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American Morning: Wake Up Call
New Cain Accuser; NATO Attacks in Pakistan; Woman Alleges Affair With Cain; "I Will Miss This Job"; Syracuse Sex Abuse Scandal
Aired November 29, 2011 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A new Herman Cain accuser speaking out. We hear from the woman who claims she carried on a 13-year affair with the Republican presidential hopeful.
A Texas teenager takes his own life. Why his family says his immigration status pushed him over the edge.
And strained ties between the United States and Pakistan, this after a deadly NATO air strike. Now the country's prime minister has a warning for the United States.
(MUSIC)
COSTELLO: Good morning to you. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL for Tuesday, November 29th. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
Here are your morning' top stories.
A new twist in the Herman Cain saga, a third woman has come forward claiming she had a 13-year-long affair with the GOP presidential hopeful. Atlanta businesswoman Ginger White says the affair ended only eight months ago. Cain denies any sexual relationship.
General Motors in damage control. The auto giant is reaching out to every owner of the Chevy Volt and assuring them the car is safe. The Volt is under federal investigation after the batteries caught fire during crash tests.
Winter is coming a little early in the South. Can you believe it? It's wet and snowy in parts of Tennessee. Winter storm warnings are in effect until later today. And forecasters predict some areas could see up to four inches of snow.
One of those forecasters is Jacqui Jeras. She's in Atlanta this morning. That's just weird, Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Weird? It happens almost every year.
COSTELLO: No, it's had a debate.
JERAS: It's not an everyday thing and certainly not the end of November. Usually, it's more of a January, maybe February kind of thing, Carol. But we do have some of that snow out there.
If you saw that picture, though, by the way, did you notice that the streets didn't look that bad. Our ground temperatures are so warm because it's been in the 60s across the Deep South, so much of it is melting on contact. It's mostly grassy areas. Bridges and overpasses could be slick because they're going to ice up first. Memphis, you had about a half inch of rain -- or snow, excuse me, rather.
We got to get a little snow into northern Mississippi, as well as Alabama and maybe a few flakes sneaking into the Atlanta area as well. The northern tier, we're talking all rain here, but change it over some snow late tonight for Detroit, say over towards Indianapolis. And the Northeast, you got most of the morning dry, but the rain moving in by the afternoon. Of course, that's going to cause some travel trouble, Carol. We'll talk more about the cities that could be impacted the worst because of weather today coming up when I see you again.
COSTELLO: I hate those words, travel troubles.
JERAS: Yes, part of life.
COSTELLO: I know it is, especially this time of year. Thanks, Jacqui. We'll get back to you.
Another bombshell against Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain, a new accuser has come forward with her story -- this time, it's a story of infidelity. Atlanta businesswoman Ginger White claimed she and Cain had a 13-year affair
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GINGER WHITE, CAIN'S ALLEGED MISTRESS: -- not a fun thing.
REPORTER: I asked Ginger White why she decided to come forward with her story about an affair with GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain now.
WHITE: There were leaks. There were people. There were threats of people coming out with their version. Not that any version is really pretty, but I thought that it was important to at least come out with my story and my side of the story.
REPORTER: She tells me sharing details of something she's not proud of, has been hard on her family. She also says she's sorry for any pain the story has caused Cain's family. White tells me she had an affair with the Georgia businessman that lasted more than a decade, but a claim Cain is denying.
He's saying it was not in response to a sexual relationship in response to you saying it was an affair, a sexual affair for 13 years. He's denying that. Are you sticking by your original story that it was a sexual relationship?
GINGER: Absolutely. I can only imagine -- I can't imagine him actually confirming. It's the name of the game I guess.
REPORTER: White went on to say to anyone questioning her credibility that she has no reason to lie. She also said this was not something she wanted to do.
GINGER: I couldn't imagine anyone coming out and lying about this. You know, who would want this? It's really not been fun.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Cain admits to knowing Ginger White, but tells CNN's Wolf Blitzer there was no sexual relationship.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Tell us about the nature of your relationship with this woman.
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Friend and trying to help a friend because, not having a job, et cetera, and this sort of thing. That's all there is to the relationship. And here again, I don't know what's going to be claimed in the story. It was someone who was supposed to be a friend, but obviously they didn't see it as a friendship.
BLITZER: And when you say friend, was it -- I mean, I'm asking -- these are awkward questions, but I'll ask you the questions you're going to be asked. Was this an affair?
CAIN: No, it was not.
BLITZER: There was no sex?
CAIN: No.
BLITZER: None?
CAIN: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Cain went on to say that his wife supports him and he has no plans to drop out of the presidential race.
New developments in the Syracuse University sex abuse scandal. Former associate men's basketball coach Bernie Fine will become the center of a second investigation this time in Pittsburgh. Three accusers have now come forward with claims that Fine molested them. In the meantime, Fine's wife plans to make a statement about a taped conversation she reportedly had with one of the accusers where it appeared she knew about the abuse all along.
CNN's Gary Tuchman caught up with Laurie Fine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, I'm Gary Tuchman with CNN. I'm sorry to bother you. I was hoping I can ask you -- your nephew was saying that you might have a statement.
LAURIE FINE: We have no statement.
TUCHMAN: You're not going to make a statement today?
FINE: Not today.
TUCHMAN: Is that tape, is that tape misinterpreted, though?
FINE: I have no comment.
TUCHMAN: How come you can't comment?
FINE: I cannot comment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Fine was fired from his coaching job on Sunday.
Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky is turning the tables, hired his own private investigations to look into sexual abuse allegations against him. Sandusky's lawyer says he's on a quest to prove his innocence. The long-time coach is charged with 40 counts related to alleged sexual abuse of eight young boys, this over a 14- year period. He allegedly met the victims through a charity he founded. Sandusky claims he only horsed around with the boys.
It is sentencing day for Dr. Conrad Murray. Michael Jackson's mom is speaking out. Katherine Jackson says she hopes Murray will get the harshest sentence possible, that's four years in prison. But jail overcrowding, I should say, could land him a shortened sentence. Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter three weeks ago. Prosecutors proved that Murray's reckless use of Propofol led to Jackson's death in 2009.
He's the prime suspect in the case of the missing American woman in Aruba, and soon, he maybe a free man. Gary Giordano is expected to be released back to the United States tonight. He spent more than 100 days in an Aruban jail. Investigators have grilled about the disappearance of Robyn Gardner who went missing in August. Giordano has not been charged with any crime and tomorrow, a three-judge panel will meet to assess the decision to release him.
COSTELLO: Pakistan's prime minister tells CNN his country is re-evaluating its relationship with the United States after a NATO attack killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. The U.S. is investigating the incident. That report could be finished before Christmas.
But as CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr reports, tensions on both sides remain high.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The death of two dozen Pakistani soldiers in a U.S. air strike along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border is the most serious cross-border incident since U.S. troops were sent to Afghanistan a decade ago.
A senior U.S. official tells CNN the situation with the Pakistanis is so sensitive, public comments from the administration are limited to announcing an investigation and offering condolences.
JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We mourn the brave Pakistani service members who lost their lives.
STARR: With anti-U.S. demonstrations already under way in Pakistan, the U.S. military hopes an investigation into what happened may ease Pakistan's anger. But that's not likely.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Business as usual will not be there.
STARR: Pakistan holds a vital card, access into landlocked Afghanistan. The Pakistanis quickly shut down two border crossings. About 30 percent of the supplies for the war into Afghanistan comes through the checkpoint.
SETH JONES, RAND CORPORATION: If they hold it for more than a week or two to have a notable impact on U.S. operations in both eastern and southern Afghanistan.
STARR: But the U.S. has longstanding alternate routes. About 40 percent of supplies come through Russia and Central Asian truck routes. Pakistan has also called for the U.S. to leave an air base where CIA drone operations targeting al Qaeda and Taliban in Pakistan have taken place in the past.
But with billions of dollars in aid and military sales, senior U.S. lawmakers are also warning they are out of patience with Pakistan.
SEN. JON KYL (R-AZ), MINORITY WHIP: They need to understand that our support for them financially is dependent upon their cooperation with us.
STARR: The fear now is that either side may miscalculate as Pakistan vows to protect its sovereignty. Pakistan's radars on the border are focused on any threats.
JONES: I would suspect there is popular support now for a Pakistan retaliatory strike. This is a very, very dangerous period we're at between the United States and Pakistan.
STARR (on camera): And all of this may have more direct security implications for the United States, which has been trying to get Pakistan to crack down on al Qaeda and Taliban militant groups for some time. Don't expect to see Pakistan rush to do that any time soon.
Barbara Starr, CNN, the pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: He's prominent, outspoken and one of Congress' most liberal voices. Now, Representative Barney Frank is about to retire. The 16-term Democrat from Massachusetts says he will not seek re- election on 2012, blaming his retirement partially on redistricting.
So what's next for the 71-year-old?
(BEGIN VIDEO CILP)
REP. BARNEY FRANK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: There is no way I would be a lobbyist. Look, I will miss this job, and I'll have twinges of regret when the new Congress is signed up. But I will tell you this and, you know, maybe you're going to laugh, but one of the advantages to me of not running to office is I don't even have to pretend to try to be nice to people I don't like. So, some of you may not think I've been good at it, but I've been trying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The veteran congressman says he'd always planned on retiring by 2014.
America's toughest sheriff will give his nod to Texas Governor Rick Perry. Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio is set to endorse the GOP presidential candidate in New Hampshire today. Arpaio is known for his crackdown on illegal immigrants. This could be a boost to Perry's campaign. And it certainly needs that.
In the past, Arpaio has come under by -- Perry rather has come under fire by Republicans for not taking a hard enough stance on border security and illegal immigration.
Still to come, a family reveals why their teenage son took his life. They say he felt he had no way out because of his immigration status.
And General Motors is taking big steps to help worried owners of the new Chevy Volt. See what's causing so much concern.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is 15 minutes past the hour.
Here is what we're following this morning:
Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain slapped with a new sex allegation. An Atlanta woman says she had an affair with Cain that lasted 13 years. In fact, it ended she says just eight months ago. Cain is denying the accusation.
A Texas teenager commits suicide, worried over his illegal immigration status. Eighteen-year-old Joaquin Luna revealed his frustrations in a suicide note. He was counting on the passage of the DREAM Act which would provide residency to illegal immigrants who arrived in the United States as minors.
In money news, General Motors is working to ease fears over its electric car, the Chevy Volt. The Volt is under federal investigation after its batteries caught fire in several crash tests. G.M. says the car is safe to drive but it's offering loner cars to concern Volt owners.
In sports, big news for the Buckeye. The Ohio State University has a new football coach. Urban Meyer is expected to head back to his alma mater. The two-time national championship winner began his career there. Meyer says he's honored and humbled to return.
Let's head to Atlanta and check in with Jacqui Jeras.
(CROSSTALK)
JERAS: I'm humbled to be here.
(LAUGHTER)
JERAS: Good morning.
COSTELLO: Good morning.
JERAS: It's a snowy start in the South, Carol. People in places like Memphis and Huntsville, Alabama, waking up to a little snow at this hour. So, kind of usually for this early in the season. But it happens, usually a couple times a year, about a half inch in Memphis. Very little accumulation can be expected with this.
But it's going to kind of linger through a good part of the day as this is a slow-moving system. As you take a look at the northern tier, this is all rain for you, Indianapolis, up towards Detroit, into Cleveland. But we could see that change over snow later today.
Look at some of the totals we've seen so far, up to five inches in Denmark, Tennessee. So, it's all kind of right there in the tri- state area, between Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, in that area.
Delays expected at the airports today. You've got the clouds this morning, but rain moves in this afternoon for New York, Philly and D.C. Chicago looking for wind delays. Cleveland and Detroit and Atlanta due to that rain as well.
So there's a big picture for today. New storm in the Pacific Northwest doesn't really hit until late today, the rest of the country is pretty quiet. Can't complain about that.
COSTELLO: No, at least about the quiet parts. Thank you, Jacqui.
JERAS: Sure.
COSTELLO: Time now to check on stories making headlines around the world.
Egyptians are headed to the polls for a second day of historic elections.
Zain Verjee live in London with more.
And it's a complicated process, isn't it?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: It's a long process, and this is going to be the first stage of it. They're basically voting in parliamentary elections, and this round is for the lower house of parliament. It's important for two reasons. First of all, many Egyptians who are voting have never voted before, so it's a really big deal.
Also, it's the lower house of parliament that's actually going to be drafting the new constitution for Egypt.
There have been some observations of irregularities, Carol, things like logistical problems, delays in ballots. But observers are saying generally the process has been relatively organized.
One thing that's interesting is that a lot of women, Carol, have turned out to vote in this election round. And one of the reasons is because they don't want the Islamists, the Muslim Brotherhood to get too much power because they feel that it may become an issue for the future rights and the liberal values.
There has been a little violence where 25 people have been injured -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Let's switch our attention to China now because it's ordering a ban on advertisements during TV dramas. Why?
VERJEE: No ads during TV dramas about 45 minutes long. They're starting this on the 1st of January.
Why? Well, the communist party, it says, wants to develop a socialist culture. That was a quote from an official.
And a lot of people don't really know exactly what that means.
Another opinion was because they wanted to conform to public interests and aspirations.
So, this is going to kick in. And a lot of the TV stations in China, a lot of the executives are really upset because that means they're going to take a big hit on revenue -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So, what's a drama on television like in China anyway?
(LAUGHTER)
VERJEE: Well, I guess it's kind of like a soap opera, you know? Or just some kind of a TV show. You remember there was the reality TV shows like "Super Girl," like singing contests and things like that, that they wanted to ban in China.
One of the reasons many people said was because they don't want a situation in China where too many people are voting freely and democratically on TV shows like that because it's such a state- controlled environment. So, you know, that's an issue.
And perhaps it's being -- this is being extended to gaining more control over television stations in China and what they can and cannot show and what they can do or cannot do, Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, total control over TV content. Zain Verjee, thanks as always.
VERJEE: Thanks.
COSTELLO: Still ahead on A.M. WAKE-UP CALL: Fitch ratings allows the United States to keep its AAA credit rating, but there's another story when it comes to rating outlook. We'll explain what the heck that means.
Plus, we're getting some preliminary numbers of how Cyber Monday added up for online retailers.
It's 20 minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Twenty-three minutes past the hour.
A little holiday cheer on Wall Street. Black Friday brings a market rally. The Dow jumped nearly 300 points yesterday. The S&P and NASDAQ both added about 3 percent.
Big sales jump for Cyber Monday, too. Online shoppers really turned out, or I should say logged on, this year. Analysts predict it could be the biggest e-sale day ever.
One group says sales jumped nearly 15 percent from last year. Consumers spent nearly $1 billion.
Another ratings agency comes out with its report for the United States. Fitch Ratings deciding the U.S. can keep its AAA credit rating, but its rating outlook is another story.
Christine Romans joins us to explain what the heck that means.
What does that mean, Christine?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It means all three credit rating agencies now on the U.S. have a negative outlook. Meaning, there's more than a 50/50 chance over the next couple of years that there could be a downgrade from Fitch or another downgrade from any of the others. So, I remember it was S&P that so famously downgraded the U.S. from AAA, that stellar gold quality credit rating after Congress basically punted to the super committee on its debt issues.
Now, the super committee has been a super failure. So, here we go. We've got major debt and deficit issues in this country that are still unresolved.
But I guess, over all, Carol, the debt and deficit issues in Europe are more unresolved at this point. So, that's where the focus is. It's why you see the stocks up 300 points one day and today we've got futures up about 30 points, but you've got European markets turning lower.
So, this morning what we're talking about is Europe on the brink. Debt con five-point frankly, for Europe. It's got until December 9th to figure out how it's going to fix this. You've got an Italian bond market auction today.
This is going to be critical, Carol -- critical -- because these countries are out there raising money, you know, auctioning off their bonds. And how investors react tells us how confident they are in the solvency, quite frankly, of these countries. E.U. finance ministers meet today. This is a crisis meeting, no question this is a crisis meeting, that meeting in Brussels.
And Moody's, another rating agency, warning that some 87 banks in 15 countries, that they're -- they may have to be cut eventually. Their ratings may have to be cut because quite frankly, these cash strapped countries wouldn't be able to afford a bailout.
So, you've got Europe on the brink. How many times have I said it? It's the most important, hugest trading zone for the U.S. The United States is very concerned if Europe goes into a recession or a depression. What would that mean for the United States?
I can tell you enough, debt con five for Europe and that's why you're going to see such complicated, choppy trading in the U.S. until that gets sorted out, Carol.
COSTELLO: All right. Christine Romans, I'll see you in about, oh, 35 minutes or so.
ROMANS: Sure. You got it.
COSTELLO: Here's what we're working on in the next half hour.
A woman claims she was forced to come forward and reveal she had an affair with Herman Cain. So, where does Cain's presidential campaign go from here?
And it doesn't happen often. But parts of the South are already seeing snow this morning. It's crazy.
It's 26 minutes after the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Laurie Fine is expected to release a statement soon. The wife of former Syracuse basketball coach Bernie Fine may be gearing up to discredit the tape conversation she reportedly had with one of her husband's accusers nearly nine years ago.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: And good morning to you. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL for Tuesday, November 29th from the Time Warner Center in New York. I'm Carol Costello. Here are this morning's top stories.
More problems for Herman Cain. An Atlanta woman says that she and Cain had a 13-year sexual affair. Ginger White says it ended as Cain was preparing to announce his run for the White House. Cain says he knows White but denies they had any sexual affair.
Pakistan's prime minister has a warning for the United States. No more business as usual. In an exclusive interview with CNN's Reza Sayah, Yousuf Gilani says Pakistan is re-evaluating its relationship with the United States. This comes after a NATO aircraft killed 24 Pakistani troops on Saturday.
Yes, it's November. Yes, that is the south, and yes, that is snow. A large swath of snow is winding its way through the region. Winter storm warnings are even up for parts of Tennessee and Mississippi. And yes, some school districts are closed this morning.
Let's head to Atlanta and Jacqui Jeras to find out what the heck is going on. What the heck is going on?
JERAS: We've got this big cold pool of air that's kind of wedged itself into the southeast, and it's stuck there. Believe it or not, Carol, it's not going to make it your way. So, it's going to be kind of concentrated in this area. Much of the wintery precip is going to be done with by the noon hour. So, that's the good news.
Plus, the ground temperature is so warm. Much of this is going to be melting on the roadways. So, it's really bridges and overpasses that you need to look out for, and also grassy areas will maybe see a little bit accumulation. So, you got about a half of inch in Memphis, all snow coming down in Huntsville, Alabama at this hour, and this is going to start to lift off to the north a little more quickly than it has in the last two days.
Rain on the northern tier now and very windy in Chicago, Detroit. You're going to see a transition over to some snow later today. And there you can see the northeast, that moisture starting to pull in, but we really don't expect to see that rain develop until later this afternoon.
Now, flood watches in effect across parts of the Ohio River Valley. In fact, widespread river flooding can be expected in Indiana by Thursday, the Wabash River, in particular, will be of great concern. And this is really the only game in town. We're looking at this storm along the east coast.
Great across much of the rest of the country, but a new storm hits the Pacific Northwest by late today. And look at the temperatures, Carol. It's just not right to be 43 in Atlanta for a high today and 63 in New York. Boo.
COSTELLO: Sounds perfect to me, though.
JERAS: I'm coming to visit.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Please do. You can run through Central Park with me later this afternoon.
JERAS: Ooh, I would love it.
COSTELLO: I'll be waiting. Thanks, Jacqui.
JERAS: Only five miles, though, that's it.
COSTELLO: OK, that's good. That's perfect.
(LAUGHTER)
Another bombshell against Republican presidential hopeful, Herman Cain. A new accuser has come forward with her story. This time, it's a story of infidelity. Atlanta businesswoman, Ginger White, claim she and Cain had a 13-year affair. Reporter, Amy Napier-Viteri, with our Atlanta affiliate, WSB, caught up with White.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GINGER WHITE, CAIN'S ALLEGED MISTRESS: My heart goes out to many people. You know, this was not something that I wanted to hurt anyone, not a fun thing.
AMY NAPIER-VITERI, REPORTER, WBS (voice-over): I asked Ginger White why she decided to come forward with her story about an affair with GOP presidential candidate, Herman Cain now.
WHITE: There were leaks. There were people -- there were threats of people coming out with their version. Not that any version is really pretty, but I thought that it was important to, at least, come out with my story, my side of the story.
NAPIER-VITERI: She tells me sharing details of something she's not proud of has been hard on her family. She also says she's sorry for any pain the story has caused Cain's family. White tells me she had an affair with the Georgia businessman that lasted more than a decade, at the claim Cain is denying.
(on-camera) He's saying that it was not a sexual relationship in response to you saying that it was an affair, a sexual affair for 13 years. He's denying that. Are you sticking by your original story that it was a sexual relationship?
WHITE: Absolutely. I can only imagine -- I can't imagine him actually confirming. It's the name of the game, I guess.
NAPIER-VITERI (voice-over): White went to say to anyone questioning her credibility that she has no reason to lie. She also said this was not something she wanted to do.
WHITE: I couldn't imagine anyone coming out and lying about this, you know? Who would want this? It's really not been fun.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Cain admits to knowing Ginger White, but tells CNN's Wolf Blitzer there was no sexual relationship.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Tell us about the nature of your relationship with this woman.
HERMAN CAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Friend and trying to help a friend because not having a job, et cetera, and this sort of thing. That's all there is to the relationship. And here again, I don't know what's going to be claimed in the story. There was someone who was supposed to be a friend, but obviously, they didn't see it as a friendship.
BLITZER: When you say friend -- I mean, I'm asking -- these are awkward questions, but I'll ask you the questions you're going to be asked. Was this an affair?
CAIN: No, it was not.
BLITZER: There was no sex?
CAIN: No.
BLITZER: None?
CAIN: No.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Cain went on to say that his wife supports him, and he has no plans to drop out of the presidential race.
So, what will these new allegations mean for Cain's presidential campaign? Let's bring in "Washington Post" political reporter, Nia- Malika Henderson. She's on the phone from Washington. Good morning.
NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, REPORTER, "THE WASHINGTON POST": Good morning.
COSTELLO: So, Cain says he will not drop out of the presidential race, but will he soon have a choice?
HENDERSON: You know, he can stay in this presidential race as long as he wants to. I think one of the things this cycle has proven is that you can be in this race and not really be running and not really be doing the traditional things you do to run for president, which is go to Iowa, go to New Hampshire. He will today -- I talked to his advisors yesterday. They, obviously, want to turn the page on this.
He's going to make a major foreign policy address today at 6:30 in Michigan. He was down in Atlanta this weekend meeting with about 30 policy advisors, domestic policy, foreign policy, energy policy. So, he is trying to make a turn in his campaign and get serious.
I think one of the things that we've seen over the last couple of weeks is that the allegations of sexual harassment that he faced for the last two, three, four weeks certainly hurt him, but also what hurt him was his apparent lack of command of the facts in terms of Libya, in terms of Uzbekistan, in terms of all sorts of areas of foreign policy and some of his seeming flip-flops on issues that are really important to conservatives, seeming to articulate a case for abortion rather than the typical anti-abortion stance of Republicans.
So, I think, obviously, he's going to try to move forward. I think one of the things this cycle has taught us political reporters is that it isn't a wise thing to make a prediction about the death of someone's campaign given what we've seen from Newt Gingrich who has really risen. He's on top of the polls, I think, in your recent poll, the poll we have. He's on top, I think, at this point.
Herman Cain is about third at 17 percent. But, you know, it's obviously going to be up to the voters, which is something that his aide told me last night. And I think, particularly, the Iowa voters, again, we know those folks are very socially conservative. His lawyer has made this argument that, hey, nobody cares about the private alleged sexual activities of people, of candidates.
But I think, again, we know that oftentimes those socially conservative voters in Iowa do their circulating -- there's one group out there that circulating a campaign ad about Newt Gingrich that says, listen, if we can't trust this guy to be faithful to his wife, how can we trust him to be faithful on these issues that are important to us? But I think Cain might be faced with those same claims.
COSTELLO: Well, not only that, Nia, I mean, Newt Gingrich's -- that was in his distant past. If this woman's story is true, this Cain accuser is true, this affair only ended eight months ago. Doesn't that make a difference?
HENDERSON: Yes. I think it might make a difference and I think also what will make a difference is that, you know, Gingrich has been talking about this. He gave an interview to the Christian Broadcasting Network about three, four, five months ago about this, saying that he is sorry. He's been talking about his faith, and that's something that has resonated with these voters, and, you know, seemingly they may have forgiven him.
And obviously, Cain has not really done that. He's pretty much said none of this has ever happened, from the sexual allegations to this recent allegation of having an inappropriate relationship outside of his marriage, but we'll just have to see. He's going to plug along again.
I think he can stay in this thing. He'll obviously probably be in every debate. He's got until January 3rd, you know, to limp along in this thing, and we'll just have to see.
COSTELLO: Nia-Malika Henderson from "The Washington Post," thanks for joining us this morning.
He is prominent, outspoken, one of Congress' most liberal voices. Now, Representative Barney Frank is about to retire. The 16-term Democrat from Massachusetts says he will not seek re-election in 2012, blaming his retirement partially on redistricting. So, what's next for the 71-year-old?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. BARNEY FRANK, (D) MASSACHUSETTS: There is no way I would be a lobbyist. I will miss this job and I have some twinges of regret when new Congress is signed up, but I will tell you this, and you know, maybe you're going to laugh, but one of the advantages to me of not running for office is I don't even have to pretend to try to be nice to people I don't like.
(LAUGHTER)
FRANK: Now, some of you may not think I've been good at it, but I've been trying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The veteran Congressman says he had always planned on retiring by 2014.
America's toughest sheriff will give his nod to Texas governor, Rick Perry. Arizona sheriff, Joe Arpaio, is set to endorse the GOP presidential candidate in New Hampshire today. Arpaio is known for his crackdown on illegal immigrants. This could be the boost Perry's campaign needs.
In the past, he's come under fire by Republicans for not taking a hard enough stance on boarder security and illegal immigration.
New developments in the Syracuse University sex abuse scandal. Former associate men's basketball coach, Bernie Fine, will become the center of a second investigation, this time, in Pittsburgh. Three accusers have now come forward with claims that Fine molested them.
In the meantime, Fine's wife plans to make a statement about a taped conversation she reportedly had with one of Fine's accusers where it appeared she knew about the abuse all along. CNN's Gary Tuchman caught up with Laurie Fine. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, I'm Gary Tuchman with CNN. I'm sorry to bother you.
VOICE OF LAURIE FINE, BERNIE FINE'S WIFE: You're not bothering me.
TUCHMAN: I was hoping can ask you -- your nephew was saying that you might have a statement.
FINE: We have no statement.
TUCHMAN: You're not going to make a statement?
FINE: Not today.
TUCHMAN: Is the tape misinterpreted, though?
FINE: I have no comment.
TUCHMAN: How come you can't comment?
FINE: I cannot comment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Fine was fired from his coaching job on Sunday.
Forty-one minute past the hour. Let's get a check of what's coming up at the top of the hour on "AMERICAN MORNING." Christine Romans is here. Good morning, Christine.
ROMANS: Good morning, Carol. Well, coming up in about 20 minutes on "American Morning," the sex abuse scandal that's now rocking Syracuse University widens. A second criminal investigation you just reported begins now against former basketball coach, Bernie Fine. We're going to talk to the sports editor at Syracuse's student newspaper. We're going to see how the community is reacting to these newest allegations.
And here we go again. A new Herman Cain accuser comes forward, this time, claiming she and Cain had a 13-year affair. What does this mean for the presidential candidate's campaign? A Republican strategist and a conservative commentator will give us the look from the right.
And Egyptians head to the polls for the second day. It's the first election since the uprising that toppled long-time ruler, Hosni Mubarak. So far, it seems to be a peaceful and orderly democratic process. We're going to check in with representative, David Dryer (ph) live in Cairo. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is 45 minutes past the hour. Here's what we're following this morning.
Republican presidential candidate, Herman Cain, slapped with a new sex allegation. An Atlanta woman says she had an affair with Cain that lasted 13 years ending just eight months ago. Cain is denying the accusation.
A Texas teenager commits suicide worried over his illegal immigration status. Eighteen-year-old Joaquin Luna (ph) revealed his frustrations in a suicide note. He was counting on the passage of the Dream Act which would provide residency to illegal immigrants who arrived in the United States as minors. In money news, General Motors is working to ease fears over its electric car, the Chevy Volt. The Volt is under federal investigation after its batteries caught fire in several crash tests. GM says the car is safe to drive but is offering free loner cars to concerned volt owners.
Let's head to Atlanta and check in with Jacqui Jeras. Good morning, Jacqui.
JERAS: Good morning, Carol. It's reverse logic this morning. We're talking snow in the south and rain in the north. How about that for you? We've got a little accumulation to talk about, kind of slick on bridges and overpasses. Those will be the areas of big concern in places like Memphis downwards Tupelo, into Huntsville and Birmingham, and even Atlanta maybe a few flakes.
You'll have to really look for it mixed in with the rain today and heavy rain at times for Detroit, into Cleveland, and Cincinnati should get some of that later on today as well. As we take a look at the advisories, a good two to four inches expected in parts of Western Tennessee, Memphis a little bit less. You've had about a half of an inch already.
Most of that will be done by noon. If you're traveling on the airways today, expecting delays in the northeast by this afternoon. Everybody else could started out pretty early today, Carol.
COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Jacqui.
Time now for a check on what's making headlines around the world. Rival brigades clash in Libya posing a challenge for the nation security. Zain Verjee is live for us in London. Good morning, Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol. I was just looking at this U.N. reports on Libya and one of the biggest fears right now in that country is those rival brigades that are fighting each other in some instances, and they're responsible for the security of the country.
The other thing that the report says, Carol, is that the former rebels are holding about 7,000 prisoners in different make shift kind of jails all across the country and what the U.N. is saying that there are a lot of reports being heard now of torture. The prisoners have no due process, because, frankly, there are no courts or police or a system even functioning in Libya.
You've got the mercenaries brought over by Col. Gadhafi and his family also being held. One other thing, they say, is a big fear, too, is weapons that are flowing so easily into the country. And it says it has some of the biggest surface-to-air missiles, the portable ones that are being used in Libya. And that in order to get control of the weapons, Libya needs to create some kind of a future for those fighters -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right. Let's switch to Australia. This is a strange story. So, a passenger is sitting on a plane and their iPhone just catches on fire.
VERJEE: Hasn't that ever happened to you, Carol? I mean, come on. Well, yes. I mean, that's basically what happens. I mean, the iPhone 4 was one of the hottest phones in the world, but wasn't supposed to be that hot. It was only one incident here, but apparently, there was a red glow and then all this smoke started to emit from the plane when it landed in Sydney.
This actually happened on the tarmac. Now, Apple is investigating, and the guilty iPhone 4 is in custody and going through all sorts of forensic tests. The Australian spokes people are saying that there's never been this kind of an incident where an iPhone undergoes spontaneous self-ignition.
Well, the good news is the flight attendant, Carol, reacted quickly, grabbed an extinguisher and doused the iPhone. And, everyone was safe.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Spontaneous self-ignition?
(LAUGHTER)
VERJEE: You know what? What someone else was saying was that you have to be careful. The question now is was it a real iPhone 4 or a fake one? Were the batteries fake? So, it's creating a whole mystery and fear of iPhone travel.
COSTELLO: I don't think that passenger turned off the iPhone while the plane was in flight. So, there's an added infraction there.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Thank you, Zain. We appreciate it.
VERJEE: Yes. It's just weird to think it just starts glowing red in the middle of things, and then, pssshhh.
COSTELLO: Oh, well, whatever. Thank you, Zain. Appreciate it.
When we come back, some are saying computer programming will be the next blue collar job. That's why one company is willing to make a bet on its big idea. We'll tell you all about it. It's 50 minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A new tech startup is aiming to teach everyone basic web programming skills. Code Academy is betting those skills will be a part of every major employment field in the near future and that you're going to want in. CNN money's Laurie Segall is here to tell us more. So, Laurie, how does this work?
LAURIE SEGALL, CNNMONEY.COM: You know, Carol, it's very, very easy. It's a very -- it's an online course. It's free. You can go on and automatically take basic programming classes. And you know, it sounds really wonky and geeky, but I tried it out. They're very interactive. You earn badges and you're able to tell your friends about what you're doing.
And it really works well. I mean, the idea is that coding and programming, you know, they do sound kind of geeky, but it's what -- it's the language behind all these apps on your iPhone and the web. And employers are getting smart, and they're saying we want people who know how to do even these basic skills, you know?
I spoke to the founder and he said that coding and programming is going to be the 21st century literacy. So, he said, you know, it's something we really are going to want to know, and that's why they built this service that kind of help us figure that out.
COSTELLO: Yes. It's sort of like the factory work of the future, I guess, you could call it. So, what kind of people are signing up?
SEGALL: Yes. You know, Carol, that's a great way of putting it. You think, you know, you think about programming and you think something like Mark Zuckerberg, "The Social Network" and their take of geeks in a room pounding out code on what's essentially going to be a multimillion dollar company, a Facebook.
But really, it's people that have lost their jobs. You know, people that want to learn an extra skill and get back into the work force. You know, unemployment amongst younger people is really high. So, people that are out of college and want to get a job. And you know, Carol, knowing these skills can also save you a lot of money.
I mean, we spoke to an opera singer. She's a woman named Miriam, and she's using Codecademy. Listen to her take.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
MIRIAM BROWNINGNANCE, CODECADEMY USER, OPERA SINGER: I know opera singers that code and design and do a little bit of everything. Every artist has to have their own website. Everybody has to constantly update it with performances and reviews. If you can update your own, if you can create your own, nobody has the money to hire somebody to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SEGALL: You know, in hiring a developer to help update your resume, that's so expensive. So, being able to do that can really help you out. Now, Miriam is also a communications student at Columbia University, and she says every time she sends out a resume, people are looking for someone with basic programming skills, because nowadays, you don't want someone that can just, you know, send out a press release. You want someone that can update the site and really keep it up to date. COSTELLO: Yes. I totally understand that. So, let's think big. Some day, will just the common person be able to build the next Facebook or Twitter by using this service?
SEGALL: OK. So, you know, I don't want to get ahead of myself. I tried it out. But, you know, Carol, I'm still sitting here without a multimillion dollar company, right? So, I think it's at those beginning stages, and what they're trying to do is they're saying, here are the basic courses.
And as we get more advance, now, this company is pretty early on. What they're saying is they're going to put out more advanced courses, and one day they're essentially -- and this is how they're hoping to make money. They're going to connect people with organizations looking for people who can program. So, you know, it's a win-win situation for everybody, Carol.
COSTELLO: It's a great skill to have. That's the way the world is going, I'm telling you, as you well know. Thank you, Laurie Segall. We appreciate it.
SEGALL: Thank you.
COSTELLO: For the full story on codecademy, you can check out CNNMoney or follow Laurie on Twitter @lauriesegallcnn.
That's it for this Tuesday edition of A.M. WAKE-UP CALL. "American Morning" continues right after a break. You make it a great day.
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