Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Dean Praises Kerry Speech; 'Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle' Sets New Standard for Product Placement
Aired July 30, 2004 - 14:30 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: News happening right now, Saddam Hussein is reported to be in good shape despite suffering a chronic prostate infection and high blood pressure. Iraq's human rights minister visited Saddam Hussein last week during a tour of Camp Cobra in Baghdad. He says the former dictator is well-fed, tends to a garden and spends time reading.
A Senate committee opens hearings on the 9/11 commission report. The Committee on Governmental Affairs heard testimony this morning from commission chairman Thomas Kean and vice chair Lee Hamilton. The panel is looking at recommendations to overhaul U.S. intelligence.
Another election embarrassment for Florida. Officials in Miami- Dade County say they have found missing election data from the 2002 gubernatorial race. It was on a compact disc in the elections office. When the loss was reported earlier this week, officials said no votes were lost in the actual election, but some local activists are skeptical.
And John Kerry and running mate John Edwards are back on the campaign trail fresh from the Boston convention. The Democrat pair set out on a two-week, 3,500-mile bus tour. They're doing Scranton, Pennsylvania, in about an hour. President Bush lost that state by 5 percentage points in 2000. Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Flushed with the success of the Boston convention, John Kerry set out today on a three-month cross- country marathon in his bid for the White House. So, what's on the road ahead for the Democratic nominee? Let's bring in CNN political analyst Carlos Watson. Good to see you, Carlos.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: How you doing?
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, I'm doing pretty good. Well, will this be an opportunity, this bus tour, for the Kerry-Edwards campaign to reiterate what was said last night and the day prior or is that campaign convention going to be used as springboard?
WATSON: I think it will be a significant opportunity. I expect that it will ultimately get a strong single-digit bounce out of the polls here. But in order to maintain it in the face of comparison ads by the President and the President's own aggressive campaign over the next month I think they need to do a couple things. One is to continue to sell themselves on the issue of national security and number two is to continue to lay out an agenda, particularly as it relates to the economy that will convince swing voters that if you go with John Kerry, you actually will see significant new jobs produced and you will see wages rise. I think both of those are at the heart of what John Kerry and John Edwards need to do during the month of August.
WHITFIELD: And already you touched on the most paramount issues of Americans and already the Bush-Cheney campaign is thinking about later on in August they're going to be coming out hard with establishing national security and how that administration is responsible for helping to keep this nation safe.
WATSON: Well, and remember, as the president does that, he's going to say, this is not personal, this is maybe a more important policy issue than we've seen in a long time and he would say it's only smart and reasonable and fair to look at John Kerry's 19-year Senate record and the extent he hasn't been as supportive of some of the military efforts in the past to the extent that he did not support the $87 billion funding in Iraq, we've got to call those into question because the President will say there's too much at stake for someone who is not consistent and who is not sure in the face of terror. And so that's the charge that you'll hear repeatedly from President Bush both in speeches and in ads.
WHITFIELD: When you talk about it jobs, the economy and taxes, Kerry made it very clear last night. He tried to be specific about all of those things. Particularly about taxes, he said he would give a break to the middle income folks and that folks making over $200,000, that 2 percentage portion of the population would no longer get the kind of tax breaks they have been getting in the Bush administration. However, earlier today it was President Bush who said, you know what, everyone will be getting a tax break. So already, the bantering is beginning following that convention.
WATSON: And I think it will only continue and, in some ways, what is interesting about the taxation issue is the number of different angles it takes. You saw John Kerry not only talk about the tax issue in terms of the 98 percents the 2 percent, but he also linked it, for example, to Enron saying that part of what was wrong was a misplaced set of values focusing on tax breaks for Enron instead of after-school programs for kids. So, I think we'll hear a lot not just about the taxation issues, 98 percent versus 100 percent, but what we would do with that money or what we would do if the tax cuts remain in place in terms of growing the economy.
WHITFIELD: Both camps are also concentrating and concerned about the undecided voters out there. Those undecided voters, are they making up their mind post these conventions, with the Republican convention just about a month away?
WATSON: You know what, I think for these undecided voters and frankly even for some of the voters who think they are decided, I really think that while the conventions will be an opportunity to learn more, I think a lot of people are going to save their decision for the debates. I think that the debates, which will come across to many viewers as less scripted as more of a reality political presentation, as opposed to a scripted one. I think it will ultimately be more determinative and so while we'll stay tuned for the next convention, I think the debates, the three debates which we believe will happen on the presidential level will really be the most significant factors.
WHITFIELD: A lot riding on those debates. All right. Carlos Watson, thanks very much for joining us.
WATSON: Good to see you. Have a good weekend.
WHITFIELD: Good to see you, too. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Well, it's a bittersweet ending after a long run at the White House. Still to come, why one person's retirement will cause a serious void at the President's dinner table.
Plus, looking to stay off the booze?
WHITFIELD: Don't look at me.
PHILLIPS: We'll introduce you to a pill...
WHITFIELD: No, no.
PHILLIPS: ...that's promising to help keep recovering alcoholics dry. I did not look at Fred.
WHITFIELD: Yes, you did.
PHILLIPS: And later, it's not the message, it's where you put the message. A closer look at the new wave in advertising when LIVE FROM drinks on.
WHITFIELD: Yeah, they heard that pause.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, he was a campaign phenom whose sky-high prospects that fizzled in the snows of Iowa. But Howard Dean has since concentrated his considerable energies and resources towards the cause of Democrats in general, John Kerry in particular. You saw him at the DNC and now we welcome him to CNN. He joins us live from Burlington, Vermont. Governor, great to see you.
HOWARD DEAN (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thanks for having me on.
PHILLIPS: Well, we were talking last night, actually on CNN Radio and it was just prior to John Kerry's speech and we were sort of tossing around, well, what will he talk about? What is important? Then the speech happened and it was interesting because listening to what he said reminded me of a number of your speeches. Very similar philosophy with regard to democracy, family values--did you feel a connection?
DEAN: Yes, I thought that was one of the best speeches I have ever heard him give. That was just phenomenal. He did exactly what he had to do at the convention, which was to give people some sense of who he was and what his priorities were. I thought it was a pretty extraordinary speech.
PHILLIPS: You talk a lot about democracy now, especially with your new campaign going on and you talk about progressive Democrats. What did he say that moved you in the right direction? What did he say that Democrats needed to hear?
DEAN: Well, first of all, I thought it was great he addressed the war because there was a lot of complaining about that in the media and I think he put that to rest and I think his position on Iraq is very clear and I thought that was very helpful. Secondly, I think the biggest piece of his speech, other than the personal stuff, which was very effective, had to do with the economy and economic security. You know, all of us want the same thing. We want decent jobs, decent health care, schools and some kind of a national security policy that is consistent with American morality. The Republicans strike out on all four of those. John Kerry hit all of those out the park and I thought that was a great way to start the race.
PHILLIPS: There are a couple questions I've been wanting to ask you and I didn't get a chance to do it yesterday. As you--you see a lot of voters and a lot of politicians still talking about the Dean factor. I want to go back, I want to come forward and then I want to look into the future. Let's go back when the Dean factor was extremely hot; you hit a bump in the road. What was going through your mind at that time when you were so on fire and then it just kind of came to a halt and things definitely changed at that moment?
DEAN: Well, John Kerry ran a great race in Iowa. We knew whoever won the Iowa primary was going to win the whole thing, which is why we spent so much time and effort and money in Iowa trying to win. He won, he ran a great campaign the last three weeks, came from behind, nosed out the field and went on to become the presidential nominee. And we were all left to collect what was left of our campaigns, the rest of the other nine of us. But I think he deserves credit for that. You know, it was a tough, hard-fought campaign. But I've always believed that when you're on the same team after the fighting is over about who is going to be the leader, you get up and dust yourself off and now you're on the team.
PHILLIPS: And you've done that, but was there any moment last night, maybe the day before, maybe even when you were speaking that you thought, as you were looking at John Kerry, "That would be nice if that were me"?
DEAN: That kind of stuff is all behind me, I don't look back very often because I don't find it is very productive. We have a big job ahead of us. This is not over. November 2nd is probably the most important election in most Americans lifetimes. Are we going to continue down the road with the kind of extreme radicalism that we have had, half a trillion dollar deficits, troops abroad with inadequate support--or are we going to have somebody who really knows what they're doing become President of the United States?
PHILLIPS: All right, let's look forward. Two questions. How are you going to stay involved? How are you going to be active with John Kerry, John Edwards and the path with the Democrats? DEAN: Well, we're going to do whatever the Kerry-Edwards folks ask us to do. We already have done fund-raising surrogate appearances and campaigned with John Kerry. But I also am running something called DemocracyforAmerica.com which is a grass roots organization and we have about 600,000 people on our list. We have 800 people running for office, which is where a lot of my energy goes, is trying to get those people elected. And so far, they're doing pretty well. More of them have won their primaries than lost and that is pretty exciting. This is an attempt to get grassroots, progressive Democrats elected to state houses and county commissioner seats and inspectors of elections in Florida, which has turned out to be a pretty important office.
PHILLIPS: OK. Final question. You have to be honest with me now on this one, OK? Let's say John Kerry does win the presidency, let's say he comes to you and says, I want you to be part of my administration. Would you do it and what would be the position you'd want?
DEAN: I've pretty much disciplined myself to not think about that. I think you make a terrible mistake looking down the road. I think all of us have to concentrate on winning on November 2nd. I am quite sure that John Kerry is not spending much time thinking about who is going to be in his Cabinet and if he is we're not going to win. So that's not something we're going to think about until after November 2nd. We're going to think about getting John Kerry elected President of the United States.
PHILLIPS: Governor Howard Dean, sounding like a president there, sir.
DEAN: Thanks very much.
PHILLIPS: We're going to take a quick break. Governor, thanks for being with us. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, recovering alcoholics looking to stay off the booze will soon have some help. A new pill that cuts alcohol cravings was approved yesterday and expected to hit store shelves by the end of the year. CNN medical correspondent Holly Firfer joins us with all the facts.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, it is called acamprosate and it is also known by its brand name, Campral. It is an anti-craving drug which has been used in Europe for years. It is a drug for people who are not drinking at the moment. Doctors say it may not be effective in patients who are actively drinking at the start of treatment, or in patients who abuse other substances in addition to alcohol. But it's aimed at preventing alcoholics from drinking again once they've given up. But taking a drug may not do anything on its own. We have to tell you overcoming alcoholism can be an extremely long and uphill battle. The doctors say the path most likely to lead to success is one that combines a drug treatment with changes in behavior and the social, psychological and physical treatments as well. But this drug does look very promising, doctors say. PHILLIPS: OK, how does Campral work?
FIRFER: Well, basically, it's thought to restore the normal activity or levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain that become overexcited, if you will, by the withdrawal of alcohol and that leads to cravings. But it is not considered to be a withdrawal treatment because it doesn't affect behavioral attitudes or conditioning to alcohol and it's not an antidepressant. But trials in Europe have shown that 50 percent of those using the drug managed to abstain for three months and that's important because that's the period that alcoholics are most likely to regress, and that's compared to 39 percent of those taking a placebo. And the percentage of patients who took acamprosate abstained from drinking fell to 35 percent after six months, 33 percent after a year, which is much higher than without the drug. And these figures are really pretty dramatic if you consider that average recovering alcoholics only have a 15 percent chance of staying away from alcohol without treatment, and this drug doubles your likelihood. So, patients taking this medication stated they seemed to lose interest in alcohol and the researchers really took note of those statistics.
PHILLIPS: Hmm. So, who should try the drug and, also, let's say you are alcoholic, obviously you can't take this while you're drinking, right? You have to flush the system out.
FIRFER: Right. It is really to keep people from falling off of the wagon. But there are some people--some people should not take this drug including those with severe kidney or liver failure, if you're pregnant or you're breast-feeding. Side effects, though, are very mild. They include stomach upset, diarrhea and it's good news that there's no potential for abuse of this drug, but there aren't a lot of drugs out there to treat alcoholism, which is really is a disease, as we know, with the rising success of antidepressants and the approval of this drug, doctors say maybe more people will start trying medications in combination with counseling, which is really what people need to abstain and stay away from alcohol.
PHILLIPS: Sure. Holly Firfer. Thanks.
FIRFER: Sure.
PHILLIPS: All right. Fred?
WHITFIELD: Well, Pennsylvania Avenue may never be again so sweet. After working for five American Presidents, the White House's legendary pastry chef is retiring. CNN's Sanjay Gupta introduces us to the man who brought dessert to a whole new level.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROLAND MESNIER, WHITE HOUSE PASTRY CHEF: We're going to put some beautiful cherries in that basket. You see...
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Parting is such sweet sorrow--literally in the case of this executive pastry chef, Roland Mesnier, who is retiring after 25 years of making pastries at the White House. So what is it like to cook for the President?
MESNIER: Well, it is very exciting, very scary because you want things to be nice at all time. You want the guests of the President and First Lady to be very proud of what is served.
GUPTA: But did he have any near misses?
MESNIER: Not here at the White House. It has no room for that. It does not happen and it should not happen.
GUPTA: Have the preferences of various presidents changed?
MESNIER: Some prefer chocolate, some prefer fruit, some prefer coffee flavor.
GUPTA: And some keep coming back for more.
BILL CLINTON, 42ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We had a nice little reception that the Bushes put on for us and actually we all took pictures. I went in there and I thought, oh, my God, there is our fruit cobbler, which I hadn't seen in three and a half years. And I tried to avoid grabbing it with my hands and tried to be somewhat dignified but Chelsea and I, even more than Hillary, we really loved that fruit cobbler.
GUPTA: Is there anything presidents have not liked?
MESNIER: No. That has never happened.
GUPTA: Never happened?
MESNIER: I have never had that happen in my 25 years that they did not like a dessert. And I try to ask people, friends of theirs and everything when they come here, people that know them well, what is this new family like? You know, when you know a new family is coming, you better do your homework.
GUPTA: Good advice for whoever fills his hat. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: All right. Well a popular new advertising trend is being tried in the film industry. CNN's Fred Katayama tells us how a new movie features a product in any way you can possibly do it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Imagine all those burgers in your stomach right now.
FRED KATAYAMA, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a marketer's dream. The company name is in the movie title.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get up, we're going to White Castle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're starving.
KATAYAMA: Two slackers go on a wacky road trip just to get White Castle square burgers. Who wouldn't object to a cameo in a major movie? Krispy Kreme ran away from the opportunity.
It wouldn't say why, but consider the risk to its brand image. Companies typically avoid associations with adult themes. In this R- rated comedy Harold and Kumar get high and get lucky. But when New Line Cinema, which shares the same parent as CNN asked White Castle if it wanted a role, the 83-year-old burger chain said yes.
JAMIE RICHARDSON, WHITE CASTLE MARKETING DIRECTOR: There's certainly thing that happens in the film and behaviors we absolutely don't endorse, but we also recognize that at the end of the day there are larger themes in the film that really did resonate. There is a Korean-American and a Indian-American who play the lead roles. And that's more reflective of the face of our team members who work in the restaurants, it's more reflective of our customers, it's more reflective of the face of America today.
KATAYAMA: White Castle's burger is popular with the young, the very group that is likely to watch this flick.
MICHELLE ADORJAN, NMA ENTERTAINMENT & MARKETING: It's completely integrated into the film and the perfect road trip, fast food, what- you-crave story. And that's White Castle's tag line and I don't think you get a better fit than that.
KATAYAMA: Positive plugs pay off. Reese's Pieces attracted "ET" and many kids when Hershey Foods planted the candy in the Spielberg classic. Already, the Hollywood buzz is spurring sales of White Castle's t-shirts and luring burger buffs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The movie looks funny, it looks different. It kind of brought you, made you want to see it.
KATAYAMA: White Castle is a private company, so it doesn't disclose its financials, but one thing is clear, if the movie is a hit it will amount to millions of dollars in free advertising for the chain.
Fred Katayama, CNN Financial News, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Oh, this isn't fair. Burgers, all that pastry, I'm hungry.
PHILLIPS: Getting hungry?
WHITFIELD: Getting? I'm there now.
PHILLIPS: We'll go run down and get you a little Chick-Fil-A. Was that product placement?
WHITFIELD: I think a little promo you gave them, yeah. PHILLIPS: All right, oil prices soaring again to another record high, talking about product placement. How could the fuel price surge affect you?
WHITFIELD: Well, if American Airlines has its way, airfares are going up. Mary Snow joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange with more on that. Mary?
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, global supply concerns driving up oil prices even higher today. Crude finishing the day about $1 a barrel higher, above $1 a barrel higher. And just this week it's climbed two bucks. 34 percent so far this week. So, another record high today and it's really been hurting the airline industry, which has been struggling. It's been hit hard by the soaring fuel costs.
Now, American Airlines, as you say, is the latest airline to try to hike its fares. This in an effort to offset those oil prices, pass that burden on to passengers. Effective immediately, American is raising prices by $10 on most round-trip domestic trips and some international fares. Now, the airline says when the price of a gallon of jet fuel rises by just a penny it costs the company more than $30 million a year. However, it remains to be seen just how long this hike will last. Several previous attempts by airlines to raise fares have failed when one of the major carriers refused to match the increases. Kyra and Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: Mary, so, what about stocks? Are the higher oil prices hurting them?
SNOW: Once again, they are, but not as much as some had feared. The oil price spike along with a weaker than expected reading on economic growth today are making investors nervous. Stocks are struggling. Right now the Dow Industrials are down 33 points. However, tech stocks have been able to hold on to modest gains. The Nasdaq is up just a couple of points. And that is the latest from Wall Street. Kyra and Fredricka, back to you.
WHITFIELD: That wraps up this edition of LIVE FROM.
PHILLIPS: That's right. Now, to take us through the next hour is Judy Woodruff with INSIDE POLITICS. Hi, Judy.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Hi Kyra, Hi Fredricka. Thanks very much. I am still here in Boston wrapping up a week of festivities all around the Democratic National Convention. Today on INSIDE POLITICS this question: Will the political play of the week go to the Kerry- Edwards team or to a surprise contender?
Plus, what is next for the Democratic nominees after grabbing the limelight for almost a week. INSIDE POLITICS begins in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: INSIDE POLITICS is next, but, first, here is what is happening in the news right now. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and running mate John Edwards hit the campaign trail running.
After last night's acceptance speech at the DNC in Boston, the two men have started a two-week 21-state coast to coast tour. You're looking at the campaign's next stop. Scranton, Pennsylvania. Kerry and Edwards are expected to arrive shortly.
In an unusual late summer session, members of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs met on the 9/11 recommendations. Commission members told the committee today that government reorganizations are not enough to make this country safer. The commission suggested, quote, "fundamental changes" in the nation's intelligence operations. We're keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news. Now, Judy Woodruff and a special expanded edition of INSIDE POLITICS.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 30, 2004 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: News happening right now, Saddam Hussein is reported to be in good shape despite suffering a chronic prostate infection and high blood pressure. Iraq's human rights minister visited Saddam Hussein last week during a tour of Camp Cobra in Baghdad. He says the former dictator is well-fed, tends to a garden and spends time reading.
A Senate committee opens hearings on the 9/11 commission report. The Committee on Governmental Affairs heard testimony this morning from commission chairman Thomas Kean and vice chair Lee Hamilton. The panel is looking at recommendations to overhaul U.S. intelligence.
Another election embarrassment for Florida. Officials in Miami- Dade County say they have found missing election data from the 2002 gubernatorial race. It was on a compact disc in the elections office. When the loss was reported earlier this week, officials said no votes were lost in the actual election, but some local activists are skeptical.
And John Kerry and running mate John Edwards are back on the campaign trail fresh from the Boston convention. The Democrat pair set out on a two-week, 3,500-mile bus tour. They're doing Scranton, Pennsylvania, in about an hour. President Bush lost that state by 5 percentage points in 2000. Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Flushed with the success of the Boston convention, John Kerry set out today on a three-month cross- country marathon in his bid for the White House. So, what's on the road ahead for the Democratic nominee? Let's bring in CNN political analyst Carlos Watson. Good to see you, Carlos.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: How you doing?
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, I'm doing pretty good. Well, will this be an opportunity, this bus tour, for the Kerry-Edwards campaign to reiterate what was said last night and the day prior or is that campaign convention going to be used as springboard?
WATSON: I think it will be a significant opportunity. I expect that it will ultimately get a strong single-digit bounce out of the polls here. But in order to maintain it in the face of comparison ads by the President and the President's own aggressive campaign over the next month I think they need to do a couple things. One is to continue to sell themselves on the issue of national security and number two is to continue to lay out an agenda, particularly as it relates to the economy that will convince swing voters that if you go with John Kerry, you actually will see significant new jobs produced and you will see wages rise. I think both of those are at the heart of what John Kerry and John Edwards need to do during the month of August.
WHITFIELD: And already you touched on the most paramount issues of Americans and already the Bush-Cheney campaign is thinking about later on in August they're going to be coming out hard with establishing national security and how that administration is responsible for helping to keep this nation safe.
WATSON: Well, and remember, as the president does that, he's going to say, this is not personal, this is maybe a more important policy issue than we've seen in a long time and he would say it's only smart and reasonable and fair to look at John Kerry's 19-year Senate record and the extent he hasn't been as supportive of some of the military efforts in the past to the extent that he did not support the $87 billion funding in Iraq, we've got to call those into question because the President will say there's too much at stake for someone who is not consistent and who is not sure in the face of terror. And so that's the charge that you'll hear repeatedly from President Bush both in speeches and in ads.
WHITFIELD: When you talk about it jobs, the economy and taxes, Kerry made it very clear last night. He tried to be specific about all of those things. Particularly about taxes, he said he would give a break to the middle income folks and that folks making over $200,000, that 2 percentage portion of the population would no longer get the kind of tax breaks they have been getting in the Bush administration. However, earlier today it was President Bush who said, you know what, everyone will be getting a tax break. So already, the bantering is beginning following that convention.
WATSON: And I think it will only continue and, in some ways, what is interesting about the taxation issue is the number of different angles it takes. You saw John Kerry not only talk about the tax issue in terms of the 98 percents the 2 percent, but he also linked it, for example, to Enron saying that part of what was wrong was a misplaced set of values focusing on tax breaks for Enron instead of after-school programs for kids. So, I think we'll hear a lot not just about the taxation issues, 98 percent versus 100 percent, but what we would do with that money or what we would do if the tax cuts remain in place in terms of growing the economy.
WHITFIELD: Both camps are also concentrating and concerned about the undecided voters out there. Those undecided voters, are they making up their mind post these conventions, with the Republican convention just about a month away?
WATSON: You know what, I think for these undecided voters and frankly even for some of the voters who think they are decided, I really think that while the conventions will be an opportunity to learn more, I think a lot of people are going to save their decision for the debates. I think that the debates, which will come across to many viewers as less scripted as more of a reality political presentation, as opposed to a scripted one. I think it will ultimately be more determinative and so while we'll stay tuned for the next convention, I think the debates, the three debates which we believe will happen on the presidential level will really be the most significant factors.
WHITFIELD: A lot riding on those debates. All right. Carlos Watson, thanks very much for joining us.
WATSON: Good to see you. Have a good weekend.
WHITFIELD: Good to see you, too. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Well, it's a bittersweet ending after a long run at the White House. Still to come, why one person's retirement will cause a serious void at the President's dinner table.
Plus, looking to stay off the booze?
WHITFIELD: Don't look at me.
PHILLIPS: We'll introduce you to a pill...
WHITFIELD: No, no.
PHILLIPS: ...that's promising to help keep recovering alcoholics dry. I did not look at Fred.
WHITFIELD: Yes, you did.
PHILLIPS: And later, it's not the message, it's where you put the message. A closer look at the new wave in advertising when LIVE FROM drinks on.
WHITFIELD: Yeah, they heard that pause.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, he was a campaign phenom whose sky-high prospects that fizzled in the snows of Iowa. But Howard Dean has since concentrated his considerable energies and resources towards the cause of Democrats in general, John Kerry in particular. You saw him at the DNC and now we welcome him to CNN. He joins us live from Burlington, Vermont. Governor, great to see you.
HOWARD DEAN (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thanks for having me on.
PHILLIPS: Well, we were talking last night, actually on CNN Radio and it was just prior to John Kerry's speech and we were sort of tossing around, well, what will he talk about? What is important? Then the speech happened and it was interesting because listening to what he said reminded me of a number of your speeches. Very similar philosophy with regard to democracy, family values--did you feel a connection?
DEAN: Yes, I thought that was one of the best speeches I have ever heard him give. That was just phenomenal. He did exactly what he had to do at the convention, which was to give people some sense of who he was and what his priorities were. I thought it was a pretty extraordinary speech.
PHILLIPS: You talk a lot about democracy now, especially with your new campaign going on and you talk about progressive Democrats. What did he say that moved you in the right direction? What did he say that Democrats needed to hear?
DEAN: Well, first of all, I thought it was great he addressed the war because there was a lot of complaining about that in the media and I think he put that to rest and I think his position on Iraq is very clear and I thought that was very helpful. Secondly, I think the biggest piece of his speech, other than the personal stuff, which was very effective, had to do with the economy and economic security. You know, all of us want the same thing. We want decent jobs, decent health care, schools and some kind of a national security policy that is consistent with American morality. The Republicans strike out on all four of those. John Kerry hit all of those out the park and I thought that was a great way to start the race.
PHILLIPS: There are a couple questions I've been wanting to ask you and I didn't get a chance to do it yesterday. As you--you see a lot of voters and a lot of politicians still talking about the Dean factor. I want to go back, I want to come forward and then I want to look into the future. Let's go back when the Dean factor was extremely hot; you hit a bump in the road. What was going through your mind at that time when you were so on fire and then it just kind of came to a halt and things definitely changed at that moment?
DEAN: Well, John Kerry ran a great race in Iowa. We knew whoever won the Iowa primary was going to win the whole thing, which is why we spent so much time and effort and money in Iowa trying to win. He won, he ran a great campaign the last three weeks, came from behind, nosed out the field and went on to become the presidential nominee. And we were all left to collect what was left of our campaigns, the rest of the other nine of us. But I think he deserves credit for that. You know, it was a tough, hard-fought campaign. But I've always believed that when you're on the same team after the fighting is over about who is going to be the leader, you get up and dust yourself off and now you're on the team.
PHILLIPS: And you've done that, but was there any moment last night, maybe the day before, maybe even when you were speaking that you thought, as you were looking at John Kerry, "That would be nice if that were me"?
DEAN: That kind of stuff is all behind me, I don't look back very often because I don't find it is very productive. We have a big job ahead of us. This is not over. November 2nd is probably the most important election in most Americans lifetimes. Are we going to continue down the road with the kind of extreme radicalism that we have had, half a trillion dollar deficits, troops abroad with inadequate support--or are we going to have somebody who really knows what they're doing become President of the United States?
PHILLIPS: All right, let's look forward. Two questions. How are you going to stay involved? How are you going to be active with John Kerry, John Edwards and the path with the Democrats? DEAN: Well, we're going to do whatever the Kerry-Edwards folks ask us to do. We already have done fund-raising surrogate appearances and campaigned with John Kerry. But I also am running something called DemocracyforAmerica.com which is a grass roots organization and we have about 600,000 people on our list. We have 800 people running for office, which is where a lot of my energy goes, is trying to get those people elected. And so far, they're doing pretty well. More of them have won their primaries than lost and that is pretty exciting. This is an attempt to get grassroots, progressive Democrats elected to state houses and county commissioner seats and inspectors of elections in Florida, which has turned out to be a pretty important office.
PHILLIPS: OK. Final question. You have to be honest with me now on this one, OK? Let's say John Kerry does win the presidency, let's say he comes to you and says, I want you to be part of my administration. Would you do it and what would be the position you'd want?
DEAN: I've pretty much disciplined myself to not think about that. I think you make a terrible mistake looking down the road. I think all of us have to concentrate on winning on November 2nd. I am quite sure that John Kerry is not spending much time thinking about who is going to be in his Cabinet and if he is we're not going to win. So that's not something we're going to think about until after November 2nd. We're going to think about getting John Kerry elected President of the United States.
PHILLIPS: Governor Howard Dean, sounding like a president there, sir.
DEAN: Thanks very much.
PHILLIPS: We're going to take a quick break. Governor, thanks for being with us. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, recovering alcoholics looking to stay off the booze will soon have some help. A new pill that cuts alcohol cravings was approved yesterday and expected to hit store shelves by the end of the year. CNN medical correspondent Holly Firfer joins us with all the facts.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, it is called acamprosate and it is also known by its brand name, Campral. It is an anti-craving drug which has been used in Europe for years. It is a drug for people who are not drinking at the moment. Doctors say it may not be effective in patients who are actively drinking at the start of treatment, or in patients who abuse other substances in addition to alcohol. But it's aimed at preventing alcoholics from drinking again once they've given up. But taking a drug may not do anything on its own. We have to tell you overcoming alcoholism can be an extremely long and uphill battle. The doctors say the path most likely to lead to success is one that combines a drug treatment with changes in behavior and the social, psychological and physical treatments as well. But this drug does look very promising, doctors say. PHILLIPS: OK, how does Campral work?
FIRFER: Well, basically, it's thought to restore the normal activity or levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain that become overexcited, if you will, by the withdrawal of alcohol and that leads to cravings. But it is not considered to be a withdrawal treatment because it doesn't affect behavioral attitudes or conditioning to alcohol and it's not an antidepressant. But trials in Europe have shown that 50 percent of those using the drug managed to abstain for three months and that's important because that's the period that alcoholics are most likely to regress, and that's compared to 39 percent of those taking a placebo. And the percentage of patients who took acamprosate abstained from drinking fell to 35 percent after six months, 33 percent after a year, which is much higher than without the drug. And these figures are really pretty dramatic if you consider that average recovering alcoholics only have a 15 percent chance of staying away from alcohol without treatment, and this drug doubles your likelihood. So, patients taking this medication stated they seemed to lose interest in alcohol and the researchers really took note of those statistics.
PHILLIPS: Hmm. So, who should try the drug and, also, let's say you are alcoholic, obviously you can't take this while you're drinking, right? You have to flush the system out.
FIRFER: Right. It is really to keep people from falling off of the wagon. But there are some people--some people should not take this drug including those with severe kidney or liver failure, if you're pregnant or you're breast-feeding. Side effects, though, are very mild. They include stomach upset, diarrhea and it's good news that there's no potential for abuse of this drug, but there aren't a lot of drugs out there to treat alcoholism, which is really is a disease, as we know, with the rising success of antidepressants and the approval of this drug, doctors say maybe more people will start trying medications in combination with counseling, which is really what people need to abstain and stay away from alcohol.
PHILLIPS: Sure. Holly Firfer. Thanks.
FIRFER: Sure.
PHILLIPS: All right. Fred?
WHITFIELD: Well, Pennsylvania Avenue may never be again so sweet. After working for five American Presidents, the White House's legendary pastry chef is retiring. CNN's Sanjay Gupta introduces us to the man who brought dessert to a whole new level.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROLAND MESNIER, WHITE HOUSE PASTRY CHEF: We're going to put some beautiful cherries in that basket. You see...
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Parting is such sweet sorrow--literally in the case of this executive pastry chef, Roland Mesnier, who is retiring after 25 years of making pastries at the White House. So what is it like to cook for the President?
MESNIER: Well, it is very exciting, very scary because you want things to be nice at all time. You want the guests of the President and First Lady to be very proud of what is served.
GUPTA: But did he have any near misses?
MESNIER: Not here at the White House. It has no room for that. It does not happen and it should not happen.
GUPTA: Have the preferences of various presidents changed?
MESNIER: Some prefer chocolate, some prefer fruit, some prefer coffee flavor.
GUPTA: And some keep coming back for more.
BILL CLINTON, 42ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We had a nice little reception that the Bushes put on for us and actually we all took pictures. I went in there and I thought, oh, my God, there is our fruit cobbler, which I hadn't seen in three and a half years. And I tried to avoid grabbing it with my hands and tried to be somewhat dignified but Chelsea and I, even more than Hillary, we really loved that fruit cobbler.
GUPTA: Is there anything presidents have not liked?
MESNIER: No. That has never happened.
GUPTA: Never happened?
MESNIER: I have never had that happen in my 25 years that they did not like a dessert. And I try to ask people, friends of theirs and everything when they come here, people that know them well, what is this new family like? You know, when you know a new family is coming, you better do your homework.
GUPTA: Good advice for whoever fills his hat. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: All right. Well a popular new advertising trend is being tried in the film industry. CNN's Fred Katayama tells us how a new movie features a product in any way you can possibly do it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Imagine all those burgers in your stomach right now.
FRED KATAYAMA, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a marketer's dream. The company name is in the movie title.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get up, we're going to White Castle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're starving.
KATAYAMA: Two slackers go on a wacky road trip just to get White Castle square burgers. Who wouldn't object to a cameo in a major movie? Krispy Kreme ran away from the opportunity.
It wouldn't say why, but consider the risk to its brand image. Companies typically avoid associations with adult themes. In this R- rated comedy Harold and Kumar get high and get lucky. But when New Line Cinema, which shares the same parent as CNN asked White Castle if it wanted a role, the 83-year-old burger chain said yes.
JAMIE RICHARDSON, WHITE CASTLE MARKETING DIRECTOR: There's certainly thing that happens in the film and behaviors we absolutely don't endorse, but we also recognize that at the end of the day there are larger themes in the film that really did resonate. There is a Korean-American and a Indian-American who play the lead roles. And that's more reflective of the face of our team members who work in the restaurants, it's more reflective of our customers, it's more reflective of the face of America today.
KATAYAMA: White Castle's burger is popular with the young, the very group that is likely to watch this flick.
MICHELLE ADORJAN, NMA ENTERTAINMENT & MARKETING: It's completely integrated into the film and the perfect road trip, fast food, what- you-crave story. And that's White Castle's tag line and I don't think you get a better fit than that.
KATAYAMA: Positive plugs pay off. Reese's Pieces attracted "ET" and many kids when Hershey Foods planted the candy in the Spielberg classic. Already, the Hollywood buzz is spurring sales of White Castle's t-shirts and luring burger buffs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The movie looks funny, it looks different. It kind of brought you, made you want to see it.
KATAYAMA: White Castle is a private company, so it doesn't disclose its financials, but one thing is clear, if the movie is a hit it will amount to millions of dollars in free advertising for the chain.
Fred Katayama, CNN Financial News, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Oh, this isn't fair. Burgers, all that pastry, I'm hungry.
PHILLIPS: Getting hungry?
WHITFIELD: Getting? I'm there now.
PHILLIPS: We'll go run down and get you a little Chick-Fil-A. Was that product placement?
WHITFIELD: I think a little promo you gave them, yeah. PHILLIPS: All right, oil prices soaring again to another record high, talking about product placement. How could the fuel price surge affect you?
WHITFIELD: Well, if American Airlines has its way, airfares are going up. Mary Snow joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange with more on that. Mary?
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, global supply concerns driving up oil prices even higher today. Crude finishing the day about $1 a barrel higher, above $1 a barrel higher. And just this week it's climbed two bucks. 34 percent so far this week. So, another record high today and it's really been hurting the airline industry, which has been struggling. It's been hit hard by the soaring fuel costs.
Now, American Airlines, as you say, is the latest airline to try to hike its fares. This in an effort to offset those oil prices, pass that burden on to passengers. Effective immediately, American is raising prices by $10 on most round-trip domestic trips and some international fares. Now, the airline says when the price of a gallon of jet fuel rises by just a penny it costs the company more than $30 million a year. However, it remains to be seen just how long this hike will last. Several previous attempts by airlines to raise fares have failed when one of the major carriers refused to match the increases. Kyra and Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: Mary, so, what about stocks? Are the higher oil prices hurting them?
SNOW: Once again, they are, but not as much as some had feared. The oil price spike along with a weaker than expected reading on economic growth today are making investors nervous. Stocks are struggling. Right now the Dow Industrials are down 33 points. However, tech stocks have been able to hold on to modest gains. The Nasdaq is up just a couple of points. And that is the latest from Wall Street. Kyra and Fredricka, back to you.
WHITFIELD: That wraps up this edition of LIVE FROM.
PHILLIPS: That's right. Now, to take us through the next hour is Judy Woodruff with INSIDE POLITICS. Hi, Judy.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Hi Kyra, Hi Fredricka. Thanks very much. I am still here in Boston wrapping up a week of festivities all around the Democratic National Convention. Today on INSIDE POLITICS this question: Will the political play of the week go to the Kerry- Edwards team or to a surprise contender?
Plus, what is next for the Democratic nominees after grabbing the limelight for almost a week. INSIDE POLITICS begins in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: INSIDE POLITICS is next, but, first, here is what is happening in the news right now. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and running mate John Edwards hit the campaign trail running.
After last night's acceptance speech at the DNC in Boston, the two men have started a two-week 21-state coast to coast tour. You're looking at the campaign's next stop. Scranton, Pennsylvania. Kerry and Edwards are expected to arrive shortly.
In an unusual late summer session, members of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs met on the 9/11 recommendations. Commission members told the committee today that government reorganizations are not enough to make this country safer. The commission suggested, quote, "fundamental changes" in the nation's intelligence operations. We're keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news. Now, Judy Woodruff and a special expanded edition of INSIDE POLITICS.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
