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Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama Shelve Sharp Attacks in Latest Face-off; Virtual Online Banks: Is Your Money Really Safe?

Aired February 01, 2008 - 10:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN, ANCHOR: This hour a personal story coming from a Kenyan student in the U.S.
TONY HARRIS, CNN, ANCHOR: Virtual online banks, is your money really safe? Our personal finance editor Gerri Willis answers your e- mail today, Friday, February 1st. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: I will go straight to it. Unfolding this hour, an ugly situation for millions of you just getting hammered by fierce winter storms. In Washington state, 15 counties are under a state of emergency right now after storms buried major roads and interstates under mounds of snow. Avalanches also a real threat. One measured 400 feet long and 30 feet deep in spots. And another brutal storm system in the Midwest to tell you about. Heavy snow, blanketing several states. Hundreds of flights had been canceled. More than 600 alone at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. At least four deaths blamed on this dangerous storm.

HARRIS: I got to tell you. You already know this, Betty. You get that many cancellations at one of the major airports in the country.

NGUYEN: It shut down so many people.

HARRIS: Let's check in with Jacqui Jeras now. Jacqui, I don't know where you want to start here. So much to talk about.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: Well, let's start with Chicago because conditions have been so terrible there this morning. Now, the good news about it though is that the snow is starting to come to an end here, at least temporarily and visibility has improve a little bit. You can see this live picture from WGN-TV showing you that the traffic on the interstates is doing better.

But the problems at the airport, we think, will be lingering throughout the day. And the wind should be picking up as well. So, even if this snow doesn't redevelop, we could have some problems with blowing and drifting of snow. Let's show you what's going on here on the radar picture. It gives you a better idea of what's going on in the Chicagoland area. You can see it's kind of diminishing a little bit there. But still very heavy across parts of northern Indiana and moving in the southern parts of Michigan.

We got fresh pictures out of the Ft. Wayne area. These just coming in from WANE-TV. People stranded at the airport here. Now, the snow hasn't been all that heavy in Ft. Wayne but the winds were very strong, especially yesterday and into the overnight. So that causes blowing and drifting of snow and makes it very difficult to keep those runways on the clean side. So more travel headaches are going to be expected in the airways and on the roadways.

In the northeast, the biggest problem here is going to be the freezing rain. And many of the interstates across Pennsylvania are reporting numerous accidents as a result of the freezing rain which is starting to accumulate now on the roads and bridges and on the overpasses. And part of i-78, this is i-78 right in here, is shut down, kind of halfway in between Allentown and Harrisburg due to some of that freezing rain and an accident as a result of that.

Look at the heavy rain here. Then from New York City extending down towards Washington, D.C. It doesn't take just snow to cause problems at the airport. So we've got a let of messes on going out there. I've got about three pages of airport delays. My best suggestion to you is to call ahead. Back to you guys.

NGUYEN: Yes, some delayed as much as two hours and 30 minutes, that's if they're even getting off the ground. Some people just out of luck today. All right. Thank you, Jacqui.

I do want to let you know when weather becomes the news. This is just a reminder for you to send us your I-reports. Go to cnn.com and click on I-report or you can type I-report at CNN.com into your cell phone.

HARRIS: Also news this morning, Microsoft's message to Yahoo, let's make a deal, I mean a really, big deal, a really, really big deal. It's a developing story this morning. Microsoft making an unsolicited bid to buy Yahoo for almost $45 billion. Are you kidding me? If the deal goes through, it could actually reshaped the internet consumer services business. Microsoft is trying to become more competitive with Google, the power house search engine. The deal would pay Yahoo shareholders $31 a share. That's a 62% premium over the stock's closing price yesterday. We will be watching development throughout the day for you. And you can certainly get more information at cnnmoney.com.

NGUYEN: Get into the CNN presidential debate, did you watch it? Well, you should have because there's only two democrats and seemingly one mission, make nice. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama shelved the sharp attacks that heated up their latest face-off and said the mild- mannered candidates traded soft, cordial jabs on a few platform issues - the Iraq war, healthcare, and immigration but as for heat, they celebrated one shared target, and that's the republicans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: With all due respect, we have a president who basically ran as the CEO-MBA president and look at what we got. I am not too happy about the results.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't think the republicans are going to be in a real strong position to argue fiscal responsibility when they added $4 or $5 trillion worth of national debt. I am happy to have that argument.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And on many occasions, both also praised former rival John Edwards who dropped out of the race earlier this week.

Well, all of this sets the stage for the big question, who fared better in the debate, Clinton or Obama? Well, here to break it down, CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider. He joins us live. So, Bill, it appears that things are pretty cordial last night. Was this a missed opportunity for either Obama or Clinton?

BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN, SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: I do think it was a missed opportunity for Barack Obama because, you know, if the debate ended up a draw and there was amicability between the two of them. He's got to do something to upset this race and to gain more momentum if he wants to defeat Senator Clinton. He had to use that opportunity to convince voters you like Senator Clinton but you better rethink your choice. But I'm not sure he was able to do that given the cordial nature of that debate.

NGUYEN: OK, let's switch over to the GOP side. Where will Romney and McCain really concentrate their resources in these final days before super Tuesday?

SCHNEIDER: Well, certainly Romney is going to go after states that are heavily conservative, including a lot of southern states. He wants to rally the conservative base. Many of them have disagreements with John McCain on a number of issues and he hopes, particularly in southern states, that base will come out and vote for him strongly. He almost won Florida, by rallying it and he might have a chance to win some of those other states. McCain of course wants states like Illinois and New York and California where there are a lot more moderate republicans in large cities, where he might actually fair better. So, you're going to see geographical division between these two candidates.

NGUYEN: What about the folks who like Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, as we go into super Tuesday, what are their strategies? They're trying to stay in this race.

SCHNEIDER: They are. And Mike Huckabee, overall has a lot with Mitt Romney. They are both trying to appeal to conservative voters. Again, that's the base of the republican party. And they are not entirely enthusiastic about John McCain but the problem is that Romney is competing not from the McCain but also with Huckabee for that base, particularly those social conservative voters. That is Huckabee's base of support. That is also strongest in the south. As long as Huckabee is competitive, and I think the debate the other night probably helped Huckabee, then Romney's got a problem.

NGUYEN: All right. We will be watching super Tuesday just a few days away. Thank you, Bill Schneider, our senior political analyst. HARRIS: And Kenyans in the United States are watching the crisis at home in horror. Betty speaks with the Kenyan student studying right here in Georgia. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris. Baghdad's calm, what calm? Two markets, two bombs, dozens of casualties in the bloodbath.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: You know, it's been a minute since we checked the markets. So, are we going to do that now?

NGUYEN: No, in just a second. I want to tell you about this story. It's a tragic one, Tony. Mentally disabled women used as bombs in Baghdad. Yes. A top Iraqi official says two females were detonated this morning, killing at least 64 people and wounding 100 at two popular pet markets. The women were wearing suicide vests and were blown up by remote control. The blast happened about 30 minutes apart. It is the bloodiest set of attacks in Baghdad in recent months.

HARRIS: A quick check of the markets now. New York Stock Exchange on the big board. Very quickly, well, well inside the first hour of trading day. OK. Positive so far. We're up 87 points. The markets hopefully responding well. It looks like it at least initially to the news of the Microsoft buyout bid for Yahoo. We are following the markets throughout the morning. Nasdaq, OK, great, Nasdaq, the number's in, up 25. We are following the markets with Gerri Willis who's going to be answering your e-mails in just a moment. Poppy Harlow, Susan Lisovicz throughout the morning right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

OK. Your wallet, your questions. Again, Gerri Willis.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Credit card debt, rough IRAs and online banks. Some of the topics you're asking about. Here to answer those questions CNN personal finance editor, Gerri Willis. Gerri, good Friday to you.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN, PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Happy Friday to you, too, Tony.

HARRIS: Do you want to dive into this e-mail bag? All right. Richard has the first question this morning. He writes, "I have been investing for my son in a UGMA (custodial) account for college, it will be over $60,000 and my son starts college in 4 1/2 years. Will this inhibit his chance for financial aid? If so, do I have any options, Gerri?"

WILLIS: Great question. You know, yes, a custodial account will affect your son's eligibility for financial aid. Your best bet is to liquidate the custodial account and put the money into a 529 savings plan in his name. You want to do this at least two years before your son starts school since financial aid eligibility is based on the prior tax year. Today, the money in your child's 529 will not affect eligibility. This will change a little bit, however, in July 2009 when the amount of money in the account will have a small impact on financial aid.

HARRIS: Very good. Very good. Gerri, we got a question from Sara here in Atlanta. There are about 15 Saras in the NEWSROOM. Hmmm, curious. "I have been contributing to a Roth IRA, big lump, the maximum contribution, once a year. I try to do it in January. But is there any wisdom in waiting to do it later this year, like in four or six months?

WILLIS: You know, that's a great question. First off, Sara, congratulations on some wise investment choices. The bottom line here though is that the sooner you fund your IRA the sooner you have your money working for you. Look, there's no sense in timing the market if you have money to invest now. The stock market doesn't react, it predicts. And stocks start picking up during a recession before it's even over. You're much better off make sure you're comfortable with your asset allocation and letting the market do its own thing.

HARRIS: That's great. That's great. Question three comes from Gwen who is watching us from Alaska. Here's Gwen's question for you, Gerri. And I bet you get this a lot. "I am drowning in credit card debt. Which way is the best way to go, consumer credit counseling or debt settlement companies that will get you out of debt in three years or less but for a fee?"

WILLIS: Gwen, Gwen, you got to listen up to this. Your best option is to work out a debt management plan with a consumer credit counseling agency. Debt settlement companies can further damage your credit because hey these companies collect months of payments from you before offering creditors a settlement. By this time your credit is destroyed and it's very hard to find a reputable company. Now, look if you decide to go with the debt management plan, make sure the company is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. You can find them at nfcc.org. A debt management plan requires you to pay into the organization. Your money is then distributed to lenders and most management plans, they last about five years.

Now, some folks, Tony, out there, would consider bankruptcy but that is certainly not first on my list and only a last option.

HARRIS: Got you. Hey, Gerri, you got time for one more?

WILLIS: Sure. One more.

HARRIS: OK. Pamela from Florida writes, "I am considering putting some money into an online account with a reputable bank because of the great interest rate. But putting my money online scares me. Any tips?"

WILLIS: Wow, this is great. I think a lot of people ask this question. But more and more banks are going online these days. And it's safe. You'll want to do your homework. Make sure the bank is legitimate and your deposits are federally insured. Go to the about us section on the website that describes the institution. You can also check the FDIC's database of banks at its website at fdic.gov and look for the little section called bank find. Remember, not all banks operating on the internet are insured by the FDIC and that's absolutely what you want.

Also, keep those passwords safe and make sure you understand your rights before signing up with a bank. For extra peace of mind, and this is actually what she find an internet bank that also have a bricks and mortar presence. And if you have any question send them to us at toptips@cnn.com. We love to hear from you and if you have any questions send them to us at toptips@CNN.com. We love to hear from you and we answer your very smart questions, right here every Friday.

HARRIS: How about that? All right, Gerri, great to see you. And have a great weekend.

WILLIS: You, too, Tony.

NGUYEN: We'll take you overseas now. We have new calls for calm in Kenya. U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon is now urging Nairobi. He's in Nairobi, urging both sides, in fact, in a bit of dispute to resolve the political crisis. We take you live to CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson who is also in Nairobi. Nic, is this U.S. action likely to make any difference?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's only going to reaffirm for the political leaders here who are currently trying to negotiate through and past their difference that the world is watching them and the world is paying very close attention. Ban Ki-Moon had a warning for them saying that the U.N. is watching them closely, but it doesn't want to see a genocide happen here. And he gave the or alluded to the genocide that happened in neighboring Rwanda just over a decade ago.

He did say that the only way forward is for these leaders to put aside that party differences, put aside their personal interests. And so far, we haven't seen that happening. So while it's going to put pressure on these leaders, the message is the same message that they've been hearing for the last few weeks. There wasn't a new initiative that Ban Ki-Moon brought with him but a real focus of attention. He said it was toot soon for the U.N. to be talking about putting in peacekeeping troops. When asked if he would call what's happening here ethnic cleansing, he said he wouldn't go that far either. Betty.

NGUYNE: As far as level of violence, have you seen it decrease any?

ROBERTSON: There's been more violence again today. There has been at least five deaths today in the west of the country, at least one of those directly related, it appears, to the death of a politician yesterday. A policeman in his hometown was killed by a mob. It appears that was a direct retribution for the death of the M.P. who was shot by a policeman. There have been other deaths as well as violence continues to flare. One of the things Ban Ki-Moon said he was pretty clear about is the violence must stop, that the killing must stop. It was important for the children of the country, for the future of the country. But he also said it's becoming increasingly difficult for aide officials because of the continuing violence to get to some of the people and help some of the communities that they need to help right now, Betty. And tat was a troubling thing to hear from the U.N. Secretary General while he was here.

NGUYEN: Desperate situation there. Nic Robertson joining us live from Nairobi today. Nic, thank you.

Well, while watching the horror here at home, Kenyan Peter Gachanja, he joins us live from Athens, Georgia, where he is a graduate student at the University of Georgia. Peter came to the U.S. last year. In fact, his wife and three young children remain in Kenya. And Peter, we want to thank you for joining us today. As we just heard from Nic Robertson, the violence has increased. Five deaths today. I want you to describe the stark difference from what is happening today and the Kenya that you grew up in. What was it like when you grew up in Kenya?

PETER GACHANJA, KENYAN STUDYING IN THE U.S.: Well, thank you, Betty. I will give you a background. I was born and brought up in a very cosmopolitan part of Kenya, the central province. I was born in the Peca area, which is about 40 kilometers from the capital, Nairobi. We had a very vibrant industry there. We had a motor vehicle assembly, we had coffee estates, we had tea estates. We were producing high-quality pineapples. We still do. And that brought people from all over Kenya who are walking in those industries and in those parts.

NGUYEN: So it was very peaceful?

GACHANJA: It was very peaceful and we were completely integrated. I went to school with people from all over Kenya. And later on when I started working as a teacher and as a hotel manager later on, I had worked with Kenyans from all over. And so I cannot understand this personally.

NGUYEN: You say you can't understand it. But from the information that you've gathered, what is the root of this violence? How did it go from that peaceful Kenya to what it is today?

GACHANJA: I must admit that our politicians have not been very honest to our people. When they market themselves to us, when they are looking for jobs because they are jobseekers, nothing else. They do not always use a language that would promote peace, that would promote stability. Sometimes they make too many --

NGUYEN: So, the politicians are stirring up the violence?

GACHANJA: Yes, they are the ones who have done it. No doubt about it.

NGUYEN: And we're looking at some video, of just the sheer violence that's taking place in the streets across the country. I understand just last week your uncle was burned alive. What crosses your mind when you see your homeland like this and talk to us a little bit more about what happened to your uncle.

GACHANJA: I must tell you that Kenyans have always believed that they can walk and live anywhere. My uncle was one of the people who moved from where he was born in central Kenya and he went to the rich valley and he bought property and he settled there. And he had been working and he set up a business. And then he was one of the people who was killed in this violence.

NGUYEN: That's got to be devastating to you.

GACHANJA: It is -- it is completely -- it's not something you can describe. Another thing is my wife and my children are not where I was born.

NGUYEN: But they're still in country, so you have to be afraid for their safety.

GACHANJA: Of course. We are -- we believe that we could live anywhere so we moved to Mombassa. We got new jobs. We found good jobs, myself and my wife. We bought a property and we settled down. And now suddenly, we are being told that certain people cannot live in certain parts of Kenya.

NGUYEN: So you're here in the United States studying French literature. The plan was just to be here two years and go back. Now that the violence has erupted, your wife and three children, most of your family still in Kenya, what's the plan now? Do you want to go back, do you want them to come here?

GACHANJA: You see, Betty, I must tell you that when we were planning this, with my wife, we were very sure that I was coming, improve myself, get some experience, get a good education and go back home and contribute as a teacher in the university because we need for language expert. And we were sure that I would complete within schedule, within two years and I'm not going to change that. But I'm a little bit confused, but I'm lucky because we were able to organize for my son and my wife to join men and they are going to be here shortly.

NGUYEN: That's good.

GACHANJA: Yes. And --

NGUYEN: In February, right, the 18th?

GACHANJA: On February 18th they are going to be here. But the plan is they will pay me a visit and then they will go back to Kenya and continue with their lives. But now that this has happened, I think you can take this as an example, many people who have been thrown completely off balance and our plan -- our plans right now, as we are speaking now -- when I left Kenya I give - I give a very good projection. We were very sure that in the hotel industry and tourism industry was going to flourish. NGUYEN: It's gone now.

GACHANJA: And I hear now that where I was working, which is one of the most prestigious hotel in Kenya, they are laying people off.

NGUYEN: Because of the violence.

GACHANJA: And the politicians, they do not care that people's livelihoods have been destroyed.

NGUYEN: It's definitely a major problem for the country and something has to be done about it. I know you're very worried about the situation at home, including your family members who are still there. So, best of luck to you. We do wish you safety and your family safety as they come here. Thanks for sharing a little bit of your story with us today.

GACHANJA: Thank you, Betty.

HARRIS: A CIA air strike in Pakistan kills a top Al Qaeda leader. He's identified as Abu Laith Al-Libi. Sources say he plotted and executed the attacks against U.S. and coalition forces including a bombing last February at Bagram air base in Afghanistan during a visit by Vice President Cheney. Al-Libi is on U.S. military's most wanted list, just number three behind Osama Bin Laden.

NGUYEN: Also, ahead politics and your healthcare. Find out what democrats will do. Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And I guess we're coming up on the half hour. Welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: Yes, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. Thank you for joining us. Well, among our top stories - snowbound and stranded. Look who's getting an up close and feel, close look and feel of this wintry mess out there in hard-hit St. Louis. Our own meteorologist Reynolds Wolf has been braving it out there. So, how bad is the situation with the wintry mix? I know a lot of people are affected.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Well, in St. Louis, things are getting considerably better. We had about three to seven inches of snow falling. Much that fell during the late night hours, but now much of that snowfall is gone. It's now moving into other portions of the Midwest in the Ohio valley, eventually affecting places like New York.

Obviously, as you can tell, we're in St. Louis. You see the arch there shrouded by the gray skies. Then over here, we have the basilica. This basilica, Basilica of St. Louis, is a beautiful structure. This was actually the site of a small wooden chapel that was established back in 1770. And even back during that time people in this area of st. Louis had to deal with the snow. Thankfully, nowadays, we're able to use snowplows and machines and spread the snow -- or rather push the snow, but also the salt spreaders. They were out in force last night moving all the way around the St. Louis metropolitan area. These men and women who work for the department of transportation here in Missouri, and for the city, do -- never get the credit they deserve. They -- hats go off to them. They did a bang-up job.

And right over here, director (ph) as you come back to me, you can see the cars are moving with no issues. People are driving along. Roads are in fantastic condition. Not just here but also on the freeways. But there's still going to be that chance of getting some icing, especially on those over passes along parts of I-64 and way on the other side of those buildings over on I-70.

So, people are encouraged to use extreme caution because all it takes is a little bit of this moisture, those cold conditions, and you're going to have some ice on the freeways. And that could be a big, big problem. One thing that we do have going for us here in St. Louis is a that little of the cold air is going to remain in place. We are expecting dryer conditions.

Not the case though for Chicago, through portions of Ohio valley, back into New York. Of course, Jacqui Jeras is going to give you the latest on that, including the situation in New York which could be really bad, especially in spots like Syracuse. We have an ice storm warning in effect. They could see up to a half inch coating of ice on power lines, on trees, on roads. Not a good situation going into the weekend. Back to you.

NGUYEN: No. You've got cancellations, you've flights delayed. And in fact, you've got four deaths blamed on this storm. So Reynolds, we advise you to be safe. We'll be talking with you shortly. But thanks for that report.

Do want to give you the viewer this reminder, send us your I- Reports. All you have to do is go to CNN.com and click on I-Report or type I-Report at CNN.com into your cell phone. But remember, always be safe.

HARRIS: The CNN presidential debate. The anger toned down, the Democrats teamed up. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama traded few last barbs last night and instead focused their sharpest attacks on Republicans. There were a few jabs on platform issues such as experience and the U.S. invasion against Saddam Hussein.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There were legitimate concerns about what he might do. So I think I made a reason judgment, unfortunately the person who actually got to execute the policy did not.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Senator Clinton, I think fairly, has claimed that she's got the experience on day one. And part of the argument that I'm making in this campaign is, that it is important to be right on day one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Both candidates also praised fellow Democrat John Edwards who dropped out of the race earlier this week.

NGUYEN: Lets talk now about the high cost of health care. The presidential candidates say they have plans to fix the system. Chief medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta, takes a look at that. And we do want to give you this little disclaimer here. Dr. Gupta was a White House fellow, a non-partisan appointment, in Hillary Clinton's office in 1997 and '98. That was three to four years after Mrs. Clinton's health care initiative had been defeated. And as you'll see, in this look at the health care plans from the Democrat presidential hopefuls, the debate over a health care policy continue to be fierce.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Let's break down the health care plans for the leading Democratic candidates. Let's start with universal coverage.

Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both promised to provide health care to the estimated 47 million Americans without health insurance. Clinton would require all Americans to have health coverage. Obama's plan is a little different. It guarantees coverage, but does not require it.

OBAMA: I don't think that the problem with the American people is that they are not being forced to get health care. The problem is they can't afford it.

GUPTA: According to the U.S. Census data that may not always be the case. More than nine million Americans who make more than $75,000 a year have no health insurance. Clinton estimates that her plan would cost $110 billion. Obama says his plan will cost $50 to $60 billion. Neither of these plans call for government run health care, like France or Canada.

How about health care portability? That's the ability to take your health insurance with you if you change jobs or lose your job. Again, both candidates say their plans give you that freedom. Paying for medical care during a chronic or catastrophic illness can result in financial ruin, even if you have excellent health insurance. In fact, paying for health care is the Number 1 cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States.

Clinton says her plan would ensure coverage of catastrophic costs and would guarantee insurance premiums would never rise above a certain percentage of income.

CLINTON: I am not running for president to put band aids on our problems. I am running for president to solve them. Starting with the solving the health care financing problem that stands in the way of too many people being taken care of. GUPTA: We'll give Obama's plan a half of a check mark. It would reimburse employer health plans for a portion of catastrophic costs above a certain level, if that money goes towards reducing the cost of workers premium. And it would forgive the debts of families who go bankrupt because of medical bills.

How about quality of care? Clinton says she would establish an independent best practices institute. That's a public/private partnership to research the best drugs, the best operations and the best treatments. Obama also says his plan would spread the word about best practices.

And how about prevention? It's now less than five percent of health care spending. Clinton says she would require insurance companies to pay for preventative medicine and promote programs to help stem the obesity epidemic among children. Obama says he will increase funding for community-based prevention programs and expand federally supported plans, like Medicare and Medicaid, to cover prevention efforts like cancer screenings and smoking cessation programs.

Both these plans are complicated and expensive, costing tens of billions of dollars. The candidates say they plan to pay for them by making the system more efficient and by eliminating the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: You can see a recap of the Republicans plan and much more in Sanjay's "Broken Government" report, "Health Care: Critical Condition." That is Sunday night, 11:00 Eastern, only on CNN.

HARRIS: Well trains and planes rumbled back to life today in China. It's about time. But millions of travelers are still stranded after the country's worst snowstorm in half a century. Isha Sesay has more from our China desk.

And Isha it has been heartbreaking to watch these migrant workers from all around the country trying to get home and just this thwarted in their efforts to get there.

ISHA SESAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Tony.

These are desperate times in China. We're looking at a situation where these heavy storms have frozen the power grid, they've paralyzed the transportation system. And people are just desperate to get home. As you pointed out, those migrant workers estimated at 178 million people, all wanting to get home for Chinese Lunar New Year. That's an annual -- annual festival.

And you know, they're crammed into stations, they're crammed into airports, they're stuck on the road. We want to share with you some scenes from a train station in Guangzhou. Take a look at this. I mean, Tony, there you have it. You see the desperation. People are, you know, crammed into these spaces. It's bone-chillingly cold. They've been there for days. The trains have been stranded for days. They've only just started moving. But tempers are fraying and patience is running thin.

Now, those are scenes in Guangzhou that we just shared with you but those scenes are playing out throughout the country in major train stations. The weather chaos couldn't have come at a worst time because lunar new year is the busiest traveling time in China.

Now, today, Thursday -- Friday, I should say, is better than it was yesterday. But, you know, as I said, right at the top, the roads are also crammed. I spoke to our correspondent, Andrew Stevens. He's been on the roads for between 22 and 24 hours, barely moving, bumper to bumper. It's just miserable, he said. You know, all you can see is just the snow and the ice. You know, barely anything happening.

In southeastern Hunan province, another thing I want to tell you, this is a province that has over a million people. They haven't had power for over eight days. And you know, food supplies are running thin. So you know, these are desperate conditions. We want to share with you some I-Reports also that will hopefully give our viewers at home just a sense of the conditions that people are experiencing there in China.

This I-report that you're looking at coming to us from Ryan Moore. He is a student from California. These are scenes at Wuhan airport. But that's what we're trying to get across to you. Airports, the railway stations, the roads, everything is gridlocked, everyone is desperate. Everyone wants to get home to their loved ones.

Imagine the U.S. at Thanksgiving and you can't move anywhere. It's just a horrible, horrible scene. We've also got some photos, you know, that just show the snowy, icy conditions. And, you know, essentially, just how desperate people really are.

HARRIS: Well, Isha, we certainly remember in the states how bad it was, I guess it was, Valentine's Day last year and a major storm -- snow storm that crippled the northeast and flights couldn't get out and the ripple effect of that. So, we do have an idea of what it's like for those folks in China suffering through these conditions right now.

SESAY: And Tony, just to let you know, in terms of ...

HARRIS: Yes.

SESAY: ...the economic cost, we're hearing $4.5 billion is what this has cost the economy so far. And that price, you know, that price tag can only go up in the coming days.

HARRIS: Yes and you don't get that back. There's no way to get that back. All right, Isha Sesay for us from our China desk. Isha, great to see you, thanks. NGUYEN: This is also reflecting a harsh reality, artists paint a bleak picture of Iraq. We're going to show you some of those images ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Welcome back, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

Well, it is a wild weekend for the candidates as they get ready for the biggest national primary yet. Coast to coast, campaigning like we have never seen before.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: You actually get butterflies when you watch ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I get so excited.

NGUYEN: ...these primaries?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like, my knees feel weak like right before the exit polls come in.

NGUYEN: Seriously?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's so exciting for me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Talk about feeling energized about the election. Her knees were weak? Well, I traveled to several universities to see what issues are driving young people to vote. Hear what they have to say.

Plus, it is Super Bowl weekend and we all know it's not just about the game. We've got the commercials creating the most buzz, like this silent ad from Pepsi.

And the nun who makes her yearly prediction, don't place your bet until you hear from Sister Jean, the Super Bowl queen. She's got an impressive record. CNN "SATURDAY" and SUNDAY MORNING" beginning tomorrow at 7:00 Eastern.

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NGUYEN: All right, investors, listen up. It is a big day on Wall Street. A new employment report paints a dire picture of the labor market and software giant Microsoft wants to buy Yahoo! A lot of news to tell you about.

Susan Lisovicz is on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange with all the details and a look at how the markets are reacting. No doubt they are reacting to this news today, Susan.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

HARRIS: Depicting crisis on canvas, an Iraqi art teacher and her students use what's around them.

Here's CNN's Arwa Damon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 29-year-old Shaima says her art used to be an expression of her life. One look at the piece she's working on now tells you how her life has changed.

"This painting is impressionist and abstract. I'm trying to show scattered body parts flying around."

She says she's not trying to make a political statement, just reflect reality. Shaima is a teacher at Baghdad's College of Fine Arts, where students and professors have found themselves the targets of Iraq's violence.

"We see the violence daily. The killing, the conflict among the people, it's affected me and my students. Especially the students when they see their colleagues kidnapped or killed. Suddenly within a day, their friend is missing."

Now with the reduced violence in the capital, most students are able to make it to class. It's still a struggle. There are power cuts and they are barely able to afford materials. But for some, at least art is an escape.

HIND, STUDENT, BAGHDAD COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS (through translator): This is a ballet dancer. It's far from the violence, what we are living. So, I wanted to paint something that was peaceful and calm.

DAMON: Unlike many Iraqi professionals, Shaima decided to stay in Baghdad, her love for her homeland and her desire to keep art alive trumpeting the fear. Now, she's opened this small studio with two of her colleagues, the start of what she hopes will be a center of creativity amid what is often chaos.

But freedom of expression can affect your chance of survival here, Shaima doesn't dress like this when outside her studio. And despite her determination, her outlook is bleak.

SHAIMA, TEACHER, BAGHDAD COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS (through translator): I see ruins of a city. It's a shell of a city. It fills me with sorrow. This city that was so filled with life now just a memory.

DAMON: A city and a life that can only be preserved on canvas.

SHAIMA (through translator): It's impossible for it to return to the way it was. Even if it did return, the soul that was there, the dreams and the memories, they have all changed.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: It's a great story there.

Well, it is a mess in many parts of the U.S., roads caked in ice, flights canceled. February picks up where January left off.

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HARRIS: So you've heard Chevy's claim "Like a rock," that's Bob Seger. Right, right? Well, you can bet Frank Reznick (ph) believes it. The Medford, Wisconsin man owns a 1996 Chevy pickup with -- give me a drum roll please -- that's outstanding, Betty, that is outstanding -- 998,846 miles. You believe that?

NGUYEN: Wow.

HARRIS: That is like ...

NGUYEN: A million miles.

HARRIS: A million miles. A trip to the moon and back twice -- wow! Forty trips around the equator, 40.

NGUYEN: Oh, my goodness.

HARRIS: Well, Reznick says he travels a lot in the Midwest. Yes, really, you think?

NGUYEN: You think?

HARRIS: Still, the owner says he is retiring his Chevy when it hits one million. Word is General Motors just might be interested in putting his truck in a museum and getting him a new one, I would think.

NGUYEN: That might be kind of lucrative for him.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: Ever think some think people just have too much money, huh? What would you pay for a vanity license plate, you know, $100 maybe? $1,000, that's a little much. Talk about a million, several million.

HARRIS: What?

NGUYEN: Here's CNN's Wilf Dinnick.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILF DINNICK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is all about how low you can go, bidding for that special number. Abdullah al Mannaei runs the license plate auctions for the Abu Dhabi government.

ABDULLAH AL MANNAEI, EMIRATES AUCTION ORGANIZER: As low as the number goes, as high the price goes also. If it's a two-digit number, if it's similar like 99 or 22, that goes with a higher amount. DINNICK (on camera): This is the one where you put the plate on?

TALIAL COOREY (ph), OWNER OF "5": Yes, this is No. 5. I put it -- this -- those lights (ph).

DINNICK (voice-over): Talial Coorey is a stock broker and the owner of "5."

(on camera): It's also a status thing, is it not? I mean, if you have a low number, people know that you're important.

COOREY: Yes, this is like -- yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I definitely not a No. 5 in it.

DINNICK (voice-over): It's not all ego.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's awesome.

DINNICK: The money raised goes to a government-run charity, a big chunk to the victims of traffic accidents. In just five auctions, 300 plates were sold, raising an astonishing $56 million. Tonight, the most prized plate went for $700,000. Talial still holds the record, paying $6.8 million.

(on camera): This is the most expensive license plate in the world, and amazingly, it's more than 10 times as expensive as the car it's being driven on. But like many things here in the oil-rich Gulf, like even a vanity plate, it's become a very good investment.

AL MANNAEI: I have a number plate (ph) on my car which was worth $55,000 four years ago. And I have an offer now for $400,000. It's really an interested investment.

DINNICK (voice-over): Talial is aiming even lower, No. 1.

(on camera): And what would you pay for No. 1?

COOREY: I will not pay more than the maximum, from 15 to 20.

DINNICK: Million?

COOREY: Yes, not more.

DINNICK (voice-over): Next month, it's on the block, where Talial will have the chance to be No. 1.

Wilf Dinnick, for Marketplace Middle East, in Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Wait a minute, wait ...

NGUYEN: Oh my goodness.

HARRIS: ...did I miss something here, what? NGUYEN: Fifteen to $20 million for a license plate? I mean, you think, you know, property, diamonds, some of these things you should invest in.

HARRIS: Right.

NGUYEN: Forget about that. Why don't you buy license plates? That's the, obviously the new thing.

HARRIS: How much money do they have?

NGUYEN: Oh, way too much. I need to get a license plate and sell it on the open market there.

HARRIS: It does -- wow!

All right, still to come in the NEWSROOM this morning, the CNN presidential debate, Democrats on stage, bitter divisions on the mend. A closer look at a congenial showdown.

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