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American Morning
Battleground Polls; 'Minding Your Business'; '90-Second Pop'
Aired October 08, 2004 - 07:29 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. It's 7:30 on a Friday morning here.
As the candidates focus on the battleground states, the lists of these states may be growing today. We'll look at some of the states now in contention that a few months ago seemed rather safe for candidate or the other. We're going to check in that and look at the map.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Also, we do have new polls out from three of those states that you're talking about, Bill. Are we seeing red or blue in Wisconsin, Colorado and New Mexico? Carlos Watson is going to break it down for us to try to make it all make sense.
HEMMER: All right. First, though, back to Kelly Wallace now with the news and the headlines this morning, and it is not good, too, from the Middle East.
Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Not good at all. Good morning again to you. Good morning, everyone.
A top Israeli official is blaming al Qaeda or an affiliate group for the bombings in Egypt. At least 26 people were killed in attacks on three tourist resorts filled with vacationing Israelis. Some 40 others are still missing, and more than 120 are wounded. Hundreds are gathering to donate blood for those injured. Israel is working to evacuate the remaining Israelis out of Egypt.
In Afghanistan, tens of thousands of security forces are on alert this morning. Two rockets landed in Kabul earlier today. The attack comes just one day before the country's landmark presidential elections. There are no reports of any casualties.
Here in the United States, the health risks associated with the painkiller, Vioxx, may have been known weeks ago. Government investigators are accusing the Food and Drug Administration of pressuring a drug expert into keeping quiet about Vioxx's possible side effects. Merck pulled the drug off shelves last week when a study indicated Vioxx was linked to higher risks of heart attacks and strokes.
And the Red Planet continues to unveil more secrets. NASA said yesterday the Mars rovers have found additional evidence of water on the planet. Rocks found by both Spirit and Opportunity showed signs of being changed by water. Because the rovers have lasted longer than expected, mission planners may send them to explore even more of the planet. More discoveries.
HEMMER: Are those things still going? It's like...
COLLINS: And going and going. They've got good batteries.
WALLACE: Going, going and going and finding out more and more and more.
HEMMER: It's like longer than this election.
WALLACE: Nothing can be longer than that.
COLLINS: That's debatable.
HEMMER: That's true. Thanks, Kelly.
COLLINS: All right, Kelly, thank you.
And speaking of the election, new polls in three battleground states suggest a close presidential race is getting even closer.
CNN political analyst Carlos Watson is in St. Louis this morning to break down the numbers and talk about tonight's big debate.
Carlos -- good morning to you.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Heidi, meet me in St. Louis!
COLLINS: You've got it, pal. Oh, wait. That will be Bill. I'm going to be here and talking about these numbers with you instead.
Listen, these state polls that were released just yesterday are confirming exactly what we just said. It is so, so close.
Let's start with Wisconsin. Look at these numbers on the screen, Carlos, if you would. Likely voters for Bush, 49, Kerry, 46. Registered voters for Bush, 48, Kerry 45. We've got Nader coming up with 2 or 3 points there. Wow! Really tight.
WATSON: A super close race. And remember, four years ago Wisconsin was decided by 1 percent. But good news here for Kerry, because just a couple weeks ago the president was up by some 8 points, Heidi, and now it's slashed to 3. So, there is good news, and you see some of that post-debate momentum showing up not just in national polls but in state polls like Wisconsin.
COLLINS: OK, let's move to another state poll there, New Mexico now, Carlos. These numbers as well, 50 percent for Bush, 47 for Senator Kerry, under likely voters. Registered voters, 47 to 46. Again, it's basically the same thing.
WATSON: Hey, but guess what? Yet another state that was decided by 1 percent, in fact.
COLLINS: Right. WATSON: New Mexico was decided by 366 votes. This is actually good news for the president. This is one of the states where John Kerry would have hoped that he would have been up by a little bit.
COLLINS: Yes. And, boy, if anything, it doesn't tell the voters to go out there and vote. Some numbers like that certainly say go to the polls, everybody.
Also let's look at Colorado here now. This is a bit of a surprise. People I don't think really predicted that this would end up being such a battleground state. Look at these numbers now: 49- 49, 48-48. I mean, dead on.
WATSON: Hey, I tell what you what, Heidi. When we look at all 50 states on election night, Colorado may be the one we end up spending the most time on, not only because of a close presidential election, but an incredibly interesting ballot initiative. And guess what? One of most interesting and competitive Senate races in the country. The whole control of the United States Senate could hinge on what happens in Colorado. So lots going on in the Rocky Mountain area.
COLLINS: Yes, no kidding. And we also heard snow possibly from Chad Myers too. So that can complicate things.
Carlos, let's talk tonight now. The debate is going to be focusing on domestic issues. Probably some foreign policy is going to be mixed in there as well. But what are going to be the issues that they're going to really hit? Is it going to be that much different than the first time around?
WATSON: I think you certainly will see more domestic issues. And I think one of the interesting things that's going on, Heidi, is that we've got the last jobs number, the last unemployment number coming out today. So certainly that will cast a specter.
Don't forget that oil prices hit $53 yesterday. So we'll talk about gas prices a little bit.
And last but not least, AT&T said it's going to cut almost 20 percent of its workforce. So concerns about pink slips will be all around the room, including in that town hall.
COLLINS: And what about the foreign policy issues, though? We're talking about interesting things happening in Afghanistan, as well as the Nobel Peace Prize that we've talked about already this morning.
WATSON: Yes. You know, I think, you know, clearly we'll hear a lot about Iraq and about these new reports and about Paul Bremer's comments. But the fact that the Afghanistan election is tomorrow, the first one, we certainly will hear a lot about that. And during the day if there are some events, we might hear a little bit more about that.
And I think whoever wins the Nobel Peace Prize today, if it's someone who has supported the president's position, they may come forward with comments that are helpful to him. Conversely, if it's someone who opposes the president...
COLLINS: Right.
WATSON: ... like Jimmy Carter a year or two ago...
COLLINS: We are actually looking at pictures of her right now. We have the winner, Wangari Muta Maathai. She's a Kenyan environmentalist.
WATSON: Well, let's stay tuned and hear what she has to say. But I think it's always interesting to see who wins and whether or not they use their turn to make a clear point.
COLLINS: And that will be very interesting indeed. A town hall format is going to be interesting as well, a little bit different environment for sure. Carlos Watson, thanks for your time here this morning.
WATSON: See you soon.
COLLINS: Bill.
HEMMER: Heidi, back in March, both campaigns identified about 20 states as battleground states that could go either way for President Bush or Senator Kerry. Now less than a month before the election, only about half may truly be up for grabs.
Back to Kelly Wallace with a closer look at this on the map.
And good morning again.
WALLACE: Good morning again, Bill.
And we're seeing something else, some surprises when it comes to possible battlegrounds that could play a key role in campaign '04 in these final weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I know the president will join me in welcoming all of Florida to this debate.
WALLACE (voice over): It was no accident the first presidential debate was in Florida, the first and only vice presidential face-off in Ohio, and the last two presidential showdowns in Missouri and Arizona. All four states had been considered battlegrounds by both campaigns just a few months ago, but things have changed.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Wait until you get to Phoenix!
WALLACE: A CNN analysis of the latest polling shows Arizona likely going for President Bush and Missouri leaning the president's way. The Kerry campaign is no longer running TV ads in either place. KERRY: I'm John Kerry and I approve this message.
WALLACE: So keeping in mind the ever-changing political landscape, get your pens ready. Here are some of the states up for grabs. Those we already mentioned, Florida and Ohio, and also Pennsylvania. But Colorado? That's right. A state Mr. Bush won by more than 8 points in 2000, a state where Senator Kerry prepared for tonight's debate.
KERRY: Well, obviously I'd like to win all of Colorado's electoral votes.
WALLACE: And a state where the race is neck-and-neck, according to the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We should have used the resources that we had.
WALLACE: And then there is New York, which explains why Senator Edwards was there yesterday. Recent polls show the race tightening in a state the Democrats easily won four years ago.
Where else is it too close to call?
BUSH: Help is on the way!
WALLACE: Other states Mr. Bush won in 2000: New Hampshire, West Virginia, Nevada. And other states Al Gore won: Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and New Mexico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
I know we're throwing a lot at you there. And there are also states that are no longer really considered competitive battlegrounds. Michigan is viewed as likely leaning Senator Kerry' way. And then there is Arkansas and Louisiana, states the Kerry campaign thought could be in play with Senator John Edwards of North Carolina on the ticket. But right now those look like likely going for President Bush.
HEMMER: What I find interesting, based on a report there, President Bush has been in states throughout the week that Al Gore won exclusively back in 2000.
WALLACE: That is right. And this shows trouble for Senator Kerry. He has not solidly put in his column some of those states, states like Iowa, states like Wisconsin. So that is something that he's been trying to do.
Obviously, after Senator Kerry's performance in last week's debate, he has done better in some of those key states. The president's lead in some of those states going down.
HEMMER: I wonder where we are this time tomorrow, huh, on Saturday after the debate No. 2?
WALLACE: Oh, I can't wait for that.
HEMMER: Thank you, Kelly.
As a backdrop, later tonight in St. Louis, CNN is there, President Bush and Senator Kerry. They'll take questions from voters. Our primetime coverage starts again at 7:00 Eastern time -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Folk singer Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam, gave a rare interview to Larry King last night. He talked about becoming a Muslim and, most importantly, the ordeal he endured last month when the airliner he was on was forced to land, and he was escorted from the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YUSUF ISLAM, FORMERLY CAT STEVENS: I swore an oath, you know, that everything I was saying was the truth. I gave a statement. And then at the end of that, they said, well, I'm sorry, you're inadmissible. What? You know, this is unbelievable. This is, like, a new planet I had landed on.
And then, you know, the whole thing just started going from there. It was just -- I mean, obviously they weren't mistreating me. Actually they were very nice to me. I gave a few autographs, you know, to a few of the guys.
But here, I was now I was going to be separated from my daughter. I gave her as many telephone numbers that I had for Washington. And then they took away my phone. And all of a sudden I was isolated. I was, like, you know -- to all effects, you know, I was a prisoner or a hostage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The singer insists he is a pacifist and would never knowingly support any terror organization -- Bill.
HEMMER: It's about 20 minutes before the hour.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, how might Wall Street react to today's big jobs report? We're going to have a market preview coming up in just a moment.
HEMMER: Also coming up, Beach Boy Brian Wilson is releasing an album he started in 1967. "90-Second Pop" has a shot at that in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We want to get a preview on this morning's market action and Andy's all-important football picks.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes.
COLLINS: Andy Serwer is here "Minding Your Business."
SERWER: With everything else going on, there is football this weekend. Thank goodness, some people would say.
Let's talk about what happened on Wall Street yesterday, not a good day for the markets. Here you can see the Dow down 114 points. And this is after a couple of positive sessions. The reason why, oil up to $53. And the market just can't keep going up with the price of oil going up.
COLLINS: Going and going, yes.
SERWER: Also, drug stocks are very weak. More fallout from the Vioxx situation, Celebrex at Pfizer, questions about that, all of the drug stocks. Bristol-Myers is also down.
Let's move on to football, though, shall we? Because that's really a little bit -- we need some light in this here. And you can see, like the polling across the country here, a very tight race.
HEMMER: Too close to call.
SERWER: Yes, too close to call, except for Jack. Jack, you're not doing so well. That's OK.
COLLINS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), right?
SERWER: Yes. There is still time for him to come back.
OK, three games that I have singled out that are kind of interesting. First of all, the Giants and Cowboys. Cowboys are favored. The Cowboys at home. I'm going with the Giants here. The Giants have only lost to the Eagles. They're looking pretty good. Curt Tiki (ph) and everyone. Bill Parcells had to resort to trickery to beat the Redskins.
HEMMER: Trickeration (ph).
SERWER: Trickery, OK?
HEMMER: Does it count?
SERWER: It counts, but the Redskins...
HEMMER: That game is in New York.
SERWER: No, that game is in Dallas.
COLLINS: Dallas.
HEMMER: It's in Dallas.
SERWER: Yes, it is.
OK, the next game. This is the battle of the basement. The Cardinals versus the 49ers. What can you say here? These two teams have gone a combined 1-7. The Cards have won one game. I'm picking the 9ers here. Eventually they're going to win. Scary football at monster field. Someday you've going to win.
And then here we go. This one is particularly interesting, Andy Borowitz. The Browns versus the Steelers.
ANDY BOROWITZ, "THE BOROWITZ REPORT": Oh.
SERWER: I'm sorry. I'm going with the Steel City, folks. The battle of the swing states, right? Pennsylvania versus Ohio? The Browns beat the Redskins. Cleveland had the debates. That's enough, Cleveland. You don't get any more than that. They had their day.
COLLINS: Right.
HEMMER: You have Ben Roethlisberger...
SERWER: Ben Roethlisberger...
HEMMER: ...a good quarterback for the Steelers.
SERWER: Yes, who was 2-0.
HEMMER: 2-0.
SERWER: The record for rookie quarterback streak is 6-0 by who?
HEMMER: 1976?
SERWER: Mike Krusac (ph) for the Steelers also.
BOROWITZ: Who can forget that?
SERWER: Replaced an injured Terry Bradshaw that year.
SERWER: Yes. An amazing amount of knowledge.
HEMMER: And now you know.
SERWER: Yes, and now you know.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: "Question of the Day," Drew, what's happening?
BOROWITZ: I'm so depressed about the Browns now, I can't carry on.
COLLINS: You can't go on.
BOROWITZ: I can't go on.
(CROSSTALK)
SERWER: You can do it.
BOROWITZ: What's the one thing people remember about the Nixon- Kennedy debates from 1960? Jack Kennedy looked cool and collected, and Nixon was sweating up a storm. Ever since then, analyzing a candidate's appearance during a nationally-televised debate has become an obsession of snarky (ph) commentators everywhere.
Well, this snarky (ph) commentator wants to know: Should the way a candidate looks during a debate really matter? And the answers have been somewhat surprising.
Brenda from Burundi writes: "A candidate for president must present himself as presidential. He must be impeccably dressed and his manners must be perfect."
Doug from Bloomfield, New Jersey, writes: "Candidates in a debate have a lot of selling to do. I agree with the IBM Corporation, an ounce of image is worth a pound of performance."
That is also the motto of the Halliburton Corporation.
Tom of Prole, Iowa, writes: "Yes, I don't want to see these guys when they've just gotten out of bed. That's reserved for my close friends."
And finally, Michelle of Buffalo...
COLLINS: Wow!
SERWER: His friends.
BOROWITZ: ... writes: "It isn't a matter of looks as much of behavior. The debates are the only opportunity that we as voters have to see those reactions for ourselves. And after the first debate, I can tell you that I am not comfortable having a president that I'm pretty sure I could clean out in a poker game."
HEMMER: Ooh! Well...
COLLINS: Presidential poker.
HEMMER: I think the environment for tonight is going to be very interesting.
BOROWITZ: A town hall?
HEMMER: Well, John Kerry is 6 foot 4.
BOROWITZ: Right.
HEMMER: George Bush is about 5'11". You're 6'4".
BOROWITZ: That's true.
HEMMER: I'm 5'11".
COLLINS: Do we have that shot?
SERWER: Stand up.
BOROWITZ: Bring it on. Bring it on.
HEMMER: This is what you're going to see essentially, right? Look into that camera right there, Andy.
SERWER: Right.
BOROWITZ: Oh, there you go.
HEMMER: That's a sizable difference. What's history tell us about tall candidates?
BOROWITZ: I don't know.
HEMMER: Tall candidates...
BOROWITZ: We win the popular vote.
HEMMER: Nice display.
Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING. Jib-jab, a new on the campaign. We'll get to that after this on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right. I'm not sure what Madonna has to do with today's "90-Second Pop," but we're here to find out, aren't we, ladies?
With us today, Sarah Bernard, contributing editor for "New York" magazine.
Good morning, Sarah, on a Friday.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
HEMMER: Jessica Shaw from "Entertainment Weekly."
Good morning, Jess.
JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Good morning.
HEMMER: And Crystal McCrary Anthony, good morning to you, the author of "Gotham Diaries" with us today on "90-Second Pop."
Jess, you're up first, by the way. Brian Wilson has released an album...
SHAW: Yes.
HEMMER: ... after 37 years in the making. What in the world took so long? SHAW: Well, yes, he started it in 1967, he started working on this. He sort of famously had a sandbox in the room while he was composing. You know, there were a lot of drugs involved and -- which he has fully admitted to. And, you know, if you are a Beach Boys fan, you've heard some of these tracks over the past few years.
HEMMER: OK.
SHAW: A lot of bootleg is going on. But, you know...
HEMMER: Well, he said we realized we had something a little too advanced for the people of that time?
SHAW: Yes, there was lot of in-fighting.
HEMMER: What's he talking about?
SHAW: Well, he and the Beach Boys fought so much over this album to the point where the Beach Boys are not on the album. It is Brian Wilson recording with his touring band.
HEMMER: The question is, is it any good?
BERNARD: Well, it's supposed to be pretty good actually.
SHAW: Yes.
BERNARD: And when he says ambitious, I think he means that there is -- it's kind of like a medley of all different styles of music. The lyrics are all about the history of America. So, this is not your typical Beach Boys' fare.
HEMMER: I would say.
BERNARD: And he actually said...
CRYSTAL MCREARY ANTHONY, AUTHOR, "GOTHAM DIARIES": This one is a masterpiece, right?
SHAW: Yes.
BERNARD: And he said he's actually -- he didn't go back to it for so long because he was actually afraid of it. There was one point where they were recording a song called "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" from the fire section of the masterpiece, and then a warehouse down the street actually burned down. So, he start thinking that there was, you know, magical powers to this music.
HEMMER: Well, Jessica, you said it though.
SHAW: It's the '60s, right, exactly.
HEMMER: You said a lot of drugs.
SHAW: There was something else going on there.
HEMMER: And he said we were all on kind of crazy drugs at that time.
BERNARD: Yes, that's right.
ANTHONY: He said it's the greatest smile since Mona Lisa.
HEMMER: Let's talk about botox now, kind of a smile-drug connection here.
BERNARD: Yes.
HEMMER: This is in L.A., a woman is suing, the jury is deliberating.
ANTHONY: Right, right.
HEMMER: She says she's got all kinds of medical problems. What happened?
ANTHONY: Sure, sure. Irene Medaboi (ph), who is a Hollywood socialite. I mean, this has all of the elements of a great Hollywood blockbuster. You have, you know, the set. You're already in Hollywood. You have the socialites.
But the issue here is whether or not these injuries that -- you know, she claims she has severe migraines. Were they actually caused by these botox injections that were used sort of in an experimental use to treat her migraines?
HEMMER: Well, does she get legal points against her for vanity?
ANTHONY: Well, you know, I'll tell you what, the community is certainly divided about that question.
HEMMER: Yes.
ANTHONY: I mean, the Hollywood community has a real issue with her suing her doctor, who is this long-time Hollywood dermatologist. I mean, he's friends with Michael Jackson. He's buddies with Elizabeth Taylor.
SHAW: I don't know...
(CROSSTALK)
SHAW: Right. Do you really want to use Michael Jackson's dermatologist?
HEMMER: Hey, no to user. Just accept the wrinkles. Sarah, Katharine Hepburn apparently was a pack rat.
BERNARD: I know. I love that about her.
HEMMER: She saved everything for 65 years.
BERNARD: She did, thank god!
HEMMER: Things like what?
BERNARD: Things like telegrams, movie scripts, love letters from Spencer Tracy. One of the things that I thought was really sweet is she saved a handwritten note from Jane Fonda that was actually thanking her for a note she wrote to Henry Fonda when he was really ill. And she saved a note from her dad telling her that she shouldn't break one of her contracts to do a Broadway play. And I love the fact that she was asking her dad for career advice. It makes me feel like she...
SHAW: It's just so nice that there were all of these letters back and forth. So, I mean, I kind of hope in 100 years we get Britney Spears' letters.
BERNARD: What are we going to do?
SHAW: I want those keepsakes.
HEMMER: Why are you hoping for that?
SHAW: I don't know. I just...
BERNARD: I don't think she has letters. We're going to have (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SHAW: Oh!
HEMMER: Where does the memorabilia go? Who gets to see it?
BERNARD: It's actually going to the Library of Arts and Sciences in L.A. And it's the kind of thing where things are arriving apparently in truckloads. They've got about 10 tables of stuff that's all spread out, and they're archiving it right now. So eventually people can look at it.
HEMMER: That's a cool collection.
ANTHONY: Well, what moves me about it is that she wanted it to be made known to the public, all of her sort of private archives, you know, living such a private life. And her reason, I've heard, you know, from sources, is that she really wanted the truth of her life to be told.
SHAW: Yes, it's going to be...
HEMMER: She's kind of ahead of her time like Brian Wilson, right? This is kind of like a precursor for eBay for Katharine Hepburn.
BERNARD: I know.
ANTHONY: I mean, I love the Da Vinci connection, though, between Brian Wilson and smile. I mean, look, it worked for Dan Brown, so, you know...
HEMMER: We'll leave it there. Good to see all three of you. Have a great weekend, OK?
ANTHONY: Thank you.
HEMMER: All right -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Jibjab.com, the web site that brought us political satire is set to "This Land is Your Land" has a new animated spoof of the presidential candidates. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Oh, I wish our women were a bit more certain.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Better call my friends at Halliburton.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): We will pay.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): So we stay.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Rule the day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): In D.C. land.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): I'm sensitive, I cannot lie.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): I'd love to hug and kiss this guy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Are they gay?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): We won't say.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): On our way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): D.C. land.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Oh, we're going to see more of "It's Good to be in D.C." in the 9:00 a.m. hour when the creators of that jib-jab media, Greg and Evan Spiradelis (ph). They're going to our guests coming up once again at 9:00 this morning.
Meanwhile, though, still to come today, new polls show the race tightening in key battleground states. Is even more on the line in tonight's debate? Reports from the campaign trail just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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Aired October 8, 2004 - 07:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. It's 7:30 on a Friday morning here.
As the candidates focus on the battleground states, the lists of these states may be growing today. We'll look at some of the states now in contention that a few months ago seemed rather safe for candidate or the other. We're going to check in that and look at the map.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Also, we do have new polls out from three of those states that you're talking about, Bill. Are we seeing red or blue in Wisconsin, Colorado and New Mexico? Carlos Watson is going to break it down for us to try to make it all make sense.
HEMMER: All right. First, though, back to Kelly Wallace now with the news and the headlines this morning, and it is not good, too, from the Middle East.
Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Not good at all. Good morning again to you. Good morning, everyone.
A top Israeli official is blaming al Qaeda or an affiliate group for the bombings in Egypt. At least 26 people were killed in attacks on three tourist resorts filled with vacationing Israelis. Some 40 others are still missing, and more than 120 are wounded. Hundreds are gathering to donate blood for those injured. Israel is working to evacuate the remaining Israelis out of Egypt.
In Afghanistan, tens of thousands of security forces are on alert this morning. Two rockets landed in Kabul earlier today. The attack comes just one day before the country's landmark presidential elections. There are no reports of any casualties.
Here in the United States, the health risks associated with the painkiller, Vioxx, may have been known weeks ago. Government investigators are accusing the Food and Drug Administration of pressuring a drug expert into keeping quiet about Vioxx's possible side effects. Merck pulled the drug off shelves last week when a study indicated Vioxx was linked to higher risks of heart attacks and strokes.
And the Red Planet continues to unveil more secrets. NASA said yesterday the Mars rovers have found additional evidence of water on the planet. Rocks found by both Spirit and Opportunity showed signs of being changed by water. Because the rovers have lasted longer than expected, mission planners may send them to explore even more of the planet. More discoveries.
HEMMER: Are those things still going? It's like...
COLLINS: And going and going. They've got good batteries.
WALLACE: Going, going and going and finding out more and more and more.
HEMMER: It's like longer than this election.
WALLACE: Nothing can be longer than that.
COLLINS: That's debatable.
HEMMER: That's true. Thanks, Kelly.
COLLINS: All right, Kelly, thank you.
And speaking of the election, new polls in three battleground states suggest a close presidential race is getting even closer.
CNN political analyst Carlos Watson is in St. Louis this morning to break down the numbers and talk about tonight's big debate.
Carlos -- good morning to you.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Heidi, meet me in St. Louis!
COLLINS: You've got it, pal. Oh, wait. That will be Bill. I'm going to be here and talking about these numbers with you instead.
Listen, these state polls that were released just yesterday are confirming exactly what we just said. It is so, so close.
Let's start with Wisconsin. Look at these numbers on the screen, Carlos, if you would. Likely voters for Bush, 49, Kerry, 46. Registered voters for Bush, 48, Kerry 45. We've got Nader coming up with 2 or 3 points there. Wow! Really tight.
WATSON: A super close race. And remember, four years ago Wisconsin was decided by 1 percent. But good news here for Kerry, because just a couple weeks ago the president was up by some 8 points, Heidi, and now it's slashed to 3. So, there is good news, and you see some of that post-debate momentum showing up not just in national polls but in state polls like Wisconsin.
COLLINS: OK, let's move to another state poll there, New Mexico now, Carlos. These numbers as well, 50 percent for Bush, 47 for Senator Kerry, under likely voters. Registered voters, 47 to 46. Again, it's basically the same thing.
WATSON: Hey, but guess what? Yet another state that was decided by 1 percent, in fact.
COLLINS: Right. WATSON: New Mexico was decided by 366 votes. This is actually good news for the president. This is one of the states where John Kerry would have hoped that he would have been up by a little bit.
COLLINS: Yes. And, boy, if anything, it doesn't tell the voters to go out there and vote. Some numbers like that certainly say go to the polls, everybody.
Also let's look at Colorado here now. This is a bit of a surprise. People I don't think really predicted that this would end up being such a battleground state. Look at these numbers now: 49- 49, 48-48. I mean, dead on.
WATSON: Hey, I tell what you what, Heidi. When we look at all 50 states on election night, Colorado may be the one we end up spending the most time on, not only because of a close presidential election, but an incredibly interesting ballot initiative. And guess what? One of most interesting and competitive Senate races in the country. The whole control of the United States Senate could hinge on what happens in Colorado. So lots going on in the Rocky Mountain area.
COLLINS: Yes, no kidding. And we also heard snow possibly from Chad Myers too. So that can complicate things.
Carlos, let's talk tonight now. The debate is going to be focusing on domestic issues. Probably some foreign policy is going to be mixed in there as well. But what are going to be the issues that they're going to really hit? Is it going to be that much different than the first time around?
WATSON: I think you certainly will see more domestic issues. And I think one of the interesting things that's going on, Heidi, is that we've got the last jobs number, the last unemployment number coming out today. So certainly that will cast a specter.
Don't forget that oil prices hit $53 yesterday. So we'll talk about gas prices a little bit.
And last but not least, AT&T said it's going to cut almost 20 percent of its workforce. So concerns about pink slips will be all around the room, including in that town hall.
COLLINS: And what about the foreign policy issues, though? We're talking about interesting things happening in Afghanistan, as well as the Nobel Peace Prize that we've talked about already this morning.
WATSON: Yes. You know, I think, you know, clearly we'll hear a lot about Iraq and about these new reports and about Paul Bremer's comments. But the fact that the Afghanistan election is tomorrow, the first one, we certainly will hear a lot about that. And during the day if there are some events, we might hear a little bit more about that.
And I think whoever wins the Nobel Peace Prize today, if it's someone who has supported the president's position, they may come forward with comments that are helpful to him. Conversely, if it's someone who opposes the president...
COLLINS: Right.
WATSON: ... like Jimmy Carter a year or two ago...
COLLINS: We are actually looking at pictures of her right now. We have the winner, Wangari Muta Maathai. She's a Kenyan environmentalist.
WATSON: Well, let's stay tuned and hear what she has to say. But I think it's always interesting to see who wins and whether or not they use their turn to make a clear point.
COLLINS: And that will be very interesting indeed. A town hall format is going to be interesting as well, a little bit different environment for sure. Carlos Watson, thanks for your time here this morning.
WATSON: See you soon.
COLLINS: Bill.
HEMMER: Heidi, back in March, both campaigns identified about 20 states as battleground states that could go either way for President Bush or Senator Kerry. Now less than a month before the election, only about half may truly be up for grabs.
Back to Kelly Wallace with a closer look at this on the map.
And good morning again.
WALLACE: Good morning again, Bill.
And we're seeing something else, some surprises when it comes to possible battlegrounds that could play a key role in campaign '04 in these final weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I know the president will join me in welcoming all of Florida to this debate.
WALLACE (voice over): It was no accident the first presidential debate was in Florida, the first and only vice presidential face-off in Ohio, and the last two presidential showdowns in Missouri and Arizona. All four states had been considered battlegrounds by both campaigns just a few months ago, but things have changed.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Wait until you get to Phoenix!
WALLACE: A CNN analysis of the latest polling shows Arizona likely going for President Bush and Missouri leaning the president's way. The Kerry campaign is no longer running TV ads in either place. KERRY: I'm John Kerry and I approve this message.
WALLACE: So keeping in mind the ever-changing political landscape, get your pens ready. Here are some of the states up for grabs. Those we already mentioned, Florida and Ohio, and also Pennsylvania. But Colorado? That's right. A state Mr. Bush won by more than 8 points in 2000, a state where Senator Kerry prepared for tonight's debate.
KERRY: Well, obviously I'd like to win all of Colorado's electoral votes.
WALLACE: And a state where the race is neck-and-neck, according to the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We should have used the resources that we had.
WALLACE: And then there is New York, which explains why Senator Edwards was there yesterday. Recent polls show the race tightening in a state the Democrats easily won four years ago.
Where else is it too close to call?
BUSH: Help is on the way!
WALLACE: Other states Mr. Bush won in 2000: New Hampshire, West Virginia, Nevada. And other states Al Gore won: Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and New Mexico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
I know we're throwing a lot at you there. And there are also states that are no longer really considered competitive battlegrounds. Michigan is viewed as likely leaning Senator Kerry' way. And then there is Arkansas and Louisiana, states the Kerry campaign thought could be in play with Senator John Edwards of North Carolina on the ticket. But right now those look like likely going for President Bush.
HEMMER: What I find interesting, based on a report there, President Bush has been in states throughout the week that Al Gore won exclusively back in 2000.
WALLACE: That is right. And this shows trouble for Senator Kerry. He has not solidly put in his column some of those states, states like Iowa, states like Wisconsin. So that is something that he's been trying to do.
Obviously, after Senator Kerry's performance in last week's debate, he has done better in some of those key states. The president's lead in some of those states going down.
HEMMER: I wonder where we are this time tomorrow, huh, on Saturday after the debate No. 2?
WALLACE: Oh, I can't wait for that.
HEMMER: Thank you, Kelly.
As a backdrop, later tonight in St. Louis, CNN is there, President Bush and Senator Kerry. They'll take questions from voters. Our primetime coverage starts again at 7:00 Eastern time -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Folk singer Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam, gave a rare interview to Larry King last night. He talked about becoming a Muslim and, most importantly, the ordeal he endured last month when the airliner he was on was forced to land, and he was escorted from the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YUSUF ISLAM, FORMERLY CAT STEVENS: I swore an oath, you know, that everything I was saying was the truth. I gave a statement. And then at the end of that, they said, well, I'm sorry, you're inadmissible. What? You know, this is unbelievable. This is, like, a new planet I had landed on.
And then, you know, the whole thing just started going from there. It was just -- I mean, obviously they weren't mistreating me. Actually they were very nice to me. I gave a few autographs, you know, to a few of the guys.
But here, I was now I was going to be separated from my daughter. I gave her as many telephone numbers that I had for Washington. And then they took away my phone. And all of a sudden I was isolated. I was, like, you know -- to all effects, you know, I was a prisoner or a hostage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The singer insists he is a pacifist and would never knowingly support any terror organization -- Bill.
HEMMER: It's about 20 minutes before the hour.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, how might Wall Street react to today's big jobs report? We're going to have a market preview coming up in just a moment.
HEMMER: Also coming up, Beach Boy Brian Wilson is releasing an album he started in 1967. "90-Second Pop" has a shot at that in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We want to get a preview on this morning's market action and Andy's all-important football picks.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes.
COLLINS: Andy Serwer is here "Minding Your Business."
SERWER: With everything else going on, there is football this weekend. Thank goodness, some people would say.
Let's talk about what happened on Wall Street yesterday, not a good day for the markets. Here you can see the Dow down 114 points. And this is after a couple of positive sessions. The reason why, oil up to $53. And the market just can't keep going up with the price of oil going up.
COLLINS: Going and going, yes.
SERWER: Also, drug stocks are very weak. More fallout from the Vioxx situation, Celebrex at Pfizer, questions about that, all of the drug stocks. Bristol-Myers is also down.
Let's move on to football, though, shall we? Because that's really a little bit -- we need some light in this here. And you can see, like the polling across the country here, a very tight race.
HEMMER: Too close to call.
SERWER: Yes, too close to call, except for Jack. Jack, you're not doing so well. That's OK.
COLLINS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), right?
SERWER: Yes. There is still time for him to come back.
OK, three games that I have singled out that are kind of interesting. First of all, the Giants and Cowboys. Cowboys are favored. The Cowboys at home. I'm going with the Giants here. The Giants have only lost to the Eagles. They're looking pretty good. Curt Tiki (ph) and everyone. Bill Parcells had to resort to trickery to beat the Redskins.
HEMMER: Trickeration (ph).
SERWER: Trickery, OK?
HEMMER: Does it count?
SERWER: It counts, but the Redskins...
HEMMER: That game is in New York.
SERWER: No, that game is in Dallas.
COLLINS: Dallas.
HEMMER: It's in Dallas.
SERWER: Yes, it is.
OK, the next game. This is the battle of the basement. The Cardinals versus the 49ers. What can you say here? These two teams have gone a combined 1-7. The Cards have won one game. I'm picking the 9ers here. Eventually they're going to win. Scary football at monster field. Someday you've going to win.
And then here we go. This one is particularly interesting, Andy Borowitz. The Browns versus the Steelers.
ANDY BOROWITZ, "THE BOROWITZ REPORT": Oh.
SERWER: I'm sorry. I'm going with the Steel City, folks. The battle of the swing states, right? Pennsylvania versus Ohio? The Browns beat the Redskins. Cleveland had the debates. That's enough, Cleveland. You don't get any more than that. They had their day.
COLLINS: Right.
HEMMER: You have Ben Roethlisberger...
SERWER: Ben Roethlisberger...
HEMMER: ...a good quarterback for the Steelers.
SERWER: Yes, who was 2-0.
HEMMER: 2-0.
SERWER: The record for rookie quarterback streak is 6-0 by who?
HEMMER: 1976?
SERWER: Mike Krusac (ph) for the Steelers also.
BOROWITZ: Who can forget that?
SERWER: Replaced an injured Terry Bradshaw that year.
SERWER: Yes. An amazing amount of knowledge.
HEMMER: And now you know.
SERWER: Yes, and now you know.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: "Question of the Day," Drew, what's happening?
BOROWITZ: I'm so depressed about the Browns now, I can't carry on.
COLLINS: You can't go on.
BOROWITZ: I can't go on.
(CROSSTALK)
SERWER: You can do it.
BOROWITZ: What's the one thing people remember about the Nixon- Kennedy debates from 1960? Jack Kennedy looked cool and collected, and Nixon was sweating up a storm. Ever since then, analyzing a candidate's appearance during a nationally-televised debate has become an obsession of snarky (ph) commentators everywhere.
Well, this snarky (ph) commentator wants to know: Should the way a candidate looks during a debate really matter? And the answers have been somewhat surprising.
Brenda from Burundi writes: "A candidate for president must present himself as presidential. He must be impeccably dressed and his manners must be perfect."
Doug from Bloomfield, New Jersey, writes: "Candidates in a debate have a lot of selling to do. I agree with the IBM Corporation, an ounce of image is worth a pound of performance."
That is also the motto of the Halliburton Corporation.
Tom of Prole, Iowa, writes: "Yes, I don't want to see these guys when they've just gotten out of bed. That's reserved for my close friends."
And finally, Michelle of Buffalo...
COLLINS: Wow!
SERWER: His friends.
BOROWITZ: ... writes: "It isn't a matter of looks as much of behavior. The debates are the only opportunity that we as voters have to see those reactions for ourselves. And after the first debate, I can tell you that I am not comfortable having a president that I'm pretty sure I could clean out in a poker game."
HEMMER: Ooh! Well...
COLLINS: Presidential poker.
HEMMER: I think the environment for tonight is going to be very interesting.
BOROWITZ: A town hall?
HEMMER: Well, John Kerry is 6 foot 4.
BOROWITZ: Right.
HEMMER: George Bush is about 5'11". You're 6'4".
BOROWITZ: That's true.
HEMMER: I'm 5'11".
COLLINS: Do we have that shot?
SERWER: Stand up.
BOROWITZ: Bring it on. Bring it on.
HEMMER: This is what you're going to see essentially, right? Look into that camera right there, Andy.
SERWER: Right.
BOROWITZ: Oh, there you go.
HEMMER: That's a sizable difference. What's history tell us about tall candidates?
BOROWITZ: I don't know.
HEMMER: Tall candidates...
BOROWITZ: We win the popular vote.
HEMMER: Nice display.
Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING. Jib-jab, a new on the campaign. We'll get to that after this on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: All right. I'm not sure what Madonna has to do with today's "90-Second Pop," but we're here to find out, aren't we, ladies?
With us today, Sarah Bernard, contributing editor for "New York" magazine.
Good morning, Sarah, on a Friday.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
HEMMER: Jessica Shaw from "Entertainment Weekly."
Good morning, Jess.
JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Good morning.
HEMMER: And Crystal McCrary Anthony, good morning to you, the author of "Gotham Diaries" with us today on "90-Second Pop."
Jess, you're up first, by the way. Brian Wilson has released an album...
SHAW: Yes.
HEMMER: ... after 37 years in the making. What in the world took so long? SHAW: Well, yes, he started it in 1967, he started working on this. He sort of famously had a sandbox in the room while he was composing. You know, there were a lot of drugs involved and -- which he has fully admitted to. And, you know, if you are a Beach Boys fan, you've heard some of these tracks over the past few years.
HEMMER: OK.
SHAW: A lot of bootleg is going on. But, you know...
HEMMER: Well, he said we realized we had something a little too advanced for the people of that time?
SHAW: Yes, there was lot of in-fighting.
HEMMER: What's he talking about?
SHAW: Well, he and the Beach Boys fought so much over this album to the point where the Beach Boys are not on the album. It is Brian Wilson recording with his touring band.
HEMMER: The question is, is it any good?
BERNARD: Well, it's supposed to be pretty good actually.
SHAW: Yes.
BERNARD: And when he says ambitious, I think he means that there is -- it's kind of like a medley of all different styles of music. The lyrics are all about the history of America. So, this is not your typical Beach Boys' fare.
HEMMER: I would say.
BERNARD: And he actually said...
CRYSTAL MCREARY ANTHONY, AUTHOR, "GOTHAM DIARIES": This one is a masterpiece, right?
SHAW: Yes.
BERNARD: And he said he's actually -- he didn't go back to it for so long because he was actually afraid of it. There was one point where they were recording a song called "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" from the fire section of the masterpiece, and then a warehouse down the street actually burned down. So, he start thinking that there was, you know, magical powers to this music.
HEMMER: Well, Jessica, you said it though.
SHAW: It's the '60s, right, exactly.
HEMMER: You said a lot of drugs.
SHAW: There was something else going on there.
HEMMER: And he said we were all on kind of crazy drugs at that time.
BERNARD: Yes, that's right.
ANTHONY: He said it's the greatest smile since Mona Lisa.
HEMMER: Let's talk about botox now, kind of a smile-drug connection here.
BERNARD: Yes.
HEMMER: This is in L.A., a woman is suing, the jury is deliberating.
ANTHONY: Right, right.
HEMMER: She says she's got all kinds of medical problems. What happened?
ANTHONY: Sure, sure. Irene Medaboi (ph), who is a Hollywood socialite. I mean, this has all of the elements of a great Hollywood blockbuster. You have, you know, the set. You're already in Hollywood. You have the socialites.
But the issue here is whether or not these injuries that -- you know, she claims she has severe migraines. Were they actually caused by these botox injections that were used sort of in an experimental use to treat her migraines?
HEMMER: Well, does she get legal points against her for vanity?
ANTHONY: Well, you know, I'll tell you what, the community is certainly divided about that question.
HEMMER: Yes.
ANTHONY: I mean, the Hollywood community has a real issue with her suing her doctor, who is this long-time Hollywood dermatologist. I mean, he's friends with Michael Jackson. He's buddies with Elizabeth Taylor.
SHAW: I don't know...
(CROSSTALK)
SHAW: Right. Do you really want to use Michael Jackson's dermatologist?
HEMMER: Hey, no to user. Just accept the wrinkles. Sarah, Katharine Hepburn apparently was a pack rat.
BERNARD: I know. I love that about her.
HEMMER: She saved everything for 65 years.
BERNARD: She did, thank god!
HEMMER: Things like what?
BERNARD: Things like telegrams, movie scripts, love letters from Spencer Tracy. One of the things that I thought was really sweet is she saved a handwritten note from Jane Fonda that was actually thanking her for a note she wrote to Henry Fonda when he was really ill. And she saved a note from her dad telling her that she shouldn't break one of her contracts to do a Broadway play. And I love the fact that she was asking her dad for career advice. It makes me feel like she...
SHAW: It's just so nice that there were all of these letters back and forth. So, I mean, I kind of hope in 100 years we get Britney Spears' letters.
BERNARD: What are we going to do?
SHAW: I want those keepsakes.
HEMMER: Why are you hoping for that?
SHAW: I don't know. I just...
BERNARD: I don't think she has letters. We're going to have (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SHAW: Oh!
HEMMER: Where does the memorabilia go? Who gets to see it?
BERNARD: It's actually going to the Library of Arts and Sciences in L.A. And it's the kind of thing where things are arriving apparently in truckloads. They've got about 10 tables of stuff that's all spread out, and they're archiving it right now. So eventually people can look at it.
HEMMER: That's a cool collection.
ANTHONY: Well, what moves me about it is that she wanted it to be made known to the public, all of her sort of private archives, you know, living such a private life. And her reason, I've heard, you know, from sources, is that she really wanted the truth of her life to be told.
SHAW: Yes, it's going to be...
HEMMER: She's kind of ahead of her time like Brian Wilson, right? This is kind of like a precursor for eBay for Katharine Hepburn.
BERNARD: I know.
ANTHONY: I mean, I love the Da Vinci connection, though, between Brian Wilson and smile. I mean, look, it worked for Dan Brown, so, you know...
HEMMER: We'll leave it there. Good to see all three of you. Have a great weekend, OK?
ANTHONY: Thank you.
HEMMER: All right -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Jibjab.com, the web site that brought us political satire is set to "This Land is Your Land" has a new animated spoof of the presidential candidates. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Oh, I wish our women were a bit more certain.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Better call my friends at Halliburton.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): We will pay.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): So we stay.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Rule the day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): In D.C. land.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): I'm sensitive, I cannot lie.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): I'd love to hug and kiss this guy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Are they gay?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): We won't say.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): On our way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): D.C. land.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Oh, we're going to see more of "It's Good to be in D.C." in the 9:00 a.m. hour when the creators of that jib-jab media, Greg and Evan Spiradelis (ph). They're going to our guests coming up once again at 9:00 this morning.
Meanwhile, though, still to come today, new polls show the race tightening in key battleground states. Is even more on the line in tonight's debate? Reports from the campaign trail just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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