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Scott Peterson's Defense Team Begins Presenting Its Case Today; Persuasive Voices

Aired October 18, 2004 - 11:30   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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Senator John Kerry is hopscotching through Florida. He'll give us a major speech on health care about two hours from now in Tampa and will rally supporters in Orlando later this evening. Now this morning, Kerry was at an event in West Palm Beach. The senator's appearances come as Florida allows voters there to cast their ballots for president.
Meanwhile, President Bush will also fly to Florida today after making a stop in New Jersey. The president visits the Garden State in about two hours, and will deliver what aides call a major address on homeland defense and the war on terror. This evening, Bush will attend a rally in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Former President Bush and his wife, Barbara, are among those casting early ballots today in early voting. Texas is one of four states that allows voters to go to the polls starting today.

And a new report criticizes the U.S. Episcopal Church for consecrating a gay bishop, and says the practice should stop. The just-released report comes from an Anglican Church Commission. It also proposes that over 30 national churches that constitute the Anglican Union sign an agreement vowing support for current Anglican teachings.

Now the report chastised promotion to bishop of a clergy member in New Hampshire who is in a same-sex union.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson's defense team begins presenting its case today, and There are questions as to whether Peterson himself may take the stand.

CNN's Rusty Dornin is keeping watch on the trial at the courthouse in Redwood City, California.

Rusty, I read something about the fact that they were coaching him on some Q&A or something, is that true?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You wouldn't call it exactly coaching. And the defense has been going back and forth on this issue. The last we had heard, they were saying they were not going to put him on the stand. Now, once again, they are flirting with that idea. A local attorney and regular guest on Larry King, Michael Cardoza apparently went into the jail since the delay of the court proceedings last week three different times to talk to Peterson , and in effect do a cross-examination, sort of pretend cross-examination to see how well he would do under questioning. Now, Cardoza is not saying how Peterson did or what his demeanor was. He will only say he did talk to him for the defense in the line of a cross-examination.

Meantime, the defense is ready, willing and able to get under way today. There's expected to be a short delay this morning, where they have a motion. We're expecting that motion to be Geragos asking for a dismissal of the case, which the judge is expected to deny.

First up will be a concrete expert for the defense, expected to testify that Scott Peterson bought a 90-pound bag of concrete, used part of it to make an anchor, and used the rest on his driveway and a backyard project at home.

Now the prosecution witnesses has already testified they believe the cement -- the concrete in the driveway is different from the anchors. The prosecutors believe that Peterson made five anchors, four of which he used to weight down his wife's body in San Francisco Bay, but those anchors have never been discovered.

All in agreement here, it's going to be a battle of the experts for this defense. Expected to testify, the famed criminalist Henry Lee as well as a pathologist who will also talk about that he believes that Laci Peterson -- and the fetus, did survive past December 24th. Now, if he can convince the jury of that, it would prove that Scott Peterson was not guilty of murdering his wife, because he was under surveillance after that point.

Geragos is expected to take six to eight days to present his case. The judge has told the jury he wants closing arguments on November 1st, on Election Day, November 2nd, another set of closing arguments, and on November 3rd, he expects to get the case to the jury for deliberations. But time and time again, we've seen so many delays in this, we're wondering whether he's going to be able to stick to that schedule -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: All right, thanks a lot, Rusty, and thanks for clarifying that for me. I know it's a mock Q&A, not a coaching session. Coaching is a legal faux pas, right?

DORNIN: Yes, coaching is a legal faux pax, yes.

SANCHEZ: Appreciate it.

Rusty Dornin following the story for us.

NGUYEN: The countdown calendar shows just 15 days until the presidential election, and most polls have President Bush and Senator John Kerry still locked in extremely tight race. But a new survey shows the president gaining some ground. Take a look at the numbers. Most Americans think President Bush will win the election, according to the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll. 66 percent of respondents say think Bush will win, while 36 percent take Kerry.

The presidential race is so close that no detail is left to chance. The campaigns are making sure the voices we hear in political ads strike the right cord.

Here's CNN's Bruce Burkhardt. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Real life, real work, real leadership.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... helped bring $2 million...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A quiet, real American courage.

BRUCE BURKHARDT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Bruce Burkhardt. And I not only approve this story, but I'm voicing it, too. Just like Allen Blevis (ph) is giving voice to this ad for a Democratic congressman.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Imagine this, the year is 1968.

BURKHARDT: And Betsy Ames is doing the same for a Republican congressman.

AMES: ... that your vote does make a difference.

BURKHARDT: They are the invisible people, as invisible as they are critical to persuading you to vote for the right guy.

JOE SLADE WHITE, DEMOCRATIC MEDIA CONSULTANT: And if there's any false notes in it, in the tone of voice, then you don't know why you don't like a commercial, but it's because of that, because it doesn't sound true. It doesn't ring true. We say "ring true" because it's a sound.

BURKHARDT: Joe Slade White, like most media consultants, is on the go in this election season. From the back seat of a Washington, D.C. cab, he directs a voice-over session in a New York studio.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he knows firsthand the difference that education can mean for our children.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was the time on that, Mark?

BURKHARDT: Allen Blevis (ph) has worked with Joe for years. And other Democrats, including Clinton and Gore. Like most political voice-over talent, he only works one side of the street, in his case, Democratic.

AMES: Your voice does make a difference.

BURKHARDT: Betsy Ames, who does exclusively Republican ads, says it just worked out that way. They asked first.

AMES: This is my business. I'm an actress. I'm the messenger. How I feel about it has absolutely nothing to do with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So we'll bring that audio down.

BURKHARDT: Tom Edmonds (ph), a Republican consultant who was behind the highly-effective NRA ads in the 2000 election, works with Betsy often.

AMES: All right. Let's do a safety of -- safety of the safety.

BURKHARDT: And if there's one thing Republican and Democratic consultants agree on, it's the importance of the voice. The use of women's voices in ads has been increasing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Patty Murray has a different view.

BURKHARDT : So, too, have male voices that sound friendlier, conversational.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And dreams need places where they can play out.

WHITE: If the quality of the voice says, I'm not going to listen to you, I'm just going to tell you things, then people are going to get turned off.

BURKHARDT: And though we like to think we're turned on by matters of substance, well maybe we're moved more by the candidate who's found his or her voice.

WHITE: Yes. Why don't we play that back? I think that was really, really good.

BURKHARDT: Bruce Burkhardt , CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: U.S. forces are steadily training Iraqis to take over security for their own country.

CNN's Jane Arraf got a close look at the process recently.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): In this volatile Iraq, so much happens 24 hours can seem like a lifetime. This is the 205th Battalion of the Iraqi National Guard in Muqtadia (ph). They're part of the hope for a new Iraq.

Colonel Dhia Ismael Abed, in charge since his brigadier general was arrested for ties to insurgents, reminds his men to check their weapons. Increasingly, these missions are backed, rather than led, by U.S. forces who want Iraqi troops to be able to replace...

COL. DHIA ISMAEL ABED, IRAQI NATIONAL GUARD: I don't have tanks. I don't have -- so this is -- but these guys are ready to go the mission and support by coalition forces, because (UNINTELLIGIBLE) coalition forces now support us.

ARRAF: One of the most important lessons Iraqis and Americans have learned on this base is how to work together. At first, Colonel Dhia says, "The Americans wouldn't say hello."

ABED: But now it's changed, everything. Now we can speak with him like he's a friend. ARRAF: Now they invite each other over for dinner. Then it's time for the night's mission. An Iraqi informant has told them where to find the suspected leader of the insurgency.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My guys are the first, and you follow (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I'll be in the back.

ARRAF: Almost two hours' drive into the countryside, the convoy reaches a farmhouse. But the man they're looking for isn't here.

Major Ismael, who says he's arrested more than 200 insurgents, is enraged at the informant, a member of the National Guard. "He put his men's life in danger," he tells him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The source didn't pan out exactly as we thought.

ARRAF: They decide to go back. "It wasn't a total failure," U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Pete Newell (ph) says. He says it was a victory that the Iraqis planned the mission, executed it and stuck with it.

The next day begins in tragedy. One of the National Guard, 24- year-old Amar Izbarataz (ph), is killed by a roadside bomb. It ripped through one of the unarmored vehicles the National Guard use. "He was a nationalist. He deserves martyrdom," says Major Ismael.

At the training center, the new Iraqi recruits are eating in the new cafeteria. They've all heard the news but seem undeterred. "Anyone who has a sense of nationalism and really wants to help his people isn't afraid," says (UNINTELLIGIBLE), just 22. Every one of them knows that the days ahead will likely bring a mix of tragedy and success. And above all, the chance to make a difference.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Back here at home, tensions are high, and the lines, they are long.

SANCHEZ: Yes, chances are you or someone you know is taking the flu vaccine shortage very seriously. Up next, Elizabeth Cohen joins us with the very latest information.

NGUYEN: And later, for a lot of vacationers, it's a family affair. Our "Getaway" segment shows you some of the nicest vacation destinations for you and yours.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, back here at home, tensions are high, and the lines, they are long. SANCHEZ: Yeah, chances are you or someone you know is taking the flu vaccine shortage very seriously. Up next, Elizabeth Cohen joins us with the very latest information.

And later, for a lot of vacationers, it's a family affair. Our "Getaway" segment shows you some of the nicest vacation destinations for you and yours.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DONNA ROSATO, WRITER, "MONEY": A great time to go on a Caribbean cruise is early December. You'll get a great combination of fantastic weather -- it's usually in the 70s or 80s. You'll get fewer crowds, and you'll get fantastic deals. Most people just can't get away, and they're doing their holiday shopping. So, tour companies usually offer very good package deals.

Hurricane season officially ends November 30th. While some resorts may still be recovering and rebuilding after the hurricanes this fall, if you're on a cruise, you won't have to worry about that. You can still get a lot of the island flavor without having to worry about whether your hotel has any problems.

In general, you're going to find very good deals throughout most of the area in the Caribbean.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: And here we go, a story that so many have been talking about -- the frenzy over flu shots is resulting in long lines and even lotteries. Federal health officials say they're trying to get the vaccines to those most at risk of the flu. But the director of the CDC says the U.S. must solve problems in manufacturing the flu shots.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CDC DIRECTOR: The stockpile is a mechanism to give manufacturers an incentive to increase their production and actually planned this year was more vaccine than we've ever been able to produce. Unfortunately, the manufacturer had problems with its processing.

But what we do need to do is to look nationally at a strategy that will allow us to have some surge capacity. We've got to modernize the vaccine that we're making. We've got to make sure the manufacturers have the incentives they need. And we need that liability reform so that they don't take the unfair risk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Well, here's what's developed throughout the day: The shortage of flu shots is "not" -- in quotations -- a health risk. That's according to the secretary of health and human services. But elderly people and others at high risk are concerned.

Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here with a flu shot update in our "Daily Dose" of health news. So, what gives?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it's interesting. I was talking to some experts on whether or not this really is going to be a health crisis or not. And basically, they said, well, it depends on how bad of a flu season it is.

Flu seasons can range from mild to severe. So, the fact that we only have half as many shots as we have in other years, well, that's going to be either -- could be more of a problem or less of a problem, depending upon the season.

Now, here what we're looking at is long lines in various parts of the country for flu shots. People are getting in line early, and they're staying in line. Some places five minutes after they open already don't have enough shots. And these long lines have caused seven states to put into effect some kind of emergency procedures.

These states -- Michigan, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Oregon, New Mexico, as well as the District of Columbia -- are saying either that they're going to have some serious consequences for price gougers, because since there's a shortage, some people are doing price gouging.

Or some of them have said that if a health care worker gives the shot to someone who is low risk that there's going to be repercussions for that. They're saying only give shots to the people who are high risk. Of course, the question then is: What exactly is high risk? Children between the ages of six and 23 months -- they're considered high risk. They're supposed to get a flu shot. All pregnant women are supposed to get flu shots, as well as anyone with a chronic disease, adult or child. And also, everyone over the age of 65.

And if you don't fall into those categories, it's actually illegal for a health care worker to give you a flu shot in some states. And in all states, they're not supposed to give them to you. If you're not in that category, you're not supposed to be getting a flu shot.

SANCHEZ: Democrats are expected to make a lot of hay out of this, of course making accusations toward the Bush administration. Do they have a valid argument?

COHEN: Well, it's a bad situation. I think there's one thing that everyone can agree on -- that the whole system for getting flu shots is just not what it should be. It's a little bit of a mess. It's done by the private sector, which means that a lot of companies don't want to do it. They say we're not making money, so we're not going to get into this business.

And some people will say it's not the president's fault, it's a situation he inherited. Others would say differently. Here's what Kerry had to say in Florida today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I understand there were some senior citizens who came out to listen to President Bush the other day, and he gave them -- he gave them the standard speech about prayer and flu shots. And that's the way it works. Under his plan, you don't have a prayer of getting a flu shot.

GERBERDING: Well, I'm sorry that this is becoming a political issue. This is really a health issue. And I think the bottom line is that the administration has requested a great deal of increase in the support for influenza.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: Now, Senator Kerry says that he has a plan, which involves things like insuring that more manufacturers start making flu shots. You know, President Bush's people say that they've been trying to do that now for a while.

SANCHEZ: Good information. Thanks a lot, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Thanks.

SANCHEZ: Certainly appreciate it.

To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, just log onto our Web site. It's where you'll find the latest medical new, a health library, and information on fitness, as well. The address -- ready -- cnn.com/health.

NGUYEN: Rick, and for a lot of folks, it is that time of year. Time to pack up the family and hit the road. Up next hour, "Getaway" segment looks at the best family-friendly vacations.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Are you looking for a fall getaway with the kids? "Travel & Leisure Family" magazine has polled its readers to come up with the best family-friendly resorts and hotels.

And Laura Begley is an auditor at "Travel & Leisure Family." She joins us at the Time Warner Center in New York this morning.

Good morning to you.

LAURA BEGLEY, TRAVEL & LEISURE FAMILY": Hi, good to be here.

NGUYEN: Well, that's wonderful.

We want to talk about some of these top picks, because I'm looking at the list here, and in the U.S. and Canada, I see Georgia there. I would have expected somewhere in California, Florida, but you have Georgia on the list.

BEGLEY: Well, the cloister on Sea Island, Georgia is an amazing resort. It's got a really long history. Eisenhower vacationed here, and George and Barbara Bush spent their honeymoon here, and it's really popular with families, who just come back generation after generation. They love the family program. There's everything you can imagine for kids, from snorkeling and sailing to even etiquette classes.

And, boy, do I wish -- I wish my parents would have known about this resort when I was a teenager, because the spa caters to kids 11 and up with special treatments, like teen facials.

NGUYEN: I thought you were going to say because you would have had better table manners.

BEGLEY: Well, maybe that, too. It could have helped me later in life.

NGUYEN: All right, well, let's move on to Canada, because that's also on the list.

BEGLEY: The Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello. And an interesting factoid: This hotel has the largest indoor pool in all of Canada. Perhaps that's why it tops the list for Canada with our readers.

NGUYEN: And that's the cheapest rate of the list of four that I have in front of me, $161 a night?

BEGLEY: It is. It's very affordable, a great value for your money. You know, Canada these days really is a great value for your money, and this place is a wilderness kingdom. The hotel is in the mountains of eastern Canada, on the shores of the Ottawa River. And in the summer, there's great programs for kids like going out and seeing live bears, which are quite safe, mind you; just keep at a safe distance. And in the winter, kids can go dogsledding and ice skating, and there are great things for parents, too, like the Land Rover Driving School.

NGUYEN: Stay around the safe bears, all right, note to self.

Dominican Republic, that's a nice place to get some sun.

BEGLEY: Oh, yes, Casa De Campo. I'd love to be there right now. This resort really is an all-in-one resort, and families love it because it's got just about everything. There's an equestrian center, there's a marina. And for families, there are four different kids clubs, because they acknowledge that teenagers might not really like to go lizard hunting. And interestingly, I know I'm on the teens today, but for teenagers, there are foam parties on the beach, which I think is pretty wild.

NGUYEN: Beach parties for teens. OK.

All right, Mexico, let's go there, but this place is a little pricey, 400 bucks a night?

BEGLEY: This is the most expensive on list, but it's worth every penny. The Four Seasons really is a luxurious resort, and this resort, north of Port Vie Arta (ph) and Pointa Meta (ph) does it all. They rollout the red carpet for kids. They ask the name and age of every kid before they arrive, and they give them welcome gifts, and there's mile and cookies every night. And there are really fun programs, too, like guacamole making and salsa dancing lessons. It's a lot of fun.

NGUYEN: Sounds like it. All right, Laura Begley, editor of "Travel & Leisure Family" magazine, has lots of great pictures. I'm ready to go somewhere after this one.

Thanks, Laura.

BEGLEY: Thanks.

SANCHEZ: What's a foam party?

NGUYEN: I guess it deals with a lot of foam, a lot of soapy suds, who knows.

SANCHEZ: It sounds like a lot of fun.

Tony Harris has probably been to a couple of foam parties in his life. He's coming up next, and bringing you the latest right here.

NGUYEN: Yes, minus the foam today, though.

Thanks for joining us for CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired October 18, 2004 - 11:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Senator John Kerry is hopscotching through Florida. He'll give us a major speech on health care about two hours from now in Tampa and will rally supporters in Orlando later this evening. Now this morning, Kerry was at an event in West Palm Beach. The senator's appearances come as Florida allows voters there to cast their ballots for president.
Meanwhile, President Bush will also fly to Florida today after making a stop in New Jersey. The president visits the Garden State in about two hours, and will deliver what aides call a major address on homeland defense and the war on terror. This evening, Bush will attend a rally in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Former President Bush and his wife, Barbara, are among those casting early ballots today in early voting. Texas is one of four states that allows voters to go to the polls starting today.

And a new report criticizes the U.S. Episcopal Church for consecrating a gay bishop, and says the practice should stop. The just-released report comes from an Anglican Church Commission. It also proposes that over 30 national churches that constitute the Anglican Union sign an agreement vowing support for current Anglican teachings.

Now the report chastised promotion to bishop of a clergy member in New Hampshire who is in a same-sex union.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson's defense team begins presenting its case today, and There are questions as to whether Peterson himself may take the stand.

CNN's Rusty Dornin is keeping watch on the trial at the courthouse in Redwood City, California.

Rusty, I read something about the fact that they were coaching him on some Q&A or something, is that true?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You wouldn't call it exactly coaching. And the defense has been going back and forth on this issue. The last we had heard, they were saying they were not going to put him on the stand. Now, once again, they are flirting with that idea. A local attorney and regular guest on Larry King, Michael Cardoza apparently went into the jail since the delay of the court proceedings last week three different times to talk to Peterson , and in effect do a cross-examination, sort of pretend cross-examination to see how well he would do under questioning. Now, Cardoza is not saying how Peterson did or what his demeanor was. He will only say he did talk to him for the defense in the line of a cross-examination.

Meantime, the defense is ready, willing and able to get under way today. There's expected to be a short delay this morning, where they have a motion. We're expecting that motion to be Geragos asking for a dismissal of the case, which the judge is expected to deny.

First up will be a concrete expert for the defense, expected to testify that Scott Peterson bought a 90-pound bag of concrete, used part of it to make an anchor, and used the rest on his driveway and a backyard project at home.

Now the prosecution witnesses has already testified they believe the cement -- the concrete in the driveway is different from the anchors. The prosecutors believe that Peterson made five anchors, four of which he used to weight down his wife's body in San Francisco Bay, but those anchors have never been discovered.

All in agreement here, it's going to be a battle of the experts for this defense. Expected to testify, the famed criminalist Henry Lee as well as a pathologist who will also talk about that he believes that Laci Peterson -- and the fetus, did survive past December 24th. Now, if he can convince the jury of that, it would prove that Scott Peterson was not guilty of murdering his wife, because he was under surveillance after that point.

Geragos is expected to take six to eight days to present his case. The judge has told the jury he wants closing arguments on November 1st, on Election Day, November 2nd, another set of closing arguments, and on November 3rd, he expects to get the case to the jury for deliberations. But time and time again, we've seen so many delays in this, we're wondering whether he's going to be able to stick to that schedule -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: All right, thanks a lot, Rusty, and thanks for clarifying that for me. I know it's a mock Q&A, not a coaching session. Coaching is a legal faux pas, right?

DORNIN: Yes, coaching is a legal faux pax, yes.

SANCHEZ: Appreciate it.

Rusty Dornin following the story for us.

NGUYEN: The countdown calendar shows just 15 days until the presidential election, and most polls have President Bush and Senator John Kerry still locked in extremely tight race. But a new survey shows the president gaining some ground. Take a look at the numbers. Most Americans think President Bush will win the election, according to the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll. 66 percent of respondents say think Bush will win, while 36 percent take Kerry.

The presidential race is so close that no detail is left to chance. The campaigns are making sure the voices we hear in political ads strike the right cord.

Here's CNN's Bruce Burkhardt. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Real life, real work, real leadership.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... helped bring $2 million...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A quiet, real American courage.

BRUCE BURKHARDT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Bruce Burkhardt. And I not only approve this story, but I'm voicing it, too. Just like Allen Blevis (ph) is giving voice to this ad for a Democratic congressman.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Imagine this, the year is 1968.

BURKHARDT: And Betsy Ames is doing the same for a Republican congressman.

AMES: ... that your vote does make a difference.

BURKHARDT: They are the invisible people, as invisible as they are critical to persuading you to vote for the right guy.

JOE SLADE WHITE, DEMOCRATIC MEDIA CONSULTANT: And if there's any false notes in it, in the tone of voice, then you don't know why you don't like a commercial, but it's because of that, because it doesn't sound true. It doesn't ring true. We say "ring true" because it's a sound.

BURKHARDT: Joe Slade White, like most media consultants, is on the go in this election season. From the back seat of a Washington, D.C. cab, he directs a voice-over session in a New York studio.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he knows firsthand the difference that education can mean for our children.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was the time on that, Mark?

BURKHARDT: Allen Blevis (ph) has worked with Joe for years. And other Democrats, including Clinton and Gore. Like most political voice-over talent, he only works one side of the street, in his case, Democratic.

AMES: Your voice does make a difference.

BURKHARDT: Betsy Ames, who does exclusively Republican ads, says it just worked out that way. They asked first.

AMES: This is my business. I'm an actress. I'm the messenger. How I feel about it has absolutely nothing to do with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So we'll bring that audio down.

BURKHARDT: Tom Edmonds (ph), a Republican consultant who was behind the highly-effective NRA ads in the 2000 election, works with Betsy often.

AMES: All right. Let's do a safety of -- safety of the safety.

BURKHARDT: And if there's one thing Republican and Democratic consultants agree on, it's the importance of the voice. The use of women's voices in ads has been increasing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Patty Murray has a different view.

BURKHARDT : So, too, have male voices that sound friendlier, conversational.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And dreams need places where they can play out.

WHITE: If the quality of the voice says, I'm not going to listen to you, I'm just going to tell you things, then people are going to get turned off.

BURKHARDT: And though we like to think we're turned on by matters of substance, well maybe we're moved more by the candidate who's found his or her voice.

WHITE: Yes. Why don't we play that back? I think that was really, really good.

BURKHARDT: Bruce Burkhardt , CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: U.S. forces are steadily training Iraqis to take over security for their own country.

CNN's Jane Arraf got a close look at the process recently.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): In this volatile Iraq, so much happens 24 hours can seem like a lifetime. This is the 205th Battalion of the Iraqi National Guard in Muqtadia (ph). They're part of the hope for a new Iraq.

Colonel Dhia Ismael Abed, in charge since his brigadier general was arrested for ties to insurgents, reminds his men to check their weapons. Increasingly, these missions are backed, rather than led, by U.S. forces who want Iraqi troops to be able to replace...

COL. DHIA ISMAEL ABED, IRAQI NATIONAL GUARD: I don't have tanks. I don't have -- so this is -- but these guys are ready to go the mission and support by coalition forces, because (UNINTELLIGIBLE) coalition forces now support us.

ARRAF: One of the most important lessons Iraqis and Americans have learned on this base is how to work together. At first, Colonel Dhia says, "The Americans wouldn't say hello."

ABED: But now it's changed, everything. Now we can speak with him like he's a friend. ARRAF: Now they invite each other over for dinner. Then it's time for the night's mission. An Iraqi informant has told them where to find the suspected leader of the insurgency.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My guys are the first, and you follow (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I'll be in the back.

ARRAF: Almost two hours' drive into the countryside, the convoy reaches a farmhouse. But the man they're looking for isn't here.

Major Ismael, who says he's arrested more than 200 insurgents, is enraged at the informant, a member of the National Guard. "He put his men's life in danger," he tells him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The source didn't pan out exactly as we thought.

ARRAF: They decide to go back. "It wasn't a total failure," U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Pete Newell (ph) says. He says it was a victory that the Iraqis planned the mission, executed it and stuck with it.

The next day begins in tragedy. One of the National Guard, 24- year-old Amar Izbarataz (ph), is killed by a roadside bomb. It ripped through one of the unarmored vehicles the National Guard use. "He was a nationalist. He deserves martyrdom," says Major Ismael.

At the training center, the new Iraqi recruits are eating in the new cafeteria. They've all heard the news but seem undeterred. "Anyone who has a sense of nationalism and really wants to help his people isn't afraid," says (UNINTELLIGIBLE), just 22. Every one of them knows that the days ahead will likely bring a mix of tragedy and success. And above all, the chance to make a difference.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Back here at home, tensions are high, and the lines, they are long.

SANCHEZ: Yes, chances are you or someone you know is taking the flu vaccine shortage very seriously. Up next, Elizabeth Cohen joins us with the very latest information.

NGUYEN: And later, for a lot of vacationers, it's a family affair. Our "Getaway" segment shows you some of the nicest vacation destinations for you and yours.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, back here at home, tensions are high, and the lines, they are long. SANCHEZ: Yeah, chances are you or someone you know is taking the flu vaccine shortage very seriously. Up next, Elizabeth Cohen joins us with the very latest information.

And later, for a lot of vacationers, it's a family affair. Our "Getaway" segment shows you some of the nicest vacation destinations for you and yours.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DONNA ROSATO, WRITER, "MONEY": A great time to go on a Caribbean cruise is early December. You'll get a great combination of fantastic weather -- it's usually in the 70s or 80s. You'll get fewer crowds, and you'll get fantastic deals. Most people just can't get away, and they're doing their holiday shopping. So, tour companies usually offer very good package deals.

Hurricane season officially ends November 30th. While some resorts may still be recovering and rebuilding after the hurricanes this fall, if you're on a cruise, you won't have to worry about that. You can still get a lot of the island flavor without having to worry about whether your hotel has any problems.

In general, you're going to find very good deals throughout most of the area in the Caribbean.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: And here we go, a story that so many have been talking about -- the frenzy over flu shots is resulting in long lines and even lotteries. Federal health officials say they're trying to get the vaccines to those most at risk of the flu. But the director of the CDC says the U.S. must solve problems in manufacturing the flu shots.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CDC DIRECTOR: The stockpile is a mechanism to give manufacturers an incentive to increase their production and actually planned this year was more vaccine than we've ever been able to produce. Unfortunately, the manufacturer had problems with its processing.

But what we do need to do is to look nationally at a strategy that will allow us to have some surge capacity. We've got to modernize the vaccine that we're making. We've got to make sure the manufacturers have the incentives they need. And we need that liability reform so that they don't take the unfair risk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Well, here's what's developed throughout the day: The shortage of flu shots is "not" -- in quotations -- a health risk. That's according to the secretary of health and human services. But elderly people and others at high risk are concerned.

Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here with a flu shot update in our "Daily Dose" of health news. So, what gives?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it's interesting. I was talking to some experts on whether or not this really is going to be a health crisis or not. And basically, they said, well, it depends on how bad of a flu season it is.

Flu seasons can range from mild to severe. So, the fact that we only have half as many shots as we have in other years, well, that's going to be either -- could be more of a problem or less of a problem, depending upon the season.

Now, here what we're looking at is long lines in various parts of the country for flu shots. People are getting in line early, and they're staying in line. Some places five minutes after they open already don't have enough shots. And these long lines have caused seven states to put into effect some kind of emergency procedures.

These states -- Michigan, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Oregon, New Mexico, as well as the District of Columbia -- are saying either that they're going to have some serious consequences for price gougers, because since there's a shortage, some people are doing price gouging.

Or some of them have said that if a health care worker gives the shot to someone who is low risk that there's going to be repercussions for that. They're saying only give shots to the people who are high risk. Of course, the question then is: What exactly is high risk? Children between the ages of six and 23 months -- they're considered high risk. They're supposed to get a flu shot. All pregnant women are supposed to get flu shots, as well as anyone with a chronic disease, adult or child. And also, everyone over the age of 65.

And if you don't fall into those categories, it's actually illegal for a health care worker to give you a flu shot in some states. And in all states, they're not supposed to give them to you. If you're not in that category, you're not supposed to be getting a flu shot.

SANCHEZ: Democrats are expected to make a lot of hay out of this, of course making accusations toward the Bush administration. Do they have a valid argument?

COHEN: Well, it's a bad situation. I think there's one thing that everyone can agree on -- that the whole system for getting flu shots is just not what it should be. It's a little bit of a mess. It's done by the private sector, which means that a lot of companies don't want to do it. They say we're not making money, so we're not going to get into this business.

And some people will say it's not the president's fault, it's a situation he inherited. Others would say differently. Here's what Kerry had to say in Florida today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I understand there were some senior citizens who came out to listen to President Bush the other day, and he gave them -- he gave them the standard speech about prayer and flu shots. And that's the way it works. Under his plan, you don't have a prayer of getting a flu shot.

GERBERDING: Well, I'm sorry that this is becoming a political issue. This is really a health issue. And I think the bottom line is that the administration has requested a great deal of increase in the support for influenza.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: Now, Senator Kerry says that he has a plan, which involves things like insuring that more manufacturers start making flu shots. You know, President Bush's people say that they've been trying to do that now for a while.

SANCHEZ: Good information. Thanks a lot, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Thanks.

SANCHEZ: Certainly appreciate it.

To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, just log onto our Web site. It's where you'll find the latest medical new, a health library, and information on fitness, as well. The address -- ready -- cnn.com/health.

NGUYEN: Rick, and for a lot of folks, it is that time of year. Time to pack up the family and hit the road. Up next hour, "Getaway" segment looks at the best family-friendly vacations.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Are you looking for a fall getaway with the kids? "Travel & Leisure Family" magazine has polled its readers to come up with the best family-friendly resorts and hotels.

And Laura Begley is an auditor at "Travel & Leisure Family." She joins us at the Time Warner Center in New York this morning.

Good morning to you.

LAURA BEGLEY, TRAVEL & LEISURE FAMILY": Hi, good to be here.

NGUYEN: Well, that's wonderful.

We want to talk about some of these top picks, because I'm looking at the list here, and in the U.S. and Canada, I see Georgia there. I would have expected somewhere in California, Florida, but you have Georgia on the list.

BEGLEY: Well, the cloister on Sea Island, Georgia is an amazing resort. It's got a really long history. Eisenhower vacationed here, and George and Barbara Bush spent their honeymoon here, and it's really popular with families, who just come back generation after generation. They love the family program. There's everything you can imagine for kids, from snorkeling and sailing to even etiquette classes.

And, boy, do I wish -- I wish my parents would have known about this resort when I was a teenager, because the spa caters to kids 11 and up with special treatments, like teen facials.

NGUYEN: I thought you were going to say because you would have had better table manners.

BEGLEY: Well, maybe that, too. It could have helped me later in life.

NGUYEN: All right, well, let's move on to Canada, because that's also on the list.

BEGLEY: The Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello. And an interesting factoid: This hotel has the largest indoor pool in all of Canada. Perhaps that's why it tops the list for Canada with our readers.

NGUYEN: And that's the cheapest rate of the list of four that I have in front of me, $161 a night?

BEGLEY: It is. It's very affordable, a great value for your money. You know, Canada these days really is a great value for your money, and this place is a wilderness kingdom. The hotel is in the mountains of eastern Canada, on the shores of the Ottawa River. And in the summer, there's great programs for kids like going out and seeing live bears, which are quite safe, mind you; just keep at a safe distance. And in the winter, kids can go dogsledding and ice skating, and there are great things for parents, too, like the Land Rover Driving School.

NGUYEN: Stay around the safe bears, all right, note to self.

Dominican Republic, that's a nice place to get some sun.

BEGLEY: Oh, yes, Casa De Campo. I'd love to be there right now. This resort really is an all-in-one resort, and families love it because it's got just about everything. There's an equestrian center, there's a marina. And for families, there are four different kids clubs, because they acknowledge that teenagers might not really like to go lizard hunting. And interestingly, I know I'm on the teens today, but for teenagers, there are foam parties on the beach, which I think is pretty wild.

NGUYEN: Beach parties for teens. OK.

All right, Mexico, let's go there, but this place is a little pricey, 400 bucks a night?

BEGLEY: This is the most expensive on list, but it's worth every penny. The Four Seasons really is a luxurious resort, and this resort, north of Port Vie Arta (ph) and Pointa Meta (ph) does it all. They rollout the red carpet for kids. They ask the name and age of every kid before they arrive, and they give them welcome gifts, and there's mile and cookies every night. And there are really fun programs, too, like guacamole making and salsa dancing lessons. It's a lot of fun.

NGUYEN: Sounds like it. All right, Laura Begley, editor of "Travel & Leisure Family" magazine, has lots of great pictures. I'm ready to go somewhere after this one.

Thanks, Laura.

BEGLEY: Thanks.

SANCHEZ: What's a foam party?

NGUYEN: I guess it deals with a lot of foam, a lot of soapy suds, who knows.

SANCHEZ: It sounds like a lot of fun.

Tony Harris has probably been to a couple of foam parties in his life. He's coming up next, and bringing you the latest right here.

NGUYEN: Yes, minus the foam today, though.

Thanks for joining us for CNN LIVE TODAY.

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