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CNN Sunday Morning
Wildfire Causes Evacuations in California; Karzai Survives Assassination Attempt
Aired April 27, 2008 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CO-HOST: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is April 27th. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
T.J. HOLMES, CO-HOST: And I'm T.J. Holmes. It's 7:00 o'clock here in the east; 4:00 a.m. out in California where a lot of people are wide awake right now, not getting a lot of sleep because of this -- a wildfire causing at least 100 people to pack up and evacuate their homes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We wish the best for these kids and these moms.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: One Texas community is showing its support for children from a polygamist group, but not everyone is happy the kids are there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Please excuse me if I'm a little sleepy. At 3:00 a.m. this morning, the red phone rang. (BEEP) a wedding planner.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Yes. The president doesn't get to stay up late and party as you see that often but he was up late last night for special event. We'll show you all the highlights. You don't want to miss it.
NGUYEN: Let's start with this, though.
Bullets flying, dignitaries ducking for cover; we're following a developing story out of Afghanistan this morning.
HOLMES: And the president there, Hamid Karzai and others had to scramble when gunfire and explosions erupted at a military ceremony.
And it actually took people a second to figure out what was going on. Officials say two people were killed, nearly a dozen wounded but the president was not hurt. Journalist Tom Coghlan is on the phone with us from Kabul. Tom, was this an attack that targeted anyone in particular at that ceremony or was just meant to wreak havoc?
THOMAS COGHLAN, JOURNALIST (through phone): Well, this attack was clearly hoping to hit President Hamid Karzai, but to be honest with you, there were a great many people in that podium besides Hamid Karzai that the Taliban would be delighted to have assassinated. We had the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Dan McNeill, USAF (ph), the U.S. ambassador, the British ambassador, the French ambassador, most of the Afghan parliament and all of the Afghan cabinet.
So, that place was packed with targets. And it's a miracle, really, that the Taliban didn't do better. They managed to kill one Afghan lawmaker, a tribal leader and they also killed a 10-year-old child during this attack. But three MPs were injured and we think another 10 or so people were also hit by fire during this incident.
HOLMES: And, Tom, describe for people -- you've covered that area, you cover what we've been seeing as a resurgent and more powerful Taliban, is this a more brazen attack from what they've been doing in the past? Should we take this as an example of them getting even stronger or is this just par for the course for them at least?
COGHLAN: Well, certainly the Taliban would like you to think that this attack represents their demonstrating to the government of Afghanistan, the people of Afghanistan, and the wider world, that they are able to strike any place, any time. There was massive security around this parade and there was considerable concern.
I had western diplomats telling me privately several days ago that they were worried about this event, worried that the Taliban might be targeted. But really, the area was (INAUDIBLE) with the cordon of police and there will be a lot of questions asked now as to how the Taliban were able to penetrate that ring of security.
Now your question asks whether this demonstrates a greater strength of the Taliban. I think absolutely in military terms, most military analysts here or certainly senior military officers would claim that they are beginning to see some progress in containing the Taliban in some areas of the country where the Taliban has been fighting much harder insurgency in the last couple of years.
However, the Taliban seem to be switching their tactic - they're going more for this what the military calls asymmetric tactic, this high profile attack (ph) using suicide bombers, using this kind of event to try to draw publicity to impress upon the world that they're a force to be reckoned with.
So, that's the situation as I see it at this time.
HOLMES: All right. Tom Coghlan, often helping us out (ph), a journalist there in Kabul and Afghanistan, we appreciate you as always, Tom.
COGHLAN: Thank you.
NGUYEN: Well, back here at home, remembering a fallen soldier. The funeral for Staff Sergeant Matt Maupin gets under way this afternoon in Ohio. He's the soldier whose remains were found last month in Iraq, nearly four years after he was captured.
Yesterday, hundreds of people turned out in Batavia, Ohio for a memorial procession. Maupin went missing after his convoy was attacked by insurgents in Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Friends and buddies and relatives, that he gave his life for this country. It will help bring the closure to his life and it will give the others the alternative to keep help defending our country for our freedom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: A tip from an Iraqi helped the military find Maupin's remains.
HOLMES: We will turn to politics here in the U.S. now: A light schedule today for the Democrats. Barack Obama is making a stop at Indianapolis.
NGUYEN: Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, is in North Carolina for the event there tonight, and the two -- well, they're running neck and neck, heading into next week's primaries, 10 days from now.
CNN's Jim Acosta has more on the battle in Indiana.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Across the Hoosier state, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama played a game of campaign 101. And as far as the polls are concerned, the race for the Indiana primary is all tied up.
(voice-over): New state, same line of attack from Hillary Clinton, as she campaigned with her chief surrogate in Indiana -- Senator Evan Bayh -- Clinton once again sized up Barack Obama as all talk.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D-NY) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If it were so easy that all you did was show up in Washington and say, let's change -
(LAUGHTER)
CLINTON: I think Evan and I would have figured that out awhile ago.
ACOSTA: Even though Obama is under mounting pressure in some Democratic Party circles to bring out the heavy artillery and fire back, the Illinois senator made it clear he's keeping his powder dry. SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D-IL) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's interesting, when I don't always hit back, then folks go, "What's the matter with him? How come, you know, maybe he's not mean enough; maybe he's not tough enough." You know, one of the things I learned in the school yard was the folks who were talking tough all the time, they're not always that tough.
ACOSTA: Obama is in instead showing Hoosier State voters how the game is played with him on his side of the court. So, it's in with the basketball and out with those Pennsylvania gutter balls.
And there won't be any more one on ones on the debate stage either. He rejected a call from Clinton for a Lincoln-Douglas style debate with no moderators.
DAVID AXELROD, OBAMA POLITICAL ADVISER: It doesn't matter, whether it's Lincoln-Douglas, standing, sitting in - what language it's in. It does not matter. We want to use this time in this way. And after 21 debates, I think the American people have seen quite a few.
ACOSTA: As for Clinton, the delegate map only gets harder if she loses the next two contests in Indiana and North Carolina. Would she fight on to other states like Kentucky?
CLINTON: Well, I don't make any predictions or speculate on things that haven't happened yet. I'm going to try to do my very best here in Indiana and then I'll get on to Kentucky.
ACOSTA (on camera): With the race dead even in Indiana and Obama doing well in North Carolina, his campaign, to use a basketball analogy, may be trying to run out the clock. The game plan -- to try to pull ahead while at the same time avoid fouling out with voters.
Jim Acosta, CNN, Anderson, Indiana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And we'll have a whole lot more from Jim and his basketball analogies, coming up a little later this morning. He'll join us live from Indianapolis. That is in our next hour.
Honey, can I borrow your plane? John McCain has been using his wife's plane for campaign trips. The "New York Times" reporting the plane was used for seven months, ending this past March. That was at the same time the campaign was strapped for cash.
Legislation which was backed by McCain makes presidential candidates pay charter rates for private planes instead of cheaper first class rates. But, there is a loophole there that allowed McCain to use the family-owned plane at much lower costs. McCain is sure to be asked about the plane truth today.
You can hear his response in its entirety on CNN's BALLOT BOWL. Go beyond those 20-second sound byte, it's today 4:00 and 6:00 o'clock Eastern. NGUYEN: Well, people are fleeing wildfires in Southern California. Take a look, evacuations ordered overnight near Los Angeles. These are new pictures just in to CNN, you can see the flames moving closer to those homes.
More than 230 acres have been charred in the Sierra Madre. But so far, no homes have burned. Fire officials say it could be days before they get that blaze contained. Residents in at least 100 homes were ordered to leave.
You know, we're going to talk to the city manager next hour for the latest on this fast-moving story.
HOLMES: Well, where are all the children? This morning, two moms from that polygamist ranch in West Texas say, they can't find their kids.
NGUYEN: Yes, the moms say their boys were taken from the ranch and aren't on any of those temporary housing lists. And a Corpus Christi newspaper reports: Child Protective Services is confident no children had been lost. Those agency officials also tell the newspaper, "Sometimes it's hard to determine who their parents are."
HOLMES: Meanwhile, in Liverpool, Texas, dozens of children from the compound are settling in at a group home. KHOU's Kevin Peters explains how that community is coming together to help those children.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Baby clothing, a lot of diapers, kids toys.
KEVIN PETERS, KHOU-TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Liverpool City Hall may be just a tiny shack. But today, it's warehousing something much bigger than these walls could hold.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We believe in community. We believe in these kids, we believe in helping each other.
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE OFFICER: Lots of diapers (ph).
PETERS: One after another.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody has to come together and especially in Houston.
PETERS: People stopped by to donate.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, guys. It's Brenda.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Brenda, thank you so much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
PETERS: A caring gesture to ease the lives of three dozen children at the nearby Kidz Harbor.
(on camera): The children spent their first night at the shelter, and workers tell us, they are adopting as best they can.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want to keep it as close of what they were doing at home as possible.
PETERS (voice-over): Kidz Harbor says, the children are playing with the toys, with each other and are adjusting to their new surroundings. As far as their demeanor -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Really quiet right now but lots of smiles and -- which lets me know that they feel comfortable.
PETERS: The shelter is preparing to house these children for several months if not longer. That will depend on what the court's rule.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to be here every day.
PETERS: One protester camped out in front of the shelter. He says the state wrongly separated the children from their parents.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They have no evidence, no physical evidence whatsoever, and if they do, they should bring -- do it through the rules. Nobody is above the law.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We wish the best for these kids and these moms.
PETERS: People who donated have their own questions about the state's investigation, but the focus now...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If each person was just to give a little, think of everything that they could have.
PETERS: Must be on taking care of the children.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: The polygamist case continues this week and on Tuesday, a judge will hear more arguments related to the children's custody.
HOLMES: Coming up here, remembering the victim of a deadly shark attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB BABBITT, VICTIM'S FRIEND: Here's this guy, swimming with 20, 30 and 40-year-olds out in the ocean, and living life to its fullest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And today on the beach, people are still scared that shark is still out there.
NGUYEN: Plus: Reynolds Wolf is tracking some severe storms yet again today. Hey, Reynolds. REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Betty. That's right, in your home state of Texas, we've got some strong, strong thunderstorms, especially near Austin and San Antonio. Now coming up: We're going to let you know how long those are going to last. Plus: We're going to talk about wildfires occurring out in the west. That's just moments away.
NGUYEN: All right. Well, your kids are too young, but Reynolds, I want you to take note, because police say, a 7-year-old boy took his grandmother's car on a joy ride. Look at that, and grandma is fuming mad. We'll have some reaction to this, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Shaky ground in Nevada. More than 100 aftershocks since Friday night and scientists -- well, they're worried that a bigger quake could be on the way, possibly even a magnitude six. The latest aftershock cracked walls, threw items off store shelves, and so much more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CURTIS WORRAL, WINE SHOP OWNER: She said there were hundreds of bottles on the ground and I thought she was exaggerating, but when I got here, there were hundreds of bottles on the ground.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: She told you. Well, this morning, residents are cleaning up all that mess and that wasted wine, and bracing for the next quake.
HOLMES: Well, they are bracing once again in the south -- Texas, in particular. Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf has his eye on more severe weather. Good morning to you, sir.
WOLF: Good morning. Especially in places like Austin, Texas, where in downtown Austin, on Town Lake near the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue, Del Valle (ph) is exactly what I'm talking about. Back here to places like the Hula Hut, they're going to get strong storms especially into the afternoon hours and later this morning.
Right now, here's Austin right along I-35, things are good downtown for the time being. But check out the development up to the west, in the hill country, in places like Lago Vista, it's going to be very, very rough there in those places. Also, in places like New Orleans, where they have day two of jazz fest, it's going to be another wet day for you, back into parts of Biloxi, even to Mobile, Alabama, we've got some scattered showers and thunderstorms.
North Alabama, back into Northern Georgia here in Atlanta, rain drops this morning. Into the Carolinas, we're seeing the rain drops move into parts of Roanoke and back into Richmond. Even New York this morning, some scattered showers along Indy Avenue of the Americas.
Meanwhile, out to the west, we're dealing with something entirely different, not having an issue in terms of rain but rather the dry conditions and the heat, where in many spots in the L.A. basin yesterday, heat (ph) high is getting up into the 90s.
One place we're watching, is just the north of the 210 Freeway, as we zoom in on this location, here's where we have the problems north of Sierra Madre where we have, again, the wildfires that are popping, over 100 acres, in fact I believe, the last count was what - around 220, 230 acres is how far it spread. You'll notice in Altadena, the winds mainly, north, northeast, around 10, some spots up to 15 miles an hour, that's going to help fan these flames.
And take a look at this L.A. tower cam that we have for you. Now, at this vantage point, you can't see anything, it looks pretty good for the time being. However, back in the hills, it is just choked with smoke. We've got some video for you and the video shows, again, the flames, shows the -- just the unbelievable conditions people, without question, are going to be evacuated as these flames move much closer to these dwellings -- certainly a rough time in Southern California.
Let's send it back to you at the desk.
NGUYEN: Well, no doubt, Reynolds. In fact, we're going to be speaking with the Sierra Madre city manager in the next hour to get the latest on that fire. But, they could use a little help from Mother Nature but it doesn't like it's going to be happening anytime soon.
WOLF: Not today.
NGUYEN: Thank you.
HOLMES: All right. And Reynolds, you just pointing out, your kids are a little too young to maybe been doing what we're about to see this kid do. But this young man is still years away from getting his license, probably 10 or so maybe. But police say that didn't stop a 7-year-old Florida boy from taking a joy ride, if that's what we want to call it, in his grandmother's SUV.
NGUYEN: Yes, they say he drove it until the wheel fell off, I mean, it actually fell off, folks. Look at that, the trek around his neighborhood left a trail of damage. In fact, his grandmother was ready to take matters into her own hands.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZIKKITA STRATFORD, GRANDMOTHER: I want to whip his behind. That's what I want to do right now. If I thought they wouldn't take me to jail, I'd whip his behind right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: She is ready to put a whopping on him. The boy was not hurt in the excursion but there's no word whether his grandmother got her hands on him. Police say it's unlikely that he will be prosecuted but I don't know if he wants to go to grandma's house any time soon. HOLMES: That's what used to happen. I don't know about you all but your grandmother's...
NGUYEN: Oh, I got whopping.
HOLMES: Everybody in your neighborhood had the right to whop your butt if you did something wrong.
NGUYEN: And they're probably lining up to whop his butt right about now.
WOLF: Probably now, I'd be bleeding from everything except my hair. My grandma would just be -- it would be bad news. I can't believe that.
NGUYEN: It is not just with the hand. Sometimes, she'll ask you to go get a switch or...
WOLF: Large pieces of furniture.
NGUYEN: Yes, a fly swatter, you know, something.
WOLF: Anything you can get a hold of.
NGUYEN: Man, today, I think that's called abuse. What were our parents thinking?
WOLF: Back then it was called discipline.
NGUYEN: Exactly. And today, some people still believe in it.
HOLMES: And still have my parents arrested for some of the stuff they did to me, I think (ph).
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: All right. We, on that note we'll move on, just in case.
Are you thinking of buying, or selling, or even refinancing your home? Well, there's information that you need to know.
HOLMES: Also: A section of California's beaches, Southern California in particular here, still closed while the search goes on for a killer shark.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: A family is gunned down and now police say, a teenager shot and killed his father, stepmother and two siblings. It happened in Easley, South Carolina -- a town of about 19,000 people.
HOLMES: Police have now arrested 18-year-old Nathaniel Dickson. Police found the body of Dickson's father in the yard at the family's house. The other three victims were found inside including the youngest son. Police say he was shot and killed while hiding behind the dryer. So far, there is no motive.
NGUYEN: Well, an uneasy calm on the South California coastline there, two days after a fatal shark attack.
HOLMES: And miles of beach is still closed there, others patrolled by helicopter on the lookout for a great white killer.
CNN's Ted Rowlands has more from Solana Beach, north of San Diego.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On a warm weekend day that would normally attract huge crowds to the ocean, "Shark Attack" warning signs and lifeguards are keeping people close to shore. Eight miles of Southern California beaches are closed for swimming while an aerial search continues for the great white shark that attack and killed the swimmer.
NICK WEGNER, SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY: I don't think we're going to find a shark and I really think the chances of another attack are very, very small as well. We've only had about 10 fatal shark attacks in the state of California in the last 80 or 90 years.
ROWLANDS: Sixty-six-year-old Dave Martin was swimming with a group of fellow triathletes Friday morning when according to witnesses, a great white shark attacked from below, pushing Martin into the air, biting his legs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard him screaming, and we turned back and swam to him and he'd already been hit by a pretty good-sized shark.
ROWLANDS: His fellow swimmers were able to bring Martin on shore but they were unable to keep him alive. Since the attack, a steady stream of people, some with flowers, are coming to the ocean, remembering Martin as a father of four and a family man who loved the water.
BOB BABBITT, VICTIM'S FRIEND: The guy was a great swimmer, a really, really good cyclist and a good runner and -- you know, he'd just turned 66 and I'm sure he's looking forward to an awesome year.
There's a lot of people 66-year-olds who are sitting in old folks homes trying to figure out what - figuring out what to do with their next bingo play. And here's this guy swimming with 20, 30 and 40- year-olds out in the ocean and living life to its fullest. If you're going to go to know that you did it with, you know, near your home, with your friends, doing what you love doing, and with people who share that same passion, that's not a bad way.
ROWLANDS (on camera): The last fatal shark attack in San Diego County was back in 1959, and while nobody believes there's a very good chance of another attack, swimmers along this eight-mile stretch of beach in Southern California are urged to stay out of the water, at least until Monday.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Solana Beach, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: The air war in the battle for the White House gets more intense and a whole lot more expensive.
NGUYEN: Yes. Clinton, Obama, and their campaign commercials. Who's on the attack and is anyone actually winning in this game?
Plus: Josh Levs joins us today with a new toy.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I can't wait to show you guys after the break. It's going to be great. And this is what we're going to be showing you. And as you were just talking about negativity in the race, some say, Clinton is more responsible for the negative tone. While, her interactive time line begs to differ.
We will have that and more, coming up right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Combat zone, the combat situation, so, it definitely is harder.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Two West Point cadets may be looking at serving on professional football fields instead of the battlefield. On this NFL draft weekend, a story about service and honor.
Well, good morning, everybody, and welcome back. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes.
A light day on the campaign trail today: John McCain has a fundraiser in Florida this afternoon. Barack Obama is in Indianapolis where he'll stop to talk to voters at a local restaurant, maybe grab a bite to eat. Also, Hillary Clinton only has one stop as well, that is in Wilmington, North Carolina tonight.
The candidates may be able to just let their TV commercials do the talking today, however. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are using the air waves effectively but at a staggering price.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, OBAMA CAMPAIGN AD)
OBAMA: I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, CLINTON CAMPAIGN AD)
CLINTON: I'm Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES (voice over): When it comes to campaign commercials, Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are going where no candidate has gone before.
EVAN TRACEY, TNS MEDIA INTELLIGENCE: Obama and Clinton have spent a combined $110 million on TV ads to this point.
HOLMES: But whose ads are more effective? We asked Evan Tracy, CNN's consultant on campaign commercials.
TRACEY: She's been able to dictate the tempo in the last few contests.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's 3:00 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep.
In Ohio and Texas Hillary Clinton used the 3:00 a.m. ad very effectively to put the Obama campaign back on their heels. She did it again in Pennsylvania.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Harry Truman said it best, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. Who do you think has what it takes?
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm Hillary Clinton, and I approve this message.
HOLMES: These ads may be forcing Obama to respond.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Newspapers call Hillary Clinton's negative attacks the old politics.
TRACEY: What she's been able to do with these ads that attack Senator Obama is basically make him into a political candidate. That's the problem Obama is trying to avoid.
Obama right now has got to decide, does he take the fight to Clinton, in other words, does he strike first?
HOLMES: Another factor is campaign cash.
TRACEY: She doesn't have as much money. She's being outspent in both North Carolina and Indiana.
HOLMES: But Clinton's win in Pennsylvania may help.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hillary Clinton's victory in Pennsylvania was extremely important. It has helped her fund-raising tremendously at a time when she's at a severe disadvantage to Barack Obama.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HOLMES: Well in fact, the Clinton campaign says it raised more than $2 million in the few hours after winning Pennsylvania on Tuesday night.
NGUYEN: So we can probably expect many more ads from both candidates leading up to the primaries in Indiana and North Carolina, that being on May 6th, but the presidential campaign has long -- it's been going on a long time.
HOLMES: Yes, a little while.
NGUYEN: Yes. And it's easy to lose track of the time that we've been watching it play out. So the candidates are helping you out by posting their own time lines on the internet.
HOLMES: Now, Josh Levs here to walk us through the web of political sites. Good morning, Josh.
LEVS: The play on web, I like that. Very good, T.J.
HOLMES: I didn't write it but thank you.
LEVS: You didn't write it. But it's still awesome. All right. Here's the deal. I'm going to show you, guys, how all three major candidates are focusing on different kinds of time lines right now. We're starting out what might be the news. A lot of complaints lately including from the "New York Times" editorial board that Hillary Clinton is more negative than Obama. Take a look at what she has right here. It's called a attacktimeline.com. And on it, she traces through all these different attacks from Barack Obama. For example, she says here -- here is a mailer he sent on the 22nd against her, here's April 19th, it says Hillary continues to employ and say and do anything tactics of the past, in fact it's a quote from CNN.
Now, here's what you can do, just go all the way back literally through the entire campaign, all the way back to 2006. It keeps going and going and going, attacktimeline.com. But not to be outdone, look at what Barack Obama has had for awhile. Hillary attacks. Now this is part of his website, Hillary attacks in which he traces her attacks on him. Again, this battle to say I'm more negative, you're more negative. Check it out.
I noticed though, I don't know if we can get in far enough. The latest thing he has here is from February 15th. Think about the timing on this. Right after February 4th, when he started collecting all those new contests he hasn't had to update it. Now perhaps the coolest thing I can show you here, McCain's interactive time line of his entire life and his entire career. I'm refreshing because I want you to see its start. This is getting some amazing traffic on his website johnmccain.com. He traces you through all of his accomplishments that he thinks are relevant to him becoming president.
For example, you can learn about his Vietnam captivity right there. Click on it. Photos, videos, it goes all the way up through today. Take a look at this. I pulled it all the way up to today, every couple of years he's got some accomplishments he's talking about. Over here you get into 2004, 5, 6, 7, 8, he's naming every legislation, every piece of legislation that he thinks you should learn about. Johnmccain.com and this, by the new, is the new toy Betty was talking about, my touch screen plasma. I'm so happy to have it for you. We've been having fun in the coming weeks. Check it out guys. Not bad, huh?
NGUYEN: I know. You were so excited. But you know what, somebody called this morning, I believe it was John King.
HOLMES: That's who that was.
NGUYEN: In fact, CNN correspondent John King and he wanted you to know he's got a way better wall than you do. This is the magic wall and this is how it's done, Josh Levs.
LEVS: I'm not allowed to have fun with a tiny little smidgen they give me? Someday if I'm lucky to rise to that level I will get myself...
NGUYEN: First generation and he's got the latest and greatest technology out there.
LEVS: This is the Apple 2E of (Tetrin) class but it's still something though.
NGUYEN: There's someone in the background drawing these pictures.
HOLMES: John King just rolled out this one before.
LEVS: Even when I'm here and not over at the desk they still harass me.
HOLMES: It's even better from a distance, actually.
NGUYEN: We kind of like you over there. Oh, just kidding.
LEVS: I'm right over here.
NGUYEN: All right. Josh, thank you.
LEVS: Bye, guys.
NGUYEN: Well, money in the bank for Uncle Sam, the first round of tax rebate checks, they're going to arrive tomorrow between now and July, though, some 130 million wage earners will get hundreds of dollars.
HOLMES: And people with direct deposit, you're going to get your money first. Checks by mail coming a bit later as part of the government's economic stimulus package. President Bush says the tax rebate will help people pay for the rising costs of food and gas and hopefully will boost the staggering economy.
NGUYEN: Buying, selling or even refinancing a home can be a scary proposition in this unstable housing market. Ali Velshi's got some mortgage advice though, that is right on your money.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALI VELSHI, CNN, SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Adjustable rate mortgage, those can be very scary words in this housing market. Many homeowners stuck in subprime arms that are resetting are being forced into foreclosure, but if you're in the market for a mortgage, there's a chance that an adjustable rate mortgage might be right for you.
GREG MCBRIDE, SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST, BANKRATE.COM; There are a couple of pre-requisites. If you're not going to be in the home for very long, it can make sense. If you can expect a big increase in income, that's not very common but you know, if you're in that situation, it could work for you.
VELSHI: With a fixed rate mortgage, monthly payments will be steady but with an adjustable rate mortgage your payments will vary over time.
MCBRIDE: This is not a decision you're making based on the outlook for interest rates. If you're a good candidate for an adjustable rate mortgage, by and large it's because your timetable is short enough that that loan would function as a fixed rate loan. Right now the value is in fixed rate loans. Those rates are still very low. If you saw a bigger disparity between adjustable and fixed rate, for somebody who plans to be in the home less than ten years that could be enough to tip the scale in favor of that adjustable rate loan.
VELSHI: And that's this week's "Right on your Money."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: We're going to have more with Ali Velshi today at 3:00 p.m., with "Your Money" and all this week, Ali and Gerri Willis will look a closer look at the economy and how it is affecting your wallet with "Issue number 1." That is at noon, starts tomorrow at noon Eastern all week long.
HOLMES: And just ahead on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING, a medium rare serving of roast, reporters and newsmakers break bread and yes, they actually allow sharp knives into this dinner.
NGUYEN: Not the plastic ones.
HOLMES: Not the plastic, the real deal there. Just minutes away highlights of the annual White House correspondent's dinner.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN (voice-over): And seeking harmony, can music bridge a religious divide? "Faces of Faith" right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well in this morning's "Faces of Faith," how much do you know about Islam? Some of its faithful fear that many Americans hold only negative stereotypes and they're hoping that leading Muslim musicians can change that tune.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome to the world of the Sufi. Let us embark on a mystical journey of prayer, of Sufi music and other expressions of devotion from the Muslim world.
KAANAN HADZFIC, CHOIR HAZRETI HAMZA: This is historical, because we have 60 artists traveling through U.S.A. making these shows, express unity of diversity, inside of Islam. We have people from Pakistan, people from Iraq, people from Syria, are we are from Europe and we all bring our tradition to show that we are simply people of love and peace because maybe people inside of the U.S.A. still have that same stereotype that most of the Muslim people are terrorists, you know.
MAHMOUD EBOO, PRESIDENT, ISMAILI COUNCIL FOR U.S.A.: There is a view in the world today that Islam is very monolithic. There is one common bloc, which is one tradition, one culture and Islam is not. It has a multiplicity of traditions, cultures, history, musical traditions that create a whole mosaic. So by bringing a performance like this to the United States our hope was to demonstrate through music, through culture, the diversity of the Muslim world. [ speaking in foreign language ]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I was born into an Algerian family where women's songs were very important in their lives, spiritually and emotionally, songs is like singing poetry.
Sufis provide the light so that we may journey within and know ourselves. [ speaking in foreign language ]
HOUIRA AICHI, BERBER CHAOUI SINGER (through translator): When the mood is right they sometimes go into a trance, an ecstatic state, until the music becomes better and they feel closer to the higher self, their spiritual being. Come and here and you feel, you feel there is something beyond tradition, beyond space and geography and you feel that we are all connected to god.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: During the darkest days of its recent history, a group of men met at the Hasita Hamza mosque in Sarajevo.
HENNA BUDHWANI, A MYSTICAL JOURNEY: That mosque was our shelter from the bombs that were banging all around our city, destroying our city, so the mosque was very, very covered so we could play in there. And we decided to sing. So that help us live our tough years during the war there, during four years of war.
VOICE OF MAHMOUD EBOO: Music in particular is an expression that transcends death, to bring parties that have had conflict for a long time to realize through this medium that there is opportunity of hope for the future.
(END VIDEOTAPE) NGUYEN: Well, after that performance I guess it's fair to say dinner is served, and the president, well he's dishing up some laughs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is my last White House correspondence dinner as president. You know, I'm not sure what I'm going to do next. After he left office, Vice President Gore won an Oscar and the Nobel Peace Prize. Hey, I don't know, I might win a prize, publishing clearing house or something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Well, I don't know if Ed McMahon will be knocking on your door any time soon but we are going to have highlights from the White House correspondents' dinner. Plus Reynolds Wolf has a preview of severe weather today. What are you watching, Reynolds?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We are watching some strong storms in Texas but we are also watching some wildfires in parts of Los Angeles at the L.A. basin out there and Sierras Madre. We've got fires We have fires that are raging, Evacuations may be taking place soon. That is the latest we've got for you, that and so much here right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CRAIG FERGUSON, HOST, CBS "THE LATE LATE SHOW": Al Qaeda tried to take a religious war to Scotland. You're 1,000 years too late! And you don't have a soccer team. Go home!
NGUYEN: That was comedian Craig Ferguson but he wasn't the real headliner of the annual White House correspondent's dinner.
HOLMES: Yes, the man who stole the show, President Bush. Here now looking at some of the highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERGUSON: You know a lot of people told me, a lot of people told me, they said when you're doing this, this is a very tough -- a lot of the American comics said to me, said it's a tough room, it's full of angry men and disappointed women and disappointed men and angry women, a lot of surly drunks. I'm thinking this is perfect, it's like a family reunion. I'll do it.
JENNIFER LOVE, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Richard and I are well aware that this is the part of the dinner where no one pays any attention.
RICHARD WOLFFE, NEWSWEEK: So we would like to introduce some of our scholars who are here tonight, please join us if you can stop yakking.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to talk about some serious issues such as - OK, here it comes -- nuclear proliferation. Nuclear proliferation. Nuclear proliferation. Three years as Vice President, Dick has ridden shotgun. That's probably not the best analogy.
3:00 a.m. this morning, the red phone rang. It was the wedding planner.
I have to say I'm kind of surprised, we don't have more presidential candidates here tonight, like any. Senator McCain's not here. He probably wanted to distance himself from me a little bit. You know, he's not alone. Jenna's moving out, too. The two democratic candidates aren't here either. Senator Clinton couldn't get into the building because of sniper fire and Senator Obama's at church. I loved the band and so I'm going to say my farewell to you by doing something I've always wanted to do. [ cheers and applause ]
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: He had a couple of good ones.
HOLMES: OK. That was good about the Bosnia and the - OK.
NGUYEN: The sniper fire.
HOLMES: That was good.
NGUYEN: And the church. Good thing the President didn't dance though. I was still waiting for him. You know...
HOLMES: He was better...
NGUYEN: To bust a few moves up there.
HOLMES: The Africa trip, we all know that very well.
NGUYEN: Many others, too.
HOLMES: Btu he was good conducting there.
NGUYEN: You know, and it's really a joyous occasion for a lot of folks especially when, you know, you're covering the President, you're flying all over the place. And in fact, one of our own, we want to do our own bragging about him today.
HOLMES: Yes and there he is, Ed Henry, who was recognized with the top journalism award for White House reporting under deadline pressure. We know all about that, yes he does very well.
NGUYEN: No doubt. And he shares the Merriman Smith Award with Deb Riechmann of the Associated Press. So, congratulations Ed and congratulations Deb. Well-deserved.
HOLMES: We hope to have Ed live this morning but apparently the entire press corps, everybody is hangover this morning so --
NGUYEN: I wasn't going to go that far but it's true. HOLMES: All right. Reynolds Wolf tracking some severe weather, anything, you got the White House there behind you, anything going on in D.C. this morning? It's all quiet.
WOLF: Not much. I'm blown away by how small it is. I mean...
NGUYEN: Especially compared to you, you're a big guy.
WOLF: That's what I'm talking about. I figure it would be much bigger but anyway, that's how it looks. Cloudy skies in our nation's capital today, much cloudy, very cloudy conditions in parts of Texas, not only we're dealing with the clouds in Texas but also some strong thunderstorms in place. Severe thunderstorm watch that will be in effect until noontime for much of central and south Texas including Austin where this morning just due west of the city back into parts of Round Mountain and I'd say near Lakeway, you're getting some strong thunderstorms this morning about to move into downtown Austin, places like the Congress Street Bridge, clear up to the steps of the Capitol Building you're going to have that rain coming down, maybe even some small hail.
Meanwhile, out to the west we're seeing something different, not rain but we're talking about some fire and we've got some incredible video to share with you. This is again, just in, parts of the L.A. Basin, mainly over Sierra Madre where we have had homes, 100 homes evacuated, nearly 200 acres have been burned. The fire is still raging as we speak. And the controlled wind has not been a huge issue in this part of the world. But what we've had over the last couple of days, temperatures a little bit warmer than what you'd expect. Temperatures in the 80s and 90s and that has helped really dry out a lot of the plant while the vegetation up in the hillsides.
As we go back to the weather computer, you'll notice at this time, right here is the 210 freeway, got east Pasadena, Sierra Madre, just the north, we've seen winds coming out of the north and northeast around 12, some up to 15, 20 miles per hour. The winds will get stronger later on, not quite as strong as Santa Ana winds but still strong enough to fan the flames. Let's send it back to you at the news desk.
NGUYEN: OK. Reynolds, we do thank you.
WOLF: You bet.
HOLMES: Some army cadets, of course, go to war. Others actually could get a shot at the NFL.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are getting deployed to combat zones and got situations so it definitely is harder.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Cadets hoping they'll get the call to play pro football, plus this. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kids are being given these massive doses and they're having very bad experiences from it.
HOLMES: Teenagers getting stoned? They're selling this stuff sold to minors is legal. We'll tell you about plans to change all that in the next hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Talking football now, the NFL draft a reason for football fans to get excited months before the season even starts.
HOLMES: You know, I'm excited any time the University of Arkansas can have highlights behind me. My alma mater. Yes, most notably yesterday of course. Arkansas running back Darren McFadden as you see there, he went fourth overall. It took the University of Texas some 49 picks later, Betty, to finally get somebody into the draft.
NGUYEN: Don't even start your trash talking.
HOLMES: This was Limas Sweed. Somebody you just admitted and you've never even heard of.
NGUYEN: I didn't say that.
HOLMES: You said you didn't know who he has. He did go to the Steelers. But yes, McFadden goes to the Raiders. Also, another University of Arkansas running back, Felix Jones went to the cowboys so you'll support him at least.
NGUYEN: Absolutely.
HOLMES: Then Oakland sold my new favorite team.
NGUYEN: Give them raiders.
HOLMES: Give me all Oakland stuff for Christmas.
NGUYEN: OK. You know what. Here's the deal. The draft is not over. 63 players were taken during day one. But today another 189 will be chosen.
HOLMES: And among those hopefuls are two special, special prospects, looking to make their mark on the football field instead of the battlefield. CNN's Larry Smith has this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The future of these two West Point cadets are as cloudy as the campus's normally pristine view of the Hudson River. Caleb Campbell and Owen Tolson are used to the black and white world of the army but now find themselves in an area as gray as the uniforms they wear, all over which uniform they will wear next fall. Campbell was a safety end team captain for army's football team. Tolson was a black knight punter and kicker. Each now hopes to bring their skills to the NFL.
CALEB CAMPBELL, ARMY SAFETY: You don't really every year get someone from the military academy. You know, pursuing their NFL dreams and having a legitimate shot out there at the NFL.
OWEN TOLSON, ARMY PUNTER: We both understand that the work it's taken behind the scenes to make something like this happen for us.
SMITH: What makes it possible is a three-year-old Army policy known as the alternative service option which allows army personnel with special talent to trade their five-year military commitment for two years in a recruiting office and five more in the reserves, meaning Campbell and Tolson could become the first cadets allowed to do that battle immediately in the NFL as opposed to the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan.
CAMPBELL: People are getting deployed to combat zones, combat situations so it definitely is harder.
SMITH: A choice made tougher perhaps but still made, regardless of who agrees with that.
CAMPBELL: Everyone just didn't understand the troop policy they would say this kid's getting out of the army to play football. They would think that I'm getting the same education but taking the easier way out.
TOLSON: It's a different mission for sure but me and Camp are going to go out there and try and get the word of mouth, generate the interest into getting people here to West Point and getting people into the Army.
SMITH: And they still have to make a team out of training camp.
STAN BROCK, ARMY HEAD FOOTBALL COACH: So little of it is really talent. You know, making it in the NFL, kind of maybe get you in the door but then it just becomes a lot of it is heart and desire and how bad you really want to be there and how bad do you want to stay.
CAMPBELL: If you have the smarts of the game, if you understand the game and you know it's unfolding in front of you, that can make up for the maybe a little lack of speed that you have.
TOLSON: I know we both have the work ethics. West Point instilled that in us and we got the mental tools. You know, the determination, the grit, the fortitude to stick with us.
SMITH: Each believes it is their makeup that matters.
The traits they were taught. The strengths that surround them everyday at West Point that will serve them well however they choose to serve their country. Larry Smith, CNN, Atlanta. NGUYEN: From the CNN center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. April 27th, 8:00 a.m. at CNN Center headquarters here in Atlanta, 7:00 am out in the heartland. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And hello. I'm T.J. Holmes. Parent, we have a new warning here for you and your teenagers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PROF. JIM ADAMS, UNIV. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Kids are being given these massive doses and they're having very bad experiences from it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: "It" is a plant from Mexico. While it's legal in most parts of the U.S., you probably want to tell your kids: stay away from the stuff.
NGUYEN: Also: Paying for college might be more difficult for parents this year. Your personal finance editor, Gerri Willis has the information that you need to know to secure that student loan.
HOLMES: We do start, however, with evacuations near Los Angeles -- an overnight order clearing out at least 100 homes.
NGUYEN: Yes. We want to show you the reason why -- right behind us, a growing wildfire on the edge of neighborhoods, a fire that could take days to contain.
We're joined on the phone by Elaine Aguilar, Sierra Madre city manager. And Elaine, any idea at this point what started this fire?
ELAINE AGUILAR,.SIERRA MADRE CITY MGR. (through phone): At this point, we don't know what started the fire. But we do know that it wasn't some natural cause such as lightning or something like that. We do know that it was manmade.
NGUYEN: OK. And we had learned that some 270 acres have burned so far. What is the situation this morning?
AGUILAR: At this point, we're still estimating about 270 acres, although I will be getting an update in about an hour and have a more accurate figure for you.
NGUYEN: And some 100 homes have been evacuated. Are you going to be increasing that any?
AGUILAR: No, at this point, we're still holding firm at about 100 homes in the same general area where the evacuations were initiated late last night.
NGUYEN: What about the people being evacuated, are there shelters set up? What do you have in store for them?
AGUILAR: We definitely have shelters here in Sierra Madre, so folks don't have to travel too far. We have one currently. We have 30 to 40 people who spent the evening at our Hart Park House which is our senior center here in town.
NGUYEN: We're just looking at some video and it appears that the winds are definitely helping fan the flames. Is that something that firefighters are really having to battle?
AGUILAR: It was pretty calm all evening and as it gets closer to sunrise, winds are definitely picking up and it is something that they are starting to battle.
NGUYEN: Any idea when they're going to be able to get this contained?
AGUILAR: Right now, the estimates I'm receiving are still in the two to three-day range.
NGUYEN: And they are obviously getting close to neighborhoods. That's why you evacuated some 100 homes. What do you fear then? What are you telling folks -- because a lot of them simply will stay home and they'll try to save their house, and that can become dangerous. What are you advising?
AGUILAR: We're definitely advising for people to heed the warnings of our public safety personnel out in the field. Some of the roads, especially in our canyon area, are very narrow and we really do need to have the roads remain clear so that our safety personnel can make it up to fight this fire.
Again, I just urge people to please heed the warnings of the public safety personnel and remember that their lives are more important than any property they may be trying to save.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. And so far no injuries have been reported. But I read that one of the fire departments spokespersons said that the biggest concern in this area is that it hasn't burned in some 10- plus year, so is there's a lot of fuel up there for this fire to really - to charge it and cause it to continue to burn many more acres.
AGUILAR: Unfortunately, that's very correct. It's been quite a few years since this area has burned.
NGUYEN: All right. And any idea -- you're thinking today or tomorrow that you're going to be able to get some kind of containment?
AGUILAR: We're hoping by late tomorrow, possibly into Tuesday.
NGUYEN: All right. So, it's going to take some time and people need to be careful and listen to the warnings out there from local authorities as those flames continue to run up on neighborhoods and get dangerously close to homes.
Elaine Aguilar with Sierra Madre, you're city manager there, thanks for your time today.
AGUILAR: You're very welcome. Thank you.
HOLMES: Dignitaries duck for cover as bullets fly. We are following a developing story out of Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai and others had to scramble when Taliban militants opened fire during a military ceremony.
You can hear that gunfire, but people still kind of standing around trying to figure out what was going on. When the shooting stopped, officials say two people were dead. Last hour, I talked with journalist Tom Coghlan in Kabul about whether President Karzai was the intended target.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
THOMAS COGHLAN, JOURNALIST: There were a great many people in that podium besides Hamid Karzai that the Taliban would be delighted to have assassinated. We had the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Dan McNeill, USAF (ph), the U.S. ambassador, the British ambassador, the French ambassador, most of the Afghan parliament and all of the Afghan cabinet.
So, that place was packed with targets. And it's a miracle, really, that the Taliban didn't do better. They managed to kill one Afghan lawmaker, a tribal leader and they also killed a 10-year-old child during this attack. But three MPs were injured and we think another 10 or so people were also hit by fire during this incident.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HOLMES: Before the attack, President Karzai took part in a parade marking the anniversary of Afghanistan's victory against the Soviet Union. He appeared on state run TV after the attack urging people to remain calm.
The Olympic torch has wrapped up its 15-mile relay in Seoul, Korea. The run started at Olympic park. That was built when Seoul hosted the summer games in 1988. Scuffles did break out between Chinese supporters and dozens of anti-China demonstrators. Police say a North Korean defector tried to set himself on fire to stop the torch relay. He was stopped, however. The torch will be in North Korea tomorrow.
NGUYEN: Let's move on now to some politics. North Carolina and Indiana, to be exact, they are the next primary states voting on May 6th and here's our first Poll of Polls for Indiana to show you. A dead heat between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But take a look at the 10 percent undecided.
HOLMES: The Democrat he can candidates have 10 days now to turn those Indiana undecided into decideds. How do you go about doing that?
CNN's Jim Acosta joins us now from Indianapolis. Jim, we see that that's the Hoosier State. They love their basketball there. So, we saw last hour in your piece and I certainly appreciate it all the basketball analogies but Barack Obama is going about it that way, at least, trying to get basketball into the mix.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Across the Hoosier State, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are playing a game of campaign one-on-one. And as far as the polls are concerned, the game is all tied up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA (voice-over): New state, same line of attack from Hillary Clinton, as she campaigned with her chief surrogate in Indiana -- Senator Evan Bayh -- Clinton once again sized up Barack Obama as all talk.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D-NY) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If it were so easy that all you did was show up in Washington and say, let's change -
(LAUGHTER)
CLINTON: I think Evan and I would have figured that out awhile ago.
ACOSTA: Even though Obama is under mounting pressure in some Democratic Party circles to bring out the heavy artillery and fire back, the Illinois senator made it clear he's keeping his powder dry.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D-IL) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's interesting, when I don't always hit back, then folks go, "What's the matter with him? How come, you know, maybe he's not mean enough; maybe he's not tough enough."
You know, one of the things I learned in the school yard was the folks who were talking tough all the time, they're not always that tough.
ACOSTA: Obama is in instead showing Hoosier State voters how the game is played with him on his side of the court. So, it's in with the basketball and out with those Pennsylvania gutter balls.
And there won't be any more one on ones on the debate stage either. He rejected a call from Clinton for a Lincoln-Douglas style debate with no moderators.
DAVID AXELROD, OBAMA POLITICAL ADVISER: It doesn't matter, whether it's Lincoln-Douglas, standing, sitting in - what language it's in. It does not matter. We want to use this time in this way. And after 21 debates, I think the American people have seen quite a few.
ACOSTA: As for Clinton, the delegate map only gets harder if she loses the next two contests in Indiana and North Carolina. Would she fight on to other states like Kentucky?
CLINTON: Well, I don't make any predictions or speculate on things that haven't happened yet. I'm going to try to do my very best here in Indiana and then I'll get on to Kentucky. (END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: And with the polls showing a dead heat in Indiana, and Obama generally doing well in North Carolina, the game plan for the Obama campaign, if you'll forgive another basketball analogy, seems to go like this: Try to pull ahead in the polls, try to pull off a victory here in Indiana, and at the same time, avoid fouling out with voters in both states. T.J.?
HOLMES: Jim, you don't ever have to apologize to me for a basketball analogy. It makes much more sense to me when you put it in those terms actually. Jim Acosta for us this morning in Indiana, good to see you, we always appreciate you.
And we will be bringing you the candidates up close and personal. CNN's BALLOT BOWL, go beyond some of those 20-second sound bytes. That's today, 4:00 o'clock Eastern.
NGUYEN: Shaky ground in Nevada: More than 100 aftershocks since Friday night. And scientists are worried that a bigger quake could be on the way. Possibly even a magnitude six. The latest quake cracked walls and threw items off shelves.
But take a look at Wisconsin. Volunteers there are cleaning up after a tornado struck a rural part of the state. Several farms and homes were damaged. No one was hurt, but the sheriff's department says two horses suffered minor injuries when a barn collapsed. Weather officials say the tornado was probably an F1 with winds averaging 100 miles per hour.
HOLMES: Wow. Reynolds, it is just that time of the year. This is when a lot of folks are under the gun with a lot of the severe weather and a lot of tornadoes, things like that.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You're absolutely right. Right now, it's Texas's turn where in Texas, we do have a severe thunderstorm watch that is in effect until noontime for much of central Texas.
This big box, you see that's out here is actually been posted by the storm prediction center which shows that in areas like San Angelo, back in Austin, San Antonio, New Braunfels, southward to Victoria, over to Bryan, College Station, even into Del Rio. It's a big, big area of real estate where we have the potential of these strong storms.
And right now, the strongest, right over parts of I-35. Let's see, you've got Round Rock here southward to Austin, many other places. I would say down into south Austin into 6th Street, even to South Congress Bridge, it's going to be coming down in sheets. I would expect that once this moves out, you'll get a little bit of a break, but notice more development farther back to the west. So, it's going to be kind of a pattern where you're going to have one cell move through, a little bit of a break, and then more development out to the west. Meanwhile, farther out to the west, much farther out in parts of California, the story is not the rain, it has been a little bit of the wind, the dry condition, the heat, too. Where in L.A. yesterday, we had highs going up to the 90s. Today, 93 degrees in the L.A. basin, but many places like Burbank back up to Santa Clarita, could get in to the upper 90s. One spot right to just north of the 210 corridor, Sierra Madre, east Pasadena, we've had trouble with wildfires there today. The dry, the warm conditions, the breeze, are not going to help matters at all. Certainly a story we're going to watch throughout the day.
Back to you.
NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Reynolds.
WOLF: You bet.
NGUYEN: Well, parents, you better take note because we're asking if this new drug is actually seducing your child.
HOLMES: Yes, this thing is dangerous. It's mind-altering, you know what else -- it's perfectly legal. What you need to know minutes away. Also, this...
NGUYEN: Strike up the band and cue the president? Last night, he grabbed the baton and poked fun at himself as well as a whole lot of others.
HOLMES: Yes, the White House Correspondents Dinner after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Remembering a fallen soldier: One of the other stories that we are following you for this morning. It's the funeral for Staff Sergeant Matt Maupin and it gets underway this afternoon in Ohio.
HOLMES: He is the soldier whose remains were found last month in Iraq nearly four years after he was captured. Next hour: A small funeral procession heads for the service at Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark. The funeral, complete with army band playing and a flyover begins at 1:00 Eastern. Maupin was reported missing after his convoy was attack in Baghdad.
NGUYEN: Well, that polygamist ranch in Texas -- well, this morning two moms from the compound say they cannot find their children. The moms say their boys were taken from the ranch and aren't on any of the temporary housing lists. But a Corpus Christi newspaper reports Child Protective Services is confidence no children have been lost. Those agency officials also tell the newspaper it's sometimes hard to determine who their parents are.
HOLMES: Well, patriotism in parody last night. That is President Bush. You're seeing there with that baton conducting the U.S. Marine band. His audience: The White House correspondents at the annual dinner. The president hope dished up some laughs. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Next year, a new president will be standing up here. I have to say, I'm kind of surprised we don't have more presidential candidates here tonight, like any.
Senator McCain's not here, he'd probably wanted to distance himself from me a little bit. You know, he's not alone. Jenna's moving out, too. The two Democratic candidates aren't here either. Senator Clinton couldn't get into the building because of sniper fire and Senator Obama's at church.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: I know many of you get that joke because as we know, the big story, Senator Clinton falsely claimed to have landed under sniper fire in Bosnia as first lady, and, of course, Obama's long time pastor has been criticized for some inflammatory comments about the U.S.
NGUYEN: A couple zingers there at that White House Correspondents Dinner.
HOLMES: That's the president's (INAUDIBLE).
NGUYEN: And listen to this, though. There is a new drug of choice for teens easy to get and it is easy to use.
HOLMES: Also easy to abuse. Some of the effects are now making waves on the Internet.
CNN's Kara Finnstrom has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Uncontrollable hysteria, out of body experiences, frightening confusion.
Dozens of homemade videos on Youtube show teenagers high on a plant called salvia Divinorum. They're helping fuel fears of a teenage under radar drug craze. Salvia is cheap and in most states, perfectly legal.
ANTHONY GRECO, FORMER SALVIA USER: You have no control over your physical body. You have no control over like emotional stuff that you go through.
FINNSTROM: Anthony Greco says he tried it twice, but never again.
GRECO: It felt like I was going down a downward spiral. I had a soda that had like aluminum lid. I'd just kept tightening it and I eventually just sliced my hand open because of the aluminum.
FINNSTROM: The drug's roots are in Mexico where Indians use Salvia for medicinal and religious purposes. But a more potent concentration is gaining popularity in the U.S.
(on camera): Teenagers wanting Salvia know where to find it over the counter. We got this for about $10 a hit and while packages like this often warn not to sell to minors, here in California, the law says it's OK.
ANTHONY ADAMS, CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMAN: It is just a chilling thought to think that especially a teenager, who's already struggling with hormones, to have this altered state of reality to contend with, as well, it's just a challenge they don't need, and frankly, we don't need as a society.
FINNSTROM (voice-over): California Assemblyman Anthony Adams is trying to pass a bill making it a misdemeanor to sell or distribute Salvia to minors. More than a dozen other states have already passed or are considering Salvia regulations. The federal government is studying the drug.
A mom in Delaware, Kathy Chidester, led the fight to ban Salvia in her state and supports Assemblyman Adam's bill. CNN first spoke with her two years ago.
KATHY CHIDESTER, SALVIA BAN ADVOCATE: I thought I would wake up and it would be a mistake. There was no way that he would ever do anything like that, not the son I knew.
FINNSTROM: Chidester's 17-year-old son, Bret, committed suicide. A medical examiner's report listed Salvia as a contributing factor. His mom says months earlier, she noticed his disposition darkening, discovered his Salvia use and urged him to stop.
CHIDESTER: He said, "Mom, it's legal."
PROF. JIM ADAMS, UNIV. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Kids are being given these massive doses and they're having very bad experiences from it.
FINNSTROM: University of Southern California pharmacology professor, Jim Adams supports restrictions for minors, but opposes any ban on religious uses. Some others feel any restrictions are overkill, saying hospitals and police are not reporting wide scale problems. With the debate raging, Salvia users are stocking up, saying the drug's legal days may be numbered.
Kara Finnstrom for CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: That's really eye-opening, because of the effects that it can have.
HOLMES: And scary.
NGUYEN: Right. That's true.
Paying for college though, let's talk about this, because it is absolutely not easy. But we have some tips to help you find good student loans. That's up next.
HOLMES: But first: Let's get a preview of what's coming up on HOUSE CALL.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, guys. Someone dies of a stroke every three to four minutes. Why saving your life might just be a matter of time. We'll explain.
Plus: From motion sickness to loss of balance, staying on your feet when your world is spinning.
And when it comes to your waistline, where you live may be just as important as what you eat. We've got the rankings on America's healthiest cities. Details are coming up on HOUSE CALL at 8:30.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Money almost in your bank from Uncle Sam. The first round of tax rebate checks will arrive tomorrow. Between now and July, some 130 million wage earners will get hundreds of dollars. People with direct deposit, you'll be getting your money first. Checks by mail: coming a bit later. Part of the government's economic stimulus package. And President Bush says rebates will help people pay for rising cost of food, the rising cost of gas, also should help boost the staggering economy.
NGUYEN: Well, speaking of money, paying for college just got a little trickier because of the lending crisis. And there are fewer student loans available. So what do you to?
Well, CNN personal finance editor, Gerri Willis, has the answers.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hi, Betty.
Well, college admissions letters are finally in the mail, but paying for college could be harder than ever this year. Major changes in college lending have made it more difficult for students to get loans. And with spillover from the subprime mortgage crisis causing funding for loans to dry up, 55 lenders have dropped out of the federal student loan program just this past month.
But there are some steps students of parents can take in order to secure a good loan. Try for federal loans first. They have the smallest fees, lowest interest rates, and allow students to defer payment until after college. Look into these before you look if to private loans.
Make sure you shop around for the best possible interest rates and incentives. You don't have to stick with your school's preferred lender list. Use your school's financial aid officers. They can guide students on everything from the interest rates on loans to whether or not you'll need a co-signer.
NGUYEN: Well, college student loans, mortgages, stock prices, we are following your money trail, weekdays. The economy, it is Issue number #1, so join us at noon Eastern. HOLMES: The candidates, the campaign, the fight for delegates.
NGUYEN: We're going to help you untangle that web of information on the presidential race. Josh Levs joins us with a dotcom guide to politics.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, can you just not get enough politics or maybe you're hoping this thing will be over with. Or you're hoping it will last even longer?
NGUYEN: It actually did last even longer but no one believes that.
HOLMES: Yes, nobody.
NGUYEN: But anyways, you die hard political junkies, you can get your fix on our Web site. Josh Levs is here with some highlights and his new toy. Hi there, Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lasts even longer. Can you guys remember a time when Obama and Clinton were not fighting for the Democratic nomination?
HOLMES: It's '94, I think.
(LAUGHTER)
LEVS: Yes, it feels like (ph) -- I feel like my teachers taught me about him in third grade. All right. This is my new toy behind me.
Let me show you some of the cool features on - we've got this touch screen plasma that allow me to show you some of the great features we have in CNNPolitics.com to tell you where the race really stands.
I'm going to step aside, take a look here. This is our main page right now: CNNPolitics.com. If you look here, you see the latest political headlines. But a lot of times, people get very confused. Where does this race actually stand? Let's pull in here these numbers are where the delegate count stands at any given moment. We update it literally everyday. You can follow it.
Also if you pan a little bit over to the right, you're going to see our latest national Poll of Polls between Obama and Clinton. This feature right here, it shows Obama at 51 percent, Clinton at 40 percent. It will show -- his national lead.
Now, the map in this race has obviously been incredibly confusing. It can be a mathematical nightmare. They've put together a real impressive effort here to make this map adjustable.
Look at this. This is our delegate counter. What it allows to you do is pick any contest that's coming up, I know it's real bright, but down here, it names all the states that are coming up and can you take a look at any given state, how many delegates they have, and can you determine based on what your own guess is, how well they may do or not do, how each state might ultimately affect that map.
