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American Morning

Mars Phoenix Lander Lands Near Red Planet's North Pole; Deadly Tornadoes Hit Minnesota and Iowa; Democratic Candidates Campaign in Puerto Rico; McCain Entertains Potential VPs

Aired May 26, 2008 - 06:00   ET

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


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The Phoenix Lander was given only a 50/50 chance to make it successful. Several similar missions failed.
Miles O'Brien joins us now live from Pasadena, California. What do they call it? The seven minutes of terror, Miles?

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CHIEF TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: Seven minutes of terror, nails bitten to the quick here. They eat those peanuts as a superstitious bit of good luck, and all that superstition, all that focus and all that paid off for them last night, Kyra.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: Phoenix has landed. Phoenix has landed.

O'BRIEN (voice-over): Talk about a happy landing. NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander arrived alive and well on the surface of the Red Planet, opened its solar arrays, and started snapping pictures like an eager tourist. A 170 million miles away, the intrepid robot's human keepers rejoiced.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is hardware that these guys have held in their hands that they've nurtured, that they've sweated over for years. And then to see that very same hardware on the surface of another world, it's an incredible feeling.

O'BRIEN: It was an incredible descent. The 420 million Lander breathes through a searing, perilous arrival at Mars. Pieces separated, the parachute unfurled, a radar started scanning the ground, and a dozen rockets fired all as designed. And Phoenix slowed from 12,700 miles an hour to zero in all of seven minutes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today you had a chance to watch a team in action making something that is incredibly hard to do look easy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like trying to hit a hole-in-one, but you tee off in Washington and you hit the ball 10,000 miles, and you score a hole-in-one in Sydney, Australia.

O'BRIEN: The last time NASA tried a soft landing on Mars like this, it was a disaster. The sister craft of Phoenix, the Mars Polar Lander crashed in 1999, the casualty of a cost cutting program that NASA admits went too far. This time the space agency spent more money and is ready to focus on the mysteries of Mars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a scientist's dream right here on this landing site.

O'BRIEN: They believe the rocky tundra here is filled with ice crystals which could hold clues about life on the planet. For example, if there are organic molecules, which is one of the key ingredients for life, they may be trapped within that ice.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: This is the way the Lander is set up right now, Kyra. What will happen in about a little more than 24 hours, this arm will deploy out. It will go down to the ground and will begin the process of drilling and scooping into this very hard Martian tundra. The hope is they're going to grab up some ice crystals, to put them in here in the top here in this oven, start cooking them, and see if by some chance there are organic compounds inside that water. And that will take you a step closer to solving the riddle as to whether there ever was life or is life on Mars -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And there's been those moments, you know, sieving through that arctic tundra and, of course, we're not talking about Lambeau Field, Miles, looking for the signs of life past or present. What could that mean? I mean, what could that mean for us and our understanding about that planet?

O'BRIEN: Well, there's some big profound issues here of course, about questions about whether we're alone in the universe. But there's also some questions about our own planet. If Mars was once warm and wet and filled with life and look at it now, maybe there's some issues about our planet which we could consider as well because things can change. Maybe not quickly, but they can change.

PHILLIPS: Miles O'Brien live from Pasadena, California. Great to see you. Thanks, Miles.

O'BRIEN: You're welcome.

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news for the Midwest this morning where tornadoes, thunderstorms and hail pounded several states from Iowa to Minnesota. The deadly spring storm killed a 2-year-old child in the town of Hugo. That's 25 miles north of Minneapolis. Nine other people were seriously hurt.

And six people dead this morning from tornadoes in Iowa. Four people were killed in the north central town of Parkersburg. One person missing there. Minutes later the tornado struck nearby New Hartford killing two more people in that town.

For the latest conditions, our Rob Marciano is here with us in New York. Rob, what are we looking at for today?

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It should be a little bit more widespread but not quite as damaging. It seems like miles we have. With this particular outbreak over the last four days, 167 preliminary reports of tornadoes touching down. So certainly an intense outbreak over several states including parts of Texas, Colorado, western Kansas, in through Iowa and Minnesota as John mentioned some of the hardest hit areas there, just to the north of the twin cities there.

In Hugo, 50 homes destroyed and about 150 damaged with that one. Sliding back, we also have had hail. Yesterday reports of 279 reports of hail yesterday with some as big as four inches in diameter, so certainly very intense.

As far as the radar is concerned today, we do have a couple of watch boxes that are out. They will be expiring later on today. We'll look for the threat that's shipped off to the east, east of Chicago towards Indianapolis and through parts of St. Louis and Springfield, Illinois.

Right now, we're just looking at threat for some heavy showers with some potentially some hail with this, but the tornado threat will slide off to the east. Unbelievable amounts of energy in the atmosphere with this particular outbreak that -- well, it's that time of year that's for sure.

Today's main threat is going to be hail. It's going to be some damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. It will spread east towards Michigan and parts of Kentucky, western Tennessee and in through parts of Missouri as well. But right now, we're looking OK. John, Kyra, back over to you.

ROBERTS: All right. Rob, thanks very much.

Tens of thousands of buildings that have survived China's devastating earthquake two weeks ago are now rubble, brought down by a powerful aftershock yesterday that killed at least eight people and injured more than a thousand.

Tremors from the aftershock were felt 800 miles away in Beijing. The official toll from the original quake now stands at more than 65,000, with more than 23,000 others missing.

A chilling ordeal for two divers that nearly imitates the horror movie "Open Water." The two were separated from their diving group Friday in the shark-infested waters of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The two who tied themselves together to help them stay afloat managed to swim for 19 hours before rescuers spotted them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN EDWARDS, HELICOPTER PILOT: We were fortunate enough to be able to pick them up after they were sighted by one of the light helicopters, and they seem to be in excellent spirits and in excellent condition.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: The two suffered no injuries. They have reportedly sold their story to a British newspaper for $1 million.

PHILLIPS: And on this Memorial Day, Americans remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. This morning President Bush will take part in a wreath-laying ceremony in the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. That's scheduled just before 11:00 a.m. Eastern, and we'll bring it to you live.

ROBERTS: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton hit the beach. Fifty- five delegates up for grabs in Puerto Rico. We'll take you live to San Juan where both candidates are trying to make a final sweep.

PHILLIPS: Jeanne Meserve put the airlines to the test by flying the most delayed route in America.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The board showed Continental flight 2286 on time. We headed for the gate and boarded just a few minutes late. But just after they shut the door --

MESERVE (on camera): Well, the crew just announced we're going to be delayed for about an hour because of airport traffic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: See for yourself how the rest of the trip turned out.

ROBERTS: And drivers looking to beat high gas prices with smaller cars are encountering a problem? Demand is so high that those cars are going for a small fortune, even used ones. We'll have the story later on this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: Ten minutes after the hour, and updating our top story for you this morning. There you could see more of the wreckage from a deadly swarm of tornadoes that went through the state of Minnesota. This is from our affiliate KARE in Minneapolis yesterday.

You can see the extent of the devastation there. Most of it is centered in the town of Hugo. That's about 25 miles north of Minneapolis. A 2-year-old girl was killed there, nine people seriously hurt.

Our Ed Lavandera is on the ground in Hugo this morning. He joins us now. As the light begins to come up there this morning, Ed, what are you seeing from your vantage point?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're still hoping to be able to get into this subdivision here in Hugo where the majority of this damage and where that 2-year-old was killed yesterday afternoon. The storm swept through here between 4:00 and 6:00 Central time yesterday afternoon, and it was a devastating day.

One person killed here. As you mentioned, several more injured. We've seen the aerial pictures of this subdivision behind us and many of the homes, dozens and dozen of homes completely destroyed or at least somewhat damaged by the storm that hit here.

But also just down the road in Iowa, north central Iowa, another seven -- at least six people killed there as well. So it's been a devastating weekend of tornadoes here. And as the sun comes up this morning, John, a lot of people beginning to assess the damage and just to see how much cleanup will be left to do here in the coming days -- John.

ROBERTS: What about people missing, Ed? Do you have any reports that there are still people who are unaccounted for?

LAVANDERA: We have heard some reports that we haven't had any updates about that this morning but I think by night fall yesterday, I think a lot of those people had been found. But we're still waiting on some official word here this morning.

ROBERTS: Ed Lavandera for us this morning with an early look at the devastation there in Hugo. Ed, we'll check back in with you, thanks.

PHILLIPS: Presidential candidates hit the beach. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in Puerto Rico where 55 delegates are up for grabs. The final push to take the last votes in this primary season, straight ahead on this AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton racing to the finish line. The two candidates hit the beach in Puerto Rico this weekend where 55 delegates are up for grabs. That's not the only one that's beach side.

Suzanne Malveaux there with one of the toughest assignments this morning. And you know, Suzanne, you're a beautiful woman, but this backdrop takes it to a whole other level.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: What can I say, Kyra? You know, this is the best they say here, si podemos (ph). Yes, we can. We're here in Puerto Rico.

This has really been quite an interesting weekend. Barack Obama was here. He's really trying to wrap this whole thing up.

As for the Clintons, this is going to be a family affair today, and it's not only Hillary Clinton, but her husband Bill Clinton and Chelsea, all campaigning hard for what is going to be the last big contest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): Campaigning Puerto Ricans call Boricua- style. Barack Obama, at a Kaminaka (ph), a traditional Puerto Rican political parade.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To make a difference, it's exciting. It's really exciting, and I think I'm really proud to be part of all this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For some reason, we do have a big delegation. So it does make a difference in terms of the amount of delegates. That's a big factor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's the best candidate not only for Puerto Rico, but for the United States.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're hoping that she continues and once they decide the votes of Michigan and Florida, hopefully she'll still be in the game.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If we win Puerto Rico, we'll win the nomination. And if we win the nomination, we'll win the general election.

MALVEAUX: Obama first opened a campaign office here two months ago. He put out ads in Spanish. He talks about growing up on the island of Hawaii with little means, and stresses the need to bring U.S. troops from Puerto Rico serving in Iraq home.

For Hillary Clinton facing increasingly tough odds to win the nomination, capturing as many of Puerto Rico's 55 pledged delegates and the popular vote is critical in convincing undecided superdelegates to swing her way.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I promise you this. I will work for a resolution of Puerto Rico's status by the end of my first term in office.

MALVEAUX: Bill and Chelsea Clinton have stumped here before. Clinton is the favored. As the senator of New York, she represents one million Puerto Ricans in her home state and she's got a strong Latino following.

Since Puerto Rico is a commonwealth and not a state, residents here can vote in the primary, but not the general election. Issue number one here is statehood. Both candidates pledged to resolve it during their first term, leaving it up to the Puerto Ricans to decide what's best.

While Clinton went a step further, suggesting a constitutional amendment which would allow those on the island to vote.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Now, Kyra, there are four million people who live here. There's another four million Puerto Ricans in the mainland. So Clinton is certainly hoping that that will help her for this last big primary.

In the meantime, Barack Obama really focusing on other issues, those of the general election states. He is going to be in New Mexico, Nevada and then Colorado -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: He's definitely been working that Latin vote, whether it's in Florida with the Cubans, now to Puerto Rico. Is it working?

MALVEAUX: Well, both these candidates are definitely trying to work the Hispanic vote, the Latino vote. Hillary Clinton has been much more successful when it comes to winning over certain blocs for those previous contests. It's something that Barack Obama really does need to work hard for. We are seeing the numbers shift somewhat, but it is considered that she will be the favorite, Clinton here in Puerto Rico, and that is certainly, Kyra, something that she is counting on.

PHILLIPS: Our Suzanne Malveaux with that beautiful sunrise behind her in Puerto Rico. Thank you, Suzanne -- John.

ROBERTS: You know, she had hardship duty in Hawaii so that's why they gave her Puerto Rico.

Now on to third party politics. Former Republican Congressman Bob Barr of Georgia is now the Libertarian's Party's presidential nominee. He beat eight other candidates at the party's national convention in Denver. That's where the Democrats are going to be holding their convention in August.

Barr is perhaps best known for his role in leading the impeachment effort against President Bill Clinton, something that Barr could play the spoiler, siphoning votes away from Republican John McCain. We'll be talking about that when Bob Barr joins us live here on AMERICAN MORNING at 7:55 Eastern.

PHILLIPS: It's almost quitting time. That's what former President Jimmy Carter is telling Senator Hillary Clinton. Mr. Carter told "Sky News" in Great Britain that she should get out after the final contest on June 3rd, and he suggested that most superdelegates will speed up their decisions after that and that she probably won't like the outcome. President Carter is a superdelegate, by the way, but hasn't committed to either candidate so far.

ROBERTS: Today we remember falling heroes, but election year politics may be getting in the way of honoring the living. Why John McCain and President Bush are against the new GI bill, and why other Republicans are bailing on them as Barack Obama tries to paint them as clones.

PHILLIPS: Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, the summer shuffle. Jeanne Meserve tries to take off.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the crew just announced we're going to be delayed for about an hour.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Tagging along on her quest to put airlines to the test.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MESERVE: So here we are in Dayton, we got here four minutes early, even though we took off from Newark almost an hour late.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Cracking airline arithmetic and other myths ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: Twenty-one minutes after the hour and on this busy travel weekend, we put the airlines to the test. Our Jeanne Meserve braved what is the worst route for on-time performance, Newark, New Jersey, to Dayton, Ohio. It is the most delayed flight in the country, with a wait of at least an hour and a half.

Jeanne joins us now live from Newark Liberty International Airport. Jeanne, you took this flight, how did you make out?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'll tell you, it was an education for us. What we decided to do is take the flight that according to the most recent statistics was more delayed more often than any other, and as you say, it did originate right here in Newark.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE (voice-over): Our journey started last Wednesday evening.

MESERVE (on camera): That's Europe. We don't need that. Unfortunately, we wish we were flying to Europe, but only Dayton today.

MESERVE (voice-over): The board showed Continental Flight 2286 on time. We headed for the gate and boarded just a few minutes late. But just after they shut the door --

MESERVE (on camera): Well, the crew just announced we're going to be delayed for about an hour because of airport traffic.

MESERVE (voice-over): We waited in a long line for takeoff, and it was indeed almost an hour before we were airborne.

MESERVE (on camera): So here we are in Dayton, we got here four minutes early, even though we took off from Newark almost an hour late.

MESERVE (voice-over): How is that possible? Continental put an hour pad in the schedule to compensate for Newark's routine delays. That gives passenger's a realistic arrival time, but it also means that our wait on the tarmac wasn't recorded as a delay, which makes this statistic even more amazing.

In March, this flight was officially late more than 92 percent of the time, with an average delay of an hour and a half. This flight may be the worst but the cascading effects of bad weather, congested air space and the overscheduling of flights at some airports is making plenty of other flights late too.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Passengers were delayed by 320 million hours last year. 320 million hours. If you divide that by 24 hours in a day, 365 days a year, passengers were delayed a total of 36,500 years.

MESERVE: And if your flight is canceled, it can be tough to get another.

BYFORD TREANOR, DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL. AIRPORT: Because of load factors being as high as they are and flights limited, it's not just a simple thing of getting off the next day. It may take you one or two days to get out.

MESERVE: The airport at Dallas-Fort Worth is trying to ease that pain. It now has a stock of cots and pillows, toiletry kits, even diapers and formula for stranded travelers.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MESERVE: Now, the Federal Aviation Administration has announced it's opening up some military air space to commercial aviation. Also, they're giving pilots more flexibility to fly around bad weather, all of that with an eye to trying to ease some of those horrible airport delays. John, back to you.

ROBERTS: Jeanne, it all comes down -- if you talk to the Air Traffic Controllers Association, it all comes down to a shortage of air traffic controllers. Anything that the government is doing to address that?

MESERVE: Well, that's the air traffic controllers' side of the argument. There are other arguments that are made as well which is, that there are simply too many flights flying out of some of these airports, this one in particular that they've scheduled. Just so many flights in such a short period of time that there's no way the airport can accommodate it.

It's a very complicated picture. There are a lot of moving parts. There are various efforts to address it, but at this point no real comprehensive plan to get a handle on it -- John.

ROBERTS: Jeanne Meserve for us this morning at the Newark Liberty International Airport. Jeanne, thanks.

Here's an AM extra look at the most delayed flights out there across America. Jeanne's flight, Continental Flight 2286 from Newark to Dayton, is tied at the top with American Airlines Flight 791, New York to LaGuardia, New York LaGuardia rather. The Dallas-Fort Worth both late 92 percent of the time.

The third is Continental Flight 2429 from Newark. Again, Newark, more problems there, to Burlington, Vermont, late a little bit more than 90 percent of the time.

And another tie at fourth, both of them, Southwest Flights 274 from Las Vegas to Reno, and Flight 50 from Dallas Love Field to Kansas City, both of those late 90 percent of the time.

PHILLIPS: Carrying on a daredevil tradition in your "Hot Shot" now. Check this out.

Daredevil Robbie Knievel breaking his late father's record jumping 24 delivery trucks on his bike at King's Island amusement park near Cincinnati.

ROBERTS: Oh, that was close. That was so close.

PHILLIPS: He said he needed to hit 95 miles per hour for that 200-foot jump. His father, as you remember, Evel Knievel, set the old record there by clearing 14 buses back in 1975. One more time for the fans.

(CROSSTALK)

ROBERTS: He's almost done. We'll see.

PHILLIPS: Oh, what had happened --

ROBERTS: He had to squeeze those knees against that gas tank. Oh, my goodness.

PHILLIPS: The bikes have become much more advanced since his dad used to do that.

Well, if you've got a "Hot Shot," send it to us. Head to our Web site, CNN.com/am. Follow the "Hot Shot" link.

It's like your motorcycle.

ROBERTS: No. No, it's nothing like mine. But if he was riding the old Sportster that his dad used to ride, he would have been gone.

Memorial Day is a time to honor those who have fallen for this country. We're going to talk with one brave girl who's helping other children deal with the loss of their parents in the line of duty coming up next.

PHILLIPS: Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, driven to downsize. The race to trade in the SUV for something, anything that's easier on the wallet.

Chris Lawrence on how to get your hands on a hybrid, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: There are plenty of parties across America on long weekends like this, but John McCain's was a little bit different. The senator entertained more than two dozen guests, including three who are widely seen as potential vice presidential running mates.

CNN's Mary Snow has got the line on the VP stake.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senator John McCain kept mum about his meetings with three potential running mates at his home in Sedona. But people are talking about the next big visitor, the presumptive Republican nominee's home state, President Bush. Bush will be in town Tuesday for a fundraiser that's being held at a private Arizona home. The McCain camp says the venue was chosen for privacy. But the "Phoenix Business Journal" reports that lackluster ticket sales forced a location change from its original spot -- the Phoenix Convention Center.

Meantime, the man who's looking more and more like McCain's November opponent is keeping up the McCain-Bush comparison. He's taking aim of both men for opposing the GI Bill.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I revere our soldiers and I want to make sure that they are being treated with honor and respect. I think the GI Bill is one way for us to do that. And I hope that John McCain and George Bush decide they believe the same thing.

SNOW: McCain says he opposed the bill because it doesn't provide incentives for people to stay in the military. He also made mention of Obama's decision not to serve.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't know if the American people will judge Senator Obama as to whether he has military experience or not. But I think they may judge him as to whether he has experience and knowledge to make the kind of judgment necessary to care for our veterans.

SNOW: McCain supporter Senator Lindsey Graham seemed to pick up on that theme on CBS' "FACE THE NATION" while criticizing Obama for wanting to withdraw troops from Iraq.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: The last time I understand he was in Iraq was in 2006. I would recommend that he go back. So much has happened since 2006 on the ground.

SNOW (on camera): And Graham was proposing that both Obama and McCain go to Iraq together to be briefed by General Petraeus, saying it would be good for the country.

Mary Snow, CNN, Sedona, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Senator McCain will be back on the campaign trail today. He's going to hold a rally this afternoon in New Mexico.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Time is not on their side. Two weeks after a powerful earthquake in China, tens of thousands of people are still missing. And many loved ones can't even let go. Now, we're seeing scenes reminiscent of the days just after 9/11 here at home.

CNN's Wilf Dinnick is in Minyang City, China.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILF DINNICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Shen (ph) will not give up. Her 23-year-old son has been missing since the earthquake struck two weeks ago.

He's a good boy, she says, happy and loyal to the family.

DINNICK: Her son Ganu Shen (ph) was a chef in Shanghai but recently moved to nearby Sichuan to try and look for work in a hotel, an area hard hit by the quake. Now she spends her day in Minyang, a city not far from the epicenter, where people post pictures of their loved ones still missing.

She spoke to him a few weeks before the quake hit. She says he told her he had just fallen in love. The trail ends there. She's not heard from him since.

DINNICK (on camera): People are coming here every day with many questions, but getting very few answers. The only official list posted on that wall behind me are those people who have been injured and taken to hospitals. No record here with the names of those people who have died.

DINNICK (voice-over): That makes closure for these people here very difficult. It is a painful story played out again and again and again. There are about 24,000 people still missing.

The Wong Family searches for their 17-year-old daughter. They know she was in a school in Beichuan when the quake struck. The school collapsed. But no one has confirmed she is dead. They've not seen her body. They remain hopeful.

Government officials say close to 80 percent of the bodies found had been buried or cremated to make sure disease does not spread. A DNA database is being formed, but it's not clear whether tissue was taken from all the bodies. For now, families can enter names of the missing with volunteers, but this is simply for recordkeeping.

Asked if Shu Hong Shen has any idea what happened to her only son -- she says she's not sure, but refuses to stop searching. I cannot give up, she says, I won't stop looking. She promises to be back tomorrow.

Wilf Dinnick, CNN, Minyang City, China.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTS: So many people there suffer.

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, small cars going for big money. Drivers trying to ease the pain at the pump are finding another headache. Demand for fuel-efficient cars is pushing their prices higher, too. We'll have that story straight ahead.

ROBERTS: And as we head into the primary homestretch, just 10 days left to go now, what are voters thinking? We'll talk to two people with their fingers on the political pulse of the nation -- radio talk host Terry Stacy and Jake Query coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: As Americans honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, how do families cope when tragedies like these hit home? Well, our next two guests know that pain all too well.

Bonnie Carroll lost her husband Brigadier General Tom Carroll in a plane crash in Iraq in 1992. Now, she's the founder and chairwoman of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, otherwise known as TAPS, which holds seminars across the country for the families of fallen service members and an incredible camp for kids as well.

And with her this morning, 8-year-old Cierra Becker, who lost her father, Staff Sergeant Shane Becker, just a little over a year ago in Iraq.

Bonnie and Cierra are with us now live from the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington. And good morning to you both.

BONNIE CARROLL, TRAGEDY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS: Good morning.

CIERRA BECKER, FATHER KILLED IN IRAQ: Good morning.

PHILLIPS: Sarah, I've met you a number of times. And let me tell you what. You are such an incredible spokeswoman for TAPS, but you're also a pretty incredible young lady the way you remember your father. Tell our viewers what was so amazing about your daddy.

BECKER: Well, what was so cool about my daddy is that when -- is that when he was in Iraq, he would always get mommy something on birthday, Valentine's Day, Christmas. Even if he was in Iraq, he would always get her something on that day, either too early, too late or on the day.

PHILLIPS: Well, I know that he also did really special things for you, too, as well. And one of the most memorable times you had with him when you wore that beautiful red dress. Was it -- it was -- I'm trying to remember, it was the father-daughter dance, right?

BECKER: Yes, it was the father-daughter dance.

PHILLIPS: And tell me about that night.

BECKER: Well, we -- surprisingly, we did the hokey pokey and we're doing that and me and daddy, we each had a cookie -- and we took a picture. That's the picture that you're seeing is what a professional photographer -- that's what they took for us and we went for like a fairy tale like carriage ride.

PHILLIPS: Oh. Bonnie as you have gotten to know Cierra, and you've seen the impact TAPS has made on her through the grief camp and other programs that you have. What do you think has been the most amazing thing that you've seen in here just in the past year or so?

CARROLL: Oh, it's given her a chance to meet other children from across America, who are also grieving the loss of a father, to know that she's not alone, to learn coping strategies and to see how America honors all those who have served and died.

PHILLIPS: And Cierra, I know a special part of the program has been getting involved with a mentor. Tell me about the teddy bear. I know -- first of all, there's one that daddy gave you from Kuwait, right?

BECKER: Yes, this is the one that Bonnie is holding. This is the last teddy bear that he gave to me by his hand before he went to Iraq. When he came home for R&R, that's when he gave it to me.

PHILLIPS: Did you name that teddy bear?

BECKER: No, I didn't really name it. I just sleep with it.

PHILLIPS: And then the other one actually came from your mentor through TAPS. There's actually a message on there, right? Can you play it for us and tell us about that?

BECKER: Yes, I hit play.

VOICE FROM THE TEDDY BEAR: Hey, Cierra, this is (INAUDIBLE), your mentor. Whenever you're feeling down, just remember that you're not alone. Stay strong. God bless.

PHILLIPS: When you listen to that, what does it do for you, Cierra?

BECKER: It makes me feel good because I know someone is by my side. And I know mommy is always by my side.

PHILLIPS: It's true your mom is a pretty amazing woman. She is always there for you and daddy's spirit is there as well.

And just the mentor program, Bonnie, has just been incredible for this kids, hasn't it?

CARROLL: Yes, the mentors are actually men and women from the Armed Forces who volunteer this Memorial Day weekend to work side by side with a child one-on-one and they do an amazing job.

PHILLIPS: Something else too is the camp that you provide, Bonnie. Tell our viewers quickly about the grief camp and how it's made an impact on Cierra and a number of these other kids that have lost a mom and a dad in these wars?

CARROLL: This year we had over 1,000 folks together for the National Military Survivors Seminar and good grief camp the TAPS provide. The kids learn four basic things. They gain a peer network of other children their own age. They learn coping strategies. They find a mentor like Cierra did and they know that they are not alone and then they also learn how America remembers their dads.

PHILLIPS: Cierra, how do you remember your dad as we leave this morning?

BECKER: I remember my daddy as the man who fought for his country so his child's teacher who's teaching me wouldn't have to worry about anything happening to me or any other people that I meet.

PHILLIPS: Cierra Becker, you're one amazing little girl. We lift up your daddy Staff Sergeant Shane Becker. Also Bonnie, too, your husband was an amazing man -- Tom Carroll. He lost his life back in '92. Wonderful to see you both this morning. Cierra, we're sending you lots of love, and Bonnie, thanks so much.

CARROLL: Thank you, Kyra.

ROBERTS: Such a great program. And so many kids in need across this country.

PHILLIPS: It's incredible when you see a lot of these organizations form. But this is one that pans on, John, and they do amazing programs throughout the year. And look at Cierra.

I mean, she's so strong and she's so together. She'll never going to forget her father, but this is what it does for her. I mean, whether it's the teddy bears or the camp and they keep -- she's got messages for the other kids, too. As you know, we're hearing far too many of the deaths coming out of Iraq.

ROBERTS: Great work that that organization is doing.

PHILLIPS: TAPS.

ROBERTS: Gasoline prices hitting another record on this big travel day. AAA says the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is now $3.93. That is up six-tenths of a cent over Sunday's price. It's the 20th straight increase.

AAA says that for the first time since 2002, Americans said they plan to drive less this Memorial Day weekend. Gasoline prices also influencing car buying decisions with more drivers opting for smaller, fuel-efficient models. High demand is causing sticker shock even for used cars, though.

Our Chris Lawrence takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After dropping $500 on gas last month, this SUV owner broke down and bought a Prius.

DALTON BUCKELS, BUYING A PRIUS: I mean, I didn't even test drive this. I didn't come down. I just called them and said I'll take it.

LAWRENCE: Dalton Buckels says hybrids are what some homes were three years ago, a competitive market with no room to haggle.

BUCKELS: Pretty much you're stuck with what they sell it at.

LAWRENCE: In last month, hybrid sales jumped 58 percent.

KENNY BURNS, HOLLYWOOD TOYOTA: As soon as the car comes in, it goes out the same day. LAWRENCE: Hollywood Toyota sales manager says his dealership sells strictly by a waiting list which is 60 deep right now.

BURNS: Up at the market is over sticker on the vehicle, if you choose to ask it.

LAWRENCE: That means some dealers are charging premiums, selling Priuses for $3,000 over sticker price.

BURNS: They get the cars in and then they ask whatever they want to ask.

LAWRENCE: And it's not just hybrids. A 10-year-old Honda Civic with 200,000 miles just sold for $3500. In JD Power and Associates found the average price of sub-compact cars is up about $700 from last year.

JORGE FERNANDEZ, WHOLESALE DEALER: It doesn't matter if it's domestic or foreign, they're selling right off the lot.

LAWRENCE: In 1992, this model Geo Metro listed for about $7,000 brand new. Last week, one like it sold on eBay for $7,200. That's 200 bucks over its original price 16 years later.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it shows you what kind of gas miles the car is getting in real time.

LAWRENCE: For hybrid owners, it may take years to save enough on gas to make up the difference in price. After shelling out 100 bucks to fill up their old SUV's, 48 miles per gallon is looking pretty good. Eventually, production of fuel-efficient cars will catch up to the surge in demand.

LAWRENCE (on camera): But until then, don't count on being able to haggle over the price of a hybrid.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTS: Another sign of a fuel efficient frenzy. Last month, Toyota sold more than 21,700 Prius hybrids and that is just one vehicle in its hybrid line.

Kyra?

PHILLIPS: A plunge into earth from space. A record setting skydive live this morning. We're tracking this pretty incredible paratrooper as he jumps 131,000 feet, trying to break the sound barrier. But we'll tell you the ultimate mission as well.

And a polygamist sect versus the state. Three families get their children back as hundreds of kids wait in limbo. The parents break their silence to us, straight ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ROBERTS: It's now almost 49 minutes after the hour. A world record could be set this morning. French skydiver Michael Fournier will try to freefall from the edge of space. It's 130,000 feet. Murray Oliver of our affiliate CTV has the whole story for you. It's a whammer (ph).

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MURRAY OLIVER, CTV REPORTER (voice-over): All quiet here now, but in just a few hours, 40 kilometers above this sleepy prairie airfield, a man plans to fall to earth from the edge of space.

Michele Fournier aims to set a record and test the body's survival at extreme altitudes.

FRANCINE LECOMPTE, GITTINS TEAM SPOKESPERSON: Everybody is (INAUDIBLE). We're looking at Michele who is so ready. I mean it's like he wants to jump.

OLIVER: ambition is very nearly out of this world. Lifted by a balloon, he'll ride a capsule like this one up through the atmosphere wearing an outfit similar to a space suit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The maximum is set.

OLIVER: Twice before, Fournier tried and failed to rise high enough. This time, the former paratrooper says re-end nothing will stop him.

He'll rise past 39,000 feet, average cruising altitude for a 747. Past 62,000 feet, the Armstrong line where blood boils without a pressurized suit. Past 103,000 feet, the current record set in 1960, reaching 130,000 feet, Michele Fournier will jump. He'll be in free fall descent for around seven minutes. His body reaching speeds of around 1,500 kilometers per hour.

LECOMPTE: What we really need to know -- I mean, what scientists needs to know, NASA needs to know, everybody. I mean, it's like, can a man survive at 1.3 max? You know -- I mean, that has never been done. We can answer that. That's going to be a real steppingstone for them.

OLIVER (on camera): Authorities in his native France refused to give permission to attempt the jump there so he's trying here. Fournier says it's all for the good of future space exploration. That the lessons learned will hopefully one day allow for the rescue of astronauts from outer space. Murray Oliver, CTV News, (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTS: It's just extraordinary what that fellow is attempting to do.

PHILLIPS: And he's a former paratrooper with the military, right? I would love to know his background.

ROBERTS: I've been to (INAUDIBLE), too, many, many times.

PHILLIPS: Is this big for the area.

ROBERTS: It's got to be huge. It's got to be huge. I mean, there's the university and then there's this guy free falling. So it's got to be huge.

PHILLIPS: Biggest thing to hit the area.

ROBERTS: Hillary Clinton doing damage control while John McCain talks to potential running mates. Find out how it's all playing in the heartland. We're taking you for a morning drive with talk radio. Stay with us.

Working holiday. Puerto Rico becomes a major player in the race.

John McCain sits down with three potential number two's.

Plus, waiting game.

Jeanne Meserve boards the latest flight in the nation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We got here four minutes early, even though we took off from Newark almost an hour late.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: And finds out how the airlines are testing your patience and your math, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's this frantic effort to push her out because she's winning the general election today and he's not, according to all the evidence. And I have never seen anything like it. I have never seen a candidate treated so disrespectfully just for running.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: Former President Bill Clinton in South Dakota arguing that his wife Hillary Clinton has been unfairly treated as she defends remarks that she made alluding to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. South Dakota, by the way, the last primary state along with Montana on June 3rd.

Meanwhile, John McCain heading back on the campaign trail after a weekend get together with some potential running mates. So what do voters have to say about all of this?

Jake Query and Terri Stacy host the WIBC Morning News radio program in Indianapolis. Good morning folks through on the air today. And we're on the air with them.

So this grilling weekend as John McCain put it where he had governors Bobby Jindal, Charlie Crist and Mitt Romney over to the ranch for a little barbecued chicken. He also barbecues ribs. And most people would say you're supposed to smoke them.

Bobby Jindal says no, they didn't talk about the vice presidential running mate slot at all. But would any of these guys, do you think, make a good running mate for John McCain?

JAKE QUERY, WIBC MORNING NEWS HOST: I think Bobby Jindal is certainly an interesting one, guys, because of his age. He's a young guy. And I think with John McCain, certainly when you talk about -- even when John McCain was here, he was here in our building about six weeks ago or so for a campaign and it was interesting to me that there were some young people there to support John McCain because I think a lot of young people look at Barack Obama.

But John McCain, even though he had some young voters, I think he's got to get somebody that is a younger person and of course that would fit the billing of the governor of Louisiana.

The thing that would be interesting to me is for Bobby Jindal out of Louisiana -- Rush Limbaugh of course has endorsed him and talked about him, which elevated his cue rating so much as far as the Republicans are concerned. But if this is somebody who early in his life, who grew up in something other than a Christian sector, isn't that the same thing we have heard criticism and paranoia about Barack Obama from the right wing? It would be an interesting question that people would wonder about.

ROBERTS: Terri, go ahead.

TERRI STACY, WIBC MORNING NEWS HOST: Well, I just wanted to mention, too and there's also a female involved, right? There is a female that was --

QUERY: The eBay gal?

STACY: The eBay lady. Yes, that was courted this weekend. So she was a part of the barbecue and I'm curious about her as well. I don't know a lot about her.

QUERY: She went to log in. She was having problems with her log in.

STACY: You know, I'm curious about her too. You know, he's got to get a female in there as well, don't you think?

QUERY: It always works better with a female.

ROBERTS: I know the feeling. I got the same thing going on here. Out of all the names, Terri, that are out there, who do you think would be best? The Republican media consultant Alex Castellanos told me he thought that John Thumm (ph) would be the best person for John McCain to pick. STACY: You know who I think would be great? Bob Barker.

QUERY: Yes, I agree. I agree. Bob Barker would be good.

STACY: That's the truth. And I'll tell you, Jake, actually --

QUERY: What about Mitt Romney? Mitt Romney has great hair. Bob Barker's hair all of a sudden, one day, just boom, went white. Mitt Romney's hair had some gray all the way through.

STACY: And a lot has been said about his hair, so perhaps he would be a good choice.

ROBERTS: Let's move over to the Democratic side of things. Hillary Clinton made these comments about Robert Kennedy late last week. She came back and she said -- look, I was not alluding to the idea at all that Barack Obama's life could be in danger. Let's listen to how she put that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When you're on the campaign trail for 15 months, you're going to make some mistakes. And I don't think that Senator Clinton intended anything by it. And, you know, I think we should put it behind us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: That's what Obama said in response. What Hillary Clinton actually said was, quote, "I was making the simple point that given our history, the length of this year's primary contest is nothing unusual."

What are your listeners saying about this whole thing? And do they think that because Barack Obama's campaign initially jumped on this criticizing her, and then he moved to dial it back that they're kind of trying to have it both ways?

QUERY: Well, I think, certainly, when you look at this, I can understand actually -- and I'm not, you know, sitting here making an endorsement one way or the other -- but I can understand where Hillary Clinton is coming from, in the fact that I actually myself had mentioned before when talking about -- you know, Bobby Kennedy is somebody who is connected to Indianapolis because on the fact on the night that Martin Luther King was assassinated, and we're talking about April 4th of '68.

He was in Indianapolis campaigning and went to the predominantly black neighborhood in Indianapolis to maintain peace and urge for peace on that night in April when Martin Luther King was assassinated. So you're talking about April there.

Then he goes to California in early June of 1968 and his last words where let's go to Chicago and win there. So what that means is it's interesting. And I thought this and people had mention it.