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CNN Sunday Morning
New Hampshire Caucus Debate; New Hampshire Same-Sex Unions; Missing Hiker Hope Fades; Snowfall Could Relieve Water Shortage; Golden Globe No Show; Flooding
Aired January 06, 2008 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Well, heavy snow cause white out conditions on the road and lights out in thousands of homes. We're bringing you the story, live.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
This is a search and recover effort.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Words no family wants to hear. We have new developments in the case of a missing hiker along the Appalachian Trail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of people are finding that it's expensive to live here and people are opting to move out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And no city wants homeowners to taxpayers to leave, so some towns have come up with a new senior discount. We'll tell you what that's what it's all about. Yes, from the CNN Center in Atlanta, bringing you news from around the world. Hello to you all, I'm T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: Yes, good morning everybody, I'm Betty Nguyen. We want to thank you for joining us. It is Sunday, January 6, so let's get you informed. We do want to start with politics. And the fight for New Hampshire is two days away until the primary there.
HOLMES: Some of the candidates feeling a bit of pressure and some of that is evident at the debates last night. CNN's Dan Lothian, live for us in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Good morning to you, sir. It was interesting last evening.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, T.J., indeed it was interesting. There were some tough exchanges between the candidates as they sparred over immigration and healthcare and even terrorism. And over which of the candidates had changed their positions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Joe Lieberman said: John McCain has never supported amnesty and anybody who says that he is a liar, is lying. Now, no better authority than Governor Romney believe that it's not amnesty because two years ago he was asked and he said that my plan was "reasonable and was not amnesty." It's a matter of record.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Governor, do you want to explain your ad
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, absolutely, which is what he describes is technically true which is his plan does not provide amnesty because he charges people $5,000 to be able to stay. And that...
MCCAIN: That's not true. That's not completely response to it and Governor Romney, you were -- it was explained to you and you said it was reasonable and not amnesty. That's just -- you can look it up.
(CROSSTALK)
It's not amnesty and for you to describe it as you do in the attack ads, my friend, you can spend your whole fortune on these attack ads, but it's still won't be true.
ROMNEY: Barack Obama looked at several senators, steeped in long history in the Senate, and completely blew them away in the Iowa caucus. It's a message of change. And when we talk about change, Barack Obama and myself in that final debate, as you're positing, I can say not only can I talk change with you, I've lived it.
MCCAIN: I just want to say to Governor Romney, we disagree on a lot of issues, but I agree you are the candidate of change.
(LAUGHTER)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You criticized Senator Edwards and saying he was unelectable because he changed positions over the course of four years, that four years ago he wasn't for universal healthcare, now he is. Well, you've changed within three years.
BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Oh, I never said John was unelectable. Somebody asked me specifically what did I think was the difference between myself and John and I pointed out areas where I thought we had some differences.
CLINTON: And you said that he had changed positions. Did you not?
OBAMA: I did because I thought I'd been more consistent on those positions. I have no problem, Hillary, with you pointing out areas where you think we have differences.
JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I didn't hear these kind of attacks from Hillary when she was ahead and now that she's not, we hear them. And any time you speak, any time you speak out for change, this is what happens.
(CROSSTALK)
CLINTON: Well, making change -- wait a minute, now wait a minute. I'm going to respond to this, because obviously -- making change is not about what you believe, it's not about a speech you make, it is about working hard.
ROMNEY: I have been in hostage noergzs that are more civil than this.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: "Change" and "experience," perhaps were two of the words that you kept hearing from both of the debates, the Republicans and the Democrats. Now, this was especially critical, this debate, especially critical for Senator Clinton and also for Governor Romney because it was a first debate since their big losses in Iowa. So, they seemed to take the biggest punches in the debate, last night. As all the candidates really try to separate themselves and appeal to New Hampshire voters -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Dan, we appreciate you. We know they are working hard up there and our best political team on television of which Dan is a member, he's working hard, as well. We appreciates you this morning, sir.
And tonight both Republican and Democratic candidates are going to face off. You saw a hint of it there, in Dan Lothian's piece.
NGUYEN: More fireworks to come.
HOLMES: More to come and you're going to see them right here on CNN. A really rare and a unique opportunity, here, for you, for all of us, really, because you're going to be able to seat entire ABC News/FaceBook/WMUR debates on CNN. A special replay tonight, beginning at 7:00 Eastern. Do not miss it. CNN special replay, tonight, 7:00 Eastern, again, that's only right here on CNN.
Now, we have been talking about the big loss that Mitt Romney suffered in Iowa, but he did picked up a win yesterday, got some good news. It was in Wyoming, the Republican caucuses that you haven't heard a lot about, took place. Well, here's the break down. Romney actually got 67 percent of the vote, there, and that was good for eight delegates. Fred Thompson gets three delegates and Duncan Hunter ends up with one delegate. Now, Wyoming Democrats hold their caucuses, they're on March 8.
NGUYEN: Let's talk about this now, gay couples in New Hampshire had a reason to celebrate in the New Year. That state became the fourth in the nation to recognize same-sex unions.
HOLMES: And since the New Hampshire primary is less than two days away, you got to ask -- excuse me, I've a nagging cough, here. Forgive me, folks. But, we have to ask here, will the civil union law affect the vote there. CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can declare you civilly united and you may kiss each other.
BRIAN TODD, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Same-sex civil unions because legal in New Hampshire with the start of the New York, and 37 couples turned out for a midnight ceremony at the state capitol. Could this controversial issue impact the voting next week in the first in the nation primary? Public opinion was missed when the state passed the law earlier in 2007.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Relations between two people of the same sex is an abomination to god.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am absolutely thrilled that New Hampshire has finally done good and just things.
TODD: In 2004, exit polls suggested the issue may have increased the turn out of socially conservative voters, helping George Bush beat John Kerry in some key states. What about New Hampshire primary?
JONATHAN MARTIN, POLITICO.COM: New Hampshire is more of a sort of secular state, not terribly culturally conservative, even Republicans are more concerned about tax issues than they are the gay issue, so it's not been an issue, so far, among voters in New Hampshire during the course of the primary campaign.
TODD: New Hampshire pollster, Andrew Smith, tells CNN that 74 percent of residents say it won't affect their vote and less than one percent said it was their top issue. But, for voters who are interested among the leading Republicans in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee support an amendment to ban same-sex marriages nationwide. Rudy Giuliani and John McCain do not.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, as for the Democrats, all the leading candidates would let states recognize same-sex civil unions. And CNN's "Ballot Bowl," we want to tell you, Is coming back. We're doing it again for you this afternoon, all about the candidates in their own words, "Ballot Bowl" kicks off, 1:00 Eastern.
NGUYEN: We do want new developments now in the case of the missing hiker along the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. Well, a 61- year-old man is charged with kidnapping this morning in the disappearance of a 24-year-old woman and this morning authorities fear she is dead.
Police have charged Gary Michael Hilton with kidnapping with the intent to cause bodily injury after discovering what they say is evidence links him to Meredith Emerson's disappearance. Emerson, as you recall, went missing New Year's Day and investigators say they have recovered her driver's license and blood-stained clothing matching Emerson's. The items were found in a dumpster near a convenience store about 50 miles from where she disappeared. Investigators hold out little hope that Emerson is still alive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: So, is this is still a search and rescue mission.
JOHN BANKHEAD, GBI: This is a search and recovery effort.
QUESTION: Can you elaborate on that?
QUESTION: So, you don't believe she's still alive?
BANKHEAD: It does not look favorable for that to be the case.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: A scaled down search for Emerson will continue, today.
Well, Reggie Aqui is following developments on this story and he is live in Union County, Georgia.
And Reggie, this is really not the news that a lot of people were hoping for, especially when her dog turned up, yesterday.
REGGIE AQUI, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Right, and I was there yesterday when they made that announcement that this was going to become a search and recovery effort and that they had a suspect in custody with a charge of kidnapping against him. We all heard it at the same time along with family members and also friends of Meredith Emerson's, including the woman who was standing beside me right now.
This is Meredith's roommate and I know, because I was watching you while we were standing there. You hear that and even though you have days thinking where is she, could she possibly be out there, thinking the worst, hoping for the best, but what was going through your head when you heard those words coming out of the spokesperson's month?
JULIA KARRENBAUER, MEREDITH EMERSON'S ROOMMATE: Shock, would probably be the best word to describe it. Not that, you know, obviously the worst case scenarios don't cross your mind, but we hadn't heard anything for so long and they were working so hard and it was a little disheartening and obviously very hard to hear and my heart immediately went out to her parents and her brother, Mark, and you know, obviously it was something that was hard to hear and hard to go on with.
AQUI: So, at this point, what do you do?
KARRENBAUER: I don't know, kind of, A lot of it has been waiting around and hearing news, but what we continue to do is lean on each other and be there unconditionally for her family. Because what we're feeling is, although it is awful, it is -- there is nothing to describe what they are going through and we're here for them no matter what and here for each other, because there's one thing that came out of this is, is the amazing friends and families and even strangers that came about Meredith. AQUI: We should point that out, because along the way, and we're waiting to see exactly how all this evidence comes together, but along the way, there are so many witnesses that saw Meredith on the trail were able to accurately describe what the man looked like who was with her.
KARRENBAUER: So many, and to those and to that initial man who I have actually -- I did not get the honor to meet, who was vigilant enough to notice the man. Without him, I don't think any of this would have happened and unfortunately there was some speculation early on about his involvement, which obviously has nothing to do with it now. But, I know what a great person he is and would like to say thank you along with everybody else who has given tips and flyers and e-mails and everything like that, because without them, I don't think that this would have been able to happen.
AQUI: Meredith's godmother tells me that she is still hoping for that miracle. Are you hoping for that miracle, is that even something that you can do at this point?
KARRENBAUER: You have to, just to keep going, because until, you know, I hear that -- I know how strong Meredith is, you know, her spirit and her strong mindedness really makes me -- it comforts us all along the way and there's the possibility of a miracle especially with Meredith.
AQUI: Julia Barrenbauer (SIC) is Meredith's roommate, she's been incredibly strong over the past couple of days. I'm not exactly sure how she's been able to do, supporting the family and being here to talk to us to let us know what they're all thinking. Back to you, T.J., Betty.
NGUYEN: All right, Reggie. It's just such a sad story. Thank you for that. We'll obviously be following this and bringing you the latest on the investigation as soon as we get more information -- T.J.
HOLMES: We want to turn, yeah Betty, to some weather. A lot of talk about the winter storm happening out West. Good news/bad news scenario, really, going on in the Sierra. The bad news is that the travel nightmares continues. Snow shut down parts of I-80, U.S. 50, but the good news part of this is that the snowfall could relieve the water shortage out West. CNN's Reynolds Wolf has gone West, young man. He is in Truckee, California for us, this morning. Good morning to you again, sir.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning to you, T.J., you know, you're absolutely right. You got to look at the good side of this, that is we are getting that moisture that's so, so -- been so sparse here in parts of the West in Nevada into California. You know, we focus so much on the Southeast, the drought that we've had there and sure enough, the drought has been pretty significant in that part of the world, but has been just as terrible in parts of the West and this is going to make a tremendous difference.
Of course, we don't want the flooding situation that we've had in Nevada, we don't want to deal with the mudslides, potential flooding in California or, of course, the heavy snowfall. But (INAUDIBLE), the blizzard-like conditions. But again, there are some very positive aspects. It's going to help, certainly, with the drought situations in both locations.
Also, in another way, it's certainly going to help things in terms of the skiing. This is beautiful powder that's coming down as we speak. The bad side of it again, though, road conditions. You mentioned I-80, it is slowly beginning to open up and the only reason why it's beginning to open up is because of the wonderful work by the men and women of Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol. They've been out here all night, nonstop, keeping that road clear, making it safe for everybody.
They still say that if you are driving a vehicle, you have to have chain on your tires, or at least a 4-wheel drive vehicle with snow tires and trucks, they urge to use extreme caution.
What we have, of course, on that video you see, is just a lot of people that are driving too fast in slippery conditions and sure enough that's going to give you those accidents, so they say, both hands on the wheel, drive slowly, take it easy and if you don't have to drive, it will certainly make it a lot easier for everyone considered.
T.J., back here, you got the Truckee train station. We've had some freights that are roaring on through with no problems whatsoever. And they've got a Greyhound station here at the bus station. Haven't seen too many buses, here, but that might change later on, today.
Weather conditions were around freezing point, and the snow just a little bit moderate right now, expected to taper off into the afternoon when that winter snow warning will go out of effect, no longer in effect, rather, by 7:00 p.m., but the snow will remain and the skiers and snowboarders will be happy. Back to you.
HOLMES: Well, we appreciate all you do for us and we appreciate you being out there. You've been rough it and braving it and doing a great job out there for us this weekend. We appreciate you.
WOLF: You know, I miss you guys so much that we haven't been in the studio together in a long time. You know, Betty, you're my sister, T.J., you're my brother from another mother. I love you both and hopefully we'll all get to see each other again sometime soon.
NGUYEN: Oh, big group hug. OK, we'll see you soon. You'll be thawed out by then, thank goodness. Take care.
OK, you know, there are some things that just go hand in hand, right? Peanut butter and jelly, you got to have stars with an award show. But, the Hollywood writer's strike could mean celebrities stay away from the Golden Globe Awards.
HOLMES: How are we going to have a show?
NGUYEN: I don't know. Do you just throw up a list of names? Can you just imagine winning that and there's no show, no one knows? HOLMES: Your whole career, and the decades, you finally get a Golden Globe. Well yes, we're talking about a rebellion on the red carpet. We've got the story, keep it here, CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right, it's 15, no, make that 18 minutes past the hour on this Sunday morning. We're going to get you some more news in less time.
HOLMES: The "Associated Press" reports a 6th person died from a plane crash in Alaska. It plane plunged into the waters off Kodiak, Alaska shortly after take off yesterday, four other people survived that crash.
NGUYEN: All right, back what were talking about a little bit earlier. What would happen at the Golden Globes if the actors just didn't show up? With the writers on strike, the Screen Actor's Guild says none, zero, zilch, none of the actors nominated are planning to attend. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is just scrambling to get the creative community to participate and they say they hope to announce some kind of a solution by tomorrow.
HOLMES: We are curious to hear what that might be. Well, no more waiting for the mailman. Starting later this year, Netflix, the DVD by mail service will stream movies directly to your high def television. What they plan on doing here is they teamed up to make these set top boxes which, essentially, if you have high speed Internet at the house, you just plug it in to your TV, you order it though the Internet, and it streams directly to your high def television.
So Betty, you don't have to wait for the mailman to show up, you don't have to get off the couch, bam, your movie is right there.
NGUYEN: That's how I like it. Let's talk about something else, now. This is not good news. Pop star Britney Spears reportedly back home after a brief hospital stay, it's still not known, though, why she went to the hospital late Thursday and Phil McGraw, you know, TV's Dr. Phil reportedly met with Spears yesterday as she was being discharged and he is quoted as saying that she is in dire need of help.
HOLMES: Well, to politics again, and taking some potshots. That kind of happens every now and then, trying to get an edge.
NGUYEN: All trying to get an edge, and we're talking presidential politics, right now, and it's happening in New Hampshire and we are bringing you the latest on the upcoming primary with the best political team on television.
HOLMES: And tonight, we're bringing you something else. Both Republican and Democratic candidates going head-to-head on CNN. Really something unique, here. We're teaming up with ABC. We like then, but you know, we don't hang out at the same clubs and stuff, normally. But, you know, we are teaming up with another network. You can see the entire ABC News/FaceBook/WMUR debates in a CNN special replay, tonight, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Do not miss this, the CNN special replay tonight, 7:00 Eastern only right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, the scramble is on in New Hampshire with two days to go until the primary, there. And the action is getting fast and furious. Candidates from both parties taking shots at each other, all trying to get an edge at the end. So much it talk about this morning. And we got a couple of talkers with us. Joining us live from Manchester, New Hampshire, now, CNN political producer, Sasha Johnson and also CNN political editor, Mark Preston, two of my favorites.
Good to see you both. Ladies first this morning. We'll talk about the Democrats, Sasha. Obama, is he taking his Iowa championship trophy on a victory tour around New Hampshire? Is he really capitalizing on the win in Iowa?
SASHA JOHNSON, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: Well, if you look at the crowds, I think you could argue he is. I mean, I believe he filled two high school gyms yesterday, you know, thousands are coming out to see him, he's dong rallies, he's getting people fired up. Today, he's doing events where he's going to be taking questions from voters which the Clinton camp argues is what really needs to be done here in New Hampshire. That it's one thing to go out and pack a house, have standing room only, but it's another thing to actually get people out to vote.
So, that's what Hillary Clinton's doing. She's focusing on the undecided voters, the Independents. Yesterday, she took questions for almost two hours, which is something we didn't see in Iowa. So, you know, Obama is, I guess, taking a victory lap, but Clinton is certainly not far behind.
HOLMES: Well Mark, are we talking about, as she just mentioned those undecided's, those Independents. Those are folks that have been breaking towards Obama. Can she, with polls so tight, afford to lose that group of Independents or any group of Independents to Obama and if so, she is in real trouble.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, you know, T.J., I think that everyone's fighting right now for those Independent votes, not only Barack Obama really fighting for them, John McCain is fighting for them and so, we're not only seeing an inner party fight, we're seeing you know, a fight between Republicans and Democrats for those.
Look, Hillary Clinton is also trying to reach out to those Independent voters. It's about 40 percent of the electorate up here, so every vote is counting, right now in New Hampshire, so that's why we're seeing those candidates, you know, really take questions from everybody, try to shake as many hands a they can, try to get as many events in. We're about 48 hours out before voting starts here in New Hampshire. I mean, the state's electrified, but every vote counts.
HOLMES: Well, we know the issues are different. Iowans are concerned about different things than fold in New Hampshire. Does it feel different, Sasha, there? Does the mood feel different than it did in Iowa and that maybe New Hampshire, which has traditionally, historically, always not necessarily done what Iowa has done, do they feel like they're riding a different wave then the wave we saw leading up to the Iowa caucus?
JOHNSON: I think they do, I mean, as you said, New Hampshire really prides itself on being Independent. I can tell you at the Hillary Clinton event yesterday, the questions were about global warming, the environment, healthcare, a couple on Iraq. You know, when we were in Iowa, we heard a lot more about the economy, about jobs, things like that.
So, I think the issues, you know, they play similarly in both states. I mean, I can tell you at one of the events yesterday, people were pretty forward with Hillary Clinton. One woman stood up and said, you know, I'm part of the sandwich generation, what are you going to do for me. I mean, New Hampshire is not afraid to grill their presidential candidates and I think that's what we're seeing.
HOLMES: And Mark, can New Hampshire's folks, I mean, they've done this before. Can they see through the crap? Because, people have changed their messages now, from Iowa. Since we see those results now, we see people, or the candidates tweaking their messages and now everybody wants to be the candidate of change agent. Everybody wants to be the candidate of change. Are people seeing through that?
PRESTON: Well, you know, interestingly enough about New Hampshire voters, is that they want to meet the candidates one-on-one, they want you to come to their living room, they want you to sit down at the diner and tell them your plan is. You know, they really pride themselves as really helping to find who the next presidential candidate is going to be. So yea, absolutely, they -- I don't know if they can see through the crap, necessarily, but they certainly pride themselves on really winnowing the field and -- in presenting the next presidential candidates. No doubt about that.
HOLMES: All right, sorry to make you use the word "crap," this morning.
JOHNSON: Can I jump in there real quick?
HOLMES: Yeah, Sasha, go ahead.
JOHNSON: I was just -- I'm not going to use the word, but I was just going to say that, that is one thing that was really remarkable about Hillary Clinton, yesterday, she was really criticized in Iowa for not taking questions regularly from voters, there. And I think that when they came to New Hampshire they realized that one of their strategies had to be that, you know, they needed to show the real Hillary Clinton. And I have to say, she was very relaxed, it was kind of one of the best times I'd ever seen her because she seemed to sort of shed the stump speech and really get into the mix with voters and she seemed to enjoy it. HOLMES: OK, well, everybody has something on the line, both sides. The folks who we thought were the frontrunners going into Iowa, now are really on the line. Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton, disappointing finishes, maybe, in Iowa. They really need something big to happen for them in New Hampshire. Sasha Johnson, also Mark Preston, again tow of my favorite. Mark, sorry about making you use that word this morning, but call it what it is, all right?
JOHNSON: This is a family audience.
HOLMES: We'll call it what it is. Good to see you guys, see you soon.
JOHNSON: Thanks.
PRESTON: Thanks, T.J.
HOLMES: And tonight, folks, again both Republican and Democratic candidates go to go face-to-face on CNN. Another really unique opportunity, here, Betty, for everybody out there. A lot of people may have seen these debates before. They happened yesterday on ABD. You're going to be able to see them here on CNN, we have teamed up with the folks over at ABC for the ABC News/FaceBook/WMUR debates in a CNN special replay, tonight, at 7:00 Eastern, again a special CNN replay tonight at 7:00 Easter, right hear.
NGUYEN: Don't miss it.
All right, and coming up though, storms have just hammered the west coast, did that yesterday, past few days, in fact, and now people are picking up the pieces.
HOLMES: Picking them up and bracing for more rain, snow and possible flooding. We'll take you live to southern California.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Welcome back everybody, and good morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes. Here now, a quick look at the top stories. The western U.S. reeling from severe storm this is weekend. Hundreds of homes flooded, a levee broke in Fernley, Nevada. In California, at least two deaths are blamed on the storm.
NGUYEN: Georgia authorities say they have found blood-stained clothes along with a missing hiker's I.D. in a dumpster and may fear Meredith Emerson is dead. A suspect faces kidnapping charges in her disappearance.
HOLMES: And, just two days away from the first primary of the presidential race. Of course, the Iowa caucuses, last Thursday. The candidates are making the rounds and taking a few shots at one another ahead of Tuesdays vote in New Hampshire.
NGUYEN: Now for something the candidates may want to see before heading out for their meet and greets. Some new numbers, bumps and slumps. And who better to help us navigate the numbers than CNN's senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, joining us live from Manchester, this morning.
All right, break it down for us, Bill. Where do they stand?
BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, who are got the bounce, that's the question of the moment as we look at New Hampshire primary voters polled after the Iowa caucuses.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): Are New Hampshire voters influenced by what happens in far away Iowa? Apparently they are. Before the Iowa caucuses, Hillary Clinton was running four points ahead of Barack Obama in New Hampshire, now they're dead even. Clinton 33, Obama 33, with John Edwards trailing at 20.
Both Obama and Edwards got bounced from Iowa where they came in first and second. Each picked up three points in New Hampshire. And Clinton? No bounce for you. And the gender gap? It's gone. The race is a tie among women, as well as men.
Obama got something else out of winning Iowa, a bounce in his perceived electability. Before Iowa, Clinton led Obama by better than 2-1 when New Hampshire Democrats were asked which candidate has the best chance of beating the Republican? Electability was her issue.
CLINTON: I think I come into this race tested and proven and ready to take on the Republicans no matter what they send my way.
SCHNEIDER: Obama's response? Who is she talking about?
OBAMA: ...the notion that, I'm, that a viability or electability argument is being made by somebody who starts off with almost half the country not being willing to vote for them. It doesn't make much sense.
SCHNEIDER: Now the two are seen as equally electable. Fewer New Hampshire Democrats now believe Clinton is electable? Why? She lost. More Democrats now believe Obama is electable. Why? He won.
Obama's victory in Iowa, and overwhelmingly white state, may have resolved some doubts about an African-American candidate's electability.
In the Republican race, it looks like Mike Huckabee's Iowa victory helped John McCain in New Hampshire. McCain gained four points in New Hampshire, Huckabee, just one. A week ago, McCain and Mitt Romney were tied in New Hampshire. Now McCain has pulled ahead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Iowa did not help Huckabee much, here in New Hampshire, where there not many Evangelical voters. He's still running fourth. The main impact was to make Mitt Romney more vulnerable -- Betty. NGUYEN: All right, Bill Schneider, as always, showing us the numbers and how it plays out. Thank you.
And tonight both Republican and Democratic candidates go face-to- face on CNN. This is truly a unique opportunity for you. As you can see the entire ABC News/FaceBook/WMUR debates in a CNN special replay tonight, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. You don't want to miss it. It was very contentious, a special replay tonight at 7:00 Eastern, only on CNN.
HOLMES: Then we want turn to southern California and some deadly weather, there. One woman died when the truck she was in was swept away by floodwaters. Forecasters say there could be more flooding and mudslides, today. But right now, the mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted, at least. CNN's Kara Finnstrom joins us now, this morning, from Santa Clarita, California.
Good morning to you.
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, T.J. Well, we've been checking in with emergency officials and they tell us that throughout southern California, all of the cities that there was concern about, most of them had no incidents at all overnight with this latest round of rain. That's good news.
Officials here in L.A. County tell us they that will keep their swift water rescue team on alert, though, throughout the day because more rains are execed. Yesterday that team put to work. We have some video to share with you that was taken in Chino of a man being, actually, plucked out of a tree. He was saved, his girlfriend was killed when the car they were riding in was actually carried for about a half a mile by floodwaters. Authorities there say they tried to continue driving in an area where the road had actually been washed over.
There have been at least four deaths now being attributed to the storm and most are accident-related. Now, back here, live in Santa Clarita, we did spot some teams out here yesterday with the U.S. Geological Survey. They're actually already out kind of scouting around some of these areas that were deemed to be at higher risk for problems like mudslides, during this storm. And this is why, this is one of the burn areas suffered greatly during the last wildfire that spread through this area. And officials were concerned that a lot of the damage above ground and underground would make some of these hillsides very unstable, more likely to see things like mudslides and debris flows, but they say at least, right now, it appears southern California has escaped that threat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN STOCK, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: What we found, so far, is that it looks like we've walked right to the edge of the rainfall precipice, stared over the edge, kicked a few stones and then walked back. Thus far, in the Malibu area and what we have seen here, there hasn't been a whole lot of debris flows. Most of the water is simply running over the hills, transporting sediment, particle by particle. So, there's a low hazard, but we walked right up to the threshold.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FINNSTROM: So, T.J., officials here in southern California cautiously optimistic that we've come through this storm OK, but again they say they will be watching the skies, watching some of these hillsides that are deemed to be at greater risk throughout the day, because we are expecting a little more rain. Back to you.
HOLMES: All right, Kara Finnstrom, there for us in southern California. Kara, we appreciate you.
NGUYEN: Get the latest now on -- are we going to weather at this point? OK, we are actually going to move to another story. It is the American dream, right? Owning your own home, but for some retirees it is turning into a real nightmare.
HOLMES: Yeah, skyrocketing property taxes in some areas, putting folks in a bad situation. But as Allan Chernoff reports, towns are trying to help by putting seniors to work.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Greenburg, New York, home to some of the highest property taxes in the nation, averaging more than $11,000. The tax burden is a real challenge to seniors like Shirley Edwards, a retired nurse and teacher.
SHIRLEY EDWARDS, HOMEOWNER: Very nice community. I have wonderful neighbors. We look out for each other, we socialize and it's sort of like a family community.
CHERNOFF: She just hopes she can hold on to her home.
EDWARDS: When you're on a fixed income, you really have to find ways to manage your budget and still have a semi decent quality of life.
CHERNOFF: So, a town proposal to let seniors work off as much as $750 of their taxes is enticing.
EDWARDS: Show me where to sign up. I think that this program will go a long ways to alleviate some of the stress and help us financially.
CHERNOFF: Town supervisor, Paul Feiner is pushing Greenburg to adopt the plan. After seeing some long-time residents move because of struggles to pay their taxes.
PAUL FEINER, GREENBURG TOWN SUPERVISOR: People are voting with their feet and a lot of people of people are finding that it's too expensive to live here and people are opting to move out, unfortunately, of a community where they lived in for many, many years.
CHERNOFF (on camera): Greenburgh would join dozens of towns around the country that are trying to help seniors to stay by hiring them to work off part of their property tax bill.
(voice over): Dally Kane Nelson is one of 10 seniors in Concord, Massachusetts earning $8.50 an hour as a part-time town employee.
SALLY KANE NELSON, HOMEOWNER: I'm a records clerk, so I get records, I organize the records, I take them off the computer.
CHERNOFF: She can earn up to $850 towards her property taxes which helps her remain in the home where she's lived for more than 30 years.
GREG HOWES, SELECTMAN, CONCORD, MASS: People can work, contribute to the town, and it's a win-win for both because the town now has access to an experienced, talented pool of employees...
CHERNOFF: The earnings helps seniors with just a portion of their tax bills, but perhaps even more important, the program gives them a sense of purpose in their long-time community.
Allan Chernoff, CNN, Greenburgh, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, it's a high-flying adventure fit for a prince.
NGUYEN: Yes, Prince William is training for a new mission, but it's part of the family duty. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, we know it's Sunday morning and many of you are thinking, at least, about your Monday, but we have some CNN staffers that are actually working and preparing for Monday.
NGUYEN: Feverously. Let's check in now with CNN's Kiran Chetry in New York.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hey Betty and T.J., coming up on Monday, the most news in the morning is on the road in New Hampshire. It was certainly an exciting week, we were live in Des Moines and had possible presidents join us for breakfast. There was Bill Richardson, Fred Thompson, Ron Paul and John Edwards all talked with us the morning of the Iowa caucuses.
We also talked with Barack Obama the morning of his historic win. So, now what does he need to do now that the campaign has moved to New Hampshire. Well, AMERICAN MORNING will be live out of the Granite State on Monday and Tuesday in the most open White House race in decades.
Plus, we're live from Vegas. Time for the Consumer Electronics Show. Last year it brought the i-Phone. So, what will the must-have gadget of 2008 turning out to be? We'll find out Monday, or Veronica de la Cruz is in Vegas for us.
Also, the Late night laughs are back. John Stewart, Steven Colbert, coming back, as well. So, what do the writers still in the picket lines think about the return of the shows? Are they as funny without them? Well, we'll talk to some of the writers to get their review.
All that when John Roberts and I see you Monday, live from New Hampshire, it all starts at 6:00 a.m. Betty and T.J., back to you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: It is 45 minutes past the hour on this Sunday morning. Our quick hits give you more news and less time, so let's check them out. First up, President Bush heads to the Middle East this week.
HOLMES: The president plans to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders hoping to move the peace process forward. The president will also visit Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, as well as Egypt.
NGUYEN: Prince William is spreading his wings. The British military says starting Monday he will learn to fly with the Royal Air Force. Since he's following in his dad's footsteps, serving in all three branches of the military. Prince William has already served with the army and the after his stent with the air force, the military says he is headed to the navy.
HOLMES: Well, Major League pitchers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte aren't saying yet whether they will testify before Congress this month on the issue of doping in baseball. Pettitte and Clemens were invited to tell their side of the story, under oath, before a congressional committee January 16. Their former trainer, Brain McNamee will -- or he was also invited to testify. Don't know if any of them will show up, yet.
NGUYEN: Coming up on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, RELIABLE SOURCES. Howard Kurtz joins us for a preview.
HOLMES: Also, Josh Levs joins us from the Dot-Com desk of.
Good morning, again, Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN.COM DESK: Hey, good morning, everybody. How are you doing there? You know, the primary is not too far away for most of the country, so more and more are starting to pick your candidates. Well, coming up, I'll show you how the primary calendar affects you and how you can find out where the candidates really stand on the issues -- Betty.
NGUYEN: All right, looking forward to that tonight -- to that. And tonight, you want to be looking to this, as well. Both Republican and Democratic candidates go face-to-face on CNN. This is a really unique opportunity for you, because you can see the entire ABC News/FaceBook/WMUR debates in a CNN special replay tonight, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Don't miss it. A CNN special replay tonight, 7:00 Eastern, only on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: All right, all eyes focusing on New Hampshire, that is coming up this week. The primary, you know, a lot of you are saying I don't live there, so how does this primary calendar affect me? Josh Levs joins us with a a look at that.
LEVS: Cnn.com to the rescue. As always, right, we should get cnn.com a cape. Let's take a look at this, because this is pretty cool, you know, because of the attention Iowa and the New Hampshire, a lot more people are interested, when do you get to vote, when and how does it play out for you?
Well, if you go to our election page, very cool, interactive calendar. And what that does for you, if you take a look, you can't miss it, cnn.com very top, it says "Election Center." It'll bring you right there. It's a complete calendar for every state in the nation and it shows you exactly how you can be affected by this, because it shows you how many states will be before you, how many delegates your state has, how bodily one of these candidates will need the support of your state. If you scroll over to the right, there you go, you see a calendar and then you can click on any date and see which other states are voting along with you.
It is very helpful, because one thing I keep emphasizing, and I'm going to keep doing it in the coming days, coming weeks, is that these candidates need support all over the nation. A Democrat needs more than 2,000 delegates, Republican needs more than 1,000. They're going to need you. You see right there, on the calendar, what we have.
Let me also take you over to the issues page. Because as you try to choose your candidate, you might want to know, let's forget about the spin, let's put aside the claims. We want to know exactly where they stand. Right there, you see a series of issues, you can click on any one of them: Abortion, gun control, immigration, stem cells, Iraq. Anyone that you choose, we're showing you all of the candidates who remain in the race. And there you go, you can see all the candidates, the ones that are still in the race, are there, as well as others, and you can see where they stand. Really strong summaries of their stance and what they've said on those issues. And if you want even more, you just click on one of their names and you get even more.
One last thing, guys, really hot on cnn.com, today, everyone is looking into the debate last night. One of the top stories. And this photo is really interesting. That photo alone got a lot of views just because it's been months since people have been all the candidates together, Democrats and Republicans shaking hands and it brings you back a little bit, when Hillary Clinton was...
NGUYEN: We have seen so many debates and they are separated, Democrats debate, you've got the Republican debate.
LEVS: And you know, often, you would hear over the month, the Republicans talking about Clinton because she was the national frontrunner and seeing them all interact all of a sudden is very interesting, there. And, as you may know, have heard us mention it earlier, that you're going to have the opportunity to see that debate that aired originally last night, the Republicans and the Democrats, they go face-to-face on CNN. It's a unique opportunity for you, you can see the whole ABC New/FaceBook/WMUR debates. CNN's special replay tonight beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. So, if you didn't see it last night, you don't want to miss it. This is a CNN special replay only on CNN, 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
NGUYEN: All right, we have marked it down. Thank you, Josh.
Now, it's time to check in with Howard Kurtz in Washington to see what is ahead on CNN RELIABLE SOURCES. HOLMES: Good morning to you, Howard.
HOWARD KURTZ, RELIABLE SOURCES: Good morning, T.J. Coming up, fist we heard she was inevitable, now the media portraying Hillary Clinton as hanging by a thread. Are journalists boosting Barack Obama in the wake of his Iowa victory?
Mike Huckabee wins the Republican caucuses. Would that be the same Mike Huckabee the press ignored for most of the year? Plus, with the ABC New Hampshire debates, as you mentioned now, set to re-air on CNN, tonight, we'll talk with Charlie Gibson about his role in the presidential showdowns.
And Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, and friends back on the airwaves without their writers. How funny are they without professional help?
That and more, ahead on RELIABLE SOURCES.
NGUYEN: Professional help, keyword, there. OK, thanks Howard.
HOLMES: Well folks, when you think about voices of authority, you might think of what? I don't know, presidents, even? Authoritative voices. Ozzy Osbourne, how's that fit.
NGUYEN: Didn't come to mind. No, but you know what? Coming up, Ozzy is actually auditioning to be the voice of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, you know that intro that you hear? Well, you have go to hear this one. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, how would you like to become the official on- air announcer for CNN's Anderson Cooper 360?
NGUYEN: That was good, though. You got the low, deep voice. All right, so here's the deal. It really could happen. Maybe not for T.J., but for you, possibly. Just look who showed up for the audition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, AC-360: Many of you know, NBC NEWS recently hired actor Michael Douglas to be the voice of their broadcast announcing the nightly news with Brain Williams. Now, we have, for months, been searching for the right announcer for 360, someone with gravitas and with a voice. And tonight we're pleased to announce one of the finalists. OZZY OSBOURNE, MUSICIAN: Would you please get on with it. I'm not even getting paid.
COOPER: OK, sorry. He has one of the most distinctive voices in the world. He's a global superstar, ladies and gentlemen, one of the finalists to be the announcer if 369, the prince of darkness himself, Mr. Ozzy Osbourne.
OSBOURNE: Can I do it now?
COOPER: Yes, please.
OSBOURNE: Oh, OK. Live from CNN's Time Warner Center, in New York, this is the Anderson Cooper 360.
COOPER: It was good, let's just do it -- just try your line one more time with a little more clarity, perhaps.
OSBOURNE: OK. Hi, I'm Ozzy Osbourne. Live from CNN's Warner Center in New York, this is Anderson Cooper 360 and now yee-ha, Anderson!
COOPER: You so have Michael Douglas beat. We will still be auditioning some other finalists, but if you think Ozzy should get the gig, and who doesn't, tell us about it at cnn.com/360 or if there other candidates that you think could best the Oz man, let us know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: OK, Ozzy is the clear winner. I don't need to see the other candidates. Hey, when the guy announces somebody else's show by stating his own name, "this is Ozzy Osbourne." That's a man who's thinking.
HOLMES: But, you know, there was another voice who we were talking about today, that was good. One of our reporters.
NGUYEN: Which one? Oh.
HOLMES: Dan Lothian.
NGUYEN: Dan Lothian. He does have that voice.
HOLMES: Dan Lothian has a good voice. I'm just throwing it out there, Dan.
NGUYEN: Dan, this may be a little side gig for you. We're just saying it.
HOLMES: All right, folks, well, of course the Iowa caucuses over, done, forget about them.
NGUYEN: Rearview mirror.
HOLMES: Yes. We can't even see them back there, anymore. But, we're asking was the expectation too high for Senator Hillary Clinton? That's just one of the topics on today's RELIABLE SOURCES with Howard Kurtz.
NGUYEN: And on LATE EDITION with Wolf Blitzer, Iowa caucus winner, Mike Huckabee, joins Wolf in the 11:00 a.m. hour along with other presidential candidates, but first, let's give you a check of the morning's top developments.
Hope fades for a missing hiker in Georgia. Police say they now believe 24-year-old Meredith Emerson is dead. Blood-stained clothes believed to be hers have been found and Gary Michael Hilton, seen with Emerson the day she disappeared is charged with kidnapping. Court documents say he tried to use her credit card.
Mountains of snow, buckets of rain, California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, just slammed by a nasty winter storm. At least three people are dead. Warnings now of avalanches, flash floods, even mudslides.
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