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Reform Efforts in Congress; More Bodies in Backyard; What Do Election Results Mean?
Aired November 04, 2009 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Here are some of the other stories we're watching right now.
The Senate is expected to vote on extending the home buyer tax credit today. That new bill expands who is eligible for the credit. The House is expected to take up the measure later this week. The old tax credit expires at the end of the month.
Investors are keeping an eye on the Federal Reserve today. The fed wraps up a 2-day meeting on the economy this afternoon but they are not expected to announce any changes to interest rates.
Police believe three college softball players drove straight into a pond where their bodies were later found. Two of the women made desperate cell phone calls for help. Tracing those calls led police to their submerged vehicle.
They all went to Dickinson State University in North Dakota. Classes at the school are cancelled today.
President Obama has made it clear that he wants a health care reform bill on his desk by the end of the year but this morning it looks like he may be very disappointed. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid refusing to give a timetable now for when his chamber will pass a bill.
In the House Democrats reveal the final tweaks to their version of the plan but House Republicans also want their say on the bill today they're vowing to offer a plan of their own.
For more on this, let's go to senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash who is live on Capitol Hill for us this morning. Dana, good morning to you.
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
COLLINS: Where do things stand with House Democrats right now?
BASH: As you mentioned, late last night the House Democrats made some minor changes to the bill that they released last week that cost about $1.2 trillion. And their hope is to have a vote either late Friday night or early Saturday morning.
Remember, House Democratic leaders made a pledge that lawmakers would have 72 hours, that's three days, to actually read the final version. That final version came out last night. The big question, there are lots of big questions.
COLLINS: Yes.
BASH: At this point one of the biggest is do they even have the votes? I was talking to a House Democratic leadership aide before coming to talk to you, Heidi. They and don't have that needed 218 yet but they insist that they are close. There are some still some unresolved issues.
In fact, one big one and that is the issue of abortion. There were no changes in that controversial language and there are as you know some anti-abortion Democrats who have made this a litmus test saying if the language is not strengthened to absolutely prevent taxpayer dollars from being used for abortions, they might not vote for it -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. And Dana, remind us real quickly, how is it written right now?
BASH: The way it's written right now is that it does say that federal dollars won't go for abortions but there are people like Bart Stupak of Michigan who say that they still don't believe it will actually happen. Why? Because, let me give you an example. There are going to be a lot more subsidies for people across the board to buy health insurance.
Well, if somebody gets government subsidy, that's taxpayer dollars to buy health insurance, their plan allows abortion and if they actually get an abortion, how do you make sure that money that they get from the government doesn't go for the abortion? Well, this language that is currently in there does have the ability to separate accounts but a lot of the anti-abortion Democrats say they don't believe that will actually be strong enough. They don't believe that that will actually be able to be monitored.
COLLINS: Yes. And very quickly, Dana, what about Senate Democrats?
BASH: You mentioned it. I mean, the reality is that Senate majority leader Harry Reid admitted the reality yesterday and that is that they're having a tough time. One of the things that they're waiting for is the recommendation or actually the analysis from the Congressional Budget Office on how much Senator Reid's proposal will even cost. They are waiting for that. They expected to get it last week. They still haven't gotten it.
But there's another really big issue for them. And that is there just aren't the 60 votes yet. Moderate Democrats in the Senate are still very skeptical many of them of this whole idea of a public option and that is causing big problems. That I think is why we have a moment of candor from the Senate majority leader yesterday when he was asked point blank, will you have a vote by the end of the year and the answer was not yes.
He said this won't be determined by artificial timetables but I can tell you as you well know, Heidi, at the White House and even here on Capitol Hill, they really want to get this done by the end of the year.
COLLINS: Yes. The issue of public option and cost always a big issue in all of this. Dana, we'll continue to follow it very closely. Thanks so much. Dana Bash, this morning.
BASH: Thanks, Heidi.
COLLINS: Meanwhile, Congressman Joe Wilson is back in the spotlight. You remember him. He's the one who shouted 'you lie' as President Obama addressed Congress in September. Last hour Wilson and a handful of other Republican lawmakers suggested if Democrats think the public option is good for health care reform, then members of Congress should be required to enroll.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOE WILSON (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: We will be introducing an amendment that does require members of Congress to take the government run option. We know why the majority of the Pelosi takeover bill does not provide this. They do know that the government run option will not be in the interest of the American people either individually or for the American citizens at large.
And so I'm just very hopeful that they will reconsider. That they will understand if it's good enough for the American people then it's also good enough for Congress.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Another lawmaker with Wilson says the vast majority of Republicans in Congress believe anyone who votes for the public option ought to sign up for it.
Well, rallies against the Democrats' health care reform plan taking place in the heartland. The Tea Party Express rolls into Wichita, Kansas, and Oklahoma City today. The national bus tour is aimed at showing opposition to higher spending and government intervention in the lives of American families and businesses.
What a difference a year makes. It was one year ago today that voters elected Barack Obama largely on his promise of change. Well, today voters are still demanding change but based on last night's election results it may be the Democrats who are the new targets.
Let's take a closer look now at this morning's Republican rebound with CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As it turns out, the Republican party is not dead.
BOB MCDONNELL (R), VIRGINIA GOVERNOR-ELECT: Tonight you've given me the title of governor of Virginia. But I pledge to you over the next four years action and results. CROWLEY: With a big assist from independents, Republicans swept Virginia's three statewide races and knocked out an incumbent governor in New Jersey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Starting tomorrow we're going to pick Trenton up and we're going to turn it upside down.
CROWLEY: White House aides said the president wasn't going to watch election returns. He probably slept better for that because he was no bystander in these high profile Democratic defeats. He took one swing through Virginia, a state he won by six points, and made three trips to New Jersey, a state he won by more than 15.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will not lose this election if all of you are as committed as you were last year.
CROWLEY: As it turns out, neither mojo nor voters are transferable. The brightest spot for Democrats was a Republican made disaster in a special election for U.S. Congress in upstate New York. A Democrat won that seat that's been held by Republicans for more than a century after a nasty struggle between a moderate Republican and a conservative paved the way. Note to the GOP, fighting can be fatal.
What this all adds up to depends on who does the math. The White House subtracted itself before the polls closed.
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We don't look either these gubernatorial races or the congressional race as something that portends a lot for our legislative efforts going forward or political prospects in 2010.
CROWLEY: And history offers some shelter for the new administration. The party in the White House has lost both governor races in Virginia and New Jersey since 1989. Still, the exit polls show voters' top concern was the economy.
The National Republicans Senatorial Committee called the results a vote for reigning in government spending and restoring fiscal responsibility.
In the end the politics of the night are not all that complicated. They victors get break bragging rights and energy. It's better to win. The grand old party had a great old night, mostly.
Candy Crowley, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Well, the results local or statewide but the results affect people across the country. We'll look at how coming up in just a few minutes.
Meanwhile, search crews are going to tear apart a house in Cleveland, Ohio, today. They're looking for more bodies hidden in the home of a registered sex offender. Anthony Sowell was in court just a short time ago for his first appearance facing rape and murder charges. He was ordered held without bond.
CNN's Susan Candiotti has the whole story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As if the scene weren't gruesome enough, it appears at least one victim was decapitated.
CHIEF MICHAEL MCGRATH, CLEVELAND POLICE: The skull was discovered wrapped in a paper bag in a bucket in the basement.
CANDIOTTI: In the backyard, investigators dug up the remains of four more people bringing the total now to 10. Six of them are described as African-American women and at least five of them appear to have been strangled. They were all found in and around the house of convicted rapist 50-year-old Anthony Sowell.
MCGRATH: It appears that this man had an insatiable (ph) appetite that he had to fill.
CANDIOTTI: Police went to the house last week to arrest Sowell on new rape charges. He wasn't there but they found the first bodies. A week earlier neighbors reported seeing a naked woman fall from the second floor, but no charges were filed.
The sheriff also made at least one surprise visit to check up on Sowell, who's a registered sex offender. By law police aren't allow to go in the house, but neighbors said you didn't have to go inside to know something was wrong.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You could smell it. I come around the corner and I smell it. You could smell the dead bodies.
CANDIOTTI: Some thought the smell came from Ray's Sausage, which sits next to Sowell's house. It got so bad the owner of Ray's replaced a sewer line and grease traps thinking they were the source of the odor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We used to think that it was coming out of Ray's Sausage, but you smell the smells. And I live right there. I used to come out and the smells be horrible.
MAYOR FRANK JACKSON, CLEVELAND: And I can imagine how families feel who have reported a missing person. An anxiety that they're going through. And we want to assure them as soon as we know something, they will be the first to know.
CANDIOTTI: Susan Candiotti, CNN, Cleveland, Ohio.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Let's get you over to the severe weather center now with Rob Marciano. Normally, we'd like to talk about the tropics but today we had a little bit of trouble there. ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it would be nice to take a, you know, a tropical island visit, maybe Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico. Those areas, the weather is quite nice right now actually but we have been tracking this little percolation, if you will, off the coast of Panama. In the last few hours, it has really become a little bit better developed.
And the National Hurricane Center just a few minutes ago has named it or at least said it is a tropical depression. Tropical depression number 11. And it could very well become our next tropical storm. It's forecast to kind of drift this way over Honduras and Nicaragua and then continue to drift toward the Gulf of Mexico but very, very slowly and what it does after that we just have to wait and see. But they're sending an aircraft in there to recon the situation, to get some data and we'll get the models cranking on this thing. We'll see where it goes.
Remember, hurricane season goes all of the way to the end of this month and there have been hurricanes and tropical storms that develop in November to make landfall as a storm is very, very rare at least in the U.S.. So we'll track that carefully.
Very quiet across much of the U.S., got a little storm that is developing across the Great Lakes. That's drifting toward the Ohio River Valley with some rain. A little bit of light snow in spots. But generally speaking it's heading towards the New York area. It will be dry from Philly to New York today and tonight and then wet tomorrow.
Warming up across much of the country including the south including the places that had the snow in Denver. This is a shot from Houston KHOU where it will be 70 somehow degrees this afternoon. Gorgeous, brilliant sunshine. Nice to see dry weather across parts of eastern Texas which had their fair share of rainfall but they certainly don't want to see what could be tropical storm Ida head toward the Texas coast. It's still ways off though.
COLLINS: Yes. Absolutely not. All right. Why do we care about New York and Philly again?
MARCIANO: Oh, yes. There's a game happening tonight.
COLLINS: That's right.
MARCIANO: They're going to decide who is going to be the world champions of baseball.
COLLINS: A-ha.
MARCIANO: It may very well be decided tonight.
COLLINS: I knew it was something. All right. We'll check back later, Rob. Thank you.
MARCIANO: OK. See you. COLLINS: A justice of the peace was getting no peace for his decision not to marry an interracial couple. Now facing a lawsuit, he makes another decision.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Right now in hospitals across the country people are being prepped for surgery but sometimes there are problems. For this story, the example we gave earlier, a person who was supposed to have some type of eye surgery but then ended up having tonsil surgery. They're called wrong site surgeries that happen coast to coast.
But in the limelight now is a Rhode Island hospital where several screwups have been made lately. The last one just a week and a half ago. State health officials have hit them with a big fine in what seems to be an unprecedented punishment. Mandatory video cameras in the O.R..
Let's bring in senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen with more on this. So Elizabeth, we talked a lot about medical mistakes. I know the Institute of Medicine has done many studies on how many mistakes actually happen. But it's very hard to get a good number on that. What's going on here?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It is hard to get a good number, Heidi. Because nobody is required to report them. So hospitals can have errors and they aren't necessarily required to say what they are. But let's take a look at the situation in Rhode Island.
They've had five wrong site surgical errors in the past two years. And they've had many before then also. For example, in 2000, a surgeon operated on the wrong child. That's why a child who needed eye surgery got a tonsillectomy. The tonsillectomy was supposed to be for a different kid, it was supposed to be for a different child.
In 2001 holes were drilled in the wrong side of a man's head because someone looked at the CT scan in backwards in the light box and these are just some of the examples. And in this country, this isn't just a Rhode Island problem, in this country each day about five people are given a wrong sided surgery. So this is obviously a huge problem.
COLLINS: Yes. Boy, no question. We heard a lot about it. There are many examples out there. The question is how do you control it? Because, obviously, you're the patient, you go under anesthesia. I mean, it's out of your control. What can you do before surgery to maybe reduce the chances of some type of error?
COHEN: OK. Let's take a look at a check list that you can give yourself before surgery that can help you reduce the chances of becoming a victim. First of all, mark your body. If you're having surgery on your right knee, write yes on the right knee and write no on the left knee.
COLLINS: Sorry, Elizabeth. Do that yourself? Don't physicians and the surgical team do that for you?
COHEN: Well, what happens later is that when you get into the hospital, the surgeon is supposed to sign the site. He's supposed to put his initials or her initials on the site. We actually have a picture of someone who is having surgery as we speak, and they showed us how the surgeon marked the site. They put their initials. There it is. There's the surgeon's initials right there on the shoulder. That's what's supposed to happen.
This person is in surgery right now. And we wish them the best of luck. But in addition to you marking your body before you go in and your surgeon marking the site, you also think about scheduling wisely. Surgeons tell us you're better off having the first surgery of the morning and having surgery earlier in the week when surgeons are less fatigued.
Also, be 100 percent informed. You can look up a hospital safety record. It's possible. If you take a look, I'm going to show you. This is a great web site where they have graphs that show sort of grades for hospitals. One bar means things aren't really going too well for safety. Three or four means they're doing much better. So you can take a look at this.
If you look at cnn.com/newsroom, you'll see a blog that we wrote that has sites that you can go to find out all these information.
COLLINS: All right. Well, obviously, there's a lot of people taking care of you in the hospital, too. Who exactly do you talk to, to tell them what type of surgery you're having and where.
COHEN: You want to tell everyone, Heidi. For example, when we brought my daughter in for hernia surgery a couple of years ago. We said the hernia is on the right side. On the right side. On the right side. To the nurse. To anyone that would listen. But we also made sure that we told the surgeon. It took a lot of work. We said we want to see this surgeon before her surgery. And I got to tell you, they gave us some grief about this. They said he's very busy. And we said we don't care. We want to look into the eyes of the guy who is doing the surgery to let him know what site it is and what side it is. He knew but we just wanted to make sure.
COLLINS: Yes. Absolutely. A lot is about the culture that's established between the patient and the doctor and the doctor and the nurses and all of that. It's fascinating. And I hope we continue to do a lot more.
Elizabeth Cohen, great information today. Thanks.
Local and statewide elections could have national implications. We're going to take a closer look at how.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Checking our top stories this morning. Now, a setback for the gay rights movement. Voters in Maine rejected a state law that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. It repealed the law passed by the Maine legislature last spring legalizing gay marriage. Gay marriage has now lost in all 31 states in which it has been put up for a popular vote.
A Louisiana justice of the peace who refused to marry an interracial couple has resigned his post. Keith Bardwell got a lot of criticism and got slapped with a federal discrimination lawsuit from the couple. The two were married by another justice of the peace.
Bardwell told CNN affiliate WBRZ he was advised to step down because he would lose the discrimination suit in court. Bardwell told the "Hammond Daily Star" last month he didn't marry the couple because he was concerned for the children they might have and he also felt most interracial marriages don't last.
New information this morning in the investigation of the deaths of three college softball players. Authorities in Dickinson, North Dakota, say their vehicle apparently went straight into a farm pond in the dark. Meanwhile, a former coach and an ex-teammate talked about one of the victims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK TRESTRAIL, COACH: If she was my daughter, I would be proud. She was an awesome person.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was great. She was very fun loving. She was funny as can be. Like you could joke with her. She wouldn't care. She just sent it right back at you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Investigators found the women's SUV in about 10 feet of water hidden by tall grass with the doors and windows closed.
Your party, your president, your choices for 2010 and 2012. All of these affected by the election results we've been talking about this morning. Here to help us understand exactly how that works is Bill Press. He is a nationally syndicated radio and talk show host and a former co-host of CNN's "Crossfire." Hi to you, Bill.
BILL PRESS, NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO AND TALK SHOW HOST: Hi, Heidi.
COLLINS: And Ed Rollins, CNN political contributor and White House political director under President Reagan. Ed, good morning to you as well. Thanks for being with us, guys.
ED ROLLINS, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning.
COLLINS: Busy night last night. Interesting night last night. First, I want to go to some sound that we were able to collect from the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs. Let's listen for a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GIBBS: We don't look at either of these gubernatorial races or the congressional race as something that portends a lot for our legislative efforts going forward or political prospects in 2010.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Ed Rollins, were these elections a referendum on President Barack Obama?
ROLLINS: They weren't a referendum on him. I think they are warning shot to him. And I think Gibbs is a little glib when he basically says it doesn't mean much. It means a lot. It means that the country is not totally happy with incumbents.
The president campaigned very hard for Corzine. Basically, said I need to have him re-elected to help me in Washington. The people in New Jersey said we don't want to re-elect him. We want him to work here. We don't want him to work in New Jersey, we don't want him to work in and not in Washington.
The key thing is it's a warning shot. He should watch it when the public is unhappy. They're not happy. They want there to be some focus on the economy and on jobs. You know, midterm elections and off-year elections are different entities but I think that every incumbent be prepared for a very tough year.
COLLINS: OK. And Bill, what do you think? Yes? No? Local, not local?
PRESS: I have known Ed a long time. Believe it or not, I don't totally disagree with him. Look, any time a president endorses any politician, whatever they are running for, and that politician loses, it hurts the president and it brings him down a notch or two.
But I really think in 2010, you know, Gibbs may have been a little too glib but in 2010 if the economy is coming back strong, if we're bringing troops home from Iraq, if the president has signed a robust health care reform bill, I don't think people are going to look at Virginia and New Jersey and say oh, my god, it's all over. I think it will be soon forgotten.
COLLINS: There may be some who question it just simply because the president campaigned hard for both of those governorships by way of the Democratic side of things.
PRESS: Yes, you know what I think that tells me? Not even Barack Obama could save Jon Corzine who had a 30 percent approval rating and not even Barack Obama could make Creigh Deeds in Virginia a good candidate. What's constructive, Heidi, I think is that these two were mainly decided on local issues. The two races yesterday that were decided on national issues were California's 10th CD, New York's 23rd CD and Democrats won both. Those are two more votes in the Congress for Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi. That's big.
COLLINS: Yes, understood. Let me ask you this. There was a little bit of sound that came out from RNC chair Michael Steele. His opinion on how things went last night. Let's listen go ahead and listen into that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL STEEL, RNC CHAIRMAN: Last night was an example of what happens when elected officials and others don't pay attention and don't listen to what people out there are saying. We're listening and we're paying attention at the GOP and we're going to build off last night and hopefully bring more victories home next year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Ed, what does it mean for the Republican Party?
ROLLINS: Well, it means we can learn the lessons of yesterday and what worked. Obviously, we were a party a year ago that was flat on its back and a lot of people didn't think we would come back. We're going to come back one at a time. I think you win these things one at a time.
As Bill and I have been to the trenches a long time out in California and other places, these elections are, you know, if you're an incumbent, you better be scared. The public out there wants to listen to you. Independent voters that obviously tip a balance. They did in 2006, they did in 2008. They did obviously yesterday. They won overwhelmingly for the two gubernatorial candidates in both Virginia and New Jersey that were republican.
And so voters aren't happy. And I think to a certain extend and they have no reason to be happy. And I think all the things that Bill said, if that occurs, those are good positive things and if the president does that, then so be it. There's a long hard battle to get there. But I think it's a warning shot to everyone who is in an incumbent job. Pay attention to the voters. They understand the business.
COLLINS: Ed brings up a good point with the independents.
PRESS: Yes, absolutely. I think the independents decided certainly the races in Virginia and New Jersey. And they went with Republican candidates, kind of an anti-incumbent vote. But you know, if I were Michael Steele, I would say exactly what Michael Steele said but I think he's ignoring a big problem he's got in his back pocket which is this fight for the heart and soul of the republican party.
Let's face it, the conservatives went out from out of state into New York's 23rd. They kicked out the Republican just like they kicked out Arlen Specter and they lost that because the people they're putting up are too extreme for the American people.
Now which way will is the Republican Party going to go? Michael Steele better pay some attention to that in the next 12 months or I think the party will be even further marginalized.
COLLINS: Ed, the congressional district race we're talking about Dede Scozzafava here and a lot of people call her or called her moderate Republican. What are your thoughts on the impact of all of that?
ROLLINS: I mean, first of all, special elections for congressional seats are very unique. This was extremely unique in the sense that it wasn't a primary. If there would have been a primary, a conservative Republican or a moderate Republican would have won and had support of people in the community.
We didn't kick her out. She dropped out. She basically didn't have any support and went from 35 percent to six percent in a month trying to campaign. We didn't kick Arlen Specter out, he left. At the end of the day conservatives are the base of our party. We have to be a coalition party as Democrats do and you have to bring all sides together.
COLLINS: Very quick. Bill, last word. I'm running out of time.
PRESS: I just got to say - Ed and I have known a lot of moderate Republicans. There are very few left and these conservatives, these tea(ph) backers are out to drive every moderate out of the Republican party and I think that's a big mistake.
COLLINS: We'll be watching all of it obviously, very closely.
PRESS: All right.
COLLINS: Ed Rollins, Bill Press. Thanks so much, guys.
Well, you know, President Obama was elected one year ago today. So we're wondering on our blog today, we want to hear from you. What do you think about this last year? How do you think it's gone for President Obama and the job that he's doing? Go ahead and e-mail us. We're going to be reading some of your responses as always right here on CNN. Cnn.com/heidi. That's the address. We'll go ahead and check in on those in just a little while.
This morning Republicans are celebrating big election victories and Democrats may see some troubling signs in the results. We'll have reaction this morning from the White House.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins.
COLLINS: Today, Republicans are celebrating key victories, and Democrats are grappling with ominous signs that voters are unhappy. Republican Chris Christie will become the next governor of New Jersey. The first time a Republican has been voted into the office in 12 years. The former federal prosecutor said his election shows that voters are demanding change. A casualty of that, incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine. He was ousted despite three separate campaign visits by President Obama.
In Virginia, conservative Republican Bob McDonnell wrestles the office from Democratic control. He won with the backing of independents who helped elect Barack Obama just one year ago. Democrats can find some comfort in upstate New York. For the first time in more than a century, a Democrat has won Congress' 23rd district. Bill Owens beat out conservative party candidate Doug Hoffman. Key Republicans like Sarah Palin had early spurned the GOP candidate, saying he was too moderate. Dee Dee Scozzafava withdrew and in a twist endorsed the Democrat.
As we predicted this time yesterday, it will take another round of voting to decide the mayors of two major American cities. In Atlanta, a December 1st runoff will be needed between Councilwoman Mary Norwood and former state senator Kasim Reed. Norwood is trying to become Atlanta's first white mayor since 1973.
And in Houston, city controller Annise Parker is trying that city's first openly gay mayor. She'll face former city attorney Gene Locke.
In New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg will return for a third term. His reelection didn't come cheap, though. It's believed the independent billionaire shelled out more than $100 million of his own money.
Also keeping his job today, Boston mayor Thomas Menino. He held off a challenge from a city council president Michael Flaherty to win an unprecedented fifth consecutive four-year term.
Some war veterans in Ohio will be getting bonuses. Ohio voters overwhelmingly passed Issue One. It will pay bonuses of up to $1,000 to veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf Wars.
All the latest campaign news is at your fingertips. All you have to do is go to CNNpolitics.com and we have analysis from The Best Political Team on Television. It's all there at CNNpolitics.com.
Party leaders say the GOP has, quote, "found its voice again." So what does the White House say? CNN's senior White House correspondent, Ed Henry, has this morning's first reaction to the results. We've heard a bit, Ed, from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on this.
ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Robert Gibbs just had a meeting with reporters off camera. And you're not going to be surprised to learn that the White House doesn't think much about last night's results. Robert Gibbs saying over and over these are essentially local races. You can't really find some sort of national trend.
Just the opposite, of course, of what Republicans are saying. It's amazing how each side can pick and choose what they like in the results. For example, Robert Gibbs saying, look, in New Jersey the number two issue was property taxes. That's a local issue. That's part of the reason why Jon Corzine lost. Now, that's true, technically, but let's face it. The president put his political capital on the line, including Saturday, two days before the election, had two stops for Jon Corzine. In Virginia as well, Robert Gibbs saying these are local issues. He does make a fair point that basically in 2001, when George W. Bush was here at the White House, Democrats carried New Jersey and Virginia, the governorships there. And in 2002, it didn't really matter much for congressional Democrats. They got no momentum out of that. And in 2004, of course, Democrats could not take the White House away from President Bush. So, they are obviously picking that.
And then the second thing Robert Gibbs picked out was this New York 23rd House race you mentioned. Gibbs pointing out this is the race that Republicans tried to nationalize by picking the candidate, essentially forcing out the Republican candidate in favor of a conservative who ended up losing in the end. That's obviously good news for this White House, and they're trying to pick that out. Gibbs says all this proves, in his words, is that anger can get you 45 percent of the vote, essentially what the conservative got in that upstate New York house race. But it doesn't win elections.
So, very clear. They're going to try to say that Virginia and New Jersey, those are local races, not a big deal to this White House. Upstate New York, big deal. They won that race, Heidi. They won. That's a big deal.
COLLINS: Wait a minute! How can you do that? And whatever happened to the saying all politics is local? Doesn't that mean local politics is then national politics?
HENRY: Yes, absolutely. And what's interesting is we also learned from Robert Gibbs that the president a little while, is going to be calling both Republican victors in Virginia and New Jersey. He's going to be calling Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie. We're also told he'll be calling the winner -- the Democrat, Bill Owens, in upstate New York, and later Jon Garamendi as well, who won a House race in California.
Last night, we're told, that he called Jon Corzine as well as Creigh Deeds, the losers in those gubernatorial races. Friends of his, people he campaigned for, but in the words of Robert Gibbs, the president decided he didn't want to interfere with the Republican victors. Let them celebrate with their families and supporters last night, but he wants to reach out to them today in case maybe they can work together down the road.
COLLINS: OK. Understood. Ed Henry handling it all for us in front of the White House. Interesting night last night. Thank you, Ed.
HENRY: Thanks, Heidi.
COLLINS: Investors keeping an eye on the Federal Reserve today. The fed wraps up a two-day meeting on the economy this afternoon, but it isn't expected to announce any changes to interest rates.
Well, that being said, investors will look to see what the Fed says about jobs. In the meantime, we have two new reports that show whether any progress is being made on the jobs front. Susan Lisovicz looking at those numbers and joins us now from New York with more details. So, are we still looking at big job losses?
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: We're still looking at big job losses, Heidi. Having said that, they're not as big -- they're not anywhere near as big as what we saw earlier this year.
The exact number, 203,000 private-sector jobs lost in October. That's from the payroll processing firm ADP. It should know.
Hardest hit, well, basically most of the economy. The services sector, which includes everything from retail to restaurants to waste disposal. All of it, as well as manufacturing and construction.
But check out this chart, Heidi because this really drives it home of what we've seen earlier this year. Job losses topped 700,000 in March. So, yes, it's an improvement. Jobs are still being lost when they should be created, but you can see the trend, it's undeniable. Seventh straight month of declining losses.
We also got a separate report today that showed planned layoffs in October slowed. Wall Street, well, it likes what it's hearing. Also, we got a report at the top of the hour on the services sector that showed it was growing. That prompted some growth in the three major averages, so we have a nice rally and, of course, we have the mother of all jobs reports on Friday. That from the government. We're expecting the unemployment rate, unfortunately, to tick higher. Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. We are. But it's weird. The economy is growing. I guess it's all in how you define these terms. How can that happen without job creation?
LISOVICZ: It is a major disconnect. There's no question about it. Yes. The economy grew 3.5 percent. That's a nice growth number.
But these are not normal times. You have to remember how much stimulus was at work to create that growth. The idea for the stimulus is to create demand for things like automobiles, Cash for Clunkers, the $8,000 tax credit, demand for houses. That in turn would ramp up construction and manufacturing, which would create jobs there and extend to the broader economy. Well, we're not seeing that demand yet to offset the downsizing still taking place.
What we're seeing is a lot of productivity out of the remaining workforce, which is why we're expecting to see another report tomorrow to show productivity for workers grew. You already knew that.
COLLINS: Yes. It's a good idea to keep our eyes open to all of it certainly. Susan Lisovicz, appreciate that. Thank you.
A source of anger and fear for Americans, but a cause for celebration among many in the Middle East. A look back at the Iranian hostage crisis, started 30 years ago today.
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COLLINS: Fading hopes of getting health care reform done by the end of the year. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is refusing to give a timetable now for when his chamber will pass a bill. It could mean he's having trouble getting his party's full support. President Obama made it clear he wants to sign a bill by the end of the year.
A convicted rapist is now facing murder charges. Anthony Sowell made his first court appearance in Cleveland less than two hours ago. The judge ordered him held without bond. Police found another four bodies buried in Sowell's backyard yesterday. That makes ten bodies found at the home so far. Police are planning to tear into the walls and floors of his house today.
Thirty years ago today, 66 workers at the American embassy in Tehran were taken hostage. Most of them would remain in custody for the next 444 days. Here's a closer look at how the Iran hostage crisis unfolded.
On November 4, 1989, 500 Iranian students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 66 embassy workers hostage. Their demand? Extradition of the shah who had come to the U.S. for medical treatment. Two days later, Ayatollah Khameni and the Iran Revolutionary Council took power.
On November 17th, Khameni released 13 of the hostages were released. Later on, another hostage was released due to illness. Fifty-two hostages remained.
April 7th, 1980. After months of diplomatic wrangling, the U.S. cut diplomatic ties with Iran and imposed economic sanctions. April 24th, 1980, eight U.S. servicemen lost their lives during a failed rescue attempt. January 19th, 1981, the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement for the release of all the hostages. In exchange, $8 billion in Iranian assets were unfrozen. One day later, on January 20th, the same day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated, the remaining 52 hostages were released and flown to Germany.
President Obama did release a statement on this anniversary. It says this, quote, "This event helped set the United States and Iran on a path of sustained suspicion, mistrust, and confrontation. I have made it clear that the United States of America wants to move beyond this past and seeks a relationship with the Islamic republic of Iran based upon mutual interests and mutual respect."
Today is considered a national holiday in Iran. Thousands of people are celebrating in the streets, but this anniversary also bringing out anti-government protesters. Let's get more now from Islamabad and Reza Sayah is standing by live. Reza, good morning to you once again.
REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
If anyone thought Iran's opposition movement was running out of steam, losing momentum, all you have to do is look at the pictures that came out of Iran today. This was the return of Iran's opposition movement after being absent from the streets for about six weeks. Tens of thousands of them showed up, according to witnesses and CNN sources, on a day that was supposed to be an anti-American rally on the 30-year anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. embassy.
Opposition supporters delivered the familiar anti-government chants of "death to the dictator," but we also heard a new chant for U.S. president Barack Obama. The chant saying "Obama, you are either with them or with us." An obvious call for the U.S. president to support the opposition movement.
We also saw a remarkably rare scene in a piece of video posted on YouTube. That video showed opposition supporters ripping down a billboard with a picture of supreme leader Ayatollah Khameni, then walking all over it. This was an image that was unthinkable just a few months ago, but it really illustrates the fervor of this opposition movement.
But we should note that the pro-government crowds also had plenty of fervor. They were out in large numbers as well, and so were riot police. There were several clashes, according to witnesses. Once again, police -- riot police managed to disperse the crowds using tear gas, using gun shots in the air, and once again, video clips showed these riot police beating up people, including women once again. But the opposition movement with another statement today, Heidi, that they are still here and able to mobilize against the government.
COLLINS: Yes, Reza, pretty incredible video to be looking at there. Sure do appreciate it. Reza Sayah for us in Islamabad this morning. Thanks.
Back in the U.S. now, what does the future hold for Chrysler? A major announcement is coming today that could spell the end for some well-known models.
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COLLINS: All right. Let's talk cars for a minute. Opel isn't going anywhere. General Motors has decided to hold onto its European unit. They were supposed to sell Opel and British brand Vauxhall to a Canadian company. But GM says an economic upturn in the auto industry led them to cancel the sale. GM is now planning to restructure its European operations.
Unlike General Motors, we haven't heard much from Chrysler since it emerged from bankruptcy in June. But that changes today with the unveiling of a five-year turnaround plan. CNNmoney.com's Poppy Harlow is in New York to talk a little bit more about this. So, what are we expecting to hear on this, Poppy?
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: You know, Heidi, it seems like the folks at Chrysler have quite a lot to say. What will start in about ten minutes is a marathon six-hour event in Auburn Hills, Michigan with the new management at Chrysler, obviously being taken over by Italian automaker Fiat. They now own a controlling minority stake in Chrysler. They're going to roll out the new lineup.
What we're going to find out is which Fiat models will come to the U.S., coming stateside, some talking about the Alfa Romeo (ph), that sports car coming here. We're also going to find out which Chrysler vehicles, which Dodge vehicles and also which Jeeps, will be phased out. That's what people are really going to really want to look at. Are they going to bring cars here that Americans are going to buy, and will they get rid of the vehicles that they already produce that people just haven't been buying? Heidi.
COLLINS: Will the plans that we hear today actually be enough to save Chrysler?
HARLOW: That we can't determine. The analysts we're talking to call it a race against time. I think that's a good way to put it. Earlier this fall, Fiat's CEO, now in charge of Chrysler, said the Chrysler situation was even worse than he had thought when they took over that share of the company.
Chrysler is really struggling. Just take a look at the numbers here. Both GM and Ford reported year-over-year sales gains in October. Chrysler's down 30 percent last month. When you look at market share in this country, GM and Ford both increased their market share in October. Chrysler could not. They fell to 7.9 percent. You've got falling sales; that means less money at the company.
And what analysts say that Chrysler's product development line, the R & D that goes into these new vehicles, that is hurting. They need mid-sized sedans. They need crossovers to compete with foreign and U.S. automakers. Analysts say redesigning the European Fiat to meet our safety standards here, and honestly, Heidi, cars that people are going to want here. We like big cars, let's be honest. It's going to take a few years, and that is time that Chrysler may not have, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes. All right. We'll be watching it. Poppy Harlow, thank you.
You may not know the man on the right side of your screen, but you definitely know his famous relative on the left. Revelations about President Obama's family from the half-brother he hardly sees.
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COLLINS: Two brothers. One became an engineer and restaurant owner. The other became America's commander in chief. John Vause tracked down President Obama's half-brother and got some surprising insight into the family.
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JOHN VAUSE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's an Obama you probably never heard of. Mark Obama Ndesandjo, the President's half brother. An engineer by trade, he lost his job in the U.S. seven years ago, and moved to the booming city of Shenzhen in China South where he owns a small chain of restaurants, and a scene in this YouTube clip teaches orphans.
MARK OBAMA, BARACK OBAMA'S HALF-BROTHER: In my own way I have tried to make a difference.
VAUSE: After dodging the media for almost a year he is speaking out now. For one, he's written a book, a semi-autobiographical story, called "From Nairobi to Shenzhen." And it that book, he reveals that Barack Obama Sr., the father that he shares with the President of the United States, was often drunk and physically abusive.
OBAMA: My father beat me, he beat my mother, you just do not do that. I shut these thoughts in the back of my mind for many years.
VAUSE: For years, he struggled with that name Obama. Few here ever knew about his famous family connection but then something happened. A year ago, as thousands gathered in Grant Park to celebrate his brother's victory, his own despair, he says, became hope.
OBAMA: I saw the millions of people who loved or supported my brother Barack. And in the process, in some weird way, I came to terms with many things that I had shut out of my life, including the Obama name.
VAUSE (on camera): And over the years, Mark Obama says he only met a few times with his brother but plans to catch up and introduce his new Chinese wife when President Obama makes his first official visit to China later this month.
(voice-over): Being a presidential brother is not easy. Think Billy Carter and Roger Clinton. Mark Obama says now he wants to live his life and tell his own story, not have it told by others.
John Vause, CNN, Guangjo (ph), China.
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COLLINS: I'm Heidi Collins. CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Tony Harris.
