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American Morning
Hawaii Terror Arrest; Final Campaign Push; Time for Mandatory Voting; Obama Promised Recovery; Buffet's Latest Pick: Investor Todd Combs; Maria Shriver's Women Conference; From Couch Potato to Ultraman
Aired October 26, 2010 - 07:58 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and thanks so much for joining us on the Most News in the Morning on this Tuesday, the 26th of October. I'm John Roberts.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kiran Chetry. It could be a crazy day, weather-wise. We have a lot to talk about regarding the weather. A line of thunderstorms sweeping across the Midwest and what could be the worst weather system to hit the area in 70 years. We have Rob Marciano in our Extreme Weather Center tracking this monster storm.
ROBERTS: No texting while debating. A foul called during the tense Florida governor's race debate, seen here live on CNN. An aide who sent a text message to democrat Alex Sink has been fired. With just one week until Election Day. The highlights and another embarrassing moment for both candidates, just ahead.
CHETRY: And you're hired. The oracle of Omaha. Warren Buffett taps a little-known hedge fund manager to be part of his company's massive investment portfolio. So, who is this guy that's got Wall Street's attention this morning?
ROBERTS: Up first, though. A weather system of historic proportions. Right now a line of violent storms crossing the Midwest bringing tornado warnings, thunderstorms, dangerous winds, and possible blizzard conditions along with it.
CHETRY: Rob Marciano tracking it for us from the Extreme Weather Center this morning.
So who is potentially in the crosshairs today as this thing moves along?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: A lot of people, millions, John and Kiran. This is a huge storm and it's affecting a lot of populated areas and that doesn't really include the Northeast.
To give you an idea just how huge, how large this storm is. From the Canadian border almost to the Gulf of Mexico, you see the cloud canopy, that classic comma shape. This is maturing into the cyclone and we've already seen wind gusts with the advancing storm in places in Missouri over 60 miles an hour -- 62-mile-an-hour wind gusts in St. Louis, in Salem, Illinois, 60-mile-an-hour wind, Peoria, Illinois, 50-mile-an-hour.
And this is like 5:00 to 6:00 in the morning. So, not your typical heat of the day type of deal and that thunderstorm line is now advancing off towards the east, and as it does that, we're going to see some more damage reports, I'm sure of it, especially in places east of Chicago, into parts of Indianapolis, maybe Ohio, as well.
These two tornado watches in effect until around noon for each one and but they're likely expanded off towards the east. And as we mentioned, it's been a couple of tornado warnings posted this morning. But the big story, I think, is going to be the amount of wind. That's not only with these thunderstorms that are advancing east.
And, by the way, Chicago, you're about to be hit here in the next 30 to 60 minutes. But behind this front, behind the thunderstorms, will be winds that just wrap around the low that could be up to 60 miles an hour. And we could see wind gusts like that ongoing for several hours.
So, from Minneapolis back through the Northern Plains, that's where the extent of this is going to be and even behind that part of the system, cold enough air to produce some snow and North Dakota, we actually have blizzard warnings that are posted for winds that will produce blinding snow conditions.
High risk for this pink area in Indiana, parts of western Ohio. The Storm Prediction Center has put out that for the potential of seeing thunderstorms that drop tornadoes. High risk is serious business. This afternoon and evening is when it's going to be the danger time for these folks and we'll certainly keep you posted as to how these storms develop.
But this thing is really exploding in intensity as far as the depth of this low pressure system. Winds at the upper level of the atmosphere, 200 miles an hour, a very potent jet stream that's powering this thing across the northern tier. I don't think the Northeast gets a ton of this, but you'll get a taste of it as far as some wind and a little bit of rain. But the core of the system is going to roll up towards the north and east.
John, Kiran, back up to you.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Rob, good information this morning. Thanks so much.
MARCIANO: You bet.
ROBERTS: An embarrassing moment during the big Florida governor's debate. Democrat Alex Sink was caught breaking the rules when a makeup artist showed her a text message during a commercial break. Her opponent Rick Scott called her out for the violation. After the debate, Sink released a statement saying the adviser sent the message out of anger but added it was a foolish thing to do. The adviser has been removed from the campaign.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there was another awkward moment for both of the candidates. Each asked if they knew the minimum wage for the state that they're trying to lead and neither could answer correctly. Here's a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADAM SMITH, ST. PETERSBURG TIMES: What's the minimum wage, Mr. Scott?
RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: $7.55.
SMITH: Ms. Sink, is that right?
ALEX SINK (D), FLORIDA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Yes.
SMITH: $7.25. Close.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, that is a huge issue there in a state that has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the country.
ROBERTS: Well, first, he told President Obama to take his endorsement and, quote, "shove it." And then the Democrat running for governor of Rhode Island was a no-show at an event with the president because the president is withholding an endorsement in the race.
Here's what Caprio said.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
FRANK CAPRIO (D) RHODE ISLAND GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I've never asked President Obama for his endorsement, and what's going on here is really Washington insider politics at its worst. You have two former senators, Senator Chafee and former Senator Obama who, you know, have behind the scenes tried to, you know, put together an endorsement for Senator Chafee, and, you know, who knows, there may be one coming. He can take his endorsement and really shove it as far as I'm concerned.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ROBERTS: The White House says the president will not endorse his party's nominee because the president was endorsed in 2008 by Caprio's opponent, the former Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee, who is now running as an independent.
CHETRY: It was an ugly moment outside of the debate between Kentucky Senate candidates Rand Paul and Jack Conway. This video shows several men wearing Rand Paul t-shirts pushing a MoveOn.org supporter to the ground and then you see one of the men appears to stump on her head or neck. The woman was not seriously injured, but right now, Lexington police are investigating.
ROBERTS: Well, developing overnight -- Iran says it has started loading fuel into the core of its first nuclear power plant and it says sanctions will not stop it. Iran still insists the program is peaceful and purely for the generation of electricity. The United States and our allies, though, fear that Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb.
CHETRY: An American citizen now at the center of an international terrorism investigation. The feds say that he tried to enlist in the U.S. Army so that he could go to Iraq, ditch the U.S., and then fight with Iraqi insurgent forces.
ROBERTS: Our homeland security correspondent, Jeanne Meserve, is live for us in Washington this morning.
Jeanne, exactly, what was this fellow's plan?
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, a 21-year-old American, allegedly tried to wage jihad against the U.S., attempting unsuccessfully to fly to Pakistan, Jordan, and Somalia.
As you mentioned, he also tried unsuccessfully to enlist in the U.S. Army at a recruiting station in New York's Times Square. The criminal complaint says his real intent was to dessert and fight against the U.S. military. He also purported created several Web sites, some of which contained video or links to video of Osama bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born cleric who's been linked to the Fort Hood shooter and the Christmas Day bomber.
One point, Shehadeh allegedly told investigators that he had e- mailed Awlaki on several occasions but had never gotten a response. Shehadeh is charged with making false statements in a matter involving international terrorism but authorities were apparently watching him for several years and there's no indication in the court documents that he posed an imminent threat.
John and Kiran, back to you.
CHETRY: All right. Jeanne Meserve for us this morning -- thanks so much.
Still ahead: the final campaign push until Election Day. Where do things stand with a week to go until America votes? CNN political contributor Donna Brazile will be joining us, as well as former U.S. Representative Susan Molinari -- coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: They're out there debating. They're stumping. They're flying across the country because there's exactly one week to go until Election Day and everyone is trying to put out a last-minute push.
Republicans are talking about a potential surge, a wave in the House. Democrats, though, are far from ready to concede this morning.
We are monitoring all the last-minute rallies, the ads, the debates.
Some interesting moments, by the way, last night in Florida in a faceoff that was moderated by our own John King.
So, here to break it down for us, we have CNN political contributor and Democratic strategist, Donna Brazile. Also with us this morning: former Republican Congresswoman Susan Molinari.
Great to see you both of you this morning.
SUSAN MOLINARI (R), FORMER U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN: Good morning.
DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning.
CHETRY: Donna, let me ask you. I was checking out the balance of power, you know, on our Web site and on "Real Clear Politics," it looks like unless something very strange happens a week out, Republicans are going to take control of the House. Are you ready to sort of say, look, we may not be in control anymore, at least of one house of Congress?
BRAZILE: Hell no. And let me tell you why. One week is a long time in politics.
Look, we know like the weather forecast, you've been talking about this morning, there are storm clouds over parts of the country that we need to win in order to remain in power in terms of the House and the Senate. But it's partly sunny in other places across the country where we're seeing races tighten.
So, my recommendation to Democrats out there, don't throw in the towel. Stop focusing on these national generic polls. Do what -- do want comes naturally, which is to knock on doors, get people out, get them excited, and if we turn out people on Election Day and all of these early voting states, then we can clearly retain control of the House and the Senate.
Look, I know, it's tough out there. I know the storm clouds have been brewing for a long time. History suggests that the Democrats will face a tough political environment, but you know what? We're fighters.
CHETRY: No doubt about that. Michael Steele, however, though, the chairman of the GOP, is saying we're going to have a wave, an unprecedented wave on Election Day.
Susan, is that too early to take a victory lap? Or do you agree with Michael Steele?
MOLINARI: Well, you know, all the numbers -- I was trying to do another weather analogy for Donna. It looks like that hurricane of Republicanism is going to be coming over in a week.
I mean, look, the trends are holding and I think that's why so many Republicans are feeling a bit giddy right now. You know, whether it's the enthusiasm gap, whether it's -- even the gender gap right now is closing to a point that we've never seen in Republican Party politics, when we talk about the independents continuing to split for Republican candidates throughout the United States.
There is a national wave for sure, but there is also, if you do a seat-by-seat analysis, there's a very good chance that there's going to be upward of 50 seats that are going to go to the House of Representatives -- and the Republicans, you know, I have a copy of this. I don't know if you can see this. But, you know, this was "TIME" magazine a year ago, "The Endangered Species."
And so, Republicans are feeling giddy because, quite frankly, we weren't sure that we're going to find our way back into the good graces of the American electorate so quickly.
CHETRY: All right. Well, I don't know if it's the good graces of the American electorate because some of the polling shows that people are just as disgusted with GOP incumbents, as well. But you're right when you talk about the momentum at least right now.
I do want to call your attention, though, to this debate last night in Florida. There were some interesting moments but we're going to show some video right now of what happened when during a break the rules were -- this is a CNN moderated-debate -- and the rules were you could have no texting or devices with you. And there you see the Democratic candidate Alex Sink appearing to be reading a text message that was apparently sent to her by a campaign staffer, the makeup artist just holding it here.
Here's what happened after they came back on air. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA SENATE CANDIDATE: First, Alex, you say you always follow the rules. The rule was no one is supposed to get messages during the break. And your campaign did with an iPad, or an iPod.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: So, what happened after this is that the adviser who sent that campaign message was basically removed from the campaign.
What is both of your takes?
And I'll start with you, Donna. Is this a big deal when you see the margin of error so tight in this race for Florida -- in Florida?
BRAZILE: You know, look, the candidate didn't say, hey, come up, I want to take a sneak preview of my Smartphone. Look, I don't think it's a big deal. This is one of those superficial conversations.
I think Alex Sink has done a terrific job in framing the debate in terms of moving Florida forward, helping Floridians and middle class get jobs, education, health care, reduce the deficit down there. I think she's going to do -- I think she's going to do a terrific job next week.
CHETRY: Yet, Susan, she also has used honesty and integrity as a point to hit back on Rick Scott. She said he, you know, at times, has not played by the rules. Does this hurt her or is this just a minor blip?
MOLINARI: You know, in light of, you know, the record unemployment that we're looking at and home foreclosure and the issues that, you know, Florida has right now, one would think that it's just a blip.
But I can tell you, as a candidate, you go into that last week of campaigning and you take a great big deep breath and you hold it and you don't let it go until election night. And so, you know if -- because as you said, it's so close, this could be a -- you know, one of those thing that if Rick Scott would -- you know, had the capability and he does, financially, he can take advantage of it and throw some mud in her face at the very last minute, at a time when she may not be able to fight back.
CHETRY: So, what you're speaking about is holding your breath, meaning you don't want any gaffes or do anything?
(CROSSTALK)
MOLINARI: You just don't want to make -- that's exactly right.
CHETRY: Right. But, Susan --
BRAZILE: Especially on national TV.
MOLINARI: Right.
CHETRY: Well, they couldn't correctly give the number for the -- how much the minimum wage is in Florida. He said, yes, $7.55 and she said, "Uh-huh" and it's exactly $7.25.
BRAZILE: $7.25, right.
CHETRY: Does that hurt both of them? They're running for CEO of the state?
BRAZILE: Well, you know what hurts the American people? When you have candidates across the country, whether it's Sharron Angle or Mr. Joe Miller in Alaska who want to repeal the minimum wage -- try feeding your family on the minimum wage. Most Americans are just trying to survive during this recession. That's why the stakes are high next week, but the choice is very clear.
I think the American people have to decide if they want to move forward with policies that will continue to get us out of this recession or go back to the mess that the Republicans created over the past eight years. So, this is a choice election. And I hope they decide to do the right thing.
MOLINARI: I think the problem is, Donna, we're not moving off this recession. And you know, the more money that the federal government spends on stimulus packages and Obama care, the higher unemployment numbers and the higher foreclosure numbers go up in places like Florida, and that's why it is going to be a wave election.
BRAZILE: Well, the federal government had to step up because the private sector that the American people and the taxpayers helped to get out of their mess won't come out and help. We've seen some private sector job growth. We need the government and the private sector working together, Susan, so that we can get out of this recession, and we can return to jobs and prosperity.
MOLINARI: I don't disagree with you there, Miss Brazile.
BRAZILE: Thank you.
CHETRY: All right. Good. We will end on a positive note there.
BRAZILE: Go vote, go vote.
MOLINARI: That's positive.
CHETRY: Donna Brazile and Susan Molinari, thanks so much to both of you as always. Great to see you.
MOLINARI: Thank you.
BRAZILE: Thank you.
CHETRY: John.
ROBERTS: And don't forget to join the best political team on television one week from today from the minute the polls open until the final numbers come in, CNN special election coverage starts at 7:00 p.m. eastern and goes all night and the next morning. AMERICAN MORNING will be on an hour early next Monday and Tuesday beginning at 5:00 a.m., and then three hours early the morning after the election. So, we're going to be 24 hours straight with all of our election coverage to make sure you're with us.
Billionaire investor, Warren Buffett, may have just made one of his biggest bets ever, hiring a successor, but who is the 39-year-old investor who he may have tagged to take over Berkshire Hathaway? Christine Romans is on the case coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Well, just in time for Halloween, we're learning who is raking in the most dough from beyond the grave. According to "Forbes," Michael Jackson's estate brought in $275 million. And that was enough to place him in the top of the annual list. Elvis Presley came in at number two with $60 million.
CHETRY: Go the king. Both kings.
Well, it is now 20 minutes past the hour. Christine Romans is here. She's "Minding Your Business" this morning. Hey, Christine.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I'm here to talk to you about the oracle, not the king. Yes, the Oracle of Omaha. Warren Buffet, as you know, known for his folksy way of talking about the economy and about business. He is one of America's most famous stock pickers. He's made a pick of his own. He's picked somebody to be we think the heir apparent to this enterprise which is called Berkshire Hathaway.
The young man he has chosen was born in 1971. His name is Todd Combs. He's a 39-year-old hedge fund manager from Greenwich, Connecticut who lives now in Greenwich, Connecticut for a company called Castle Point Capital. He's been there for five years. He knows financial services, and he knows insurance. As you know, Greenwich is the hedge fund Mecca. It's a long way from Omaha and Nebraska. That's for sure.
But a lot of people watching trying to figure out who Warren Buffett will choose. He's got somebody he works with now named Charlie Munger who's no spring chicken himself. So, you know that Warren Buffett who turned 80 this year has been looking for someone and been speculating to be someone young, someone who could take the helm and be there for a very, very long time and drive the ship. It's better to have way (ph).
The tough thing for Todd Combs, a Colombia-educated investor, we should say, is that this is a very big enterprise, Berkshire Hathaway. Even the chunk of business that he's going to get I think is something like -- hundreds of millions of dollars that he's going to be investing right away. That is -- it's difficult to turn a ship like that. When you're a hedge fund manager, you can move very quickly. You can buy and sell, sell short.
You can move very quickly with small amounts of money and take turns like that in the market. It'll be harder to work for big chunk of money for Berkshire Hathaway. So, Todd Combs, we don't have a picture of him. This is how -- not even on our radar.
CHETRY: So exclusive.
ROMANS: Right.
ROBERTS: We do know, though, that he is a (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
ROMANS: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE) as spring chicken. Tres bien.
CHETRY: By the way, Norway, you're talking about this as well, at the top of the prosperity index. This is interesting.
ROMANS: That's right. This new index of company is in prosperity. It ranks a whole bunch of other things, including wellness and health care and cost of living and standard of living. Norway is on the top of this as measures country's economic growth and happiness. Apparently, the place you want to be is Scandinavia.
CHETRY: Wow.
ROMANS: Because number one is Norway, number two is Denmark, number three is Finland. The United States and Canada are further down the list.
CHETRY: Yes, we're number ten.
ROMANS: We made the top ten.
CHETRY: At least we're on the top ten.
ROMANS: The prosperity index.
ROBERTS: I guess when it's winter ten months of the year, you got nothing else to do but you work, right?
ROMANS: I know, but you pay so much in taxes. I think that you can take these trips to, you know, warm places. You can say (ph) doctor to prescribe it. It's a whole -- I got the second cousins. I know about this.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Christine.
ROMANS: You're welcome.
CHETRY: So, should U.S. citizens be forced to vote or face fines? Well, in Australia, anyone who doesn't vote has to pony up 20 bucks. Is it effective? We're going to check in with Carol Costello. Twenty-three minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back. Twenty-six minutes past the hour right now. There's nothing new in our elections. In fact, it's almost become a tradition. Staying away from the polls on Election Day despite to get out the vote efforts, but, some are asking should we be required by law to vote much like jury duty?
ROBERTS: Our Carol Costello was live in Washington with our series, "Does Your Vote Count." Mandatory voting, will that fly here?
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, I don't know. It sounds so un-American, doesn't it? But it's not like Americans have ever voted a huge numbers. We're just not into that apparently. Our watershed election this century, not in 2008, you know that historic election or 1980, but in 1960, the dramatic exciting election between Richard Nixon and JFK.
Drew not 90 percent, 80 percent, or 70 percent, but 64 percent of eligible voters. Some say that's deplorable. So, how do you get more Americans to vote? Why not try what they do in Australia? Make voting mandatory.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Slide it in for me, please.
COSTELLO (voice-over): Imagine, if you do not cast a ballot, you get slapped with a big, fat fine.
WILLIAM GALSON, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: People are frustrated. They're angry.
COSTELLO: William Galson from the Brookings Institution thinks voting ought to be a mandatory civic duty. And before you say that's crazy, consider this.
GALSON: When you get a notice to show up for jury duty, that's not an invitation. You know, that's a polite requirement.
COSTELLO: And he says let's face it. While elections officials have tried to increase voter turnout by offering early voting or enabling people to register at the DMV, they've only managed to increase turnout by 1 or 2 percentage points. Not great when you look at the numbers.
In 1962, almost 50 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the midterm elections. In 1986, 38 percent voted. In 2006, 40 percent. In a country that embraces Democracy, the diminishing turnout makes you wonder. So, we asked why.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Laziness. You know, honestly, just laziness, you know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They don't really understand the way that government and policy affects them and their lives personally.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you don't vote, then you're really just -- you have no right to complain about anything that goes on in this country.
COSTELLO: That brings us back to mandatory voting. If people don't vote because they're lazy, then why not force them to perform their civic duty? A conservative columnist, Debra J. Sanders of the San Francisco Chronicle sites California's ballot pamphlet as a strike against mandatory voting. It's thick with candidate choices and tax propositions. Complicated stuff, she says.
DEBRA J. SANDERS, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE: I know it sounds great to say that we'd like to have 100 percent voting in the United States, but when you look at the reality, if people aren't paying attention, I don't know that you want to have them voting on really complicated issues.
COSTELLO: Voting in America isn't likely to become mandatory any time soon. As one elections official told me, it would be un- American. Just like others say it's un-American to stay home on Election Day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO (on-camera): I asked for your comments on our blog, CNN.com/AMFix, then void (ph) as you deliver. I'm going to read some of the comments, John and Kiran, because they're pretty good this morning. This one is from Nate. He says I'm for mandatory voting so long as election days are also mandatory holidays. That way people can get off work and get to the polls to vote. This is my favorite, though. This is from Rob D. So far, from listening to the report, I don't vote because I'm lazy and uninformed, he says. Now, let me tell you why I don't vote. Voting is a privilege that should not be taken lightly. My vote is worth too much to waste on unqualified candidates. By not voting, you send a message that the status quo is not acceptable. If the populous is really fed up with incumbents in Washington, then why would they vote on more of the same?
This one from Pamela. I like the idea of mandatory voting. I'm a Democrat, and I think that those on the right will be very against this as they are always trying to suppress the vote like that woman from California just said, this stuff is very complicated. I don't want them to vote on this. Keep the comments coming, CNN.com/AMFix.
ROBERTS: It would be great if we had a high percentage of an informed electorate out there voting, you know, in all of these elections, wouldn't it?
COSTELLO: Well, in presidential elections, it's easier to vote because you pick between the candidates, media covers it a lot.
You can understand maybe what the candidates are telling you but when you have a lot of tax propositions, for example, in California, it is difficult to wrap your mind around.
Frankly, some people don't really care about who the insurance commissioner is so why turn out to vote for something like that? That's what some people say.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, well, we know for sure this is a very heated midterm election and interesting to see the turnout this time around. A lot of people seem to be paying attention.
COSTELLO: True and states like highly contested states like Arizona, Nevada, Florida and Ohio, they expect 60 percent of turn out and that's considered a large amount of eligible voters, just 60 percent. Go USA.
CHETRY: Yes!
ROBERTS: Thanks, Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure.
ROBERTS: Coming up tomorrow on AMERICAN MORNING, electronic voting machines. They're the wave of the future or are they? How easily can they be hacked? We put the new technology to the test tomorrow in the series "Does Your Vote Count?"
CHETRY: It's 31 minutes past the hour. We take a look at our top stories now. A huge, intense and quickly-moving line of storms crossing the Midwest threatening to spawn violent thunderstorms, high winds and isolated tornadoes and some places blizzard conditions,70- mile a-hour winds have already been recorded in the storm. It will head north some time tomorrow and in the wake more dangerous winds, some sustained up to 60 miles per hour.
ROBERTS: Harrison Ford joining delegations from 192 countries this week in Japan to focus on the loss of animals, plants and their habitats. Earlier I asked Ford who's also the vice chairman of the Conservation International why it's so important to focus on biodiversity.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRISON FORD, ACTOR, VICE CHAIRMAN, CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL: We can't, you know, create the technical solutions to provide ourselves with supply of fresh water, with clean air, with healthy soils, with pollinators for our food crops, with a potential for pharmaceuticals to address disease in the future. These are things bio diversity provides us. These are the free services of nature.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Ford also said it's important to get the United States to step up to the plate to protect the environment because we are one of three countries that have not signed on to the convention for biological diversity.
CHETRY: Well, it is just a week until Election Day and in a embarrassing moment in one of the most watched races in the country. It's the Florida governor's race.
Democrat Alex Sink was caught sneaking a look at the cell phone in between breaks during last night's debate seen live on CNN. That was against the rules. Her opponent Rick Scott then called her out on it. It was a message from an aide. The Sink campaign says that the aide has now been fired.
ROBERTS: It's still issue number one, the economy and nowhere more than jobs starved Elkhart, Indiana, a place where President Obama pitched the stimulus plan. A place that you may know as the RV capital of the world. So how are they feeling there in Elkhart seven days out?
CHETRY: Don Lemon is there. He joins us live this morning. Have things improved, Don?
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, not really. They haven't improved. John and Kiran, good morning to you. I'm sure you guys -- when I was a kid, my dad -- I was so excited. My dad took me an RV park, right?
He decided to get an RV instead of one of those campers that you put on the back of the truck. I was so excited to go to that park and then I didn't realize, John and Kiran, is that there were people who were building those RVs and that was their livelihood and that's how they made their money.
Well not so much anymore and no person personifies that more than Ed Neufeldt. He's 62 years old and then just one day out of the blue, his company came to him and said, you know, we have to lay you off and 1,400 other people.
And that's really the way things have been going here. Most of the people for the industry, as you said John, it was the RV capital of the world, but they got laid off. So Ed Neufeldt supported the president's stimulus, even introduced him when he came here three times.
The president was here three times. Ed Neufeldt introduced him once and supported him. Now not so much anymore especially since he lost his job two years ago and he hasn't been able to find one. Here's his story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ED NEUFELDT, ELKHART RESIDENT: The day I met President Obama, I was extremely nervous. I didn't even think I could give the speech I was supposed to give, but I got through it OK. Kind of ironic that I'm cleaning a building out that I used to work for and they never hired me back and they just filed bankruptcy and left all the material here.
One thing that I really remember was he put his hand on my shoulder and he said, Ed, I'm going to get you back to work. I'm back to work, but it's not because of the stimulus plan and President Obama. It's just because of myself motivation.
I work three part time jobs and I just -- I did it on my own. On my desk at home, it's a picture of President Obama and I shaking hands and it's a picture of my wife and Glenn Beck. I don't want to down or be critical on everything President Obama's doing.
But I think that the right is going to have to move a little to the left and the left has to move a little bit to the right. Kind of like when Bill Clinton was in and we have to get together and get the country going again or we're going to be -- we're really going to be hurting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So listen. That's the problem the president is facing and what everyone says, the economy, the economy, the economy. At one point here in Elkhart, unemployment was 18 percent. Can you imagine that? John and Kiran, Ed's found work, but not in the industry he worked in for 30 years.
ROBERTS: All right, Don Lemon this morning for us in Elkhart, Indiana with a look at the hardships lingering there. Don, thanks.
CHETRY: It's a shame though because that's a really cool RV. You see that thing?
ROBERTS: Well, maybe if Don would have buy that RV, a couple of people would go to work.
CHETRY: Exactly, consider it, Don. Still ahead, California's first lady Maria Shriver is putting together one of the best political events of the year. She's done it since 2004, it's the powerhouse women's conference, an event packed with fabulous women and a couple fabulous guys, as well. We're going to be speaking with her live coming up, 36 minutes past the hour.
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CHETRY: It's 40 minutes past the hour now. Welcome back. Some of the world's biggest stars and most powerful women are gathered in Long Beach, California, right now for Maria Shriver's Annual Women's Conference.
First lady Michelle Obama will kick things off this morning. Oprah is also going to be there, of course. Joining us is California's first lady Maria Shriver and "The New York Times" columnist Nicholas Kristof who's been dubbed one of the very important men who get it.
Great to see both of you this morning.
MARIA SHRIVER, FIRST LADY OF CALIFORNIA: Good morning.
NICHOLAS KRISTOF, "NEW YORK TIMES": Delighted to be here.
CHETRY: Well, I want to start with you, Maria, because this is interesting. For you, it's going to be your last conference. The governor is heading out of office, of course.
You started hosting this in 2004. This year it seems to have exploded, 15,000 tickets, you're sold out. As you look back over the years, how much progress than when you first started this?
SHRIVER: Well, what Nick and I were just talking about that. I think kind of all the planets have come together because businesses now understand the importance of women, how they control 80 percent of consumer decisions. I think people understand this is bipartisan and nonpartisan. I think the world understands the message of empowering women and girls around the world here in the United States.
Certainly Nick has done an incredible job writing that message and bringing that message to all of us and I think women are understanding and speaking up their power, as consumers, as bread winners and as caretakers in the American system.
CHETRY: Nick, it is interesting. You and your wife co-wrote "Half the Sky" and you talk, when we had you on the show many times, about how especially educating, but also empowering women around the world is really essential to solving our world problems. How does that play into your role here at the conference?
KRISTOF: Well, I'm actually on a panel with a group of men talking about men's roles in this and may seem odd to have a group of men speaking at a women's conference. But I think Maria and I think we all think at the end of the day if you only involve women in women's issues then you immediately marginalize them and this has to be something to involve men and women alike.
These issues confront all of us and the holocaust wasn't just a Jewish issue. Civil rights problems weren't just a black issue and when so many girls are denied a right to go to school around the world, when there's so much sexual violence, that's not just women's issues. That's a human rights issue challenging all of us.
CHETRY: Absolutely and of course, one way of empowerment certainly is through the vote, a lot of people looking ahead at 2010, the midterms just a week away.
Maria, it is interesting. In your state in California, you have a governor's race between two women and you also have, of course, a Senate race with -- I'm sorry.
You have a governor's race and senate race with two women. Do you think that the GOP is turning a corner when it comes to getting more women to vote for their candidates?
SHRIVER: Well, I don't think. I think you obviously have Meg Whitman coming here today. Jerry Brown and most of the women I've spoken to here who are Democrats and Republicans, they cross all ages.
They're talking about issues and not gender. They're not talking about voting for a woman because she's a woman. They're not talking about voting for someone because they're a Democrat or Republican.
They're talking about voting for people who understands the issues that are being discussed at their kitchen table. People come up to me saying what are their work policy issues and the policies for elder care?
What are their policies for education? I don't care if they're a man, a woman, a Republican or Democrat. I want to know that they get it. I want to know that they'll get something done. That's how I want to use my vote and I think political figures come to this event because they understand that women control these elections not just here in California but across the nation.
CHETRY: Doesn't it matter if a woman's in charge? Does it matter if the Senate seat held by a woman or the governorship is held by a woman when it comes to focusing more attention on women's concerns, Maria?
SHRIVER: Well, I think women, you know, understand a lot of the kind of multiple challenges that they face whether it's in parenting, bread winning, caretaking and I think they're at the epicenter of all of these issues, but I think it depends on the woman and depends on the man.
I think it depends where they come from, what their experiences are, their life experiences and I don't -- I don't think, you know, I think maybe four years ago everybody talking about should I vote for a woman because she's a woman?
I don't hear that now. I hear people say, you know, it's really nuts and bolts for me. It is about job. It's about economic security. It's about flexible workplace policies. It's about men and women and they want the same things.
CHETRY: On a personal note, what's next for the Schwarzenegger Shriver household? I mean, this was a dynamic team. The governor, first lady not from the same political party, you guys clearly made it work. What is next?
SHRIVER: Yes. That's a challenge. I don't know. I was just talking to Nick about it. I want to continue to use my voice to empower men and women. I think that's really the next stage of this.
People now understand as we were saying businesses understand the importance of the female consumer, but I think all of the issues that this conference supports. Be it domestic violence, struggling out of poverty, education, non-profit work, that men and women really are on the same page in conferences and gatherings like this as writers like Nick need to bring them together so that we all understand that we're having the same conversation.
CHETRY: Well, it's wonderful to get a chance to talk to you, First Lady of California, Maria Shriver and Nick Kristoff, columnist of the New York Times and author of "Half the Sky". Good luck. I hope you guys have a great time.
SHRIVER: Thank you.
KRISTOFF: Thanks so much.
CHETRY: Sure -- John.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Kiran.
Bracing for severe weather, a storm could bring hurricane-force winds, tornadoes, even blizzard conditions across the Midwest. Yes, you've got the whole ball of wax in a nutshell today.
Rob Marciano tracking the storm and he's got important information coming up right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Live shot of Chicago this morning where right now rain -- rain, wind and 68 degrees. That will be rain, wind and 68 degrees. I'm a little tongue-tied this morning because there is some really horrible weather there in the Windy City today.
CHETRY: Yes, things look pretty calm from that shot. That's not the case if you take a look at what Rob has been tracking which is where the storm could go and just how intense it could get.
Forty-nine minutes past the hour right now. He is in the Extreme Weather Center and you've got new warnings up, too.
MARCIANO: Yes a couple of new tornado warnings; this line of thunderstorms continue to impress. We have another -- a number of severe thunderstorm warnings that we -- pretty much up and down the line as these things crosses the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and heading across parts of western Indiana and in through Illinois.
We've got tornado warnings now out for Montgomery County and Park County in Central Indiana. This particular cell is moving northeasterly at a striking rate of 80 miles an hour. And then this cell just south of Chicago, that's a tornado warning that's in effect for the next 20 minutes or so for Newton counties there.
So, Chicago proper, no warnings out for you but certainly some heavy rain and thunder and lightning right now. The next 20 to 30 minutes it will a little bit dicey for the morning rush and then we'll get into some bits of clearing albeit brief. Tornado watches in effect for this line of thunderstorms that suppresses (ph) to the east. This will be expanded eastward and then the backside of this is no bargain either.
We're going to get sustained winds as these -- the mother lode actual cyclone that's producing this weather continues to intensify and makes it way towards the Canadian border.
Forty to sixty knot mile an hour wind gusts possible here from Chicago back through Minneapolis really for the next 12 to 24 hours. We'll have the potential of seeing these kinds of wind gusts and we've already seen wind gusts well over 40 miles an hour in Chicago proper. And the front hasn't even come through yet.
Behind the front is cold air and believe it or not we have blizzard warnings that are posted for parts of North Dakota. We won't see a tremendous amount of snow with this and not a whole a lot will stick to the ground but it will be blinding and it will be blowing sideways. So blizzard -- blizzard warnings have been posted for this storm system.
All right. Ahead of it later today, once we get a little bit of sun, baking some of these terrain and we're obviously already starting to see the severe weather across western parts of Indiana as it progresses towards the east and to Ohio, high risk of thunderstorms that may very well produce tornadoes. A serious situation we'll be tracking throughout the afternoon and evening.
John, Kiran, back up to you.
ROBERTS: All right, it's good to have you the case this morning. Rob, thanks so much.
MARCIANO: You bet.
ROBERTS: Well, he's one of the 25 fittest guys in the world according to "Men's Fitness Magazine". But just a few years ago Rich Roll had a few of his own. He was 50 pounds overweight. How did he get in the best shape of his life? We're going to meet him coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: It's 54 minutes after the hour and it's time for your "A.M. House Call" stories about your health.
If you're looking for inspiration to turn your life around, look no further than Rich Roll. Rich was a bona fide couch potato. Over 40, 50 pounds overweight, he could hardly make it up the stairs without getting out of breath.
Now, "Men's Fitness Magazine" calls him one of the 25 fittest men in the world. Here's Dr. Sanjay Gupta with today's "Human Factor".
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ultraman -- to earn the title you have to beat thousands of other competitors in a six-mile swim followed by a 260-mile bike ride and then a 53-mile run. Rich Roll, a lawyer and a father of four is one of them.
RICH ROLL, SHED 50 POUNDS ON VEGAN DIET: I can probably put this over my jeans.
GUPTA: But it wasn't always so. This is Rich four years ago; 50 pounds overweight.
ROLL: You know, I had a moment on the stairs where I was like -- I had to stop and take a break before I could get to the top of the stairs. I was winded.
GUPTA: That night, he committed to change. And his transformation to Ultraman began.
ROLL: I couldn't have imagined it. I didn't think it was possible. It wasn't even anything that was on my mind.
GUPTA (on camera): You were sitting on the couch watching television?
ROLL: Yes.
GUPTA: Eating pizza. Cheetos, a lot of dairy?
ROLL: Yes, a lot of dairy.
GUPTA (voice-over): The bad food, well, that was one of the first things to go.
(On camera): This -- this was a big part of your -- your change I mean, in the kitchen?
ROLL: This is the -- this is the cockpit.
GUPTA: That's the cockpit. ROLL: This is the HQ.
GUPTA (voice-over): Today, he fuels his body on a completely plant-based vegan diet, eating fruits and vegetables as close to their natural state as possible. No more meats, no cheese, no egg, no fish, no dairy.
The number of calories that you probably burn in any given day, especially when you're training hard has got to be immense. You -- you -- you feel that this -- this can satisfy what you need?
ROLL: Oh, I mean, I know it can because it has.
GUPTA: He exercises on average about two hours a day. Roll credits his high performance and new vitality to the diet.
ROLL: After a training session, the most important thing to help your body recover is to get electrolytes, replenish your glycogen stores and provide your body with proteins.
GUPTA: Typical breakfast, a blend of beets, kale, pumpkin seed, apple juice.
When you talk about super food they make grand promises in terms of what this food can do. You are proof that it can be done. That it actually happens.
ROLL: I can say that I have never felt better. My body has never performed better as an athlete and as a father and a human being.
Cheers.
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Malibu, California.
That's good.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Kids' hearts are breaking everywhere over the next story. Snow days may be gone forever in western Ohio. Should bad weather ever strike, a school district in western Ohio is telling students that you have to log on from home and take classes on the web.
CHETRY: Word is if the program's successful, the entire state could follow suit and soon the country may fall, as well. We wonder if teachers will get a barrage of letters saying the storm took out our family's Internet connection.
I was just thinking, you know, you have to innovate. It used to be, the dog ate my homework. Now it's our wifi connection's all messed up --
ROBERTS: Well, the reason that they snow days is because if buses can't get all the students to school, they say ok, not fair. Nobody goes to school. If one person's -- if one family's Internet connection is out because the power line comes down, does that mean they have to cancel the Internet classes?
CHETRY: Yes, always thinking.
ROBERTS: We're on your side.
CHETRY: We want you guys to be able to have a little bit of fun, get out there and jump on your sled. Right? You've got the rest of your life to learn.
ROBERTS: We have to get out of here. Thanks so much for joining us. We'll see you again tomorrow morning.
CHETRY: And Kyra Phillips joins us now.
