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American Morning
Endorsed for President, Face Off in Florida, Teen Hijack Plot, $7.1 Billion Fraud, Stimulus Plan, Candidates Square off with Reporters
Aired January 25, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Fascinating news for people who are disabled. It's Friday, the 25th of January. Welcome to a special edition of AMERICAN MORNING. I'm John Roberts here at Alex's Restaurant in South Carolina where you can get almost anything you want as long as it's in the food group of bacon, eggs, pancakes and grits and things like that.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: What about the corned beef hash? Have you sampled that this morning?
ROBERTS: No. It was cheese grits this morning with butter and it was fantastic.
CHETRY: Hey, there's always lunch.
Hillary Clinton and John McCain a big endorsement from the "New York Times" this morning. In today's paper, the paper says that Clinton would be a strong commander in chief saying, "her new open is to explaining herself and not just her programs and her abiding powerful intellect show she is fully capable of doing just that, leading the nation." About John McCain, he is "the only Republican who promises to end the George Bush style of governing.
He would offer a choice to a broader range of Americans and the rest of the Republican field." The "Times" blasting former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani writing "the real Mr. Giuliani who many New Yorkers came to know and mistrust a narrow obsessive secret vindictive man who saw no need to limit police power. Mr. Giuliani's arrogance and bad judgment are breathtaking." Giuliani seemed to wear bad judgment as a badge of honor.
RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I never did anything the "New York Times" suggested in my eight year of the mayor of New York City. If I did I wouldn't be considered a conservative Republican .
CHETRY: The "Times" say they considered for re-election of mayor back in 1997. They also praised him after his leadership post-9/11. The editor said, "That man is not running for president." John?
ROBERTS: Fairly harsh.
The Republican s are gearing up for Tuesday's Florida primary. The five candidates in their final face-off last night before Florida voters go to the polls. CNN's John King was there and joins us live from Boca Raton, Florida. Not what we saw from the Democrats back on Monday in Myrtle Beach?
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not at all. Remarkable. Consider the stakes. Romney and McCain tide in the polls here in Florida. Jewel yawn any third place despite investing so much in this state. You might expect fireworks. Instead, a lot of talk about taxes and jobs.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING: At times more economic seminar than debate. The leading Republican candidates called the new bipartisan stimulus deal a good thing but said it doesn't go far enough, I just wish it went further.
GIULIANI: I support but it doesn't go far enough.
KING: Four days until the vote, John McCain and Mitt Romney lead the pack and the former Massachusetts governor did question his rival's history.
MITT ROMNEY (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I support the Bush tax cuts.
KING: The Arizona senator said he voted no for good reason.
JOHN MCCAIN (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The fact is if we had had the spending restraints I proposed we would be talking about more tax cuts today.
KING: The economy dominates now but Mike Huckabee recalls how he was dismissed at a debate six months ago.
MIKE HUCKABEE (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I know people acted like I was the only guy without a headset that night. I was the only guy on the stage who said it may be doing great if you're at the top.
KING: No one brought up Barack Obama. McCain said he would relish debating him with Hillary Clinton.
MCCAIN: I'm so proud of the job the men and women are doing and they don't want us to raise the white flag of surrender.
KING: Romney was asked what it would be like to run against Hillary and Bill Clinton.
ROMNEY: The idea of Bill Clinton back in the White House with nothing to do is something I just can't imagine.
KING: Giuliani is running third despite running Florida almost exclusively. He credited his rivals with running a strong campaign.
GIULIANI: I believe that I'm going to have the same fate that the New York Giants had last week. And we're going to come from behind and surprise everyone. We have them all mulled in a very false sense of security now.
(END VIDEOTAPE) KING: We did learn something last night. We learned how dramatically this campaign changed over just the last several weeks. Remember prior debates? Emotional taxes over illegal immigration and talking about who's toughest to lead the war on terror? Voters care more and more and more about the economy, and last night's debate reflected that. John?
ROBERTS: John, Giuliani's goal is not to be left behind. Polls showed him ten points off the lead. He says he expecting a late surge, but is there enough time and is there enough momentum to bring him back up to a point where he could challenge John McCain and Mitt Romney?
KING: It's a great question. Considering the plight he is in, spent more than $30 million on his campaign no run one has run a negative ad against him and he is in third place. About 15 percent . He says he has time to come back. Pollsters say look at the tiny, tiny pool of undecided voters. They don't they candidate, especially as well-known as Rudy Giuliani, time to make up the ground. Most voters near Florida say they've already made up their mind, unlike the Democratic voters.
ROBERTS: A big poll of undecideds here. It would be a stunning defeat for Giuliani if he doesn't win there in Florida. John King for us this morning in Boca Raton. John, thanks very much. Kiran?
CHETRY: President Bush heads to West Virginia today and he's going to be talking up the new economic stimulus plan hammered out between the house and the president agreeing to send rebate checks to about 116 million families. To break it down and found out if you'll get one, individuals will get $600 if they earn less than $75,000. Couples or households will get $1,200 if as a household they earn less than $150,000. Those with children, an additional $3 per child. It you don't earn enough to pay taxes, you still get a $300 repeat check if you bring home at least $3,000. Those checks, by the way, could start going out by mid-April or May.
Well, right now we'll check in with Ali Velshi for a look at what's going on. Actually in a couple of minutes we'll check in with Ali Velshi on the election express bus. Never know what pit stop he's making throughout the course of the show. You're with us, Alina Cho following other breaking news this morning.
ALLINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Kiran. Good morning. A 16-year-old is in police custody this morning and facing felony terrorism charges. Police say he planned to hijack a Southwest Airlines jet. He was taken off the flight Nashville on Tuesday after being caught way bag of handcuffs, rope and duct tape. Two CNN affiliates in Nashville have reported he planned to crash the flight into a Hannah Montana concert in Lafayette, Louisiana, tonight but the feds are denying that.
For the first time a federal judge is ordering the Bush administration to explain exactly why they destroyed key CIA interrogation tapes. The judge says the tapes could have been relevant to the case of the detainee at Guantanamo Bay. The judge gave the white house three weeks to respond. The interrogation of two high-level al Qaeda leaders and included controversial technique known at waterboarding simulating drowning.
It could be the biggest ever trading fraud carried out by a single person at the second largest bank in France. The losses are staggering. More than $7.1 billion U.S. dollars. Authorities say it's the work of a 31-year-old trader named Jerome Careyell. He allegedly bet to the tune of billions of dollars that European markets would go up when in fact they were tanking. Then authorities say he made more bets to try to cover his losses. The bank has apologized to shareholders and amazingly it appears he did not make a penny on any of the bets.
And a man caught stealing money that was meant to help the poor and the homeless has found himself sentenced to a night living on the streets. Imagine that? 28-year-old Nathan Smith admitted he stole a Salvation Army donation kettle in Painesville, Ohio, near Cleveland. Can you believe this story? The judge offered him a choice. 90 days in jail or three days in jail and one night on the cold and frigid streets.
JUDGE MICHAEL CICCONETTI, PAINESVILLE MUNICIPAL COURT: In this community and other communities donate for that and you take that money. How sick is that? Get your coat, your hat, your gloves and I'll see you here tomorrow at eleven o'clock. You find out and figure out where you're going to spend the night. You figure out where you're going to eat and you figure out where you're going to stay warm.
CHO: Harsh words from the judge. Smith, by the way, was fitted with GPS to make sure he didn't go home to sleep. He later said he didn't think the punishment was too harsh. He was hoping to find a warm place to sleep. 20 degrees, lots of snow on the ground. Turns out he was a bell ringer for the Salvation Army.
CHETRY: Isn't that the most amazing --
CHO: Happened on Christmas. At the end of his shift, apparently. Just took the kettles home. $250.
CHETRY: He got off easier, think about it. One night, versus three months in jail.
CHO: That's right. 90 days. He said, three days in jail and a night on the streets, 90 days in jail, he chose the former.
CHETRY: Maybe there would be a different type of punishment if he walked in and said I'm the guy who stole the big bucket from you guys. Any extra blankets?
CHO: Better off in jail than the shelter.
CHETRY: We've re-established contact with Ali Velshi aboard the election express and he's on the road. He's going through Big Spring, Texas, gauging reaction to the stimulus plan.
What are you hearing from voters? Do they think it can work for them?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kiran, I'm hearing a lot of skepticism from the people we've talked to. Some think that it's a good thing. It will help stimulate the economy. Others are saying it might not do the right job. One gentleman we talked to was worried that while people would get a check and go to spend it, how much real affect will it have on the economy. Listen to what he told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK TAUTE: Personally I think that money will be incident two months, through three months and we'll be right back in the same position. I'm not economist but in my opinion, a quick injection of cash into the marketplace and after that I think unless something else is done we're in essence going to be right back in the same position.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: They're not sure that the affect will be there. They're not sure that this is the answer. A lot of worries about the economy down here in west Texas and in the south. We're tracking across the country to get opinions from people about the economy. We're asking them what their concerns are, what they want the candidates to do and what they want the White House to do. We're continuing on to California. We're a little more than half way. Should get there by Sunday night and keep reporting in about what we hear.
CHETRY: On the road, Ali Velshi, with the CNN express bus. Check in with you a lot later. John?
ROBERTS: Thank you, Kiran.
What if your home is all that you have and its value is falling fast? Our Gerri Willis joins us with tips for your financial future. Stay with us.
Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, when tempers flare on the campaign trail.
ROMNEY: Listen to my words.
ROBERTS: What happens when reporters get caught in the cross hairs?
FMR. PRES. BILL CLINTON, UNITED STATES: Don't be accusatory with me. I had nothing to do with this lawsuit.
ROBERTS: A look at some tough talk on the trail ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: A live picture right now coming to us from WPIX, our affiliate near New York City, in the Bronx, actually. A two-alarm fire they're calling this in a three-story building, 740 East 214th Street in the Bronx. We're hearing word all three floors are on fire. Then say even though we're seeing the flames coming out of the roof there, they have a handle on it. They have contained it to that one dwelling. They say so far there are no injuries reported. Earlier there was some reporting that people had escaped that house unharmed, but, again, the flames, still flaring up there and firefighters still working to get that fire out. This is in the Bronx, 214th Street. We will keep you posted as we find out more details -- John?
ROBERTS: Thanks, Kiran.
As the race for '08 tightens, so do the fiery exchanges. We're covering them on the campaign trail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: Listen to my words.
CLINTON: This is a one man, one vote country, and I'm amazed nobody like you -- you should be offended by this. You think one person vote should count five times as much as another?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: That last exchange was between Senator Barack Obama and the "New York Times" Jeff Zellny. Jeff joins me now. You had asked him if Bill Clinton was getting inside his head. He had a tryst response.
JEFF ZELENY, THE NEW YORK TIMES: Which sort of answered the question. I mean all week long there's been a back and forth between former President Clinton and Senator Obama. Seemed like a logical question to ask. He did not exactly want to answer but sort of did and he said, no, he's not. But why are you asking that question? Any time the candidates are doing exactly what they're doing it's not exact lay negative thing or bad thing to use the media as punching bags.
ROBERTS: No, no. We're used to it at this point. When it comes to Bill Clinton and the attacks he's leveling against him in the past week or so, is Obama taking the bait here? An interesting column, Bill Clinton is taking the hits to protect Hillary. Almost like a linebacker wrapping his arms around the defensive linebacker so he can't get to the quarterback?
ZELENY: The beginning of the week certainly after the debate Monday evening, Senator Obama said sometimes I'm not sure who I'm running against. He's changed that tone over the weekend and is using humor. Look, when I was 20 points down in the poll, no one was coming after me and I was a nice young man. Now the knives are coming out. He is trying to focus hard on talking about his candidate sand less and less almost by the day of Bill Clinton. So I think it may have been getting to him, now it seems he's corrected that a little bit. We'll see. Bill Clinton is not going away after South Carolina. This is just the beginning. ROBERTS: A lot of debate whether or not he's going too far. Congressman Jim Clyburn told us the other day Bill Clinton should chill. Another Bill Clinton should act more presidential and not like a pandering politician. And I think it destroys the party ultimately will divide us and have a lasting effect down the road if it doesn't stop soon. Bill Clinton coming under a lot of fire's is this partisan politics or do you think it is having an affect here on the Democratic party?
ZELENY: When you talk to voters out here, people who have a big affinity for President Clinton, I've heard this from them all week long. Has is he doing exactly? He may be certainly walking up to the line of testing his reputation. Certainly people feel an affinity towards him. He is like any other endorsement. You aren't necessarily going to follow what he says. I'm struck by the number of Democrats speaking out against bill Clinton, and he's the saint of the Democratic Party, if you will. We've never seen anything like this. So we'll see how far he goes, but the Clinton campaign thinks it's helping their candidate. Otherwise he wouldn't be doing it.
ROBERTS: Let me bring you back to the idea of candidates wagging their finger at the media here. Are they really genuinely annoyed at the questions asked or are they using us as a --
ZELENY: Depends. When you saw Mitt Romney having his exchange with glen Johnson of the associated press that looked like he was pretty annoyed. The next day he went on one of the talk shows at night to correct that. I think sometimes they are annoyed. Like I said, the media is a convenient punching bag and who doesn't like to hate the media?
ROBERTS: Convenient. John McCain and on the Republican side, Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side and a very strong anti- endorsement against Rudy Giuliani, we find interesting.
ZELENY: At the editorial page of the "New York Times" endorsing Senator McCain, also inside the endorsement it says, we're not exactly sure who this Mayor Giuliani is and talked about his record as mayor. Said it's not the same person running now, but also it's a striking non-endorsement, if you will.
ROBERTS: Anti-endorsement. We saw it.
ZELENY: Exactly. The mayor tried to use it for his benefit last night at the debates saying once again the media's not supporting him. I'm not sure how it plays or not, but it's a very important endorsement at least in the eyes of the Clinton campaign.
ROBERTS: Republican circles probably is a badge of honor. Talking about the editorial page. Jeff Zeleny, thanks very much. Good to see you. Good luck on the road -- Kiran?
CHETRY: The key to a long life could be fighting with your spouse? The findings of a new study coming up.
Also, what should you do if your home is on the market and it's losing value? We'll ask our personal finance editor Gerri Willis, as our financial security watch continues ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Two minutes after the hour. House leaders and the white house have agreed on a plan to put more money in your pocket in an effort to jump-start the economy. Typical rebate checks would range from $600 for an individual to $1,200 for a couple. The checks should start arriving sometime in mid-April. That brings us to this morning's "Quick Vote Question."
Considering it could be months before your check's in the mail we want to know if the U.S. economy slides into a recession, how long do you think will last? Right now 12 percent say a recession would last six months. 16 percent say nine months, and 72 percent say it's going to take at least a year for the economy to recover. Cast your vote for us this morning at CNN.com/am. We'll have a final tally of your votes coming up at the end of this hour. Kiran?
CHETRY: Most of our viewers think we're in some trouble for a little longer than we initially expected. So what do you do about it? New numbers from the national association of realtors showing that home prices have dropped six percent on average nationwide last year, and the biggest one-year drop ever. So is it still a buyers' market and what do you if your home is losing value? CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis is here, on our financial security watch to break it down for us. Thanks for being with us.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Good morning. Scary numbers. There's nine months' worth of inventory out there of homes trying to be sold. Merrill lynch saying priceless go down 15 percent this year alone. So you might want to sit pat and make some improvements to your house, but this isn't the year to get the Cadillac of kitchens. Make sure you keep those improvements within budget, that you don't do anything too crazy, because at the end of the day, if you make your house more expensive than any other house on the block, well, it's going to be impossible to sell it.
CHETRY: If you are going to stay put for a certain amount of time and you just sort of want to bide your time, see what goes on with the market, what are good things you may want to do?
WILLIS: It's okay to upgrade the kitchen. You don't want to have the ultimate kitchen and you don't want to do about expensive addition at this point. Good news if you're out there looking to make some improvements you'll get a great deal from contractors out there right now who don't have a ton of work. Probably really will negotiate good numbers for anything you're using, materials you're using for that renovation. That's all good news, Kiran.
CHETRY: What about the home equity lines of credit?
WILLIS: Interesting. If you're really worried about your money, in one of those industries than contracts, worried you might lose your job. Think about it. Take a home equity line of credit, no or low cost put it in your back pocket, if the worst happens you can pay your mortgage. If the worst doesn't happen, well, it's a safeguard. You don't have to use it unless you want to.
CHETRY: All right. Good tips. Thanks so much. Gerri, don't leave yet because we want to show our viewers what were you up to late last night. Not thinking no, on the "Daily Show" with John Stewart. Let's hear what John was asking about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN STEWART, TALK SHOW HOST: Was anyone over there going, these sub-prime loans look crappy? Like is that something you guys would look at? How does that work?
WILLIS: Yes! We talked about them a lot. There was all of concern, a lot of media reports about, holy guacamole, do you see what's going on with these?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: He was grilling you to try to make sure you guys were on it before, of course, the whole entire double burst with the sub-prime market.
WILLIS: Right. A lot of questions, how well the media covered this. He is one smart guy. You can't make jokes about something that's complicated unless you're really, really smart.
You know what? Kiran? What do you think? Maybe AMERICAN MORNING could get a live audience. That would be so cool.
CHETRY: We have our own John, already.
WILLIS: Right.
CHETRY: John and I joke though, the only type we end up on the "daily show" when we're made fun of.
WILLIS: You were on the show, John, looked great.
ROBERTS: Thank you. I don't know. Would it be great for the mental health of people in the studio to subject them to what goes on every day here at AMERICAN MORNING? I'm not sure. Where did you come up with holy guacamole, that's what I want to know.
WILLIS: Can't hear you.
CHETRY: Where did you come up with holy guacamole?
WILLIS: Well, don't you say that all the time?
CHETRY: No. His explanations are a little more R rated.
ROBERTS: Let's not be giving away secrets. All right. Time now to check in with Betty Nguyen and T.J. Holmes, what's ahead on Saturday and Sunday. Hey, guys.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: OK. Edwards, Obama, Clinton, who will fill the Democratic spotlight in South Carolina once and more polls open at 7:00 a.m. and we'll be live covering the candidates and the issues that matter to you.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And at the top of the list, security. Not talking about homeland, talking about financial security. Is now the right time to refinance your home we have the answers and the options for you.
NGUYEN: Plus a controversial plan to motivate students. How about getting paid $8 an hour to study after school?
HOLMES: Oh, man, I'm there.
NGUYEN: Will it work, though? That's the question. We have a reality check for you.
HOLMES: Plus, actors from "The Heroes" fame what's to explain this to us.
NGUYEN: Beginning tomorrow at 7:00 eastern.
ROBERTS: Looking forward to it, guys. Thanks very much. See you tomorrow.
It's down to the wire here in South Carolina. It's been a week of brutal campaigning. What are the voters thinking? A day before they have to choose a Democratic candidate? We'll tell you.
Also, a turning minute to a young woman's life. 250 pounds, what made her take the first step to lose weight? A story our Dr. Gupta is following in his "Fit Nation" revolution. Hey Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey John. This is something we're committed to, trying to get people at home, partners who have had success in actually losing weight. Sometimes the basics still apply. That's coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING on this Friday. Is January 25th. It's a special edition of AMERICAN MORNING. I'm Kiran Chetry here in New York and John's on the road.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN, ANCHOR: Yes, good morning to you, Kiran. John Roberts here in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina where at Alex's Restaurant where a lot of South Carolinians have come in this morning for some breakfast, talk a little bit of politics. It's just one day until the Democrats face-off in the South Carolina primary.
And has the feud between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama died down at all? Our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley is in Columbia, South Carolina and joins us now live from there.
Candy, have you noticed any kind of shift in the posture of the campaign here? CANDY CROWLEY, CNN, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I have. In both of them, actually. You know, both had a radio ad. Hillary Clinton talking about how Barack Obama liked Republican ideas better than Democratic ideas. He came back with a counter ad saying, you know they'll say anything to get elected. Both of those have come down. We hear on the campaign trail some barbs but they're very soft. It's things like Hillary Clinton saying, "I'm a workhorse, not a show horse." You've got to read into that. That sort of thing.
And you hear Bill Clinton yesterday saying, "well, it's probably good advice we ought to tone it down a little and quit the bickering." So, there's a definite at least on the main level where the candidates are. There seems to be a definite toning down as we go into, really, the last 24 hours.
ROBERTS: In fact, Candy, let's take a listen right now to the way Bill Clinton put that yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES: It's pretty good advice. It's probably good advice for me, too. When I was running, I didn't give a rip what anybody said about me. It's weird. You know? But if you love somebody, you think they'd be - harder.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: So bill Clinton is saying, OK, it's time to put away the knives. It's time to end the feud. The skeptics might say that the only words missing from that little excerpt there are the words, my work here is done, Candy.
CROWLEY: Absolutely! I mean, I was just going to say, as we go towards February 5th, on Sunday, all bets are off, but this is pretty traditional. At the end of a campaign, what you try to do is go back to your message. The last thing you want voters to hear before they go into those voting booths is your message in a positive, sort of upbeat outlook. So, that's where they're all going at this point.
ROBERTS: Let's switch over to Republican s for a second. The "New York Times" today came out with an endorsement for John McCain as well as Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side, but also had very, very harsh words for Rudy Giuliani, almost reminiscent of the "Concord Monitor's" anti-endorsement of Mitt Romney before the New Hampshire primary.
Here's what the "New York Times" said about Giuliani "the real Mr. Giuliani, who many New Yorkers came to know and mistrust is a narrow obsessively secret vindictive man who saw no need to limit police power. Mr. Giuliani's arrogance and bad judgment are breathtaking." Of course, he couldn't take that sitting down. Here's what he said in response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I probably never did anything the "New York Times" suggested I do in eight years as mayor of New York City, and if I did I wouldn't be considered a conservative Republican .
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: But Candy, what's the net effect of all of this? Is it a plus or a minus for Giuliani?
CROWLEY: I think if you're a Republican running in a primary, you want to run against the "New York Times." That is not a beloved paper among Republican s, as you know. So for those who are paying attention in Florida to a "New York Times" endorsement or non- endorsement, I'm not sure in the Republican primary, it isn't anything but a plus, actually.
ROBERTS: All right. Well, Giuliani says he's going to get a late bounce here in the polls as he heads towards Tuesday. We'll see if he can potentially get it and if this maybe adds to it. Candy Crowley for us in Columbia, South Carolina this morning. Candy, thanks. Now, let's go back to New York and here's Kiran.
CHETRY: And next Tuesday's Florida primary could be a make or break task for Republican Mike Huckabee. Earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, I asked him about a "Washington Post" report today that suggest his evangelical fan base of supporters is just too small for him to actually become president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This thing is a long way from over. I think I have a good chance of being president, and you know with all due respect to the Washington insiders they've been wrong about me and wrong about my campaign every time they've tried to figure it out. What they don't get is that the people who are supporting me aren't those folks sitting around in D.C., the folks in the chattering class.
They're the people out here who are driving trucks, waiting tables. They're the folks who really do believe that this country needs to, once again, gain some sanity by putting people in office who have lived a real life and who don't necessarily breathe the purified air of Washington and would like to go up there and change it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Huckabee also talked to us about social issues. He said as president he would work to amend the constitution to ban abortion and same-sex marriage.
Also new this morning, President Bush heads to West Virginia today to talk up the new economic stimulus plan. The House and the President have agreed to send rebate checks to about 116 million families. Here's how it would break down. Individuals who earn less than $75,000 a year, would make $600, will get a rebate check of $600. Couples would get checks for $1,200 if they earned less than $150,000 a year and also those with children get an additional $300 per child. Also if you don't earn enough to pay taxes you would still get $3,000 rebate checks, if you bring home at least $3,000. Those checks could start going out by mid-April.
The Food and Drug Administration is considering posting inspectors overseas to ensure the safety of food and medicine entering the U.S.. The agency's chief want "boots on the ground" in countries like India and China as well as Central and South America and the Mid East. That plan would involve opening satellite offices in U.S. embassies. Less than 1 percent of food coming across the U.S. border is now inspected.
And go ahead and yell. It's the message from a new study of married couples, sort of. The study looked at 200 couples and found that those who fought more lived longer. Researchers say that couples who kept their anger bottled up suffered more stress and ultimately suffered health problems because of it. The study tracked couples from 35 to 69 years old and spanned 17 years, and Rob Marciano is with us right now to about this. They didn't say whether they lived longer together?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, my parents are still together and according to that study, they will probably going to live forever.
CHETRY: Mine, too. I joke around with them. How can you be married for some 35 years and still fight about the same things every day?
MARCIANO: You know, as they say, it keeps the love alive. Definitely releases some steam which I think is healthy. My co- workers may not think that, but I think it is. Down to the north and the south, we got some cold air that's driving down. Look at this satellite picture. Isn't that cool? I mean, folks who live in, you know, San Francisco, L.A., are probably thinking, you know, it's not that cool. Let's get it back.
Let's go to the radar. San Francisco with some rain, down to Los Angeles. These two big cities have really seen the water faucet turn on this morning. Places like Long Beach have seen, and Burbank, have seen more rain with this event than they have for the entire year last year. That's how much rain has fallen. That's how little rain fell during '06-'07. Snow falling at higher elevations. We're talking about that. Still winter storm warnings posted one to two feet, with high winds as well, maybe 50, 60 mile-an-hour winds at the mountain passes. I-5 still closed. They don't know when they're going to open that thing.
Minus 12 is the current windchill in Minneapolis. Minus 12 in Milwaukee. Minus 17 in Chicago. So, another chilly day across the upper Midwest. And things will begin to rebound, I think, tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, big primary happening. 49 degrees in Columbia. Greenville, South Carolina, 48 degrees. Charleston, 49. A little bit of morning rain along the coastline. But other than that, it shouldn't be all that bad. It should be no excuses to get out to the polls. Kiran, back up to you. CHETRY: Thanks, Rob. See that, John. You said that in a lot of the cities that you're visiting the weather's been bad. Rob's a ray of sunlight for you this morning.
MARCIANO: There you go.
ROBERTS: Thank goodness. I tell you the weather was so horrible last Saturday for the Republican primary and they thought it was going to be bad for tomorrow's Democratic primary. A lot of people will be happy to hear they got some good weather heading their way.
Hey, a new wheelchair gives users the ability to climb stairs, reach high shelves, even hold eye level conversations. We'll show you the wheelchair of future coming up.
And another success story from the "Fit Nation." What finally clicked for Heather to start exercising and lose more than 100 pounds. Sanjay Gupta ahead with her story when AMERICAN MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Eighteen minutes now to the top of the hour. I'm here this morning at Alex's Restaurant in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a day before the Democratic primary here. Folks getting a little bit of breakfast this morning. And I got to tell you, southern country cooking, nothing like it. Talking a little politics this morning. 36 percent of voters here in the Palmetto state undecided ahead of tomorrow's primary.
So, a lot of people trying to make up their minds on which way to go. By the way, we're hitting a lot of the battleground states on the road to super Tuesday, talking with voters and candidates. The goal to help you choose a president. Come along with us, because Monday we're going to be in Washington, and then President Bush's state of the union address. On Tuesday, we'll be in Orlando, Florida, for the primary there.
Very big for the Republican s, not so big for the Democrats because all their delegates have been taken away because they pulled the trigger before February 5th and then we're going all the way across the country for CNN's back-to-back debates with the Republican s and the Democrats in Southern California. We'll be in Simi Valley on Wednesday, Los Angeles, Thursday, Friday. A whole week of "AM On The Road" hope you join us -- Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. And I-Reporters from around the globe have been sending in their weight-loss success stories. We're sharing some of the best ones with you this morning. Chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, joins us now with the amazing story of Heather Davis. This one really blew you away in his "Fit Nation" report.
Hi, Sanjay.
GUPTA: Yes, these I-Reports are really remarkable, from 20-pound weight loss to 120-pound weight-loss, some remarkable transformations and Heather Davis is a good example. And also, there's all sorts of strategies to lose weight. Hers is a basic one. Eat less, lose more. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEATHER DAVIS, LOST 110 POUNDS: My name's Heather Davis and I've lost 110 pounds.
GUPTA (voice-over): Heather was thin in elementary school. But as she grew older, things changed.
DAVIS: We had a meat and potatoes family, and we had that for dinner and we had dessert every night, and I was a member of the clean your plate club so - it catches up with you after a while.
GUPTA: Weight gain took a toll both mentally and physically.
DAVIS: Just picture yourself with 100 pound backpack on. That's what it felt like. My knees hurt. My back hurt. My shoulders hurt a lot.
GUPTA: At 22, Heather weighed 250 pounds. She tried all the popular diets. Low-carb, low fat even starvation. But one day in graduate school she says it just clicked.
DAVIS: I was on a campus shuttle and saw the Gold's Gym out of the corner of my eye and I said, I can either go down into the metro and go home and eat my Ben & Jerry's or I can go over there, and really just do this. Do it. That first 15 minutes on the treadmill at the gym was a killer for me. And now I'm trying to train for a half marathon, and I'm up to six miles.
GUPTA: Good old hard work, determination and healthy eating fueled Heather's success. She logs an hour of cardio a day, lifts weights three times a week and joined a rowing team. Now, 110 pounds lighter, heather has more confidence, and a new career.
DAVIS: I'm working right now on my master's degree in public health, because now I feel like I have a very personal contribution to make. And I will be able to help people on a very personal level.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: Heather also recognizes that people in lower socioeconomic groups sometimes sometimes don't have access to all the resources that she does. After she finishes her degree, she wants to focus attention on trying to take the "Fit Nation" message to many of those groups as well, Kiran.
CHETRY: Wow, that is amazing. And you mentioned her knees, that her back hurt. It makes you wonder what kind of damage are you doing to your body when you are carrying around that extra weight?
GUPTA: Well you know, it's interesting, Kiran because obesity is linked to just about every chronic disease out there. We saw these images from a body world exhibit, which I thought was so interesting that show how fat just sort of surrounds internal oranges like the heart, like the liver, but just the amount of devastation it can do to your joints, how much weight you're putting on your joints and hips over time. That's why the artificial knees and artificial hips have become so much more popular and knee replacements a result of the obesity epidemic. Yes. We have lots of consequences that people don't think of until they're faced with them.
CHETRY: That's right. And that's why it's so important to be thinking about that preventatively as well, you know. Because it's so much harder to lose it after it's already there.
GUPTA: This is my song, absolutely.
CHETRY: And I know. It's hard, but all right -- Sanjay, thanks. By the way, don't miss Sanjay's "HOUSE CALL" Saturday and Sunday morning, 8:30 Eastern right here on CNN and also "NEWSROOM" is just minutes away and Betty Nguyen is at the CNN news center with a look at what's ahead.
Good morning, Betty.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN, ANCHOR: Tax rebate checks. That's on the NEWSROOM rundown. Will you get one and how much? Question, off of Washington agrees on a pet plan for the anemic economy. Also Egyptian troops trying to close the border with Gaza. Palestinians streaming and three days now to buy supplies and road crew struggling to re-open I-5 north of L.A.. Look at this, the region hit by heavy snow, floods, mudslides and would you believe a tornado to top it all off.
Friday in the NEWSROOM, top of the hour right here on CNN.
CHETRY: All right, Betty. We look forward to it. Thanks, thank you.
ROBERTS: His tip led to the capture of 9/11 conspirators Zacharias Moussaoui. Now he is getting millions of dollars as a reward. We'll tell you how much just ahead.
Also, a ticket to ride. The new high tech wheelchair. It is doing wonders to make life easier, giving both the physical and an emotional lift ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Ten minutes now to the top of the hour. This just in here to CNN. You see people milling around at the border crossing in Rhafa, in the southern part of the Gaza strip. It connects Gaza with Egypt there. That wall was blown open and turned down earlier this when hundreds if not thousands of Palestinians who are frustrated and out of supplies after Israel cut all new supplies, going into the Gaza strip.
They decided to take matters into their own hands, tore that border crossing and went into Egypt to get vital staples, everything from food to gasoline to even cigarettes. Egypt now try to herd people back across the border, back the Gaza area and reseal that border. That's a story that we'll keep watching for you. Today, as we progress here on CNN. A hate crime indictment, seeing your "Quick Hits" now. A Louisiana man is facing trial on federal hate charges for hanging a noose at the back of his pick up truck at a civil rights rally for the Gena 6. Racial tensions in the small town all started with a different noose hanging from a tree outside a high school.
A former flight instructor is getting $5 million for information that led to the arrest and conviction of 9/11 conspirator Zacharias Moussaoui. Clarence Prevost was Moussaoui's instructor with the flight school in Minnesota. He alerted the FBI about Moussaoui's desire to learn how to fly a jumbo jet, but not learn how to land it. And stowaways found on a flight bound for Washington, D.C.. U.S. customs says the two men were caught during inspection of an Ethiopian Airlines jet. They were reportedly hiding in the ceiling of the aircraft. Officials say the men face deportation but could face more charges if others were involved, or if they were testing security.
Now, let's send you back to Kiran in New York.
CHETRY: We're getting a look right now at something amazing. It's a new way for people in wheelchairs to get around, and almost nothing can get in their way. Megan Yekel was diagnosed with the most severe form of muscular dystrophy at the age of three. She's been using a wheelchair since she was nine and like more than 2.7 million Americans, she relies on her wheelchair to get around.
But for many, it's impossible to imagine climbing stairs, being able to look someone in the eye. Now Megan can do all of that. She has what's called "I-bot" wheelchair. It helps here get around all over her college campus. She can climb stairs, roll over curbs and even ride up on two wheels. And Megan joins me now. Good to see you.
So when you first came in, it looks like a sophisticated but albeit normal wheelchair and then you showed us something pretty amazing, which is that you're able to get up on two wheels and be at eye level with people. Will you show us how that works?
MEGAN YEKEL, "iBOT" WHEELCHAIR USER: Sure.
CHETRY: How long did it take you, by the way to get used to maneuvering this wheelchair?
YEKEL: Not very long at all. They do have a training program that teaches you how to use the device. But it doesn't take that long at all to get used to it.
CHETRY: And that's amazing because it appears that it's just balancing on the two back wheels but you say it's very stable actually.
YEKEL: It is. There are six gyroscopes in the device so it kind of works like your segue technology where if you lean a little bit, it does move forward but it won't tip over. You could push me and I won't fall.
CHETRY: What's the reaction from people, when they see you use this to you go upstairs and to get on to two wheels?
YEKEL: Well, most people are intrigued. They're very amazed, especially here in New York. A lot of people are like, wow, that's a really cool ride. How's it doing that? So, it's really hard to go out somewhere and not be asked how it works.
CHETRY: So whether you want to be or not, you're the biggest center of attention?
YEKEL: Yes.
CHETRY: Where did you get?
YEKEL: It's actually from a Johnson & Johnson company, Independent Technology in New Jersey. So, we actually saw it on a piece a couple of years ago. So, we called and went down for a free test drive. That's basically and the rest...
CHETRY: So, you have had it since you were a sophomore in high school and since then they've actually made a newer generation. What's different about the one you have now?
YEKEL: Well, this is the 4,000. The 3,000 looks a little bit different, has all the same features. This one is just a little smoother of a ride. A lot lower floor to feet height so it's easier to do your transfers but all of the features are still the same.
CHETRY: How is it different than other wheelchairs you've used before? What type of mobility and independence has it given you that's different?
YEKEL: Well, I think that I'm actually talking to you at eye level. So, I can actually look you right in the eye. It's easier to go out dancing, to be more social. It's easier to maneuver through a crowd. It climbs curbs. I don't have to worry about finding curbs cut outs in the city. It goes to the beach. I can go on a beach now with my friends and I don't have to worry about being carried everywhere. It really helps out a lot.
CHETRY: You lead a really normal life actually despite the muscular dystrophy, right? You're a freshman in college right now?
YEKEL: Yes, I am. I'm at the University of Scranton. So, I'm loving it.
CHETRY: That is great. That is wonderful. Now, let me ask you a little bit about insurance, because I mean, there are a lot of people that possibly couldn't afford this. Is this covered by insurance?
YEKEL: It is covered by the Veterans Administration for the vets coming back from the war in Iraq and World War II, Vietnam vets. But right now, for private insurance companies is I believe it's about 50 percent coverage.
CHETRY: The "i-Bot" wheelchair. Pretty neat. Megan, thanks for sharing it with us and showing us a little bit about how it works. Thanks for being with us today.
YEKEL: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Wow. Pretty incredible piece of technology.
Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING. The government's new economic stimulus plan and the results of our morning "Quick Vote." We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Well, government rebate checks could be on the way to millions of taxpayers this spring. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says the checks could start going out in mid-April and most people would have them by July. Individuals would get up to $600, couples $1,200 and it brings us to a final check of this morning's "Quick Vote" question, considering it could be months before your rebate check would arrive in the mail, we want to know if the U.S. economy goes into a recession, how long do you think it will last? And the votes were overwhelming today 11 per cent. Less than six months, 13 percent for nine months, most of you, 76 percent believe it will take at least a year, if not more, for the economy to recover. Once again, for all of you who voted, thanks so much. John.
ROBERTS: Wow. People pretty pessimistic there about the state of the future of the economy.
Hey, thanks so much for joining us on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Kiran and I will see you Monday from the Nation's Capital with a preview of the President's state of the union address. Have a great weekend.
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