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American Morning
Interview with Senator Chuck Hagel; Polls Open in West Virginia; New Record Price for Gasoline; Wildfires Scorch Florida; Returning Vets Searching For an Education
Aired May 13, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Congressman Payne, what do you say about this idea of if she wins the popular vote, when this is all said and done, she is going to have a good case for the nomination. Is that changing the rules?
REP. DONALD PAYNE (D) NEW JERSEY: Of course, it's changing the rules. You know, they all agreed to the rules about Florida and Michigan. Now the senator wants to change the rules. Number one, Barack Obama will win the same states that Hillary Clinton will win, without a doubt. He will win the same states that Senator Kerry won. The nine states that he won before. There's no way --
ROBERTS: Why do you say he can't? You're shaking your head
PAYNE: Oh, come on now.
Loretta?
REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ (D), CALIFORNIA, CLINTON SUPPORTER: Absolutely right and that's OK, because you know --
ROBERTS: So why can't he win West Virginia in a general election?
SANCHEZ: I don't believe that he will win West Virginia.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: I don't believe that he might. I think Florida, if we don't count the delegates from Florida, I think we run into a big problem. All Democrats run into a big problem. I think Ohio is a problem. I think when you look at the largest base of the Democratic Party, women and quite frankly Anglo-Saxon, Italian, Irish-American type of people, I don't think that he has convinced those types of people that they would vote for him.
ROBERTS: Final word, Congressman Payne.
PAYNE: He will win Florida, he will win Ohio, he will win Pennsylvania, and with that in the state that were won by Senator Kerry, he's the president of the United States, and that's going to be what's going to happen in November.
ROBERTS: We'll see. Congressman Payne, Congresswoman Sanchez, thanks for being with us this morning. Appreciate you coming in. Good to have you here -- Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Barack Obama is already looking ahead to other primary states and another opponent. The Kentucky and Oregon primaries take place next Tuesday. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux joining us now from Louisville, Kentucky.
Suzanne, what's the strategy for the candidates going forward?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, first of all, we are hearing Barack Obama no longer criticizing Hillary Clinton, not a word. We heard from him yesterday before his supporters essentially saying she is smart, capable, intelligent opponent. What he's trying to do is obviously win over the Clinton supporters already.
He's also taking on John McCain in a very strong way. He says that this is the kind of campaign, the kind of general election, if you will, where they are going to ask him, you know, who are you? And what are you like. And so he outlines that saying you want to know who I am, well, this is who I am. This is my story. He talks about how he is the product of a teenage mother, comes from humble beginnings. These type of things so he's laying out his story. He's trying to define himself to the voters or redefine himself to the voters, looking forward to the general election.
And also, Kyra, what's equally important is not just what he is saying but where he is saying it. He is not only hitting those states with the upcoming primaries, West Virginia, here in Kentucky for next Tuesday, but he's also going to those critical swing states for the general election.
He will be in Missouri later today. That, of course, the state that President Bush took in 2000 and 2004. He is heading to Florida and Michigan. That is where the campaign acknowledges that they don't have the kind of support. They don't have an operational base there. They ignore those two states for the last nine months for breaking the Democratic rules. Those voting rules so they've got to build up their base, build up support. Obviously, going to need those two states for the general elections.
So, Kyra, there is no doubt about it -- they are looking way beyond, way past Hillary Clinton, looking at John McCain -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux live from Louisville.
Thanks, Suzanne.
ROBERTS: As it grows more unlikely at least according to pledged delegates that Hillary Clinton will win the nomination, her core group of supporters is still behind her encouraging her to keep fighting.
Our Carol Costello looks at why female voters are sticking with her and what her historic candidacy means to them. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hillary Clinton's candidacy has always been about more than just a run for president. Her most passionate supporters say to senator's campaign has been an emotional journey, the culmination of a dream.
SUSIE WILSON, HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTER: I am 78-years-old. The chance of my voting for another woman are slim indeed. And so, this is my one chance.
COSTELLO: Susie Wilson actively campaigns for Clinton and will be crush if her candidate bows out now before all the primary voting is over.
WILSON: For 200 years men have led our country and to have a woman have that position, I think would send an enormous message of hope and possibility to women all over the world.
COSTELLO: Feminists scholars say Hillary Clinton is acutely aware of how important her candidacy is for those who fought sexism. They say that's part of the reason Clinton won't quit.
DEBBIE WALSH, CENTER FOR AMERICAN WOMEN AND POLITICS: I think she knows that she is carrying the mantel for a lot of those women and that that is something that she carries for those women and that she's a pioneer.
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Do you know how difficult it is for a woman to stand up and say we are the best at anything? For us to say, to claim our identity and our future that we deserve to have the highest position in the world?
COSTELLO: And women like Susie Wilson aren't giving up hope.
WILSON: I'm a volunteer with Hillary Clinton's campaign.
COSTELLO: Even though things may now look bleak.
(on-camera): Her most ardent backers say the only way that Clinton can keep that hope alive is if she bows out on her own terms. If they perceived she's being pushed out they may never forgive the Democratic Party.
Carol Costello, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: The polls now open in West Virginia. Those loyal supporters may get some more ammunition to keep on fighting. Hillary Clinton is expected to win the state big. Maybe getting as much as 66 percent of the vote there. The Best Political Team on Television breaks down the results from West Virginia tonight. Catch them live right here beginning at 7:00 Eastern Time.
Breaking news out of Florida this morning. Every school closed in one town as flames threaten homes. Now there's word that some fires may be deliberately set.
PHILLIPS: And turning coal into gasoline could loosen America's dependency on oil. Find out how viable that really is and where it's already being done. That's straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: We've got another new record price for gasoline this morning. Why should today be any different from any other day? Three dollars and seventy-three cents is the new national average for a gallon of self-serve regular. Seven straight increased according to AAA.
Checking the AMERICAN MORNING gas gauge -- God, this is so painful to watch this thing go. Prices up 36 cents in the past month. 66 cents a gallon in the past year.
PHILLIPS: Yes, but we've got hope. We're going to make gas our of coal.
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I want to tell you two things. That rate of increase 36 cents in the last month is faster than a penny a day. So that's a little bit alarming. And the second thing is that AAA has said that gasoline will be $3.90 by Memorial Day, which is on the 26th. So we're well on phase for that sort of thing. But we have a solution.
We have been discussing this morning the idea of taking coal and making it into gasoline which has been proved to be technologically viable. It is used in different places of the world. We've told you about some of the benefits of it and some of the disadvantages. Here's a problem that we have to think about.
Coal is plentiful in the United States and in many parts of the world. And that's why it's used to create electricity. The electricity that you get for fully half of American is coming from a plant that uses coal to generate that power.
Well, what happens if we take all this excess coal and we decide it's a good idea to use it for either jet engines or automobiles like they do in South Africa? One would think that price of coal would increase. Now, we saw this idea with using ethanol to replace some parts of gasoline. Good idea to sort of spread out the dependence on crude oil, except that it caused the price of corn to go up.
ROBERTS: The natural resource begins to go up, right?
VELSHI: They are natural resource. Now, most people say -- well coal is not food. You don't eat it. So won't have the same effect. It actually would have. If that were to happen, it would have a serious effect because we use it to heat our homes. So it isn't a necessary part of the world in which we live.
ROBERTS: Or power food production as well. And if the cost of electricity goes up, therefore the price of food goes up. VELSHI: So the thinking amongst people who think this is a good idea, or switch grass, or ethanol, whatever the case is, is that one has to really think about the long-term effect of using these different things. If we use bits of corn for ethanol and bits of switch grass and bits of coal and bits of shale and bits of tar sands, we spread out the different ways in which we get energy. And that might be a good solution.
What happens is the problem is we end up going sort of hog wild in one direction and then the price of a particular commodity goes up. Right now, coal is pretty cheap. It's been going up. So there are two ways you power electricity mainly in this country, coal and natural gas. And those of you who get those bills know both those bills have been going up.
ROBERTS: Or perhaps new focus on nuclear?
VELSHI: Well, nuclear is a decision worth having. And over the course of the next week as we discuss alternatives both for your car and for any kind of power, we're going to bring those in. So that is something we're going to have this discussion about and do send us an e-mail if there's some suggestion you have that you think we should cover when it comes to energy.
ROBERTS: Great. Looking forward to it. Ali, thanks.
PHILLIPS: Still wondering why Ali Velshi has coal --
VELSHI: How I just happen to have some coal.
PHILLIPS: A pile of coal in his closet.
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: I've got a big of (INAUDIBLE) back there.
PHILLIPS: Yes, he does and a lot of hats, too.
All right. Well, should returning vets get financial help for an education? You've been sounding off on this, this morning. And coming up, we're going to talk with the co-sponsor of a new bill designed to do just that -- Senator Chuck Hagel joining us.
ROBERTS: And breaking news out of Florida. Schools are closed, homes are burning. And now, there's word that some of the wildfires may not be an accident. That story when AMERICAN MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Thirteen minutes after the hour. And breaking news right now in Florida. The town of Palm Bay is sending out assessment teams this morning to determine how badly homes have been damaged by the wildfires there. 50 have already been burned along with thousands of acres. All 18 schools in the town closed down today.
Some live pictures from Palm Bay. Well, no, we don't have those. It's 60 miles southeast of Orlando, just south of Melbourne, Florida, which itself is just south of Cape Canaveral. Give you a geographical idea where things are happening here.
Police think that an arsonist or group of arsonists set as many as nine fires in a section of I-95, the main north-south route there, remains closed in Brevard County. Rob Marciano, live in Palm Bay for us this morning. Watching the situation there and storms moving across the plains.
What's it looking like there in Florida? Any relief in sight? You know, they could desperately need some -- desperately use some rain there.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, rain's not going to happen, John. But the winds are a little bit lighter, at least they are right now. And some of the areas that have been scorched including the one I'm standing, when the winds shift, that fire may be blown back on those burned areas, and that's always a good thing.
Palmettos, the pine trees here in Florida, they're all very explosive fuels here. Very random and spotty nature of this fire. This area burned. That particular home saved. There's a power and telephone pole there. That was burned and still smoldering.
So, you see this kind of action all over this part of Brevard County, 3,500 acres have burned with this particular fire. We still have a critical fire danger in effect for today. Relative humidity levels very, very low. They haven't had a whole lot of rain here in the last month. And winds are expected to pick up again today although they should eventually turn onshore.
The other weather threat today is going to be the severe weather threat. At Storm Prediction Center out of Norman, Oklahoma has just upgraded the risk for severe weather this afternoon to a moderate risk and includes areas that just got hammered earlier in the week or over the weekend, I should say -- eastern parts of Oklahoma, northeast parts of Texas and western parts of Missouri, Arkansas and also eastern Kansas. So, they're going to be under the gun.
We have a severe thunderstorm warning that's in effect currently for St. Louis. The cell right over St. Louis right now. This has had a history of producing some hail, some gusty winds and some lightning and certainly some heavy downpour.
Isolated tornadoes certainly a threat as we go on through the afternoon and evening. It's all part of another cool shot of air coming out of the Rocky Mountains. As a matter of fact, there are winter storm warnings posted for parts of the Rockies today. Could see a foot of snow in some of the mountains west of Denver.
So, we continue to get these cool shots of air coming -- unseasonably cool shots coming into the plains. And, of course, John and Kyra, that's one of the ingredients you need to spawn this severe weather outbreak.
Here in Florida, though, no severe weather in the forecast just another dry and warm day. Back up to you.
ROBERTS: All right. Rob, thanks very much.
Returning vets looking for an education. A new bill wants to make it easier for them to head back to school. But not all the presidential candidates are on board with it. Coming up, we're going to talk with one of the senators co-sponsoring the bill.
PHILLIPS: And CNN exclusive coming up, the startling actions baby boomers are taking to cope with the failing -- or the falling economy, rather. That story and today's headlines, yes, you could say failing economy, too, when AMERICAN MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": Welcome to this "TONIGHT SHOW." Nice to have you all here on a Monday night. Before we begin, in case Hillary Clinton is watching, I'd like to point out the exits.
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": If you look at this historically it's not that difficult to believe that Hillary would still be campaigning. Listen to this. Once a year, once a year in his basement, Al Gore gives a State of the Union address.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Well, a quick check of this morning's "Quick Vote" question. We have been asking: Should military member who served three years on active duty be given a full ride for college?
It's the centerpiece of a new G.I. bill that's in Congress. Right now, 80 percent of you say yes, 20 percent say no.
Cast your vote at CNN.com/am. We're going to continue to tally your votes throughout the morning and bring you a final look about a half hour from now.
We also want your e-mails on this, please, CNN.com/am. We'd love to hear what you think about it -- Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Well, the economy is issue no.1 for Americans. And now we're getting word of how the desperate times are leading some baby boomers to desperate measures. The AARP is releasing a survey today. And CNN's Personal Financial Editor Gerri Willis has the broadcast exclusive with this report and she joins us now.
So, what does it say? What did you find out?
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Well, I've got to tell you. Not good numbers here, 45 plus in this economy does not spell success. Take a look at these numbers. Nearly a quarter are dipping into savings. Maybe they are IRA, maybe a 401(k) account just to get themselves through this economic downturn.
Nearly, a third here postponing paying bills. Seventeen percent are cutting back on medication. And about 25 percent of workers are saying that they're postponing plans to retire. You can see the pain that this economy is causing, particularly people who are 45-years-old or more. It's very difficult for them.
PHILLIPS: Do they say anything about the presidential candidate, the election, government leaders? No, of course. Why do I even ask?
WILLIS: Yes, they did ask that question. And a lot of people, in fact, nearly three-quarters said, hey, the elected officials out there aren't doing enough to help us out if we're caught in this economic squeeze.
PHILLIPS: So, what should boomers be doing?
WILLIS: What my fear out there is that people are doing everything they can to pay the mortgage. Their tapping their 401(k)s, any savings they have. Look, if you ultimately cannot afford this house, that's not the thing to do. You've got to make sure that you have enough money on hand for retirement. It's time to downsize that mortgage. Either you sell the house, even at a discount. Get out from under this massive mortgage. And don't stop investing the 401(k), that is another big e-mail I get all the time from folks.
Should I not be investing in my 401(k), not investing in stocks for retirement. That is exactly the wrong thing to do. You want to make sure you are putting money away each and every month so that when you do retire you have money to call on. And I think you have to be proactive here. You can't wait for the government to solve this. Obviously, Congress has been yammering about this for over a year now. Nothing has happened. We are still waiting for some kind of solution out there. People are going to have to do it on their own.
PHILLIPS: Gerri, thanks.
Well, the economy is issue no.1 for Americans. You can join Gerri, Ali Velshi and the CNN money team for "ISSUE #1" today, noon Eastern right here on CNN and online at CNNMoney.com -- John.
ROBERTS: Out of the battlefield and into the classroom. A new bill wants to make it easier for returning veterans to pay for an education. Why is it facing some resistance in Congress? We are talking with one of the senators pushing the bill forward. Chuck Hagel joins us, coming up next.
And both parties need to pay attention to today's vote in West Virginia if they want to win the White House in November. Why? I will tell you when AMERICAN MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Right now they are voting in West Virginia. Senator Hillary Clinton in Charleston today. Also, expecting a comfy win and a winner's share of the 28 delegates at stake today. Barack Obama -- well, he will be campaigning in Missouri, a potential swing state in November. While Senator John McCain is in Washington State.
Now, Senator Clinton rallied the troops in West Virginia yesterday hoping that she could maybe close the gap in that popular vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Please do everything you can to turn out as many voters as possible. This is going to be a crucial turning point in this election.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, Senator Barack Obama who is leading in delegates, superdelegates, states won and the popular vote let the Clintons handle the math in today's primary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think there's no doubt that Senator Clinton is favored to win there. You know, I don't think that is any secret at what the latest poll. I think President Clinton said he was going to -- they were going to get 80 percent of the vote. So we'll take him as his word and --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is a good (INAUDIBLE)?
OBAMA: Well, I guess better than 20 percent according to President Clinton's math, right?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Even though Obama may lose the state and lose it big, he got a boost by gaining four more superdelegates. On the other side, Senator John McCain looking for some crossover appeal by highlighting his plan to combat climate change.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Those who want clean coal technology more wind and solar, nuclear power, biomass and biofuels will have their opportunity through a new market that rewards those and other innovations in clean energy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: That's right. McCain says that his plan would cut greenhouse gas emissions back to where they were in 1990. Both Senators Clinton and Obama say that that just doesn't go far enough. Now there is a brand new candidate in the race for the White House, former Congressman Bob Barr officially announcing his candidacy for president as a member of the Libertarian Party and he says he's in to win.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BOB BARR (L) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not interested in being a spoiler. I'm interested in being a competitor which I have been all my life. I believe that there is a dramatic change that we need to make in our political and economic system to reduce government power and control over people's lives. There is a real opportunity to dramatically change the dynamics and possibly win this race.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: As a Republican congressman from Georgia in 1998, Barr was one of the first lawmakers to push for President Clinton's impeachment. Some analysts say that he could take away some conservative votes from Senator McCain.
ROBERTS: Democrats and some Republicans want to drastically improve college benefits for veterans through a new G.I. Bill. The bill would guarantee a full ride scholarship for service members to any instate public university as long as they serve three years.
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are on board. But presumptive Republican nominee John McCain says he is worried about losing valuable soldiers. Joining me now is the co-sponsor of the bill Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel joins us live from the Russell Building at Capitol Hill.
Senator, it is great to see you. Thanks for being with us this morning.
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R) NEBRASKA: Thank you, John. Good morning.
ROBERTS: So this new benefit could be worth as much as $31,000 a year up from an average of about $9,000 a year currently being offered. Give me the case for this bill.
HAGEL: Well, first we have not adjusted our GI education benefits for 25 years. The fact is the current system does not pay for all of the benefits, some of us believe, our veterans are due. I am a veteran of the Vietnam War. Every American veteran in all of our wars since World War II have enjoyed real educational benefits.
The current law does not give these guys and these women those kinds of benefits. This just puts us into the 21st century, projects the real costs of getting an education today. It is a smart investment in our country. It does what we need to do to keep our soldiers on the cutting edge and the veterans and put something back in community.
Plus, John, this is not anything more than an acknowledgement of the service that these men and women have given this country. That's what we've done with every veteran since World War II.
ROBERTS: Senator John McCain is opposed to the bill as you have written it along with your co-sponsor Senator Jim Webb of Virginia. He favor as more modest proposal unprincipled. What do you think of his opposition to your bill? HAGEL: Well, those who are on the other side of this for the reasons they are, I understand. But, you know, it comes down to this, John. We surely have found enough money to go to war in this country the last seven years. Seven years in Afghanistan, six years in Iraq. We are spending $3 billion a week. Are you telling me that we don't have enough money to take care of the men and women that we are asking to do everything for us, bear all of the burden, make the sacrifices?
We don't have enough money to take care of their educational benefits? Come on. That's where I come down, John. And I think it really comes down to that element of a debate.
ROBERTS: Of course, the opposition to the expense which the Congressional Budget Office puts at about $52 billion over ten years is one argument that opponents of this bill are making, but the argument that John McCain is making is another figure from the Congressional Budget Office that suggests that reenlistment rates would decrease by about 16 percent because many of these service members would opt to after their first tour of duty go to college as oppose to reenlisting. But at the same time the Congressional Budget Office says it would probably enhance initial recruiting by 16 percent.
So is that a wash or you're still losing experienced members of the military?
HAGEL: John, the reality is we are losing experienced members of the military today. We are thousands of army captains short. We are thousands of army senior enlisted short. They are not leaving the service, John, because of educational benefits, good or bad. They are leaving because we are asking them to spend three and four combat tours, 15 months in Iraq, nonstop. Their families can't take that.
We've never had a generation of veterans do that. Even the World War II veterans never spent that much time overseas in combat areas. We are asking these people to do something we have never asked any of our veterans to do. That is why they are leaving the services, John. Not because of what Senator McCain and others are talking about on the other side. And again, this is just a matter of some principle to roll forward the benefits that these men and women have earned. This is not a welfare program.
ROBERTS: Senator, I got to ask you one more question on a completely unrelated issue. A lot of people are talking about, you know, your retiring this year. A lot of people are talking about the fact that you'd make a terrific vice presidential running mate for Barack Obama. You would bring a lot of independence in the door. He has certainly talked about you as somebody whom he would like to perhaps have in his cabinet, if not you, somebody like you.
If he asked you to be his runningmate, would you say yes?
HAGEL: John, I don't expect to be on anybody's ticket this year. I don't expect to be in anyone's government next year. I'm going to go try to find some honest work and I don't speculate on anything, but I appreciate the question and thank you. ROBERTS: Right, but if he asked, would you say yes?
HAGEL: Listen, if he asks, I'll let you know.
ROBERTS: All right. Senator Hagel, it's great to see you, thanks.
HAGEL: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Honest work in politics. I want to follow up with that question.
All right. Quick check now -- actually we want to turn the corner for a minute and go to breaking news this morning out of the Pentagon, I'm being told. Apparently charges have been dismissed against a suspected terrorist that was held at Guantanamo Bay for his alleged role in the September 11 attacks.
Investigators say Mohammed al-Qahtani missed a chance to be involved in the attacks because he was denied entry to the U.S. by an immigration agent. Charges were filed in February but they were dismissed on Friday. Senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre working the story for us now.
Jamie, what can you tell us?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well Kyra, the charges have been dismissed "without prejudice" -- is the legal term -- against Mohammed al-Qahtani. But his defense attorneys aren't doing big celebrations yet. That does mean that the charges can be brought against him in the future.
What essentially happened here was prosecutors presented the cases against six defendants at Guantanamo that they want to move to military commissions including this Mohammed al-Qahtani who, as you said, is sometimes referred to as the 20th hijacker because it's believed he was trying to enter the country to take part in the September 11 attacks, a stop at the Orlando airport. However, his case could come back later.
And going to trial will be five other cases, including the suspected mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramsey Bin Al Shid (ph), who is also a key figure. Bin Al Shid by the way was also suspected of trying to get into the country for those attacks. So this shows the problem with the military commission process in that sometimes it is very difficult to make the cases again these -- a legal case against these people.
But, the suspects are still kept in Guantanamo as enemy combatants. So for Muhammed al-Qahtani, he's not going to be getting out any time soon. And in fact, the fact that his case did not move forward to a military commission could be seen as a setback because he remains in limbo in Guantanamo -- Kyra. PHILLIPS: Then there's the whole other debate of what's going to happen at Guantanamo Bay. Jamie McIntyre, live from the Pentagon for us.
Jamie, thanks.
ROBERTS: Alina Cho here with other stories new this morning.
Good morning to you.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there and good morning guys, once again. And good morning everybody.
New this morning, former presidential candidate and senator John Edwards sat down exclusively with Larry King last night. Larry asked him if he thinks the long primary battle will hurt the Democrats in the general election.
Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN EDWARDS (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: One of the reasons I got out was that I thought my getting out would accelerate the choice of a nominee, would allow us to get prepared for the fall. Shows you how smart I am. It didn't work.
It is going on and on and on. I think the length of the primary is not helpful to us. I will say if Senator Obama, who is certainly the frontrunner right now, ends up being the nominee, I think the competition has been good for him. I think he's become stronger and tougher, more focussed through the course of the campaign, more experienced in a tough national race.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: And for those of you hoping for an Obama/Edwards or Clinton/Edwards ticket, he says no way. Edwards says he has no interest in being vice president.
Barbara Walters also sat down with Larry King last night. She is known for her hard-hitting interviews. But Walters, who is out with a new book, had the tables turned on her when Larry asked her about her affair with a married man back in the '70s.
Now while she didn't defend the affair with Senator Edward Brooke, who is African-American, she did defend her decision to write about it in her new memoir.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA WALTERS, AUTHOR, "AUDITION: A MEMOIR": We knew it was wrong, we broke it up. And -- I put it in because -- the way I put other things in the book, because I was going to tell the truth about my life; I was not going to be this wonderful, perfect, proper person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Walters also talked about why she thinks Katie Couric left the "Today Show" for the "CBS Evening News."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTERS: She's not sorry she left. She felt it was time for her to leave. And -- she has really worked so hard. Katie is going to be fine. She is such a talent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: All of this promotion sells a lot of books. Walters' book "Audition" has sold an unprecedented quarter of a million copies in less than a week. Wow.
And the countdown is on to the release of the highly anticipated film "Sex and the City."
Kyra and I can't wait. But John, I'm not so sure.
The fab four were out in force last night for the movie's premier in London.
Why London? We'll get to that in just a minute.
But check out the hat Sarah Jessica Parker was wearing. That was Philip Tresse (ph) by the way, an homage to a British designer. And that is fashion by the way.
That's Kim Cattrall, by the way. Butterflies and flowers and the like. Parker by the way also explained why the show that revolves around New York was premiering in London, saying it was New Line, the studio's decision to do that, and that the real premier, the big premier, will be in the Big Apple. That is on May 27.
The movie opens nationwide on May 30.
That is advanced fashion, by the way. One stylist said it is the fashion equivalent of getting a masters at Harvard. So --
ROBERTS: Do you think Kim Cattrall is happy that she decided to do the movie after all?
CHO: Well, she certainly is getting paid. She held out and they are all getting paid. It should be a big success.
ROBERTS: Alina, thank you.
CHO: You bet.
PHILLIPS: Breaking news now. More on the death toll that is climbing after the massive earthquake in central China. Right now, rescuers are searching for survivors as aid slowly makes its way to the hardest hit areas. We are live on the ground. ROBERTS: Both parties need to pay attention to today's vote in West Virginia if they want to win the White House in November. That story when AMERICAN MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: The outcome in West Virginia today could have major implications for the Democratic race and the November election. CNN's chief national correspondent, John King, here now to show us all with the magic wall.
Let's take a look at the delegate race as it stands right now and whether or not Hillary Clinton actually could make a case to the superdelegates to say: I should be the nominee.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That question brings us to the moment we are at today. She is expected to win very big in West Virginia, John. And the question is, as many Democrats are saying, to what end?
Because if you look at the delegate math, No. 1, most of the states are filled in. Senator Clinton is the lighter blue, Senator Obama is the darker blue. There are not many options left. And here are the key numbers right now. Senator Obama almost to 1,900 delegates, Senator Clinton about 170 delegates behind him right now with only a handful of contests left.
So if you look at this way, in better contrast, here's the finish line out here, this red line is our finish line. I'm going to make it green, and green is where we start the day here.
Let me clear this out and come back here to the default.
You take these guys back. These I was allocating in an experiment earlier. Here's what's left. Look at Senator Obama, he only has that much to go to get to the finish line. Senator Clinton all this. She needs to win 71 percent of the remaining delegates, and there's no reason to believe, based on anything that has happened so far, that she will do that.
So for Barak Obama, John, the math is simple. Win three in ten and you are the Democratic nominee.
ROBERTS: There it is.
KING: And so that's the math facing Senator Clinton. She is going to make a point in West Virginia saying, look, Barak Obama has trouble with white working class voters, it's an older state, I win the senior vote. Those are two key constituencies in the fall. So she's making a strong point about Obama's weaknesses, but, at the same time, the math is overwhelming.
ROBERTS: And the Clinton campaign may be trying to make a case that if they win the overall popular vote, they should be the nominee.
But let's just assume for a second that it is the delegate math that holds sway here. Barak Obama becomes the Democratic nominee. Let's ask the magic wall who is the strongest candidate of all for the general election.
KING: Well, if you go into an Obama/McCain matchup, both campaigns start with the fundamental premise of, you are running this election based on the last one. The red states were won by George W. Bush; he got 286 electoral votes, you need 270 to win. This is the John Kerry/George Bush matchup switched in to a McCain/Obama.
Now, how would the map change?
These are two very different candidates. What Senator McCain says is, I'm talking climate change, I can reach out to independents who care about the environment in a place like Oregon. Senator McCain says look, I won in New Hampshire, Barack Obama didn't. I think I can do some business in a state like that. Senator McCain also says I'm going to put Minnesota and Wisconsin back into play for the Republicans.
Now, he thinks he's competitive in 300 plus, maybe 320. Senator Obama says fine, that is your math. I have math too.
Remember, I won big in Virginia, it has a Democratic governor. I turn out African-Americans. I can win that state that is normally red. He is going to Florida this week, that is part of put Florida back in the Democratic contest. Look where we are now, 277-261. McCain wins in this scenario. But Obama just needs to switch one state.
What if he would win the state of Missouri? Then he is the president of the United States and John McCain falls short.
And if this is your math and you are John McCain looking at this, what do you have to switch? John McCain says well, maybe I can win Iowa. You're having a problem with white rural voters. Then you can switch that math back and forth.
So there are a number of scenarios. You have big states. Obama wants to put Colorado in play. Senator McCain thinks he can hold that. But the map is very interesting, especially given their strengths among independent voters, this is not quite traditional.
Pennsylvania, for example, John McCain says I can get those Reagan Democrats. Hillary Clinton beat you big there.
So you have a number of states, and we will highlight them in swing states. These states surrounded by gold are likely to be the key swing battlegrounds in the fall, if the map stands as it does right now. We're going to spend a lot of time looking. Some of them are big -- Florida, Pennsylvania, Missouri. But some of them are quite small states like New Mexico --
ROBERTS: He did well here in Nevada. If he took Bill Richardson on as a runningmate, let's say, maybe he brings in New Mexico?
KING: You're getting right to all the calculations. The campaigns are doing all this polling, all these focus groups on all of these swing states. They're looking at what do I need, maybe to get me the extra three or four points to get over the top?
Will it be -- can Barak Obama turn Ohio blue? If Barack Obama can do that, then the election, many think, is over. So Hillary Clinton supporter, Governor Ted Strickland, these are the calculations all the campaigns are going through. But they are looking at a map, John, that shows very close number, little room for error, which is why the vice presidential pick will be one of the key calculations.
ROBERTS: Still a little more than six months to the election too. Long way to go.
All right, John, thanks very much -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Unraveling the mystery of autism. Parents claim something that is supposed to protect their children changed them instead. Now a federal court decides. We are paging Dr. Sanjay Gupta straight ahead.
And we're following breaking news. Search and rescue in China. The race against time to find the tens of thousands of people buried in that rubble. A live report from the disaster zone straight ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Breaking news right now and new dramatic numbers out of China. The number of people killed now more than 12,000. And the "Associated Press" says that just in the Sichuan Province, where the quake was centered, rescuers only now beginning to reach the hardest hit areas and the thousands of people who are still believed to be trapped.
CNN's John Vause is there in the township where this is taking place in China. He brings us this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The full scale of the damage from this earthquake, it's just staggering. Row after row of houses which have not just collapsed but have been completely smashed apart. And what we've seen for hundreds of miles, tens of thousands of people who gathered on the side of the road in parks, under tarp (INAUDIBLE), under tents, whatever they can get, large sheets of plastic to protect themselves from this miserable drizzle which has been falling steadily throughout the day.
They have nowhere to go. Their homes have either been destroyed or they have been made structurally unsound, and they are too worried, too scared to go back to them. And they're also concerned about aftershocks. There have been reports of more aftershocks even now, more than 24 hours after that initial 7.9 magnitude quake.
What we've also seen as we have headed up the side of this mountain is the entire side of the hill in many places has just been swept away by these landslides. And parts of the valley have actually been filled in. It is truly staggering when you see what has happened to this part of China, to the geography of this part or to the landscape. The force of this earthquake at the time must have been terrifying.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Unbelievable what's going on there. We are definitely going to hear a death toll that continues to rise.
PHILLIPS: And we're going to continue to talk with Dr. Sanjay Gupta as well throughout the afternoon. I saw him, he is going to be on the afternoon shows talking about the survivability of those that are trapped under that rubble. You've talked about that as well too, the crush injuries and how long --
ROBERTS: Yes, there are problems that even if you get food and water to somebody, because of a crush injury, that may not itself be life threatening. There are process that is go on within the body that can lead to kidney failure. So it is extremely --
PHILLIPS: You're talking about thousands of people.
ROBERTS: -- important to get those people out. We've seen that in other earthquakes as well.
From Barak Obama's awkward bowling to Hillary Clinton's yellow raincoat, the campaign trail has produced some awfully memorable moments. We're going to take a look back at some of them with our Jeanne Moos coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. Now they are heading to the polls in West Virginia. Up for grabs, 28 delegates. Senator Hillary Clinton favored to win that state, but it won't make much of a dent in Barak Obama's lead. He's ahead by nearly 200 delegates. Polls close ten hours just a little bit more -- well there you go, 10 hours, 39 minutes, 34 seconds -- John.
ROBERTS: Another key legal test is playing out. Day two for families in a special federal vaccine court. They say an ingredient in a childhood vaccine caused their kids autism. Most medical groups, including the Centers for Disease Control and the FDA, say there's no link between vaccines and autism. We're paging Dr. Gupta who has been following this.
Sanjay, what do we know about the boys in this case and their autism?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: They are both 10-years-old. They're both from Portland, Oregon. Their names are William Meade (ph) and Jordan King (ph).
This is something that's been quite public. As you say, this is day two of their vaccine day in court. They represent two families of about 5,000, John, as you know, that are going to have their day in court talking about this potential link between vaccines and autism. It is remarkable in some ways, John, that we are talking about this. So many in the established medical world have said, there's absolutely no link, as you mentioned.
But there are sort of three test theories that are being put forward here in this vaccine port, trying to say is there some sort of link here -- specifically a link between MMR vaccine, plus thimerosal containing vaccines, could that lead to autism? Thimerosal in vaccines alone, could that lead to autism? And then the MMR vaccine alone, could that lead to autism?
As you pointed out, John, it is sort of the second one, the thimerosal in vaccines, that is sort of at issue today with these two boys. That is what being determined. It is one of those things where they are probably not going to come up with causation, but they may award money for pain and suffering and for medical costs if they find in favor of the families, John.
ROBERTS: We've also heard from the former head of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Bernadine Healy, who says despite the decisions by the CDC and the FDA, don't rule out a potential link between these vaccines and autism.
What have the courts decided so far about a link and this idea of causality?
GUPTA: Well they have not determined causation. That is something they are very clear on. They are saying that even though they awarded money, for example, to Hannah Pollings' (ph) family, they say it did not admit that there was a cause between vaccine and autism.
But what you're pointing out is very important, I think, John. Dr. Bernadine Healy the former head of the National Institutes of Health came out and told me when I sat down with her last week at the summit, said biologically and historically plausible is the connection between vaccines and autism. A very important thing that she said. In fact, she said the causative studies that are out there have been inadequate to absolutely rule out a link between vaccines and autism.
So this is pretty powerful stuff. And as they say, John, the beat goes on. A lot of people coming out and talking about this more than ever before.
ROBERTS: And Sanjay, just to be clear, the case of this young woman that you cited, they determined that there was a -- that the vaccine triggered an underlying condition, but didn't necessarily cause the autism itself.
GUPTA: That is right. They say that she had an underlying mitochondrial condition. The head of the CDC when I interviewed her said this is extremely rare. This is an exception rather than the rule. But again, Dr. Healy, several other scientists coming forward and saying let's take a closer look here.
ROBERTS: All right. Well, we will keep following that closely.
Sanjay, thanks for the update.
GUPTA: All right. Thanks, John - Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Here's a quick look at what "CNN NEWSROOM" is working on for the top of the hour.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: See these stories in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Rescue teams reach the epicenter of China's earthquake. Thousands are dead, thousands more trapped.
Polls point to a big win for Hillary Clinton in today's West Virginia primary.
Wildfires in south Florida damage several dozen homes.
For the first time, Cubans can buy microwaves.
A wheelchair bound woman stuck on a railroad track and a train is coming.
NEWSROOM just minutes, away at the top of the hour, on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: New video just into us this morning, seconds ago. This is in Chengdu, China. This is about 55 miles east of the epicenter of yesterday's earthquake. It's a city of some 11 million people. This taking place inside an airport terminal.
Let's just listen as this unfolds.
PHILLIPS: Just imagine being there. This could come from a cell phone or video camera that somebody had there inside. Not quite sure if it's a subway station, a shopping mall, but you sure get a feel --
ROBERTS: It's the airport.
PHILLIPS: Oh, it is the airport?
ROBERTS: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Boy you get a feel for what it's like to experience an earthquake, an earthquake that is now topping 12,000 people -- thousands of people still buried beneath the rubble.
ROBERTS: You can see just how violent the shaking was there on the that 7.9 earthquake. People off the planes that were there on the tarmac. It's just incredible. You see the terror on people's faces. So you can imagine this was 55 miles away. What was it like really close to the epicenter?
As Rob Marciano was telling us yesterday, the epicenter of this earthquake fairly shallow, which led to all of that shaking. Some unbelievable pictures out of Chengdu this morning.
PHILLIPS: And rescue still going on throughout obviously day and night, trying to find those that are buried beneath the rubble and elsewhere.
Well it's been a long hard primary season for Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton. But it has produced some great moments as well.
ROBERTS: Our Jeanne Moos is looking at some of the funniest and strangest moments from the campaign trail, and beyond.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Will the billiard ball eclipse the bowling ball? Barack Obama sure seemed more at home on a West Virginia pool table.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The sign of a misspent youth.
MOOS: He still managed to just barely lose.
There's no losing sight of Hillary. What can a candidate do to make a gloomy day sunnier? Wear yellow.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please don't stop. Don't stop.
MOOS: And what can a Hillary impersonator do to make herself schtick (ph) funnier? Wear yellow while explaining why Hillary would be a better candidate against John McCain.
AMY POEHLER, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": My supporters are racist.
MOOS: That's modeled after an actual Hillary outfit.
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ...Celestial choirs will be singing...
MOOS: Yellow is her favorite color. And while we're on the subject of outfits, the press was accused of swooning and CNN.com was mocked...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wearing jeans.
MOOS: ... for showing one of the first sightings ever of Barack Obama ever wearing jeans, aboard his campaign plane. But remember the last president who looked good in jeans.
Hillary looks pretty good on the hood of the Hillary Mobile. An Arizona artist has been driving the 'Hill Car' to campaign rallies, an artist who wears an actual Hillary pantsuit. But enough about what's being worn.
Listen to what's being said. Calling someone alive, dead. That's what Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe did referring to Tim Russert's father. TERRY MCAULIFFE, CLINTON CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN: Big Russ, if he were sitting here today, nothing's impossible. Jack McAuliffe, if you're with us today -- they're probably both in heaven, Tim, probably having a scotch, looking down saying, this fight goes on.
TIM RUSSERT, MSNBC ANCHOR: Big Russ is in the barcalounger still watching this. God bless him.
MOOS: But that's not as bad as the Bill O'Reilly meltdown prompted by the teleprompter that is circulating on the web.
BILL O'REILLY, INSIDE EDITION: I can't read it. There's no words on it.
MOOS: It's an old video from O'Reilly's days at "Inside Edition."
O'REILLY: Do it live! I'll write it and we'll do it live.
MOOS: We'll move on to the moveon.org folks, who announced the winners of their Obama in 30 seconds competition.
(on-camera): The winner for funniest ad goes to one entitled "It Could Happen to You."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I never thought it could happen to me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've been living with it for a while now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got it from her.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This could happen to anybody.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anybody.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have hope.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hope.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is your brain.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this is your brain on hope.
MOOS: Here's hoping I never get caught on tape the way Bill O'Reilly did.
O'REILLY: This (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Can you do the Bill O'Reilly thing?
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. But I would never do it on camera.
And you?
ROBERTS: I would do it live.
I would do it at home.
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. If people only knew.
Thanks for joining us on AMERICAN MORNING this morning.
ROBERTS: "CNN NEWSROOM" with Tony Harris and Betty Nguyen begins right now.
