Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Pregnant Marine Found Dead; Suspect Spotted

Aired January 13, 2008 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: And I'm T.J. Holmes. We are following breaking news out of North Carolina. A U.S. Marine on the run after a body is found in his backyard. That's a body that was found, also a get fetus found. Well, that suspect has been spotted overnight.

NGUYEN: It has been a disturbing case. So, let's get you the latest on the manhunt for the suspect. CNN's Ed Lavandera is following the story from Jacksonville, North Carolina. The sheriff spoke moments ago. We're getting new information. What have you learned -- Ed

ED LAVANDERA, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're in day three of the search for Marine Corporal Cesar Laurean, who has been on the run since about 4:00 a.m. Friday morning. And authorities here now say they've finally gotten their first concrete lead that they can act on to try in trying to track him down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF ED BROWN, ONSLOW COUNTY, NC: I was left a note this morning by Captain Sutherland, who is my right-hand person in this, in my assistance with y'all in this, to inform me that they received information last night of a confirmed sighting of the suspect, Laurean, that we're looking for in this case. But, we'll let you know at this time we have got U.S. marshals, FBI, NCIS, and SBI, we've got about every law enforcement agency that represents the American people involved in this manhunt. This thing that we saw at his house in the luminol testing, the things we saw in the pit in the back of the house, leads us to believe he could be a dangerous and violent person if he was put in a corner.

QUESTION: Was he still driving his own truck?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: And just to be clear, that luminol testing that he is the testing that was used to find the blood spattering in the home on Friday, so that's what he was talking about, there, just to be clear. But, of course, several questions coming up based on the information. The authorities are now releasing that the sighting took place overnight, sometime around midnight last night, perhaps, but would not exactly say where this sighting took place. Only to say that it was -- in the sheriff's words, only two or three states away.

So, it's as best as we can pinpoint it at this point, of course, but this nationwide bulletin was sent out to law enforcement agencies across the country to be on the lookout for this person. Because law enforcement didn't act, we are able to gather that this was a sighting that someone from the general public called in to law enforcement, and clearly Mr. Laurean, someone who is on the run, didn't spend a lot of time, the sheriff said, in transit, as he described it. So, he obviously quickly moved out of the area where he was, and law enforcement wasn't able to get to where the sighting took place in time to apprehend Mr. Laurean. So, the search continues, but at least this is something that authorities here feel much better about. And something that they hope will help kind of narrow down their search and where they should be pinpointing their search for Cesar Laurean at this point -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Yeah, we know he of not spotted in North Carolina, but we don't know exactly where he was, except the fact that it may have been two or three states away. So, as for the investigation there in North Carolina, I know the remains of a pregnant female, including her fetus were found in the backyard of the prime suspect, Corporal Laurean, yesterday. Any idea when a positive identification will come about?

LAVANDERA: Well, that could take several more days, dental records we're told will need to be used to make that happen. If dental records don't work, they'll have to do some DNA testing. But, the remains have been taken to Chapel Hill, north Carolina where medical teams are doing that work, and we're told by the medical examiner, here in Jacksonville, that could take a couple of days.

NGUYEN: I want to ask you this, too. As for corporal Laurean's wife, Corporal Laurean, again, being the prime suspect in this case. She was living with Laurean at the time in that home where the remains were found in the backyard, yesterday. Do we know what her status is? And could there be other arrests in this case?

LAVANDERA: The investigators here aren't saying if that's the case, they are saying everything remains open, so that leads us to believe that perhaps anything could change in the days ahead. If they get information that pushes them in that direction, but at this point, there has been no indication that that will happen. They're only saying that Corporal Laurean's wife is cooperating with them and was the person that turned them on to the investigation and on to Corporal Lauren, led them to the discovery of the body, so they've been describing her so far as a cooperative witness.

NGUYEN: All right, there's lot to be learned in this investigation. Ed Lavandera joining us live from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Thank you, Ed.

HOLMES: All right, we're going to get analysis on this case, somebody who has experience in cases like this. CNN security analyst Mike Brooks on the line with us.

Mike, we appreciate your time this morning. What has been jumping out to you about this case? Sometimes, it just often happens that there's some second guessing about the investigation, itself. And certainly there were questions about why a closer eye wasn't kept on this suspect, why he wasn't picked up, that he was also the guy who's accused of rape and then she disappears, which is common sense (INAUDIBLE). You know, people think like that, but tell us in terms of law enforcement, why they behave the way they did. Can you explain, at least, why they weren't able to pick him up like a lot of people think he should have been?

MIKE BROOKS, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: You know, I've been taking a really close look at that to find out exactly, OK well, why didn't they pick him up initially? But, if you look at some of the initial investigative reports, what you see in there are inconsistencies apparently on Marie Lauterbach's part and that's the NCIS was saying, there was inconsistencies.

And then NCIS apparently had some information that she had, what they were calling -- what the head of the NCIS there at Camp Lejeune was calling, you know, a close relationship with this corporal. So, you know -- and, again, the corporal wasn't cooperating either, and that's kind of what kind of (INAUDIBLE) -- you know, when have you a rape allegation, you know, it seems that there's that you have to have all of the evidence in front of you before you charge someone with rape and that's what a lot of people are saying. Well, why wasn't he at least charged, picked up, and then had the investigation go from there? But basically law enforcement was only going with the information that they had at hand in this sexual assault investigation.

HOLMES: Now, do you suspect that the sheriff had to have had some really good, hard evidence when he came out, I guess two days ago now and said this woman is dead. We were told that he got information from a witness that witness happened to be the wife of the suspect who had a note that was left by the suspect that said that Maria Lauterbach had killed herself. Well, the sheriff comes out and tells us, and says definitively she is dead. Now, all we know about is that note and then later we found out about blood spatter at the home. But, do you think he must have had more information that we don't know about for him to come out and just say she's dead?

BROOKS: You would think so, because for him to come out, also with the federal authorities there who are investigating this case, for him to come out and say unequivocally that she is dead, that says to me that he had really good, first-hand information from a witness, maybe now the witness we know could have been his wife, that she was, in fact, dead. And, if you notice, when we were covering this the other day, they were showing live footage and they said, you know, (INAUDIBLE), but we saw those (INAUDIBLE) at the same site in the backyard where they were searching and so I think they had some information about that before they even put it out to the media.

HOLMES: Are we going to hear more, you think, about this wife and this note and what she may have known? Do you think they are looking at her any more closely as possibly playing a role in any way, shape or form in this case? I mean, this has just been a bizarre case from the jump. BROOKS: Well, you know, I thought it very interesting the other day, with talking to Sheriff Brown during one of the news conferences, when they were speaking with him, and they asked about the wife's involvement, and he says, "I'm going to keep that to myself," which said to me is I don't think that they are totally done looking at her. Because, if you look at all of the facts, if you look at the evidence that they had presented, there were two rooms in this house, in their house, where there was good spatter, apparently a significant amount of blood spatter, and he tried -- someone had tried to clean that blood spatter up and someone had also painted over some of the spatter they couldn't get rid of.

You know, if you live in a house, you know what's going on inside of your house, and if somebody's trying to repaint something, you just don't repaint something if it doesn't need painting. And when they went in there the other night with that luminol, which is the chemical that you spray, where you think there is some blood, you turn the lights down, you spray it, and then it illumines a bright blue for about 30 seconds, that's when they found it. You got to know what's going on inside your house. If you don't, I'm -- it just stinks to me, right now. And I don't think that they're totally done with her in this investigation.

HOLMES: Not totally done. All right and how long are you thinking before we possibly get a positive I.D.? I think Ed was telling us -- our Ed Lavandera, on the ground -- maybe two or three days because of the body being charred to such a point that she couldn't be identified. But, I guess a lot of people are fairly assuming that this is, in fact, Maria Lauterbach.

BROOKS: Yeah, I think this -- I'm going to go to say, go out on a limb and say, yeah, I think it's Marie Lauterbach, also. And that's why now they have a warrant -- murder warrant for him. And, but it will take probably two or three days with the dental search and, you know, then we got this search where somebody has seen this corporal about two states away. So, you know, that process, they're working on that now and that's their main focus, they're going on the forensics, working, trying to identify, make sure that is her, identify the body, but on the other side, the manhunt is going hot and heavy, right now.

HOLMES: And, I need to let you go, here, Mike. But, another question, here. Why aren't we being allowed to help more, the media? I know he has to play it tight to the vest, sometimes, Ed Brown, the sheriff there, but is there any way it could it help if he told us what state the guy is in? Where he might have been going, how he was traveling? And then people could be looking out for him possibly in that state, be paying more attention to trains or a bus, or whatever it may be. Why does he does he have to play it so close to the vest on that particular issue?

BROOKS: You know, it can go either way. Sometimes if you give the information, you know, and say, OK, well, he was spotted in South Carolina, in Georgia, then people say, OK, well, let me look for this truck, let me look for this guy. But, on the other hand, if you say he was spotted in a particular state, then he could go underground, you know, if he's on the road, if someone spotted him at a rest stop, at a convenience store, then he could possibly go underground, pull his car into a garage somewhere and stay there and authorities wouldn't be able to find him.

HOLMES: All right, CNN security analyst, Mike Brooks, we always appreciate your insight. Thank you so much for your help this morning.

NGUYEN: That was very good information, trying to sort out all of the questions that surround this investigation. Of course, we're going to have much more on that as it comes into CNN.

I want to tell you about this new this morning, President Bush urging Arab allies to join the U.S. in confronting Iran. The president also put the focus on freedom and Democracy during a speech just a couple of hours ago. CNN's Hala Gorani is live from Abu Dhabi with the details on that speech.

Hi there, Hala.

HALA GORANI, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Betty. This is the fourth country in five days for the U.S. president. He arrived in Abu Dhabi, the capitol of the United Arab Emirates, just a few hours ago. He was presented by Sheikh Zayed, the president of the UAE, with a gold, diamond and ruby encrusted sash, which was more like a giant necklace. This was a present given to him by the leader of the United Arab Emirates.

In his speech, a little bit later, you mentioned that he joined -- he invited Arab nations to join him in a stance against Iran. But also, Betty and this is important, reassuring them that in their backyard there wouldn't be imminent sort of military action. So, this is something that the gulf countries are concerned with, but at the same time, they're concerned that something might come up that could hurt their stability and security. And you'll remember, of course, few days ago, the incident in the Strait of Hormuz between the U.S. and the Iranian navy boats that had some people in the region worried. He took a swipe at Iran saying that country is a threat to world democracy and also, as you mentioned, called on political liberalization in the region. Listen to what the president said just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You cannot build trust when you hold an election where opposition candidates find themselves harassed or imprisoned. You cannot expect people to believe in the promise of a better future when they are jailed for peacefully petitioning their government. And you cannot stand up a modern and confident nation when you do not allow people to voice their legitimate criticisms. The United States appreciates the democratic progress requires tough choices.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: All right. And many people in this region, Betty, see these words as just that, words. Because, you'll remember three years ago in the second inaugural address of the president, he said that these country in the region, even close allies will be monitored for democratic progress. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, certainly, have not gone in that direction in the last three years and they're not seen as in any way having been punished or reprimanded by America. So, these are things that the president are saying, but the reaction as we monitor it across the region is one of skepticism still -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Hala Gorani joining us live from Abu Dhabi, this morning. Thank you, Hala.

And while the president travels overseas, his approval rating back home lags in negative territory. In a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, 32 of respondents approve of the way the president is handling his job, now, that is unchanged from December -- 66 percent disapprove of the president's job performance, 33 percent say they favor the war in Iraq, that is up slightly from December when 31 percent backed the war, 65 percent say they oppose the war.

Hollywood writers, they're still on strike. But award season, that must go on. Kind of sort of.

HOLMES: Yeah, the Golden Globe winners announced tonight. Don't expect to see in Vera Wang gowns, stuff like that in the red carpet.

NGUYEN: That's rolled up.

HOLMES: Yeah, we're talking about how the strike is affecting other businesses, coming up. Plus, a special edition of LARRY KING LIVE. Some actors not going to be crossing the picket line, they're going to be sitting across from Larry King. We'll let you know who is stopping by, tonight at 9:00.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: We turn to the politics, now. The next battle for Democrats coming up in Nevada. Caucuses there, now, less than a week away, coming up on Saturday. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, have both spend a whole lot of time in that state, hoping to build themselves a big win. CNN's Jim Acosta spending some time in Las Vegas, for as the sign behind him reads, "Fabulous Las Vegas."

Good morning to you, Jim.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: That's right. A little blast from the past, there. That sign behind me, that's right, T.J. The stakes are very high in Las Vegas for the Democratic contenders. This is the big jackpot in the upcoming Nevada caucuses this coming Saturday. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama going all in this weekend in Vegas, tailoring their message to Hispanic voters. That's the big enchilada in this contest. Over the weekend, Hillary Clinton stumped at the Sheet Metal Workers Union, here in Las Vegas, addressing a largely Hispanic crowd, standing in front of a sign that read: "Juntos con Hillary" or "Together with Hillary."

She told a largely Hispanic crowd that the American dream should be available to everyone, a message clearly designed and aimed at newcomers to this country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A common purpose of America is progress, not just for the wealthy and well connected, but for everyone. Every single person deserves to have a shot at the American dream.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: But, down in South Carolina a very different message from John Edwards, the former North Carolina senator. Is he advocating what appears to sound like a crackdown on illegal immigration. That is a message that may play much better down South.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not for amnesty. I'm for a path to earned citizenship. And what I would say is if you came here illegally and you want to earn American citizenship, No. 1, you got to pay a fine in recognition that you violated the law, and second, now I go straight to your question, this is a little more controversial, but I believe it. You want to become an American citizen, you should learn to speak English.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: As for Barack Obama, he is scheduled to swing through Las Vegas later today. He is scheduled to speak at a church setting this afternoon. It is a venue that is very comfortable for Barack Obama. And he a day off yesterday from the campaign trail, but gets back into the thick of it later on today -- T.J.

HOLMES: Yes, he can't afford too many days off in this close campaign. Jim Acosta out there, not taking the day off in Vegas. Good to see you, sir. Thank you.

NGUYEN: That's the story on the Democrats. So, what about the Republicans? Well, the candidates are pretty spread out ahead of several different state contests, this month. They're split between South Carolina, Florida, and Michigan. Coming up at the bottom hour, our Mary Snow looks at the high stakes in Michigan with just three days to go before their primary.

HOLMES: Well, the candidates uncensored. Hear what they are saying about the issues that are important to: the economy, the war, health care, all coming up this afternoon on CNN's BALLOT BOWL, the only place you heard more than just a quick sound bite. CNN's BALLOT BOWL starts at 1:00 Eastern Time.

NGUYEN: It's about 21 past the hour. Our "Quick Hits" get you more news in less time.

So, first up, a skier killed in an avalanche in Vail, Colorado. It took rescue crews about four hours to reach him. He was buried under about seven feet of snow. A second skier, though, managed to dig himself out and call 911. It happened in the same area where a snowboarder was killed last week.

HOLMES: Also today, national Amber Alert Awareness Day. For the first time the child abduction alerts are going wireless, that means you can get alerts sent to your cell phone by signing up at this Web site, that's wirelessamberalerts.org. The wireless foundation is hoping that they'll get the word out quickly and save the lives of more children.

NGUYEN: At the Vatican, this morning, 13 babies baptized by Pope Benedict XVI, he celebrated the mass with his back to the congregation, which is how it was done decades ago, before the church modernized some practices. All of the babies have parents who work at the Vatican. You can hear them, there. The pope predicted the parents will help their children develop faith, hope, and charity.

Well, we are heading into a week full of debates, primaries, caucuses, it's kind of hard to keep up.

HOLMES: Yes, and plus, with candidates dropping out of the presidential race. You know, this is the time to do that. So, why is this guy, we're talking about, possibly deciding get into the race?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, it has already been a pretty busy political month with Iowa and New Hampshire voters kicking things off for us. And of course, the big test is Super Duper Tuesday on February 5. Let's get caught up on some of the big topics on the trail right now, with NPR's political editor Ken Rudin, joins us now from Washington.

Sir, always good to see you. I'm going to start with maybe a tough question for you, here. Who's going to be next to drop out?

KEN RUDIN, NPR POLITICAL EDITOR: I think Ken Rudin, because if I don't get anymore sleep, it's going to be a tough -- we, look keep, you know, I mean, we writing off people before they have a chance to write themselves off. We were writing off Hillary Clinton before the New Hampshire primary, and suddenly she's back in the saddle as a Democratic frontrunner, again. Whatever that means. So, I'd rather not prematurely write anybody off, yet.

HOLMES: Yeah, we're just having a tough time with crews keeping up with all these candidates. We need to, you know, we need to cut back a little bit. No, but tell us this, Mitt Romney, homeboy, going to Michigan for the primary on Tuesday. Is this a must-win, and if he doesn't win, another second place finish, maybe, what does that mean for his campaign going forward?

RUDIN: Well, first of all, he was once upon a time favored to win the Iowa caucuses and didn't win that. And he was the frontrunner in New Hampshire, and didn't win that. And it's especially important for him in Michigan. He was born in Michigan, he grow up in Michigan. And his father, George Romney, was governor of Michigan for six years in the 1960s. So, obviously needs to win. But more importantly, he's the kind of guy who needs to show somewhere that he can win because following that is South Carolina and Huckabee looks very strong in South Carolina and McCain looks fairly strong in South Carolina. For somebody who has raised so much money, for somebody who had a big bank account, mostly from his own money, he's going to have to win somewhere, and Michigan is going to be a tough one for him.

HOLMES: OK, when we started voting, we had been talking about Romney, Huckabee, McCain, but before we started voting, all the national polls, all we were talking about is Giuliani. He has put everything into Florida. Is this strategy, is there any way this strategy can work to this man?

RUDIN: It's never worked in history. No Republican has ever lost Iowa and New Hampshire and gone on to win the nomination. And he didn't even lose the first two states, he finished sixth in Iowa and fourth in New Hampshire. Plus, the fact that nobody is paying attention to him anymore. If you focus on a state like Florida, which doesn't vote until January 29, a lot of people who have been raising money for him, say well, you know, he's not in the headlines anymore, why should we be paying attention? So, obviously he has a lot of stake in Florida, but again, he's out of the headlines given the other early contests.

HOLMES: But Ken, can this hurt him, as well, even if he does happened to go ahead and get the nomination, these states, New Hampshire, and Iowa and Michigan, think back, you know what? You didn't even come here and care enough to campaign during the primary season, why would we want to support you now?

RUDIN: Well, that's a good point, but had there been a logical Republican frontrunner, if one candidate had won Iowa (INAUDIBLE) and all that stuff, then it would have been one thing, but everybody seems to be winning different states, so there is no one logical Republican leader, and that certainly helps Giuliani.

NGUYEN: All right, Ken, I'm going to thank you, here. Because we are have lost T.J.'s microphone. We're having some audio difficulties. We're going to take a quick break and come back with more news here at CNN. But Ken, we do appreciate your time.

Stay tuned, there's much more to come.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Ah, I'm back. Microphone working once again. We are watching the campaign this morning. Two of the to top Republicans in Michigan, this morning, Mitt Romney and John McCain setting up for their battle in Tuesday's primary. We just got through talking about that with NPR's Ken Rudin. We're going to talk about the Democrats with him in just a moment, but we're going to stick with the Republicans, here and turn to Mary Snow. She's been out and about and throughout Southfield, Michigan, around the Detroit area.

Tell us what's happening with the Republicans? Big day on Tuesday.

MARY SNOW, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, T.J., again, good to have you back. And this is crunch time for Republican candidates. What they have been stressing is the economy. We have been talking about how hard hit Michigan is. Its unemployment rate is higher than the rest of the nation at 7.4 percent, tens of thousands of jobs have been lost in the auto industry as jobs move overseas. So, the candidates are really trying to hit hard on who best will restore Michigan's economy.

And For Mitt Romney this could be a make or break state after losing both New Hampshire and Iowa. He is playing up the fact that he is a Michigan native. He had his first grade teacher even meeting him up on the campaign trail, yesterday. He has been taking shots at his chief rival here, Senator John McCain, for suggesting that jobs that have been lost in the auto industry are gone forever. And he's touting his experience in the private sector.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I spent my life in the economy. I think it's time to have somebody as president of the United States whose actually had jobs in the private sector and knows how the economy works.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Now, Senator John McCain has been fighting back at Mitt Romney's jabs, saying in his words that he'd be embarrassed and ashamed to tell people that the jobs are coming back. Here's what he to say yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I cannot look you in the eye and tell you that conditions are good here in this state. We all know what the employment rate -- unemployment rate is. We know that jobs have left this state. We know we have a lot of work to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: McCain is stressing retraining workers, also focusing more on hybrid vehicles and he says he will also help by cutting dependence on foreign oils. It's a very tight race, a heated race between principally and John McCain and Mitt Romney for the top slot. Mike Huckabee has been campaigning here. He went back to South Carolina yesterday, but he'll be returning to Michigan here tonight for the campaign, here.

You know, just four days after Michigan's primary will be the primary in South Carolina, Fred Thompson has been staying in South Carolina. He and Mike Huckabee have kind of raised the notch in terms of trading barbs, they're vying for conservative voters in South Carolina. And Rudy Giuliani has largely been spending his time and his strategy on Florida for the state's primary, there, January 29 -- T.J.

HOLMES: Yes, we were just talking about that, and Ken Rudin from NPR said that strategy has never worked. So, we'll see if it works for him. Mary Snow for us there in Michigan. Thank you so much. We'll turn to some Democrats, now. Where are they hanging out today? John Edwards, for one, is in South Carolina, again. Native son has been spending most of his post-New Hampshire time, there. There he is. Hillary Clinton, as you saw there in the video, as well, in South Carolina, also. She has three events in Columbia. And yesterday, she was looking for votes in Nevada and that's where Barack Obama picks up his campaigning today with another event in Las Vegas after he took a day off, yesterday.

Want to get back to NPR's political editor Ken Rudin.

Sorry we got cut off there with my microphone. And I must admit it was 100 percent my fault. I dropped my mike on the floor.

RUDIN: I thought you dropped out of the race.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: Me and you have dropped out this morning, Ken. All right, we will turn to the Democrats, though. And we put so much, like you said, we're trying to predict -- this thing is unpredictable and trying to write people off. But you know what? I guess people say Hillary really needs to win Nevada and then Barack Obama is probably going to win South Carolina. But, you know what? Haven't we set up a tone and the voters set up a tone here that no matter what happens, in either one of those caucuses or that primary in South Carolina, this race is going to go on to and maybe through Super Tuesday on February 5?

RUDIN: Well, if you're a political junky, you'd love to see that happen. If you're a Democratic Party strategist you'd probably want a nominee sooner than later. But, you know, in 2000, Al Gore won Iowa and New Hampshire, the race was over. John Kerry won Iowa and New Hampshire in 2004 and the race was over, but basically it looks like that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will be fighting tooth and nail. Hillary Clinton would love to win in Nevada, you know, and follow up on the New Hampshire win. In South Carolina, which votes on January 19, the Democratic electorate is 50 percent African-American, Barack Obama would love to take that, as well. And then you go into February 5, it's Super Duper Tuesday.

HOLMES: Like you said, the parties might not be crazy about it, they like a nominee sooner than later. But, how wonderful is this for the American people and for the process to see it play out? They're getting to learn more about these candidates, they're getting more coverage and in those later states, as well, are more relevant. Isn't that good, really, for the electorate?

RUDIN: Well, I think it is and especially it's good for the Obama campaign, because what I heard a lot about, even in Iowa and New Hampshire, they like him, they're attracted to him, but don't know much about him, they don't know where he stands, other than fighting for change and calling for a new approach. So, Barack Obama has an advantage or at least an opportunity to talk about what he stands for, what he wants to accomplish and how he's different than Hillary Clinton. The one thing that Democrats don't want to do is settle early on a Democratic nominee and then find out that nominee has either not been vetted enough or has not been seen by the voters as sufficiently the right kind of candidate for them to go into the battle in November.

HOLMES: Well, they are getting some pretty good vetting right now as this process continues and goes a little longer. But Ken Rudin of NPR, it's time for us now to drop you from the race, sir. We appreciate you sticking around through my technical issue with the microphone. Good to see you as always, thanks so much.

RUDIN: I understand.

HOLMES: All right. Thank you so much, Ken.

And folks, be sure to watch LATE EDITION with Wolf Blitzer. Wolf Blitzer, he's better at keeping his microphone on than I am. His guests this morning going to include those three, Republican presidential candidates Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney as well as Mike Huckabee. So, a full slate there for him.

Also, see the candidates uncensored and hear what they're saying about the issues that are important to you: the economy, the war, health care. All of that coming up this afternoon on CNN's BALLOT BOWL. The only place you can hear more than just a quick sound bite. Also on Wolf Blitzer's LATE EDITION, I'm going to get quick sound bites in there, as well, but the BALLOT BOWL starts at 1:00 Eastern. Good place for some information.

NGUYEN: All right, and speaking of information, you're going to need this if you're headed to the northeast tomorrow or at least trying to get somewhere from the northeast. Bonnie Schneider has been watching the weather there and it's not looking pretty.

Good morning, Bonnie.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Betty. Not at all. Monday morning is going to be very troublesome in and around New York City, then Monday afternoon, watch out in Boston.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Yeah, what a way to start out your workweek. Thank you, Bonnie.

Well, they're all dressed up and no place to go, absolutely no place. That's the case for hundreds of people in Hollywood, tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm doing a lot more standup right now, you know, with the writer's strike.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Yeah, a lot of people looking for other jobs, as well, as the writer's strike lingers on. We're going to have much more next, plus join Larry King tonight as he has surprise guests following the Golden Globes announcement. You never know who's going to stop by tonight at 9:00 Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, is awards season in Hollywood and stars are weighing in on the Hollywood writer's strike. New comments, though, coming in overnight from a British Academy of Film Television Arts event which took place in Beverly Hills.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIJAH KELLEY, ACTOR, HAIRSPRAY: Our writers are in a big quarrel right now, you know, but they are our brothers and sisters in this industry, so we have to support them. You know, when our sister hurts, you console them and you hear them out. If I was in a position of protest, I would want somebody to hear me, you know, regardless of what the situation was, so I stand behind them and just pray that it gets resolved.

MARG HELGENBERGER, ACTRESS, CSI: Only asking for what is fair. They are asking for fair market value. It's nothing out of ordinary, it's nothing outrageous and honestly, it's disgusting that the producers haven't come back to the table.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Disgusting is how she put it. Well, tonight's glitzy Golden Globe ceremony canceled by the writer's strike and instead winner will be announced at a news conference which you can see live on a special edition of LARRY KING LIVE. But for some, no gold means a lot less green and it's not just Hollywood that's taking the hit. CNN's Kareen Wynter explains.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Movie and television stars all walking the red carpet together. Winners overjoyed backstage, just moments after getting their statues.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was a surprise in itself.

WYNTER: And celebrities partying hard all night long. Well...

CROWD: On strike!

WYNTER: Expect something different, really different this year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There will be no actors at the Golden Globes.

WYNTER: Instead, what you will see is an hour long announcement of nominees and winners by the Hollywood Foreign Press. You can credit the striking Writer's Guild of America that has refused to allow their members to work on the show. In solidarity, most actors in Hollywood would not have across picket lines to attend award shows, much to the disappointment of those who spent the last year prepping, like designers, caterers and party planners.

MICHAEL O'CONNOR, JEWELRY AND STYLE EXPERT: A year's work down the drain, not only for Platinum Guild International, but also for the platinum designers and manufacturers because many of them actually create platinum and diamond pieces specifically to be shown at the celebrity suites and specifically to be shown to celebrities to wear.

LAUREN MESKELL, MANAGER, FRIAR TUX SHOT: Rentals range from $70 to $170 and we don't know how many people will come through, but it is a hit and we wish we had that business.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Think about the party planners who have to put millions of dollars on the table. All the ballrooms standing empty, all the caterers, Hollywood is a nervous place now.

WYNTER: If you think the cancellation of the Golden Globe Awards only affects Hollywood, you're wrong. According to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, the local economy is taking as much as an $80 million hit.

This is just rippling out. A lot of collateral damage in the southern California economy. A lot of small businesses. People think it's the big studios, that's the industry. No, about 85 percent of the firms in the entertainment industry are small companies.

WYNTER: But, there's a silver lining to this dark cloud. One celebrity style lounge is switching gears, by changing an event that usually caters solely to celebs to now helping those impacted by the strike with a fundraiser.

KARI FEINSTEIN, FEINSTEIN-MCGINNIS PUBLIC RELATIONS: We're going to still have talent come down and press come down and cover the event like they would if it was a Golden Globes event. Although it's not a Golden Globes event now, it's -- we're calling it the Winter Style Lounge and its benefiting the Writer's Guild.

WYNTER: A union that has single handedly shaken up the Hollywood industry and managed to make history in the process.

Kareen Wynter, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: All right, so you will not want to miss LARRY KING LIVE, tonight. It is the Golden Globes like you have never seen them before. Larry will have the results live as they happen, along with surprise guests that you have to see to believe. A special edition of LARRY KING LIVE, that is tonight at 9:00 Eastern.

HOLMES: Yeah, a press conference, huh?

NGUYEN: Hey, look, we're going to have guests on the show, at least Larry will, that you're not going to believe.

HOLMES: A press conference. That's sexy, Betty. That's great.

NGUYEN: Yeah, I'm trying to help it out, here.

HOLMES: Well, stay here, folks. Something you don't want to miss. Two men on a mission of mercy in a war zone. They're brothers, boy scouts, doctors, twins, and today they're being recognized along with the likes of Halle Berry, Ludacris, Danny Glover?

NGUYEN: Oh, that's some good company.

HOLMES: You can add these guys names to that company. We'll tell you about it. Stay here. They're right here with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right, talking about double duty, here. Twin brothers, both doctors, on a mission to treat wounded civilians in Afghanistan. Doctors Vince and Vance Moss will be honored for their work, tonight at the Trumpet Awards, which recognizes African-American achievement. And here to share their story with us this morning.

Kind of surprised to see you guys bright eyed and bushy tailed, because I know you were out partying at the dinner last night. Have a good time?

DR VINCE MOSS, TRUMPET AWARD RECIPIENT: Yeah, it was great. It was a very good dinner. We're very honored to have been in the presence of so many great leaders and people that are very concerned about what we're doing, here.

HOLMES: And tell me this, the Trumpet Awards, the award ceremony happening today. Going to be broadcast a little later on in a couple of months or so, but the names Danny Glover, Halle Berry, Ludacris, Vince and Vance Moss. What is that like. Really, tell me what that's like? I mean, we'll talk about the honor itself and why you got it, but to be included in that kind of company, what's that like?

DR VANCE MOSS, TRUMPET AWARD RECIPIENT: Well, when we received the award and we looked at the names that are being honored, as, you know, it put a humblizing (ph) spin on everything. You know, we're in the same company as these individuals who are pretty accomplished. But, you know, we're pretty honored that we received this award and we're looking forward to it.

HOLMES: And I've got Vince and Vance. OK, make sure I got that right for you, folks. Vince and Vance.

All right, Army reservists. Right, you were in the military, but you serving stateside and treating soldiers who were coming back injured. Why then did you all -- what popped in your head to make you all say, you know what, we want to go abroad, we want to go to Afghanistan and help out. But you didn't just want to help out wounded soldiers.

VINCE MOSS: Yeah, well, I mean, you know, it was a situation where both military and state government officials and the likes helped us develop this mission to do what we wanted to do specifically to help out the kids, and because it's never been done before in a very difficult and we were able to bring a lot of people together to make this happen.

HOLMES: So, you got some resistance, initially.

VINCE MOSS: Oh, yeah absolutely. We got a lot of resistance, initially, but especially after our first mission, we got a lot more help in terms of making sure that this happened a second time. And it's quite an experience.

HOLMES: Now, can we call it, can we say there was some resistance, but officially can we say we all were officially sponsored by the military? Is that fair to say or not really.

VANCE MOSS: We were sponsored -- I mean, we received some support from them in terms of some equipment and...

VINCE MOSS: Certainly we were not able to do what we did there without the military support.

HOLMES: But you all had to put up your own money and fund this trip on your own, is that right? In large part?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, in large part, but most of the time it was a situation where we were able to develop the resources in order to do what we had to do.

HOLMES: And what was it you were wanting to do over there? And we're showing these pictures of -- you wanted to see the kids, and that's exactly who you all were really targeting over there.

VANCE MOSS: That's the most important thing. We focused on the kids out there that needed this surgical help and medical help, and you know, that's what it's all about. And you know, whether we spent a lot of money or not, or you know, developed the resources or not, it was about helping those children.

VINCE MOSS: The whole idea is that there was a situation in Afghanistan that I don't think the American people understand. And building the infrastructure in order to get out of there, we have to focus on a lot of things, a major problem is the surgical aspects of a lot of kids. We brought focus to this, and be brought attention to this, and it was the way that we did it in order to do that, and we're very proud of what we did.

HOLMES: And you talk about all the difficulty in a place like Afghanistan. You might want to go to Iraq and do this, I understand at some point. But Afghanistan, they have special issues with medical treatment, because people just can't get around. And you talk about that infrastructure and just the facilities aren't there. They have issues that are unique to Afghanistan, and make it an even more dire situation in some ways than Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, that's what makes this whole situation unique is that the territory is so rugged, and getting a hospital or clinic is so difficult for these individuals that, you know, it's... UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coupled by the fact that the insurgency is centered around them and they're taking a lot of risk traveling to get the type of help that my brother and I actually went to give to them out in the red zone.

HOLMES: And how long were you all -- two trips, you've made to Afghanistan. How long where you there each time?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, each -- both times we were there for several weeks, taking care of as many as -- you know, one day we would see maybe 100 patients to 200 patients in a day. So, and we weren't doing operations on all of them. We would do minor medical care up to doing appendectomies.

HOLMES: And again, it was not necessarily the safest conditions for you guys over there. You're not walking around in flack jackets and carrying...

VINCE MOSS: Absolutely not. What my brother and I did, we used a tactic of earning the trust of the people and by doing that there to heal not occupy, we were able to infiltrate a lot of areas close to the Pakistani border, et cetera, et cetera, in order to do what we had to do and we weren't worried, but I mean, we had the security of not only Afghan people, but also each other.

HOLMES: And we need to wrap up here. And you say not worried. But I understand here that one of the two of you passed out when you landed.

VANCE MOSS: That was actually on our flight to Afghanistan, our first trip, I was sitting in a chair, and I got tapped by some lady, she goes, there's a guy that looks just like you on the floor.

(LAUGHTER)

VINCE MOSS: I got up and I passed out. On the way to Afghanistan, it was our first trip, I didn't feel too good. I was getting nervous a little scared and the reality set in. That was all I remember.

HOLMES: Had to be treated by your brother.

VINCE MOSS: I was waiting for my brother to come help me. He stayed up there and shaking his head.

HOLMES: Really, it's a great honor, I got to meet you last night at the dinner. Absolute pleasure. Doctors Vance and Vince Moss. I mean, you all's parents got to be proud. I mean, it's something else. Congratulations, see you at the awards ceremony a little later. All right?

Thanks so much for being here.

All right, Betty, I'm going to hand it over to you. But, a couple of great guys, here and I mean, it's just amazing to be around them and see what they're doing. NGUYEN: Yeah, what a fascinating story. And of course, you had to bring up the fact that one of them passed out.

HOLMES: Well, no you got to throw -- he said he wasn't worried, but he passed out as soon as he landed. Come on now.

NGUYEN: Good thing there was a doctor in the house, right? All right.

Well, now it time to check out with Harold Kurtz in Washington to see what's on CNN's RELIABLE SOURCES.

Hi Howie.

HOWARD KURTZ, RELIABLE SOURCES: Good morning, Betty. Coming up, the biggest media meltdown in years. Virtually everyone in journalism blows the New Hampshire primary by insisting Hillary Clinton can't win. Was there a backlash against the pundits for denigrating the former first lady?

The other New Hampshire winner, remember when all these geniuses told us that John McCain was a dead duck? Plus, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert winging it without writers. Will they have the same impact on the campaign?

That and more ahead on RELIABLE SOURCES.

NGUYEN: Looking forward to that. In fact, you'll want to stay tuned for this, because here's a question for you. Would you go to work without wearing pants? I know T.J. does it all the time, but you may not want to, at least not every day. But, these people tried it once and some are ready to do it again.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: You still got yours on. Thank goodness. Keep them on.

HOLMES: Actually that's why I have to have my seat at a certain level and the button...

NGUYEN: That's why you dropped your mike earlier, isn't it? You didn't have your pants on. Now we know the truth.

HOLMES: Didn't stay attached to the boxers, as well. No. Folks, seriously, I got pants on. I'd like to clear that up. But in Boston, some of the subway riders did take their pants off, took their pants all the way off.

NGUYEN: Their pants. Some 200 people boarded the Red Line and dropped the drawers for the first no pants subway ride.

They didn't drop their drawers. Come on now, Betty. You're going too far, here.

Well, sort of. Just hyping it up here. The passengers got a few stares of course, but overall the pantless passengers thought it was a blast.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Actually, it feels remarkably normal.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Scary.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was actually, not sure I want to do it, but...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's all in the name of fun, it's all to make people smile.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Hmm, smile.

HOLMES: Sounds like a good time. I mean, come on now, we should try that. We should all car pool one -- no, never mind.

Or run in fear.

HOLMES: OK, not everybody knew about this no pants day in advance. Some say they were a little uncomfortable watching people strip down to their skivvies and have to stand next to people and you know, some are sitting, some are standing...

NGUYEN: In the subway, you're sitting and this guy walks right in front of you on the subway. Not exactly what you want to look at on your ride to work, right? All right. To just tell you more about this group, they're called Improve Everywhere and they get together and just do these pranks and kind of, you know, pull it out of their hat and pop off the pants every now and then, apparently.

HOLMES: All right, folks, we'll leave you with that and tell you about polls, pundits and predictions. How did so many get it so wrong about the New Hampshire primary, Howard Kurtz has more on that coming up at the top of the hour.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com