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CNN Sunday Morning
Russian Election; Las Vegas Ricin Case; Political Race Updates; Iraqi Children's Disabilities
Aired March 02, 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: All right in 48 hours polls will be open in four states. But, when the votes will be counted, will there be a clear Democratic front-runner? Well we are watching this one.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: All right, we've got election day in Russia we're watching as well, some critics say there was no real competition in this presidential race. That's a lot different than what's going on in the U.S. They are also calling the whole thing a farce, there in Russia.
NGUYEN: Plus, is he the first Iranian president to visit Iraq. It is a historic trip. But, what does it mean for the U.S.?
From the CNN Center, right here in Atlanta, bringing you the news from all around the world, I'm Betty when.
HOLMES: And good morning to you all, I'm T.J. Holmes. It's Sunday, March the second. First up this morning, we got two days and counting before decision time in Texas.
NGUYEN: Yeah, and you can add Ohio, Vermont, Rhode Island, all of those to that list, the next four primaries just around the corner. But, Ohio is where most folks are at, especially when you're talk about Democratic candidates today. Hillary Clinton has four events there after spending most of her Saturday in Texas.
Let's have to talk about Barack Obama, now. He's also in Ohio today. He has a couple of rallies there. He was in Ohio yesterday, as well.
HOLMES: And meanwhile, on the Republican side, the front-runner is acting like the front-runner, he taking a break, taking a weekend in his home state of Arizona. He's spending the weekend there. But Mike Huckabee, his opponents still, he can't afford to take a break as far behind in the delegate count as he is. He's spending the entire weekend talking to voters in Texas.
NGUYEN: And showing them the Hucka-math, right?
HOLMES: Yes, we haven't figured that out quite yet.
NGUYEN: No, not exactly. But you know what, he's not alone down there in Texas. We have several members of the best political team in the Lone-Star State and our reporters are in Ohio, Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts. In fact, we are all over the map to bring you the latest from political newsmakers, the voters. Here's a quick recap from the candidates on the trail yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to restore that sense of diplomacy, the power of diplomacy. I said early in this campaign that I would meet not just with leaders we liked, but leaders we didn't. Not just with our friends, but with our enemies. And many in Washington were skeptical, and, in fact, Senator Clinton and Senator McCain and George Bush continue to go after me on this, and I continue to insist on what John F. Kennedy once said. That we should never negotiate out of fear, but we should never fear to negotiate, that strong countries and strong presidents talk to their adversaries and then tell them where America stands.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I do think that's a hiring decision and I'm asking to enter into a contract with you. You give me the votes and the trust that comes with the confidence that represents, and I give you my best efforts every single day to translate all of these speeches into action, because there's a big different between speeches and solutions and rhetoric and reality.
MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: People in Texas, first of all, need a choice next Tuesday. I know there are some who would have suggested that I had simply left the field and ended this contest before it ever happened. I personally think nothing could be more insulting to Texans than to suggest that their choice in the Republican primary would be already made for them before it ever came here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: So, of course, there's been a lot of the candidates saying stuff to the voters, but what are the voters really wanting to say to the candidates? Of course, as we mentioned, we got our best political team on television all over the map. And one guy who has been all over the map, literally, our Ali Velshi, he's been traveling throughout the country and lately in Texas aboard CNN Election Express. He joins us on the phone this morning from Green, Texas.
What are they talking about down there -- Ali.
ALI VELSHI, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, T.J. you know, funny thing is, you know, I went to this area in central Texas, because I wanted to talk to people about oil. These are people who might be on the other side of the oil question, in other words, making money off of the high price of oil and gas and I actually ran into two couples, they are retired, they have been life-long Republicans who are actually looking to change over. They're probably going to vote Democrat this time around and they actually had some involvement oil. They have a piece of land on which there are oil wells, so they get those royalty checks. Here's the thing, their biggest concern was healthcare. Here's what they told me:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOLLY ENGLISH, RETIREE: That's all we talk about, because we're all having trouble getting healthcare coverage, or our coverage is -- it's -- it's, you know, pitiful.
PEGGY PORTMANN, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER: It's not affordable. Not only is it's not affordable, there is affordable out there, and we get turned down for the most ridiculous reasons.
KRIS PORTMANN, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER: Insurances covers everything that you don't have.
P PORTMANN: That's right.
K PORTMANN: OK, as soon as have you something, there's a policy, there a reason on why it doesn't cover it, and that's why never before maybe had thought about universal healthcare, but if everybody's covered and everybody is sharing the same -- you know, how everything is spread out, it's got to work. I mean, it works other places, it works other countries. I mean, it maybe not 100 percent, but it doesn't work 100 percent here either.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: That's kind of interesting hearing life- long conservatives and Republicans talk about the possibility of universal healthcare, but that issue is playing very big here in Texas, particularly amongst Democrats, healthcare is the second biggest issue around here. So, No. 1 is the economy, and amongst that, inflation and oil prices and gas prices, but we are hearing and have heard a lot this past week about healthcare. Wheels up on the bus and we're headed to someplace elsewhere where we're going to talk to Texans about what's concerning them about this election and the issues. So, we'll be back with you later on today to tell you a bit more about that -- T.J.
HOLMES: Well, I was just about to ask you where you're heading next and it sounds like you don't know. Just where you stop, huh?
VELSHI: We don't know. That's the best part of it. We don't know. We'll find someplace and let you know about it.
HOLMES: All right. I'm sure you will. Ali Velshi out there on the road with the CNN's Election Express. Ali, we appreciate you as always.
And our political coverage continues this morning. We're going to be talking about a small state but oh, so mighty these days. Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, is going to join us live at the half hour to talk about Rhode Island and its influence this year it's actually a real battleground.
NGUYEN: Let's get the latest now on weather, though, from CNN's Reynolds Wolf. And a lot of people looking at Tuesday hoping that the weather will be nice enough for them to get out to the polls.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's right. What are we calling this Tuesday? Because it's not really Super Tuesday?
NGUYEN: Well, it's Super Tuesday II. WOLF: Yeah, Super Tuesday II.
HOLMES: Crucial Tuesday, some people calling it that. Or you can call it March 4 if you want to.
WOLF: Works for me. Works for me.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Oh, so he have to stick around for it, huh, Reynolds?
WOLF: Yeah, for super Super Tuesday.
HOLMES: You got somewhere to go?
NGUYEN: Well, I'm staying here, but that was a nice little tease there. OK, well, we will definitely stay put.
WOLF: All right, don't go anywhere.
NGUYEN: Well, stay within CNN throughout the day for the best political coverage on television. Coming up at 2:00 Eastern, BALLOT BOWL is back and we're bringing you candidates unfiltered in their own words, it is all day long, folks. And then if you haven't had enough, we have BALLOT BOWL primetime. Get you started at 8:00 tonight, only on CNN.
HOLMES: And then on Tuesday night, don't miss CNN's special on the voting in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. That special coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.
NGUYEN: Well, you know, it is election day in Russia and voters are picking a new president to replace Vladimir Putin, but will the new leader really be the one in charge? That's the question, today. CNN's Matthew Chance in Moscow this morning, watching the vote.
And, again, Matthew, a lot of people calling this vote a farce.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Russians now are voting in a presidential election, set to install the Kremlin-backed candidacy in power. As voters attend polling stations, like this one across this vast country, (INAUDIBLE) Dmitry Medvedev will win a landslide election victory. He was hand-picked by the current Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to succeed him. Critics are calling this a force. Europe's main election observers are boycotting the vote, saying they were too restrictive.
Local prodemocracy groups the election campaign was heavily made biased in favor of the Kremlin's candidate. There are reports, as well, of people being pressured into voting to boast turnout. The big unanswered question, though, is who will really be in charge once the votes are cast and Dmitry Medvedev is president of Russia. Vladimir Putin says he will take on the job of prime minister. Indicating that he intends to exert power even after leaving Russia's highest office. Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, the president of Iran making history, today. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the first Iranian president to visit Iraq. He arrived pretty much to a red carpet there in Baghdad, today. The two countries were once bitter enemies, they fought an eight-year war after Iraq invaded Iran in 1980. The president, Ahmadinejad says his visit open's a new chapter with Iraq. The U.S. says it welcomed Iran's pledge to promote stability in that region, but has accused Iran of supporting insurgent groups in Iraq.
NGUYEN: Well, and he is back home, but he is not all happy about it. Britain's Prince Harry, disappointed his tour of duty in Afghanistan cut short. The prince was plucked from the front lines after a U.S. Web site leaked news of his deployment, and he says that he regrets that his cover was blown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY: I didn't see it coming, obviously, it's a shame. As I said, angry would be the wrong word to use, but I am -- I'm so disappointed. I thought I could see it through to the end and come back with them, some of our guys and the colonel, himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: All right, so he's disappointed, but at the same time, he says that he was surprised that the British media kept his mission secret. And coming up in 45 minutes, you will hear much more on Prince Harry sounding off on this.
HOLMES: Well, a deadly poison has shut down one Las Vegas hotel and now police are extending their search into another state for more evidence.
NGUYEN: And a father putting his child, look at this, in a wheelchair. Now, this is actually a really sweet moment for the dad and you can make this happen for other people, as well. A special "Impact Your World" story that's happening in Iraq. Plus, this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: When we say CNN equals politics, we mean it. With one of the biggest days of the political season approaching this Tuesday, CNN is flooding the zone with the best political team on television, bringing you the latest news from the candidates and voices of the voters, with reporters in the key states of Texas and Ohio and teams hard at work in our New York, Washington and Atlanta newsrooms. CNN has this story covered like no other.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Here now, a quick check of some other stories making headlines. In the Middle East, here first, is Israel's president vows to press all of its military operations against Palestinian mutants in Hamas controlled Gaza. The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, says he's suspending peace talks with Israel. At least 68 Palestinians have been killed since Friday.
NGUYEN: Back here in the states, investigators in east Texas have a murder mystery on their hands. Police say a woman and her two children were killed in an early morning attack on their ranch and their home, look at this, was burned to the ground. The father is in a hospital being treated for gunshot wounds. The Rains County sheriff says four people, including three high school students are in custody.
HOLMES: Well, the city council chambers in Kirkwood, Missouri open again. It was three weeks ago that one disgruntled resident opened fire during a city council meeting, killing five people. Residents gathered outside for a prayer service to mark this somber occasion.
NGUYEN: FBI agents and HAZMAT teams want to search a home in Utah which is linked to the mysterious Ricin case. Kara Finnstrom joins us now live from Las Vegas where it began.
And Kara, it seems like this investigation just continues to spread.
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, it really does, the investigation has now spread from here, in Vegas, this thee hotel where it all happened behind me, now to other parts of the country. We have some video we want to share with you that was taken in Riverton, Utah late yesterday, and in it you can see FBI agents are working very busily here to try and secure a home.
Now, agents have confirmed to CNN that the man who is believed to be suffering, right now, from Ricin poison is Roger von Bergendorf. And folks, in this neighborhood in Utah tell us that this is the home of von Bergendorff's cousin and that von Bergendorff himself lived her for a while.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAMMY EWELL, FMR NEIGHBOR: He wasn't social, he was very quiet and kind of kept to himself down in the basement of their house. They were kind enough to take him in for a while and help him get back on his feet and move him to Vegas, eventually.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FINNSTROM: Von Bergendorff was renting the hotel room here in Vegas where that Ricin was allegedly found and handed over to police last week by that same cousin. Police also found some an anarchist material with specific references to Ricin in his room, and they found some guns.
Now, all of this started to unfold just about two weeks ago, that's when von Bergendorff called parametics, himself, saying he was having trouble breathing. He later slipped into a coma, has been in critical condition ever since. And police say they haven't been able to talk to him.
Now, as for who this Roger von Bergendorff is, he have spoken with a relative and with some neighbors who tell us that he was a struggling artist, but actually moved here to the Las Vegas area to do some artwork for the slot machines. They also tell us that he very dearly loved his three pets. But we do want to stress, Betty, that right now police are saying he is not a suspect in any crime and also that they are not linking any of this, at this point, to terrorism.
NGUYEN: Well, that's good. But at this point there's a lot of unknowns. Do you know if von Bergendorff had a, I don't know, a criminal background? I mean, do we know any more about him?
FINNSTROM: We know he did have one misdemeanor, not sure at this point what that was, but other than that, police say no. That's what they were able to turn up on him. We know he's a single man and that he was again very kind of reinclusive, kept to himself, so for that reason alone, a lot of the neighbors didn't have a lot to share about him.
NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Kara Finnstrom joining us live with latest details in this investigation that does continue to widen. Thank you, Kara.
HOLMES: Oh, we all know it takes some serious cash to get a commercial on TV.
NGUYEN: Oh, yeah.
HOLMES: A million bucks, 10 million? You got that?
NGUYEN: Ten million? Oh my. OK, well, what about $35 or $50 million? The stakes are so high and the bank accounts are big in this year's presidential campaign.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: In 48 hours, primary voters head to the polls in four states: Texas, Rhode Island, Ohio, and Vermont. We want to catch up the major story lines as we head toward Super Tuesday II. CNN political editor, Mark Preston, joining us live from Washington this morning.
Let's start out, Mark, I mean, Texas, Ohio, pretty big states, hard to hit all of those spots, so maybe the best way to reach people, advertising.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes.
HOLMES: How much money is being poured into those two states with advertising, Obama and Clinton right now?
PRESTON: Millions and millions of dollars right now, T.J. And what we're seeing is that Barack Obama is spending a lot more, he's also raising a lot more money. You know, just as of through Friday, we're looking at Barack Obama's spending at least $5.5 million in Texas, he's spending about $3.5 million up in Ohio. Hillary Clinton is a few million behind that. Interestingly enough, tomorrow night, we're going to see Hillary Clinton has bought time on the Fox Sports News Network down in Texas, that a regional sports network. She's trying to hold a Texas style campaign type of event. She's trying to get all her voters jazzed up, trying to get people out to these big venues to watch this, so we'll see that tomorrow from her.
HOLMES: So, he's outspending her in these ads, though. Is there evidence that it's working for him?
PRESTON: You know, absolutely. I mean, if you looked at about 30 days ago, Barack Obama was losing to Hillary Clinton in Texas. Right now, he has a three, four, five-point lead, right now, according to CNN's poll of polls. At this point, he's certainly gained ground in Texas. He's still behind in Ohio, at this point, but certainly his money is translating into him moving some points in the polls.
HOLMES: Now, is there a risk at all for him to appear to be that establishment candidate? And he has been, I guess, anti-establishment in his message and his movement, as he calls it, but is he the one with the big dollars, he is the one moving in, buying up all of these ads, outspending her. Is there the threat at all that he could possibly become that establishment guy or at least be perceived as the establishment guy?
PRESTON: Well, you know, the Clinton campaign has certainly been trying to paint him as the establishment candidate over the past two months. I mean, look, before Iowa, before January, Hillary Clinton was the establishment candidate, but now Barack Obama has moved into that position, he's had the likes of Ted Kennedy back him. We saw John Lewis, you know, the civil rights leader, just switch from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama, just a few days ago. So no question, he is moving into the establishment category. And what we're hearing from the Clinton campaign is that if Barack Obama doesn't win all four contests on Tuesday, then his message not resonating. So, we're playing an expectations game at this point.
HOLMES: All right, we can expect possibly, from what we hear on both sides, really, that it's going to go on and on on the Democratic side. On the Republican side, however, we could see this thing wrapped up officially and McCain have all of the delegates at least the 1,191 that he needs. But, is that going to be it?
PRESTON: Well, you know, he's about 100, according to CNN estimates, he's about 160 away from that goal. If he were to sweep on Tuesday, win all four states, and I don't think there's any question that he would have enough at that point. But arguable, this will race was over for several weeks.
Now, we saw Mike Huckabee on "Saturday Night Live" spoofing the fact that he's still in the race. He's going out, the crowds aren't as big. What's interesting enough about John McCain and Mike Huckabee is that they have run a pretty clean campaign and I would expect Mike Huckabee to play a big role in the John McCain campaign over the next couple of months. HOLMES: We can expect that. Can we expect also, even though he's not Mr. Popularity these days, the president, President Bush -- we haven't talked about him a lot lately -- are they going to pull him out? We going to see him on the campaign trail?
PRESTON: Yeah, absolutely. Strategically, I think, we'll see Mr. Bush play a role for Mr. McCain, trying to build a bridge to conservatives. Conservatives, still very much supportive of Mr. Bush. We saw Mr. Bush in the past couple of weeks talk about the campaign. Just yesterday he said -- he was asked a question about, you know, what's going to happen with the race, and Mr. Bush said, look, you know, Americans are going to vote for somebody who wants lower taxes and who'd going to keep the country safe. He didn't say Mr. McCain by name, but that's who he meant.
HOLMES: Ah, well you know who he meant. Mark Preston, CNN political editor, sir, always good to see up we appreciate you always being here with us on Sunday.
PRESTON: Thanks, T.J.
HOLMES: All right, see you.
NGUYEN: Well, one actor who is known for his activism is staying on the political sidelines for now. George Clooney, he has it all. He's handsome, he's talented and he is smart. CNN's Brooke Anderson has more on how Clooney worked his way to the top and what he's doing to help others now that he has arrived.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): George Clooney got his start in an iconic 1980s sitcom. But his career barely had a pulse until "ER." From TV to movie, first an actor, then a director, then an Oscar, but changing the big screen isn't enough for Clooney. Hollywood's leading man is now using his celebrity status to spur real change in Sudan's Darfur region.
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: The hope is that bit-by-bit you can convince the countries that this is something that actually needs the international community to step in.
ANDERSON: As a newly appointed United Nations messenger of peace, Clooney is working to put the crisis back in the headlines.
CLOONEY: It's not fun to watch and it's not pretty and it's not entertaining. It's ugly.
ANDERSON: The actor recently visited Darfur, where tens of thousands have died and nearly two million people are stuck in a bloody limbo.
CLOONEY: The people who were caught in the crossfire tend to be people in the eternally displaced camps and people in the refugee camps.
ANDERSON: Clooney says now is the time to help.
CLOONEY: The world is watching, and that at this point we cannot afford to fail.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, a prince returns from the war zone, but Harry isn't exactly pleased about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY: I didn't see it coming, obviously, it's a shame. As I said, angry would be the wrong word to use, but I am -- I'm so disappointed. I thought I could see it through to the end and come back with them, some of our guys and the colonel, himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And more from the prince, coming up .
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: I love Rhode Island. I've been here many times.
OBAMA: Thank you, Rhode Island.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: They are small, but mighty and their delegates are up for grabs. Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider joins us from Rhode Island.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, as you know, CNN equals politics and it is our top story this morning. Most of candidates, they are making the final pushes before big primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, they are both in Ohio, today. Republican Mike Huckabee is campaigning in Texas, but front-runner, John McCain, well, he's at home in Arizona, taking the weekend off.
The best political team in Texas, as well as on television, because they are definitely in both, on TV, you see them laid out there, also in Texas and all of the other states that are involved in the primaries and caucuses on Tuesday. They are talking to the political newsmakers and the voters, and we will be getting the latest from them.
HOLMES: All right. We'll turn to Rhode Island, now, the little state that could, now playing a pretty big role in the primary process. CNN senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, a member of the best political team in television, which also sports the best hats on television, as well.
Bill Schneider, good morning to you, sir. What they got going on in Rhode Island these days? BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, you want to know how tight this Democratic race is? Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are actually fighting over little Rhode Island.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): Is Rhode Island worth fighting over? The state has only 32 delegates, and it's supposed to be Clinton territory.
DARRYL WEST, BROWN UNIVERSITY: Both she and Bill have spent a lot of time here, they've made almost annual pilgrimages to this state. Much of the state's political establishment supports Hillary Clinton.
SCHNEIDER: Last weekend, Hillary Clinton showed up in Rhode Island.
CLINTON: I love Rhode Island. I've been here many times.
SCHNEIDER: But, guess who showed up on Saturday and spoke in the same arena, to an audience three times as large as Clinton's.
OBAMA: Thank you, Rhode Island.
SCHNEIDER: Does Obama really believe he has a chance in Rhode Island? It's the most Catholic state in the union and Catholic voters have tended to favor Hillary Clinton in primary after primary. The latest Rhode Island poll shows Clinton with a single digit lead over Obama. Obama senses an opportunity to score an upset. And Rhode Island voters are thrilled by all of the attention.
WEST: There's a tremendous amount of excitement. Rhode Island often is the off Broadway venue, but in this presidential campaign, we are right in the middle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In my 14 years, I have never seen Rhode Island be relevant in the primaries.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's more national attention for this primary here than we've ever and in all the years that I've been voting.
SCHNEIDER: What's at stake in Rhode Island? For Hillary Clinton, everything.
WEST: I think Hillary Clinton does have to win Rhode Island, because in terms of the politics and the demography of this state, it's tailor made for her. If she cannot win in Rhode Island, she not going to be the next nominee of the Democratic Party.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER: Rhode Island is not a swing state. It's the most reliably Democratic state in the entire country. So, if Hillary Clinton loses Rhode Island, it means she's lost the Democratic base -- T.J. HOLMES: Oh, and that would not be a good thing. What about Vermont? Little Vermont, as well. Things shaping up a little differently there.
SCHNEIDER: They are shaping up differently. Vermont is a state which is expected to go for Barack Obama, he's way ahead in all of the polls there, he's very strong. There are not a lot of African- Americans voters in Vermont, very small population of blacks in that state. It's a state, though, that doesn't have the same white, blue collar ethnic, catholic base as you find in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Both of which are expected to be -- Massachusetts did vote for Clinton and Rhode Island is a strong Clinton state. Vermont, like Connecticut has a lot -- you should excuse the express expression, yuppie voters.
HOLMES: I'll excuse, I just wonder if they will, now Bill. Bill Schneider for us this morning in Rhode Island. Always good to see you, sir.
And folks, of course, you can stay with CNN throughout the day for the best political coverage, the best political team, the best political hats on television this week in politics begins at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Coming up at 2:00 Eastern, BALLOT BOWL, that's back, Betty, and we're bringing you the candidates unfiltered in their own words, all day long. And then, you know what? BALLOT BOWL, we can't get enough of this stuff, we got primetime BALLOT BOWL going on now. Get started at 8:00 tonight, only right here on CNN.
NGUYEN: Oh, and that is not it, either, because on Tuesday night, you do not miss CNN's special on the voting in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont. Our coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific, be there. In the meantime, though the mainstream media show that the one set of images of the presidential candidates, right, that's what you see on mainstream media.
HOLMES: That's you what see on the TV. But if you go online, all of the contenders, trying to create their own images of themselves. Josh Levs...
NGUYEN: That's what they want you to see.
HOLMES: Yes, and Josh is always trying to create an image of himself, Betty.
JOSH LEVS, CNN.COM DESK: I was thinking the way you guys treat me, I should go online.
HOLMES: We treat you well.
NGUYEN: Yes, we do.
HOLMES: You're here, aren't you?
LEVS: That's true. They do control the show.
NGUYEN: Especially after what you said last hour. I'm kind of surprised you're still here.
LEVS: It wasn't anything bad, read the transcript, I say go to CNN.com. Now, people who didn't see it are going to think I said something bad.
HOLMES: You did.
LEVS: Let's move on. So, what's going on? So, we pieced through the campaign videos, and it is really interesting to see the kinds of messages they're putting out. They keep freshening their Web sites with brand new videos. So, what we have done is looked at some of the newest ones, pulled out a few clips, put them together. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am one of a million.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am one of a million, right here in Texas.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not a movement.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A need a president willing to roll up her sleeves.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And deliver solutions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need solutions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That will help me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And help my family.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am one of a million.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALES: I am one of a million.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who will stand up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Be noticed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Be vocal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right whoever in Texas.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For Hillary Clinton.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think we have to give the Clintons their due.
(APPLAUSE)
The economy was good. But I have to tell you, that was then, this is now.
(APPLAUSE) And it's interesting, because I think we're seeing a whole sea change in the way we look at our body of politics.
ANNOUNCER: What is it that defines a great leader? Is it his courage? Is it his courage to do the difficult and not just the easy things? Is it the courage to fight, to fight to survive? Faith certainly plays a role, faith in God, faith in your fathers, faith in your friends and band of brothers.
ANNOUNCER: We have always been the long-shot, the dark horse, the David among political giants, but this is our country, this is our party, these, our voices. And we will not concede or raise that white flag, because until this race is over, this race isn't over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: So,(INAUDIBLE) is really interesting to see the kinds of messaging that they are putting out there. You know, and yes that was the Huckabee one and obviously he's saying it's not over, we got a ways to go, and part of that video there was that sort of religious imagery.
NGUYEN: Is he playing on the whole miracle thing.
LEVS: Yeah, exactly, him being Mr. Miracle man. Now, you know, how many times have we shown a celebrity video for Barack Obama, celebrity-filled video, right? We have not show a lot of celebrity videos for Hillary Clinton. But, making news today, one that was put together by Jack Nicholson, along with some help from Rob Reiner. Let's take a look at just a little clip of it, right here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK NICHOLSON, ACTOR: There's nothing on this earth sexier, believe me, gentlemen, than a woman that you have to salute in the morning. I'm Jack Nicholson, and I prove this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Oh.
(CROSSTALK)
LEVS: Can you believe he said that? Now, that was not an official campaign video, but they did distribute it and we have -- let's see, he has clips from playing the Joker and "Five Easy Pieces" and also, "The Shining" all aimed at getting his message out there that indeed he supports Hillary Clinton. So, there you go.
NGUYEN: Yeah, how does that work in her favor?
LEVS: How does "A Few Good Men" work in her favor? But, it does if you're being playful, I guess.
NGUYEN: Jack Nicholson on a mission. All right, thank you.
HOLMES: And there was a late night stop, you might have seen it, on the campaign trail, last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMY POEHLER, ACTRESS: How is the campaign going?
CLINTON: Oh, the campaign, going very well. Very, very well.
POEHLER: Thank you.
CLINTON: Why, what have you heard?
POEHLER: Nothing.
CLINTON: Oh, never mind. I am just so happy to be back in New York, even for a few hours. Tonight, I want to relax, have fun, not worry about the campaign.
POEHLER: So, no politics?
CLINTON: No politics. But, I would like to take this opportunity to say to all Americans, be they from the great state of Ohio or Texas, Rhode Island or Vermont, Pennsylvania or any of the other states, live from New York, live from New York, it is "Saturday Night! "
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: She did say it, you are actually right. Betty brought up earlier that actually she's being scrutinized now, Hillary Clinton, because she said...
NGUYEN: In the media, not by me.
HOLMES: Not by you. No, but out there on Web sites and whatnot, that she said "it is."
NGUYEN: "It is" instead of "it's Saturday Night." I mean, big deal.
HOLMES: What do you do? OK, but that was here last night, meeting her comedy double on "SNL" and getting to deliver that famous opening line, even if some say she delivered it incorrectly.
NGUYEN: Well, other presidential candidates are showing off their mad comedy skills, as you call them. Mike Huckabee, he was on "SNL" just last week, remember that? And then Barack Obama on last year and oh yeah, John McCain, you can't forget the hosting stint there back in 2002. Remember the Streisand song? I still can't get it out of my head.
HOLMES: And I'll tell you -- Reynolds, we've been saying that all his opponent has to do is use that clip against him, that is...
WOLF: Oh, I don't think so.
NGUYEN: The ears start bleeding and everything. WOLF: Are you guys surprised how well they always do? I mean, to their credit, they seem to have decent timing, they do a pretty decent job.
NGUYEN: Pretty good personalities.
WOLF: But, you know, I guess they have to, I mean, they're on a national stage. They're not, obviously...
NGUYEN: And they want your vote. That has a little bit to do with it.
WOLF: Whatever it takes. Absolutely.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Thank you, Reynolds.
HOLMES: Well, partly cloudy in London, today, but Prince Harry doesn't necessarily want to be there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY: I was surprised by the way the British media kept to their side of the bargain. I hate to say it, no, I'm very grateful for that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Oh come on, say it again, Harry. Say it again.
HOLMES: Yes, we don't get credit that often. Sometimes we don't deserve it, but this is one occasion where it did work out. Harry's home from the battlefield after a Web site leaked his whereabouts. More of that one-on-one interview, coming up.
NGUYEN: Plus, do you remember this accident? It broke just about every bone in one man's face. This morning, is he rembering those killed while rebuilding his team.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Quick look at other stories making headlines. First here, a Danish journalist got a lesson on Texas when he ventured too far from President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, what did he find? That woman, an elderly woman who woke up and got herself a gun. Yeah, he wandered onto her property. He says he didn't know about a Texas law that gives homeowners a right to have and also the right to use a gun when someone is trespassing on their property.
NGUYEN: I bet he found out pretty quickly, don't you think?
HOLMES: He did.
NGUYEN: Hey, you don't mess with Texas for a good reason, right there. HOLMES: You're from Texas.
NGUYEN: I am.
HOLMES: And that scares me.
NGUYEN: A New York landmark back in business after a $400 million face lift. The Plaza Hotel first opened back in 1907 and it reopened yesterday after a three-year renovation. Look at these rooms. The posh new Plaza includes apartments and 282 hotel rooms. But, if you want to get a room there, say, I don't know, next weekend, you're going to have to throw down some cash. These rooms start at $1,000 a night.
HOLMES: I've always wanted to be the one who does that one day. But, I have a problem messing up a perfectly good bottle of champagne.
NGUYEN: This is true.
HOLMES: Well, the Navy christens a new ship built with steel from the World Trade Center ruins, actually, here. The deputy defense secretary says the "USS New York" will serve as a source of strength and inspiration. Family and friends of September 11 victims, among the thousands attending that ceremony, yesterday.
NGUYEN: Well, several lawsuits are being filed over a deadly bus crash in Georgia after a year since that tragedy. The bus carrying the baseball team from Bluffton University in Ohio plunged off an Atlanta highway. Five players died along with the bus driver and his wife. An Atlanta attorney tells the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" eight to 10 lawsuits were filed last week. The papers says most target the bus company, the driver's estate and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Now, the Bluffton baseball team does open its spring season in Florida, today.
HOLMES: Well, coming up here, a story about children with disabilities and the many people who want to help them.
NGUYEN: Yeah, this is a story of hardship and of a higher purpose from Iraq, you're making a differences and we call it "Impact Your World" and you have to see this one. It's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is making history today in Iraq. He's the first Iranian president to visit Baghdad. And the Shiite led Iraqi government literally rolled out the red carpet for him. Ahmadinejad says his visit opens a new chapters in bilateral ties between Tehran and Baghdad.
NGUYEN: Well, while the level of daily violence is down in Iraq compared to say, a year ago, the needs of ordinary Iraqis are still great.
HOLMES: Countless Iraqi children suffer from crippling disabilities and they actually cannot walk. Now an American contractor has launched a campaign to get them wheelchairs. CNN's Arwa Damon has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Every day, Khalid says, he wonders why God is testing him like this. His eldest child, 7-year-old Maria, can barely move, 5-year-old Sanif (ph) can't walk, but showers her parents with a stunning smile. Three-year-old Ali can't walk, either. All have varying degrees of polo.
KHALID HANASH, FATHER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I thought I would have kids who would support me when I would grow up.
DAMON: Khalid and he his wife have one more little one, Mohammed, not yet three, but his parents fear his fate will be the same as his siblings.
IBTISAM ABDULWAHED, MOTHER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): They used to crawl and try to stand on their feet, but they would always fall to the ground. When they reached three years, they just start falling to the ground.
DAMON: For all the hardships this family faces, financial and emotional, a few weeks ago, life became slightly easier, they got wheelchairs.
HANASH (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): they look happier than before. Before they got the wheelchairs, they used to lay on the ground all day.
DAMON: It was largely thanks to the efforts of this man, Brad Blauser, founder of Wheelchairs for Kids, with help from the U.S. military and an Iraqi group. So far, Blauser has delivered nearly 250 chairs across Iraq. Prior to that, a simple trip like this was out of the question. Khalid had to carry his children everywhere, but it's still bittersweet.
ABDULWAHED (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Yesterday when I was passing by a shoe shop, I said to myself: God, why did you deprive me of watching my kids dressing up to take them out on a walk with me?
DAMON: UNICEF conservatively estimates that one in seven children in Iraq between the ages of two and 14 have at least one disability. The country's institutions, still largely in shambles, are of little help.
ABDULWAHED (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I call on the government to help the kids, not just ours. When we went out to get the wheelchairs, there were many other kids like ours. The government did not help us. The doctors couldn't provide us with medicine.
DAMON: Iraqis have been deprived of a lot. This family considered lucky, beneficiaries of the kindness of stranger.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HOLMES: And you can make an impact, as well, make a difference in the lives of Iraqi families. Just log on to cnn.com/impact, where you'll find a list of agencies where you can help.
NGUYEN: Well now, it's time to check in with Howard Kurtz in Washington to see what's ahead on CNN RELIABLE SOURCES.
Hello Howard.
HOWARD KURTZ, RELIABLE SOURCES: Hello, Betty. Coming up, Hillary Clinton who showed up on "Saturday Night Live" last night, says the media are favoring Barack Obama, but is the coverage of the Obama phenomenon starting to get more critical? How do presidential campaigns strategists spin the press? Three veterans, Dee Dee Myers, Joe Trippe of the Edwards' campaign and Kevin Madden of Mitt Romney's campaign get a chance to talk back.
Plus, Matt Drudge blows Prince Harry's secret mission, but should British journalists have suppressed the news of the prince fighting in Afghanistan? That and more ahead on RELIABLE SOURCES.
NGUYEN: All right, thank you, Howard. And speaking of, he is home, but he's not exactly happy about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY: I'm back here now and I suppose deep down inside, it will be quite nice to be looking forward to having a bath. (INAUDIBLE) bath, and it's nice to be back early, but no, I'd like to still be out there with the guys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Prince Harry is ready for the castle, but missing the mess tent.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right, here it is as we promised, Prince Harry sounding off on his secret tour of duty in Afghanistan.
HOLMES: And talking about the soldiers he left behind and the news Web site that leaked the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY: No, I didn't see it coming, obviously, it's a shame. I'm, as I said, angry would be the wrong word to use, but no, I am, I'm so disappointed. I thought I could see it through to the end and come back them with, sort of our guys and the colonel himself, but I'm back here now and I suppose deep down inside, it will be quite nice to be looking forward to having a bath. (INAUDIBLE) bath, and it's nice to be back early, but no, I'd like to still be out there with the guys.
QUESTION: You haven't always had the best experiences with the press. Were you surprised by the restraint by most of the media in this case?
PRINCE HARRY: I was -- I was surprised -- oh yeah, I was surprised by the way the British media kept to the side of the bargain. I hate to say it, but I'm very grateful for that. And thank you to all of the British media for keeping their mouth shut and I know for a fact that there is stuff they did behind the scenes to stop stuff from coming out, which was naturally kind of them. But at the same time, it didn't surprise me that once again it comes down to media, foreign media, that's once again spilled the beans. So yeah, it's a shame, but it's to be expected, I guess.
QUESTION: What would you like to say good-bye to the guys you were with?
PRINCE HARRY: You know, it wasn't great, as it is for any person who gets pulled out for whatever reason, whether it's a compassionate case (INAUDIBLE) there's a lot of guys, yeah, they get pulled for compassion and they want to get home and make sure everything is all right, but at the same time, once you sort of leave the zone, then you're going to will miss all the guys and you find yourself, you know, mucking and being great mates with the most bizarre people, not the most bizarre people, everyone. It's not as though you turn around and go, I want to stay away from him, he's annoying, because there is no one like that out there, you're all sort of one-of-one, all in the same position. But, yeah, there were pretty (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: All right, so blowing the prince's cover, it's coming up next on RELIABLE SOURCES. Plus, Howard Kurtz sees if the media are mistreating Hillary Clinton or giving preferential treatment to Barack Obama.
HOLMES: Also, Democratic National Committee chairman, Howard Dean, joins Wolf Blitzer for LATE EDITION talking about the post- Democratic race. But first, a check on the morning's top developments.
NGUYEN: "Now in the News" just two days until showdown on Tuesday. Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are back in delegate rich Ohio, today. Vermont, Rhode Island and Texas all still in play. Republican Mike Huckabee is still beating his drums down in Texas while John McCain is off the trail. He's actually taking a weekend of at his home in his home state of Arizona.
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