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Evacuations Under Way In Louisiana, Mississippi And Alabama; Isaac Heads Toward Gulf Coast; Isaac Threatens New Orleans; Isaac Forces Big Changes At RNC; Gas Prices Still On The Rise; Samsung Loses $12B In Market Value; Donations To Armstrong's Foundation Way Up; 300 Earthquakes In One Day In Southern California; NYC Shooting Victim Shot Five Times; Bear Kills Hiker In Denali National Park; Romney's Faith And The Convention; The "M" Word; Mandatory Evacuations In Louisiana; RNC Aims to Soften Romney Image; Obama Shuns RNC, Sharpens Attack; J-Lo's New Show Gets the Green Light; Rockers Miffed by GOP's Use of Music; Big Issue at GOP Convention -- Health Care

Aired August 27, 2012 - 10:00   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the NEWSROOM, the gulf coast on alert, evacuations under way in several states as Tropical Storm Isaac follows a very similar path as Hurricane Katrina.

All eyes on Mitt Romney this week as he accepts the Republican nominee for president. We're now learning more about Romney's faith, his surprising candor.

The lead singer of "Twisted Sister" wants Paul Ryan to stop using his song. We'll talk to Dee Snyder live.

And it may be one of the worst restorations ever, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

And good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks so much for joining us this Monday morning. We begin this hour on the gulf coast. Massive evacuation is under way from Louisiana to Alabama.

Tropical Storm Isaac is heading in that direction. It blew through the Florida Keys yesterday as a blustery rain maker and only a hint of what it could become. It's now in the open waters of gulf and it's gaining strength.

But here is something much more ominous. Take a look at Isaac's projected path and the meandering line underneath. That meandering is the path of Hurricane Katrina.

It struck New Orleans seven years ago this week, and as you can see where the paths intersect, the city is once again in the crosshairs. Emergency officials in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana are pleading with residents to leave before the storm arrives.

Yasamie August is the public information manager for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. She joins me now on the phone. Good morning. YASAMIE AUGUST, ALABAMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (via telephone): Good morning to you.

COSTELLO: Tell us about Alabama's mandatory evacuations.

AUGUST: Well, Alabama's mandatory evacuation right now includes the counties for Mobile and Bolen, areas one and two.

COSTELLO: And are people heeding the warnings? Are they leaving?

AUGUST: Well, we are getting reports that some people are leaving, but we always know that people oftentimes have the mentality that it can't happen to me or it's not going to be that bad.

So those people, we're talking to them this morning through news conferences and interviews, encouraging them to please heed the warning and please do not wait too late to leave where they get in a position where they can't leave because of the rainfall coming down.

COSTELLO: How many people are we talking about?

AUGUST: We're talking about several thousand people. The zones in Bolen County and Mobile Counties, again, areas one and two, they are quite large areas in those counties.

So we have several thousand people we're talking to with this evacuation order. That's why it's so important for people to heed that warning now, make preparations to leave so they have an opportunity to get to a safe place in a timely manner.

COSTELLO: I know Katrina also affected you in Alabama. Have changes been put into place since that storm?

AUGUST: Of course, every year, we're holding hurricane exercises and evacuation drills and things of that nature so people know where to go and what to do and they can expedite the process because our main goal is always saving lives.

COSTELLO: Yasamie August, thank you so much for joining us this morning.

AUGUST: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Let's return our focus to New Orleans now. Memories of Katrina still haunt the city and the people who endured one of the worst disasters in nation's history.

This morning, we heard stern warnings from the man who coordinated the military's relief efforts in the wake of that hurricane.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GENERAL RUSSEL HONORE, U.S. ARMY (RETIRED): People need to be cautious because anything built by man can be destroyed by mother nature. People still need to listen to their local officials and if you're outside the levee system, you need to be evacuated today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Let's head to New Orleans now and check in with meteorologist Rob Marciano. Rob, we just got word that Jefferson Parish that is south of New Orleans, there's a mandatory evacuation now in place. Are things getting more ominous?

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, certainly for the lower lying areas including the Jefferson Parish, Plaquemine Parish, and parts of St. Charles Parish, those are the parishes that are outside of the new and improved protected levees here in New Orleans.

I am standing on the levee wall of the 17th Street canal. What you are seeing behind me is this monstrosity of a manmade structure that wasn't here seven years ago when Katrina came through.

Flood gates that now can drop down. They weigh 20 tons each. When the storm surge comes in, these massive pipes can pump out water at a rate of 9,200 cubic feet per second when the northern part of the cities filled up.

So these are the gates and the pumping stations that are put in place since Katrina came seven years ago, one of three. They spent $11 billion to beef up this system. There's 140 miles of new and improved levees around the city.

So for that reason, the city at least right now sort of kind of safe, but there's high anxiety, I'll tell you that. And the people outside of those walls, including the parishes we just mentioned, Carol, they're on the move right now because evacuations in many towns are mandatory.

COSTELLO: I hope so. Rob Marciano reporting live from New Orleans this morning.

Tropical Storm Isaac has mostly missed Tampa and the Republican National Convention. But as a safety precaution, the RNC canceled today's schedule, so four days worth of events will now be crammed into three.

So here's a rundown of some of the key speakers. Tomorrow, the crowd will hear from Republican favorite New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and he said he's holding nothing back.

On Wednesday, Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan will address the party faithful, and then on Thursday, the signature event, Mitt Romney will deliver his speech, formally accepting the presidential nomination.

Last night, Governor Christie spoke about his high profile gig.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: It's an incredible honor for this state that we have the prominent roles we're playing in our party's convention this week, and that we're going to play going forward in electing Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan the next president and vice president of the United States.

They have to keep me busy on Tuesday though. I told the staff, keep me busy. I have to wait until 10:30 Tuesday night. Let me tell you, you don't know what's going to happen when I burst out of the gate by Tuesday night.

Maybe they'll keep me on a treadmill all day, try to wear me out. See if they can lower the energy level just a little bit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Ann Romney will also speak on Tuesday. Let's head to Tampa now and Brooke Baldwin. Brooke, so just a lot of rain in Tampa, is there a lot of second guessing going on about cancelling Monday night's schedule?

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I would say in a word yes. I think people are frustrated. You know, a lot of people flew into town. People were fearful that their airline travel would change.

So they made sure they got in yesterday, and ultimately it was up to the RNC to make the call. It's windy, forgive me, to make the call, and they decided to condense it into the three days instead of the four.

Let's remember, it was just four years ago when the RNC was held in Minneapolis and it was Gustav that actually canceled that first day of that convention. So this has certainly happened before, but I think folks around town are trying to figure out how they're going to fill their day.

I was talking to some delegates joking with me from North Dakota yesterday who said, you know, look, Brooke, we can handle blizzards, but you know, talk of a hurricane, we only watch that on television.

And they were sort of hoping for some semblance of sunshine. So they could at least, we're in Tampa. They were hoping to spend some time on the beach. So frustrated, yes. Hopeful for sun, yes, as well.

COSTELLO: OK, so what speaker are they most excited to hear, Chris Christie, Ann Romney, or Mitt Romney?

BALDWIN: I think they would tell you Mitt Romney. That's why they're here, but I really think in talking to some folks, Chris Christie. I mean, you see how he brings groups together, and even the sound bite from a couple minutes ago.

He's a funny guy. He's, you know, really come quite a long way and there was so much talk and so many questions to him. You know, would he be the number two, and now he's the keynote speaker.

So I think people are really excited about him. Obviously, Ann Romney, as we talked last hour, her role is to humanize, if I may, humanize her husband, and increase that likability so that's part of her task tomorrow night.

And everyone is kind of excited to see the inside of the forum building, as well. Multiple millions of dollars spent on the stage and the stairs and the clock tick, tick, ticking away, part of the message that the nation's spending is out of control.

COSTELLO: I'm sure they're excited about the charismatic Paul Ryan, too. Brooke Baldwin, thanks so much.

We're already dealing with high gas prices and Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to maybe raise prices even more. We'll tell you why. Gas prices, by the way, up nearly 7 cents over the past two weeks, but expect the prices to jump. Current oil production in the gulf is already down 25 percent.

In money news, Samsung Electronics loses $12 billion in market value in early trading. Company stock is down 7.5 percent on the South Korean exchange. Investors are reacting for the first time after the company lost a patent dispute with Apple. Samsung plans to appeal the federal jury's decision awarding Apple $1 billion.

Lance Armstrong's fans have spoken out. They have spoken out with their checkbooks. On his Twitter page, Armstrong thanked his Live Strong Foundation supporters for donations that were 25 times the average on Friday.

Armstrong was banned from cycling that same day by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which also stripped him of his Tour De France titles. Armstrong over the weekend spoke out for the first time about that decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LANCE ARMSTRONG, CYCLIST: I'm more at ease now than I have been in 10 years. I don't have anything to worry about. I'm focused on the future. I have five great kits, a great lady in my wife. I've got a wonderful foundation that is completely unaffected by any noise out there and we're going to continue to do our job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: As of right now, he's banned from all cycling events and all of his Tour De France titles have been stripped from him.

Mitt Romney, he's opening up about his religion. He speaks with remarkable candor to CNN. We'll share.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It's 13 minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories now. Hundreds of earthquakes shake parts of Southern California this weekend. Watch.

OK, that's scary. No one was hurt. Minor damage reported. Experts say there could be more quakes in the next few days, but not any big quakes, just these swarms of earthquakes.

We're getting a better look at the chaos outside the Empire State Building during that deadly shooting on Friday. Jeffrey Johnson shot his former co-worker five times killing him.

Police then fired 16 shots at Johnson, hitting him nine times. The New York Police Department releasing this security footage. Nine bystanders also injured in the shooting. All of those bystanders hit by police bullets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IRENE TIMAN, VICTIM'S CO-WORKER: It was like, he's going to kill him. He's going to kill him. I know he's going to kill him, and then he pulled out a gun and he shot Steve right next to me, right next to me.

I kept replaying it over and over in my mind. I thought, maybe you could kick the gun out of his hand and he would have gotten shot once instead of five or six times. And I just ran. I didn't know what else to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: She did the right thing according to police. Alaska's Denali National Park reports its first fatal bear mauling. Park service says a hiker from San Diego was taking pictures of the bear about 50 yards away when the bear attacked. Hikers are supposed to stay a quarter mile away from the animals. The grizzly was put down by park personnel.

Check out these dramatic pictures. Not the best vacation. People stuck on a cruise ship right in the middle of Tropical Storm Isaac. At one point, winds gusted up to 65 miles per hour. Some cruises are rerouting to avoid the storm.

Mitt Romney's faith has been a focus as he entered the presidential race as a member and former leader in the Mormon Church. He's well respected in his religious community.

So are the people getting a blessing during the Republican convention going to be front and center? There's a rabbi, a Hispanic evangelical, a Sikh and Catholic leaders plus, yes, Romney's fellow church members.

A retired police chief and former stake president of the Mormon Church and his wife, Ken and Priscilla Hutchins, will be giving implications on one of those nights.

Romney has been careful not to focus so much on his faith. He's never shied away from it, but he rarely mentioned the word Mormon. We actually never really hear him say it.

But Romney spoke to CNN's Gloria Borger about his Mormon faith. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When you're out speaking with people day in and day out about your faith and about your religion and differences between it and other faiths --

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Getting doors slammed in your face.

ROMNEY: Most of the time. This was a time where a lot of people were not happy with America and France, so it was a time of a great deal of rejection.

BORGER (voice-over): But Romney kept at it. In a rare conversation about his faith, he reveals how the constant rejection led to some surprising soul searching.

ROMNEY: OK, wait a second, what's important here? What do I believe? What is truth? Is there a God? Is Jesus Christ the son of God? These are questions that are no longer academic, they're critical because you're talking about it day in and day out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: We want to bring in David Brody now. He's live in Tampa. David, thank you so much for joining us this morning.

DAVID BRODY, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, CBN: Thanks, Carol. Great to be with you.

COSTELLO: What was really interesting about the sound we just heard from Mitt Romney was he talked about his missionary work in France and how he went door to door trying to convert people there. I just wondered how you think that will go over with the very important segment of the voting population, Evangelicals.

BRODY: Well, look, Carol, anytime Mitt Romney is going to mention conversion and Jesus Christ and his Mormon faith, I mean, it's not going to play well with the Evangelical base, and guess what, news flash, Carol, that's why he's not doing it.

Gloria got him in a very interesting situation there. She did a great job of provoking some of that from him. But for the most part, he doesn't talk about it at all. You know, I had a chance to sit down with him, sat down with him in this campaign cycle.

But I'm talking about back in 2007 when he was governor of Massachusetts, and I actually had a chance then to talk to him about it, about whether or not he thinks Mormonism is a cult in terms of his impressions about all of that.

He really stays away from all of that, he doesn't go there. It's been something that has worked for him so far in the campaign. Clearly he's going to accept the nomination Thursday night.

COSTELLO: Well, it was interesting that he would mention this missionary work in France because there are a lot of Catholics in France. Mitt Romney wants the Catholic vote. It's no accident that Cardinal Dolan will be giving the invocation on the last night of the Republican National Convention.

BRODY: Yes, well, look, I think for Mitt Romney this isn't so much about invocations and benedictions and all of that. What this is about for Mitt Romney is can he and the campaign be able to tell his faith story without getting bogged down in systematic theology here.

I think that's really the key. Look, he has a wonderful faith story to tell. He's done a lot of work within his church from a humanitarian perspective. I don't just mean witnessing, if you will, or trying to convert people.

I'm talking about counseling people out of abortions, counseling women out of abortion, which of course, plays very well with the Republican base, and there are so many more things that he's done.

Giving his time and money to the church, I mean, that plays very well from a human perspective, and what we want to see from Mitt Romney, or at least the base wants to see more from Mitt Romney, is that human perspective.

It's all based within the church environment that he grew up in and that he's part of, but he's very reluctant to go there, and so far so good for him.

COSTELLO: OK, so, we expected to talk about his religion, you know, the Republicans and the Democrats will show a video about the candidate, and we expect Mitt Romney's work for his church to be in that video. But do you think that the word Mormon will be mentioned in the video or at the convention at all?

BRODY: I don't think so. You know, I traveled down to Salt Lake City and talked to elders within the church and I've talked -- we were inside a sacrament service and actually talked to a Mormon family out there.

Look, they understand the scrutiny is coming, they understand the word Mormon brings up a lot more questions than answers. So really from a political perspective, why go there and bring up the "m" word everybody is talking about?

Because guess what, Carol, the interviews -- I shouldn't say the interviews, but the actual "Newsweek" and "Time" magazine articles and all that, that's even coming out even more than you have seen.

It will start in September and October, I'm sure a lot of folks are working on stories right now, and they're going to delve into his Mormon faith because you know there will be history here if he becomes president of the United States.

The first Mormon president, it's a legitimate news story that something the Romney campaign needs to be ready to handle.

COSTELLO: David Brody, thanks so much. David Brody, the chief political correspondent for the Christian Broadcast Network. Thanks so much for being with us this morning.

Also tonight at 8:00 Eastern as part of CNN's Republican National Convention coverage, a profile of the presidential nominee, "Romney Revealed: Family, Faith, and the Road to Power," followed at 9:30 Eastern by a preview of the convention itself that's tonight on CNN.

Last hour, we told you mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for residents in Jefferson Parish. That's in Louisiana, south of New Orleans.

On the phone now, we have the mayor on the phone, Mayor Tim Kerner, he joins us now from Louisiana. Good morning, Mr. Mayor.

MAYOR TIM KERNER, JEAN LAFITTE, LOUISIANA (via telephone): Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Why did you decide to issue these mandatory evacuation orders and are people listening?

KERNER: Because we're in Jefferson we don't have much levee protection. We have a little in some communities, but a lot of areas we don't. (Inaudible) I'm asking everybody to please evacuate and just be safe.

COSTELLO: Do you think that people will listen?

KERNER: Well, I think the majority of people listen and there's always some that don't, but I think that's a mistake. But everybody is free to make their own choice.

The deal is in parts of the town where we don't have any levee system on the water side, those streets will be flooded. So those roads, you know, you won't be able to get in and out of the areas if possible. You still won't be able to get in and out.

COSTELLO: Mayor, it surprises me you expect some people to stay behind. I mean, after Katrina, I know it's been seven years. Do memories fade even after such a ferocious storm?

KERNER: You know, if you stay for Katrina, you don't learn your lesson. Some people think they're safe with this. And you know, it's a situation where you have maybe a Category 1 and people are not afraid of the winds.

And their house is high, maybe 12, 13 feet high. They feel that they're not going to be in any danger. What they fail to realize is if, you know, they start getting chest pains or any kind of medical attention they may need, nobody is going to be able to get them. It's up to them to get out to receive the medical attention they need.

COSTELLO: Well, I hope they follow your order. Mayor Tim Kerner --

KERNER: They put people in danger because the rescue people, the fire department, police department, they'll go out there to try to get them. Sometimes we have power lines down and what you're doing is putting lives in danger for foolishness.

COSTELLO: We understand. Mayor, thank you so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

We asked you to talk back on one of the big stories of the day. The question for you this morning, what do the political conventions mean to you? Facebook.com/carolcnn. Back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Now is your chance to talk back on one of the big stories of the day. The question for you this morning what do the political conventions mean to you?

They're here, the 2012 political conventions, that is, but will anyone watch them? Are they really history in the making or just carefully crafted infomercials?

Veteran political analyst, Larry Sabato says the conventions have become just cheering sessions for partisans. The public is turned off and maybe will tune out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Look, even though they're infomercials, Carol, they do present the basic platform. You get a sense of the candidates. You get a sense of what they're like, what their values are. You know what the party stands for. So they are important educational moments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Educational, yes, but where's the drama. We know who the vice presidential candidate is, we know what the GOP platform is. Still, this is Romney's chance to present himself to voters in a way we haven't seen before.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REINCE PRIEBUS, RNC CHAIRMAN: We have to tell the Mitt Romney story here next week. Telling stories about a man that is decent, honorable, gave away his father's inheritance, started something from nothing and created a great business, five good boys, saved the Olympics, governed in a difficult state as a Republican and he was very successful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And to tell that story, Republicans are pulling out all the stops. According to the "New York Times," they have hired veteran network and Broadway producers to ramp up the look and feel for entertainment performances by Journey and Kid Rock, making this a different convention, a hipper, perhaps more fun convention if of course Isaac doesn't play complete spoiler.

So the talk back question this morning, what do the political conventions mean to you? Facebook.com/carolcnn. Your comments later this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Thirty-one minutes past the hour. Welcome back. I'm Carol Costello.

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are neck and neck in the polls. And while Governor Romney gets slightly higher marks when it comes to fixing the economy, he lags far behind in the likability factor.

According to the latest CNN/ORC poll, 53 percent of middle class voters think the President cares more about them. Just 39 percent feel the same way about Governor Romney. Republicans say that's largely because voters don't know the real Romney, not yet. If the Romney family talked candidly like they did on CNN last night that could change.

Here is Mrs. Romney talking about her fight with multiple sclerosis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANN ROMNEY, MITT ROMNEY'S WIFE: You don't know, how much is it going to chew me up and spit me out. Where is it going and when is it going to spit me out. How sick am I going to get? Is this going to be progressive? Am I going to be in a wheelchair? And it's a very, very frightening place to be.

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I know Ann was -- was really distraught and distressed with the diagnosis, particularly as time went on because she was really ill for quite a while.

A. ROMNEY: I really just was having a very, very hard time and was very depressed. And had kind of given up a little bit.

SCOTT ROMNEY, MITT ROMNEY'S BOTHER: It was a tough moment for both of them. You know it was interesting to see the way he treated her as they went through that; very caring, very loving, very frustrating for him not to be able to step in and fix it. And -- but it was -- you know they drew even closer.

A. ROMNEY: Even when I was as sick as that, he would crawl up in the bed with me.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: We'll take a minute.

A. ROMNEY: So you just knew that that's where he was. It was like he was going to do anything he could to just say, "I'm here. You're ok. Just stay right there. And we'll be ok."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Our political editor Paul Steinhauser is in Tampa. So Paul, Mrs. Romney is set to speak in primetime on Tuesday. Besides Mitt Romney, is she the most important speaker?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: She is definitely one of the most important speakers at this convention, Carol. Also speaking on Tuesday night behind me here will be Chris Christie, the Governor of New Jersey. He gives the keynote address.

But listen, let's be honest, the Romney campaign really thinks Ann Romney is an extremely effective surrogate for her husband because she will bring out the personal side of Mitt Romney, something that Americans really don't know a lot about. You showed that poll number from our survey it really indicates that. So that's what they hope Ann Romney will do, that she will get Americans to understand the person, the person Mitt Romney is, the family man.

There's another thing Ann Romney can do as well, Carol. And that is also reach out to women voters. And we're seeing a real concerted effort here in Tampa at this convention to do that because there is a gender gap in the polls. Take a look at this from the same poll you just showed. Who is more in touch with the problems women are facing today?

Look at that by a two to one margin, likely voters tell us they think the President is over Mitt Romney. That's why Ann Romney can be a very effective surrogate here at the convention tomorrow night -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I know Joe Biden was set to travel to Tampa to try to wrestle away some of the spotlight. He's not going to go, at least not yet. Tell us about that.

STEINHAUSER: Yes, that was an interesting move when they announced it last week that Joe Biden was going to be right here in Tampa today and then in St. Augustine and in Orlando tomorrow, but all of that has been washed away by Isaac. Not only has Isaac curtailed the first day of this convention. It's also canceled the Vice President's plans to be right here in Florida an important battleground state -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Paul Steinhauser reporting live from Tampa.

So while the Republicans try to define Romney as a warm, caring human being and a tough pragmatic economy fixer, the Democrats are ratcheting up their attacks. And I'm not talking about Joe Biden.

Take a look at this new ad targeting Mitt Romney and the Republican National Convention.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On August 30th, Mitt Romney stars in "The Do- Over." Critics have called his previous work "Wildly Misleading", "Four Pinocchios". "Pants on Fire". Rated "n" for "Not going to Work".

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So let's talk about what the Democrats are going to do while the Republican National Convention is ongoing. Brianna Keilar is at the White House.

Traditionally, you know back in the day, candidates would sort of like sit back and let the other candidate have their time in the spotlight, and then they would have their turn. But that's not the case this time, right?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It's not the case this time. And I will say that is the conventional wisdom, Carol. And yes I've been waiting to use that pun, but the truth is that hasn't happened for a really long time.

I mean if you just go back to 2008, the Democrats had their convention first in Denver and you saw John McCain campaigning on the first and second day. And then the next week, when Republicans had their convention, President Obama, then Senator Obama campaigned three of the four days.

So if you go back to the '80s and the '90s, you had this thing where candidates would extend this courtesy and they really wouldn't be campaigning during the other party's nominating party.

But you saw in 2000, Al Gore and George W. Bush, they kind of laid low. In 2004, though, it started to ratchet up. You saw Dick Cheney campaigning and then you saw John Kerry and John Edwards, both the presidential and vice presidential Democratic picks campaigning.

So it used to be the way things are, but it's definitely on steroids this year. And I suspect it's the new normal.

COSTELLO: Yes, I know that's so prehistoric now. The President, he's going to be campaigning during all of this. Tell us about it.

KEILAR: That's right. He'll be going to Iowa, Colorado, and Virginia and he'll be going to universities, to college campuses. He's targeting the youth vote which was key for him in 2008. And this is very important for him as is the Hispanic vote, the black vote, women voters, Independent voters. So this is just kind of one piece of the Obama campaign puzzle -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Brianna Keilar reporting live for us from the White House. Thanks so much.

That botched restoration of the painting, you know, the -- the one of Jesus, well, there are some strong and amazing reactions. We'll fill you in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It turns out a botched restoration is now becoming a huge tourist draw. Remember this painting of Jesus Christ. It was being restored by an amateur in Spain, an elderly woman. The original of course is on the left and the restoration is on the right.

Well, now we're learning that tourists are flocking to see the botched fresco. There is also an online petition to keep the revived version because people like that better. Or they feel sorry for the elderly woman who did the restoration. They just want to keep it as is.

Jennifer Lopez is putting her name behind a new TV show. But don't expect to see her in front of the camera. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT'S" host A.J. Hammer is with us to tell us more. Good morning.

A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Good morning Carol. We may have some new insight now as to exactly why Jennifer Lopez let go of "American Idol." We were all wondering exactly why she left Well she is making a return to TV as a producer. ABC Family has just announced they're going to be picking up the pilot for a new show executive produced by Lopez.

Now the drama is tentatively titled "The Fosters." It will center on a multi-ethnic group of kids that are being raised by two moms. No casting has been announced yet. The pilot has not received an official air date, but it will more likely make its debut late in the fall. And if the series does get picked up, this is going to be Jennifer Lopez's first fully-scripted television show.

You might remember she was most recently an executive producer on a reality show TV, but the chosen -- this also means J-Lo is obviously taking her production company Nuyorican Productions (ph) to the next level.

So Carol, I guess it is kind of understandable that she thought maybe hey, the time is right to break free from "American Idol" and stay focused on the future.

COSTELLO: Absolutely. She's one smart woman. A.J. Hammer, thanks so much.

Music helps drive the political campaign, but one singer does not want his song played. Twister Sister -- the Twisted Sister lead singer Dee Snyder, he's taking on Paul Ryan to prove his point. We'll talk to him live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) 1045

(MUSIC)

COSTELLO: Music, it's an integral and lately controversial part of the political convention. The latest addition to the Republican line up, "Journey". Yes, the guys who brought you that song, "Don't Stop Believing".

TMZ is reporting the band was offered $500,000 to perform at a campaign even for Mitt Romney. And Journey wants all of us to know it's performing for the money, not for politics.

Other groups aren't as corporate. This song by Twisted Sister was played at a Paul Ryan event.

(MUSIC)

COSTELLO: And that song would have been perfect if the lyrics actually meant we're not going to take Obama's big government policies anymore, but they don't. Ryan supporters though loved it.

Dee Snider did not. Snider, as you know, is the guy who sings that iconic song. He's on the phone. He's actually in Hollywood on the set of his new TV show, "Holliston", and he joins us by phone this morning. Hi, Dee.

DEE SNIDER, LEAD SINGER, "TWISTED SISTER" (via telephone): Hi, Carol. How are you doing?

COSTELLO: I'm good. Thank you so much for -- so much for taking time out to talk with us this morning. So I'm just wondering, how did you find out the Ryan camp was using your song?

SNIDER: Well, I have been deep in shooting this second season of Holliston (inaudible). And a call came from my record company to make me aware that he had used it at a campaign stop and that they had a press inquiry how I felt about it. I've never stopped anyone from using "We're Not Going to Take It", and it's used for everything. Commercials and political rallies. Tea Parties used "We're Not Going to Take It" forever at their rallies.

But everything I have heard come out of this guy's mouth, besides he uses P90X which I use as well -- I have disagreed with. And I just wanted to distance myself. So the only point -- I didn't say he couldn't use it -- I just denounced his use of it, and being the song writer and the guy who sang it, it had a lot of weight. I just told this one outlet media, I denounce his use of it, and then everybody went crazy.

COSTELLO: You issued this statement, and I must say I kind of loved it because you said, "Politically, I'm a mog womp (ph), look it up. I have no party affiliation and have voted Republican, Democrat, and even Independent over the years.

So it was just specifically Paul Ryan you had the problem with?

SNIDER: Yes, yes, and what's blown -- I don't know why it should blow my mind, but it kind of does, is again, no puns (inaudible) from one side but just the rampant hostility and viciousness of the other side. I mean I'm an American citizen, I have a vote. I'm allowed to have an opinion, but apparently if it's not theirs, it's very upsetting to them. You know what I mean?

I'm not that upset that their opinion isn't mine. You follow what I'm saying? So more than anything that bothered me is the hostility of the right. And having voted on the right, I was a great guy when I was supporting your people, but I'm the scum of the earth the minute I don't support their side.

COSTELLO: So have you been getting comments from people?

SNIDER: On the social media, it's crazy. People are never bolder than when they're sitting in their own homes and on their computer and never braver. Never braver than with a pen. One of these people who, I walk around and everybody -- everybody loves me. And I'm not sure if they love me or if they want to get close to me. I'm really big and I'm really scary.

People, their bravery disappears when they're actually presented with the physical person. So on a computer, people are brave and they'll say whatever they want to say.

COSTELLO: Well, you're a big, tall guy and I would be afraid of you physically, too.

SNIDER: My wife was.

COSTELLO: Dee, before you go, I just wanted to ask you about "Journey". "Journey" is going to play at a Mitt Romney event. They're going to pay them supposedly $500,000. It's not a political statement, I'm just playing.

So would you play, let's say, at a Paul Ryan event for the money?

SNIDER: You know, as a matter of fact, that was -- you know, I was getting some mail from my band mates who are much more political than me. My guitar player J.J. French who is a very big supporter of Obama. He recorded "I Want Barack" to be -- "I Want Barack" on the first election. And you know, and I don't feel quite that strongly but the band was like, hey, man, are you like allowing this to happen? Are you selling them your song or whatever?

When it comes to politics, I would not sell the song. I have sold it for medications and hotel chains and all kind of things. But I don't care "Journey" says they're doing it for the money, but it just -- it sort of says you must be supporting the cause as well. When it's politics, you kind of go choose your side, and then money has to stay out of it.

COSTELLO: Dee Snider from Twisted Sister and from the new TV show "Holliston". Thank you so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

SNIDER: I'm going to check my hate mail.

COSTELLO: You go do that now because I'm sure you have some more.

SNIDER: A whole bunch today. Thanks a lot.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Dee.

We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Tornado warnings in Florida. Let's head to Bonnie Schneider.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Carol, we are tracking a tornado warning that's in effect until 11:00 this morning for parts of southeastern Orange County. You can see it highlighted right here. So that's east of Orlando. Some very strong thunderstorms in that region.

I want to get to tropical storm Isaac because we just got in moments ago the brand new advisory. This storm is still a tropical storm with maximum winds at 65 miles per hour. The track is the same, as you can see here coming into the category one storm, but right now, the position of the storm has changed. It's now 250 miles south of Apalachicola, Florida, and it's moving, as you can see, into the central Gulf.

Still not very organized. Chad Myers will have an update for you in just five minutes -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Cut to a break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Once the Republican convention swings into full gear in Tampa tomorrow, expect to hear a lot about health care. Our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is going to break it all down for us. And Elizabeth I know you spent the past week or two trying to get the facts on Romney's health care plan. How's that been going for you?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Carol, I have to tell you, it has been a little rough because Mitt Romney on his Web site has some ideas about what his health care plan would look like, but we wanted more details. We were told that our questions about details were biased and ridiculous. Those were words that were used by his spokeswoman, but eventually, we did get some answers.

Let's start with preventative health services. What in the Romney plan would provide for those if there is any provision at all?

COHEN: Right. Let's talk about sort of the first thing that Mitt Romney has said about health care, which is that he says on day one of his presidency, if he wins, he's going to act to repeal Obama care. And Obama care requires insurance companies on new policies to give free preventative services to people. Free things like mammograms, for example, and cholesterol checks and contraception, and immunizations for adults and children.

So we asked Mr. Romney's folks, are you going to do that in? Is there going to be free preventive services, no co pay? No (inaudible) the deductible. And they flat out said no. I'm going to read you a quote from his spokeswoman Andrea Saul. What she said is "Mitt Romney does not believe it's the government's responsibility to provide people with free stuff. Mitt Romney will institute reforms that control the cost of health care so that preventive care will become affordable."

So we asked, what is he going to do to make preventive health care affordable? We were told things like promote competition, allow consumers to purchase insurance policies across state lines, encourage consumer report type ratings. Empower individuals and small businesses to form purchasing pools.

So that's his idea of how to get preventive services affordable to Americans -- Carol.

Elizabeth Cohen, thanks so much. And you'll be back tomorrow with more on Mr. Romney's health care plans.

I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining us today.

"CNN NEWSROOM" continues right now with Ashleigh Banfield.