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American Morning
Global Markets Mixed; Presidential Candidates Trade Jokes not Jabs; Fight for Battleground State Colorado; Race Remains Tight in North Carolina
Aired October 17, 2008 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Fight to the finish.
MCCAIN CAMPAIGN ROBOCALL: I'm calling for John McCain.
ROBERTS: As the candidates laugh it up.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He even has a pet name for me. George Bush.
ROBERTS: Robocalls do the dirty work in key swing states.
MCCAIN CAMPAIGN ROBOCALL: You need to know that Barack Obama has worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers.
ROBERTS: And Barack Obama tells supporters don't get cocky.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've got two words for you, New Hampshire.
ROBERTS: Eighteen days to go before America picks a president on the "Most Politics in the Morning."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: And good morning. Thanks very much for being with us. It's the 17th of October, it's a Friday. We got the little stock going here. Eighteen days to go until the election.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, and a lot could change as we've said all along. Well, we start off with President Bush. He's going to be delivering a pep talk on the economy in less than three hours. The president will address the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington before the markets open today, and he's going to try to persuade American businesses about government efforts to ease the financial crisis and to get credit flowing again between the banks and consumers.
The FBI is investigating whether the community activist group ACORN helped promote voter registration fraud in several states. Investigators are said to be looking for evidence of a coordinated national effort to file phony applications. ACORN officials saying that they have not been informed of any investigation but that they would cooperate with federal law enforcement. And one of the most influential papers in northern Virginia, a key battleground state, has endorsed Barack Obama for president. "The Washington Post" editorial board writes, "Obama has an impressive grasp of complex issues and has the 'potential to become a great president.'" The paper said the choice was easy because John McCain has run a disappointing campaign and has selected a running mate who's not ready to be president.
ROBERTS: Well, we are entering the home stretch here. Eighteen days now until the election, Barack Obama and John McCain making their final pitches in states that they hope will deliver them the presidency.
The latest CNN poll of polls shows Barack Obama with an eight- point lead over John McCain, 50 to 42 percent. CNN estimates that if the election were held today, Senator Obama would win with 277 electoral votes to John McCain's 174; 270 is the magic number to win the White House.
Dead on the polls, the McCain campaign sharpening its attacks in a wave of new automated phone calls that are linking Obama to 1960s radical Bill Ayers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBOCALL: Hello, I'm calling for John McCain and the RNC because you need to know that Barack Obama has worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers, whose organization bombed the U.S. Capital, the Pentagon, a judge's home, and killed Americans. And Democrats will enact an extreme leftist agenda if they take control of Washington. Barack Obama and his Democratic allies lack the judgment to lead our country.
This call is paid for by McCain-Palin 2008 and the Republican National Committee.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: CNN's White House correspondent Ed Henry joins me now.
And always in the closing weeks in the campaign you see those robocalls come out and a lot of negative campaigning. But last night, there was a couple of very interesting speeches from the candidates, probably the most entertaining ones that we've heard.
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. It's going to get really rough in the last couple of weeks, but both candidates here in New York last night and they were trading jokes instead of jabs.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY (voice-over): One day after John McCain and Barack Obama squared off in the final debate, they shared the stage again. But this time for laughs. MCCAIN: This campaign needed a common touch of a working man. After all, it began so long ago with a 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."
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
My friends, he doesn't mind at all. In fact, he even has a pet name for me. George Bush.
(LAUGHTER)
HENRY: Then it was Obama's turn to tweak McCain at the annual Al Smith Charity Dinner.
OBAMA: Recently one of John's top advisers told "The Daily News" that if we keep talking about the economy, McCain's going to lose. So tonight, I'd like to talk about the economy.
HENRY: The political roast has been a command performance for presidential candidates for decades.
MCCAIN: I screwed up.
HENRY: Earlier McCain used a little political humor to mend fences with talk show host David Letterman. Last month, he canceled an appearance to deal with the financial crisis, and has gotten clobbered ever since.
MCCAIN: It's going to be kind of a sad feeling around here when the election finally takes place.
HENRY: With the race now moving to its final stage and Obama up in crucial state polls, he's urging supporters not to become complacent.
OBAMA: But for those who are getting a little cocky, I got two words for you. New Hampshire. I learned right here with the help of my great friend and supporter Hillary Clinton that you cannot let up.
HENRY: McCain, meanwhile, is still hoping to shake up the race.
MCCAIN: We're six points down. The national media, as they have several times before, has written us off. Senator Obama is measuring the drapes and planning with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid to raise taxes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: Now later here in New York at a concert fundraiser, Barack Obama told supporters don't underestimate the ability of Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. He's obviously half-joking a little there, John, but there's a serious point.
ROBERTS: It got several (INAUDIBLE).
HENRY: And they can do it again.
ROBERTS: Could do it again. I thought one of Obama's funniest last night was when we said that whoever gave me my middle name never thought that I'd ever run for president.
HENRY: That's right.
ROBERTS: Ed, thanks so much for that. Good to see you this morning.
HENRY: Good to see you.
ROBERTS: Well, move over Tina Fey. The real Sarah Palin is coming your way. The vice presidential candidate is going to make an appearance on this weekend's "Saturday Night Live". Earlier this week, Palin told reporters that she would love to appear on the show with Tina Fey who has portrayed the governor in three skits so far to great effect.
And Joe Biden taking a detour from the campaign trail. The Delaware senator sat down last night with Jay Leno on his way to fundraiser in Los Angeles. The two of them talked about the debate, the economy and the war in Iraq. Biden also took a few jabs at the Joe the plumber just hours after we learned that Joe is, well, not a licensed plumber after all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't know, the neighborhood I grew up, even the neighborhood I live in now, which is a really nice neighborhood. I don't know many plumbers are making $250,000 a year are worried about it. We're kind of worried about, you know, Joe the fireman, Joe the policeman, Joe the real plumber who are licensed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: While he was out there, Biden also stopped by the "Ellen Show" for an appearance -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Well, federal prosecutors suggest that criminal charges could soon be filed in an investigation of banks and subprime lenders for their role in the country's mortgage crisis. Los Angeles grand jury is investigating at least three mortgage lenders, Countrywide Financial, New Century Financial, as well as IndyMac Bank Corp. Prosecutors are looking at whether mortgage fraud and other white collar crimes were committed.
Well, another day and another drop in gas prices. AAA reporting the national average for unleaded regular is now down $3.04 a gallon, down to $3.04 cents a gallon. It's down four cents from just yesterday, and it's also the 30th straight day of price drops. Gas prices have fallen more than 81 cents in a month. And overseas financial markets mixed overnight after a really, really wild ride yesterday on Wall Street. The Dow finished 401 points ahead. It also swung though more than 800 points up and down through the day.
Japan's Nikkei index closing nearly three percent higher. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong down more than four percent, and London's FTSE trading now in positive territory. However, Dow futures down right now, 237 points at last check.
Christine Romans is keeping track of all of it for us this morning.
Hey, Christine.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know, Kiran, those wild swings that's the reason why we tell you you shouldn't watch your 401(k) every single day. You shouldn't be buying and selling every day in your 401(k) because it has been so incredibly wild in the stock market, and there's no sign that that's going to go away. We call it volatility and it is here.
Now, overnight, you can see mixed markets. Things getting a little bit better for Tokyo, up 2.8 percent. Shanghai up 1.1 percent. Hong Kong, though, had been higher and then suddenly moved lower. Australia down about 1.1 percent.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average yesterday ending up about 401 points. Wow, it's a crazy world we live in. That 300 and 400-point swings are pretty routine in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The Nasdaq up 89, and the S&P 500 up 38.
Some of the events overnight. The Lower House of Parliament in Germany approved a huge banking bailout. France has done the same, so we're watching policy and markets and all of this sort of coordinate around the world, Kiran.
CHETRY: So we look at that 400-point jump yesterday, we got news that we broke on the show this morning. Some of the financial news including upping Social Security and consumer spending was flat.
ROMANS: That's right.
CHETRY: Did that all factor in?
ROMANS: There's a lot of things going on here right now. And every day we're watching every number to see just what the depth and the duration of a recession is going to look like in this country.
But you're right. That Social Security news is something that I think a lot of people are -- good news that's been in short supply but that people who get Social Security checks will see 5.8 percent more in their checks next year because of the rising cost of living -- the cost of living adjustment for that. So at least a little bit of good news we're able to report and that's something that is really going to play out. $63 a month, I think, the average check is going to go up for Social Security so at least there's a little bit of good news in a gloomy, gloomy outlook for the economy.
CHETRY: All right. Christine, thanks.
ROBERTS: Winning over a key voting block.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said some great things, but he doesn't direct that to them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: We traveled to Colorado to show you how the Hispanic vote could swing a critical swing state.
You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Eleven and a half minutes after the hour now. A mile high and still up for grabs in the presidential race. The latest poll of polls in Colorado shows Barack Obama leading John McCain by six points, 50 to 44 percent with six percent of voters still undecided. Hispanics could be the "swing vote" in this swing state.
CNN's got reporters covering all of the battleground states. Our Dan Simon is our man in Colorado today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Lunch time at Denver's La Casita (ph) Restaurant, a place known for its tamales. But owner Paul Sandoval has as much passion for politics as he does for spicy food. A former state senator and Barack Obama supporter, he says he knows his demographic.
PAUL SANDOVAL, RESTAURANT OWNER: (OFF MIKE) It's an opinion of a lot of people but on the economics and on education, no question that Obama (INAUDIBLE).
SIMON: Hispanics make up 20 percent of Colorado's population, about 12 percent of the registered voters. Most vote Democratic. Republicans are trying to win over some of those voters.
If McCain is going win Colorado, does he have to do well with Hispanics?
SANDOVAL: He has to do extremely well. Not well. Extremely well. Simply because it being a swing state.
SIMON: We asked Latino voter, Vivian Hanson, a registered independent and McCain supporter, what the Arizona senator could do to gain more Hispanic voters?
VIVIAN HANSEN, MCCAIN SUPPORTER: Say to them, I'm speaking to the middle class just as Obama did. You know, he says some great things but he doesn't direct that to them. And so, they're kind of feeling like you don't really see us.
SIMON: Those decidedly for Obama said things like this as to why they're supporting him.
DAVID LOPEZ, OBAMA SUPPORTER: This is positivity. You know, he's just -- he seems like he's more focused. You know, he may not have the experience that McCain has or any of that, but, you know, he has the political background also. So, you know, he's done some things in his time.
SIMON: The McCain campaign says it has stepped up efforts in large Hispanic areas in the state including Pueblo County south of Denver. It has a tendency to be more conservative.
TOM KISE, MCCAIN CAMPAIGN: George Bush didn't win the county but, you know, it's a county that we're going to compete in and we're going to compete aggressively and vigorously in.
SIMON: Nine electoral votes are up for grabs in Colorado, and one constituency could possibly decide it all.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SIMON: Early voting here begins next week and more evidence that this is perceived as a very important state to the GOP, Governor Palin expected to campaign in the state on Monday. And Senator McCain himself also expected to come to Colorado at least one more time between now and Election Day.
John and Kiran, back to you.
CHETRY: Well, Hurricane Omar has now weakened to a tropical storm after pounding the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Our Rob Marciano is tracking the storm and tells us where it is headed next.
And what if the presidential race came down to which candidate is funnier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I have never, not once, put lipstick on a pig or a pit bull or myself.
MCCAIN: I can't shake that feeling that some people here are pulling for me. I'm delighted to see you here tonight, Hillary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: It's more like a friendly roast than a political battle. In their own words, John McCain and Barack Obama battle for laughs.
It's 15 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: I'll tell you what, that's a picture of our control room this morning. These are the people who could actually eat that burger, I'm not kidding.
Well, some mouth-watering pictures coming in overnight that you have to see. It's a Pennsylvania man competing in a marathon, a burger marathon, I guess you could say. He was the first to become the first person to take down this 15-pound burger. That's 20 pounds when you add in the lettuce, the tomatoes, a cup each of mayo, ketchup, mustard and relish, all of it piled on top.
He's 21-year-old Brad Sciullo and he was able to wolf down the first half of the burger in 30 minutes. The second part of it, though, was the real challenge. He finally got it down, though, after four hours and 39 minutes, finishing just under the five hourly limit. Sciullo walked away with $400, three t-shirts and what he calls a burger hangover.
Our Rob Marciano joins us now from Atlanta. What do you think? It just starts to looks nasty after a while, doesn't it?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. I don't think I'd spread the mayonnaise on. I'd probably just chug that cup of mayonnaise, but that would be just delightful. I'd like to be his roommate a couple of hours later.
Sixty mile-an-hour winds. Let's check out Tropical Storm Omar. This thing -- wow, it's almost a Cat 4 yesterday. Just blew up. It's tropical storm now and it's on the move quickly. Northeasterly moving about 25 miles an hour. It's about 650 miles southeast of Bermuda, so I'm not going to bother anybody except for the shipping lanes as we go on through time.
Here's the forecast track. Actually, it'll probably get over to Europe here pretty soon and may deal with them as far as the windstorm goes.
Hey, 87 degrees in Georgetown, Delaware. These are record highs. North Myrtle Beach 86 degrees. Raleigh-Durham 85. Charleston, South Carolina, 85 degrees middle October, that certainly feels quite toasty.
We'll look for things to begin to cool down. Cold front sliding across the East Coast today and that will make things go a little bit more like fall. Not out of this world cold but certainly seasonably chilly. From Washington back down through Jackson, Mississippi, a little bit of showers there and through some showers through Omaha as well. And red flag warnings up again for parts of the west coast. It shouldn't be as bad as the end of the week, but will be warm and dry there.
Kiran, back up to you. Stay away from those burgers. Happy Friday.
CHETRY: I was just going to order one.
MARCIANO: Oh.
CHETRY: It got me hungry for a while. Maybe not that big. MARCIANO: What the -- I'll leave it there.
CHETRY: That's what a girl can eat.
MARCIANO: I think you have quite an appetite at 6:00 a.m.
CHETRY: Let's do it on a Friday. Thanks, Rob.
MARCIANO: See you.
ROBERTS: More of the "Most Politics in the Morning."
The two presidential candidates put the serious partisan attacks last night and tried their hand at comedy. Donning tuxes and tails, John McCain and Barack Obama roasted and toasted each other at a charity dinner in New York City.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: The greatest weakness, it's possible that I'm a little too awesome.
(LAUGHTER)
I have never, not once, put lipstick on a pig, or a pit bull or myself.
(LAUGHTER)
Rudy Giuliani, that's one for you. I mean --
(LAUGHTER)
Who would have thought that a cross-dressing mayor from New York City would have a tough time running the Republican nomination? It's shocking. At least we've moved past the days when the main criticism coming from the McCain campaign was that I'm some kind of celebrity.
I have to admit that that really hurt. I got so angry about it I punched the paparazzi in the face on my way out of Spago's. I'm serious. I even spilled my soy chai latte all over my shitzu. It was really embarrassing.
MCCAIN: Events are moving fast in my campaign and yes, it's true that this morning I dismissed my entire team of senior advisers. All of their positions will now be held by a man named Joe the plumber. Even in this room full of crowd Manhattan Democrats, I can't, I can't shake that feeling that some people here are pulling for me.
(APPLAUSE)
I'm delighted to see you here tonight, Hillary.
(LAUGHTER)
Where's Bill, by the way? Can't he take one night off from his tireless quest to make the man who defeated his wife the next president? When a reporter asked him if Senator Obama was qualified to be president, Bill Clinton pointed out sure, he's over 35 years of age and a U.S. citizen.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: He really -- he really had some zingers for the Clintons last night.
ROBERTS: He has a very acerbic sense of wit, Senator McCain. He's a very funny guy.
CHETRY: Yes. They both got some good ones off last night.
ROBERTS: They did. I mean, I thought that McCain was a little funnier last night.
CHETRY: He was really funny.
ROBERTS: He's very familiar and comfortable in that territory.
CHETRY: I don't think either one of them knew that the poor guy behind them who was cheering with his mouth open and (INAUDIBLE) on his fingers the entire time was also funny.
ROBERTS: Did you see the size of that pocket square too?
CHETRY: Poor guy.
ROBERTS: Looked just like a flower.
It's coming up on 23 minutes after the hour.
Battleground North Carolina. That state has been ruby red for more than three decades, but it could turn Democratic blue in this year's election. We are turning tune into the radio to find out what voters are saying in the race to the finish.
CHETRY: The battle of the average Joes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: Joe the plumber.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: When it comes to this tough economy, is it better to be Joe the plumber?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Joe six-pack.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHETRY: Or that other Joe we used to hear so much about? Which one got the recession-proof career?
You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Twenty-six minutes now after the hour. Welcome back to the "Most Politics in the Morning."
Eighteen days now until the presidential election and according to CNN's electoral map, North Carolina remains a toss-up state with thousands of people already casting their ballots in early voting that began yesterday. The state has not voted Democratic in a presidential election since 1976. So why is the race so close this year?
Pam Stone hosts a radio call in show on WLNK in Charlotte, and she joins us now.
So, Pam, the state has not gone Democratic since Jimmy Carter swept the south in 1976. Why is it so close?
PAM STONE, RADIO HOST: It's amazing, isn't it, John? Well, I think it's absolutely the economy, number one, and health care right after that.
ROBERTS: And how worried are people about the economy?
STONE: Well, they're hugely worried because now in North Carolina, my show broadcasts out of Charlotte. And that's the number two banking city in the world. Wachovia employees are thinking, you know, is my position going to be made redundant? Do I have anything to look forward to? And where I live, which is in a very rural area of 2,000, they're very, very concerned too, because the people where I live, I've said it before on CNN, if the people out here making $30,000 a year, that's good money and they cannot handle the, you know, the rising cost of gasoline and inflation that we're seeing.
ROBERTS: Right. Although, you know, lately the price of gasoline has been coming down but people are squeezed so much it's still difficult to make ends meet. You know, early voting --
STONE: Yes. Because they're --
ROBERTS: Go ahead.
STONE: Because they're trying to catch up constantly.
ROBERTS: Yes.
STONE: They were doing -- they were just making it before. So now, they're trying to catch up. It's really difficult. It's frightening for them.
ROBERTS: We mentioned a second ago the early voting began in North Carolina yesterday apparently in Greensboro. The line up around the county courthouse was around the block outside of a library. In Charlotte, we heard reports of a two-hour wait. Why are people so anxious to get out there and vote? Why is there such enthusiasm for casting ballots this year?
STONE: Well, I have to give to it to the Obama campaign on this. You know, they were so brilliant even in the primaries. Even in the primaries, before Obama got the nomination, his ground game was so efficient. They were registering people left and right. And it was a great story on our local news that showed an African-American gentleman and his great grandfather who was 99 years old and he was being registered for the first time in his life to vote because for him personally, he felt it had never been worth his while to vote.
ROBERTS: Wow.
STONE: And I think -- I think Obama's ground game is responsible for the huge early turnout.
ROBERTS: You know, John McCain is going to be there on Saturday. Sarah Palin was there yesterday in North Carolina talking again about Joe the plumber. Let's listen quickly to what she had to say.
STONE: Sure
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PALIN: We want to cut taxes because we think that Joe the plumber and others who are working so hard are the backbone of the American economy. That is the fundamental of our American economy, the workers, the small businesses. And that is strong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Pam, how is this Joe the plumber theme going over there in North Carolina?
STONE: Well, I tell you, a lot of people relate to that. But here's the funny thing, John. This is my daily newspaper. This is the "Tryon Daily Bulletin" since 1921, published continuously.
The story, the front page, the weird thing is there's no real recipe in this election. The front page story say the greatest number of new registered voters in our local county are unaffiliated. Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party have dropped two percent in new voters, and it's the independents. So it's people that are not calling themselves either Republicans or Democratic, which to me is shocking in the Deep South.
But, the feedback that I'm getting continuously is that people feel more comfortable, they feel more confident with Obama's economic plan just because there seems to be a cohesive message than McCain's plan, even though there is fear, you know, the taxes or taxes are going to get raised. They're not hearing a cohesive message coming from the McCain camp. And they are the more they hear of the Obama plan, the more they seem to becoming more comfortable. And that also seems to be trumping race which is also something pretty interesting which is going on.
ROBERTS: Yes. Well, it's just something obviously we'll keep watching for the next 18 days. And, Pam, I will definitely will talk to you between now and November 4th. And hope to talk to you on Election Day as well.
Pam Stone talking to us this morning.
STONE: You bet.
ROBERTS: Good to see you, Pam. Thanks.
CHETRY: It's 6:30 here in New York. A look at your top stories this morning.
Britain downplaying fears that current financial crisis could affect the London 2012 Games. At a parade to honor its athletes, the city's mayor says they'll use, quote, "British inventiveness to deliver a game that's every bit as wonderful as the Games in Beijing." Right now, the city says it's already secured about $3.4 billion in private contribution.
The FBI looking into whether the community activist group ACORN helped promote voter registration fraud in several states. Investigators are said to be looking for evidence of a coordinated national effort to file phony applications. ACORN officials say that they're not aware of any federal investigation. The group has been a force registering mostly young low-income minorities. So far this year, ACORN has registered more than a million new voters.
And Senators Barack Obama and John McCain making their final push on the campaign trail just 18 days to go now. And this morning, a brand new poll of polls shows Obama ahead with 50 percent compared to McCain's 42 percent. Despite the advantage, Obama telling supporters at a fundraiser last night not to get, quote, "cocky because the race isn't over yet."
And both candidates are still talking about Joe the Plumber. But this morning, we're learning a little bit about the man who became a TV touchstone during Wednesday night's debate. According to the newspaper, "The Toledo Blade", Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher or Joe the Plumber is not a licensed plumber, though he says that he's working on becoming one. Also according to court documents, he's not making anywhere near a quarter of a million dollars and he owes more than $1,100 in back taxes.
Speaking of plumbers, during tough economic times, the profession continues to cash in. It's not the only job that appears to be recession proof. CNN's Christine Romans is "Minding Your Business."
You know, you brought this up yesterday, in some of the breaks, you're saying, you know, Joe the Plumber, well, if you really are a plumber...
ROMANS: Right. CHETRY: ...this is a job to be in because it doesn't matter how tough economic times are, if you need your toilet fixed, you need it fixed.
ROMANS: That's absolutely right. It's one of those essential industries. And Joe the Plumber is about the most famous guy in politics these days and plumbing, I guess. He's a guy from Ohio, asks Barack Obama about tax policy, becomes a star in the final presidential election debate. But forget politics for a second. Let's talk about why being a plumber can be 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.
PALIN: 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: Like for say even college graduates can consider some of the skilled trades -- plumbers, electricians, miners, oil rig workers. Anything related to medical equipment in the hospitals. A lot of these require training but you can get that training at trade schools or at community colleges. Aging baby boomers and a growing population will keep these jobs in demand, Kiran.
CHETRY: Good to know. Christine, very interesting. Thanks.
ROBERTS: You hear them all day long.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The stock market took off like a rocket.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Made a sharp u-turn.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: But do these overused metaphors really define the volatile stock exchange?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: This fire is engulfing the whole financial system.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: We asked the experts. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: 37 minutes after the hour. Welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning." Asian financial markets produced mixed results overnight. That's a far cry from some of the monstrous plunges and record jumps that we've seen in recent days -- events that have business reporters reaching for their market metaphors.
CNN's Miles O'Brien is looking at that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CHIEF TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These days, it's hard to stay afloat. Most of us are lucky if we are...
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Treading water.
O'BRIEN: ...enduring...
ROMANS: Body blow after body blow.
O'BRIEN: ...from those reporters that deliver metaphors by the ton.
QUEST: It is the equivalent of a Mack truck.
O'BRIEN: The colorful play-by-play is harmless, right? Well, that dead cat won't bounce.
MICHAEL MORRIS, BUSINESS PROFESSOR: Sometimes the way they spin that story might be sending messages that they don't intend to send.
O'BRIEN: Michael Morris is psychologist at Columbia University's Business School. A few years ago, he studied the metaphors used by business reporters as they try to explain the markets. And he found words matter in ways we might not have imagined.
MORRIS: In our effort to be entertaining, are unwittingly conveying some meanings to people that could lead those people to make ill-advised investment decisions.
O'BRIEN: Here's how. Reporters and analysts love colorful metaphors that personify the market.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The stock market took off like a rocket.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Made a sharp u-turn.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then soared again later in the day.
O'BRIEN: They make it sound like it is a living being with a purpose and a plan.
MORRIS: A lot of people will draw the inference that the market has a propensity to go upwards and that's going to continue in the future.
O'BRIEN: But, of course, experts know the market isn't planning for tomorrow. It is random. More like the weather. So, do reporters stir up a financial hurricane when they say things like this?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It really did just sort of go off a cliff.
O'BRIEN: Truth is, this time the metaphor may not be hyperbole.
ROMANS: It happens to be, you know, going off a cliff. I mean, these are the kinds of crazy things, but I don't want to scare anybody. It's just the best way of describing in some cases.
O'BRIEN: What about this?
VELSHI: But this fire is engulfing the whole financial system.
It is sometimes better to use the long hand. It's just challenging on TV to do so.
O'BRIEN (on camera): We all learned in school what goes up must come down. But if you think you or anyone you know can predict the stock market, you're apt to get sidetracked. (voice-over): So, listen to the market metaphors if you must.
CHETRY: If the train left the station, there's no point in getting off now.
O'BRIEN: Just remember to buckle in tight and take the wild ride with a grain of salt, if you'll excuse the mixed metaphor.
Miles O'Brien, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: What I meant to say was unfortunately that train has sailed.
ROBERTS: Very good.
CHETRY: How about that? And Miles can talk while on a rollercoaster. That's impressive.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: I'll tell you, though, it's like many rollercoasters do. The market gives me a headache and turns my stomach. So, I don't know. What else --
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: Yes, it does. No looking at the 401(k) this week or month...
ROBERTS: That's a good idea.
CHETRY: ...or year.
ROBERTS: Oh yes. Maybe not until like 2015.
CHETRY: Exactly. Well, John McCain attacking Barack Obama's health care plan saying that families who refuse state health care for their children will be fined. Is that true? The "Truth Squad" sorts fact from fiction, next.
The youth vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I believe that young people will show up to the polls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Why young voters could be the deciding factor this election year and what John McCain and Barack Obama are doing to win them over.
The highest level we've ever seen. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the "Most Politics in the Morning." John McCain attacking Barack Obama's health care plan says that it's the small businesses and families that will be hit hard. Is that true? Alina Cho and the "Truth Squad" got to the bottom of it. She joins us now.
Good morning.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning, Kiran. Good morning, everybody.
You know, McCain made those comments at a campaign event in Pennsylvania yesterday. He told families with children that under a President Obama, their kids will be forced into state run health care or parents will have to pay.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCCAIN: If I'm elected president, I won't fine small businesses and families with children as Senator Obama proposes to force them into a huge government run health care plan. While I keep the cost the fine a secret until I hit you with it that's what he wants to do.
CHO (voice-over): Does he? We went first to Obama's Web site where his health care plan is laid out. It states that as President, Obama would, quote, "require that all children have health care coverage." The plan lists several options including private insurers and government programs. It pledges to assist parents in signing up their children. The Web site does not say anything about fines.
But last year the Democratic presidential nominee was quoted by "The Des Moines Register" in Iowa as saying health care for children will be mandatory. "Parents will not have an option. And I would fine parents if for some reason they refused."
We spoke with Obama's director of domestic policy Neera Tanden about the issue yesterday. Here's what she said. Quote, "This will be automatic enrollment. Any child that comes to school or enters the health care system for any reason will automatically be enrolled." We asked her point blank whether parents who refused to enroll their kids in health care coverage would be fined. Her response, "there are no plans for a fine because the campaign believes it simply wouldn't be necessary since enrollment is automatic."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: So, again, the question when John McCain says if elected Barack Obama will fine families who don't enroll their children in a government run health care program, is he right? The "Truth Squad" verdict on this one, misleading.
On his Web site, Obama's health care plan does include an option for private insurance. Now important to point out that Obama did say last year that he would fine non-compliant parents but a campaign spokesman told CNN just yesterday there are no such plans in place.
Of course, as always, we are watching both sides. Coming up at 8:00, Barack Obama says John McCain hasn't explained a single thing he'd do differently than George W. Bush on the economy. Is he right? We'll tell you. Not a single thing? It's a strong charge, Kiran.
CHETRY: Well, to say, just last night at dinner, they were best buds.
CHO: Yes, they were.
CHETRY: And today the campaign continues.
CHO: That's right.
CHETRY: Thanks, Alina.
CHO: You bet.
ROBERTS: A tale of two faces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: Back on track.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: You can tell a lot about a man from his smile. Jeanne Moos dissects the last debate in the race for president, and how the split screen may have told the most interesting story of the night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: What I have said --
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ROBERTS: You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: 49 minutes after the hour. You know body language can say a whole lot more than actual language when it comes to a presidential debate. CNN's Jeanne Moos looks at what the candidates' faces revealed during their final face off.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bless the split screen...
OBAMA: You won't pay a fine --
MCCAIN: Zero. OBAMA:...zero because --
MOOS: For letting us see...
OBAMA: Here are the facts --
MOOS: ...the cornucopia of expressions.
OBAMA: And what I have said --
MOOS: If you think of their faces as battlegrounds, the weapon of choice was the smile flashed like a sword by Senator Obama.
MCCAIN: Back on track to raise taxes without precondition has to be safe.
MOOS: But Obama showed his teeth, but McCain kept his sheathed.
OBAMA: And this is your plan, John. I make no apology for that. And under Senator McCain's plan, those rules would be stripped away.
MOOS: The experts say the seated format was an improvement over the last debate for Senator McCain.
T.J. WALKER, MEDIA TRAINER: You didn't see the sort of awkward lumbering around.
MOOS: Strolling that got skewered by impersonators on "Saturday Night Live". By adding imaginary musings by Senator McCain on "The Daily Show."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's going on over here? How are you folks doing? Has anybody seen my dog? Mr. Puddles?
CONAN O'BRIEN, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN": So much to talk about tonight, we have -- senator.
MOOS: Safely seated at Wednesday's debate, Senator McCain kept saying about Americans --
MCCAIN: And they're angry, and they're angry, and they're angry.
MOOS: But in that split screen, it was McCain who seemed like a volcano ready to erupt.
OBAMA: The culture in Washington that's been taking place for too long.
MOOS (on camera): And though he never did explode, it reminded us of our famous Chilean performance artist.
(voice-over): A little person by the name of (INAUDIBLE), doing an impression of Hillary Clinton turning into The Hulk after losing to Obama. No growling from Senator Obama, playing it placid, smile after smile.
MCCAIN: 860 shots.
MOOS: And when the debate ended, and the candidate might feel he could relaxed, Senator McCain jockeying to get to the moderator made a funny face. There it was on every blog, Senator McCain holding his tongue out. The moral of the story?
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: After all the tension, comic relief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: He even has a pet name for me, George Bush.
OBAMA: Greatest weakness, it's possible that I'm a little too awesome.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Presidential comedians. Plus "Saturday Night Live" comes out swinging again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joe the Plumber is a straight shooter and one of the finest people I've ever known.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: The SNL bump, what it's really done to the race.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are a hundred things on their list before what they saw on "Saturday Live."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Maverick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: More than 40,000 people come to hear Joel and Victoria Osteen preach every week. And millions more watched them on television. Joel is the author of two best-sellers. And now his wife Victoria has written her own book as well called "Love Your Life."
Victoria says that her goal is to get people to understand their purpose and their gift especially during these tough economic times. And Joel and Victoria Osteen are here now with us this morning.
Thanks for joining us both of you. Welcome. JOEL OSTEEN, CO-PASTOR, LAKEWOOD CHURCH: Thank you. Thank you.
CHETRY: So, you both have new books out. And perhaps this is a time more than any one people are seeking answers as to what they do. As we look at these tough economic times. What advice do you have? And I'll start with you, Joel, for people that are looking at their 401(k)s, looking at the way the stock market is going, maybe facing foreclosure and wondering what do I do.
J. OSTEEN: Well, I think the main thing is you got to stay positive and you got to stay hopeful. When you get negative and get discouraged and stay down, to me that just draws more negativity. And even though it's difficult, I always encourage people that God still has us in the palm of his hand and this is a season. It's not going to last forever. And if we can just keep pushing through, I believe God will always make a way.
VICTORIA OSTEEN, CO-PASTOR, LAKEWOOD CHURCH: Yes, it is. You know what, a lot of times we get so focused on what's going on. But we're bigger than these times. Our families are important. And that's what I talk about in my book is that, you know, well, we got to keep our focus on our families, our relationships, because those are the things that are really fundamentally important right now.
CHETRY: Also in these tough economic times, I mean, you guys preach the prosperity gospel and you talk to people about the importance of trying to do well for themselves. And when things are going bad, you people, all church received donations drop. What do you say to people who are wondering whether they can continue to donate? Or if times are tough, is just being spiritually involved enough?
J. OSTEEN: Well, I think it's always important to keep God first place in your life. And we encourage them to keep Him first place in their finances. I realize there are times that people can't give, but they have a giving heart. I encouraged people, you know what, you may not be able to give finances but you can give a smile, you can bake somebody a cake, you can go baby sit someone's children. So I think it's a lifestyle of giving that pleases God.
CHETRY: Is it important to you as a leader of a church that whoever is president is a man of faith?
V. OSTEEN: Yes. I think they should be a man of faith. And I just -- I would say just vote. You know, we don't say who to vote for, but just get out there and vote because that's your influence. That's your voice.
CHETRY: There's a group of pastors that said they decided they're going to risk losing their tax exempt status by saying I'm going to the pulpit and I'm telling people how to vote? What do you think when you hear that? Is that a good idea?
J. OSTEEN: You know, people have different views. And they're just as passionate. They love God just as much. And so, I would just encourage, like Victoria said, just get out there and vote. But we don't feel like it's our place to tell people how to vote. Just search their own heart.
CHETRY: Well, anyone who watches your show knows that both of you preach positivity, and you bring positivity to you life. And you recently Victoria went through a tough time with this lawsuit. You were clear to follow this charges in the civil case against you over a flight attendant, was alleging that you assaulted her in first class and you had to go through the whole entire thing. You have a chapter in your book called keeping the right perspective.
How did you maintain the right perspective during what must have been a really difficult time for you.
V. OSTEEN: Yes. Well, you know, we all face difficult times. And that just happened to be a difficult time in my life. But what I did is I knew the truth. And I wasn't going to let a situation define who I was. Just like in these hard times, you know, we can't let these, the things that we hear define us. We got to stay focus and we got to let the truth live on the inside of us.
CHETRY: Well, it was great talking to both of you. Joel and Victoria Osteen, and you're book author of "Love Your Life." Congratulations on the both of you.
V. OSTEEN: Thank you.
CHETRY: Thanks for joining us today.
J. OSTEEN: My pleasure.
CHETRY: Nice meeting you both.
J. OSTEEN: God bless.
V. OSTEEN: Thank you so much.
ROBERTS: It's now two minutes to the top of the hour. And here are this morning's top stories.
Worldwide markets following the Dow's lead yesterday moving higher this morning. Japan's Nikkei added almost 3 percent. Markets across Europe gaining this morning. But right now Dow futures pointing to a lower opening here in the United States. So, yes, the rollercoaster ride continues.
Merger talks reportedly heating up between General Motors and Chrysler this morning. Chrysler CEO has refused to comment on the talk, but he did say the sharp declines in sales make the auto industry right for mergers. The "Wall Street Journal" reports GM wants to do a deal by the end of this month.
And voting underway this morning in North Carolina. The state allows early voting starting yesterday actually up until the Saturday before the election. Hundreds lined up to get their ballots and beat the early rush. Early voting is designed to relieve the stress on polling places on Election Day. "Saturday Night Live" is not going to need a Sarah Palin impersonator this week because the show will have the real thing. The vice presidential nominee will appear on the show that has treated her, well, fairly harshly over the past month. No word if Tina Fey who has been doing SNL's Palin impersonations will also appear.
CHETRY: Looking at the latest CNN electoral math. CNN now estimates that Barack Obama does have enough electoral votes for a theoretical win if the election were to be held today. The key swing State of Virginia has moved from toss up to leaning towards Obama. And that's 13 electoral votes bringing Obama's estimate to 277 compared to McCain's 174. There are still six states and 87 electoral votes in a toss up column and 18 more days until the election.
