Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Details Emerge of Multiple Murder Suspect's Arrest; McCain Campaign Sees Another Shake-up; Obama Lays out National Service Program; Bulldozer Rampage Kills Three in Israel
Aired July 02, 2008 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Are terrorists poised to strike the U.S. again? We asked and you answered.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN ANCHOR: Mangled metal on the streets of Jerusalem. The aftermath of a deadly rampage. The weapon, a bulldozer.
LEMON: And you know how you see one of these on just about every corner? Not anymore. Grande closings brewing at Starbucks. Do you like that?
DE LA CRUZ: No, I don't. Neither do you. I know that.
LEMON: I meant the writing. Not the story.
DE LA CRUZ: The writing, yes. You're a funny guy, Don.
LEMON: Hello, I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
DE LA CRUZ: And I'm Veronica De La Cruz, in today for Kyra Phillips. It's nice to see you here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
LEMON: We're going to get you now to live pictures from Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Senator Barack Obama will lay out his plan for a national service program. He'll do that any minute now.
This is Obama's third visit this year to Colorado, which could be a key battleground state in November. Colorado voted Republican in 2004, but a state poll last week showed Obama leading John McCain by 5 percentage points.
Free trade and the drug trade both topping Senator John McCain's agenda in Colombia, the first leg of a three-day trip to Latin America. McCain supports a Colombian free trade pact that Democrats in Congress have blocked. Senator Obama opposes it.
McCain is also focusing on the war on drugs during his trip, which includes a stop in Mexico. CNN En Espanol's Juan Carlos Lopez talked with the Senator this morning. He'll join us a little bit on in the NEWSROOM for a live report.
Barack Obama has a five-point lead over John McCain in our national survey of registered voters. The CNN/Research Corporation poll shows Obama at 50 percent and McCain at 45 percent. A month ago Obama led McCain by three points.
When President Bush checks his latest approval rating, can't be too pleased about it. In our new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey, only 30 percent of respondents approve of the way Mr. Bush is handling his job; 68 percent disapprove.
The president's approval [SIC] rating has been above 60 percent for 14 consecutive months.
And we've also got some new poll numbers to tell you about on two big issues: Iraq and the war on terror. And we'll check in with our deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, in just a little bit for a report on those numbers -- Veronica.
DE LA CRUZ: Well, Bindy's is a popular police hangout in Granite City, Illinois. Nicholas Sheley probably didn't know that when he walked in, but he does now. The ex-convict, suspected in a two-state killing spree, was arrested outside the bar last night. He was transferred today to nearby Edwardsville, where he faces a court hearing.
Our Susan Roesgen is at the courthouse and joins us now live.
Susan, what's expected to happen in court today?
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Veronica, the judge here, Judge Ferguson, is going to read the charges, which we have just received, only from Galesburg, Illinois. That's where one person was killed; one man was found killed. He's going to read those charges, but Nicholas Sheley, the suspect, will not be in the courtroom. He'll still be in his cell. This will be done via video conference. This is standard procedure here in Edwardsville, Illinois. Standard procedure here at the Madison County courthouse.
So the judge will read the charges from these papers that we've just received. Vehicular stolen car charges and then, of course, the big one, the murder charge that he's going to face.
And then after that, he will not actually make a plea, Veronica, because he isn't charged with any crimes in this jurisdiction. Ultimately, probably someone from Galesburg will have to come here to Edwardsville, take him back up to Galesburg, where he will actually enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.
And also, we understand that he may not have a lawyer until that time, because he doesn't need one now because he isn't facing any charges. So that's where we stand right now. He's just going to hear the charges against him, and then they'll probably take him to Galesburg.
DE LA CRUZ: Well, Susan, let's go ahead and rewind for a second. Take us back to exactly what happened last night. We know that he was caught outside of a bar. What exactly happened?
ROESGEN: Well, I think, as one lead investigator in the case told me, Veronica, just a few minutes ago, if the crooks weren't stupid, we couldn't catch them. And Nicholas Sheley is just a suspect in this series of murders. But the investigators believe that he is the primary guy.
And he went to a bar that is a known cop hangout. In fact, the local law enforcement had gone to pick up their food from this bar last night for their weekly bingo night. And he was in the bar, ordering a glass of water. Even some of the patrons in the bar recognized him right away, because his picture has been up everywhere.
He asked the bartender for a lighter. The bartender said, "Yes, I'll give you a lighter if you go outside and smoke it," because Illinois has the new no-smoking law in bars and restaurants. He went outside and walked right into a passel of cops. There were 60 to 75 law enforcement officers looking for him. Walked right up to them.
DE LA CRUZ: All right. Susan Roesgen there, outside of that courthouse in Edwardsville. We do appreciate you staying on top of the situation there, Susan. Thanks.
In the meantime, also in Texas, police believe that they have solved another crime spree, this one involving a man who allegedly was shooting at other drivers and at buildings.
A 22-year-old suspect was arrested overnight in Garland after police say he fired into a wall of a busy restaurant. No one was hurt in that incident. But at least two people have been wounded in other shootings.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE HARN, GARLAND, TEXAS, POLICE: The very first shootings happened on Sunday. One of the men was shot in the hand. He's been released from the hospital. The second shooting about -- a little after 9 p.m. that night on Sunday night was shot in the stomach. He's still in the hospital. In a Dallas hospital, but expected to recover.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DE LA CRUZ: The suspect has not yet been identified. Police say he faces numerous charges, including aggravated assault.
LEMON: All right. Time now for a quick check on the markets and where the price of oil is heading today. Again, advancing on a government report that crude stockpiles fell by 2 million barrels last week.
Stocks have -- it's kind of a mixed bag today. You can see the Dow down 53 points right now. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar weakening, more falling against the euro and the yen, as well.
The price of gas is issue No. 1 for many. And for the third consecutive day, we have a new record high price at the pump. According to AAA, the national average now for a gallon of regular unleaded is $4.09.
Four dollars for a gallon of gas is impacting Fourth of July travel plans, no doubt, for some, probably for many. That's according to a new CNN/Opinion Research poll. Nearly a third of those questioned say plans for the Independence Day weekend have changed due to the record high price for gas. But nearly 7 in 10 say their plans haven't changed.
Now, getting your daily fix at Starbucks -- wow, this story surprised many -- it may not be as easy as it once was. After years of rampant expansion, Starbucks says it will close 600 company- operated stores in the next year.
The Seattle-based company isn't saying which stores will be closed. But some patrons say they're surprised by this move.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Six hundred is a lot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a lot. Even for the whole country?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, CNN will have more on Starbucks' retooling in just a few minutes. You can't get that -- what is it, grande, vente and what's the others? I never know what's the last one.
DE LA CRUZ: Tall.
LEMON: Tall.
DE LA CRUZ: You know it well, Don. Don't lie.
LEMON: Oh, stop it. Are you a Starbucks -- do you do Starbucks?
DE LA CRUZ: You know I do Starbucks. Of course I do.
LEMON: Yes, Starbucks.
DE LA CRUZ: A soy latte. You've never bought me a Starbucks.
LEMON: All right. That's because I'm cheap. I'll buy you one after the newscast.
DE LA CRUZ: All right.
LEMON: All right, Veronica.
DE LA CRUZ: Well, exhausted firefighters battling wildfires across Northern and Central California are getting help from the National Guard. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered 200 Guard troops to report for fire training. They're expected to be on duty earlier next week.
One of the biggest fires is along the Big Sur coast. It's expanded to nearly 52,000 acres, forcing about 200 people out of their homes.
In Arizona, officials say a wildfire that forced the evacuation of Crown King is no longer threatening the historic mining town. No word yet on when residents can return.
LEMON: All right. We have some breaking news when it comes to the McCain campaign. Apparent -- some apparent retooling there. We want to get now to Washington for someone who has all the information on this. Our Dana Bash following this developing story.
Dana, what is this shake-up going on inside the McCain campaign?
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what's happening is, actually, this morning at the McCain headquarters, just across the river in Virginia, the campaign manager, Rick Davis, announced that he was allowing and bringing in somebody who has been a veteran of the McCain world, but somebody who has not had direct control of it. Now he will.
And that man is Steve Schmidt. Steve Schmidt has been somebody who was a regular on the Straight Talk Express, has been with the McCain campaign as one of the senior advisers. But what Rick Davis has done is made clear that Steve Schmidt is now going to have day-to- day control over the operations of the McCain campaign.
And this, Don, is a direct result of some of the complaints and concerns that we have heard privately and now even more publicly from Republicans, frankly, both outside and inside McCain's world, about the way the campaign has been handled. Both in terms of message, the kind of message, I think, they should be getting across with regard to their candidate, and with regard to Barack Obama. And just in terms of basic structure. What they need to do in order to beat Barack Obama.
So Steve Schmidt, you see a picture of him there. He is going to have day-to-day control of the operations. He is somebody who was -- who ran Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign, his reelection in California. He has experience in the Bush campaign in 2004.
LEMON: And Dana...
BASH: Yes.
LEMON: ... I have to ask you this. At this point, with just a few months until the general, how is this going to affect the campaign? Obviously, you know, perception-wise, it's not very good, I wouldn't think.
BASH: Perception-wise it's not very good. But I will tell you that, perception-wise, they are hoping that this is actually a signal.
Because one thing that's interesting and maybe important to know is that Steve Schmidt had come off the road. He had been, really, at McCain's side for months and months and months during the primaries and then after McCain effectively clinched the campaign in March. So but he -- in recent weeks, probably in about the past month, he came off the road. He went to the Virginia headquarters, and he had been working, and he'd been getting a lot more responsibility.
But by doing this, by Rick Davis making this public announcement, it is not only to formally put Schmidt in charge of day-to-day operations, it's also to send a signal to many of those concerned Republicans around town and around the country that they get it.
LEMON: Yes.
BASH: That some of their issues, even with their political structure, for example, the fact that they don't have actual control at headquarters over their...
LEMON: Right.
BASH: -- over their structure in all of these key battleground states. The signal is they get it and they're trying to change it.
LEMON: Dana Bash on our breaking news in the CNN NEWSROOM today. And Dana, we'll be following this throughout the day. Thank you very much for that, Dana.
Also, she mentioned John McCain. We want to tell you, take you now live, live pictures of Colorado Springs. Barack Obama is expected to lay out his plan for a national service program at any minute now. When he steps up to the mike, we'll take it for you live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
DE LA CRUZ: A shocking and deadly attack on a busy street in Jerusalem. Was it an act of terror? Police are trying to determine why a Palestinian man rammed a bulldozer into several cars and buses. We'll have a live report.
LEMON: And then we'll take you to Denver, where eyebrows are raised when a singer performs her own version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the mayor's state of the city address. We'll tell you why.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Barack Obama laying out his plan for national service in Colorado Springs. Let's listen in.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... not for the service of others. And we wouldn't be standing here if not for the purpose that service gave my own life.
As some of you know, I spent much of my childhood adrift. My father had left my mother and me when I was 2 years old. My mother remarried, and we moved overseas for a time. But I was mostly raised in Hawaii by my mom and my grandparents, who were from Kansas.
And growing up, I wasn't always sure of who I was or where I was going. That's what happens sometimes when you don't have a father in the home.
But during my first two years of college, perhaps because of the values my mother had taught me, values of hard work and honesty and empathy, perhaps because they had resurfaced after a long hibernation, perhaps because of the example of wonderful teachers and lasting friends, I began to notice a world beyond myself. And by the time I graduated from college, I was possessed with a crazy idea: that I would work at the grassroots level to bring about change.
So I wrote letters to every organization in the country I could think of. And one day, a small group of churches on the South Side of Chicago offered me a job working to help neighborhoods that had been devastated by the steel plants that had closed in the early and mid- '80s. Now, my mother and my grandparents thought it might be wiser for me to go to law school. My friends were all applying for jobs on Wall Street.
Meanwhile, this organization offered me $12,000 a year. They gave me $2,000 for all my car expenses for the next several years. And I said yes. I said yes. I didn't know a soul in Chicago. I wasn't sure what was waiting for me when I got there.
I'd always been inspired by the stories of the civil rights movement and JFK's call to service. But when I got to the South Side, there were no marches. There were no soaring speeches. In the shadows of an empty steel plant, there just a lot of people who were struggling.
I still remember one of the very first meetings we put together. I was working with lay leaders from churches in the neighborhoods to try to forge this coalition. People had decided that the issue of gang violence was critical. And so they wanted to hold a community meeting to address gang violence. And we put out thousands of fliers, and we made phone calls to everybody we knew in the community.
And the night of the meeting happens, and we put out hundreds of chairs like this. And we wait. And we wait, for people to show up. And finally this group of older people walk into the hall. And I'm relieved at least somebody's showing up. And they sit down, and a little old lady, she raises her hand, and she asks, "When's the bingo starting?"
That was my first meeting as a community organizer. My first -- my first venture into community service.
It wasn't easy. There were times where it was extraordinarily discouraging, but eventually, we made progress. Day by day, block by block, we brought the community together. We registered new voters. We set up after-school programs and fought for new jobs and helped people live the lives in these communities with more opportunity and some measure of dignity.
And I began to realize that I wasn't just helping other people. Through service, I found a community that embraced me, citizenship that was meaningful, the direction that I'd been seeking. Through service I discovered how my own improbable story fit into the larger American story.
There's a lesson to be learned from generations who've served. From soldiers and sailors, airmen and Marines, from suffragists and freedom writers, teachers and doctors.
LEMON: Barack Obama in Colorado Springs, Colorado, laying out his plan for a national service program, going back to his early days on the South Side of Chicago and making a joke about his first community service meeting, when he wanted to talk about things that were important to the people when it involved crime and that sort of thing on the South Side of Chicago.
If he makes any news out of this and whatever his plan turns out to be, we'll bring it to you live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
DE LA CRUZ: A TV camera in Jerusalem captures an apparent random act of deadly violence. A Palestinian construction worker for some reason speeds down a busy street in a bulldozer, smashing cars, crashing buses, killing three people. The sudden and shocking rampage didn't last long.
CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Jerusalem.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Police shot the driver at point-blank range, ending the short, but bloody rampage. The driver, identified as 31-year-old Hosam Dwayyat, a Palestinian resident, had careened the bulldozer down Jaffa Road, one of Jerusalem's busiest streets, packed with drivers and pedestrians.
(on camera) This was the first vehicle that was hit when the bulldozer came down the road, the driver of this car immediately killed.
Then this car was hit. Then it continued down the road. This is Jaffa Road, one of the busiest roads in Jerusalem at a very busy time of day.
(voice-over) He hit two buses, turning one on its side, and then smashed into more cars.
"He got to the car in front of me, and he stopped and moved to the side," recalls eyewitness Anan Hibunan (ph). "We jumped out of our car and went to the car that was squashed. I saw a woman and a baby in her chair." The woman was killed. The baby was injured, but survived.
Wounded lay on the pavement. Ambulances wailed. Pandemonium reigned.
Jerusalem police say three people were killed in addition to the bulldozer driver, nearly 40 injured. This is the first such incident in Jerusalem since last march when a gunman, also from East Jerusalem, killed eight students in a yeshiva, or religious school.
Police and officials were quick to describe Wednesday's incident as a terror attack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The policemen and civilians here in Jerusalem activated against the terrorists in huge bravery. They couldn't stop the terror attack. But thank God they succeeded to stop him from continuing killing and injuring more and more people.
WEDEMAN: Police, who have taken the man's family members in for questioning, are describing the incident as unplanned and spontaneous.
Whatever his motive, the result is the same. The normally bustling streets turned into a scene of bloodshed and pain.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: Ben is now live. Ben, Israeli authorities are labeling this a terror attack. But from what I understand, they don't actually know the motivation behind this attack as of yet, right?
WEDEMAN: That's correct, Veronica. They were very quick to describe the driver of this bulldozer as a terrorist. He's a Palestinian from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sored Baher (ph).
But beyond that, they describe it -- as I said in that report, a spontaneous and unplanned attack. Until now we haven't seen any indication that he is at all in any way affiliated with any of the many Palestinian radical groups. At this point, we're really waiting for a clear indication of what the motives of this man actually were. And it's not clear right now -- Veronica.
DE LA CRUZ: All right, Ben Wedeman live for us in Jerusalem. Ben, thank you.
LEMON: President Bush talking Iran today in the White House Rose Garden. He says his priority with Iran is diplomacy, diplomacy, and more diplomacy, trying to convince Iran to stop enriching weapons- caliber nuclear material. It is the same time Israel is reportedly out of patience with Iran and won't be diplomatic much longer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have always said that all options are on the table, but the first option for the United States is to solve this problem diplomatically.
I've also make it clear -- made it clear that you can't solve a problem diplomatically unless there are other people at the table with you. And that is why we have been pursuing multi-lateral diplomacy when it comes to convincing the Iranians that the free world is sincere about insisting that they are not to have the technology necessary to develop a nuclear weapon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Here's what Iranian officials are saying. Any attack will trigger a fierce response. Lots of firm talk on both sides, lots of action when it comes to Iran. Why so much in the news? Well, we'll break it down. More with the head of the National Iranian- American Council. That'll happen in just a few minutes.
DE LA CRUZ: All right. Do those gas prices -- have they got you down, Don?
LEMON: Yes.
DE LA CRUZ: Have they? Yes?
LEMON: Of course. Everybody.
DE LA CRUZ: Why don't you just take a drive to another country? No?
LEMON: No.
DE LA CRUZ: Well, you know, Don, some people are actually filling up south of the border. Is it a good thing or not so much?
LEMON: We'll see that.
Coming up, military families spend a day on the golf course, guests of honor at a big PGA event. And we'll go live to Bethesda, Maryland. We'll show you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK, before we get to Susan Lisovicz, I want to read something that is just coming across to us. It involves American Airlines and laying off some of its flight attendants.
And here's what it says. "American Airlines has informed its flight attendants union that it may lay off 900 most-junior U.S.-based flight attendants as of August 31. Final numbers and details will not be available until the end of next month."
Again, this is just coming into the CNN NEWSROOM.
Also further down in this press release that's coming from American Airlines, it says, "Based on preliminary workforce estimates, this week American issued warn notices to employees who may experience an involuntary employment loss." Then it goes on to say what a warn notice is. But we all know what a warning means.
So American Airlines may layoff some 900 most-junior U.S.-based flight attendants. An indication of what's going on in the airline industry and in the economy, as well.
Also Starbucks is scaling back, as well. After growing at breakneck speed, the coffee giant now plans to close hundreds of stores. We're talking like 600 stores here.
Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange to tell us about that. OK, more bad news, Susan.
(BUSINESS HEADLINES) DE LA CRUZ: Well, every golfer loves scoring eagles. But today, it was all about screaming Eagles. The army parachute team dropped in to help open the AT&T National Tournament in Bethesda, Maryland. The PGA event started by Tiger Woods honors our troops and their families.
And as CNN's Kate Balduan reports, some military kids got right in the swing of things today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This isn't just any summer golf practice. For 13-year-old Maggie Rollins --
MAGGIE ROLLINS, CEREMONIAL VIP: That was horrible.
BOLDUAN: ...she's been warming up for a much bigger swing. The ceremonial's first tee shot kicking off the annual AT&T National Golf Tournament hosted by none other than Tiger Woods.
ROLLINS: Probably 10 percent nervous, 90 percent excited.
BOLDUAN: The tournament hosts more than 100 of golf's finest, but more importantly, it's a special Fourth of July tribute to military families across the country. Maggie's father is recovering after being wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq.
ROLLINS: Very frightening, scary a lot. You don't know where he's at all the time. So, you can't really call him up.
ALLISON BARBER, DEPUTY ASST. DEFENSE SECRETARY: It's just one more way that shows that the American people are looking for ways to kind of put their arms around our military members and their families and say don't worry, you're serving our country and we're going to serve you.
BOLDUAN: 30,000 free tickets to the tournament are being handed out to military families. The high profile, opening tee shot is labeled the "shot hit around the world" because the golf balls were played by service members in Iraq and other military locations overseas.
What's the connection between golf and the military: the tournament's host, Tiger Woods. His father served two tours in Vietnam.
TIGER WOODS, GOLFER: We need to say thank you so somehow. And this is a small way of doing that.
BOLDUAN: Maggie knows it's all to honor people like her dad. But for her, the tournament's more about fun.
ROLLINS: Because I love the whole game of golf. And I'm ready to show my dad that I can play.
(END VIDEOTAPE) DE LA CRUZ: And Kate Bolduan joins us now live from Bethesda . So Kate, little Maggie there pretty confident. She's saying what -- she's 10 percent nervous, 90 percent excited. How is she doing today?
BOLDUAN: She's a pretty composed 13-year-old. Yes, she's doing really well today. She did that and she went out there and made that first big swing. Her nerves did get to her a little bit. She missed hit (ph) the ball and it didn't go very far at all, but she laughed it off. And is still smiling now and she couldn't wait. I spoke to her afterwards and she just couldn't wait to call her dad and tell him all about it.
DE LA CRUZ: And what about Tiger Woods? Will we be seeing him at all?
BOLDUAN: Well, he's left the door open to possibly be showing up. But in a conference call with reporters within the last couple of days, he said that his doctors have advised him that he shouldn't fly because it makes his knee swell. And as we all know, he is recovering from surgery and he's going to be out for quite a while. So, he did say that he clearly is not here for the opening ceremony, he said that it's highly unlikely he'll be here, but he did leave that door open.
DE LA CRUZ: All right. OK, so the door's open. There still is that tiny chance.
BOLDUAN: Yes, a little bit.
DE LA CRUZ: All right, Kate Bolduan in Bethesda. Kate, thanks so much.
LEMON: Well, do you think terrorists are about to strike the U.S.? CNN asked and you answered. We'll tell you our latest poll results coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DE LA CRUZ: All right, it is, what -- 36 minutes after the hour now. Here are three of the stories that we are working on in the CNN NEWSROOM.
The suspect in a two-state killing spree is set to make his first court appearance today. Twenty-eight-year-old Nicholas Sheley was picked up last night in Granite City, Illinois. He is the prime suspect in a string of eight murders spanning some 300 miles.
And police in north Texas have arrested a man on charges of shooting into a local restaurant. They're investigating whether the 22-year-old suspect is connected to a string of drive-by shootings in the Dallas Metroplex area.
And hundreds of wildfires burning in California are adding to the smog, haze, and breathing problems. Last hour, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced new measures to help firefighters and victims of hundreds of lightning-sparked blazes. LEMON: All right, free trade and the drug trade, both topping Senator John McCain's agenda today in Colombia, the first leg of his three-day trip to Latin America.
CNN En Espanol's Juan Carlos Lopez talked with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee from Washington this morning and he joins us now live. There he is.
Juan Carlos, is Senator John McCain optimistic about his chances with Latino voters in November? That's my first question.
JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, CNN EN ESPANOL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Don, very much. That's part of what he told us in the interview. He believes that being from a border state, having a pass with the Hispanic community might help him.
This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I think my support is going to be good. I come from a Western state. I come from a border state. I receive 70 percent of the Hispanic vote in my last reelection. I understand the issues and the challenges and I'm confident of significant support.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOPEZ: Now, a recent Gallup poll shows 59 percent Hispanics are voting for Senator Obama, 29 percent for Senator McCain. And at a glance, you can think those numbers give a solid lead to Senator Obama, but traditionally, the Hispanic vote has gone to the Democratic Party.
The difference here is that 12 percent that is still up for grabs, it could go to Senator McCain. And President Bush has received the highest Hispanic vote in 200, 44 percent. So, Senator McCain could still make gains as can Senator Obama. The Hispanic vote seems to be still up for grabs.
LEMON: And you know, Juan Carlos, just to be transparent here. Was that -- there are some translation going on for him? Is that what was happening, was it a satellite delay?
LOPEZ: I think it was a satellite delay.
LEMON: OK.
LOPEZ: And there was also a bird making a lot of noise in the background.
LEMON: OK, yes, because you know, he may have seemed distracted. We wanted our viewers to know exactly why.
OK, so he is in Colombia today. What is he looking to accomplish there? LOPEZ: Well, what the campaign has said is this is a trip to show his foreign affairs expertise and also his interest in Latin America. And he is talking about free trade. He's talking about the free trade agreement with Colombia and the importance of these agreements to the U.S. economy.
Now, some might consider trading with Colombia not important for the U.S. economy. But trade with that country does generate a lot of jobs. And as it stands right now, 90 percent of Colombian exports come to the U.S. without paying any tariff. U.S. products do have to pay in (ph) to go. So, if the treaty is signed, the senator says it would open a lot of opportunities for American companies. But, there are those who consider that they will just hurt the American worker and will not produce more jobs.
LEMON: Yes, yes. Juan Carlos Lopez, CNN En Espanol, we appreciate it. Thank you.
LOPEZ: My pleasure.
LEMON: Veronica?
DE LA CRUZ: Do you think terrorists will strike the U.S. in the next few weeks? Most Americans apparently don't. It's all according to a new CNN Opinion Research Corporation Poll.
Let's go ahead now and crunch the numbers with our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser -- Paul.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Veronica.
Yes, we asked Americans just that question. Do they think it's likely a terrorist attack here in the United States in the next few weeks? And here's the answer, about 35 percent said yes, 35 percent say yes, it is likely. Almost two-thirds of Americans say no.
And take a look at this trend over the last couple of years, that number has gone down. This 35 percent now is the lowest number since the 9/11 attacks back in 2001. And you can see how it's dropped even just from two years ago in 2006. So, it seems to me if you look at these numbers that Americans are a little less concerned now about terrorism than they were a couple years ago.
And here's how it could play in the campaign. Terrorism, foreign policy, these are just two of the issues where John McCain actually is much further ahead of Barack Obama when you compare the two what Americans think in the -- among the issues. And if Americans are thinking less about terrorism and are less worried about terrorism, it's probably going to help John McCain a little bit less on the campaign trail. So, interesting numbers here on the War on Terror.
DE LA CRUZ: Also, besides the economy, another big issue, Paul, the War in Iraq. And I understand we're getting some more poll numbers. And Americans are feeling more of the same when it comes to pulling troops out. Is that right? STEINHAUSER: They sure are. First of all, in the War in Iraq, even though things have been getting better there over the last couple of months because of the surge over the last year, we asked Americans do you still favor or oppose the war? And still, only 30 percent of the Americans favor the war. Those numbers have been consistently low for quite some time. You can see right there, 68 percent opposing the War in Iraq.
But we also ask, what do you think the next president should do? Should the next president withdraw troops from Iraq or keep them in? And take a look at these numbers right here. Almost two-thirds of Americans say you know what, remove the troops from Iraq, only about a third say keep the troops there.
When it comes to the War in Iraq, this is an issue where John McCain and Barack Obama definitely don't see eye-to-eye. So, these numbers are very telling in the battle for the White House.
DE LA CRUZ: They sure are. All right, Paul Steinhauser with those latest poll numbers. Paul, nice to see you, thanks.
LEMON: Paul, Paul, do you know all the folks down here in Atlanta, right? They're calling you in my ear "Paulie the Pollster."
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Are you there?
DE LA CRUZ: I don't think he heard that.
LEMON: He didn't hear it, he didn't hear it. Paul, who used to work here in Atlanta, so he -- I don't know if he heard it. All right, Paul. We'll see you a little bit later on.
DE LA CRUZ: Anything else, Don.
LEMON: And I'm being told he didn't hear.
All right, we're still cautious of tomatoes, but the search for what is causing a salmonella scare is widening. Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins us next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Salmonella is still making people sick in several states, some of them seriously. For weeks, we've been told to be suspicious of tomatoes, but wait, not so fast. There's news that might take some heat off of the tomato.
Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here to tell us why. OK, so we've been hearing, you know, don't eat the tomato on this. And tomatoes we've even taken out of the cafeteria here and lots of places, lots of restaurants as well. So, that may not be the culprit, they're not sure?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That may not be the culprit. Tomatoes are still sort of the ...
LEMON: OK.
COHEN: ...primary produce of concern here. But now, there are a couple of other things that have been added to the list apparently. A state health official tells CNN that not only are they looking at tomatoes as the possible source of this rare strain of salmonella, but also foods like lettuce, jalapeno peppers and cilantro. And the reason they've done this is when they interviewed people who got sick, they named those foods as other things that they had eaten right before their illness.
Now, it's important to say here 870 people have become sick with this strain of salmonella and the FDA says they fully expect to see more people get sick. They don't think this is over.
LEMON: OK, then why so hard for the FDA to figure this out? Usually, I think they figure it out pretty fast, usually?
COHEN: They don't.
LEMON: They don't?
COHEN: I mean, sometimes it's obvious, but often it isn't.
LEMON: OK.
COHEN: For example, tomatoes, let's say they can pinpoint that it's tomatoes. Tomatoes lead very busy lives. They're in a lot of different places. So, maybe the tomato got the salmonella infection in the farm, maybe the salmonella contamination happened at the processing plant. Maybe it was the water that washed the tomatoes. Some tomatoes are raised here in the U.S., sent back to Mexico, and then sent back to the United States. So, they do a lot of traveling around and it's hard to pinpoint exactly where did they get contaminated.
LEMON: OK, today's Wednesday, Fourth of July, Friday, a lot of people cooking out. You're going to have burgers and that sort of thing and people want tomatoes. So, can you tell us which ones we should or can or cannot eat?
COHEN: Right, you don't have to avoid all tomatoes.
LEMON: OK.
COHEN: Some tomatoes the FDA says are safe and some they say are not safe. So, let's go over the safe list first. Cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes are OK to eat. The FDA says so are tomatoes with the vine still attached and home grown tomatoes.
Now, here's the list of not so good tomatoes, the ones that you should avoid: raw, red plum tomatoes or roma tomatoes. Those are two names for the same type of tomato. You see them there, they're kind of oval shaped and red round tomatoes. Those are also another kind to avoid. LEMON: All right, good information as we approach the Fourth of July weekend.
COHEN: That's right.
LEMON: Thank you, Susan.
COHEN: That's right, thanks.
LEMON: Susan -- Elizabeth.
COHEN: It's OK.
LEMON: Thanks, Elizabeth.
DE LA CRUZ: Ignored in the emergency room, a woman struggling for her life. Why didn't anyone help?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DE LA CRUZ: Seven days after a Vermont girl disappeared, lots of questions about two men her family circle. Brooke Bennett's former stepfather has been charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the case. And police say the 12-year-old's uncle is considered a person of interest.
Brooke's parents talked to "Headline News" anchor Nancy Grace last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANCY GRACE, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: Jim Bennett and his wife, Janet Bennett. This is Brooke's biological father and his wife. She has known the little girl since she was just a tiny baby.
Jim Bennett, is Brooke the kind of little girl that would disappear? Has she ever disappeared before? Did she tell you about any fears or concerns at home?
JIM BENNETT, BROOKE'S FATHER: No, she's not that type of little girl that would just take off.
GRACE: What about it, Janet?
JIM BENNETT: Not at all.
JANET BENNETT, STEPMOTHER: No, no. She's -- she would never just take off. She never told us anything about any concerns she had.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DE LA CRUZ: Brooke's family is organizing a candlelight vigil tonight in Randolph, Vermont.
LEMON: All right, have to warn you about this next story because it's disturbing. Left to die, the video is disturbing, leading the promise of reforms at a New York psychiatric hospital.
CNN's Mary Snow reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Had it not been for a surveillance camera inside the psychiatric emergency room at Brooklyn's Kings County Hospital, we may never have known what happened to 49-year-old Esman Green in the moments before she died. As she struggles on the floor, several people walked by, but no one does anything to help her. And it takes nearly an hour before a medical team arrives to treat her.
The New York Civil Liberties Union released this videotape showing Green falling to the floor in the emergency room around 5:30 on the morning of June 19th. About 20 minutes later, a security guard comes into view.
VOICE OF BETH HAROULES, NYCLU STAFF ATTORNEY: He walks in, he stands there. We actually think that there is a television up in the top and he's looking at the TV. But he's clearly got the patient in view and he walks away.
SNOW: Green was in the ER waiting for a bed to become available. At one point, the woman can be seen struggling to free herself from the chairs. And at another point, she appears to make an effort to get up. A copy of her medical records contradicts the tape, listing her at the same time as being awake, up and about, even going to the bathroom. At about 6:10 a.m., lawyers say a second security guard enters the room.
HAROULES: Here he comes, entered the room, checked her out. He can't even get himself off his chair. He sits there and then, you'll see him wheel himself away.
SNOW: Finally, around 6:30 a.m., medical personnel arrives. Green is later pronounced dead. The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation release a statement saying, "We are shocked and distressed by this situation." Adding that after it learned of the incident, the agency's president "...directed the suspension and termination of those involved."
The city's mayor says the city will do everything it can to cooperate with the investigation.
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK: I was horrified is much too nice a word, disgusted I think is a better word.
SNOW (on camera): This is not the first time the psychiatric unit at Kings County Hospital has been targeted. Advocates for the mentally ill filed a lawsuit in federal court in 2007, calling this a quote, "shameful place with horrendous conditions." That suit is still active. The city's Health and Hospitals Corporation says it has put in place a number of reforms and continues to do so, including checking on patients in the psychiatric unit every 15 minutes.
Mary Snow, CNN, Brooklyn.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: I will check this out. Whether you vote November might have less to do with RNC or the DNC but with your DNA. Entering the voting booth, is it in the genes? We're going to take a closer look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK, you'll be hearing the National Anthem a lot this Fourth of July week. One singer's version, though, drew some red glares. At the state of the city speech by Denver's mayor, Rene Marie sang what's often called the black national anthem to the tune of the "Star Spangled Banner." Now, she says as an African-American, she sometimes feels like a foreigner in her own country. Reaction, as you can imagine, was immediate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR JOHN HICKENLOOPER, DENVER: If anybody's got a right to be angry, it's probably me. And I guess what I feel most is just deeply disappointed, right, that this had to happen at this time at this moment was just inappropriate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RENE MARIE, SINGER: I realize that the mayor's state of the city address was not my personal platform. I know that. Artists tend to take advantage of situations where we can make an artistic statement.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: You know what? We want to hear your thoughts on the anthem controversy. Shoot an e-mail to CNNnewsroom@CNN.com. Again, CNNnewsroom@CNN.com and we'll be reading some of your comments on the air.
The next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
