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Tropical Storm Isaac Getting Stronger; Isaac Churns Toward Gulf Of Mexico; Isaac Now Lashing Florida Keys; Tropical Storm Delays GOP Convention; Syria Releases V.P. Video; Deadly Shelling In Damascus Suburb; Bus Crash Kills 36 In China; Christian Conservatives Meet In Tampa; Tea Party Impact On The GOP; Something For All New Zealand

Aired August 26, 2012 - 14:30   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We're tracking Tropical Storm Isaac and we can tell you this about it. It is getting stronger. Where this storm will go, however, is still not certain, but it looks like Florida may avoid a direct hit.

That's good news for Florida, but now forecasters warn Isaac is zeroing in on the gulf coast, possibly New Orleans, Louisiana. And forecasters say by the time Isaac hits the coast, it will be a hurricane, possibly a powerful one.

We have our team covering this storm. Let's begin in Key West with Jim Spellman who's joining us there, already feeling the outer band of this storm. Let us know what's happening there.

JIM SPELLMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hi, Fredricka. We saw a band go through here for about 45 minutes, really intense heavy rain. That's let up a little bit. The winds are still howling. They're really preparing for more of a rain event and possibly a storm surge one to four feet.

It will come in right this way, from the south right in to Key West. There were some surfers out here earlier. They've even gone in now at this point. Most of the seaside hotels like this have moved people to other parts of the complex or even to hotels on other parts of the island to keep them a little bit safer.

The main precaution is trying to get visitors and tourists off of this island. It's only a two-lane road, 120 miles or so back to the mainland of Florida. They don't want people on the road today. They say if you didn't evacuate yesterday, stay indoors, that's the best way to stay safe here -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jim Spellman, keep us posted. Thanks so much.

All right, let's bring in meteorologist Bonnie Schneider. You've been tracking Isaac for days now. Made its way past Haiti and brushed by Cuba now Key West and then what?

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, you know, we just got the latest position statement. It is very close to Key West. It's not surprising we're getting those strong winds in the Key West area because right now the location of the center of circulation is only 50 miles to the south-southeast of Key West.

Let's take a closer look and I'll show you what's going on. All right, so the movement right now is still looking at maximum winds of 60 miles per hour, but gusts are even stronger. They are at hurricane force.

Track will take the storm straight into the Gulf of Mexico. We've had some major changes today in terms of the track and areas that will be impacted by it. Notice the shift to the west. If you're just joining us now and you haven't watched since yesterday, this looks different than in the past 24 hours.

We have the storm center working its way into the Gulf of Mexico. And look what happens by Wednesday, it is a Category 2 storm with a cone of uncertainty stretching all the way across not just parts of the Florida panhandle but Louisiana now.

So now we have New Orleans is under a hurricane watch at this time, which we didn't earlier on today. Also as we go through the end of the week, we are seeing changes in terms of other areas that will be impacted by heavy rain.

Actually by Thursday and Friday when the storm is inland, I think some of that will be beneficial. Here's the way that we're watching morning's breakdown now. We have a hurricane warning that remains for South Florida, including the Keys.

As we go all the way across westward, we see those south eastern parishes of Louisiana, coastal areas, including metropolitan New Orleans, now under a hurricane watch because within 48 hours we could see hurricane force winds, winds stronger than 74 miles per hour.

If you saw the track, the intensity actually for those winds to be even more intense possibly a Category 2. Now I want to show you the timelines. We can really break it down for you here on CNN so you know exactly what to expect.

Tropical storm conditions, that's happening today. Hurricane force gusts possible all through here all the way down through Key West. You can see the wind field. This is a computer model showing where we're going to see some of those strong winds.

A lot of eyes have been on Tampa for the Republican convention. So as we look towards Sunday, tonight, into Monday afternoon, we are still looking at the possibility of tropical storm-force winds with the more intense winds further off to the west into the Gulf of Mexico.

Now the timing takes us into the middle of the week when we are talking about a potential landfall, possibly a second landfall if we see landfall on the Keys tonight. So landfall is possible somewhere near Biloxi, possibly by Wednesday as a Category 2. Notice New Orleans, we're still looking at the risk for hurricane conditions there. But remember, Fredricka, this track has already shifted. It's already changed many times over the past couple of days so it is something we're going to keep monitoring for you. And one last thing very important to mention, there is a tornado watch in South Florida.

WHITFIELD: Boy, all right, thanks so much. When it rains, it pours, literally. All right, thanks so much, Bonnie Schneider.

Let's go back to Key West. Earlier, we saw Jim Spellman who was at a usually very placid beach there in Key West. Now we've got John Zarrella at the southernmost tip of Florida, of the U.S., as a matter of fact there where the gulf and Atlantic come together.

So I see a little -- a few raindrops. Lot of wind. What else is happening?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, Fredricka, it's been picking up steadily all day, as I'm sure Jim Spellman was telling you earlier as well.

What's interesting is that as we were driving down into Key West earlier this morning, there are cars that are parked all along the roadway in the middle and lower keys. They call that, you know, the Wilma syndrome.

That's because when Hurricane Wilma hit down here seven years ago, hundreds and hundreds of cars were flooded out by the storm surge that came in. So we definitely noticed that difference. Right along the highway is the highest point that overseas highway is literally the highest point of land along the Keys.

What we've got down here, another thing that was different that we noticed was a lot more buildings were boarded up. Lot more sandbags out all along Duvall Street. People taking this quite seriously, even though officials in the Florida Keys, you know, don't believe -- they don't believe that this had is going to be a terribly significant event through here and the Keys.

You can see all of the buoys out there in the water behind me blowing, the water blowing in from the north now as the storm is approaching. The waves are actually approaching us here. As it gets closer we expect the storm, Isaac, to be very close to us, probably about 5:00, 5:30 this afternoon, maybe 6:00. So that's going to be the height of the intensity that we see here -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much. Keep us posted on that, John Zarrella there in Key West. Appreciate that.

Republican Party leaders taking no chances when it comes to Isaac. A decision today to delay the start of the national convention in Tampa until Tuesday now. It was scheduled to begin tomorrow, but that's exactly when Isaac is forecast to pass by Tampa.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REINCE PRIEBUS, RNC CHAIRMAN: The reason why we ultimately ended up making this decision was for the safety of our delegates and guests. We couldn't really be assured of total safety for the buses that are traveling over long bridges, over open water with sustained winds.

The Secret Service decided to take all of the tenting outside down, understandably so. But what that meant though is fewer entrances in the building and people standing outside for a long time in a driving rain and wind.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Joining me live now from Tampa, CNN political director, Mark Preston. So Mark, now a four-day convention suddenly becomes a three-day convention, but the word is they hope to get the same number of speakers in?

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. So what we're hearing right now from convention officials, Fredricka, is that they are trying to cram it down into three days. They've canceled Monday, as you've said, out of abundance of caution.

We talked about this yesterday. They couldn't get the bridges or felt comfortable about getting buses across the bridge with the high winds that we'll get as the hurricane just passes to the west.

But I've got to tell you, there's got to be some concern right now from convention officials because if this storm intensifies and heads into the gulf coast, if it becomes a Category 2, if it heads to New Orleans, by Wednesday evening you have to ask yourself will they continue on with the convention.

It is very hard I think politically to do so and it is something right now that I think convention officials are weighing and certainly watching this storm very, very closely.

WHITFIELD: I wonder how much it is going to change the message over the course of the next 24, 48 hours.

PRESTON: Yes, and it's been very hard the past week for the Romney campaign. They first had to deal with the Todd Akin problem. Then of course they've had to deal with this storm. Governor Romney talked about birthing, birther issue at the end of the week.

But as far as the message they want to talk about jobs, they want to talk about the economy. This is what this convention was supposed to be. Four days of why Governor Romney would be a better president than President Obama right now.

That is now being taken off message. We are talking al about the storm at this point. But they're hoping, Fredricka, they're hoping that this storm does not intensify and that in fact Governor Romney can go out and deliver the address on Thursday night that he will use to turn in to the general election.

WHITFIELD: Mark Preston, thanks so much, in Tampa.

Be sure to stay with CNN for complete coverage of the Republican National Convention. Later on today in fact we have a special -- in- depth look at Mitt Romney, "Romney Revealed" airing at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. That's followed by a preview of the convention itself. Our political team is in place for complete coverage all week long.

So Isaac is not the only storm out there right now. In fact, we are also watching a massive typhoon. It is being called one of the worst in decades. We'll tell you where it's headed.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Isaac is not the only dangerous storm out there right now. A powerful typhoon is headed toward the Korean peninsula. It made landfall over the Japanese island of Okinawa earlier today. The storm is expected to bring up to 12 inches of rain. Last night wind gusts reached 132 miles per hour. Hundreds of people are without power.

The Syrian regime has released what it says is new video proving the country's vice president has not defected. The tape purr reportedly shows him meeting with a top Iranian official this weekend. Rebels had claimed he fled the regime about a week ago, but the Syrian government has denied the rumors.

Meanwhile, regime troops are shelling Daraya, a Damascus suburb. More than 200 bodies have been found there. August has been the deadliest month since the Syrian uprising began 17 months ago.

In Northwest China, a double-decker passenger bus crashes into a tanker carrying methanol. The bus immediately burst into flames killing at least 36 people on-board. Only three survived the accident.

Back in this country, as Republicans get ready to meet in Tampa, leaders of the Tea Party Movement want to make sure their voices are heard. Find out what their priorities are.

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WHITFIELD: Christian conservatives are gathering today in Tampa, Florida, ahead of the Republican National Convention. The event is put on by the Faith in Freedom Coalition led by Ralph Reed. Live pictures right now.

This is being described as a mostly Christian right gathering. Several well known Republican leaders are scheduled to speak including Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.

Mitt Romney has had an uneasy relationship with conservative Republicans. When he chose Paul Ryan as his running mate, many on the right and in the Tea Party Movement cheered.

As Republicans begin their national convention, Tea Party leaders aren't just watching closely, they are working to influence the decisions made in Tampa and beyond.

Matt Kibbe is the president of Freedom Works. His organization works closely with Tea Party groups across the country and is committed to advancing the principles of lower taxes and less government.

He's joining me right now from Tampa. All right, good to see you, Matt. If there's a way in which to kind of encapsulate how have you and the Tea Party leaders been working to influence the Republican Party, particularly on the eve of this convention?

MATT KIBBE, PRESIDENT, FREEDOMWORKS: Yes, you have a lot of activists that have become part of the process running for precinct chairman, actually getting on to the platform committee that happened last week.

We brought up a delegation of Tea Partiers from all the battleground states and asked them to represent a crowd source document that we were calling 12 and 12.

The top 12 issues Tea Partiers care about in this election. We want to make sure that the values of the Republican Party as best possible could reflect the values of the grassroots from the bottom up.

WHITFIELD: And are you satisfied that looking at the platform and what's been unrolled as the platform for this convention for the party that that work has been influential?

KIBBE: Yes, we really think that we had an impact and got the Republicans back to where they have historically been, what they've always said that they believed in. It's basic things like we have to balance the budget. We have to roll back the Obama spending spree. We have to repeal Obama care and replace it with a system that actually respects patients and gives patients control of their own health care.

And we -- one of the things we accomplished was a peeling back the iron curtain of the Federal Reserve so that taxpayers, voters, citizens can understand the deals that go on behind closed doors with an audit of the fed language that we think is pretty important.

WHITFIELD: Were you feeling confident that the presumptive nominee, Mitt Romney, would be able to deliver on those things, or did it make a difference that his vice presidential pick became Paul Ryan and did that kind of seal the deal for your support?

KIBBE: Well, I think that the choice of Paul Ryan was an acknowledgement not just by the Romney campaign, but the entire Republican Party that they will win when they run on a set of ideas that have always been the core values that were the winning ideas for the Republican Party.

Paul Ryan represents those ideas so now all candidates, not just president -- or, not just our Senate candidates, our House candidates. They all have to be comfortable defending the idea that we should balance the budget.

WHITFIELD: Matt Kibbe, the president of Freedom Works, thanks so much. Real quickly, what's your contingency plan with this storm approaching?

KIBBE: Thank you. WHITFIELD: All right, Harry, can you give me an idea just quickly what your contingency plan is for this storm, if anything?

All right, looks like we may have lost audio. All right, thanks so much, Matt. Be sure to stay with CNN for complete coverage of the Republican National Convention.

Later on today, we'll have a special look at Mitt romney. "Romney Revealed" airing at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time that's followed by a preview of the convention itself.

And our political team is in place for complete coverage all week long.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Perhaps you want to get away from it all. Here's a beautiful place with lots of cool stuff do, even if it does take you roughly 20 hours to get there. New Zealand, let's go right now.

Rob Deeming of jetsetter.com has a lake that's not too far from Auckland.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROB DEEMING, JETSETTER.COM: Lake Rotorua is a beautiful area around three hours south of Auckland. I definitely recommend taking the scenic route on your way there and stopping off at the wonderful cave system.

It's an underground system of caves. It's permanently illuminated by glow worms that live in the roof of the ceiling, which is always wonderful to see.

When you get to Rotorua itself, you will find yourself in the middle of New Zealand's geothermal area, which means that the temperature of the lake itself is warm and it's full of mud pools, spas and naturally occurring springs and so on.

It also means that one of the great things to do in the region is visit one of the great spas that you'll find there. I recommend the Polynesian Spa, which is a collection of 27 naturally occurring geothermal pools.

As well as a wonderful selection of treatments available, which means that Polynesian Spa is often voted as one of the world's very best spas in the world to visit.

WHITFIELD: Wow, and then there's Lake Okaricka Lodge at Labua.

DEEMING: That's right. That's definitely a place I would recommend staying. It feels much more like a private lakeside retreat for you, yourself and your family than it does feel like a hotel.

It's a wonderful base for lots of water-based activities. It has its own private jetty as well as having a boat house and it's a wonderful place to explore the local surrounding lake whether by boat or fishing. A great place to sort of recover and relax alongside some of the spa treatments.

WHITFIELD: And those are beautiful surprises because I think New Zealand and adventure. A lot of people love to white water raft and this is apparently an incredible place in which to do so at the Kaituna River in particular. Why?

DEEMING: That's exactly right. So in New Zealand really is one of the adventure sports capitals in the world. And white water rafting does particularly well there. In Kaituna itself, I took a wonderful trip there with the local operator, Kaituna Cascades, who took me on a great adventure down the river there.

The great thing about rafting is you don't need any experience to be able to take part. You just have to be enthusiastic. You have the ability to swim and the ability to pull on a life jacket and away you go.

WHITFIELD: OK, and then you're all drenched and wet from white water rafting and then you want to do a little mountain biking perhaps a little hiking, too. Is it Talpo? Is that the place to do that?

DEEMING: That's exactly right. So Lake Talpo is about an hour's drive away from Rotorua. It's the other big lake in the northern lakes region. It's a great base for both of the activities you talk about.

I like to mountain bike when I'm there in the nearby Redwood National Park, which features around 160 kilometers of different trails ranging from the sedate and sedentary right through to the New Zealand national downhill track.

For those people with experience, some bravado and really strong helmets so that's on the mountain biking side. There's also a great opportunity there to get involved with jet boating, which is fast becoming New Zealand's tourist attraction.

WHITFIELD: So not to be confused with jet skiing, what is jet boating?

DEEMING: That's exactly right. The super high-powered, high-speed boats that zoom around the network of lakes and rivers that you'll find in the area. Really giving you an adrenaline rush, which is quite unlike any other.

I took my trip in the rapid jets in the local area who combine the adrenaline rush with also a more scenic approach to exploring the local landscape including the opportunity to see two or three different film sets from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy as well as the upcoming hobbit film as well, which is quite the thrill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, remember, you can get all kinds of travel tips and ideas from the folks at jetsetter, just head to jetsetter.com/cnn. I'll be back in one hour from now. Meantime, we'll be keeping a close watch on Tropical Storm Isaac. Florida could dodge a hurricane bullet from this storm, but now forecasters warn Isaac could have New Orleans in some of the other gulf coast towns in its sights.

The Louisiana governor in fact will be holding a news conference at 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time. We'll cover that live along with the latest news from Key West, Florida where Isaac is approaching right now. We have reporters on the front lines to keep you posted.

I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Stay with CNN. "YOUR MONEY" starts right after this.

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