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CNN Live Saturday

Deadly Accident in Baltimore's Harbor; RNC Urges Broadcasters to Pull MoveOn Ads Off Air

Aired March 06, 2004 - 18:30   ET

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

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


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Martin Savidge.
Here are the headlines now: A deadly accident in Baltimore's frigid waters, one person now reported dead after a water taxi carrying about 24 passengers capsized in the city's Inner Harbor, two miles from shore. At least 10 people still reported missing.

An American ship has left Libya taking with it all known remaining equipment associated with that country's nuclear weapons program. No word yet on where that ship is headed.

In Afghanistan, nine suspected Taliban rebels have been killed in a firefight with U.S. soldiers. A U.S. military spokesman says the clash started when about 40 militants tried to flank American forces manning their sniper positions not far from the border with Pakistan.

There were no U.S. casualties and the remaining rebels ran off.

A policy change, Mexicans visiting the United States for less than three days will not have to undergo fingerprinting and photographing. Mexican President Vicente Fox made that announcement after meeting with President Bush, at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. The National Security Council says the details are still being worked out.

As I said, the Republican Party has taken off the gloves. In the campaign ad wars the Republican National Committee has sent a letter to broadcasters urging them to stop running anti-Bush political commercials from the group Moveon.org.

The Republicans' beef, aside from the ad's anti-Bush messages, is that organizations like Moveon.org appear to be getting around the spirit of the new campaign finance reform law, which clamps down on the raising and the spending of unlimited amounts of money.

Moveon.com organization and other so-called 527 organizations are not abiding by the limits and say they don't have to.

Well, joining me to talk politics, now, "Miami Herald" Political Writer Peter Wallsten, the Florida presidential primary, of course, coming up on Tuesday, a number of others as well. Also, CNN Political Analyst Carlos Watson; he's in Mountain View, California.

Thank you both, gentlemen, for being with us.

CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good afternoon.

PETER WALLSTEN, POLITICAL WRITER, "THE MIAMI HERALD": Thank you.

SAVIDGE: All right, let's talk politics. And why don't we start with John Kerry? The big question now, who is he going to put on the ticket with him? Let me ask you, Carlos, first, who do you think it is going to be?

WATSON: Martin, I think what is interesting about the vice presidential selection is that it has been 16 years since we had one of the early front-runners for V.P. actually end up getting selected; meaning Lloyd Benson in 1988.

But think about the last several V.P. choices, none of them have been people we expected. Dick Cheney, in 2000, was in charge of the process, then ended up selecting himself. If you keep going back you look at Clinton and Gore. No one would have thought that moderate border state governor, like Clinton, would have chosen another moderate border state person like Gore.

So, I think that while Gephardt, while Bob Graham, while John Edwards or some of the early favorites choices, it is more intriguing to think about the unconventional choices, because that is more often where they will come from. People like Janet Napolitano, the new governor of Arizona. People like Blanche Lincoln, the fairly young senator from Arkansas. I think those, and other names, might be interesting ones to consider.

SAVIDGE: Peter, who do you like out there? What names do you think are interesting?

WALLSTEN: Well, of course, John Edwards would be interesting because he did get a lot of support. And he's a Southerner and people seem to like him.

SAVIDGE: Do we know how he feels? Has he already said, I wanted to be top banana, not second?

WALLSTEN: Well, I think you always have to say that when you are running for the top job. But, of course, he is somebody that is going to be out of office. He's retiring -- he's leaving his Senate seat. So, of course, he's going to want to be back engaged. And even if they were to loose, he would certainly be, once again, in the mix for 2008.

SAVIDGE: Carlos, what about Hillary Clinton? Have we said that name? I don't think so, yet.

WATSON: Boy, I think -- I agree with another person who said that if the Democrats are down significantly going into the summer, meaning that the polls change and John Kerry is down 10 or 12 points, you will see speculation about Hillary Clinton dramatically revive. Because she is the one person who could excite the base and lead to larger turnouts than expected in places like Pennsylvania, places like Michigan, places like New York.

But then, again, she also has her detractors and has some high negative ratings, often, among swing voters.

SAVIDGE: Peter, let's talk about the Bush ads now. There is a flap that has started because some of these ads apparently incorporate video from September 11. Is this really a serious issue for the Bush campaign?

WALLSTEN: Well, I don't know whether or not they were surprised by the controversy, but it seems to me that what the conversation it generated was exactly what the Bush campaign wanted.

You know, everyone stopped talking about John Kerry's big win in the primary and they started talking about the president's leadership in September 11. And yes, there were a lot of complaints, and that could be harmful. But there was also a lot of talk about what the president did and how he led after September 11. And that certainly is a conversation the Bush campaign wants.

SAVIDGE: But, Carlos, are they really talking about his leadership, or are they talking about the politicizing of a national tragedy?

WATSON: I think it is not clear yet. Right now they are talking about the politicization of a national tragedy. The question is, will they still be talking about that a week from now. If so, I think you will see some of the ads begin to change. If not, I think Peter is right, and they will be happy that the conversation has begun to shift.

But again, it is a very slippery slope and the whole issue of national security is only one of the areas in which the president has a real strong hold on.

The other place in which his poll numbers are particularly low is on the economy. And, of course, this past week there was a very bad unemployment report that came out that said very few jobs were created in February, only 21,000 as opposed to 200,000 or 300,000 that you would normally like to see.

SAVIDGE: And, Peter, that raises an interesting point. You know, as the Bush campaign may want to talk about leadership, the war on terror, 9/11, Americans seemed to be focused on the economy and especially jobs. Does it seem like the Bush campaign is not paying attention?

WALLSTEN: Well, eventually, you know, they want the conversation to be about President Bush's leadership in a time of great change in the country. And so, yes, ultimately they are going to have to define John Kerry and raise questions about whether he can offer leadership and whether John Kerry would able to create more jobs.

SAVIDGE: Carlos, Florida coming up, looming on the horizon, is it still a key state and have they got those election problems -- meaning the voting ballots -- out of the way?

WATSON: Still a very critical state, one of the four biggest in terms of the ultimate electoral prize. But a number of interesting changes have happened since 2000, including some of the issues around the ballot.

Jeb Bush, the president's brother, somewhat handily there. There is a new issue afoot, this time the crisis in Haiti. And who knows how that, ultimately, will affect Florida voters, not just in South Florida, but in other parts of the state.

And last but not least, there has obviously been a lot of conversation about the economy and whether or not the number of jobs that need to be created have been done. So, I think the Florida race will continue to be an interesting one. And particularly, we'll see that Bob Graham or Bill Nelson, either of the two senators is put on the ticket.

SAVIDGE: Peter, I have to give you the last word, Florida going to be as close as it was last time?

WALLSTEN: Every indication is that it is going to be close again. There have been a number of polls already that have shown it tight. And people should check out "The Miami Herald" poll tomorrow, because you see that they are some very interesting factors coming into play in Florida. And it is going to be tight.

SAVIDGE: I'm sure we will all be looking at that poll. Peter Wallsten, thank you very much. Carlos Watson, we thank you both for joining our political debate for today. We will see you again soon. Thank you.

WATSON: Have a good weekend.

WALLSTEN: Thank you.

SAVIDGE: Well, a dozen Russian scientists find out the hard way, a piece of floating ice is anything but a place to call home.

Plus, it is a race to the rescue, Down Under, we'll tell you what happened after break.

And let the second guessing begin in the Martha Stewart case. We'll talk with a former federal prosecutor about what may have gone wrong and what the conviction could mean for other suspected white collar criminals.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Martha Stewart reports to a federal probation office on Monday. She will receive guidelines about what she can and can't do, while awaiting her June 17 sentencing for perjury and obstruction of justice.

New York City CBS affiliate has announced it is canceling "Martha Stewart Living". As of Monday, other stations may follow suit.

In Stewart's hometown of West Port, Connecticut, just about everyone is talking about their neighbor's conviction. CNN's Maria Hinojosa has been listening.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For more than 30 years, the tony Connecticut suburb of Westport has been Martha Stewart's hometown. Main Street here isn't K-Mart, but rather Coach and Talbot's.

At Oscar's Deli, where Stewart sometimes ordered lunch, hometown opinion is divided.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The people made her famous and the people are going to deal with her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's been tough. And she is not the most likable person, although, in this other side, I know that if I was presented with a similar situation, I don't know if I would have not done the same thing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is a shame to see someone fall from grace, if you will, but we're people. We make mistakes. I think she made a mistake.

HINOJOSA: Outside her picturesque country home it was a quiet Saturday. But in downtown Westport, just about everyone, even teenagers, had an opinion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I was younger, she did seem more like a role model. And it is sort of deceptive now that she would go and do something so underhanded and deceiving.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She lied to the government, she cheated people out of money and I have no sympathy for her.

HINOJOSA: Bars still protect the work studio that Stewart built. But talk about town is what will happen should she find herself behind another kind of bars.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think she really learned her lesson. Putting her in prison, I don't think, is going to be it is not going to do anything.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Poor Martha, she is going -- either if the judge says, you go to jail -- I doubt it -- but if she does go to jail she could teach all the inmates how to cook.

HINOJOSA (on camera): But not until the judge decides whether or not she deserves jail time and that won't happen until June 17.

Maria Hinojosa, CNN, Westport, Connecticut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: Legal experts are guessing that, realistically, that Martha Stewart will spend a number of months in prison if her perjury and obstruction of justice convictions are upheld. We'll any of this make a difference for consumers, investors, or for that matter the corporate CEOs. Joining me is Ross Albert, he is a former federal prosecutor, who has also served as an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Thank you, Mr. Albert, for being with us today.

ROSS ALBERT, FMR. FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: I'm glad to be here.

SAVIDGE: How long, first of all, if this goes through, how long do you think that Martha Stewart could realistically spend behind bars?

ALBERT: As a result of the inquiries I've had from the media I started to look at the numbers under the federal sentencing guidelines last night. I think as a rock bottom, minimum, assuming she is sentenced under the guideline for obstruction of justice, which seems the most logical one, and with no other enhancements, the guideline range would be 15 to 21 months in prison.

SAVIDGE: Well, what went wrong? I mean, if you look at it that way. The defense team obviously this didn't turn out the way they wanted. What do you think, from your legal vantage point, didn't go right for them?

ALBERT: I think it is always easy to second guess lawyers. Virtually all lawyers, no matter how successful and how well-known, Bob Morvillo, who represented Martha Stewart at trial, or lead trial counsel, is one of the nation's preeminent white collar defense lawyers.

Most lawyers loose cases sometimes and the fact that he had a difficult case with a controversial client, I don't think that we can say now he did something wrong.

SAVIDGE: Well, some of the jurors say they wanted to hear from Martha Stewart herself, was that a fatal flaw, not putting her on the stand?

ALBERT: It's hard to say, we're speaking hypothetically here. But I suspect, had he put Martha on the stand and a conviction was returned, you'd be asking me right now was it a mistake to put her on the stand. That's always a critical determination in defending a controversial client and with Martha Stewart I think the stakes were even enhanced over what they are in a more routine case.

SAVIDGE: Well, the prosecution spent weeks outlining its case. The defense comes up, and in Martha Stewart's case only put up one witness. I mean, did they underestimate the power of the prosecution?

ALBERT: I think the strategy clearly was to point out weaknesses in the prosecution's case. And as I mentioned, the key strategic decision that the defense had to make was whether to put Martha on the stand.

Once they made the decision not to put Martha on the stand I think had they put, say, 10 witnesses up, that would have only highlighted for the jury the fact that they were failing to put Martha on the stand. So, given the decision that they probably made sometime during the trial not to put her on the stand, I can't fault them for just putting one witness on.

You could say, if she had been acquitted, it was a sign of confidence that -- saying to the jury that you have heard the government's case for eight weeks, and there is really nothing there.

SAVIDGE: What do you think this means for other executives, now, on trial and maybe facing juries?

ALBERT: I don't think you can really generalize. There is going to be a different jury having to make the decision whether to convict or acquit in all of those cases. I think there would have been a larger systematic or systemic affect had she been acquitted because many commentators had criticized the government for choosing to go after Martha Stewart.

In that respect her pretrial public relations campaign that the government was only prosecuting her because she was a successful businesswoman -- I didn't believe that then. I have worked in the government for eight years.

SAVIDGE: That doesn't seem to have worked too well, by now.

ALBERT: No, no.

SAVIDGE: Ross Albert, former federal prosecutor. We appreciate you coming in on a Saturday to talk to us.

ALBERT: Nice to be here, thanks.

SAVIDGE: Well, time now for some look at look around the world.

In Caracas, Venezuela, massive protest underway, tens of thousands of people marching peacefully against the government of President Hugo Chavez. They are demanding a recall vote. The U.S. State Department warning Americans to take precaution saying the potential for violence is high.

In Gaza, more violence there. At least six Palestinians, including two policemen, are dead and others injured on a failed attack on an Israeli border post. It is said to be an unusual combined attack by the three militant groups Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.

In northeastern Australia rescue workers have had a very busy day after high winds and torrential rains pounded the region, uprooting trees and flooding roadways and highways. Several people have been rescued like this man and woman, from their four-wheel drive vehicle. At least three deaths are reported.

And now to a highly dramatic rescue operation after a spending four days in freezing temperatures floating on ice, some Russian scientists are safe, at last. CNN's Ryan Chilcote has their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Stranded on a tiny ice flow about the size of a city block in a wilderness almost as big as Russia itself, above the Arctic Circle since Wednesday, their rescue defies the odds and elements.

Flying in darkness and twilight over a barren featureless landscape in some of the world's worst weather, two Russian helicopters, including the world's largest, nicknamed "The Cow", found the drifting researchers and lifted them to safety.

The researchers, who had been studying polar weather for nearly a year, got their rude awakening on the turbulent results of a warming climate, just weeks before they were to pack up. A two story wall of ice suddenly came bursting through the flow, then collapsed dragging almost all of their base with it.

LEONID BAGOANOV, RESCUE TEAM LEADER (through translator): We're going to rescue the people because there is nothing else to rescue. The water swept away everything else. They even lost their personal belongings.

CHILCOTE: Their personal plight swept up the Russian public's attention. The stranded group's leader used a satellite phone he'd managed to grab before it went under to deliver dramatic dispatches every few hours from the ice. The Russian media carried them live.

The rescuers now hope to fly the rescuees back to the Russian mainland by Monday, in time for Women's Day, one of Russia's most important family holidays.

Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: The newest magazine dedicated to the joy of shopping has a testosterone twist. Jeanne Moos introduces us to the world of the metrosexual, in print, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Is veteran rocker, David Cosby, set to make a repeat performance -- in jail? He was arrested in New York today, charged with marijuana and gun possession. Crosby is free on bond. Police say a small amount of pot and a handgun were found in a suitcase left in a Times Square hotel. Crosby was arrested when he returned to pick up the bag.

The 62-year-old singer served a year in prison in 1985 on drug charges, until his conviction was overturned.

Well, it is hot off the presses and it could be the next big thing in magazines. But will manly men go for a men's mag not devoted to sports or sexy women, but solely to -- shopping? CNN's Jeanne Moos takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): If you think shopping is for girls, check out the new men's magazine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where is the cleavage, though?

MOOS: Cleavage? The barest chest in this issue belonged to a guy with half his body hair trimmed. Whether you are in the market for shavers or sweaters or bags, now there is "Cargo".

(on camera): It is a shopping magazine for men. But don't look that way yet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gun (ph) shopping.

MOOS (voice over): From sunglasses to shaving, cream "Cargo" looks for the coolest, tests for the best.

(on camera): So, did Stubble Stop, stop stubble.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

MOOS (voice over): It is the hottest new category in magazine publishing. "Cargo" just had it's launch party.

(on camera): Have you seen the section on shaving?

(voice over): A rival men's shopping magazine called "Vitals" is due out in the fall. "Cargo" is the guys version of "Lucky" the smash hit shopping magazine for women.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is about time we get something for us.

MOOS: Steven Willfog (ph) is seen modeling a suit in "Cargo".

We don't show it on models, we show it on real guys. So that you can see what it would look like on you.

MOOS: "Cargo" found it's cover boy hanging out in a New York City park. The magazine zeros in on camcorders and cell phones and cars. It will suggest the best nose hair clippers or binoculars that double as a pair of flasks.

MOOS (on camera): Would you look at a shopping magazine for men?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you showed me the gadgets stuff, I think so. I thought there were some cool things in there. Yes.

MOOS: Cargo has some regular features, like "Honey, does this make me gay?" There are stickers to tag items you like.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a bit more of a metrosexual magazine.

MOOSE (on camera): Do you consider yourself a metrosexual?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do actually. MOOS: Like you care how you look and ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very much so.

MOOS: Your hairstyle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right, right.

MOOS (voice over): Maybe guys will shop for boxers when they learn that 74 percent of women prefer them over briefs. Closet metrosexuals can add to their closets.

MOOS (on camera): You like the Nike?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yeah.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: And that is it for us. Coming up next, "The Capital Gang"; at 8 Eastern, CNN presents "80 Days That Changed the Word". CNN and Time look at the key events over the last eight decades. At 9, "Larry King". Larry's guest tonight, Montel Williams, who talks about his battle with multiple sclerosis. And then at 10 Eastern, celebrities and crime. What is next for Martha Stewart? Howard Weitzmann has represented O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson. He'll join me live.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Broadcasters to Pull MoveOn Ads Off Air>


Aired March 6, 2004 - 18:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Martin Savidge.
Here are the headlines now: A deadly accident in Baltimore's frigid waters, one person now reported dead after a water taxi carrying about 24 passengers capsized in the city's Inner Harbor, two miles from shore. At least 10 people still reported missing.

An American ship has left Libya taking with it all known remaining equipment associated with that country's nuclear weapons program. No word yet on where that ship is headed.

In Afghanistan, nine suspected Taliban rebels have been killed in a firefight with U.S. soldiers. A U.S. military spokesman says the clash started when about 40 militants tried to flank American forces manning their sniper positions not far from the border with Pakistan.

There were no U.S. casualties and the remaining rebels ran off.

A policy change, Mexicans visiting the United States for less than three days will not have to undergo fingerprinting and photographing. Mexican President Vicente Fox made that announcement after meeting with President Bush, at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. The National Security Council says the details are still being worked out.

As I said, the Republican Party has taken off the gloves. In the campaign ad wars the Republican National Committee has sent a letter to broadcasters urging them to stop running anti-Bush political commercials from the group Moveon.org.

The Republicans' beef, aside from the ad's anti-Bush messages, is that organizations like Moveon.org appear to be getting around the spirit of the new campaign finance reform law, which clamps down on the raising and the spending of unlimited amounts of money.

Moveon.com organization and other so-called 527 organizations are not abiding by the limits and say they don't have to.

Well, joining me to talk politics, now, "Miami Herald" Political Writer Peter Wallsten, the Florida presidential primary, of course, coming up on Tuesday, a number of others as well. Also, CNN Political Analyst Carlos Watson; he's in Mountain View, California.

Thank you both, gentlemen, for being with us.

CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good afternoon.

PETER WALLSTEN, POLITICAL WRITER, "THE MIAMI HERALD": Thank you.

SAVIDGE: All right, let's talk politics. And why don't we start with John Kerry? The big question now, who is he going to put on the ticket with him? Let me ask you, Carlos, first, who do you think it is going to be?

WATSON: Martin, I think what is interesting about the vice presidential selection is that it has been 16 years since we had one of the early front-runners for V.P. actually end up getting selected; meaning Lloyd Benson in 1988.

But think about the last several V.P. choices, none of them have been people we expected. Dick Cheney, in 2000, was in charge of the process, then ended up selecting himself. If you keep going back you look at Clinton and Gore. No one would have thought that moderate border state governor, like Clinton, would have chosen another moderate border state person like Gore.

So, I think that while Gephardt, while Bob Graham, while John Edwards or some of the early favorites choices, it is more intriguing to think about the unconventional choices, because that is more often where they will come from. People like Janet Napolitano, the new governor of Arizona. People like Blanche Lincoln, the fairly young senator from Arkansas. I think those, and other names, might be interesting ones to consider.

SAVIDGE: Peter, who do you like out there? What names do you think are interesting?

WALLSTEN: Well, of course, John Edwards would be interesting because he did get a lot of support. And he's a Southerner and people seem to like him.

SAVIDGE: Do we know how he feels? Has he already said, I wanted to be top banana, not second?

WALLSTEN: Well, I think you always have to say that when you are running for the top job. But, of course, he is somebody that is going to be out of office. He's retiring -- he's leaving his Senate seat. So, of course, he's going to want to be back engaged. And even if they were to loose, he would certainly be, once again, in the mix for 2008.

SAVIDGE: Carlos, what about Hillary Clinton? Have we said that name? I don't think so, yet.

WATSON: Boy, I think -- I agree with another person who said that if the Democrats are down significantly going into the summer, meaning that the polls change and John Kerry is down 10 or 12 points, you will see speculation about Hillary Clinton dramatically revive. Because she is the one person who could excite the base and lead to larger turnouts than expected in places like Pennsylvania, places like Michigan, places like New York.

But then, again, she also has her detractors and has some high negative ratings, often, among swing voters.

SAVIDGE: Peter, let's talk about the Bush ads now. There is a flap that has started because some of these ads apparently incorporate video from September 11. Is this really a serious issue for the Bush campaign?

WALLSTEN: Well, I don't know whether or not they were surprised by the controversy, but it seems to me that what the conversation it generated was exactly what the Bush campaign wanted.

You know, everyone stopped talking about John Kerry's big win in the primary and they started talking about the president's leadership in September 11. And yes, there were a lot of complaints, and that could be harmful. But there was also a lot of talk about what the president did and how he led after September 11. And that certainly is a conversation the Bush campaign wants.

SAVIDGE: But, Carlos, are they really talking about his leadership, or are they talking about the politicizing of a national tragedy?

WATSON: I think it is not clear yet. Right now they are talking about the politicization of a national tragedy. The question is, will they still be talking about that a week from now. If so, I think you will see some of the ads begin to change. If not, I think Peter is right, and they will be happy that the conversation has begun to shift.

But again, it is a very slippery slope and the whole issue of national security is only one of the areas in which the president has a real strong hold on.

The other place in which his poll numbers are particularly low is on the economy. And, of course, this past week there was a very bad unemployment report that came out that said very few jobs were created in February, only 21,000 as opposed to 200,000 or 300,000 that you would normally like to see.

SAVIDGE: And, Peter, that raises an interesting point. You know, as the Bush campaign may want to talk about leadership, the war on terror, 9/11, Americans seemed to be focused on the economy and especially jobs. Does it seem like the Bush campaign is not paying attention?

WALLSTEN: Well, eventually, you know, they want the conversation to be about President Bush's leadership in a time of great change in the country. And so, yes, ultimately they are going to have to define John Kerry and raise questions about whether he can offer leadership and whether John Kerry would able to create more jobs.

SAVIDGE: Carlos, Florida coming up, looming on the horizon, is it still a key state and have they got those election problems -- meaning the voting ballots -- out of the way?

WATSON: Still a very critical state, one of the four biggest in terms of the ultimate electoral prize. But a number of interesting changes have happened since 2000, including some of the issues around the ballot.

Jeb Bush, the president's brother, somewhat handily there. There is a new issue afoot, this time the crisis in Haiti. And who knows how that, ultimately, will affect Florida voters, not just in South Florida, but in other parts of the state.

And last but not least, there has obviously been a lot of conversation about the economy and whether or not the number of jobs that need to be created have been done. So, I think the Florida race will continue to be an interesting one. And particularly, we'll see that Bob Graham or Bill Nelson, either of the two senators is put on the ticket.

SAVIDGE: Peter, I have to give you the last word, Florida going to be as close as it was last time?

WALLSTEN: Every indication is that it is going to be close again. There have been a number of polls already that have shown it tight. And people should check out "The Miami Herald" poll tomorrow, because you see that they are some very interesting factors coming into play in Florida. And it is going to be tight.

SAVIDGE: I'm sure we will all be looking at that poll. Peter Wallsten, thank you very much. Carlos Watson, we thank you both for joining our political debate for today. We will see you again soon. Thank you.

WATSON: Have a good weekend.

WALLSTEN: Thank you.

SAVIDGE: Well, a dozen Russian scientists find out the hard way, a piece of floating ice is anything but a place to call home.

Plus, it is a race to the rescue, Down Under, we'll tell you what happened after break.

And let the second guessing begin in the Martha Stewart case. We'll talk with a former federal prosecutor about what may have gone wrong and what the conviction could mean for other suspected white collar criminals.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Martha Stewart reports to a federal probation office on Monday. She will receive guidelines about what she can and can't do, while awaiting her June 17 sentencing for perjury and obstruction of justice.

New York City CBS affiliate has announced it is canceling "Martha Stewart Living". As of Monday, other stations may follow suit.

In Stewart's hometown of West Port, Connecticut, just about everyone is talking about their neighbor's conviction. CNN's Maria Hinojosa has been listening.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For more than 30 years, the tony Connecticut suburb of Westport has been Martha Stewart's hometown. Main Street here isn't K-Mart, but rather Coach and Talbot's.

At Oscar's Deli, where Stewart sometimes ordered lunch, hometown opinion is divided.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The people made her famous and the people are going to deal with her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's been tough. And she is not the most likable person, although, in this other side, I know that if I was presented with a similar situation, I don't know if I would have not done the same thing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is a shame to see someone fall from grace, if you will, but we're people. We make mistakes. I think she made a mistake.

HINOJOSA: Outside her picturesque country home it was a quiet Saturday. But in downtown Westport, just about everyone, even teenagers, had an opinion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I was younger, she did seem more like a role model. And it is sort of deceptive now that she would go and do something so underhanded and deceiving.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She lied to the government, she cheated people out of money and I have no sympathy for her.

HINOJOSA: Bars still protect the work studio that Stewart built. But talk about town is what will happen should she find herself behind another kind of bars.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think she really learned her lesson. Putting her in prison, I don't think, is going to be it is not going to do anything.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Poor Martha, she is going -- either if the judge says, you go to jail -- I doubt it -- but if she does go to jail she could teach all the inmates how to cook.

HINOJOSA (on camera): But not until the judge decides whether or not she deserves jail time and that won't happen until June 17.

Maria Hinojosa, CNN, Westport, Connecticut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: Legal experts are guessing that, realistically, that Martha Stewart will spend a number of months in prison if her perjury and obstruction of justice convictions are upheld. We'll any of this make a difference for consumers, investors, or for that matter the corporate CEOs. Joining me is Ross Albert, he is a former federal prosecutor, who has also served as an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Thank you, Mr. Albert, for being with us today.

ROSS ALBERT, FMR. FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: I'm glad to be here.

SAVIDGE: How long, first of all, if this goes through, how long do you think that Martha Stewart could realistically spend behind bars?

ALBERT: As a result of the inquiries I've had from the media I started to look at the numbers under the federal sentencing guidelines last night. I think as a rock bottom, minimum, assuming she is sentenced under the guideline for obstruction of justice, which seems the most logical one, and with no other enhancements, the guideline range would be 15 to 21 months in prison.

SAVIDGE: Well, what went wrong? I mean, if you look at it that way. The defense team obviously this didn't turn out the way they wanted. What do you think, from your legal vantage point, didn't go right for them?

ALBERT: I think it is always easy to second guess lawyers. Virtually all lawyers, no matter how successful and how well-known, Bob Morvillo, who represented Martha Stewart at trial, or lead trial counsel, is one of the nation's preeminent white collar defense lawyers.

Most lawyers loose cases sometimes and the fact that he had a difficult case with a controversial client, I don't think that we can say now he did something wrong.

SAVIDGE: Well, some of the jurors say they wanted to hear from Martha Stewart herself, was that a fatal flaw, not putting her on the stand?

ALBERT: It's hard to say, we're speaking hypothetically here. But I suspect, had he put Martha on the stand and a conviction was returned, you'd be asking me right now was it a mistake to put her on the stand. That's always a critical determination in defending a controversial client and with Martha Stewart I think the stakes were even enhanced over what they are in a more routine case.

SAVIDGE: Well, the prosecution spent weeks outlining its case. The defense comes up, and in Martha Stewart's case only put up one witness. I mean, did they underestimate the power of the prosecution?

ALBERT: I think the strategy clearly was to point out weaknesses in the prosecution's case. And as I mentioned, the key strategic decision that the defense had to make was whether to put Martha on the stand.

Once they made the decision not to put Martha on the stand I think had they put, say, 10 witnesses up, that would have only highlighted for the jury the fact that they were failing to put Martha on the stand. So, given the decision that they probably made sometime during the trial not to put her on the stand, I can't fault them for just putting one witness on.

You could say, if she had been acquitted, it was a sign of confidence that -- saying to the jury that you have heard the government's case for eight weeks, and there is really nothing there.

SAVIDGE: What do you think this means for other executives, now, on trial and maybe facing juries?

ALBERT: I don't think you can really generalize. There is going to be a different jury having to make the decision whether to convict or acquit in all of those cases. I think there would have been a larger systematic or systemic affect had she been acquitted because many commentators had criticized the government for choosing to go after Martha Stewart.

In that respect her pretrial public relations campaign that the government was only prosecuting her because she was a successful businesswoman -- I didn't believe that then. I have worked in the government for eight years.

SAVIDGE: That doesn't seem to have worked too well, by now.

ALBERT: No, no.

SAVIDGE: Ross Albert, former federal prosecutor. We appreciate you coming in on a Saturday to talk to us.

ALBERT: Nice to be here, thanks.

SAVIDGE: Well, time now for some look at look around the world.

In Caracas, Venezuela, massive protest underway, tens of thousands of people marching peacefully against the government of President Hugo Chavez. They are demanding a recall vote. The U.S. State Department warning Americans to take precaution saying the potential for violence is high.

In Gaza, more violence there. At least six Palestinians, including two policemen, are dead and others injured on a failed attack on an Israeli border post. It is said to be an unusual combined attack by the three militant groups Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.

In northeastern Australia rescue workers have had a very busy day after high winds and torrential rains pounded the region, uprooting trees and flooding roadways and highways. Several people have been rescued like this man and woman, from their four-wheel drive vehicle. At least three deaths are reported.

And now to a highly dramatic rescue operation after a spending four days in freezing temperatures floating on ice, some Russian scientists are safe, at last. CNN's Ryan Chilcote has their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Stranded on a tiny ice flow about the size of a city block in a wilderness almost as big as Russia itself, above the Arctic Circle since Wednesday, their rescue defies the odds and elements.

Flying in darkness and twilight over a barren featureless landscape in some of the world's worst weather, two Russian helicopters, including the world's largest, nicknamed "The Cow", found the drifting researchers and lifted them to safety.

The researchers, who had been studying polar weather for nearly a year, got their rude awakening on the turbulent results of a warming climate, just weeks before they were to pack up. A two story wall of ice suddenly came bursting through the flow, then collapsed dragging almost all of their base with it.

LEONID BAGOANOV, RESCUE TEAM LEADER (through translator): We're going to rescue the people because there is nothing else to rescue. The water swept away everything else. They even lost their personal belongings.

CHILCOTE: Their personal plight swept up the Russian public's attention. The stranded group's leader used a satellite phone he'd managed to grab before it went under to deliver dramatic dispatches every few hours from the ice. The Russian media carried them live.

The rescuers now hope to fly the rescuees back to the Russian mainland by Monday, in time for Women's Day, one of Russia's most important family holidays.

Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: The newest magazine dedicated to the joy of shopping has a testosterone twist. Jeanne Moos introduces us to the world of the metrosexual, in print, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Is veteran rocker, David Cosby, set to make a repeat performance -- in jail? He was arrested in New York today, charged with marijuana and gun possession. Crosby is free on bond. Police say a small amount of pot and a handgun were found in a suitcase left in a Times Square hotel. Crosby was arrested when he returned to pick up the bag.

The 62-year-old singer served a year in prison in 1985 on drug charges, until his conviction was overturned.

Well, it is hot off the presses and it could be the next big thing in magazines. But will manly men go for a men's mag not devoted to sports or sexy women, but solely to -- shopping? CNN's Jeanne Moos takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): If you think shopping is for girls, check out the new men's magazine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where is the cleavage, though?

MOOS: Cleavage? The barest chest in this issue belonged to a guy with half his body hair trimmed. Whether you are in the market for shavers or sweaters or bags, now there is "Cargo".

(on camera): It is a shopping magazine for men. But don't look that way yet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gun (ph) shopping.

MOOS (voice over): From sunglasses to shaving, cream "Cargo" looks for the coolest, tests for the best.

(on camera): So, did Stubble Stop, stop stubble.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

MOOS (voice over): It is the hottest new category in magazine publishing. "Cargo" just had it's launch party.

(on camera): Have you seen the section on shaving?

(voice over): A rival men's shopping magazine called "Vitals" is due out in the fall. "Cargo" is the guys version of "Lucky" the smash hit shopping magazine for women.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is about time we get something for us.

MOOS: Steven Willfog (ph) is seen modeling a suit in "Cargo".

We don't show it on models, we show it on real guys. So that you can see what it would look like on you.

MOOS: "Cargo" found it's cover boy hanging out in a New York City park. The magazine zeros in on camcorders and cell phones and cars. It will suggest the best nose hair clippers or binoculars that double as a pair of flasks.

MOOS (on camera): Would you look at a shopping magazine for men?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you showed me the gadgets stuff, I think so. I thought there were some cool things in there. Yes.

MOOS: Cargo has some regular features, like "Honey, does this make me gay?" There are stickers to tag items you like.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a bit more of a metrosexual magazine.

MOOSE (on camera): Do you consider yourself a metrosexual?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do actually. MOOS: Like you care how you look and ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very much so.

MOOS: Your hairstyle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right, right.

MOOS (voice over): Maybe guys will shop for boxers when they learn that 74 percent of women prefer them over briefs. Closet metrosexuals can add to their closets.

MOOS (on camera): You like the Nike?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yeah.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: And that is it for us. Coming up next, "The Capital Gang"; at 8 Eastern, CNN presents "80 Days That Changed the Word". CNN and Time look at the key events over the last eight decades. At 9, "Larry King". Larry's guest tonight, Montel Williams, who talks about his battle with multiple sclerosis. And then at 10 Eastern, celebrities and crime. What is next for Martha Stewart? Howard Weitzmann has represented O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson. He'll join me live.

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