aftershocks have occurred. Some of the largest ones are 5.0, the smaller ones 4.9.
The largest one you saw there was 5.7. That occurred within two hours after the original quake. And it's not uncommon to see earthquakes in this region of Chile. Take a look at this map. This demonstrates the Ring of Fire. It's an area that is very active along the Pacific that stretches all the way from Asia through the U.S. and down through South America.
It's an area where we have numerous volcanoes throughout these ocean trenches. And really this particular region, as we look towards Chile, what you're looking at now is also from the USGS Web site, and it shows the tectonic plates that actually were moving about. And that is what caused the stress of this earthquake.
What is believed to have occurred is the Nazca plate pushed below the South America plate. Now, this is all happening very slowly, at a rate of about three inches per year. But it doesn't matter. That force is very, very prevalent, enough to cause an earthquake of this magnitude. And, incidentally, this region here, the Peru-Chile subduction zone, is known for produces some of the world's worst earthquakes.
So, it's not surprising it occurred here, just unfortunate -- back to you.
PHILLIPS: All right, Bonnie, thanks.
LEMON: A thousand feet isn't far when you're trying to see through the fog, but a tugboat operator tells investigators that's as far as he could seeing as he was following a cargo ship out of San Francisco Bay last Wednesday.
That ship hit the Bay Bridge, spilling 58,000 gallons of fuel oil. Investigators say they are still reviewing the radar charts and ship's logs, and interviewing those on board the ship.
The massive oil spill has forced California's governor to suspend all fishing in the bay. That means the commercial crab season set to open tomorrow won't begin until December 1, at the earliest.
PHILLIPS: Another FDA warning out today. If you have type 2 diabetes, this is news that you will definitely to hear.
LEMON: Alzheimer's patients forgetting their spouses and starting new relationships, it happens. And it can be heartbreaking. A guest joins us to talk about his family's experience.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, a big about-face by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer on a contentious issue. He's dropping his plan to let illegal immigrants in New York obtain driver's licenses. Spitzer says that he didn't need a stethoscope to listen to the heartbeat of New Yorkers, who opposed the plan.
All right. We're going to take a quick break. Apologize for that. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor spent more than 50 years happily married to her husband, John. Now he's taken up with someone else. But it's not what you think.
John and his new friend both have Alzheimer's disease and are in an assisted living facility. It's a strange situation, but by no means unique. It happened to Tom Eglin's parents, too.
As a matter of fact, his mom is in the same facility as John O'Connor. He joins us now live from Phoenix to talk about their experiences.
And I will tell you, the headline for me, of course, I want to get into what happened with your parents, but they were married for 72 years. How the heck did they do it?
(LAUGHTER)
TOM EGLIN, MOTHER SUFFERS FROM ALZHEIMER'S: That's a very good question. I have no idea.
PHILLIPS: Mom or dad never said to you, son, this is the key?
(LAUGHTER)
EGLIN: Basically, my dad always said the same thing. Your mom is always right, and your wife will be, too, so live with it. And I do.
PHILLIPS: Always do that honey-do list. Then you're in good, good situation.
EGLIN: Absolutely.
PHILLIPS: All right.
On a serious note, we heard this story about retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and her husband falling in love with somebody else. But this is nothing that is out of the ordinary. It happens quite a bit, doesn't it?
EGLIN: Well, people look at this through a very rational mind. And the problem that you have is that the patient doesn't have a rational mind.
So, who is ever sitting next to them at the time all of a sudden becomes their best friend, their hand-holding friend. And it happens regularly.
PHILLIPS: Is that what happened with your mom?
EGLIN: Yes. There's pods where they are living. And my dad was in one pod and my mother was in another pod, because her disease was more advanced than my father's was.
So, while she was sitting on the porch, this gentleman sat alongside of her, and the next thing you know, they were holding hands.
PHILLIPS: Oh.
EGLIN: So...
PHILLIPS: And how did your dad deal with it? What did he say to you? And how did you...
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Oh, you're laughing. He must have a good sense of humor in some way.
EGLIN: Well, he had a great sense of humor, very dry sense of humor. But this kind of devastated him, because here he was, 72 years with this woman, and now this woman basically doesn't know him unless she happens to be -- as she's walking the grounds, walk up to him. And then she goes, oh, Joey, how are you? When did you get here? I didn't know you were here.
PHILLIPS: Oh. How did you help him get through it?
EGLIN: Well, we talked a lot with him. Fortunately, I have a sister who is a nurse, who sent me a lot of literature on Alzheimer's and dementia and what the stages are.
And we tried to convey that to father. I don't think he actually ever really accepted it as far as it's OK. He accepted it because he knew he couldn't change it. It was going to happen.
PHILLIPS: Did he become friends with them, as a new couple, or did he have to stay away?
EGLIN: No. Oh, no. Many a time, I would show up and there would be my dad, my mother and Hank on the swing sitting there together.
(LAUGHTER)
EGLIN: And you kind of go, this is weird, you know?
(LAUGHTER) EGLIN: And it's -- you have to make light of it, because, if you don't, it will drive you crazy.
PHILLIPS: Sure.
EGLIN: So, my dad, who can -- who speaks very, very softly, is trying to carry on a conversation with my mother, who can't hear, and Hank, who is at the far end, who's a little deaf, too, and, of course, with the disease, can't carry on a conversation.
PHILLIPS: Oh, dear.
EGLIN: And it's kind of one-sided, dad talking and everybody else just looking off into space. And you kind of go, are you guys having fun?
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Oh, Tom.
Well, was there ever a point where you and the family came to grips with this and thought, OK, this is a good thing for mom?
EGLIN: Oh, that was -- our main concern was mom was happy. There was no way we were going to change mom, because the disease takes care of all that.
Our concern was our father, who still had his memory, and who we had to convince that this was really OK. It had nothing to do with him. This gentleman was not, you know, having a liaison with her or after her money or anything. It was just two patients holding hands walking.
PHILLIPS: Sweet love.
Final thought. When he passed -- and I know he died just recently, January, right, at the age of 97?
EGLIN: That's correct.
PHILLIPS: Did he have peace about everything, Tom?
EGLIN: Yes, he finally made peace with everything.
He talked to me probably a week or so prior to his death. His main concern was he wanted to get through Christmas and the holidays. He didn't want to affect the families. And he finally said, that, you know, he had talked to his maker, and his maker and he had come to an arrangement, and, shortly thereafter, he went peacefully, thank goodness.
PHILLIPS: Well, they will be back together soon, and they will know each other well with the big man upstairs.
EGLIN: I hope so. I hope so.
PHILLIPS: There we go.
Tom Eglin, great talking to you.
EGLIN: Thank you.
LEMON: Twenty-one past the hour, three of the stories we're working on for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We expect a decision in just a few hours on whether the O.J. Simpson case will go to trial. For four days, prosecutors have been presenting evidence and questioning witnesses. Yesterday, two men who accepted plea bargains said Simpson told them to bring guns to a confrontation with a sports memorabilia dealer.
Crushed cars and collapsed buildings, the aftermath of a major earthquake in northern Chile. Geologists gave it a preliminary magnitude of 7.7. So far, about 40 people are reported injured.
And, in Pakistan, opposition leader and former cricket star Imran Khan was arrested by police at a protest rally. A vocal critic of the Musharraf government's state of emergency, Khan had been in hiding since escaping from house arrest.
(BUSINESS REPORT)
PHILLIPS: OK. So, we have seen claims of Jesus on an oyster shell, and the Virgin Mary grilled cheese.
Now the prayerful pair has literally turned up in Florida together. They're having a little bit of an affair. Marilyn Smith almost flipped her lid when she flipped over on her flapjacks, and she saw the images of Jesus and Mary resting calmly right there in her frying pan.
But for now this holy pancake is safely preserved in plastic wrap and enclosed in a temperature-controlled foam tray, awaiting shipment to the person who placed the winning $338 bid on eBay.
LEMON: Don't forget the paneling. Remember the one in the cabinet?
PHILLIPS: And the one on the underpass, and the one in the church in Italy. And can we just continue?
LEMON: And so on and so on and so on.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: All right, well, talk about picking a fight. Fired publisher Judith Regan files a giant lawsuit against her former bosses. She says they were afraid her past affair with one of the Rudy Giuliani's pals could hurt Giuliani's presidential bid.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Developing news happening in northern Chile now, an earthquake, 7.7 in magnitude there. That's the initial report.
Let's check in now with our international desk and Isha Sesay, who is manning that for us -- Isha.
ISHA SESAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Don.
Yes, you're right, a 7.7. The U.S. Geological Survey is actually saying 7.8 now at this point, that earthquake striking northern Chile at about 12:40 p.m. local time on Wednesday. That's like 10:40 p.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Now, what we know is, it was centered about 800 miles north of Santiago. And, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, it occurred about 37.3 miles underground.
The reason I highlight that fact is the depth of that earthquake, which was -- at this point, they're describing it as relatively deep, diminished the destructive capability of the earthquake. It could have been a lot, lot worse if it was closer to the surface, in other words.
In terms of damage and in terms of injuries, what we're hearing at this point from people on the ground is 10:40 now all we know is that in the small town of Maria Elena, there are between 20 to 40 injuries. They're being described as minor. We're also hearing of injuries in Tocopilla, as well. We're getting figures of about 40 injuries there.
We know at the time of the earthquake, it knocked power lines down, taking the power out. And we're also hearing that the phones are down, including cell phones. So that meant that government officials in the area were left to communicate using government radios. That was the only way they could get through to each other.
At this point in time, we're seeing pictures that have been coming in to us throughout the day here at CNN from Antofagasta. We're seeing, you know, pictures of damage. But, again, people aren't saying that this was, you know, major damage there on the ground. But it did happen in Antofagasta, where we saw cars being crushed by falling structures. Antofagasta is actually the capital of Chile's copper mining industry. At this point in time, reports coming into us are saying that no relevant damage. But they did say mines in the region were without power and only emergency teams were operating. Only minor landslides were reported at this point in time. We're working to get in touch with government spokespeople -- government officials. They say they have the situation under control. But it will take a little bit of time to get the full picture from those outlying areas. It's a big area we're talking about, Don, and it will take a little while longer to get all the facts.
But we can confirm to our viewers the very good news, minor injuries at this point and no deaths -- back to you, Don.
LEMON: Isha, thank you for that.
PHILLIPS: We're getting word on some breaking news out of New York.
Ali Velshi with more on these alleged talks between Delta and United.
What do you know?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, Delta has told us those talks are not on. According to Delta, there have been no talks with United regarding any type of consolidation transaction and there are no ongoing discussions.
Here's what happened, Kyra. There's an investment company that holds millions of shares of both United and Delta that had written to the airlines and said that they need to discuss this thing, that this is the only solution. We do know that these airlines have been involved in thoughts of consolidation. United has expressed that it's one of these airlines that thinks that joining hands with somebody else might be a good thing to do.
But Delta is now telling CNN very clearly there have been no talks with United regarding any type of consolidation transaction and there are no ongoing -- no such ongoing discussions. So earlier reports that were being circulated about talks between the two apparently are not true.
PHILLIPS: Well, that's going to be a big relief to a lot of people here in Atlanta, especially those that work for Delta.
VELSHI: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, Ali.
VELSHI: OK, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, we're going to talk about medical news now. About a millions Americans with Type II Diabetes take the drug Avandia. And if you're one of them, listen up.
CNN's Judy Fortin has more now on a new warning from Food and Drug Administration.
What do you know?
JUDY FORTIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, a lot of people will be concerned about this, Kyra.
For anyone who is concerned about taking the diabetes drug Avandia because they're worried it may cause a heart attack or heart failure, the news just in from the FDA might be a bit confusing. I'll give you a warning here. In fact, you're probably going to need to talk to your doctor to interpret the conclusions and what they actually mean for you.
A black box warning on the drug, which is used by about a million Americans, is being updated, telling patients that it may or may not increase the risk of chest pain or heart attack. Now, that block box label -- which is the most severe warning that can be issued by the FDA, will also say that Avandia is not recommended for patients with Type II Diabetes who are taking insulin or nitrates.
The FDA held an open hearing back in July on the drug's safety. A majority of the agency's advisers concluded there isn't enough evidence from drug studies to determine if Avandia is riskier than other medications that are used to control blood sugar in Type II Diabetics.
Well, soon after this hearing, another large study came out and it showed long-term use of Avandia increased the risk for heart attack by 42 percent and doubled the risk of heart failure. So you can see why people are concerned, but still that confusion.
PHILLIPS: So what should patients do now?
FORTIN: Well, we say it all the time, but you really, in this case, need to talk to your doctor about this, especially if you're a Type II Diabetic with underlying heart disease or someone who is at high risk for the condition. What's more, the FDA is telling doctors to closely monitor patients for cardiovascular risks.
Now, the drug's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, is trying to reassure patients saying, "Avandia remains a safe and effective medicine for most patients with Type II Diabetes when used appropriately."
Now, GSK, the manufacturer, has agreed to conduct long-term studies of the drug. But it could be the year 2014 before they reach any conclusions. That's a long time from now.
PHILLIPS: All right.
Judy Fortin, thanks.
FORTIN: You're welcome.
LEMON: Well, this next story has just about everything -- sex, media, politics, allegations of skullduggery and a royal flush of bold-faced names. It's been about a year since publisher Judith Regan was fired from her high profile job at Harper Collins Publishing. Now she's filed a $100 million lawsuit against Harper Collins and its parent company, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Regan claims she became a victim of a smear campaign related to Rudy Giuliani's presidential ambitions.
A little while ago, we tried to sort it all out with our senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin.
Now, she's bringing in her relationship with Bernard Kerik with this...
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Bernie Kerik, right.
LEMON: ...and saying that they tried to keep her from doing a story on him, because it may, in some way, interfere with Rudy Giuliani's run for president...
TOOBIN: Right.
LEMON: ...and their programming is based on him winning?
TOOBIN: There are a lot -- there's a lot of names here.
LEMON: OK.
TOOBIN: OK. So this is the story. It is now acknowledged that Judith Regan and Bernie Kerik, the disgraced former police commissioner of New York, were having an affair and using an apartment that was supposed to be given to the rescue workers by the World Trade Center to carry on their affair. In the course of News Corp's investigation of the circumstances of her firing, she says, in her lawsuit, that she was told to lie about Bernie Kerik, because Fox News was so dedicated to helping Rudy Giuliani get elected president.
Kerik and Giuliani are very close -- or they were very close. So that's where this lawsuit goes from O.J. Simpson to the presidential race.
LEMON: OK...
TOOBIN: The issue is does Fox News have an agenda to help Rudy Giuliani and did some people at Fox or their parent company tell Rudy -- tell Judith Regan to lie to help Rudy Giuliani?
LEMON: Senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin.
And here's what News Corp says. They call Regan's allegations preposterous -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: The countdown is on. Democratic presidential hopefuls are headed to Las Vegas for tomorrow night's CNN debate. We're going to talk about it with Candy Crowley straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: The big Democratic showdown in Vegas is just a day away -- one day away. And our Wolf Blitzer will be your host tomorrow night when the Democratic presidential hopefuls take the stage for a Las Vegas debate.
Let's check in now with our senior political correspondent, Candy Crowley -- hi, Candy.
How are you doing?
Nevada?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm good.
LEMON: Nevada.
CROWLEY: I'm good. LEMON: You have certainly moved up in...
CROWLEY: Now, listen, let me tell you from the start...
LEMON: OK.
CROWLEY: If you say Nevada out here, they get very upset.
LEMON: Nevada?
CROWLEY: They say it's Nevada.
LEMON: Oh, really?
CROWLEY: I have learned this now.
LEMON: OK.
CROWLEY: Yes. They call it Nevada out here so...
LEMON: I've learned that same lesson in a city I lived in before.
But I've got to ask, OK, so then in Nevada, they've moved up the caucus process.
Why is that?
And you have to admit, Vegas certainly is an unusual -- to say the least -- venue for a debate.
CROWLEY: It is. But don't look at it as just Nevada. Look at it as a sort of a gateway to the Interior West. The Democratic National Committee did two things. Number one, they chose Denver, Colorado as the place to have their convention. And number two, they allowed Nevada to move up in the primary calendar so that they could have their caucuses early and perhaps have a say-so in who will become the Democratic presidential nominee.
This is all aimed at getting -- making some inroads into the Interior West. Presidentially, the Interior West has pretty much been Republican territory. But Howard Dean, as head of the DNC, and others, have been looking at the Interior West, saying, hmm, Arizona looks doable, New Mexico looks doable, Nevada looks doable and Colorado looks doable.
So this is all part and symbolic of a Democratic wish list of making some inroads here into the Western Interior West.
LEMON: OK. In Nevada -- we'll get that. All right, the debate is in Nevada. The Democratic convention will be in Denver. You mentioned the gateway -- this being the gateway into the Interior West and a stronghold, as you said, for Republicans.
But why is the West such a -- playing such a big role in presidential politics for both Republicans and for Democrats?
CROWLEY: Well, first of all, because the Republicans want to hold onto it...
LEMON: Right.
CROWLEY: ...and Democrats want to move into it. But in general, the Democrats have sort of gone about elections this way. There are about 16 reliably Democratic states. So they sort of set those aside. And then they try to play in places like Ohio, Florida, Missouri, which have been swing states.
But the more they looked at the map, the more they thought listen, we can make inroads into the West, because, first of all, there are now a number of Western Democratic governors -- in Montana, in Colorado, in New Mexico, Bill Richardson.
So you have a number of places where there's been an influx of citizens from the West Coast, from the East Coast, making it a more Democratic place. You have some Republicans -- ranchers, farmers -- normally Republicans who are looking at land use and looking askance at oil and gas drilling. So there's been a real change in the makeup of the West. And Democrats are looking saying, listen, let's have a 50 state strategy, but let's look at some of these Western states, because if we can put together four of them, we don't need to play so hard in some of these other states that have always been iffy.
LEMON: Right. More people, more money, more influence, it sounds like. So there you go.
CROWLEY: Exactly.
LEMON: All right, let's look ahead to -- to tomorrow night, the debate. Senator Clinton admitted that the last debate wasn't her best.
How far will Edwards and Obama capitalize on that?
CROWLEY: Look, I think at this point, we still have the same wisdom about how they're going to go about this. They really need to start knocking down some of that huge advantage that Hillary Clinton has in New Hampshire. It's a tie now in Iowa -- pretty much a three way tie -- Obama, Edwards, Clinton. So this is all sort of aimed toward those first two states. And what they need to do -- and they believe in both camps -- is continue on what they did before. It's hard to see how John Edwards could get any more aggressive. He, by far, has been the most aggressive Democrat toward Clinton.
Obama may step up his game a bit. It was interesting, I was at a kitchen gathering yesterday and Barack Obama's sister was there. And one of the questions was from a man who said I really like your brother, but I'm really worried that Republicans are going to really, really go after the Democratic nominee and I'm not sure he's tough enough. This is something we hear a lot.
So I can see Barack Obama kind of stepping up his game, as well, even though he has sort of all along been ratcheting up. And, honestly, over the campaign trail the last two weeks, really, the decibel level is up.
LEMON: Yes. Time to get tough, right, because it's getting close.
CROWLEY: Yes.
LEMON: OK. Or at least closer than it was before.
CROWLEY: Yes.
LEMON: Thank you very much, Candy Crowley, of course, part of the best political team on television.
CROWLEY: Thanks, Don.
LEMON: Good to see you in Nevada there.
Remember, the CNN Democratic presidential debate is tomorrow night.
And our Wolf Blitzer will host the debate in Las Vegas. It gets started at 8:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
PHILLIPS: All right, it's just not true -- the bottom line.
Ali Velshi joining us live from New York. We're talking about those talks we had been talking about earlier between United and Delta merging. It's not going to happen.
VELSHI: For now, Kyra.
Here's what's happened. There was a report out there that Delta and United were fairly far down the road in advanced talks. In fact, the reports even had details about how these two would merge. That's not true. Delta has responded to CNN and said this: "There have been no talks with United regarding any type of consolidation transaction and there are no such ongoing discussions."
However, here's what we can tell you. This airline industry where there have been conversations about getting together, having airlines pair up. And Delta did say that they appreciate the advice from an investment company that sort of spurred this discussion. And with oil at over $90 a barrel, the analysis takes on a heightened importance, as we factor those prices into our long-term planning process. So Delta offering some hints that it might be interested.
And guess what?
The pilots -- the Delta pilots union issued a statement saying that it would not oppose a merger between Delta and another airline, presumably United, because that's what we've been talking about.
So, for the moment, no talks going on between United and Delta that either of those companies will tell us about. But Delta is saying, OK, maybe we do need to talk about this. So we'll stay on that story and keep you posted. But for now, no deal.
PHILLIPS: It sounds good.
Thanks, Ali.
VELSHI: OK.
LEMON: Out of control on a freeway -- two guys dodging cars and punches.
What in the world were they thinking?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: An update now on that earthquake in Northern Chile.
Isha Sesay is standing by for us with that -- what do you have?
SESAY: Well, Don, hours after that massive earthquake rocked Northern Chile, we're now getting word of fatalities. What we're hearing, according to local authorities, together with the Ministry of Public Works, they're now saying that workers have died in a tunnel that was undergoing some construction repairs. And eyewitness reports also are backing this story up. They're saying that there were fatalities, but we have no figures confirmed at this point in time.
Fifty persons were also trapped inside this tunnel we're hearing. We've been speaking to the correspondent on the ground. And Amaro Pablos -- Amaro Gomez Pablos, I should say, who is with Tivia (ph), and he told us that this is also what he's hearing. The tunnel is called Garagillos (ph) and is not far from Tocopilla, which was the hardest hit city. This information has been confirmed by local authorities together with the Ministry of Public Works.
They're also now telling us that the armed forces are moving heavy machinery into the area to proceed with rescue efforts.
So, Don, it appears that the true magnitude, the true impact and the physical costs of this earthquake is now coming to light.
LEMON: Now it's starting to settle in. OK, thank you very much for that, Isha.
PHILLIPS: Red light cameras catch red light runners. And in Springfield, Ohio, a terrible crash. Take a look. Police say almost 30 seconds after the light turned red, oh. The car sped right through that intersection, crashing into the semi. Watch it again in slow motion. It almost seems as if the car will make it right under the truck. Instead, it was dragged more than 150 feet. The car's driver is in the hospital in serious condition.
A fight in the fast lane -- a different kind of traffic issue. Take a look at this.
LEMON: What is...
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes.
LEMON: Oh my god.
PHILLIPS: Two men trading punches. They're fighting across five lanes of rush hour traffic in Phoenix. Neither got hit.
LEMON: Almost there, look.
PHILLIPS: At least not by a vehicle. Police say that one man was trying to commit suicide, the other one, in the black shirt, was just trying to stop him. Both were later arrested in a parking lot.
It's Ken Woodward's job -- helping stranded drivers. He sprang into action when a truck ran off a road and into a swampy Connecticut reservoir. Woodward became the hero of the day when he pulled the truck from the water just in time to free that elderly driver.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEN WOODWARD: I recently lost my dad in July, so when I seen the guy was an older gentleman, I was glad I did it, because he's somebody's grandfather and somebody's dad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Thank you, Ken.
The driver is hospitalized in critical condition right now.
LEMON: A paranormal presence at the pumps -- or is there an Earthly explanation?
What is that?
A gas station security cam captures a very odd image.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Testing airport screeners -- the Transportation Security Administrators say they do it every day.
But are the tests really valid?
A valid question after an e-mail surfaced recently. It indicated screeners were given a heads-up about a security test -- even describing the undercover agents. The head of the TSA tells CNN top security officials at airports are routinely given 10 or 15 minutes notice or so, so that testers aren't mistaken for actual terrorists.
Time to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
PHILLIPS: He's standing by live in Las Vegas today to tell us what's coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM" at the top of the hour -- and, Wolf, I want to know if you've been playing blackjack.
LEMON: Or poker or something.
PHILLIPS: Fess up.
Fess up.
Slots?
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": I've had no time -- I have had time for fun yet. We're just preparing good (INAUDIBLE)...
PHILLIPS: Wheel of Fortune?
BLITZER: ...for the debate tomorrow night.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: No time for fun yet. We're working really hard, Kyra and Don.
PHILLIPS: Poker?
Blackjack?
BLITZER: But we'll have -- maybe when the whole thing is over, we'll have a few minutes to relax.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: Right now, we're working about as hard as possible...
PHILLIPS: Of course, you are, Wolf.
Of course.
BLITZER: ...trying to get together a great debate for tomorrow night. And as the Democratic candidates are rushing off their talking points for the big debate here in Las Vegas, a new poll shows one of them rising way to the top of the heap right here in the State of Nevada. We'll get insight and that and more from the mayor, Oscar Goodman.
And former Supreme Court justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, gave up the bench to care for her Alzheimer's stricken husband. Now he's fallen for another woman. Coming up, why Justice O'Connor says she's happy for him.
And "Keeping Them Honest," as Transportation Secretary -- Security Administration brass prepping airport screeners for so-called spot tests. We'll read the memo that touched off this very troubling allegation.
All that, guys, and a lot more. We're here at the Cox Pavilion, UNLV -- the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, getting ready for the debate.
LEMON: Wolf, I've got one question for you.
BLITZER: Yes?
LEMON: Why do you put up with her?
Why do you let her do you like that? (LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: Because Kyra is Kyra.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: That's a good answer.
PHILLIPS: I love you, Wolf. And I know how much you love basketball.
BLITZER: Me, too.
PHILLIPS: So now it makes all sense -- make -- it all makes sense. Oh, good. I'm glad you love me, too.
BLITZER: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: I was getting a little worried.
Roulette maybe?
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: Nothing.
PHILLIPS: All right. All right. We'll see you at the top of the hour.
He's got nothing.
Security cameras meant to catch crooks, right?
But the owner of a Ohio gas station doesn't quite know what -- well, what he caught. He and his customers are puzzled over a ghostly blue image that appears on surveillance tape for more than half an hour. It seems to hang in place, then float, then kind of zip around. It didn't buy any gas.
But then can you blame it?
Ghosts aren't made of money, you know.
You kind of have to stare at it.
LEMON: What do you think it is?
PHILLIPS: I don't know.
LEMON: I'm just sitting here looking.
Who are you going to call?
PHILLIPS: Yes.
LEMON: Is it a ghost? PHILLIPS: I don't know. That's pretty freaky, actually, when you sit there and really look at it.
The closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street.
LEMON: (INAUDIBLE) too blur in your eyes...
PHILLIPS: I'll bet Stephanie...
LEMON: ...can you see it, maybe, what it is?
Paranormal. That's it.
All right, Stephanie Elam, we could use some ghostly magic on Wall Street lately, don't you think?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, not anything like that -- not around me, anyway.
(LAUGHTER)
ELAM: I don't know what it's doing and I don't need that sort of visit.
LEMON: A little fraidy cat there, are you, Stephanie Elam?
ELAM: I'm real clear about things that I don't like. I stay away from them.
LEMON: Right.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
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