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Why Pennsylvania Matters So Much; Chilean Miners Could Be Freed This Week; North Korea's Heir Apparent Unveiled; CNN's Wolf Blitzer Previews Delaware Senate Debate; Pastor on a Mission of Faith; Canadian Starts Dating Site for the Ugly

Aired October 10, 2010 - 22:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: This hour, everything you need to know for your week ahead.

Freedom could soon be a reality for those 33 miners trapped for months in Chile, but some worry the rescue could put them in even more danger. We have new video just in to CNN tonight.

And unfolding right now, a Republican running for New York's highest office is in hot water again. Last time, it was for threatening a reporter. This time, he infers gays are brainwashing children. We'll show you the new video in just moments.

And if you can't find a date, maybe you should lower your standards. Stick around. We've got the web site for you. It's called UglySchmucks.com, and members say it works.

Good evening, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.

The political pressure is growing by the hour. The all-important midterm elections are just over the horizon and the latest polls point to what could be huge victories for Republicans just 23 days from now. Democrats are scrambling to build some kind of momentum to salvage their hold on Congress and to preserve the president's political agenda.

Today, a dramatic sign of what's at stake. President Obama hit the campaign trail in Philadelphia, trying to rekindle the magic that propelled him into the house -- into the White House in a state that's usually reliable for Democrats. He brought the vice president with him, a double-barrel push to hold on to the Democrats' House and Senate majorities.

This week, Mr. Obama plans more stops in Florida, Delaware and Massachusetts. Today, the president told supporters there's too much at stake to stay home on election day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They think you're going to be willing to let the same politicians and the same policies that left our economy in a shambles back to Washington. Well, Philadelphia, I think the pundits are wrong. I think the pundits are wrong. I think we're going to win, but you've got to prove them wrong. It's up to you to show the pundits that you care too much about this country to let it fall backwards.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Let's bring in our senior political editor, Mr. Mark Preston.

So, Mark, why is it so important that the president go to Pennsylvania today?

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, Don, twofold. First of all, 2010, the midterm elections, talking to Republicans, they think they can pick up five Pennsylvania seats. These are seats held by Democrats right now, Don, and if they are able to pick up these five, pick up 34 more, they are going to take back control of the House.

There's also a Senate seat on the line. That's Arlen Specter's seat. He's a Democrat, was once a Republican, became a Democrat. Mr. Obama actually got behind Mr. Specter's candidacy. They're hoping to win the primary. He lost. That right now looks like he could be in the losing column for Democrats.

There's also a governor's seat in that state.

Looking ahead to 2012, Don, Pennsylvania is an extremely important state in the presidential race. Twenty-one electoral votes on the line. A lot at stake for Mr. Obama -- Don.

LEMON: OK. Let's talk about the Republicans now, because I was talking to a Republican strategist yesterday. He says it's the eighth inning and Republicans don't want to shoot themselves in the foot.

And a comment that I'm sure party leaders, Mark, are paying close attention to. Carl Paladino, he's a Republican gubernatorial candidate in New York. He made headlines by threatening to, quote, "take out a reporter" just a few weeks back on the heels of that revelation that he has an out-of-wedlock child.

And tonight, he's stirring more controversy again with some critical remarks about gays, just a day after New York police arrested an eighth suspect in a series of anti-gay attacks against four men. Let's listen to Carl Paladino tonight in Brooklyn.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARL PALADINO, (R) NEW YORK GOV. CANDIDATE: I didn't march in the gay parade this year. The gay pride parade this year. My opponent did. And that's not the example that we should be showing our children, and certainly not in our schools. And don't misquote me as wanting to hurt homosexual people in any way. That would be a dastardly lie.

My approach is live and let live. I just think my children and your children will be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family. And I don't want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option. It isn't. (END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK. So, Mark, you heard and saw that pregnant pause in there -- what was left out. This was on the transcript but he did not say it. "There is nothing to be proud of being a dysfunctional homosexual."

He skipped over that part, but he's already infamous for those other controversial remarks. What do you think about this? How will Republicans and he -- how will he and Republicans react?

PRESTON: Well, twofold in. let's look at the New York's governor race right now. He's trailing in the polls pretty badly right now to the Democrat Cuomo up there, Andrew Cuomo up there, but this couldn't come at a worse time for him to say something and he said he had these remarks typed out. It's not something he said off the cuff. But this comes at a time after the police have arrested an eighth suspect up in New York for hate crimes against four gentleman.

So, this is how it's going to play tomorrow. The tabloids are going to go very big with it in New York. We've already seen it on their web sites and the "Daily News" and "New York Post," they're playing this story up big. Nationally, Republicans don't want to have to defend Carl Paladino for making these remarks.

Now, we should say in a further statement, Don, Mr. Paladino's campaign says that this is equivalent to the teachings of the Catholic Church. So, he's equating it to that, saying, look, this is how the Catholic Church thinks about homosexuality. That's all I'm saying.

However, given the timing right now and given the fact that he actually typed these remarks out, is not a very good thing for Republicans. And, in fact, Don, I've just been e-mailing back and forth with a representative of a gay Republican organization, a gay conservative organization, and this is what they tell me.

"Carl Paladino's comments would matter if they were coming from a serious political figure. However, they are not. They are instead coming from an imploding campaign of a man with a personal baggage of John Edwards and the electability of Alan Keyes."

That's from Christopher Barron from GOProud, a conservative organization.

Expect to see more statements like that in the next 24 hours. I believe they will be condemning Mr. Paladino.

LEMON: That's what we'll be talking about tomorrow. Thank you very much, Mark Preston.

And don't go anywhere. Our political coverage is just getting started up. Coming up, my conversation with Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Ed Rendell. He spoke today just before President Obama and then he spoke with CNN.

Plus, I'll talk with our very own Wolf Blitzer. He's going to preview this week's Delaware Senate debate. He is co-moderating the showdown which will air right here on CNN. Wolf joins me in just a few minutes, so please stick around.

Now the latest on that mass overdose at a college party in Central Washington. All but one of those who got sick were young women, and police say it appears they were targeted. Police responding to the off-campus party near Central Washington University arrived to a scene of chaos. We've got the details now from Ted Rowlands.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The party was thrown by a college freshman here at a second home owned by his parents. According to police. 11 out of the 12 victims were girls. All of them were between the ages of 18 and 21.

(voice over): Students at the party say it was clear something was wrong.

KATELYNN ALLEN, CENTRAL WASHINGTON STUDENT: Everything was going fine. The music was playing and people were having fun and then all of a sudden all the girls were puking everywhere. Girls were outside like on their back, and the people were so drunk they didn't know what to do.

ROWLANDS: Police believe the victims were drugged without their knowledge.

CHRIS UNGER, CENTRAL WASHINGTON STUDENT: They were saying don't drink out of the red cups. Don't drink out of the red cups. And I know I had saw someone drink out of red cup. I took one sip of it. I immediately threw up without a single drink. I mean, that's how powerful it was.

ROWLANDS: For police, the night started in this grocery store parking lot. A girl was unconscious in a car. Officers traced her condition back to the party. They had to break down the door because nobody would answer.

CHIEF SCOTT FERGUSON, CLE ELUM WASHINGTON POLICE: I would hate to think what could have occurred had there been another 15, 20 minutes that would have passed.

ROWLANDS: Police detained a man who was having sex with a semi- conscious female. He was released after it was determined the two were dating. The man may still face charges.

(on camera): Blood and urine samples have been taken from the victims in an effort to figure out exactly what they consumed. Police plan to interview everybody who attended this party to try to figure out who drugged the students.

Ted Rowlands, Roslyn, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) LEMON: All right, Ted, thank you. We go to Chile now where those 33 trapped miners could finally surface this week. Crews are lining the first 100 yards of the rescue tunnel with steel tubing, and CNN's Patrick Oppmann is near the site to walk us through the next steps.

Patrick.

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN ALL PLATFORM JOURNALIST: Don, the pace remains full speed ahead here at the San Jose mine. Officials said by Monday morning, steel casing will be in place to reinforce this newly drilled mine shaft. And by Wednesday, the rescue operation will be under way.

That rescue operation will kick off once a Navy paramedic and a mine rescue expert are lowered down the hole to the trapped men. It will be ascending up those miners one at a time to the rescue capsule. It will not be a pleasant ride.

The miners will soon be on a liquid diet to combat any nausea. And if there are any problems, they have an escape hatch and a live video feed will monitor their ascent to the surface. One problem that's already come up is who goes first. Many miners have told officials they want to be at end of the line to allow their fellow miners an earlier taste of freedom -- Don.

LEMON: Patrick, thank you very much.

In other news, a massive military parade marks a major anniversary in North Korea. And in a rare move, the country's leader Kim Jong-Il attends with his youngest son. Coming up, an extraordinary look into North Korea's reclusive communist regime.

Plus, three top lenders halt foreclosures in a number of states because of problems related to improper paperwork, but what about a national moratorium? We'll tell you what the White House has to say about that.

And don't just sit there. We want you to be part of the conversation. Send us a message on Twitter or Facebook. Check out our blog, CNN.com/don, and look for us on Foursquare.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: U.S. relations with North Korea may be about to get more complicated and perhaps even more dangerous. Leader Kim Jong-Il made clear this weekend he wants his youngest son to be his successor. There was no official announcement. Instead, the message was conveyed through the symbolism of a massive public spectacle. CNN's Alina Cho was invited into North Korea to witness it.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are in the center of Kim Il Sung Square named for the founder of North Korea. And what you are witnessing right here behind me is what's being billed as largest military parade in that country's history. It is officially the 65th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of North Korea.

It is also a national holiday, but in effect what this really is an elaborate coming-out party for the man, the heir apparent, the man who will become the next leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un. He is the youngest son of the ailing leader, Kim Jong-Il.

A little about what is happening today. Security is incredibly tight. There were numerous checkpoints. Even our government minders were checked, and just to give you an idea, Don, my notebook and my pen were checked. So, security is tight. You're not allowed into this square without an invitation the government.

But having said that, this is an extraordinary sight here in Pyongyang. There is no other way to describe it. Some 100,000 people, members of the elite North Korean society are here. As well, there is an international delegation, and it is extraordinary to see some of the Western faces in the crowd as well.

But most important, the two most important guests here today, Don, are Kim Jong-Il, the leader of North Korea, and his son, the heir apparent, who are just to my right and above me here in Kim Il Sung Square. Just an extraordinary sight here in Pyongyang today.

LEMON: Thank you, Alina. And you know what, no one has heard of Kim Jong Un until just a couple of weeks ago. Earlier, I spoke with North Korea expert Gordon Chang about who he is.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GORDON CHANG, COLUMNIST, FORBES.COM: He likes a lot of things Western. He was educated in a Swiss school, but really the most important thing is that he is as ruthless and as calculating as his father, the current leader of North Korea. You know, he is the one who got the dictator gene.

LEMON: Is that the reason for him and not his two older brothers?

CHANG: Well, they went through the two older brothers who for various reasons failed the test. Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son, got caught trying to get into Japan on a false Dominican passport. That sort of ruled him out. Kim Jong-Chul, the second son, is a little bit effeminate and although he had his moment in the sun, he didn't last very long. There are various factions in the North Korean regime supporting all three of these kids, and apparently the one supporting the youngest one has won out.

LEMON: So, Gordon, as someone educated in the West and familiar with Western culture, should we expect that he will be a different kind of leader than his father?

CHANG: Absolutely not. His father is also -- loves basketball, idolizes Michael Jordan, you know, watches all sorts of Western movies, but he's, you know, like one of the worst dictators ever.

The problem for Kim Jong Un is that there is a system in North Korea. There is a regime. He's very young, and he's going to have very little influence over the nature of the regime and what it does for a very long time. And he very well may not survive because there's so many people who want to be sitting on the throne instead of him. So, you know, I don't think that he has a very long life span.

LEMON: So how are North Koreans reacting to this sudden appointing of this heir apparent?

CHANG: Well, you know, in the official media, there's just joy and jubilation and everyone is so happy to be ruled by a third generation Kim. But as we saw in the beginning of December of last year, there were protests and riots and demonstrations across the country because of botched currency reform.

And there's basically people do not like Kim Jong-Il at this point. So they are not going to like Kim Jong-Il's son. And he's going to have to overcome that because although Kim Jong Un will have the support of the regime or at least some elements in it, he certainly doesn't have the support of the people.

LEMON: Gordon, thank you.

CHANG: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Up next tonight on CNN, no toy unless your kids' meal is healthy. We'll tell you where that could become the law.

And three mortgage firms halting foreclosures in some states. So, what do you think of a national moratorium? The White House speaks out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The nation is trying to get past its foreclosure crisis, but it's tough to do when shoddy paperwork is apparently grinding the process to a halt. Several major banks have stopped foreclosure sales because of it. Still, a senior White House adviser today said the president will not press banks to freeze all foreclosures.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID AXELROD, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: We are concerned. We're working with these institutions. I'm not sure about a national moratorium because there are in fact valid foreclosures that probably should go forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So to give us the full perspective on this paperwork program, Tami Luhby joins me now. She's a senior writer for CNNMoney.com.

Tami, welcome. David Axelrod just mentioned some foreclosures. Some foreclosures, he said, may be valid. But why wouldn't the president just want to stop all of them to make sure everything is above board in all cases?

TAMI LUHBY, SENIOR WRITER, CNNMONEY.COM: Sure. Well, it's not healthy for the nation or for the housing market for foreclosures to stop. We have a lot of inventory out there. Foreclosures are very popular, and we need to get this inventory out of the way for housing prices to stabilize and for banks to start making new loans again.

And also, people don't want foreclosed properties on their block. They are boarded up. They are vacant. They are ugly. So we want foreclosures to continue. We want foreclosures and foreclosure sales to continue.

LEMON: OK. So, listen, the country has been in foreclosure trouble for three years now. Why is this -- why is this all happening now?

LUHBY: Well, a couple of weeks ago, three banks announced that they were going to stop the foreclosure proceedings in the 23 states that courts have to approve the foreclosures in. So then on Friday, Bank of America came out and said that it was going to stop foreclosure sales in all 50 states which set off a firestorm.

LEMON: So, hey, Tami, give us some perspective. How big a deal is this?

LUHBY: Right. Well, it's still a little too early to tell. Attorneys-general are starting to investigate for fraud. Politicians are calling for the banks' heads. But the bottom line is, if you haven't paid your mortgage, you can't stay in your home. So, there may be some instances where the foreclosure proceedings were improper and people will get to stay in their homes. But for most people, this is just going to delay the process by a couple of weeks or a couple of months, but ultimately, it's not going to change the outcome.

LEMON: So, Tami, for people who bought foreclosed properties, should they worry that they may have to give back their investments?

LUHBY: That doesn't seem very likely. I mean, if there was a foreclosure that was truly improper, the original homeowner may be compensated for the sale, but it would be hard to believe that they are going to evict the new buyers.

LEMON: Thanks for helping us through this. Tami Luhby is a senior writer with CNNMoney.com. We appreciate it.

LUHBY: Sure.

LEMON: You know, from middle-class spending cuts to holiday shopping to toyless kids' meals. Here's Carter Evans with this week's "Getting Down to Business."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARTER EVANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It looks like some Americans just had their thriftiest year on record. That's according to a new report from the labor department. In 2009, middle-class households cut spending by about 3.5 percent. That's the steepest one-year drop since tracking began back in 1984.

But even as their income declined, spending by the poorest Americans rose by some 5.6 percent between 2007 and 2009. And that's due in part to higher food and housing rental costs. We're going to find out more from the consumer price index report that comes out on Friday.

Meanwhile, stores are hoping that shoppers decide to loosen their purse strings this holiday season. A new study by the National Retail Federation estimates that sales will increase about 2.3 percent this year, but buyers are still concerned about the health of the economy. So, expect bargains to abound. The latest retail sales numbers come out this week.

Finally, some sad news for happy meals in this "city by the bay". Soon, it could be illegal in San Francisco for kids' meals to include toys unless they meet certain health criteria. The City Board is expected to vote on legislation in the coming weeks.

That's this week's "Getting Down to Business."

I'm Carter Evans for CNN in New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: "S&L," "Saturday Night Live," pulling out the political stops again, this time with Christine O'Donnell, Delaware's GOP candidate for Senate. Our Wolf Blitzer joins me to preview her big Senate debate Wednesday night.

Plus, President Obama hits the campaign trail in Philadelphia to drum up Democratic support for the midterm elections. Pennsylvania's governor was on the trail with the president, and he has some strong words for Republicans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ED RENDELL (D), PENNSYLVANIA: I think to have the Republicans back in control of the House of Representatives would be very destructive. I think they have said very clearly they want to go back to the policies, the economic policies that have ruined the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: You want to stay with us because Governor Rendell is going to tell us why he says it was so important for him to get out there with the president today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So as we mentioned earlier, President Obama tried to pump up the Democratic base at a rally in Pennsylvania, a state where his party could lose a number of seats in the midterms. Pennsylvania's top Democrat, Ed Rendell, also spoke at today's rally. He is leaving office because of term limits but he still has a lot of advice for getting voters out to the polls.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RENDELL: When there's a bad economy, people just tend to reflexively blame those people who are in power. So it's important to focus even in this state and we're not really a blue state. We've had a Republican legislature for a long time. We're more of a purple state than a blue or red, but it's very important for the president to talk to our base.

I said to the crowd today, financial reform, Democrats supported it. Republicans were with the same people who brought us to the brink of economic disaster. Student loans. The Democrats and the president got rid of $60 billion that was going to companies...

LEMON: Mr. Rendell, with all due respect, even that you mentioned all of that and also with health care, I see the ads in my state and actually Republicans are voting or at least campaigning against that, saying that those -- I guess wins or -- that the Democrats have gotten, the president has gotten, they are using that as a negative in campaigns, and you're saying that the Democrats should be touting that.

RENDELL: Certainly, when we talk to our base, no question about it, because our base has to understand that there have been some real achievements.

You look at the seven things that have gone into effect in the health care bill today already. Not one of the people object to that. I just give you one. No longer can children 25 years of age or under be denied coverage for pre-existing illnesses. Well, everyone agrees with that. When I said it on Bill O'Reilly's show, he said, well, that's a good point and he doesn't like the health care bill.

LEMON: So, then, why aren't Democrats running on that? Why is the president so unpopular? Why isn't the president talking about that when he goes out or at least a lot when he goes out on the campaign trail? Why aren't Democrats campaigning at least on health care if it is such a positive for the party?

RENDELL: Because, of course, in the spin war over the last two years, health care got a bad name, and they got it because people don't understand it.

When you break the health care bill down in its components and when you tell people that CBO says over the next 20 years it's going to cut the deficit by $1 trillion, all of a sudden, people say, wow, I didn't know, and yes, you're right, seniors are getting money back to fill the doughnut hole and small businesses are getting a 35 percent tax credit. Wow. That's amazing.

And high-risk pools are giving people coverage who might otherwise die. Yes, it sounds pretty good to me. You mean, they can't cap us for expenses in a year? They can't drop us off health care because we're sick? Boy, those are great.

We just haven't done a good job of explaining it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Governor Ed Rendell, thank you.

You know, it's going to be a big week in politics, and our Wolf Blitzer is going to be here with a preview for you.

And it's a race against the clock in Hungary right now where another wave of toxic sludge is threatening an already devastated area. We'll look at what's causing the problem and what's being done to fix it soon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: You know, this pressure-packed political season is not without its lighter moments. Delaware Senate hopeful Christine O'Donnell has provided plenty of laughs. That's thanks to her past statements on a decade-old comedy talk show. And this weekend, "Saturday Night Live" isn't letting anyone forget that she once admitted dabbling in witchcraft.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" PERFORMER AS CHRISTINE O'DONNELL: I'm you, and just like you, I have to constantly deny that I'm a witch. Isn't that what the people of Delaware deserve, a candidate who promises first and foremost that she is not a witch?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK. So all jokes aside, Christine O'Donnell is the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate and she is taking part in a debate on Wednesday evening right here on CNN. Our very own Wolf Blitzer is the co-moderator of that event. He joins us now.

Wolf, so, good evening, first of all. What are you expecting at this debate this week? These two candidates have very different political styles.

WOLF BLITZER, ANCHOR, CNN'S "THE SITUATION ROOM" (via telephone): Very different styles, Don. I think it's going to be a lively, informative debate because I want to be sure that during the course of 90 minutes, no commercial interruption, we'll go through all the major issues. Issues number one, of course, being the economy, jobs, taxes, what to do about the current situation and we'll press them on all of these issues, both the Republican nominee, Christine O'Donnell, and the Democratic nominee, Chris Coons.

I don't want to neglect other important issues -- national security issues, whether the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, what to do with Iran, North Korea. These are critical issues as well, and I think both of these candidates should be prepared to discuss all of these important issues because I think the voters of Delaware and the voters across the country are going to be interested to hear what they say. You know, everybody seems to be caught up in what she said many years ago about, you know, what she said recently but also what she said many years ago about being attracted to witchcraft or whatever. But there are important substantive issues right now that the people of Delaware have a right to know where these two candidates stand. And I want to make sure we get through that.

LEMON: Yes. Hey, Wolf, you know, the president was in the neighboring state. He was in Pennsylvania today, so, you know, explain to our viewers who don't live in Delaware why this race is so important to everyone nationally.

BLITZER: Because right now, the Republicans have 41 seats, the Democrats -- the Democratic Caucus has 59, two independents who caucus with the Democrats. The key number in the Senate is 60. As you know, if the Democrats have 60, then they can break filibusters more easily, assuming there are no Democratic defections.

The Republicans need 10 seats in order to become the majority, and they are close. They are not there by any means, but they are close. And if they can pick up Delaware, which is obviously problematic for Christine O'Donnell and the Republicans, but not necessarily, you know, outside the realm of possibility. She beat Mike Castle, who was a shoo-in supposedly for the Republican nomination, the longtime congressman from Delaware.

If she can beat Chris Coons on November 2nd, that's an important seat in terms of the balance of power in the Senate, and it will have national ramification.

LEMON: Here's what I'm wondering, Wolf. You see "Saturday Night Live" and other shows, you know, making fun of Christine O'Donnell saying, you know, years ago she dabbled in witchcraft and everyone is thinking, oh, my God, this is bad press, she should be embarrassed about it. This could be giving her a boost.

BLITZER: It could be. There could be, you know, a whole movement, you know, saying the national news media, they are liberal. They are having, you know, a field day with this woman, and she may be getting some support. Look, she spent 10 minutes in an interview earlier in the week here on CNN with Jim Acosta. He asked, you know, some pointed, tough, serious questions, and she answered them. She - she's -- this lady is by no means an idiot or anything like that.

It's going to be a tough, you know, debate, and I'm going to make sure that we go through all the issues and to give both of these candidates a chance to respond, but, you know, let's see how she does and let's see how Chris Coons does. I think the voters of Delaware are going to be informed.

LEMON: And Wolf, it's a very big week coming up for you, so I appreciate you taking the time tonight.

BLITZER: Always my pleasure, Don.

LEMON: And you heard what Wolf said. You don't want to miss this. Watch Christine O'Donnell go toe-to-toe with Democratic candidate Chris Coons at the Delaware Senate debate. Wolf Blitzer will be the co-moderator of this 90-minute political showdown live on CNN, Wednesday night, 7:30 p.m. Eastern. Make sure you tune in to that.

You know, Christine O'Donnell is one of the big stories of this year's political season, and she's been a hot topic for the hosts of CNN's newest program, "PARKER SPITZER."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIOT SPITZER, CO-HOST, PARKER SPITZER: I think when we look at the substance of what she says here, a lot of people are going to say, you know what, we're not so sure she's ready for the Senate.

KATHLEEN PARKER, CO-HOST, PARKER SPITZER: Yes, I happen to -- I feel for the girl a little bit. I mean, she was a -- she was a sweet girl when she was on the "Bill Maher Show," right? She was 20 years old. And she actually, if you look at some of those tapes, she had a lot of personality. She's spunky and cute, and you know, she was just saying things I don't think she intended to be taken terribly seriously and now that's taken a life of its own.

SPITZER: I agree with you. I think all that is not only fair to her but accurate and I even defended her with that sort of crazy ad I'm not a witch, because, you know, she's trying to defuse a tough situation. But then when you step back and as it get closer to November 2nd and you say, wait a minute, there are some serious issues here.

PARKER: Oh, sure.

SPITZER: I don't think she passes the threshold.

PARKER: There are a lot of people who are cute and spunky that I don't want running the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. For more opinions, ideas and analysis, don't miss CNN's newest show. It's called "PARKER SPITZER," weeknights, 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

Well, some say churches are among the most segregated places in the country. Many African-Americans say it's one of the few places they can still call their own. We'll tell you about a California church that's questioning why there's little integration.

And Afghan President Hamid Karzai reacts to allegations that he is manic depressive. Hear what he told our Larry King.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Let's check your top stories right now. Hungary is racing to stop a new wave of toxic sludge. A cracked wall is threatening to collapse at the same aluminum plant where a reservoir burst last week and unleashed a deadly flood of chemical-laced mud. Crews are building an emergency dam. Thousands of people have been evacuated and troops are on stand-by for rescue operations.

The wife of this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is under house arrest right now. Human rights groups say she was detained in her Beijing apartment after she returned home from telling her jailed husband that he had won the award. Liu Xiaobo, a key figure in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, he is serving an 11-year prison sentence. He has been a vocal supporter of human rights and democratic reforms.

In Chile, another step closer to freedom for those 33 trapped miners. Crews are reinforcing the first 100 yards of the rescue tunnel with steel tubing. Now once that is done, they will send down a doctor and a rescue worker to prepare the men for their journey back to the surface. If all goes according to plan, the first miner could be back up by Wednesday.

Crusading against almighty debt from the pulpit. A California pastor is on a mission to integrate America's black churches, but as our Ted Rowlands reports, some fear the churches could lose more than they gain.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Sunday service at Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Orange County, California. The church started 12 years ago by Reverend Mark Whitlock, 3,000 members strong and growing. Here, they practice something many other black churches do not -- integration.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's time for us to get away from black church and white church.

REV. MARK WHITLOCK, CHRIST OUR REDEEMER, AME CHURCH: The church is still the most segregated place on Sunday in the United States. Our goal is do what heaven has accomplished. Heaven is fully integrated.

ROWLANDS: African-Americans make up 2 percent of the population in Orange County, which makes integration here almost essential for growth. But Whitlock argues it should be happening at every church because, he says, unlike the past, most of the issues that blacks, whites and everybody else struggle with are the same.

WHITLOCK: We have problems with our kids. We have problems with bills. We have problems on the job.

ROWLANDS: But not everybody thinks integrating the black church is such a good idea. Michael Reel is the former managing editor of the "Baptist Voice" and co-founder of Reelurbannews.com.

MICHAEL REEL, REELURBANNEW.COM: It's ours. It's the one last place in the world that we have that we can call our own.

WHITLOCK: We have whites on our board. They look different than blacks, yes. They speak up a little more than blacks, yes. But that means that they feel a sense of freedom. They feel a sense of belonging. If other churches aren't doing it, are they really practicing authentic Christianity? It really is about bringing change to our community.

ROWLANDS: Ted Rowlands, CNN, Irvine, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Don't miss CNN's "BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL: ALMIGHTY DEBT." It premiers a week from Thursday. That's October 21st, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

And coming up tonight, Larry King asks Afghan President Hamid Karzai about all those rumors over his mental health.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, HOST, LARRY KING LIVE: Are you a manic depressive? Do you take medication for it?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Hear what the Afghan leader has to say in response.

Plus, a web site for ugly people? We'll hear from the founder and one of its members.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Let's take a look now at what the week ahead will bring from Washington to Hollywood. These are some of the stories expected to grab the headlines. We begin tonight at the White House.

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ed Henry at the White House where this week the president will be campaigning in key states like Florida and Ohio. But the big story is that his wife will also be hitting the trail, going to Wisconsin and her home state of Illinois. After all, she's the most popular Obama with an approval rating of 65 percent, about 20 points higher than her husband.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: I'm Chris Lawrence at the Pentagon. And coming up next week, home and away. Here at home, the Article 32 court-martial hearing begins for Major Nadal Hasan. He's the Army officer accused of opening fire and killing multiple people at Ford Hood, Texas.

Away, Secretary Robert Gates. He'll be joining Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Belgium, laying the groundwork with their NATO allies, talking about Afghanistan ahead of the big meeting coming up at the end of November.

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. This week is a busy one for Wall Street. Reports are due out on consumer sentiment, also retail sales, and inflation on both the consumer and the wholesale level, and a lot of focus will be on Washington. The Federal Reserve will release the minutes from its latest policy meeting mid-week and also we'll get the Treasury's latest report on the federal budget.

And a lot of earnings ahead for major corporations. We'll get a trio of reports from Dow components, including Intel, JP Morgan Chase and General Electric. They are all set to report their third-quarter earnings. Google is also set to report its numbers.

We'll have it all for you on CNNMoney.

BROOKE ANDERSON, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": I'm "Showbiz Tonight's" Brooke's Anderson. Here's what we're watching this week. Lisa Rinna opens up to "Showbiz Tonight" about her headline-making plastic surgery revelations. And "Dancing's" big D-Day -- will Bristol Palin or the situation survive the next round of cuts? We're going to have a lot of fun with that and more.

"Showbiz Tonight" is live 5:00 p.m. Eastern on HLN and still TV's most provocative entertainment news show at 11:00 p.m.

LEMON: That's what's happening in this country, domestically as we say.

Let's take you internationally now with Azadeh Ansari. And we're starting with -- we hope it's good news, by Wednesday, those Chilean miners could -- the first one could come up.

AZADEH ANSARI, CNN INTERNATIONAL DESK EDITOR: Absolutely. So, final preparations are under way, and if everything goes as planned, they are saying, like you said, as early as Wednesday, the first miner could be rescued. Now, these 33 miners, Don, as we know, have been trapped underground 2,300 feet for over two months. So, a lot of anticipation that they are going to make it out safe, and they are going to send down a rescue capsule down the shaft and load them up one by one and pull them up, so.

LEMON: Yes, that's one thing we will be following very closely here on CNN. You heard it yesterday, Azadeh, when the miners come up, everyone started applauding, the horns were honking. Camp Hope, as they call it down there in Copiapo, Chile, where it is a makeshift, really, tent city of families and friends who are trying -- you know, are there for those miners.

ANSARI: Right.

LEMON: So, we will be following that. We have crews down there, so make sure you stay tuned.

OK. It's fun to be here, you know, at the CNN center doing the news, but boy, wouldn't it be great to be on this really fancy cruise ship?

ANSARI: You know what, and wouldn't it be better to have it named after you? Well, I guess that's what you can do when you're the queen, right? LEMON: Right, right.

ANSARI: So, seriously, roll out the red carpet. Her Majesty herself will be presiding over a naming ceremony for a ship that bears her name, called the Queen Elizabeth II, and it's going to happen on Monday in South Hampton. And seriously look at this thing, Don. It looks like the Buckingham Palace of the high seas.

LEMON: I'm looking at it. It says 90,400 ton vessel, the second largest ever built by the line, behind the 6-year-old QM II, Queen Mary II, I should say. Christened Monday.

ANSARI: They say it cost about like half a billion dollars to make, and it's taking a tour around the world in 2011. We should try to get tickets.

LEMON: 2,092-passenger vessel. Very nice. Get a ride on it. Get a discount. Something like that.

Azadeh Ansari, thank you very much. Have a great week, OK.

ANSARI: Thanks. You, too.

LEMON: We go now to a CNN exclusive and a sneak preview of tomorrow night's "LARRY KING LIVE." One of the United States' most important allies, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, is asked about persistent rumors that he is emotionally unstable, even manic depressive and bipolar. We want you to listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": In his recent book "Obama's Wars" -- I want to get this right, Bob Woodward says that you were diagnosed as a manic depressive. He writes that sensitive intelligence reports on you claim you are sometimes delusional, sometimes don't take your medications. Is that true? Are you a manic depressive? Do you take medication for it?

PRES. HAMID KARZAI, AFGHANISTAN: The only medication that I have taken as an antibiotic called Augmentin, the strongest ones that I have taken when I had a bad cold two years ago.

KING: What do you make of the stories then about you being a manic depressive, which is, by the way, a common disease? Millions of people around the world have it. And being delusional, where does that come from?

KARZAI: Like -- like -- like all other stories.

KING: Not true?

KARZAI: Oh, definitely not. Rather funny.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Hear much, much more from Afghan President Hamid Karzai on the Taliban, the ninth anniversary of the U.S.-led Afghanistan war and his push for peace. He is telling all in a CNN exclusive on "LARRY KING LIVE," tomorrow night, 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

Hey, a dating web site for the homely? Sounds like a loser proposition, but hear why UglySchmucks.com is winning more and more support. Its creator, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. So you can't get a date. Maybe you should lower your standards. There's a dating web site for ugly people. It may sound like a gimmick, but supporters say it's only honest intentions behind UglySchmucks.com. It launched about three weeks ago here and in Canada. Its creator, his name is Joey Deluca, told me he's had a great response and a member, Keeli Wheeler, told me why she joined.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEELI WHEELER, MEMBER, UGLYSCHMUCKS.COM: I'm looking inwards, the people that I want to meet. I find beauty is within the soul. And besides that, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So, I leave that to, you know, to each person to decide.

LEMON: So, what do you think of the traditional web sites? They were too focused on beauty and bodies and all that stuff and so you decided to do this?

WHEELER: Uh-huh. And, you know, they not only focus on beauty but also on material possessions, your income, you know, things like that, that just are irrelevant to me.

JOEY DELUCA, CREATOR, UGLYSCHMUCKS.COM: It's not really a unique idea. So far, we've had -- we've had 2,000 registered members on the site, but we've only been out -- we've only been live for about a month now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. So, pretty people, don't even bother because Joey Deluca is making sure membership stays exclusive. Members can vote a person off if they think the dater is too attractive for UglySchmucks.com. Ten votes will get a person booted, but so far no one has been rejected.

Sign of the times. And beauty is in the eye, right?

I'm Don Lemon at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. Thanks for watching. I'll see you back here next weekend. Have a good night and a great week.