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Texas Bus Crash Death Toll; Caylee Anthony Search; Remembering Bernie Mac; Dems Southern Strategy; Clinton Holdouts; President Paris

Aired August 09, 2008 - 15:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Civilians running for their lives, caught in the fighting between Russian and Georgian troops.
Do democrats stand a chance of turning the deep south blue? A look at their southern strategy.

And over a million pounds of beef recalled, is some of it in your refrigerator or freezer? Hello everyone, I'm Fredricka Whitfield and you're in the CNN NEWSROOM. Family members of a U.S. Olympic coach, victims of a deadly attack in Beijing. Officials say a Chinese man stabbed two Americans, killing one as they toured a historic monument. CNN's Larry Smith is there with details now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tragedy marred the first day of competition at the Beijing Olympics, as one American was killed and a second seriously injured. The man who was killed name is Todd Bachman, he is the father-in-law of Hugh McCutchen, who is the head coach of the U.S. men's indoor volleyball team. Bachman's wife Barbara was also seriously injured and suffered life threatening injuries in a knife attack by a 47-year-old Chinese national, who then took his own life by throwing himself off the building. This happened at the drum tower in central Beijing, it is a historic monument that is a tourist attraction, happening just after midday. The USOC says none of the Bachmans were wearing any clothing that would affiliate them with the U.S. Olympic committee nor were they wearing anything that would mark them as Americans. Larry Smith, CNN, Beijing.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, stunning news from the entertainment world. The founding king of comedy has died. Bernie Mac passed away this morning at a Chicago hospital from complications due to pneumonia. He was only 50. Our John Lorinc looks back at Mac's legacy of laughter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERNIE MAC: I just want to have fun.

JOHN LORINC, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A huge voice of comedy, now fallen silent. Friends of Bernie Mac were surprised by the comedian's death this weekend from pneumonia-related complications.

VOICE OF STEVE HARVEY, FRIEND OF FELLOW COMEDIAN: I'm just completely stunned by the news, man because the brother is young. We're the same age, man.

LORINC: The 50-year-old Mac hailed from Chicago's south side to gain respect as a stand-up comedian, as well as being the star of the acclaimed sitcom "The Bernie Mac Show."

BERNIE MAC: Bernie Mac, why are you so strict? Tough love, that's good for them. I don't play. Never did play. This small, never smiled or nothing.

LORINC: He also appeared in several films, including "Guess Who?", a loose remake of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"

Simon --

LORINC: Mac suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease which produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs. His publicist says his most recent health problems were not related to the condition reportedly in remission.

HARVEY: There's a big hole in the ozone layer right now because Bernie's gone.

LORINC: John Lorinc, CNN, Atlanta.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And beyond immediate family, no one may have known Bernie Mac better than the creator of his television show. Larry Wilmore joining us live now from Los Angeles on the loss of his longtime friend and funny man who made millions of us laugh. Larry, this is a huge blow. What are your thoughts right now?

LARRY WILMORE, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CREATOR, "THE BERNIE MAC SHOW": It's just very shocking you're almost speechless. We all knew Bernie was battling that disease now and then, but he was always so strong, you know? You always expected Mac to be around a long time.

WHITFIELD: And I guess from a spectator's point of view I and very few people could ever know that he had this health matter that he was battling, but certainly no one would ever know that he was vulnerable particularly when he got this pneumonia. How about folks who worked with him on a regular basis? Did anyone, I guess know of the vulnerability of his state?

WILMORE: Well, for a while during the shows, he was kind of sick, but, you know, we're all a family, and we kind of kept it under wraps. Mac's very proud, and like I said, he's a very strong guy. He likes to keep a lot of things private, but no one saw this coming. This was just --

WHITFIELD: It really is heartbreaking and so shocking. Let's talk about his legacy, if you will. We're talking about someone who was very generous as a performer, a lot of other comedians will credit him for helping to not just catapult his career and catapult comedy as a whole, but catapult other comedians' careers. Talk to me about the impact he made on so many others in the world of performers? WILMORE: I think Bernie really served as an inspiration, he kind of took "Def Comedy Jam" style comedy mainstream and really made it plausible to a broad audience. He was very popular in the college circuit, especially as the lead of the "Kings of Comedy" tour. Bernie was like the Muhammad Ali of comedy in my mind. He was the people's champ. One thing he did, Fredricka, that I thought was real interesting when I was developing the show, in "Kings of Comedy," he referred to the audience in Charlotte, North Carolina, as "Charlotte." You know he was like, come on Charlotte, we're family. And I thought, man that is so powerful. And I ended up using that on the show, "Come on, America, we're family."

WHITFIELD: Oh and that was so poignant and that really did reel everybody in. That's why in part that show, I guess, appealed to people of all walks of all races. People who are parents, children, single people who were not parents who felt like he was giving us a reality check.

WILMORE: Well you know ironically we premiered almost like a few weeks after 9/11, so when Bernie was saying, America, we're family, it resonated in a way we never had really counted on. It was really very powerful coming from him. That was a very special time.

WHITFIELD: Wow. Let's talk a little bit more about families. You know, his family including you and the entertainment industry, his family including his wife, his children, and granddaughter, and, you know, the family on that show, Bernie Mac's show, give me an idea of how this news is resonating with all of these family members, a huge extended family that Bernie Mac had.

WILMORE: Everyone was so close on that show, I can't tell you, it really was like a big family. I've talked to a few people. I haven't had a chance to reach everybody. It's so sudden and everything, but I have to tell you, Bernie, he was like the patriarch of that family, you know. We had so much fun working on that. The little kids, they were like our little kids, you know.

WHITFIELD: Yeah, it was so convincing. You really did believe that those were his kids. Kind of forgot that they're actors. But it gelled, it all gelled.

WILMORE: Dee Dee, the little girl, I guess for a while she thought Uncle Bernie was her Uncle Bernie. She would say, "Uncle Bernie." She really believed that, you know. So they had a very special bond, as well as Bernie and Camille had a special bond too, the oldest girl. He had a bond with all the kids. They really looked up to him and respected him. He also gave them a sense of professionalism. Bernie was very professional and the kids looked at that, looked how he showed up on time, he was always prepared, he always worked hard. And I think, you were talking about Mac's legacy, he was very underrated as an actor. He was a very good actor, especially for a comedian. Very good. You didn't have to write jokey jokes for him. You just wrote the scene and he would make it come alive. He was very special in that way.

WHITFIELD: Well what a huge impact. Larry Wilmore, Executive Director and producer of "The Bernie Mac Show." You talk about other colleagues who made mention of Bernie Mac, and their hearts are really bleeding now today. George Clooney, who did the "Ocean's" movies with him, he released a statement today saying, "The world is less funny now." Larry Wilmore thanks so much for your time in helping us remember the legacy and this great funny man, Bernie Mac.

WILMORE: You're welcome.

WHITFIELD: Of course more on Bernie Mac's untimely passing and what may have been a contributing factor in his death. You heard Larry mention it, sarcoidosis that is a disease that Bernie Mac had. We'll also take with "Jet" magazine's Martina Christian who had recently profiled Mac, prior to his hospitalization. But again, Bernie Mac dead at the age of 50 from complications of pneumonia.

Overseas, Russia is speeding reinforcements toward the Republic of Georgia, as Georgia's president pleads for a truce in clashes that have spread to a second separatist region of his country. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived near the front today amid Russian claims of several thousand deaths in the fighting's epicenter. Well, Georgia claims Russian air strikes are killing scores of Georgian civilians. Here now is reporter Julian Manyon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIAN MANYON, (voice-over): As fighting continues in South Osettia, Russian air strikes on the nearby Georgian town of Gori. Russian jets dropped bombs, sending civilians scrambling for cover. Gori has been used by the Georgian army as a staging post for its attack on South Ossetia. Now Russian war planes are striking at the rear of the Georgian forces. One of their targets was a Georgian military base, which was completely destroyed. This attack badly damaged a nearby block of flats. Local people told us that civilians had died, and the Georgian government says the death toll could be as high as 60.

(On camera): Buildings are burning from the last air strike and people are warning that the Russian air force may soon be back There's absolutely nothing that the Georgian forces can do to stop these attacks. The Russian air force has complete command of the air, and already you can since that ordinary Georgian people are beginning to feel helpless.

(Voice-over): Some picked around in the rubble of their homes. The air strikes have come as a terrible shock to people who never expected war. One distraught woman told me that her government had made a mistake by escalating the conflict. In Beijing the U.S. President George Bush condemned Russia for its air strikes deep inside Georgia.

BUSH: Georgia is a sovereign nation and its territorial integrity must be respected. We have urged an immediate stop to the violence and a stand down by all troops.

MANYON: In the central battleground in South Ossetia, Russia now claims to be driving Georgian troops back out of the regional capital Svenvali, which the Georgians seized on Friday. It's clear that Georgia is now paying a heavy price for its government's decision to try to take back the break away region. Many Georgians now fear just what the consequences for their country will be.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: President Bush has spoken to Prime Minister Putin too, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and to Georgia's president as well. U.S. ally Georgia has 2,000 troops in Iraq. And the Georgian government has asked Washington to fly them back home. No response yet however from the U.S.

With less than a month before the party conventions, Republican John McCain is pounding the campaign trail and his democratic rival Barack Obama. In his weekly radio address, Senator McCain mocked his opponent's position on some key issues.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

VOICE SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: America is finally winning in Iraq, and he wants to forfeit. The government is too big, and he wants to grow it. Taxes are too high, and he wants to raise them. Congress spends too much, and he proposes more. We need more energy, and he's against producing it. Energy in particular seems to confound Senator Obama because if there's any problem that can't be solved by words alone, it's America's need for secure and affordable energy supplies.

(END OF AUDIO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Senator McCain is due to address the disabled American veterans convention in Las Vegas this afternoon.

Senator Barack Obama is stepping off the campaign trail and onto the beach. He's taken a family vacation in his birthplace of Hawaii. Before he left, he delivered the democratic radio address, blasting the Bush administration over the nation's deficit.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

VOICE OF SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Eight years after we had a record surplus, we're now faced with record deficits. This mortgaging of our children's future is a direct result of the Bush administration's dangerously failed fiscal policies. Instead of helping Americans who are struggling we've seen loopholes and lavish giveaways for corporations that shift jobs overseas and tax cut after tax cut for the wealthiest Americans who don't need them and didn't even ask for them.

(END OF AUDIO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: This election, democrats are looking to turn the tide in the once solidly red south. We'll talk about their new southern strategy to win the White House with the "Wall Street Journal's" Washington bureau chief, that's coming up.

Coming clean, former presidential candidate John Edwards admits to an affair. The startling confession and reaction from his wife.

And check your refrigerator or freezer. Over a million pounds of beef possibly contaminated with a dangerous bacteria.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS: Welcome participating in a paternity test, would be happy to participate in one. I know that it's not possible that this child could be mine because of the timing of events. So I know it's not possible. Happy to take a paternity test, and would love to see it happen.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A former North Carolina senator and democratic presidential candidate John Edwards may get that chance soon. ABC News broke the story last night in which Edwards admitted to an affair with a woman who worked with his campaign. ABC is now reporting that woman's family actually wants Edwards to honor that pledge to take a paternity test for the child that he denies fathering. CNN's Drew Griffin reports how this whole sordid mess unfolded.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Edwards story has been fodder of "The National Enquirer" for more than a year, the headlines show why. A presidential candidate and former U.S. senator with a cancer stricken wife has an affair and according to the tabloid fathers a child with this woman, a campaign consultant named Rielle Hunter. John Edwards had dismissed the "National Enquirer" allegations. This is what he said just last month in New Orleans.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS, (D) FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have no idea what you're asking about. I've responded to consistently to these tabloid allegations by saying I don't respond to these lines, and you know that Raelyn, you've covered me, and I stand by that.

GRIFFIN: Now the stunning about-face. In a statement Edward admits, quote, "In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness." The pressure had been mounting on Edwards for several weeks since new stories appeared about a confrontation with the "National Enquirer" here at The Beverly Hilton Hotel last month. On July 21st the former senator was in Los Angeles raising awareness for the homeless. That night "National Enquirer" reporter Alex Hitchen was waiting for Edwards at the hotel. The paper says it had a tip Edwards, Rielle Hunter and Hunter's baby were meeting in a room at 2:40 in the morning, Hitchen says he surprised Edwards as Edwards was trying to leave.

ALEX HITCHEN, NATIONAL ENQUIRER: I said to him, Mr. Edwards, Alexander Hitchen from the "National Enquirer," we know that you've been with Rielle Hunter tonight and your child. And then we said to him, don't you think it's about time to actually tell everyone that you are actually the father of this child.

GRIFFIN: And the reaction again was?

HITCHEN: Sheer panic.

GRIFFIN: Hitchen says Edwards did not say a word, instead he ran down the stairs into this bathroom in the basement and held the door shut. According to ABC News, Edwards now admits he did go to the hotel that night and did meet Rielle Hunter, as the "Enquirer" has reported. Wednesday the tabloid turned up the heat on Edwards, publishing this blurry photograph, a photo the paper claims was shot in The Beverly Hilton hotel during the encounter. The paper says the baby in the picture is Edwards', but is it? Edwards told ABC News the child could not be his because of the timing of the birth, but the former senator says he wants to take a paternity test to prove he's not the father. This man, Andrew Young, an Edwards campaign staffer, said last year he was the father, not Edwards. Still, the child's birth certificate adds to the intrigue, the name of the child's father is left blank. John Edwards was a former North Carolina senator, John Kerry's 2004 running mate and this year a populous candidate for president. Pained language of his statement reflects how far he has fallen from those heavy days.

"In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up - feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself." Drew Griffin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Meantime, Elizabeth Edwards, who was suffering from inoperable breast cancer, gave this response after her husband's marital indiscretion was publicly revealed. Quoting her from the Daily Kos.com, Mrs. Edwards says, quote, "Our family has been through a lot. Some caused by nature, some caused by human weakness, and some - most certainly - caused by the desire for sensationalism and profit without any regard for the human consequences." Well, the Edwards bombshell quickly reverberated on the presidential campaign trail, with democrats Hillary Clinton and presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama responding to reporters' questions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: John Edwards is a great champion of working people during the course of his campaign. Many of his themes are ones that democrats as a whole share. Those will be amplified in the convention, and I wish them all well.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) NEW YORK: My thoughts and prayers are with the Edwards family today, and that's all I have to say.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So who is this woman, Rielle Hunter? Well next hour we'll take a closer look at the woman at the center of the Edwards sex scandal.

And a look back at a man who lived for laughter. We'll hear more from a guest about the late comedian, Bernie Mac.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, an E. Coli scare has led to a big beef recall. 1.2 million pounds of it to be exact came from a company called Nebraska Beef and were sold over the last two months, some of it at Whole Foods market. At least 31 people in 12 states in Canada have actually gotten sick. Nebraska Beef had an even bigger E. Coli recall back in June. June 30th to be exact and it has been hit with several lawsuits as a result of that contamination.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: A very awful church group bus crash. A rising death toll, friends, family and a congregation remember their lost loved ones in Texas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Another person has died of their injuries in yesterday's horrific bus crash in northern Texas. That brings the death toll to 16. The bus was carrying a group of Vietnamese Catholics on a church trip. Police say the driver apparently lost control and hit a guardrail after an illegally retreaded tire blew.

A memorial service was held last night at the church that some of the victims actually attend. Hundreds offered prayers in a special mass.

A Florida family is still frantically searching for Caylee Anthony, who's to turn three today. Police have been frustrated by the charging stories told the girl's mother. They have filed charges against her, meantime a concerned crowd held a vigil for Caylee. More from Kenneth Moton of CNN affiliate WFTV.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KENNETH MOTON, WFTV REPORTER (voice over): On the night before Caylee's third birthday, these strangers to the Anthony family came to pray for her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Help us find Caylee.

MOTON: More than 100 people surrounded Cindy, George and Lee Anthony to show their support. When the family took a moment to thank them, George used his time to talk about is breakdown earlier in the day.

GEORGE ANTHONY, GRANDFATHER: You don't care about me. You don't care about her.

I can tell the media right now, I'm sorry. It was hard for me dealing with some things that started out inside my household today, but I just want you to know, my direction and my wife's direction, and my son's direction has always been to find my granddaughter.

MOTON: They released balloon in the air, lit candles, and shed some tears for the missing toddler. St. Cloud resident Teresa Weaver says her teenage daughter has been missing for three years.

TERESA WEAVER, ST. CLOUD RESIDENT: Because I know exactly what they're feeling, and I hope and pray that Caylee does come home.

MOTON: Bringing Caylee home is the reason a 12-year-old girl named Dakota planned this vigil after she met the Anthony's a week ago.

DAKOTA SKII, VIGIL ORGANIZER: George and Cindy and Lee are like family to me. I've grown to know them, and I've grown to know more about Caylee and I just feel that connection.

CINDY ANTHONY, GRANDMOTHER: She opened my eyes that you have to keep living. And I have to keep living because I have to stay strong for Caylee.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, police have been searching some ponds near the Anthony's home, but they have found nothing connected to Caylee's disappearance.

Well, the world just got a little less funny. That's what actor George Clooney said today about the death of comedian Bernie Mac. Mac's brand of edgy humor helped define an entire generation of African-American comedians, in particular. Joining me now from Chicago to talk about his legacy is Margina Christian; she's the features editor at "Jet" magazine.

This is indeed a super-sad day, because I think it hit so many by surprise that his health was this vulnerable, Margina.

MARGINA CHRISTIAN, "JET" MAGAZINE: Yes, it came as a complete surprise to everyone. It was just at a total loss for words. Chicago as well as the entire world is really saddened by the passing of this great man.

WHITFIELD: and talk to me about the Chicago community and his connection.

CHRISTIAN: Chicago is -- was Mr. Mac's home. This is where he cut his teeth, this is where he -- it all started. He started out doing comedy clubs, the Cotton Club. He had comedy search nights at the Regal Theater. He did so much in Chicago and this is where it all started. So, everyone knew of him, he was a star in Chicago long before he was a star that the entire world was aware of him.

WHITFIELD: And what was it like in Chicago when some folks just learn for the first time last week that he was being hospitalized? How did the Chicago community respond to his hospitalization?

CHRISTIAN: A lot of people were uncertain, because there was this big question mark. There were reports he was gravely ill, there were reports where he's getting better, he was responding well to medications, but nothing was really solid, so it was just a huge question mark, and everyone believed that he was getting better. WHITFIELD: Yeah, and you talk about his start, his impact there in Chicago, so I wonder -- talk to me about the inspiration that he was for so many budding performers there in Chicago which will look and say, all right, so, this really is possible, he did it, so can I.

CHRISTIAN: He started out -- he would perform at All Jokes Aside. He was, once again, at the comedy -- Cotton Club, he performed, and he was one of those people who held down a regular job as well as pursued his dreams, but because of his reaching out to so many people, he was able to land an HBO show called "Midnight Mac," where he was able to help so many other young aspiring comedians. And the show was successful, it was wildly funny and everyone remembered the dance know as the Mac-A-Roni.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: How sweet. You know, just moments ago at the top of this hour, I spoke with the executive, a producer and creator of "The Bernie Mac Show," Larry Wilmore, and he talked about, you know, where the old, you know, "come on, America," you know, came from. He was referring to Charlotte and then you know, it just kind of clicked, now wait a minute, he talk to American during his show all the time.

What is it about his show, and his comedy that you think resonated with so many people of all walks, whether you were a parent, whether you were a kid, whether you were single, no matter what your background was, you found his stuff funny?

CHRISTIAN: His comedy was funny because it transcended race and spoke about family. And family transcends everything. And with his television show he was able to reach a new audience; the show was so popular it even won a Peabody Award. His talking about family was more than just an act for Mr. Mac, it was how he actually lived as a person.

WHITFIELD: And so a lot of what we saw in "The Bernie Mac Show," that was his family, you know, his Hollywood family, if you will, a lot of what we saw was very similar to what may have taken place in his own house?

CHRISTIAN: That is very correct. The show centered around two professionals who raised their nieces and nephews, and in real life, the show was inspired by the fact that he did raise his six nieces and nephews, as well as his biological daughter. That was a true testament to the type of man he was. While he pursued his dream, he continued to reach back and to help his family. So, while the show was a performance, it was art imitating life, because in real life, he not only was playing the role, but he lived it as well.

WHITFIELD: Margina Christian of "Jet" magazine thanks so much for helping us remember Bernie Mac who had made a huge impact on the entertainment industry, as a whole.

CHRISTIAN: Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: Well, for years Bernie Mac has suffered from sarcoidosis, which inflames internal tissues such as lungs and lymph nodes. Medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen gave our Randi Kaye an overview of the disease that many of us were learning about for the first time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: In a nutshell, what happens in sarcoidosis is that an immune response, which is normal, which is good to have, kind of goes awry, and creates these clumps that you see right here, and those clumps can get so big that they interfere with an organ's functioning, for example, the functioning of a lung, and leave someone vulnerable to getting a disease like pneumonia, which has what put Bernie Mac in the hospital.

Now, for some people this disease goes away quickly, for other people it can last a lifetime, and symptoms include a persisting cough, shortness of breath, fever and weight loss.

RANDI KAYE, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: So how do you get it? Obviously you know the symptoms, but how do you -- where does it come from?

COHEN: You know, some people are genetically predisposed to getting that. So, some people are just more vulnerable to getting it in the first place. And then on top of that, some people have exposures to tree pollen or insecticides or moldy environment that kind of trigger it to happen. And this disease can impact the lungs, the lymph nodes, they eyes and the skin, lots of different parts of the body.

KAYE: And are some more prone to getting it than others?

COHEN: Yes, there definitely are. There have been studies on that because they were kind of wondering, are some people getting this more than other and it turns out that African-Americans do get sarcoidosis more than other people do, and that black women, actually, get it more than black men do. It usually affects people between the ages of 20 and 40.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow. Well, Bernie Mac had said his sarcoidosis went into remission in 2005, in part why so many people were shocked by his passing this morning, though.

All right, well Democrats setting their sights on GOP land, their new strategy to turn southern red, blue.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, well, this election year, sensing a chance to turn the tide in a long time, Republican stronghold Democrats have mounted a full-court press in several southern states. Joining us with more is John Bussey, the "Wall Street Journal's" Washington bureau chief.

Good to see you, John.

JOHN BUSSEY, "WALL STREET JOURNAL": Good afternoon. WHITFIELD: All right, well, let's zero in on a little town called Prattville, Alabama, where in your article you write about it being super-conservative, but now, as you put it, Republicans are on shaky ground. What does this mean, not just for the presidential race, but perhaps for some congressional seats, at least one seat?

BUSSEY: Well, it really means a lot for the Congress. And this is the story that Greg Hitt wrote in the "Journal," was that in this particular congressional race, you're finding Democratic candidates who look a little bit Republican. They have conservative ethics and positions that might previously have been associated with the Republican Party. And they are reflective of a new mood sweeping through the south which since 1964 has been a Republican stronghold. And what we're finding is a tilt toward the Democrats, a lot of it has to do with the bad economy, some has to do with the desire for activist government, some of it just has to do with kind of wanting to throw the incumbents out of office.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. And let's talk about one of those people, in particular, that kind of really fits that description. His name is Bobby Bright, he's the mayor of Montgomery and by most standards he's very conservative, but I guess he's running as a Democrat and serves to stand a pretty good chance, and in part because a lot of the electorate is saying we're kind of going for the anti-incumbent, we're kind of going for the change, because we're angry at the Republicans because of the economy.

BUSSEY: That's right. And it also reflects what's happening in the Democratic Party, nationally. And that is, in the past, the Democrats might have sought out a candidate to run as a Democrat in the race, in the Montgomery area, that abided by the national ideal for the Democratic Party and that might have been a little bit further left of center than Alabama was.

And now what's happening is the Democratic Party is being sort of much more pragmatic about this, finding people, as they say, in the story who are likely to win, and who have sort of core Democratic values, but are conservative at the same time, so you're seeing a rush to the center by both the Democrats and Republicans. What's happening this time around is that you're finding the South talking about a desire for a democratically controlled Congress, as opposed to a Republican one for the first time in years.

WHITFIELD: Your paper is calling it the great reversal. And in fact, we have a graphic which kind of demonstrates where the country is, or where the vulnerable states are, meaning vulnerable when it comes to the Republican point of view, which now really could be leaning toward the Democrats. Let's look at that map here, North Carolina become among them, and even Virginia.

BUSSEY: That's right. And you started off in 2007 with the expectation somewhere between 35 and 40 congressional seats might sort of be hotly contested and that's been rising over the last many months. There are six Republican seats now that are much closer than initially the expectations were. Some of that has to do with the fact that there is the housing crisis; there is the financial sector crisis, and an economic malaise. Some of it has to do with the fact that Obama has galvanized African-American voters in the South, brought them into the fold. You saw a tremendous turnout across the nation at Democratic primaries, and that's spilling over into what's expected now to happen when the voters go to the polls in November.

WHITFIELD: So, this really is an historic race, a historic year, election year, and we're not just talking about the two leading candidates for the presidency, but we're talking about the influence that is being made in congressional and perhaps even municipal or state and local politics, too.

BUSSEY: That's exactly right. I think in a national campaign, a presidential campaign, so much of our attention is on the presidential candidates, we forget what's goes on in the billing behind me. The congressional races are in many cases so up for grabs, that the Democrats believe that they can deeply extend their majority in the House and in the Senate and that would make it very tough for Republican legislators if that were to come to pass, Election Day.

WHITFIELD: Yeah, and I guess one of the most exciting things about all of this is this election year, so many people are galvanized -- we're talking about the electorate, people are excited and they are really understanding the importance of this year like never before. No matter what the reason is, it seems like the voter turnout is going to be pretty sizable, no matter where you are.

BUSSEY: I think that's true. Newt Gingrich has written that it could also, unless the tides turn for the Republican Party in advance of the election, return the Republicans to a clearly minority party in national government. We'll have to see what happens in the next two or three months.

WHITFIELD: Wow. All right, John Bussey, Washington bureau chief at the "Wall Street Journal," thanks for your time this weekend.

BUSSEY: My pleasure.

WHITFIELD: All right, well with just 16 days to go until the Democratic National Convention, the party is still trying to heal some of the wounds from the primaries. Senator Hillary Clinton says it's time to bury the hatchet. Some of her supporters feel otherwise, however. Here now is CNN's Jessica Yellin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Ssenator Clinton campaigning for Barack Obama in Las Vegas.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He represents the unity that we will have as we move toward victory in November and elect Senator Barack Obama, the next president of the United States.

YELLIN: Before leaving for Hawaii, Obama insisted there's peace between the Democratic Party's top stars.

BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She is very enthusiastic about the need for a unified party. I think we're going to have a terrific convention.

YELLIN: Not if some of her most ardent supporters have their way.

CROWD: Yes, we can! Yes, we can!

YELLIN: Some Hillary holdouts, still active through Web sites like this one, say they won't vote for Obama at the convention, and a few are even developing a documentary arguing that the primary was stolen. This trailer is on YouTube.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The people from the Obama group were taking down names and addresses.

YELLIN: These vocal Hillary devotees could pose problems for the party.

ANNE KORNBLUT, "WASHINGTON POST": I think it absolutely matters in terms of the spirit of the convention. I have heard some Republicans being heartened by the fact there's still this impression the Democratic Party isn't united.

YELLIN: but a recent poll by the Pew Research Center shows Obama has actually gained support among Clinton's backers, 72 percent in late July, up 13 points since May. Still, 17 percent of Clinton supporters say they plan to vote for McCain and 10 percent remain undecided. Obama and the DNC have tried to appease these critics with convention speaking roles for both Clintons and by inserting in the proposed party platform a message that says: "We believe standing up for our country means standing up against sexism..." It is unclear how significant Clinton holdouts' influence will be come November.

KORNBLUT: I don't know that any one Democratic could single handedly sink or win this election for anybody else, I do think it's one of the danger spots for Obama in this election in states in particular like Florida.

YELLIN (on camera): The Obama campaign insists they are not troubled by these Clinton holdouts, they say their influence is being dramatically overplayed by the media.

Jessica Yellin, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And call it a hot political attack ad. Paris Hilton firing back at John McCain and firing off her own hot political ideas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, presidential politics you know is serious business, but as everyone knows, there are also moments of humor. As our Jeanne Moos found out, the entry of Paris Hilton into the recent debate may set a whole new standard.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PARIS HILTON, HEIRESS: ...while creating taxes.

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Thanks to these two jokers, a funny thing happened to Paris Hilton.

HILTON: Then that wrinkly, white-haired guy used me in his campaign ad, which I guess means I'm running for president.

MOOS: She did a parody response ad to John McCain's real ad...

ANNOUNCER: He's the biggest celebrity in the world.

MOOS: And the response to Paris was good.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I'm going to bump it up to maybe a seven.

HILTON: I'm just hot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nine out of 10.

MOOS (on camera): This could be Paris Hilton's come back among the intelligentsia, sort of.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did she ever have a something to come back from?

MOOS (voice-over): Now she does. These two made her a political star.

ADAM MCKAY, FUNNYORDIE.COM: We called her. We pretty much straight up gave her a call. She called back. We told her our idea and she was into it.

MOOS: Adam McKay and Chris Henchy -- Chris Henchy happens to be married to actress Brooke Shields -- are the brains behind Will Farrell's comedy Web site, FunnyOrDie. They wrote the parody and shot it out in the Hamptons with Paris contributing, live.

CHRIS HENCHY, FUNNYORDIE.COM: Paint the White House pink -- wasn't that hers?

MCKAY: That was hers.

HILTON: I'll see you at the White House. Oh, and I might paint it pink.

MOOS: But it was Paris' energy policy...

HILTON: Why don't we do a hybrid of both candidates' ideas.

MOOS: That went over big, even with real pundits.

JOE SCARBOROUGH, HOST: Her energy policy, if you just look at the words, really better than Barack Obama's and John McCain's.

MOOS: Her biggest laugh line included the word that rhymes with witches.

HILTON: I'll see you at the debates (OBSCENE WORD OMITTED).

MOOS: Even Jay Leno was impressed.

JAY LENO, HOST "THE TONIGHT SHOW": Paris Hilton making sense. Wow!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's a plunker. She really is a plunker.

MOOS: A whatter?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A plunker. It's -- she's an idiot.

MOOS (on camera): Now, if you think Paris Hilton is such an airhead, consider this -- she wasn't using a teleprompter, like I am. She memorized all that and did it in about four takes.

(voice-over): Yes, she came.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning. Paris for president?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And Paris for president?

MOOS: T-shirts are already available, "Vote Paris, Not Old Dude."

HILTON: Now if you'll excuse me, I have to pick out a vice president. I'm thinking Rihanna.

MOOS: Though, there were other potential running mates.

CHRIS HENCHY, FUNNYORDIE.COM: We considered the 40 pound cat.

MCKAY: Right.

HENCHY: It was one we talked about. The Montauk sea creature was mentioned.

MOOS: And speaking of sea creatures, what's with the leopard cutout swimsuit?

HENCHY: Classic Paris.

MCKAY: That was classic Paris. She answered the door in that suit.

MOOS: As one person posted: "Just be glad it's Paris talking politics and not McCain releasing a sex video." That would wake up this faker.

HILTON: I'm Paris Hilton and I approve this message because I think it's totally hot.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, now taking a turn to some pretty serious stories. An Army scientist suspected in deadly anthrax attacks, he committed suicide as investigators closed in. Today he is remembered by those who knew a very different Bruce Ivins. And murder in Beijing. American tourists in China for the Olympics attacked in broad daylight, much more straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.