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Senate Race in Delaware; Mine Rescue Under Way
Aired October 13, 2010 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: ... sizable lead in the polls here, and that's given him a somewhat comfortable position of staying above the fray. Democrats then confident that they're going to be able to hopefully hang onto this seat that vice president Joe Biden held onto for 36 years but at the same time in this political climate, they are not taking anything for granted and that's why this debate tonight at 7:30 p.m., again co-moderated by CNN's Wolf Blitzer is going to be one that's really worth watching. Kyra
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Brianna, we will be watching. We'll be following that story. Of course, it's the next biggest story to what we're following there in Chile, and the rescues of these miners.
It's the top of the hour right now. It's historic. It's emotional. It's a moment of national pride for Chile, and let me tell you what, it's pretty darn hard to turn away from scenes like this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chile.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To have my dad by me again, I will be able to hug him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: 33 miners, one by one, leaving their underground ordeal, returning to their lives and their loved ones. The rescue operation, more than a third of the way finished now. And we are watching every single moment. Live pictures down in the mine. It's incredible, the access we have here. We can take you down into the mine. We can take you even along the journey. We got cameras on the Phoenix capsule as it's moving its way up the tunnel, and, also, of course, we've got cameras from every angle up top once the capsule actually gets up there.
And so far, only one rescued miner, we are being told - OK. One rescued miner has spoken publicly. He was the second man that emerged from that tunnel. We're going to hear from him in just a second.
CNN's Karl Penhaul has been at Camp Hope or Camp Esperanza where one by one, the miners are being reunited with their loved ones. One such reuniting that we can't forget is Mario Gomez. He was the spiritual leader down there among all these guys. He's the one when he came up and hugged and wrapped his arms around his wife. The next thing he did was he dropped to his knees in prayer.
And it really goes to show not only how energetic these guys are, but how incredibly faithful so many of them have been and they have expressed that from the moment they reached the top there, coming out of the Phoenix capsule. You can see it right there, right over there waiting for Mario to step out of that capsule.
Our Karl Penhaul has been there from the very beginning watching this. Karl, I know you've got Lila right next to you. And I'm dying to know what was going through her mind when this moment happened and she was able to wrap her arms around Mario.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are going to ask her. She's still in the phase of hugs all around to everyone.
(SPEAKING IN SPANISH)
LILA RAMIREZ, WIFE OF RESCUED MINER, MARIO GOMEZ (through translator): Lila said that she was very nervous, very pained when she saw Mario coming up in the rescue capsule because she didn't know how he would arrive, and then as that rescue cage opened, she was joyful and more so when she saw him drop to a knee and offer a prayer to god and to the Virgin Mary.
PENHAUL: She said at that point she realized that Mario Gomez was a great man. I'm just going to ask her if she ever lost hope.
(SPEAKING IN SPANISH)
PENHAUL: Lila says that at no time did she lose hope. She held her faith and she said it doesn't matter that she's a Catholic, that others may be evangelicals. She says religion does not matter. She said race does not matter, but just to have that faith and she and 33 other families had that faith that Mario and the 33 miners would all come out alive. I asked her how did Mario survive -
PHILLIPS: May I ask you a question?
PENHAUL: Sure.
PHILLIPS: If you don't mind, because so many of us here, Karl, in the states, were so moved by that moment when he dropped to his knees in prayer, and as we know, this was the man down below appointed to be the spiritual leader. Could you ask Lila, if you don't mind, is this how he has been for the family and for her, and just to give us some background of where this comes from, and if this is something - I mean, he was the one that was picked to be the one to keep the faith going. Why him
(SPEAKING IN SPANISH)
PENHAUL: Lila said that really she was the religious fanatic in the household and she would often say to Mario, "come on, let's say our daily prayers," and Mario would say, "hey, don't bug me, I'm praying but in my own way." Yes, he was a Catholic, Lila says but not given to daily prayer. But this is something really that has emerged while he was down in the mine and Lila says that if they hadn't had their faith, if they hadn't prayed, they really would not have come out of this alive, and just the other day, talking to Lila, she said to me, there weren't 33 miners down there, there were 34. 33 miners and god.
That's what Lila said to me. We have to say good-bye to her now because she has to go and be with her family and share those hugs. Great to share one of the most emotional moments that we have seen so far, and we know that Mario, because he was one of those dyed in the wool, toughest led miner, even though he has silicosis, we knew he was going to be all right because he is tough as old boots, something that his wife would say as well.
PHILLIPS: And my guess is too that he will be right there next to her leading in prayer from this point forward. That's for sure.
Karl Penhaul, fantastic interview. What a wonderful thing to inspire all of us this morning. Thank you so much.
And so far, only one rescued miner, I mean, we heard from Mario's wife there, Lila, but one rescued miner has spoken publicly. He was the second man to emerge there from the hole, and he's 40-year-old Mario Sepulveda. He is with his family wearing his sunglasses, talking about the whole ordeal and this interview has been translated into English, and what he says is just remarkable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIO SEPULVEDA, RESCUED MINER (through translator): God doesn't carry out tests with anyone, no. I think we have the possibility of being able to face things in life like we have just faced. I have faced many situations, but I think this was the hardest, but I am so happy that it happened to me because I think that it was a time to make changes.
I was with god, and I was with the devil. But god won. I held onto god's hand, the best hand, and at no point in time - how do I explain this? At no point in time did I doubt that god wouldn't get me out of there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Right now, we're monitoring a live news conference in Spanish. We'll get it translated and we'll give you all the latest information. You are seeing the president of Chile, also the president of Bolivia, addressing reporters and family members that are still there, about these 14 miners that now have been lifted from that mine.
We are following every angle of this story. We'll bring you what they have to say. We'll have more from the miners, and of course, we'll continue to see these rescues, all 14 of them as we get ready for number 15. Victor Segovia is the miner that will be coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: This is a continuing look at the miners being brought to the surface. This is Osman Araya. He was the sixth miner that was rescued about 4:30 this morning. He is 30 years old from San Vicente. He worked as a carrier pigeon handler. He is also a guitarist and a singer at his church. Great moment for him. 13 miners out now, 20 to go. And they're moving right along.
Our Josh Levs here with a closer look at the guys who have been rescued so far. And Josh, they all have such incredible stories.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Beautiful day, Kyra. And I know you are loving this. We are all loving this. I want to do something with you here. I want to get right to a piece of video you and I have been talking about, that we - one of the first glimpses that we got with these guys under ground when they were all singing the Chilean national anthem. Go to that, and I want to tell you how this fits into that. Listen to this.
This was in late August, right? It was on August 26th, and this was video that we saw, everyone saw that they were OK and they were joking around and they were singing the national anthem. Listen to what the national anthem is. It's (IN SPANISH) It's about the beautiful sky, the beautiful blue sky, the snow-capped mountain, the flower-embroidered field. It's about the land of Chile.
In this first glimpse we had of them, they were singing about the beauty of the land of their country, and now all these weeks later, they're being reunited with that land that they were singing about. It's a belief in god, a belief in religion, and a belief in their country, the beauty of that country that helped to sustain them all of this time and now, here they are back up.
And folks, here is your rundown of everyone so far who has been rescued. Let's zoom in on the screen. I want you all to see this. We're going to start off here with Florencio Antonio Avalos Silva. This is from CNN.com right now. We will talk you through each of the 13 who are currently out. He became a cameraman during the isolation down there.
Next one, Mario Sepulveda Espinosa. He became a spokesman and video narrator for the miners. Next one, Juan Illanes Palma, an electrical mechanic, retired from the Chilean military. Next one here is Carlos Mamari Solis. He is the one non-Chilean who is down there. He is from Bolivia. The only non-Chilean who is trapped in the mine. Jimmy Sanchez Lagues, he is the youngest miner in the group. He worked as an environmental assistant. Osman Isidro Araya Araya, a carrier pigeon handler, also a guitarist, a singer. Down there apparently held to entertain fellow miners.
This is Jose Ojeda Vidal, originally a master driller, now serving as a secretary for the miners, and a few more here. Carlos Yanez Lagos, also a carrier pigeon handler, originally a drill operator. Mario Nicolas Gomez Heredia, 63 years old. He is the oldest of the group. He has been mining since he was 12 years old. He had been mining for more than 50 years.
And Alex Vega Salazar, a heavy machinery mechanic in the mine. His father is also a mining veteran. Jorge Herman Galleguillos Orellana, and I think we have to get in the last couple here. This is Edison Fernando Pena Villaroel, that you saw and Carlos Barrios Contreras. So far these are the 13 that we are seeing. That's right. And also waiting, I believe I have the picture right here, this is Victor Zamora. This is the one that we are waiting for right now, 33 years old, also a carrier pigeon handler down there.
Cnn.com, lots of interactives. We'll talk you through this, including the device that they are using, all the specifics how to get these guys back up. Kyra, it's a chilling moment. Take a look at that. These guys are being reunited with this land that they were singing about in a national anthem, a couple of months back.
PHILLIPS: Pretty awesome. We're getting ready to see Victor Zamora, the 14th miner to come up the Phoenix capsule. We're going to take it live as soon as it happens. You're seeing right now, the president of Chile, the president of Bolivia, speaking live. We're monitoring that for you as well.
Stay with us, more breaking news coverage right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Still following the rescues there in Chile. But we want to check some other top stories for you quickly. 13 miners now safe. The last one, Carlos Barrios pulled from deep inside the earth after 69 days. Among those hoisted to safety in Chile, the youngest miner, 19 years old and the oldest, 63. The rescue continues for 20 men still trapped. We're following it live.
A gruesome development in the disappearance of an American man on Falcon Lake along the Texas-Mexico border. The lead Mexican investigator in the case has been beheaded and the severed head was delivered to the authorities in a suitcase. The American is David Hartley. His wife says he was fatally shot September 30th during a sight seeing trip.
A military hearing continues today for the U.S. Army psychiatrist accused of last year's Ft. Hood massacre. Major Nidal Hassan allegedly killed 13 people and wounded 32. That hearing will determine whether Hassan will be court-martialed.
Other top stories, just want to take a momentary break for a second from our coverage of the miner's rescue that's underway in Chile. And turn to the other big thing that we're talking about, the midterm elections. We are talking about less than three weeks away now. The balance of power, as we've said day in and day out may be at stake, and one bellwether test is that Senate race in Delaware. A Tea Party darling there has seized on the voter anger, and tonight she faces her Democratic opponent in a debate.
CNN's Brianna Keilar has a preview. Brianna. KEILAR: Hi there, Kyra. This will be one of the most watched debates ahead of election day, the first time that we will be seeing a face-off between the Democrat here in the Delaware Senate race, Chris Coons and the Republican Christine O'Donnell. And of course, if you've been paying any attention to politics as we move towards November, this is probably a race that you have been watching. It's been getting a lot of attention and not so much because of the issues that are at play here in Delaware but the big personalities of the candidates, especially Christine O'Donnell, a Tea Party candidate who was able to beat the Republican establishment pick, Mike Castle, in the primary last month.
She's also been dogged by controversial comments that she made nearly 10 years ago, and also, she's at the same time, getting a whole lot of enthusiasm and that's translated to money. She's gotten a lot of donations following her primary win last month. Then you have Chris Coons. He is a county executive. He served here in Delaware for sometime. And because he has substantial lead in the polls, he's been able to take a somewhat comfortable position of trying to stay above the fray.
So Democrats feeling pretty confident that they can hold onto this Senate seat that vice president Joe Biden held for 36 years, but at the same time, Kyra, they know in this political climate with some of the surprises that we've seen, they can't take anything for granted. That's why we will be watching this debate so carefully, 7:30 p.m. tonight on CNN, co co-moderated, of course, by our own Wolf Blitzer. Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Got it. All right. We'll be tuning in. That's for sure. Brianna, thank you so much.
And let's just rewind for a moment and take a look at some of the highlights of the rescue operation in Chile. Jose Ojeda was the 7th miner rescued about 5:30 this morning. He served as the secretary for the group down under. He's 46 years old. He has been a miner for 27 years and he is also a diabetic and he had medications sent down to him. He's being monitored at the hospital. He's also the guardian of his niece, buy boy, when he came to the top, it was nothing but enthusiastic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Got to love it. Big party, singing the national anthem, dancing at the Chilean embassy in Washington. The ambassador, his wife and children, their guests celebrating the first miner's rescue, celebrating with all of the rest of us.
It's just amazing how the 33 miners have held it together for more than two months in dark, cramped isolation, not just their bodies but their minds. Even though they were trapped half a mile underneath civilization, they managed to maintain a society - that's one of the things that has fascinated us the most. Dr. Lawrence Palinkas, is professor of social policy and health at USC, my alma mater. Glad to have you, Larry. There was no "Lord of the Flies" scenario down there though, right?
DR. LAWRENCE PALINKAS, SOCIAL POLICY & HEALTH PROFESSOR: That's certainly true.
PHILLIPS: But, there is something to say about this, I guess, which is a social hierarchy, right? I mean, I took notes. We had a spiritual leader, a shift leader, a secretary, a spokesperson, a cameraman. How important is it to develop something like that, Larry, when you're in a situation like these miners were in?
PALINKAS: Well, it's absolutely important. In fact, research that we've done at places like the South Pole has shown that the more cohesive a social group is, and the more that a group is able to identify and follow leaders as they've done with the miners, the better off individual miners are with respect to their mental health. So that it's not only important with respect to the cohesion of the group, but it's also important for the well being of the individual miners.
PHILLIPS: But here's what's interesting. You talk about Antarctica. I was lucky enough to spend some time there and worked on a documentary. At least you have outlets there. They have a coffee shop, they have an old bowling alley. You can actually do things to try to beat the psychological effects from the cold and not being able to escape the environment.
But these guys were in a dark mine, very warm, obviously, the air down there completely different. I understand a number of them tried to run and stay in shape and keep exercise going. So what - as we see them come up, they're very excite and they got lots of adrenaline and they have so much enthusiasm, but a lot of this stuff could settle a little later, right? What would you be looking for? What do they have to make sure they were paying attention to as the days unfold?
PALINKAS: Well, initially, as you can certainly see from the television reports coming from Chile, the characteristic mood right now is one of elation and joy. And that will sustain them, certainly, for the initial period of rescue and recovery. Over time, however, as they begin to struggle to adjust both with the media attention and, perhaps even more importantly, once the media attention and the public focus begins to fade away, many of the feelings and experiences that they encountered during the time that they were under the ground, particularly the first 18 days when no one knew whether they were alive or not, and the miners themselves didn't even know what the prospects were for rescue, that they will attempt to try to understand the significance of those events in their lives not only in terms of why them and why they were able to survive, but where do they go from here? What happens next
That will be one of the primary things. And then for those who have experienced post-traumatic stress as a result of having been in a life-threatening event, the signs and symptoms of PTSD like increased arousal or avoidance of situations that remind them of their experience, will begin to manifest themselves, and that will require on-going monitoring by the team of psychologists who have been assigned to help them. PHILLIPS: And Larry, the fact that so many of these, there are 33 of these guys, and no doubt they have established quite a connection, a bond, beyond anything they could probably imagine. And the fact that so far - and, you know, we continue to keep our fingers crossed - they have all come up alive with no life-threatening problems. Will that play a positive role as they move forward? The fact that nobody died down there. The fact that nothing catastrophic happened. Because there were some close calls before they got trapped.
PALINKAS: Oh, absolutely, Kyra. In fact, even in situations that aren't life threatening, when individuals go through a period of prolonged isolation and confinement and are able to do so successfully, often times they experience a very positive sense of increased confidence in their abilities to handle any situation. Many of them feeling, if I can do this, I can do anything. And that increased self-efficacy or self-confidence, I think, will carry many of these miners as they proceed forward.
PHILLIPS: And Larry, as we're talking, I'm watching a live picture right now here on our big screen. It's actually the camera attached right there on the Phoenix capsule. It's almost reaching the top, and we're talking about the 14th miner to reach the surface here.
You can see his wife is nervous. You can see it in her eyes. She's excited, no doubt, and, Larry, here he comes. He's coming to the top. This is the 14th miner to be rescued. Victor Zamora, 33 years old. His wife in tears. Totally relieved. I'm assuming that's their son. I don't see notes here that he is a father. I know they've got a six-month baby on the way. And according to his wife, they plan to name the baby Paz Victoria; in Spanish, that means peace victory. So, if it's a girl, that's what they decided.
His wife getting ready to come over and greet her husband. Victor Zamora, 33 years old, a carrier pigeon handler and a poet. Boy, I bet - I'd love to know if he wrote some poems to his family when he was down below and they were sending letters up. No doubt he'll have some poetry to write about once he gets out of that capsule.
His wife in tears as she's waiting to greet Victor Zamora, getting ready to come out of that capsule right, making sure all vitals are good. Aww, looks like he actually got a kiss from his son. We will try to confirm if indeed that is his son. But he got to get up there as soon as that door opened and give him a big smooch, which was fantastic. Now his wife is going to go ahead and get ready.
Let's go ahead and watch this moment unfold for a second.
(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)
PHILLIPS: Not only is Victor hugging his wife, but he's also hugging his six-month-old baby that we just mentioned. If it's a girl, his wife said they've already decided they will name her Paz Victoria, peace victory. Now, if it's a boy, I'm sure they will think of something just as warm and special. Patrick Oppmann is with us as well. Patrick, we were trying to figure out -- I know you know a lot about these families. Is that Victor's son that ran up and gave him a kiss as they opened the door to the capsule?
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, he and his wife Jessica have two sons and another baby on the way. Unlike the miner Ariel Ticona, Victor Zamora will now be able to be at his baby's birth, Paz Victoria's birth. This is just one of the amazing individuals, Kyra, we have gotten know through the family, through the letters. And Victor Zamora, the poet of the mines. This is a talent nobody knew he had, probably he didn't know. But in the mine's depths, the haunting mine's depths, he started writing letters. Letters of incredible poetry, and of course, what a poetic moment now to see him back with his family. He would write his wife and his mother, (INAUDIBLE) letter and said he would not be rescued, but he would be reborn. If he emerged from this mine, he would be a different man. A better man, a better family man, a better husband, a better father.
He also wrote his mother just last week who told Karl Penhaul about this incredible detail that there were 33 men down in the mine. There was a 34th presence, the presence of God, and he said that would get him to the surface. He also wrote his wife that this experience had inspired him to name his daughter Paz Victoria, and what a moment of victory for the entire Zamora family. Hopefully after this ordeal, though, he will also find peace. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Oh, Amen to that.
And unfortunately, they took -- we're at the mercy of other cameras, so, Patrick, there's a live picture of the Chilean president. There we go, now we're back to Victor Zamora, the 14th miner to be lifted from the mines. Looks like he's in good shape. He got a chance to hug his wife, and right there in her belly, their six-month- old baby that he, thank goodness, is going to be able to be there for the birth now.
He does have two sons. One of his sons was there. As soon as they opened up the door of the Phoenix capsule, one of the rescue workers actually let his son lean in and give his dad a kiss, which was just fantastic. Now, Victor Zamora, 33, talking to the president of Chile right now. We haven't seen a lot of that. A lot of guys have just been put on the stretcher. Let's see if we can listen for a second.
SEBASTIAN PINERA, CHILEAN PRESIDENT (via translator): -- companionship and courage, and I hope that this new life that you have ahead of you will be happy. You really deserve it.
Now just rest, recover and you have your whole life before you. We will never -- we never left you alone. We were going to look for you until we found you. That was our commitment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via translator): Thank you, Mr. President.
PHILLIPS: All right, Scotty, let's queue up the Bob Marley music, shall we, as we go to break? Fourteenth miner, Victor Zamora We actually got to hear the president of Chile addressing him. Yes, in addition to what we found out about Victor. He's a poet, he's also a carrier pigeon handler. He's a father of two boys, has a six-month- old baby on the way, and guess what else we found out? He's a huge Bob Marley fan.
So, as we lifted up the Elvis Presley for one of the other miners, Victor Zamora, this is just for you.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. Live from Chile, we're getting ready to see the 15th miner come to the surface. Victor Segovia on his way up right now. He's been named the writer of the group. This is the one we told you about that's been keeping a journal throughout the entire ordeal. His updates have actually helped keep the rescuers on the surface informed about everything the miners are feeling, from their physical well-being to their mental well-being. He's been jotting everything down, keeping everybody abreast up top about what the guys have going through.
He's also married and has five children. He's been working as a miner since he was 17 years old, and he's been here at the San Jose mine for eight years. So, Victor Segovia, 48 years old coming up that dark tunnel right now in the Phoenix capsule. We will take it live just as soon as we see him reach sunlight.
Just to bring you up to date now, the rescue of the 33 trapped miners underway. Fourteen have safely reached the surface, 19 still a half a mile beneath the ground. But as I just mentioned, number 15 on his way up. We're going to have complete around-the-clock coverage as the rescue continues throughout the day.
And a federal judge has ordered the U.S. military to immediately cease all enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, ending the ban on openly gay troops. There have been several protests over this hot-button issue. Last month, California judge Virginia Phillips ruled the policy unconstitutional. The Justice Department has 60 days to appeal.
Looks like Miami may be spared Hurricane Paula's wrath. The National Hurricane Center says the Category 2 storm, which is packing 100-mile-an-hour winds will head northeast and reach western Cuba.
Mario Gomez was the ninth miner rescued about 7:00 this morning. You remember, he was the oldest miner down there, 63 years old. He was actually prepared to retire on the day of the cave-in. His wife actually didn't want him to go to work that day.
He lost three fingers on one hand in a previous mining accident. His sister watched the rescue unfold from her home in Bolivia. He was also the spiritual leader down there, and when he came up to the surface, we will never forget these images of Mario dropping to his knees in prayer. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA ELENA MAMANI, MARIO GOMEZ'S SISTER (via translator): I'm very happy, very happy. I don't know what I'm going to do to be close to my brother. We have been watching everything on TV. I wish I could be there in Copiapo with my beloved brother.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: These are the moments that have become a source of national pride for Chile. This is Alex Vega, the tenth miner who was rescued, about 8:00 this morning. He's a heavy machinery expert. His father also a veteran miner. His family actually wrote a song for him while he was trapped. Their message, without you, a better world doesn't exist. One of the many emotional stories right there at the site of San Jose mine.
And right now, the rescue operation is moving right along. Fourteen guys out, 19 more to go. Getting closer to the halfway point. We're going to have more on the live rescue. The next live rescue of Victor Segovia, miner 15, any minute now.
Other big story we're talking about, just 20 days from now, Americans will cast their votes in the midterm elections. And the very control of Congress may be at stake. We're counting down and bringing you all of the stories that could shape the voters' decisions. Deputy political director Paul Steinhauser in Washington at the political desk monitoring all things politics. And I'm sure you're watching the miners as well, Paul.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, just really inspiring stuff, Kyra. You're glued to it. You can't keep away. I got up early just to watch.
But let's talk about some politics just for a moment. Twenty days, as you mentioned, Michelle Obama, the first lady, hitting the campaign trail today in Wisconsin and Illinois, helping out Democrats running for re-election this year and other Democrat candidates.
Check these numbers out, Kyra. Brand new from CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, a national poll. Look at that, nearly two- thirds of Americans, 65 percent give a thumbs up, approve of the job Michelle Obama is doing as first lady. And break it down by party, this is fascinating, too. Obviously, nine out of 10 Democrats giving her a thumbs up. Independents, though, also, 61 percent of independents approve of the job she is doing.
And (INAUDIBLE), come right in here. More on that story right here. Our cameraman zooming right in here. Take a look at that on the CNN political ticker.
Hey, briefly. Want to talk about two other things. A big debate last night in California last night, Kyra. Gubernatorial contest between Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman, some fiery stuff last night. But let's look forward to tonight. Delaware. This will be huge, Delaware Senate debate. The first time that Christine O'Donnell, the conservative commentator and Chris Coons, the Democrat, the county executive, will be facing off. Wolf Blitzer will be co-moderating that, 7:30 tonight. That will be must-see TV.
Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: Paul, thanks so much. We're going to have more political news next hour. And a reminder, if you are away from the TV, you can just go to our Web site, CNNpolitics.com.
All right. Another look and another highlight of the rescue operation in Chile. This is Alex Vega; he was the 11th miner rescued about 8:30 this morning. Also a carrier pigeon handler. He takes medication for hypertension. That was a concern to rescue workers. He had complained about not feeling well, but as you can see, this miner, who has been working in the mines for 30 years, did not hold back in any way, shape or form from showing his happiness when he reached freedom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
PHILLIPS: Are you asking why we're playing Elvis presley over the Chile mining rescue? It's because Edison Pena, the 12th miner that was rescued about 9:20 this morning, is a huge Elvis Presley fan. He even asked for Elvis music to be sent down to the mine, and you ready for this? He led all of the miners along in sing-alongs.
The drama began 69 days ago when nobody was sure if these guys were still alive or if they were even going to make it. Josh Levs here with a timeline of the events there at the San Jose mine. And that was one of the highlights, Josh, learning those little nuggets about these guys and what they do to keep themselves in good mental health.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's incredible. The entire world is going to breathe a huge sigh of relief if and when we get through all 33, everybody is up and safe because this has been going on for so long. So much tension, so much concern.
Let me show you how long it goes back. Take a look at this. It goes all of the way back to August 5 when this whole thing began. This is when the 33 miners were trapped, collapse into the main ramp at the San Jose mine that left these 33 miners trapped. It's 700 meters, 2,300 feet basically below ground.
For the next 17 days, as you know by now, they survived by rationing tuna fish and milk. It was August 22nd, so we're still going back a couple of months here, almost two full months when they got the first confirmation that these miners were alive. And they managed to get the note to the surface. It was that note that gave families and officials the word they were alive.
And a few days later came this video. Let's go to this. They were joking around a little bit. Listen to this for a second.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via translator): This guy doesn't want to get out of here because then he'll have to take a shower, and this one hasn't taken a shower.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via translator): Many thanks to the people who are outside --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: You saw them joking around. You saw them in the next video singing the national anthem as I was talking to you about earlier, Empuro (ph) Chile, which talks about the beauty of the land and the snow-capped mountains. They are singing about the land that today they are finally being reunited with.
But after we got that video, the drama continued. Even got worse in some ways because it was the next day, August 27th that officials began to say that it could take months to rescue. That's when plan B was put in place. And this is when a lot of people get confused, because then there was a plan C that involved a third hole to be drilled. We heard about that on September 10th.
Let me run through a couple more here. A week later, we found out that the plan B bore hole reached all the way down to the miners. But that was just a hole, obviously not a rescue shaft. We are jumping all the way to October now. October 9, the expanded escape hatch reached all the way to the miners. That's just a couple of days ago, and over the last couple of days, that escape route was created, ready to go.
You're looking at all of these weeks and all of the drama, all of it leading up to today, Kyra. And the great news that we are seeing so far. We're following this every single step of the way. As you have said, we have video down there, we have video above, we've got pictures as they come in, iReports from around the world. People expressing concern. We will follow this every step of the way.
PHILLIPS: Josh, thank you very much.
As I said earlier, this is a huge moment of national pride for Chile. The world is watching this success story that's happening after -- out of the San Jose mine. Just take a look at some of the front pages from around the world. This one is coming to us from "El Territorio" in Argentina, and this is from a paper published in Tel Aviv, Israel. And a small paper in Austria has the headline that translates as "A bomb that saves lives." It's actually referring to the rescue capsule.
Well, CNN's Zain Verjee is in London with more on the global reaction. And Zain, I was watching you all through through the night. It's been broadcast around the world. You know, this is one of the best stories to be able to tell. ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: It really is, Kyra. You just feel good telling it. It is a story that has totally gripped the entire world, a story about universal human struggle and about the triumph of the human spirit and of perseverance.
And Kyra, we had a bunch of iReporters send in some really great pieces of video. I want to show you one from Al Meely (ph), who's in Los Angeles, acutally, and compared the nail-biting emotion here and the nerves and the huge sense of relief to the 1969 landing on the moon. Listen, Kyra.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL MEELY (ph), IREPORTER: This event here, you can't help but watch it and you just keep crying. We have been crying, my wife and I, since we started watching it. It's so emotional, and with the high-def cameras, both underground where the miners are and as they came out to the top -- each family's being allowed three relatives to come in as each miner is brought up. And to see this thing from the bottom, from the top. Got to commend CNN, got to commend all of the networks, got to commend all of the media down there. It's just unbelievable!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: Kyra, I want to show you something Dave Hagen from Norway sent in. He said he and his 77 school friends got the day off school just to watch the rescue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVE HAGEN, IREPORTER: We want the whole world to know that in (INAUDIBLE) Norway, we support this tragedy (ph). It's a terrible thing that happened, and we're going to watch it as long as it takes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: One more for you, Kyra. Check out this i-reporter from brazil.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCELO COURA, IREPORTER: It's good to see when people work together to solve a situation like this. It's a shame (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: One thing we found out in social media as we were just looking around, Kyra, is that the Chilean government has been totally clued into social media. They sent a photographer down on the ground to capture these amazing moments like this. Moments of intense emotion and celebration, and they are just streaming it is soon as they can onto Flickr.
One other thing, the Chilean president, Sebastian Pinera, is also on Twitter and he's even posted a little picture of himself, Kyra, hugging one of the miners.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: You were saying, too -
VERJEE: He has 50,000 followers.
PHILLIPS: Why does that not surprise me? You were also saying, too, the superstitions that you found on social media?
VERJEE: Yes, I thought you might like this one, Kyra. Focusing on the number 33. 33 miners were found on the 33rd week of the year, and the plan B rescue shaft was completed after 33 days of drilling. And then, Kyra, just look up at today's date. What is it? It is 10- 13-10. What do you think that adds up to?
PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh. Now you're totally freaking me out.
VERJEE: I know, right?
PHILLIPS: If you look at it in a positive like light, right, it means that the superstition is all of these numbers are creating good karma because so far so good. These guys are coming up enthusiastic, healthy and ready to move on.
VERJEE: Good karma, for sure, and also some good political sense here, too. Because what people are talking as well in social media, Kyra, is that the president made a great political calculation because you know what his numbers have gone up because he staked his presidency on it? The approval rating according to one report, has gone up from 50 to 70 percent.
PHILLIPS: Wow. Zain Verjee, thank you very much. Great talking to you, Zain, and great coverage that you brought around the world as well there on CNN International.
That does it for us. What a remarkable story.
Tony, this is the stuff that we do best, breaking news.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news.
PHILLIPS: It really is.
HARRIS: It really is.
PHILLIPS: This is what CNN -- this is our brand.
HARRIS: Yes, it really is. Kyra, have a great day.
