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Details of a Mining Accident in China; Choosing Fast Food That Won't Burst Your Waistline; Obama on the Stump

Aired October 16, 2010 - 15:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Two of the stories that we're following this hour, another mining accident is drawing international attention. This one is in central China. At least 21 miners are dead, and 16 others trapped after a gas explosion in a coal mine. Rescue efforts are underway.

And in France, a new wave of mass protests brought on by proposed pension reforms including a government proposal to raise the national retirement age to 62. Most oil refineries in France have been hit with strikes causing fuel shortages at airports and at gas stations.

Hello, everyone I'm Fredricka Whitfield. We begin with the push to get voters out in force for the midterm elections, just 17 days away; President Barack Obama is expected to speak at any moment now in Boston. He wants to help Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick keep his job. We'll bring his comments to you live.

Our Dan Lothian by the way is standing by in Boston traveling with the president, later today, Jessica Yellin will take you to California for former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's big rally with Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele. And then later on in this hour, Brianna Keilar joins us from Maryland where another Democratic incumbent is battling to keep his job.

Let's begin in Boston where we find Dan Lothian. We know the president will be speaking momentarily, Dan what is the expectation?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, I can tell you a large crowd here, in fact I'm looking to my right where there's this large line that snakes outside of the building. A lot of people trying to get inside, we're told by Deval Patrick campaign that they're expecting roughly 15,000 to 17,000 people inside and outside the building as well.

President Obama is coming here to stump for his very close friend. They have the Chicago connection, the Harvard connection. When it was Senator Obama, he campaigned for Deval Patrick twice here in Massachusetts, and then when President Obama announced his candidacy early on, Deval Patrick endorsed him, and so now the president trying to return the favor, if you will, trying to rally supporters here to make sure that his friend does win.

You remember the last time that the president was here pushing for a candidate; Martha Coakley was a Democratic candidate for the former Ted Kennedy's seat. He was hoping to help her out at the very last minute, was not able to do that. We know how the story ended with Scott Brown winning, the Republican Scott Brown winning that race. Martha Coakley widely believed to have run a lackluster campaign.

There was nothing that the president could do at the last minute to pull out a win for her. But certainly the White House hoping the president will be able to give his friend a lift. Right now in the polls, he's up about seven points over his Republican challenger Charlie Baker, who says, listen, and the fact that he has the president coming in here to campaign for him shows that he's a bit nervous. Fredericka.

WHITFIELD: So Dan if there's a troubled spot for Deval Patrick, among what voters is he hoping Obama might appeal too?

LOTHIAN: Well, you know, all of the political analysts here in Massachusetts say that it's the Democratic base, that yes he's ahead by seven points, but he really needs to lock in that base in order to win. President Obama still popular among the base here in Massachusetts, so it's hoped that he can bring -- energize some of those folks, get them out to the polls to vote for Deval Patrick.

Also, at the independent vote as well. There is an independent candidate in this race, but he's not polling very well. But still siphoning off that independent vote, so the campaign is hopeful that President Obama can energize those independents as well, get them out to the polls on November 2nd.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Dan Lothian traveling with the president. And of course momentarily, when the president takes the stage, we'll bring you some of his comments.

Still on the issue of politics, just in case you missed it, CNNs Wolf Blitzer and the best political team on television will bring you another look at that fiery Delaware Senate debate that starts at 4:00 Eastern Time today right here on CNN.

And now turning to the brutal violence in Mexico, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaking in San Francisco last night. Said the U.S. can do more to help Mexico battle drug cartels. The cartels are acting more like terrorists.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: We are watching drug traffickers undermine and corrupt governments in Central America. And we're watching the brutality, the barbarity of their violent assaults on mayors and governors, the press as well as each other in Mexico.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Clinton told the group that the U.S. is helping Mexico create an anonymous tip line to report drug cartels.

And the search for the body of a missing American along the U.S. Mexico border has been suspended. Tiffany Hartley said her husband David was shot and killed while jet skiing on September 30th on the Mexico side of the border with Texas. Investigators believe the gunmen are linked to a Mexican drug gang. The suspension of the search is temporary.

A true life of rags to riches story put on the big screen. The man who inspired "The Pursuit of Happyness" says the movie succeeded because of two actors in particular, one named Will Smith, the other --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS GARDNER, PHILANTHROPIST ENTREPRENEUR: To have done this film with his own son, I can't tell you -- he could not have -- neither one of them could have given that kind of performance without the other one. It wouldn't have been possible with someone else's baby.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK, so wait until you hear what else Chris Gardner told me about making that movie. That is in our "Face to Face."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Chris Gardner is a self-made millionaire whose struggles are not only an inspiration, but a story made for Hollywood. You probably remember the hit movie based on his memoir "The Pursuit of Happyness." Well Gardner and I recently chatted face to face about its impact and the superstar who played him in the movie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD (voice over): And I ask you again about Will Smith when you mentioned you went on a walk.

GARDNER: Before we began filming, Will and I went for walks, and he's a lovely guy. The truth of the matter is -- the biggest movie star in the world, cannot go any place without a four-man security detail, he said, no, it's me and you, let's go for a walk.

1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning through the streets of San Francisco. I took him to the subway system. The first thing he says to me, a lot of these people look like they're dressed to go some place, to work in the morning. The point I'm making is 12 percent of all the homeless people in America have jobs and go to work every day.

WHITFIELD: What was the most valuable information you think he needed to know to really become you? To become that father who was driven, motivated and at the same time worried about your son and his safety? And worried about the -- you know, the long lasting impact the whole experience might make on your son?

GARDNER: The long lasting impact on my son?

It was Oprah. When we finally did her show, she asked my son, what's the one thing you remember about this time of your life? And what he said made my soul smile. What he said was, all I remember is, every time I looked up, my father was there. Now the truth of the matter is, there's some children who live in multimillion dollar houses that cannot say that about their father. There's all kinds of ways a father can be absent, right? I mean, it's not just physically absent.

WHITFIELD: Right. Emotionally.

GARDNER: Emotionally absent. And so many, especially men have grown up with these holes in their souls the shapes of their fathers. But going back to Will. Man, I'll never forget the first time I took him to that bathroom in Oakland, California at the Bart Station. He wanted to go. I didn't want to go. He said, I need to see this. We go in there. I stayed one minute. I said, come on, man, let's go. He said, no, leave me in here. He stayed in there 15 minutes.

And he said, while I was there, it was like the ghosts in the walls just jumped out into me, and that was the beginning of his transformation. And to have done this film with his own son, I can't tell you -- he could not have -- neither one of them could have given that kind of performance without the other one. It wouldn't have been possible with somebody else's baby. I will say this, man. I'll tell you this, Jaden Smith. Jaden Smith has more talent in his big toe than Will Smith has in his whole body.

You remember I told you that, you just remember. One day we were filming, and we're like, who is that?

WHITFIELD: You can tell, he's a big star in a little man.

WILL SMITH: Don't ever let somebody tell you you can't do something.

WHITFIELD: Did you come across people who said I don't believe that story?

GARDNER: No, no. I don't talk to those people. The point was folks were saying, these kinds of books do OK. Don't get excited. Don't get your hopes up. It was Dr. Angelou who said to me, your focus is wrong; your focus has to be on the fact that people are connected with your book. When you do those two things, all these other things will happen. Now, the fact that Dr. Angelou has written 30 New York Times bestsellers made me say, OK, got it.

WHITFIELD: She knows what she's talking about.

GARDNER: The very next week after that discussion with her, I got a case of books from the publisher, and there were words on the cover that were not there before. Number one New York Times Bestseller. Divine time.

WHITFIELD: Chris Gardner face-to-face. That book has been published in over 35 languages. Tomorrow the rest of my conversation face-to- face with Chris Gardner. Find out how he found happyness. You notice he spells happyness with a y, he's going to explain. And why one room in his house to this day is full of bags, just bags. It has a lot to do with his journey. Face-to-face with Chris Gardner.

There are a lot of amazing stunts in this week's viral video. That is why we always look forward to it. Josh Levs we look forward to you too. JOSH LEVS, NN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I look forward to this too. Who would think that Conan O'Brien would be a stuntman? We have an awesome new video from him today. We also have what may be one of the world's best basket ball shot ever, we have one of the world's best current commercials and we have this little piece of this. We're going to show you some of the most impressive work of its kind that you've ever seen. I'll give you the when and where and how about that whole thing right there coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at what just might be the most jaw dropping basketball shot ever, and it's gone viral. That's coming up. But first a look at the headlines. A founder of rappers Jayzee's Rockefeller records label is under arrest in a huge marijuana sting, dozens of other people have also been arrested. Federal agents say they busted a multimillion dollar pot smuggling ring that dominated the New York region for two decades.

Which side will blink first? Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is blacking out Fox TV channels for millions of customers in New York because of a financial dispute with Cable Vision. Cable Vision is urging news corporations to put the channels back on air and submit to finding arbitration. It claims Fox unfairly raised its programming fees. Fox says the higher fees are needed for quality programming.

Devoted fans of Liberace may want to be in Las Vegas this weekend. A museum dedicated to the entertainer closes its doors tomorrow. Liberace himself opened the museum back in 1979. At one point it attracted nearly a half million visitors a year. Since then attendance has plummeted. The museum's president blames the competition from glitzy casino along the Vegas strip. Look at all those beautiful cars and all those beautiful rings Liberace used to wear as well.

All right. Let's talk about viral videos. Lots of action, lots of suspension. We want to know about that hoop shot. Joshua's here.

LEVS: We have fun stuff. We were both away last weekend. We have viral videos to make up for now.

WHITFIELD: OK, good, I can't wait.

LEVS: We are starting off with an explosion of a good kind; check out Conan O'Brien's new action packed video.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONAN O'BRIEN: We're loading this trunk with 80 pounds of plastique, packing it with illegal fireworks from the state of New Hampshire. And up front, 600 pounds of unpopped popcorn. Yes, that's the stuff. It will be accompanied by the worlds famous Hapsburg Chamber Orchestra.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: They're going to stay there? LEVS: He has popcorn, he got fireworks in there. This is designed to show in Riegle Cinemas, but also online. They do a clever little twist, they focus on the car. Skip to the next section of the video and watch how this comes to an end.

WHITFIELD: A little, what's this -- Thelma and Louise moment?

LEVS: There go the fireworks and the popcorn.

WHITFIELD: There are the fireworks, the popcorn, and out comes Conan.

LEVS: And all he can muster to say, anything -- you know what, anything to get the word out --

WHITFIELD: He's on fire. Is that the line?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: That was expensive.

LEVS: That's all he says.

Love it, it's great. Wait until you get to the next one. A little piece before the break, this video thing going on, this giant's clock. Everyone's talking about it online. Take a look at this; it's in Prague, in the old city of Prague. This clock, they're celebrating 600 years of history. They did this incredible video mapping. They put together 12 major event that is Prague has seen over 600 years and this group that put this together, tomato production, actually came up with this whole amazing series of images that reflect Prague's history.

WHITFIELD: This is not like a light show? These are images that are portrayed on it?

LEVS: They map on to it with this whole production system.

WHITFIELD: Wow!

LEVS: You know what we have to get to the next one. Skip ahead to basketball, we're going to take a look at the basketball shot now, this is the basketball shot. After this one, the basketball shot, everyone's talking about -- watch this watch how he gets this.

WHITFIELD: Let me see.

LEVS: This is the cowboy stadium shot. And it's in there. These guys are called Dude Perfect. That's what they call themselves. They tape their amazing shots.

WHITFIELD: Are they the same ones -- a couple weeks back, I remember a pool, a backyard, some sort of shot.

LEVS: Different crew. Those were teens.

WHITFIELD: It's the thing to do. LEVS: I had some kids jumping off the deck of their roof and jumping into a pool. This is what they're trying to outdo. We have time for one more. I have to set it up. This may be the funniest ad in the world right now, you testify see "March of the Penguins?" The movie.

WHITFIELD: No.

LEVS: Well, in French it's "March of the Emperors" because of the type of penguins they are. Watch this video.

He's saying to her, I saw this great movie, called "March of the Emperors." She starts imagining what he's talking about saying, hey, the emperor goes to walk and then one of them gets eaten by a seal. She's imagining Napoleon, because in French emperor would be Napoleon. So basically the whole time you're seeing what she thinks he's describing.

Look at the end of this one. Skip ahead, you guys to the next video. Movies are made to be seen. And you know what, we have to wrap here. Shoot, I have another one; we'll go to the screen, everything I just showed you as always is right there on my facebook page.

Tomorrow I have a couple more for you, and I'll have your weekly relaxation video. Every week we bring Fred a relaxation video. So we can get all Zen. It's always a long day by the time we get to this.

WHITFIELD: I know. But it's nice it's on Sunday. Punctuates one week, revitalizes.

LEVS: We love it, tomorrow 5:00 p.m. Eastern be here.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks, Josh, appreciate that.

LEVS: You got it.

WHITFIELD: Take a look right now, a lot of pictures right there. There's Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Guess who's stumping for him. President Barack Obama. He will speak any moment now to ensure that Governor Patrick is re-elected this midterm election, just roughly three weeks away from midterm elections. Much more and, of course, when the president speaks we'll allow you to listen too, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back, CNN has learned a U.S. soldier accused of killing Afghan civilians will face court-martial. Specialist Jeremy Morlock seen here in this military interrogation is charged with three counts of premeditated murder.

Also obstruction of justice, assault and using drugs. Warlock is one of five members of the Army's Fifth Striker Brigade, accused of killing Afghans for sport. As more details come out about members of this army platoon, the military is clamping down on information. Drew Griffin is CNNs Special Investigations Unit has been looking into this story for weeks. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): These are pictures obtained by CNN of a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan, a soldier who blew the whistle on what the army says was a platoon gone rogue. Bruises on his back, arms, near his neck of Private First Class Justin Stoner. Bruises received not in combat, but in his bunk. Beaten by fellow soldiers who feared Stoner was a snitch. Jeremy Morlock, one of the soldiers now accused of murdering three Afghan civilians, told investigators in his taped interrogation, he was there the day Private Stoner was beaten.

JEREMY MORLOCK, SOLDIER ACCUSED OF MURDER: We just walked in the room, locked the door behind us, and a couple guys just started talking to him, laid on him.

GRIFFIN: What do you mean?

MORLOCK: Well, they started talking, why would you rat on your guys. You know stuff like that and that led in to someone grabbing him.

GRIFFIN: Did he deny it?

MORLOCK: Yeah, at first he did.

And then he came to and made some comments something about how he was tired of being a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) bag, or something about that, I don't know. - And then he made a comment, like, something about-I think someone had already grabbed him at that point, maybe gave him punches to the chest or something. He made a statement, like, hey, you guys can sit here and punch me all day long if you want. And once that was made, Gibbs was like, Oh, OK, and grabbed him off his cot and threw him on the ground in his room, and that is when a few guys got a few licks in.

GRIFFIN (voice over): Morlock's attorney told CNN his client was on prescription drugs, high on hashish and suffering combat related brain injuries when the crimes were committed. Sergeant Gibbs, the squad leader who has tattoos on his leg which he said represent kills in both Iraq and Afghanistan is the alleged ring leader. He has not admitted anything. His attorney told CNN he's not ready to comment.

Others during interrogation also describe how they believe Stoner was a rat, about to tell commanders about the drug use going on at Forward Operating Base Ramrod. At least seven members of the rogue platoon entered Stoner's tent on May 5th. Surrounded Stoner as Stoner himself sketches in this drawing for investigators. Then according to Stoner's statement, "collectively stomped, kicked and punched me everywhere on my body below the neck.

GRIFFIN: Last week stoner agreed to talk again. This time to CNN in an on-camera interview. But just three hours before that interview was to take place south of Seattle. CNN received this e-mail from Private Stoner's military attorney.

(Voice over): "About two hours ago, prosecutors and I met regarding the disposition of the case against PFC Stoner," the attorney writes. "Based on this meeting, PFC Stoner will be given full immunity in this case, and not be prosecuted for any allegations made against him. Contingent also, however, on staying away from the media."

With that, the interview was cancelled. The military, which had not charged Stoner with any crime was threatening to bring charges against him, then offered him a deal as long as he didn't go public.

(On camera): The U.S. Army appears to be trying to limit further damage by this rogue platoon. The evidence includes damning photographs. Those who have seen them tell CNN they show soldiers posing with dead Afghans, like hunting trophies. Worse we are told than the disastrous photos taken by jailers in Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.

(Voice over): This military directive sent to defense attorneys orders all photos be immediately returned to the criminal investigation division at Ft. Lewis. Last week, Pentagon Spokesman Geoff Morrell refused to speculate on the case.

GEOFF MORRELL, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: I don't want to do anything that could in any way jeopardize the prosecution or the ability of the defendants in this case to get a fair trial.

(Voice over): For now the Army is working hard to contain witnesses and contain evidence. All in an effort to control the story of a platoon even the Army says was out of control. Drew Griffin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And after seeing a portion of Drew Griffin's story on CNN.com, the Army released this statement saying, quote, "Discussing PFC Stoner's direct involvement in these hearings is inappropriate and could affect the outcome of these cases, it's imperative that we follow the judicial process in order to provide the accused a fair and impartial trial. While at the same time serve justice. PFC Stoner is currently not charged in these matters, nor has he been granted immunity by the convening authority for his cooperation in these ongoing investigations." Again, a statement coming from the Army.

Here's a question for you. Can you really eat healthy at a fast food restaurant? We'll show you the best and some of the worst choices next. You just may actually be surprised.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: We know this, fast food isn't exactly health food most of the time, but most of us still end up going through a drive through from time to time. We can't help it.

The editors of "Prevention" magazine have been looking at individual menu items to help us make some smart choices. Their List Maker's Get Healthy Guide includes a look at the best and worst fast foods. Joining us from New York, Lauren Gelman, senior health editor of "Prevention" magazine, and one of the authors of the "Get Healthy Guide".

So, Lauren, let's start with the worst fast foods, first on your list is Arby's roast turkey and Swiss. Usually you think turkey and Swiss, you're all right. What's the matter here?

LAUREN GELMAN, SR. HEALTH EDITOR, "PREVENTION" MAGAZINE: They sound pretty healthy, but this sandwich, it's a question of portion. The sandwich packs 725 calories, 28 grams of fat, almost a full day's worth of sodium. You're getting a lot more food here than you really need to be eating at one meal.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. And then there's Subway -- the same thing, we're talking about a foot long, maybe it's a size issue; a sweet onion chicken teriyaki sub. Oh my, gosh it sounds so yummy.

GELMAN: Exactly, Subway has this health halo around it. We think we are going to be ordering, we can order anything we want there, because it is healthy food. It helps Jerrod loose weight. This sandwich, too, 800 calories, a full day's worth of sodium. You have to remember that a foot-long sub, as you said, is going to be twice as many calories as a six-inch. So maybe just eat half while you are eating there.

WHITFIELD: So, maybe jus eat half. Exactly.

GELMAN: Eat half of it, pack it with extra veggies, and save the rest for tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: When you're going fast food and you go for a Cinnabon, or in this case a Cinnabon caramel pecan bun, you're not trying to go for healthy, you're going for, it tastes so good. What is it costing us in calories?

GELMAN: It does taste so good, but it is costing a lot. You probably think it's not going to be good for you. But you might not know quite how bad it is. We're talking about 1100 calories, 56 grams of fat.

WHITFIELD: Ah!

GELMAN: That's like almost a whole day's worth for some people in one small dessert.

WHITFIELD: No way!

GELMAN: So this is definitely not something you want to be eating regularly, if ever. You're probably better off, if you're at the mall, get a candy bar, or a small chocolate chip cookie, if you have to satisfy that sweet tooth.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. Get a candy bar or cookie.

OK, now, this really kind of bums me out here, because making the list, McDonald's fish fillet, I usually feel like I'm making a sort of, kind of good choice when I do this. And nope, not the case. GELMAN: We all want to be eating more fish. We know fish is healthy for us. But getting the fried fish fillet at McDonald's isn't really that healthy. It's 380 calories, which isn't so bad, but 18 grams of fat, there are just healthier things to be getting at McDonald's.

WHITFIELD: OK, like maybe the salad. We'll talk about the healthy stuff coming up. Let's stick with the worst. Burger King has a tender crisp chicken sandwich. Same thing, I guess, tender crisp, that means fried, not good?

GELMAN: Not good. And you may not realize quite how not good it is. That crisp gives you an 800 calorie sandwich with 46 grams of fat. And that's a significantly more than getting the grilled version of that sandwich. You think I'm going to get chicken. I'm going to order something healthy. But it's really a lot of calories and fat for one meal.

WHITFIELD: Then there's Taco Bell. Everyone loves Taco Bell, but no surprise that nachos would probably not be your friend. Not your friend. Don't do it. Volcano nachos, tell me why?

GELMAN: These are the volcano nachos, that volcano word is big tip- off here, we're talking 1,000 calories and 62 grams of fat, plus almost a whole day's worth of sodium.

WHITFIELD: Whew! Oh, my goodness. Yeah, you're going to have to fast for a few days after you eat that, right?

GELMAN: Exactly. And some people might order this as an appetizer and then go on to get another taco, or another order there. So you really -- you want to minimize how much of this kind of thing you're eating on a regular basis.

WHITFIELD: Now we've done the downers, now we're going to perk things up. We do have to rely on fast food every now and then. So, after the break, Lauren, you're going to tell us about the better choices out there when it comes down to fast food right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Just before the break we were getting schooled on fast food and how you make some of the wrong choices. Now some of the right choices, Lauren Gelman is back with us now.

We talked about things that were filled with fat, calories, carbs, sodium, so Lauren is senior health editor of "Prevention" magazine. And one of the authors of the "List Makers Get Healthy Guide".

So now we now know to avoid certain things when we go through drive through. Let talk about some of the alternatives and what we can choose and not feel so guilty about beginning with a fat-free latte. Anybody's fat-free latte?

GELMAN: Anybody's fat-free latte. We've heard of these specialty coffee shops, you can you go in and order something that's a big calorie bomb. But you can avoid that, just get a fat-free latte, 130 calories, no fat. Good dose of calcium. You're avoiding when you get the drinks that have lots of whole milk and the sugary syrups, and the --

WHITFIELD: The good stuff.

GELMAN: The whipped cream.

WHITFIELD: The good, yummy tasting stuff, but not necessarily good for you.

GELMAN: Exactly.

WHITFIELD: OK, let's talk about chili, we often see those on or we see that on a few fast food restaurant menus. You are saying double thumbs up on that?

GELMAN: Exactly. You may not think to order a chili at a restaurant, but Wendy's chili, a small chili, 227 calories, 5 grams of fiber, 14 grams of protein. That's a great balance of nutrients to keep you full, gives you good nutrition. And not totally blow your calorie budget.

WHITFIELD: OK, and a little cheese and crackers goes a long way, at some places it's not going to fill you up very much, but you're saying this is all right. The lighter fair of things?

GELMAN: Exactly. The lesson here is that a lot of these restaurants are catching on and offering lighter lines for people who are watching their weight, watching their fast food intake.

Au Bon Pan has a portions line. They have a bunch of different items, all 200 calories or less, which is great if you just kind of want a little bit of a snack. Taco Bell has a diet drive through menu that has healthier versions of many of their menu options. So be on the lookout and a lot of places will post the calories along with the food, so you can make sure you're picking something smart and healthy.

WHITFIELD: OK, and a baked potato is always great, but doesn't it always depend on what you load on that baked potato?

GELMAN: It does, but you'd be surprised, this is a pretty healthy option across the board. At Wendy's, for example, the baked potato even with sour cream is 350 calories. It has 8 grams of fiber, 10 grams of protein, and best of all, the skin is a great source of nutrition. You're talking about a good dose of fiber, potassium, calcium, iron, all of these power nutrients that we need for our bodies to function well. And you are getting it at a fast food restaurant.

WHITFIELD: OK, flat bread sandwiches? Anybody's flat bread? Is it something about the bread that makes it healthier or a better choice? Or how it is prepared?

GELMAN: In general, these sandwiches tend to be a little bit smaller, so you're cutting back on fat and calories right there. The bread is a little bit thinner, so it is not contributing as much. Quizno's, Sammy's, a great line of sandwiches, all 160 to 240 calories. Dunkin' Donuts has flatbreads, all for 300 calorie or less. So these are a good way to eat guilt free on the go.

WHITFIELD: OK, you say that items that are usually grilled, gosh when you go to fast food places, they usually say the burger's are grilled. Just about everything is grilled. So, anything goes on the grill?

GELMAN: Grilled is always a healthier option than anything that's fried. If you're looking at something that says crisp or fried, even when you're talking about chicken, turkey, even beef and ham is better when it's grilled. You can shave a couple hundred calories and as many as 10 or 20 grams of fat that way, off your meal.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic. Lauren Gelman, of "Prevention" magazine. Thanks so much for the list of healthy choices and the not so healthy choices. Bottom line always tastes yummy, even if it's not always good for you.

Lauren, appreciate it. Thanks so much.

GELMAN: Great to be here, thank you.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic.

We're also keeping a close eye on politics. We know just 17 days away until midterm elections. We see Barack Obama, right there, on the campaign trail, not for himself, but instead he's stumping for his good friend his Harvard days and beyond, Deval Patrick. We'll dip in, to Boston, in a moment, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. Live pictures, right now, President Barack Obama campaigning for his good friend, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick in Boston. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN LIVE FEED IN PROGRESS)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They knew it was going to take time to repair the economy. They knew you couldn't recover 8 million jobs overnight. Those folks that Deval was talking about, they knew they were going to be going through struggles and hardships. And that the longer it took, the more frustrated and angry people would get. And so the Republican leadership made a calculation; it was a tactical decision. That if they just sat on the sidelines. If they didn't lift a finger to help, if instead they opposed us every step of the way, if they said no even to policies that historically they had agreed to, that historically they had sponsored and adopted, they figured they could ride people's anger and frustration all the way to the ballot box. That is what's happened over the last 20 months.

So I need all of you to be clear over these next two weeks. This election is a choice, and the stakes could not be higher. Because if they win this election, the chair of a Republican campaign committee has already promised to pursue the exact same agenda as they did before they took office. That's what they said. The very same agenda, that cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires, that cut rules for special interests, that cut middle-class families loose to fend for themselves.

It's an agenda that turned a record surplus into a record deficit, an agenda that let Wall Street run wild at the expense of folks on Main Street, an agenda that nearly destroyed our economy. If they take over Congress, the other side has promised to roll back health reform so that insurance companies can go back to denying you coverage because you're sick. They want to roll back Wall Street reform so that taxpayers are on the hook for Wall Street bailouts and credit card companies can hit you with hidden fees and penalties. And if they win in Congress, they will cut AIDS funding right here in the United States of America, and all across the world.

(APPLAUSE)

You know, one of the great things about being a Democrat is we -- we -- we like arguing with each other. But I would suggest that the folks who are concerned about AIDS funding take a look at what the Republican leadership has to say about AIDS funding.

(APPLAUSE)

Because we increased AIDS funding. They want to cut education by 20 percent to help pay for a $700 billion tax break that only the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans will ever see.

So, that's what's happening at the national level. Here in Massachusetts, it's the same story. Deval's opponents, they have a very different vision about where this state should go. They want to let the insurance companies run wild. They want to eliminate unemployment benefits for thousands of people. They want to eliminate investments in education and clean energy. It is the same theory the other side has been peddling for years. It is up to us to tell them we don't want what they are selling.

(APPLAUSE)

We've been there. We've tried it. We don't like it. And we're not going back.

(APPLAUSE)

I mean, this is not a situation in which we haven't tried. We tried what they're selling. We tried it for eight years. It didn't work out so well. I've been using the analogy across the country: Imagine them driving a car into the ditch. And Deval, and me, and Kerry, and Markey and Frank, we've all put our boots on, we went down into the ditch. And we started pushing that car out of the ditch. And it was hot down there, and muddy, and we kept on pushing. And every once in a while we would look up and the Republicans are standing up there, fanning themselves, sipping on a Slurpee. And we would ask, are you going to help? And they say no, that's all right, but y'all should push harder. You're not pushing the right way. And so even though we got no help from them, even though they didn't lift a finger, we kept on pushing. And finally we got this car on level ground.

(APPLAUSE)

It's a little banged up. You know, it needs some body work, it needs a tune-up, but it's ready to move forward. And suddenly we get this tap on our shoulder, and we look back and lo and behold, who is it? It's the Republicans. And they say, excuse me, can we have the keys back? Massachusetts-

(END LIVE FEED, IN PROGRESS)

WHITFIELD: All right. President Barack Obama is there in Boston while he's campaigning for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. He's also taking a much broader platform as it pertains to national offices, saying that there are high stakes this election season, now just 17 days away.

Among them he pointed out possibly the rolling back of health care reform, the rolling back of Wall Street reform, and possibly a cut in AID funding if, he says, Republicans out win the Democrats. We'll have a full report on the continued campaigning across the country throughout the evening here in the NEWSROOM.

I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Meantime, right now I want to take you to the replay of the Delaware debates, moderated by Wolf Blitzer, right now.