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CNN Saturday Morning News
Presidential Candidates Busy Campaigning Before Tuesday's Primaries; Roughing it Like a Royal; Getting Too Close to Sharks?; Ricin Mystery Deepens in Las Vegas
Aired March 01, 2008 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It's March 1st. Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, T.J.
HOLMES: Good morning, Betty, how are you doing?
NGUYEN: I'm doing all right. Good morning, everybody. Thanks for joining us. I'm Betty Nguyen.
Well, the countdown to crucial Tuesday is on and we are following the action on the campaign trail and it is hotter than ever. From Texas to Ohio, Rhode Island and to Arizona, CNN's flooded the zone with the best political team in television.
HOLMES: We had Super Tuesday. This one's crucial Tuesday now.
And topic one on the trail: the intensifying ad war between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. She hits hard. He hits right back.
We'll show you what this is all about. Also we have this coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE OBAMA, WIFE OF BARACK OBAMA: They threw in the obvious, ultimate fear bomb that we have been hearing now. They said, his name.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: The politics of calling Barack Obama -- Hussein Obama. But that is his full name and some say, it's no big deal. As you just heard, Michelle Obama disagrees.
So, let's get right to it, shall we? It's the last weekend of campaigning before the critical primaries coming up on Tuesday and Hillary Clinton is in Texas today. She's got rallies scheduled at Fort Worth and Dallas. Texas is the biggest political prize at stake on Tuesday.
HOLMES: And Barack Obama in Texas as well yesterday. Today, he's got stops in Rhode Island as well as Ohio. Well, the two other key pieces to Tuesday's four-state puzzle. Voters in Vermont are also going to the polls.
Meanwhile, on the Republican side, presumptive nominee John McCain is acting like the presumptive nominee. He's taking a break this weekend. He's not campaigning. He has no events scheduled.
NGUYEN: But challenger Mike Huckabee is keeping busy. He is in Texas today, hitting the college towns. He has campaign events scheduled around the University of Texas and Texas A&M.
And of course, the best political team on television is also on the job today, and wherever the candidates go, CNN will be there. We have four correspondents in Texas alone: Suzanne Malveaux, Jessica Yellin, Mary Snow and Ali Velshi. We'll be hearing from them throughout the day. We also have Candy Crowley in Ohio, Bill Schneider in Rhode Island, and Dana Bash who's following John McCain in Arizona.
HOLMES: So, just how important are Tuesday's primaries? Here's a look at what's at stake, with Republicans, 256 delegates are up for grabs, while (ph) enough to clinch the nomination for John McCain. Meanwhile, for the Democrats, 370 delegates up for grabs and the candidates are fighting for every last one of those delegates at this point.
NGUYEN: And here's our delegate estimates for Democrats right now. Barack Obama is out front with a total of 1,369 delegates. That includes his 185 pledged superdelegates. While Hillary Clinton trails by just about 100 delegates, and you can see there, she has 236 superdelegates in her column.
HOLMES: Well, things are extremely tight in those primary states coming up Tuesday. We've got some new numbers we need to show you here now. Look at this. A new poll, a poll of polls, really, in Ohio to show you. Hillary Clinton leads in Ohio with 47 percent of the vote. Barack Obama has 40 percent but there are still 13 percent who are undecided. So, they're not so sure right now and we have seen large numbers of voters deciding in the last few days, right before casting their ballots.
NGUYEN: And here's the even tighter race right now. Texas: Obama leads the poll of polls with 48 percent. Clinton has 44 percent, and again, there are enough undecideds to tip this race either way and that has led both candidates to launch new campaign ads.
Here's a look at Hillary Clinton's ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: It's 3:00 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. But there's a phone in the White House and it's ringing. Something's happening in the world. Your vote will decide who answers that call, whether it's someone who already knows the world's leaders, knows the military, someone tested and ready to lead in a dangerous world.
It's 3:00 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. Who do you want answering the phone?
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (voice-over): I'm Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: OK. That ad is playing on the experience angle, which has been such a huge part of Hillary Clinton's message to voters.
HOLMES: But now, take a look at this ad, this one in response from Barack Obama -- a direct response to that Clinton commercial.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: It's 3:00 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. But there's a phone ringing in the White House. Something's happening in the world. When that call gets answered, shouldn't the president be the one, the only one who had judgment and courage to oppose the Iraq war from the start, who understood the real threat to America was al Qaeda in Afghanistan, not Iraq; who led the effort to secure loose nuclear weapons around the globe?
In a dangerous world, it's judgment that matters.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (voice-over): I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: So, you have them, two battling out, one saying experience, the other one saying judgment.
HOLMES: And these are nothing new, I've seen ads like this in campaigns before. And, also, Barack Obama's reaction, which is he's always been good as a politician here, at reacting and taking people's words and turning them around with. She's saying, who you want to answer the phone? He says, well, it's the matter of the judgment after the person answers the phone. So, the back and forth.
NGUYEN: Going (ph) back to Clinton's record on Iraq and voting to go into that war. So, it is only just heating up. I mean, we have until Tuesday and it's going to be a crucial day to see how all of this plays out, but you know, that's just a look at how those ads are playing. And it's really good that we're getting a chance to see it, because people talk about the ads and how they're flooding the air waves. And a lot of people around the nation don't get to see what other folks who are voting on those primaries are seeing.
HOLMES: Ohio and Texas are seeing those ads.
NGUYEN: Well, we do have a lot more coming up and you can see just how important Tuesday is going to be. Right now, we've got a lot to tell you about dealing with that. CNN's Mary Snow?
HOLMES: Yes, she'll be talking to us here. And take a look at this. This is something you've probably seen, actually a lot of attention being paid to Barack Obama's name. When we're talking about the issues and the back and forth but his name is getting a lot of attention and his wife, actually, Michelle Obama, thinks she knows why it's getting so much attention. And, yes, our Mary Snow is now reporting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): His middle name, Hussein has never been a secret. But twice this week alone, Senator Barack Obama's full name has been used in two attacks drawing scrutiny. Obama's wife, Michelle, says it's a fear tactic she witnessed in past campaigns.
M. OBAMA: They threw in the obvious ultimate, fear bomb that we have been hearing now. They said, his name. They said, look out for his name. When all else fails, be afraid of his name, and what that could stand for, because it's different. And let me play on your fear of difference.
SNOW: Reporters who covered Obama's 2004 Senate race, say, a Web site with about (ph) Obama's name along with a picture of Osama Bin Laden. It eventually disappeared.
In this election, conservative radio talk show host, Bill Cunningham, for one, is emphasizing Obama's middle name, Hussein. It was part of a broader attack on Obama, and Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain publicly apologized for Cunningham's attacks, since they happened at a McCain event. But Cunningham remains defiant.
BILL CUNNINGHAM, CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST: Hussein is a great Muslim name. I meant no offense and none was taken.
SNOW: The Tennessee Republican Party issued a press release captured by some newspapers titled "Anti-Semites for Obama" that included his full name. The Republican National Committee denounced it and it's been retracted.
While McCain has vowed to run a respectful campaign, some observers say, they expect the attacks to continue if Obama becomes the Democratic nominee.
JIM WARREN, MANAGING EDITOR, CHICAGO TRIBUNE: There's a whole world out there, and the Blogosphere, and conservative talk radio, that will not be beholden to what Senator McCain wants to do, and what might be considered a general notions of propriety.
SNOW (on camera): Michelle Obama told a crowd in Ohio on Thursday, that despite political opponents trying to raise fears in 2004, she said, her husband prevailed in what she called the climate of negativity and doubt. And she said, American people can handle the truth.
Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE) NGUYEN: Well, you know, he is so far in front that he is taking the day off. As we mentioned, Republican John McCain is not on the campaign trail today. But his rival, Mike Huckabee, is campaigning in Texas.
Huckabee says, if he can win Tuesday's Texas primary, he can stay in the race as a conservative alternative. But he faces an uphill battle. The GOP poll of polls has McCain leading Huckabee, 53 percent to 25 percent. Still, Huckabee hasn't lost his sense of humor as he tries to get out the vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We do it like we do in Arkansas. Vote early, and vote often. That's what we need you to do.
You think I'm kidding. Folks, where I grew, they used to take the names off cemetery tombstones and then, they go down to the courthouse and vote on absentee. People asked me why I'm a person of faith, and why I believe in the resurrection. Because brother, I saw it happen every election day. These dead people are going to vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: He's just kidding, OK?
Well, of course, the high today in Phoenix is supposed to be around 82 degrees but things are a lot hotter for Senator John McCain right about now. He's feeling the fire over an endorsement by controversial televangelist, John Hagee, the Texas mega-leader preaches anti-Catholic rhetoric and hate speech.
So far, McCain has refused to drop his supporter but he maybe starting to distance himself a bit. McCain's camp has released this statement, saying, that, quote, "In no way did I intend for his endorsement to suggest that I in turn agree with all of the pastor's views, which I obviously do not."
Well, we're not even close to being finished with politics here.
Coming up at the bottom of the hour, we'll go live to Washington to talk with one of our best political insiders about what's really at stake this upcoming Tuesday.
NGUYEN: Well, stay with CNN for the best political coverage on television. A little bit later today, we give you the chance to hear from the candidates beyond the sound bytes. It is unfiltered and in their own words, and it is CNN'S BALLOT BOWL. It's this afternoon at 2:00 Eastern. And then, BALLOT BOWL Primetime, beginning at 8:00, only on CNN.
HOLMES: And on Tuesday night, don't miss CNN's special on the voting in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. Special coverage begins at 7:00 o'clock Eastern time, 4:00 o'clock Pacific. HOLMES: Roughing it like a royal. There were no tea and crumpets on Prince Harry's tour of Afghanistan and barely any showers. We're going to show you the prince at work.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And a heavy snow warning continues for a good part of the northeast. We're going to talk more about that coming up in a few moments, but first, this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can crawl in a stock car and go 180 miles an hour around a speedway. We should be able to go in the water with a high population of sharks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Really? Yes?
NGUYEN: I wouldn't advise it but sure in this (ph).
HOLMES: Well, some people, like our executive producer, do this for fun. How did he pass the test?
NGUYEN: I don't know. You got to talk to him.
HOLMES: Well, is this really safe? We're going to be taking a closer look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: And here we go, with a look now at some other stories making headlines.
NGUYEN: Yes. Las Vegas police are hoping that a critically ill man can tell them why the deadly toxin Ricin was found in his hotel room. The man is unconscious at a hospital.
Police say, firearms and an "anarchist type" textbook were also taken from the room. Officials say, they have all the Ricin involved and there is no terrorist threat.
Of course, we're going to have a live report from Las Vegas in the next hour.
HOLMES: At least 45 people were killed and more than 80 wounded in a suicide bombing in northwest Pakistan. Police say the attack happened during a funeral procession in Pakistan's Swat province. Pakistan's interior minister tells CNN, the attack was probably the work of militants from the country's lawless tribal areas.
NGUYEN: Well, take a look at this. Britain's Prince Harry has been withdrawn from Afghanistan. The second lieutenant arrived in England within the last hour. British Defense officials blame media reports for the prince's sudden withdrawal from combat. They say, an Internet site reported his deployment in Afghanistan. And they fear that media exposure could place the prince and soldiers with him, in greater danger.
HOLMES: Of course, that is a much different picture from his lifestyle, a lot of times covered in the tabloids, a playboy image. He's now returning with a much different image now.
NGUYEN: Then (ph), some are calling him a war hero. He spent 10 weeks battling the Taliban and roughing it with the other soldiers on Afghanistan's front lines.
Here's Nic Robertson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Combat rations fit for a prince but hardly the royal treatment. Warmed up instant meals in a bag, about as good as it got for Prince Harry.
PRINCE HARRY, BLUES AND ROYALS REGIMENT: Ration is miserable. I'm being on rations now for, I can't remember how long.
ROBERTSON: Ten weeks at the front and combat with the Taliban, a prince at war. At his (ph) first base, Commander Mark Milford (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At the moment, we can process enough water to wash and shave every three days. And so, the washing and shaving area is immediately behind me, just over to the side there, you have the shower cubicles (INAUDIBLE).
PRINCE HARRY: I really haven't a shower for four days, I haven't washed my clothes for a week, and everything seems completely normal.
ROBERTSON: Normal for his unit, one of his buddies woke up with a mouse in his mouth. Snakes were a constant danger, too. But it was the rain and freezing nights that seemed to get him down the most.
PRINCE HARRY: British (INAUDIBLE) we were complaining it's too cold and now, people are already complaining it's too hot.
ROBERTSON: In the sun, he played ball to beat boredom. He was just one of the guys talking about war and tactics. Little doubt, he'll soon be briefing a top British general, his father, Prince Charles.
PRINCE HARRY: My father's very keen on me, I'm (ph) reporting back as the mole (ph).
ROBERTSON: Harry's brief (ph) will likely recommend more calls home. Even the prince had to worry about his phone minutes, only 30 a week. A call home this day atomic (ph) for a homesick soldier.
PRINCE HARRY: It's not the case of the longer you go on, the worse it gets. Because the longer you go on, the closer you are to going home and everyone here is looking forward to going home.
ROBERTSON: Nic Robertson, CNN, London. (END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, our Paula Hancocks is on the ground in England as Prince Harry arrives. And coming up in CNN (ph) is the very latest on his tour of duty.
HOLMES: Also coming up, flirting with the sharks, literally. Some people get a kick out of this. After last weekend's deadly attack, should they reconsider the dangers?
NGUYEN: Also, sticker shock in your grocery cart. Food prices, they keep rising. Is there any relief in sight?
HOLMES: Also, how to raise a future millionaire. Hear from a self-made millionaire and father of seven who says, allowance is for losers. You need to hear this stuff. That's coming up in at 10:00 hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: OK. You want to check this out. It's happening right now off parts of Florida's east coast.
HOLMES: Yes, several beaches are closed and you can see why. Swarm of sharks swimming north for their annual migration, blacktips, spinners (ph), reef sharks, hundreds of them, lurking there in the water. And for 25 years, tourists have given divers the chance up close with some of these mysterious and scary creatures at time.
NGUYEN: It sure is frightening. Yes, but for the first time last week, a diver, on just as to tour, was killed in the Bahamas. So, how close is too close? Our Susan Candiotti takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Whose heart wouldn't pound when face with a great white shark chomping on the cage. Orville Price (ph) is the amateur certified diver behind the lens who shot this video, on a tour last year in Mexico.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's exciting. There's enough excitement to give you this adrenalin rush.
CANDIOTTI: But the death of Austrian attorney, Markus Groh last weekend, especially stunned shark enthusiasts. He was on an open water dive in this area in the Bahamas, where pool sharks are common, when he was bitten in the left calf. Far away from help, his tour operator called the U.S. Coast Guard. And Groh was air lifted to a Miami hospital, but he couldn't be saved. And, an autopsy revealed, Groh bled to death.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was devastated.
CANDIOTTI: The president of the Bahamas Diving Association, Neil Watson says, he sent a letter to Jim Abernethy and other tour operators last summer. Abernethy operates the company involved in the death. The letter asked him to stop cage-less dives with more aggressive species, including bull sharks.
Tour operator Abernethy has declined comment about what happened.
Competing tour operator Watson also uses food to attract sharks but claims his non-caged tours focus on less aggressive species. Yet some experts are worry about too many repeat visits to some shark hot spots.
GEORGE BURGESS, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA: The sharks get used to being fed by humans. They lose their natural tendency to be careful around humans, to be a little scared, and obviously, that's not good.
CANDIOTTI: Orville Price (ph) isn't worried. He grabbed the last spot on the same Bahamas tour that took Markus Groh's life last weekend, concerned the Bahamas might change its diving rules. Food or no food, cage or no cage, it's a risk these divers accept.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: And the thing about it, people come out, I mean, in droves, to go and swim with those sharks, you know, some people called them, I was in South Africa back in August, and this is a look at some of the great whites that would just come up to the boats. I mean, they were chumming obviously, trying to attract them and when you get down in that cage, you are just right there with the animals.
Now, the good thing about that is you can always jump out of the cage and jump up and it's not like you're stuck. But, I don't think I could do it, out there swimming with the sharks, with no cage, with no protection.
WOLF: I can't believe you do it with a cage. I mean, look at that guy, that guy wants a Betty snack. Look at that.
NGUYEN: And the thing about these sharks, they're huge. I mean, I don't think the camera does them justice because, it's not even just the length of the sharks, it's the girth of them. I mean, they are gigantic and then, you put those teeth right up next to your face and that cage, and it's frightening.
HOLMES: Even with the cage.
NGUYEN: Oh, yes.
HOLMES: It's scary.
NGUYEN: You put your hand down and might not get it back.
HOLMES: And in your way out, like what happened to the guy, unfortunately you just can't get help them once you're way out there.
WOLF: A terrifying thing.
NGUYEN: Reynolds. HOLMES: Good morning to you, sir.
WOLF: Good morning, guys.
And we got some spooky weather for people in parts of the northeast. We got a snow warning in effect. A heavy snow warning for parts of Massachusetts, even a sliver of New York and, you know, let's just go ahead and I'll show you who it's affecting.
Right now, we're going to start off with what's happening outside of Boston. You see a truck on one side, it's not moving, I can guarantee you, any truck moving on parts of the turnpike are going to have a really, really tough time, slick conditions to say the very least, the snow and the rain and the sleet that continues to come down, at this point.
We do expect it to begin to lessen a little bit in its intensity as we get our way into the mid-afternoon hours. But for the time being, it's going to be all snow business and then, as we make our way farther to the west, we're going to see some of that into parts of the Ohio valley, too.
Let's go right to the weather computer, and see it from high above. Well, how can you miss it? A lot of snow, a little bit of freezing rain and some scattered showers mixed in. But this is the big kicker, through parts of Maine, back the east of Rutland and just near Boston, the turnpike, included even parts of 95 and 495 for that matter.
The snow is going to continue to fall. Some wind, not quite as prevalent, but it's just going to be snow and ice, the overpasses will be especially susceptible to really slick conditions. Now, not much of a problem in terms of snowfall as we make our way into the Great Lakes, but still with that prevailing wind that's coming in from the north and northwest. You can see, it's really picking up a lot of the moisture off of the lakes, Erie, southward to Oil City and even to Pittsburgh, look for those snowflakes to continue.
Out to the west, we're talking about some heavier snowfall when get into the Cascades. And notice, you can see that aerographic lift (ph), just some scattered rainfall on parts of the I-5 corridor. But when it gets to the high elevations, it mixes in with the cold air aloft, boom, that's what gives you the snowfall and back towards Spokane, we're seeing some rain.
When you get to places like, say, Sun Valley, up by the ski resorts, the snow continues to come down, a banner year for them. Certainly, great for the skiers, but tough for everyone else who's going to make their way from point A to point B, in the northeast.
That's a look at your forecast. Let's send it back to you guys, hopefully without the shark cages.
NGUYEN: All right, thank you, Reynolds.
HOLMES: Thanks, Reynolds. Well, the political campaign going commercial. Have you seen the competing attack ads from Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama? We're taking a closer look at this rhetoric.
And it's time for to us say good morning to Mr. Josh Levs. Good morning, sir.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning to you guys. Yes, those are some ads there. Well, the candidates are also going after each other now over Iraq.
But who's got the facts right? The facts, people. And what are they not mentioning? That is coming up right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, good morning and welcome back, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes.
Our top story this morning: politics. The race for the nomination, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both in the campaign trail today, ahead of Tuesday's critical primaries. Obama is in Rhode Island and Ohio today, and Mrs. Clinton is in Texas.
NGUYEN: For the Republicans, Mike Huckabee is also campaigning across Texas today, but John McCain is taking it easy. He is back home in Arizona.
HOLMES: But no matter where those candidates are, they look right over their shoulder, and they're going to see a member of the best political team in television. Consider it, our full court press ahead of the Tuesday primaries action. We flooded zone, today, our reporters are in Ohio, Rhode Island, Arizona, and of course, in Texas.
Our Jessica Yellin has more on the tight race there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Barack Obama is heading to Rhode Island today. It's one of four states that will hold a primary on Tuesday, in the next big showdown in this race. Obama has a special tie to that state, his wife's brother coaches at Brown University basketball team.
Now, this visit comes as Obama and Clinton are engaged in an increasingly intense ad war here in the state of Texas. Senator Clinton put the first ad up on the air waves here, in which she accuses Barack Obama essentially, of not having the adequate experience to be commander-in-chief when the red phone rings in the White House, in the middle of the night.
Obama hit back quickly, with an ad of his own, in which he basically argues that judgment, his judgment, matters more than Senator Clinton's experience. It's a fight over national security, and an attempt to appeal to voters' fears about terrorism.
Now, all this comes in the lead-up to the March 4th primary, must win votes here in the state of Texas and in Ohio, for Senator Clinton. Barack Obama's team trying to raise the stakes, saying Clinton needs to win by 10 points or more to stay in the game. No doubt, Clinton's team doesn't quite see it that way.
Jessica Yellin, CNN, Houston, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, while Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama slug it out, John McCain is preparing for the fall campaign. He's turned his attention to the Democrats' positions on what was the top issue before the economy tanked, and that was the war in Iraq.
CNN's Josh Levs joins with us a reality check. So, going back to the war in Iraq.
LEVS: Yes, remember that issue?
NGUYEN: I haven't thought about that much. Lately, it's been all of the economy and health care and all these other issues.
LEVS: And the domestic issues have been so important to Democrats. But now that you're starting to see more glimpses, a look of what the general election could be, there it is. So, this week, John McCain, as you're saying, went after Barack Obama, challenging his knowledge of what's going on in Iraq, then, Obama struck back, well, who's got the facts right?
Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS (voice-over): Now these two are going after each other over Iraq. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, promise to pull U.S. troops out. At the latest debate, NBC's Tim Russert asked if al Qaeda resurges in the country -
TIM RUSSERT, NBC NEWS: And Iraq goes to hell, do you hold the right, in your mind as American president, to re-invade, go back into Iraq to stabilize it?
CLINTON: You know, Tim, you ask a lot of hypotheticals and I believe that ...
RUSSERT: This is reality.
CLINTON: Well, it isn't reality. You're making lots of different hypothetical assessments.
LEVS: Obama has also called to question a big hypothetical.
OBAMA: If al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq, then, we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad.
LEVS: McCain pounced.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have news for Obama. Al Qaeda is in Iraq. And that's why we're fighting in Iraq.
LEVS: The group, al Qaeda in Iraq has been blamed for some of the most violent attacks. Clinton and Obama say they want Iraqi leaders to take over security, including fighting al Qaeda in Iraq.
OBAMA: There was no such thing as al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq.
LEVS: The group did come about after the U.S. invasion, though McCain has been a critic of the U.S. failure to secure the country quickly, and prevent insurgent groups from gaining a stronghold, and McCain says -
MCCAIN: That's history, that's the past.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: Well, now, McCain has criticized Clinton's Iraq policy as well. But he's really been focusing a lot more lately on Barack Obama, obviously, Betty, since Obama became the front-runner.
NGUYEN: Well, but, you know, Obama used this argument to really bring out his position on Pakistan. So, how does that play into it?
LEVS: You know what? It does play in and it gets at, one of the big questions we got. Last week we invited questions from viewers. A lot of people asked us about Pakistan.
Here's why it's significant, why he points to it now. Obama has said that if there were actionable intelligence, he would be willing to strike a target in Pakistan, if the Pakistani government was not doing it. Clinton's position is that it's not the kind of thing you announce to the world because it could further destabilize Pakistan. And this gets at a really interesting moment in the debate the other night. Let's take a quick look at what happened next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: I just have to -- wait a minute.
BRIAN WILLIAMS, NBC NEWS: I've got to get us to a break. The television doesn't stop.
CLINTON: The question was about invading Iraq.
WILLIAMS: Can you hold that thought until we come back from a break?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: I'll tell you, it's a lot more interesting if you can hear what happened. How would if I'll just tell you what happened. Hillary Clinton tried to get in an important point and then they cut off and went to break, and said she'd bring it up after the break, they never did.
What she was saying was that the questions that they were asked, were being asked, were being presented is: Would you be willing to re- invade Iraq through ground troops, and that that is , but no one's answered, not about Pakistan or Iraq, would you be ready to re-invade. So, if al Qaeda, if it goes to hell, as Tim Russert says, would you be willing to re-invade?
That's why John McCain is saying, we're going to stay there now and fight them. But the Democrats are saying that's not a hypothetical that you jumped in (ph).
NGUYEN: So, if you pull out and things, like you say, go all to hell, would you go back in?
LEVS: Right. Would you be willing to re-invade with ground troops? It's the huge question the Democrats do not feel they want to answer that right now. They say it's a hypothetical that Iraq threat attacks (ph) are the problems.
NGUYEN: OK. Josh Levs, thank you to with that reality check -- T.J.?
HOLMES: All right. Thanks, Betty.
So, what exactly is at stake on Tuesday? Lots. Texas is the biggest prize and the closest race right now that has led to a bit of an ad battle there.
And CNN deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser not on the road today, he's actually in Washington, and he has salvaged his marriage by staying home for one night. So, glad that all worked out, Paul, good to see you, as always.
About these ads, tell us here, these aren't ads, these attack ads that we're seeing here now. The pretty much the premise, phone ringing, Hillary Clinton's ad saying, who do you want answering the phone, that red phone in the middle of the night when your children are sleeping. All right. Obama responds, calling it fear mongering.
Are these ads, at least the one from Hillary Clinton, we've seen these before in previous campaigns over the years. Do they work?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, they can work. You know, especially, if they've got a lot of air time and Hillary Clinton went up with this ad just yesterday. It's a little late in the process to do it but I think you're going to see it playing a lot in Texas and Ohio over the next couple of days until Tuesday.
The message here is consistent with what she's been saying all along about Barack Obama. He's not experienced enough to step into the White House. And this ad is a little sharp with that message, but it is the same message.
Barack Obama came out yesterday and said you know what? You're trying to scare voters here by doing this, and then, as you mentioned, he came up with another ad almost immediately, and it's his main message, and that is that Hillary Clinton had bad judgment on Iraq. That she voted for the war in Iraq before he was in the Senate but he said that he was consistently against it.
So, you know, brand new ads from both of the candidates, but it's the same message we've been hearing for quite some time.
HOLMES: And, Paul you say it's the same message. I guess, a new way to deliver that message, and you just mentioned that, you know, it's kind of late in the game. Are there some out there on her side and other political analysts out there and observers who think, maybe this is the way she should have been going at it all long, being a little sharper in her attacks and bringing out those points about his inexperience?
STEINHAUSER: Exactly. As you've just said, it's been her message for a long time but this is a very sharp way of doing it. And I think some in her campaign would have wished, maybe she started this earlier. There, from what we've heard, there have been kind of two schools in the Clinton campaign, one that wants there to be a little more aggressive and on the attack, and another that wants her to be a little less aggressive, but, right now, you got three days left. You got to do whatever you can.
HOLMES: All right. Paul, help us on this issue that's come up. What's in a name? The man's name is Barack Hussein Obama. It came up because a contributor or supporter of John McCain used his middle name over and over and over, and criticizing Barack Obama.
But the Obama campaign says, they're trying to play on people's fears. So, two different sides of this, one, sure, why in the world, nobody goes around calling people by their middle name but in fact it is his name. So, on one hand, why use it? And on the other hand, why criticize somebody if it's your name? Why not use it? What's the big deal?
STEINHAUSER: Exactly. It is his name. He's never hidden that. The fact that this is his name, he's never shied away from that. Though as you mentioned, earlier this week on the Republican side, a supporter of John McCain who is warming up the crowd at a John McCain event, prominently used the name, and yes, why did he do it? He says he didn't do it maliciously at all, but maybe, he was trying to scare some voters into thinking that Barack Obama was a Muslim, and we know he is not a Muslim.
We've been through this stuff over a year ago when the whole madrasa incident came up about where Obama went to school when he was growing up in Indonesia. So, it seems to me that some may be using this to try to elicit a little fear in voters' minds, that maybe Barack Obama is a Muslim. We know he isn't but it does keep coming up.
HOLMES: All right. Last thing, and real quick, if they split Ohio and Texas, this thing goes on for awhile, is that right?
STEINHAUSER: You know, Bill Clinton said two weeks ago that she needs to win Ohio and Texas to keep going, but now, the campaign is changing some of their expectations, and now, some are saying that if Obama doesn't sweep all four states on Tuesday, then the race should go on. So, things are changing.
HOLMES: All right. Things are changing. And good to see you in Washington, glad you got to stay there and keep things OK at home, but I know you're heading right back on the road. So, we'll see you soon from the campaign trail. Paul, good to see you.
STEINHAUSER: Take care, T.J.
HOLMES: Of course, folks, stay with CNN for the best political coverage on TV which includes, our very own Paul Steinhauser. Later today, you'll hear from the candidates beyond the sound bytes, unfiltered in their own words. CNN's "BALLOT BOWL" this afternoon, 2:00 o'clock Eastern and then, "BALLOT BOWL" primetime beginning at 8:00 only right here on CNN.
NGUYEN: And on Tuesday night, don't miss CNN's special on the voting in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont. Our coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.
Welcome home, Harry. Yes, the prince is back from his deployment to Afghanistan. We have a live report from London. That is straight ahead.
And out of the frying pan and into the fire. If Roger Clemens thought he had troubles when it was Congress that was questioning him, imagine what he is thinking now that the FBI is interested in what he has to say.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: A royal mission: Prince Harry is back on the ground in England after weeks of fighting the Taliban. Our Paula Hancocks is live at the Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton, and that's near Oxford, England and she joins us. There was a lot of eyes on where you are standing today, Paula, as the prince was coming home.
PAULA HANCOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Betty, yes. And the prince has now left the airbase. He left with his father, Prince Charles, and also his brother, Prince William, who came to have a family reunion here in Southern England, this area of base (ph).
Now, just about an hour ago, he touched down on this tarmac. He was alongside 170 other servicemen and servicewomen who, up until the last moment, feeling like one of the lads, feeling like just another soldier. And as he walked down the steps of the plane, he was chatting to one of his fellow soldiers. He looked fairly relaxed but he didn't glance at all to the world's media, which was waiting to capture that moment on camera.
Now, certainly that must have been a moment when he realized that days of him being just another one of the lads are over. He's now going back to his other job which is being a prince. Now, we understand he was disappointed that he had to leave before he wanted to. He didn't get to finish his tour of duty because the news leaked out that he was in Afghanistan and he was just untenable, it was too dangerous to keep him there, not only for Prince Harry himself but also, to many troops of those that he was fighting alongside.
He's joked at the past being a bullet magnet and he said that he never wanted to put those fighting alongside him in any more danger than they already were. But he also said that he felt very normal whilst he was in Afghanistan, and unusual that you'd have to go to a war zone in order to feel normal, but I guess, that gives us a little insight into how it must be to be a prince -- Betty?
NGUYEN: Well, Paula, let me ask you this. I know the prince is upset that he had to pull out early from his duty there in Afghanistan. But at the same time, it's quite a feat that he was able to stay there as long as he did, considering the media agreed to a blackout in coverage and CNN was involved in that, it's pretty astounding, wouldn't you say?
HANCOCKS: That's right, yes, we really haven't heard of anything of this scale before and it was inevitable that it had to be secret. There was no way really that anyone could understand how Harry could go to one of these conflict zones, one of these war zones with the insurgency knowing, in Iraq he wasn't able to go because it became public, and they're worried, he'd become too much of a target and a trophy target.
I mean, imagine if one of them had kidnapped Prince Harry. And this is exactly what was being settled in some of these fundamental Web sites. They wanted to tell the Taliban, they wanted to tell (INAUDIBLE) that their brothers try and get hold of this particular trophy.
NGUYEN: Well, he is back home and safe. And Paula Hancocks, joining us live today, thank you, Paula.
HOLMES: A look now at some stories making headlines elsewhere.
A passenger bus plunges off of a major highway in Guatemala, killing at least 57 people, another 40 were injured. A reporter at the scene says, the bus was traveling down a hill when it crossed into oncoming traffic, then plunged into a ditch.
HOLMES: We've also learned that the young daughter of a rap star was one of the victims in a fatal family shooting in suburban Atlanta. The 17-year-old or a 17-year-old is accused of killing his mother and his two sisters, (AUDIO BREAK). That 4-year-old was the daughter of rapper Juvenile.
HOLMES: Road rage outrage in Minnesota: a woman pulled from her vehicle and thrown into oncoming traffic. The woman says, she accidentally cut off a driver after she missed her exit and she made a u-turn. She says she was attacked after she actually pulled over to apologize to that other driver. NGUYEN: That is frightening, because you wonder, I mean, sometimes, I've cut people off and I'd just kind of wave. I don't know if I would actually pull over to say I'm sorry, because, you never know how upset they could be.
HOLMES: She was trying to take the extra step, go out of her way.
NGUYEN: I commend her for it but my goodness, I guess no good deed goes, you know.
HOLMES: Unpunished (INAUDIBLE).
NGUYEN: Wow. OK.
Slap shots for a big jackpot: one lucky and talented hockey fan cashes in big time.
HOLMES: Also: Roger Clemens, his comments on Capitol Hill last month have put him on the FBI's radar. We're going to talk about this with our buddy, our friend, pretty Ricky. He's got a lot to say about that.
RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: A lot to say.
HOLMES: I wonder what he's got in the cup.
HORROW: I have a lot to say about everything.
HOLMES: All right, we're only going to hit a few things though, Rick. We'll see you in a second.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, 15 goals, 24 seconds, he shoots, he scores. That is Darwin Head, a saw mill worker, knocking those pucks in the goal. His hot stick nets him a cool $1 million.
HOLMES: And how he actually put 15 of the 20 in the goal to win or he did put 15 of the 20 in there to win the oversized check at a Vancouver Canuck's game, the sawmill worker also left the ice with a new car. So, a good game.
NGUYEN: That's not bad. Yes, you win a car, $1 million, I wonder what the first thing he'll do with that?
HOLMES: Probably go buy another car, who knows, pay some bills, I'm sure. Well, congratulations to him.
Well, the other shoe fell finally. Roger Clemens has taken a beating in the court of public opinion and now, a trip to an actual courtroom may be coming. The FBI has launched an investigation into Clemens' comments last month on Capitol Hill.
Joining us now from West Palm Beach, Florida, is sports business analyst, Rick Horrow, pretty Ricky. Rick, always good to see you. Clemens ...
HORROW: Always good to see you, kind of.
HOLMES: Oh, my goodness, we're going to start like that again.
Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, those are the two stories, two big stories a lot of people are talking about even though spring training just started, but those are the two big stories. Is that going to hurt baseball?
HORROW: Martha Stewart, how about the conversation what it means to tell something to a court of law or a justice system that may be proven false otherwise? That's the act we're talking about. It would be wonderful if we were talking about pine tar and Brushback balls (ph) and right and corked bats (ph). We're not doing that anymore.
We think we can separate what happens on the field from the courtroom. But as long as the Justice Department continues with this, and get this, there have been two sets of hearings with representatives that number over 60 during an election year, representing nearly 75 pro-sports franchises. You put that combination together and this ain't over.
HOLMES: You know, but this stuff, again, even our baseball fans becoming immune to it and used to it. That this is just a part of baseball and the stories and the steroids, been out there for so long, these big stories that, you know, going into the baseball season, though, it's MLB, are they going to be hurt or is it going to hurt the upcoming season, ticket sales, merchandise, anything like that or will they be on as strong as of (ph)?
HORROW: I keep saying no, no, no, no, no record attendance, OK, corporations not dropping any commitments, not one fan has reduced his ticket number, we think, and so, we're getting ready for the season.
But yet, every week we come back with these headlines. You got to, because it's news, and maybe, we come to a point where people separate the on the field stuff from the in-court stuff. We'll see that shortly.
HOLMES: And why should people take away from this, that the legislators, Congress had a chance now to recommend an investigation of both Clemens and his former trainer, McNamee but, it's telling that they only recommended that they investigate, that the FBI and the Justice Department investigate Clemens for his statements and if there was any contradiction. That makes it pretty clear who they think was lying, doesn't it?
HORROW: Well, it makes it clear who they think is lying but they're not a jury in our system. Some would say luckily, and frankly, it is up to the Justice Department now to evaluate even more. We have built-in protections on both sides as we move forward. The bottom line is: this is not over.
HOLMES: All right. Barry Bonds, that issue, the transcripts are going to be released, I believe, they are being released actually of his grand jury testimony from '03. Apparently, we're going to learn more about another positive drug test, steroid test that in addition to the one we already knew about. Are we really going to get that much new, that's going to make that much of a difference as far as public opinion goes with Barry Bonds here?
HORROW: I think the public opinion is pretty much set. But, I do think we get incrementally new news every time one of these things happens, and in the last time we checked, Barry Bonds still hasn't signed with anybody. We talked about that last week. And the bottom line is: we have the best and most prolific performers of the game under the gun for statements they've made, that may or may not have anything to do with the game itself.
HOLMES: All right, well we'll bring you back next week to talk about positive sporting news if we can find some, there's plenty out there. Rick Horrow, pretty Ricky, always a pleasure.
HORROW: We're going to find some good news and we're going to talk about it next week.
HOLMES: All right. We will. Thanks so much.
HORROW: All right.
NGUYEN: Well, this isn't good news. Sticker shock in your shopping cart: Food prices, they are rising. So, what is behind these rising costs and is there any relief in sight?
HOLMES: Also next hour, forget soccer moms. The voting bloc, both parties are eyeing this time around, white guys, yes. We'll tell you what's going on there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All smiles there. But when you look at the numbers, it was a grim day on Wall Street, as the Dow dropped 315 points. Looks like worries about high oil prices, the sluggish economy and depressing corporate reports took their toll. The Dow lost more than 2.5 percent yesterday and finished the week down almost 1 percent.
NGUYEN: And some Boeing employees feeling shock this morning after the company lost a $35 billion contract to start replacing the Air Force aging fleet of airborne refueling tankers. The Air Force has picked Northrop Grumman and its European partner for the job, saying, it offered up a bigger aircraft. Boeing has been supplying the planes for the past 50 years.
NGUYEN: How would you like to be the guy who lost that deal?
HOLMES: You lost 35 billion.
NGUYEN: There goes the bonus.
HOLMES: Well, be prepared, folks, for these latest economic shockwaves to hit you where it hurts. Now, oil hitting new highs, the dollar continuing to fall in value, and food prices are now on the rise and many shoppers are still, you know, seeing a little sticker shock at the grocery store. It's the last place people want to see it (ph).
NGUYEN: That's true. Greg Hunter reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) they're on sale, use coupons.
GREG HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Consumers trying to save money with food prices skyrocketing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I used to spend about $100, it's now going up $120, $130.
HUNTER: In just over a year, milk prices have gone up more than 17 percent, eggs nearly 35 percent. Bread almost 6 percent and with wheat spiking over $12 a bushels.
Garden of Eden Supermarket manager, Juan Larios says, bread prices continue to rise, just whole (ph) loaf cost $4 last year.
(on camera): And what do you it's going?
JUAN LARIOS, MANAGER, GARDEN OF EDEN: It's going to go to 5.49 starting up next week.
HUNTER: Why? With the dollar near historical lows, it costs more to import the fruit and vegetables people like to eat year round. Higher fuel prices mean, farming and shipping costs more. And with more corn being to produce ethanol, cattle costs more to feed, which means, the price of milk is up too.
LARIOS: This costs 349, about a year is down to 299, 279.
HUNTER: Food price inflation suggests more problems to an already slowing economy.
JOHN WILLIAMS, SHADOWSTATS.COM: People have to eat. They have to drive to work. They have to heat their homes. So they're not going to be cutting back on food and energy. If those food and energy costs go up, the amount of money they have to spend on more optional items declines.
HUNTER: Greg Hunter, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well hello everybody from the CNN Center here in Atlanta. It is Saturday, March 1st.
HOLMES: Already March.
NGUYEN: (INAUDIBLE)
HOLMES: That's why I was confused. NGUYEN: I know my calendar was all messed up. Good morning, I'm Betty Nguyen.
HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes. Folks, thank you so much for being here with us.
NGUYEN: We do want to start this morning with the pressure of the political race. We have another big Tuesday coming up with four states on the agenda.
HOLMES: And this is the last weekend for candidates to reach voters before they go to the polls. So where are those candidates today? Hillary Clinton in Texas. Texas has the most delegates at stake in Tuesday's primaries. Barack Obama is in two of the other primary states. He's in Rhode Island as well as Ohio. Nobody getting to Vermont today.
NGUYEN: Well for the Republicans, Mike Huckabee is also in Texas, while front-runner John McCain is taking a break from the campaign trail. He's actually at home in Arizona. And the race is heating up on that campaign trail. We're there to bring it all to you. We have got our reporters all lined up.
HOLMES: They are all over the place. The best political team on television, Texas, got a lot of us there, four stars there, Suzanne Malveaux, Jessica Yellin, Ali Velshi, as well as Mary Snow, our Candy Crowley in Ohio, Bill Schneider in Rhode Island and Dana Bash in Arizona where John McCain is. We'll hear from all of them throughout the day.
NGUYEN: Just how close is the race? Here's our delegate estimates for Democrats right now. Barack Obama is out front with a total of 1369 delegates and that includes his 185 pledged super delegates. Let's take it to Hillary Clinton's camp now. She trails by just about 100 delegates and you can see there, she has 236 super delegates in her column.
HOLMES: Well, close just barely beginning to tell the story. In Texas here are some of those new numbers, Barack Obama leading the race with about 48 percent. Hillary Clinton has 44 percent in our poll of polls. But here's the bigger number, 8 percent are unsure who they're going to vote for. They could swing things one way or another and that fact has both candidates pulling out all the stops. CNN's Jessica Yellin takes a look here.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
YELLIN: Barack Obama is heading to Rhode Island today. It's one of four states that will hold a primary on Tuesday in the next big showdown in this race. Obama has a special tie to that state, his wife's brother coaches the Brown University basketball team.
Now this visit comes as Obama and Clinton are engaged in an increasingly intense ad war here in the state of Texas. Senator Clinton put the first ad up on the airwaves here in which she accuses Barack Obama essentially of not having the adequate experience to be commander-in-chief when the red phone rings in the White House in the middle of the night.
Obama hit back quickly with an ad of his own in which he basically argues that judgment, his judgment matters more than Senator Clinton's experience. It's a fight over national security and an attempt to appeal to voters' fears about terrorism.
Now all this comes in the lead up to the March 4th primary, must- win votes here in the state of Texas and in Ohio for Senator Clinton. Barack Obama's team trying to raise the stakes saying Clinton needs to win by 10 points or more to stay in the game. No doubt Clinton's team doesn't quite see it that way.
Jessica Yellin, CNN, Houston, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And you can stand by for more on those ads coming up in about 20 minutes. You can see both of them in their entirety, plus we'll talk about the focus of those ads, experience and judgments. Behind in the delegate count, trailing in the polls, but still in the race.
NGUYEN: Republican Mike Huckabee says if he can beat John McCain in Tuesday's Texas primary, he can stay in the race as a conservative alternative. McCain is already setting his sites on the Democrats. But Huckabee says don't count him out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HUCKABEE: Let me give you a little Huckamath here today, OK. If nobody gets 1191 pledged, confirmed delegates, then that means this goes to the convention. And if it goes to the convention, then I believe the most conservative candidate left on his feet will be the nominee and by the way, you would be looking at him right now.
MCCAIN: I believe that my, as I have said, my knowledge, my experience, my background provides me with the judgment to be commander in chief and I will run on those qualifications and my ability and I'll let the American people compare that. I respect Senator Clinton; I respect Senator Obama; I just think I am the more qualified candidate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: John McCain not dealing with the Huckamath. He is just moving on with this and as we mentioned, McCain is taking a break today while Huckabee campaigns in Texas.
All right, one party guys, now swingers, white men could be the deciders in the Democratic race.
Here's CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She carries women and Latinos. He's got African-American squarely behind him, so who do observers now point to as a crucial swing vote among the Democrats to determine whether we get the first American female or black presidential nominee?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The major group that's left over out of all of that is white men.
TODD: Since John Edwards left the Democratic race, polls show white male voters are the largest block to swing evenly between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, with Obama showing momentum now since he easily won over white men in Virginia and Wisconsin. Analysts say neither Clinton nor Obama may be able to capture Texas or Ohio without them. Another reason it's critical for Democratic candidates to win support from white men now.
DAVID PAUL KUHN, AUTHOR, "THE NEGLECTED VOTER": In the general election they're the most critical swing bloc because they make up the largest share of independents.
TODD: Analysts are split as to whether Democrats have made a real effort to capture the white guy vote in recent elections. Some believe the Democrats have written them off because the ranks of white male voters have been shrinking, while the numbers of women, blacks and Latinos have gone up and the Democrats feel those groups are more their core voters.
But David Paul Kuhn, the author of the book "The Neglected Voter," says even the white men have voted more Republican in recent presidential elections, the Democrats shouldn't assume the GOP's cornered that market.
KUHN: They have opportunities here whether it's how unpopular the current president is, whether it's still the unpopularity of the war in Iraq. These men care very much about the war in Iraq. They care extremely about change.
TODD: Another factor that may signal that white men may not be pegged to one party, analysts say in the 2006 midterm elections, Democratic candidates made big gains among white men and it allowed them to capture the House and Senate.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Stay with CNN for the best political coverage on television. Later today we give you the chance to hear from the candidates beyond the sound bites unfiltered and in their own words. CNN's "BALLOT BOWL" coming your day today at 2:00 Eastern. And on Tuesday, CNN's special coverage of the voting in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont begins at 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.
NGUYEN: The mystery deepens in Las Vegas. Police are still trying to piece together how a rare fatal poison ended up in a motel room. During the course of that investigation though, there have been new discoveries and unanswered questions have popped up all over the place.
Let's take you live now to CNN's Kara Finnstrom in Vegas and it seems like Kara, there are more questions every day.
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really does, Betty, some new information that came to us overnight. We have now learned that in that hotel room in the hotel just behind me where that Ricin was found, police also found guns and anarchist literature, literature that actually specifically contained references to Ricin.
We have also learned that days before this Ricin was handed over to police by a man who claims to be a relative of the person now sick in the hospital, police themselves searched this hotel room. They actually became suspicious that Ricin might be there and ran tests. Those tests came up negative.
Here's how all of that played out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. JOSEPH LOMBARDO, LAS VEGAS POLICE: The management of the extended stay responded to the room in question to do an eviction. Upon entering the room, they discovered some firearms within the room. Metro police was called to the room. They did a search of the room to recover the firearms and subsequently they found an anarchist type textbook and it was tabbed to the subject of Ricin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FINNSTROM: My question to authorities last night was how police could have missed this or whether it was even possible it could have been planted after that search took place. They say they just don't know. This all remains under investigation.
Another development last night, police say they also searched a hotel room at the Excaliber hotel where the man who turned over this Ricin to police had stayed on Wednesday night. They say this was just a precaution and that they tested it for Ricin. It turned up nothing.
With all of these new developments, the question was asked, does this mean that possibly there could be any link to terrorism here? Police still saying they don't believe there is. They say having guns, having anarchist literature doesn't necessarily make you a terrorist. But they also stress, Betty, that this is still very much under investigation.
NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Kara Finnstrom joining us live. Thank you Kara.
HOLMES: A royal tour of duty in Afghanistan cut short.
NGUYEN: The secret is out and Prince Harry has arrived home.
HOLMES: First, let's head over to CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He has a look at what's coming up on "HOUSE CALL." DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Thanks guys. We all get headaches every once in a while, but could your gender and your age affect their frequency? We'll explain.
And the embarrassing moment that gave one woman the motivation to take control of their mind and her body. Plus from wait times to calling with test results, tips to improve your doctor-patient relationship.
These stories and the medical headlines coming up on "HOUSE CALL" at 8:30.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Some other stories here making news this hour, Michigan police say a 16-year-old girl was killed in this fire. And the police say the teenager was actually chained to her bed by her dad and stepmom. The parents told police their daughter had mental problems that forced them to restrain her at night.
NGUYEN: There is new information about one of the victims of a fatal family shooting in suburban Atlanta. A 17-year-old is accused of killing his mother and his two sisters ages 11 and four. And we have learned that the four-year-old was the daughter of a rap star. An attorney says the little girl's father was the rapper Juvenile.
HOLMES: And new this morning, Britain's Prince Harry home from war. He arrived at an air force base in Oxford just a few days ago. Prince Harry's tour of duty in Afghanistan was actually cut short after a Web site leaked the news of his deployment. He was there for 10 weeks.
NGUYEN: Your nanny, your housekeeper.
HOLMES: They are domestic workers who some say are easily taken advantage of by their employers. So, Maryland lawmakers are working on a new bill they say will protect them.
Our Kate Bolduan has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They manage the house and care for the kids. It's the work of household employees nationwide and the life of Martha Alvarado.
MARTHA ALVARADO, DOMESTIC EMPLOYEE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): This family treats me well, if you ask me if I'm happy with them, my answer to you is yes. I'm grateful to them.
BOLDUAN: This wasn't always so. She says her previous employers paid only a fraction of what they agreed to and never lived up to what they promised.
ALVARADO: I got scared and was worried the family would send me back to my country. I didn't know anyone. I was scared all the time. BOLDUAN: Stories like Martha's are the reason some Maryland lawmakers are trying to take an unprecedented step into the home.
GEORGE LEVENTHAL, MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL: When an employer hires a domestic employee who works 20 hours or more in the home, we're talking about nannies and housekeepers, baby sitters, in-home attendants for the elderly, that there must be a contract.
BOLDUAN: If passed this domestic worker's bill would require a written contract between household employees and employers in Montgomery County, Maryland.
MARC ELRICH, MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL, MARYLAND: It kind of provides an outline for negotiation. At the end of the day, what you agreed to in the contract becomes the basis for your work conditions.
BOLDUAN: Martha supports that. In fact, she and local immigrant advocacy group, Casa de Maryland, pushed for the legislation.
ALVARADO: This is a dignified job just like any other and a person has to respect that.
BOLDUAN: However some question the bill's effectiveness because of its complaint-based enforcement and though it's Democratic sponsors say immigration status has no relevance to the contract, some opposed to illegal immigration point to unintended and they say welcome consequences.
MARK KRIKORIAN, CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES: A large portion of them are going to be illegal immigrants so anything that makes it more expensive or more regulated to employ low skilled immigrant labor is going to make it less appealing to hire those people.
BOLDUAN: If the bill is passed, lawmakers say employers found not complying with the rule face a $1,000 fine per each violation, but first, the bill needs to pass through committee and the full council.
Kate Bolduan, CNN, Bethesda, Maryland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Trying to make an emotional connection.
NGUYEN: And some tough new political ads hit home. We're going to show you who's claiming what in the latest commercials.
HOLMES: And it's time for a reality check with Mr. Reality himself, Josh Levs and we're talking politics all morning.
LEVS: Yeah, all morning. We're answering questions that were sent in by viewers. And coming up, Clinton's 35-year claim. Is it fair for her to say that that she has that much relevant experience? We'll have the answers coming up right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: Oh, the pressure is certainly building ahead of Tuesday's four big primaries and that has led to a battle over political ads.
NGUYEN: Clinton versus Obama on television in Texas. Here's a look at Hillary Clinton's ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: It's 3:00 a.m. and your children are safe asleep. But there's a phone in the White House and it's ringing. Something's happening in the world. Your vote will decide who answers that call. Whether it's someone who already knows the world's leaders, knows the military, someone tested and ready to lead in a dangerous world. It's 3:00 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. Who do you want answering the phone?
CLINTON: I'm Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: That ad plays on the experience angle which has been a big part of Hillary Clinton's message to voters.
HOLMES: But now take look at Barack Obama's ad. It is in direct response to that Clinton commercial.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: It's 3:00 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. But there's a phone ringing in the White House. Something's happening in the world. When that call gets answered, shouldn't the president be the one, the only one who had judgment and courage to oppose the Iraq war from the start, the one who stood the real threat to America was al Qaeda in Afghanistan, not Iraq, who led the effort to secure loose nuclear weapons around the globe. In a dangerous world, it's judgment that matters.
OBAMA: I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: OK, so there you have both of those ads. Well, Senator Clinton frequently sites her 35 years of experience saying gives her an advantage over Obama. But is that a legitimate claim?
HOLMES: Our Josh Levs, always keeps us up on reality. So is it legit?
LEVS: You guys remember last week we invited people to send in questions because it's one of the biggest one. I was piecing through them. We got so many asking about this, that 35-year claim. A lot of people including voters in Texas and Ohio who are asking about this.
So let's start here, Politifact, which is a non-partisan site did an analysis said they said quote, I'll read this to you, we find Clinton's resume and accomplishments generally support her claims of 35 years of political experience. Now here's how they do the math. They include her legal work, her time as first lady of Arkansas, first lady of the U.S. and now a two-term U.S. senator.
Now here's what they say for Obama. They say when you combine his time as a community organizer, doing legal work in the state senate and also U.S. Senate, you get about 18 years. So they're saying in that sense she has about twice as much experience in terms of years. She's also 14 years older.
Now some people are also asking us about legislation. Obama is credited with sponsoring hundreds of bills on the state level dealing with all sorts of issues like poverty and health care. In the U.S. Senate, they both point to all sorts of different things. All we can do here is highlight a couple examples of what they point to often. Clinton points to her bills on unemployment assistance and benefits for families of officers who were killed on 9/11.
Obama points to his work on ethics legislation and a Web site that allows people to see where Federal money is. But this is important, sponsoring and passing bills is just a small fraction of what senators actually do. So when they're summarizing them, here's what Politifact says, though advocacy groups generally gave Obama positive marks, his absence from heated political battles makes it difficult to assess his effectiveness as a legislator.
And for Clinton they say she say, quote, effectively used her senatorial power to influence a handful of issues and to focus on local politics. That (INAUDIBLE) Politifacts is probably the most in depth thing I've seen that looks at their careers in the Senate in that sense. But I definitely encourage all of you to take a look at that. And also the candidate's Web sites guys where they list how a lot of legislation that they're proud of, that they think establishes a real achievement on their part.
HOLMES: Back to that original question, 35 years, is that legitimate?
LEVS: Short version, they're saying yeah, short version they're saying if you want to think of it as 35 years in that sense, it is all relevant experience, she has the right to claim that. That's their position.
NGUYEN: All right Josh, thank you.
HOLMES: And you can of course stay with CNN for the best political team on television. Later today, folks, you can hear from the candidates beyond those sound bites unfiltered in their own words. CNN's "BALLOT BOWL" coming your way today at 2:00 Eastern.
NGUYEN: And on Tuesday, CNN's special coverage of the voting in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont begins at 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.
HOLMES: How to keep your 9 to 5 during though economic times. We certainly are seeing some right now. NGUYEN: Here's one answer, don't give your kids an allowance.
HOLMES: What?
NGUYEN: Some say allowance is for losers. It's a lot of tough talk and it's coming from one author. You will meet him this morning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, our Mr. Reynolds hanging out in the weather center. Good morning to you again sir. We are talking snow. Somebody's getting a lot of it.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Good news for us, OK.
WOLF: Yes, lucky this time.
NGUYEN: Yes.
HOLMES: Yes, well, I sat down with Gerri Willis, CNN's personal finance editor over some breakfast. We talked about how to keep your jobs safe in tough economic times. She had some great tips you really need to hear. That's coming up at the top of the hour.
NGUYEN: But first, "HOUSE CALL" with CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta starts right now.
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