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Republicans in a Tight Race, Chasing Obama, Hiker Found Dead, Brazen Jail Break, Will Second Place Do?, Solving Problems Including the White House Race? Tornadoes Ravish Parts of the U.S

Aired January 08, 2008 - 10:00   ET

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


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And a winter warm spell kicks up violent weather in the Midwest. Minutes ago tornado warnings go up in Arkansas.
Georgia police say this man led them to the body of missing hiker Meredith Emerson. Authorities consider murder charges today. Tuesday, January 8th, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

In the last couple of minutes a tornado warning was issued in north central Arkansas. Want to get over to Jacqui Jeras.

Hi.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi. There's actually two spells we're watching right now that have been warned on. We'll zoom in. One is near the Little Rock area but not expected to move into the downtown area. There you can see the warning. That's the first one that we're talking about here. We'll show you the counties. They intersect here. The main areas where's the tornado could move over is Wy Mountain, Lake Lalmal and Rollin by 9:15.

You can see it, the lake is right into this area. It looks like it's going to be pushing through in 15 minutes. This storm is moving up to the North and East around 50 miles per hour. So it is a very fast mover. I believe our other warnings may have been expired early now. That was just to the north of there as that thunderstorm is starting to collapse. You can see that clearly on our radar picture.

Also in the last 15 minutes a tornado watch has been issued that covers much of eastern parts of Arkansas on through the boot hill of Missouri, western parts of Tennessee, including you in Memphis. This line is going to move eastward. Sunshine is starting to come out. The atmosphere is destabilizing. We'll likely see more severe storms. One reason we're getting an outbreak of severe weather has to do with the warm weather we're having in the east. Cool, dry air in the Northwest, that spells a mess. We have a lot of snow melt as a result of it. We've got flood watches and many warnings in place.

We're getting word out of northern Indiana along the river that people are being evacuated. And we could see a historic flood here, possibly a 100-year flood. Major flooding is expected not only there in Monticello but Blue Water Beach and Diamond Point. A lot of stuff going on weather wise, Heidi. Try and be a little happy about some of it across parts of the east because the temperatures are welcoming coming in early January. COLLINS: It is January. All right, Jacqui. Let us know if we need to come back to you for more warnings. Thank you.

JERAS: We will.

COLLINS: The clock strikes midnight. Voters struck a chord in the first primary of this presidential election. A handful of voters into New Hampshire make their choices. Barack Obama is the top Democrat. John McCain, the top Republican. Statewide, the polls close ten hours from now, New Hampshire, a key station on the road to the White House. CNN correspondents are out across the state to bring you the very latest. CNN's Mary Snow is part of the best political team on television. She is in Manchester following the Republicans this morning.

Mary, looks like you're at a polling location there. What's the mood?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Here, take a look for yourself. There's been a steady stream since the polls opened. This station reports that the people have started coming out early this morning. Supposed to be expected record turnout all over the state. Temperatures are also expected to be as high as 60, which could prompt turnout. When the polls opened at 6:00, not only did voters show up but so did the candidates. At some polling stations some of the candidates over-lapped, greeting voters, trying to win that last-minute support. Among the republican voters there's a unique circumstance when it comes to choosing candidates. We took a look at that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: In the republican race, voters are clear on their choices, just not their decision. Take Karen Whitaker, she says she's an independent. She supports a woman's right to choose but is supporting Mitt Romney who does not support abortion rights. Her main issue, the economy and taxes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who is the middle class, what income range?

SNOW: Whitaker says she was satisfied with Romney's answer that he tried to reduce the tax burden for people making $200,000 and less. The issue of illegal immigration was also key to her decision making.

KAREN WHITAKER, NEW HAMPSHIRE INDEPENDENT: I'd like to see the illegal immigrant situation fixed and resolved.

SNOW: A tug of war between conservative and moderate positions among republicans, say political observers, have left many voters split.

DANTE SCALA, UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: There's no center to this race. It's dividing and people are going their separate ways.

Republican Elizabeth Fourney is still mulling her favorite. ELIZABETH FOURNEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN: My main issue right now is Iraq, where they stand on the troops in Iraq and how they're going to deal with terrorism and al Qaeda and all that stuff in Iraq.

SNOW: But social issues are also very important to Fourney and she says she's considering Mike Huckabee.

Mark Motley, who says he's an independent, is divided between Senator John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.

MARK MOTLEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE INDEPENDENT: Giuliani is a little bit more liberal on the social issues, which I'm not -- I don't go to the far right on the social issues whatsoever but it's a very critical time in this nation, I think, in foreign relations right now. I must admit I'm leaning more towards McCain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: Heidi, talking to some voters this morning they say they only made up their minds when they got into that voting booth. That is the case for so many of the people that we talk to. As of yesterday, a lot of them hadn't made up their mind.

COLLINS: The big question usually is, if you are an undecided will you decide by the time you get in that voting booth. We'll continue to follow this alongside you. Thanks so much, Mary Snow.

Mitt Romney looking for a strong finish in New Hampshire as well, but is first place a must? A senior advisor with the Romney campaign is going to be joining us in the NEWSROOM about ten minutes from now.

Democrats now, Suzanne Malveaux is in Manchester. How are the candidates spending their time today?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This really is an exciting day. It's a day that you get to see all the candidates make their last-minute pitches. We're seeing Senator Barack Obama at a rally. He's going before speaking about ten minutes late or so, we understand, a reporter passed out at that site. Obviously a lot that is happening.

We saw Senator Clinton and her daughter Chelsea earlier today passing out doughnuts and coffee to would be supporters. Those still last-minute undecideds. And we got a chance to catch up with Jessica Yellin before folks go in and make their last-minute decisions.

It is a dramatic time and dramatic race. Heidi, this is a different state than it was back in 1992 when it anointed Bill Clinton, the comeback kid. Hillary Clinton, the senator, knows that it is a different kind of place. You've got Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick who has been here stomping for Barack Obama. There have been a lot of folks from Massachusetts who migrated here to New Hampshire. There have been a lot of folks from Massachusetts who have migrated here to New Hampshire.

It's truly an independent street but also a democrat street. You've got the numbers now show that two-thirds of the independents going to vote on the democratic side. It seems to be in favor of Barack Obama. We'll see how all of that plays out. This has been a campaign that just over the last 48-72 hours has become a lot more energized, a lot more aggressive. We heard the story lines from each of the candidates; Senator Clinton making a case for experience and change becoming emotional at times; Senator Obama, a very steady in his message of change; Senator Edwards very much aligning himself ideologically with Obama saying we're the agents of change, she's status quo. We'll see how all of this plays out throughout the day, Heidi.

COLLINS: We will. All right. Get some sleep, Suzanne if you can. CNN tonight ...

MALVEAUX: It's going to be a long night.

COLLINS: It is. In fact, the New Hampshire primary will be live from the CNN Election Center, a full night of updates and results as they happen from the best political team on television. Special coverage begins at 8:00 Eastern. For more information on the New Hampshire primary, you can always go to cnnpolitics.com. It's your one-stop shop for all things political.

Search ends in sorrow. A hiker found dead in Georgia. The suspect, disappearance leading authorities to her body. Rusty Dornin has been following this story for us.

Rusty, any indication, because this seems to be the question this morning, why would the suspect, Gary Hilton, lead authorities to her body now?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. Because apparently he had been very uncooperative in the beginning, which is what we were hearing. What made him change his mind, authorities are not talking about that. One of the reporters did overhear him thank the sheriff's department, saying they had taken good care of him before he went into court. Some time after his court hearing where he was facing charges of kidnap with intent to commit bodily harm.

He did not enter a plea at that time, he apparently did tell the Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials that he knew where her body was buried and physically led them to the wooded area, Dawson Woods Estate Park, where they did find her body. Autopsy is under way at this time. This is finally providing closure for her family. There is no indication or no word on the cause of death at this point.

COLLINS: OK. Well, we also know the police have been investigating or have been talking a little bit about possible involvement between Hilton and some other cases, both in North Carolina and Florida.

DORNIN: In North Carolina, there was a couple that went missing. The woman was found bludgeoned to death in October, very near where the car was parked where they had been hiking. Then it turns out they had ATM photos of a man wearing a yellow jacket that police in North Carolina do believe belonged to John Bryant, the victim. The man whose body they have not found in this case but they do believe he's dead. They believe he's wearing the victim's jacket there. See, witnesses saw a yellow jacket, Hilton wearing a yellow jacket apparently on the trail when he was speaking to Emerson.

Also now, Florida officials are going to be looking at a case of a woman who went missing in early December. You can see the ATM photo of a man who has a mask. He's got a shirt on, kind of an oxford shirt, completely unidentifiable, who apparently was using an ATM card belonging to a woman, Sheryl Dunlap, whose body was found December 19th in the Apalachicola National Forrest. They're going to be talking as well. But no one is saying there's a connection yet.

COLLINS: There's certainly some type of pattern.

DORNIN: The idea that the similarities are the hiking. They disappeared while hiking. Of course, use the ATM card afterwards. So those are the two cases they're looking at now. Too early to say if there's a connection.

COLLINS: Well, you let us know if you find out anything else. Rusty Dornin, appreciate that.

A daring jail break straight out of a movie and a textbook arrest eight hours later. The couples run from the law ended yesterday in Omaha, Nebraska. Police say 24-year-old Jessica Johnson had walked into an Iowa jail and walked out into her cell.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pulled a shotgun out of her jacket and ordered the jail to allow her into the main portion of the jail. Put the jailer inside the jail and locked the door.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Police say the couple stole a series of vehicles on their way to Omaha. A tip led police to the house where they were found. It was the second escape from the jail in three years.

Violent storms strike the heartland.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's amazing. I can't believe nobody got hurt. If you see the devastation in there, it's unreal.

COLLINS: Winter tornadoes, we're watching severe weather all day long, including tornado warnings right now in Arkansas in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: A new baby gets a dad kicked out of the country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was in the hospital with my baby when they told me I was -- I started to cry. I started to scream.

COLLINS: The mother gets another shock when she gets home. The story ahead.

JERAS: I'm CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras in the Severe Weather Center. An update now on those tornado warnings that were just north and west of the Little Rock area. They've been allowed to expire just less than one minute ago. The warnings have expired. We're going to continue to monitor the situation. Much of central and eastern parts of Arkansas are under a tornado watch. Also you in Memphis and toward the Boot Hill of Missouri, we've got a live picture to show you out of Little Rock right now under a late wind advisory. It's very gusty. Little Rock, you can see that on the tower cam picture.

We're kind of pointing North on this picture, showing you the low overcast condition. Little Rock is not under a warning but there is a storm to your north and west that has history of producing damaging winds and also some large hail. You are under a watch, which means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to occur. And that watch will linger through much of the afternoon -- Heidi?

COLLINS: All right, Jacqui. We'll check back a little bit later on with you. Keep us posted. Thank you.

Are women ready for a woman in the White House? Well, what some are saying might actually surprise you. We'll have that story coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM.

But first, we are tracking the campaigns today, watching as they keep up the heat with New Hampshire voters heading to the polls. Mitt Romney finished second in Iowa. Is another second place good enough? Bay Buchanan is a senior advisor with the Romney campaign. She's joining us now from Manchester.

Hello to you. Thanks for being with us.

BAY BUCHANAN, ROMNEY CAMPAIGN SENIOR ADVISER: Glad to be with you, Heidi.

COLLINS: New Hampshire is of course Governor Romney's own backyard, if you will. Is this a must win tonight?

BUCHANAN: Absolutely not. When you look at it, John McCain ran here eight years ago, did extraordinarily well, has enormous base. I know from running Pat's campaign, my brother Pat's campaign, when you come back to a state you already did well in, an organization is in place. You just get started all over again where you left off. John McCain had that huge advantage, as well as he didn't run strong in Iowa and we beat him 2-1 out there. While we were out there, he was back here building the base even stronger. Mitt Romney came into the state five days ago and has turned things around.

The momentum is with us. John McCain has been a little bit flat. Mitt Romney did a terrific job in two debates. We feel enormous momentum. I don't know if we'll have enough time to get over the top. But this is a -- Mitt Romney is in this race to stay. He will be strong here, just like he was strong in Iowa and will continue to run in all the states, unlike the other candidates.

COLLINS: You would be satisfied with a second place in New Hampshire?

BUCHANAN: Well, you know, obviously you are always running to win. I'm the first to admit if we win here and John McCain loses, he's a one-state candidate. He cannot go on successfully, but Mitt Romney can. The idea is you run in all the states. You get the build. You get your message out. And Mitt Romney has done that in every state. We won of course out there in Wyoming.

We did strong when it came in second, a strong second in Iowa. We will be very strong here. That's the key. So we have the kind of momentum we need to go up there in Michigan. This state will eliminate some of the candidates. We hope to pick up those votes and we'll see where we'll go. Hoping for a win but a strong second place is just fine.

COLLINS: All right. Well, it's getting a little tense between Senator McCain and Governor Romney, a little spicy if you will. A word we've been using here. Listen with me if you would to something Senator McCain said just yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My friends, we will prove tomorrow at this time we cannot buy an election in the state of New Hampshire. And we're also going to prove that negative attack ads don't work either.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: So how do you respond specifically to that comment on Senator McCain?

BUCHANAN: Senator McCain is -- you know, the time is not his. He's a bit angry and frustrated. He resents the fact that Mitt Romney has run strong in places he could not run. As I said, we beat him well out there in Iowa. The key here is Governor Romney is surging. He is doing very, very well. He can -- he will beat McCain. I'll tell you why. McCain is wrong on the issue. He's wrong on illegal immigration. He's been very much a part of those huge amnesty packages.

The people in this country are frustrated, they're angry that Washington has failed them so miserably, the arrogance they continue to do things against if will of the American people. John McCain is part of that package. America wants that to be yesterday. They're look for tomorrow. Mitt Romney is tomorrow. That's why we'll remain strong in all the states.

COLLINS: All right. What about Rudy Giuliani? Remember him? We probably are going to be seeing a whole lot more of him from here on out. Does that change things for Mitt Romney?

BUCHANAN: You never know what's going to happen. I find it entertaining the media for a better part of a year was telling us all how Giuliani was the candidate. He got, what 3 percent out there in Iowa. He's going to run miserably here in New Hampshire. He made the choice to start real, real late. Very, very difficult. I wonder if that strategy will be proved to be the wrong strategy in the long run.

But I believe no matter if it's McCain or Giuliani, they're both wrong on immigration, the American people are adamant that they want the people who are here illegally to go home, no amnesty. Both those candidates are wrong. Mitt Romney is the only candidate strong on illegal immigration. That's why I believe he will be the nominee.

COLLINS: There's no question that independent voters are certainly something to talk about in New Hampshire. In fact, they make up about 45 percent of that vote in the state. If these votes go to Senator Obama, could this actually help Governor Romney?

BUCHANAN: There's no question. I have to admit it. It could for this reason. When John McCain ran up here eight years ago, he did extremely well with the independents. When somebody votes for you or helps you support you in any way, there's a feeling of attachment, connection. As if it's an investment. They often come back to you.

I think the fact that Obama gets into the race and he's such a big news up here, a real energy there, they may indeed be attracted to go in that direction. I think if they came this way they might go back to their old friend. In which case, we would be just as happy to see them head over there to the other side of the ticket just for this day.

COLLINS: Once again, it is going to be pretty interesting stuff. Bay Buchanan, we appreciate your time here.

BUCHANAN: Thank you.

COLLINS: Senior adviser for Mitt Romney. Thanks so much.

They say they're not running from the nation's problems, but will one of them be run force president? The story ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Let's go ahead and take a look at the big board now. Dow Jones Industrial averages up 75 points, resting about 100 points below the 13,000 mark. We'll be watching the business stories as well as the NASDAQ numbers, too. Up about 25 points or so. We will check in with Susan Lisovicz to talk more about oil prices and some news on Starbucks, believe it or not.

They came to work on the nation's problems. Will they come back to work on a third-party candidacy? CNN's Jim Acosta reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK CITY: I can't think of anything more appropriate than cheesecakes.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg may have come bearing a big apple cheesecake in hand but when he sat down with this bipartisan forum, hosted by former democratic Senator David Bourne, he served up the same old denial about run for president.

BLOOMBERG: Look, I'm not a candidate, number one.

ACOSTA: Instead of discussing a third party, some of the nation's leading centrists agree that rampant partisanship left the government with a broken record.

BLOOMBERG: Every one of the people here will tell you our experience is the public may not agree with you when you take a position but they respect you for it. We used to have that and we don't anymore.

ACOSTA: The result, according to the participants, is a country that can't solve its problems, whether it's the economy, national defense, or the deficit. Some call the crisis in leadership a slow- moving catastrophe.

WILLIAM COHEN, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY: You've got to pay our bills. We can't continue to borrow from our children. We are bankrupting them. We're engaged in fiscal child abuse.

SAM NUNN, FORMER GEORGIA SENATOR: I heard a preacher say the other day, he said if you think you're a leader, and you look over your shoulder and ain't nobody following, man, you just taking a walk.

ACOSTA: Should the Washington bickering persist? A few at this forum have hinted they may want to support an independent presidential candidate. Nebraska's maverick republican Senator Chuck Hagel, who is some times mentioned as a potential running mate for Mayor Bloomberg, left the door open a crack.

Do you feel like that Atmosphere could possibly surface later on in this election cycle?

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: Well, sure. I think as Dave Bourne said, this is not just a one-time meeting for this group. We're going to continue to meet.

ACOSTA: Former democratic presidential contender Gary Hart says the subject of an independent bid did come up at times, but only casually.

GARY HART, FMR. DEM. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We could well know by February 5th who the two nominees are. That's the time then to ask your question.

ACOSTA: As for February 5th or Super Tuesday, the thinking among some of the participants here is if the major parties nominate candidacy on the extremes, that opens up room in the middle for a third centrist contender. If this is an independent candidacy in the making, the slogan might as well be "wait and see."

Jim Acosta, CNN, Norman, Oklahoma.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Are women ready for a woman in the White House? What some are saying may actually surprise you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Heidi Collins. Tony Harris has the day off. I want to talk more about the weather. There we go. Severe weather, in fact. It would have been bad for summer, but for January, one person calls the destruction unmanageable. Freak, spring-like storms sweep the Midwest. Tornadoes reported from Arkansas to Illinois. And hardest hit, southwest Missouri, two people killed there.

In Kenosha County, Wisconsin, houses were flattened, cars blown off the road, and people ran for their lives.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Siren was going off, and my parents were outside having a cigarette. We ran downstairs. And before you know it, you heard the rain and then you heard -- felt your ears pop and like I said, tore it down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We saw this bad wreck, And then the sirens went off. We headed toward the basement. Our kids were at the school in front of our subdivision. It was a matter of minutes, ripped through here sounded like a DM locomotive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: More than a dozen injuries reported in Kenosha County. More storms may be in store for the Midwest today. I want to head over to Jacqui Jeras here. We also have some tornado warnings in Arkansas that have actually expired, but the watches still in effect. Right, Jacqui?

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: And just a quick reminder for everybody, if news or severe weather is happening where you are, send us your video or photos if you can. Just go to cnn.com and click on I-Report, or type ireport@cnn.com into your cell phone. But of course, remember, please stay safe.

Back in court this morning. Jose Padilla, held as an enemy combatant and found guilty in August on conspiracy and terrorism support charges. Today his sentencing hearing begins. A Florida federal judge will decide if Padilla will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Padilla has been in custody for more than five years. Back in 2002 authorities said he was an al Qaeda supporter planning to explode a dirty bomb in the United States. Those charges were later dropped.

Rocket attacks on Israel coming ahead of a visit by President Bush. Israel says the rockets were fired from Lebanon. No reported injuries, but authorities are ramping up security across the Middle East now. CNN's Atika Shubert reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Only days before the president embarks, al Qaeda issued this grim appeal to militants in the region.

Translator: To be prepared to receive the crusader butcher Bush on his visit to Muslim Palestine and the occupied peninsula at the beginning of January, they should receive him not with roses and applause but with bombs and booby traps.

SHUBERT: More than 10,000 police will be deployed in addition to American federal officers. The biggest security operation here since the visit of the Pope more than seven years ago. But it's not just the possibility of terror attacks the president has to contend with. A number of large demonstrations are planned, none of them very welcoming.

When First Lady, Laura Bush visited Jerusalem's holy sites in 2005, she faced angry crowds of Israelis and Palestinians. Forcing Israeli police to form a human wall between the First Lady and protesters. Security analysts say the greatest risk may be during such volatile situations, when an individual is suddenly inspired to take violent action.

RONNI SHAKED, YEDIOT AHARONOT NEWSPAPER: We are talking about the crazy men, crazy Palestinian or somebody who is sent here not by Hamas or by I don't know what, perhaps he went to the mosque and he heard something and he will do something. That's the only risk I think that we have here.

SHUBERT: The threat is not just from Islamic militants. A Jewish extremist assassinated a Israeli Prime Minister, Yitshak Rabin in 1995. During his three-day visit President Bush will also go to the Palestinian territories where the Palestinian authority, not Israeli forces, will be responsible for his security.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Atika Shubert joining us now live from Jerusalem, from the looks of your piece there, it doesn't look like the president is expecting to get a very warm reception in Israel.

SHUBERT: Well, overall, Israelis think of President Bush as a friend and ally, but there has been criticism recently particularly against the peace plan. That's mostly coming from right wing -- from the right wing of Israelis. But what we saw today, for example, is a protest by several right wing demonstrators who tried to form a human chain around the old city of Jerusalem.

That was a protest against any division of Jerusalem. That could be a part of a peace plan. So, that's just one of the protests that have been planned. There are several more expected to come when President Bush arrives from both the left and the right. As you point out, even though many Israelis do think of him as a friend and ally, they will be trying to make their point over the next few days, Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. CNN's Atika Shubert live from Jerusalem for us. Thank you, Atika.

COLLINS: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton battle for women voters. Who has the advantage? CNN's Randi Kaye takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Good friends Karen Giuliano (ph) and Allison Mundry (ph) were once both steadfast supporters of Hillary Clinton.

But listen to Karen now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to cast my vote for Obama.

KAYE (on camera): At what point did Hillary Clinton lose you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fairly recently. She has decades of built- up, at least in my perception, decades of built-up political favors that she is going to have to pay back. Obama doesn't have that. He just doesn't operate that way.

KAYE (voice-over): To Karen, Barack Obama is the face of integrity.

Psychology professor Elizabeth Osoff (ph), who studies women's behavior, calls him the new bright and shiny.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Younger women and younger people in general tend to gravitate toward that which is new and novel.

KAYE: It's a generational thing. And it showed in Iowa, where women under 30 snubbed Clinton. Osoff says they haven't experienced sex discrimination, as their grandmothers did, so don't see the importance of electing a female president, or the rush. If it's not our time this time, then next time.

The latest CNN/WMUR New Hampshire presidential primary poll shows Obama leading Clinton by two percentage points among those women who say they will vote in the Democratic primary.

(on camera): Don't women want a female president?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that there are some people out there who still think that that's not the right role for women. And I think some of those people are women.

KAYE (voice-over): Osoff says even women are more comfortable with women in traditional roles. Mrs. President just doesn't sit well.

Allison says experience, not gender, got her vote.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think Obama is a freshman. He needs to prove himself. He's made the freshman team. Hillary is already playing for varsity. KAYE (on camera): Yet, Obama continues to woo women. Why? Women are relationship-oriented, and his message resonates. Women prefer someone who wants to bring people together, a candidate who wants everyone to get along.

(voice-over): So, what, if anything, can Clinton do to persuade women voters here? Experts suggest she be more candid, more spontaneous, less measured. More emotional moments like this at a New Hampshire coffee shop could serve her well.

H. CLINTON: I see what's happening. We have to reverse it.

Wait a minute. I'm going to respond to this.

KAYE: Should she continue to be more aggressive against Obama?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some women will look at that and say, yes, look at her go. That's what we need to do. And other women are going to look at her and go, oh, I don't like that. It's a little too nasty. You know, I don't like it when they're nasty.

KAYE: Trailing in the polls, at this point, anything may be worth a try.

Randi Kaye, CNN, Manchester, New Hampshire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: CNN tonight, the New Hampshire primary live from the CNN election center. A full night of updates and results as they happen from the best political team on television. Special coverage begins at 8:00 Eastern.

And for more on the New Hampshire primary, just go to cnnpolitics.com. It's your one-stop shop for all things political.

A first for New Jersey and the north, a big apology to the world ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: New Jersey is now the first northern state to apologize for slavery. State lawmakers passed a resolution yesterday, expressing profound regret for, quote, "the wrongs inflicted by slavery and its aftereffects." New Jersey is also the last northern state to abolish slavery back in 1846.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

COLLINS: He made news as the father of a New Year's firstborn, and then he made news for an outstanding warrant arrest. That story ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: The Midwest getting hit again today. A winter warm spell helps stir up tornadoes across the heartland. We're going live to the extreme weather center in just a couple of minutes for an update on that.

Meanwhile, in the news, twice. The father of Rhode Island's first 2008 baby is now known for something else. Marilyn Schairer of affiliate WPRI reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARMEN MARRERO, BABY'S MOTHER: They just took him like that, in front of my kids.

MARILYN SCHAIRER, WPRI REPORTER: New mother Carmen Marrero is in disappear and doesn't know where to turn. After Marrero and her boyfriend, Mynor Montufar, appeared with their new baby girl Marisol as Rhode Island's first baby of 2008, federal immigration officials arrested Montufar two days later for deportation.

MARRERO: Too many emotions. To see -- I was in the hospital breast feeding my baby when they told me I was -- I started to cry. I was very -- I started to scream.

SCHAIRER: To make matters worse, another illegal immigrant who shared the couple's apartment house, at Bellevue Avenue, was found dead in an apparent suicide hours after the federal raid. Agents had never checked the room where David De La Roca (ph) was found hanging.

MARRERO: In the hospital, they called me and told me they took my boyfriend away. I go home. I find him, a friend, dead in his bedroom. That's too much.

SCHAIRER: A U.S. immigration spokesperson says Montufar's arrest had nothing do two with the media event, that he had an outstanding deportation warrant and that agents don't enter rooms where's there is no consent. Marrero says she's trying not to get depressed and said Montufar knew he was here illegally and planned to leave.

MARRERO: When I was in the hospital, no one knows my address, I don't know how they got the information that he was there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: The Providence Journal quotes immigration officials as saying, the baby's father will be deported to Guatemala.

Time to take a look now at some of the most clicked on videos on cnn.com. The newest and coolest gadgets and toys are in Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show. (INAUDIBLE). And the body of missing hiker Meredith Emerson was found in a forest in Georgia. Police say a suspect in her disappearance, that man, Gary Hilton, led them to the body.

And police cats on the prowl, cats are on patrol 24-7 at the Los Angeles Police Department to keep the rats and mice away. Yummy. And, of course, don't forget you can take us with you anywhere you go. The CNN NEWSROOM podcast available 24-7 at cnn.com. A final push for votes. The presidential candidates make their last pitches in New Hampshire.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLLINS: A final frenzy for the presidential candidates. Crisscrossing New Hampshire in a last-minute push for votes. CNN's Anderson Cooper has a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What a fantastic crowd.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: I'm fired up.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the final hours here, blunt and forceful appeals from the presidential candidates.

OBAMA: The real gamble in this election is to have the same old folks doing the same old things over and over and over again, and somehow expecting a different result. That's a gamble we cannot take.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will get Osama bin Laden. If I have to follow him to the gates of hell, I will get him and bring him to justice.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

COOPER: Surging Senator John McCain is on home turf in New Hampshire, the state that delivered for him in 2000, but nipping at his heels:

(on camera): Hey, Governor. How are you?

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Anderson, what brings you on a day like this?

COOPER (voice-over): After a bruising defeat in Iowa, Mitt Romney is in serious need of a win. His closing argument to voters, he's the most electable Republican.

ROMNEY: Having Barack Obama as the leader of the Democratic Party means that we're going to have to have somebody who goes up against him who is not a long-term senator. He's a senator killer. He took care of Biden, and Dodd, and Hillary Clinton, and he's going to take care of John McCain if he's our nominee.

(on camera): You don't believe a John McCain could beat a Barack Obama?

ROMNEY: I think it would be very hard for John McCain to beat a Barack Obama. People want change. They do not want a Washington insider. They don't believe an insider can turn Washington inside out.

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are so much better than what we have had to live through the last seven years.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

COOPER (voice-over): In another corner of the state, a different side of Hillary Clinton. Facing the toughest challenge of her campaign, she was asked how she handles it all. Her response perhaps the day's most talked-about moment.

CLINTON: It's not easy. It's not easy. And I couldn't do it if I just didn't, you know, passionately believe it was the right thing to do.

You know, I have so many opportunities from this country. I just don't want to see us fall backwards.

(APPLAUSE)

CLINTON: You know, this is very personal for me. It's not just political. It's not just public. I see what's happening. We have to reverse it.

And some people think elections are a game. They think it's like who's up or who's down. It's about our country. It's about our kids' futures, and it's really about all of us together.

JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, we have such important work to do in this country.

COOPER: Senator John Edwards has been pounding Clinton relentlessly as the ghost of Washington past, and not a candidate for the future.

(on camera): Senator Clinton is selling herself as an agent of change, but through experience. What's wrong with experience?

EDWARDS: There's nothing wrong with experience, but she's not an agent of change. I mean, in order to be an agent of change, you have to reject the way Washington operates.

COOPER (voice-over): Voters now have just hours to decide whether experience is a negative and who is the real candidate of change.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: You're with CNN. Hi, there, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. Developments keep coming in to the CNN NEWSROOM on Tuesday, the 8th of January.

Want to get you started with some of the stories that we are watching here in the CNN newsroom. We're looking at tornadoes, round two possibly. Will the middle of the country get hit with another round of violent storms?

And the nation's first presidential primary of 2008. Voting under way in New Hampshire. This hour I'll talk live with members of two campaigns.

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