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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Jury Selection Begins In Peterson Trial; President Bush Takes Gloves Off In New Add Attacking Kerry; The Story Of A Woman Lost On A Mountain For 5 Days
Aired March 04, 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, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): He's taking the gloves off.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Senator Kerry's been in Washington long enough to take both sides on just about every issue.
BLITZER: But is the president also taking advantage of a nation tragedy?
HAROLD SCHAITBERGER, PRES. INTL. ASSOC. OF FIRE FIGHTERS: Trying to politicize those images is just short of disgusting.
KAREN HUGHES, BUSH ADVISER: It's very tasteful, it's a reminder of our shared experience as a nation.
BLITZER: Eye on al Qaeda. The hunt for bin Laden goes high tech.
Third degree. Very personal questions in the Peterson murder case. But it's the potential jurors who are getting grilled.
Mountain miracle.
ERIC LEMARQUE, SURVIVED AFTER 5 DAYS LOST ON A SNOWY MOUNTAIN: I kept telling myself, I'm not going to let my parents bury me.
BLITZER: A snowboarder's tale of surviving.
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Thursday, March 4, 2004.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: There is new information we're getting right now on the hunt for Osama bin Laden. From secret sensors to spy planes, the United States is keeping a close eye on al Qaeda. As the hunt for bin Laden goes high tech right now. Let's turn to our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. She has details -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, all we've heard about for weeks now is the secret hunt for Osama bin Laden. And officially, of course, the Pentagon, the Bush administration, is not saying very much, saying there is no secret hunt. They're just continuing to look for him.
But, of course, CNN has now learned there is much more to the story. CNN has learned that the U.S. military and intelligence community within days will have a package of high-tech sensors along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan where it believes Osama bin Laden is hiding.
Why are they putting them there? The Pakistani military is putting a lot of pressure on its side of the border. The feeling now is bin Laden may feel that pressure and start to move. So those high- tech censors will be in place.
We are told it will include Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, drones that fly over the area and can spot movements. Higher than that, there will be U-2 spy planes. They will take a broad look at the area. There will be satellites that will feed all of this information and intelligence back to the United States for rapid action.
And, of course, there will be special forces on the ground along the border so if those sensors spot Osama bin Laden on the move, U.S. Special Forces will be ready to move in and grab him -- Wolf.
BLITZER: What about the old-fashioned, low-tech intelligence, human intelligence in this particular case? Are you getting any indications over at the Pentagon that there's progress on this front?
STARR: That is a very key element in all of this, Wolf. The Pakistani military has been moving through some of those tribal areas along the border for several weeks now.
And we are told they are getting good intelligence as they move through and try and shut down some of those sanctuary in Pakistan where it's believed al Qaeda is hiding. They are getting intelligence. People indicating to them that they believe that bin Laden may eventually go on the move.
So that's the type of intelligence that's feeding into all of this, making military and the intelligence community to decide now, finally, it's worthwhile to put those sensors out there 24-7.
BLITZER: Getting ready for a spring offensive on Osama bin Laden. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you very much.
The U.S. military in Iraq is also increasingly concerned over a series of long-range rocket attacks right in the heart of Baghdad. Three rockets, three rockets, were launched into the so-called Green Zone last night. And one landed on the grounds of the heavy fortified coalition headquarters.
The commander of the Army's 1st Infantry Division says recent attacks have been launched from as far as 18 miles away. Three times the range of earlier rocket strikes.
U.S. and Iraqi forces have seized an alleged leader of an insurgents sell in the Sunni Triangle in the town of Ba'Qubah. The U.S. military describes the suspect as a former Iraqi intelligence officer. Thirteen others were arrested, many of them wanted in connection with attacks on coalition forces. A number of weapons were also seized.
Here in the United States President Bush is waste nothing time in going after his Democratic rival. Campaigning in California right now, he's tagging Senator John Kerry as an indecisive waffler, soft on terrorism and eager to raise taxes. The president has been out again today, raising money and raising the ire of Democrats.
Let's go live to White House correspondent Dana Bash. She's joining us from Santa Clara -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORREPSONDNET: Wolf, the president wasted absolutely no time at all going into high gear on his -- in his campaign mode. Really partisan rhetoric from the president, both last night and just in his speech in the last hour, blasting his newly minted opponent in a brand new, highly aggressive stump speech on every one of the issues that will be front and center in the campaign, from tax cuts to terrorism to the war in Iraq.
The president said that John Kerry is someone without a clear plan and somebody who will take the country in the wrong direction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: My opponent has not offered much in the way of strategies to win the war or policies to expand our economy. So far all we hear from that side is a lot of old bitterness and partisan anger.
Anger is not an agenda for the future of America. We're taking on the big issues with optimism and resolve and determination. I stand ready to lead this nation for four more years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now the president is trying in these speeches to paint John Kerry as somebody who has zigzagged on the major issues over the past two decades while he has been in Washington. This is a part of the strategy of the Bush campaign to try to paint a contrast between the senator and the president.
He, of course, is trying to distinguish himself in his advertisements and in his new campaign speeches as somebody who is decisive and strong that will make tough decision.
And all of these speeches that the president has given, Wolf, have been at fund raisers where he has raised $1.5 million just here in California over the past two days -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Dana Bash traveling with the president. Dana, thank you very much.
And with a war chest, that Dana just reported, bulging at the sides, the Bush campaign already spending freely on advertising. But the first commercials are somewhat controversial with critics saying they trade on the 9/11 tragedy. Here's CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (VOICE-OVER): Clearly a historical image. Should it also be a campaign image?
PATTY CASAZZA, WIDOW OF 9/11 VICTIM: My faith has been shaken to the core.
TODD: Some relatives of September 11 victims outraged at new campaign ads from the Bush-Cheney team.
CASAZZA: When I look at the ads and I see Bush standing there and speaking over Ground Zero, I know that in my heart, President Bush failed the 3,000 Americans that died there on that day.
TODD: In two of the ads just rolled out, one somewhat indirect reference to September 11...
AD ANNOUNCER: Come challenges we've seen before, and some were like no others. But America rose to the challenge.
TODD: ... and in one, a shot which we slow-mode, clearly show fire fighters carrying a flag-draped stretcher from Ground Zero.
Now Bush advisers go on the defensive.
HUGHES: ... I think it's very tasteful. It's a reminder of our shared experience as a nation. I mean, September 11 is not just some distant tragedy from the past. It really defined our future.
TODD: And, in fact, victims' relatives are divides. A father who runs a huge database of victims' families told us he's gotten more than 200 e-mails from other 9/11 relatives, all of them expressing outrage over the ads.
But we also spoke to a New York City fire fighter who lost a brother and a cousin on September 11.
JOE ESPOSITO, BROTHER OF 9/11 VICTIM: I like it. It's a constant reminder. It's almost three years now and people are forgetting it already. President Bush was the president when the worst tragedy of the United States happened, on our home turf, and it shows in a good light.
TODD: How does one of the largest fire fighters unions weigh in on this picture?
SCHAITBERGER: Trying to politicize those images is just short of disgusting. We want that ad off the air.
TODD: But check out the t-shirts in the background. The International Association of Fire fighters endorses one John Kerry for president.
The politicization of 9/11 is not new, but this warning to Bush advisers from a former counselor to Democratic and Republican presidents.
DAVID GERGEN, FRM. CLINTON ADVISER: I think it is fair to use 9/11 though you have to be very careful not to exploit the emotions of the families.
But how can you tell the story of the Bush administration and leave out 9/11? That's the core of what happened.
TODD: A fine line that may help to define an election.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: So do those Bush campaign ads cross the line? Just a short while ago I spoke with Bernard Kerik. As you will remember, he is the New York City police commissioner -- he was the New York City police commissioner. He was at Ground Zero right after the 9/11 attacks. He later served the Bush administration as an adviser in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Commissioner Kerik, thanks very much for joining us. Let's get to the issue at hand. Is it appropriate for a political campaign to use these images of 9/11 for political purposes.
BERNARD KERIK, FMR. NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER: Honestly, Wolf, in my opinion I think it is because this is about leadership, it's about the leadership of our country. It's about history. And 9/11 is a major part of our history and that it was the worst day in our country's history. And President Bush was there. He was there on that day. He was there on the days and months after. He has led us through the war on terrorism that I think it should have been started back in 1993. So I think it is important to remind people who has done what for this country.
BLITZER: I know that you're a supporter of the president. But some of the victims' families, people who have survived, they say he's exploiting their personal tragedy for political gain. What do you say to these family members?
KERIK: You know, everybody has differences of opinion. And I've talked to a number of people this morning that thought it was essential for 9/11 to be a part of this political campaign, to remind the public, to remind the voters what reality is, who was there on 9/11, who led us through the aftermath. And also to keep a constant reminder of what could happen in the future. If we don't have the right leadership in the White House today and in the years to come, this will happen again. It happened in '93. We ignored it. It happened to our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, to the Cole, to (UNINTELLIGIBLE), we ignored it.
President Bush didn't ignore 9/11. He's taken us forward. He's fighting the war on terror. We've gone into Afghanistan, into Iraq. Nobody knows the hatred that was coming out of Iraq more than I do. I spent four months there. I think it's essential for the public to be reminded of what al Qaeda can do, what the threat is on this country.
BLITZER: Do you have any lack of confidence in Senator Kerry, for example, in how he could lead the country?
KERIK: Well, I mean, you have to look at Senator Kerry's record. You have to go back, after 1993, after the World Trade Center was attacked in '93, Senator Kerry voted to reduce spending in the intelligence arena. He reduced -- he wanted to reduce spending in the defense arena. You have to look at his record. When you look at his record and you look at what President Bush has done for us in the last three years, I think the end result is clear. I think we need President Bush in office to take us forward.
BLITZER: Commissioner, thanks for joining us.
KERIK: Wolf, thank you.
BLITZER: Later this hour, we'll get a Democratic party perspective, the governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell will be joining us live. To our viewers, here's a chance to weigh in on this story. Our web question of the day is this, Is it appropriate for President Bush to use images from the 9/11 attack in campaign ads? Vote right now. Go to CNN.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.
The search is underway right now and the list is getting long. New scoop, though, on the Democratic vice presidential contenders. I'll talk with governor Rendell. His name is being floated as a possible choice.
Lots of questions and one very sensitive issue. Jury selection begins in the Scott Peterson murder trial. Would you, would you pass the test?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel fortunate to be alive obviously.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Worst case scenario, a snowboarder stranded in the freezing wilderness for days. His amazing survival story. That's coming up.
First, though, today's news quiz. In which state did the first organized snowboarding instructions begin? California, Colorado, Vermont, Utah? The answer coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Happening right now, a powerful weather system sweeping across Texas and Oklahoma. You're looking at these pictures of Dallas where tornado watches and flash flood warnings have just been issued. This is a live picture. You're seeing right now off a highway in Dallas, Texas. Look at that truck, just went off the road due to this dangerous, dangerous storm. We'll continue to update you on what's going on and what's called Tornado Ali. In Texas and Oklahoma, stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The central plains are bracing for violent weather tonight. A front, warm front right now, moving in and strong. So severe storms likely for much of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Take a look at these. These are live pictures from Dallas. Severe weather watches were issued earlier today. Look at the damage already on the ground. Roofs down, trucks overturned. This is only just beginning.
Now further to the north in Tulsa, Oklahoma, also bracing for the worst. Bartlesville, Oklahoma, about 40 miles outside Tulsa, reported 1.8 inches of rain today. In Oklahoma City, in the area of Oklahoma City, some streets already have been flooded. Tinker Air Force Base reported 1 3/4 of an inch of rain as of early this afternoon. CNN meteorologist Brad Huffines is keeping on eye on all of these storm developments. He's joining us from the CNN weather center in Atlanta. Brad, how bad is it?
BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's bad. The good news is most of the heaviest weather has already passed Dallas/Ft. Worth. And you'll notice that Dallas/Ft. Worth being right there has now escaped the heaviest at least of the storms but you did see the storm damage we showed you moments ago. That is likely from straight line winds. Not necessarily tornadoes. Straight line winds, though, in storms like this, you can see how the storms are blowing out, and the way that those trucks are blown sideways the storms could have been anywhere from 90 to 100 mile per hour wind gust storms.
Looking live at KFW, looking at those storms. Very heavy winds moving through there. Again, this is just the beginning of tornado season. This is the first round in Dallas, Ft. Worth. Many more to come as the season moves along. A tornado watch still in effect for northeast Texas through Arkansas. It looks like the heaviest of the storms are already occurring across central Texas. We'll watch it for you all evening long.
BLITZER: Brad, when we hear that some of these winds reaching 80 miles an hour, give our viewers a sense of how dangerous that is.
HUFFINES: That's like a very strong force. You can take an 80 mile per hour wind and imagine standing in it. Look at the side of that trailer you're seeing right there. 80 mile per hour wind, Wolf, hit the side of the trailer. Once it hits the entire side of the trailer it has to go somewhere. In this case it hit the trailer. It went up and peeled the roof off of this trailer.
Had this been a tornado it would have taken the trailer off of its wheels and mountings. This is one of the tell-tale signs of straight line winds, 80 90, 100 miles an hour as opposed to those twisting winds of tornado. Regardless, the people inside that home right there are still without a place to live tonight because of this line of thunderstorms blowing their property across the street in this instance. Again, this just outside of Dallas/Forth Worth.
BLITZER: Just remind our viewers who may be watching, Brad, right now if they happen to find themselves in the path of this kind of storm, what do they immediately have to do?
HUFFINES: One of the hardest things to convince people of especially when they're living in homes that look like this is to leave their property. Go outside where it may be raining or hailing but in situations like this where these large massive storms are coming through with straight line winds at 50, 60 miles an hour. The safest place is usually outside of most mobile homes, especially in tornado watch and warning areas because those are the ones that are the most damaged due to the straight line winds. Again, a tornado watch means that tornadoes are possible. When you hear a warning, it's time to take shelter immediately. The two worst places to be in a warning situation are in a vehicle and also in a mobile home. You see why, this just due to straight line winds.
BLITZER: Brad Huffines reporting from Atlanta. We'll check back with you as we monitor these bad storms in Tornado Ali, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Let's move on to the situation in Haiti, by no means simple or easy, American marines right now in Haiti. They're clearing the streets trying to do so, at least of trash and barricades, merchants are wiping away graffiti supporting the ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide but don't by any means assume peace and stability are anywhere close at hand. Lucia Newman is joining us on the phone from the capital, Port-au-Prince. Earlier today, Lucia, you were talking about looting and pillaging going on in Haiti. What's it like now?
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, right now it's beginning to get dark. There will be a curfew in place in just about one hour's time. But at night, of course, is when it's perhaps most dangerous. That's when the shooting begins, especially in the slums, pro-Aristide armed gangs and those against him have it out at night and usually in the morning you find the bodies. It is still very, very insecure.
We saw in the industrial center people still looting today. The owners of these industries went back and they were absolutely heartbroken. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of property have been destroyed, absolutely thousands and thousands of Haitians that are now absolutely out of a job. While the marines do patrol, as soon as they leave some areas, the looters tend to come right back, Wolf. Now, on the more positive side, today finally the World Food Program, a U.N. agency was able to...
BLITZER: Lucia, I'm going to interrupt you for a second. I want to come right back to you. I want to take a quick commercial break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Still rather chaotic, the situation in Port-au-Prince in Haiti throughout the country even though Jean-Bertrand Aristide now out of the country, CNN's Lucia Newman was reporting. She's on the phone once again joining us from Port-au-Prince. Lucia, sorry we had to interrupt your report. Update our viewers right now, what's happening now and what's the immediate assessment? What's likely to happen over the next few days? NEWMAN: Right now things are relatively calm. Although as I said earlier there are still reports of looting going on. The marines are patrolling so are Chilean troops, French, as well as some Canadians but it's still a very unstable situation. On the more positive side, though, for the first time the U.N. World Food program was able to start distributing food to desperately, desperately needy people here in Port-au-Prince, to orphanages, to house centers. We went to one orphanage who hadn't received any food for nearly a month. The priest in charge was desperate. He said that the children were only eating rice, Wolf.
BLITZER: Lucia Newman reporting on a very chaotic, serious situation still unfolding in Haiti. Thank you very much.
In the United States the Bush administration says it's extremely concerned over an issue that's been driving many American consumers very, very concerned over the past several weeks. Namely, soaring gas prices. Prices at the pump recently topped $1.70 nationwide and some officials warning prices are likely to set a record high this month. Speaking to reporters earlier today the Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham shed no light on what if anything the administration can or should be doing to stem the rising prices tide. Joining us now on a gas station in Marina Delray in California, CNN's JJ Ramberg. How high are the prices where you are, JJ?
JJ RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. I'm just Cosco (ph) in the Marina Delray and this is the cheapest place to get gas in the entire neighborhood. And even here it's over $2. It's $2.11. But taking a look across the country, we're seeing records set. This year in Los Angeles the average price is $2.20. Record high. New York they're seeing almost $1.90. Washington, D.C. where you are, almost about $1.70.
Why is this happening right now? Wolf, this is primarily due to an increase in the price of crude oil. What happens is those prices go up, and that accounts for about 50 percent of what we as consumers pay for gas here at the pump. So prices of crude oil goes up, price of our gas goes up. Unfortunately analysts are saying we're probably not going to see relief any time soon -- Wolf.
BLITZER: That $2.20, JJ, that's regular unleaded gas, is that right?
RAMBERG: Exactly. Regular unleaded gas. It goes up from there.
BLITZER: All right. If you need high (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you're going to be spending a little bit more. Thank you much, JJ, for that report. We'll continue to watch the price of gasoline.
We're also continuing to watch the severe weather in Texas and Oklahoma and Arkansas. Right now, stand by. We'll get more information on what's going on.
Also, he's searching for a running mate and speculation abounds. Who will be Kerry's vice presidential pick? Up next, I'll speak to one man who might be. Pennsylvania's popular governor, Ed Rendell. And deciding justice, he wrote Roe vs. Wade in 1973. Now, more than 30 years later, old files released tell the tale of the late Harry Blackmun.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The Bush campaign dismissed the speech as full of defeatist rhetoric and factual inaccuracies. It has also criticized Senator Kerry for voting against some increases in defense spending in military weapons programs over the years. For more on the GOP's take on Kerry's speech and more, let's turn to Senator Norm Coleman, a Republican from Minnesota. He's joining us now live from Minneapolis.
Senator, thank you for joining us. On one of the most serious charges that Senator Kerry made that the president messed up the capture of Osama bin Laden. What do you make of that?
SEN. NORM COLEMAN (R), MINNESOTA: Well, two observations. First, it's good political rhetoric one could wish the rhetoric's good. But that's all it is Wolf. Two observations and then a response to the question. Senator Kerry is going to be judged on his own record, not his rhetoric. People have to decide that you believe Senator Kerry when he says we have to have strength in intelligence, or do you believe the fact that this guy tried to cut $1.5 billion, $1.5 billion out of intelligence budget right after the first attack on the World Trade Center. So what do you believe?
You believe somebody says we need to strengthen law enforcement or do you believe, Senator Kerry, when he says that he's against the Patriot Act -- which by the way, he voted for the Patriot Act. In terms of putting all the blame and all the negativity on President Bush as you said in the report, some decisions are going to made by ground troops not the president. The bottom line is this president has a clear vision for fighting the war on terrorism and the reality is that Senator Kerry has a terrible record. He shows great passion, by the way, compassion, talking about the families of our troops saying that they have to raise money for (UNINTELLIGIBLE). He voted against the $87 billion supplement appropriations for (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BLITZER: Senator, let me interrupt. The major thrust, though, of his criticism is that the president has needlessly alienated key U.S. allies in the war on terror because of the unilateral, quote, actions the U.S. took against Iraq, and is making matters worse for the U.S. What do you make of -- what do you say to that specific charge?
COLEMAN: Two things. You say in the report we have today where the Germans are stepping forward and saying they're actually going to let go of some of the debt that Iraq owes them. Secondly, you say that we have a larger coalition in Iraq today than we had in Bosnia. And it's one hand when you talk about building coalitions, he's really insulting our allies, insulting the Japanese, insulting the Spanish, insulting the English and across the board. If you're going to build coalitions you got to recognize that there are folks making contributions. Again, it's easy to criticize but what's the Kerry vision? And more important, what's the record? And the record is one of voting against the very equipment and tools that our folks are using today. The record is one of attempting to drastically slash the intelligence budget at a time history has simply proven him wrong.
BLITZER: Senator Norm Coleman. Thank you for joining us.
COLEMAN; Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: New marriages and new pulse. A small-town New York mayor gives some same-sex couples the green light to get married.
Colorado football scandal. Officials announce a new significant step in the investigation. We'll talk live with Colorado's Governor Bill Owens.
Unsolved murders. Is a serial killer responsible for the deaths of several women across six states? Investigators search for a link.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: There's a new front in the battle over same-sex marriage. A small town in upstate New York led a small number of gay couples today even as President Bush gave more details of his support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. CNN's Jennifer Coggiola is joining us now live here with more -- Jennifer.
JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, apparently, you know, besides President Bush's support for that constitutional ban, it's just not dissuading couples from trying and succeeding. Well, one New York town today followed the lead in several other cities over the past few weeks who have taken the plunge.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA (voice-over): This couple in New Paltz, New York, a small town just 75 miles outside of New York City...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, so it turned into a total zoo, right?
COGGIOLA: Following the footsteps of gay couples across the U.S. who've walked down the aisle. Last week in New Mexico Sandoval County, 26 same-sex marriages were performed but all were invalidated by the state's attorney general. And in California...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I now pronounce you spouses for life.
COGGIOLA: 3,400 couples over the last two weeks wed in San Francisco. Following the Bay City's lead, Oakland city council considered a resolution to allow same-sex couples to be wed by the county clerk's office. They're expected to approve the measure mid- March. As a result Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday ordered the state attorney general to ask their highest court to make a ruling on the issue of gay marriages once and for all, and now on the East Coast, New Paltz's Mayor Jason West on Friday wed a dozen couples, despite the state's domestic relation law that's been interpreted as not allowing licenses for same-sex marriages.
MAYOR JASON WEST, NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK: As far as I'm concerned, I'm upholding the constitution and obeying the laws of the state as I see them.
COGGIOLA: But New York's Governor George Pataki interprets it another way.
GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: My view has always been, and I believe it is the law in New York state that marriage in New York is between a man and a woman. Period. That's the law, it's been that way for 200 years.
COGGIOLA: West says he is not worried about any possible political backlash on his decision.
WEST: I'm not a Democrat or Republican, I'm a member of the Green Party. I don't have any higher-ups in my organization trying to quash this for their future political careers which leaves me open to follow my conscience and the constitution as I see it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA: For any couples that didn't make it to the altar on Friday in New Paltz, there's a waiting list on the town's website where any couple can sign up -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Jennifer Coggiola with that story. We'll continue to watch it. Thank you very much.
Priests or predators? A shocking new report on sexual abuse in the Catholic church. New report out today. Numbers so high, they're almost too hard to believe.
Savoring the decision, a serious charge is dropped against Martha Stewart. Where does the trial go from here?
And the controversy continuing. Allegations against the University of Colorado prompts state officials to launch a formal investigation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN.
We're wrapping major developments unfolding right now, including the search for the best running mate for John Kerry. Lots of a names being floated as potential partners. The Pennsylvania governor, Ed Rendell, is one of them. He'll join me live in just a moment.
First, though, let's get a quick check of the latest headlines.
The Homeland Security Department here in Washington is cutting back on air marshals. Actual numbers are kept secret, but Secretary Tom Ridge tells Congress there have been what he calls -- quote -- "modest cuts" from air marshals' ranks and he says there will be more to come.
The University of Colorado says changes have been made to the football recruiting program, which is at the center of allegations of player rape. The move comes after both the university and the governor ordered investigations. Seven women have accused football players or recruits of rape since 1997. So far, no charges have been filed.
In New York, hundreds of gay and lesbian couples converge on City Hall in hopes of getting marriage licenses, but were turned away. Instead, they were given letters explaining that local law bans same- sex marriages. That interpretation was based on a ruling yesterday by New York's attorney general, Eliot Spitzer.
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is spending a quiet day in Boston. With the nomination battle wrapped up, for all practical purposes, attention has turned to choosing a vice presidential running mate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Throughout much of the primary campaign, there was speculation about a Kerry-Edwards ticket. John Edwards said he wasn't interested.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm only interested in being president of the United States.
BLITZER: But that was then and this is now.
EDWARDS: John Kerry has what it takes right here to be president of the United States, and I, for one, intend to do everything in my power to make him the next president of the United States.
BLITZER: Even if Edwards is willing to join the ticket, he's just one of many potential vice presidential candidates, including some other dropouts from the Democratic presidential race, retired General Wesley Clark, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, and retiring Senator Bob Graham of Florida. Potential V.P. candidates also include Florida's other senator, Bill Nelson.
SEN. BILL NELSON (D), FLORIDA: I think I would consider such an offer were it to be made.
BLITZER: There's also talk about another member of the U.S. Senate, former first lady Hillary Clinton.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: I don't think I would ever be offered. I don't think I would accept.
BLITZER: One former governor and current senator being mentioned, Indiana's Evan Bayh.
BLITZER: And if they offer you can the No. 2 spot on ticket?
SEN. EVAN BAYH (D), INDIANA: Oh, I don't think you say no to that kind of thing.
BLITZER: Then, there are these current Democratic governors, Iowa's Tom Vilsack, Virginia's Mark Warner, New Mexico's Bill Richardson.
Are you categorically saying, if offered, you will not accept the vice presidential slot on the Democratic ticket?
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), NEW MEXICO: Well, I've already said that it's not an option. So I'm staying where I am, Wolf.
BLITZER: Is that a categorical no?
RICHARDSON: Well, it's pretty -- yes, it is.
BLITZER: But Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell also are among the names being floated.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And joining us now from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell.
All right, Mr. Governor, tell us what you think. If asked, will you agree to serve?
GOV. ED RENDELL (D), PENNSYLVANIA: Well, first, I'd try to persuade Senator Kerry that I wasn't a very good choice.
I think, No. 1, I haven't achieved the things I want to achieve here as governor. No. 2, I think we need a red state vice president, not a blue state vice presidential candidate. But, of course, as Evan Bayh said, if you're offered it, it's pretty hard to say no. If you're in this business, you believe in yourself and believe in your ability to make a difference, and vice president of the United States is an impactful position.
BLITZER: You're a former mayor of Philadelphia. You're a former chairman of the Democratic Party. Now you're the governor of one of the most important, one of the most populous states in the United States. Wouldn't you be qualified, though, this is the most important factor, God forbid, to step up and become president of the United States? Do you think you're ready for that?
RENDELL: Well, I would bring the pluses that a governor and a mayor's job brings, executive experience, making those tough decisions by yourself, balancing a budget, talking about taxes. But I would have -- one of the biggest liabilities is that I don't have any real foreign policy experiences. I could learn, but that certainly would be a draw back.
BLITZER: So it sounds as if you don't expect to be asked, but even if you're asked, you would try to talk Senator Kerry out of it.
RENDELL: I would because I think it's real important that John Kerry becomes the next president. And although I think I would help, I don't think I'm the best person to help John Kerry get elected.
BLITZER: But Pennsylvania is an important state. Even though it's gone Democratic in recent years, the Republicans are not giving up on Pennsylvania by any means.
RENDELL: No, I think we're the state that President Bush has visited the most since he's been in office.
BLITZER: So he's going to go after your state. And presumably if you're on the ticket, given the fact you were elected statewide as governor, you could help. If it's not going to be you, if it's not going to be you, who do you like? You've always been a straight talker. Tell us who's on your short list.
RENDELL: Well, I think John Edwards is a great campaigner who would bring a lot of energy to the ticket. And it's also a new face, a fresh face. And I sort of like that image very much. But, if not John Edwards, I would go to a red state governor or senator like a Bob Graham or a Dick Gephardt, a congressman, because if we pick up a big red state -- and John Breaux wasn't on your list. I think John Breaux would make a heck of a vice presidential candidate. Louisiana was on your red state.
We pick up a red state with any substantial electoral number of votes, I think it makes it more likely for John Kerry to be president.
BLITZER: One final question, Governor, before I let you go. The fact that the president in his campaign ads now using these images of 9/11, some victims' families say it's not appropriate. Is it appropriate or not appropriate?
RENDELL: Well, look, I think the president's actions post-9/11 are certainly something which he has the right to talk about in his campaign. He has the right to say, in the time of crisis, I was there, I pulled the country together, we built a strong defense against terrorism.
We as Democrats have the right to say where we think he fell short. So I think that's appropriate. Would I have used the towers? I haven't seen the ad, but did they use towers themselves?
BLITZER: Yes, they showed pictures.
RENDELL: I probably would have left that out, but just talked about 9/11.
BLITZER: Governor Ed Rendell, speaking bluntly, as he always does, thanks very much for joining us.
RENDELL: Thanks, Wolf.
BLITZER: Let's turn now to an extraordinary event that saved Roe v. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion in the United States. Just how it happened is spelled out in remarkable detail in the personal files of the late Harry Blackmun, the justice who authored Roe v. Wade in 1973.
Those files were unsealed today, the fifth anniversary of Blackmun's death.
CNN national correspondent Bruce Morton reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRUCE MORTON, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Spring 1992, the Supreme Court seemed set to overturn Roe v. Wade, the decision affirming a woman's right to an abortion. The vote will be 5-4. William Rehnquist will write the decision. But then Anthony Kennedy sends this vote to Harry Blackmun, who wrote the Roe decision in 1973.
"Welcome news," he promises, citing some developments. He tells Blackmun he and two other justices, Sandra Day O'Connor, David Souter, had agreed to uphold Roe.
HARRY BLACKMUN, FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: Justice Kennedy came in and talked to me about it, told me that what was happening and that he was one of the three, which, as far as I was concerned, was a matter of great gratification.
MORTON: Still not clear, though, why Kennedy changed his mind. Roe may have been the most controversial decision Blackmun ever wrote, 60,000 letters of protest and, in 1985, maybe not just mail, either.
BLACKMUN: After the bullet came through our apartment window, there was a little bit of concern.
MORTON: Did he think it was the case he would be remembered for?
BLACKMUN: At first, I didn't feel that at all. I just didn't appreciate it at the time. And, of course, now over the years, it's always been with me.
MORTON: Other moments, a Nixon nominee to the court, he voted with the other justices that the president had to turn over the Watergate tapes. A hard call? Blackmun said no, you have to call them as you see them.
Blackmun's papers include everything from opinions to little notes the justices passed around around while hearing arguments. Potter Stewart, Blackmun notes, always wanted to know how the Cincinnati Reds were doing. Blackmun himself steadily became more liberal, against the death penalty. "From this day forward, I shall no longer tinker with the machinery of death," he wrote in 1994. And on roe, he never wavered.
BLACKMUN: I think it was right in 1973 and I think it's correct today. And I'll stick with my gun on that one.
MORTON: Tapes, half a million pieces of paper, the record of a life.
Bruce Morton, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Bruce, for that report.
Tough questions in the Scott Peterson trial, but, today, they're not for Scott Peterson. Finding a balanced jury for a prominent case, it's not an easy task by any means.
Plus, this;
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIC LEMARQUE, SNOWBOARDER: I kept telling myself, I'm not going to let me parents bury me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Staying alive. He dug his own cave. He even ate pine needles and bark to stay alive. It's a snowboarder's incredible, amazing story of survival. We'll share it with you.
And awaiting her fate. Martha Stewart's future now in the hands of a jury. I'll speak with a man who's followed the trial right from the beginning. All of that coming up.
First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): A German court has overturned a conviction and ordered a new trial for the only man convicted in the 9/11 attacks. The Moroccan man was found guilty last year of aiding the suicide hijackers. The court took the action because the United States refused to allow the defense to obtain testimony from an alleged al Qaeda operative.
French bomb threat. An unknown group is threatening to blow up French trains unless it's paid several million dollars. No explosives were found after 10,000 workers searched the country's entire track system. The government is treating the threat as a criminal case.
Chinese dissident freed. A leader of the 1989 pro-democracy protest in Beijing is on his way to the United States for medical treatment after being released from prison. Wang Youcai was sentenced to 11 years in 1998. It's the third time in a week the communist government has moved on similar cases after lobbying from Washington.
Living dolls, that's what the Japanese call what's billed as first humanoid robot for home use. It walks on two legs, dances, and responds to voice command. The Japanese maker says it will be on the market by the end of the year for about $4,500.
And that's our look around the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Jury selection has started in the Peterson murder trial. Even if you've done jury duty before, this case is probably unlike anything most jurors have ever encountered.
CNN's Jennifer Coggiola is joining us now with more to explain what's going on -- Jennifer.
JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot there, Wolf. Hi.
Over the next five days, about 200 perspective jurors are expected to answer a questionnaire from Peterson's lawyer. That questionnaire a useful legal tool for lawyers to help choose the best juror for their case.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA: Before a juror will ever hear the first question posed to a witness in the double murder trial of Scott Peterson, they'll have to answer some questions themselves first.
ROGER COSSACK, LEGAL ANALYST: These questionnaires are put together a lot of times by sociologists or jury people with the idea of getting more in depth about finding out who is on that jury.
COGGIOLA: One sensitive issue, infidelity.
CYNTHIA COHEN, JURY CONSULTANT: If they've been subjected to one and they have a resentment, they're obviously going to have very strong feelings against Peterson.
COGGIOLA: Jurors will likely only be asked their opinion on the topic.
COSSACK: I don't think there's going to be too many questions saying on that thing, have you ever cheated on your husband or have you ever cheated on your wife?
COGGIOLA: Another issue likely to be raised by the prosecution in this case:
COHEN: If anybody has lost a child before, they may not be able to sit on the jury and be unbiased.
COGGIOLA: Defense questions, according to legal experts, will likely focus on legal issues. Does a juror trust the police or do they understand burden of proof and due process? One telling question commonly used by both sides, do they have a bumper sticker on their car?
COSSACK: And that shows that you're an aggressive person, that you're an affirmative person, and that you don't mind speaking out and telling what you think. COGGIOLA: Another potential obstacle when questioning jurors, someone who lies about their answers, especially concerning the most important question for a capital case like Peterson's, do they support the death penalty.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA: Now, that's an essential question in a capital case like Peterson's, because jurors have to admit they would at least consider executing someone if convicted in order to be seated -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Very interesting. Jennifer Coggiola, thank you very much.
Another trial we're following, it's day two of jury deliberations in Martha Stewart's trial. Lots of people are watching intently, but few have the insight of our next guest.
Alex Prud'homme is covering the trial for "Vanity Fair" magazine. He's been inside the courtroom throughout and has interviewed Stewart in the past. He's also written a book called the cell game about the drug and the company at the center of the stock scandal.
Alex Prud'homme is joining us now live from New York.
Alex, thanks very much for joining us.
Do you want to, first of all, give us your prediction, what you think this jury is going to decide?
ALEX PRUD'HOMME, AUTHOR, "THE CELL GAME": Well, every lawyer I have talked to says you can never predict a jury.
And I hesitate to guess, although the general consensus is, it will probably be a hung jury. The prosecution has put forward a very strong case, I think, lots of little pieces of evidence that draw into question Martha Stewart and her broker, Peter Bacanovic's, story. On the other hand, their lawyers have chipped away at Doug Faneuil, who was the government's key witness.
BLITZER: Eight women, four men on this jury. The fact that there are eight women, what, if anything, should we read into that given the nature of Martha Stewart's business past?
PRUD'HOMME: Well, it's very interesting. There's a female prosecutor, there's a female judge, there's a female defendant in Martha Stewart. Most the jury is female. I don't think all of that is an accident.
And the thing that's interesting is that Martha has not been called to testify. She declined to testify, I should say. And that may be because Martha can be very polarizing, even amongst women.
BLITZER: Do you think that's going to jeopardize her, the fact that she refused to take the stand? PRUD'HOMME: I think it could potentially jeopardize her because her defense only called one witness who wasn't particularly helpful to her.
BLITZER: Alex Prud'homme, joining us from "Vanity Fair," he's been watching this trial every single day. Alex, thanks very much for that assessment.
Lost in the snowy Sierra for days.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMARQUE: Helicopter come over and pull me off of this mountain.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Find out how this snowboarder survived on his own. It's a truly remarkable story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Earlier we asked, in which state did the first organized snowboarding instructions begin? The answer, Vermont. In 1986, Stratton Mountain became the first resort to offer organized snowboarding lessons.
A California snowboarder and former Olympic hockey player is recovering from an ordeal few could have survived. He spent an entire week lost in the frigid Sierra Nevada.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMARQUE: I feel very fortunate to be alive, obviously.
BLITZER (voice-over): This is where Eric Lemarque died, lost in a frozen wilderness. The hockey coach and former player with the French Olympic team was snowboarding alone last month when he left the resort boundaries and couldn't find his way back. For a full week, he survived by eating pine needles and nuts and found shelter in an improvised igloo. Rescuers finally found him sprawled in the snow and barely moving.
LEMARQUE: Never so grateful to see that helicopter come over and pull me off of this mountain.
BLITZER: Lemarque was suffering dehydration, hypothermia and severe frostbite. Doctors had to amputate both his feet.
DR. CLIFFORD KAHN, GROSSMAN BURN CENTER: The entire foot. All of the structures of the foot were involved. It was cold up to about the level of the ankle.
BLITZER: Rescuers say they doubt Lemarque would have survived another night. But he says there was one thought that kept him going.
LEMARQUE: I kept myself focused and mentally with each day, but I kept telling myself, I'm not going to let my parents bury me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Doctors say, after follow-up surgery, Lemarque should be able to walk with temporary prosthetic in six to eight weeks. And Lemarque says he'll be back on the slopes as soon as possible.
A big change for your pocket change. A look at the new nickel, that's coming up next, as is the result of our hot "Web Question of the Day."
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in our "Web Question of the Day." Take a look at this, remembering of course it is not a scientific poll.
The new nickel, it is our picture of the day. The U.S. Mint is changing the design of the 5 cent coin for the first time in 66 years. The front will still bear the likeness of Thomas Jefferson, but the back will feature the Jefferson Peace Medal. It was commissioned for the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803 and was given to Native American chiefs as a goodwill gesture. The old nickel will return in 2006.
A reminder, we're on daily, weekdays 5:00 p.m. Eastern, as well as noon Eastern. Tomorrow at this time, two interviews, my special interview with Senator Ted Kennedy and Jason Alexander, the actor from "Seinfeld." He's just returned from a personal peacekeeping mission to the Middle East.
"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
Takes Gloves Off In New Add Attacking Kerry; The Story Of A Woman Lost On A Mountain For 5 Days>
Aired March 4, 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, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): He's taking the gloves off.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Senator Kerry's been in Washington long enough to take both sides on just about every issue.
BLITZER: But is the president also taking advantage of a nation tragedy?
HAROLD SCHAITBERGER, PRES. INTL. ASSOC. OF FIRE FIGHTERS: Trying to politicize those images is just short of disgusting.
KAREN HUGHES, BUSH ADVISER: It's very tasteful, it's a reminder of our shared experience as a nation.
BLITZER: Eye on al Qaeda. The hunt for bin Laden goes high tech.
Third degree. Very personal questions in the Peterson murder case. But it's the potential jurors who are getting grilled.
Mountain miracle.
ERIC LEMARQUE, SURVIVED AFTER 5 DAYS LOST ON A SNOWY MOUNTAIN: I kept telling myself, I'm not going to let my parents bury me.
BLITZER: A snowboarder's tale of surviving.
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Thursday, March 4, 2004.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: There is new information we're getting right now on the hunt for Osama bin Laden. From secret sensors to spy planes, the United States is keeping a close eye on al Qaeda. As the hunt for bin Laden goes high tech right now. Let's turn to our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. She has details -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, all we've heard about for weeks now is the secret hunt for Osama bin Laden. And officially, of course, the Pentagon, the Bush administration, is not saying very much, saying there is no secret hunt. They're just continuing to look for him.
But, of course, CNN has now learned there is much more to the story. CNN has learned that the U.S. military and intelligence community within days will have a package of high-tech sensors along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan where it believes Osama bin Laden is hiding.
Why are they putting them there? The Pakistani military is putting a lot of pressure on its side of the border. The feeling now is bin Laden may feel that pressure and start to move. So those high- tech censors will be in place.
We are told it will include Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, drones that fly over the area and can spot movements. Higher than that, there will be U-2 spy planes. They will take a broad look at the area. There will be satellites that will feed all of this information and intelligence back to the United States for rapid action.
And, of course, there will be special forces on the ground along the border so if those sensors spot Osama bin Laden on the move, U.S. Special Forces will be ready to move in and grab him -- Wolf.
BLITZER: What about the old-fashioned, low-tech intelligence, human intelligence in this particular case? Are you getting any indications over at the Pentagon that there's progress on this front?
STARR: That is a very key element in all of this, Wolf. The Pakistani military has been moving through some of those tribal areas along the border for several weeks now.
And we are told they are getting good intelligence as they move through and try and shut down some of those sanctuary in Pakistan where it's believed al Qaeda is hiding. They are getting intelligence. People indicating to them that they believe that bin Laden may eventually go on the move.
So that's the type of intelligence that's feeding into all of this, making military and the intelligence community to decide now, finally, it's worthwhile to put those sensors out there 24-7.
BLITZER: Getting ready for a spring offensive on Osama bin Laden. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you very much.
The U.S. military in Iraq is also increasingly concerned over a series of long-range rocket attacks right in the heart of Baghdad. Three rockets, three rockets, were launched into the so-called Green Zone last night. And one landed on the grounds of the heavy fortified coalition headquarters.
The commander of the Army's 1st Infantry Division says recent attacks have been launched from as far as 18 miles away. Three times the range of earlier rocket strikes.
U.S. and Iraqi forces have seized an alleged leader of an insurgents sell in the Sunni Triangle in the town of Ba'Qubah. The U.S. military describes the suspect as a former Iraqi intelligence officer. Thirteen others were arrested, many of them wanted in connection with attacks on coalition forces. A number of weapons were also seized.
Here in the United States President Bush is waste nothing time in going after his Democratic rival. Campaigning in California right now, he's tagging Senator John Kerry as an indecisive waffler, soft on terrorism and eager to raise taxes. The president has been out again today, raising money and raising the ire of Democrats.
Let's go live to White House correspondent Dana Bash. She's joining us from Santa Clara -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORREPSONDNET: Wolf, the president wasted absolutely no time at all going into high gear on his -- in his campaign mode. Really partisan rhetoric from the president, both last night and just in his speech in the last hour, blasting his newly minted opponent in a brand new, highly aggressive stump speech on every one of the issues that will be front and center in the campaign, from tax cuts to terrorism to the war in Iraq.
The president said that John Kerry is someone without a clear plan and somebody who will take the country in the wrong direction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: My opponent has not offered much in the way of strategies to win the war or policies to expand our economy. So far all we hear from that side is a lot of old bitterness and partisan anger.
Anger is not an agenda for the future of America. We're taking on the big issues with optimism and resolve and determination. I stand ready to lead this nation for four more years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now the president is trying in these speeches to paint John Kerry as somebody who has zigzagged on the major issues over the past two decades while he has been in Washington. This is a part of the strategy of the Bush campaign to try to paint a contrast between the senator and the president.
He, of course, is trying to distinguish himself in his advertisements and in his new campaign speeches as somebody who is decisive and strong that will make tough decision.
And all of these speeches that the president has given, Wolf, have been at fund raisers where he has raised $1.5 million just here in California over the past two days -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Dana Bash traveling with the president. Dana, thank you very much.
And with a war chest, that Dana just reported, bulging at the sides, the Bush campaign already spending freely on advertising. But the first commercials are somewhat controversial with critics saying they trade on the 9/11 tragedy. Here's CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (VOICE-OVER): Clearly a historical image. Should it also be a campaign image?
PATTY CASAZZA, WIDOW OF 9/11 VICTIM: My faith has been shaken to the core.
TODD: Some relatives of September 11 victims outraged at new campaign ads from the Bush-Cheney team.
CASAZZA: When I look at the ads and I see Bush standing there and speaking over Ground Zero, I know that in my heart, President Bush failed the 3,000 Americans that died there on that day.
TODD: In two of the ads just rolled out, one somewhat indirect reference to September 11...
AD ANNOUNCER: Come challenges we've seen before, and some were like no others. But America rose to the challenge.
TODD: ... and in one, a shot which we slow-mode, clearly show fire fighters carrying a flag-draped stretcher from Ground Zero.
Now Bush advisers go on the defensive.
HUGHES: ... I think it's very tasteful. It's a reminder of our shared experience as a nation. I mean, September 11 is not just some distant tragedy from the past. It really defined our future.
TODD: And, in fact, victims' relatives are divides. A father who runs a huge database of victims' families told us he's gotten more than 200 e-mails from other 9/11 relatives, all of them expressing outrage over the ads.
But we also spoke to a New York City fire fighter who lost a brother and a cousin on September 11.
JOE ESPOSITO, BROTHER OF 9/11 VICTIM: I like it. It's a constant reminder. It's almost three years now and people are forgetting it already. President Bush was the president when the worst tragedy of the United States happened, on our home turf, and it shows in a good light.
TODD: How does one of the largest fire fighters unions weigh in on this picture?
SCHAITBERGER: Trying to politicize those images is just short of disgusting. We want that ad off the air.
TODD: But check out the t-shirts in the background. The International Association of Fire fighters endorses one John Kerry for president.
The politicization of 9/11 is not new, but this warning to Bush advisers from a former counselor to Democratic and Republican presidents.
DAVID GERGEN, FRM. CLINTON ADVISER: I think it is fair to use 9/11 though you have to be very careful not to exploit the emotions of the families.
But how can you tell the story of the Bush administration and leave out 9/11? That's the core of what happened.
TODD: A fine line that may help to define an election.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: So do those Bush campaign ads cross the line? Just a short while ago I spoke with Bernard Kerik. As you will remember, he is the New York City police commissioner -- he was the New York City police commissioner. He was at Ground Zero right after the 9/11 attacks. He later served the Bush administration as an adviser in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Commissioner Kerik, thanks very much for joining us. Let's get to the issue at hand. Is it appropriate for a political campaign to use these images of 9/11 for political purposes.
BERNARD KERIK, FMR. NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER: Honestly, Wolf, in my opinion I think it is because this is about leadership, it's about the leadership of our country. It's about history. And 9/11 is a major part of our history and that it was the worst day in our country's history. And President Bush was there. He was there on that day. He was there on the days and months after. He has led us through the war on terrorism that I think it should have been started back in 1993. So I think it is important to remind people who has done what for this country.
BLITZER: I know that you're a supporter of the president. But some of the victims' families, people who have survived, they say he's exploiting their personal tragedy for political gain. What do you say to these family members?
KERIK: You know, everybody has differences of opinion. And I've talked to a number of people this morning that thought it was essential for 9/11 to be a part of this political campaign, to remind the public, to remind the voters what reality is, who was there on 9/11, who led us through the aftermath. And also to keep a constant reminder of what could happen in the future. If we don't have the right leadership in the White House today and in the years to come, this will happen again. It happened in '93. We ignored it. It happened to our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, to the Cole, to (UNINTELLIGIBLE), we ignored it.
President Bush didn't ignore 9/11. He's taken us forward. He's fighting the war on terror. We've gone into Afghanistan, into Iraq. Nobody knows the hatred that was coming out of Iraq more than I do. I spent four months there. I think it's essential for the public to be reminded of what al Qaeda can do, what the threat is on this country.
BLITZER: Do you have any lack of confidence in Senator Kerry, for example, in how he could lead the country?
KERIK: Well, I mean, you have to look at Senator Kerry's record. You have to go back, after 1993, after the World Trade Center was attacked in '93, Senator Kerry voted to reduce spending in the intelligence arena. He reduced -- he wanted to reduce spending in the defense arena. You have to look at his record. When you look at his record and you look at what President Bush has done for us in the last three years, I think the end result is clear. I think we need President Bush in office to take us forward.
BLITZER: Commissioner, thanks for joining us.
KERIK: Wolf, thank you.
BLITZER: Later this hour, we'll get a Democratic party perspective, the governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell will be joining us live. To our viewers, here's a chance to weigh in on this story. Our web question of the day is this, Is it appropriate for President Bush to use images from the 9/11 attack in campaign ads? Vote right now. Go to CNN.com/wolf. We'll have the results later in this broadcast.
The search is underway right now and the list is getting long. New scoop, though, on the Democratic vice presidential contenders. I'll talk with governor Rendell. His name is being floated as a possible choice.
Lots of questions and one very sensitive issue. Jury selection begins in the Scott Peterson murder trial. Would you, would you pass the test?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel fortunate to be alive obviously.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Worst case scenario, a snowboarder stranded in the freezing wilderness for days. His amazing survival story. That's coming up.
First, though, today's news quiz. In which state did the first organized snowboarding instructions begin? California, Colorado, Vermont, Utah? The answer coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Happening right now, a powerful weather system sweeping across Texas and Oklahoma. You're looking at these pictures of Dallas where tornado watches and flash flood warnings have just been issued. This is a live picture. You're seeing right now off a highway in Dallas, Texas. Look at that truck, just went off the road due to this dangerous, dangerous storm. We'll continue to update you on what's going on and what's called Tornado Ali. In Texas and Oklahoma, stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The central plains are bracing for violent weather tonight. A front, warm front right now, moving in and strong. So severe storms likely for much of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Take a look at these. These are live pictures from Dallas. Severe weather watches were issued earlier today. Look at the damage already on the ground. Roofs down, trucks overturned. This is only just beginning.
Now further to the north in Tulsa, Oklahoma, also bracing for the worst. Bartlesville, Oklahoma, about 40 miles outside Tulsa, reported 1.8 inches of rain today. In Oklahoma City, in the area of Oklahoma City, some streets already have been flooded. Tinker Air Force Base reported 1 3/4 of an inch of rain as of early this afternoon. CNN meteorologist Brad Huffines is keeping on eye on all of these storm developments. He's joining us from the CNN weather center in Atlanta. Brad, how bad is it?
BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's bad. The good news is most of the heaviest weather has already passed Dallas/Ft. Worth. And you'll notice that Dallas/Ft. Worth being right there has now escaped the heaviest at least of the storms but you did see the storm damage we showed you moments ago. That is likely from straight line winds. Not necessarily tornadoes. Straight line winds, though, in storms like this, you can see how the storms are blowing out, and the way that those trucks are blown sideways the storms could have been anywhere from 90 to 100 mile per hour wind gust storms.
Looking live at KFW, looking at those storms. Very heavy winds moving through there. Again, this is just the beginning of tornado season. This is the first round in Dallas, Ft. Worth. Many more to come as the season moves along. A tornado watch still in effect for northeast Texas through Arkansas. It looks like the heaviest of the storms are already occurring across central Texas. We'll watch it for you all evening long.
BLITZER: Brad, when we hear that some of these winds reaching 80 miles an hour, give our viewers a sense of how dangerous that is.
HUFFINES: That's like a very strong force. You can take an 80 mile per hour wind and imagine standing in it. Look at the side of that trailer you're seeing right there. 80 mile per hour wind, Wolf, hit the side of the trailer. Once it hits the entire side of the trailer it has to go somewhere. In this case it hit the trailer. It went up and peeled the roof off of this trailer.
Had this been a tornado it would have taken the trailer off of its wheels and mountings. This is one of the tell-tale signs of straight line winds, 80 90, 100 miles an hour as opposed to those twisting winds of tornado. Regardless, the people inside that home right there are still without a place to live tonight because of this line of thunderstorms blowing their property across the street in this instance. Again, this just outside of Dallas/Forth Worth.
BLITZER: Just remind our viewers who may be watching, Brad, right now if they happen to find themselves in the path of this kind of storm, what do they immediately have to do?
HUFFINES: One of the hardest things to convince people of especially when they're living in homes that look like this is to leave their property. Go outside where it may be raining or hailing but in situations like this where these large massive storms are coming through with straight line winds at 50, 60 miles an hour. The safest place is usually outside of most mobile homes, especially in tornado watch and warning areas because those are the ones that are the most damaged due to the straight line winds. Again, a tornado watch means that tornadoes are possible. When you hear a warning, it's time to take shelter immediately. The two worst places to be in a warning situation are in a vehicle and also in a mobile home. You see why, this just due to straight line winds.
BLITZER: Brad Huffines reporting from Atlanta. We'll check back with you as we monitor these bad storms in Tornado Ali, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Let's move on to the situation in Haiti, by no means simple or easy, American marines right now in Haiti. They're clearing the streets trying to do so, at least of trash and barricades, merchants are wiping away graffiti supporting the ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide but don't by any means assume peace and stability are anywhere close at hand. Lucia Newman is joining us on the phone from the capital, Port-au-Prince. Earlier today, Lucia, you were talking about looting and pillaging going on in Haiti. What's it like now?
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, right now it's beginning to get dark. There will be a curfew in place in just about one hour's time. But at night, of course, is when it's perhaps most dangerous. That's when the shooting begins, especially in the slums, pro-Aristide armed gangs and those against him have it out at night and usually in the morning you find the bodies. It is still very, very insecure.
We saw in the industrial center people still looting today. The owners of these industries went back and they were absolutely heartbroken. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of property have been destroyed, absolutely thousands and thousands of Haitians that are now absolutely out of a job. While the marines do patrol, as soon as they leave some areas, the looters tend to come right back, Wolf. Now, on the more positive side, today finally the World Food Program, a U.N. agency was able to...
BLITZER: Lucia, I'm going to interrupt you for a second. I want to come right back to you. I want to take a quick commercial break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Still rather chaotic, the situation in Port-au-Prince in Haiti throughout the country even though Jean-Bertrand Aristide now out of the country, CNN's Lucia Newman was reporting. She's on the phone once again joining us from Port-au-Prince. Lucia, sorry we had to interrupt your report. Update our viewers right now, what's happening now and what's the immediate assessment? What's likely to happen over the next few days? NEWMAN: Right now things are relatively calm. Although as I said earlier there are still reports of looting going on. The marines are patrolling so are Chilean troops, French, as well as some Canadians but it's still a very unstable situation. On the more positive side, though, for the first time the U.N. World Food program was able to start distributing food to desperately, desperately needy people here in Port-au-Prince, to orphanages, to house centers. We went to one orphanage who hadn't received any food for nearly a month. The priest in charge was desperate. He said that the children were only eating rice, Wolf.
BLITZER: Lucia Newman reporting on a very chaotic, serious situation still unfolding in Haiti. Thank you very much.
In the United States the Bush administration says it's extremely concerned over an issue that's been driving many American consumers very, very concerned over the past several weeks. Namely, soaring gas prices. Prices at the pump recently topped $1.70 nationwide and some officials warning prices are likely to set a record high this month. Speaking to reporters earlier today the Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham shed no light on what if anything the administration can or should be doing to stem the rising prices tide. Joining us now on a gas station in Marina Delray in California, CNN's JJ Ramberg. How high are the prices where you are, JJ?
JJ RAMBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. I'm just Cosco (ph) in the Marina Delray and this is the cheapest place to get gas in the entire neighborhood. And even here it's over $2. It's $2.11. But taking a look across the country, we're seeing records set. This year in Los Angeles the average price is $2.20. Record high. New York they're seeing almost $1.90. Washington, D.C. where you are, almost about $1.70.
Why is this happening right now? Wolf, this is primarily due to an increase in the price of crude oil. What happens is those prices go up, and that accounts for about 50 percent of what we as consumers pay for gas here at the pump. So prices of crude oil goes up, price of our gas goes up. Unfortunately analysts are saying we're probably not going to see relief any time soon -- Wolf.
BLITZER: That $2.20, JJ, that's regular unleaded gas, is that right?
RAMBERG: Exactly. Regular unleaded gas. It goes up from there.
BLITZER: All right. If you need high (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you're going to be spending a little bit more. Thank you much, JJ, for that report. We'll continue to watch the price of gasoline.
We're also continuing to watch the severe weather in Texas and Oklahoma and Arkansas. Right now, stand by. We'll get more information on what's going on.
Also, he's searching for a running mate and speculation abounds. Who will be Kerry's vice presidential pick? Up next, I'll speak to one man who might be. Pennsylvania's popular governor, Ed Rendell. And deciding justice, he wrote Roe vs. Wade in 1973. Now, more than 30 years later, old files released tell the tale of the late Harry Blackmun.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The Bush campaign dismissed the speech as full of defeatist rhetoric and factual inaccuracies. It has also criticized Senator Kerry for voting against some increases in defense spending in military weapons programs over the years. For more on the GOP's take on Kerry's speech and more, let's turn to Senator Norm Coleman, a Republican from Minnesota. He's joining us now live from Minneapolis.
Senator, thank you for joining us. On one of the most serious charges that Senator Kerry made that the president messed up the capture of Osama bin Laden. What do you make of that?
SEN. NORM COLEMAN (R), MINNESOTA: Well, two observations. First, it's good political rhetoric one could wish the rhetoric's good. But that's all it is Wolf. Two observations and then a response to the question. Senator Kerry is going to be judged on his own record, not his rhetoric. People have to decide that you believe Senator Kerry when he says we have to have strength in intelligence, or do you believe the fact that this guy tried to cut $1.5 billion, $1.5 billion out of intelligence budget right after the first attack on the World Trade Center. So what do you believe?
You believe somebody says we need to strengthen law enforcement or do you believe, Senator Kerry, when he says that he's against the Patriot Act -- which by the way, he voted for the Patriot Act. In terms of putting all the blame and all the negativity on President Bush as you said in the report, some decisions are going to made by ground troops not the president. The bottom line is this president has a clear vision for fighting the war on terrorism and the reality is that Senator Kerry has a terrible record. He shows great passion, by the way, compassion, talking about the families of our troops saying that they have to raise money for (UNINTELLIGIBLE). He voted against the $87 billion supplement appropriations for (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
BLITZER: Senator, let me interrupt. The major thrust, though, of his criticism is that the president has needlessly alienated key U.S. allies in the war on terror because of the unilateral, quote, actions the U.S. took against Iraq, and is making matters worse for the U.S. What do you make of -- what do you say to that specific charge?
COLEMAN: Two things. You say in the report we have today where the Germans are stepping forward and saying they're actually going to let go of some of the debt that Iraq owes them. Secondly, you say that we have a larger coalition in Iraq today than we had in Bosnia. And it's one hand when you talk about building coalitions, he's really insulting our allies, insulting the Japanese, insulting the Spanish, insulting the English and across the board. If you're going to build coalitions you got to recognize that there are folks making contributions. Again, it's easy to criticize but what's the Kerry vision? And more important, what's the record? And the record is one of voting against the very equipment and tools that our folks are using today. The record is one of attempting to drastically slash the intelligence budget at a time history has simply proven him wrong.
BLITZER: Senator Norm Coleman. Thank you for joining us.
COLEMAN; Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: New marriages and new pulse. A small-town New York mayor gives some same-sex couples the green light to get married.
Colorado football scandal. Officials announce a new significant step in the investigation. We'll talk live with Colorado's Governor Bill Owens.
Unsolved murders. Is a serial killer responsible for the deaths of several women across six states? Investigators search for a link.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: There's a new front in the battle over same-sex marriage. A small town in upstate New York led a small number of gay couples today even as President Bush gave more details of his support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. CNN's Jennifer Coggiola is joining us now live here with more -- Jennifer.
JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, apparently, you know, besides President Bush's support for that constitutional ban, it's just not dissuading couples from trying and succeeding. Well, one New York town today followed the lead in several other cities over the past few weeks who have taken the plunge.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA (voice-over): This couple in New Paltz, New York, a small town just 75 miles outside of New York City...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, so it turned into a total zoo, right?
COGGIOLA: Following the footsteps of gay couples across the U.S. who've walked down the aisle. Last week in New Mexico Sandoval County, 26 same-sex marriages were performed but all were invalidated by the state's attorney general. And in California...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I now pronounce you spouses for life.
COGGIOLA: 3,400 couples over the last two weeks wed in San Francisco. Following the Bay City's lead, Oakland city council considered a resolution to allow same-sex couples to be wed by the county clerk's office. They're expected to approve the measure mid- March. As a result Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday ordered the state attorney general to ask their highest court to make a ruling on the issue of gay marriages once and for all, and now on the East Coast, New Paltz's Mayor Jason West on Friday wed a dozen couples, despite the state's domestic relation law that's been interpreted as not allowing licenses for same-sex marriages.
MAYOR JASON WEST, NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK: As far as I'm concerned, I'm upholding the constitution and obeying the laws of the state as I see them.
COGGIOLA: But New York's Governor George Pataki interprets it another way.
GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: My view has always been, and I believe it is the law in New York state that marriage in New York is between a man and a woman. Period. That's the law, it's been that way for 200 years.
COGGIOLA: West says he is not worried about any possible political backlash on his decision.
WEST: I'm not a Democrat or Republican, I'm a member of the Green Party. I don't have any higher-ups in my organization trying to quash this for their future political careers which leaves me open to follow my conscience and the constitution as I see it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA: For any couples that didn't make it to the altar on Friday in New Paltz, there's a waiting list on the town's website where any couple can sign up -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Jennifer Coggiola with that story. We'll continue to watch it. Thank you very much.
Priests or predators? A shocking new report on sexual abuse in the Catholic church. New report out today. Numbers so high, they're almost too hard to believe.
Savoring the decision, a serious charge is dropped against Martha Stewart. Where does the trial go from here?
And the controversy continuing. Allegations against the University of Colorado prompts state officials to launch a formal investigation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN.
We're wrapping major developments unfolding right now, including the search for the best running mate for John Kerry. Lots of a names being floated as potential partners. The Pennsylvania governor, Ed Rendell, is one of them. He'll join me live in just a moment.
First, though, let's get a quick check of the latest headlines.
The Homeland Security Department here in Washington is cutting back on air marshals. Actual numbers are kept secret, but Secretary Tom Ridge tells Congress there have been what he calls -- quote -- "modest cuts" from air marshals' ranks and he says there will be more to come.
The University of Colorado says changes have been made to the football recruiting program, which is at the center of allegations of player rape. The move comes after both the university and the governor ordered investigations. Seven women have accused football players or recruits of rape since 1997. So far, no charges have been filed.
In New York, hundreds of gay and lesbian couples converge on City Hall in hopes of getting marriage licenses, but were turned away. Instead, they were given letters explaining that local law bans same- sex marriages. That interpretation was based on a ruling yesterday by New York's attorney general, Eliot Spitzer.
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is spending a quiet day in Boston. With the nomination battle wrapped up, for all practical purposes, attention has turned to choosing a vice presidential running mate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Throughout much of the primary campaign, there was speculation about a Kerry-Edwards ticket. John Edwards said he wasn't interested.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm only interested in being president of the United States.
BLITZER: But that was then and this is now.
EDWARDS: John Kerry has what it takes right here to be president of the United States, and I, for one, intend to do everything in my power to make him the next president of the United States.
BLITZER: Even if Edwards is willing to join the ticket, he's just one of many potential vice presidential candidates, including some other dropouts from the Democratic presidential race, retired General Wesley Clark, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, and retiring Senator Bob Graham of Florida. Potential V.P. candidates also include Florida's other senator, Bill Nelson.
SEN. BILL NELSON (D), FLORIDA: I think I would consider such an offer were it to be made.
BLITZER: There's also talk about another member of the U.S. Senate, former first lady Hillary Clinton.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: I don't think I would ever be offered. I don't think I would accept.
BLITZER: One former governor and current senator being mentioned, Indiana's Evan Bayh.
BLITZER: And if they offer you can the No. 2 spot on ticket?
SEN. EVAN BAYH (D), INDIANA: Oh, I don't think you say no to that kind of thing.
BLITZER: Then, there are these current Democratic governors, Iowa's Tom Vilsack, Virginia's Mark Warner, New Mexico's Bill Richardson.
Are you categorically saying, if offered, you will not accept the vice presidential slot on the Democratic ticket?
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), NEW MEXICO: Well, I've already said that it's not an option. So I'm staying where I am, Wolf.
BLITZER: Is that a categorical no?
RICHARDSON: Well, it's pretty -- yes, it is.
BLITZER: But Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell also are among the names being floated.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And joining us now from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell.
All right, Mr. Governor, tell us what you think. If asked, will you agree to serve?
GOV. ED RENDELL (D), PENNSYLVANIA: Well, first, I'd try to persuade Senator Kerry that I wasn't a very good choice.
I think, No. 1, I haven't achieved the things I want to achieve here as governor. No. 2, I think we need a red state vice president, not a blue state vice presidential candidate. But, of course, as Evan Bayh said, if you're offered it, it's pretty hard to say no. If you're in this business, you believe in yourself and believe in your ability to make a difference, and vice president of the United States is an impactful position.
BLITZER: You're a former mayor of Philadelphia. You're a former chairman of the Democratic Party. Now you're the governor of one of the most important, one of the most populous states in the United States. Wouldn't you be qualified, though, this is the most important factor, God forbid, to step up and become president of the United States? Do you think you're ready for that?
RENDELL: Well, I would bring the pluses that a governor and a mayor's job brings, executive experience, making those tough decisions by yourself, balancing a budget, talking about taxes. But I would have -- one of the biggest liabilities is that I don't have any real foreign policy experiences. I could learn, but that certainly would be a draw back.
BLITZER: So it sounds as if you don't expect to be asked, but even if you're asked, you would try to talk Senator Kerry out of it.
RENDELL: I would because I think it's real important that John Kerry becomes the next president. And although I think I would help, I don't think I'm the best person to help John Kerry get elected.
BLITZER: But Pennsylvania is an important state. Even though it's gone Democratic in recent years, the Republicans are not giving up on Pennsylvania by any means.
RENDELL: No, I think we're the state that President Bush has visited the most since he's been in office.
BLITZER: So he's going to go after your state. And presumably if you're on the ticket, given the fact you were elected statewide as governor, you could help. If it's not going to be you, if it's not going to be you, who do you like? You've always been a straight talker. Tell us who's on your short list.
RENDELL: Well, I think John Edwards is a great campaigner who would bring a lot of energy to the ticket. And it's also a new face, a fresh face. And I sort of like that image very much. But, if not John Edwards, I would go to a red state governor or senator like a Bob Graham or a Dick Gephardt, a congressman, because if we pick up a big red state -- and John Breaux wasn't on your list. I think John Breaux would make a heck of a vice presidential candidate. Louisiana was on your red state.
We pick up a red state with any substantial electoral number of votes, I think it makes it more likely for John Kerry to be president.
BLITZER: One final question, Governor, before I let you go. The fact that the president in his campaign ads now using these images of 9/11, some victims' families say it's not appropriate. Is it appropriate or not appropriate?
RENDELL: Well, look, I think the president's actions post-9/11 are certainly something which he has the right to talk about in his campaign. He has the right to say, in the time of crisis, I was there, I pulled the country together, we built a strong defense against terrorism.
We as Democrats have the right to say where we think he fell short. So I think that's appropriate. Would I have used the towers? I haven't seen the ad, but did they use towers themselves?
BLITZER: Yes, they showed pictures.
RENDELL: I probably would have left that out, but just talked about 9/11.
BLITZER: Governor Ed Rendell, speaking bluntly, as he always does, thanks very much for joining us.
RENDELL: Thanks, Wolf.
BLITZER: Let's turn now to an extraordinary event that saved Roe v. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion in the United States. Just how it happened is spelled out in remarkable detail in the personal files of the late Harry Blackmun, the justice who authored Roe v. Wade in 1973.
Those files were unsealed today, the fifth anniversary of Blackmun's death.
CNN national correspondent Bruce Morton reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRUCE MORTON, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Spring 1992, the Supreme Court seemed set to overturn Roe v. Wade, the decision affirming a woman's right to an abortion. The vote will be 5-4. William Rehnquist will write the decision. But then Anthony Kennedy sends this vote to Harry Blackmun, who wrote the Roe decision in 1973.
"Welcome news," he promises, citing some developments. He tells Blackmun he and two other justices, Sandra Day O'Connor, David Souter, had agreed to uphold Roe.
HARRY BLACKMUN, FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: Justice Kennedy came in and talked to me about it, told me that what was happening and that he was one of the three, which, as far as I was concerned, was a matter of great gratification.
MORTON: Still not clear, though, why Kennedy changed his mind. Roe may have been the most controversial decision Blackmun ever wrote, 60,000 letters of protest and, in 1985, maybe not just mail, either.
BLACKMUN: After the bullet came through our apartment window, there was a little bit of concern.
MORTON: Did he think it was the case he would be remembered for?
BLACKMUN: At first, I didn't feel that at all. I just didn't appreciate it at the time. And, of course, now over the years, it's always been with me.
MORTON: Other moments, a Nixon nominee to the court, he voted with the other justices that the president had to turn over the Watergate tapes. A hard call? Blackmun said no, you have to call them as you see them.
Blackmun's papers include everything from opinions to little notes the justices passed around around while hearing arguments. Potter Stewart, Blackmun notes, always wanted to know how the Cincinnati Reds were doing. Blackmun himself steadily became more liberal, against the death penalty. "From this day forward, I shall no longer tinker with the machinery of death," he wrote in 1994. And on roe, he never wavered.
BLACKMUN: I think it was right in 1973 and I think it's correct today. And I'll stick with my gun on that one.
MORTON: Tapes, half a million pieces of paper, the record of a life.
Bruce Morton, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Thank you very much, Bruce, for that report.
Tough questions in the Scott Peterson trial, but, today, they're not for Scott Peterson. Finding a balanced jury for a prominent case, it's not an easy task by any means.
Plus, this;
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIC LEMARQUE, SNOWBOARDER: I kept telling myself, I'm not going to let me parents bury me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Staying alive. He dug his own cave. He even ate pine needles and bark to stay alive. It's a snowboarder's incredible, amazing story of survival. We'll share it with you.
And awaiting her fate. Martha Stewart's future now in the hands of a jury. I'll speak with a man who's followed the trial right from the beginning. All of that coming up.
First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): A German court has overturned a conviction and ordered a new trial for the only man convicted in the 9/11 attacks. The Moroccan man was found guilty last year of aiding the suicide hijackers. The court took the action because the United States refused to allow the defense to obtain testimony from an alleged al Qaeda operative.
French bomb threat. An unknown group is threatening to blow up French trains unless it's paid several million dollars. No explosives were found after 10,000 workers searched the country's entire track system. The government is treating the threat as a criminal case.
Chinese dissident freed. A leader of the 1989 pro-democracy protest in Beijing is on his way to the United States for medical treatment after being released from prison. Wang Youcai was sentenced to 11 years in 1998. It's the third time in a week the communist government has moved on similar cases after lobbying from Washington.
Living dolls, that's what the Japanese call what's billed as first humanoid robot for home use. It walks on two legs, dances, and responds to voice command. The Japanese maker says it will be on the market by the end of the year for about $4,500.
And that's our look around the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Jury selection has started in the Peterson murder trial. Even if you've done jury duty before, this case is probably unlike anything most jurors have ever encountered.
CNN's Jennifer Coggiola is joining us now with more to explain what's going on -- Jennifer.
JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot there, Wolf. Hi.
Over the next five days, about 200 perspective jurors are expected to answer a questionnaire from Peterson's lawyer. That questionnaire a useful legal tool for lawyers to help choose the best juror for their case.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA: Before a juror will ever hear the first question posed to a witness in the double murder trial of Scott Peterson, they'll have to answer some questions themselves first.
ROGER COSSACK, LEGAL ANALYST: These questionnaires are put together a lot of times by sociologists or jury people with the idea of getting more in depth about finding out who is on that jury.
COGGIOLA: One sensitive issue, infidelity.
CYNTHIA COHEN, JURY CONSULTANT: If they've been subjected to one and they have a resentment, they're obviously going to have very strong feelings against Peterson.
COGGIOLA: Jurors will likely only be asked their opinion on the topic.
COSSACK: I don't think there's going to be too many questions saying on that thing, have you ever cheated on your husband or have you ever cheated on your wife?
COGGIOLA: Another issue likely to be raised by the prosecution in this case:
COHEN: If anybody has lost a child before, they may not be able to sit on the jury and be unbiased.
COGGIOLA: Defense questions, according to legal experts, will likely focus on legal issues. Does a juror trust the police or do they understand burden of proof and due process? One telling question commonly used by both sides, do they have a bumper sticker on their car?
COSSACK: And that shows that you're an aggressive person, that you're an affirmative person, and that you don't mind speaking out and telling what you think. COGGIOLA: Another potential obstacle when questioning jurors, someone who lies about their answers, especially concerning the most important question for a capital case like Peterson's, do they support the death penalty.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA: Now, that's an essential question in a capital case like Peterson's, because jurors have to admit they would at least consider executing someone if convicted in order to be seated -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Very interesting. Jennifer Coggiola, thank you very much.
Another trial we're following, it's day two of jury deliberations in Martha Stewart's trial. Lots of people are watching intently, but few have the insight of our next guest.
Alex Prud'homme is covering the trial for "Vanity Fair" magazine. He's been inside the courtroom throughout and has interviewed Stewart in the past. He's also written a book called the cell game about the drug and the company at the center of the stock scandal.
Alex Prud'homme is joining us now live from New York.
Alex, thanks very much for joining us.
Do you want to, first of all, give us your prediction, what you think this jury is going to decide?
ALEX PRUD'HOMME, AUTHOR, "THE CELL GAME": Well, every lawyer I have talked to says you can never predict a jury.
And I hesitate to guess, although the general consensus is, it will probably be a hung jury. The prosecution has put forward a very strong case, I think, lots of little pieces of evidence that draw into question Martha Stewart and her broker, Peter Bacanovic's, story. On the other hand, their lawyers have chipped away at Doug Faneuil, who was the government's key witness.
BLITZER: Eight women, four men on this jury. The fact that there are eight women, what, if anything, should we read into that given the nature of Martha Stewart's business past?
PRUD'HOMME: Well, it's very interesting. There's a female prosecutor, there's a female judge, there's a female defendant in Martha Stewart. Most the jury is female. I don't think all of that is an accident.
And the thing that's interesting is that Martha has not been called to testify. She declined to testify, I should say. And that may be because Martha can be very polarizing, even amongst women.
BLITZER: Do you think that's going to jeopardize her, the fact that she refused to take the stand? PRUD'HOMME: I think it could potentially jeopardize her because her defense only called one witness who wasn't particularly helpful to her.
BLITZER: Alex Prud'homme, joining us from "Vanity Fair," he's been watching this trial every single day. Alex, thanks very much for that assessment.
Lost in the snowy Sierra for days.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMARQUE: Helicopter come over and pull me off of this mountain.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Find out how this snowboarder survived on his own. It's a truly remarkable story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Earlier we asked, in which state did the first organized snowboarding instructions begin? The answer, Vermont. In 1986, Stratton Mountain became the first resort to offer organized snowboarding lessons.
A California snowboarder and former Olympic hockey player is recovering from an ordeal few could have survived. He spent an entire week lost in the frigid Sierra Nevada.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMARQUE: I feel very fortunate to be alive, obviously.
BLITZER (voice-over): This is where Eric Lemarque died, lost in a frozen wilderness. The hockey coach and former player with the French Olympic team was snowboarding alone last month when he left the resort boundaries and couldn't find his way back. For a full week, he survived by eating pine needles and nuts and found shelter in an improvised igloo. Rescuers finally found him sprawled in the snow and barely moving.
LEMARQUE: Never so grateful to see that helicopter come over and pull me off of this mountain.
BLITZER: Lemarque was suffering dehydration, hypothermia and severe frostbite. Doctors had to amputate both his feet.
DR. CLIFFORD KAHN, GROSSMAN BURN CENTER: The entire foot. All of the structures of the foot were involved. It was cold up to about the level of the ankle.
BLITZER: Rescuers say they doubt Lemarque would have survived another night. But he says there was one thought that kept him going.
LEMARQUE: I kept myself focused and mentally with each day, but I kept telling myself, I'm not going to let my parents bury me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Doctors say, after follow-up surgery, Lemarque should be able to walk with temporary prosthetic in six to eight weeks. And Lemarque says he'll be back on the slopes as soon as possible.
A big change for your pocket change. A look at the new nickel, that's coming up next, as is the result of our hot "Web Question of the Day."
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in our "Web Question of the Day." Take a look at this, remembering of course it is not a scientific poll.
The new nickel, it is our picture of the day. The U.S. Mint is changing the design of the 5 cent coin for the first time in 66 years. The front will still bear the likeness of Thomas Jefferson, but the back will feature the Jefferson Peace Medal. It was commissioned for the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803 and was given to Native American chiefs as a goodwill gesture. The old nickel will return in 2006.
A reminder, we're on daily, weekdays 5:00 p.m. Eastern, as well as noon Eastern. Tomorrow at this time, two interviews, my special interview with Senator Ted Kennedy and Jason Alexander, the actor from "Seinfeld." He's just returned from a personal peacekeeping mission to the Middle East.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.
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