Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Primary Predictions in New Hampshire; Georgia Hiker Found Dead; Giuliani's Gamble: Polling Low in New Hampshire

Aired January 08, 2008 - 10:59   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: 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.

And you may be looking at the grandmother of a future president. Barack Obama's roots, in the NEWSROOM.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: The clock strikes midnight. Voters strike a chord in the nation's first primary of this presidential election.

A handful of voters in two New Hampshire (INAUDIBLE) make their choices. Barack Obama is the top Democrat. John McCain, the top Republican. Statewide, those polls close nine hours from now.

New Hampshire, as you know, a key weigh station on the road to the White House. CNN correspondents are out across the state to bring you the very latest.

In fact, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is part of the best political team on television. She is joining us now from Manchester and following the Democrats.

So, Suzanne, how are those candidates spending their time today?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It really is quite exciting, Heidi. There's still a lot of time to go, but so far, Senator Barack Obama in the lead. But really don't want to push too much on those numbers because people are coming in throughout the day to cast those very critical votes. The Independents as well.

But I have to say that this really a different kind of state than the one we saw that gave Bill Clinton the "Comeback Kid" label, really anointed him back in 1992. There have been a lot of folks who have migrated from Massachusetts. There are a lot of Independents, as you know. And we're seeing those numbers, those Independents, skew very much toward the Democratic side.

They are skewing to Obama. But this is really a very, very aggressive and exciting race.

We've seen all of these candidates making their way around. Senator Barack Obama, an early morning rally to try to get supporters out, those critical Independents.

Senator Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea delivering doughnuts, as well as coffee, to those undecided folks, in hopes of winning them over. They've really been stressing, Clinton stressing her experience, as well as someone who can bring about change.

And don't forget Senator John Edwards. He is still very much in this race.

I talked with him yesterday and he says that no matter how they place here, they are going to be moving on, looking ahead because there's still many contests to go. But he very recently has been aligning himself with Obama, at least ideologically, saying we're the agents of change, trying to paint Senator Hillary Clinton as status quo.

All of them tweaking their messages just within the last 48 hours. All of them becoming much more aggressive in actually trying to make those distinctions between themselves and their main opponents.

Some of the issues that voters are really talking about and paying very close attention to are health care, also nuclear energy, and special interests, just how hard the candidates are going to fight against special interest influence in the government. But, Heidi, we are already seeing those Independents going to be a very critical bloc for all three of those candidates.

And Governor Bill Richardson, talked to him this morning, too. Don't rule him out. He is still very much in this race. And they are looking forward to Nevada and South Carolina. But as you know, New Hampshire is going to be critical -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes, we talked to him as well here. He says he's the candidate that combines change and experience. So the whole thing going to be really interesting.

Appreciate that.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux covering the Democrats for us.

And Barack Obama is riding a wave of support into the New Hampshire primary. Can he keep it going? That seems to be a question that people are asking today. Senator Dick Durbin is Obama's national campaign co-chairman. He's going to be joining us in the NEWSROOM just about 15 minutes from now.

Want to get to the Republican side of things though. CNN's Mary Snow is in Manchester at a polling location now.

So, Mary, what's it like there?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I've got to tell you, Heidi, there is a lot of excitement. You know, talking to one of the voters who just left, she said even despite the fact that you may be voting for different people, she said everybody seems to be very excited about this election.

We're going to give you a little glimpse of Ward 3. It's been a little bit of a lull in the past 15 minutes, but so far this morning there have been about 700 people who come here to vote. And this polling station reports a very steady stream since the polls opened this morning at 6:00 a.m.

And just to give you kind of an idea of the environment here, there are supporters from all different candidates outside, rallying, holding signs, chanting at times. Also, there is a mock election for children being held outside in the hallway.

Reporters from all over. I ran into a radio reporter from Holland interested in what's happening here today in New Hampshire.

Also a lot of excitement among the candidates who got out very early this morning. Kind of an interesting moment when Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee actually ran into each other at one polling station in Manchester.

Mike Huckabee handing out some coffee, hoping to win over some last-minute voters. Also, Mitt Romney out on the trail today. He has been trying to stress a message of change and he is trying to portray himself as Washington outsider after his defeat in Iowa. He's really banking on doing well here today. But his chief rival, Senator John McCain, showed up a short time ago, at a Nashua polling station, to cheering crowds, and also shaking hands with supporters there.

And here at Ward 3 we also saw Ron Paul, who has been not doing so well in the polls but has been raising some record amounts of money. And I asked him what his plans are. And he said that he is going through to February 5th, Super Tuesday, and then will kind of reevaluate.

But that's just kind of the sense of what it's like here in New Hampshire -- Heidi.

COLLINS: OK.

CNN's Mary Snow covering the Republicans for us this morning.

Thank you, Mary.

Mostly ignoring the early states, Rudy Giuliani's gamble, will it pay off with a Super Tuesday celebration? We're going to be talking with a Giuliani campaign senior adviser just ahead right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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, go to CNNPolitics.com. It is your one-stop shop for all things political.

Search ends in sorrow. A hiker found dead in Georgia. The suspect in her disappearance leading authorities to the body.

Our Rusty Dornin has the latest on the story now.

Rusty, a lot of people wondering why this suspect, Gary Hilton, decided to cooperate with authorities, because he wasn't doing that, certainly in the beginning.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good question. And they're not giving up exactly why he decided to cooperate.

Reporters asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigations several times. All we know is that when he went into court, he didn't say anything to the judge. He did not actually give a plea at the time. He is facing charges right now of kidnapping with the intent to commit bodily harm.

They haven't even set another hearing for him. There's no bail, of course. But apparently some time after that hearing, he decided to not only tell authorities where her body was, but to take them there. Now, they had been concentrating on this area known as Dawson Woods all afternoon.

COLLINS: Right.

DORNIN: But it took them -- him physically leading them there in order to find her body. And the latest thing to come in is her parents are going to be making some kind of statement either through a spokesman or themselves this afternoon.

COLLINS: Not going to be easy for them, obviously.

Also, a lot of indications that police are at least looking at a potential connection between this incident and two other states where relatively similar incidents have happened.

DORNIN: Some similarities. The one in North Carolina probably has the most similarity, where there's an elderly couple, John and Irene Bryant (ph). They were hiking, they disappeared from the trail.

Four days later, the wife's body was discovered, bludgeoned, by the trail. Just a stone's throw, apparently, from her car.

A few days later, someone tried to use an ATM card at a bank dressed in what police believe is the yellow jacket belonging to John Bryant (ph). They never discovered his body. But also, they're looking at another case in Florida, Cheryl Dunlap, who disappeared in early December. The difference is, she apparently had a flat tire. She was on her way to the library. She was not hiking, but her body was dumped in the woods, Apalachicola woods, and they are looking to see whether the ATM photos -- also, as you can see, probably, that he has dressed in some kind of an oxford shirt, mask covering the face, so you really can't identify the person.

But they will be talking to Florida authorities to see if there are any other similarities in these cases. And of course, they will be comparing that forensic evidence to see if those cases match at all.

COLLINS: Yes. All right. A lot of work ahead certainly on this investigation. No question about it.

CNN's Rusty Dornin.

Thank you, Rusty.

An update on the deadly San Francisco tiger attack now. Investigators tell CNN they will not file criminal charges against two brothers who were hurt. They say there's no evidence the brothers taunted the tiger.

It apparently scaled the wall at the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas Day. The animal killed a 17-year-old and injured the brothers before it was shot and killed by police. Carlos Sousa Jr., the teenager who was killed, is being buried in California today.

No Golden Globes. The award ceremony a victim of the entertainment writers' strike. Sunday's show will be replaced by a news conference announcing the winners.

The Screen Actors Guild had asked its members to honor the writers' picket lines and skip the ceremony. The Golden Globes traditionally kick off award season. The Academy Awards may face a similar fate if there is no agreement. The writers' strike now two months old.

An increase in autism cases casts doubt on the theory that autism is linked to childhood vaccines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: Want to return to the campaign trail now.

Rudy Giuliani hasn't spent a lot of time in New Hampshire, focusing instead on some later states. So, is his campaign expecting any good news tonight?

Former Massachusetts governor Paul Cellucci is a senior adviser with the Giuliani campaign. He is in Manchester this morning. Good morning to you. Thanks for being with us.

PAUL CELLUCCI, GIULIANI CAMPAIGN SR. ADVISER: Good morning, Heidi.

COLLINS: Hey, no delegates in Iowa, not expected to finish in the top three in New Hampshire. Explain to our viewers once again for those who have questions, because there are many of them, what this strategy is for Rudy Giuliani.

CELLUCCI: Well, we expect to get a pretty good vote here in New Hampshire. We don't expect to win. We never expected to win. This is Mitt Romney's second home state, virtually, and John McCain did quite well here in 2000.

But Rudy Giuliani has been here over 40 days. He's participated in all the debates, but he's also been to Florida, and he's been to those February 5th states, because we don't think there will be any clear front-runner coming out of New Hampshire after what happened in Iowa.

It's pretty volatile on the Republican side, unlike the Democratic side. And we have a lot of winner-take-all primaries coming up on February 5th.

Rudy Giuliani is positioned to do quite well. And this is about winning the most delegates. And I think when we wake up on morning of February 6th, Rudy Giuliani is going to be ahead in delegates.

COLLINS: But certainly, you of all people are no stranger and no newcomer of this election process and the political wave. There is this thing called momentum. Any concerns about kind of not being there?

CELLUCCI: Well, you know, if Obama -- if Obama wins today, he's going to have some real momentum. And, you know, the greatest danger to Mayor Giuliani's strategy was if Mitt Romney won big in Iowa and won big in New Hampshire. And about six weeks ago, a lot of people thought that might happen.

Well, that danger has already passed. We'll have a different winner today than we had last week. We may have a different winner next week.

So I don't see that momentum building on the Republican side. And I think in the end, the voters in all of these states are going to -- they're going to look at who can we trust to keep America safe, who has a record of taking on insurmountable problems and fixing them. I think you're going to see Rudy Giuliani come charging hard as we get to Florida on February 5th.

COLLINS: You know, the numbers though are showing some pretty big gains for Senator McCain in New Hampshire, specifically. Does that surprise your campaign?

CELLUCCI: It doesn't surprise me. I've been saying all summer, do not count John McCain out. He's done well in New Hampshire before. He'll do well again.

I think -- you know, I think the Romney strategy of focusing so much on Iowa and New Hampshire, spending so much money in those two states, as I say, it makes the Rudy Giuliani strategy look better and better every day.

COLLINS: What about on the Democratic side? Certainly some interesting developments there. We know the numbers are up for Senator Obama, we know they're down for Senator Clinton. How does that change things for the Giuliani campaign?

CELLUCCI: Well, I think once again, I think if you look forward to the general election, I think the people of the United States are going to have to ask themselves some questions about the two candidates. And if the Republican candidate is Rudy Giuliani, one of the questions the voters will be asking, how will this person respond in a crisis?

And I think we saw how Rudy Giuliani responded in a crisis on September 11th when he led his city with strong leadership, with focus, with compassion. And he helped lead our country through very difficult days.

That's an important question the American people are going to have to ask, who's been tested under fire, how will this candidate respond in a crisis? Because as we know, the next crisis is only a moment -- could only be a moment away.

COLLINS: You know, I have to ask you, and don't scream at me or anything, but as a former Republican governor of the state of Massachusetts, there are probably people who are questioning why you would not align yourself with Mitt Romney.

CELLUCCI: Well, I like Mitt Romney. I respect Mitt Romney. But I believe that Rudy Giuliani is an extraordinarily strong leader.

When you think about the city he inherited when he became mayor, it was the crime capital of the country. It was the welfare capital of the country. A lot of people said there's nothing you can do about it, those are insurmountable problems. Rudy Giuliani did not accept that.

He rolled up his sleeves. He went to work. He put in the Comcstat program, he put more police officers on the street. And we saw dramatic reductions in violent crime. And we saw a city where there was a lot of hopelessness, there's now a lot of hope.

He put 640,000 people to work where they had a better life and a better standard of living. He cut taxes. He maintained fiscal discipline.

It takes an extraordinary, strong leader to do what he did in New York City. That's the kind of leader we need in the White House.

COLLINS: We certainly appreciate your time. Trying to give everybody equal time. You know, we actually have a clock down there on the bottom of the screen, so we're trying to time it.

Appreciate it.

CELLUCCI: Thanks, Heidi.

COLLINS: Once again, for Massachusetts governor, Paul Cellucci, senior adviser to the Giuliani campaign.

Thank you.

And Barack Obama riding a wave of support into the New Hampshire primary. Can he keep it going? Senator Dick Durbin is Obama's national campaign co-chairman. He's going to be joining us next in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Barack Obama, he beat all the other Democrats in Iowa, and he's favored by many to do the same in New Hampshire. Will he awaken tomorrow as the clear favorite for his party's nomination?

Joining us to discuss just that and the momentum is Senator Dick Durbin. He is the co-chairman of Obama's national campaign.

Thanks for being with us, Senator.

If you had to describe exactly what the definition of victory would be for Barack Obama tonight, what would it be?

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), OBAMA NATIONAL CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRMAN: More votes than his opponent.

COLLINS: That's good. Is that it?

DURBIN: Well, of course, it is. And that's how elections are judged.

We felt great about Iowa. I felt that Barack was going to prevail. And the margin was certainly gratifying.

It showed a dramatic increase in the number of voters in the Iowa caucus. And more registrations, Independents, Republicans coming over to join in Barack's effort. We hope the same thing will be true here in New Hampshire.

COLLINS: All right. Let's go ahead and look at one of these latest polls that we have from CNN/WMUR.

You can see those numbers there for Barack Obama. January 5th and 6th, 39 percent, but back January 4th and 5th, 33 percent. It's basically a 6 percent jump in just one day.

Does that sudden swell of support, if you will, concern you at all? I mean, does it show fickleness, or do you think that those voters will stick? DURBIN: Many voters were undecided early on. They've come to know Barack as he's campaigned hard across the country. And of course, his showing in Iowa has, I guess, shown that he has the viability to be a serious candidate for president of the United States.

And I can just tell you something. The organization here in New Hampshire is about as good, maybe even better, than the organization in Iowa. We have a dramatic increase in the number of volunteers. They're coming of all ages to be part of this campaign effort. So I feel like we have a good chance to make a good showing.

COLLINS: I want to talk a little bit about the Colin Powell. I'm sure you're very well aware of him coming out yesterday and talking about the excitement that he has for Senator Barack Obama.

Has the senator spoken with General Powell?

DURBIN: They've been in contact in the past. I don't know how recently.

They have respect for one another. And I think Colin Powell's statement is an indication for many people, including, if you look at a person like Colin Powell, a strong military background, strong service to our country at the highest levels, respect for Barack Obama, his values and the life story that he brings to this presidential campaign.

COLLINS: What was the senator's reaction though when he heard those words from Colin Powell?

DURBIN: I'm sure he felt very good about it. I didn't have a chance to ask him directly. But we've talked about Colin Powell in the past, and I know that he has great respect for him.

COLLINS: Do you know if the senator would ever consider Colin Powell to be on his cabinet, perhaps secretary of state? Come on, let's push it forward a bit.

DURBIN: Heidi, thanks for the speculation.

COLLINS: No speculation, no speculation.

DURBIN: We're in the second contest here in a long, long campaign. And we're going to pay attention to each one of these states and each one of the challenges and work very hard to get the nomination for Barack.

COLLINS: I do have to ask you, though, it is clear to us now that you are only one of two senators who is actually supporting Obama. Why is it that you think he is not getting more support from his peers?

DURBIN: That's going to change. And it will change soon. But imagine that you're a member of a small club called the United States Senate. And imagine that there are 51 Democratic senators and it turns out four of them are running for president and you're bumping into them every day at committee hearings and on the floor of the Senate.

And so it's understandable that a number of senators have been reluctant. They wanted to wait and let the people decide in Iowa, New Hampshire and other places before they made their own choices. I was the only senator endorsing Barack Obama for quite a long time. But I think that's going to change soon.

COLLINS: All right. So what's next? I mean, we know that we have primaries in states where there just really won't be very much time for the retail politics that worked well for him in Iowa and New Hampshire. Are we going to see any changes in his strategy?

DURBIN: I think the strategy is the same. And he's visited these states -- South Carolina and Nevada, which follow, and many other states as well.

What we're doing is moving our campaign organization from Iowa to other critical states, trying to stay a jump ahead of the next contest. I think Barack has shown with the dramatic number of contributors to his campaign more than any other presidential candidate that he can come up with the resources to make an effective campaign in many states.

COLLINS: All right. Well, we appreciate your time here very much.

Dick Durbin, campaign co-chairman for Barack Obama.

DURBIN: Thanks, Heidi.

COLLINS: Appreciate that.

Proud relatives. Barack Obama's granny at home in Kenya and keeping an eye on her grandson's success, just ahead.

ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins.

COLLINS: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Hi there, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. Tony Harris has the day off.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: Winter warm-up and a river of ice. It looks pretty, but watch out if it melts.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

COLLINS: First tornadoes, now floods. Melting snow draining into Illinois's Rock River. The warmer temperatures there turned the frozen river into chunks of ice. They're floating down and jamming up. Ice jams aren't uncommon on the Rock River, but what people say is unusual, how early in the year it's all happening. An increase in autism cases cast doubt on the theory that autism is linked to childhood vaccines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Quickly want to get you updated on breaking news here. Back to the situation with the storms we've been telling you about. The tornadoes in Arkansas. We're learning from the Associated Press apparently there has been one fatality in Arkansas from a tornado. Meanwhile, another tornado warning in Arkansas. Want to get straight over to Jacqui Jeras with more from the Extreme Weather Center. Hi there, Jacqui.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: A new study casting doubt this morning on one theory for autism. Many parents whose children have autism blame childhood vaccines with the preservative that contains mercury.

Public health researchers in California found autism cases in that state rose continuously from 1995 until last year. Even though the mercury base preservative has not been used in childhood vaccine since 2001. Researchers say if the vaccines were to blame, autism cases should have dropped, not risen.

To get your daily dose of health news online, logon to our website. You'll find a latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. That address is CNN.com/health.

Barack Obama on a roll. What do his relatives think? Back in Kenya, CNN's Paula Newton pays a visit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: To get to the Obama family farm we traveled across the equator, through some of Kenya's most remote villages, left at the Growl (ph) road that turns to the Senator Obama school, up the dusty hill, and over potholes like you've never seen, not even in New Hampshire. And right on to the Obama homestead.

Hello. Hello. I'm Paula Newton with CNN. This is Mama Sarah, Barack Obama's granny, as he calls her. This is where his father was born and grew up, and where 83-year-old Mama Sarah still lives. We interrupted your work today.

As her grandson is busy bringing in the votes, she's bringing in the crops. Preparing feed for the livestock. But it doesn't keep her from campaigning. What would you tell the American people about Barack to convince them to vote for him? In her native language, she says, he's a good listener, and if he's given a chance, he will work hard for America.

What do you think of Hillary Clinton? This is a contest, she says, diplomatically, but the best man or woman win. When was this picture taken?

SAID OBAMA, BARACK OBAMA'S UNCLE: This was taken in 1987.

NEWTON: Barack's uncle, he shows us a photo of his nephew's first visit to his Kenyan ancestral home just after his father died. Barack Hussein Obama is buried here. Mama Sarah says he would be heartbroken to see Kenya now. The Obamas say they don't recognize the Kenya of the past few days. The bloodshed, despair and desperate need triggered by the disputed election. The Obama school hasn't even been able to open this year because of the clashes.

OBAMA: Expected Kenya to be a beacon of open hope in this region, but again, politicians are politicians.

NEWTON: Though, he insists Barack Obama is different, humble like no other, he says, and that's because of his Kenyan ancestry right down to this farm. Paula Newton CNN, Nyangoma-Kogelo, Kenya.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: For more on the New Hampshire primary go to CNNpolitics.com. It's your one stop shop for all things political.

YOUR WORLD TODAY is up next. Want to check in with Jim Clancy now to see what they're working on today. Hi there, Jim.

JIM CLANCY, ANCHOR YOUR WORLD TODAY: Hi, how are you doing today, Heidi?

COLLINS: Good.

CLANCY: We're having a good time here with the election. We're going to be taking you live up to New Hampshire where Barack Obama, John McCain, all the buzz up there. But you know, Barack Obama, especially something of a light in Kenya right now. We're going to take you live, both destinations, and examine why a U.S. presidential candidate's message to that country matters so much.

Also, as we told you President Bush of course making his first visit as president to Israel and the West Bank. We're going to examine the mood of skepticism around the this trip. And the view of some, it's just too little, far too late to make a difference.

Plus, it's serious, the French president talking to reporters about that beautiful singer and sparking plenty of speculation in the press. But what? The French people aren't inspired by a love story? We'll be cover that for you as well, Heidi. YOUR WORLD TODAY, top of the hour.

COLLINS: It's serious, all right. Jim, thanks. We'll be watching.

Keeping the status quo seems a no-no in this election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDY GUILIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Change is good, right?

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Change is hard.

GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I love change.

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Top to bottom change.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are happy warriors for change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Campaign buzzword, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: The pace of spending on prescription drugs is soaring. Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange now with details on this.

Hi there, Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. Well, the pace of drug spending rose at its fastest level in 25 years in 2006. A government study shows we spent more than $2 trillion on healthcare that year. That's up nearly seven percent. But spending overall would actually have decreased if not for prescription drug spending specifically. Study by the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services blames the Medicare Drug Benefit program for the increase, Heidi.

COLLINS: And if you look at the demographics they seem to really suggest that that spending is probably going to go up.

LISOVICZ: Yes, especially with the first baby boomers retiring this year. There are an estimated 78 million baby boomers overall. This report says healthcare spending was 16 percent of GDP, gross domestic product. That's only slightly higher, though, than '05 and the level has been stable since '03. The reason is the economy has grown steadily over that time. If we fall into a recession, healthcare spending will become a bigger part of overall GDP, Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. So with all of this comes a time when pharmaceutical companies really seem to be putting out fewer new drugs.

LISOVICZ: That's a surprise, isn't it?

COLLINS: Yes.

LISOVICZ: The FDA approved 19 new drugs in the U.S. last year. That's according to an analyst who follows the industry. That's the fewest since 1983. The peak was 1996 when 58 new drugs hit the market. The FDA is not confirming that number. Some say the FDA has been stricter, a charge the agency denies.

Well, let's talk about some pain aids for investors. It has been --continues to be a very rough start to the new year. After opening the session higher, stocks have given up their gains. Homebuilder, KB, home shares down nearly eight percent after the company posted a wide quarterly loss and issued a bleak outlook for the year.

Checking the numbers, the Dow Industrials, well an hour ago they were hanging on to their gains. Right now, down 52 points. The NASDAQ Composite meanwhile, an even rougher start to the new year for the NASDAQ, it's down 13 points or half a percent, Heidi. So, well, it's just another volatile session here on Wall Street. Gotten used to it, I know.

COLLINS: Yes, probably have. All right, so we have a whole year ahead of us though.

LISOVICZ: We do.

COLLINS: Lets stay optimistic, if we can.

Thank you, Susan.

LISOVICZ: You're welcome.

COLLINS: Candidates of change, White House hopefuls laying the claim. Are they over-using the name? Our Jeanne Moos checks it out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If there's one thing that's unchanging, it's that word --

RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Change is good, right?

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Change is hard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love change.

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Top to bottom change.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are happy warriors for change.

MOOS: They may be happy, but I could use a change of pace. In an eight-second sound bite...

JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're both change agents. We both believe deeply in change.

MOOS: John Edwards uttered the word "change" four times. John McCain used it 14 times in one answer.

JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And the change...

MOOS: Remember when the change used to refer to menopause? If only the candidates would pause.

MCCAIN: That I have been an agent of change.

CLINTON: Because I've been an agent of change.

ROMNEY: I have changed things...

MOOS: Mitt Romney got dissed by John McCain, who used change to call Mitt a flip-flopper.

MCCAIN: But I agree, you are the candidate of change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: Blame all this change on Barack Obama. He started it.

OBAMA: Change is coming to America.

MOOS (on camera): If this keeps up, I'm going to have three words for the candidates -- keep the change.

CLINTON: I want to make change, but I've already made change.

OBAMA: This change thing is catching on, because you notice everybody's talking about change now.

MOOS: Just about the only people who don't want to talk about change are incumbents, says linguist Geoffrey Nunberg.

GEOFFREY NUNBERG, PROFESSOR, U.C.-BERKELEY: Well, you think of Lincoln in 1864 -- "Don't change horses in mid-stream."

MOOS: A couple of candidates are holding their horses when it comes to change.

GIULIANI: Change is a slogan.

RICHARDSON: Whatever happened to experience? Is experience kind of a leper?

MOOS: Compared to change it is. The American Dialect Society may have just crowned subprime the word of the year for 2007. But change is the word of the campaign.

MCCAIN: Have I been an agent of change.

MOOS (on camera): It's enough to make you change the channel.

(voice-over): The only guy who says the word change at a higher velocity than the candidates is David Bowie.

MOOS (on camera): American candidates aren't alone in their love of change. On YouTube, you hear it with a British accent. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Change, change, change.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Changing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Changing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Changing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Changing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Change is marching on again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's got to change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOOS: Someone even put Blair to Bowie. Now if you talk about change this much...

OBAMA: And our time for change has come.

MOOS: ...you're almost bound to slip up.

OBAMA: This morning I said the time for come has changed.

MOOS: Actually, he said...

OBAMA: The time has changed for come.

MOOS: Now that's a political slogan that'll knock your socks off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator -- oh.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COLLINS: Quickly want to take you to President Bush and the president of Turkey standing outside on the south lawn making some comments after a meeting between the two of them.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We deal with common problems. One such problem is our continuing fight against a common enemy. And that's terrorists. And such a common enemy is the PKK. It's an enemy to Turkey, it's enemy to Iraq and it's an enemy to people who want to live in peace. The United States is, along with Turkey, are confronting these folks. And we will continue to confront them for the sake of peace. I strongly believe that Europe will benefit with Turkey as a member of the European Union. I have held this position ever since I've been the president.

I feel it as strongly today as when I first articulated it. I think Turkey sets a fantastic example for nations around the world to see where it's possible to have a democracy, co-exist with a great religion like Islam. And that's important. I view Turkey as a bridge between Europe and the Islamic world, a constructive bridge. And so I believe it's in the interests of peace that Turkey be admitted into the EU.

We talked about energy and the need for all of us to help secure more energy supplies. We talked about -- I'm about to brief the president on my trip to the Middle East. I know he's deeply concerned about whether or not it's possible to achieve a two-state solution in the Middle East. I believe it is. I'm looking forward to sharing the strategy. All in all, we've had a very constructive conversation. And that's what you would expect when two friends are in the room together. So Mr. President, thank you for coming and welcome.

ABDULLAH GUL, PRESIDENT OF TURKEY: Thank you Mr. President.

COLLINS: So there you have some comments from President Bush and meeting there with the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gul. It was his first visit to the United States as president. It was on the south lawn there in Washington.

CNN NEWSROOM continues one hour from now. Big stories developing today. "YOUR WORLD TODAY" is next with news happening across the globe and here at home. I'm Heidi Collins.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com