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American Morning

Super Tuesday Results; Interview With Hank Aaron

Aired March 03, 2004 - 9:00   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.


(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): John Kerry on a Super Tuesday juggernaut, setting the stage for the 2004 presidential election.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So the message rings out across the land tonight: Get ready. A New day is on the way.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANIDIDATE: I also want to take a moment and congratulate my friend, Senator John Kerry. He's run a strong, powerful campaign. He's been...

O'BRIEN: The candidate who wanted a two-man race, is he ready to say only one remains standing?

The scientific triumph of the rover. Now we know Mars was wet. So is it time to start looking for fossils?

And McDonald's ending an American tradition. Goodbye to the super size, on this AMERICAN MORNING.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING, with Soledad O'Brien and bill Hemmer.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It's 9:00 her in New York. Good morning again.

A lot of election coverage today. We'll get a complete wrap of Super Tuesday in a moment. Bill Schneider is along to talk about what issues will decide the election in November. Also, a look ahead to the announcement coming today from Senator John Edwards back in Raleigh, North Carolina.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, baseball's homerun king, Hank Aaron, is on the show to talk about the stars following in his footsteps, some of them now playing under a cloud of suspicion. Will the current steroids controversy forever tarnish the game?

HEMMER: We'll also have the commissioner talk about this gag order that was announced in USA Today, and keeping all the trainers away from batting practice at the clubhouse. A lot of stuff to get to. Serious implications for baseball. Back to politics, first, though, Super Tuesday was just that for Senator John Kerry. The long-established Democratic presidential front-runner all but locked up the nomination by winning nine of 10 contests yesterday. Former Governor Howard Dean, suspending his campaign last month, prevented a Kerry sweep by winning his home state of Vermont. Senator Kerry's powerful performanceance was sending his main rival, Senator John Edwards, to the sidelines.

And Bob Franken has more on that. He picks up our coverage in Annapolis, Maryland, where they voted there yesterday as well.

Bob, good morning.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Well, Howard Dean finally found the formula for victory, but Super Tuesday is so yesterday. And for awhile, at least, as far as the Democrats are concerned, we face a series ho-hum Tuesdays.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): John Edwards will pull out of the race this afternoon. Even before all the states' bad news had come in, his staff put out the word, it's over when it's almost over.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANIDIDATE: We have been the little engine that could, and I'm proud of what we've done together, you and I.

FRANKEN: Ultimately, the John Edwards engine could not. It ran out of steam. John Kerry could finally take a breath of satisfaction. President Bush called to offer congratulations. What warm feelings there were lasted just a moment.

KERRY: The Bush administration has run the most inept, reckless, arrogant and ideological foreign policy in the modern history of our country. And we will reverse that course.

FRANKEN: John Kerry swamped John Edwards, but did nothing to drown out talk of Edwards as vice president.

KERRY: There is no question that John Edwards brings a compelling voice to our party, great eloquence to the cause of working men and women all across our nation, and great promise for leadership for the years to come.

EDWARDS: I also want to take a moment and congratulate my friend, Senator John Kerry. He's run a strong, powerful campaign. He's been an extraordinary...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: And in retrospect, the Democratic nomination campaign will be looking like sweetness in light compared to the battle ahead between John Kerry and George W. Bush, Bill. It's going to be ugly.

HEMMER: Bob Franken, thanks, there in Annapolis.

Now Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Well, eight months from now we'll be reporting on the results of the general election. So what can we be looking forward to between now and then?

Senior political analyst Bill Schneider joins us from our election headquarters in Atlanta this morning.

Nice to see you, Bill. Good morning to you.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: You have said that this election come November is going to be a referendum on the president's record. What exactly do you mean by that?

SCHNEIDER: What I mean is that the White House would like to make it a referendum on John Kerry's record, 6,000 votes in 19 years. But when an incumbent president is running for re-election, the basic issue the voters will confront is this: do we want to hire him for another term, or do you want to fire him, as they did his father after one term?

This president has actually gotten off to a weak start this year. His initiatives on space exploration and immigration were very unpopular. His state of the union speech did not go over well, nor did his one-hour interview on "Meet the Press." And his credibility is now in question over weapons of mass destruction and budget numbers. In the end, that is going to be what this is about, hiring or firing this president.

O'BRIEN: What do you think are the critical issues for the voters before they head to the polls?

SCHNEIDER: Well, there are several issues, and right now they don't look terribly good for President Bush. One is Iraq. The war in Iraq was a great success, most Americans believe, but the occupation, that's a different story.

There are going to be troop rotations. There's going to be a deadline, supposedly June 30 for turning over power. Americans want to know, how does the U.S. get out of there, and how do we at least get the situation under control?

Second issue, jobs. More than two million jobs have been lost since Bush became president, and that is going to be a continuing issue haunting the White House.

And third, the deficit. A huge record budget deficit. The deficit is rarely an issue, but Alan Greenspan, the Federal Reserve chairman, put it on the agenda by saying it threatens Social Security.

O'BRIEN: Some of those issues, as you mention, I mean, Iraq, especially, are issues in flux. Things could change tomorrow or the day after, which could throw the election completely in another direction, right?

SCHNEIDER: Absolutely. There are all kinds of events that could happen. Here are a few of them.

There could be a trial beginning of Saddam Hussein that could be one of the most watched trials in history with atrocities recited day after day, reminding Americans of why the U.S. went to war in Iraq. Osama bin Laden could be captured. The White House, the administration has stepped up its efforts to hunt him down. If he is captured, believe me, that would throw everything up in the air in this election.

And third, the news about job growth could suddenly get a lot better. The administration is unlikely to recapture those two million jobs that have been lost. But if there are hopeful signs, it could turn the election around.

O'BRIEN: Many people talking about who potentially could be the vice presidential candidate. And John Kerry and Senator John Edwards both saying very complimentary things about each other yesterday. Where do you think it's going to go? Who would you predict?

SCHNEIDER: Oh, it's hard to predict. I always say there are 10 reasons why you pick a running mate. Reason number one, pick someone who will hip you win. The other nine reasons don't matter.

Well, John Edwards, Democrats like him. He gave a very good impression. He didn't win a single primary, but in state after state we asked people, "Would you be satisfied with him as the nominee?" And they said yes.

But there's also Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico. He's Hispanic and he has international experience.

There are two Democratic senators from Florida. Florida, a very important state. And, of course, Dick Gephardt could run hard in the Midwest on the economic issue, which is the battleground for this election.

O'BRIEN: Bill Schneider joining us this morning. Nice to see you, as always. Thanks.

SCHNEIDER: OK.

O'BRIEN: Coming up, we're going to get a live report from Raleigh, where Senator John Edwards is expected to drop out of the race this afternoon. You can also see live coverage of the senator's announcement at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. That's 1:00, of course, on the West Coast.

HEMMER: Other headlines now "At this Hour."

From Iraq, a missile attack in Baghdad today, killing at least one person, knocking out international phone service in much of the country. The assault comes as Iraq starts a three-day period of morning.

More than 100 are dead after the bombings yesterday in Baghdad and Karbala. Fifteen people so far have been detained in connection with the blast in Karbala.

Palestinian security sources say an Israeli air strike has left three dead in Gaza. Senior Hamas activists were said to be traveling in a car when Israeli helicopters fired missiles from overhead. The incident taking place just about an hour ago. The Israeli army confirming the strike and says the militants were involved in a large number of attacks against Israelis.

In this country, in Colorado, lawyers in the Kobe Bryant case will be allowed to ask the accuser detailed questions about her sexual history. A judge decided yesterday to not limit the scope of questioning on her sexual past. The accuser will appear at a closed hearing in about three weeks, in the same room as Kobe Bryant. Bryant is accused of sexual assault in Colorado in June of last year.

A major victory for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governor last night hailed the passage of his fiscal plan. Proposition 57 allows the state to float up to $15 billion in bonds and consolidate past debt without a tax increase. A companion measure, Prop 58, also passed in California.

Wedding bells soon may be ringing in Oregon. Gay marriage is picking up steam there. Today, same-sex couples lining up in Portland earlier today before the sun came up to try and get marriage licenses. Some waited overnight. A judge says she is ready to start performing the marriage ceremonies.

We'll talk to the mayor of New Paltz, New York, about 60 miles from here in New York City, at the bottom of the hour here. He's expected in court later today for violating what the state says is state law. We'll get his thoughts on that.

O'BRIEN: Yes. He's in legal trouble, so we'll see what his next step is on that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HEMMER: In a moment here, Hammering Hank, number 755, will join us. Henry Aaron, the homerun king, to talk about what he thinks the new steroid accusations in Major League Baseball could lead toward. We'll talk about that in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Also, what led the NRA to call on lawmakers to reject a gun bill that it had originally supported? We're going to take you live to Capitol Hill for more on that.

HEMMER: And was the Red Planet once soaked in water? We'll hear from a NASA specialist about this discovery and announcement from yesterday, what it means today.

Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Barry Bonds, five other major leaguers and a pro- football player all received steroids. That's according to a San Francisco Chronicle report out yesterday. The paper says that information comes from government sources.

Not one of the players has been accused of any crime, and The Chronicle does not say that any actually took the drugs. Bonds' attorney says -- I'm quoting now -- "This latest pronouncement is a complete disregard to the truth, to Barry Bonds' inherent athletic ability and his tremendous accomplishments as a Major League Baseball player for the past 18 years."

The latest bombshell hit baseball just about a month ago, before opening day. Players are in camp in Florida and in Arizona. Baseball's all-time home run leader, Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron, joins us from Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia, number 755.

Great to talk to you again, Mr. Aaron. Good morning to you.

HANK AARON, MEMBER, BASEBALL HALL OF FAME: Thanks very much, Bill. It's nice talking with you.

HEMMER: What do you make of the allegations that are now swirling around the sport that you gave so much toward for so many years?

AARONS: Well, it's messy, really, and it's a concern, I guess, of everybody who has ever played the game, who are interested in the game. But I hope that all of these allegations, the one that has been written in the paper, said on television, that none of this is true. You know, I hope that, but if it is true, this could probably set baseball back worse than the White Sox gambles, I guess.

HEMMER: Wow, that is a heck of a thing for you to say. A messy situation, and setting it back to the situation back in 1919.

Barry Bonds is chasing your record right now. And I just read this statement from his attorney that he made yesterday.

This is what you said about Barry Bonds back in November of 2002: "It's amazing to see what Barry Bonds has done. I admire his consistency. I would not be surprised to see him break my own record. He's a tremendous hitter, in great shape. I've had that record long enough."

If the story continues to swirl around Barry Bonds, and if they prove it, how badly does that taint the record he's chasing and also his reputation in the game today?

AARONS: Well, you know, rather than me sit here and say anything about Barry Bonds until something is proven, you know, that he's taken steroids, the only thing I can say is that he is a terrific ballplayer. He has done some terrific things. And I am just hoping and praying that all of this is just nothing but allegations, that there is no truth to anything that I've read in the paper, and I just pray that none of this is happening.

You know, not only to Barry Bonds, but to any of the athletes. I just hope that all of this is just something we all dreamed about and it's going to be passed over.

HEMMER: Yes. I don't know if you saw the article this morning on Bud Selig, the baseball commissioner in USA Today. It says a gag order is now being placed on baseball not to talk about this. We can get this off the screen. I want to get your reaction to what the commissioner is saying regarding this.

AARONS: I didn't read it. I don't know what the commissioner said, because I've not talked to Bud Selig, and I don't know what is being said, really.

HEMMER: Let me bypass that then. Over the weekend, this news came out that Bud Selig is trying to keep trainers and all people who are not directly related to the team itself and the roster out of the clubhouse, away from the batting cages. Do you think that's a smart move?

AARONS: Well, I think it's a smart move. You know, the thing that is -- you know, if you look at all of these things that's happening in baseball, if you look -- go in the clubhouse, and you have some player sitting there who is making $6 million or $7 million a year, or whatever he's making, and he's weighing 250, and then you have some player sitting aside of him weighing 175 pounds, he says, well, whatever you're doing, I like to do what you're doing. If that means steroids, I'd like to do the same thing you're doing.

So these are the things. So I think if the commissioner said, everybody out of the clubhouse, I think it kind of washes their hands clean. So you can't have all of these people just walking in the clubhouse where the players are supposed to be, because all of these allegations that are being swirled around now is because so many people have direct contact with the players in the clubhouse. And they shouldn't go in the clubhouse.

HEMMER: Henry Aaron, it's a pleasure talking to you. And we'll continue to follow this story. Opening day about a month ago. Appreciate it. Thank you, live in Atlanta today.

AARONS: Thank you.

HEMMER: All right.

Here's Soledad.

O'BRIEN: A bill that would have shielded the gun industry from lawsuits was expected to pass easily in the Senate yesterday, but a dramatic turnaround killed the measure, with even the National Rifle Association asking supporters to reject it.

Joe Johns is live on Capitol Hill for us this morning with more.

Joe, good morning. JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

The NRA turned against the bill because of gun control amendments, including an extension of the 10-year-old assault weapons ban. Also, another amendment seeking background checks on people who buy weapons at gun shows. The National Rifle Association, which first backed the measure, then suddenly turned around, looking at those amendments, asking its supporters in the United States Senate to reject the bill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LARRY CRAIG (R), IDAHO: I'd love to see this bill pass. But I now believe it is so dramatically wounded that it should not pass. And I would urge my colleagues to vote against it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Presidential politics also played a role in all of this. Senators John Edwards and John Kerry returned briefly from the campaign trail to vote on the amendments. Kerry attacked the administration for, in his view, reneging on its promise to support the assault weapons ban.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERRY: President Bush promised the American people that he would work to renew the assault weapons ban. But now under pressure, he's walking away from that commitment, as he has from so many other promises, from education, to the environment, to the economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: For the record, the administration had made it quite clear that it does support the assault weapons ban. But simply, it did not want the ban attached to this particular bill -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: So does that mean then that the assaults weapon ban is a dead issue or not?

JOHNS: The backers of the bill say now that they know they have the votes in the United States Senate, they do plan to bring this bill up again and again and again to try to get it passed before the ban expires in September -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: All right. Joe Johns for us on Capitol Hill. Thanks, Joe.

HEMMER: In a moment here, a young mayor from New York State facing charges for presiding over same-sex marriages. He's expected in court today. His side of the story in a moment. We'll talk to him live here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) O'BRIEN: The folks of Killington, Vermont, say they want out. The ski community has voted secede from Vermont. Residents want to be part of New Hampshire now.

Voters endorsed the plan yesterday, capping years of discontent there with the state's financing of schools. But it is unlikely that the Vermont legislature will actually back that change.

HEMMER: Cafferty was all over that story earlier in the week. Last week it was.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: What story was that?

HEMMER: Killington, Vermont.

CAFFERTY: Oh, yes. They voted to secede.

HEMMER: Yes.

CAFFERTY: Yes, New Hampshire, Vermont, Vermont, New Hampshire.

O'BRIEN: Tax issue.

CAFFERTY: So who do you think ought to be Kerry's running mate?

HEMMER: A couple of choices out there, Evan Bayh, Bill Richardson, John Edwards, Jack Cafferty.

CAFFERTY: I'm sorry I asked. Jack -- yes, Jack Cafferty.

That's the question, anyway. Who should he pick, who should he avoid?

Joel, in Colleyville, Texas: "Kerry should consider John Breaux from Louisiana or Charlie Stenholm from Texas, two southern Dems with solid, conservative credentials. Jack's probably right that Kerry won't win the South, but he doesn't really have to win the South. He just has to put at least one state into play, and both Louisiana and Florida are doable."

Richard in Toronto, Canada: "I think John Kerry should get Justice Antonin Scalia as his running mate. That way victory is assured no matter which way the votes go. Just like last time."

Vicky in North Carolina: "As a female southern Democrat who voted Republican in the last election because Al Gore is an idiot -- oh, wait, back to the question. John Kerry should choose John Edwards as his running mate."

Patrick in Nebraska: "If you think the vice presidency doesn't matter, I've got a ranch in Crawford, Texas to sell you. Remember what they say, George W. Bush is only a heartbeat away from the presidency."

And Matthew, "If Kerry could pick Jesus Christ for a running mate, then Mel Gibson could direct and produce "The Passion of the Vice President." Then and only then could Kerry win in the South."

People are nuts.

HEMMER: You think he'd go for a woman?

CAFFERTY: That's been tried. Remember Geraldine Ferraro, how well that worked?

HEMMER: Right, 1984. It's 20 years later. Would he do it?

CAFFERTY: What woman would you suggest?

HEMMER: I don't know. I'm just offering.

CAFFERTY: I mean, give us names. We want names.

HEMMER: I don't have that.

CAFFERTY: No names? I don't know. Maybe he will.

HEMMER: Carol Cafferty?

CAFFERTY: Yeah, right.

HEMMER: In a moment, attention carb watchers.

CAFFERTY: You're as crazy as the viewers.

HEMMER: Some days, you're exactly right.

Is that diet affecting your mood? Sanjay is back with some answers right after this.

Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: About 7:29 here in New York City. We'll get to the opening bell in a moment.

Super Tuesday results in a moment. Also, a huge night for John Kerry, nine of 10 states. What should that do now for his campaign? It pretty much locks it up. We'll talk about what John Edwards is going to announce a bit later today, too. So stay tuned for that.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, we talk with the mayor of New Paltz, New York, who now faces criminal charges for presiding over gay marriage ceremonies. How does he plan to fight them? We're going to ask him.

Also, a NASA scientist on the program talking about the likelihood of discovering evidence of life on Mars.

Plus, Sanjay Gupta is going to be back to talk about the problem of mood swings of the people who are on the Atkins diet.

HEMMER: I don't like that talk.

O'BRIEN: But they lose weight.

HEMMER: That's right.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)







Aired March 3, 2004 - 9:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): John Kerry on a Super Tuesday juggernaut, setting the stage for the 2004 presidential election.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So the message rings out across the land tonight: Get ready. A New day is on the way.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANIDIDATE: I also want to take a moment and congratulate my friend, Senator John Kerry. He's run a strong, powerful campaign. He's been...

O'BRIEN: The candidate who wanted a two-man race, is he ready to say only one remains standing?

The scientific triumph of the rover. Now we know Mars was wet. So is it time to start looking for fossils?

And McDonald's ending an American tradition. Goodbye to the super size, on this AMERICAN MORNING.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING, with Soledad O'Brien and bill Hemmer.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It's 9:00 her in New York. Good morning again.

A lot of election coverage today. We'll get a complete wrap of Super Tuesday in a moment. Bill Schneider is along to talk about what issues will decide the election in November. Also, a look ahead to the announcement coming today from Senator John Edwards back in Raleigh, North Carolina.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, baseball's homerun king, Hank Aaron, is on the show to talk about the stars following in his footsteps, some of them now playing under a cloud of suspicion. Will the current steroids controversy forever tarnish the game?

HEMMER: We'll also have the commissioner talk about this gag order that was announced in USA Today, and keeping all the trainers away from batting practice at the clubhouse. A lot of stuff to get to. Serious implications for baseball. Back to politics, first, though, Super Tuesday was just that for Senator John Kerry. The long-established Democratic presidential front-runner all but locked up the nomination by winning nine of 10 contests yesterday. Former Governor Howard Dean, suspending his campaign last month, prevented a Kerry sweep by winning his home state of Vermont. Senator Kerry's powerful performanceance was sending his main rival, Senator John Edwards, to the sidelines.

And Bob Franken has more on that. He picks up our coverage in Annapolis, Maryland, where they voted there yesterday as well.

Bob, good morning.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Well, Howard Dean finally found the formula for victory, but Super Tuesday is so yesterday. And for awhile, at least, as far as the Democrats are concerned, we face a series ho-hum Tuesdays.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): John Edwards will pull out of the race this afternoon. Even before all the states' bad news had come in, his staff put out the word, it's over when it's almost over.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANIDIDATE: We have been the little engine that could, and I'm proud of what we've done together, you and I.

FRANKEN: Ultimately, the John Edwards engine could not. It ran out of steam. John Kerry could finally take a breath of satisfaction. President Bush called to offer congratulations. What warm feelings there were lasted just a moment.

KERRY: The Bush administration has run the most inept, reckless, arrogant and ideological foreign policy in the modern history of our country. And we will reverse that course.

FRANKEN: John Kerry swamped John Edwards, but did nothing to drown out talk of Edwards as vice president.

KERRY: There is no question that John Edwards brings a compelling voice to our party, great eloquence to the cause of working men and women all across our nation, and great promise for leadership for the years to come.

EDWARDS: I also want to take a moment and congratulate my friend, Senator John Kerry. He's run a strong, powerful campaign. He's been an extraordinary...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: And in retrospect, the Democratic nomination campaign will be looking like sweetness in light compared to the battle ahead between John Kerry and George W. Bush, Bill. It's going to be ugly.

HEMMER: Bob Franken, thanks, there in Annapolis.

Now Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Well, eight months from now we'll be reporting on the results of the general election. So what can we be looking forward to between now and then?

Senior political analyst Bill Schneider joins us from our election headquarters in Atlanta this morning.

Nice to see you, Bill. Good morning to you.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: You have said that this election come November is going to be a referendum on the president's record. What exactly do you mean by that?

SCHNEIDER: What I mean is that the White House would like to make it a referendum on John Kerry's record, 6,000 votes in 19 years. But when an incumbent president is running for re-election, the basic issue the voters will confront is this: do we want to hire him for another term, or do you want to fire him, as they did his father after one term?

This president has actually gotten off to a weak start this year. His initiatives on space exploration and immigration were very unpopular. His state of the union speech did not go over well, nor did his one-hour interview on "Meet the Press." And his credibility is now in question over weapons of mass destruction and budget numbers. In the end, that is going to be what this is about, hiring or firing this president.

O'BRIEN: What do you think are the critical issues for the voters before they head to the polls?

SCHNEIDER: Well, there are several issues, and right now they don't look terribly good for President Bush. One is Iraq. The war in Iraq was a great success, most Americans believe, but the occupation, that's a different story.

There are going to be troop rotations. There's going to be a deadline, supposedly June 30 for turning over power. Americans want to know, how does the U.S. get out of there, and how do we at least get the situation under control?

Second issue, jobs. More than two million jobs have been lost since Bush became president, and that is going to be a continuing issue haunting the White House.

And third, the deficit. A huge record budget deficit. The deficit is rarely an issue, but Alan Greenspan, the Federal Reserve chairman, put it on the agenda by saying it threatens Social Security.

O'BRIEN: Some of those issues, as you mention, I mean, Iraq, especially, are issues in flux. Things could change tomorrow or the day after, which could throw the election completely in another direction, right?

SCHNEIDER: Absolutely. There are all kinds of events that could happen. Here are a few of them.

There could be a trial beginning of Saddam Hussein that could be one of the most watched trials in history with atrocities recited day after day, reminding Americans of why the U.S. went to war in Iraq. Osama bin Laden could be captured. The White House, the administration has stepped up its efforts to hunt him down. If he is captured, believe me, that would throw everything up in the air in this election.

And third, the news about job growth could suddenly get a lot better. The administration is unlikely to recapture those two million jobs that have been lost. But if there are hopeful signs, it could turn the election around.

O'BRIEN: Many people talking about who potentially could be the vice presidential candidate. And John Kerry and Senator John Edwards both saying very complimentary things about each other yesterday. Where do you think it's going to go? Who would you predict?

SCHNEIDER: Oh, it's hard to predict. I always say there are 10 reasons why you pick a running mate. Reason number one, pick someone who will hip you win. The other nine reasons don't matter.

Well, John Edwards, Democrats like him. He gave a very good impression. He didn't win a single primary, but in state after state we asked people, "Would you be satisfied with him as the nominee?" And they said yes.

But there's also Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico. He's Hispanic and he has international experience.

There are two Democratic senators from Florida. Florida, a very important state. And, of course, Dick Gephardt could run hard in the Midwest on the economic issue, which is the battleground for this election.

O'BRIEN: Bill Schneider joining us this morning. Nice to see you, as always. Thanks.

SCHNEIDER: OK.

O'BRIEN: Coming up, we're going to get a live report from Raleigh, where Senator John Edwards is expected to drop out of the race this afternoon. You can also see live coverage of the senator's announcement at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. That's 1:00, of course, on the West Coast.

HEMMER: Other headlines now "At this Hour."

From Iraq, a missile attack in Baghdad today, killing at least one person, knocking out international phone service in much of the country. The assault comes as Iraq starts a three-day period of morning.

More than 100 are dead after the bombings yesterday in Baghdad and Karbala. Fifteen people so far have been detained in connection with the blast in Karbala.

Palestinian security sources say an Israeli air strike has left three dead in Gaza. Senior Hamas activists were said to be traveling in a car when Israeli helicopters fired missiles from overhead. The incident taking place just about an hour ago. The Israeli army confirming the strike and says the militants were involved in a large number of attacks against Israelis.

In this country, in Colorado, lawyers in the Kobe Bryant case will be allowed to ask the accuser detailed questions about her sexual history. A judge decided yesterday to not limit the scope of questioning on her sexual past. The accuser will appear at a closed hearing in about three weeks, in the same room as Kobe Bryant. Bryant is accused of sexual assault in Colorado in June of last year.

A major victory for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governor last night hailed the passage of his fiscal plan. Proposition 57 allows the state to float up to $15 billion in bonds and consolidate past debt without a tax increase. A companion measure, Prop 58, also passed in California.

Wedding bells soon may be ringing in Oregon. Gay marriage is picking up steam there. Today, same-sex couples lining up in Portland earlier today before the sun came up to try and get marriage licenses. Some waited overnight. A judge says she is ready to start performing the marriage ceremonies.

We'll talk to the mayor of New Paltz, New York, about 60 miles from here in New York City, at the bottom of the hour here. He's expected in court later today for violating what the state says is state law. We'll get his thoughts on that.

O'BRIEN: Yes. He's in legal trouble, so we'll see what his next step is on that.

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HEMMER: In a moment here, Hammering Hank, number 755, will join us. Henry Aaron, the homerun king, to talk about what he thinks the new steroid accusations in Major League Baseball could lead toward. We'll talk about that in a moment.

O'BRIEN: Also, what led the NRA to call on lawmakers to reject a gun bill that it had originally supported? We're going to take you live to Capitol Hill for more on that.

HEMMER: And was the Red Planet once soaked in water? We'll hear from a NASA specialist about this discovery and announcement from yesterday, what it means today.

Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Barry Bonds, five other major leaguers and a pro- football player all received steroids. That's according to a San Francisco Chronicle report out yesterday. The paper says that information comes from government sources.

Not one of the players has been accused of any crime, and The Chronicle does not say that any actually took the drugs. Bonds' attorney says -- I'm quoting now -- "This latest pronouncement is a complete disregard to the truth, to Barry Bonds' inherent athletic ability and his tremendous accomplishments as a Major League Baseball player for the past 18 years."

The latest bombshell hit baseball just about a month ago, before opening day. Players are in camp in Florida and in Arizona. Baseball's all-time home run leader, Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron, joins us from Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia, number 755.

Great to talk to you again, Mr. Aaron. Good morning to you.

HANK AARON, MEMBER, BASEBALL HALL OF FAME: Thanks very much, Bill. It's nice talking with you.

HEMMER: What do you make of the allegations that are now swirling around the sport that you gave so much toward for so many years?

AARONS: Well, it's messy, really, and it's a concern, I guess, of everybody who has ever played the game, who are interested in the game. But I hope that all of these allegations, the one that has been written in the paper, said on television, that none of this is true. You know, I hope that, but if it is true, this could probably set baseball back worse than the White Sox gambles, I guess.

HEMMER: Wow, that is a heck of a thing for you to say. A messy situation, and setting it back to the situation back in 1919.

Barry Bonds is chasing your record right now. And I just read this statement from his attorney that he made yesterday.

This is what you said about Barry Bonds back in November of 2002: "It's amazing to see what Barry Bonds has done. I admire his consistency. I would not be surprised to see him break my own record. He's a tremendous hitter, in great shape. I've had that record long enough."

If the story continues to swirl around Barry Bonds, and if they prove it, how badly does that taint the record he's chasing and also his reputation in the game today?

AARONS: Well, you know, rather than me sit here and say anything about Barry Bonds until something is proven, you know, that he's taken steroids, the only thing I can say is that he is a terrific ballplayer. He has done some terrific things. And I am just hoping and praying that all of this is just nothing but allegations, that there is no truth to anything that I've read in the paper, and I just pray that none of this is happening.

You know, not only to Barry Bonds, but to any of the athletes. I just hope that all of this is just something we all dreamed about and it's going to be passed over.

HEMMER: Yes. I don't know if you saw the article this morning on Bud Selig, the baseball commissioner in USA Today. It says a gag order is now being placed on baseball not to talk about this. We can get this off the screen. I want to get your reaction to what the commissioner is saying regarding this.

AARONS: I didn't read it. I don't know what the commissioner said, because I've not talked to Bud Selig, and I don't know what is being said, really.

HEMMER: Let me bypass that then. Over the weekend, this news came out that Bud Selig is trying to keep trainers and all people who are not directly related to the team itself and the roster out of the clubhouse, away from the batting cages. Do you think that's a smart move?

AARONS: Well, I think it's a smart move. You know, the thing that is -- you know, if you look at all of these things that's happening in baseball, if you look -- go in the clubhouse, and you have some player sitting there who is making $6 million or $7 million a year, or whatever he's making, and he's weighing 250, and then you have some player sitting aside of him weighing 175 pounds, he says, well, whatever you're doing, I like to do what you're doing. If that means steroids, I'd like to do the same thing you're doing.

So these are the things. So I think if the commissioner said, everybody out of the clubhouse, I think it kind of washes their hands clean. So you can't have all of these people just walking in the clubhouse where the players are supposed to be, because all of these allegations that are being swirled around now is because so many people have direct contact with the players in the clubhouse. And they shouldn't go in the clubhouse.

HEMMER: Henry Aaron, it's a pleasure talking to you. And we'll continue to follow this story. Opening day about a month ago. Appreciate it. Thank you, live in Atlanta today.

AARONS: Thank you.

HEMMER: All right.

Here's Soledad.

O'BRIEN: A bill that would have shielded the gun industry from lawsuits was expected to pass easily in the Senate yesterday, but a dramatic turnaround killed the measure, with even the National Rifle Association asking supporters to reject it.

Joe Johns is live on Capitol Hill for us this morning with more.

Joe, good morning. JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

The NRA turned against the bill because of gun control amendments, including an extension of the 10-year-old assault weapons ban. Also, another amendment seeking background checks on people who buy weapons at gun shows. The National Rifle Association, which first backed the measure, then suddenly turned around, looking at those amendments, asking its supporters in the United States Senate to reject the bill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LARRY CRAIG (R), IDAHO: I'd love to see this bill pass. But I now believe it is so dramatically wounded that it should not pass. And I would urge my colleagues to vote against it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Presidential politics also played a role in all of this. Senators John Edwards and John Kerry returned briefly from the campaign trail to vote on the amendments. Kerry attacked the administration for, in his view, reneging on its promise to support the assault weapons ban.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERRY: President Bush promised the American people that he would work to renew the assault weapons ban. But now under pressure, he's walking away from that commitment, as he has from so many other promises, from education, to the environment, to the economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: For the record, the administration had made it quite clear that it does support the assault weapons ban. But simply, it did not want the ban attached to this particular bill -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: So does that mean then that the assaults weapon ban is a dead issue or not?

JOHNS: The backers of the bill say now that they know they have the votes in the United States Senate, they do plan to bring this bill up again and again and again to try to get it passed before the ban expires in September -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: All right. Joe Johns for us on Capitol Hill. Thanks, Joe.

HEMMER: In a moment here, a young mayor from New York State facing charges for presiding over same-sex marriages. He's expected in court today. His side of the story in a moment. We'll talk to him live here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) O'BRIEN: The folks of Killington, Vermont, say they want out. The ski community has voted secede from Vermont. Residents want to be part of New Hampshire now.

Voters endorsed the plan yesterday, capping years of discontent there with the state's financing of schools. But it is unlikely that the Vermont legislature will actually back that change.

HEMMER: Cafferty was all over that story earlier in the week. Last week it was.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: What story was that?

HEMMER: Killington, Vermont.

CAFFERTY: Oh, yes. They voted to secede.

HEMMER: Yes.

CAFFERTY: Yes, New Hampshire, Vermont, Vermont, New Hampshire.

O'BRIEN: Tax issue.

CAFFERTY: So who do you think ought to be Kerry's running mate?

HEMMER: A couple of choices out there, Evan Bayh, Bill Richardson, John Edwards, Jack Cafferty.

CAFFERTY: I'm sorry I asked. Jack -- yes, Jack Cafferty.

That's the question, anyway. Who should he pick, who should he avoid?

Joel, in Colleyville, Texas: "Kerry should consider John Breaux from Louisiana or Charlie Stenholm from Texas, two southern Dems with solid, conservative credentials. Jack's probably right that Kerry won't win the South, but he doesn't really have to win the South. He just has to put at least one state into play, and both Louisiana and Florida are doable."

Richard in Toronto, Canada: "I think John Kerry should get Justice Antonin Scalia as his running mate. That way victory is assured no matter which way the votes go. Just like last time."

Vicky in North Carolina: "As a female southern Democrat who voted Republican in the last election because Al Gore is an idiot -- oh, wait, back to the question. John Kerry should choose John Edwards as his running mate."

Patrick in Nebraska: "If you think the vice presidency doesn't matter, I've got a ranch in Crawford, Texas to sell you. Remember what they say, George W. Bush is only a heartbeat away from the presidency."

And Matthew, "If Kerry could pick Jesus Christ for a running mate, then Mel Gibson could direct and produce "The Passion of the Vice President." Then and only then could Kerry win in the South."

People are nuts.

HEMMER: You think he'd go for a woman?

CAFFERTY: That's been tried. Remember Geraldine Ferraro, how well that worked?

HEMMER: Right, 1984. It's 20 years later. Would he do it?

CAFFERTY: What woman would you suggest?

HEMMER: I don't know. I'm just offering.

CAFFERTY: I mean, give us names. We want names.

HEMMER: I don't have that.

CAFFERTY: No names? I don't know. Maybe he will.

HEMMER: Carol Cafferty?

CAFFERTY: Yeah, right.

HEMMER: In a moment, attention carb watchers.

CAFFERTY: You're as crazy as the viewers.

HEMMER: Some days, you're exactly right.

Is that diet affecting your mood? Sanjay is back with some answers right after this.

Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: About 7:29 here in New York City. We'll get to the opening bell in a moment.

Super Tuesday results in a moment. Also, a huge night for John Kerry, nine of 10 states. What should that do now for his campaign? It pretty much locks it up. We'll talk about what John Edwards is going to announce a bit later today, too. So stay tuned for that.

O'BRIEN: Also this morning, we talk with the mayor of New Paltz, New York, who now faces criminal charges for presiding over gay marriage ceremonies. How does he plan to fight them? We're going to ask him.

Also, a NASA scientist on the program talking about the likelihood of discovering evidence of life on Mars.

Plus, Sanjay Gupta is going to be back to talk about the problem of mood swings of the people who are on the Atkins diet.

HEMMER: I don't like that talk.

O'BRIEN: But they lose weight.

HEMMER: That's right.

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