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Working Toward a Bailout; Preparing for the VP Debate; New Numbers in Some Key Battleground States; Tips on Avoiding Injuries While Running; A World Tennis Record, Smashed; Veteran TV Actor House Peters, Jr. Died
Aired October 02, 2008 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN HOST: First, though, want to get to Kate Bolduan back on Capitol Hill where the house is set to tackle the latest plan. They've already rejected the bailout once before, Kate, so what do you think is going to happen today, tomorrow, whenever the actual vote is going to take place?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Whenever they get to it, yes, exactly.
Well, they're going to try again. I mean that's -- in basic terms, that's what they're going to do. They're going to be taking up a revised version of the bill as early as Friday is what we are told.
Now, the bill has changed or tweaked, as some are saying, but the politics of it have changed slightly, as well. Senators, as they left their vote -- their successful vote last night, they said that the vote count at 74 to 25 showing really gave -- sent a very clear message to the House that there was strong bipartisan support behind this bill and it also gave the bill itself some strong momentum, they think, going into the vote.
Well, at the same time, we have many members in the House saying that the outcome remains uncertain. Democratic congressman Barney Frank, one of the key negotiators here, says they still have -- they still have votes to count.
Look here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. BARNEY FRANK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: What you have on the House side, frankly, is a concern that not enough will be done to forestall foreclosures. My own view is that we were able to write into this bill over the initial objections of the Bush administration significant advances in protection.
We weren't able to get everything we wanted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: But hopefully they -- Barney Frank says they have enough to get it through. Now House Republican leaders have been working the phones, they've -- doing it all day yesterday. You can expect that they'll continue to do that today trying to drum up support among their Republican colleagues because House Republican leaders know that they need to bring some votes to the table.
There are 133 Republicans that voted against this -- the original bill. And so House Republican leaders say they do know they need to bring some Republicans on board in order for things -- this thing to get through this time -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, everybody watching, kind of holding their breath, I think, again today.
Thanks so much, Kate Bolduan, from Capitol Hill this morning.
Some economists say it might take more than just this one bailout to shore up the banking industry. Our money expert Christine Romans is in New York for us this morning talking more about it.
So, Christine, we've got this one hurdle that has been jumped, if you will.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right.
COLLINS: Got another one to jump still. Does it like we might still be talking about a band-aid here? I mean are we really getting to the heart of the wound?
ROMANS: You know, Heidi, there is a growing -- a growing chorus that this is just the beginning no matter what. If this happens -- if it gets through the House, too, and we do have this -- the business just the beginning, and you're starting to hear kind of that -- populous backlash against the bill where people were saying that they didn't want to reward Wall Street.
Well, now, a growing relation that rewarding Wall Street is going to somehow going to have to trickle down to everybody else because you can't have the banking system completely -- freeze up.
Yesterday, I talked to -- talked to Ken Rogoff, a noted economist at Harvard. He actually predicted back in August that this -- what's happening right now would happen, that you'd have investment banks going down and banks going down.
And he says, you know, people don't like the idea of spending $700 billion to -- for this bailout, but he says it's better than the alternative.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KENNETH ROGOFF, HARVARD ECONOMIST: We're worried about something that wipes out a big chunk of our financial intermediation that gives us, you know, credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, you name it, that it shrinks so much and so fast that it takes years to get back.
And instead of having a plain vanilla recession for a year, whatever, it's something that hurts us for many years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: And that's what everyone is so worried about. Alice Rivlin is a former vice chair of the Fed. And this is the way she put it.
She says that, you know, the bailout won't change everything, but we still -- will have a recession. Almost everybody believes that. But if it gets credit flowing again, that's a lot. And then she puts it this way, if we don't have the bailout, like anticipating a world without a bailout is sort of like thinking about, you know, what it would be like -- anticipating a nuclear war.
We don't know what the chances are, but we should do everything we can to avoid it. Nobody wants to know what it would look like without doing something to get the credit flowing again. They have all kinds of doomsday scenarios. But there's a real feeling that it's best for everybody to not even, you know, tempt fate on that -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, understood. All right, CNN's Christine Romans from New York -- thank you, Christine.
Well, if it were a boxing match, we'd probably say let's get ready to rumble. So what do we say for a debate? Let's try not to stumble?
Tonight in St. Louis, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden square off for their one and only vice presidential debate. Both have led up to the tussle by playing the expectations game.
We're going to be checking in with both camps, of course. First, our Dana Bash is watching the Republicans and then Suzanne Malveaux, joining us like live from the site of tonight's debate.
Suzanne, I want to start with you.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, there's, obviously, a lot of anticipated -- I'm getting a little it of echo in my ear. I'm going to take off my earpiece.
A lot of the anticipation here about this debate here in the auditorium. You may recognize the setting here. We're at Washington University. This is where George Bush and John Kerry actually faced off four years ago.
But, essentially, we have seen Joe Biden in practice sessions. He has been working with a team of people, but also, notably, Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm who's been playing Sarah Palin, kind of as the sit-in there.
They're aware of the sensitivities, perhaps, if he is too hard or too rough that he might be accused of sexism, but they say, look, they're going to be treating her with respect, they're going to take her on the issues. That this is not going to turn into some sort of tit-for-tat, personal-type of exchange. And I want to just give you a little quick scene setter here, if you will. Behind me this is where the podiums are set up and the -- you can see the table in between there. That is where we expect the moderator, PBS's Gwen Ifill, probably going to hobble to that table.
COLLINS: Yes.
MALVEAUX: She just broke her ankle yesterday, but she will be here. And all of the topics, they can do anything, anything, nothing is off the table here, but it is a more structured format. It's 90 seconds to respond to the question and then two-minute follow-ups.
This was something that was negotiated between the two campaigns. Essentially, it means there will be less back and forth between these two than we saw with the presidential candidates, but nevertheless, it's expected to be quite an interesting evening. A lot of anticipation to see how these two handle each other -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, a whole lot of anticipation. That's for sure. We will all be watching, I bet.
Suzanne Malveaux, thanks so much, live from St. Louis this morning.
Sarah Palin has been in Arizona the past couple of days prepping for tonight's showdown in St. Louis. CNN's Dana Bash is joining us now live with the Republican side of the equation.
All right, so we've seen that photo of her that was put out by the McCain/Palin campaign standing there and practicing, as well.
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. She has been doing, frankly, what Joe Biden has been doing. She has been at debate camp practicing. She's had -- lucky for her -- a little bit nicer scenery because she's been able to be at the Creekside Cabin of John McCain.
But, look, I mean, they understand what the stakes are inside the McCain campaign for Sarah Palin tonight. And what they say is that they hope that given what has happened over the past week or two weeks with her not-so-great performances and interviews, which even McCain advisers admit, that they hope that what viewers -- what voters will tonight is basically Sarah Palin in totality.
They are very happy about the fact that she will get 90 minutes to kind of show who she is. They hope that that will bring voters back to where they were after the convention where they really got a chance to hear Sarah Palin in her own words, obviously, a very different format when she is sitting beside her opponent and sitting with the questioner.
But here's how John McCain framed the stakes for his running mate tonight early on "AMERICAN MORNING."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She has great inner strength. She has -- an ability to lead that's been proven, taking on her own party. Joe Biden and Barack Obama have never taken on the leaders of their party on any issue.
She's stood up for what's right for the people of Alaska and she will stand up for what's right for America. Neither one of -- neither one of them has.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: And what was very interesting, Heidi, in John McCain's interview just a short while ago on CNN, is that no matter what Kiran asked him, his answer with regard to Sarah Palin was about her experience, was about her leadership.
They see the same polls that we're seeing this morning, a slew of them, really, that shows that in the past couple of few weeks, voters' perception of her ability to lead, of her ability to be commander in chief has really plummeted. So that is a big part of what they're trying to do, is to push that back up because that has had a negative affect on the man at the top of the ticket, John McCain.
COLLINS: CNN's Dana Bash reporting for us, we appreciate that, Dana, and make sure that you stay tuned with CNN tonight for complete coverage of the one and only vice presidential debate.
That debate kicking off at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. And, of course, the best political team on television will be breaking it down for you.
Meanwhile, millions of you will likely be watching Sarah Palin and Joe Biden tonight. Some will be waiting for those stumbles and others will be wanting to hear the issues.
But, when it's all said and done, do you think tonight's vice presidential debate will actually affect the November election? We want to know what you think. Send your thoughts to CNNnewsroom@CNN.com.
We're going to be reading some of your responses a little bit later right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Advancing in the battleground states, new CNN poll numbers showing some movement in key November states. You're going to want to stick around for those. They're coming up at the bottom of the hour.
Missing for months, then declared dead, and now evidence of adventurer Steve Fossett is found.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Breaking news, revealing developments, see for yourself in the CNN NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: An aerial search has spotted what may be the wreckage of adventurer Steve Fossett's plane. Ground crews are heading into the area to investigate today. The latest search was launched after a hiker's discovery in Mammoth Lakes, California.
CNN's Ted Rollins has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): More than a year after he vanished, there's a possible break in the search for adventurer Steve Fossett. Hiker Preston Morrow found these FAA pilot I.D. and two other I.D. cards all with Fossett's name on it and more than $1,000 in cash in a remote area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
PRESTON MORROW, HIKER: I came across the I.D. card and the other cards and the $100 bills in the dirt and the pine needles and stuff, and I went, wow. And, of course, that stopped me in my tracks and I picked up the I.D. card and it was a name and there wasn't a picture of Fossett, but there's a name and I.D. and stuff.
And as everyone has heard in the news, it didn't know -- it didn't pop in my head right at that time who that was.
ROLLINS: But he figured it out and went back the next day with a group, including his wife, who found a jacket, which may or may not be related.
Authorities say at this point, they don't know what they have.
CHIEF RANDY SCHIENLE, MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIFORNIA POLICE: I can't really speculate as to what might be out there. All I know is we have this I.D. It seems to have been out there for a while because the I.D. itself was well weathered, as well.
So it's possible, I think it was missing July of '07. If it's been out there for a year, you know, we have heavy winters up here so it could have sat under some snow, and moved by animals. Who knows? I don't know if we're anywhere near where there's potential wreckage or not.
ROLLINS: Steve Fossett was last seen on September 3rd of last year when he left the Nevada ranch on a solo flight that was expected to take just a few hours. Since then, the search for Fossett and his plane has covered more than 20,000 square miles.
Until now, nothing significant had been found. He was declared dead by a judge in February of this year.
Fossett, a millionaire adventurer, led an extraordinary life. He was the first person to circle the world solo in a hot air balloon and the first to do it in a plane without refueling.
His accomplishments had many people convinced that however long the search took, he would turn up OK. At this point, it's unclear if the I.D. cards and money will provide answers to what happened on that flight or simply deepen the mystery.
Ted Rollins, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: We want to let you know a news conference on the search is scheduled for next hour. We're going to keeping an eye on it for you and bring any new details just as soon as we get them.
Stress out in the south. Well, it's been a tough time for drivers. We are checking on gas supplies today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: When sex is part of a political debate, sparks can fly. What tonight's debaters can learn from the past.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: News as it develops as only CNN can bring it to you. See for yourself in the CNN NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Well, live shot of Capitol Hill for you because, again, many people and analysts have said Wall Street has kind of moved its way to Washington because we are waiting today now for the House.
Sort of a take two, if you will, going to begin discussions again on this bailout plan that we've been talking about for several days now.
As I'm sure you know by now, the Senate actually passed their version of the bill. 74 to 25, last night. So that is one hurdle that lawmakers have gone over. Now we have to see what's going to happen in the House. So that's one story we're watching.
The other story, pretty recognizable there, you can see the debate hall, St. Louis. We're going to see the first vice presidential debate -- it will be the only one -- coming up later on tonight.
So make sure that you stay tuned with CNN for complete coverage of that presidential debate. It begins -- vice presidential, pardon me -- debate begins at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and, of course, the best political team on television will be breaking it all down for you.
In fact, millions of you will likely be watching Sarah Palin and Joe Biden tonight. Some will be waiting for stumbles, other waiting to hear the issues.
But when it's all said and done, do you think tonight's vice presidential debate will affect the November elections? We want to hear your thoughts. So go ahead and send them to CNNnewsroom@CNN.com. And then I'll read some of them to you a little bit later right here on the show.
A wildfire that closed a section of California's Interstate 5 is now under control. The fire torched about 75 acres of brush in the Angels National Forest, that's north of Los Angeles. Forest service spokesman says it should be out entirely by this afternoon.
We want to go over to Reynolds Wolf now who is standing by in the weather center. We've been talking a very long time about dry conditions out in the west. Is that still what we're looking at?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, it looks like it's going to be that way for today. But if you look at the northern half of the Golden State, we're going to have in California, looks like we're going to start seeing some scattered showers, not just on the coastal range, but also back into the Sierra Nevada.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WOLF: And as we get into, say, Saturday, some parts of the Rockies, Heidi, could be seeing in excess of two feet. Hey, up in Telluride, get ready.
Let's send it back to you.
COLLINS: Wow. That sounds so good right now.
WOLF: I know. Hard to believe.
COLLINS: All right, Reynolds Wolf. Thank you.
WOLF: Anytime.
COLLINS: Those empty gas pumps across the southeast frustrating drivers and fueling anger. It's been going on for a while down here, too.
Our Rusty Dornin is here with us now to talk a little more about this.
And, Rusty, I have to tell you, on the way in this morning, I actually got gas. It was very exciting.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's -- it's incredible. This is a dream come true for southeast drivers. I mean our needs are very basic at this point, as you know. But this gas station had a 45 minute wait just yesterday afternoon, which you'll see in my piece.
But today, absolutely no waiting. And a few times there have been some empty pumps where people could pull right in. There are going to be continued rolling outages. So right now it's catch as catch can.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN (voice over): If you live in the southeast, this is probably a familiar sight.
Desmond Diggs ran out of gas waiting in line. Then the station ran out.
(On camera): So what are you going to do now? DESMOND DIGGS, MOTORIST: Call AAA.
DORNIN (voice over): We visited this Atlanta gas station a few days ago, lines stretched down the street. On Wednesday, no wait. Officials say gas supplies are improving.
But try telling Kim Boxly that. He waited in line 45 minutes.
(On camera): They say it's getting better. What do you think?
KIM BOXLY, MOTORIST: I think it's still the same. There's nothing changed.
DORNIN (voice over): Two major pipelines supply gas to the southeast, but Gulf Coast refineries were damaged by hurricanes Gustav and Ike, shutting down that supply temporarily.
(On camera): The pipeline may be up and running 100 percent, but the refineries aren't, which means that it's impossible to keep tanks like these full and the stations still have to be rationed.
(Voice over): Stations often get only half the normal supply of gas. This is a problem when people panic and make runs on stations. Fuel distributor Tex Pitfield says it ain't over yet.
TEX PITFIELD, PRESIDENT, SARAGUAY PETROLEUM CORPORATION: Everybody wants the same gallons and it's going to be a fight. It is going to be probably at least another week of rolling outages.
DORNIN: In Charlotte, North Carolina, some want to blame the mayor for not ordering rationing. Others say consumers need to accept responsibility.
JEFF GANOUNG, MOTORIST: Everybody shares, buys a little bit of gas, doesn't try to hoard, there's enough to go around for everybody.
DORNIN: In Georgia, some blame the governor, who's been in Europe ever since the shortage hit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know anything about the politics. I do know he's supposed to be in charge and my state is having this problem, at least my local. I think he should be responsible.
DORNIN: A spokesman for Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue says he's obtained federal approval to bring in less refined gas and is now licensing out of state haulers to bring in supplies.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN: Federal government is also sending a 900,000 barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Oil Reserve, but that, of course, first has to go to the refineries, and it's the refineries that are not up and completely running yet.
But if you look at the gas prices here, still a little higher than the national average, Atlanta, you'll still get gas stations trying to charge $4.29. But as you can see, well, they only have regular gas here.
COLLINS: Yes.
DORNIN: So if you're looking for mid grade level or premium, you're not going to get that. Some people are using octane boosters, that sort of thing, or just going ahead and using the regular gas. But things really are slowly getting better -- Heidi?
COLLINS: I'm so glad. It was getting pretty ugly there, pretty nasty between driver to driver, you know? That cutting in line business.
All right, Rusty Dornin, sure do appreciate the update.
Fallout from the financial crisis, fewer people are buying new cars, sending shivers through the auto industry.
CNN's Mary Snow has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Robert Crisafi didn't need to see the latest auto sales numbers to know the picture's grim.
A dramatic drop in used car sales has put his 25-year-old business in jeopardy.
ROBERT CRISAFI, AUTO DEALER: Nobody is buying cars, finance companies aren't financing, and people can't get loans.
SNOW: From car dealers to carmakers, the credit crunch is dealing a devastating blow. Citing very tight credit conditions, Ford says its sales plunged 35 percent in September, Chrysler drop 33 percent and GM 16 percent. Japanese automaker Toyota had its worst monthly drop in 21 years.
Tightening credit, say analysts, took a bigger toll than expected.
TOM LIBBY, J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES: 6 of every 10 new vehicles are purchased with a loan and that -- that portion of the market is now being pulled back. You're seeing major declines and, frankly, credit has to be loosened for the industry to come back.
SNOW: And it's an industry that was already struggling. High gas prices caused consumers to pull back earlier this year and that dented sales.
On Tuesday, the president signed a $25 billion loan package for troubled automakers. But the worst may not be over.
CHRIS ISIDORE, SENIOR WRITER, CNNMONEY.COM: The traffic at the last 10 days of September was far worse than the first 10 days of September, so it seems to be an accelerating problem for them.
SNOW: While the industry faces potential plant closings and job cuts, car dealers are being squeezed. Carmax, the nation's largest used car retailer, announced 600 layoffs.
(On camera): The National Automobile Dealers Association says so far this year, 600 auto dealerships have closed down and more are expected.
Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The bailout deal and the stock market, how does one affect the other?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Just a couple of minutes ago, the opening bell on Wall Street there for you, the 2nd day of October. Yesterday, it was kind of weird that we closed down just 20 points. We're so used to seeing these triple digits to the positive or to the negative, especially over the past few days. So, that was the close yesterday. We, of course, are watching for what will be happening on Wall Street today particularly regarding the passage of the government's bailout bill. It's been the top concern as you well know for investors.
We want to go to Susan Lisovicz standing by at the New York Stock Exchange now. Talking a little bit more about whether or not, Susan, the Senate's passage of their version of the bill might be influencing trading or expected to influence trading today?
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, no, not exactly. Because we have the other part of this approval process, which is the House. And we know what happens with the House on Monday. That vote is scheduled for tomorrow. In the meantime, we're seeing stocks opening lower. Economist Bob Brusca's note sent today, all eyes are on Washington. And when you think that is where economic leadership is coming from, you are in real trouble. Nothing there works fast enough or is quite right to really repair markets. Ouch.
COLLINS: Yes, ouch.
LISOVICZ: Also, there is increasing talk now about an interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve. Heidi, we've talked about this before. Policymakers were ham strong to cut rates because of sharply higher oil prices. Well, crude right now is down another $2. Trading below $97 a barrel, and so that may give them some wiggle room because of the concern about what's happening in the greater economy.
Ford's CEO, Allan Mulally had something to say today. He said the economic slump will be deeper and longer than most people had expected. I know you just had Mary Snow talking about auto sales. They showed an overall decline of 27 percent. And yes, access to credit is a big issue.
There is some room for optimism in Europe, Heidi. Swiss Bank UBS says it expect to turn a small profit in the third quarter. It's been one of the hardest hit banks. So that is an improvement. But we're also looking forward to tomorrow for more reasons because we get the big jobs report for September. We got weekly jobless claims. They rose slightly last week to a seven-year high.
Now remember, it's not only the weakening economy here, but oh, hurricanes Ike and Gustav. Great timing. So we're bumping up against half a million. So there's just a lot of concern in the marketplace and we've got a softer open. The Dow right now, down 77 points, about .75 percent. The Nasdaq is down about 1 percent. We're following the numbers. It's fluid here to say the least, and we'll be back a little bit later on, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. That's a nice way to put it, fluid. All right. CNN's Susan Lisovicz, New York Stock Exchange. Thank you, Susan. We'll watch those numbers.
And a little bit earlier here in the NEWSROOM, we asked if you could share with us your thought about tonight's vice presidential debate. Because we wanted to know -- we've been hearing all these buzz about it. We know a lot of people are going to watch. But do you think it's going to affect the November election? Here is what you said. We're getting a lot of e-mails, too.
Donald from New Jersey said this, "I think the voters will be drawn one way or the other by this debate. It will not be the soul factor in getting the votes, but it will weigh in on which way a person votes."
OK. Also from Michael in Bismarck, North Dakota. "I don't think this debate will have an effect. Voters know this election is between John McCain and Barack Obama. And then finally from Andrew in Washington, "Since many people believe the presidential debate was, in fact, a tie -- he's talking about the first one back on Friday night between McCain and Obama -- many people will be looking at the vice presidential debate to make their choice or reassure their decision. Let's have a debate on the issues tonight to make the choice clear, not lipstick and bridges."
We continue to ask for those e-mails. We want to share them with you, because we are interested in hearing from you, of course. Do you think, once again that question, tonight's vice presidential debate will affect the November election? That address to send them in on, cnnnewsroom@cnn.com.
Gaining ground in the presidential race. We have important new numbers this morning on what voters are saying in some key battleground states. CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider is now joining us from St. Louis this morning.
Good morning to you, Bill.
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning. Well, we are seeing movement in some battleground states. Outside the battleground states, not so much.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): The campaign season is like the hurricane season. Florida lies directly in its path. Hurricane Obama hit Florida.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We will not just win Florida --
SCHNEIDER: And Hurricane McCain.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We must and will win the State of Florida in the upcoming election.
SCHNEIDER: Tropical Storm Biden made landfall in Florida.
SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm happy to be back in Ft. Myers.
SCHNEIDER: So did Tropical Storm Palin.
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Florida, let us take a second here.
SCHNEIDER: Even Hurricane Clinton made a return visit to Florida.
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In Florida, and I'm glad to be here.
SCHNEIDER: The impact, over the last two weeks, Barack Obama has been gaining support in Florida. Obama now leads McCain by four in Florida. Four years ago, Florida went for George W. Bush by five. Minnesota has been reliably Democratic since 1972. Last month, the Republicans held their convention in Minnesota and the race tightened up. Now Obama has pulled 11 points ahead in Minnesota. John Kerry won Minnesota by three points last time.
Missouri, early this month, Obama trailed McCain. Now it's tight. Bush took Missouri handily in 2004. Nevada? Obama leads by four. Nevada, too, was a Bush state in 2004. And Virginia, whoa, Obama has seized the nine-point lead in a state that hasn't voted for a Democrat since 1964. Last time, Virginia gave Bush a nine-point lead. Obama is gaining in all five battleground states, but the Democrat is not showing big gains in the national polls. Why not? Because there's no national campaign. The ads and the rallies are all in the battleground states.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER: Because of the way the Electoral College works, the voters of New York and Texas and California are deprived. We already know how those states are likely to vote. But the voters in the battleground states, they have to campaign mostly to themselves, and they're the ones who appear to be giving Obama some momentum.
Heidi?
COLLINS: CNN's Bill Schneider in St. Louis. Bill, thank you. And be sure to stay tuned with CNN tonight for complete coverage of the one and only vice presidential debate. That debate kicks off at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Make sure you join the Best Political Team on Television for analysis before and after.
The economy, certainly been dominating the discussion on the campaign trail. Both Barack Obama and John McCain were back in Washington yesterday to vote yes on what the bailout plan. But before voting, they both spoke about the importance of taking action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: There will be a time to fix the blame for all that has happened, especially in the case of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the abuses and political deal making that corrupted those institutions. But our duty right now is to fix the problem. And that's the business that will shortly take me back to Washington.
Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. Now, with this measure, we have another chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.
If the financial rescue bill fails in Congress yet again, the present crisis will turn into a disaster. As credit disappears, students will no longer be able to get loans for college. Families looking for a new home will be unable to get a loan. New car sales will come to a halt. Businesses will have difficulty securing credit for operations and may be unable to pay employees. If we fail to act, the gears of our economy will grind to a halt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: John McCain for you there. And now we are looking at a live shot as people begin to gather in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Barack Obama will be holding a rally there today. It could be beginning any moment. Just want to show you a picture of that. Also, Barack Obama had a similar message regarding the economic situation. Here is what he had to say during a compare stop in Lacrosse, Wisconsin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Because of the housing crisis, we are now in a very dangerous situation. Where financial institutions across this country are afraid to lend money. And if all that meant was the failure of a few banks on Wall Street, that would be one thing. But that's not what it means. What it means is that if we don't act, it's going to be harder for you to get a mortgage for your home, or the loans you need to buy a car, or send your children to college.
What it means is that businesses won't be able to get the loans they need to open the new factories or hire more workers. Small business people may not be able to make payroll. Thousands of businesses could close. Millions of jobs could be lost. The long and painful recession could follow.
Let me be perfectly clear. The fact that we're in this mess is an outrage, Lacrosse. It's an outrage because we didn't get here by accident. This was not part of the normal business cycle. This was not the actions of just a few bad apples somewhere. This financial crisis is the direct result of greed and irresponsibility that has dominated Washington and Wall Street for years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Of course, I also want to let you know Senator John McCain has an event coming up later today. 6:15, that one is scheduled for in Denver, Colorado. And remember, you can always watch the candidates in their own words live and uninterrupted on the campaign trail. Just go to CNN.com/live.
Well, you know, running is pretty good for your health, but do you know the best way to stay injury free? Tips from the experts, coming up.
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COLLINS: Final arguments are expected this afternoon in the O.J. Simpson trial. Then it will be up to the jury. Simpson is accused of kidnapping and armed robbery in Las Vegas. He has pleaded not guilty. The charge stand from a confrontation Simpson had with two memorabilia dealers last September.
The government's case against Alaska Senator Ted Stevens continues in Washington. Today, the jury is expected to hear secret tapes made by star prosecution witness Bill Allan. Stevens is accused of failing to report more than $250,000 in gifts from Allan's oil services firm.
We want to head on over to Reynolds Wolf now, and get a picture of the weather scene all across the country. Rain in the northeast, a little bird told me that's what you wanted to talk about.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Running for your health. A recent study found runners in their 50s reported fewer incidents of cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer. But avoiding injuries is a concern at any age. CNN's Judy Fortin has some tips.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JUDY FORTIN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Five years ago, if you told Donna Murphy (ph) she would be running every day, she would have laughed.
DONNA MURPHY, RUNNER: Not in a million years would I have ever thought it.
FORTIN: Now, in her mid 40s, Donna has finished two half marathons, but she's careful. She knows she's not getting any younger and works with an athletic trainer to keep herself injury free.
Experts say busy 30 somethings may be tempted to take shortcuts to save time, such as cutting out the stretching routines. Trainers say, don't do it.
GENE SCHAFER, ATHLETIC TRAINER: If you're flexible, there's a good chance that that can help decrease some injuries that you may get by running.
FORTIN: And pick a good pair of shoes. Incorrect footwear can cause a lot of hurt.
SCHAFER: That can cause shin pain, knee pain, hip pain, low back pain. So you want to make sure that you have good shoes.
FORTIN: Then there are the injuries. As you begin losing muscle and bone mass in 40s, many runners may begin to see ligament injuries and suffer joint pain. Experts say, watch your mileage. Don't overdue it. Take rest days. Add some strength training and cross- train using the elliptical machine or biking.
SCHAFER: That way, you don't get that pounding that you normally get when you're out running four or five days a week.
FORTIN: Starting in your 40s, doctors say your body's ability to conserve water is reduced, raising the risk of dehydration. Drink plenty of water. In your 50s, stay with the strength training and work on your balance to help you stay steady on your feet. 52-year- old peter Shapiro runs in New York City and knows the dangers of potholes. He does exercises with his trainer focusing on balance.
PETER SHAPIRO, RUNNER: There are some things that are done on these half balls that are unsteady, and so you have to kind of balance yourself while you're doing the exercise.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Reach forward.
FORTIN: Or take Taichi or yoga classes to help your balance. Training responsibly is the best way to keep on running, no matter your age.
Judy Fortin, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: A sign of the times? A woman from Chicago buys the house -- this house in fact second on Michigan on eBay. Her winning bid, $1.75. That's right, $1.75. Joanne Smith was one of eight bidders. The home is abandoned. A note on the front door says a foreclosure hearing is pending. The new owner says she will try to sell it. First, though, she has to pay about $850 in back taxes and yard cleanup costs.
A world tennis record is smashed. Twins in Shelton, Connecticut volleyed 14 hours and 31 minutes breaking the Guinness World Record, and raising money for four different charities.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELO ROSSETTI, SET TENNIS RECORD: We need to really like use our skill to make a difference. ETTORE ROSSETTI, SET TENNIS RECORD: Our barriers that we over came in 14 hours and 31 minutes pale in comparison to the barriers that the victims of these diseases face.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The volley lasted 25,944 strokes. At one point between the 11 and 12,000 mark, it looked like the twins were in trouble with their attempt to set a record.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
E. ROSSETTI: There was a scare, between 11 and 12,000. Mark Angelo by accident hit the net. It trickled over, and I was able to get to it.
A. ROSSETTI: Barely, we -- so that was the heart attack. And you heard a collective, like, "uh," you know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The twins raised a total of $5,000.
A con man with an elaborate scheme pulls off an armored car highs outside this bank in Monroe, Washington. He then makes his escape down a nearby creek in an enter tube. But that's not the half of it. The crook managed to confuse witnesses by setting up nearly a dozen decoys dressed just like himself. Police say the robber advertised for road workers outside Craigslist, requiring they show up outside the bank dressed in dark blue shirts and dusk masks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE, RESPONDED TO AD: We've seen this guy (INAUDIBLE), come driving by, we just got scammed. The bank robbery just happened to be right across the street. The guy that went into the place apparently was the same attire that was requested in the all the e-mails that everyone got.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Mike and the others got ripped off, too. They had been promised $28.50 an hour.
Veteran TV actor House Peters, Jr. has died. Peters played parts in dozens of classic TV shows like "Gun Smoke," "The Lone Ranger" and "Death Valley Days." But most of you probably know him as Mr. Clean. He was the original face from the commercial icon, from the 1950s through the early '60s. House Peters Jr. was 92.
It's a strategy changer in political debates, when women face off against men.
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COLLINS: For more than a year there was no sign of him. Today new leads surrounding Steve Fossett. A live news conference at the top of the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Tonight's debate, more than a partisan divide. CNN's Fredricka Whitfield looks at the role of gender in political face.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Perhaps more so than any other political debate in modern history -- their words, their actions under scrutiny.
DANA MILBANK, WASHINGTON POST: This debate throws everything out the window.
WHITFIELD: First term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin going toe-to- toe with 35-year veteran Senator Joe Biden. The disparity in experience and the difference in gender feeding the anticipation.
MILBANK: It's sort of the most public IQ test ever given in the history of the world because everybody is wondering about Sarah Palin, and everybody is wondering if Joe Biden is going to make some horrible gaff as he is prone to do.
WHITFIELD: Just take a look at the history of man against woman on this stage, sparks fly. Remember this moment 24 years ago between Geraldine Ferraro and George H. Bush.
GERALDINE FERRARO (D), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I almost recent Vice President Bush your patronizing attitude that you have to teach me about foreign policy.
DEBORAH TANNEN, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: She is speaking directly to him which right away is something a little different than we've been seeing in debates a little more recently.
WHITFIELD: Georgetown University and linguistics professor Dr. Deborah Tannen says Biden and Palin can learn a lot from past face- offs. There was this in a New York senatorial debate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that everybody wants to see you signing something that you said you were for.
TANNEN: I don't think anyone is going to do that again any time soon. Any time you have a man and woman in close physical proximity, there is an unspoken awareness he could physically attack her.
WHITFIELD: And when it was Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama earlier this year, delicate make or break moments.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They seem to like Barack Obama more.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, that hurts my feelings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry, senator. I'm sorry. OBAMA: You're likable enough.
CLINTON: Thank you so much.
TANNEN: She was able to turn it around in a way that she used her gender in a positive way.
WHITFIELD: Then if that's a strategy, do you see Sarah Palin looking for that kind of opportunity to do that?
TANNEN: I do.
WHITFIELD (on camera): Dr. Tannen says Biden runs the risk of talking down to Palin. And Palin, in the words of the professor, could be in danger of seeming too weak. For both candidates it will be like walking on egg shells in what's expected to be the most watched vice presidential televised debate in history.
Fredricka Whitfield, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
