Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
New E-mails, Insights on Libya Attack; GOP Candidate Ignites Abortion Flap; Presidential Sprint to the Finish; Bank of America Accused of Bias; Campaign Blitz; Late-Night's Campaign Laughs; World Series Begins Tonight
Aired October 24, 2012 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I appreciate that. Thank you, Soledad.
Stories we're watching right now in the NEWSROOM. Those new e-mails and new questions of the murder of those Americans in Libya. CNN uncovering e-mails suggesting the White House knew way more than what it was saying at the time.
Controversy on the campaign trail. Another Republican candidate has to dial back comments on rape and abortion. It's a big race. And even Mitt Romney is forced to weigh in on this one.
Bias accusation. Did a major bank take better care of foreclosed homes in white neighborhoods than in black and Latino neighborhoods? And is it happening where you live?
Baseball fans get pumped. The World Series begins tonight. Tigers versus Giants. We'll talk to two of their former pitching greats. Jack Morris. I love him. And Kirk Raider.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And I'm Rob Marciano in your hurricane headquarters. Sandy is almost a hurricane. Going to strike Jamaica. Tropical storm watches up for the southeast coast of Florida and maybe it impacts across the entire East Coast.
Forecast coming up. The NEWSROOM starts right now.
COSTELLO: Good morning to you. Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Carol Costello.
We begin with new revelations that could cast a large shadow on the presidential race just 13 days before the election. They involve the deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya and new questions about what the White House knew and when it knew it.
As you might remember, the Obama administration has been under fire for being slow to label the military-like siege an act of terrorism. Four Americans died in that attack, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens.
So here's the latest. CNN has obtained government e-mails showing that just two hours, just two hours after the attack, both the FBI and the State Department were told that an Islamist group was taking credit. Here is one of those e-mails. It says, quote, "Embassy Tripoli reports the group Ansar al-Sharia claimed responsibility on Facebook and Twitter and has called for an attack on Embassy Tripoli, " end quote.
This morning the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MIKE ROGERS, (R-MI) HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: This was a clearly a targeted place. This is somewhere that they wanted to have some terrorist success on the compound. So what you saw in e-mails in that real time was a real description. And if you notice, there was no talk of demonstrations or other things. And it was clearly very early identified with a terrorist affiliate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: CNN's Zain Verjee covers the State Department for us. She joins us now from London.
Zain, first question, how accurate is intelligence moments -- moments after an attack like this, you know, in spite of those e-mails?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, you know, intelligence experts will tell you, Carol, that in an event like that, of an attack or any kind of disaster situation, that you're often going to get a lot of mixed reports coming in. So what they say is that they analyze it, they pass it along but they treat it very, very cautiously.
So that's the first thing to understand about a situation like this. Because you never really sure, but what these e-mails actually shed light on is that there's a clear indication that in one of the e-mails that the White House was aware that there was a connection to terrorism.
COSTELLO: And that's the doozy of my next question. So give us a sense of how this type of intelligence, including these e-mails, are passed along to the president. How many details would he have known and then the vice president, too?
VERJEE: Well, it's likely that both the president and the vice president would have been briefed. Now whether or not that they saw the specific e-mails or the specific times they came in, that's a question mark. And that's probably unlikely. They probably would have been kept briefed and in the time that this information was coming through.
Now if you look at one of the e-mails, it's stamped 6:07 Eastern Time. And on that particular e-e-mail, the White House situation room's address is on it. And there's a subject line that says "Update two, Ansar al-Sharia claims responsibility for the Benghazi attack."
So at that moment there was a clear indication in one of those e-mails and it's likely the president would have been briefed. Now all of this is so significant right now. Because firstly, it shed light -- it sheds light on what happened in Benghazi, but it's also become part of this very volatile, political debate. And the question that's going to be asked all day today and at the White House is why did you not come out and say that there was a clear link to terrorism that was planned when you knew two hours, and these e-mails are proof -- rather than come up with a -- with the video story and say that it was a -- it was a triggered by an anti-Islam video.
But again, I just want to underscore, too, that, you know, cautiousness in a situation like that may have been what were on their minds.
COSTELLO: Yes, it's already started, Zain, too. Because in light of this new information, everybody is wondering, will Mitt Romney pounce? And what will all the president's men and women say about what they knew when?
We already know what Obama's U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said five days after the attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUSAN RICE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: Putting together the best information that we have available to us today. Our current assessment is that what happened in Benghazi was, in fact, initially a spontaneous reaction to what had just transpired hours before in Cairo, almost a copycat of the demonstrations against our facility in Cairo, which were prompted, of course, by the video.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: All right. So what's the White House saying today? Chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin joins us by phone from Davenport, Iowa.
The White House has responded, Jessica. What's it saying?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, Carol, they're telling me that this was not, as you describe it, an intelligence assessment at all. What is it is reporting from the ground by people there at the State Department ops center, explaining what they're getting information on as it comes in.
Ansar al-Sharia, they claimed, took credit on its Facebook page that was publicly available. And so they passed that in an e-mail saying that Ansar al-Sharia is taking credit on its Facebook page. And then Ansar al-Sharia subsequently denied responsibility in a statement -- that they also were forwarded. Only that e-mail and that information came across obviously, it wasn't late (INAUDIBLE). And so there is all sorts of conflicting information that comes in, in the moments and hours after this kind of attack.
And the president isn't going out with the kind of open information that comes in from this kind of source, which is not an intelligence report, but bases what he says on the actual intelligence reports, which are analyzed and scrubbed, and decided by intelligence professionals and that they're two very different things. And that they maintain that they were -- the president always being truthful and forthright with the public based on what he was getting from the intelligence community and intelligence professionals -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Gotcha. I'm sure much more will come out on this subject matter later on in the day.
Jessica Yellin, reporting live for us.
Another day, another explosive controversy over rape and abortion. This time an Indiana candidate for U.S. Senate endorsed by Mitt Romney said life is a gift from God even if that life is created through rape.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD MOURDOCK, (R) U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: I believe that life begins at conception. The only exception I have for -- to have an abortion is in that case, is the life of the mother. I just -- I struggle with it myself for a long time but I came to realize life is that gift from God. And I think even with life begins in that horrible situation of rape that it is something that God intended to happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: After the debate, Mourdock backed off the comments and said rape is a horrible thing and that people are twisting his words. And the people who are twisting his words are absurd and sick. Even so his comments erupted online. And reenergized the so-called war on women. Democrats quick to pounce because don't you know it, Mitt Romney endorsed Richard Mourdock for Senate just a few days ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY, (R) PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: This fall I'm supporting Richard Mourdock for Senate. As state treasurer Richard worked for Governor Daniels to balance the budget and make government more accountable. As senator, Richard will be the 51st vote to repeal and replace government-run health care.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Our senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash is in New York this morning.
So, Dana, Democrats say Romney should denounce Mourdock. Will he?
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Unclear if that's going to happen at this point. But he certainly did distance himself from Mourdock. In fact I can show you a quote from the Romney campaign spokeswoman, Andrea Saul. Said -- she said Governor Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock's comments and they do not reflect his views.
Now they don't actually reflect his views because the governor, when it comes to the issue of abortion does believe there should be exceptions -- should be an exception for rape, so he is right about that. Of course politically the other reason why they put that out is because women are pretty much the number one target of both campaigns in these final couple of weeks and the last thing the Romney campaign wants is for some distraction in a state that should have been something that was a gimme for Republicans to erupt in her -- with women.
On that -- when it comes to just Mourdock in particular, you remember what happened with Todd Akin, the Republican candidate in Missouri. He made a comment about rape and about what women's bodies could or couldn't do afterwards, and the Republican Party came down on him like a hammer and they really tried to push him out.
That is not happening in this case. Primarily because they are very different kinds of comments. And that is a point that I've heard from Republicans this morning. It is a point that the -- that the head of the committee trying to elect Republicans to the Senate made as well. Jon Cornyn, I'll read you what he said. He said, "To try to construe his words as anything other than a restatement of that belief, the belief of life, is irresponsible and ridiculous. In fact, rather than condemning him for his position, as some in his party have, I commend Congressman Donnelly for his support of life."
Congressman Donnelly, Carol, is the Democrat running for Senate in Indiana, and he is somebody who is anti-abortion and even supported the so-called Akin amendment back in Congress.
So this is a different kind of issue and he is not being thrown under the bus as Todd Akin did, because he -- Republicans believe he's truly did just not speak correctly about something that many, many Republicans believe in, which is there should not be an exception for rape when it comes to abortion.
COSTELLO: Dana Bash, reporting live from New York this morning.
This presidential marathon is now a sprint to the finish as Barack Obama and Mitt Romney crisscross the country, trying to persuade voters they are the best choice for America and it's getting nasty.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is about trust. There is no more serious issue in a presidential campaign than trust. The person who leads this country, you've got to have some confidence that he or she means what he or she says. That if they tell you they're going to do something or that this is what they believe, that they're going to actually try to do it.
ROMNEY: Look at the Obama campaign. It's reduced to talking about smaller and smaller things. They're talking about saving characters on "Sesame Street." They're talking about silly word games. Day in and day out there's one attack after the other and attacks on us. That does not make an agenda for the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. So ponder this. Something elusive, mythical and never realized could actually happen. An electoral tie. Wouldn't that be awful?
And John Avlon is the senior political columnist for "Newsweek" and the "Daily Beast" and a CNN contributor.
An electoral tie. That means we could wake up the day after and endure the agony of no one winning. Say it ain't so?
JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Oh, it could be so. It's unlikely, but it's possible the morning after the election, our long national nightmare would not be over, that this would go on, in fact, until December 17th when the electoral college meets.
Here's how it works, Carol. And again, this is -- this is a nightmare scenario, but it is possible, 269-269, both candidates deadlocked, neither reaching that magical 272 electoral vote mark. And there are ways it could happen. Not only the states splitting their electoral votes as Nebraska does, but if, for example, President Obama were to win states like Virginia, but Romney were to win Florida and Ohio, mathematically, it could happen.
And then it would be decided -- the election would be decided both by the members of the electoral college and the House of Representatives, which remember right now it controlled by Republicans. So all of a sudden, this would get ugly fast. And it's only happened once before in our country in 1824, a corrupt bargain that elected John Quincy Adams president. So it has happened. It is unlikely, but, boy, would it be ugly.
COSTELLO: It would be so ugly. I mean it's like thinking about it makes my head explode, frankly. You know, there are other -- more fun ways of picking the president. Halloween, you know, Spirit Halloween, the nation's largest seasonal Halloween retailer says Obama will win the election because, frankly, the Obama Halloween mask is outselling the Romney Halloween mask 60-40 and then there's the 7-Eleven coffee cup poll where the president is ahead, 59-41 percent.
I know these are really silly polls but I don't know. History --
AVLON: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
AVLON: They are the opposite of scientific. I think that's fair to say. But if you're looking for some underlying indicator -- besides, you know, who make makes a better Halloween mask, O mean, President Obama has been, to some extent, a pop culture president. He's been a figure of pop culture fascination. That was certainly true in 2008, and it continues. Whereas Mitt Romney's argument has been less about the transformational nature of him as president and more about kicking Obama out of office. That's where his enthusiasm of his supporters come from. So I'm not stunned that these sort of pop culture measures, Halloween masks, coffee cups at 7-Eleven might edge towards Obama but again it doesn't really mean anything except that. But it's a fun measure.
COSTELLO: It is a fun measure. And you know we've got to brighten the mood in this election because it's turned so negative.
John Avlon, thanks so much. You're going to be back with us later in the NEWSROOM. We appreciate that.
OK. Something -- Big Bird. Let's tall about Big Bird because he's become big this election season. And he's become big business this Halloween. Demand for the giant yellow costumes through the roof after the Sesame Street character became the symbol of Mitt Romney's fight against government subsidies. The official suppliers said the costume sold out within days and doesn't expect to have any more before Halloween because its Big Bird costumes are made in China.
Halloween could be a wet party for some trick-or-treaters along the East Coast. It's all due to the tropical storm named Sandy that's getting stronger.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Eighteen minutes past the hour. Time to check to our top stories.
A possible break in the violence in Syria. The government agrees to a four-day ceasefire for an upcoming Muslim holiday. That's according to a U.N. special envoy who says some Syrian rebels have also agreed to the, quote, "principle of a ceasefire".
Here at home, a U.S. Airways baggage handler is under arrest, accused of stealing $20,000 worth of new $100 bills that were about being shipped to a Federal Reserve. The FBI says the 25-year-old Alex Price confessed and led law enforcement to the money, which they say was stashed in his car.
In money news, some of the nation's debt collectors might be under the spotlight starting January 2nd. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will oversee and regulate the largest U.S. collection agencies. The bureau's director says the group wants to make sure that 30 million Americans facing debt collection are treated fairly.
Charges of bias against Bank of America. The bank is accused of doing a better job of maintaining foreclosed homes in white neighborhoods than in black and Latino neighborhoods.
Alison Kosik is following the story at the New York Stock Exchange. Tell us more, Alison.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: So Carol, this is all coming from the National Fair Housing Alliance, which has filed a complaint with the Department of Housing of Urban Development. The group is now adding more cities, in fact, three more cities to this growing list of places that Bank of America is accused of discriminating against. Now, what this filing does is accuse B of A of taking better care of foreclosed homes that are in white neighborhoods compared with minority ones.
What the alliance said it did to figure this out was did an undercover investigation and found boarded up windows, trash and overgrown grass, all that stuff was much more common in those minority areas and there were fewer for sale signs up on those properties as well. And, as I said, the list is really growing of where this is happening. This week's update added Chicago, Indianapolis and Milwaukee to the list, bringing the total number of cities in the complaint to 13. They include Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Orlando, among others -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Of course, you could see why people would be so upset about this, especially if you're black or Latino. Not only because of discrimination...
KOSIK: Of course.
COSTELLO: But it brings down your housing value.
KOSIK: Oh, sure. You know what, it makes it harder for people who live in these areas to sell their homes. Also, not to mention, it's kind of a health and safety risk when you hear what's happening at some of these homes.
The director a housing center in Illinois says Bank of America's failure to take care of and properly market these homes is crippling the economic recovery in the area's hardest hit communities.
But here's the best way to see this. I want to show you a side by side look at the difference in the white neighborhood and minority neighborhood. We can put that up. There are foreclosed homes in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The one on the left, if we can pull that up there.
The one on the left is in the white neighborhood. You see, nicely manicured lawn there. There's a for sale sign. The house looks in pretty good condition. Guess what? The one on the right is from a minority neighborhood. There's mold growing on the home. There are leaves, trash, and there's no "for sale" sign in front of it.
Alliance, guess what, had an entire slide show of these examples across the country. Now, Bank of America is denying the allegations, telling the "Chicago Tribune", "We strongly deny their allegations and stand behind our property maintenance and marketing practices" -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Just makes me sad.
KOSIK: I know.
COSTELLO: Alison Kosik, thanks so much.
Some trick-or-treaters in the Northeast might need an umbrella for Halloween, depending on the track of Tropical Storm Sandy. Sandy is bearing down in Jamaica with winds near 70 miles per hour and she's forced -- she's forecast to become a hurricane later today before heading toward Cuba. After that, things could get very interesting.
Meteorologist Rob Marciano is here to tell us how interesting they could get. MARCIANO: Well, there's a lot of different options, Carol. Let's go over the first one, which we're most concerned about and certainly most confident with. And that is we're looking for serious storm to strike Kingston, Jamaica, and the southern coastline. Hurricane warnings have been posted here, winds of 70 miles an hour, as you mentioned. But satellite imagery showing some probably intensification. We expect it to become a hurricane before it hits Jamaica. Already winds and waves are battering that coastline.
Eastern Cuba also hurricane warning up and tropical storm watches now up for southeastern Florida. We don't expect a direct hit. Here is the path. It will be large enough, the wind field, to where we'll have winds and rain and certainly some wave across the southeastern coastline of Florida and also the mid-Atlantic.
What it does after this weekend is what really becomes interesting and confusing as far as our computer models are concerned. Some go out to sea. Some bring it in one way, shape or form into the Northeast, could be a hybrid storm., could be just a piece of energy. Either way, it's going to be a high impact storm up and down the coastline.
It's a matter of how close it comes. By the way, Tropical Storm Tony, busy season. Still hurricane season right on through Thanksgiving -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I know you'll keep an eye on it for us. Rob Marciano, thank you.
MARCIANO: You got it.
COSTELLO: Talk Back question for you today: do candidates' comments on rape and abortion influence your vote? Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Now is your chance to Talk Back on one of the big stories of the day. The question for you this morning: do candidates' comments on rape and abortion influence your vote?
It's deja vu all over again, and not in a good way. Just when Republicans thought they slammed the door on the so-called war on women, Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock may have kicked it open again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOURDOCK: I believe that life begins in conception. The only exception I have for -- to have an abortion is in that case of the life of the mother. I just -- I struggled with it myself for a long time. But I came to realize life is that gift from God and I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape that it is something that God intended to happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: Democrats called Mourdock's comment a window into the extreme view of the world. One man told the "Indianapolis Star" because of Mourdock's unconscionable position, he's no longer voting Republican.
After the debate, Mourdock clarified his remark. He said, "God does not want rape and by no means was I suggesting that he does. Rape is a horrible thing. And for anyone to twist my words otherwise is absurd and sick."
But here's the thing, Mitt Romney has endorsed Mourdock, here it is for all the world to see.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: This fall, I'm supporting Richard Mourdock for Senate. As state treasurer, Richard worked with Governor Daniels to balance the budget and make government more accountable. As senator, Richard will be the 51st vote to repeal and replace government-run health care. Richard will help stop the liberal Reid/Pelosi agenda.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Now, Romney is distancing himself from Mourdock's most recent comments, but don't expect Romney to run fast. GOP strategists telling our Dana Bash that Mourdock's comments are way different than, let's say, Todd Akin's. Todd Akin talked about a magical uterus that could prevent pregnancy after rape. Mourdock, they say, expressed his strong belief that God creates all life.
What's unclear is whether any of this will affect the race between Romney and Obama.
So the talk back question today: do candidates' comments on rape and abortion influence your vote? Facebook.com/CarolCNN, Facebook.com/CarolCNN. Your comments later this hour.
The road to the White House, according to teams Obama and Romney, it runs right smack-dab through Ohio. But voters there are nearly evenly split. We'll talk to the editorial writer from the state's largest newspaper about what Ohio voters are saying as specifically about what Billy Graham is saying this morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Thirty minutes past the hour now. Good morning to you. Thank you for being with us. I'm Carol Costello.
Stories we're watching right now in THE NEWSROOM:
The opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange rang just seconds ago. The stock market will try to recover today after yesterday's big old tumble. That's when Dow lost 234 points on disappointing earnings.
But good economic news out of China and today's new home sales numbers could help the rebound. Ringing the opening bell, CEO of "Business Insider" Web site.
A Kennedy nephew will face his very first parole hearing later today. Michael Skakel, the nephew of Robert Kennedy, has spent 10 years in prison for the 1975 murder of a teenage neighbor, Martha Moxley. Her family wants Skakel to serve at least another 10 years of his 20 to life prison sentence.
A new study from the National Academy of Sciences in California shows diesel fuel is more dangerous to the environment than regular gasoline. The study shows elements of diesel fuel are major components of smog. Diesel fuel accounts for 21 percent of on-road fuel use in the United States.
Thankfully, we're in the final stretch of the presidential campaign, and both candidates going full speed ahead to Election Day. President Obama is currently on a multi-state blitz over the next two days. No surprise, Mitt Romney will be making appearances in those critical swing states as well.
One thing is for sure. The ground game in all of these important states is essential. CNN's John King called it a political game of chess the campaigns play, strategically moving their pieces around, based on the latest polls.
CNN's political editor Paul Steinhauser joins me now. Good morning.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Good morning, Carol.
It really is a game of chess, because let's be honest, the race for those states and their electoral votes. And you know what? Most of these states we're not interested in. Why? We know how it's going to end on Election Day.
There are anymore from -- well, maybe seven to 10 states are in play. On our CNN map we currently have nine. It's really in flux. Where do you put the candidates?
So, things to look at in this chess game: trips by the candidates, where do the candidates go? Where do the running mates go, where do their surrogates go? Where they do they go? It's very important where you put these people.
Another thing: TV ads, radio ads also very important. With two weeks to go, where do you spend your money to put up ads? What states do you put them up? What markets do you put them in? Where do you put the map?
And you just mentioned it as well, what John King was talking about, the ground game, where do you put your campaign staffers, people who are going to make sure that your base gets out the vote? Carol.
COSTELLO: So what are the specific concerns for campaigns on the ground as far as what President Obama must say, what Mitt Romney must say? STEINHAUSER: Yes, and this is something we're really looking at. It is a game of chess. Some of the big questions right now are in these states, where do you spend your money? Where do you put them? One of the states is North Carolina. Obama campaign is still advertising there.
But guess what? The president has not campaigned on the ground in North Carolina since he was there for the convention back in early September. Is it over in North Carolina? I think the Romney campaign thinks that they're going to win state. The Obama campaign says no, very confident they're going to win the state. The Obama campaign says no, it is not over in North Carolina.
Nevada, another state, just the opposite, Democrats are confident there. Is it over? Maybe not. Where is Mitt Romney today? Reno, Nevada. Where was he yesterday? Las Vegas. So, maybe Nevada is still very much in play.
Will the map shrink or will it expand? Here's a question, you know, will the Obama campaign try to shrink the map, are they giving up in a state or two? Maybe, maybe not. They say no. Will Mitt Romney try to expand the map in Michigan or Pennsylvania? Possibly, but both those states seem to be safe in the Obama camp.
But, Carol, things are changing by day.
COSTELLO: They sure are. Paul Steinhauser, thanks for the insight. We appreciate it.
Of course, when it comes to swing states some people call Ohio the big one. The state has picked the winning presidential candidates in the last 11 elections, a fact not lost on this year's ticket.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. PAUL RYAN, (R-WI) VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: And, Ohioans, you have such a huge say so in all of this. Ohio is the battleground of battleground states.
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Folks, we need you! We need you! Together we can win Ohio. We win Ohio, we win the election!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Whoa!
Joining me now is Joe Frolik, the chief editorial writer for "The Cleveland Plain Dealer", Ohio's largest newspaper in Ohio, which is backing President Obama' reelection bid on, quote, "the basis of sound leadership."
But, Joe, I'm not sure -- it's an enthusiastic endorsement, is it?
JOE FROLIK, CHIEF EDITORIAL WRITER, "CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER": Compared to four years ago when there was a great feeling of optimism in the country and state about what could happen despite the fact that we clearly seemed to be going no a recession at the time, probably a little less optimistic. I think we have a better sense of what the nation and the president are up against in term of the economic wins at home and abroad as well as the absolute recalcitrance of the Republicans to deal with him on Capitol Hill.
We felt there are things that he perhaps has not down as well as it could have in the first four years. But -- so that's why we said, it was little less enthusiasm and a little less optimism than four years. But still think on balance that he did a pretty good job and that compared to his challenger, he's the right choice for the country and for Ohio.
COSTELLO: And down south, "The Columbus Dispatch", another big newspaper in Ohio, endorsed Mitt Romney. I want to read to you what "Columbus Dispatch" said about Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama.
Quote, "Obama has failed. That's why Mitt Romney is the preferred choice for president. In 2008, Americans made a leap of faith when they elevated the inexperienced Obama to the White House. That faith was not rewarded. This time, voters should place their hope for change in experience by electing Romney."
That is pretty brutal. And I know you just said that you almost endorsed Mitt Romney. So why didn't you?
FROLIK: Well, first, I would say that "The Dispatch" is a pretty dependably on the editorial side a Republican paper. You need to put that in perspective.
COSTELLO: True.
FROLIK: Two, with regard to Romney -- you know, there was a discussion, vigorous discussion within our editorial board. One of our issues would be was which Mitt Romney would be we be endorsing. Would we be the Mitt Romney who was a relatively liberal candidate, who ran against Ted Kennedy for the Senate in 1994, the pragmatic moderate who was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002 and who governed there, doing clean air investments and supporting stem cell research and doing the health care reform?
Would we be endorsing, as he described himself, severely conservative person who ran the Republican primaries or this more moderate version who has emerged since the debates started? Not knowing what you were getting, that made it very difficult for us in the end to come down on Mr. Romney's side.
COSTELLO: And one more thing I would like to ask you about, the Reverend Billy Graham, he sat down with Mitt Romney recently. And this past Sunday, he took out a full-page ad in the "Columbus Dispatch", Republican-leaning newspaper. And he seemingly endorsed Romney.
This is a quote from the ad. He said, "I strongly urge you to vote for candidates who support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman, protect the sanctity of life and defend our religious freedoms."
As you know the president came out in favor of same-sex marriage. Will this issue resonate in Ohio?
FROLIK: Carol, I'm not sure how much it resonates. That ad also ran in "The Plain Dealer" this week. I think what you're talking about the ground game before.
This is really about rallying the base. This is making sure that Republican -- particularly evangelical Christians who historically have been somewhat skeptical of Mormons -- to make sure they are energized and excited when they get to the polls. Republicans will tell you that's very, very important, that they didn't get the turnout from that group even in 2000.
In 2004, when they had a fabulously successful ground game in Ohio, they did a great job of identifying those value voters -- they would call themselves -- and getting them to the polls. Getting that kind of ad from the Reverend Billy Graham, revered person in that community is the effort.
COSTELLO: Joe Frolik from "The Cleveland Plain Dealer," thank you so much for sharing your insight with us. We appreciate it.
FROLIK: You're welcome. Thanks a lot.
COSTELLO: Campaigning from the couch. President Obama heads to "The Tonight Show." But do all those talk show appearances really sway you, the voter?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: President Obama meets up with Jay Leno again tonight, campaigning from the late-night couch with the election just two weeks away. But do all those late-night appearances and "Saturday Night Live" sketches influence you, the voter?
Here is CNN's Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This summer, one of my horses failed to medal at the Olympics. So, I know hardship.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Late- night political humor, it's funny.
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE COLBERT REPORT": My man Mitt just has Clint Eastwood, Donny and Marie Osmond, the lady from "Northern Exposure" and I want to say Joy Behar's older sister.
WYNTER: It's binding.
ROMNEY: Binders full of women.
JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART": Binder of women, book of broads, notebook and nipples, whatever.
WYNTER: But is it more than mere entertainment?
Lauren Feldman of American University says the impact of late-night comedy on voters shouldn't be ignored.
PROF. LAUREN FELDMAN, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: Just like traditional news, news analysis, the debates, the conventions, political advertising all shape how people make sense of politics and make sense of the candidates. So, too, does "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" and "Saturday Night Live."
WYNTER: Feldman conducting viewer surveys to measure how these shows influence our politics. She finds that while they don't necessarily persuade anyone to vote a particular way, they do play an important educational role.
FELDMAN: I have a forthcoming study that finds people gain factual knowledge from "The Daily Show" particularly when they approach the show as news as opposed as considering it as purely entertainment.
WYNTER: Comedy Central partnered with the research group True Insights to study the impact of late-night humor. Its research concluded that half of voters age 32 and younger frequently use political satire shows like Stewart, Colbert, and "SNL" to, quote, "follow politics and the election."
The research shows that 37 percent use shows like Letterman and Leno for the same purpose.
Recognizing the significance of these shows, the candidates have made several appearances on them. President Obama recently sat down with Jon Stewart for a mostly substantive interview, along with a few jokes.
STEWART: We have been speaking now for, I think, a good 12 to 14 minutes.
OBAMA: Yes.
STEWART: And I'm curious, how many e-mails during that time do you think your campaign has sent me?
OBAMA: It depends on whether you have maxed out.
WYNTER: No political figure has felt the negative impact of late- night humor more than Sarah Palin. Tina Fey's impersonation of her on SNL on 2008 became a defining caricature.
TINA FEY, ACTRESS: And I can see Russia from my house.
WYNTER: Palin never said those words exactly but it stuck thanks to funny Fey.
TARAN KILLAM, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": Mr. Vice President, I know you're under a lot of duress to make up for lost ground, but I think the people would be better served if we didn't keep interrupting each other.
JASON SUDEIKIS, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": You don't scare me, shark eyes.
WYNTER: Election 2012 may not have proven quite as rich as a target so it's ultimate influence in this election remains to be seen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Kareen Wynter is with us -- I was laughing during your story. There are so many funny moments.
WYNTER: How could you not laugh?
COSTELLO: But if what you said in your story was true, Obama should be beating Romney by a lot.
WYNTER: You would think, right? You know, I mean, there's definitely no question that they rely on these late-night shows to perhaps help them. Help them where it really matters. And at the end of the day, shows like "The Tonight Show", "Colbert Report" and "The Daily Show" are hosted by comedians.
And you know Carol most Americans they often see these candidates on the campaign trail, stump speeches, settings that more often than not show the politician, right, not the person. And these shows all offer humor, they are allowed for jokes. It's the place where they can loosen up and connect with the -- the American people and perhaps -- perhaps share some laughs.
So that's where appearances on these shows can have an impact. The President will be on Leno tonight. And also Michelle Obama tomorrow on Jimmy Kimmel. So again, they are hoping to connect with the American people however, whatever way they can -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes exactly Kareen Wynter, thanks so much.
Jack Morris and Kirk Rueter are next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: I have waited all morning for this segment. It is the most exciting time of the year for baseball fans. The World Series begins tonight with the Detroit Tigers taking on the San Francisco Giants. You can watch the game on Fox starting at 8:00 Eastern.
You won't see these guys on the mound tonight but you'll certainly remember their past World Series starts, Jack Morris pitched for the Tigers championship team in 1984 and has three other World Series rings; and Kirk Rueter pitched for the Giants in the 2002 World Series. Welcome to you both.
JACK MORRIS, FORMER DETROIT TIGERS PITCHER: Good morning, Carol.
KIRK RUETER, WINNINGEST SOUTHPAW IN S.F. GIANTS HISTORY: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Oh I'm so excited for you guys to be here. Is that a real World Series trophy?
MORRIS: It's the 2012 trophy. It's going to go to one of the two teams.
RUETER: And we're hoping it's the Giants here.
MORRIS: He's hoping.
RUETER: I'm trying to persuade him.
COSTELLO: Oh I just wish I could touch it. Is it heavy?
MORRIS: It is heavy. It's quite -- it's quite a nice thing. They've got -- they treat it with gloves, like another trophy that goes around the country.
RUETER: We can't touch it or we'll get in trouble.
COSTELLO: I understand. You wouldn't want to drop it and hurt anyone. I understand perfectly.
Jack, I'd like to start with you. Because I'll be honest about it, I'm a big Detroit Tigers fan. I'm sorry, Kirk. I just had to have full disclosure here. But I want to talk about the comparisons between the stars of the two teams. I mean, they both have these crusty, traditional managers -- Jim Leyland and Bruce Bochy and they have -- they have some players with lots of personality.
But I want to talk to you Jack about Justin Verlander, because he's a workhorse, just as you were. And he's on fire this season.
MORRIS: Yes he really is.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: So -- so --
MORRIS: He's a -- he's kind of setting the bar right now for all pitchers in baseball. He's one of the most talented young pitchers that have come along in a long, long time. And right now he's on top of his game. I think he's got a burning desire inside of him to get that last little tidbit of his resume. And that would be the world championship ring.
COSTELLO: Do you think Kate Upton will be in the stands?
MORRIS: I'm not concerned about that.
COSTELLO: I would be if I were Justin Verlander. But that's a whole another story.
Kirk, let's talk about Barry Zito -- because quite a comeback, he's pitching great.
RUETER: He's done an outstanding job this year. I think the whole organization is happy for him. You know, 2010, he didn't get to pitch in any of the postseason games. And you know he definitely turned it around the other night with the big start in St. Louis. And you know I'm looking forward to it tonight, going out and doing what he did the other night, and having a good game and keeping the Giants right there.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about the hitters now. Each team has a bona fide MVP candidate but neither guy was the MVP in the two league championship series. It was Delmon Young and Marco Scutaro. I mean, a team like the Tigers with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, that's kind of surprising, isn't it, Jack?
MORRIS: Well, what Miggy has done this summer you know hasn't been done since '67 when Yaz did it. The Triple Crown is quite an achievement in baseball. And you know he -- he without a question, in my mind is the MVP of the American league. And hopefully he's going to do a little damage in Detroit this series.
COSTELLO: And I want to talk about Marco Scutaro, Kirk, because he's just been amazing. He has swung and missed on only 2 of 43 pitches thrown to him. That's like insane. So --
RUETER: Yes.
COSTELLO: As Justin Verlander is facing him tonight, does he worry?
RUETER: He's pretty locked in right now. I know the Giants are kind comparing it to when Will Clark in the '89 NLCS, how locked in he was against the cubs. So it's hard to get him out. He's taking the ball to right field, inside pitches; he's pulling down the line. He had a big double against Carpenter the other night.
And when you're in one of those zones, you just want to keep playing and hopefully it's going to help the Giants. Because they just had the one day off and they can get right back at it tonight.
COSTELLO: And I want to talk about something else that will take place during tonight's game, "Stand Up for Cancer". Kirk, I know you lost both of your parents to cancer and Jack, you were friends with the Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew who lost his fight with cancer.
So tell me more about this night and this program, "Stand Up for Cancer", and what it means to you personally, Jack.
MORRIS: Well, I think it's just a crazy world we live in, that we haven't figured out a way to solve it. And baseball has joined up with "Stand Up to Cancer" to try to find a cure. And you know it's a great thing, so many people suffer from this, both the people that die -- and the families involved, the friends involved.
So, you know, anything that baseball can do, certainly, is partnered up with a great, great cause.
COSTELLO: So -- so Kirk, what are you asking fans to do tonight?
RUETER: It's just a great program. Just to stand up with Major League Baseball tonight during Game One and you know, I'm sure you know somebody that's been affected by cancer or you know, in my instance personally, both my parents passing away. Just to help Major League Baseball tonight. And that's what this Game One is about. And to just rise up and help fight against cancer.
COSTELLO: Yes. Baseball transcends so many things. Thank you so much for being with us. It was really exciting for me to talk to you both. Kirk Rueter and Jack Morris, thank you so much.
MORRIS: Go Tigers.
RUETER: Thank you. Giants.
COSTELLO: Sorry, Kirk. Go, Tigers. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: "Talk Back" question this morning: do candidates' comments on rape and abortion influence your vote?
This from Chris: "I will never vote for a man who will put his religious views into my daughters' lives or any woman for that matter."
This from Steve: "No, because it's the opinion of one person, and not the collective Congress or Senate. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion."
This from Cathy: "Absolutely. No politician has the right to talk about a woman's body or what she chooses to do with it. My body is my property and no one else's business."
This from Louise: "This country offers more freedom than any in the world to women. There is no war on women. Do you really believe that women in America are so stupid?"
Keep the conversation going, Facebook.com/CarolCNN. The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
