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CNN Saturday Morning News

Presidential Race Intensifies; Armstrong Stays Mum on Scandal; Shooting Spree Outside Detroit; Eighty Syrians Found in Mass Grave; Documents Show Libya Security Fears; Palestinian Activists Thwarted at Gaza; Armstrong Could Face Lawsuits; Clashing Over Pennsylvania Voter ID Law; Nevada Man Unemployed and Uncommitted; Disney Introduces First Latina Princess; Billboards Target Voter Fraud

Aired October 20, 2012 - 11:00   ET

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

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is Saturday, October 20th. Good morning, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye.

It could not be more neck and neck in the states that count. The latest polls on who's leading in the race for the White House.

For the first time since he left Livestrong, Lance Armstrong speaks up hoping his downfall over doping charges doesn't take down the charity.

And showdown in Gaza. This ship tried to bust through a blockade until the Israeli Navy got in the way. Hear what motivated it all.

The mood on the campaign trail is intensifying, as the clock ticks down to Election Day now just 17 days away. CNN's political editor Paul Steinhauser joining me live from Washington.

Paul good morning. So the election is going to come down to a relatively small number of voters in some key battleground states. And the race in several of those states it turns out it couldn't be closer, right?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Exactly. Let's look at two of those biggest states, Florida and Ohio. Let's start with Florida, 29 electoral votes at stake. And look at this our most recent poll just came out yesterday, CNN ORC 49 percent of likely voters for Mitt Romney; 48 percent for the President.

Take a look at the right column. That's back in late August before the conventions, before the debates, a very different story in Florida.

Let's move on to Ohio. A Fox News poll coming out last night and take a look at this pretty close as well. The President with a three-point advantage, but that's within the sampling error in Ohio, 18 electoral votes at stake.

You know in both of these polls, they were conducted entirely after Tuesday's presidential debate -- Randi.

KAYE: So I guess the pressure is on -- not that it hasn't been on but now it's really on. So how are the campaigns reacting to the pressure and certainly the pressure of winning over those undecided and uncommitted voters?

STEINHAUSER: Well, maybe one way is the heated rhetoric on the campaign trail. We saw it at the debate on Tuesday night and we saw it again yesterday. Take a listen to President Obama and Mitt Romney.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you say earlier in the year I'm going to give a tax cut to the top one percent and then in a debate you say I don't know anything about tax cuts to rich folks. That -- that -- you need to -- yes you need to get a thermometer, take your temperature, because you probably got Romnesia.

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: They've been reduced to petty attacks and -- and silly word games. Just watch it. The Obama campaign has become the incredible shrinking campaign. This is -- this a big country with big opportunities and great challenges, and they keep on talking about smaller and smaller things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: Yes Romnesia -- that's a first from President Obama and some tough response there from Mitt Romney. You know Randi I don't know how much these kinds of comments are going to help with undecided voters. They may be turned off a little bit by that negativity.

KAYE: Yes you never know how that's going to play. What about the candidates this weekend? Are they back in debate prep mode?

STEINHAUSER: Yes, you're not going to see a lot of Mitt Romney and President Obama this weekend. Why? They're basically under lock and key getting ready for Monday night's key -- key showdown in the final debate. Mitt Romney just landing in Palm Beach, Florida. He'll be behind closed doors there and the President at Camp David.

But you'll see their surrogates their number two a lot of others on the campaign trail all weekend long -- Randi.

KAYE: All right, Paul a very busy time for you as well. Thank you very much.

STEINHAUSER: Thanks.

KAYE: The two candidates face off in their final debate on as Paul just mentioned on Monday night. You can watch the showdown live right here on CNN at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

In other news, Lance Armstrong was defiant last night in his first public appearance since the release of a report that accuses him of running the most sophisticated doping program ever in sports. Armstrong took the stage at a gala marking the 15th anniversary of his cancer charity Livestrong.

The seven-time Tour de France champion of course stepped down this week as the chairman of that charity. Armstrong didn't address the doping allegations directly, but he did thank supporters and the foundation's employees.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LANCE ARMSTRONG, CYCLIST: This mission is bigger than me. It's bigger than any individual. There's 28 million people around the world living with this disease. Martin Luther King said once -- he said we must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: CNN's Don Riddell was at the event and he caught up with actor Sean Penn there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You've been a proud supporter of this organization for many years. Has anything change for you in the last days?

SEAN PENN, ACTOR: In the last days? No. I think it's an organization that was developed by somebody who's been an enormous inspiration to so many and to myself and he's done an incredible amount of good and I expect it will continue to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: We could learn as soon as Monday if Armstrong is stripped of his Tour de France titles.

A sheriff in the suburbs of Detroit doesn't know what to make of 15 shootings in two days, but it's got him talking about the D.C. area sniper from ten years ago. The targets have either been people or cars. No injuries so far. The spree took place between seven p.m. Tuesday and 6:45 on Thursday.

The sheriff of Oakland County said quote, "Anything is possible in terms of what could develop. We don't want anything to develop that's certainly developed in the Washington area and paralyzed that area for a long time."

More than a third of the people found dead in Syria yesterday were at a mass grave site in the city Deir Ezzar (ph). A warning now. What you're about to see is disturbing. The kids should certainly leave the room.

Government opposition groups say at least 80 bodies were at the grave, apparent victims of field executions. In total, 245 Syrians were reportedly killed Friday.

Also on Friday, the U.N. and Arab Leagues envoy to the country arrived in Damascus. Lakhdar Brahimi hopes he can broker a cease fire by this Thursday when the Muslim holy day begins.

Accusations continue that a Syrian regime played a part in a car bombing in Beirut Friday. The attack killed one of Lebanon's top intelligence officials and two others. Wassam al-Hassan was a known opponent to Syria's president al Assad. And the government believed Al Hassan was the target of the attack. But Syria has called the bombing quote, "Unjustifiable terrorist attack." It has rocked Lebanon's sense of safety with fears more blast may follow.

Today a vigil was held for al-Hassan. Also, Lebanon's Prime Minister offered to resign, but Lebanon's president rejected it saying he wanted to avoid a power vacuum.

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl activist who was shot in the head by the Taliban, showing signs of a remarkable recovery. Standing for the first time in her U.K. hospital since the attack, even communicating with her doctors. But doctors do say she's not out of the woods yet.

And take a look at this. CNN has received hundreds of messages from around the world for Malala. This one reads "I hope you make a full recovery, Malala. The world needs more people like you. Best wishes and a thank you to your doctors."

To send your message of support, you can tweet with the #messageformalala or visit Facebook.com/CNNinternational.

Just released cables show there were at least three requests for more security at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi during the months before four Americans were killed September 11th there. Among them was U.S. ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens. The Republican chairman of a government oversight committee made public 160 pages of documents.

CNN intelligence correspondent Suzanne Kelly has been reading through all of it and she joins me live now from Washington.

So Suzanne you can pick up a growing sense of urgency from Ambassador Stevens about the lack of manpower security at the consulate. What have you been able the find exactly as you were able to go through those documents?

SUZANNE KELLY, CNN INTELLIGENCE CORRESPONDENT: Right Randi, the cables certainly do give us more detail into the thinking of Ambassador Stevens, even in the hours before his death. When he expressed concern over the rising threats in Benghazi and in nearby town where he believed that Islamic extremists were gaining a stronger foothold.

Now, add to that his concerns that there was no significant deterrence to act against those groups. In his own words, Ambassador Stevens said "Absence of significant deterrence has contributed to a security vacuum that is being exploited by independent actors. What we have seen are not random crimes of opportunity, but rather targeted and discriminate attacks." Now, on the security side, the Ambassador noted in cables a drawdown from some 34 U.S. security personnel to 27 in July, he said he expected that number, Randi, to drop to just seven in August.

KAYE: And CNN has reported that State Department officials have said that the attack in Benghazi was unprecedented, even impossible to defend. Is there anything in those documents that prove otherwise? KELLY: That's a really tough direct question to answer. There are things in those cables that really show that the U.S. was not where it probably should have been from a security standpoint. The security could have been beefed up. It could have possibly not stopped the attack from happening, but could have provided the U.S. more protection, which it needed in this, and perhaps four people wouldn't have died. It's a little bit of Monday morning quarterbacking.

But you have two different issues, security and intelligence. Now the intelligence question, were there signs that were missed? Was there intelligence that we knew this attack was coming and the U.S. could have taken steps to stop it? The U.S. intelligence industry is sticking by what it said very early on, saying again as recently as yesterday there's still no evidence that this attack was planned in advance, no evidence that it was ordered by al Qaeda -- Randi.

KAYE: All right, Suzanne Kelly, I appreciate the update from Washington. Thank you.

In the Mediterranean Sea, a ship carrying activists and supplies runs up against a naval blockade. We'll tell you what happened right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Welcome back.

The Israeli Navy has stopped a ship that was trying to break its blockade of the Gaza Strip. The vessel named Estelle was carrying about 30 pro-Palestinian activists. Also onboard were medical supplies, cement and other humanitarian items, no injuries reported here.

CNN's Sarah Sidner joining us from Israel with the very latest on this. Sarah I understand that you were at the port actually where Israeli authorities took the Estelle after they intercepted it. But what is the scene there?

SARAH SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Actually, the boat has not made it to port yet. Basically what has happened is they get on the boat, the Israeli commandos got on the boat and -- and command -- commandeered the boat. This afternoon, late morning excuse this morning, late morning here. Now, we got sort of conflicting reports. We heard from the activists on the boat and their spokespeople in the United States is that the boat was quote/unquote "attacked". When pushed on that, when asked more questions they said well basically the commandos came on, they had their faces covered and we were surrounded by several Israeli warships.

Now the Israeli military says there was no such attack. They were doing what is the status quo, which is when a boat says it's going to be going to Gaza, when they are asked to stop several times and reroute and change their course and they refuse and the Israeli military says it has every right under international law to stop them from breaking their blockade and that is exactly what happened, according to the Israeli military. Now we have not heard from any of the activists on the boat, which include five members of parliament from several different countries, including Sweden, including Norway, Greece, and Spain. But we have talked to those who they have been in contact with. They have lost contact since the commandos boarded that boat and are slowly bringing it into port here -- Randi.

KAYE: And in terms of the purpose of the blockade, do you have any insight on that?

SIDNER: Absolutely. Israel says look, we put this blockade in place. And made it very, very strict in 2007 when Hamas took control of Gaza. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States.

They are dealing with hundreds of rockets each year, coming out of Gaza into Israel's territory. And they say this is simply to keep more weapons from entering into Gaza. The people in Hamas included and those who are in Gaza and who are working in Gaza, U.N. agencies there say look, there is a humanitarian crisis going on here. We've got a million-plus people in a very small area who are all in need of things such as educational supplies and medical supplies.

The Israelis do not believe there is a humanitarian crisis because they say they let in lots and lots of containers filled with all sorts of things into Gaza from the ground and they said they even offered that option to those who are on this particular boat, but they refused saying this is all about the blockade and that the blockade should be stopped -- Randi.

KAYE: Sarah Sidner appreciate the update. Thank you.

And we want to let you know that we are awaiting the arrival of Paul Ryan. He's going to be campaigning in Pennsylvania. We'll take you there to Moon Township, Pennsylvania, when it all begins.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: We want to get you straight to Pennsylvania, where as you can see there, Paul Ryan is campaigning in Moon Township. Let's listen in for a bit.

PAUL RYAN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: The job growth in September was slower than August and August was slower than July. We're not even keeping up with population growth. We're not even creating enough jobs every month to keep up with the growth of our population. We're going in the wrong direction.

And so one of those things we need to do to help those people who are in between jobs is to help them get the skills they need, to get the jobs they want in the 21st century so they can provide for their families. So that they can get back on the path of pursuing their version of the American dream. That's essential.

We also have to make sure that we open up markets so we can make more things in America and sell them overseas. Make sure that people trade fairly with us, open their markets so we can make more things in steel country, and sell them all around the world. That creates good jobs.

And I tell you, we've had great leaders like Pat over here. We need to recognize once and for all that we can't keep spending money we just don't have. We have got to get spending and the size of government under control.

Look, the choice is this. Do we limit the size of our government, or do we limit the growth of our economy? Mitt Romney and I believe we need to limit government so our economy can grow. That's why we're going to tackle this debt problem.

We have enormous challenges in this country. The President has continued to kick the can down the road. The President has continued to be the most partisan president. This is the third president I have served with. It's the most partisan one I have known.

We are not going to duck these tough issues. We're going to run at our country's economic and fiscal problems before they get out of our control. That's what leaders do. And when you look at the engine of economic growth and job creation in this country, it's small businesses. It's risk takers. It's entrepreneurs. It's the workers that work overtime to make those small businesses work and succeed.

We're going to champion these small businesses. We're not going to keep taxing these small businesses and regulating them and spending us into a debt crisis.

Look, President Obama is guaranteeing and promising that if he's re- elected, the top tax rate on our successful small businesses will go above 40 percent. Look, where I come from, overseas means Lake Superior. The Canadians just lowered their tax rate on all of their businesses to 15 percent. Most other countries around the world in industrialized nations tax their businesses at 25 percent or less and eight out of ten of our businesses file their taxes as individuals.

President Obama is saying they're going to be taxed as high as 44.8 percent in January. And this one tax increase, it wouldn't even pay for 10 percent of his deficit spending. This idea of taxing more, taxing more families and small businesses, of regulating more, of more money printing, of more borrowing and spending, we would be entering a golden age along with Greece. It doesn't work.

The good news is this. With the right ideas, with proven pro-growth solutions that get our country back on the right track, and with the right leadership, with leaders who run at these problems instead of blaming other people and ignoring these problems, we can get this done. We can turn this economy around. We can get people back to work. We can dodge the bullet of a debt crisis like Europe is facing.

That's, of all things, the best description of Mitt Romney. This man is a leader. Where other people have failed, this man has succeeded. He turned around the Olympics. He was a governor of a Democratic state who cut taxes 19 times with Democrats, who balanced the budget without raising taxes by working with Democrats and not compromising principle. He found common ground, he got things done. He created tens of thousands of jobs.

KAYE: Paul Ryan speaking there in Moonshine (SIC), Pennsylvania. Talking about kicking the can down the road. Trying to avoid that and dodge a bullet of a debt crisis like we're seeing happening in Europe.

And this programming note, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama face off in their final debate. That's Monday night, you can watch the showdown live right here on CNN. All the coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.

The doping allegations against Lance Armstrong could cost him his cycling titles, but they also could cost him cold hard cash. We'll tell you why after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: It is a done deal. Actor and musician, Justin Timberlake and actress, Jessica Biel are married. They tied the knot; "People Magazine" reports that they did so at a private ceremony in Italy. It's been a long time coming. Biel and Timberlake dated for five years. "People Magazine" says it will have wedding details and a picture spread in next week's issue out Wednesday.

After making history as the first openly gay boxer, Orlando Cruz retained his Featherweight title. Friday night Cruz beat Jorge Pazos at a match at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Florida. According to "USA Today", this is Cruz's first victory since coming out earlier this month.

Lance Armstrong didn't mention the doping allegations against him last night at a gala for his cancer charity in Austin, Texas. But the accusations are severe. And the fallout already has been intense. Armstrong has lost major endorsement deals with Nike and Anheuser- Busch. He stepped down as chairman of his Livestrong charity this week, and as soon as next week, he could be stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

Now, on top of all that, the cyclist could face legal repercussions. An insurer says it may try to recoup a $5 million performance bonus it paid to Armstrong. And the "London Times" says it's considering legal action for fraud.

I spoke earlier this morning with CNN legal contributor Paul Callan and I asked him if either of the companies has a real case here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: In the case of the performance bonus, he was paid a $5 million performance bonus for winning one of the many, many races that he won in his career, and the insurance company paid out on that because they had a policy. So now they're saying hey, he was using -- he was blood doping, participating in blood doping and it was an illegal win, we shouldn't pay.

On the other hand, the British newspapers -- the newspaper in particular, one of Murdoch's papers, was sued for defamation when they accused him of using illegal performance-enhancing drugs, and they ended up settling that case as well. I don't think they're going to win these cases against Lance Armstrong because usually when you settle a case, there's sort of an airtight agreement that signed between the attorneys saying that all further claims are waived.

Obviously at the time of the lawsuits, both sides were saying that their position was the correct position. In other words, the newspaper was saying we had good basis to believe he had used illegal drugs, as did the insurance company.

So when you settle a case, you're kind of saying I'm giving up these claims. So I don't think they're going to win.

KAYE: But now Armstrong's former manager said in a statement, quote, "he will continue to be involved in legal proceedings related to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency charges against him and hopes to receive a fair hearing."

Does Armstrong now still have a good defense? I mean, since he hasn't been officially found guilty of lying or doping.

CALLAN: I think Armstrong is in serious trouble. The agency in issuing its report based the report on testimony from 26 witnesses, 15 riders who participated in races with Armstrong.

Ten of them his roommates, his teammates, and frankly, even his wife was quoted or mentioned in the report on 30 separate occasions. The agency -- the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said it was as strong a case or a stronger case than any case in the history of the agency.

So Nike pulling away the endorsement contract, it says to me this is a very strong case against Lance Armstrong, and I think he's going to have a problem winning any cases in the future arising out of it.

KAYE: So if he's found guilty, I mean, how big is the damage here? Do all the titles get stripped and what about more lawsuits? Because even now, some of the people who have helped raise money for his charity "Livestrong," not big corporations, but they're saying we were duped, we want our money back.

CALLAN: Well, I do think his titles will be stripped. I don't think that people who were involved in his charity will have a legitimate ground to sue him. This charity -- and I think, you know, Randi, what a real tragedy this is.

This charity is such an enormously successful charity. It's helped so many pop around the world with cancer. Who knows what's going to happen to this charity. I can't picture it surviving because of the importance of his name. So I think that's the real tragedy of the Lance Armstrong down fall here, the destruction of his charity.

KAYE: And once again, we could find out as soon as Monday if Lance Armstrong gets to keep all seven Tour De France titles.

Well, there is a heated debate over Pennsylvania's voter I.D. Law and how election officials are promoting it. We'll hear from both sides of this growing controversy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: An attempt to stop fraud or suppress the vote in a presidential election year? That is a debate and often a heated one over Voter I.D. Laws.

In Pennsylvania, a judge offered a split decision delaying the start of a tough new law while allowing poll workers to ask for a photo I.D., but not stopping votes for they don't have one.

Joining me now are Jim Burn, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, which opposes the law and Ron Ruman, Communications Director for the Pennsylvania Department of State, which backs it.

Good morning to both of you. This is a very interesting topic, getting a lot of attention. Ron, I want to start with you though first.

Yesterday the ACLU filed a motion with this same judge saying that the show it campaign, which shows photo I.D.s are required is still being publicized, while making only a small disclaimer that you can vote without a photo I.D.

So what are you doing to counter this messaging that a lot of folks are calling misleading?

RON RUMAN, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF STATE: I'm a little bit constrained on what I can say about that. However, since the judge ruled October 2nd, we have revamped our outreach campaign to follow the judge's ruling, which as you said, Randi, will have poll workers asking voters for ID in this election and will not be required to vote.

If you don't have it, you can still vote by regular ballot, which happened in the primary as well. The judge was very specific in his ruling that this education campaign should continue because right now that law is in effect for future elections.

So what our campaign is saying is you'll be asked to show the ID, but will not be required and it gives information on a web site and a toll-free phone number where you get information if you need a free photo ID for voting in future elections.

KAYE: But why not make it well-known? I mean, this is false information really that is out there. I mean, why not change the messaging? Letting people know that an ID is suggested, but not required.

RUMAN: Well, we did. It's absolutely in all the ads. It says very clearly in the television and radio spots, the internet spots that photo ID will be asked for, but not required to vote. That's the exact language. So it is very clearly stated in the spots that that is what will happen.

KAYE: But if you look at the messaging on that bus, we're looking at it. It's pretty hard to see that that is the message because all you see there is the license and "show it." But let me ask you, your efforts and similar ones --

RUMAN: I don't agree with that. It says if you have it this election, show it. So I think it's very clear, if you have it, you can show it. If you're not, you're not required to.

KAYE: All right, let me continue here, because your efforts and similar ones are focused on voters. But there have also been reports in other states of consultants hindering the vote, by destroying the registration forms, for example. How are you addressing that problem?

RUMAN: Well, we have not had that here in Pennsylvania this election anyway. So we have a pretty good system here in Pennsylvania. Voter registrations are handled by our 67 counties and we have very good election workers in each of those counties.

They're very diligent about what they do and certainly we work with them if there are any problems that do arise. In Pennsylvania, we've had our share of irregularities over the years of people trying to submit false registrations, that sort of thing.

On both sides we had a situation just several years ago where a Republican group was trying to scam college students in Western Pennsylvania to changing their registration party or their address.

And the story that was done in the newspaper concluded the only reason they were doing this is they were trying to get these students registered.

And if they moved, as college students often do after they graduate, then they could have people voting for them. We've had that in the past. Not aware of anything in particular this year, though.

KAYE: Let me bring in Jim. Pennsylvania began offering photo ID of registered voters in August for free. I know that you are concerned about voters being confused, but by some estimates, only 12,000 IDs have actually been issued. Can you say that the large groups of people are being disenfranchised by this effort?

JIM BURN, CHAIRMAN, PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Large groups would be disenfranchised, and Ron and the administration should be ashamed of themselves for this spin they continue to take with this piece of legislation.

Only 12,000 were registered because of the poor job this administration did in reaching out to those who may be affected. We have to remember what started this piece of legislation.

The Republican governor who used to be the attorney general told folks it was about voter fraud, despite what Ron would have you believe, the governor, the former attorney general, never prosecuted a case.

The Republican leader of the House, Mike Tursi admitted on the floor of a Republican Party meeting that this was about tilting the playing field in an uneven fashion to allow an inferior candidate, namely Governor Romney, to win Pennsylvania. Then they would have you believe that only 100,000 voters have been affected. It's more like three quarters of a million. Now that the judge put this injunction in place, it's very easy, Ron.

All you have to do is say this. You are not required to have identification, photo identification to vote in Pennsylvania. It's that simple. But they are continuing to move forward with this attempt of this campaign to disenfranchise and suppress and mislead Pennsylvania voters.

KAYE: Pennsylvania isn't the only state where voter ID laws are raising serious concerns. CNN's Joe Johns takes a hard look at this intense battle in the documentary special "Voters in America: Who Counts." You can catch it tonight at 8:00 Eastern Time.

The uncommitted vote with just over two weeks to go, it can still turn the election upside down. We'll share the stories of those who vote is still up for grabs.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Decided? Yes? Well, probably, maybe? That is the mindset of as many as 10 percent of voters just 17 days from the presidential election.

They may be leaning one way, but they can still be swayed and we're focusing on those uncommitted voters today. Voters like Joe Stoltz, an unemployed father of three. This is his story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE STOLTZ, UNEMPLOYED AND UNCOMMITTED VOTER: You know, I read a saying. You know, there are those who dream and wish and there are those who dream and work and that really hit home with me.

At that point is when I decided that I was going to get my butt off the couch, I was going to go down to the community college and I was going to see what I could do to combat this economy that we're in.

I had flooring business and it was doing really great. We had so many jobs. Everything was rolling. I was on the right path and then the economy crashed and the housing market crashed and slowly, it got worse and worse and I had no work.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People think you're the future.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, they're probably going, so what are we doing today, professor?

STOLTZ: Yes, it's kind of nerve racking going back to school, being at 43. I'm going to be in class with 17 and 18-year-olds. I think I'll do OK because I've done a lot of coaching at middle school level and I can relate to them a little bit. So I think it will be all right.

Some of the runners in the Olympics I was watching, he'll run in the back and just hang back and see what they've got in front of them and bang, at the end, just put it on. Just keep your kick hard. Keep kicking.

When I voted for President Obama, I really felt that things were going to get better. He really instilled a lot of hope in me and my family.

And then I started to lose that hope and was unsure about where he's leading our country. A really good detailed plan for the economy will definitely sway my vote one way or the other.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With this textbook also comes a CD in the back of the book, which is our keyboarding pro software. If you choose not to complete all 25 lessons, then you will not be able to complete this course.

STOLTZ: The biggest life lessons I've learned with the economy is that I need to rely on myself a lot more. This 2012 election, it means a lot. I'm not sure who I like yet, but I really want the country to move forward. I want it to affect my family and me as well, so we can really get this country back on track.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: An important programming note now. The third and final debate is on Monday. CNN's live coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Disney's first Latina princess has some grown-ups complaining that the cartoon character is not ethnic enough. See for yourself right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: A new little princess is about to join the Disney kingdom and she'll be making history as the very first Latina princess. But some are asking if she's Latina enough.

Yesterday, I asked CNN entertainment correspondent Kareen Wynter about Disney's response to all of this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Disney's being quite low-key about all of this, Randi. You'd think they would benefit from all the publicity, unveiling a Latina princess. It's a pretty big deal.

You see Disney is introducing their first Latina princess, Princess Sophia. She's going to debut next month on the Disney Channel in a TV movie called "Sophia The First Once Upon a Princess."

There's also going to be a TV series on Disney as well as Disney Jr., but some groups, Randi, they don't think Disney is going far enough with this character. They say Sophia doesn't look like a Latina girl and is being voiced by a white actress, so they're a little bit upset about all of this with Disney.

A Disney rep told "Entertainment Weekly" when it comes to kids, a princess is just a princess. You know, Randi, I think I have to agree with that. Does it really matter here?

There was a lot of fuss, by the way, made with the launch of Tiana, the African-American princess so many years ago. And so many kids have fallen in love with her. I think they'll fall in love with Sophia as well and her big debut will be no problem. But still a little bit of controversy to start all of this out.

KAYE: Controversy around a cartoon and a princess, amazing. Also the NBC sitcom, I wanted to ask you about "Animal Practice" being canceled and PETA is celebrating this.

WYNTER: They definitely are. You see, PETA have protested the show. It featured a monkey dressed in a lab coat. They say that's cruel. So they're crowing about all of this.

They're calling the cancellation of victory. They say it sends a strong message that using animals for cheap laughs on TV shows is archaic and uninteresting to today's viewers.

That was PETA's words. The ratings for the show, they were weak, which is why it was canceled. It probably didn't help that the show maybe most memorable for irritating viewers during the Olympics this past summer.

NBC interrupted the closing ceremonies to debut "Animal Practice," which didn't go over well with audiences so another short-lived TV show you see right there -- Randi.

KAYE: That little monkey though, quite a star. I've seen him in spreads in magazines. Living the good life, drinking champagne --

WYNTER: I know!

KAYE: -- staying at the nice hotels.

WYNTER: Yes. That's really what we remember about the show, the monkey. But, you know, good-bye for the monkey and the cast.

KAYE: Well, he'll find work elsewhere, I'm sure. Kareen Wynter, it's nice to see you. Thank you.

WYNTER: Thanks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: That monkey is pretty cute. By the way, we have an update on that Disney Latina princess controversy. Disney has responded through Facebook.

The company writes this, "Sophia is a fairytale girl who lives in a fairytale world and all our characters come from fantasy lands that may reflect cultures and ethnicities, but none are meant to specifically represent those real world cultures."

MARTIN SAVAGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Maybe the monkey can co-host one of the upcoming award ceremonies. KAYE: That's a great idea. Well, "CNN NEWSROOM" starts at the top of the hour. Martin Savage is in for Fred today. Hello to you.

SAVAGE: Hi, Randi.

KAYE: You have a whole lot coming up?

SAVAGE: We do. Of course, you know, it is the final debate coming up. So we'll be looking at all things political, but on top of that, we'll look at legal issues.

We'll have the legal guys in, Richard and Avery. We're going to talk about, of course, the latest in the Zimmerman case. But one of the cases that stands out -- I don't know if you heard of up there in Maine, the small town.

KAYE: Yes, the zumba teacher.

SAVAGE: Exactly, where according to authorities, they say there was a lot more going on than just dancing and exercise. She's been charged with running apparently a one woman brothel.

But what's really interesting is the list of names, 150 of them, she kept meticulous records and they're coming out. But it's how they're coming out that is really raising some eyebrows in that small town.

KAYE: And zumba was the cover. That's the part that cracks me up.

SAVAGE: Yes. Zumba is a really good one. Other stories we're working on as well, this documentary that's coming out. This is my candidate. You know, women have been so much the focus of candidates here.

Ethel Kennedy, her mother, is the focus of this documentary. It's going to be on HBO. So we give you a sneak peek and look at this. It's very important that people sort of understand this woman's relationship.

KAYE: She's been through so much. I can only imagine.

SAVAGE: Yes. So those are the stories that we're looking at.

KAYE: And from what I understand on that one, I heard that she gave her five days. You have five days with me and that is it. That's fascinating.

SAVAGE: But it's a loving tribute to her. It's a very nice story. And we should point out, Lance Armstrong, I know you've already followed this.

But we talked with an insider to the Lance Armstrong camp to get ideas of where his mind these days, it's been a very tough two weeks for him. So what is the Lance Armstrong camp thinking?

What are they going to say? When are they going to really come out and confront? There have been statements, but when we really going to hear something of substance? When can reporters question? All of that coming up.

KAYE: That sounds like a great afternoon.

SAVAGE: Yes, it should be.

KAYE: All right, we'll see you in just a few minutes.

With the elections just two weeks away, new voter ID laws have sparked an intense battle over who counts. Now questions are being asked about the underlying message behind billboards in one swing state warning against voter fraud.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Our billboards warning about voter fraud in two battleground states targeting minorities? Some people think that's what they're doing. Joe Johns reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Voter fraud is a felony. Billboards with this simple and factual message are stirring up controversy in two battleground states. Here's why voting rights activists like Eric Marshall are upset.

ERIC MARSHALL, LAWYERS' COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW: Yes, voter fraud is a felony. But it's the way they're being displayed and the fact that they're in almost exclusively areas or around areas predominantly African-American or Latino. It sends a message that there is a problem with the voting.

JOHNS: The billboards have been popping up in cities in Ohio and Wisconsin, 85 in Milwaukee, 30 in Columbus, another 30 in Cleveland and 31 in Cincinnati. Protests started almost as soon as they went up demanding the signs come down.

NINA TURNER (D), OHIO STATE SENATE: This billboard is nothing but a symbol of pure unadulterated voter suppression to target an African- American community.

JOHNS: But the two advertising companies that sold the space, Clear Channel and Norton Outdoor, say the buyer was not out to target minorities.

MIKE NORTON, NORTON OUTDOOR: There was no request for any specific demographic target at all. They wanted the best locations they could get for those four weeks leading up to the election.

JOHNS: The big mystery is who's behind them? The billboard itself does not tell. It reads paid for by a private family foundation and neither company will say who that is.

After declining an on camera interview, here's what Clear Channel wrote to CNN. "The advertiser put into the contract to remain anonymous. It is our policy to require advertisers including political advertisers to have disclaimers, which to identify them. Unfortunately, that policy was not followed in this case. But Marshall sees that as a red flag.

MARSHALL: No one's stepping forward and taking responsibility for these billboards and explaining why, that's part of the problem. If these were innocuous then why would you say, why would you negotiate in your contract with Clear Channel a confidentiality clause to stay hidden?

JOHNS: But bottom line, Mike Norton, whose family owns Norton Outdoors sees nothing wrong with the content of the ads.

NORTON: The things that stipulate from political advisers and said, A, it's accurate, and B, that they're not attack ads. This fell well within the realm of reason on both of those benchmarks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: The billboards are scheduled to be up through Election Day and neither company has any plans to take them down before then. Voting rights groups have raised $30,000 to put up their own billboards in Cleveland and Milwaukee encouraging everyone to vote. Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

KAYE: And tune in tonight at 8:00 Eastern as Joe Johns hosts CNN's documentary "Voters in America: Who Counts."

And CNN NEWSROOM continues now with Martin Savage who is in for Fred today. I'm sure you'll be talking a whole lot about voters in America.

SAVAGE: You bet we will. Randi, nice to see you.

KAYE: Nice to see you. Have a good one.