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CNN Sunday Morning
Fay Downgraded to Tropical Depression; McCain Releases New Attack Ads
Aired August 24, 2008 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, August 24th.
Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And hi, there. I'm T.J. Holmes. It's 7:00 o'clock here on the east, 6:00 o'clock along the gulf coast where rain is still coming down. Adults, children, and even pets here as you see in these pictures are still being rescued from the high flood water. There they are now.
Tropical storm Fay is now a tropical depression. Yes, that is a downgrade but that doesn't mean things are necessarily getting that much better for a lot of folks. Rain is still being dumped in many, many parts of the gulf coast there. So, we'll take you there and let you know about how people are just holding on and waiting for this thing to go away.
NGUYEN: Yes, as much as 20 inches has fallen because of that storm. And speaking of flood waters, I just got back from Vietnam where the Mekong Delta there, it could be swollen with flood waters as well. The monsoon season has already started and we're going to show you how entire villages are looking for help.
HOLMES: But we are going to begin this morning with politics. I don't know if the gloves were ever on. But if they were...
NGUYEN: But they're off now.
HOLMES: They're certainly off at this point. A few hours ago, John McCain unleashed another attack ad. It just released one yesterday right after Biden was picked as the vice presidential running mate of Barack Obama, but this time, he's using the words of Hillary to go after Barack Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, MCCAIN CAMPAIGN AD)
NARRATOR: She won millions of votes, but isn't on his ticket. Why? For speaking the truth on his plans.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) NEW YORK: You never hear the specifics.
NARRATOR: On the Rezko scandal...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: All right. Well, this is the McCain campaign's second attempt in as many days to draw blood. An ad released yesterday used Joe Biden's own words to attack Obama on the same day Obama named Biden as his running mate.
HOLMES: Well, the Democrats right now gathering in Denver. They're ready to kick off the party's historic convention tomorrow. Our Dana Bash joins us now pretty early there from Denver.
Good morning to you. Certainly, we want to talk about the Democrats there but you spent a lot of time covering John McCain. We have seen two ads in the past two days and neither one of them, John McCain using his own words against Barack Obama, using somebody else's words against him, Democrat's words. What do you think of what we're seeing here?
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're seeing specifically with this brand new ad that you just played, T.J., is what the McCain campaign is trying desperately to do here at the Democratic convention, and that is to exploit and event to encourage one of the sources of tensions still lingering in the Democratic ranks and that is between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama -- specifically within the ranks of their supporters. It's something that really still does exist.
And especially over the last 24 hours or so, we have heard from some Hillary Clinton supporters that they were not very happy about the fact that when Barack Obama chose his running mate, he didn't make a show, at least a public show, even if he wasn't really taking Hillary Clinton seriously as his running mate, but a public show of reaching out to her and showing basic respect, I think is the word that some Hillary Clinton supporters used.
So, what McCain is trying to do and his campaign is trying to do is trying to exploit that. Why? Because they want and frankly, they need those Hillary Clinton supporters to go with John McCain in November to be angry enough that they are just going to say, "Forget it, we're not voting for Barack Obama." Now, the reality is, you talk to people here, you talk to the rank-in-file, and for the most part, they say that at the end of the day there will be pretty much a united front among Democrats.
HOLMES: And you talk about that united front, probably not any more united are we going to see them than in the next few days. So, what's happening there? I think as things kick off in a major way tomorrow but everybody is starting to arrive, I assume, there. What's it like there so far?
BASH: People are arriving. They're actually arriving a little bit early and it's quite interesting one of the reasons why, T.J., you know, obviously, there is a lot of excitement about the pick that Barack Obama did make. Pretty much across the board, there is elation about Joe Biden for a number of reasons inside the Democratic Party.
But the reality is, they know that pick, anybody's pick, historically, doesn't really give that much of a bump to the nominee, and the reality also is, they know they're coming into this convention with Barack Obama's lead against John McCain pretty much a slip in the polls, almost evaporated.
So, they know they've got a lot of work to do and they know that they want to learn some lessons of losing in the past several elections. And one of the lessons that they're going to try to learn and we're going to see today which is, reaching out to people who aren't necessarily a part of the general Democratic public, if you will, at least the public's face of the Democratic Party and that is the religious people. There's going to be an interfaith ceremony this afternoon at about 2:00 o'clock.
That is how, T.J., the Democratic Party is this year going to kickoff their convention by making clear that they are a party of faith, they are a party of a lot of different faiths, and that's a big challenge for them to convince voters who -- perhaps even independent voters, those in rural areas who may have been voting Republican recently because they feel like the Democratic candidate isn't one of them. They're going to try to make the point, at least with this interface service that that's not true -- T.J.
HOLMES: Well, they've got a week to try to make that point. Dana bashes for us up bright -- not bright and early, dark and early there in Denver this morning.
BASH: Dark and early.
HOLMES: Good to see you this morning. We'll be checking in with you again.
BASH: You, too.
HOLMES: All right.
NGUYEN: Well, the CNN cameras and analysts are on top of all of today's political events. John McCain -- we'll tell you where he is today. He is in Phoenix and there are no public event scheduled but we are monitoring the senator and his campaign and we're report any new developments as they happen.
HOLMES: Barack Obama, meanwhile, is in Wisconsin. He'll be there later this morning. He'll go to church and also attend a barbecue and then he'll head back to his home of Chicago this evening. His running mate, Joe Biden of Delaware, he is getting ready for the Democratic National Convention. No events for him today. So, you become the V.P. running mate and you get a day off. Not a bad gig.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: Well, CNN's Wolf Blitzer is also live from the Democratic National Convention with "LATE EDITION" this morning. He'll talk to key Democratic leaders and have analysis you can't get anywhere else. Wolf Blitzer, "LATE EDITION," special time at 10:00 o'clock Eastern. NGUYEN: CNN viewers were the first to learn that Joe Biden would be on the Democratic ticket. An official text message from the Obama campaign confirmed it a few hours later. And CNN senior political correspondent, Candy Crowley, was there as Barack Obama and Joe Biden joined forces.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Democratic ticket came together for the first time in Springfield, Illinois, the symbolic epicenter of Barack Obama's explosive career.
SEN. JOE BIDEN, (D) DELAWARE: On the steps of the old state house, in the land of Lincoln. President Lincoln once instructed us to be sure to put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. Today in Springfield, I know my feet are in the right place.
CROWLEY: Just five years ago, Obama worked in Springfield, the state capitol, as a little known state senator, and 19 months ago, in the frigid climate of an Illinois winter, Obama launched his improbable campaign for president, an electric but untested U.S. senator selling something new. From improbable to incredible, Obama returned today in the high heat of August, selling the familiar, his number two, Joe Biden, one of the most seasoned senior senators -- the man the Obama team hopes can reach a bloc of voters resistant to the newcomer from Springfield.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D-IL) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This working- class kid from Scranton and Wilmington has always been a friend to the underdog and all who seek a safer and more prosperous America to live their dreams and raise their families.
CROWLEY: Introducing his running mate, Obama never mentioned John McCain but Biden was all over it, slipping easily into the traditional number two role as attack dog, ala Biden, slice him up with a smile or a tinge of regret.
BIDEN: I've been disappointed in my friend, John McCain, who gave into the right-wing of his party and yielded to the very swiftboat politics that he once so deplored.
CROWLEY: One is the half black, half white son of a single mom, raised mostly in Hawaii; the other, the oldest of four in a white working-class family, raised in Pennsylvania. They will campaign on their commonality. Both are the products of the "American Dream" that brought them together in Springfield, Illinois.
BIDEN: Ladies and gentlemen, that's your story. That's America's story. It's about, if you get up, you can make it.
OBAMA: We will restore that fair shot at your dream that is at the core of who Joe Biden is, and I am, and what America is as a nation.
CROWLEY: And out of Springfield, the journey continues. (on camera): They will journey separately for now. Joe Biden is back to Delaware to prepare for his convention debut; Barack Obama on the campaign trail in Wisconsin, Iowa and Montana, before he heads to Denver where he will receive the Democratic Party's vote to become the official nominee.
Candy Crowley, CNN, Springfield, Illinois.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, Democrats, overall, like Obama's choice of running mate. And according to a "USA Today"/Gallup Poll, 29 percent say Joe Biden is an excellent pick, 36 percent call it pretty good. Republicans -- well, as you would expect, not so much -- 25 percent say Biden is excellent or good; but nearly half, 47 percent, describe him as a fair or poor vice presidential candidate. Forty-five percent of independents say Biden is an excellent choice; 35 percent call the Biden pick fair or poor.
CNN will release a new poll later today. So, stay tuned to that.
HOLMES: And the Republicans who will get their turn next week, the GOP nominating convention runs September 1st through the 4th in Saint Paul, Minnesota. President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Joe Lieberman -- among the speakers. Yes, Joe Lieberman who was the vice presidential nominee for the Democrats back in -- when was that -- 2000 is now an independent. So, that's why he is speaking there.
NGUYEN: All right. Listen to this story -- busted. Yes. Drug enforcement agents find a hidden pot house at a Miami shopping mall? Can you believe it? Check it out, though. Officials say the grower set up a sophisticated lab inside a 400-foot storage area.
HOLMES: Yes, of course, you got Gap, you got Nordstrom, you got the marijuana store at the mall. They're (inaudible) the street now, they're actually in the millions. Shoppers were stunned when they find out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, WFOR)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How can it be that nobody finds out before?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Yes, that's what we're asking. Agents won't say how they found out about the growing business but they say mall officials are cooperating with the investigation. So far, though, -- can you believe this? No one has been arrested. Right there in a shopping mall, like you said, in between Gap and Nordstrom, well, we're not sure of those were the stores but, I mean, people think they were selling plants?
HOLMES: Who knows? Some people probably just disappointed that they didn't know that they were missing it.
NGUYEN: You could actually buy some marijuana? (LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Reynolds, you're standing there with a stunned look on your face.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I know. Well, this explains the record sales at the food court. That's where I'm going. Unbelievable.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: They had the munchies after shopping there, huh?
WOLF: Good gosh almighty.
Hey, guys, let's switch gears a little bit. Let's go from that to something else as fast as we possibly can for the sake of the children watching this morning.
Hey, folks, we're still watching what is left of Fay. Fay is no longer a tropical storm, right now, it's tropical depression. It could bring in not only some heavy rainfall but also the threat of tornadoes in parts of the southeast. Coming up, we're going to take a look at the storm and show you where it's headed before it goes up in smoke.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, tropical storm Fay finally weakens to a depression. That sounds great but, still, it's leaving a growing death toll in its wake. The storm is now blamed for 11 deaths in Florida and we have now learned there's been one death in Georgia that's been attributed to the storm. There, a rising waters swept away a boy playing near a drainage ditch.
And later this morning, the Florida governor, Charlie Crist, will hold a news briefing. We will monitor that.
Also, Fay's relentless rains unleashed flash flooding across much of Florida and rising floodwaters swallowed thousands of homes. In Tallahassee, emergency crews were out in full force, rescuing people from their flooded homes as Fay made history by making landfall in Florida a total of four times.
And as Fay heads toward the gulf coast, New Orleans is getting ready. Nearly three years now after hurricane Katrina, the area could see several inches of rain. Emergency crews are handing out sandbags in St, Bernard Parish where some of the worst Katrina flooding happened. Rescue workers are on stand by.
CNN's Sean Callebs is with the Army corps of engineers and we will check back later to see his report of what's happening. We will turn now to our meteorologist, Reynolds Wolf, here.
Reynolds, my goodness. It ended up being -- it hit Florida four times, four landfalls. WOLF: Right.
HOLMES: So, Florida is not going to get any more landfalls? Are we done with landfalls?
WOLF: Yes, we should be done with the landfalls for the time being.
HOLMES: OK.
WOLF: The center of the storm is actually moving onshore. And the threat we're going with now, T.J., is not necessarily just the threat of some flooding although it's still there, but also the threat of tornadoes. You notice this box you have in parts of Alabama and into Georgia -- this is your tornado watch that is currently in affect in this region until around mid-morning or so.
Right now, Birmingham, some heavy rainfall is now moving just to north of Red Mountain. This time, here's the I-20 corridor, 459 and 20, here is 65, and everything going to the east and northeast, doing so at about 15 miles per hour.
North Alabama, you're certainly going to get in on that action and parts of Atlanta and back over towards say, Anniston. This is all going to be moving eastward towards Atlanta but the batch you see here is still in parts of Alabama. Here is Talladega, the racetrack right about here and heaviest rain drifting off.
Now, what we're going to be seeing with a lot of that rain is the threat of flash flooding. In fact, already. You take a look at the map. Everything you see here that happens to have the darker to light green is either a watch or a warning. It covers a great deal of the landscape. And in Mississippi, not really great deal of heavy rainfall, yet, it's rather what they anticipate is going to happen later on today.
The rain is expected to pick up, certainly, it's heavy in Florida. In fact, since midnight, Tallahassee is over nine inches of rainfall; 7.91 in Valdosta, Georgia; in Troy, nearly, let's say 5 1/2; and if you look at Beaufort, South Carolina, they have nearly five inches of rainfall. Meridian, Mississippi, that's not heavy so far, just over an inch and a half and they're expecting more, as I mentioned, later on through the day.
So, that is the big story -- watching the remnants of Fay and the threat of tornadoes and floodings. Things we're going to watch for you throughout the rest of the day. Betty, let's send it back to you at the news desk.
NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Reynolds. You know, we've been talking a lot about the flooding from Fay. Well, I just returned from Vietnam where each year the monsoon rains leave poor farming families just desperate for help. And we'll show you what's being done to assist those communities.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: Several countries in Southeast Asia are still recovering from some of the worst flooding in decades. In Vietnam, upwards of 160 people have died in landslides and high water and monsoons are expected to continue flooding the already swollen Mekong River which flows south into the delta region.
Now, I just returned from Vietnam, a country where I was born. And there, we brought aid to communities in the path of potentially deadly flooding.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN (voice-over): The muddy Mekong Delta may look picturesque but make no mistake, villages along "Vietnam's Rice Belt" are bracing for the annual monsoon which often bring death and destruction.
We've loaded up with food and other aid in an effort to reach four farming communities before they're inundated by flood waters. This is my eighth humanitarian aid trip to the region with the nonprofit my family founded called "Help the Hungry." And there are plenty here to help. They've lined the banks, both young and old. For many, this aid will be a life line as they ride out the storms.
It's a difficult journey, but one that's so appreciated, especially when you consider what farmers here face.
A family of six lives in this hut. What's not covered with tarp and leaves is open to the elements. There is only one bed. And just behind the baby's hammock is a make-shift kitchen where they cook with scrap wood. They can't even afford to keep their daughter in school.
(GIRL SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
NGUYEN: She starts to cry when we give them enough money to send her back to school and repair their house so it can withstand the monsoons. The key to breaking this vicious cycle of poverty is often found here, in the classroom. These students are among the fortunate ones, even if some are malnourished. This little boy is 12 years old, yet he is the size of a six-year-old.
But what the people here lack, they seem to make up in hope. It's one of the few things the monsoons can't wash away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: And it's so important, especially for these communities, for you to be able to get that aid in before the flood waters just inundate the area. It becomes too dangerous to maneuver through the canals to get to the homes. And these are people -- as you look at the pictures -- that have crowded the banks. They need this aid desperately because -- Vietnam is not a country where they have welfare or have organizations that really come out and help.
If you don't have the money to get the food or whatever is necessary to sustain your life and your family, then you're just going to go without. And many of these folks, as you can see right there, don't even have shoes. I mean, again, these are poor farming families. So, it was important not only to provide them with the necessary aid, but also help especially the children who want to go to school, because as we all know, education is the key to rising up from this kind of poverty.
And living in grass huts like that is something that you see a lot in the countryside. So, it's going to take a lot of time, but the great thing about it is that there is a lot of hope and there are children in school. So, hopefully, within the generations, they'll be able to rise up out of this.
HOLMES: Well, you know, that's poverty on the level that, I mean, we have poverty all over the world, and certainly, in this country but that's on a level maybe people here can't understand and can't comprehend and really never exposed to. And a lot of people, I know you've been doing this year after year, you've been doing this for a while...
NGUYEN: Since 2000.
HOLMES: Since 2000 now, and a lot of people, I know, you've reached out to and we help out around here as much as we can.
NGUYEN: Sure.
HOLMES: A lot of people who do want to help out, how can they contribute in some ways to this program?
NGUYEN: Well, what they can do is go to Web site. For information on our efforts, all you have to do is go to http://www.help-the-hungry.org. And you can find all the information that you want right there.
HOLMES: All right. We'll be hearing more about your trip. You've been all over the place lately.
NGUYEN: Haven't I, lately?
HOLMES: You had.
NGUYEN: It's just great to be home finally.
HOLMES: Welcome back.
NGUYEN: And I get here, there's so much news going on as we all know about the Obama/Biden ticket.
HOLMES: Yes. A lot has happened while you were gone. Another thing going on in Georgia and Russia. You want to (INAUDIBLE) about that, too.
NGUYEN: That's true.
HOLMES: But, on to that story though. A U.S. warship has arrived in Georgia now to deliver humanitarian aid to the former Soviet republic. The relief supplies come as Russian military forces make a partial withdrawal from Georgia. Moscow's invasion has rekindled Cold War attentions with Washington. USS McFaul is the first of five American ships scheduled to arrive this week. And Russian troops do pull back, Georgians are returning home.
Western powers weighing in, the U.S., French, and Great Britain say Moscow's withdrawal has not gone far enough to meet the conditions of the cease-fire. They say Russia needs to pull its troops deeper into South Ossetia, a breakaway region at the center of all this conflict. Georgia says Russia still maintain some checkpoints in its country.
NGUYEN: Well, you know, all eyes are on the Democrats this week as their convention kicks off.
HOLMES: Yes, we got the hype going on here, a little controversy as well. We got some keynote speakers to talk about as well. We got a preview for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, tapping into your 401(k) might not be the best idea. It can actually be disastrous for your finances.
NGUYEN: Usually, they say it's a no-no.
HOLMES: Yes.
NGUYEN: Do not do it unless you absolutely have to.
Well, Stephanie Elam looks at what you should consider before cracking into your nest egg on today's "Right on Your Money."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Paying off debt, buying a new car, or paying for a vacation, may seem like good reasons to withdraw money from your 401(k). But it may be more costly in the end.
LYNNETTE KHALFANI-COX, PERSONAL FINANCE EXPERT: Taking money out of your 401(k) should be an absolute last resort financially. The problem is that when you tap into that 401(k), really, you're foregoing the potential savings you could be building up for your golden years.
ELAM: But some people have no other options.
KHALFANI-COX: Especially now with the economy being in a recession, a lot of people are cash-strapped and there may be very legitimate reasons for taking what's called a "hardship withdrawal" from your 401(k).
ELAM: A "hardship withdrawal" allows access to your account to pay medical expenses, cover a down payment or foreclosure, pay college tuition, or cover funeral expenses. But there are major financial drawbacks. KHALFANI-COX: If you take a withdrawal, that is considered an early disbursement if you've not yet reached the age of 59 1/2 and you will be subjected to ordinary income taxes and a penalty.
ELAM: Stephanie Elam, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Good morning again. And welcome back to the CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes.
NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Good morning, everybody.
You know, Fay it just simply won't go away. We keep saying it well just because it's true. The storm is now, though, along the gulf coast soaking everything in its path.
HOLMES: Also, we are just a day away from the Democratic National Convention. And the best political team on television is there. We have been asking these two gentleman to come on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING forever.
NGUYEN: And since they won't.
HOLMES: They sent us these. I thought it was a slap in the face but hey that's what we got.
NGUYEN: It's hard when they won't talk back to you. You can ask a question all day long but you're not going to get a response.
HOLMES: And these are fat heads. Some of you might be familiar with this company that puts these things out. Usually it's sports figures and helmets and things but they came up with these as well. McCain is waving to us and Barack Obama has a different tux.
NGUYEN: Why is McCain just the only one waving to us?
HOLMES: Barack Obama has a tux on even, I believe. We don't know where they came from but that's the best we can do for you on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. So, stay with us until these two to come on the show.
NGUYEN: Our budget is limitless as can you tell.
HOLMES: Well, the democrats kicking off their convention and the number two man on the ticket is not wasting any time going after John McCain.
NGUYEN: Not at all. Barack Obama introduced Senator Joe Biden as his running mate during a rally in Springfield, Illinois yesterday. And in his speech, Biden blended strong criticism of republican John McCain with praise for Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. JOE BIDEN (D), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Barack has the vision and what you can't forget, you know his vision but let me tell you something. He also has the courage, the courage to make this a better place and let me tell you something else. This man is a clear eyed pragmatist who will get the job done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Political pundits have plenty to say about Barack Obama's selection of Joe Biden hundred as his running mate and we're also getting some reaction from many of you, the voters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think Joe Biden is very smart, he is very dedicated. I think that he is very independent-minded and he has done a lot of really good work. He's a very knowledgeable man and I think he'll make Obama a stronger candidate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, I don't know much about Biden but from what I've seen I think he would because he says what he, you know, he's not - he doesn't say what, you know, anything to make people think he's a nice guy. He just says what he thinks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he also stated that he needed someone to balance him as well as challenge him. So I think it was a very good selection and he did his homework. He really did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Obama is pretty new to all of this and it seems like a smart move to have somebody who's more seasoned.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've always been a Biden fan and followed Joe Biden for years. He is very knowledgeable. He is just the perfect fit for Obama as far as being that guy who can give him a lot of good counsel and so on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right. Of course, the democrats are gathering in Denver. But you know who beat them there? Our Paul Steinhauser, a member of the best political team on television. He is there at the convention site for us this morning. Paul, always good to see you. Tell us though a week like this we're about to see for Barack Obama. What does one do in the week leading up to the biggest speech he will give in his life so far?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You know sometimes they lay low but that is not what Barack Obama is doing. Today he is going to be in Wisconsin. He's going to be campaigning this afternoon and then, T.J., coming up this week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, he is going to be campaigning out on the campaign trail in some key battle ground states and some states where the democrats would like to steal it away from the republicans. He is going to campaign during the day so he doesn't kind of take away from what is going to be happening here each night. But definitely not laying low, T.J. HOLMES: When does he actually get into town?
STEINHAUSER: He -
HOLMES: Would he wait until Thursday?
STEINHAUSER: What is that? He'll probably come in on Wednesday.
HOLMES: OK.
STEINHAUSER: Traditionally they come in on Wednesday and maybe make a appearance with their running mate and then of course, Thursday night is the big speech for him at Invesco Field in front of 175,000 people.
HOLMES: And tell us how does McCain counter this. We know, if any are expecting, a bump in the polls maybe, given all the coverage that's going to be seen out there in Denver this week but what does McCain do this week to kind of counter that? And also something you brought up while we were speaking in the commercial break are traditionally does the opponent kind of be respectful and let his opponent have his or her moment in the sun, if you will, at the convention?
STEINHAUSER: Traditionally, they do. Traditionally, the opposition, the rival lays low but John McCain, he's not going to be crazy on the campaign trail this week but he will be a little busy. You know, tomorrow night he is supposed to be on Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show." And he's got couple of events planned this week. So, he's going to try to counter program a little bit and then on Friday, when it's all over here it's his birthday and we expect there could be some big news on Friday. He is going to kick off a couple of days campaigning and maybe he's got an announcement on his running mate. We'll have to see about that.
HOLMES: Well, he is not going to make us wait until 3:00 in the morning to get a text, is he?
STEINHAUSER: I hope not!
HOLMES: All right. And also, before we let you go, just how are things out there? I guess it's starting tomorrow, the convention. So they better be ready. So for the most part, are things in place ready to go?
STEINHAUSER: Yes. You know the security is now up as well. The Secret Service security corridor is now here so when we come to work now we have to go through, depending upon what time of day, you have to go through a long line of security. The delegates are arriving and the atmosphere here is really building up and all the action starts tomorrow, T.J.. Now, I saw you at the beginning there. You tried to get McCain and Obama, so I guess you're stuck with me, a D-lister but well, it's Sunday morning, you know.
NGUYEN: At least he talks back.
HOLMES: Yes. You do talk back, at least.
STEINHAUSER: I do.
HOLMES: You'll get big enough one of these day and just send us over a picture, poster of you as well and we will be upset. All right. Paul Steinhauser, our deputy political director, always good to see you. We'll check in you again, buddy.
STEINHAUSER: Thank you.
HOLMES: All right. As we said, the republicans are going to get their turn at it next week. The GOP nominating convention runs September 1 through 4th in St. Paul, Minnesota. President Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney and democrat turned independent Senator Joe Lieberman among the speakers there.
But today on "This Week in Politics," we have a look ahead to the Democratic National Convention and a discussion on whether Obama made the right choice for his running mate and we'll also take a look at McCain's VP short list. Tom Foreman hosts "This Week in Politics," this afternoon 2:00 Eastern.
NGUYEN: You know. It didn't take long yesterday for the McCain camp to send out a campaign ad and there's yet another one today that just came out a few hours ago and it shows republicans trying to exploit the divisions among the democrats. Josh Levs says what goes around comes around and apparently it continues to spiral.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, talk about spinning. It doesn't take them any time at all these days. Did you guys see the new ad? Right. It just came out this morning. You surely have not seen the ad because it just hit. And basically you got two things going on at once. You definitely have them trying to break apart this unity that the democrats are trying to build right now but also you have John McCain making a major effort to reach out to disaffected Clinton supporters.
It's kind of a one-two punch in this latest ad. We're going to show you a little clip here where he talks, in his voice, about why Clinton is not on the ticket.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: On his plans.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You never hear the specifics.
ANNOUNCER: On the Rezko scandal.
CLINTON: We still don't have enough answers about Senator Obama.
ANNOUNCER: On his attacks.
CLINTON: Senator Obama's campaign has become increasingly negative. ANNOUNCER: The truth hurt and Obama didn't like it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: By now, presidential candidates know that they pay a price during the primary season. This is how it works, you attack each other and eventually you might get the slot and choosing someone else as your VP, really similar things are tried in 2004. The Bush campaign did point out some things that Kerry and Edwards have said about each other. Eventually that stuff gets covered over by the two tickets attacking each other by November. You don't think too much about what went on in the primary season in that respect. But there's a new challenge here which is that John McCain hasn't chosen his VP and it's quite possible he might choose someone, maybe Mitt Romney.
NGUYEN: Mitt Romney. And you're definitely going to see Mitt Romney's words on some of these ads, especially if he chooses him as the VP pick.
LEVS: Exactly. I mean, talk about attacks. There was almost as much harshness there as there was on the democratic side. In fact, one of our i-reporters points out the exact same thing. Let's look at it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TROY DAVENPORT, I-REPORTER: If McCain chooses Romney as his running mate, wouldn't that sort of be a flip-flop as the republicans termed and deemed so well four years ago in the last election?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: That's Troy Davenport and he's not the only one who's saying that. So clearly, that is something we need to watch out for. And we should also keep in mind, these things do work in the short term. I mean, Americans say they don't like attack ads but Americans respond to attack ads.
NGUYEN: But if there's valid information, they will hold on to that. We'll see how it plays out. All right. Thank you, Josh.
LEVS: You got it. Thanks.
NGUYEN: And do you remember, for all the late-breaking campaign news, freshest polls, the political ticker and analysis from the best political team on television, your online destination is cnnpolitics.com.
You know, we are still following Fay. It seems like the storm just won't go away.
HOLMES: It actually has weakened. But it doesn't mean everything honky dory. It's still remains a major threat.
NGUYEN: We're also tracking it for you and meteorologist Reynolds Wolf joins us from the weather center with the latest on that. We will be talking to him shortly.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. So we're going to give you a look now at what was tropical storm Fay from our i-reporters. Take a look at this video. It was sent to us by Louise Mills in Cape Canaveral. That's her grandson and her son there. They drove as close as they could get to her condo. Then they had to walk about a tenth of a mile. As you can see, he is wearing waders to protect himself from the snakes and all that yucky bacteria that may be in the water there.
And take a look at this. An image of storm damage in Orange Park, Florida, just outside of Jacksonville. 19-year-old i-reporter Sarah Clarke says this massive 100-year-old oak tree just couldn't stay rooted in the rain-saturated ground anymore.
Well, so where is Fay today? You know, it's caused a lot of death. A lot of destruction. Reynolds, you've been following this for how many days now?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It seems like forever. It seems like years, Betty. No, actually just a little bit over a week but what's amazing with the storm -
NGUYEN: Long enough.
WOLF: Yes. No doubt. And I know people are ready for the storm to be over and done with. Even though it's a dying system it's kind of like a dying animal. I mean, these cornered animals still can cause some kinds of issues.
NGUYEN: Still biting?
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: That is a mess. I mean, you definitely don't see that every day. And you don't want to.
WOLF: No, no, you don't. I mean, when you step out on the front lawn and you see a 12-foot alligator, not a good scene. Not something you want to deal with.
NGUYEN: No but a little more normal than seeing a cow walking down the street.
WOLF: Exactly. You know, when you walk out of your front door, you're getting the newspaper and you see a 12-foot gator there you think maybe the paper will be read another day. Just kind of leave it out there, it's time to go online and just check out cnn.com and find out.
NGUYEN: You think for the Internet, right?
WOLF: That's what I'm talking about.
NGUYEN: Thank you, Reynolds. WOLF: You bet, guys.
HOLMES: Cnn.com plug in there, Reynolds is good, isn't he?
NGUYEN: And he also said CNN, the best network.
HOLMES: The best network.
NGUYEN: Of course, it is, but, you know.
HOLMES: That's going to be our new marketing campaign. All right. We got a curtain call for Beijing. Yes, it's over already. The Olympic torch being handed over to London today. The sights, the sounds and the athletes that will compete in 2012.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: It is closing day for Beijing. Can you believe it? Already the Olympics are almost over.
HOLMES: It just started.
NGUYEN: It seems like it, doesn't?
HOLMES: It's over but later today, the Olympic torch will be passed on to London. That's the site of the 2012 games and our Jim Boulden near Buckingham Palace for us. It's over already and London is already - they're putting themselves on the international stage now. They are the new Olympic site.
JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are. And officially, they'll get that in about two hours once we see the handover at the Bird's Nest in Beijing but as you can hear behind me the party has already started. We got a concert in a couple of hours' time and there will be thousands of people here to celebrate London getting that handover.
Now, believe it or not. Michael Phelps is here, the great swimmer. This party is being hosted by Visa. So they brought in Phelps who is their chief spokesman now. Boy, that is a good bit of business, I think. And I asked Michael when is he going to star ready for the games in four years' time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL PHELPS, U.S. GOLD MEDALIST: It starts here, today. I'm here for the Visa London 2012 party and to be able to be a part of this and to be a part of, you know, I think it's being here in this atmosphere right now. You know, it's kind of get me started, and getting me excited again and you know, get me ready to get back into training.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOULDEN: Now, Phelps had one of his medals, T.J.. So I got to see that. He did admit though that he was very tired. And I think he can't wait, frankly, to get back to the U.S.
NGUYEN: Yes, I bet. OK so, one has about four years to go. How far along are they? Has the construction already begun? How much preparation is already in place?
BOULDEN: They've already begun building the Olympic stadium. They've already begun the velodrome and to build the Aquatic Center. They are way ahead and in fact, the IOC, the international Olympic Committee said before the Beijing games said London's preparation is unprecedented. Also, of course, many of the venues are already built. Think Wimbledon for tennis. The Wembley Stadium for the soccer. They already have world class centers for canoeing and sailing. And then they're going to use a lot of temporary venues. They're not spending anywhere near as much money as Beijing. They're going to have very temporary things like the Horse Guard Parade where the Queen looks at her horses every year, that's going to be beach volleyball. And then they're going to take it down and you'll never even know it was there.
NGUYEN: Oh, so they're not spending that $40 billion that China did? What, what, the Queen, you know, can't loan the country some money?
BOULDEN: It's going to be $17 billion. They are promising to stick to that. The British press will tear them apart if they don't spend that. If they spend more than that.
NGUYEN: Yes. Well, it's $17 billion. That's nothing to sneeze at. That's for sure. It's a lot of money. OK. Thank you, Jim.
HOLMES: It's hard to follow China.
NGUYEN: 40 billion - boy with that opening ceremony.
HOLMES: It was worth every billion.
NGUYEN: At the end of the day, though, it's all about the bling. Who took home the most shiniest medals.
HOLMES: Our Josh Levs has the answer for us and you know what, the U.S. should be thanking Michael Phelps.
NGUYEN: Phelps.
HOLMES: You know, he really added to the medal count.
LEVS: Yes. In fact, if you subtract all the ones that he's involved in, it's pretty much a tie. I just need a few seconds. I'm just going to go in on this. This is our Olympic medal count. CNN.com in conjunction with "Sports Illustrated." Just a little something you see but this is it. 36 gold, our silver count is 38, and bronze is also 36. So overall, we have the most medals of any country. There you go. Thanks for closing in. 110 in total. China at 100. But I will also mention China got more gold, 51 golds to our 36. Still overall, we got the most medals. Go, back to you guys.
HOLMES: Does that mean we won? NGUYEN: Not exactly. It depends on how you want to count it.
HOLMES: OK.
LEVS: T.J. Holmes is the source on that. U.S. wins the Olympics.
HOLMES: Well, how do you calculate? Come on.
NGUYEN: Well, we have the most medals, but we don't have the most gold. What's most important?
HOLMES: The gold.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: All right. Appreciate you, Josh.
LEVS: Thanks, guys.
HOLMES: Well folks what do punk rock and Godzilla movies has to do with Buddhism. Yes, we're going to try to get an answer from a true-life monk in our pretty wild "Faces of Faith."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, in this morning's "Faces of Faith," a moment of zen. Zen Buddhism here, we're talking. This week and I talked with Brad Warner. He's a zen master and author of the book "Hard Core Zen" and "Sit Down and Shut Up." Warner is a Buddhist monk but he's like no monk you probably ever seen of ever heard. He's into punk rock and Godzilla movies. I started by asking him, how exactly do you explain zen?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRAD WARNER, AUTHOR "HARDCORE ZEN": My teacher says Buddhism is realism. So it's an approach to the real world. It's not about afterlife. It's not about belief systems, you know, angels, or this kind of thing or the supernatural. It's about this life and kind of trying to live in this very life we're living right now as human beings without really recourse to anything outside of that. But, what you find, when you approach it is this life is really, really deep and really, really fascinating. I think a lot of people want to escape into some kind of other world or something through their religion and I wasn't interested in that. So that's why zen, specifically, attracted me.
HOLMES: All right. And I want to make sure I have this right and make sure I'm not being insulting or disparaging in any way. But it involves a lot of sitting around?
WARNER: Yes. It's true. It's definitely true. Yes. I mean, that's the title of my second book is "Sit down and shut up." Because that's the kind of expression in what we do. You know, you take a certain position. I don't know if you will be able to see it on the camera, but you take a certain seated position with your arms in a specific way and you sit up straight on a cushion for a long, long time. I just got back from a thing where I did this for seven days. Well, not seven days straight. You know, you get a break every 40 minutes. But that is really the practice. And it's not -- the guy who founded the sect I study in is named is Dogan and he said zen is the zen, which is the practice we do, it's not meditation.
So you can call it meditation because people understand the word meditation. So sometimes I use it. But it's different from meditation in that you are not trying to produce some kind of effect. You're not trying to realize enlightenment or anything like that. You're just sitting there, letting everything come up as it does, which can be very interesting. Even though it seems extremely very boring. It can also be really boring.
HOLMES: All right. Appreciate you being honest there. Sitting around sometimes can be boring. You mentioned one of your books there. But I have another one here in front me "Hard Core Zen." There's something on the back here. It says this is zen for people who don't give a rats ass about zen. Now, most people, religious folks, now I'm not ultra-religious. I go to church. But many people of thought, many priests and pastors or whatever maybe, I don't hear them talk like that normally. So I noticed it's a little different and you're a little different kind of religious person, if you will. But that kind of edge, if you will, to what you do, I'm sure there's some group out there that kind of is attracted to that, but do you think some are kind of turned off by it as well?
WARNER: Yes. I get both. You know, the thing is, when I first started studying, I had a teacher who talked like that. He didn't censor himself at all. He used all the four letter words and everything. And that's what got me interested in it. Because you didn't have to be this - I was interested in religion and interested in this kind of spirituality thing and god and all of that. But I wasn't interested in trying to be this kind of clean, pure, so-called spiritual person. And I was really happy to find somebody who was a religious person who wasn't like that. So, I think it's good for that to be available to people. And of course, some people are offended by it. But you know, people are going to be offended by anything.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And again, our thanks to Mr. Brad Warner there. Again, unlike any other monk you've probably seen. Again, he's the author of "Hard Core Zen" and the other book "Sit Down and Shut Up." You can read his blog on the website hardcorezen.blogspot.com.
NGUYEN: From the CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Hopefully, you're having a good one. It's August 24th, 8:00 a.m. at CNN headquarters right here in Atlanta, 6:00 a.m. in Denver where the Democrats are gathering for the big national convention starting tomorrow.
Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And hello. I'm T.J. Holmes. A lot of folks have summer vacations. Did you actually get a real summer vacation in?
NGUYEN: Not yet. I need one.
HOLMES: You know the summer is about over yet.
NGUYEN: It's true. I better hurry.
HOLMES: You are trying to get one in. Well, some of you might have camped; some of you might hike on national parks. This morning, we're taking a closer look at these treasures. And we're asking: Are we at risk of losing some of these rich wildlife and just wonderful beauty?
NGUYEN: You know, Sunday may be a day of rest for most Americans, but not for the political campaign, especially not this week. John McCain has issued another attack at Obama, his second in two days.
HOLMES: And the first ad coincided with Obama campaigning for the first time with his running mate, Joe Biden. They had used Biden's own words to criticize Obama's lack of experience.
Biden is back in Delaware today. He's getting ready, of course, for his big day at the Democratic National Convention which is on Wednesday when he will be able to give his speech.
NGUYEN: Now, here's a bit of what it sounded yesterday as Obama and Biden appeared together for the first time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D-IL) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have seen this man work. I have sat with him as he chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and been by his side on the campaign trail. And I can tell you that Joe Biden gets it. He's a unique public servant who is at home in a bar in Cedar Rapids and the corridors of the Capitol; and the VFW hall in Concord, and at the center of an international crisis.
SEN. JOE BIDEN, (D) DELAWARE: Barack has a vision. And what you can't forget, you know his vision, but let me tell you something -- he also has the courage, the courage to make this a better place. And let me tell you something else -- this man is a clear eye pragmatist who will get the job done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, the Obama campaign hopes to benefit from Biden's blue-collar roots. Obama introduced him as that scrappy kid from Scranton. Well, Jill Konopka of our affiliate WBRE went to the neighborhood in Scranton, Pennsylvania where Biden grew up to get the hometown reaction.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE, WBRE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello. Hello. JILL KONOPKA, WBRE CORRESPONDENT: The phone is ringing off the hook at 2446 Washington Avenue in the Green Ridge section of Scranton. Here's why...
ANNE KEARNS, LIVES IN BIDEN'S FORMER HOME: I live in the house that Joe Biden grew up in. And we were the people that moved in after he moved out.
KONOPKA: Delaware Democrat Joe Biden, that state's longest- serving U.S. senator-turned-vice presidential hopeful had his bedroom on the third floor.
KEARNS: We are here 46 years. He was here 10.
KONOPKA: And according to Anne Kearns, the current owner, the Irish Catholic kid from Scranton, made his mark.
KEARNS: We had a lot of those drawing there, and then he had "Joe Biden was here, too."
KONOPKA: Just last year, Joe Biden and his mom paid an unexpected visit to this mother of six. Biden apparently startled Anne Kearns in her drive-way.
KEARNS: And I said, "Oh, Senator Biden." And he said, "You know me?" And I said, "Certainly, I know you. I've been waiting for you to show up here for years."
KONOPKA: They snapped a few photos before the Bidens bolted.
KEARNS: I need a picture. I need proof you were here. So they took pictures of me and then he sent that to me.
KONOPKA: But not everyone in the neighborhood supports Barack Obama's pick for a running mate. Senator Hillary Clinton has roots here, too.
JACK LAWRENCE, SCRANTON RESIDENT: I have to express that I am extremely disappointed that Hillary is not part of the team. I thought she was the best candidate.
KONOPKA: Others say Biden is the best option.
SISTER JOHN MISCHELE, SCRANTON RESIDENT: Barack Obama is young and he has lots to learn. And I think that Joe Biden is experienced and older. And he has lots of foreign affairs experience.
KONOPKA: And maybe slightly biased, Anne Kearns agreed.
KEARNS: I think it's the smartest move he made. I really do. Joe is just such a wonderful character.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: The Democrats, they are gathering right now in Denver, ready to kick off the party's national convention and nominate Barack Obama as their presidential candidate.
Now, there is a lot of buzz over the new John McCain ad.
I want to take you live to CNN's Dana Bash in Denver.
You know, he put out one, yesterday, just hours after the Obama text message of Joe Biden came out. And yet, again, today, we see another one. He is wasting no time.
BASH: Wasting no time at all, but the one that was just released this morning is very different and has a very, very specific message and goal, right here in Denver.
And basically, it's this -- you know, Betty, when we see the delegates appear on the floor of the Pepsi Center, there are going to be about 40 percent of them who actually supported Hillary Clinton. And that is something that the McCain campaign is trying to exploit, trying to drive a wedge between Hillary Clinton and her supporters. Some of whom who are still bitter about the very long, very difficult race, and some of whom are perhaps, are not very happy about the way they perceived Barack Obama treating Hillary Clinton lately.
Take a listen to the McCain ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, MCCAIN CAMPAIGN AD)
NARRATOR: She won millions of votes, but isn't on his ticket. Why? For speaking the truth on his plans.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) NEW YORK: You never hear the specifics.
NARRATOR: On the Rezko scandal.
CLINTON: We still don't have a lot of answers about Senator Obama.
NARRATOR: On his attacks.
CLINTON: Senator Obama's campaign has become increasingly negative.
NARRATOR: The truth hurt and Obama didn't like it.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R-AZ) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Betty, I think the technical term for that ad is stirring the pot. That's what the McCain campaign is trying to do.
They are, for a couple of reasons, one is, they're trying to make sure that the unity that the Democrats are desperately striving for in this convention isn't entirely there, and more importantly, more practically, what John McCain has been trying to do since the last day of the Democratic primary fight between Obama and Clinton, is try to get as many Clinton voters to his side as possible, especially, in a couple of those key states where he really could use them to win the states, states like Ohio and Pennsylvania.
So, that's what that ad is all about, it's sending a very specific message here.
NGUYEN: Right. The convention starts tomorrow and as we talk about these Hillary Clinton supporters, they start gathering there, are you seeing any, I guess, early signs of that clash or do you expect to see party unity here?
BASH: Well, certainly, there are, probably, I would say, small but vocal number of delegates who are simply not happy -- not happy about the way things turned out. They are happy about the fact they are going to get a chance to voice that in a -- sort of a symbolic role call vote, a nomination vote for Hillary Clinton during the course of the convention.
But, you know, talking to some of Hillary Clinton's supporters and obviously listening to Hillary Clinton herself, she is going to try to make very, very clear that she appreciates their support still, but that she does want to have a unified front with all Democrats to go forward in November.
NGUYEN: Yes.
BASH: But, you know, there definitely is some lingering resentment, especially, to some, in the past 24 to 48 hours or so, among some who simply think that in the vice presidential process, that she wasn't given perhaps the respect that Barack Obama could have or should have given her, by reaching out to her, reaching out to her husband, President Clinton, making a show, if you will, that perhaps it wasn't there.
NGUYEN: Well, she's going to definitely say the line with her support, but we'll see how her supporters do at the convention that kicks off tomorrow.
BASH: Exactly.
NGUYEN: Dana Bash, joining us live -- thank you, Dana.
BASH: Thanks, Betty.
NGUYEN: And CNN's Wolf Blitzer is also live from the Democratic National Convention with "LATE EDITION" this morning. You don't want to miss that. He's going to talk to key Democratic leaders and have analysis that you cannot get anywhere else. So, join Wolf on "LATE EDITION" at a special time, 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
HOLMES: Well, tropical storm Fay finally weakens to a depression. But that's not all good. There's still a growing death toll in its wake. The storm now is blamed for 11 deaths in Florida and we have just learned at least one death in Georgia. There, rising water swept away a boy who is playing near a drainage ditch. The storm dumps staggering amounts of rain, up to 25 inches in some areas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, WJXT/NASSAU COUNTY, FLORIDA)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we were only able to salvage a few things in the main part of the house. And some things, our neighbors came over and helped us move upstairs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Florida officials say more than 6,700 homeowners have filed claims from the storm and that number is going to go up. It's not yet known how many people have been displaced, along with pets and livestock as you see here.
Governor Charlie Crist is asking the federal government to declare the worst hit areas major disaster areas. And less than three hours from now, we may get a clearer picture of the storm's devastating impact on that state. Governor Crist is scheduled to hold a news briefing. We will certainly monitor that.
Also, Fay is heading towards the gulf coast. New Orleans is certainly getting ready. Nearly three years now after hurricane Katrina. The area could see several inches of rain. Emergency crews are handing out sandbags in St. Bernard Parish, where some of the worst Katrina flooding happened. Rescue workers are on stand by.
CNN's Sean Callebs is with the Army corps of engineers. We'll be checking in for his report a little later. We will check in with our Reynolds Wolf as we have been doing all weekend.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: All right, Reynolds. We appreciate you this weekend, again, all last week, keeping an eye on this slow moving thing.
WOLF: Anytime.
NGUYEN: We do have some dramatic images to show you this morning. Take a look at this. Out of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia -- look at all that smoke. Well, it was a train carrying fuel that hit a mine and burst in flames in the city of Gori. This explosion ignited a massive fire, but -- believe it or not -- no injuries are reported. The blast comes just a couple of weeks after Russian troops invaded the U.S. ally. Just two days ago, Russian troops pulled out of the Georgian military base nearby.
And back here in the U.S. -- a small plane goes down in Moab, Utah. Everyone onboard was killed, including nine workers from a skin cancer clinic. It happened shortly after takeoff and the sheriff says the plane was engulfed in flames when rescuers arrived. As you can see there, there's not much left. That crash is under investigation.
HOLMES: Well, as we learned this weekend finally, the suspense is over about Barack Obama's running mate. But, we have more speculating and guessing and all that stuff -- we do -- about John McCain's pick. NGUYEN: Well, this Friday -- at least we have a date -- we will find out, if not before. So, do you know who's on McCain's short list?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN: The news channel watched by more Americans than any other news channel.
NGUYEN: Memorial plans are set for a pioneering congresswoman from Ohio.
HOLMES: Yes. Service will be held next Saturday in Cleveland for Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones. She died Wednesday from a brain hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm. The Ohio Democratic Party chairman called Tubbs Jones a trail blazer. She was the first African-American to represent Ohio in the U.S. House.
NGUYEN: Tubbs Jones was national co-chairman of Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. And the two were also close friends. The Clinton campaign says it will supply buttons with the photo of Tubbs Jones to supporters at this week's Democratic National Convention.
HOLMES: Well, all eyes are on the Democrats, at that convention this week, but the Republicans kick off their national convention next week, September 1st through the 4th in Saint Paul, Minnesota. President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Joe Lieberman -- the Democrat-turned-independent will be among the speakers.
NGUYEN: You know, we spent a lot of time over the past 24 hours talking about Joe Biden joining the Democratic ticket with Barack Obama.
HOLMES: Really? I haven't noticed.
NGUYEN: Oh, you know. That's for sure. You're on your -- what -- six hours straight yesterday.
HOLMES: Six hours yesterday.
NGUYEN: But many of you have been asking us, "When are you going to start talking about John McCain's running mate?"
HOLMES: Now. McCain is expected to make his choice known this Friday in Dayton, Ohio. Josh Levs is here with McCain's short list and McCain's plans not to send out an e-mail, not a text, just, you know, step up to the microphone and say, "Here's my guy."
NGUYEN: The old fashion way.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we're pretty sure it's going to be the old fashion way. I know, Obama-Biden, that's old news, guys. Now, we're moving on. Time to see who John McCain is going to pick and I want you all to know who some of the top candidates are. We have a really good spread for you at CNN.com. What I'm going though is bring you a graphic we've made to summarize this for you, some of the big points we're making. Let's go to the first one here, which lists some pros and cons.
First of all, from Mitt Romney, one of the top names you hear. We're talking about this last hour. Some of the pros we've point to -- he's got this economic know how. Some people are concerned about how John McCain understands the economy. Mitt Romney has a strong business background. Also, he loves the attack dog role, which the V.P. needs to take in the general election cycle.
But, there was a bitter primary. There's so much tape of these two guys attacking each other. It's really good fodder for the Dems. Also, some are uncomfortable with the fact that he's a Mormon.
Let's go in to Tom Ridge now, another top candidate I believe on the short list. Now, Tom Ridge, former secretary of Homeland Security, former governor of Pennsylvania, he could help win Pennsylvania. As we know, it keeps coming down to three states -- Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. So, Pa. is one of the big ones. He might be able to help. Also, he has the Homeland Security background which can booster John McCain's credentials in that respect.
But he's pro-choice, and John McCain is already having to work to get some of the conservative base to turn out. Tom Ridge would not necessarily help with that.
Finally, one more graphic here. Tim Pawlenty -- interesting guy, he is Obama's age, he's 47. And that could be a big boost. A lot of people talk about McCain's age. In fact, the announcement might come on John McCain's birthday. Also, he might potentially help win Minnesota which keeps going to the Democrats for most of the last elections. But even inside Minnesota, he's a polarizing figure and he barely re-election there. It's not clear he could bring in Minnesota.
Before I toss it back, I want to quickly go back to the screen here and show you all some of the other potential candidates. Let's use this camera. We're going to zoom in, I'll show you some of the people that are being talked up. Some people are saying maybe Mayor Michael Bloomberg as an independent, speaking of which, maybe even Joe Lieberman, who used to a Democrat. If he got this, he would be the first person ever to be on the Dems and the GOP number two, that part of the presidential ticket. Obviously, we don't know if that will happen.
They're not considered the most likely candidates but we'll keep on eye on this a lot from here on now, until that announcement comes. Guys, there you go.
HOLMES: Friday, we'll be here.
NGUYEN: Yes, we won't be waiting that long.
LEVS: We're hoping Friday.
NGUYEN: All right, thank you. LEVS: Thanks.
NGUYEN: You know, national parks, they are in the danger zone. Protected areas threatened by, of all things, pollution.
HOLMES: Yes, the battle to save some beautiful views and treasured wildlife.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, our national treasures at risk. There's a new study that says so. It says our parks are threatened by toxins from cars and coal plant emissions.
NGUYEN: CNN's Kate Bolduan reports from now from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shenandoah is situated in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, is one of America's nearly 400 national parks. They're considered national treasure by many but experts say these protected lands are now at risk.
JULIE THOMAS MCNAMEE, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: And these black stipples are ozone damage. What has happened is, the ozone is like hydrogen peroxide almost and either, (ph) has a burning quality to it.
BOLDUAN: Julie Thomas McNamee with the National Park Service is one of the people in charge with keeping the parks in pristine condition. But she fears they're losing the battle.
MCNAMEE: By the time you see the birds, the bears and deer gone or being affected, the other things have been affected and are gone and we can't get them back.
BOLDUAN: Air pollution, ozone and acid rain are among the threats. McNamee says she can already see red flags here in Shenandoah -- less variety and fish and decreased visibility year round.
(on camera): They say the best part about Shenandoah with the help of binoculars, you could see the Washington monument, about 80 miles away. But they also say that's getting harder and harder to do with the haze and smog setting in.
(voice-over): The National Park Conservation Association authored a recent study highlighting the most threatened national parks from coast to coast. The group says coal-fired power plants are to blame. The NPCA estimates there are dozens of power plants just surrounding Shenandoah, emitting millions of tons of pollutants into the air each year.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The reason we focus on coal-burning power plant is that they're far and way the largest source and produce the pollutants that cause the most damage. BOLDUAN: Power companies acknowledge coal is a large part of the problem, but say they're working to change that.
PAMELA FAGGERT, DOMINION POWER: The answer isn't not to have coal; the answer is to cleanup the emissions from our coal-fired power plants, to activate controls in our existing plants.
BOLDUAN: As the national park system quickly approaches its centennial in 2016, the big question lingers: Will these views still be around for the next 100 years?
Kate Bolduan, CNN, Shenandoah National Park.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Already, Beijing is taking a final Olympic bow.
NGUYEN: You know, it's still so hard to believe it's almost over. But all eyes are now on London for 2012. And the excitement -- well, it's building and we're going to bring it to you live.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: You want to join me here?
NGUYEN: I'm trying to do some work over here.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Yes, this is very important here. I know it's just a basketball game, but it's a big deal for basketball fans in the U.S. We have fallen off a little bit on the world stage.
NGUYEN: What was it - the redeeming team?
HOLMES: The "Redeem Team."
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: And they have found redemption, gold finish for the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team last night.
NGUYEN: Love it.
HOLMES: It was a good game. It was more competitive that -- yes, I was up.
NGUYEN: You stayed up until 2:30 this morning watching it.
HOLMES: I watched. Yes.
NGUYEN: We come in at 4:00, folks, so you got zero sleep. But hey, it was all worth it. Supporting the Dream Team, the Redeem Team, whatever you want to call it, the U.S. now has a total of 36 medals, and that is second place in the medal race. Actually...
HOLMES: In the gold race.
NGUYEN: Yes. I was supposed to say, because overall, we have 110 to China's 100. So, we're overall winning, but when it comes to the golds, we're a little behind. Figure all that out. OK, anyway. Let's get to the point here.
(LAUGHTER)
NGUYEN: Great Britain is the host for 2012 Olympics. And it's in fourth.
But our Jim Boulden, he is in first. He's up on deck right now. In fact, he's in London joining us this morning, because there's an official ceremony that's going to be kicking off today and he is outside. It looks like people already gathered.
Hey there, Jim.
BOULDEN: Hi, yes. Good morning. Well, we're here in front of the Buckingham Palace. The concert has begun. We still have another hour to go until London is officially handed the baton as it were in Beijing. After that happens, this city does become the official host of the Summer Games of 2012.
There will be lots of concerts here. There is 47 large screen TVs around the country to show people the events in Beijing and the concerts here in London.
Well, one of the people who is going to speak is actually Michael Phelps. He's here in London to talk about what he did in Beijing. He hasn't gone back to the U.S. as of yet. So, I asked him, this morning, when is he going to begin to prepare for the games in four years time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL PHELPS, U.S. GOLD MEDALIST: It starts here, today. And I'm here for the visit (ph), the London 2012 party, and to be able to -- to be a part of this and to be, you know, a part of, you know, I think just being here in this atmosphere right now. You know, it's going to give me a start, start to get excited again and, you know, get me ready to get back into training.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOULDEN: Now, you said, of course, the U.S. did very well in gold medals, but the U.K. did as well. They got a lot more gold medals than they thought. So, they're also looking here to see how much better the British team can do in four years time.
HOLMES: Well, we shall see in four years time.
Jim Boulden for us there in London, where they are kicking things off.
In fact, right now, we need to hand it off to Dr. Sanjay Gupta and "HOUSE CALL."
