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CNN Live Today

Kerry and Bush on Campaign Blitz; Costs of Waging War; Update on Scott Peterson Trial

Aired October 26, 2004 - 10:59   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at what is happening now in the news.
Federal investigators say pilot error caused the crash of American Airlines Flight 587. The plane went down shortly after takeoff from New York in 2001 after the tail broke off. Investigators say the co-pilot's response when the plane hit turbulence was unnecessary and aggressive. And they say American improperly trained pilots using the planes' rudders.

Iraq's interim prime minister today blamed negligence on some international forces for the weekend massacre of Iraqi National Guard troops. Prime Minister Ayad Allawi did not elaborate on his claim, but he says a committee is investigating the killings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYAD ALLAWI, IRAQI INTERIM PRIME MINISTER (through translator): There was a vicious crime, where a number of National Guards met martyrdom. And this has come as a result of negligence on the part of the multinational forces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Forty-four Iraqi troops and four drivers were shot to death east of Baghdad on Saturday.

Most of the vote counting is done in Afghanistan, and interim President Hamid Karzai has won 55 percent of the vote. Some final results are still trickling in, and the results won't be official until an investigation of voting irregularities is complete.

And the NASA Spacecraft Cassini is set to make the closest path ever to Saturn's moon, Titan. Beginning next hour, Cassini will begin snapping pictures of the icy-shrouded moon. It will be a while before we know if the pictures come out. The spacecraft won't be able to communicate with ground control until this evening.

It's just a minute past 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast. For those of you waking up on the West, just past 8:00.

From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez. And there's one week left, folks. KAGAN: Can you believe it?

SANCHEZ: All right. Here we go.

Up first this hour, after months of campaigning, just seven days remain before Americans go to the polls to elect the country's next president. As the campaign clock ticks down, both President Bush and John Kerry are on the campaign blitz in key battleground states.

President Bush is in Wisconsin right now for three planned events. The first stop, a rally in Onalaska. From there, the president travels to Richland Center, where he'll talk about the economy. And last, a rally in Cuba City. Afterward, the president heads to Dubuque, Iowa, to rally supporters there.

Senator John Kerry is also blazing through key showdown states. He began the day with an event in Green Bay, Wisconsin. From there, he travels across country to Las Vegas, Nevada, for a rally. Mr. Kerry then he touches down in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before heading to Sioux City, Iowa, where he'll spend the night.

Many of those trips do sound familiar, do they not? More now on who's doing what and where, just one week before Election Day.

We begin with the campaign trail for John Kerry in Green Bay, Wisconsin. That's where national correspondent Kelly Wallace is joining us with the very latest.

Good morning once again, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Rick.

Wisconsin definitely a popular state for these candidates, and there is a reason why. Al Gore narrowly won this state in 2000. So both John Kerry and George W. Bush fighting hard to win this state.

The senator just wrapped up a short time ago a speech. His aides calling it his final closing argument speech.

It was supposed to be mainly about homeland security, but a majority of it about the president's handling of Iraq. A second day of blistering attacks coming from Senator Kerry about those missing explosives in Iraq.

We know that the Bush-Cheney campaign has said that NBC News is reporting that those explosives were missing when American troops went to that facility shortly after the invasion. Well, in his remarks here, the senator sort of dismissing those comments coming from the Bush-Cheney campaign and also firing away at the president for not talking about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Mr. President, what else are you being silent about? What else are you keeping from the American people? How much more will the American people have to pay? The American people deserve a commander in chief who will tell the truth in good times and in bad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And there is a reason Senator Kerry is continuing to talk about the situation in Iraq. He is trying to narrow the president's advantage on the issue of national security.

If you look at polls, all of those polls consistently showing President Bush having a nearly 20-point advantage when it comes to who can better handle terrorism. What Senator Kerry is trying to do is make the issue of national security a referendum on the president's record and try and make the case that he is the candidate that can make the U.S. safer.

Now, from here, as we know, Senator Kerry heading to Nevada and New Mexico. And Rick, we have some news just in.

The senator getting some extra help on the campaign trail. Bruce Springsteen -- yes, The Boss -- will be stumping with John Kerry in Madison, Wisconsin, and Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday. And we are told, Rick, yes, he will definitely be singing.

SANCHEZ: What about former President Bill Clinton? I understand he was out there in Philadelphia yesterday, then he traveled to Florida for a short speech. Will he be used throughout the remainder of this campaign -- Kelly.

WALLACE: He certainly will. And Kerry advisers believe he can really, really help energize Democrats, African-Americans and American Jews.

The former president speaking, in fact, to a Jewish congregation this afternoon in Florida. Later in the week he goes to Nevada, New Mexico and Arkansas. And we've been talking about this.

Kerry advisers now saying Arkansas suddenly very close. They believe the former president, by going there, could potentially, potentially pull out a victory for John Kerry in Arkansas -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Yes, maybe a new story in the making. Thanks so much, Kelly Wallace, following the Kerry campaign for us. We'll get back to you, Kelly -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes very popular today. President Bush is also there. Our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, brings us an update from the campaign trail.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Bush leads a bus tour through Wisconsin and Iowa. They are two states that he narrowly lost back in 2000, but the Bush campaign believes they have got a shot at it this time around. Earlier today, I spoke with political adviser Karl Rove, who said that they are targeting three specific groups. First of all, areas in which the president has underperformed. Secondly, the excerpts (ph), those growing areas outside of suburbs and communities that typically don't vote. And, of course, the swing areas as well.

Now, today, President Bush for the first time made a direct appeal for the support of Democrats.

GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you believe America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence and resolve, I'd be honored to have your support. And I'm asking for your vote.

MALVEAUX: The focus, of course, on the stage was all about the president's economic agenda. But in the hallways, the talk, of course, was about the ongoing controversy over those missing explosives in Iraq.

Now, Karl Rove said he was so confident about an NBC report that he believes exonerates the president. He is considering e-mailing it to 7.5 million of President Bush's supporters.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Onalaska, Wisconsin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And determining who is ahead and by how much depends on which poll you're talking about. In our latest average of nationwide polls, President Bush has a slight edge. He leads Senator Kerry 49 percent to 46 percent in what we call our poll of polls. The difference is still within the five-point margin of error.

We're going to take a closer look at those polls and the story behind the numbers later this hour. Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider. will be along to talk about the presidential race.

On "NEWSNIGHT WITH AARON BROWN" tonight, Florida voters and the battle for the Sunshine State. That's at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, 7:00 Pacific.

SANCHEZ: An early morning airstrike in Falluja tops the latest news in the fight for Iraq. The U.S. military says the strike killed a known associate of wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. But a Falluja resident says the houses destroyed by the airstrike were empty.

There are new questions today about exactly when 380 tons of explosives disappeared from the Iraqi storage depot. An NBC News report says the explosives were missing when U.S. troops arrived at the facility a day after the fall of Baghdad. An Iraqi official says the material disappeared during looting after Saddam Hussein's regime fell.

President Bush plans to ask for about $70 billion more for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan early next year. That's according today's "Washington Post." The president has said for months that he would ask for additional money, assuming he wins re-election, but the $70 billion figure is the first estimate of exactly how much he would be asking for.

The financial cost of waging war and fighting terrorism is a political reality for both presidential candidates. Each says he has plans for winning in Iraq and protecting the U.S. But as Louise Schiavone reports, the bottom line may be the same for taxpayers no matter who wins.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOUISE SCHIAVONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On 9/11, George Bush became a war president. Since then, the fight against terror and the war on Iraq have not only framed the national debate, but also created a costly line item for taxpayers.

WILLIAM MARTEL, PROFESSOR, NAVAL WAR COLLEGE: We've spent about $100 billion on -- on the military dimensions of the -- of the war. We have a spend rate for military operations in Iraq that's on the order of $1 billion per week.

SCHIAVONE: The sniping between candidates is rich, from Democrats charging Bush was asleep at the switch when 380 tons of explosives vanished in Iraq...

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: These explosives could be used to take down more buildings and airplanes, to harm our troops and to detonate a nuclear weapon. All of these explosives are now gone. They vanished.

The site where they were stored has now been looted. And George Bush and Dick Cheney have no idea what's happened to them.

SCHIAVONE: ... to Republicans calling John Kerry unsuited to defend the nation.

BUSH: The senator calls America's missions in Iraq a mistake, a diversion, a colossal error. And then he says he's the right man to win the war? You cannot win a war you do not believe in fighting.

SCHIAVONE: In reality, both candidates promised to hunt down terrorists.

COL. THOMAS HAMMES, AUTHOR, "THE SLING AND THE STONE: It's a very important message that both candidates are putting out. A terrorist attack in the United States would reunify and have us come after them harder than ever.

SCHIAVONE: And both are committed to the war on terrorism and finishing what has been started in Iraq.

SUSAN RICE, KERRY CAMPAIGN ADVISER: And John Kerry has voted for the largest defense budgets in our nation's history. He is firmly committed to ensuring that we have the strongest possible defense. SCHIAVONE: No matter who wins, Iraq and anti-terrorism efforts are expected to total roughly $60 billion this fiscal year alone, including operations Noble Eagle, which involves combat air patrols at home, Enduring Freedom, anti-terror efforts around Afghanistan and beyond, Iraqi Freedom, plus the mobilization of reservists at home and additional active duty troops.

Analysts agree the merits of judgments passed and the strategies going forward may differ between candidates. But the cost to taxpayers may well stay the same.

Louise Schiavone, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: There is so much more that we are going to bring to you today. The defense could wrap it all up a little bit later. This after Scott Peterson's mother takes the stand in her son's defense. We're live from the courthouse in California.

KAGAN: Also, details on the disease. Your "Daily Dose" of health news looks at the kind of cancer affecting Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

SANCHEZ: And then later, talk may be cheap, but political talk makes money. Our own Richard Quest looks at how talk radio shows are baring their fangs and trying to change minds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The defense in the Scott Peterson murder trial could wrap up its case as early as today. Peterson's parents were among the latest witnesses to testify on their son's behalf.

Our Kimberly Osias is covering the trial. She is in Redwood City, California.

Kimberly, good morning.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Daryn.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos promised in opening arguments about five months ago to turn this case into an eyewitness case. Experts say so far he has failed to do that. But today, before the defense rests, two more witnesses are expected to be called.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OSIAS (voice-over): On the witness stand Monday, Scott's own parents, Lee and Jackie Peterson, both offering alternative explanations for their son's behavior on the day he was arrested in San Diego with two I.D.s and $15,000 cash in his car. His mother testified he sold his car to his brother and she had given the cash to Scott.

CHUCK SMITH, PROSECUTION LAWYER: I'm not convinced that a jury will conclude that mom went and got more than $10,000 in cash money instead of electronically transferring or writing a check, and all the other simple ways that people deal with money.

OSIAS: The prosecution believes that Peterson was fleeing to Mexico. It was just days after the bodies of an adult and a fetus washed ashore.

Monday, the defense tried to prove Peterson was only attempting to avoid reporters and private investigators he believed were following him. Taped phone conversations between Scott Peterson and his brother Joe were played in court.

SCOTT PETERSON, DEFENDANT: I don't think I should come play golf. I think I better skip it because I don't think I want a picture of me in the press.

OSIAS: Once again, Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, tried to refute and poke holes in the prosecution's case. In opening arguments, he promised proof of his client's stone-cold innocence. Observers say he has yet to provide a strong alternative theory for the murders of Peterson's pregnant wife Laci and their unborn son.

PAULA CANNY, LEGAL EXPERT: We all want a home run, but really the most effective cases are presented single, single, single, single. And eventually, you get to the homerun.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OSIAS: The jury is expected to hear lengthy instructions before they begin deliberations the day after Election Day on the 3rd -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And is this a sequestered jury? Remind us of that, Kimberly.

OSIAS: It is, in fact. It's actually the first time, Daryn, in San Mateo County that this has happened. And the reason probably is because they want to assure that this will be a pure jury. And it is the best way to get an untainted verdict.

KAGAN: Kimberly Osias in Redwood City. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Convicted sniper Lee Boyd Malvo is due court this afternoon. That's in Virginia. Malvo is already serving a life sentence for one of the sniper attacks that terrorized the D.C. area two years ago.

He is expected to plead guilty in two more Virginia deaths today. We hope to bring that to you live, by the way. It's scheduled to happen around 2:00 p.m. Eastern. The guilty plea will allow Malvo to avoid the death penalty. He and convicted sniper John Muhammad still face additional -- additional charges. Pardon me.

KAGAN: Weeks of water bring an awesome site. It is caught on camera. Parts of Japan come sliding down. Details on this.

SANCHEZ: And courage takes flight. A pilot who lost his leg takes to the skies once again. We'll bring you his story right here on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: And welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY. I'm Rick Sanchez, here with Daryn Kagan. A lot of news in the "World Wrap" overseas.

In fact, here's a story that we're starting off for you with. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to pull Jewish settlements out of Gaza appears to be headed toward approval. The Israeli parliament is expected to back the withdraw plan after two days of debate and months of bitter division.

KAGAN: The Saudi ambassador to Pakistan says he believes al Qaeda is behind a threatening package sent to the embassy in Islamabad. He says the package contained grenades and a letter that threatened to attack the Saudis if they remained in Pakistan. The ambassador says Saudi Arabia has no plans to leave.

SANCHEZ: Now to North Korea, where they are rejecting efforts to restart talks over their nuclear program. The North Korean news agency says the hostile policy of the United States makes it impossible to open talks. Pyongyang also accused the United States of playing politics with talks before next week's presidential election.

KAGAN: And I have some pictures now to show you of just how devastating the weekend earthquakes in northwest Japan were. The quakes triggered landslides and buckled roads. More than 103,000 people have been evacuated.

Among those evacuees, people afraid that the hundreds of aftershocks will cause even more destruction. At least 31 people were killed in those quakes.

SANCHEZ: Wow. No scenes like those here in the United States. In fact, it seems like across the country things are pretty smooth right now.

KAGAN: Let's check in with Jill Brown. She's watching the weather for us.

Hi, Jill.

(WEATHER REPORT)

SANCHEZ: All right. Thanks a lot, Jill.

KAGAN: Thank you.

An Air Force pilot's determination in the face of adversity led to a history-making flight today. Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Lourake began the first above-the-knee amputee to return to flying status in the history of the Defense Department. Lourake lost his left leg after an off-duty motorcycle accident in 1998, but he was determined to fly again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. COL. ANDREW LOURAKE, U.S. AIR FORCE: The dark days, I had a lot of them. The drugs and the pain do some really crazy things to your mind.

The way I essentially got over it was all the support from all my family, friends and co-workers. They are truly the stars of this story that enabled me to essentially get over everything that I had gone through and return to the cockpit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Lourake had to demonstrate that he could operate the pedals of his plane using his high-tech prosthesis. He will now be able to return to his job flying jets that transport the vice president and other top federal officials.

SANCHEZ: Wow, can you believe after all the debates, all the campaigns, all the rhetoric, all the news stories, one week?

KAGAN: One week from today.

SANCHEZ: One week.

KAGAN: I know where you will be.

SANCHEZ: Yes. Somehow I know where you will be, too, sitting next to me.

KAGAN: We're working a long shift. Exactly.

SANCHEZ: Your morning's most complete political wrap-up is going to be coming up as we talk about this very thing that Daryn and I were just engaged in, the polls and the polls of polls. We'll explain it all and we'll break it down with one of the best when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired October 26, 2004 - 10:59   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at what is happening now in the news.
Federal investigators say pilot error caused the crash of American Airlines Flight 587. The plane went down shortly after takeoff from New York in 2001 after the tail broke off. Investigators say the co-pilot's response when the plane hit turbulence was unnecessary and aggressive. And they say American improperly trained pilots using the planes' rudders.

Iraq's interim prime minister today blamed negligence on some international forces for the weekend massacre of Iraqi National Guard troops. Prime Minister Ayad Allawi did not elaborate on his claim, but he says a committee is investigating the killings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYAD ALLAWI, IRAQI INTERIM PRIME MINISTER (through translator): There was a vicious crime, where a number of National Guards met martyrdom. And this has come as a result of negligence on the part of the multinational forces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Forty-four Iraqi troops and four drivers were shot to death east of Baghdad on Saturday.

Most of the vote counting is done in Afghanistan, and interim President Hamid Karzai has won 55 percent of the vote. Some final results are still trickling in, and the results won't be official until an investigation of voting irregularities is complete.

And the NASA Spacecraft Cassini is set to make the closest path ever to Saturn's moon, Titan. Beginning next hour, Cassini will begin snapping pictures of the icy-shrouded moon. It will be a while before we know if the pictures come out. The spacecraft won't be able to communicate with ground control until this evening.

It's just a minute past 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast. For those of you waking up on the West, just past 8:00.

From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez. And there's one week left, folks. KAGAN: Can you believe it?

SANCHEZ: All right. Here we go.

Up first this hour, after months of campaigning, just seven days remain before Americans go to the polls to elect the country's next president. As the campaign clock ticks down, both President Bush and John Kerry are on the campaign blitz in key battleground states.

President Bush is in Wisconsin right now for three planned events. The first stop, a rally in Onalaska. From there, the president travels to Richland Center, where he'll talk about the economy. And last, a rally in Cuba City. Afterward, the president heads to Dubuque, Iowa, to rally supporters there.

Senator John Kerry is also blazing through key showdown states. He began the day with an event in Green Bay, Wisconsin. From there, he travels across country to Las Vegas, Nevada, for a rally. Mr. Kerry then he touches down in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before heading to Sioux City, Iowa, where he'll spend the night.

Many of those trips do sound familiar, do they not? More now on who's doing what and where, just one week before Election Day.

We begin with the campaign trail for John Kerry in Green Bay, Wisconsin. That's where national correspondent Kelly Wallace is joining us with the very latest.

Good morning once again, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Rick.

Wisconsin definitely a popular state for these candidates, and there is a reason why. Al Gore narrowly won this state in 2000. So both John Kerry and George W. Bush fighting hard to win this state.

The senator just wrapped up a short time ago a speech. His aides calling it his final closing argument speech.

It was supposed to be mainly about homeland security, but a majority of it about the president's handling of Iraq. A second day of blistering attacks coming from Senator Kerry about those missing explosives in Iraq.

We know that the Bush-Cheney campaign has said that NBC News is reporting that those explosives were missing when American troops went to that facility shortly after the invasion. Well, in his remarks here, the senator sort of dismissing those comments coming from the Bush-Cheney campaign and also firing away at the president for not talking about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Mr. President, what else are you being silent about? What else are you keeping from the American people? How much more will the American people have to pay? The American people deserve a commander in chief who will tell the truth in good times and in bad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And there is a reason Senator Kerry is continuing to talk about the situation in Iraq. He is trying to narrow the president's advantage on the issue of national security.

If you look at polls, all of those polls consistently showing President Bush having a nearly 20-point advantage when it comes to who can better handle terrorism. What Senator Kerry is trying to do is make the issue of national security a referendum on the president's record and try and make the case that he is the candidate that can make the U.S. safer.

Now, from here, as we know, Senator Kerry heading to Nevada and New Mexico. And Rick, we have some news just in.

The senator getting some extra help on the campaign trail. Bruce Springsteen -- yes, The Boss -- will be stumping with John Kerry in Madison, Wisconsin, and Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday. And we are told, Rick, yes, he will definitely be singing.

SANCHEZ: What about former President Bill Clinton? I understand he was out there in Philadelphia yesterday, then he traveled to Florida for a short speech. Will he be used throughout the remainder of this campaign -- Kelly.

WALLACE: He certainly will. And Kerry advisers believe he can really, really help energize Democrats, African-Americans and American Jews.

The former president speaking, in fact, to a Jewish congregation this afternoon in Florida. Later in the week he goes to Nevada, New Mexico and Arkansas. And we've been talking about this.

Kerry advisers now saying Arkansas suddenly very close. They believe the former president, by going there, could potentially, potentially pull out a victory for John Kerry in Arkansas -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Yes, maybe a new story in the making. Thanks so much, Kelly Wallace, following the Kerry campaign for us. We'll get back to you, Kelly -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes very popular today. President Bush is also there. Our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, brings us an update from the campaign trail.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Bush leads a bus tour through Wisconsin and Iowa. They are two states that he narrowly lost back in 2000, but the Bush campaign believes they have got a shot at it this time around. Earlier today, I spoke with political adviser Karl Rove, who said that they are targeting three specific groups. First of all, areas in which the president has underperformed. Secondly, the excerpts (ph), those growing areas outside of suburbs and communities that typically don't vote. And, of course, the swing areas as well.

Now, today, President Bush for the first time made a direct appeal for the support of Democrats.

GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you believe America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence and resolve, I'd be honored to have your support. And I'm asking for your vote.

MALVEAUX: The focus, of course, on the stage was all about the president's economic agenda. But in the hallways, the talk, of course, was about the ongoing controversy over those missing explosives in Iraq.

Now, Karl Rove said he was so confident about an NBC report that he believes exonerates the president. He is considering e-mailing it to 7.5 million of President Bush's supporters.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Onalaska, Wisconsin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And determining who is ahead and by how much depends on which poll you're talking about. In our latest average of nationwide polls, President Bush has a slight edge. He leads Senator Kerry 49 percent to 46 percent in what we call our poll of polls. The difference is still within the five-point margin of error.

We're going to take a closer look at those polls and the story behind the numbers later this hour. Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider. will be along to talk about the presidential race.

On "NEWSNIGHT WITH AARON BROWN" tonight, Florida voters and the battle for the Sunshine State. That's at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, 7:00 Pacific.

SANCHEZ: An early morning airstrike in Falluja tops the latest news in the fight for Iraq. The U.S. military says the strike killed a known associate of wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. But a Falluja resident says the houses destroyed by the airstrike were empty.

There are new questions today about exactly when 380 tons of explosives disappeared from the Iraqi storage depot. An NBC News report says the explosives were missing when U.S. troops arrived at the facility a day after the fall of Baghdad. An Iraqi official says the material disappeared during looting after Saddam Hussein's regime fell.

President Bush plans to ask for about $70 billion more for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan early next year. That's according today's "Washington Post." The president has said for months that he would ask for additional money, assuming he wins re-election, but the $70 billion figure is the first estimate of exactly how much he would be asking for.

The financial cost of waging war and fighting terrorism is a political reality for both presidential candidates. Each says he has plans for winning in Iraq and protecting the U.S. But as Louise Schiavone reports, the bottom line may be the same for taxpayers no matter who wins.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOUISE SCHIAVONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On 9/11, George Bush became a war president. Since then, the fight against terror and the war on Iraq have not only framed the national debate, but also created a costly line item for taxpayers.

WILLIAM MARTEL, PROFESSOR, NAVAL WAR COLLEGE: We've spent about $100 billion on -- on the military dimensions of the -- of the war. We have a spend rate for military operations in Iraq that's on the order of $1 billion per week.

SCHIAVONE: The sniping between candidates is rich, from Democrats charging Bush was asleep at the switch when 380 tons of explosives vanished in Iraq...

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: These explosives could be used to take down more buildings and airplanes, to harm our troops and to detonate a nuclear weapon. All of these explosives are now gone. They vanished.

The site where they were stored has now been looted. And George Bush and Dick Cheney have no idea what's happened to them.

SCHIAVONE: ... to Republicans calling John Kerry unsuited to defend the nation.

BUSH: The senator calls America's missions in Iraq a mistake, a diversion, a colossal error. And then he says he's the right man to win the war? You cannot win a war you do not believe in fighting.

SCHIAVONE: In reality, both candidates promised to hunt down terrorists.

COL. THOMAS HAMMES, AUTHOR, "THE SLING AND THE STONE: It's a very important message that both candidates are putting out. A terrorist attack in the United States would reunify and have us come after them harder than ever.

SCHIAVONE: And both are committed to the war on terrorism and finishing what has been started in Iraq.

SUSAN RICE, KERRY CAMPAIGN ADVISER: And John Kerry has voted for the largest defense budgets in our nation's history. He is firmly committed to ensuring that we have the strongest possible defense. SCHIAVONE: No matter who wins, Iraq and anti-terrorism efforts are expected to total roughly $60 billion this fiscal year alone, including operations Noble Eagle, which involves combat air patrols at home, Enduring Freedom, anti-terror efforts around Afghanistan and beyond, Iraqi Freedom, plus the mobilization of reservists at home and additional active duty troops.

Analysts agree the merits of judgments passed and the strategies going forward may differ between candidates. But the cost to taxpayers may well stay the same.

Louise Schiavone, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: There is so much more that we are going to bring to you today. The defense could wrap it all up a little bit later. This after Scott Peterson's mother takes the stand in her son's defense. We're live from the courthouse in California.

KAGAN: Also, details on the disease. Your "Daily Dose" of health news looks at the kind of cancer affecting Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

SANCHEZ: And then later, talk may be cheap, but political talk makes money. Our own Richard Quest looks at how talk radio shows are baring their fangs and trying to change minds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: The defense in the Scott Peterson murder trial could wrap up its case as early as today. Peterson's parents were among the latest witnesses to testify on their son's behalf.

Our Kimberly Osias is covering the trial. She is in Redwood City, California.

Kimberly, good morning.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Daryn.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos promised in opening arguments about five months ago to turn this case into an eyewitness case. Experts say so far he has failed to do that. But today, before the defense rests, two more witnesses are expected to be called.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OSIAS (voice-over): On the witness stand Monday, Scott's own parents, Lee and Jackie Peterson, both offering alternative explanations for their son's behavior on the day he was arrested in San Diego with two I.D.s and $15,000 cash in his car. His mother testified he sold his car to his brother and she had given the cash to Scott.

CHUCK SMITH, PROSECUTION LAWYER: I'm not convinced that a jury will conclude that mom went and got more than $10,000 in cash money instead of electronically transferring or writing a check, and all the other simple ways that people deal with money.

OSIAS: The prosecution believes that Peterson was fleeing to Mexico. It was just days after the bodies of an adult and a fetus washed ashore.

Monday, the defense tried to prove Peterson was only attempting to avoid reporters and private investigators he believed were following him. Taped phone conversations between Scott Peterson and his brother Joe were played in court.

SCOTT PETERSON, DEFENDANT: I don't think I should come play golf. I think I better skip it because I don't think I want a picture of me in the press.

OSIAS: Once again, Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, tried to refute and poke holes in the prosecution's case. In opening arguments, he promised proof of his client's stone-cold innocence. Observers say he has yet to provide a strong alternative theory for the murders of Peterson's pregnant wife Laci and their unborn son.

PAULA CANNY, LEGAL EXPERT: We all want a home run, but really the most effective cases are presented single, single, single, single. And eventually, you get to the homerun.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OSIAS: The jury is expected to hear lengthy instructions before they begin deliberations the day after Election Day on the 3rd -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And is this a sequestered jury? Remind us of that, Kimberly.

OSIAS: It is, in fact. It's actually the first time, Daryn, in San Mateo County that this has happened. And the reason probably is because they want to assure that this will be a pure jury. And it is the best way to get an untainted verdict.

KAGAN: Kimberly Osias in Redwood City. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Convicted sniper Lee Boyd Malvo is due court this afternoon. That's in Virginia. Malvo is already serving a life sentence for one of the sniper attacks that terrorized the D.C. area two years ago.

He is expected to plead guilty in two more Virginia deaths today. We hope to bring that to you live, by the way. It's scheduled to happen around 2:00 p.m. Eastern. The guilty plea will allow Malvo to avoid the death penalty. He and convicted sniper John Muhammad still face additional -- additional charges. Pardon me.

KAGAN: Weeks of water bring an awesome site. It is caught on camera. Parts of Japan come sliding down. Details on this.

SANCHEZ: And courage takes flight. A pilot who lost his leg takes to the skies once again. We'll bring you his story right here on CNN LIVE TODAY.

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SANCHEZ: And welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY. I'm Rick Sanchez, here with Daryn Kagan. A lot of news in the "World Wrap" overseas.

In fact, here's a story that we're starting off for you with. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to pull Jewish settlements out of Gaza appears to be headed toward approval. The Israeli parliament is expected to back the withdraw plan after two days of debate and months of bitter division.

KAGAN: The Saudi ambassador to Pakistan says he believes al Qaeda is behind a threatening package sent to the embassy in Islamabad. He says the package contained grenades and a letter that threatened to attack the Saudis if they remained in Pakistan. The ambassador says Saudi Arabia has no plans to leave.

SANCHEZ: Now to North Korea, where they are rejecting efforts to restart talks over their nuclear program. The North Korean news agency says the hostile policy of the United States makes it impossible to open talks. Pyongyang also accused the United States of playing politics with talks before next week's presidential election.

KAGAN: And I have some pictures now to show you of just how devastating the weekend earthquakes in northwest Japan were. The quakes triggered landslides and buckled roads. More than 103,000 people have been evacuated.

Among those evacuees, people afraid that the hundreds of aftershocks will cause even more destruction. At least 31 people were killed in those quakes.

SANCHEZ: Wow. No scenes like those here in the United States. In fact, it seems like across the country things are pretty smooth right now.

KAGAN: Let's check in with Jill Brown. She's watching the weather for us.

Hi, Jill.

(WEATHER REPORT)

SANCHEZ: All right. Thanks a lot, Jill.

KAGAN: Thank you.

An Air Force pilot's determination in the face of adversity led to a history-making flight today. Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Lourake began the first above-the-knee amputee to return to flying status in the history of the Defense Department. Lourake lost his left leg after an off-duty motorcycle accident in 1998, but he was determined to fly again.

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LT. COL. ANDREW LOURAKE, U.S. AIR FORCE: The dark days, I had a lot of them. The drugs and the pain do some really crazy things to your mind.

The way I essentially got over it was all the support from all my family, friends and co-workers. They are truly the stars of this story that enabled me to essentially get over everything that I had gone through and return to the cockpit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Lourake had to demonstrate that he could operate the pedals of his plane using his high-tech prosthesis. He will now be able to return to his job flying jets that transport the vice president and other top federal officials.

SANCHEZ: Wow, can you believe after all the debates, all the campaigns, all the rhetoric, all the news stories, one week?

KAGAN: One week from today.

SANCHEZ: One week.

KAGAN: I know where you will be.

SANCHEZ: Yes. Somehow I know where you will be, too, sitting next to me.

KAGAN: We're working a long shift. Exactly.

SANCHEZ: Your morning's most complete political wrap-up is going to be coming up as we talk about this very thing that Daryn and I were just engaged in, the polls and the polls of polls. We'll explain it all and we'll break it down with one of the best when we come back.

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