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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Showdown in the South; Did Bush Complete Guard Duty?
Aired February 10, 2004 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now in two hours. The polls close in Virginia. An hour later they close in Tennessee. Who will be left standing when the ballots are counted? We have preliminary word on what voters are thinking. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
Showdown in the south.
Can they help Kerry's march on their home ground?
The records. Did the president complete his military duty?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These documents outline the days on which he was paid. That means he served.
BLITZER: Do they tell the whole story?
Iraq attacks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a lot of good days here, but we've also had a lot of bad days. Bad days like today.
BLITZER: A massive car bomb leaves dozens dead near Baghdad.
Stock sale. A day after breaking down on the stand, Martha Stewart's assistant offers dramatic testimony.
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Tuesday, February 10, 2004.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: A major battle right now is rolling across Tennessee and Virginia. Two states holding pivotal Democratic primaries today. The key question can northerner John Kerry bolster his frontrunner status with a first win in the south among voters who are mostly Democrat or will his two major rivals in those two states, southerners John Edwards and Wesley Clark, for the first time slow the Kerry juggernaut? Up for grabs. A total of 151 delegates.
Our correspondents are right in the thick of the action. National correspondent Kelly Wallace is covering Senator Kerry's campaign in Fairfax, Virginia. Dan Lothian is with the Clark campaign in Memphis, Tennessee. Our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley is with Senator Edwards' campaign in Wisconsin which holds its primary a week from today and Joe Johns is also in Wisconsin covering Howard Dean. We'll get to all of them. First, though, just in from the exit polls in Tennessee and Virginia. For that we turn as we always do to our senior political analyst Bill Schneider. What are we learning?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: A little something. We have three major candidates in those two southern states, Edwards, Clark and Kerry. Three main candidates and what we're finding is three different motivations of the voters who support them.
Let's take a look at Tennessee Democratic voters. We asked them, what's more important to you? Defeating President Bush or making a statement on the issues? A sheer majority. 57 percent of Kerry voters said defeating President Bush is their primary motivation. For Edwards and Clark that was far less important. They were more interested in making a statement on the issues.
What issues? Take a look at the Virginia primary voters. This is the percentage who said their top issue was the economy. Clearly the economy predominated in the minds of Edwards' voters. 42 percent of them said that's what they wanted to vote on. Edwards has talked about two Americas. One, wealthy and privileged, the other ordinary working people. Far less important to Kerry and Clark voters.
Top issue Iraq to Virginia voters. Yes, Clark. Virginia primary voters who supported Clark, this was their top issue, one-third cited the Iraq issue. It was far less important to John Kerry voters or very little importance to John Edwards voters. So I think what we can conclude is for Kerry voters, it was defeating President Bush. For Clark voters they were angry about Iraq. For Edwards' voters they were angry about the economy.
We're learning a lot more from these exit polls. We'll be reporting those throughout the night here in our special coverage, thanks, Bill, very much.
Joining us now from Fairfax, Virginia with the latest on the Kerry campaign. Our national correspondent, Kelly Wallace -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, John Kerry says he's hopeful and he's not taking anything for granted. That said, his aides believe it is very possible he could be victorious in both states tonight. Tennessee and Virginia and they say to put this into context, just a month ago, John Kerry was in single digits in the polls in both states.
The senator spending time earlier today in Memphis, Tennessee, before coming here to Virginia. If he does win in Virginia and Tennessee, it would show that he could win with Democratic primary voters in the south, It could also force one of his southern opponents, John Edwards or Wesley Clark out of the race. Now the senator, throughout the day, was asked about a controversial issue. The release by the White House of records to try and put to rest any questions about President Bush's National Guard service during the Vietnam war.
The senator saying he is not going to comment on this, he has said all he is going to say on this issue. We asked aides why the senator who commented on this issue a few days is silent now. They say this is an issue for the Bush administration to answer. With the Kerry campaign, I'm Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting from Fairfax, Virginia.
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DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Retired General Wesley Clark says he is not watching the polls. Currently down not only here in Tennessee, but also Virginia, he is reaching out to undecided voters. He began his day with interviews on two local radio stations, then tried to get to the voters through their stomachs handing out doughnuts at a Nashville intersection. He also visited several polling places and Clark worked the phones at his Nashville headquarters. At a rally in Nashville Monday night, Clark urged voters to not be influenced by the polls and the frontrunner's momentum.
WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't put much stock in polls. It's really up to the voters of Tennessee to make their own decisions.
LOTHIAN: Clark said he plans to keep going even if he doesn't win here in Tennessee, but having already asked 250 staffers to forego their paychecks for a week, many believe it will be difficult for the campaign to move forward if he doesn't get a win. Dan Lothian, CNN, Nashville.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Candy Crowley at Edwards' campaign election night headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The candidate was not heard much today and only seen briefly in Arlington, Virginia, where he went to greet some voters and some supporters outside one of the polling places just a bridge away from his home in Georgetown. The senator did conduct some interviews into Milwaukee. A signal, of course, that this campaign is moving on. They have made it very clear that they believe tonight is the beginning of the next phase of the Edwards campaign.
The main strategy here is for Edwards to move into Wisconsin and come out of it as the only standing alternative to John Kerry. In fact, they are looking even beyond Minnesota here. They are moving into the March 4, -- March 2, Super Tuesday. Edwards will be going to California for some fundraisers and some events. Edwards has said all along he would like to place a strong second in both Virginia and Tennessee. In any case, what the campaign says is he will move on. Candy Crowley at election night headquarters for the Edwards campaign in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is Joe Johns in Wisconsin. One day after he reversed himself and said he would stay in the race instead of dropping out if he failed to win this state, Howard Dean went to schools in Wisconsin, including Superior this morning taking a tour of a huge new middle school there and giving a speech to a crowd of hundreds of people, both students and adults and independents. He later went to Lacrosse, Wisconsin, taking another tour giving remarks in a couple of science classes and a geography class. He goes on to Milwaukee this evening for a rally. Joe Johns, CNN, Wisconsin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Thanks to all of our correspondents and we'll have much more on the primaries in Tennessee and Virginia coming up this hour. Also other news including devastation in Iraq. A truck belonging to former regime leader Saddam Hussein's intelligence service explodes near a police station. Who's responsible?
Also, investigating the CIA leak. The latest on what the grand jury in Washington is learning about the security breach.
And presidential marching papers. The White House releases documents it says proves Mr. Bush fulfilled his military duty. All that coming up. First, though, today's news quiz.
"Which of the 13 colonies was first to make militia service voluntary? Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia?" The answer, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A massive blast kills dozens in Iraq and now authorities suspect al Qaeda may be responsible for the devastation. We'll have the latest and we'll speak live with two governors visiting the nation. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: U.S. officials are calling it simply a bad day. A truck packed with explosives blew up near an Iraqi police post earlier today killing at least 50 people and wounding three times that many. CNN's Brent Sadler reports from the town of Iskandariyah.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dozens of would-be recruits were lined up at the time hoping to join the ranks of the embattled police now one of the most dangerous jobs in Iraq. Shrapnel tore through parked cars and cut down a large number of people including Iraqi passersby. Many Iraqis here ignored official explanations for the carnage believing wild rumors locally that destruction might have been caused by a U.S. missile. It comes a day after the U.S.-led coalition warned that terrorists were planning to stoke a civil war, through attacks on Iraqi Shiites and U.S. collaborators especially the police.
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMETT, U.S. ARMY: Those are some of the fingerprints, large bomb, car bomb, we don't know at this point whether it was a suicide bomber or whether a person escaped and detonated it.
SADLER: Nor do they know for certain if the hand of this top terror suspect Abu Al Zarqawi was involved. Though in a letter he suspected of sending to al Qaeda, he writes the Iraqi troops, police and agents. These are the eyes, ears and hand of the occupier. And as far as the Shia, we will undertake suicide operations and use car bombs to harm them.
DAN SENOR, COALITION SPOKESMAN: This Zarqawi memo makes it clear that he and al Qaeda forces feel threatened by the growing Iraqi security services. And by their increasing effectiveness.
SADLER: Amid coalition plans to hand over sovereignty by the end of June. As an extension of U.S.-led authority in Iraq the police have been targeted by a systematic campaign of terror attacks in recent months aimed at destroying the courage and resolve of the newborn force. Brent Sadler, CNN, Al Iskandariyah, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And we'll speak shortly with two governors who have just left Iraq, but they were there earlier today. That's still to come. Also the president's military service called into question. The White House responding forcefully, but is it enough to answer the president's critics? Investigating the motive behind the CIA identity leak. We have new details. That's coming up as well.
And call them the pick of the litter. Coming up, rolling out the red carpet for a trio of cuddly cubs. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. A half dozen U.S. governors are on a two-day surprise trip to Iraq visiting troops from their states. Among them, New York Republican Governor George Pataki and Louisiana Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco. For security reasons the governors are overnighting in Jordan. They are joining us now live from Amman. Governors, thanks so much for joining us. Governor Pataki, how did this trip come about? We were surprised you and your colleagues were in Baghdad.
GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: Well, Wolf, the White House asked me some time ago and asked the other governors as well if we would undertake this trip first to visit with the troops from our home states in our role as commander in chief to say hello to them and thank them for their service and second, to get a first-hand feeling to the extent you can in a limited amount of time of what is happening on the streets of Baghdad and the streets of Iraq and I think it was a worthwhile experience for me and I think for the other governors today.
BLITZER: Governor Blanco, what did you learn today about the situation in Baghdad? A day when we saw this horrific bombing, more than 50 people killed, 150 badly injured.
GOV. KATHLEEN BLANCO (D), LOUISIANA: Well, what we learned was that the situation is extremely complicated. Obviously, the people of Iraq really want peace. They want to live a normal existence once again. They are happy to be free, Wolf and they express that very freely. They are very comfortable in their world. They want the United States to help them resolve a sensible government, one that can take them through the years without much more conflict.
BLITZER: Governor Pataki, sitting here on this side of the Atlantic, it looks like there's no end in sight. You were there. You actually spoke to Iraqis. Does it look like there's some end in sight to this terrorism, to the killing that's going to?
PATAKI: Wolf, I don't know that in a day we can make projections as to what will happen in the future, but I did talk to ordinary Iraqis on the streets of Baghdad, troops, our soldiers who have been here for a year or more in some cases and universally they say that the situation's getting better. Not just from a security standpoint, but the schools are opening, the health care system is coming back, the lights are coming back and most importantly as Governor Blanco said, I think we all had a sense that the Iraqi people are tasting freedom and they had this overwhelming desire to keep that freedom and that gives me enormous optimism about the future of Iraq.
But today, an al Qaeda memo was released a couple of days ago that points out that al Qaeda believes that they are failing and that they have to ratchet up the efforts to engage in violence to pit Iraqis against Iraqis to prevent us from succeeding here and I think you'll see them try to do that. It was tragic what happened that the police headquarters south of Baghdad today, but what is happening is you're having more Iraqi police officers, more Iraqi security guards. More Iraqis in important positions to provide their own security and that is what in addition to the spirit of the people gives me great cause for hope that the freedom we want for the Iraqi people will come to the people of Iraq.
BLITZER: Governor, Blanco as you know there are a lot of people suggesting faulty intelligence resulted in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. You've had a chance to speak with soldiers from Louisiana while you were there.
Do they get a sense that they're really there for a purpose or they were sold a bill of goods in going to Iraq in the first place?
BLANCO: You know, Wolf, what we found is certainly everyone in the United States is talking about the origins of the war, but the people in Iraq including our own soldiers are simply trying to get a mission done. They're past the reasons for whatever has happened. In fact, some of them said so. What they're trying to do is solve the current problems as they exist today. They're less concerned about the political reasons that got us here in the first place, but, of course, that is a concern in our country because I know the president and everyone wants solid information to base decisions on.
BLITZER: Governor Blanco, thank you very much for joining us.
One final question for you, Governor Pataki before I let you go. A let of your friends in New York State want to know this, were you square scared?
PATAKI: You can't be scared when you see the brave men and women who are out there risking their lives. We were given enormous security, and it was those young men and women who were providing that security. Standing outside the armored vehicles, going out in the dark when there was some concerns with their night vision goggles. So when you see their courage, when you see their strength and the face and the risks that they face and it gives you enormous strength and courage as well. So, I felt proud of them and secure because of them.
BLITZER: The governors are New York and Louisiana have a safe trip back. Thank you very much for joining us.
While John Kerry and Wesley Clark trumpet their military service on the campaign trail, Democrats have raised serious questions about President Bush's military service and are that center the white house rummaging through the national guard records.
Let's go live to our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it's become a very hot political issue. It's also an issue of credibility here. That is why White House is releasing these do you means and hopes that it puts this whole thing to rest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): In a effort to silence the critic, the white house released new documents that it claims shows President Bush fulfill his national guard duty during Vietnam.
SCOTT MCGELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY.: When you serve for the national guard you I are paid for the days on which you serve.
MALVEAUX: The documents include point summaries and payroll records that White House says shows Mr. Bush logged the time required between 1972 to 1974 to be considered active in the national guard. He received what military analysts considered only a passing grade for his time, 56 points out of 50-point minimum. The personnel director are the Texas Air National Guard asked to review Mr. Bush's record by the White House issued a statement saying this clearly shows that First Lieutenant George W. Bush has satisfactory years for both 72-73 and 73-74 which proves he completed his obligation in a satisfactory manner. One point of contention a controversial six-month period when Mr. Bush transferred to a guard unit in Alabama. No one has come forward to attest he she showed up for service, including his former commander. But the president stays by his own memories.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There may not be no evidence, but did I report.
MALVEAUX: But the head of the National Democratic Committee says "there is still no evidence that George W. Bush showed up for duty as ordered while in Alabama." Senator John Kerry the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination and Vietnam War hero regularly campaigns with his band of brothers from his military days. Republicans are accusing the Democrats of attacking Mr. Bush's military record to score political points.
ED GILLESPIE, RNC CHAIRMAN: It's the kind of tactic I think we need get used to. It's the kind of dirty politics that the Democrats are intent in engaging in this election year.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Now, Wolf, despite the release of these documents there are still holes about where President Bush was and when, but they say he was honorably discharged. Of course, a White House official is hoping that people will focus his military leadership as commander-in-chief and not focus on his record from some 30 years ago, but they stand by it, Wolf.
BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux, at the White House. Thanks Suzanne.
Here's your turn to weigh in on this important story. Our web "Question of the Day" are this. Does President Bush's releasing his military records clear up questions about a service. You can vote right now. Go to cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.
Weapons whereabouts. What the government knew about Iraq's capabilities during the Clinton years. I'll speak with a former Defense Secretary William Cohen.
Tearful testimony. Hear what Martha Stewart's assistant said that caused a breakdown on the stand. We'll go live to the courthouse.
And conceding defeat. The right and wrong way for candidates to pull out when time's up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Earlier we asked, of the 13 colonies was first to make militia service voluntary?
The answer, Pennsylvania. The Army National Guard is considered the oldest of the U.S. Armed forces tracing its beginnings to the early colonists. Dominated by Quaker influences, Pennsylvania, unlike other colonies, did not require ape are able-bodied men to serve in the militia.
Key primaries, Democratic voters hit the polls in two southern states.
Will frontrunner John Kerry strengthen his status by picking up another win or two?
Our coverage continues. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN, I'm Wolf Blitzer at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. What information did the U.S. have prior to the Bush administration? I'll speak with the former Defense Secretary William Cohen. We'll get to all of that -- first, though, a quick check of the latest headlines.
A memorial is beginning right now in Sarasota, Florida, for Carlie Brucia. A car wash surveillance camera recorded her kidnapping February 1 and led to the arrest of a suspect two days later. The girl's body was found Friday.
State agriculture officials confirm the so-called bird flu in a second poultry farm in Delaware. The strain does not affect humans, unlike a related virus that killed at least 19 people in Asia, but the outbreak is threatening severe damage to the industry, with at least six countries now banning all U.S. poultry imports.
An update now on a story we brought you yesterday. A spokesman for American Airlines tells CNN the pilot who asked Christian passengers to identify themselves Friday is not scheduled to fly in the near future. The airline would not give specifics on discipline for the pilot and is still not releasing his name. The pilot's message to passengers on the Los-Angeles-to-New-York flight prompted several complaints from the cabin.
President Bush last week named a blue-ribbon panel to look into U.S. intelligence operations, conceding that prewar assessments of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction were not all they were cracked up to be, but his is not the first administration to attack Iraq over weapons concerns.
Earlier today, I spoke with William Cohen, the former GOP senator who served as defense secretary under President Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Secretary Cohen, thanks very much for joining us. Welcome back. I know you just got back from Germany.
Let's talk about what you knew. When you left office in January 2001 as secretary of defense, were you then convinced that there were stockpiles, significant stockpiles of Iraqi chemical and biological weapons?
WILLIAM COHEN, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY: What we were convinced of at that time, Wolf, was that he had stockpiles in the past. He had used them in the past, and that we assumed that he'd continue to have those stockpiles, and that when he threw the inspectors out in 1998, we took that as another indication that he was barring those inspectors from getting at those stockpiles. And so we launched a military operation called Desert Fox. But, basically, we were working on assumptions, past possession, past use, and the fact that his son-in-law had directed the inspectors to stockpiles that they then discovered. And, so a lot of this was based on assumptions.
BLITZER: When you say that he threw the inspectors out in 1998, you, in effect, asked the inspectors leave when you decided to launch military operations, for their own safety and their security. He never formally kicked them out.
COHEN: No.
What happened is that Mr. Butler, Ambassador Butler, at that time went back for a two-week period to conduct his investigation. You may recall that Saddam, at the last moment, in November of that year, had agreed to allow the inspectors to come back in to complete their mission. Ambassador Butler went back in for a two-week period and then to determine whether Saddam was going to fully cooperate.
When Butler came back after December 14, he indicated that Saddam was basically stonewalling, no cooperation and, therefore, the military action was taken. And so it was tantamount at that point, once Butler came back and filed his report, that Saddam was never going to comply with the inspectors.
BLITZER: How could intelligence. You say he assumed that he had stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons. Clearly, the Bush administration had the same assumption, but it's one thing to assume. It's another thing to know.
COHEN: Right.
BLITZER: How could the intelligence community apparently have gotten it so wrong?
COHEN: Well, the intelligence community will have to actually answer to the blue-ribbon commission that's been set up, in terms of what information did they -- did the administration have and from what sources did it come?
Ordinarily, you never rely upon single-source reporting, unless it's really overwhelming evidence from a very credible source, but you try to establish a matrix of intelligence sources and play one off against the other to see whether there's any kind of commonality based upon their past credibility. We'll have to wait and see what information the president and his advisers had at that time.
Based on our assumptions, again, back in 1998, forward to the year 2000, we assumed that we had him reasonably well contained and that we had destroyed missile production facilities and would take him anywhere from 18 months to two years to reconstitute. So we felt at that time that we had sufficiently contained him.
Now, the new administration coming in may have had additional information which led the president to believe that the threat was growing and thereby prompted him to take military action. We did not have that at that time that I left office.
BLITZER: Secretary Cohen, unfortunately, we have to leave it right there. Thanks for joining us.
COHEN: My pleasure.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Now to the news leak which outed a CIA operative. The FBI has been working for months to find out who blew the cover of Valerie Plame, wife of the former U.S. Ambassador Joe Wilson.
Four current and former members of the Bush administration have now testified before a federal grand jury in Washington, among them, the White House press secretary, Scott McClellan.
Here's our justice correspondent Kelli Arena -- Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the White House press secretary will only say that he did testify, but he won't get into details about what questions he was asked.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I, obviously, want to do my part to cooperate. And if there is something that can help those who are leading this investigation get to the bottom of it, I am more than happy to share that information with them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: CNN has also confirmed other White House officials, including McClellan's deputy, Claire Buchan has testified before the special grand jury, as has former White House press aide Adam Levine and former senior adviser Mary Matalin.
Other administration officials, including top White House political adviser Karl Rove, have been interviewed by the FBI, according to sources close to the case, but, so far, they have not been called before the grand jury. The FBI has been poring over notes, e-mails and phone logs provided by the White House.
But sources say that investigators haven't found any concrete evidence of wrongdoing. So, sources say the FBI's questions have been thorough, but did not lead them to believe that investigators were closing in on anyone specifically. And at least one source is pretty much convinced that the FBI will eventually issue subpoenas journalists -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Kelli Arena, we'll be watching that. Thanks very much.
Stewart's secretary opening up and breaking down. Hear what she said on the stand and what it could mean for Martha Stewart.
And bowing out, how candidates end their bids for office without ending their careers in politics. We'll get to that.
First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Plane crash. An Iranian passenger plane crashed as it prepared to land in the United Arab Emirates, killing 43 people aboard. Three people survived and are in the hospital.
Head scarf battle. France's Lower House of Parliament has overwhelmingly voted to ban students from wearing Islamic head scarves and other religious apparel in public schools. The measure now goes to the Senate, where little opposition is expected. Government officials argue, the law is needed to block rising Islamic fundamentalism and protect France's secular traditions. Arabs and Muslims in and outside France condemned the move.
Taliban prison time. Three Muslims from the Portland, Oregon, area are headed to prison. The men are among six people accused of conspiring to wage war on the United States by trying to enter Afghanistan to join the Taliban.
What's the fuss? A Russian presidential candidate and a critic of President Vladimir Putin who disappeared last week has surfaced in Ukraine, saying he's shocked by all the commotion over his whereabouts. There had been fears that he had been kidnapped or killed.
And that's our look around the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Dramatic and potentially damaging testimony from Martha Stewart's personal assistant today, and what she said could be right at the heart of the case.
CNN's Allan Chernoff is covering the trial. He's joining us now live from New York.
Allan, exactly what happened?
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, in the spotlight today, Martha Stewart's behavior after learning that she was under investigation for her trading in ImClone stock.
On her witness stand was her personal assistant, Ann Armstrong, who said that Martha Stewart changed a message from her stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic. The original phone message said Peter Bacanovic thinks ImClone is going to begin trading downward. Martha Stewart sat down at her assistant's computer, changed that message to read, Peter Bacanovic in reference to ImClone.
But then, the assistant testified, Martha Stewart stood up and told the assistant to change the message back to the original, and that is what Martha Stewart's legal team intends to focus, that she had a momentary lapse and never intended to tamper with government evidence -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Allan Chernoff, with the latest on this case -- Allan, thanks very much.
A last-minute stay of execution for a man convicted of four gruesome murders in California. That tops our "Justice Report."
The U.S. Supreme Court went along with the 9th Circuit Court in postponing the death of Kevin Cooper. He was supposed to be executed last night. But both courts agree DNA evidence in the case needs to be reexamined. Cooper was convicted of hacking to death two adults and two children in 1983.
In New Jersey, opening statements today in the trial of former NBA star Jayson Williams. A jury of four men and 12 women was seated this morning amid concerns over whether they'd seen media stories alleged Williams once shot his dog. Williams faces seven charges for the shooting death of his chauffeur, which prosecutors say was the result of recklessness.
And lawyers for former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski have rested their case without calling any witnesses. Kozlowski and former CFO Mark Swartz are on trial for larceny, accused of skimming $600 million from Tyco to finance lavish lifestyles. Each man faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
The real winners and losers, they may be clear after tonight. Two people who know a great deal about the high political stakes joins us live. That's coming up just ahead, Democratic Congressman Harold Ford Jr. and Republican Peter King. They'll be talking about the Democratic primaries, the stakes involved.
Also, some high stakes and high drama, the political goodbye speech. Who has done it well and who hasn't and what it means for their future, that's coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: As we mentioned at the top of the show, Tennessee and Virginia are holding key primaries today. Joining with us two very different perspectives, Democratic Congressman Harold Ford of Tennessee. He's a national co-chairman of Senator Kerry's campaign. And Republican Congressman Peter King of New York, he's a strong supporters of President Bush, also the author a new novel, "Veil of Tears." We'll talk about that on another occasion.
But, before we get to the politics of the primaries right now, Congressman King, this whole issue of President Bush's military service, the White House responding to that with new documents out today. Is this a real issue or is simply a Democratic attempt to smear the president?
REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: I think it's strictly a Democratic attempt right now.
And there's nothing there. The fact is, President Bush served his country honorably. He served in the National Guard. If there was any problem at all, it would have come out long before this. He wouldn't have gotten the honorable discharge. The person in Texas who was responsible for making sure that he put in the requisite amount of time did that. I think it's really unfortunate to raise it.
And let me just say, John Kerry has an outstanding war record. President Bush served his country honorably. If his unit had been activated, he would have gone to Vietnam. So I think it's a phony issue to raise. I think there's real important issues where President Bush and Senator Kerry have real disagreements. And let's get it on with that.
BLITZER: All right, what about that, Congressman Ford?
REP. HAROLD FORD (D), TENNESSEE: Fair enough.
BLITZER: You don't think it's -- you're not willing to suggest it's a real issue? You want to move on and talk about substance? Is that what you're saying?
FORD: The president says he was honorably discharged. And there's evidence to show he served. Fair enough. Let's move on.
There are more important issues, whether we should report a director of national intelligence, whether we should fully fund No Child Left Behind, many, many issues on the table. And we are ready to debate those issues and to talk about our future.
BLITZER: All right, Congressman Ford, Tennessee holding a primary tonight. What's your sense? Where do the Democrats go from here? The polls, at least going into today, showed Senator Kerry, your candidate winning Tennessee and Virginia.
We'll have to wait a few hours to see if what happens. But what do you see happening?
FORD: We feel good about the direction of the numbers. We feel good about our momentum. We think, after tonight, we'll be a step closer to Boston and having the requisite number of delegates to claim the nomination and to prepare for what we believe will be a fierce and formidable candidate in George Bush in the fall.
One of the things I think will come out of the Tennessee and Virginia results, in addition to John Kerry doing well, is that voters in the South are interested in issues. They're interested in candidates who will come and talk about answers to our intelligence challenge issues, relating to our budget and how we balance it. It will take a lot more than rhetoric and a lot of big talking and tough talking to win the voters in the South.
It is going to take real answers and real ideas. And we're presenting them. BLITZER: Congressman King, in the most recent CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, it shows a very potentially competitive race between Kerry and Bush.
Where do you see John Kerry -- and he's got almost 20 years in the Senate -- most vulnerable, from the Republican perspective?
KING: I think, for instance, in the issue of the war against terrorism. I think Senator Kerry has to have a more coherent policy.
For instance, as far as Iraq, he is very critical of President Bush, but he really doesn't say what he would have done, other than to wait until France and Germany came on board. I can make the point that John Kerry wants to give France and Germany a veto power over our foreign policy.
FORD: That's not true.
KING: No, I think it's a legitimate point to make. And John Kerry will have to say what he would have done differently.
The fact is, President Bush did all he did to get the allies on board. And we got the overwhelming majority of European nations to go with us. France and Germany held out. And President Bush went forward. And Senator Kerry is very critical of that.
BLITZER: Congressman Ford, go ahead.
FORD: Here's what President Kerry would do, will do now.
He will go back before the world community and create incentives for them to join us, the Chinese, the Russians, the members of the Arab community, including France and Germany, who want to be a part of an effort to root out terrorism, not only in Iraq and the Middle East, but who want to transform that region. John Kerry recognizes that we are stronger when the world is with us.
He would have had a different approach than George Bush. He supports removing Saddam Hussein, believes we are safer with him behind bars, but fully understands that America's standing in the world is not as strong as it was three years ago. If we elect a new president, not only will we be stronger here in America, but we'll get a step closer to transforming the Middle East and making it safer.
BLITZER: Congressman King, there's a clear difference between Kerry and Bush on the issue of tax cuts. The president wants to make permanent the tax cuts he got through the Congress in the past few years. Are you comfortable, given the state of the economy, the jobs that have been lost, are you comfortable with that stand personally?
KING: Absolutely. The way to bring jobs back is to have tax incentives, to cut marginal tax rates. It worked under President Kennedy. It worked under President Reagan. It's working right now.
And let's keep in mind, this recession began when Bill Clinton was still the president. We lost many hundreds of thousands jobs before President Bush had the opportunity to take any action whatsoever. Then we had September 11. We, right now, have the fastest growing economy in 20 years. More people own homes than ever before in our nation's history. The housing construction is at record highs, also.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Why are you smiling? You're smiling, Congressman Ford.
FORD: I'm just curious. When is the statute of limitations up on blaming Bill Clinton? We blame him for everything.
We've lost 65,000 in Tennessee. The Carrier Corporation is about to let a few more go here in the next few days. What we need not only is a new plan to create jobs. We probably need a new president. And come November, the voters will have an opportunity to hear -- I should say between now and November -- the voters will have a chance to hear competing plans and competing ideas.
We believe we should lower taxes on small businesses, the real generators of jobs, lower taxes on middle-class family. But if you earn a quarter of a million dollars more a year -- and there are some people sitting in the studio and watching this show who do -- we believe you should suspend your cuts to make investments in education and health care. That's the debate we will have and that's the debate we look forward to in the fall.
BLITZER: Congressman King, very quickly, you get the last word. Go ahead.
KING: That's a debate we look forward to. The fact is, John Kennedy said, a rising tide lifts all ships and tax cuts across the board are what make America work, increase both supply and demand. That's the key to a healthy economy.
(CROSSTALK)
FORD: Three words for you, Wolf. Bring it on. We look forward to it.
(CROSSTALK)
KING: These guys are broken records. But I love Harold Ford, so I can't get too mad at him.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: "Veil of Tears," that's the new book by Congressman King. We recommend it.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: We'll talk about that on another occasion. Thanks to both of you for joining us.
We've seen it before and we're sure to see it again this primary season, the ultimate concession speech, when a candidate bows out of the race.
CNN's Jennifer Coggiola is joining us now live with a right and a wrong way to do it -- Jennifer.
JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. Hey, Wolf.
Well, it's the timing, the emotion, or lack thereof, and the attitude. How candidates bow out says a lot about their character and possibly about their future.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA (voice-over): When it's time to go, it's time to go. Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley.
DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, EISENHOWER CENTER: So, I think, with Nixon, you see both the right way to do it and the wrong way to do it.
COGGIOLA: Richard Nixon, 1960, lost to John F. Kennedy by the slimmest margin. And although the Republican Party urged him to contest it, he opted not to and graciously dropped out. But cut to two years later. Nixon loses the California governor's race.
RICHARD NIXON (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore.
COGGIOLA: Another poor losing strategy, according to Brinkley, Ted Kennedy, whose gracious concession speech was followed by a less than gracious rub on Jimmy Carter later at the convention.
BRINKLEY: So, you live your life as a biography. And you have chapters in it. And how you handle yourself in times of adversity and crisis defines you.
COGGIOLA: A lesson for this season's candidates.
STUART ROTHENBERG, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: The best way is to say you fought the good fight, congratulate the winners, say you made a contribution and you're going to continue to work to help the party. That way, you've pleased everybody.
REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT (D), MISSOURI: I love this country. And I love my family.
COGGIOLA: That, political pundits say, is exactly what the latest rounds of Democratic concession speeches have accomplished.
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA: To bow out gracefully or make like a sore loser, choices candidate make that could write their last chapter in those history books -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Good advice to some of the candidates right now.
Jennifer Coggiola, thank you very much.
The cat's out of the bag. It's a story stretching from Asia to Omaha, details in our picture of the day. You'll want to see this -- that and the results of our "Web Question of the Day" when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Something new at the zoo, it's our picture of the day.
These Indo-Chinese tiger cubs made their official debut today at the Omaha, Nebraska, Zoo. They were born December 23, but have spent the last seven weeks in seclusion with their mother. The parents came from a zoo in Malaysia. And the entire family is part of a genetic diversity program that includes zoos in San Diego and Brooklyn.
Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of the Day": Does President Bush's releasing his military records clear up questions about his service? Forty percent of you said yes; 60 percent said no. As always, we remind you, this is not a scientific poll.
Let's get to some of your e-mail. We are getting flood with e- mail, many of our viewers writing about the release of President Bush's military records.
Charlie writes this: "I thought all these records and pay stubs were looked for very hard when Bush was running for governor. It seems a bit fishy that these records are all of sudden found two days after an on-air request from Tim Russert."
Grant asks this: "Are we really supposed to believe that no one in the Alabama Air National Guard can remember serving with an individual who became president? While 30 years is a long time, I can remember who I served with in the Korean War and none of them became president or had a father who was a president."
And this from Peter: "There are real issues plaguing the country, from the economy to terrorism. But the issues on the president about his military service will do nothing to fix those problems. Let us get back to what is important."
A reminder, you can always catch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS weekdays at this time, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Tune in tonight for our special coverage of America votes 2004, the Tennessee and Virginia primaries. Our complete coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, in one hour. Then, join me at 11:00 p.m. Eastern. We'll have all the latest numbers, analysis and impact of today's Southern showdown.
Until then, thanks very much for watching.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 10, 2004 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now in two hours. The polls close in Virginia. An hour later they close in Tennessee. Who will be left standing when the ballots are counted? We have preliminary word on what voters are thinking. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
Showdown in the south.
Can they help Kerry's march on their home ground?
The records. Did the president complete his military duty?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These documents outline the days on which he was paid. That means he served.
BLITZER: Do they tell the whole story?
Iraq attacks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a lot of good days here, but we've also had a lot of bad days. Bad days like today.
BLITZER: A massive car bomb leaves dozens dead near Baghdad.
Stock sale. A day after breaking down on the stand, Martha Stewart's assistant offers dramatic testimony.
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Tuesday, February 10, 2004.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: A major battle right now is rolling across Tennessee and Virginia. Two states holding pivotal Democratic primaries today. The key question can northerner John Kerry bolster his frontrunner status with a first win in the south among voters who are mostly Democrat or will his two major rivals in those two states, southerners John Edwards and Wesley Clark, for the first time slow the Kerry juggernaut? Up for grabs. A total of 151 delegates.
Our correspondents are right in the thick of the action. National correspondent Kelly Wallace is covering Senator Kerry's campaign in Fairfax, Virginia. Dan Lothian is with the Clark campaign in Memphis, Tennessee. Our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley is with Senator Edwards' campaign in Wisconsin which holds its primary a week from today and Joe Johns is also in Wisconsin covering Howard Dean. We'll get to all of them. First, though, just in from the exit polls in Tennessee and Virginia. For that we turn as we always do to our senior political analyst Bill Schneider. What are we learning?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: A little something. We have three major candidates in those two southern states, Edwards, Clark and Kerry. Three main candidates and what we're finding is three different motivations of the voters who support them.
Let's take a look at Tennessee Democratic voters. We asked them, what's more important to you? Defeating President Bush or making a statement on the issues? A sheer majority. 57 percent of Kerry voters said defeating President Bush is their primary motivation. For Edwards and Clark that was far less important. They were more interested in making a statement on the issues.
What issues? Take a look at the Virginia primary voters. This is the percentage who said their top issue was the economy. Clearly the economy predominated in the minds of Edwards' voters. 42 percent of them said that's what they wanted to vote on. Edwards has talked about two Americas. One, wealthy and privileged, the other ordinary working people. Far less important to Kerry and Clark voters.
Top issue Iraq to Virginia voters. Yes, Clark. Virginia primary voters who supported Clark, this was their top issue, one-third cited the Iraq issue. It was far less important to John Kerry voters or very little importance to John Edwards voters. So I think what we can conclude is for Kerry voters, it was defeating President Bush. For Clark voters they were angry about Iraq. For Edwards' voters they were angry about the economy.
We're learning a lot more from these exit polls. We'll be reporting those throughout the night here in our special coverage, thanks, Bill, very much.
Joining us now from Fairfax, Virginia with the latest on the Kerry campaign. Our national correspondent, Kelly Wallace -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, John Kerry says he's hopeful and he's not taking anything for granted. That said, his aides believe it is very possible he could be victorious in both states tonight. Tennessee and Virginia and they say to put this into context, just a month ago, John Kerry was in single digits in the polls in both states.
The senator spending time earlier today in Memphis, Tennessee, before coming here to Virginia. If he does win in Virginia and Tennessee, it would show that he could win with Democratic primary voters in the south, It could also force one of his southern opponents, John Edwards or Wesley Clark out of the race. Now the senator, throughout the day, was asked about a controversial issue. The release by the White House of records to try and put to rest any questions about President Bush's National Guard service during the Vietnam war.
The senator saying he is not going to comment on this, he has said all he is going to say on this issue. We asked aides why the senator who commented on this issue a few days is silent now. They say this is an issue for the Bush administration to answer. With the Kerry campaign, I'm Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting from Fairfax, Virginia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Retired General Wesley Clark says he is not watching the polls. Currently down not only here in Tennessee, but also Virginia, he is reaching out to undecided voters. He began his day with interviews on two local radio stations, then tried to get to the voters through their stomachs handing out doughnuts at a Nashville intersection. He also visited several polling places and Clark worked the phones at his Nashville headquarters. At a rally in Nashville Monday night, Clark urged voters to not be influenced by the polls and the frontrunner's momentum.
WESLEY CLARK (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't put much stock in polls. It's really up to the voters of Tennessee to make their own decisions.
LOTHIAN: Clark said he plans to keep going even if he doesn't win here in Tennessee, but having already asked 250 staffers to forego their paychecks for a week, many believe it will be difficult for the campaign to move forward if he doesn't get a win. Dan Lothian, CNN, Nashville.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Candy Crowley at Edwards' campaign election night headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The candidate was not heard much today and only seen briefly in Arlington, Virginia, where he went to greet some voters and some supporters outside one of the polling places just a bridge away from his home in Georgetown. The senator did conduct some interviews into Milwaukee. A signal, of course, that this campaign is moving on. They have made it very clear that they believe tonight is the beginning of the next phase of the Edwards campaign.
The main strategy here is for Edwards to move into Wisconsin and come out of it as the only standing alternative to John Kerry. In fact, they are looking even beyond Minnesota here. They are moving into the March 4, -- March 2, Super Tuesday. Edwards will be going to California for some fundraisers and some events. Edwards has said all along he would like to place a strong second in both Virginia and Tennessee. In any case, what the campaign says is he will move on. Candy Crowley at election night headquarters for the Edwards campaign in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is Joe Johns in Wisconsin. One day after he reversed himself and said he would stay in the race instead of dropping out if he failed to win this state, Howard Dean went to schools in Wisconsin, including Superior this morning taking a tour of a huge new middle school there and giving a speech to a crowd of hundreds of people, both students and adults and independents. He later went to Lacrosse, Wisconsin, taking another tour giving remarks in a couple of science classes and a geography class. He goes on to Milwaukee this evening for a rally. Joe Johns, CNN, Wisconsin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Thanks to all of our correspondents and we'll have much more on the primaries in Tennessee and Virginia coming up this hour. Also other news including devastation in Iraq. A truck belonging to former regime leader Saddam Hussein's intelligence service explodes near a police station. Who's responsible?
Also, investigating the CIA leak. The latest on what the grand jury in Washington is learning about the security breach.
And presidential marching papers. The White House releases documents it says proves Mr. Bush fulfilled his military duty. All that coming up. First, though, today's news quiz.
"Which of the 13 colonies was first to make militia service voluntary? Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia?" The answer, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A massive blast kills dozens in Iraq and now authorities suspect al Qaeda may be responsible for the devastation. We'll have the latest and we'll speak live with two governors visiting the nation. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: U.S. officials are calling it simply a bad day. A truck packed with explosives blew up near an Iraqi police post earlier today killing at least 50 people and wounding three times that many. CNN's Brent Sadler reports from the town of Iskandariyah.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dozens of would-be recruits were lined up at the time hoping to join the ranks of the embattled police now one of the most dangerous jobs in Iraq. Shrapnel tore through parked cars and cut down a large number of people including Iraqi passersby. Many Iraqis here ignored official explanations for the carnage believing wild rumors locally that destruction might have been caused by a U.S. missile. It comes a day after the U.S.-led coalition warned that terrorists were planning to stoke a civil war, through attacks on Iraqi Shiites and U.S. collaborators especially the police.
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMETT, U.S. ARMY: Those are some of the fingerprints, large bomb, car bomb, we don't know at this point whether it was a suicide bomber or whether a person escaped and detonated it.
SADLER: Nor do they know for certain if the hand of this top terror suspect Abu Al Zarqawi was involved. Though in a letter he suspected of sending to al Qaeda, he writes the Iraqi troops, police and agents. These are the eyes, ears and hand of the occupier. And as far as the Shia, we will undertake suicide operations and use car bombs to harm them.
DAN SENOR, COALITION SPOKESMAN: This Zarqawi memo makes it clear that he and al Qaeda forces feel threatened by the growing Iraqi security services. And by their increasing effectiveness.
SADLER: Amid coalition plans to hand over sovereignty by the end of June. As an extension of U.S.-led authority in Iraq the police have been targeted by a systematic campaign of terror attacks in recent months aimed at destroying the courage and resolve of the newborn force. Brent Sadler, CNN, Al Iskandariyah, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And we'll speak shortly with two governors who have just left Iraq, but they were there earlier today. That's still to come. Also the president's military service called into question. The White House responding forcefully, but is it enough to answer the president's critics? Investigating the motive behind the CIA identity leak. We have new details. That's coming up as well.
And call them the pick of the litter. Coming up, rolling out the red carpet for a trio of cuddly cubs. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. A half dozen U.S. governors are on a two-day surprise trip to Iraq visiting troops from their states. Among them, New York Republican Governor George Pataki and Louisiana Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco. For security reasons the governors are overnighting in Jordan. They are joining us now live from Amman. Governors, thanks so much for joining us. Governor Pataki, how did this trip come about? We were surprised you and your colleagues were in Baghdad.
GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: Well, Wolf, the White House asked me some time ago and asked the other governors as well if we would undertake this trip first to visit with the troops from our home states in our role as commander in chief to say hello to them and thank them for their service and second, to get a first-hand feeling to the extent you can in a limited amount of time of what is happening on the streets of Baghdad and the streets of Iraq and I think it was a worthwhile experience for me and I think for the other governors today.
BLITZER: Governor Blanco, what did you learn today about the situation in Baghdad? A day when we saw this horrific bombing, more than 50 people killed, 150 badly injured.
GOV. KATHLEEN BLANCO (D), LOUISIANA: Well, what we learned was that the situation is extremely complicated. Obviously, the people of Iraq really want peace. They want to live a normal existence once again. They are happy to be free, Wolf and they express that very freely. They are very comfortable in their world. They want the United States to help them resolve a sensible government, one that can take them through the years without much more conflict.
BLITZER: Governor Pataki, sitting here on this side of the Atlantic, it looks like there's no end in sight. You were there. You actually spoke to Iraqis. Does it look like there's some end in sight to this terrorism, to the killing that's going to?
PATAKI: Wolf, I don't know that in a day we can make projections as to what will happen in the future, but I did talk to ordinary Iraqis on the streets of Baghdad, troops, our soldiers who have been here for a year or more in some cases and universally they say that the situation's getting better. Not just from a security standpoint, but the schools are opening, the health care system is coming back, the lights are coming back and most importantly as Governor Blanco said, I think we all had a sense that the Iraqi people are tasting freedom and they had this overwhelming desire to keep that freedom and that gives me enormous optimism about the future of Iraq.
But today, an al Qaeda memo was released a couple of days ago that points out that al Qaeda believes that they are failing and that they have to ratchet up the efforts to engage in violence to pit Iraqis against Iraqis to prevent us from succeeding here and I think you'll see them try to do that. It was tragic what happened that the police headquarters south of Baghdad today, but what is happening is you're having more Iraqi police officers, more Iraqi security guards. More Iraqis in important positions to provide their own security and that is what in addition to the spirit of the people gives me great cause for hope that the freedom we want for the Iraqi people will come to the people of Iraq.
BLITZER: Governor, Blanco as you know there are a lot of people suggesting faulty intelligence resulted in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. You've had a chance to speak with soldiers from Louisiana while you were there.
Do they get a sense that they're really there for a purpose or they were sold a bill of goods in going to Iraq in the first place?
BLANCO: You know, Wolf, what we found is certainly everyone in the United States is talking about the origins of the war, but the people in Iraq including our own soldiers are simply trying to get a mission done. They're past the reasons for whatever has happened. In fact, some of them said so. What they're trying to do is solve the current problems as they exist today. They're less concerned about the political reasons that got us here in the first place, but, of course, that is a concern in our country because I know the president and everyone wants solid information to base decisions on.
BLITZER: Governor Blanco, thank you very much for joining us.
One final question for you, Governor Pataki before I let you go. A let of your friends in New York State want to know this, were you square scared?
PATAKI: You can't be scared when you see the brave men and women who are out there risking their lives. We were given enormous security, and it was those young men and women who were providing that security. Standing outside the armored vehicles, going out in the dark when there was some concerns with their night vision goggles. So when you see their courage, when you see their strength and the face and the risks that they face and it gives you enormous strength and courage as well. So, I felt proud of them and secure because of them.
BLITZER: The governors are New York and Louisiana have a safe trip back. Thank you very much for joining us.
While John Kerry and Wesley Clark trumpet their military service on the campaign trail, Democrats have raised serious questions about President Bush's military service and are that center the white house rummaging through the national guard records.
Let's go live to our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it's become a very hot political issue. It's also an issue of credibility here. That is why White House is releasing these do you means and hopes that it puts this whole thing to rest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): In a effort to silence the critic, the white house released new documents that it claims shows President Bush fulfill his national guard duty during Vietnam.
SCOTT MCGELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY.: When you serve for the national guard you I are paid for the days on which you serve.
MALVEAUX: The documents include point summaries and payroll records that White House says shows Mr. Bush logged the time required between 1972 to 1974 to be considered active in the national guard. He received what military analysts considered only a passing grade for his time, 56 points out of 50-point minimum. The personnel director are the Texas Air National Guard asked to review Mr. Bush's record by the White House issued a statement saying this clearly shows that First Lieutenant George W. Bush has satisfactory years for both 72-73 and 73-74 which proves he completed his obligation in a satisfactory manner. One point of contention a controversial six-month period when Mr. Bush transferred to a guard unit in Alabama. No one has come forward to attest he she showed up for service, including his former commander. But the president stays by his own memories.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There may not be no evidence, but did I report.
MALVEAUX: But the head of the National Democratic Committee says "there is still no evidence that George W. Bush showed up for duty as ordered while in Alabama." Senator John Kerry the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination and Vietnam War hero regularly campaigns with his band of brothers from his military days. Republicans are accusing the Democrats of attacking Mr. Bush's military record to score political points.
ED GILLESPIE, RNC CHAIRMAN: It's the kind of tactic I think we need get used to. It's the kind of dirty politics that the Democrats are intent in engaging in this election year.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Now, Wolf, despite the release of these documents there are still holes about where President Bush was and when, but they say he was honorably discharged. Of course, a White House official is hoping that people will focus his military leadership as commander-in-chief and not focus on his record from some 30 years ago, but they stand by it, Wolf.
BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux, at the White House. Thanks Suzanne.
Here's your turn to weigh in on this important story. Our web "Question of the Day" are this. Does President Bush's releasing his military records clear up questions about a service. You can vote right now. Go to cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.
Weapons whereabouts. What the government knew about Iraq's capabilities during the Clinton years. I'll speak with a former Defense Secretary William Cohen.
Tearful testimony. Hear what Martha Stewart's assistant said that caused a breakdown on the stand. We'll go live to the courthouse.
And conceding defeat. The right and wrong way for candidates to pull out when time's up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Earlier we asked, of the 13 colonies was first to make militia service voluntary?
The answer, Pennsylvania. The Army National Guard is considered the oldest of the U.S. Armed forces tracing its beginnings to the early colonists. Dominated by Quaker influences, Pennsylvania, unlike other colonies, did not require ape are able-bodied men to serve in the militia.
Key primaries, Democratic voters hit the polls in two southern states.
Will frontrunner John Kerry strengthen his status by picking up another win or two?
Our coverage continues. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN, I'm Wolf Blitzer at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. What information did the U.S. have prior to the Bush administration? I'll speak with the former Defense Secretary William Cohen. We'll get to all of that -- first, though, a quick check of the latest headlines.
A memorial is beginning right now in Sarasota, Florida, for Carlie Brucia. A car wash surveillance camera recorded her kidnapping February 1 and led to the arrest of a suspect two days later. The girl's body was found Friday.
State agriculture officials confirm the so-called bird flu in a second poultry farm in Delaware. The strain does not affect humans, unlike a related virus that killed at least 19 people in Asia, but the outbreak is threatening severe damage to the industry, with at least six countries now banning all U.S. poultry imports.
An update now on a story we brought you yesterday. A spokesman for American Airlines tells CNN the pilot who asked Christian passengers to identify themselves Friday is not scheduled to fly in the near future. The airline would not give specifics on discipline for the pilot and is still not releasing his name. The pilot's message to passengers on the Los-Angeles-to-New-York flight prompted several complaints from the cabin.
President Bush last week named a blue-ribbon panel to look into U.S. intelligence operations, conceding that prewar assessments of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction were not all they were cracked up to be, but his is not the first administration to attack Iraq over weapons concerns.
Earlier today, I spoke with William Cohen, the former GOP senator who served as defense secretary under President Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Secretary Cohen, thanks very much for joining us. Welcome back. I know you just got back from Germany.
Let's talk about what you knew. When you left office in January 2001 as secretary of defense, were you then convinced that there were stockpiles, significant stockpiles of Iraqi chemical and biological weapons?
WILLIAM COHEN, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY: What we were convinced of at that time, Wolf, was that he had stockpiles in the past. He had used them in the past, and that we assumed that he'd continue to have those stockpiles, and that when he threw the inspectors out in 1998, we took that as another indication that he was barring those inspectors from getting at those stockpiles. And so we launched a military operation called Desert Fox. But, basically, we were working on assumptions, past possession, past use, and the fact that his son-in-law had directed the inspectors to stockpiles that they then discovered. And, so a lot of this was based on assumptions.
BLITZER: When you say that he threw the inspectors out in 1998, you, in effect, asked the inspectors leave when you decided to launch military operations, for their own safety and their security. He never formally kicked them out.
COHEN: No.
What happened is that Mr. Butler, Ambassador Butler, at that time went back for a two-week period to conduct his investigation. You may recall that Saddam, at the last moment, in November of that year, had agreed to allow the inspectors to come back in to complete their mission. Ambassador Butler went back in for a two-week period and then to determine whether Saddam was going to fully cooperate.
When Butler came back after December 14, he indicated that Saddam was basically stonewalling, no cooperation and, therefore, the military action was taken. And so it was tantamount at that point, once Butler came back and filed his report, that Saddam was never going to comply with the inspectors.
BLITZER: How could intelligence. You say he assumed that he had stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons. Clearly, the Bush administration had the same assumption, but it's one thing to assume. It's another thing to know.
COHEN: Right.
BLITZER: How could the intelligence community apparently have gotten it so wrong?
COHEN: Well, the intelligence community will have to actually answer to the blue-ribbon commission that's been set up, in terms of what information did they -- did the administration have and from what sources did it come?
Ordinarily, you never rely upon single-source reporting, unless it's really overwhelming evidence from a very credible source, but you try to establish a matrix of intelligence sources and play one off against the other to see whether there's any kind of commonality based upon their past credibility. We'll have to wait and see what information the president and his advisers had at that time.
Based on our assumptions, again, back in 1998, forward to the year 2000, we assumed that we had him reasonably well contained and that we had destroyed missile production facilities and would take him anywhere from 18 months to two years to reconstitute. So we felt at that time that we had sufficiently contained him.
Now, the new administration coming in may have had additional information which led the president to believe that the threat was growing and thereby prompted him to take military action. We did not have that at that time that I left office.
BLITZER: Secretary Cohen, unfortunately, we have to leave it right there. Thanks for joining us.
COHEN: My pleasure.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Now to the news leak which outed a CIA operative. The FBI has been working for months to find out who blew the cover of Valerie Plame, wife of the former U.S. Ambassador Joe Wilson.
Four current and former members of the Bush administration have now testified before a federal grand jury in Washington, among them, the White House press secretary, Scott McClellan.
Here's our justice correspondent Kelli Arena -- Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the White House press secretary will only say that he did testify, but he won't get into details about what questions he was asked.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I, obviously, want to do my part to cooperate. And if there is something that can help those who are leading this investigation get to the bottom of it, I am more than happy to share that information with them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: CNN has also confirmed other White House officials, including McClellan's deputy, Claire Buchan has testified before the special grand jury, as has former White House press aide Adam Levine and former senior adviser Mary Matalin.
Other administration officials, including top White House political adviser Karl Rove, have been interviewed by the FBI, according to sources close to the case, but, so far, they have not been called before the grand jury. The FBI has been poring over notes, e-mails and phone logs provided by the White House.
But sources say that investigators haven't found any concrete evidence of wrongdoing. So, sources say the FBI's questions have been thorough, but did not lead them to believe that investigators were closing in on anyone specifically. And at least one source is pretty much convinced that the FBI will eventually issue subpoenas journalists -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Kelli Arena, we'll be watching that. Thanks very much.
Stewart's secretary opening up and breaking down. Hear what she said on the stand and what it could mean for Martha Stewart.
And bowing out, how candidates end their bids for office without ending their careers in politics. We'll get to that.
First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Plane crash. An Iranian passenger plane crashed as it prepared to land in the United Arab Emirates, killing 43 people aboard. Three people survived and are in the hospital.
Head scarf battle. France's Lower House of Parliament has overwhelmingly voted to ban students from wearing Islamic head scarves and other religious apparel in public schools. The measure now goes to the Senate, where little opposition is expected. Government officials argue, the law is needed to block rising Islamic fundamentalism and protect France's secular traditions. Arabs and Muslims in and outside France condemned the move.
Taliban prison time. Three Muslims from the Portland, Oregon, area are headed to prison. The men are among six people accused of conspiring to wage war on the United States by trying to enter Afghanistan to join the Taliban.
What's the fuss? A Russian presidential candidate and a critic of President Vladimir Putin who disappeared last week has surfaced in Ukraine, saying he's shocked by all the commotion over his whereabouts. There had been fears that he had been kidnapped or killed.
And that's our look around the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Dramatic and potentially damaging testimony from Martha Stewart's personal assistant today, and what she said could be right at the heart of the case.
CNN's Allan Chernoff is covering the trial. He's joining us now live from New York.
Allan, exactly what happened?
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, in the spotlight today, Martha Stewart's behavior after learning that she was under investigation for her trading in ImClone stock.
On her witness stand was her personal assistant, Ann Armstrong, who said that Martha Stewart changed a message from her stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic. The original phone message said Peter Bacanovic thinks ImClone is going to begin trading downward. Martha Stewart sat down at her assistant's computer, changed that message to read, Peter Bacanovic in reference to ImClone.
But then, the assistant testified, Martha Stewart stood up and told the assistant to change the message back to the original, and that is what Martha Stewart's legal team intends to focus, that she had a momentary lapse and never intended to tamper with government evidence -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Allan Chernoff, with the latest on this case -- Allan, thanks very much.
A last-minute stay of execution for a man convicted of four gruesome murders in California. That tops our "Justice Report."
The U.S. Supreme Court went along with the 9th Circuit Court in postponing the death of Kevin Cooper. He was supposed to be executed last night. But both courts agree DNA evidence in the case needs to be reexamined. Cooper was convicted of hacking to death two adults and two children in 1983.
In New Jersey, opening statements today in the trial of former NBA star Jayson Williams. A jury of four men and 12 women was seated this morning amid concerns over whether they'd seen media stories alleged Williams once shot his dog. Williams faces seven charges for the shooting death of his chauffeur, which prosecutors say was the result of recklessness.
And lawyers for former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski have rested their case without calling any witnesses. Kozlowski and former CFO Mark Swartz are on trial for larceny, accused of skimming $600 million from Tyco to finance lavish lifestyles. Each man faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
The real winners and losers, they may be clear after tonight. Two people who know a great deal about the high political stakes joins us live. That's coming up just ahead, Democratic Congressman Harold Ford Jr. and Republican Peter King. They'll be talking about the Democratic primaries, the stakes involved.
Also, some high stakes and high drama, the political goodbye speech. Who has done it well and who hasn't and what it means for their future, that's coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: As we mentioned at the top of the show, Tennessee and Virginia are holding key primaries today. Joining with us two very different perspectives, Democratic Congressman Harold Ford of Tennessee. He's a national co-chairman of Senator Kerry's campaign. And Republican Congressman Peter King of New York, he's a strong supporters of President Bush, also the author a new novel, "Veil of Tears." We'll talk about that on another occasion.
But, before we get to the politics of the primaries right now, Congressman King, this whole issue of President Bush's military service, the White House responding to that with new documents out today. Is this a real issue or is simply a Democratic attempt to smear the president?
REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: I think it's strictly a Democratic attempt right now.
And there's nothing there. The fact is, President Bush served his country honorably. He served in the National Guard. If there was any problem at all, it would have come out long before this. He wouldn't have gotten the honorable discharge. The person in Texas who was responsible for making sure that he put in the requisite amount of time did that. I think it's really unfortunate to raise it.
And let me just say, John Kerry has an outstanding war record. President Bush served his country honorably. If his unit had been activated, he would have gone to Vietnam. So I think it's a phony issue to raise. I think there's real important issues where President Bush and Senator Kerry have real disagreements. And let's get it on with that.
BLITZER: All right, what about that, Congressman Ford?
REP. HAROLD FORD (D), TENNESSEE: Fair enough.
BLITZER: You don't think it's -- you're not willing to suggest it's a real issue? You want to move on and talk about substance? Is that what you're saying?
FORD: The president says he was honorably discharged. And there's evidence to show he served. Fair enough. Let's move on.
There are more important issues, whether we should report a director of national intelligence, whether we should fully fund No Child Left Behind, many, many issues on the table. And we are ready to debate those issues and to talk about our future.
BLITZER: All right, Congressman Ford, Tennessee holding a primary tonight. What's your sense? Where do the Democrats go from here? The polls, at least going into today, showed Senator Kerry, your candidate winning Tennessee and Virginia.
We'll have to wait a few hours to see if what happens. But what do you see happening?
FORD: We feel good about the direction of the numbers. We feel good about our momentum. We think, after tonight, we'll be a step closer to Boston and having the requisite number of delegates to claim the nomination and to prepare for what we believe will be a fierce and formidable candidate in George Bush in the fall.
One of the things I think will come out of the Tennessee and Virginia results, in addition to John Kerry doing well, is that voters in the South are interested in issues. They're interested in candidates who will come and talk about answers to our intelligence challenge issues, relating to our budget and how we balance it. It will take a lot more than rhetoric and a lot of big talking and tough talking to win the voters in the South.
It is going to take real answers and real ideas. And we're presenting them. BLITZER: Congressman King, in the most recent CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, it shows a very potentially competitive race between Kerry and Bush.
Where do you see John Kerry -- and he's got almost 20 years in the Senate -- most vulnerable, from the Republican perspective?
KING: I think, for instance, in the issue of the war against terrorism. I think Senator Kerry has to have a more coherent policy.
For instance, as far as Iraq, he is very critical of President Bush, but he really doesn't say what he would have done, other than to wait until France and Germany came on board. I can make the point that John Kerry wants to give France and Germany a veto power over our foreign policy.
FORD: That's not true.
KING: No, I think it's a legitimate point to make. And John Kerry will have to say what he would have done differently.
The fact is, President Bush did all he did to get the allies on board. And we got the overwhelming majority of European nations to go with us. France and Germany held out. And President Bush went forward. And Senator Kerry is very critical of that.
BLITZER: Congressman Ford, go ahead.
FORD: Here's what President Kerry would do, will do now.
He will go back before the world community and create incentives for them to join us, the Chinese, the Russians, the members of the Arab community, including France and Germany, who want to be a part of an effort to root out terrorism, not only in Iraq and the Middle East, but who want to transform that region. John Kerry recognizes that we are stronger when the world is with us.
He would have had a different approach than George Bush. He supports removing Saddam Hussein, believes we are safer with him behind bars, but fully understands that America's standing in the world is not as strong as it was three years ago. If we elect a new president, not only will we be stronger here in America, but we'll get a step closer to transforming the Middle East and making it safer.
BLITZER: Congressman King, there's a clear difference between Kerry and Bush on the issue of tax cuts. The president wants to make permanent the tax cuts he got through the Congress in the past few years. Are you comfortable, given the state of the economy, the jobs that have been lost, are you comfortable with that stand personally?
KING: Absolutely. The way to bring jobs back is to have tax incentives, to cut marginal tax rates. It worked under President Kennedy. It worked under President Reagan. It's working right now.
And let's keep in mind, this recession began when Bill Clinton was still the president. We lost many hundreds of thousands jobs before President Bush had the opportunity to take any action whatsoever. Then we had September 11. We, right now, have the fastest growing economy in 20 years. More people own homes than ever before in our nation's history. The housing construction is at record highs, also.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Why are you smiling? You're smiling, Congressman Ford.
FORD: I'm just curious. When is the statute of limitations up on blaming Bill Clinton? We blame him for everything.
We've lost 65,000 in Tennessee. The Carrier Corporation is about to let a few more go here in the next few days. What we need not only is a new plan to create jobs. We probably need a new president. And come November, the voters will have an opportunity to hear -- I should say between now and November -- the voters will have a chance to hear competing plans and competing ideas.
We believe we should lower taxes on small businesses, the real generators of jobs, lower taxes on middle-class family. But if you earn a quarter of a million dollars more a year -- and there are some people sitting in the studio and watching this show who do -- we believe you should suspend your cuts to make investments in education and health care. That's the debate we will have and that's the debate we look forward to in the fall.
BLITZER: Congressman King, very quickly, you get the last word. Go ahead.
KING: That's a debate we look forward to. The fact is, John Kennedy said, a rising tide lifts all ships and tax cuts across the board are what make America work, increase both supply and demand. That's the key to a healthy economy.
(CROSSTALK)
FORD: Three words for you, Wolf. Bring it on. We look forward to it.
(CROSSTALK)
KING: These guys are broken records. But I love Harold Ford, so I can't get too mad at him.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: "Veil of Tears," that's the new book by Congressman King. We recommend it.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: We'll talk about that on another occasion. Thanks to both of you for joining us.
We've seen it before and we're sure to see it again this primary season, the ultimate concession speech, when a candidate bows out of the race.
CNN's Jennifer Coggiola is joining us now live with a right and a wrong way to do it -- Jennifer.
JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. Hey, Wolf.
Well, it's the timing, the emotion, or lack thereof, and the attitude. How candidates bow out says a lot about their character and possibly about their future.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA (voice-over): When it's time to go, it's time to go. Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley.
DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, EISENHOWER CENTER: So, I think, with Nixon, you see both the right way to do it and the wrong way to do it.
COGGIOLA: Richard Nixon, 1960, lost to John F. Kennedy by the slimmest margin. And although the Republican Party urged him to contest it, he opted not to and graciously dropped out. But cut to two years later. Nixon loses the California governor's race.
RICHARD NIXON (R), CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore.
COGGIOLA: Another poor losing strategy, according to Brinkley, Ted Kennedy, whose gracious concession speech was followed by a less than gracious rub on Jimmy Carter later at the convention.
BRINKLEY: So, you live your life as a biography. And you have chapters in it. And how you handle yourself in times of adversity and crisis defines you.
COGGIOLA: A lesson for this season's candidates.
STUART ROTHENBERG, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: The best way is to say you fought the good fight, congratulate the winners, say you made a contribution and you're going to continue to work to help the party. That way, you've pleased everybody.
REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT (D), MISSOURI: I love this country. And I love my family.
COGGIOLA: That, political pundits say, is exactly what the latest rounds of Democratic concession speeches have accomplished.
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA: To bow out gracefully or make like a sore loser, choices candidate make that could write their last chapter in those history books -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Good advice to some of the candidates right now.
Jennifer Coggiola, thank you very much.
The cat's out of the bag. It's a story stretching from Asia to Omaha, details in our picture of the day. You'll want to see this -- that and the results of our "Web Question of the Day" when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Something new at the zoo, it's our picture of the day.
These Indo-Chinese tiger cubs made their official debut today at the Omaha, Nebraska, Zoo. They were born December 23, but have spent the last seven weeks in seclusion with their mother. The parents came from a zoo in Malaysia. And the entire family is part of a genetic diversity program that includes zoos in San Diego and Brooklyn.
Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of the Day": Does President Bush's releasing his military records clear up questions about his service? Forty percent of you said yes; 60 percent said no. As always, we remind you, this is not a scientific poll.
Let's get to some of your e-mail. We are getting flood with e- mail, many of our viewers writing about the release of President Bush's military records.
Charlie writes this: "I thought all these records and pay stubs were looked for very hard when Bush was running for governor. It seems a bit fishy that these records are all of sudden found two days after an on-air request from Tim Russert."
Grant asks this: "Are we really supposed to believe that no one in the Alabama Air National Guard can remember serving with an individual who became president? While 30 years is a long time, I can remember who I served with in the Korean War and none of them became president or had a father who was a president."
And this from Peter: "There are real issues plaguing the country, from the economy to terrorism. But the issues on the president about his military service will do nothing to fix those problems. Let us get back to what is important."
A reminder, you can always catch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS weekdays at this time, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Tune in tonight for our special coverage of America votes 2004, the Tennessee and Virginia primaries. Our complete coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, in one hour. Then, join me at 11:00 p.m. Eastern. We'll have all the latest numbers, analysis and impact of today's Southern showdown.
Until then, thanks very much for watching.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.
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