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Giving Peace a Chance; Giuliani's Risk Strategy; Trapped Farmer Cuts Off His Arm

Aired November 28, 2007 - 10:59   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The path to peace in the Middle East cuts through the White House today. President Bush hosting Israeli and Palestinian leaders in a follow-up to yesterday's breakthrough agreement.
Live to CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux for us.

Suzanne, great to see you.

Explain what we mean, or at least what the administration means, when it suggests that what happened yesterday represents something of a breakthrough.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You know, Tony, it's really interesting here because Dana Perino, the press secretary, said it was really a big event that happened yesterday and kind of described what today is more like the after party. We just saw the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, arriving here at the White House. He'll be meeting privately with President Bush, and then President Bush will take his turn with the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert.

Yesterday was a breakthrough moment in the sense that they produced this declaration, a joint agreement, essentially saying that they are immediately going to launch these negotiations with the hope that they get a peace deal by the end of next year. That considered quite ambitious from all parties' perspectives here, but should let you know that really the hard work begins today.

Today is when they're going to have to start tackling some of those issues. I spoke with a number of people in the Palestinian delegation, including Ghaith Al-Omari. He's the legal adviser to President Mahmoud Abbas, and he said in terms of that declaration, he called it really a P.R. gimmick, a P.R. tool.

He says it's got the shelf life of a couple of days because everything can change. But having said that, he and many of the other Palestinians in the delegation do believe that now is the time for negotiations, and part of the reason why is they believe that President Bush this time around is really committed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I give you my personal commitment to support your work with the resources and resolve of the American government. I believe a day is coming when freedom will yield to the peace we desire, and the land that is holy to so many will see the light of peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And Tony, one of the reasons why they have confidence in President Bush is they say that privately he has been talking about this being in the U.S. interest here, national security interests. And one of the reasons why this is so critical is the Bush administration's feeling, the perception that Iran is becoming an increasing threat to the United States, particularly in its support of Hamas, that that's part of it. The other part obviously is Iraq, the fact that they feel Middle East peace will help push that along, the negotiations, reconciliation there.

And finally, Tony, this is a legacy issue here. President Bush doesn't just want to be known for the Iraq war. He wants to be known as a peacemaker as well -- Tony.

HARRIS: Six decades of strife, and to think that this president can get an agreement in a year that might actually hold, all right. Fingers crossed.

Our Suzanne Malveaux for us at the White House.

Suzanne, thank you.

MALVEAUX: OK. Thanks, Tony.

HARRIS: You can hear what President Bush has to say about the Mideast peace process. He sits down with CNN's Wolf Blitzer to talk about it today. That's in "THE SITUATION ROOM," 6:00 Eastern, right here on CNN.

Pakistan's leader steps down as army chief one day before his swearing in as a civilian president. General Pervez Musharraf giving one final salute to his troops before handing over the ceremonial baton to his successor. The opposition had demanded the change and is still calling for an end to the state of emergency in Pakistan that began earlier this month. The opposition sees it as a move to stop free and fair elections.

COLLINS: Sean Taylor, a star on the football field, an unsolved case for homicide investigators. This morning, a memorial is springing up at the Miami high school where Taylor first gained fame. It comes one day after he died from a gunshot wound.

His death stunned fans and teammates. The Washington Redskins will hold a prayer service today for practice. Fans have laid flowers and mementos outside.

Taylor's father, a police chief in Florida, says the family is coming to terms with the loss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PEDRO TAYLOR, SEAN TAYLOR'S FATHER: God is always in control. We have no control of life or death. It is in the power of him, and we thank him for all 24 years of having Sean here. I know it sounds short, but that's his will, and it was done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Taylor's father says the family is touched by the outpouring of love. Police are hoping the public will also help break the case.

Earlier this morning we heard from a Washington Redskins legend who got to know Sean Taylor this year in training camp. Joe Theismann helped Taylor with his on-the-field performance and was impressed by his qualities away from the game.

Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE THEISMANN, FMR. REDSKINS QUARTERBACK: I think a lot of people really misunderstood who Sean Taylor was. They read the litany of things that he had gotten into in the early part of his life, and everybody looked at him and said, well, this guy here, he's just another -- he's a Miami kid. He's cocky and he doesn't share his time, and that was sort of the impression I think a lot of people had of Sean.

And a lot of the reason why I wanted to speak out today is because that's not who Sean Taylor was. I cite an incident this year in training camp when I was having a visit with Jason Campbell, their young quarterback, talking about the quarterback position, and Sean tapped me on the shoulder and he said, "Would you be willing to talk to defensive backs?"

And I said, "Certainly, I would love to." And this was on a Monday. Thursday afternoon of that same week, Joe Gibbs had cut practice short and I was -- really showed up at the park around 2:00, and I didn't know that practice had been cut short. I saw Sean at his locker and he was getting to leave.

And I said, "I was hoping we would have a chance maybe to sit and visit, but, hey, look, it's training camp. I know what it's like. Why don't you just go on home and spend time with your family?"

And he basically said, hey, listen, you took the time to come here. I want to take the time to sit and visit with you.

And Heidi, for an hour and a half we sat and studied different quarterbacks in the leagues and what to look at from a safety position and how we as quarterbacks try and work safeties. He took meticulous notes, and we visited and talked about coming out -- as a matter of fact, I had hoped to have him out to the house next week to spend some time.

His little one wanted to see the horses and have some dinner. My wife was going to cook one of her favorite meals, chicken, that he loved.

And it's such a tragedy to have someone so young taken from us. But I really want people to understand this is a great kid, a very private individual, who trusted very few people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Theismann also said Taylor had matured into a team leader. He was the first to arrive and the last to leave.

HARRIS: A disturbing development in a missing mom case. Stay with me as we try to sort through this together.

Stacy Peterson has been missing, as you know, from her Illinois home for a month. Her husband maintains she left him for someone else. But police have named Drew Peterson as a suspect in her disappearance.

Now a report in today's "Chicago Tribune" says a relative allegedly helped Peterson dispose of his wife's body. The paper talked to a source close to the investigation.

The relative reportedly told a friend he helped carry a large sealed container from the Peterson's home into Drew Peterson's SUV. The relative allegedly told the friend the container was warm to the touch. The Tribune reports the relative has not been charged and is not being treated as a suspect.

CNN's affiliate WGN spoke with Drew Peterson right after The Tribune story spoke.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DREW PETERSON, SUSPECT: I have no idea what anybody is talking about like that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Warm to the touch?

PETERSON: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He says he believes that he helped you dispose of your wife's body. Can you at least respond to that?

PETERSON: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not at all?

PETERSON: No response. Talk to my lawyer. I have got nothing to say about it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No truth to it whatsoever?

PETERSON: Non. Nobody helped me with anything such as that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On October 28th? Where were you on October 28th? This gentlemen says he helped you carry a container out of your home.

PETERSON: You have to talk to my attorney.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: An attorney for Drew Peterson calls the information in the report rumors.

You asked, and tonight they answer. Republican presidential candidates taking your questions in the party's first CNN/YouTube debate. The stakes are high, especially for Rudy Giuliani.

The story now from Dana Bash.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The Villages, Florida's largest retirement community where golf carts dominate the streets and many transplants from New York have an affinity for a certain mayor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The best choice right now to me and a lot of people here will be Giuliani. He's strong. I think he can help us.

BASH: Giuliani is trailing in other early primaries states but dominating here, where Republicans appear more tolerant of his stance on social issues like abortion rights. In a new CNN/Opinion Research poll, only 19 percent of Florida Republicans say abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.

RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe that Florida is going to determine the Republican nominee for President.

BASH: Giuliani long ago singled out Florida as his firewall. He trails in the first key nominating contests -- Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, and is banking on a big win here on January 29th to reset the race and propel him into a crowded Super Tuesday and includes mega-states from New York to California.

Giuliani's Florida chairman concedes it's risky.

BILL MCCOLLUM, GIULIANI FLORIDA PARTY CHAIRMAN: If he doesn't win in Florida, the prospects for his being the nominee for the Republican Party are much less.

BASH: All the more dicey because in the new poll, only three in 10 say they definitely made up their minds, and early wins usually ignite momentum.

PROF. DARRYL PAULSON, UNIV. OF SOUTH FLORIDA: Over the last 20, 25 years, Florida has sort of reaffirmed the pattern of Iowa and New Hampshire. In that respect, it could be a problem for Giuliani.

BASH: Giuliani thinks this time is different. Florida's vote is earlier and his pitch is crime-fighting 9/11 mayor (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was there day and night. He was always there and got everything going.

BASH: Especially with those former New Yorkers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vote for Rudy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Dana Bash is live now from the debate location in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Hi there, Dana.

You know, we always talk about electability this time of year, but given some of those numbers and some of the statements in your report there, it feels like it's still going to be a huge surprise.

BASH: Absolutely, because, yes, Rudy Giuliani is doing well in this state of Florida. And as you just pointed out and the piece pointed out, he thinks he can do well from Florida on out when you look at the calendar. But the bottom line is right now, Heidi, there are 36 states until the very first votes in Iowa, and it is anybody's guess who is going to do well in that state, in New Hampshire, and beyond, because it is so close in a lot of these early contest states, and because, as we've talked about so many times, the calendar is so compressed, anything can happen.

COLLINS: See, now that's a great tease. Want to make sure that everyone watches tonight because anything can happen.

All right. Dana Bash live from St. Petersburg, which is going to be the location for the debate tonight.

Make sure that you watch. It's 8:00 Eastern, and that is when your voice will be heard.

The Republican/YouTube debate only on CNN, your home for politics.

And if you want the most up-to-the-minute political news anywhere available, and the behind-the-scenes look at tonight's debate, just go to CNNPolitics.com. It is your one-stop shop. It's the Internet's premiere destination for political news.

CNNPolitics.com.

HARRIS: Could you do it, cut off your arm to save your life? We will talk to a man who did in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Could you cut off your arm to save your life? Our next guest made that life-or-death decision. Sampson Parker is joining us now from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sampson, so nice to see you. We appreciate you being with us.

If you could start by just telling us about this unbelievable story and what happened to you. SAMPSON PARKER, CUT OFF HIS ARM: Yes, ma'am.

I was working on my farm down in South Carolina, and I was picking corn. I had a flat tire on my tractor. Had to stop my tractor, and got off to clean my corn picker, and when I did, I was trying to get a cornstalk unstuck from underneath of it and couldn't get it out.

So turned the power off, went back around, reached up in there to get the cornstalk out, and the rollers that remove the shucks off the corn actually pulled my hand up into the rollers. I was stuck there for about an hour and a half.

The whole time I was, you know, of course trying to get loose and couldn't get loose. I finally jammed the machine, and by jamming the machine I almost had my hand out, and there were sparks.

The whole time where I jammed the machine it was sparking over there, and it caused the corn shucks to catch on fire. So once it caught on fire, I had to go into hopper mode there and had to...

COLLINS: Yes.

PARKER: I either had to decide, you know, either I'm going to have to do something here or burn to death.

COLLINS: Wow. You know, we actually ran this story, and I was not aware that there was actually a fire to contend with as well.

What on earth was going through your mind? How did you stay calm enough to figure out that you really had to take the drastic measures that you did?

PARKER: You know, I was praying to God to give me strength to get out of there, and I was also thinking about my wife and my son, Sampson Jr. You know, I didn't want them coming down to my farm and finding me burned to death on the machine.

COLLINS: Oh my goodness.

PARKER: So, I mean, it was wild. And so I -- you know, I actually physically tried to pull my hand off while it was burning and melting.

I had a pocket knife, my John Deere pocket knife, and it was just like something told me, just get the knife and cut my arm off. And what I did is just cut all the meat around the bone right below the elbow, and then I had to drop to break the bone.

And just as soon as I dropped, the tire that was on the side of the corn picker was also on fire. And as soon as I dropped, the tire exploded and actually blew me out of the fire.

COLLINS: Yes.

PARKER: It blew me back away from the fire about five feet, and at that point it just kind of woke me up, because I was -- I had been stuck for about an hour and a half, and the whole time my hand was bleeding. And -- but, boy, when the fire started and the tire -- when I got loose and the tire blew me back, it was just like, man, I'm free.

COLLINS: Yes. And so it ended up being like a pretty incredible set of circumstances that may actually have helped you.

PARKER: Yes, ma'am.

COLLINS: I do wonder, though, what you were able to feel when all this was going on. Because we always talk about the nerves when something as horrific as this happens. Could you even feel your hand anymore?

PARKER: No, ma'am, I couldn't feel my hand. It was numb. And actually, when I cut into my arm to start with, I didn't even feel it -- I mean, because my arm was numb.

COLLINS: Thank God.

PARKER: But when I hit those nerves, it was a different story.

COLLINS: Yes.

PARKER: I mean, I screamed. I screamed just as loud as I could scream. But once I got through it and was able to get around on the backside, it was better. But I'll tell you what, if you ever cut a nerve, you will know it. So...

COLLINS: Oh, yes. I'm sure.

PARKER: I did feel that, but I was screaming when I was doing it. But, you know, the flames -- you know what? The wind was blowing the flames off of the tire, and it was hitting me right in my face.

My hair was singed, and it's just -- it's a miracle I didn't get burned up because it was -- I was actually sitting in a bed of fire. It was just burning.

COLLINS: Wow. Well, it's unbelievable.

Tell me how your wife reacted.

PARKER: You know, she is so positive, and she is so great. She has been good through the whole thing.

You know, I was in the hospital, at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, for three weeks, and she was right there by my side the whole time. She -- you know, it's just amazing. She's just a very positive person, and her and my son both, Sampson Jr., was there, and both of them have just been very, very positive and helped me through it all, too.

COLLINS: Yes. And very, very glad that you are OK and did what you did. PARKER: Yes, ma'am.

COLLINS: Quickly, are you planning to get a prosthetic arm?

PARKER: Yes, ma'am. We are working on that. I've been -- I had two fit tests. And we're going again this coming Friday to decide on which one I want to get.

COLLINS: Good.

PARKER: But yes.

COLLINS: All right. Well, good for you.

Sampson Parker, thank you for sharing your story with us. And we are very, very glad you are OK.

PARKER: Can I mention one more thing?

COLLINS: Sure.

PARKER: You know how everything gets moved around? I'm actually a construction superintendent in Charlotte, North Carolina. My farm is in Kershaw, South Carolina.

COLLINS: Got it.

PARKER: And I live in Harrisburg, North Carolina. So the farming is just a hobby. It's kind of just working down there.

COLLINS: I see.

PARKER: It's kind of got messed up a little bit, but I'm glad you let me throw that in there.

COLLINS: OK. All right. Well, very good. We have it straight now and we appreciate it very much.

PARKER: Yes, ma'am.

COLLINS: Sampson Parker, thank you again.

PARKER: Thank you.

HARRIS: And coming up, the good, the bad, and the funny.

Veronica de la Cruz has a look at some of the unique video questions submitted for tonight's CNN/YouTube debate.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Good morning once again, everybody. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Heidi Collins.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris.

Want to get you to Fredricka Whitfield in the CNN NEWSROOM. She is following a developing story for us of a plane crash -- Fred, in Florida.

What do you know, Fred?

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Right. Hello to you, Tony.

Well, if you are flying or even flying out of the Ft. Myers, Florida, International Airport, there's going to be quite the delay because you can see right here the remnants of what appears to be a small plane that crashed there at this Florida airport, Southwest Florida International Airport.

It's unclear exactly what took place. They're investigating that right now.

WHITFIELD: It's unclear exactly what took place. They're investigating that right now. But the air-traffic control tower did say that they spotted the plane in the air. It was believed to be coming into the runway six there, and then suddenly it simply disappeared from radar, and here you now see the crash site of that small plane. It's unclear how many people were on this plane, exactly what kind of trouble, what may have preceded this cash. But here are the new images coming in here outside of Ft. Myers, Florida, at the Southwest Florida International Airport.

And of course when we get any more information about this small plane crash, what kind of plane, who may have been onboard, survival rate, et cetera, we'll be able to bring that to you, but this just really coming in.

HARRIS: Appreciate it, Fred. Any updates, let us know.

WHITFIELD: Will do.

HARRIS: Thanks.

From Miami to Washington, grief and questions today over the shooting death of NFL star Sean Taylor. Redskins teammates and fans plan memorials. Florida police are searching for his killer.

CNN's Alina Cho now with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Well, it doesn't appear as though Miami police have any strong leads at this point, but what they are saying is that this is clearly a homicide investigation, and there are clear signs of a break-in at the home. Police are also looking into whether this latest shooting incident is somehow connected or related to another break-in at the home eight days earlier. And some new details also are out about what may have happened on the night Taylor was shot. A teammate who spoke with Taylor's girlfriend talked to CNN last night.

CLINTON PORTIS, WASHINGTON REDSKINS: I think she's pretty -- holding up pretty well considering the conditions. She really didn't say a lot. He told her and the baby to stay still and stay in the room, and he went out and checked, and I don't think he ever came back in.

HARRIS: Taylor's girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, happens to be the niece of actor Andy Garcia. Taylor himself, interestingly enough spoke out in 2005 about another shooting incident and about how life can be fragile.

SEAN TAYLOR, WASHINGTON REDSKINS: You've seen a couple players in the last couple weeks be subject to shootings. And it's just a life-changing thing where one shot of a bullet or whatever the case is. You know, it changes lives. So it's just basically just staying away from those type of things and staying out of harm's danger -- harm's way.

CHO: The Washington Redskins will resume practice today. They'll play at home on Sunday against Buffalo. The redskins will also remember Taylor this weekend by wearing patches on their jerseys and his number, 21, on their helmets. Around the NFL, there will be moments of silence, and going forward, the big question is was this a random act of violence or premeditated murder? If they know, police are not yet commenting.

Alina Cho, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: It sounds like a scene from one of your favorite TV dramas. Crime scene investigation goes high-tech.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: No doubt you have seen all the gadgets and gizmos on the "CSI" dramas. Now new technology could help real life crime scene investigators solves cases faster.

CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta talked about it earlier in the NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Autopsies can take hours or even days.

COLLINS: Sure.

GUPTA: We talk a lot about that as we cover some of these stories. The goal has been to try to get it done faster.

So in certain situations, non-homicide, but, for example, accidental traumas, the idea that maybe you just CAT scan the entire body and get the information you need from the CAT scan, as opposed to conducting a real autopsy.

How accurate was it? Let me give you an example. This is a brain you're looking at. These are the two eyeballs up here, this is the nose up here.

The question was, this area in here, this black area, that's all air within the brain cavity that shouldn't be there. And this area right here is actually some blood that suggests that there was actually brain trauma, some sort of blunt force that may have caused this person's death. And such was the situation here.

It's very good for looking up things like ballistics, like if there's bullets inside the body. You can find those on CAT scans.

Not as good, for example, for looking at things like homicides, where you have stabbings, how much of a force was there? Gunshots, is there gun powder on the skin, for example? But in certain situations like this, it could actually be a very good tool.

They actually looked at 20 different autopsies and compared it to 20 different full-body CAT scans, and found that the results were very good, very accurate, in terms of determining cause of death.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Sanjay says the quicker reaction time is critical in investigations and in helping victims' families reach closure.

To get your daily dose of health news online, logon to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. The address once again, CNN.com/health.

HARRIS: Want to get you back to Fredricka now and Fred, I guess you're following the story of a -- I guess this is a pleasure boat in some trouble. Is this off the coast of New Jersey, Delaware?

WHITFIELD: Yes, it is all of that. Newport, New Jersey, is where it's nearest. And right now, you're looking at the marina where this capsized -- what seems to be a private boat has taken place, a 22-foot boat. There it is, flipped over completely. Rescue efforts are underway. It's believed that four people were on board this boat and we're still awaiting confirmation as to how those four people are doing or at least how the rescue efforts are going right now. But this taking place right there in the Delaware Bay, right off the New Jersey coast. Newport, New Jersey, if you happen to know the area, but pretty frightening moments because you know the water's very chilly right now after this busy holiday weekend. Not really sure what took place with this boat before it capsized.

But there, you see it belly up there. Not a very comforting scene, and we don't know exactly how far off the shore this is taking place there at Delaware Bay, but there are some new images coming in right now of the Coast Guard and rescue efforts that are right now underway -- Tony.

HARRIS: Wow, OK. Fredricka Whitfield in the news room for us. Fred, thanks.

WHITFIELD: OK.

COLLINS: The cost of infamy adding up for Michael Vick. His legal expenses, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Coming up in about 15 minutes is "YOUR WORLD TODAY" right here on CNN. Isha Sesay is standing by to tell us more about what we'll be seeing.

Hi there, Isha.

ISHA SESAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hi there, Heidi.

Now, our viewers will remember that British school teacher in Sudan who was arrested after allowing her young students to name a teddy bear Muhammad has now been charged we're hearing, and is expected in court on Thursday. Gillian Gibbons expected to appear in court on Thursday in Sudan. We will have all the details in this sensational case.

Plus, remember the case of that rape victim in Saudi Arabia who was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in jail? Well, she's now taking on the system. We'll talk to a journalist there in Saudi Arabia to get a sense of the reaction there on the ground.

And talk about some serious bling just ahead. Check this out. This Faberge egg dating back to 1902 sold for some pretty serious cash on Wednesday.

We'll tell you just how much, Heidi, at the top of the hour when our viewers tune in and they'll be joined by Jim Clancy and myself for "YOUR WORLD TODAY." Back to you.

COLLINS: It's pretty.

SESAY: It is.

HARRIS: Yes.

COLLINS: Can't wait to hear how much.

SESAY: It's priceless (ph).

COLLINS: All right, thank you, Isha.

HARRIS: NFL star Michael Vick, his legal troubles far from over. His expenses still stacking up. The newest bill almost $1 million. A court document shows Vick has agreed to pay for the care of dogs taken from his Virginia property. That's where a dogfighting operation was busted last April. More than 50 pitbulls were confiscated. Vick is in jail awaiting federal sentencing for bankrolling that operation. He also faces trial next year on state charges.

President Bush has a new Middle East peace adviser. He is retired Marine General James Jones, a former NATO commander. Two senior diplomats say Jones will advise the president on security issues as the Israelis and Palestinians try to reach a peace deal. The official announcement on Jones's new job is expected later today.

COLLINS: Rudy Giuliani's tough on terrorism image hitting home with likely Republican voters in Florida. That's from a new CNN Opinion Research Corporation poll just released this morning. Fifty- three percent of respondents think Giuliani can best handle terrorism, compared to 19 percent for Arizona senator John McCain. Fred Thompson is at 10 percent. Mitt Romney, eight percent. On the issue of who's the best person to deal with Iraq, Giuliani and McCain are virtually tied. Thompson and Romney trail at 10 percent and nine percent.

Looking to rebuild after a losing season in 2006. Republicans working on a game plan now for 2008. Here's CNN's John King, part of the best political team on television.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, so we got the double order for the tables.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tony Dimatteo prefers to worry about the next election, not dwell on the 2006 national Republican drubbing.

TONY DIMATTEO, PINELLAS COUNTY GOP CHAIR: We got bogged down in the war. We got it handed to us, but there was external reasons beyond our control. Hopefully, the National Party will remedy this.

KING: Dimatteo is the GOP chairman in Pinellas County, Florida and thinks his state could serve as a national model.

DIMATTEO: It's a moderate Republican county. I think in general, Florida is a moderate state. So, I think that's why people like Giuliani are doing very well, for instance, because he's generally in a lot of social issues, he's considered a moderate.

KING: But one Republican solution is another's nightmare. Richard Viguerie, among the veteran activists who view Giuliani as a threat to the party's social conservative brand. RICHARD VIGUERIE, VETERAN CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST: There is a major, even massive amount of anger, frustration, unrest, feeling of betrayal. Rudy Giuliani is a major focus of this concern right now, but it's far beyond just Giuliani.

KING: The debate over Giuliani is one symptom of a broader Republican identity crisis.

GOV. MARK SANFORD (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: It takes time to damage a brand. It takes even longer to rebuild it.

KING: The president who took office imagining a lasting Republican majority is now unpopular, and all but ignored by the candidates looking to replace him, and the party's image is tattered. One reason, two dozen Republicans in Congress are retiring. Only 25 percent of Americans identify themselves as Republicans, and just 40 percent in a recent Pew Research Center study had a favorable view of the GOP.

South Carolina governor Mark Sanford says voters no longer trust that pulling the Republican lever means less spending and lower taxes. Not the legacy Mr. Bush had hoped for.

SANFORD: He's not the only one to blame. I don't want to suggest that. In as much as the presidency, if you are the party in power, is sort of the titular head of the Republican party, certainly some of the buck stops there.

KING: Picking a new leader is one step in the rebuilding process. But consensus on a winning agenda is just as important.

WHIT AYRES, REPUBLICAN POLLSTER: Well, the real challenge for the Republican party is figuring out how to keep the base happy while at the same time, reaching out to the Independents who voted Democrat in 2006.

KING: Pinellas County is a case study. Since Mr. Bush was elected in 2000, Republican registration in the county is down slightly, Democratic registration up a little, and the number of Independents way up.

DIMATTEO: So that tells me we just have a lot more work to do to get registered Republicans involved in the process.

KING: Plenty of work for Dimatteo and others here at the county level.

DIMATTEO: Oh, I'm glad I'm not the National Party chairman, because I think it is a puzzle.

KING: While the National Party tries to find its way.

John King, CNN, Clearwater, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE) COLLINS: Be sure to watch tonight 8:00 Eastern when your voice will be heard. The Republican YouTube debate only on CNN, your home for politics.

HARRIS: And let's get you back now to Fredricka Whitfield in the CNN NEWSROOM. And Fred, boy, you showed us some pretty dramatic pictures just a moment ago ...

WHITFIELD: I know.

HARRIS: ...of a capsized boat.

WHITFIELD: And I think I've got some new images for you now, too. And this is about this 22-foot boat that overturned in Delaware Bay. Take a look right here. And what we believe to be at least some new images that show the rescue effort of at least one of the four people who was actually on board. Perhaps it's a little difficult to tell because if you look down there in the center, the person with the gray kind of blanket around the shoulders.

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: It appears that's one of the people that was rescued. There were four people on board this private boat, small boat, when it capsized there in the Delaware Bay just outside of Newport, New Jersey. And some information, the U.S. Coast Guard and the NOAA, National Organization of Atmospheric -- and I kind of forget the rest of it. Sorry about that, I'll have to double-check on that one. On the information they've been able to give us, but that water right there, 46 to 48 degrees. So pretty frigid ...

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: ...and that's why they're acting so fast because we understand that a person has between 30 minutes to 60 minutes before they actually lose consciousness in that kind of degree temperatures of water. So, they are working really quickly.

Four people who are believed to be on that boat ...

HARRIS: Wow.

WHITFIELD: ...at least one rescue that has taken place there.

HARRIS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And all this taking place there in the Delaware Bay.

HARRIS: OK, Fred, if you get any more information, because we can see on the lower third there that two may be trapped, at least one other person unaccounted for at this point.

WHITFIELD: Right.

HARRIS: So, let's -- you see two people there, Heidi? I see one person ... COLLINS: I mean, I don't know what I'm seeing except a guy with a plastic around him and then another guy with the gray blanket around him, thinking that those are the two that were rescued.

WHITFIELD: Yes, well that one person at least with the gray kind of matte blanket, who's now being escorted into that, is the same image of the person who ...

HARRIS: OK.

WHITFIELD: ...was nearest the boat, but it's the National Oceanic ...

HARRIS: Yes, Atmospheric.

WHITFIELD: ...Atmospheric Association, I want to say? We'll double-check on that.

HARRIS: All right.

WHITFIELD: Association or Agency. Oh, bad, bad, bad. I'll look into that one.

HARRIS: OK, Fred. All right, thanks, Fred. Appreciate it.

WHITFIELD: OK.

COLLINS: The turmoil in the financial markets has gotten the attention of a federal reserve official and he expects credit conditions to tighten even further. But, stocks are rallying nonetheless.

Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange now to explain. OK, explain away, Susan.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

HARRIS: Well, wait -- hang on a second. I missed some things here. What's with the cow bell? When did that start?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The cow bell?

HARRIS: Yes, when did that start?

LISOVICZ: It was just a little freebie that you know, that is the sound of the bull, right, you know. I also have my stress bull though, when the bulls disappear. Stress bull, it's so useful.

COLLINS: Susan Lisovicz with props. I like it a lot.

HARRIS: There you go!

LISOVICZ: I got it.

HARRIS: Susan, appreciate it. Thank you. Man, paid off once again. How about this for a Christmas gift. Toy what -- toy road kill?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: If you've ever ridden the London Underground, the Tube, you probably heard Emma Clark. Since 1999, Clark has been the voice of the Underground, the person behind the recorded public announcements, but not anymore. Her bosses apparently didn't find the humor in Clark's Web site with its fake Tube announcements.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

VOICE OF EMMA CLARK, FMR. UNDERGROUND ANNOUNCER: Here we are again, crammed into a sweaty Tube carriage. And today's Wednesday, only two more days before you can binge drink yourself into a state of denial about the mediocrity of your life. Oh, for goodness sake, if you're female, smile at the bloke next to you and make his day. He's probably not had sex for months.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

COLLINS: Now, I think that's very funny. Underground officials say the spoofs, though, were not the reason Clark was let go. They say they did it because Clark called the Tube dreadful. She says that is a misquote, and that she actually said riding the Tube would be dreadful for her because she'd have to hear her own voice over the P.A. system.

HARRIS: Oh, don't complain about it, you had a good run. That's funny, move on, come on.

All right, how about this. What would Santa give someone on the naughty list? A plush toy that looks like roadkill might be just the thing. A British toy maker is rolling out the gross, squished critters just in time for Christmas. Take a look at this. Each comes in its own body bag with a toe tag, telling how it died. For the really squeamish, the innards can be stuffed back inside -- the innards.

COLLINS: That's lovely.

HARRIS: The entrails.

COLLINS: What a fine, fine holiday gift.

HARRIS: That's a wonderful way to end the newscast.

COLLINS: Yes. CNN NEWSROOM continues one hour from now.

HARRIS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" is next with what's -- news that's happening across the globe and here at home.

I'm Tony Harris.

COLLINS: And I'm Heidi Collins. We'll see you tomorrow, 9:00 Eastern. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com