Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Hurricane Sandy Targets East Coast; GOP Reacts to Powell Endorsement; : Mother Comes Home to Find Kids Stabbed; GDP Grows 2 Percent in 3rd Quarter; The Battle for the Female Vote; Voters Who Could Swing Colorado; Rams Play Pats in London on Sunday

Aired October 26, 2012 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Two percent is enough that every side is going to get to say exactly what they want to say about the economy.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I agree. "CNN NEWSROOM" with Carol Costello begins right now. Have a great weekend, everybody.

Good morning to you, Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Soledad. Thank you. Stories we're watching right now in the NEWSROOM, deadly Hurricane Sandy on track to mix with a huge winter storm. Where and when could it hit?

Breaking news on the health of our economy. A new measure of what our economy produces. We're live to tell you what that means.

Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock, better watch out. Tina Fey is coming after them. Why the comedian says their rape comments are going to make her lose her mind.

And Prince Fielder. Freight train rounding third but not fast enough to beat the throw home. Ooh, World Series nail biter.

NEWSROOM starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

COSTELLO: We have to start with news on our economy. Breaking news. The country's Gross Domestic Product picking up steam, growing by 2 percent in the last quarter. That is better than most economists had had predicted.

The GDP is our broadest measure of economic health. Helping to move that number forward, a boost to consumer spending, a housing market in recovery, and increased defense spending. We'll have much more on this in just about 15 minutes.

Let's talk weather now. A massive and deadly Hurricane Sandy could slam into the northeast in just a few days. Take a look from space. Sandy is so big it would cover the distance from Memphis, Tennessee, to Los Angeles. And it's expected to mix with a powerful winter storm, turning this into a Halloween monster. This could affect everyone from trick-or-treaters to people heading to the polls. People at the Jersey Shore are already filling sand bags and preparing for the worst.

Meteorologist Rob Marciano is here. So percentages? Will it hit? Is it likely to hit?

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, you know, it looks a lot more likely now than it did this time yesterday. Yesterday it was maybe 50/50. I had to give it greater chances than that. The question is, you know, how big and bad is it gong to be? It's going to be different from just a hurricane.

Want to show some pictures out of Cuba. This is what it could look like in some spots across the northeast. Category 2 storm as it hit eastern Cuba yesterday. Old growth trees down, power lines down, infrastructure damaged. We could see similar sights like this across the northeast, even though it's not expected to be this strong when it gets there. We'll go over reasons for that in just a second.

First off, let's go over the stats for Sandy. It has winds of 80 miles an hour. It's a couple of hundred miles off the coast of Florida, 480 miles south of Charleston. It's moving northwesterly at 10. It has slowed down. Its pressure has come up a little bit. Its wind field has expanded. We expect that trend to continue. And that worries us because it's heading toward a very populated area. And larger that wind field gets, the more people it's going to impact.

Here's the forecast track from the National Hurricane Center. It's (INAUDIBLE) the coastline and will bring in big waves from not only Florida but up to North Carolina, could see 30, 40-footers over the weekend and some wind as well.

And then it makes that turn. Computer models today are in much more agreement that it will make that turn, kind of some blocking happening out on the Atlantic Ocean. That will shove it back inland. In some way, shape or form, a category 1 type of storm. But again don't focus on the path because I think that the radii for damaging winds with this will be a couple hundred miles. Meaning that you could have 50- mile-an-hour plus winds over, say, a 400 or 500-mile area.

So that's a huge swath of real estate. And the timing for this is going to be some time during the day on Tuesday if it makes more of a left turn, it will be Monday -- Monday into Tuesday. If it makes more of a right turn, it will be Tuesday into Wednesday.

One of the reasons we expect it to expand its wind field and stay strong is because this late in the fall, we have a strong jet stream. And we haven't seen a scenario like this where that jet stream will impact that storm and then really turn it into something that we -- like we haven't seen in quite some time. Maybe a long duration event with it. And that could be the key here, when you talk about a long duration wind event and trees that still have their leaves on them.

That's when you're talking about widespread power outages. The storm that we've been comparing this to is 1991, the perfect storm. Similar in that we've got a couple of things that are interacting together. But that one never made landfall. So that's what has us very, very nervous today.

COSTELLO: And there is a possibility that this one might be less severe? I just don't want to scare people.

MARCIANO: Yes, you know, no, I don't -- we don't want to scare people but certainly today more than yesterday, is at least the time to start preparing. You have the weekend to do that. So, folks, at least, I don't expect mass evacuations, but you know, why not prepare your home for the worst in anticipation -- maybe hoping for the best?

COSTELLO: Better safe than sorry.

Rob Marciano, thank you.

MARCIANO: You bet.

COSTELLO: You mentioned Cuba. We'll just look at the devastation Sandy caused in Cuba as a cat 2 hurricane. Snapped huge trees and have damaged more than 3,000 buildings, flooded streets and parking lots and, of course, knocked out power. Eleven deaths reported in Cuba. Nine deaths in Haiti. One in Jamaica. A woman said she lost an entire room of her house and has never seen a storm like this before.

To politics now where Colin Powell's endorsement of President Obama is rattling some of his fellow Republicans. Powell cited the auto bailout, stabilization on Wall Street, and other issues for his support. But John Sununu, Mitt Romney's campaign co-chair, told CNN Powell may have been influenced by something else.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN SUNUNU, ROMNEY CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR: When you take a look at Colin Powell, you have to wonder whether that's an endorsement based on issues or whether he's got a slightly different reason for preferring President Obama.

PIERS MORGAN, HOST, PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT: What reason would that be?

SUNUNU: Well, I think when you have somebody of your own race that you're proud of being president of the United States, I applaud Colin for standing with him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Shortly after that interview, Sununu walked back on those comments issuing a statement that reads in part, quote, "Colin Powell is a friend and I respect the endorsement decision he made and I do not doubt that it was based on anything but his support of the President's policies." End quote.

Senator John McCain also weighing in, questioning Powell's commitment to the Republican Party.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: You've been spitting blood all morning about Colin Powell endorsing Barack Obama again. Why are you so angry about it?

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I'm not angry about it. I just wish that he wouldn't call himself a Republican. I mean we Republicans have a habit of supporting Republicans. So that's all I mean. Everybody is entitled to their views. Frankly, I don't think it will change one vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So let's bring in CNN contributor and senior columnist for "Newsweek" and the "Daily Beast," John Avlon. He is in Savannah with our CNN Election Express.

So, John, John McCain says the Powell endorsement won't change anyone's mind. We kind of get why John McCain is a little bitter about Colin Powell, because Powell didn't endorse McCain in 2008, but Sununu? Republicans are trying hard to expand their base. Sununu's comments certainly don't help. And Sununu is not some random guy either. He's Romney national campaign co-chair.

JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes. And that's why this is catching up a lot of attention and being set as more than just a late-night Twitter fight, Carol.

Look, I mean, Sununu's comments only make sense if you accept that Sununu is supporting Romney because he's white, which assuming that's not the case because that's absurd. It does speak to the double standard that still exists on the subtle and thorny issues of race in our country.

This is not as impactful as economic statements, as policy speeches. But it is indicative. And there's a persistent problem here with John Sununu. You know, when he said earlier to CNN earlier in the campaign, he wished the President would learn how to be an American. You know, this kind of rhetoric is ridiculous. It demeans the Office of the President, and it shows a persistent disrespect as if John Sununu has some sort of personal problem with the President that goes beyond politics or policy.

COSTELLO: You know, something that seems to be a trend this election cycle, someone says something vile and then sort of walks it back. What's up with that?

(LAUGHTER)

AVLON: Well, it's called damage control. And it's a perfectly reasonable PR stunt. But sometimes it comes across as sincere. A person acknowledges making a mistake. In this case, John Sununu's apology, clarification said, I do not doubt -- he said, I do not doubt that Colin Powell's endorsement of the President is based on anything else than policies. Well, yes, he does doubt that. That's explicitly what he said on Piers Morgan last night. That was the point. That's why we're talking about this. He said it was about race, racial affinity. And fine, let's talk about that. You know, the conservative spin in the wake of the Colin Powell endorsement, unfortunately, was a lot about that.

I understand where John McCain's point -- you know, he -- Colin Powell endorsed President Obama over him in 2008. But when you're an independent-minded man, when you're a centrist like John McCain is, whether you're a Republican or Democrat, you reserve the right to endorse the person not simply the party. And that's hat Colin Powell is doing. That's a sign of independence of thought not walking the party line. And John Sununu's non-apology just didn't tell the truth about what he said last night.

COSTELLO: John Avlon reporting live for us this morning.

For his part President Obama said he was, quote, "proud and humble to have Powell's support." He made those remarks during his 48-hour whirlwind tour through several swing states. The President wrapping up the tour in Ohio where he urged supporters to get out and vote.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So, Ohio, I've got to tell you, even though I've been gone for about 38 hours straight, even though my voice is getting kind of hoarse, I still got a spring in my step. Because -- because our cause is right. Because we're fighting for the future. I've come to Ohio today to ask you for your vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: President Obama now back in Washington where today's schedule includes a series of radio and local TV interviews along with a live appearance on MTV.

Staying in Ohio, the man hoping to replace President Obama, getting a strong show of support from one very vocal rocker.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MEATLOAF, SINGER, ROMNEY SUPPORTER: I know there is one thing that you've been taught your whole life, is that you never argue politics or religion with your friends, but 2012 is completely different. I have been arguing for Mitt Romney for a year. So you get out there and you argue with your relatives. You argue with your neighbors. You get in fights over politics and religion, because we need Ohio.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: That's right, Meatloaf is backing Mitt, the 65-year-old singer telling the crowd how he got two of his Democratic friends to switch their votes to Romney, asking them to do the same and when it was his turn to address the crowd, Romney talked about the reason for his recent surge in support. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Those debates have given us a chance for our campaign to get larger and larger and to build a stronger degree of momentum and support. And the amazing thing is the debates have led to the President getting smaller and smaller.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Today Romney will return to one of the main themes of his campaign, the economy, as he gives what aides call a major speech in Iowa.

And finally the race for the White House is also becoming a major dash for cash. Newly released figures show the Obama campaigned raised just over $90 million in the first part of October. That's actually below the (INAUDIBLE) from his Republican rival. Team Romney brought in $112 million. That brings total fundraising to more than $2 billion for 2012, which some analysts say could be the costliest presidential election in history.

Conservative fire brand Ann Coulter, who is not well known for her delicate use of the English language, is embroiled in controversy again. After Monday night's presidential face-off between Obama and Romney, Coulter took to Twitter to share her feelings. She wrote, tweeted, "I highly approve of Romney's decision to be kind and gentle to the retard."

In response to Coulter's use of that offensive word to describe the President of the United States, Special Olympian John Franklin Stephens wrote a heartfelt, open letter explaining just why that word should not be an insult. Here is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN FRANKLIN STEPHENS, SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE: Dear Ann Coulter. Come on, Miss Coulter, you aren't dumb and you aren't shallow, so why are -- so why are you constantly using a word like the R word as an insult? I am a 30-year-old man with down syndrome who has struggled with the public's perception that my disability means that I am dumb and shallow.

I am not either of those things. I do process information a little more slowly than the rest of you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: You can hear more from that Special Olympics athlete, Frank Stephens, he'll be live on "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT," 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

The bunt that stayed fair. More Giant luck? Great execution? Or are the Tigers cursed?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Sixteen minutes past the hour. Time to check our top stories in THE NEWSROOM.

A hurricane blamed for more than 20 deaths in the Caribbean and is taking aim at the United States. Hurricane Sandy losing some strength in the Bahamas, but expected to intensify and merge with a winter storm over the northeast. It could hit the United States around Halloween.

Good news for the 15-year-old Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban. Doctors believe Malala does not have significant brain damage. She is now recovering at a British hospital. And for the first time, we're getting to see her with her family. Her father says, yes, she is able to talk to them.

In business use, Apple's newest iPad won't be released for another week. And already it's a hot item. Don't you know it?

The iPad mini went on sale early this morning. And if you buy online through Apple, certain Wi-Fi models are sold out and there is a two- week delay. Prices for the smaller tablet start at $329.

In sports, a scary moment for Tigers Pitcher Doug Fister. So awful. Took that line drive of his skull in the second inning. Fister will be OK. He will continue to pitch.

I don't know how, but the Giants score late to win 2-0, take a 2-0 lead in the best of seven World Series.

A family in New York today facing every parent's nightmare -- a woman they trusted with their three children now accused of stabbing two of those kids to death. The Upper West mother had returned home to find her young son and daughter stabbed and the nanny on the floor nearby, unconscious and bleeding.

Deb Feyerick has been following this story.

You know, always want to ask why. But maybe we'll never know.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And that's what's so tragic about this. I was looking at pictures and entries on the blog that the mom kept documenting her children. This is a truly happy, happy family. And you can just see the love and the joy. I mean, these children were everything to this mom.

The question, why did this nanny apparently snap and do something so terrible as police allege? She's in critical condition right now under arrest. But because she's sedated she has not yet been charged.

The parents, Marina and Kevin Krim, Carol, he is an executive at CNBC.

The mom on her blog wrote, "We celebrated Leo's 2nd birthday today. And a great birthday it was. We spent the day in the Hudson Valley, picnicking and picking Apples at Minard Farms. Then picking pumpkins straight from the vine at a nearby patch."

And the mom returned home yesterday at about 5:30. She was with another child, they were coming back from swimming lessons. The apartment was dark and she couldn't understand it. The doorman said nobody had left. So she searched the bathroom.

That's where she found her 6-year-old daughter, Lucia, also known as Lulu, and 2-year-old Leo, both of them in that bathtub stabbed multiple times. The nanny was on the floor, kitchen knife next to her. The police say she stabbed herself repeatedly in the throat.

Neighbors called 911 after hearing the distraught mother's screams. Right now, police are waiting. The nanny is in critical condition. The mother when I spoke to somebody with knowledge of the case, he told me to say that the mother is devastated is an understatement.

And the dad, he was away from home on a business trip. He was met at the airport by police and then taken to the hospital where his children were pronounced dead -- Carol.

COSTELLO: That's just awful. Awful story.

Deborah Feyerick, thanks so much.

It's one of the economic indicators due out before the election and it's a positive one for the Obama administration as the GDP goes up more than expected.

Maribel Aber is live at the NASDAQ market site to explain what this means for the economy.

Good morning.

MARIBEL ABER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

As you said, we learned the U.S. economy grew, and it grew a 2 percent pace July through September. So that's better than the 1.7 percent economists surveyed and were expecting.

So you can look at the chart for some perspective here. This is, of course, coming as a nice surprise to Wall Street and it's also better than the second quarter.

The biggest reason growth picked up, Americans are spending more. So, that really has to encourage investors who have been worried about a slowdown in Europe all week long and the affect that's having on American companies.

The housing sector also a bright spot as was the federal spending, which is a surprise. And there's plenty, though, bogging down the U.S. economy. Businesses aren't spending much money and they are ending up exporting less. Confirming what we heard from the likes of Caterpillar, 3M and DuPont. And note that this is just the first estimate of 3rd quarter GDP, Carol. This figure will be revised two more times.

COSTELLO: How are the markets reacting?

ABER: Well, stock futures are pointing lower but improved significantly after the report. The Dow, we're looking at a 30-point drop at the open, better than the 100-point tumble we were looking at earlier. Disappointing earnings from Amazon and Apple last night are also factoring, a little bit of reversal for Amazon. It's up about 2.3 percent in market.

But the main focus is on the GDP reading. You mentioned the election before. Well, this could help President Obama's message that the economy is improving, but growth is still way too weak to meaningfully boost hiring -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Maribel Aber, reporting live from the NASDAQ market site -- thank you.

Talk back question for you this morning. Why don't more white voters support President Obama? 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: why don't more white voters support President Obama? More polarized than ever, and not just politically. This "Washington Post" headline says it all, "2012 voters: The deepest racial split since 1988."

So even though we elected our first black president, race continues to haunt us. Romney's surrogate John Sununu went there when Piers Morgan asked why Republican Colin Powell would endorse Democrat Barack Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN SUNUNU, ROMNEY CAMPAIGN: Frankly when you take a look at Colin Powell, you have to wonder if that's an endorsement based on issues or whether he's got a slightly different reason for preferring President Obama.

PIERS MORGAN, CNN HOST: What reason would that be?

SUNUNU: Well, I think when you have somebody of your own race that you're proud of being president of the United States, I applaud Colin for standing with him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Didn't we have that discussion back in 2008? Let's pivot. According to a "Washington Post"/ABC News poll Obama is trailing Romney 59 percent to 38 percent among white voters. Clearly, that is a problem.

But saying it's all about race is just too easy. Fact is, white or black, no Democratic nominee has won a majority of whites since 1964. In 2004, Senator John Kerry got only 41 percent of white voters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

L.Z. GRANDERSON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: What we're beginning to see is the Republicans are becoming increasingly white and Democrats are increasingly losing white people. It's the messaging. It's something they're doing as a party that's not appealing to a white voter. So, it isn't just President Obama, it's about the platform.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Polls show that most voters, no matter what their race, share a top concern this year. And that would be the economy.

So, why does the racial divide in the voting booth continue to grow between Democrats and Republicans?

Talk back question for you this morning, why don't more white voters support President Obama? Facebook.com/CarolCNN, Facebook.com/CarolCNN. Your comments later this hour.

The battle for the female vote isn't showing any signs of slowing down. The Obama campaign has just released this new ad starring the ultimate "It" girl talking about her first time.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. It is 30 minutes past the hour.

Stories we're watching right now in THE NEWSROOM:

Consumer spending gives a boost to the U.S. economy. The gross domestic product increased 2 percent in the third quarter. The GDP is our best measure of economic health. But while that number is better than expected, a senior economist at Wells Fargo called it just ho- hum.

Just a horrible story out of New York City. An Upper West Side nanny is accused of stabbing to death two young children in her care. Their mother returned home and found the children in a bathtub and the nanny nearby with what appeared to be self-inflicted stab wounds. The children were pronounced dead at a hospital.

Hurricane sandy losing strength this morning over the Bahamas, but it is still poised to cause some major league damage. The hurricane is expected to intensify and merge with a winter storm over the Northeast, which could make for one damp Halloween. Sandy already being blamed for 21 deaths in the Caribbean.

And China blocks Internet access inside the country to "The New York Times". That's after the paper published an article criticizing the fortune of China's premiere. Searches for the paper's Web site and the terms "New York Times" and Wen Jiabao have been blocked.

Latest polls show the gender gap is narrowing between President Obama and Mitt Romney and not a day goes by without the Obama campaign trying to change that fact by reaching out to female voters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: There might even be some here who are trying to make up their minds. Maybe -- no, no, no. Maybe, maybe, you know, your girlfriend said you've got to come. She's smart enough. She's already voting for Obama but you need some persuading.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Trying to convince young women to vote. The Obama campaign pulling out all the stops to do that. They even tapped the ultimate "It" girl. She's the star of the HBO series "Girls." And here's her ad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LENA DUNHAM, ACTRESS AND ACTIVIST: Your first time shouldn't be with just anybody. You want to do it with a great guy. It should be with a guy with beautiful, someone who really cares about and understands women -- a guy who cares whether you get health insurance, specifically whether you get birth control. The consequences are huge.

My first time voting was amazing. It was this line in the sand. Before, I was a girl. Now I was a woman. I went to the polling station, pulled back the curtain. I voted for Barack Obama.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Some Republicans don't much like that ad. They call it offensive to women.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KELLYANNE CONWAY, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: The more sex we talk about in this campaign, Piers, the more insulting it is to women. I mean, they can do the math. Not everything has to be about biology.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Joining me now, CNN senior political analyst and editorial director of the "National Journal", Ron Brownstein.

Good morning, Ron.

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning from Cleveland.

COSTELLO: Ready to talk women?

BROWNSTEIN: Sure. Women, Cleveland, Ohio, all of the above.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

Well, first of all, talk about this ad. I mean, Republican say it's offensive. Women care more about things like birth control and abortion. So why do the Democrats keep pounding away at those issues? Are they right?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, like most things, Lena Dunham has done. It's extremely well done. It's charming and edgy in that unique combination but it is not something I'm sure you would do as a campaign if you were entirely comfortable with where you are.

You know, to talk about women is very difficult, because women are not monolithic in how they vote, historically. Minority women are very strongly Democratic. Non-college -- you look at white women, women without a college education, blue collar white women and married women, are more Republican. Single women and college educated women are more Democratic.

And, obviously, I think this is a sign of some concern about the level of engagement of younger, single women who tend to be very Democratic when they vote. But getting them to vote is the key.

COSTELLO: You know, I think that older women like me tend to be a bit stodgy and might look at that ad and say, seriously? But younger women, it might just strike a cord. It's clearly targeted to young women voters.

BROWNSTEIN: Right, clearly. I'm guessing that's not on the air tonight in Canton and Akron, not far from where I am. I don't even know if it's being shown on television. I imagine it's something they're putting out online in the hope that people like us would talk about it on television.

But, again, you know, there are very clear devices -- polls are not entirely consistent, but there's clearly a sense since that first debate, Mitt Romney has made his biggest gains among women, not only blue collar women who are often tough for Democrats but college educated women, Barack Obama won 50 percent of them in 2008. There are a lot of indication -- polls are varying but generally speaking that number is down in the most recent polls.

And this, again, is an effort to speak to the younger part of that cohort.

And the other question I would have, like Democrats say that remarks about abortion that are just kind of crazy -- like the remarks that came from Republican Todd Akin and most recently what some would call kind of crazy remarks from Richard Mourdock, those comments don't really seem to be resonating in a negative way for women. Why do you suppose that is?

BROWNSTEIN: I think we'll have to see, because clearly, that is the bet. Women are not living in some other economy. There's a reason why President Obama is, you know, struggling to match his 2008 performance among women, really both blue collar women and white collar women.

But what they clearly believe and what we saw starting that second debate where he got Planned Parenthood and pay equity in there before he was even asked about it, these other issues besides the state of the economy, Planned Parenthood, abortion, access to contraception, and the health care plan pay equity are all assets that can help him bring those numbers among women. And I can tell you, Carol, that both campaigns believe there is more volatility among women than among in the reminder of this campaign. They believe the kind -- for better or worse, the preferences among men are pretty baked but there is more openness.

You know, two different campaigns. Here in the Rust Belt, primarily aimed at blue collar women, which are holding President Obama afloat in Iowa, Ohio and Wisconsin, in kind of the sunbelt, Virginia, Colorado, states like that, it's more of that cultural liberalism and upscale women who have been such an important part to the Democratic coalition in those states.

COSTELLO: Ron Brownstein, many thanks.

BROWNSTEIN: Thank you.

COSTELLO: And while we get the final say from voters 11 days for now, polls still show a tight race for the White House, especially in those key battleground states Ron was talking about.

An NBC/"Wall Street Journal" poll in Colorado shows a dead heat for President Obama and Governor Romney. They stand at 48 percent. In Nevada, the President Obama holds a three percentage points over his Republican rival. But, of course, that's within the sampling error.

Nevada billionaire Sheldon Adelson, he's at it again. He's hoping to lead his mark on this 2012 campaign. Adelson and his wife who were supporters of Newt Gingrich during the Republican primary, have given $10 million in new donations to the pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future. Filings show that the group has raised more than $20 million the first half of this month.

Actress Tina Fey getting political. We'll tell you what has the "30 Rock" star saying she feels like a secretary on "Mad Men".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Some recent comments by Republicans about rape have gotten funny lady Tina Fey all fired up. And, according to her, politicians better watch out because we've already seen what happens when Fey gets political.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I believe that diplomacy should be the cornerstone of any foreign policy.

TINA FEY, ACTRESS: And I can see Russia from my house.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: "Showbiz Tonight's" A.J. Hammer joins us now, and makes wonder if Tina Fey will visit "Saturday Night Live" any time soon.

A.J. HAMMER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Yes. Won't that be interesting, Carol? She did come out swinging the other night. She's at the first ever gala for the Center for Reproductive Rights and made it perfectly clear in her own comedic way, of course, that she is among those who haven't been happy at all with a lot of the discussions happening on the campaign trail about women's rights and rape. Let's watch what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FEY: If I have to listen to one more gray-faced man with a $2 haircut explain to me what rape is, I'm going to lose my mind!

I watch these guys and I'm like, what is happening? Am I a secretary on "Mad Men"?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Funny as always. And she also directly addressed the statements made by Representative Todd Akin. She tried to repeat his comments about women not getting pregnant from a legitimate rape and she had to stop herself saying in her own way, just repeating the comments was making her dumber.

Carol, as you pointed out, she knows that politicians pay attention and know how sharp her wit is. A lot of people respond to it. So, I know that they are watching her.

COSTELLO: I'm just curious. She may appear on "SNL" any time now. I'll be watching to see.

HAMMER: Me, too.

COSTELLO: A.J. Hammer, thank you. He will be back with us next hour with more showbiz headlines, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is putting on one of his old costumes, like really old costumes.

The polls show the race in Colorado is in a dead heat. We'll introduce you to some of those people whose votes could paint the state red or blue. We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Forty-five minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories now.

A New York nanny remains in critical condition after police say she killed two young children in her charge and then slashed her own throat. The kids, ages 2 and 6, were found by their mother in a bathtub. Their father was coming home from a business trip and was met by police at the airport.

Consumer spending gives a boost to the U.S. economy. The gross domestic product increased 2 percent in the third quarter. The GDP is our best measure of economic health. That number better than economists had expected.

Hurricane Sandy is taking aim at the northeast. It's expected to collide with a powerful winter storm which could turn it into a super storm. Right now tropical storm watches are up along the Carolina Coast. Hurricane Sandy blamed for more than 20 deaths in the Caribbean.

And President Obama will be on MTV tonight in hopes of rallying the youth vote. He's interviewing with host Sway Callaway in a special called "Ask Obama Live". The President also doing about ten more interviews with radio stations at local news stations.

The poll of polls -- the latest polls have Colorado with a dead heat; 48 percent for Obama, 48 percent for Romney. Fewer than one percent of the voters in Colorado will decide who wins the state's nine electoral votes. Miguel Marquez is in one of the most divided counties in the state to get a sense of what voters are thinking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Here we are, Rocky Mountain High in Golden, Colorado. This is Jefferson County. It's one of the most competitive counties in this state. Both campaigns are working this county very hard. It's because as little as 20,000 or 30,000 votes across the entire state of Colorado could paint this state red or blue.

(voice-over): That's as little as one percent of the overall votes statewide.

(on camera): So this is always the scariest bit of this, isn't it?

SPENCER HENNIGAN, APEX EX ADVENTURE TRIPS: The first step is always the hardest.

MARQUEZ: Spencer Hennigan has run APEX Ex Adventure Trips for two years.

(on camera): So this is the office?

HENNIGAN: True, true.

MARQUEZ: Not a bad office.

HENNIGAN: I like it.

MARQUEZ: Business has grown, starting with four guides, he now has 20. This year, the company's biggest -- 3,000 trips, everything from rappelling to back country skiing.

HENNIGAN: It's a lot of hard work.

MARQUEZ: The business expanded, he says, by keeping prices low and taking advantage of Coloradoans staying close to home.

(on camera): What do you hope for the next four years?

HENNIGAN: The more people that we can you know raise - raise the bar for you know, equal pay, the more that we can feel inclusion in this state. MARQUEZ (on camera): While some have weathered the recession well, Colorado continues to struggle. The unemployment rate across the state about eight percent. Here in Jefferson County, it's about 7.4 percent, just a little better.

This is the new restaurant.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is it.

MARQUEZ: The Nunez family, all ten of them pitching in on a new venture, a family restaurant. The restaurant's draw, authentic cuisine prepared by Gloria Nunez, who moved here from Mexico City when she was 21.

(on camera): How many recipes are in your head?

GLORIA NUNEZ, RESTAURATEUR: I don't know. I can never count them --

MARQUEZ (voice-over): Now 74, she's known as abuelita, grandma. What do you hope to see in the next few years?

NUNEZ: Well, I think one of the most important things is the economy to go up a little.

MARQUEZ: Now the restaurant is run out of a strip mall. Soon, a new building, a liquor license and as many as 15 new employees. But this family is still agonizing over which candidate is best for the future.

What makes this area so competitive?

LORENZO NUNEZ, EL CHINGON RESTAURANT: As you consider the numbers in terms of how the Hispanic population is growing -- not only here but across the country, we have an important voice.

MARQUEZ: Latinos, business owners and newer residents ready to deliver Colorado's crucial nine electoral vote votes. They could decide who takes the White House.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Now Colorado's interesting because there are more unaffiliated or Independent voters here than either Democrats or Republicans. And those are the votes that both parties are after.

The President coming back to Colorado next week, to Colorado Springs, that's conservative territory in this town. He'll be here on Tuesday. This race in this state is my sense, I've been here several times now. It's going to come down to which campaign is the best organized on the ground -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Miguel Marquez reporting live for us this morning.

Our "Talk Back" question, "Why don't more white voters support President Obama?" Your responses, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: "Talk Back" question this morning: "Why don't more white voters support President Obama?"

This from Stephen, "That's the sad part. The bitter underlying truth is most of the right-wing and tea partiers just cannot bear seeing a black President."

This from Shannel, "Why don't more blacks Latinos/Asians/native Americans support Mitt Romney?"

This from Camille, "Because this country can't get away from rich middle aged white men, that's why -- very sad. I always said this presidential race was based on the hatred of Obama because he's half black."

And this from Johnny. "This is not about race. The man is the worst President ever. He has done nothing in four years to improve anything."

Please keep the conversation going. Facebook.com/CarolCNN. Thanks as always for your comments.

A bang-bang play at the World Series Prince Fielder tagged out at the plate after a relay throw from the outfield. The game's turning point came much later. We'll show you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: World Series game two fit the mold for the fall classic with a pitching duel, clutch hitting and this bang-bang play at the plate. Second inning Detroit's Delmon Young at bat smacks the ball just inside the left field line. Great hit, right? But the Giants Gregor Blanco picks it up and throws it back to the infield.

Prince Fielder, he's a big man, he tried to score from first base. But that relay throw from Marco Scutaro was on the money to Buster Posey. Posey tags out Fielder just before he slid into the plate. If only he had straightened that other leg.

There was no scoring in the game until the seventh inning. That's when San Francisco played small ball to perfection. Blanco, here he goes, He lays down that perfect bunt. It stays fair. I think the Tigers are cursed. It stays fair, he just dives there. That key hit loaded the bases for Brandon Crawford whose double play-grounder scored the first run. The Giants added an insurance run in the eighth inning.

Both starting pitchers pitched great. But the Giants Madison Bumgarner was just a little better than Doug Fister. Bumgarner gave up just two hits. He struck out eight in seven innings. The Giants win 2-0. They lead 2-0. Game three tomorrow night in Detroit.

Thursday night football now Tampa Bay Bucs rookie running back Doug Martin took over the game with the Minnesota Vikings. Martin picked up 214 total yards including this. You could see right here that's a 64-yard score. Josh Freeman tossed two other the touchdown passes for Tampa Bay. Bucs go on to win the game 36-17 for their first road win of the season. The Vikings' first home loss from the season.

Lolo Jones may get another shot at an Olympic medal but it won't be on the track. The hurdler has been named to the U.S. women's bob sled team that will compete in the 2014 Winter Games.

Jones joins another track Olympian, Tianna Madison. And one of the pushers on the bob sled team, Jones did not medal in the 100-meter hurdles in the last two summer games.

New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams are going on the road for their game on Sunday. Actually, all the way across the pond.

CNN's Alex Thomas reports on the NFL's latest export to Britain.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX THOMAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a sport that's watched around the world and generates billions of dollars a year. Yet the regular season games in London indicate the NFL's restless desire to get even bigger.

ALISTAIR KIRKWOOD, MANAGING DIRECTOR, NFL U.K.: You have to look at the strength of what you're doing domestically and then see if there are ways of growing internationally that will allow you to continue that growth.

THOMAS: NFL fans from all over the world come to Wembley to watch what has become a regular season game with a difference.

KIRKWOOD: The players have said that it's the closest to a Super Bowl experience that they have.

THOMAS: Ten different teams have already made the trip across the Atlantic for regular season games in London and three more will join that list in the years ahead including the Pittsburgh Steelers who have won the Super Bowl a record six times.

Alex Thomas, CNN London.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Football just doesn't sound right when discussed in a British accent -- just saying.

The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

Stories we're watching right now in the newsroom. New campaign ammunition for President Obama. Less than two weeks from the election, brand new economic numbers showing the economy improving.

It's a weekend of waiting all up and down the East Coast as Hurricane Sandy inches closer toward the United States.