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Dallas School District Lays Off 375 Teachers; Search for Little Boy Kidnapped from Las Vegas Home; Lack of Water Triggers Cholera Outbreak in Zimbabwe; Possible Problems with Airplane Engines
Aired October 17, 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 ANCHOR: Swing market. Wall Streets' wild week could continue today. A new report points to a lower up.
And, candidates agree. They tell voters forget the polls now, remember them November 4th.
Today is Friday, October 17th. I'm Heidi Collins. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Well it's Friday, the last day of the trading week. You made it through, but what is going to happen to your money today? Some hints from overseas to look at. Overnight, stock markets have been mostly up from Europe to Asia. The down side -- that is pushing up oil prices. They're climbing a bit from an overnight low below $70. That was, in fact, the lowest settlement price in more than 13 months.
Expect another wild day, though, on Wall Street beginning a little bit later this hour. Yesterday, of course, we saw a swing of nearly 800 points. A big close to the positive, though, up by 401 points.
President Bush trying to calm your nerves this morning. Just a few minutes ago, he spoke at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, but his message is clearly aimed at you. He's assuring Americans the government is on the job to rein in the financial crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The federal government has responded to this crisis with systematic and aggressive measures to protect the financial security of the American people.
People look at this crisis and say, oh, it's only a Wall Street. I don't think so. As a matter of fact, I know that if we had not acted it's going to affect the American people directly. Actually it would take more time to have their full impact.
It took a while for the credit system to freeze up. It's going to take a while for the credit system to thaw.
These are decisive measures aimed at the heart of our financial challenges, and they're big enough and bold enough to work and the American people can be confident that they will.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COLLINS: Our CNN money team is, of course, all over it. Christine Roman is part of the team. She's got the big picture for us this morning.
So we heard from the president just a few minutes ago. We also heard from another very well-known guy.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, a very rich, rich guy.
COLLINS: Yes.
ROMANS: Uncle Warren, I like to call it.
Warren Buffett, the oracle of Omaha, in an op-ed at the "New York Times's Dateline Omaha," says, buy American, I am. He says history suggests now might be a good time to buying U.S. stocks.
He says outside of Berkshire Hathaway, but in his private account, which is usually all in treasuries, he's starting to buy equities. He says why? "A simple rule dictates my buying. Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful."
There's so much fear out there, he says, that there are opportunities to be had. Anyway, he's such a home spun investor, but this is pretty much the most famous investor of all time. This is why we listened to him.
He didn't like technology stocks. Remember back in the technology bubble?.
COLLINS: Right.
ROMANS: He didn't like them. He said he didn't understand them, that it just didn't make sense.
COLLINS: Other people like them a lot.
ROMANS: And -- that's right. And he was right because he really takes that -- a very back-to-basics approach to investing and -- I think he has some like $62 billion or something. He's near the top of...
COLLINS: He's done OK.
ROMANS: Yes -- of the "Forbes" list. But, you know, he also says if you wait until the robins are singing, spring is already over. His -- some of these little sayings, they make so much sense in all of this crazy business news.
So we're watching that today. And you know, he says in the near term, he can't say if the stock market is going to go up. He says that longer term corporate profits are going to be good over five years, 10 years.
He says he can't say what's going to happen to stocks in the very near term. And indeed, we've got more negative economic news this morning. Housing starts down 6.3 percent. That's a new 17-year low for the, you know, construction of houses.
So we know that there's still a lot of economic news that is negative there today, just in the stock market, as you can see, is sort of gut wrenching. It was yesterday. We have no idea how it will turn out again today.
It's one of those reasons, Heidi, why we tell people, gosh, you know, if you're following it minute by minute, you're -- just going to get sea sick.
COLLINS: Yes.
ROMANS: So take the longer term, you know. Look at your own 401(k), your own job, your own savings. There are some things that you can control. Try to control those because you cannot control what's happening on that big board.
COLLINS: Yes. No question about it. Quickly, the Asian markets, too, all over the map.
ROMANS: They were really all over the map. And this is -- you know one leads us, and then we lead them again. So I -- thankful it's Friday. Tokyo is up 2.8 percent. Shanghai was up. But then Hong Kong was up and then went -- you know ended up closing lower, down 4 percent, and Australia was down about 1.1 percent.
So it's a mixed performance there. So you're right, I mean, this has been incredibly volatile. We watched it all week. It's been incredibly volatile. We've been -- you know, 27 minutes, who knows what's going to happen.
COLLINS: I'm tired. You must be really tired.
ROMANS: I'm tired too. I'm -- I'm not even looking at the -- are you looking at yours?
COLLINS: Heck no.
ROMANS: Yes.
COLLINS: I gave up looking at that many, many weeks ago.
ROMANS: I just -- I keep saying I'm just going to keep working.
COLLINS: Yes. Yes, that's all you can do. That's right.
ROMANS: Yes.
COLLINS: All right, Christine Romans. We'll check in with you a little bit later on. Thanks.
ROMANS: Bye-bye.
COLLINS: Crunch time in the presidential campaign. 18 days to go and still a battle for those key swing states. Today Senator Barack Obama tries to woo voters in Virginia. His Republican rival, Senator John McCain, flies to Florida.
While his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin, is out in Ohio. And then a little bit later on she will travel to Indiana. Senator Joe Biden taking the Democrats' message to New Mexico and Nevada.
A big backing for Barack Obama with some reservation. It's from "The Washington Post." In today's edition, the editorial staff calls the Illinois senator, quote, "a man of supple intelligence with the potential to become a great president. But given the enormous problems he would confront on -- from his first day in office, they'll settle for very good."
"The Post" staff chose Obama, in part, because of what they call Senator John McCain's disappointing campaign, above all, his irresponsible selection of a running mate who is not ready to be president.
Despite endorsements and his lead in the polls, Senator Obama warns the race is far from over. He is back in Virginia, and so is CNN's Suzanne Malveaux.
Suzanne, good morning to you. What's the game plan for today?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Heidi. Well, 18 more days, essentially, and Barack Obama and his campaign feeling confident that perhaps they can turn some of those red states blue.
That is why Barack Obama is here in Virginia. He is also trying to work on those independents. We saw him in New Hampshire yesterday, and that is where 44 percent of the electorate are independent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice over): Despite a strong debate performance and increasing leads in national and key battleground state polls, Barack Obama says he's taking nothing for granted.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are 19 days away from changing this country. 19 days away. But for those who are getting a little cocky, I've got two words for you -- New Hampshire.
MALVEAUX: New Hampshire delivered Obama a stinging and startling defeat in its January 8th primary. Polls predicted Obama would be the clear winner after his victory in Iowa. But New Hampshire chose Hillary Clinton as the favorite.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: I listened to you, and in the process, I found my own voice.
MALVEAUX: New Hampshire gave Clinton the comeback she needed to revive her campaign. Just like her husband's second place finish here in 1992.
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you very much. MALVEAUX: The state known for its fiercely independent voters also saved John McCain's campaign in 2000 against George W. Bush and put him ahead of the Republican pack this primary season.
At an apple orchard in Londonderry, Obama spoke directly to them.
OBAMA: New Hampshire, it is time -- it's time to turn the page on eight years of economic policies that put Wall Street before main street but ended up hurting both.
MALVEAUX: Obama also seized on pivotal moments from his final debate with McCain.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My old buddy Joe, Joe the Plumber, people like Joe the Plumber, to Joe the Plumber. Joe, you're rich. Congratulations.
MALVEAUX: He poked fun at McCain for repeatedly addressing a plumber Obama met on the campaign trail.
OBAMA: He's trying to suggest that -- a plumber is the guy he's fighting for.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: How many plumbers do you know making $250,000 a year?
MALVEAUX: And Obama continued to press that McCain would be no different than President Bush.
OBAMA: I'm not running against George Bush. I'm running against all those policies of George Bush that you support, Senator McCain.
MALVEAUX: Obama's campaign launched a new TV ad to back it up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You may not be George Bush but...
MCCAIN: I voted with the president over 90 percent of the time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Heidi, and Barack Obama, it's his seventh time here to Virginia since the primary but it's his first time here in Roanoke -- the first time for either one of the candidates. That is significant because it really is a socially conservative area, but they feel confident that perhaps he can win over the Republicans as well as the independents.
But, Heidi, John McCain is not ceding any ground. He's going to be back here in Virginia and Prince William County -- back tomorrow. He is essentially defending his turf -- Heidi?
COLLINS: As you would expect. All right, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux from Virginia this morning. Thanks, Suzanne.
Early voting begins Monday in the battleground state of Florida. That's where John McCain is heading today after rallying supporters in Downingtown, Pennsylvania yesterday and playing up his experience.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: Americans are fighting in two wars. We face many enemies in this dangerous world, and they're waiting to see if our current troubles will permanently weaken us.
The next president won't have time to get used to the office. He won't have the luxury of studying up on the issues before he acts. He will have to act immediately.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
MCCAIN: And to do that, he will need experience, courage, judgment and a bold plan of action to take this country in a new direction.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Senator McCain getting ready to speak at 1:15 Eastern in Miami today. His running mate, Governor Palin, about two hours from now, will be in Westchester, Ohio.
CNN plans to bring both of those events to you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TINA FEY, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": I would like to talk about being an outsider. You see, while Senator Biden has been in Washington all these years, I have been with regular people, hockey moms and Joe Six Packs, and I'd also like to give a shout-out to the third graders of Gladys Woods Elementary, who were so helpful to me in my debate prep.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Tina Fey doing her Sarah Palin impression on "Saturday Night Live." But this weekend, they're getting the real thing. Sarah Palin planning to be on the show herself. And maybe we'll see some sort of Sarah Palin-Tina Fey face-off.
During the campaigns, John McCain, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton all made appearances on the show.
Omar now a tropical storm swirling in the open Atlantic. It is expected to weaken and pose no threat, though, to land.
One person was killed when Omar passed to the east of Puerto Rico as a powerful category 3 hurricane yesterday.
The U.S. Virgin Islands took a direct hit, but amazingly, the damage there was relatively minor. Trees, as you can see here, blown over. There was flooding and minor mudslides, but so far no reports of any deaths or major destruction.
Now take a look at these pictures sent to us by an iReporter on the island of St. Kitts in the Leeward Islands. The damage there evident all along the coastline.
Rob Marciano standing by now in the weather center to talk a little bit more about this.
So what's the latest? Downgraded? That's a good thing.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Boy, did you see the Sox game last night? My goodness. Rallying eight runs in three innings. They may take it again. They're going to play Tampa tomorrow night. Tampa up 3-2 in the ALCS.
COLLINS: I love this sports/weathercast. Good stuff.
MARCIANO: Not much going on weatherwise. So we can -- got to do what little we can. But it's a good time of the year.
COLLINS: It is a good time of the year.
MARCIANO: Weather is changing. Getting in the heart of football season. We've got -- you've got baseball postseason play so.
COLLINS: Yes. Fall is definitely in the air. Quickly, I want to ask you, leaves changing in Colorado. Usually we get some wonderful video that comes in from the Aspens and so forth. Did we miss that? Is that -- that was...
MARCIANO: Are we serious? Did you come by to see what I was -- all right.
COLLINS: Are we going to get...
MARCIANO: Look at that.
COLLINS: Stop it. Seriously? I had no idea that you have that.
MARCIANO: Come on. I was going to save this until later but let's just...
COLLINS: Dang, you're good.
MARCIANO: There's snowmass.
COLLINS: Really.
MARCIANO: Yes, a little bit of snow there on the -- tops of the mountains and the Aspens.
COLLINS: Beautiful. Thank you for that.
MARCIANO: How about that? OK? You ask me...
COLLINS: All right. So you're going to show more a little bit later on, right? I'm sorry.
MARCIANO: That may be the only one I have, but we'll show it again.
COLLINS: I'm sorry. Go find some more, quick.
OK, Rob, thank you.
MARCIANO: Bye.
COLLINS: Want to get to these pictures, too, dramatic, in fact. Major wildfire north of Los Angeles captured by iReporter Garth Letts. Nearly 3,000 firefighters are on the scene. They have managed to contain almost all of the blaze now. And they expect to finish the job by tomorrow.
If you have any iReports of your own to share with us and the rest of the world, in fact, just go to ireports.com.
ACORN under attack, not by federal investigators, but by burglars. A break-in in Boston.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Healthcare costs. They go up every year, taking more out of your pocket. But exactly how much? In their last debate, the major party presidential candidates couldn't agree.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: The average cost of a healthcare insurance plan in America today is $5800. I'm going to give them $5,000 to take with them wherever they want to go.
OBAMA: By the way, the average policy costs about $12,000. So if you got $5,000 and it's going to cost you $12,000, that's a loss for you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: So say you're given $5,000 for healthcare. Well, how far will that really go?
Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is here now with the reality check on all this. And I love these, because everybody really wants to know. Sounds like great ideas, but how do you really implement them?
I mean is $5800 really what a family health insurance plan would cost?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, everyone is so interested in this, but so few people understand this. It's pretty remarkable.
We've done some digging on that very issue because these are wildly different numbers that the candidates are quoting here.
COLLINS: Yes. GUPTA: What we found is, in a way, that they're both right. Let me explain why that is.
The overall average family healthcare cost, if you buy it individually, is about $5799. So $5800 like John McCain said. Pretty much on the money there.
That is the average. It can vary wildly state to state. And that's the first caveat. For example, in Massachusetts, the cost can be over $16,000. Whereas in Wisconsin, it can be as low as $3,000.
COLLINS: Why the major differences from state to state?
GUPTA: Well, you know, states have their own -- each state sort of runs their insurance plan differently. So if you have more people with fewer healthcare companies to choose from, the costs are going to go up.
But what McCain says is you that can buy out-of-state plans under his insurance plan. So if you live in Massachusetts, you can buy Wisconsin's plan and get the savings that way. The other caveat that, I think, is very important -- and you and I have talked about this -- is that, if you have a preexisting condition of some sort?
COLLINS: Yes.
GUPTA: Your cost could be exponentially higher. So any kind of illness can really raise your costs.
Quickly, and Obama's number, he says around $12,000 per healthcare cost? That is based on employer-based coverage.
COLLINS: OK.
GUPTA: So, for example, if you work at a big corporation...
COLLINS: Yes.
GUPTA: ... the employer buys your coverage, they pool everyone together. Some people are healthy with people who have preexisting illnesses. That drives up the healthcare costs which is why $12,000 is the average for employer-based coverage.
COLLINS: Yes, they're very different plans, obviously. Now I wonder, if you're already getting that health insurance through your employer, you do work for a big company that has that option, do you still get the $5,000 tax credit?
GUPTA: You do. And what's interesting about that is that you are going to get taxed under McCain's plan on the benefit. Now this is complicated. But you get a certain benefit from CNN, for example, for having your healthcare coverage.
You would get taxed on that. So while you're not getting any cash -- let's say it's worth $12,000.
COLLINS: Right.
GUPTA: You might get taxed $3,000, for example. That $5,000 tax credit could help offset those costs of...
COLLINS: Yes, because you use it for the tax.
GUPTA: Yes. So you're sort of getting taxed but then you're getting a tax credit. It's a little bit of...
COLLINS: Tax. Tax. Tax. Tax. Tax.
GUPTA: Tax. Tax. Tax.
COLLINS: We love that word.
GUPTA: But you could also -- let's say you decided to go to a doctor that's out of your own network for something that you want to get treated, you could use the $5,000 tax credit toward that or if you have co-pays when you buy the drugs at the pharmacy or see your doctor, you could use the tax credit for that as well.
COLLINS: Boy. All right. Well, I'm glad that you're here.
GUPTA: People have to decide on this. It's -- you know, but it's amazing.
COLLINS: I know.
GUPTA: People don't understand this and -- we blogged about this as well, CNN.com/health, a little bit more information there as well.
COLLINS: OK. Very good. All right, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thank you.
GUPTA: Thank you.
COLLINS: A break-in at ACORN headquarters in Boston. ACORN, as you know, is the nationwide advocacy group now under FBI investigation for possible voter registration fraud. Workers at the main office in Boston found the office ransacked early Thursday morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIMI RAMOS, ACORN ORGANIZER: We had three desktops here on the computer that were stolen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Internet and phone lines were ripped out of the walls. An office manager says the alarm was turned on. He says he doesn't know if the attack was politically motivated.
The FBI, though, is investigating allegations ACORN is responsible for thousands of false voter registrations. Some of those registered include dead people and fictional characters like Mickey Mouse. We, of course, are trying to keep track of these voter problems. And you can help. We've set up a hotline for anyone having trouble at the polls on Election Day. That number is 1-877-462-6608. That's also 1-877-GO-CNN-08.
A little easier to remember that one.
Political humor from the presidential candidates. Taking a break from the campaign trail to trade punchlines.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Log on to CNN.com/newsroom for more on those making a difference in their communities.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: "Making Their Mark," more than 56 million of you tuned in to watch the final debate between Barack Obama and John McCain. That ranks in the middle of their three debates and well behind the more than 70 million who watched the vice-presidential debates.
Fresh off their face to face debates, the candidates got a chance to relax a little bit. This is good stuff. Both appearing at the annual Al Smith charity dinner in New York. It was an opportunity to replace the partisan stump speeches with good natured jabs and jokes.
Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: After all, it began so long ago with the heralded arrival of a man known to Oprah Winfrey as "the one." Being a friend and colleague of Barack, I just called him "that one."
He...
(LAUGHTER)
MCCAIN: My friends, he doesn't mind at all. In fact, he even has a pet name for me -- George Bush.
OBAMA: Many of you know that I got my name, Barack, from my father. What you may not know is Barack is actually Swahili for "that one." And I got my middle name from somebody who, obviously, didn't think I'd ever run for president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: This is the seventh time both presidential candidates served as keynote speakers at the event. The first time was in 1960 with Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy.
Name dropping on the campaign trail. Joe the Plumber and Joe Six Pack. They're more than just symbols now. They might also have something to teach us about getting through the bad economy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Stocks are coming off another extremely volatile session. The Dow swung more than 800 points yesterday from big drop but managed to end the day higher by about 400.
So will that momentum carry over into today's session?
Suzanne -- Susan says yes, indeed it definitely will. Right, Susan?
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No.
COLLINS: Come on. Go with me.
LISOVICZ: I'm going with you, but, you know, I mean, the market has a mind of its own. Yes, to say it's volatile is an understatement. And I mean stability is just something we haven't seen here. It's been so dramatic, the swings. So if you take that into account after yesterday's search, should be no surprise we're expecting a lower open.
The market is not posted back to back gains in three weeks, Heidi. Trading today likely to be guided by a round of dismal economic reports. About an hour ago, the government said new home construction plunged more than 6 percent last month to the lowest level in 17 years.
Meanwhile building permit was trying to (INAUDIBLE) activities tumbled more than 8 percent. The weakness in the housing market expected to pull down consumer sentiment. We'll get that reading at the top of the hour. On the up side, results from Google showed the Internet giant's weathering this slowdown just fine. Company reported a more than 25 percent increase in quarterly profits. Investors have driven down Google stock in recent months because of concerns about a pullback in advertising which Google relies heavily on. Today Google shares are jumping. In the premarket, they were up 6 percent.
And for the major averages, they're going in the opposite direction. The Dow industrials off just about 100 points, one percent. We can round it off to 100. The Nasdaq meanwhile down 38 despite Google down more than 2 percent. S&P 500 down one percent.
We're also watching oil prices. A big reason for that late rally yesterday, Heidi, was oil down to $70 a barrel. The lowest price in 14 months. OPEC doesn't like the steep decline we've seen. The OPEC ministers planned a meeting for next week. Many estimates of oil from analysts around the country have put oil at $105 a barrel. That's the average price. It's a lot of estimates.
And if oil stabilizes around $80 a barrel, "The Wall Street Journal" says it amounts to a $275 billion stimulus. So that's something that comes in the nick of time. One last thing. You know, there's an interesting op ed piece in "The New York Times" today written by the Oracle of Omaha. This is a guy who hasn't made his money in real estate or technology. He made his money, his billions, Warren Buffett, in investing. And Warren Buffett says he is buying, buying American stocks. He has long said this. Be greedy when others are fearful, be fearful when others are greedy. And he says, in short, bad news is an investor's best friend. It lets you buy a slice of America's future at a marked down price.
COLLINS: Yes, we were talking about this a little bit earlier with Christine. Interesting comments from him, as always.
LISOVICZ: And he's put his money where his mouth is. He's buying it. And we know for sure he bought Goldman Sachs a few weeks ago.
COLLINS: Yes, interesting. All right. Susan Lisovicz, thank you. We'll check back a little bit later on.
LISOVICZ: Got it.
COLLINS: Meanwhile, a pretty painful lesson in economics. It hits hard in Dallas classrooms. The school district there had laid off about 375 teachers effective immediately. The reason, an estimated budget shortfall of about $84 million. Some of those given the pink slips say it's the kids who will pay the price.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDY KEATON, LAID OFF TEACHER: I kind of warned my children this morning because, you know, you got to let them know. You know, you can't give them surprises. So I kind of warned them. Said, if I go, then, you know, I'll see you. I love you all.
My kids are going to lose out. If they don't -- you know, because I'm a very good teacher. And so, they're going to lose out because they won't have me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: School officials say as many as 1,100 jobs may be eliminated and various programs are also being change.
Children also the focus of budget cuts in Hawaii. For the past seven months, it's been the only state in the nation to offer universal healthcare for children. Now that program is being dropped. 2,000 children are enrolled, and a private partner in the program will cover them through the end of the year. Hawaii's governor says, after that, other programs will care for the kids.
Joe the plumber. Both presidential candidates suddenly became his best friend, embracing him as a symbol of the struggling economy. But is he really the Average Joe, or does that title fall to another campaign co-star, Joe six-pack? Believe it or not, the answer affects millions of people. CNN's Christine Romans is here now to explain.
The Joes -- what's the deal? ROMANS: The Joes. Well, listen, Joe the plumber is now about the most famous guy in politics, right? You know, he's this guy from Ohio who asked Barack Obama about tax policy, and he suddenly became a star in the final presidential election debate.
Well, Heidi, let's forget the politics. Let's talk about why being a plumber could be such a good job to have in this economy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCCAIN: Joe the plumber.
(APPLAUSE)
ROMANS (voice-over): The plumber is more than just a political talking point.
MCCAIN: Hey, Joe, you're rich.
OBAMA: Joe the plumber.
MCCAIN: Joe, I want to tell you...
ROMANS: Plumbers are virtually recession proof.
DAVID MADLAND, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: It's certainly a pretty good job. It's expected to grow over the next 10 years. It's been -- it pays better than average. And probably most importantly about plumbing is that there's a career ladder. It's not a dead end kind of job.
ROMANS: From apprentice to plumber to small business owner. The job market is tough but the Labor Department says opportunities are good for plumbers, along with pipe layers, pipe fitters and steam fitters, and should stay that way in coming years.
Hourly pay is better than average -- more than $20 an hour. You can't export plumbing jobs to cheaper overseas labor markets and plumbing is not discretionary spending.
What else is recession proof? Almost anything in health care. Also, jobs in education and security. Not so recession proof, though, is that other Joe.
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Joe Six-Pack.
ROMANS: If Joe Six-Pack is a factory worker or works in retail, he may have already lost his job. Ditto if he's in any job related to finance. Also grim for technology as companies delay big computer upgrades.
So what's an average Joe or Jane, for that matter, to do?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: Experts say even college graduates should consider some of the skill trades -- plumbers, electricians, miners, oil rig workers, and anything related to medical equipment in a hospital. Aging baby boomers and a growing population will make those jobs very in demand, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. I mean, this is all about jobs or industries that are going to exist no matter what is going on with the economy. So hopefully, if you can find something like that, you're going to be in a better situation than most.
ROMANS: And I'm told that dentist is also on that list.
COLLINS: You're always going to have a teeth.
ROMANS: But you got to go to college and you got to put out a lot of money before you get the dental certification, becoming the doctor to be a dentist. But dentist also on that list.
COLLINS: All right. Interesting. Thanks so much, Christine Romans.
ROMANS: You're welcome.
COLLINS: Homestretch in the race for the White House. With each candidate running like it's neck and neck. CNN's Candy Crowley explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Different generations, personalities, and philosophies. One is up, the other down. But, less than three weeks out, they do share a mission, convincing voters it's not over.
OBAMA: We are 19 days away from changing this country.
CROWLEY: Barack Obama began his day in New Hampshire, the nation's first primary state, and the first primary he lost.
OBAMA: But for those who are getting a little cocky, I have got two words for you, New Hampshire.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: I learned right here, with the help of my great friend and supporter Hillary Clinton...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: ...that you cannot let up. You can't pay too much attention to polls.
CROWLEY: This may take practice, because, earlier, at a $30,000- per-person fund-raiser in New York, Obama all but solicited resumes.
OBAMA: Once we're done, there's extraordinary expertise in this room, and we're going to need good advice. CROWLEY: There is a fine line between hubris and confidence. Hubris could turn off the persuadables and the undecideds. And it could convince some of the faithful they can stay home.
Confidence is presidential. And there is good reason for it. It is a story told in Obama's itinerary. From New Hampshire, he works his way through a string of red states -- Virginia, Missouri, North Carolina, and Florida -- George Bush states in 2004.
The campaign also eyes a return of campaign workers to Georgia and a play for North Dakota, West Virginia, and Connecticut. It's not just about running up the score, but about helping down-ballot candidates, particularly those running for the U.S. Senate, where Democrats hope to reach the magic 60, the number of lawmakers it takes to break a filibuster.
MCCAIN: The real winner last night was Joe the plumber.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
MCCAIN: Joe's the man.
CROWLEY: John McCain is in search of a little more Joe-mo' and a little less George Bush.
MCCAIN: The last eight years haven't worked very well, have they? I will make the next four better.
CROWLEY: As he pushes away from the president and tries to embrace the working class, McCain is also doing battle on a third front. Even as Obama can't look as though he's already won, McCain can't seem as though he's already lost. It could depress the turnout of his Republican base and tempt undecideds to go with the flow of the polls. McCain's first post-debate stop was Pennsylvania, where he is down by 13 points.
MCCAIN: We never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
CROWLEY: McCain's upcoming travel tells the rest of the story. Pennsylvania, which hasn't voted for a Republican president since 1988, is the exception.
McCain, like Obama, is beginning his own red state tour -- Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio. The difference is, McCain is on defense in his own territory.
Candy Crowley, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: There's a feeling of change in one battleground state.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that kids are moving in Florida from the beach to the ballot box.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: We'll take you to a university where party school can also mean politics.
California firefighters gaining the upper hand in their battle against those deadly wildfires scorching the southern part of that state. Two people dead in the blazes. The biggest fire is now 90 percent contained. Three other fires are fully contained. The wildfires have destroyed more than 50 homes.
Rob Marciano has been watching all of this over the past couple of days, of course. And it was the winds, which has died down. So that was obviously a really good thing for the firefighters.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Phony police officer on the run. Accused of kidnapping a 6-year-old boy. A nationwide manhunt now underway.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Well, let's get a look at the big board now because already today, even though we had kind of expected the numbers would be to the negative, futures were pointing down. In the first 15 minutes or so, we were down to negative 261, I believe, was so far the low point. Now down by 152. So, clearly, another volatile day even though it's Friday.
The nation's financial crisis and one bit of good news, it's actually at the gas pump. Today's national average, $3.04. That's down nearly 4.50 cents since yesterday. According to AAA, this is the lowest national average in nearly 8 months. Oil prices have been climbing this morning, but the overall trend is down. In fact, today's start of $69.85 a barrel is a 14-month low. That's less than half of this summer's record price. Everybody remembers that.
With less than three weeks to go until Election Day, we are focusing on a few key battleground states over the next few days. Our correspondents are taking a closer look at battles in Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Nevada, and Colorado. In one of those key states, Florida, there's a voting bloc taking itself very seriously during this presidential campaign.
CNN's John Zarrella reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Don't let this relaxed demeanor fool you. University of Florida students are not taking this presidential election lying down. They are keenly aware of the issues they will face as they exchange textbooks for checkbooks. BRYAN GRIFFIN, CHAIRMAN, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA REPUBLICANS: Just overall, the budget and money and not handing us a giant problematic economy. And a giant problematic budget and deficit system and saying good luck.
ERIC CONRAD, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STUDENTS FOR OBAMA: We see issues of international relations gone wrong. We've seen wars that shouldn't have been fought in the first place.
Hi, there. Support Barack Obama.
ZARRELLA: The students, Democrats and Republicans, believe November 4th could be a watershed for youth turnout, between the ages of 18 and 29. Nationally, Rock the Vote registered a record 2.5 million young voters.
HEATHER SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ROCK THE VOTE: We're seeing the race at which young people are watching the news and paying attention. Really skyrocket. They're the highest levels we've ever seen.
ZARRELLA: Why? There appears to be a rolling tsunami of sentiment that the stakes have never been higher.
GRIFFIN: I think that kids are moving in Florida from the beach to the ballot box. I think that they're really kind of understanding the significance of what is -- what we're on the brink of here.
ZARRELLA: The night of the final debate, young Democrats and Republicans gathered at the same watch party. Will this enthusiasm carry over to Election Day?
FLORENCE MOSS, PRESIDENT, MIAMI-DADE YOUNG REPUBLICANS: I believe that young people will show up to the polls, and we will see the impact of those young -- those new registered voters.
YARA LORENZO, RISING REPUBLICANS: Hazel, hi. My name is Yara --
ZARRELLA: Yara Lorenzo volunteers at this Republican phone bank in Miami. She helped find a group of young professionals called Rising Republicans.
LORENZO: Every election there's -- the young people are coming out, young people, but this election is really different. I mean, just by looking at our candidates, you can tell it's really different and I think that young people will make that difference.
ZARRELLA: Both parties are hoping young voters who have been talking the talk will in record numbers walk the walk to the voting booth.
(on camera): Even though the majority of young voters appear to be favoring Barack Obama, the McCain campaign believes young Republicans, knowing they are outnumbered, will be more committed to get out and vote. We shall see.
John Zarrella, CNN, Gainesville, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: We shall see. CNN is bringing you complete coverage of all of the battleground states in the 12:00 noon hour of NEWSROOM. We are taking a look at Colorado.
Some people walk to work. These people actually walk at work. Treadmills in the office. And we're not talking company gyms.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: A nationwide search for a little boy kidnapped from a Las Vegas home. Police say 6-year-old Cole Puffenburger was snatched by two men who identified themselves as police officers. The men allegedly demanded money, then tied up the boy's mother and her boyfriend and took off with the child. Friends and family members are searching and putting up flyers, hoping someone may have seen him. And a nationwide amber alert has now been posted.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. VINCENT CANNITO, LAS VEGAS METRO POLICE DEPT.: This is a stranger abduction. This is about as bad as it gets. We've had strangers break into a home, bound and gag a family, ransack that home and then kidnap a 6-year-old boy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Police say the kidnapping is probably linked to a drug deal involving the boy's family.
Possible problems with airplane engines. The NTSB wants airlines to immediately ground and inspect planes with certain Pratt and Whitney engines. The FAA would of course have to order the airlines to comply. Pratt and Whitney says 362 planes are being investigated worldwide right now. Boeing says the engines are used on some of their 757s. The investigation started after an engine failed on a Delta flight in August.
Clean running water, a basic necessity that some people in Zimbabwe do not have. And that is triggering a deadly outbreak of cholera there. In trying to impact their world, some international aid organizations, but they can only do so much.
Reporting from Zimbabwe, CNN's Nkepile Mabuse.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NKEPILE MABUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Raw sewage from burst pipes spews like a fountain contaminating everything in its path, including wells and streams where many Zimbabweans are now getting water. Robert Mugabe's government says it does not have enough chemicals to clean water. It has simply stopped providing it in some areas. Those living in the capital Harare and surrounding areas tell us they have not had running water since October of last year. As a result, eight agencies say there is a deadly outbreak of cholera in the country. The government confirms there have been 18 deaths, but the Zimbabwean Association of Doctors for Human Rights believes that number is higher.
29-year-old Joy Kabottid (ph) died of cholera last month. His family says cholera took his life in a matter of hours.
(on camera): Despite this, many here, including the Kabottid family continued to use wells and other risky ways of getting water because they simply have no choice.
(voice-over): Unicef and other aid organizations are providing water and chlorine tablets to the most affected communities. But these are not reaching everyone.
Some here drink this water without even boiling it. Zimbabwe's health ministry acknowledges that the lack of proper infrastructure in this impoverished nation is behind the outbreak, and says the government has dispatched teams of health workers to educate people and provide them with water tanks. But we never saw these teams and the residents we spoke with had not either.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, they don't even care.
MABUSE: The health minister insists the outbreak has been contained, but medical activists disagree.
DR. DOUGLAS GWATIDZO, DOCTORS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: Definitely the government is not properly -- doesn't have the capacity to control the spread of cholera, or to put a stop to it at the moment.
MABUSE: If the sources of the problem are not addressed experts say there will be many more grieving families like this one.
Nkepile Mabuse, CNN, Zimbabwe.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And you can help. At cnn.com, our Impact Your World page has more on the cholera situation plus links to aid agencies that are organizing assistance. It's a chance for you to Impact Your World.
A pop star, a billionaire and a gruesome murder. Tawdry details and a test for an entire nation. Is justice really blind?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: A little Olivia Newton John for your Friday. On the job work out. A Minnesota company put up treadmills at work stations and conference rooms. The treadmills are set for 2 miles an hour. But believe it or not, that's good enough for workers to lose weight and cut their cholesterol levels. Apparently it's good for the brain as well as the body.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMY LANGER, BUSINESS CO-OWNER: When you're walking and moving, people just have different creative thoughts than they do when they're sitting.
MARK FLAHERTY, EMPLOYEE: I ended up over the course of six months I lost over 20 pounds.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Wow. The idea for the treadmill desk came from a Mayo clinic doctor who put one in his office to get more physical activity.
Roller coaster ride again, not so amusing on Wall Street. Back- to-back gains not back yet.
Plus, the real estate tycoon and the murdered pop star. A billionaire could face the death penalty if convicted.
It's Friday, October 17th. I'm Heidi Collins. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
