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The Race For The White House Takes A Turn; CNN's New Hampshire Poll Results Are In And Two Candidates Make A Roaring Comeback: A Hike In The Woods May Have Been This Woman's Last

Aired January 05, 2008 - 22:00   ET

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

ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: Could it be what happens in Iowa, stays in Iowa? The race for the White House takes a turn. CNN's New Hampshire Poll results are in and two candidates make a roaring comeback.
A hike in the woods may have been this woman's last. Her dog, found alone miles away, and tonight police are hinting the news is not good.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a search and recovery effort.

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MARCIANO: This man now charged with her kidnapping.

A levee breaks, a desert town floods.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I might start crying. It's sad. A lot of people have lost their homes and their dogs and their cats and people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARCIANO: Boats and helicopters pluck people from their homes and cars. Wild western weather takes its toll.

Start your day with a morning roast of cat coffee?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I, myself, don't know what it tastes like. We are going to find out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARCIANO: Coffee connoisseurs. This may be the next big thing, if you can stand the cold, hard truth. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Good Evening, I'm Rob Marciano. We are dedicating much of our newscast tonight to politics. But, first, we start with new and chilling developments out of Georgia, where police now indicate a missing hiker is likely dead. Tonight, a 61-year-old man facing charges and CNN has just learned about some new evidence in the case. Our Reggie Aqui, joins us live from the Union County Jail in Blairsville. Reggie, what else can you tell us tonight?

REGGIE AQUI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rob, within the hour, Gary Michael Hilton arrived here and with him these documents. We have been waiting for these all day. Talking to our sources and finally, we have all the information. This is the evidence that police say they have in order to make this arrest tonight. And it details exactly what they found in a dumpster. And let me just explain what this is all about.

Gary Michael Hilton, of course, is the suspect who is now in custody. Meredith Emerson is the young woman who has been missing since New Year's Day. This information shows us that the police were able to find her wallet about 50 miles from here in a dumpster. In that wallet, her license and her student I.D. Authorities are also telling us that they have found clothing that is consistent with what we are told Emerson was wearing the day she disappeared. That clothing had "Substantial amounts of human blood."

And in addition, authorities say they found part of a seat belt with blood transfer stains all over it. I will tell you in just second how authorities plan to place Gary Michael Hilton at the scene of that dumpster. But, first, let's get you back to how this all started.

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AQUI: 61-year-old Gary Michael Hilton now sits in a county jail and authorities are focusing their efforts into finding the body of 24-year-old Meredith Emerson.

JOHN BANKHEAD, GEORGIA, BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION: This is a search and recovery effort.

AQUI: Up in the woods, that's a big loss to family and friends who had been searching for her since she disappeared on New Year's Day. This is the first time we watched Emerson's roommate, Julia Karrenbauer, breakdown. Earlier she talked to CNN about police arresting Gary Michael Hilton, Friday night, at a suburban gas station. Police say, he was the last person seen with the University of Georgia grad, when she disappeared hiking with her dog, Ella. However, Karrenbauer, was willing to give Hilton, the benefit of the doubt.

JULIA KARRENBAUER, EMERSON'S ROOMMATE: The fact that he didn't turn himself in. It is a concern. I mean, maybe, he didn't hear. Sounds like he was living out of his van. But, I mean, you never know. It was clear daylight. You know, he might not have known.

AQUI: But now authorities say, not only does Hilton know what happened to Emerson, but that he orchestrated it. Kidnapping her with intent to hurt her.

BANKHEAD: Well, given the fact that's pretty much -- pretty much confirmed that, yes. I can't elaborate at this point. There is considerable evidence that will come out at an appropriate time during any court hearing. But right now, I'm not at liberty to be specific about what that is.

AQUI: Officials say, they have recovered a lot of evidence. But a scaled down search will continue in the Georgia Mountains. Meanwhile, Emerson's dog, Ella, was safely found through an implanted microchip, 50 miles from where she disappeared.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

AQUI: Just a few moments ago, we were handed by the sheriff's department, handed this picture. This is the booking photo of Hilton tonight. Now, I mentioned all of that evidence that police say they found about 50 miles from here in a garbage receptacle. Well, we are told by police, they are going to be able to place him at that scene, because they say, they can prove, he was on a pay telephone in the same parking lot where that garbage was found. But, of course, Rob, this isn't over, because we still don't know where Emerson is.

MARCIANO: No, we don't. And I do know that you have been in touch with her friends and family there, with this new news tonight. I mean, how are they holding up?

AQUI: Well, we understand they need to have a vigil tonight. And you can see the look on their faces. I mean, not having the information allowed them to believe that perhaps a miracle could happen. Perhaps, they would be able to find her safe. And certainly, there's always a small chance that could be true. But today was the first time authorities came out and said, it's not going to happen and you can see that they were devastated.

MARCIANO: Reggie Aqui, live for us in Blairsville, Georgia. Thanks, Reggie.

Now onto the race for the White House. America is voting, at least in caucuses and primaries. But here it is. Iowa plus two days and the election machine has officially rumbled to life. Plenty of politics, plenty to cover tonight. It's primary prep time in New Hampshire. And that's where CNN's John King, has spent the day anchoring our political coverage on the ground. Good evening, John.

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Rob. You know, it is a fascinating time to be here in New Hampshire, because it is anybody's race, just days away from the leadoff presidential primary. And that's after Iowa up-ended the race just three days ago. Since then, White House hopefuls, Democrats and Republicans campaigning all across this state, clamoring to impress every undecided voters and clamoring as well to rally their dedicated supporters to get out and vote. We have new poll numbers tonight. We also have big debates tonight between both the Democrats and the Republicans. Before we get to that, we want to set the mood here in New Hampshire. What makes New Hampshire different from Iowa?

Joining us now is Jennifer Donahue. She is the senior advisor for political affairs at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. Jennifer joins us from the site of tonight's debate. More on that debate in a moment. But Jennifer, help us understand what is different, now that we are in New Hampshire and have left Iowa behind, in terms of the issues terrain the candidates will debate here?

JENNIFER DONAHUE, N.H. INSTITUTE OF POLITICS: Well, it's amazing, John. Because I think in Iowa what mattered most were the issues. Because you have more Liberal Democrats there and more Conservative Republicans there. Really, ideological activist voters. In New Hampshire, as we are seeing in your new poll, electability is the central and I would dare say, most pressing issue in this primary. And that's where we are seeing Obama and McCain getting real boosts from the base and from undeclared voters.

KING: You mentioned Obama. He needs -- if he can win here, he thinks he can push Hillary Clinton out to the sideline. All indications early were that the independents were flooding into the Democratic primary. We will get more on the poll numbers later. But as you watch Obama campaign, what do you sense about what he is saying to try to make sure that that is what happens, that the independents flood to his side?

DONAHUE: That's a terrific question. Because I saw him at a town hall meeting and what he did was say, how many of you in this crowd are undecided? They, you know, raise your hand. And then he said, well, stand up if you want change. 450 people stood up. So, the message is change, and he seems to be getting it across. He also has an authenticity and he has not gone negative. That's working this time.

KING: And John McCain is a Republican, who thanks in large part to support from independents eight years ago, stunned George W. Bush here. Yes, McCain then led among Republicans, but a big margin came among independents. Now that he can't count on them this time, can't count on the independents because most seem to be leading Democratic, how is John McCain 2007 heading into 2008, different from the John McCain of campaign 2000?

DONAHUE: Well, John McCain 2007 is a lot more this week and this month, the past two months, than the previous year. I mean, it took him a long time to get his sea legs up here. It took him a lot of town hall meetings, about 100, to really listen and hear the concern of voters. He said, I heard you on immigration. You want to secure the borders first. They accepted that. He's getting these numbers. His rise has been in the base, not undeclared, to where, as you said, going towards the Democrats. So I think, McCain has finally connected again, in the same fashion he did in 2000, and he seems to be really kind of closing it with them.

KING: And Jennifer, Senator Hillary Clinton obviously thinking she needs a victory here, although she would not say it quite so publicly after placing third in Iowa. You remember, well, this was the story, the comeback kid story back in 1992, when Bill Clinton stumbled and then fought his way back into second place here in New Hampshire. He had a very loyal, dedicated, feisty and fighting network back then, but it was 16 years ago. Can Hillary Clinton count on that this time? DONAHUE: It was 16 years ago, and, no, because John Edwards keeps pointing out that he came in second in Iowa. So, she is going to have to think of a new term. The bottom line is, the Clinton campaign is nervous. They are very nervous. They are bussing people up here from other states today to fill up crowds. Now, that's not to say they didn't have a lot of supporters out. They do and they did. But they are scared, and I think that she will go on, despite whatever her finish is in New Hampshire but Obama has given them a lightning bolt shock.

KING: And, finally, let me ask you about the tone of the campaign, Jennifer. We see the attack ads. They have been criticized. Compare this campaign to campaigns past. Tame, nasty or in between?

DONAHUE: Well, I think people learned a lesson in Iowa, which is that, the two people who didn't go as negative won -- Obama and Huckabee. And the people who really didn't do as well, Romney and Hillary Clinton, had gone negative. They seemed to suffer for it. We really do seem to be in a time where the electorate doesn't have a mood for the politics of past. They don't want the old play book. They don't want Clinton and Bush's play book. So, she has to readjust very, very quickly. If she's going to look positive and reach those voters who really do want to see a different way of doing things.

KING: In the states for us tonight, Jennifer Donahue, from New Hampshire Institute Politics. Jennifer, thank you very much.

And the candidates, almost all of them, campaigning all across New Hampshire today. Facing not only New Hampshire voters this weekend, although that was their primary focus during the day, once the sun sets, facing one another. This is debate night in New Hampshire on primetime television, featuring a slightly smaller crowd in terms of the candidates. Iowa had a bit of a hand on that. Let's talk about those debates.

CNN's Dana Bash is on the campus of Saint Anselm College in Manchester, was watching the debate tonight. Dana, let's focus on the Republican debate. These candidates, they had some differences on health care. They had some differences on foreign policies. But the most crackling exchange came between the two front-runners here, former governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Senator John McCain from Arizona, on the emotional issue of illegal immigration. Tell us about it.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And that is really an issue that is John McCain's sweet spies. We were talking about with Jennifer. Immigration is one of the reasons his support for a plan that allowed a pathway to his citizenship in the senate. And is one of the reasons why Senator McCain declined in popularity among the Republican base. So that did become a very, very passionate part of the debate tonight. And I will read you part of what Senator McCain said when he was basically under attack from Mitt Romney about his plan. Here's what he said tonight.

He said, quote, "It's not amnesty. And for you to describe it as you do in the attack ads, my friend, you can spend your whole fortune on these attack ads but it won't be true." Now, this is something that was pretty tough. Anytime John McCain says, "My friend," you know that he's pretty angry, but another very interesting part of this exchange. And this exchange did go on for quite some time between Romney and McCain and then others like Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani jumped in as well.

Here's what Mitt Romney said. He said, quote, "Your plan, I said, it's not technically amnesty, because it provides for a penalty for people to be able to stay." That was pretty surprising that Mitt Romney said that John McCain's plan is not technically amnesty. Because, as we speak, he has paid television ads here in New Hampshire calling John McCain's plan amnesty, which of course, is a dirty word for Republicans.

And also this. This just happened to be in the pocket of one of John McCain's supporters. It's a mailer that Mitt Romney sent out to Republicans here and it's specifically does say that John McCain is for amnesty. So it just goes to show you that this is something that has been very, very tough for John McCain and even tough for Mitt Romney, but it is still something that is tough for each of them to explain. And particularly in this case for mitt Romney, since he seemed to contradict tonight here on the stage, what he has said in television ads about John McCain.

John?

KING: Dana, striking watching the conversation. Most of these candidates say that they like each other and enjoy to be in each other's company. But Senator McCain wasn't the only Republican who seemed to take some pleasure in going after Governor Romney.

BASH: He was definitely the piñata of the night. There is no question about it. Mitt Romney has been the most aggressive on TV and as I just showed you in mailers earlier in Iowa, here in New Hampshire and in South Carolina and really going at his opponents on the record and maybe even on other issues and saw the tension about that tonight on -- on the stage here and particularly from John McCain.

It's interestingly, even from Mike Huckabee, going any chance they got. They really had to dig in at Mitt Romney for changing his position. You know, it was pretty clear, that there isn't a lot of love less between Mitt Romney and many of the people who are on the stage. It seems to be -- it seems to be that there's one thing that Mitt Romney's rivals can agree on, that they don't particularly like Mitt Romney very much, John.

KING: Last thing, closing, what I thought was a telling changed tonight. In past debates, the Republicans have spent a lot of time talking about Senator Hillary Clinton, who they thought would be the Democratic nominee. But after the results in Iowa, they were asked what they thought of Senator Barack Obama.

BASH: That's right. You know, in the past debates, we used to count how many times a Republican used the word Clinton to show that they were tough enough to beat Hillary Clinton. Tonight, you right, the question was about Barack Obama, a real change. And what is interesting was the way that these Republicans responded. Most of the Republicans, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, they went out what they said was Barack Obama's lack of experience and the fact that they simply think, that he is too liberal to be the president of the United States. So, those are potential attack lines down the road. Maybe kind of typical Republican lines from those three men.

Mike Huckabee is quite different. You know, many people have sort of described the Huckabee and Obama phenomenon. In the same way, that they were sort of fresh faces, that they are authentic, that they talk about the word change, and that they did it before talking about it was cool. Mike Huckabee said that, you know, if people are going to ignore or really go after Barack Obama and not really listen to what he's trying to do when he speaks of optimism, when he speaks of doing things in a different kind of way in Washington than Republicans, then their party do it at their peril. So, it was quite interesting to see that kind of answer from Mike Huckabee. And it was real difference between him and most of the other Republicans on the stage when they were asked about Obama.

KING: Politicians always trying to learn lessons from the success of others, even if the other is in the other party, in the case of Barack Obama. Dana Bash joining us from the site of tonight's debate in Saint Anselm College. Dana, thank you very much.

And the numbers look a lot different today here in New Hampshire than they looked before Iowa. Tonight, we will crunch those numbers. Who is gaining ground and who is slipping? Stay right here, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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RONALD REAGAN, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I have paid for this microphone.

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KING: 1980 there, GOP presidential primary debate and a classic highlight from campaigns in New Hampshire past. Ronald Reagan getting wild applause after angrily responded to the moderator who told the soundman to turned off Reagan's microphone.

Well, New Hampshire holds its primary on Tuesday, then the calendar, gets a little crowded. Over the next month, more than half the states in the nation will hold a primary or presidential caucus. Candidates get a brief reprieve after New Hampshire. And on January 15th, it's Michigan. Four days later, Nevada holds its caucuses. That same day on January 19th, South Carolina Republicans will vote. And then on January 26th, South Carolina Democrats hold their primary.

On January 29th, Florida will choose its nominees. The notorious swing state of Florida decided to hold its primary early this year, despite threats from both the national and Democrat and Republican parties. On February 1st, GOP caucuses in Maine. And then look out; get a pencil to keep count. On February 5th, the biggest super- Tuesday ever. Nearly, two dozen states are holding primaries or caucuses that day, from east coast to west including the giant states of New York, California, Illinois and New Jersey.

But tonight all eyes are right here on New Hampshire. And the question everyone keeps asking, do the results of Thursday's Iowa caucus make any difference in the candidates' standing here in the Granite State? For the answer, we go to none other than CNN's senior political analyst, Bill Schneider.

Bill?

BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, who has got the bounce? That's the question of the moment as we look at New Hampshire primary voters polled after the Iowa caucuses.

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SCHNEIDER: Who has got the bounce? That is the question of the moment, as we look at New Hampshire primary voters polled after the Iowa caucuses. Are New Hampshire voters influenced by what happens in far-away Iowa? Apparently, they are. Before the Iowa caucuses, Hillary Clinton was running four points ahead of Barack Obama in New Hampshire. Now, they are dead even. Clinton 33, Obama 33, with John Edwards trailing at 20. Both Obama and Edward got bounced from Iowa, where they came in first and second. Each picked up three points in New Hampshire. And Clinton, no bounce for you. And the gender gap, it's gone.

The race is a tie among women as well as men. Obama got something else out of winning Iowa. A bounce in its perceived electability. Before Iowa, Clinton led Obama by better than 2-1, when New Hampshire Democrats were asked which candidate has the best chance of beating the Republican. Electability was her issue.

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think I come into this race tested and proven and ready to take on the Republicans no matter what they send my way.

SCHNEIDER: Obama's response -- who is she talking about?

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Caucus before is the notion that a viability or electability argument is being made by somebody who starts off with almost half the country not being willing to vote for them doesn't make much sense.

SCHNEIDER: Now, the two are seen as equally electability. Fewer New Hampshire Democrats now believe Clinton is electable. Why? She lost. More Democrats now believe Obama is electable. Why? He won.

Obama campaigning in Iowa, an overwhelmingly white state, may have resolved some doubts about an African-American candidate's electability. In the Republican race, it looks like Mike Huckabee's Iowa victory helped John McCain in New Hampshire. McCain gained four points in New Hampshire. Huckabee, just one. A week ago, McCain and Mitt Romney were tied in New Hampshire. Now McCain has pulled ahead. (END VIDEOTAPE)

SCHNEIDER: Iowa did not help Huckabee much in New Hampshire, where there are not many evangelical voters. He's still running fourth. The main impact was to make Romney more vulnerable.

John?

KING: Fascinating numbers, Bill. And when you were here earlier, we were looking through some of the other numbers in the polls. Final days of the campaign, one thing you look for is more attack ads. So, one thing we look for in the polling is the favorable ratings of the candidates. Because sometimes if they are viewed as highly favorable by the voters, the attack ads don't quite stick. Let's start with the two leading Republican candidates, McCain and Romney, when you look at the favorability numbers, Bill, what stands out?

SCHNEIDER: What stands out is that Republican voters like both John McCain and Mitt Romney. McCain has a slightly higher favorability than Romney. But we also look to the two Republicans, the opinions of them, among Democrats. And there is an immense and rather surprising difference, only 16 percent of Democrats have a favorable opinion of Romney, but 62 percent of Democrats -- Democrats here in New Hampshire, like John McCain. Despite his embrace of the war, of the surge policy, John McCain retains a very high favorability among Democrats. So when he says he can reach across party lines, there's evidence that he can.

KING: That is a remarkable number. Tom Rath, a veteran Republican strategist here, who advises Mitt Romney in this campaign, likes to call John McCain the president of New Hampshire because of his popularity here. Let's move on to the Democratic side, Bill. The two leading candidates are Obama and Clinton, what do New Hampshire voters, not just the Democrats, what do New Hampshire voters think of them?

SCHNEIDER: Well, as you would expect, Democrats like them both. 87 percent favorable view of Obama and 74 percent favorable view of Hillary Clinton. They like both of them. But take a look at how they are rated by Republicans. Only 15 percent of Republicans like Hillary Clinton. Very unpopular. 54 percent of Republicans like Barack Obama. So he, like John McCain, has an ability to reach across party lines. Both John McCain and Barack Obama are popular across political parties, and that is very rare these days.

John?

KING: And in closing, Bill, just two full days of campaigning left in New Hampshire, because of the compressed calendar. Only five days between Iowa and New Hampshire. This time, New Hampshire voters go to the polls on Tuesday. After studying all of these poll numbers tonight, the two full days of campaigning left, what do you look for most over the next 48 hours?

SCHNEIDER: Well, what we are looking for mostly is to see if there's any change. And if there's any indication of enthusiasm from either any of the candidate supporters, or Clinton or Romney supporters becoming unenthusiastic, demoralized. Are there indications that they may stay home? That could be some of the feedback effect of the Iowa caucuses.

KING: We will keep watching and we have the best in the business with us. Senior political analyst Bill Schneider. Bill, thank you very much. It was debate night tonight for the Democrats, too. We talked a bit about the Republicans earlier. We will be back in a bit to talk about what the Democrats had to say. But for now, let's go back to Rob in Atlanta.

MARCIANO: Jam-packed for a Saturday, that's for sure. We will be back to you in just a few minutes. Thanks, John.

Well, a political victory flies under the radar. Who won the Wyoming primary? Let's put it this way -- he's no cowboy. Stay in the CNN NEWSROOM. We will be right back.

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BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: New Hampshire tonight has made Bill Clinton the comeback kid.

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MARCIANO: Bill Clinton, 1992. Another hit moment from New Hampshire. Clinton called himself the comeback kid after winning a strong second place in the state's primary, just days after the Gennifer Flowers scandal broke out.

All right, time for "Dog Bone politics." Giving you something you can chew on. Did you know there was a Republican primary today in Wyoming? You're forgiven, because not many people outside the Cowboy State knew about it either. Former Governor Mitt Romney won the most delegates, 12. The number of candidates who visited Wyoming, ahead of this primary -- zero.

And things got a little bit physical at a Barack Obama rally in New Hampshire today. Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly and that guy, one of Obama's personal aides, exchanged words and then a couple of shoves. O'Reilly said that Marvin Nicholson was blocking his view of the Democratic senator's speech. That's not hard to believe, because Nicholson is 6'8". Everyone, eventually, made nice-nice. Well, you heard what the Republican said tonight in New Hampshire, now it's the Democrats' turn. We will bring back "The Best Political Team on Television." Stay tuned.

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MICHAEL DUKAKIS, (D) FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The fact of the matter is that I don't have a southern strategy. I don't have a northern strategy or western strategy. I have an American strategy. That's the strategy.

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ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: Michael Dukakis, 1988, Manchester, New Hampshire. His American strategy, well, it didn't work. The Democrat lost handily to the first President Bush. Well, that was New Hampshire 20 years ago. New Hampshire tonight -- same hotly contested race for the White House, different place.

And John King, part of "The Best Political Team On Television," is in the thick of it. He joins us again live from Manchester tonight. Big night for both parties, John. Having back-to-back debates. Time for you to breakdown the Democrats.

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Rob. And you're making me feel old there. The Dukakis campaign was my first presidential campaign assignment, 20 years ago. Ouch. Making me feel old. Thanks, Rob. Back to you in just a minute.

Earlier tonight, the Republican candidates went back and forth on foreign policy, immigration, a host of social issues including abortion, same-sex marriage. And then, the stage was cleared for the Democrats to sit down and debate their terms. They were just wrapping up and our Jessica Yellin is there.

Jessica, the big question tonight was, after coming in third place in Iowa, could Hillary Clinton rebound? And this debate was viewed as a chance for her to try to get her campaign back in stride. Did she do what she needed to do?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, John, yes and know. I know it sounds like a copout. But Senator Clinton came into this debate needing to really differentiate herself from Senator Obama. No doubt they were hoping for some big gap on his part. Something they could leap on. They did not get that instead, what they got were opportunities for Senator Clinton to point out times when he has not made good on what she claims were his promises running for office. He did something different when he was in office.

And then also trying to make the point that he is a lot of optimism. There's a sense of a possibility around him. But this doesn't always produce results. She said at one point that words, as beautifully presented and passionately felt as they are, they are not action. We need somebody who has delivered action. She also said that we have seen a president that America wanted to drink a beer with, meaning President Bush, but that's not what America needed in the end.

Trying to make the impression that Senator Obama, as we heard from Bill Clinton, untested, a gamble, an unknown quantity. But the problem is, that doesn't seem to be a problem for the American people right now. What the voters of New Hampshire say that they want is change, and still Senator Obama comes out of tonight, still embracing its position that he really is the change candidate. Over and over, we heard him talking about the possibility of the future, what can be done, and Senator Clinton sort of taking the adult responsible position about, what can be accomplished realistically? How does it get done?

While he occupied this position of hope and possibility, she occupied the sort of realistic fact check side. And that's not necessarily what the voters want to hear right now. She did have a humanizing moment. They asked of what the questioner asked her, what do you think, what are you going to say to the voters who questions your likeability? She said, oh, well, that hurts my feelings. Reminding everybody, look, she's a person with feelings. And senator Obama had a strange response to that, actually. He said, you're likable enough.

It was actually one of the more personal attacks of the night, I thought. Not quite an attack, but sort of a backhanded compliment. But for Senator Clinton, you know, a night in which she tried to sharpen the contrast, but came away looking rather -- rather tough and somewhat on the defensive.

John?

KING: Jessica Yellin at the CNN tonight democratic debate here in Manchester, New Hampshire. Many expected it would become a nasty debate. Instead, the Democrats relatively civil and polite tonight, perhaps in part because of the format of the moderator of Charlie Gibson of ABC news. More of our coverage of that throughout the weekend. A busy weekend here for presidential politics in the state of New Hampshire. Rob, for now, back to you in Atlanta.

MARCIANO: And you and the team have been very busy. Try to get at least a little bit of sleep. Great work tonight, John, thanks.

Well, we have shown you the political process, at least the U.S. political process. But next, we are going to take you to Kenya, where there's no such thing as politics as usual.

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MARCIANO: Welcome back. I want to show you pictures coming into the CNN NEWSROOM. Some breaking news out of Alaska where there's been a plane crash. Ten people were on the plane just off Alaska's Kodiak Island. Five so far have been rescued. There are some of the dramatic pictures there. The other five not known if they are still in the Gulf of Alaska and how they are faring. The propeller plane, operated by Servant Air Inc out of Kodiak crashed at 1:48 local time. The weather, as you can see, clear and wasn't a factor in the crash very, very close to the airport, to the island's airport there.

All right, let's talk more about politics. This time, across the ocean. We spent a lot of this hour focusing on American politics, which can often turn nasty and bitter. But in other nations, politics can sometimes turn deadly and turn scores of people into refugees.

Nations like Kenya, now the scene of rampant rioting following a disputed presidential election late last month. The political toll has been devastating. The human toll even worse. Here's ITN's Neil Connery.

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NEIL CONNERY, ITN AFFILIATE: On the streets of Nairobi's Mathare slum, police open fire to break out more tribal violence. Rival gangs armed with machetes clash again as Kenya's ethnic fabric continues to unravel. At least one man is shot dead as police try to restore order. In the capital and right across this country, tribal tensions are now boiling over.

Terrified and exhausted, the tide of human misery cascades down from the never-ending trucks. They clutch what few belongings they have left. These are some of the 100,000-plus people forced from their homes, fleeing Kenya's tribal violence. We found that they arrived in Nakuru after their journey from Eldoret, now left homeless and traumatized.

This woman relives the horror of what happened. Seven of my neighbors were killed, she tells me. Cut to pieces with machetes. There was no mercy. There were dead bodies everywhere, this man says. Some are headless. They were lying in the streets, being eaten by dogs. Only God knows my faith, this mother tells me. What do I do now?

And they come hundreds and hundreds, they are still coming packed on these lorries. Desperate to get off, desperate to get away from the horror that they had to endure in Eldoret. They brought with them what few belongings they have left. But every person who arrives here comes with a story of unimaginable suffering.

More than 100 trucks arrived in the space of a few hours, their cargos suffering, spilling onto the streets. Some families have found shelter in a nearby showground, home for now at least. But they have lost everything, as this country continues to rip itself apart. Neil Connery, Nakuru, Kenya.

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MARCIANO: Well, there could be some new hope in Kenya. Today, the president has offered to form a unity government, and the opposition appears ready to negotiate. Well, a wild, wild west. We're talking weather this time. Crazy storm out in the west coast. Jacqui Jeras has been covering it in the CNN sever weather center.

Hi, Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Rob. Yes and unfortunately, things are picking up again tonight. More heavy rain, more heavy snow that will be measured in feet. The big question is when will it all end. There is hope in sight and it's not too far away. We will let you know, coming up next.

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MARCIANO: OK, so it's winter and within it comes the usual. Your icy rain, snow, and even flooding. And out west, well, they can get any of that at anyone time. But the combination of all three and a levee break is just too much for one day. CNN's Susan Roesgen has the story from Western Nevada.

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SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This was the only way out for a few desperate people in Fernley, Nevada. In this small town near Reno, people woke up to find water all around their homes, and in some cases, inside. Evon Clairey (ph), showed us where her family jumped out of the bedroom window when the water rushed in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's freezing cold water. It's starting to snow.

ROESGEN: The family made it as far as the pickup in the driveway, but it was submerged before they could move. And the water was coming from a mile away. The culprit was a 50-foot gash in an irrigation canal, and no one knows yet how it happened.

JOE SANFORD, LYON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: It was a typical Friday night, Saturday morning in sleepy Fernley and this is what happened.

ROESGEN: The flooding covered about one square mile, several feet deep in some places, just inches in others. But the force of it, tore away pavement and affected as many as 400 homes.

JIM GIBBONS, NEVADA, GOVERNOR: Nevada is the state that needs water but we don't need it all at once.

ROESGEN: Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons is promising state and federal help. In the meantime, Evon Clairey (ph) and her family will stay with relatives. Others may take refuge in a local high school, already filled with piles of supplies. But with continuing bad weather here this weekend, Red Cross volunteers from Reno have been ordered to leave and head for home. Or they might wind up needing shelter here too. Susan Roesgen, CNN, Fernley, Nevada.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: All right. Let's get you straight over to Jacqui Jeras in the severe weather center. Are these folks going to catch a break, Jacqui?

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MARCIANO: We have all gawked a little bit. But what's really going on with Britney Spears? I'm almost afraid to ask. But we are going to take a closer look. Stay with us. The NEWSROOM continues in a moment.

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Welcome back. I'm Rob Marciano. For those who were worried sick, well, Britney's back home. And it looks like she drove herself there. This video was shot earlier outside of L.A.'s Cedar Sinai Hospital, as Britney was leaving. And this video was shot on her way there earlier this week. Well, now that mommy's home, it may be a little bit of a while before her little boys will be. CNN's Randi Kaye has the story.

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RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Britney Spears in restraints. This after she refused to hand over her children to ex-husband Kevin Federline. Paramedics and police rolled her out of her Studio City, California, home tied to a gurney. At one point, police said she appeared to be under the influence of some unknown substance. Celebrity websites report Spears wouldn't come out and locked herself and one son in the closet. Why such strange behavior?

Imagine what life is like for Britney Spears. She can't even walk down the street without tripping over the paparazzi. She could never do what I'm doing right now, without a photographer snapping her photo and selling it to any tabloid more than willing to write something nasty about her. Life under the microscope is a lot of pressure. Could you cope with all of those people watching and waiting for you to mess up again?

Spears' downward spiral began about two years ago. That's her in February 2006, driving with her baby, Sean Preston in her lap. A few months later, a pregnant Spears nearly dropped him. Two reasons why Britney has earned the nickname Unfitny.

GAIL SALTZ, PSYCHIATRIST: If you're told you were an unfit mother and you failed, as this identity is really very devastating.

KAYE: Still, how can one explain all this? Bathing photographers by going pantyless. She shaved her head, checked in and out of rehab, attacked an SUV with an umbrella and ran over a photographer's foot with her car. Oh, and don't forget her trying on raunchy underwear in the middle of West Hollywood Hustler Store.

SALTZ: To be told that you are failing in your career, you failed at your marriage, you failed at being a mother, you are currently even failing at being a daughter or a friend for that matter. I mean, this is a woman who can't really feel good about any arena of her life.

KAYE: Psychiatrist Gail Saltz is especially concerned about the pop star's irrational behavior. She suggested substance abuse or some type of psychological disorder may be behind it.

SALTZ: A lot of impulses. I'm jumping into the ocean in my underwear. I'm shaving my head. Very irrational, very self- destructive.

KAYE: Britney's mood swings play out before the cameras. One day, she courts the paparazzi. The next day, she punishes them. Listen to this call after Spears allegedly threw a baby bottle at one photographer in Vegas.

CALLER: The paparazzi did suffer head injuries from the bodyguard of the high people.

OPERATOR: Oh, imagine that? CALLER: Yes, exactly. KAYE: The best thing may be for Britney Spears to step out of the limelight for a while.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: That was Randi Kaye reporting. And we wish the best for Britney.

Well, many of us need our coffee to get through the morning, but this is not your typical brew. In this case, the story is all about where the bean has been. We will be right back.

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MARCIANO: Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. Jay Leno crossed the line and guess who isn't laughing? Leno sent his own monologue for the new shows this past week. His first since the writers' strike began. Good for viewers but bad for his relationship with the writers' guild. The writer's union considers this a violation of its rules. Writer's Guild of America spokeswoman Cherry Goldman told "The New York Times," Leno is not getting a pass. No word if the union will take some kind of action. NBC says, Leno can write his own material under the agreement he has with the writer's guild.

All right. Well, think your cat does nothing but sleep. Well, here's something to wake it up and make you say, oh, you got to be kidding. All one breath. How about a little coffee? Only, you'll never guess where these beans came from. Oh, sure, it starts out the same old way. But somewhere along the line, these beans are ingested by a wild cat from Indonesia. Now don't worry. They are cleaned, they're roasted and they're ground up after being extracted from the animals waste. A delicacy. Hope you're not eating or drinking coffee.

I'm Rob Marciano at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Thanks for joining me. CNN "SIU" is next.

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