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John McCain Lashes Out at 'The New York Times'; Earthquake in Nevada; Middle-Aged Women at Risk for Stroke
Aired February 21, 2008 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Did you ever have any meeting with any of your staffers in which they would have intervened to ask you not to see Vicki Iseman or to be concerned about appearances of being too close to a lobbyist?
MCCAIN: No.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: No meeting ever occurred?
MCCAIN: No.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: No meeting staffer was ever concerned about a possible romantic relationship?
MCCAIN: If they were, they didn't communicate that to me.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Did you ever have such a relationship?
MCCAIN: No.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Describe your relationship with Vicki Iseman?
MCCAIN: We're friends. I've seen her on occasions, particularly at receptions and fundraisers, and appearances before the committee. I had many friends in Washington, who represent various interests and those who don't, and I consider her a friend.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you feel like, in terms it of your relationship with lobbyists in general, you were closer to her than with others?
MCCAIN: No. No. I have many friends who represent various interests, ranging from the firemen to the police to senior citizens to various interests, particularly before my committee, and I had meetings with hundreds of them, and various interests, and that was my job to do, to get their input, and obviously people represent interests is -- are fine. That's a constitutional right. The question is whether do they have access or unwarranted influence? And certainly no one ever has in my conduct in my public life and the conduct of my legislative agenda.
Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Did John Weaver, who's one of your former top aides, is quoted on the record saying that he had a conversation with her saying -- basically telling her to butt out. Did you not know of that conversation? Did you know why John Weaver would go on the record describing such a conversation?
MCCAIN: I did not. And I don't know anything about it.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And you...
MCCAIN: John Weaver is a friend of mine, he remains a friend of mine, and -- but I certainly didn't know of anything of that nature.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And do you regret flying on to the -- Iseman was working for this man Paxson -- do you regret flying on this plane or writing those letters to the FCC that -- as part of this?
MCCAIN: Well, first of all, I'm riding on the airplane, that was an accepted practice. I've been on many airplanes, and since then the rules have been changed. It was something I supported. On the, quote, "letters" to the FCC, interestingly, this was brought up in the year 2000 by the "New York Times."
I wrote a letter because the FCC, which usually make a decision within 400 days, had gone almost 800 days. In the letter I said I am not telling you how to make a decision, I'm just telling you that you should move forward and make a decision on this issue. And I believe that was appropriate.
Former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission at the time in 2000 said that that was more than appropriate role for me to play as chairman of the Oversight Committee. So my answer to you is no.
Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: You were aware, obviously, of this story being in preparation for a number of months.
MCCAIN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Did you speak to the "New York Times," and if so, what did you tell them? Did they ever say that the story was not going to run?
MCCAIN: We never tried to have any dialogue in that fashion for months. The "New York Times" has submitted questions and we have answered them fully and exhaustively, and unfortunately many of those answers were not included in a rather long piece in the "New York Times." But we fully cooperated with them in answering many -- any questions that they might have.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: But you never tried to dissuade them from running the story in any fashion?
MCCAIN: No. In fact I never spoke directly to them. I don't know. I really don't know. I'm very disappointed, obviously, but we'll move on with the campaign, talk about the big issues, talk about the challenges that people face in their lives, the economy today, our national security issues, and I'm confident that we will move forward, and I'm confident that we will continue to compete in the primaries a week from next Tuesday, and get the nomination of the party.
And I'm looking forward to it. You know, I -- it's a little hard for me to see the question with the light that -- right, if you could turn down just a little bit, I'd appreciate it.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Yes. The "New York Times" article quotes you having conversations with Bill Keller, the executive editor.
MCCAIN: I had one conversation -- I'm sorry. I did have one conversation with him. I have -- correct the record. I did have a conversation with Mr. Keller. I called him up when the investigation was going on and I asked him basically what was happening and we hoped that we could bring this to closure, but that -- it was a very brief conversation.
I apologize for that. I was not trying to dissuade him from -- in any way from doing the story. I know the "New York Times." So I wasn't trying to dissuade him from -- well, we'd like to have the many months investigation closed at some point, and obviously they did.
Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) again.
MCCAIN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The "New York Times" is pretty explicit in quoting a couple of former aides they say...
MCCAIN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: ...saying that some of your aides intervened and confronted not just Miss Iseman, but you in particular saying, stop seeing her. Don't have a relationship with her because it's going to hurt you. Are you saying that did not happen?
MCCAIN: I don't know if it happened at their level, it certainly didn't happened to me, and I do know this, with some interest, that it's, quote, "former aides," that this whole story is based on anonymous sources. I don't think that that's really something that is -- I'm very disappointed in that.
All of it is, quote, "anonymous sources," quote, "former aides." You know the staff of the Commerce Committee was around 100 to 150 staffers, as I recall. I've had -- it was the largest -- one of the largest staffs of any committee. So, quote, "former aide" and "former staffers" could certainly accomplish a large number of people.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) then nobody in your campaign said, Senator, she's a problem. Don't deal with her?
MCCAIN: No, no, no.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: There was some notable departures from your campaign last summer. Do you believe there's any reason to think there were hurt feelings or motivations for people to make these claims?
MCCAIN: I do not, Kelly(ph). I just don't. I know that those people, we had a very difficult time in the campaign to say the least and we parted as friends from the campaign. And I remain friends with them.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Did you talk to John Weaver about what he has told the "Times" or the "Post"?
MCCAIN: No, I have not.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: No conversations with him during this investigation when they were reaching out to him?
MCCAIN: No.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: He was talking to them?
MCCAIN: No. I've had a couple of conversations with John. He called to congratulate me when we won a couple of the primaries. And I said, thanks, John. Look forward to seeing you. We just -- we didn't -- the only subject discussed on the phone, was he congratulating me on how well our campaign was going.
John and I have known each other for many, many years, and we remain, we remain good friends.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) Miss Iseman in any way?
MCCAIN: With who?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: With Vicki Iseman, on the first time you saw this...
MCCAIN: I did not, obviously, because I haven't been in Washington, no. Not in some time.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Senator, could you speak real quick on the -- on public financing.
MCCAIN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The FEC says that you don't have the right to withdraw from the system and basically your campaign has said yes, you do and you did. Can you address that?
MCCAIN: Well, it was done before in another campaign and I've forgotten which one it was now. We think it's perfectly legal. We have -- one of our advisers is a former chairman of the Federal Elections Commission, and we are confident that it is an appropriate thing to do.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) just want you to comment on what you read in "New York Times? CINDY MCCAIN, SEN. JOHN MCCAIN'S WIFE: Well, obviously I'm very disappointed in the "New York Times," and more importantly, my children and I not only trust my husband but know that he would never do anything to not only disappoint our family, but more -- but disappoint the people of America.
He's a man of great character, and I'm very, very disappointed in the "New York Times."
MCCAIN: I should have had you conduct this meeting.
Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you think this will be damaging or distracting at the very least to your campaign at this juncture?
MCCAIN: Something like this is always distracting and very disappointing and I hope we can by, you know, doing what we're doing here put to rest that the whole situation, but I would imagine that -- that, you know, it does distract, and it keeps me from talking about the big issues, and the not-so-big issues. And -- but hopefully we can get this thing resolved and behind us and move forward with the campaign and I'm confident that we can.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Senator?
MCCAIN: Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) make the allegations? Are you going to have to work harder to campaign, to get those votes for March 4th?
MCCAIN: I think we have a lot of work to do. I'm happy that in the Washington primary and the other primaries, such as in Virginia and Maryland, those who call themselves, quote, "conservatives," that we are getting a significant and even a majority part of the vote there and in Wisconsin.
I still have a lot of work to do to unite the party and I'll keep working at it, and hopefully I can show them my conservative record and we are -- we will win enough delegates that will be necessary to secure the nomination, and I'm confident of the progress we're making, but I also respect Governor Huckabee's desire to remain in the race and -- for as long as he wants to. That's his right to do and I respect it.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Senator, do you think this will have a blowback against you and conservatives, your ability to attract them into your campaign? Talk radio...
MCCAIN: Well I hope that the -- all people, all Americans, will recognize that this is an issue that I hope I can get resolved, and move forward, and I believe we are, and can, and will, and I think the American people are very fair in their judgment. And so, you know, we -- there will be other obstacles in this campaign, I am sure. We all know that presidential campaigns are very, very tough, and so I intend to respond and I intend to move on and I'm confident that we will continue on the path to victory, not only in the primary but in the general election in November, and I look forward to the debate.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Senator, you, on the campaign trail, at every stop, talk about how you want to change Washington. (INAUDIBLE) Washington but you say you want to change Washington. But this kind of story, that really goes to the heart and perhaps contradicting the central theme of your campaign.
MCCAIN: Well, again, I understand that, and that's why I'm so disappointed. You know? A story based and, quote, "anonymous sources," et cetera. But, look. I have a long record. As I said, a 50-year record. A 24-year record as member of Congress, and I'm confident that my record will be reviewed. There are many people who have dealt with me who are now stepping -- forward and talking about how fairly and objectively I ran the Commerce Committee and the leadership I've shown in many reform issues, including my opposition to earmark and pork barrel spending.
So I'd be asking people to look at my entire record, and I think that will stand, but, yes, this is a very disappointing event to pick up the paper this morning, actually to hear last night, that this story was appearing after months of inquiries from the "New York Times."
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Senator?
MCCAIN: Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Tell us when your last communication or contact with Miss Iseman was?
MCCAIN: I think it was several months ago. I think I ran into her at some event.
Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Did you talk to her about the story? About...
MCCAIN: Oh, no. No.
Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) do you feel that that meeting was unnecessary?
MCCAIN: It's John Weaver. And I don't know anything about it. So I don't know what -- since it was in the "New York Times," I don't take it at face value. So -- you'll have to talk to him about it. So -- but I did not know anything about it, so I can't comment on it.
Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: I saw John Weaver this morning.
MCCAIN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And he -- what he said is that he did speak with Miss Iseman and what he wanted to tell her is that he was hearing that she was telling people around town that she had influence with you, that he was worried back then, just like he would today, that it would undermine your campaign. And that's why he went to her. Knowing that, did he make the right move?
MCCAIN: I don't know, because again, I've never discussed it with John Weaver. And so as far as I know, there was no necessity for it, but that's a judgment that he made. So you'd have to discuss it with him, but I did not know anything about it.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) discuss with you?
MCCAIN: No, not necessarily. I'm not his -- no. Not that I would think. Anything else?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
MCCAIN: Thank you all very much. Thanks.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Senator John McCain there with his wife, in Toledo, Ohio, talking about this "New York Times" article that came out this morning.
Should actually say good morning to everybody. I'm Heidi Collins alongside Tony Harris. Welcome to the CNN NEWSROOM.
I want to take a moment to reset the stage for you here. It's a hit-and-run smear campaign, that is how John McCain's advisers are describing this report questioning his ties to a lobbyist eight years ago. We will hear, as we just did, from the senator and taking a lot of questions there, again, alongside his wife.
The campaign is responding to this "New York Times" article, we have it in front of us here. Again, according to the paper, McCain aides were worried in 1999 that appearances of a close relationship with a female lobbyist would undermine his record on fundraising and ethics reform.
The lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, you see her picture, representing clients with business before the McCain's Senate committee. And "Times" says aides confronted the senator and Iseman. The paper says both McCain and Iseman deny she received any special treatment. Both of them say they never had a romantic relationship.
I want to take a moment now to bring in CNN contributor Bill Bennett from "Mornings in America."
Bill, good morning to you. I know that you have some opinions on this and you have been talking with your listeners to and from ever since this report came out this morning. We had word that it was going to be coming out this morning since yesterday. Your thoughts and what your listeners may be saying about it?
WILLIAM BENNETT, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes. I have a couple things for you actually, Heidi. Thank you. One, this, by the way, may have an affect on conservatives in the party that we haven't seen before. This -- the "New York Times" may have done for John McCain what John McCain did not, up to this point, do for himself, which is bring a lot of conservatives in.
I've gotten a lot of e-mails from other conservative radio hosts and publications saying this is like Tojo in World War II, bringing Americans into the war. This kind of attack seems to people be very unfair, when they look through it closely, and so I think maybe we're down to John McCain's benefit in terms of people coming to his side. They say, wait a minute. This reminds people that John McCain is one of them and the "New York Times" is not part of the conservative view of the world. So there's that...
COLLINS: Hey, Bill.
BENNETT: ...that larger political dimension. Go ahead.
COLLINS: Understood. Yes. It's very interesting. I want to read a quick line directly from the article just in case people waking up and joining us particularly from the West Coast have maybe not even seen it yet. One of the first paragraphs here says this: a female lobbyist had been turning up with him at fundraisers, visiting his offices and accompanying him on a client's corporate jet.
Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself, instructing staff members to block the woman's access, privately warning her and repeatedly confronting him. Several people involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity.
Well, what does that say to you? Who's talking here? We don't see a lot of names or sources in this story?
BENNETT: Yes. Unnamed sources. You know, it's the bane of life in Washington. You know, if you're in Congress for 24 years, think you make any enemies? You think you maybe disappoint people, say no to somebody. Every time you say no to somebody in Washington, as they walk out the door, you think, I wonder, you know, how they're handle this?
COLLINS: Well...
BENNETT: You know, there's a -- that's just the way the town works. Let me make a very important point and it's not mine so much as Bob Bennett's, but it's very important. Bob Bennett made this emphatically this morning over the air on my show. He talked -- he, Bob Bennett, talked to the "New York Times," gave a dozen examples of cases, situations, where John McCain acted against the interests of the people this lobbyist represented. Against their interests. Those examples are not cited in the "New York Times" story.
Now, come on. Let's be fair. COLLINS: Well, there are a couple of characterizations made. I listened to Bob Bennett and talking about, well, you know, the way McCain is, apparently according to him, he is someone who you could be friends with him for a long time, but when it comes down to actually signing the bill or pushing for this or that, he says, I know we're friends but I'm going with what I really think.
Let me also ask you this, Bill, do you know John Weaver?
BENNETT: Yes, that is the -- that is the reputation. Yes, I've met him. I don't know him very well.
COLLINS: OK. So where does this go from here? I mean what is it people that are concerned about? Are they concerned about whether or not he had a relationship with this lobbyist? Are they concerned about whether he lobbied for her causes, for her clients, or which do you think it will be as we move forward, if either?
BENNETT: People will look at -- yes, this is the classic case of the elephant. People will look at different parts of it and draw their own conclusion, but people need to read the story carefully and then listen to rebuttal.
Let me say this is someone who's been in controversies, one or two, in Washington and the brother of the guy represents a lot of these people. I will tell you, Heidi, this is the way to handle it. John McCain went before the cameras, answered every single question, dealt with it immediately.
This is how you deal with it. If you were charged with something and you're not guilty of it, or you are guilty of it but you want to explain the circumstance, you stand there, you admit it, you say yes, this is what's happened or no, this did not happen. You answer the questions, case closed.
Another one of my brother's clients, Bill Clinton, if he had done that early on, you know, in his tenure, he might have avoided trouble. But he couldn't do it because of a different circumstance. But again, look at all the facts and details in this case. A larger political implication, Heidi, I think this is going to will help John with conservatives and with other fair-minded people in this country who will see this as a very nasty job by the "New York Times."
COLLINS: What about the "New York Times" coming out and defending this?
BENNETT: Well, let the debate begin, as long as -- sure, let them defend themselves, but how do they answer this charge? There is counter evidence, the "New York Times," that John McCain was influenced to always side with this group, this -- these telecom companies. There are at least a dozen instance where is John McCain did not side with them, in matters of legislation or regulation.
What do you say about that? Plus, you know, these numbers, $80,000 over 10 years means that these -- this is not a huge number as Washington goes. Compare that with the Schumer numbers on the hedge fund contributions.
COLLINS: Yes.
BENNETT: So, I mean, I just think this story is falling apart and there may be another dimension to it. You probably have heard about, "The New Republic" was apparently claiming to run story. And often what drives one part of the media to publish or go out is the fear that someone else will get the scoop and that, that's not -- that's not the cause of veracity, that's something else.
COLLINS: Well, there are people out there who will say, listen, if they really wanted to do damage like the charge is to the McCain campaign then they would have waited even longer, until after he had secured the nomination and gone into the actual, you know, RNC, at the very end of all of this, when there actually are going to be...
BENNETT: You mean in October. October, you mean.
COLLINS: Exactly. October. That's a possibility, is it not? Isn't that more damaging?
BENNETT: It's a fair argument. But that assumes that they're done. You know? That they're finished.
COLLINS: OK.
BENNETT: This is the only shot they got to fire. Do you think this is the last we'll hear from the "New York Times" on John McCain?
Look, I'm all for telling the truth and telling everything about our candidates that's relevant. You know, a man big enough to be president of the United States is big enough to have the truth told about him. But this does not look like a very credible story. You know...
COLLINS: All right.
BENNETT: Talk to journalists as well. The source saying the unnamed, this is not impressive, plus a failure to do the counter evidence. Remember the prosecutor in the Duke case? Remember the thing they really faltered them on? He didn't introduce the evidence that was exculpatory. And you really got do that if you're -- if you're playing with -- at this kind of level with this kind of presidential stakes.
COLLINS: Well, we will continue to follow it, obviously, from all angles here at CNN. We certainly do appreciate your time. Bill Bennett, "Mornings in America." Thank you, Bill.
HARRIS: Let's get some more analysis now from our Bill Schneider, who has listened to the McCain news conference.
Bill, let me get your initial thoughts on this and then maybe we'll drill down on this a little deeper.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POL. ANALYST: Well, John McCain, of course, came out today and basically denied the facts reported by the "New York Times," and cited the fact that they were using anonymous sources, which immediately makes people very suspicious. Anonymous sources -- you know, there's a tradition of that in Washington. But it does raise questions about, you know, did these people have a motive?
The sources were described as former staff member whose were disillusioned with Senator McCain. Why were they disillusioned? Did they have a particular gripe or grievance with the senator? So there are a lot of questions about this story.
He denied ever being confronted by members of his staff. That's a central, factual issue between him and the "New York Times." The "Times" said in a series of confrontations with Mr. McCain, warning him that he was risking his campaign and career, just now Mr. -- Senator McCain can -- essentially denied that there were any such confrontations, that he ever met with these people on his staff, who were warning him about his relationship with Miss. Iseman, and how damaging it could be.
That is a real factual inconsistency.
HARRIS: Yes.
SCHNEIDER: And you want to see some evidence one way or the other. I mean what's the "Times" got?
HARRIS: Yes. But let's be clear about this. There has -- there is a history of some tremendous reporting that we can all remember that -- reporting that was done by virtue of unnamed and anonymous sources. So maybe the jury is still out on that, but we know that that is also a fact even as we also understand people are suspicious of unnamed sources.
SCHNEIDER: Yes. That's right. They are suspicious. And I think that -- and you know, and we have to -- there has to be some more digging. People have to come forward. If they have an accusation to make, they really have to say, here I am. This is what happened. This is when it happened. And they have to be able to confront Senator McCain directly on this. You know?
He tried to practice what I call the first principle of damage control, which is let the worst information out first right at the very beginning. That's what, of course, Richard Nixon did not do during Watergate, and he paid a price for it. Bill Clinton didn't do that when he was alleged to have had a relationship with Monica Lewinsky and eventually that damaged him as well.
Ronald Reagan did do that in Iran-Contra.
HARRIS: Yes.
SCHNEIDER: He did not acknowledged that he had sold arms to the contras. So the first principle of damage control is to make sure the worst information is out at the very beginning so it doesn't get worse and worse day by day. HARRIS: OK.
SCHNEIDER: McCain is trying to practice that, but, of course, we don't know what all the information is yet.
HARRIS: Absolutely. Bill Schneider, we appreciate it. Thanks for your time, Bill.
We have to take a break and have more of our top story this morning in just a moment. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Want to replay it for you just a little sound from Senator John McCain out of Toledo, Ohio this morning, speaking at the Toledo Park Inn, regarding the "New York Times" article that came out this morning.
Let's go ahead and listen in for just a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: At no time have I ever done anything that would betray the public trust nor make a decision which in any way would not be in the public interests and would favor any one or any organization.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Our Dana Bash is covering the McCain news conference. She is in Toledo, Ohio with us this morning.
So Dana, you were there, you were in the room, you asked him several questions. What are your immediate thoughts about the way it all went down?
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it's interesting. John McCain did what John McCain insists he always does and will continue to do during his campaign at times good and bad. And he stood and he answered as many questions as we all had, but in his answers were quite interesting in that he pretty much denied and said that the heart of this "New York Times" story, whether it is a suggestion that he had a romantic relationship with Vicki Iseman, the Washington lobbyist, or perhaps more importantly for his campaign and the theme of his campaign, the suggestion that he used his influence in the Senate, in particular, and the Senate Commerce Committee to help her and her clients in the telecommunications industry.
He went through a denying all of those suggestions and when you get to the nitty-gritty and the heart of it, he also said that he did not have any kind of interaction with any of his staff, in the Senate or on the campaign eight years ago. Nobody came to him and said that he -- that they were worried about his relationship with her. That was really the heart of the "New York Times" story. Saying that, the kind of headline was, that there was deep concern inside the McCain world eight years ago. That he had this relationship. He said he didn't do it. The interesting moment I think, also, was Cindy McCain, Heidi. His wife standing by him during the entire time smiling and then when I asked what she thought, without missing a beat, said that she and her children trust him and don't believe he would ever violate their trust or the trust of the American people. That's the kind of support, that's the kind of moment that a politician at this time really relishes and he got it from his wife.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes and you would expect that that would happen. You would hope that would happen for him. But I want to ask you about this, as much as you were able to hear earlier. We were talking with Bill Bennett in Morning in America, Bill Bennett.
He drives an interesting point, that it's possible. You know, a lot have been -- that a lot of criticism about John McCain trying to bring in the conservatives to his campaign. Is it possible now that what Bill was saying is that they may rally around him after this article? A lot of people saying that, you know, it's unsourced, can't be proven. Is that a possibility?
BASH: Heidi, it is the first thing I thought of last night when I started talking to some of Senator McCain's senior advisers when the story broke. And the first thing they did was go after and go after in a very scathing way, "The New York Times." I thought to myself, I've seen this movie before. It happened in 2004, when I was covering the Bush campaign. When things like that would come out, the reaction inside these Republican campaigns is to go after especially a newspaper like "The New York Times."
And already have getting some e-mails from conservative who have been a little bit skeptical of John McCain. It really -- having solidarity with him and saying that "The New York Times" is wrong. One conservative I spoke to by e-mail, just a few minutes ago said that the only thing that can help John McCain right now are Hillary Clinton and "The New York Times." So, you're absolutely right.
This is a big part of I think why the McCain campaign is turning their criticism and turning it in such a biting way on "The New York Times." But it was really interesting, Heidi, you saw John McCain here. He was very subdued. I thought he would be a lot more defiant. But he was very careful not to be use the word disappointed over and over again.
It's very different from words like gutter journalism that his campaign has been using. Kind of a good cop/bad cop thing going on inside the McCain campaign.
COLLINS: All right. Well, we know that you are following the story very closely for us. CNN's Dana Bash coming to us from Toledo, Ohio on the McCain campaign trail. Thanks so much, Dana.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And very quickly. Let's get you to Rob Marciano in the CNN severe weather center. Rob has news of a 6.3, I'm getting a word now, Rob, magnitude earthquake in Nevada?
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. It was -- first came across the wire at 6.0. And we've got reports from some of our affiliates out in Idaho that they actually felt this. This is in Northeast Nevada. It is officially 11 miles east-southeast of Wells, Nevada. It was right along I-80. At 6.3 magnitude. So that would make a big earthquake and what's striking to me is its depth.
The USGS is reporting that its depth at 6.2 miles deep. That is very shallow, which means that not only would it be felt at the, near the epicenter, but it would be felt, like we heard miles away. In excess of 100 miles away. This is about 152 miles west of Salt Lake City, obviously, along I-80. So it is in a fairly populated area for Nevada standards. We just have to see.
Typically, an earthquake of this shallow depth would have some sort of damage, and you know, some of the less structured buildings. So as far as, you know, what's around that area, it's pretty remote, although it's right along the I-80 corridor. So again, 6.3 magnitude quake in Northeastern Nevada -- 11 miles from Wells, Nevada and about 150 miles from Salt Lake City. Probably about the same, maybe a little bit more from Boise, but being felt as far away as parts of Southern Idaho. And we'll continue to monitor this. They just up, Tony, from a 6.0.
So as these reports continue to come in. USGS analyzes it, we'll give you that updated information. I wouldn't be surprised to see some aftershocks either.
HARRIS: Yes, exactly. OK, Rob, appreciate it. Thanks, man.
MARCIANO: You got it.
COLLINS: Deep in the heart of Texas, that's where the Democratic presidential candidates are campaigning today and it's where they will face-off tonight. Barack Obama, trying to keep the momentum going after ten straight primaries and caucus wins. He leads in the overall delegate count too. Both he and Hillary Clinton are crisscrossing the state ahead of the March 4th primary. Clinton is counting on Texas and Ohio to get back in the game. She's banking up support from the large Hispanic population in Texas to help her win.
HARRIS: Even her husband calls her the underdog now. What does Hillary Clinton need to do to get back on top for the Democratic race? We have got the "Chicago Tribune's" Clarence Page with us.
Clarence, great to talk to you.
CLARENCE PAGE, CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Good morning. Great to be here.
HARRIS: I have to ask you -- I don't know if you had an opportunity to listen to the comments a short time ago from John McCain. I feel a need to want to defend the folks who do what we do as journalists for a living in that many great stories, in the annals of journalism have started out as reporting done with unnamed sources. And I suppose I'm a little dubious of the first line of defense from those who would defend John McCain to attack the messenger.
Do you share that sentiment with me? PAGE: Well, one does have a little suspicion right away when the messenger is the first to be attack in a case like this. I understand John McCain's anger. The sources are supposedly people within his own campaign. So I'm sure he feels somewhat betrayed. But it's also one of those cases where there is the appearance of impropriety here or some kind of a cover-up. But there's no actual criminal conduct or directly immoral conduct that McCain is accused of here.
HARRIS: Yes and the other point, Bill Bennett is making the point that there are many cases out there that haven't been reported by "The New York Times" so far to suggest that John McCain actually went against the wishes of the station groups that he was being lobbied by, by Vicki Iseman.
We all know that, at this period of time, there were a number of station groups that were looking to set up duopolies in various cities around the country. And that we know that on the critical question of whether those deals could move forward, the Commerce Committee said yes.
PAGE: Yes, that's right. And, again, it's the appearance of impropriety. Appearance of a conflict of interests, and I think the reason why we care about this so much now is because John McCain is the Republican frontrunner and there's some buyers remorse perhaps being generated in the Republican ranks right now, in regard to remembering that John McCain himself has been, in the past, accused of conflict of interests.
There was the Keating Five case and that sort of thing, which didn't really come up much during the primary because all the Republican candidates were observing the Ronald Reagan 11th commandment, which is do not attack a fellow Republican.
HARRIS: Yes.
PAGE: So now, we're hearing about these old allegations. No, this case of Ms. Iseman -- we're talking about 1999 and 2000. So it's pretty old stuff but it's all coming out now, just as people are talking about old stories with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
HARRIS: Hey, Clarence, I got to ask you. Let's switch gears and talk about the Democrats for a moment. Hillary Clinton -- what are you thinking of her chances now moving forward? I hear so many folks in the pundit class willing to sort of writing her chances off at this point?
PAGE: Well, even her own husband.
HARRIS: Yes, yes.
PAGE: He was saying yesterday that if she doesn't win Texas and Ohio, it's over. That's a pretty dramatic language, but it's also fairly typical of Clinton strategy that has worked in the past. Both of them perform best under pressure.
We saw after Iowa when the pundit class was writing off the Clinton campaign. That she came back that weekend, quite aggressively, and in a lot of different ways generated a big surge especially of women to come out in her favor in New Hampshire and turn things around. And it's been neck and neck ever since. So that's what they're hoping for now, but she is on the ropes.
HARRIS: I got to ask you, well, quickly. And I know I don't have much time, but let's play that bite. You mentioned it from Bill Clinton. Let's play that and then I got a quick question for you.
PAGE: Sure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If she wins in Texas and Ohio, I think she'll be the nominee. If you don't deliver for her, I don't think she can be. It's all on you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: There it is. But let's talk about Barack Obama, just one quick question on Barack. Ten in a row. Boy. Is there anything that you can see that slows him down and potentially stops him if you're running the Clinton campaign? And maybe McCain at this point, what do you do?
PAGE: Well, the pattern of all those victories that he has had is that, except for Illinois, they've been smaller states. Ohio and Texas and Pennsylvania coming up in April are big states that Hillary Clinton is counting on. And also, she's hoping that Hispanic voters in Texas might provide a firewall. It all comes down right now to turnout. Who turns out on Election Day. And we've been seeing that repeatedly. Haven't we?
HARRIS: That's the truth. Clarence, thanks for your time this morning. We appreciate it. Clarence Page, "Chicago Tribune."
Still ahead, Obama, Clinton, head-to-head, face-to-face tonight. Don't miss the Democratic presidential debate hosted by CNN along with Univision. Campbell Brown moderates our live coverage from Austin, Texas beginning at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific, only on CNN, your home for politics.
News about your health is next. An alarming trend, younger women at risk for stroke. Dr. Sanjay Gupta drops by to explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Middle-aged women at risk for stroke. It's a dangerous trend. CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is in New York for us this morning to talk a little bit more about this.
Sanjay, a lot of people wondering why younger women are having more strokes?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, this is really interesting, Heidi, because overall in this country, we've seen actually a decrease in stroke rates among most populations but one group of women, particularly women between the ages of 34 -- sorry, 35 and 54 have continued to have increases in strokes. And the reason really is probably two things.
One is that we have an obesity epidemic that we've talked about a lot, Heidi, and were starting to see the ramifications of that. The second thing I think is also important is that is, that we don't think of strokes in women, especially younger women. And as a result, they show up at the emergency room, they may not always get the correct diagnosis. Very interesting story.
Another thing that came out of this, this particular conference was that it's important to call 911 if you think you're having a stroke. Now that may sound obvious, but a lot of people will call their doctor's office first. They don't feel right or they call their friend or trying to get a taxi ride. The fastest taxi to the hospital is calling 911. And you need to do it if you're having some specific signs and symptoms.
Things to look out for if you think you're having a stroke. You might get weakness, for example, or numbness in your face, arms, or legs. You may have sudden loss of vision. You may also have slurred speech or sort of thick speech -- people have described to me -- sudden or severe headache. But Heidi, it's important to point out that stroke symptoms can be vague sometimes.
So if you've been feeling well, then all of a sudden you just feel this real onset of general tiredness that could be signs of stroke as well. Get treatment early. That seems to be the key.
COLLINS: I think a lot of people just can't believe that something like that might be happening to them. So are there better or worse times to get the best care if you actually are having a stroke or heart attack?
GUPTA: Yes. You know, you're right. First of all, people don't believe that it's happening to them and as a result, they wait too long. And that is a problem. That's an important message that we can tell people today. You and I, Heidi, that it's important to get the care.
There are -- you obviously can't choose when you might be having a problem with your heart or having a stroke, but if you show up at the hospital on weekends or at night and there's new study coming up that show that your survival from cardiac arrest, that's when your heart stops beating, is actually worse. In the nighttime, for example, 14.7 percent versus survival being close to 20 percent during the day or in the early evening time.
Now, cardiac arrest is when your heart just simply stops. That's different than a heart attack, where the blood flow to your heart is interrupted for a period of time and you start to get chest pains. You have a little bit more time with a heart attack but obviously you need to get to a hospital fast.
COLLINS: Wow. Absolutely and preferably on the weekday, if it all possible.
GUPTA: Yes. You can choose to have.
COLLINS: Yes, I know what you mean. All right, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Thank you, Sanjay.
GUPTA: Thanks, Heidi.
HARRIS: So are your eyes playing tricks? You might think that's a train coming down the tracks. Nope. It's a Pontiac.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A killer at large, a community in fear. New evidence today linking the killer of Nevada college student, Brianna Dennison, and the rapes of two other women. Dennison's body was found last week in Reno. Police say this distinctive pair of women's underwear was found in a field near Dennison's body. They say it contains DNA linking the killer to other attacks. The underwear does not belong to Dennison. Investigators say it could have been left intentionally to taunt police.
COLLINS: Another lawsuit expected to be filed today in that discredited 2006 Duke Lacrosse sexual assault case. 38 current and former players will name the university, the city of Durham, and others as defendants. Among their claims, invasion of privacy.
Three players accused of raping a stripper and an off-campus team party are not part of the lawsuit. The charges against them were drop and of course took the unusual step of declaring them innocent. The prosecutor was disbarred. The accused players later reached a financial settlement with the school.
HARRIS: One F-15 pilot dead, the other said to be in good condition. Their fighter jets apparently collided during an exercise yesterday over the Gulf of Mexico. Both pilots ejected and were rescued. But one, later died. They were stationed at Eglin Air Force Base. Cause of the crash not yet known, but weather in the Gulf was clear.
COLLINS: Overseas for a moment now. President Bush wrapping up his five-nation Africa trip in Liberia this morning. He is meeting with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. She is the first woman elected president on the continent. She heads the country founded by freed American slaves and now struggling to recover from 14 years of Civil War.
President Bush's message to her, the United States is standing with you. He is promising new education aid to help Liberia's children.
HARRIS: Off road and on the tracks. A car, driving through a train tunnel.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COLLINS: Fallujah, Iraq. U.S. commanders say it is a success story when security is tight. CNN's Barbara Starr got a special look at the city where so many Americans have lost their lives.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Fallujah, once an al Qaeda stronghold in the Sunni triangle. Today U.S. commanders say Fallujah is a success story. Violence is down. Iraqis are back to the chores of daily life, shopping, rebuilding. A man fixing shoes.
But this is a town where hundreds of marines and soldiers lost their lives, fighting to take the town block by block. Today, commanders say Fallujah is just one example of why U.S. troops have to stay longer in Iraq to ensure these fragile security gains really take hold.
ADM. WILLIAM FALLON, COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: This is good.
STARR: CNN was the only news organization to accompany Admiral William Fallon, head of the U.S. Central Command, as he walked the streets to see for himself.
FALLON: It was a huge change from the last time I was here. Many, many more people out, shops open.
STARR: There is security to be sure. The admiral starts of surrounded by marines. But as we move farther into town, we are accompanied by Iraqi police and ordinary Iraqis readily approach the admiral.
(on camera): Here in Fallujah, it's easy to see that things are better. Lots of people on the streets, lots of shops are open. But still, this is a city with many problems.
(voice-over): And topping the list, fuel and electricity. Power is on just perhaps three hour as day. And many of the men on the streets don't have jobs. Some are paid by the U.S. so they don't join the insurgency. There may be no better example of the challenges still facing Fallujah than the gold market. Shops are open again, but no one has money for jewelry.
(on camera): When al Qaeda ruled here in Fallujah, all of this might have been unthinkable.
(voice-over): But in Fallujah and across Iraq, Fallon and other top commanders know even with security improvements, now it's a race against time to help Iraqis get on with their lives. Barbara Starr, CNN, Fallujah.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: John McCain, lashing out at "The New York Times."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: At no time, have I ever done anything that would betray the public trust.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: What was his relationship with a female lobbyist?
COLLINS: But first, most American adults know everything about their children's vaccinations, but little about their own. CNN medical correspondent Judy Fortin, shows you why you need to stay up to date on your vaccinations. In your 30s, 40s and 50s.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JUDY FORTIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Marla Rodgers is getting her flu shot. She gets one every year. But recently, she had to give an immunization update for her job. She hand no idea what she needed.
MARLA RODGERS, PATIENT: I had to call my mom, poor thing, and find my childhood immunization sheets from high school.
FORTIN: Rodgers is not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control, most American adults know everything about their kids' vaccination and very little about their own. Experts are asking adults, especially over the age of 30, to check what immunizations they need or need to update in order to be protected against certain illnesses.
DR. WILLIAM SCHAFFNER, CDC-VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL: The emphasis has been on children. Also, most of the vaccines we've used have been focused on children. But it's a new era now. Adults, all of us, we need to think about ourselves, protecting ourselves.
FORTIN: In our 30s and 40s, getting vaccinations with Hepatitis A and B and the new whooping cough vaccine is important.
SCHAFFNER: Whooping cough is back. They thought that that was a disease we conquered in the 1940s and 1950s. But it is coming back and it can affect adults.
FORTIN: And review when you had your last tetanus shots. They should be updated every ten years. Women who are sexually active may want to ask about the new HPD vaccine that protects against the Human Papilloma Virus, the primary cause of cervical cancer. At this point, it's only recommended for those from 11 to 26, but that may change soon.
SCHAFFNER: The studies are under way. We don't have the information yet. I suspect that once the data are in, we will expand the recommendation.
FORTIN: Also, it's a good idea to make sure you've had the MMR vaccine which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Catching those viruses as an adult can have some serious health effects. So protect yourself.
In our 50s, get a flu shot. And if you are susceptible to illness, think about getting a pneumonia vaccine. Later in your 50s, ask your doctor about shingles vaccine. And if you travel a lot, confirm with your doctor or check the CDC website to make sure you're up to date for those regions of the world. It's important you keep a record of all of these vaccinations. Since different countries require different shots. Judy Fortin, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: So, it's a train, right? No, no, no. It's not a train, it's a car heading down commuter rail tracks in Portland, Oregon. What? Surveillance video caught the action. Police say a drunken man -- you think -- drove for nearly a mile inside the rail tunnel on Saturday. No one was hurt. But the car costs $60,000 to damage on the tracks. Officials had to use -- yes, what -- yes, why is it so expensive. Officials had to use heavy equipment to remove the car. OK, maybe the heavy equipment damage?
COLLINS: And look, he's gone off the rail.
HARRIS: Oh! Police say, Stein, the guy's name here, told him he was just trying to get home.
COLLINS: Shortest distance between two-point straight line. Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown.
McCain, fighting back. Calling a "New York Times" report a sneer campaign. Was his relationship with a Washington lobbyist out of bounce?
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